Merry Christmas! - Bad Request

OUR COVER Farewell To Artist Bill Kirby - p.43

H2O’s New ShowroomIt’s In Woodseats - p.14

Vote For Me In HallamConservative Ian Walker - p.13

Our Christmas FayreAt Loxley Park - p.46

Photographing SnowPictures Of Ice Crystals - p.24

High-Tech GiftsFrom £20 To £455 - p.23

Santa’s GrottoVisit Border View Farm - p.8

Stained-Glass PanesAnd Rot-Proof Frames - p.10

23,000 copies • Est. 1991 • December 2019 • www.grapevinesheffield.netThe Magazine For Sheffield

Merry Christmas!

I

2 Grapevine Magazine

Manchester Road, Sheffield S10 5PXTel: 0114 230 1925

[email protected]

Open Mon - Sat 8.30am - 5pm Sun 10am-4.30pmManchester Road H

agg

Lane

Coldwell L

Rivelin Valley Road

Crosspoolleyside Garden CaféGarden Centre

CHRISTMAS AT VALLEYSIDEEnjoy a wonderful Christmas treat... visit Valleyside Garden Centre,where decorations are elegantly displayed. See hundreds of real andartificial trees, then enjoy tasty treats in the caféStaff at Valleyside have the festive seasonall wrapped up. The centre has beentransformed into a winter wonderland,with separate themed areas. Every year the Christmas decorationranges expand. Explore the ‘White Room’,which has stunning ranges of natural andclassic Christmas decorations in a Scandinavian atmosphere.Watch the Christmas train run around

the vintage-themed room... and say helloto the reindeer.The Garden Centre offers over 1,000premium Christmas trees, all unnetted soyou can choose the perfect one - whichcan be delivered free of charge any weekday to postcodes S6, 10 and 11.After the festivities are over, Christmastrees can be collected and recycled (for a small fee).

3Grapevine Magazine 421 London Road, Sheffield S2 4HJ Tel: 0114 258 31 31

Climate change can be great fun.The River Thames is believed to havefrozen at least 23 times from the 1300s

to the 19th century, and during five of thoseoccasions ice was so thick near London Bridgethat it could support mega-parties known asFrost Fairs, which lasted several days.

They were attended by thousands of peopleduring the winters of 1683, 1716, 1739, 1789and 1814, when Londoners had a right old larf,quaffing tankards of gin, dancing to the tunes offiddlers, skating, bear-baiting, and even lightingbonfires so that oxen could be roasted.

Horse races were held, and during the last ofthe fairs everyone was astounded to see anelephant walking across the Thames. In that yearThe Times reported accounts of ice beingseveral feet deep.

Decks of barges trapped in frosted floeswere hired-out as stages where actors couldpresent plays. Food, drinks and trinkets could bebought in scores of tents, many of which hadfires inside for their owners to keep warm.

Printing presses were set up. They churned outcards bearing customers’ names, and the fact theyhad attended a Frost Fair. There was plenty ofgambling, but some who lost all their money could not afford the penny charged to walk home across planks placed over muddy areas near the riverbank.

Yes, a few people became so drunk theyfell through holes in the ice and drowned, but otherwise those great freeze-ups werethoroughly enjoyed. They were caused by the‘Little Ice Age’ that affected northern Europe(on and off) for about 600 years.

Sadly, London’s Frost Fairs melted away as theclimate warmed. Another reason for their demisewas that the River Thames flowed faster whena new London Bridge opened in 1831, which hadfewer pillars to impede the passage of water.

Today, glaciers are in retreat, but during the 17th century villagers in an Alpine region of France became alarmed that massive sheets ofice were advancing, destroying meadows whereanimals grazed.

It became obvious that Satan was to blame,so in the summer of 1653 three priests climbedon high and performed an exorcism... sprinklingholy water on the ice, and telling it to disappear.

Did this hocus-pocus work? Of course!But the power of prayer can take centuries tohave an effect, and only recently have those evilglaciers begun obeying the priests’ sacred orders.

Merry Christmas!

IIan Macgill editorGrapevine Magazine

421 London Road, Sheffield S2 4HJ 0114 258 3131 www.grapevinesheffield.net

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4

Detecting electrical faults isnever easy, writes Dave Borden,but at John Greensmith’shouse we even had trouble

locating one of the consumer units (asfuseboxes are known nowadays).

The main consumer unit within John’sthree-bedroomed property atWhirlowdale was easy to spot, butanother - in the garage had beenconcealed in a wall cavity behindplasterboard.

We knew the unit was there bylooking at the configuration of nearbywiring, but finding the thing took me and my colleague Neil almostfour hours. CERTIFICATE FROM THE QUEENWhy would an electrician hide a

consumer unit in such an inaccessibleplace? The answer is that he would nothave done so. An amateur sparkie willhave been responsible - one of thosemen whose work we often untangle.

The location of this secret consumerunit was not a fire risk, but in the eventof a problem it could not have beenreached, even if anyone knew whereit was. John certainly didn’t.

He is 87, and on the walls ofhis home are many watercolours hepainted over the years... when notteaching art and the history ofarchitecture at various Sheffield schools.A certificate displayed was presented toJohn by the Queen, confirming hisappointment to the Royal Society ForPainting In Watercolour.

“Also,” he says,“my paintings have beenexhibited on threeoccasions at the RoyalAcademy of Art.”

He retired in 1997 ashead of departmentat All Saints CatholicHigh School onGranville Road, andstill does a bit ofteaching... readingbooks to pupils foran hour on fourafternoons a week atDobcroft Infant School,which is near wherehe lives.

John called in TeamBorden after reading mycolumn in Grapevine.

“The lights kept flickering,”he says, “and I was concerned thatthe wiring might be unsafe. Both fuseboxeswere replaced, and various faults fixed, so now everything is okay. The electricianswere very friendly and reliable. Neil is aSheffield United season ticket holder,as I am, so we had lots to talk about. Unfortunately, Dave Borden is aWednesdayite. But he’s very good athis job.”

WE SPECIALISE in fixing minorelectrical problems, so do give me a ring if you need sockets changing,LEDs fitting, etc.

With Dave Bordenof Borden Electrics

Power To The People

Retired art teacher John Greensmithasked us to stop lights flickering at hishome in Whirlowdale

384 Sharrow Vale Road, Sheffield. 0114 267 1778

www.bordenelectrics.co.uk

5Grapevine Magazine

We FindJohn’s Long-LostFusebox

John with a watercolour he paintedof Helmsley, North Yorkshire


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7Grapevine Magazine

Alarge computer screen has arrived atThe Porterbrook. It is the SharpInteractive Touchscreen Table, which

offers everything from web browsing todementia-friendly apps that can be enjoyed byseveral users at the same time.

The table uses RemindMecare software thatcaters for older people, including those livingwith learning disabilities or cognitiveimpairment. Mental stimulation is consideredone way in which the elderly can guard againstdeveloping Alzheimer’s disease and dementia,which is why the Touchscreen Table is so useful.It is easily moved, adjusts to suit users’ seating positions, and can be used anywherearound The Porterbrook to enhance the

wellbeing of its 44 residents. Various apps give access to web-browsing,

gaming, quizzes, singalongs, Netflix and healthyactivities such as chair-yoga. There are sensoryapps to benefit those with dementia, and afacility for sharing Skype video calls with lovedones. Each user has a separate folder to storefamily photographs and other mementos thatcan help stimulate memories.

The Porterbrook care home managerSheilagh Sweeney is very enthusiastic aboutthe new screen.

“We are delighted to have a Touchscreen Table,which will benefit our residents in many ways. It isimportant to keep everyone we look after mentallyengaged, and their responses to the table have

been wonderful. People are thrilled when theybegin exploring the various apps.”

Sheilagh says many of her residents areaccustomed to using computer technology,and do not have difficulty mastering the table’smany features.

“We’ve already enjoyed YouTube clips, music,and had fun with games such as snakes andladders. The Touchscreen Table is unlike anythingwe have been able to offer before, and gives staffexcellent opportunities to engage and entertainthose whose cognitive senses are impaired.”

For more information about The Porterbrook, call Sheilagh Sweeney

on 0114 266 0808. Email:[email protected]

or visit www.theporterbrookcare.com

Demonstrating the Touchscreen Table

Big Touch-ScreenClicks With ResidentsAt The PorterbrookElderly can now go online to use apps,watch YouTube videos and have Skypechats with their loved ones

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Ever day during December Santa willbe in residence at Border View Farm...greeting visitors who pop into his

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After tucking into festive fayre you canbuy a plump bird to take home forChristmas.

Border View Farm specialises in Englishwhite turkeys (barn-reared on barley straw),which provide succulent meat that doesn’tdry out while being cooked.

The turkeys are very popular, so it is bestto pre-order one as soon as possible... andthe same goes for the farm’s geese

This year fantastic Christmas hampers areavailable, which can be ordered in advance.

While you are at the farm, browse its fineselections of meats, pies, pickles, andpreserves. Border View has everything for thefestive table.

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Meet Santa AtOur GrottoBorder View Farm is the best place to see FatherChristmas... and buy a plump turkey or goose

PLACE YOUR CHRISTMAS ORDER TODAYOur farm-reared Old English White turkeys make succulent roasting birds.

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Please book an appointment to see Santa by calling 07521 007 241

Our Cow Shed Café is available to hire for evening eventsCelebrate your special occasion,and let us do all the hard work We can cater for up to 100 people

For more information, either pop in and see us or call Rebecca on 07521 007 241The Cowshed Cafe team ( l-r):

Bethany, Alicia, Rebecca Wallace

- and Katie Merryman


Grand Interior Designs was asked to create anopen-plan living, dining, kitchen space at afamily home in Millhouses.

Two rooms were knocked into one to make thestunning kitchen/diner featured here - designedwith thought and consideration for clients whowanted to open up the back of their house tocreate a much lighter and brighter living andcooking space.

Says Grand Interior Designs’ customer: “I spoke to a number of kitchen designers, but felt Kevin atGrand Interior Designs was the most imaginative. It was his idea to swap the dining and kitchen areasaround. The new space is much brighter, which isexactly what I wanted.”

Two RoomsInto OneThe downstairs of this 1930s propertyin Millhouses has been redesigned

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All-In-One Building Service‘Concept To Conclusion’Grand Interior Designslook after all aspects ofhome improvement,from building anextension to fittingkitchens and bathrooms

9Grapevine Magazine

For free estimates and home surveys call0114 275 5187

[email protected] web: www.designerwoodwork.co.uk26-36 Hallcar Street (off Carlisle Street) Sheffield S4 7JY

A family business established 1996


THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO DWS......DWS Designer Woodwork Services, and DWS Design and Build. We can turn our hand to anybuilding or joinery work, and specialise in extension and refurbishment projects.We undertake all aspects of home renovation, from preparing architect’s drawings and obtaining planningpermission, through to high quality cabinetry in your new kitchen, and tiling, flooring, joinery, electrical wiring, plumbing, plastering and garden landscaping.

With Jon Stocks, and his sons Jon, Dan, and Kieran of DWS Ltd.

Designed & Built

The rot has set-in for rot, because softwoodcan have its chemical structure altered to

resist decay - creating Accoya, whichprovides an excellent material for DWS to

work with

DWS used Accoya wood when replacing the bay window and front door at this property

The Ecclesall house featured here wasbuilt in the 1930s, writes Jon Stocks, ofDWS. Its owners asked us to replace adraughty and rotten bay window at the

front of their property. We made a new frame using Accoya, which is

the trade name for softwood that has beenspecially treated to prevent rotting. It is ‘pickled’by having its chemical structure altered todramatically reduce the decaying process. Whenwe had finished our work, the bay windowlooked good as new.

We designed stained-glass panes that exactlyreplicate old ones that had been damaged, as wellas replacing panes directly above the bay - and asmaller one to the left of the front door. Whatwe have created is much more energy efficientthan the original bay and windows.

We also replaced the front door with onemade from Accoya - again replicating stained-glasspanes.

Customer comment: “I’m very happy withthe work DWS have done. We wanted to replacethe bay window and front door because they weredraughty and made the rooms cold. In winter weoften had ice on the insides of windows. The newones have already improved things.”

DWS recreate period windowsWe replace single-glazed frames and panes

with modern units that look as if they weremade in Victorian or Edwardian days. Chooseeither mock-sashes (that look like sliding sashes,but without the pulley-operating systems), or fully functioning sliding-sash windows.

We also restore frames by cutting out rotten parts, then replacing them with newtimber and a flexible, bonded-resin.

Rot-Proof House

We fitted a lead top to the bay window

D

11Grapevine Magazine

Call Tim for a no-obligation price quotation

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2016 16 Mini Cooper 1.5 5 Door Volcanic Orange, black roof & mirror caps,,ABS, traction control, air-con, DAB radio, engine start button, remote, alloys,Bluetooth,, tyre inflation monitor, front fog lights, ISOFIX child seat anchorpoints, one owner, full service history, 15,474 miles £11,495

2015 65 Ford Focus 1.0 Ecoboost Titanium 5 Door Moondust Silvermetallic, climate controlled air-con, 8 inch touch screen infotainment system,heated front windscreen, cruise control, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth, fullservice history, one owner, 16,607 miles £9,995

2016 16 Toyota Yaris 1.33 Icon 5 Door Sintra Blue metallic, air-con, frontfog lights, reverse parking camera, electric/heated door mirrors, alloys,ISOFIX child seat mounts, traction control, Bluetooth, trip computer, rearscreen wiper, one owner, full service history, 6,728 miles £8,995

2014 64 Toyota Yaris Icon Hybrid 1.5 VVTi 5 Door Automatic DecumaGrey metallic, ABS, climate control, driver, rear parking camera, ISOFIX childseat mounts, electric/heated door mirrors, touch-screen DAB radio/MP3player, Bluetooth, one owner, full service history, 41,587 miles £8,995

2015 65 Ford B-Max Zetec 1.4 5 Door MPV Antelope metallic, powersteering, ABS, traction control, air-con, electric/heated/folding door mirrors,alloy wheels, heated windscreen, rear parking sensors, height adjustableseats, Bluetooth, one owner, full service history, 11,694 miles £8,995

2014 14 Ford Fiesta 1.0 Zetec 5 Door Moonstone Silver metallic, ABS, air-con, electric/heated door mirrors, front fog lights, heated windscreen,steering wheel audio control, drivers seat height adjustment, twin front/sideairbags, one owner, full service history, 38,993 miles £6,495

2013 13 Toyota Yaris 1.33 VVTi TR 3 Door Burning Red metallic, powersteering, ABS, air-con, reverse parking camera, alloys, ISOFIX child seatmounts, electric/heated door mirrors, bluetooth phone connectivity, rear headrestraints, two owners, full service history, 20,725 miles £5,995

2009 09 Volvo V70 2.0 D SE Estate Silver metallic, power steering, ABS,climate control, cruise control, electric/heated/folding mirrors, electricmemory seats, ISOFIX child seat mounts, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth,full service history, 86,033 miles £5,995

2013 13 Toyota IQ2 1.0 3 Door Burnt Orange metallic, power steering, ABS,traction control, auto-dim rear view mirror, keyless entry, ISOFIX child seatmounts, climate controlled air-con, alloys, electric/heated/folding doormirrors, one previous owner, full Toyota service history, 9,912 miles £5,495

2007 07 Ford Tourneo Connect 1.8 TDCi T230 LX 90 Sea Grey metallic,power steering, ABS, air-con, remote central locking, electric/heated doormirrors, alloys, heated front windscreen, twin front airbags, rear headrestraints, one owner, full service history, 4,855 miles £4,995

2014 63 Nisan Micra 1.2 Visia 5 Door Silver metallic, power steering, ABS,internally adjustable door mirrors, alarm/immobiliser, twin front/side airbags,multi-function steering wheel, RDS radio/CD player, rear head restraints, oneprevious owner, full service history, 25,254 miles £4,995

You get what you pay for, writes AndyIbbotson. Last Christmas I quoted for laying a stone driveway in Dore, and estimated that the project would

take a week. Unfortunately, I was again up against formidable

competition for the job - two gentlemen I shallrefer to as Tricky Trev and Dodgy Darryl, who should trade as Nightmare Landscaping Ltd.They promised the owner of the property that

they would lay his driveway in a couple of days, forfar less than I was wanting to charge.Those fellows were true to their word.

That driveway looked great... for a month or so,which was when the paving slabs began to gowonky after being driven over. Soon I was phonedby Trev and Darryl’s customer, who said he had not been able to contact them. Could I remedy the situation?When I arrived at the crime scene it was obvious

to me what had happened. Grass had been scrapedaway, and stone slabs laid directly onto soil, withouta sub-base. My team ended up relaying the driveway,

which took two weeks, and cost a lot more than myoriginal quote. This situation was one I have encountered many

times. The way to avoid being conned is to ask aprospective contractor to give you the names andaddresses of customers he has done work for. Ihave been constructing driveways and patios inSheffield for the past quarter century, and every oneof them remains in fine fettle because they haverock-solid foundations, and are designed so thatrainwater flows away rather than gathering in pools.We normally use a mechanical digger to sculpt

the required area, which is then covered with acompacted sub-base... Type One Ministry ofTransport crushed limestone. On top of it wepound a layer of top quality gritsand. Only thendoes the process begin of laying paving stones ortiles. Be assured, once my team lays your patio ordriveway, its splendour will endure for generationsto come.PLEASE CONTACT ME if you have a

landscaping project in mind. I am currently takingbookings for January.

PATHWAYSTO PATIOS


Crimicar Lane, Lodge Moor, Sheffield07840 361 244

[email protected]

With landscaper Andy Ibbotson,of Hallamshire Paving (Est. 1994)

Garden Design

The above patio is one we laid in Sheffield recently. Its paving material (which was also used to edge paths around the garden) is produced by a

Northern Irish company called Tobermore, for which we are accredited contractors. Each tile used in this project was from the Tegula range, which is made of

concrete that has been tumbled to give a weathered, antique look. We like working with Tobermore tiles because they are extremely tough,

and do not shatter when cut. The patio featured here was completed in four days,which includes time taken to lay the foundations


Promoted by Chris Pitchfork, on behalf of Ian Walker, both of 9a, High Street, Penistone, Sheffield S36 6BR.Printed by Grapevine Magazine at Buxton Press Limited, Palace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 6AE

Dear Grapevine Reader

My view is that MPs should be local people - chosen by the communities they

represent to fight for them at Westminster.

I was born in Fulwood, and have lived and worked most of my life in Sheffield,

building manufacturing and engineering companies that export around

the world. It is my sincere hope that at the general election on December12th

I will have the honour of being elected MP for Sheffield Hallam.

The constituency is where my wife Kathryn and I raised our four children.

It was only as they were leaving home that I decided to become involved in

the world of politics - because I realised career politicians often do not have a

connection to communities they represent, which is why many MPs are out of touch with ordinary people.

What Sheffield Hallam needs is a hard-working and credible MP who will have residents’ interests at heart.

BREXITThe Westminster political bubble can seem remote, but Brussels o

ften has appeared even more distant,

which was why in the EU referendum a majority of voters in Sheffield - and the country as a whole - chose Brexit.

Members of my family had differing views, but like the vast majority of both Leavers and Remainers we are democrats,

and believe that however people voted, the British sense of fair play must prevail because it is vital we uphold our

democratic principles and deliver on the will of the electorate in as smooth a way as possible.

If elected as MP for Sheffield Hallam I shall focus on the following.

NHSAs a former director of NHS Yorkshire and Sheffield’s Strategic He

alth Authority, I know how to support our hospitals

when bidding for millions of pounds in government funding.

TRANSPORTI will fight for better transport investment and co-ordination with

in Sheffield, and between our city and others such as

Leeds, Manchester and London. This is vital if Sheffield is to attract more investment, which will help existing

businesses and communities prosper

EDUCATIONI was a school governor in Sheffield for many years, and saw first

-hand the benefits of investing in teachers and giving

them the resources to inspire and motivate our children. The government can point to more pupils now being in good

and outstanding schools, but I want to see more of them in Sheffield, which will require additional support.

TRAINING & ENTERPRISEManufacturing is Sheffield’s bedrock, and thanks to my business e

xperience I will be well placed to help build on our

industrial and technological excellence. There is great work going on at Sheffield universities, as evidenced by our

Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre. Much of its work is focused on helping Britain achieve zero carbon

emissions by 2050. We need to train our workforce to enter the emerging green industries.

INCREASING THE CONSERVATIVE VOTE

During 2017 I stood for election as Sheffield Hallam’s MP, nearly doubling the Conservative vote, and last year came

second in the mayoral contest. With your help I will do even better on December 12th.

Warm regards

Ian Walker almost doubled theConservative vote when he contested

Sheffield Hallam in the 2017parliamentary election

Our New Show Pop the corks on those magnums ofbubble-bath! H2O Bathrooms ismaking a splash by opening thelargest independent bathroomshowroom in the north of England


When H2O opened for business in 2008 the company had one fitting team - today it has 16

The H2O bathroom studio is co-owned by Richard Hardy, who has been designing bathroomsfor 30 years, and his businesspartner Martin Price who has25 years’ experience in designing bathrooms.Their team includes Philip

Procter, Ian Marriott, and DanHeathcote who are skilleddesigners each with 20 years’know-how.

Bathroom Solutions

685 Chesterfield Road, Woodseats S8 0SL

0114 255 4646www.h2obathroomsolutions.co.uk

Bathroom SolutionsH2O

wroom Frequent showers and clouds (of

steam) are forecast for ChesterfieldRoad at Woodseats, where in mid-November H2O Bathroom Solutions

will open their grand new premises - thenorth of England’s largest such independentshowroom.

Fifty full bathroom displays will be on show,and extensive tiling collections (including sometiles that are 2 metres in length.)

One stunning bathroom layout is by Danishcompany Dansani - whose installers travelledfrom Denmark to the new H2O HQ, which waspreviously a Tesco supermarket (next door tothe police station).

At the rear of the showroom is a largewarehouse that will allow H2O to holdsubstantial stocks of bathroom equipment.

H2O Bathroom Solutions opened for business11 years ago in Heeley, and since then hasearned a reputation for top-class bathroomdesigns and installations.

Customers benefit from the experience ofthe H2O team: Richard Hardy, Martin Price,Philip Procter, Ian Marriott and DanHeathcote, who between them have beendesigning and fitting bathrooms for over acentury.

When H2O started, its staff comprisedRichard and Martin, with one fitting team.

There are now 16 such teams.Grapevine Magazine has featured a different

H2O project every month since June 2009.We have photographed 125 of the company’swetrooms/shower areas,/bathrooms, andspoken with each customer. All said theychose H2O because of the quality of itsproducts/design ideas, and were delightedwith the service they received.

Says H2O’s Richard Hardy: “I would like to thank every customer we have

worked for over the past 11 years. I’m proud tohave experienced designers, and some of themost skilled installers in Sheffield.

“Creating our new showroom has taken a lot ofhard work but will be a fantastic place forcustomers to browse and find inspiration for theirnext bathroom. Do come and see us soon.”


The new showroom was previously a Tesco supermarket

I


|

•

The Laurels & The Limes Care Home

•• • •

••••

•

Show off your home to its best this Christmas, .

I have gorgeous wallpaper designs to giverooms a charming new look. Visit me soon, andyour walls could be given a vibrant new lookbefore friends and family arrive for the festiveseason.

On this page are images from Cole & Son’sPearwood collection, and the Arte Figurarange. They make stunning features.

My First Year!November 18th is the first anniversary of DrewDecor Store opening. Thank you very much toeveryone for all the encouragement andsupport.

Our genteel boutique setting on Ecclesall Roadis where customers come to sip coffee andperuse the finer details of decorating one wall,or an entire house.

Wallpaper brands include

and

Select a perfect contrast of paint from our& stand, where sample pots

are available for you to take home.

Exclusive appointmentsOwner Suzanne Drew sees customers outsidenormal opening hours, when they have herpremises to themselves, and her undividedattention. She also makes home visits

VERY ARTE

Our coverings will giveyour rooms a delightfulfestive feel

910 Ecclesall Road,Sheffield S11 8TR0114 2169 252

[email protected]

Open: 10am - 5pm Sat: 9.30am to 2pm(closed Wednesdays and Sundays)

by www.bellwoodphotography.co.uk


Come insidewith Google Street View

Just scan the codeWith your smart phone



Google Street View Tour by www.bellwoodphotography.co.uk


�10% DISCOUNTfor readers of Grapevineto use on any purchasefrom Drew Decor Store

Only with this voucher

Suzanne Drew’s showroom hasbeen open for a yearCole & Son’s Pearwood collection

I

v i sua l ba th rooms

Since Eric Law opened Visual Bathroomseight years ago, his innovative designsand high quality products haverewarded him with success.

The past year has been a bumper one forthe number of bathrooms he designed andarranged to be installed in homes acrossSheffield.

The Visual Bathrooms showroom has beenrefurbished a number of times over the years

to keep up with the latest bathing andshowering trends.

Eric is continually updating his 2,000 sq. ft.showroom. Displays include Villeroy & Boch,Geberit, and Vitra Designer Collection. There are also offerings from Dansani, Bauhaus,Utopia, Crosswater, Vitra, Vado and Hansgrohe.

Shower enclosures include offerings fromAquata, fitted bathroom furniture from Keuco,and towel warmers from Zehnder and Bisque.

During the past year Visual Bathrooms have enlargedtheir showroom... and designed many superb

layouts for homes throughout Sheffield

THANK YOU!FOR OUR GREAT 2019

90 - 100 Holme Lane, Sheffield S6 4JW Tel: 0114 233 [email protected] visualbathrooms.co.uk

Graham and Jacqueline Lee,of Grenoside

Says Graham: “One of our neighboursrecommended we visit Visual Bathrooms’showroom in Hillsborough, where we were veryimpressed by the quality of products on display- and advice given by Eric, the owner.

“We are absolutely delighted with whatVisual Bathrooms have done. Everything lookseven better than we imagined. They lookedafter everything for us.”

Customer In Lodge Moor “We visited a number of showrooms,

then Eric, of Visual Bathrooms wasrecommended to us. “He has installed quite a few bathrooms

for neighbours of ours, and proved to bethe most professional of the designers wespoke with. Also, he had some greatproducts. We’re very happy with the workhe has done.”

Chris Carrell, of Fulwood“My previous bathroom was dated, and had

a few problems. I wanted a modern look witha larger shower - which is what Claire at VisualBathrooms designed for me. I’m very happywith the finished look.”

Customer In WincobankOur brief was to create a modern layout

that was easy to use, with plenty of storage.The design is stylish, accessible and easy

to maintain.

ALL GAS & PLUMBING WORK UNDERTAKEN

• Full heating systems • Boiler swaps • Servicing/repairs/modifications • Power flushing • Fire and flue work • General plumbing • Landlords’ certificates • LPG & oil heating systems• Wet underfloor central heating • Unvented hot water systems

164 Crookes, Sheffield S10 1UH

0114 272 2586or Dave on: 07811 539 490 & Leon on: 07881 620 [email protected]

SOME OF OUR PRICESBoiler service £60+VAT

Gas fire service £60+VAT

Back boiler unit service £100+VAT

Boiler & gas fire service £100+VAT

1st Call Gas Services is owned and run by Leon Stones and Dave Turner, who each have over 20 years’ experience in the heating industry. They set up their business in 2005, and now employseven other qualified engineers.The company is Gas Safe registered, and a Vaillant boiler

accredited installer. 1st Call Gas services can handle all sizes of jobs, from boiler servicing to installing heating systems in largeestablishments such as nursing homes

UPGRADE TO ACOMBI-BOILER

One of our condensingcombination boilers will keep your

family cosy, and cut gas bills

££22,,115500

Ideal Vogue 32condensing combi-boilerwith a magnetic filter,wireless thermostat andten-year warranty

££22,,224455

30kw condensing combi-boiler with amagnetic filter, wireless thermostat andten-year warranty.

££11,,774455

Ideal Logic+ 30 kwcondensing combi-boilerwith wirelessprogrammable thermostatand ten-year warranty

££11,,444455

Ideal instinct combiboiler, with magneticfilter and five-yearwarranty

Price includesVAT/installation

Price includes VAT/installation



Struggling to pay for areplacement boiler?

0% Finance now available on all boiler, central heating, and bathroom installations. Call for further details

PACKAGES AVAILABLE

Service Cover - £7 per monthBasic Cover - £14.50 per monthFull Cover - £19.50 per month

OUR BOILERMAINTENANCE

COVER

Details of cover... parts and labour up to £700, including VAT,each time your heating system breaks down or needs repairing •

Annual service of your gas central heating • If your boiler becomesobsolete or uneconomical to repair, 1st Call Gas will deduct £200

from the cost of a new boiler installed by the company. For a full list of what is NOT covered (and terms/conditions),

please call the number below...

Help is at hand over Christmas and New Year if youhave trouble with your heating. Engineers at

1st Call Gas Services will be on standby, and respondwithin 24 hours of being alerted to problems. If it’sa white Christmas, don’t worry - they have 4x4

vehicles to ensure they reach customers.

Boilers ServicedThe best way of avoiding a heating breakdown is for

1st Call Gas Services to service your boiler now,before the icy weather arrives. The cost is £60 plus VAT.

But book soon as dates between now andChristmas are almost full.

Boilers FittedIf you are looking for a new boiler, 1st Call Gas

services can install one from £1,445 - which includesVAT and installation. Please call now, as there is alimited number of fitting dates prior to Christmas.1st Call Gas now offer 0% finance on all boilers

and bathroom installations.

Christmas Boiler Call-OutsAAnn eennggiinneeeerr ccaann bbee aatt yyoouurr hhoommee

wwiitthhiinn 2244 hhoouurrss ooff aa hheeaattiinngg bbrreeaakkddoowwnn oovveerr tthhee ffeessttiivvee ppeerriioodd

(L-R) Dave, Amanda, Mel and Hayley, and Leon

I


FREEPHONE

0800 038 0302

Professional Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Service

CHRISTMAS OFFERS

Carpet (single room) was £50 now £30Carpet (through-room) was £80 now £45Landing, stairway & entrance hall was £50 now £353-Seat Settee + 2 Chairs £90Rugs from £15

• Free Stain Removal •• Free Carpet Deodoriser •

Bents Green Nursery

Muskoka Avenue, Sheffield S11 7RLOn Ringinglow Road, turn at the Hammer & Pincers pub to follow Muskoka Drive, and take the 2nd left into Muskoka Avenue. We are at the end of the cul-de-sac

0114 230 4101

We have a good selection ofevergreen shrubs andhyacinth bowls, whichmake great Christmas gifts

Visit us For Christmas Trees& Natural Festive wreathsOur real trees are available from November 29th: Spruce, Nordman, and ScotsPine - potted from 3ft, cut from 4 to 9ft (local delivery available)

Our hand-made Christmas wreathscombine natural products such as conifer,holly, red berries, pine cones,and dried flowers. They willmake your home lookwonderfully festive. Prices start at £7.95. We arenow taking pre-orders

HTA GIFTVOUCHERSAVAILABLE

Contact Richard

0782 576 7514Email: [email protected]

Richard - Sheffield born and bred - isa former Royal Marine commandowho took part in the 2003 invasion ofIraq. He didn’t do any decoratingthere, but was decorated for his partin two months of fighting in andaround Basra.

ONE ROOM AT A TIMEMany of Richard’s customers have their homes decoratedin stages, as funds allow - bedrooms, hallway, kitchen,

lounge...

PREPARATION IS VITAL“Painting and wallpapering are the easy parts of my job,”says Richard. “The hard bit is the preparation. Unless it isdone thoroughly, rooms don’t have the professional finishpeople want. I put tremendous effort into sanding wood

and filling cracks in plaster.”

CHOOSE YOUR COLOUR SCHEMERichard uses top quality paints from Farrow & Ball, and

Dulux. His customers can chose from a multitude ofshades in gloss, emulsion, eggshell and satinwood.

www.drewdecor.co.uk

Decorator Richard Drew (centre) and his team will give your home a fresh

and colourful lookBOOKINGS NOW BEING TAKEN FOR

THE NEW YEAR

298A Meadowhead, Sheffield S8 7UH 0114 274 7288 www.sheffieldkitcheninteriors.co.uk

Sheffield Kitchen Interiors, of Meadowhead, is a family-run business established 11 years ago by Paul Fish. He creates stunning bespoke kitchens, bedrooms and home offices. Expect first class workmanship, incorporating the latesttechnology - backed by an experienced team of designers and fitters

Sheffield Kitchen Interiors


Our ‘Smashing’ New Displays

It was earlier this year that a speeding car wreckedSheffield Kitchen Interiors’ Meadowhead shopfront in the earlyhours. It had to be rebuilt, then work started on renewingthe kitchen layouts.

Everything has now been restored to its former glory, and youare invited to view the splendid settings that could soon be fittedinto the kitchen of your home. It is 11 years since Sheffield Kitchen Interiors opened its doors,

and the business has enjoyed sustained growth thanks to areputation for design flair and reliability.On display is a multitude of stylish units with gloss or matt

finishes, alongside solid-wood cabinetry... tall contemporary wallunits with built-in coffee makers... and Shaker-style cabinetspainted to whatever shade suits you.

Sheffield Kitchen Interiors uses a combination of the latesttechnology and years of experience to design kitchens of anysize and style. From Design To Installation. Sheffield Kitchen Interiors

look after every aspect of each project, from initial drawings toplumbing and plastering. All you have to worry about is whichmeal you will prepare when the work is done.

When a car crashed into the showroom at Sheffield Kitchen Interiors there was so much damage that the premises had to be revamped... which means

there are now many new layouts for customers to see

Crash, bang, wallop! Footage from a neighbouring shop’sCCTV show the car lose control (see below), slide sidewaysfrom the road, then bounce off a kerb and into SheffieldKitchen Interiors’ frontage.All windows and granite sills at the front of the shop were

destroyed, as were a step, the front door and ceiling.Flooring and kitchen displays were also damaged.Sheffield Kitchen

interiors’ Lisa Fish says: “Despite the crash, we didour best to ensurecustomers’ installationdates were not affected

Merry Christmas !”

NIGHT OF THE DRIVE-THROUGH

I

Never cross the road carrying a coffin.It’s very dangerous. The four bearersin this photograph from our archivesmight seem to be taking a risk with

oncoming traffic, but I am sure they are not. Hearses always park at the side of the road

nearest where a coffin is to be carried.Moments earlier our bearers will have lifted thecoffin from the vehicle.

You might assume that if this was so thehearse’s doors should still be open, but we insistthey are closed by the director of the funeralimmediately a coffin is removed. As you can seefrom our photograph, closed doors make thescene so much ‘tidier’.

Though the bearers might seem to havecrossed from the far side of the road, they willhave stepped back a few paces to be clear of thehearse doors, and ready themselves to moveforward. The blurred left foot of the man nearestus indicates that he and the others have begun tostart walking. Are they going towards theentrance of a churchyard or cemetery?

I doubt that. It is unlikely that a funeral is taking place.

The coffin is probably being brought to the homeof the deceased either the day before a funeral,or a few hours before the ceremony takes place.This was normal practice until the 1960s,allowing family members to pay their lastrespects to a loved one inprivate. The coffin would beplaced on a trestle, with itslid removed.

Also, there are no flowerson the coffin or in/on thehearse... and no mournersin view. The road is narrow, and gardens are nearby,suggesting we are in aresidential area. There couldbe a church, chapel orcemetery out of view onthe left. But again, I am doubtful.

The pall will be purple, with gold crossesand braiding, which tells us the deceased was

a Protestant, though I cannot say of whichchurch. Our old photograph was filed withouta caption, so we can only guess where the imagewas shot. The houses - looming out of the mist -seem typical of grand old edifices we knowin Kenwood, Brincliffe and Nether Edge.Their gardens are full of trees, all without leaves.,

so the scene could be fromany time between earlyNovember and late February.

It is probably cold, but thekerbstones at far left tell usthe weather is dry.

Note the hearse’s quaintnumber plate. That MA prefixtells us the vehicle waslicensed in Cheshire, probablywhere it was built.

Sheffield vehicles of thisperiod - probably the 1930s -

carried the prefix WJ. Driving licences have goneup in price a bit since then... when they werefive shillings (25p).

End Of The Road

But a funeral is probably not taking place

Houses loomingout of the mistseem typical ofgrand properties

in Kenwood,Brincliffe andNether Edge


Telephone day or night: 0114 272 2222John Heath & Sons

• Earsham Street • Ecclesall Road • Crookes • Stannington • Meadowhead • Ecclesfield • Hollinsend • Eckington


With Jason Heath, of funeraldirectors John Heath & Sons,Sheffield

Immortal Words

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Follow me on Facebook


Follow me on Facebook If you have enjoyed reading my Grapevine column these last 15 years take a look at myFacebook page which is regularly updated with the latest tech tips and news stories

This Christmas high-tech presentswill again be best sellers. Here aresome for your gift list

Apple iPad Air 2019 - £455, johnlewis.comThere are quite a few

different iPads, but the updatediPad Air is the one I like. There isa smart connector for akeyboard, which is useful forthose who prefer to type theold fashioned way. A really goodbalance of price, performanceand portability.

Whistle GO Pet Tracker - £130, amazon.co.ukDog and cat owners will no longerneed to panic when their petwanders off. Whistle Go is a GPStracker that keeps tabs on Fidoand Kittykins. It also monitorstheir exercise levels.

Giiker Smart Supercube Puzzle Game

- £33, uk.banggood.comThis is a Rubik’s cube, andthen some. It tracks users’puzzle-solving progress via anapp, and gives mini challenges.

It also collects game stats on performance. mBot Robot Kit

- £74.99, clasohlson.comTeach kids the joys of artificialintelligence by giving them arobot friend. mBot (pictured right)is a programmable playmate thatmakes use of coding skills tofunction and move.

ZUS Smart Vehicle Health Monitor- £47, amazon.co.ukWho needs garage mechanics? This monitor

uses an app that allows drivers to check howtheir vehicle is performing

LARQ Self Cleaning Bottle- £82, bloomingdales.com

Civilisation could collapse atany time, so it is important thatyou and friends have a LARQBottle, which has a waterpurification system. It uses UV-C LED light to eliminate

up to 99.9999% of bio-contaminantsfrom the bottle and its water.Activates itself every two hours.

My Arcade Pixel Classic - £19.99, amazon.co.ukThere are many retrogaming devicesavailable, and the

My Arcade Pixel Classic isone of the least expensive.It is a portable gaming device

with 300 built-in video games,including classic titles fromData East that you can’t findanywhere else...includingBurger Time, Karate Champ andBad Dudes!

Tile Pro - £27.99, amazon.co.uk

Tile is the best-selling Bluetoothtracker on the market. It allows youto easily locate belongings usingyour smartphone and also throughclever location assistance fromTile’s own community of app users.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Techmas!Gadgets costing from£20 to £455...

With Adrian Arksey, ofByte Back!

An American called Wilson Bentley died just before Christmas 1931, renowned as

the first person in the world to photograph what he called ‘tiny miracles of beauty.’

They were snow crystals, which he first examined under a microscope while a boy,

eventually concluding that no two are alike. IAN MACGILL presents a blizzard of

information about The Snowflake Man

Mr Snowf

Wilson Bentley with his unique camera. Below are some of its ‘miracles’ - the first

snow crystals ever photographed


Wilson Bentley was a strangeAmerican youth. He becameobsessed by snow, probablyin February 1880, when for

his 15th birthday his mother gave him a second-hand microscope.

The gift allowed Bentley to examine snowcrystals, hundreds of which can make up asingle snowflake. This involved him sitting ina woodshed for long periods during freezingweather - holding his breath for fear of meltingthe feather-like beauties.

He was not short of subject matter. On thefarm where he lived in the northern state ofVermont people dreaded winter. Snow fell likegoose feathers. Accumulations of several feetwere not uncommon.

What Bentley saw under his microscopehe later described as “tiny miracles of nature.”Perfect snow crystals had six sides, thoughmany were mangled during their descent.Some fell singly, but hundreds could combine inthe atmosphere to create what we colloquiallyrefer to as a snowflake. All appeared to bedifferent, and scientists today believe that sincethe beginning of time no two snow crystalshave been exactly alike, though it is hard tocheck because they melt so quickly, which wasBentley’s big problem.

He felt sad that winter’s works of artvanished without anyone else but him havingseen them. Bentley began drawing snow crystalsbut his sketches could not capture theircomplexity.

Then he met a man called Henry Seely,who had been born in the valley where Bentleylived, and had opened a photographic studio inthe nearby state of Connecticut. The two ofthem discussed how to use cameras, whichwere big, awkward items of machinery.

Bentley realised he might be able to makeperfect images of snow crystals byphotographing them, thus preserving their beauty.

To do so he would needa better microscope,and a camera that could beattached to it. Photographywas in its infancy, yet Bentley- still only 17 - beganworking out how to practise‘photo-micrography’, whichhe seems to have read aboutin magazine articles.

His father was a no-nonsense farmer whothought Bentley was mad “for fussin’ withsnowflakes” - and even madder to request thefantastic sum of $100 for camera equipmentBut Bentley’s mother believed in her son’sdream, and money was forthcoming.The ramshackle photographic device Bentley

created is shown on theopposite page. It servedhim well for almost halfa century.

Capturing snow crystalswas something Bentley hadworked out how to do whensketching them. He useda piece of board paintedblack, which allowed him tosee crystals as they fell.

The wonky ones he brushed away with aturkey feather, but suitable specimens he wouldlift using a splinter from a broom handle. Theywere transferred to his microscope slide in thecold woodshed, where he tried to create theworld’s first photograph of a snow crystal.

Bentley’s first attempts during the winter of1883 were a failure, but the next year he

adjusted his camera, and useda longer exposure.

On January 15th, 1885, historywas made.

“That day,” Bentley said, “I developedthe first negative made by my method,and found it was good. I felt like falling onmy knees beside that apparatus andworshipping it. I knew that what I had

dreamed of waspossible. It was thegreatest moment ofmy life.”

A snow crystal wasfinally captured on film.Bentley was not yet 20,and for the next 46winters of his life hewould photograph 5,000snow crystals in that

valley where he lived in Vermont, many ofwhich are still available for us to see.Ironically, it was snowy weather that ledto Bentley’s death. He made a long walkhome, some say during a blizzard, whichled to him contracting pneumonia.

At 3.30am on Wednesday, December 23rd,1931, Wilson Alwyn Bentley,aged 66, “passed into the sleepthat knows no waking,” as anadmirer later wrote. The funeral was held on the

afternoon of Boxing Day,in a graveyard covered by a thinveil of snow beneath a blue sky.

Bentley had not married,and was buried near to his

parents and grandparents. His gravestone bears the simple inscription

shown below...

History was madewhen Bentley

finally captureda snow crystal

on film in Januaryof 1885. He wasonly 19 years old

‘There is no surerroute to fairylandthan that which

leads to theobservation of snow forms’

- Wilson Bentley

Will we have a white Christmas? Yes and no. Snowflakes are made oftranslucent ice crystals, and only tricks of light make them seem white

There are several books about Wilson Bentley.

The one featured above is for children:

‘Snowflake Bentley’

It is available from Amazon at £5.99

flake’s Miracles

Are all snowflakesdifferent? It seems so,

though we cannotknow for certain

Snow usually falls atspeeds of 1-4mph

Dread of winteris ‘chionophobia’,from the Greek‘chion’ for snow,

and ‘phobos’ - fear


It is a ghostly sight at airport car parksin the early hours... hundreds of frost-shrouded vehicles waiting for theirowners to return from Christmas/New

Year holidays.Many cars will have flat batteries, or brakes

jammed by extreme cold. The consequencesof those problems are nightmarish forfamilies who have just come back from sunnyclimes, and want to get home as quickly aspossible. They won’t be going anywhere fast.

Our cars are not accustomed to being leftin the middle of nowhere to endure Arcticblasts for one, two, or even four weeks at astretch, and it is amazing how thick frost ona vehicle can become when it is not drivenfor a long period. Most people de-ice theircars every day before heading out and about,and therefore do not appreciate how thick afreezing blanket frost creates.COLD CAN LOCK BRAKESWhen a vehicle is left in extreme cold for

a prolonged period its brakes can stick.This is because the low temperature willmake the metal of your wheels bond withcarbon in their brake pads.

There is far less risk of this happening ifyour car has been serviced at our garagebefore the cold weather begins. We stripdown each brake as a matter of course,and make sure the surfaces are clean, and

the mechanisms are moving properly. REPLACE THAT OLD BATTERYAn old car battery can quickly be drained

by cold weather, and leave you stranded,so replace it before winter with a goodquality one. Some budget batteries will onlylast 18 months, while more expensive typescan give ten years of reliable service.We have a wide range available.

So beware. As soon as Jack Frost sees youheading for that check-in desk at theairport he will set to work laying

a thick coat of ice over your vehicle. It issomething he will do again and again whileyou are sunbathing in Florida, which couldresult in your festive break ending up as a carpark non-starter.

Being stranded in the early hours of awintry morning is no fun at all, so pleasebook-in your car for a service well before

the winter holiday season takes off. Merry Christmas!

TAVERN SERVICE STATIONManchester Road, Crosspool, Sheffield (opposite the Crosspool Tavern) Tel: 0114 266 2408

Open Monday-Friday: 8am-6pm

TAVERN SERVICE STATION services, repairs and MoTs all types of vehicles quickly,efficiently and at modest cost. We offer all makes of tyres and batteries

Our range of MoTs is extensive: MoT Class 4 (cars) • MoT Class 5 (mini-buses) • MoT Class 7 (large vans)


With Ross Kerfoot, Manager ofTavern Service Station, Crosspool

Under the Bonnet

Don’t be stranded at the airport after your Christmas holiday

Cost Of Frost

I


The Christmas period is our busiesttime of year, so please come andsee us soon to ensure your new fire and hearth are fitted in time

for Santa’s arrival. Our showroom is a grotto of flaming

great ideas, with over a hundred displays. We have every style, from ultra-modern hole-in-the-wall designs, to traditional ones with timber, marble or limestonesurrounds, and one of the widest selections of stoves in Britain, which includes log-burning models.

There are all kinds of different fires in ourshowroom - gas, electric, the latest greentechnology, and remote-control designs.There is an area for hole-in-the-wall fires.

We offer so many different hearth designsand materials that one is sure to be perfectfor your home, including limestone, marble,granite and wood.

Our showroom is the ideal place to seefires because they are in room settings.

Always make a selection before decidinghow to decorate the room where your fire will be fitted. The reason for this is

that decorations and a fireplace can easilyclash. Our displays will help you avoid this problem. HETAS approvedOur specialist installation teams are GAS

SAFE and HETAS approved (official bodiesrecognised by the government to approvesolid fuel domestic heating appliances). Largest showroom in the areaWe have hundreds of working examples of

the latest fires and fireplaces. Stove DemonstrationsWe hold these events every Saturday.

We can give your living room a roaring fire in time for thefestive season. But please hurry!

F A C T O R Y ESTABLISHED 30 YEARS

5 Aizlewood Road (off Abbeydale Road),

0114 255 5794www.fireplacefactoryoutlet.co.ukMon-Fri 10am-4.30pm Sat 10am-2pm

City CentreABBEYDALE ROAD

Aizlewood RoadOld Abbeydalepicture palace

We arehere

With David Payne (near right)and Karl Ibbertson,

of Fireplace Factory Outlet

Fired With Ideas

We are official Sheffield stockists of the Chesney’s range of fireplaces and

stoves. This is a world renowned brand,famed for excellence in design

and manufacture

Glow BeforeThe Snow

Join us every Saturday for a wood-burning stove demonstration


PROFESSIONALKITCHEN PAINTER

07984 070 617www.cmbakerltd.com

Is your kitchen looking old& worn? If it is, t

hen Chris Baker can help.

Instead of spending thousand ofpounds on a new kitchen, let ChrisBaker of PAINTWOOD hand-paintyour units in one of his elegant

shades, giving an olde worlde feel, ora modern look. He guarantees everysurface for seven years, including

varnished ones.

SEVEN-YEAR

GUARANTEE

Tradesman for The Chatsworth House Estate & The English Heritage Trust

That’s what tens of thousands of people around the world do!

Uniformed and professionally trained staff

100% guaranteed and fully insured

Regular or occasional cleans

Free in-home estimate

All materials supplied

No contracts

100% guaranteed and fully insuredMore

affordable

than you

think!Free in-home estimate

All materials supplied

than you

think!think!think!

Trust the domestic cleaning e

experts at MOLLY MAID

Covering the S7, S8,S10 & S11 postcodes

0114 321 6150www.mollymaid.co.uk

2

46 Sandygate Road, Crosspool S10 5RY 0114 266 9888

[email protected] LL OO OO RR II NN GG

With Damian Moore, of Layers Carpets - Crosspool and Dronfield

Floors In Store

Layers laid luxury vinyl tilesin the hall of a Whirlowhouse, and top qualitycarpet to the stairs

Stylish Vinyl ToneIn Herringbone

Fitting patterned vinyl flooring is not easy,writes Damian Moore, of Layers, becauseits shapes have to be symmetrical.Everything must line-up to give an

elegant look... which our fitters achieved whenlaying herringbone-style heavy duty 'luxury vinyltile' (LVT)at the Whirlow home of Mike andMelanie Sinnett.

Our photograph at bottom left shows flooringin the hall and vestibule. The front and internaldoorways have different widths, and theiropenings are slightly off-set. Yet the herringbonelines-up perfectly on each side of the innerdoorway. Each plank was fitted individually, whichtakes a great deal of skill from our fitter. The floorwas prepped (plywood and screed) to thecorrect standard to ensure the product performsto its best and ensures the product is guaranteed.‘MAGNIFICENT’ HALL FLOORINGMike and Melanie asked us to fit the flooring

because we have worked at their home a numberof times. In 2003 we fitted a lounge carpet, and in2017 laid vinyl to the kitchen and dining room.

On our most recent visit we also fitted a topquality beige/grey 80/20 wool-twist carpet, with a high density underlay.

We also fitted a small vinyl roll end to acupboard - we have lots of small vinyl roll ends to clear at knock down prices.

Customer comment “We last replaced the stairs carpet when we moved here in 1986,” says Mike. “It was so old that the underlay haddisintegrated. Our new carpet and underlay arewonderfully bouncy, and the hall flooring ismagnificent. We wanted something different to a wood-plank style. We asked Layers to do the work because we have always been happy with their work.”

LAYERS’ FITTING SERVICEWe expertly lay all types of residential and

commercial flooring, and have the joinery skills totrim doors/kitchen plinths, and repair squeakyfloorboards. If necessary, we can replace your oldskirting boards with new ones.

Also, we are happy to move and replace heavyitems of furniture while doing our work, and willdispose of old floor coverings.

We fit all kinds of commercial flooring,including entrance matting and safety floors forkitchens, toilets, bathrooms and workshops.

At our showroom you can borrow samples tosee how they could look at your home/office.



Rosalind Watchorn Solicitors are at 10 Kenwood Park Road, Sheffield S7 1NFThey deal with wills, probate, elderly issues, property and conveyancing.

• 0114 229 0160 • www.rwatchorn.co.uk • Home visits can be arranged if you are unable to attend the office

With Rosalind Watchorn,Sheffield solicitor

Legal Eagle

Providing For Pets

You cannot bequeath moneyor property to your petsbecause they are not legalentities. But it is possible to

provide for them after your death. If the pets can be cared for by

relatives or friends, you could makearrangements for them through yourWill. A bequest which is conditionalupon your trusted friends agreeing tocare for your pet is sometimes theanswer. Such details could be set out in

your will, or a separate signeddocument, which would ensure yourwishes are legally enforceable.For those without anyone to look

after their pets, one of the animal

charities might do so - though some require a legacy to fund care. Such a bequest would not

be subject to Inheritance Tax. If you choose to bequeath tocharities 10% of your netestate, then the rest of itcould benefit from areduced rate of taxation. If you are concerned

about providing for petsafter your death, orhave other concernsregarding wills and taxplanning, we offer a free, no-obligation meeting to discuss such matters.

Dad, the dogs want to know which of them will inherit your armchair

What will happen to your animals after you die? Their welfare can be secured by providing for them in a carefully prepared will

NEW IMAGESPECIAL OCCASION WEARwww.new-image.co.uk

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING EVENT

Enjoy a glass of Prosecco and make a little time for you!GREAT ACCESSORIES AND GIFT IDEAS

20th and 21st November - open until 7pm20% discount off clothing and our wonderful selection ofhandbags and accessories - perfect Christmas gifts

3

With James Broomheadof Graham Bathrooms

Beautiful Bathing

319 London Road, Sheffield S2 4NG0114 250 0432 www.askgraham.co.uk

We created this layout forcustomers in Crosspool byremoving the wall separatingtheir bathroom and WC

Shower In... Bath Out


We are experts at creating walk-in shower areas, writes JamesBroomhead, of GrahamBathrooms. In recent years many

customers have asked us to replace theirbaths with large, easy-access showering areas.The key to designing them well is to ensure

there is plenty of space around the showerentrance, so there can be no danger of

tumbling over the loo, or knocking againsta washbasin. An example of a well thought-out shower

area is the one shown here, which wedesigned for customers in Crosspool.Extra space was created by removingtheir bath, and knocking out a wall betweenthe bathroom and WC.The showering area is now located where

the WC used to be. We fitted a Merlyn Arystoshower door - which opens in, not out(another space-saving measure). The showerarea has an Impey wet-deck system and ashower supplied by Hansgrohe.The WC, bidetand basin (with vanity unit below) are fromVitra Designer. There is an illuminated HIBcabinet, Roca taps and Keraben tiles

Customer comment...“We were very happy with everything Anne

from Graham designed for us. She gave usgreat advice on products for our bathroom.The fitter was Ivan, who completed the job toa high standard.”

Graham’s showroom stocks top endproducts by Laura Ashley, Geberit. Heritage,Roca, Ideal Standard, Mira, Roper Rhodes,Merlyn, Matki... and many more. Expect superb styles and excellent quality,

with a range for every taste and budget,from traditional to contemporary. As well as super bathroom products,

customers can choose from a list of elite

professional fitters, whose talents are triedand tested. The bathroom featured here wasfitted by Ivan Hughes.We use the latest 3-D computer technology

that allows us to show you on-screen exactlyhow your bathroom will look before it is installed.

Graham is a national company with 147 branches across Britain


724 Chesterfield Road, Woodseats, Sheffield

0114 255 4814Open Monday to Saturday 9am-5.30pmD.W. Garrett

I’ll Repair Your JewelleryD. W. Garrett, of Woodseats, will restore your damaged treasures

I’m fairly sure you have lovely items ofjewellery that are never wornbecause a clasp has broken, or a

stone has fallen out, writes Kevin Gilmour,of D.W Garrett.Let me renew those pieces.

Bring them to my showroom inWoodseats and I will assess the damage.All jewellery is mended on-site to ensurean efficient service.Fine jewellery needs ‘servicing’ to keep

it looking like new. This extends its life,and prevents the loss of diamonds and

other gems.I check prongs that hold stones in

place, and tighten them if necessary,as well as inspecting clasps for signsof wear. Also, I can professionally clean

and polish your treasures, makingthem sparkle.

Kevin Gilmour has many years’experience repairing all kinds ofjewellery. He is a qualified gemologist,and a member of the GemmologicalAssociation of Great Britain.

With Kevin Gilmour, of D.W. Garrett

Golden Touch

MJLEE JOINERYMJLEE JOINERYBy Martin Lee

Free quotes and advice on interior andexterior joinery including...

• Door hanging • Worktop replacement • Kitchens •• Spindle staircases • Flat-pack assembly •

• Pipe boxings • Loft ladders (supplied and fitted) • • Laminate flooring • No job is too small •

0114 274 5428 or 0785 431 43205 Periwood Avenue • Millhouses

Millennium House, 30 Junction Road, Sheffield S11 8XB

0114 3491 454designer direct designer direct • KITCHENS • BEDROOMS • STUDIES •FFaaccttoorryy ddiirreecctt ddeessiiggnneerr kkiittcchheennss

at unbeatable prices

5 star rated business

Reviews

WHY DKD?Unique designs, unbeatable quality & prices

D


Quality kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms

We look after everythingFull design and installation service

Skilled craftsmen/tilers, electrical Part P qualified and Gas Safe registered

Melvin Greville (left) and Mark Foulstone have been designing and fitting kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms for 30 years. They do not have a showroom or sales team, and do the design work and fitting themselves. This lowers

their overheads, and allows them to offer unbeatable quality at a fair price

Mark 07891 019 263 Melvin 07845 204 026

0114 236 0307 [email protected]

Problems With Your TV,DVD, Audio Equipment?

We Can Repair It

MALDEN ROOFING

Malden Roofing Contractors(Sheffield) Ltd

PROFESSIONAL APPROACH TO FLAT ROOF INSTALLATIONS

• Built-up Felt Roofing• Single-ply Systems• Asphalt Roofing, Flooring, Walkways & Balconies

• Liquid Applications• Roof Lights & Insulations• Environmentally Friendly Eco-Roofs• Garden Roofing & Waterproofing• Fibreglass Roofing (GRP Systems)• On Site Surveys• All Work Guaranteed.

0114 2725399 & 2753399

[email protected] www.malden-roofing.co.uk

Single-ply roofing at Millhouses

New rooflights and high performance felt system at Hunters Bar Vets’ Surgery, Ecclesall Road

3


• Advanced City & Guilds qualified • • All aspects of plastering •

• Venetian Polished Plaster & Microcement •

ABBEY DELL0773 274 4188 (0114 262 0031after 6pm)

www.abbeydellplasteringandtiling.co.uk

Owner Craig Welsh holds theAdvanced City & Guilds certificate

in wall & floor tiling

We import our materials fromSpain, Italy and France. They are100% organic. Microcement andVenetian plaster can be applieddirectly over tiles, so there is noneed for them to be removed

Search for Cimentart Sheffield

NEW SHOWROOM NOW OPENon Derbyshire Lane by appointment.

Official training instructor for

NOW TAKINGBOOKINGS FORDECEMBER

TILING • PLASTERING • VENETIAN POLISHED PLASTER

DO YOU DREAM OF A NEW KITCHEN?by simply replacing the doors and worktops

QUALITY KITCHEN MAKEOVERS BY LOCAL PROFESSIONALS

THE UK’S #1 KITCHEN MAKEOVER EXPERTS. EST. 1999

www.dreamdoors.co.uk

SEE WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE TO SAY

FAMILY RUNBUSINESS

BEFORE

AVERAGE SCORE 9.7/10

20%DISCOUNT

for September*

197 She�eld Road,Chesterfield, S41 7JQCall us now for a free estimate:

01246 221 299

� From simple door replacements to complete fitted kitchens

� Fully installed by local professionals in just a few days

� Choose from a large selection of doors, worktops and appliances

� 90 showrooms nationwide

* Terms & conditions apply

20%DISCOUNT

FOR DECEMBER*

YEAR ROUND PROFESSIONAL GARDEN CARE

For all other enquiries please call John 07922 172 299

more information available on our Facebook page @FolkwoodGarden

Garden Services Ltd

Autumn lawn treatment:Shrub and perennial borders:

Hedges:Trees:

GENERAL

ALL ASPECTS OF GARDEN CONSTRUCTIONEXTRA SLOTS AVAILABLE FOR GARDEN MAINTENANCE

BOOK NOWCALL JENNIE ON 07717 797 494

AUTUMN CLEARANCE

Owner John (centre), with his team

LANDSCAPING ANDPROPERTY REPAIRS


RUBBISH REMOVEDWe Take Away Most Items...• Gardening & DIY Material •

• Building Waste • Single items • • Cookers • Washing Machines •

• Carpets • Sofas • Baths • Radiators •

Clearance & RemovalService Available For...

• Gardens • Sheds • Garages • • Lofts & Cellars •

• Full & Part House Clearances •

For a FREE quote call 07860 210 156

Our service is often cheaper than a skip- and you don’t have to fill it!

We are a licensed waste carrier, and at your door will show

our identification, and EnvironmentAgency Certification

DALTONROOFING

Phil Dalton, and his eldest son Daniel

THE TRUTH:YOU NEED A GOOD ROOF

We are a small family-run business,and have been keeping a roof over Sheffielders' heads for 25 years

EXPERTS IN REPAIRING ORREPLACING ALL KINDS OF ROOFS

Lumley Street, SheffieldTel: 0114 279 9799www.daltonroofing.co.uk

The stunning new PDQ Bathrooms showroom near Meadowhallhas over 40 displays - and 4D virtual reality technology that allows you to go walkabout in a layout of your choosing

M1 N

orth

Meadowhall Road

Meadowhall

Jessops Riverside

Franks & Co Limited

South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation

River Don

M1 S

outh

Sheffield City CentreUnit 28 Jessops Riverside, 800 Brightside Lane, Sheffield S9 2RX

0114 256 [email protected]

Merry Christmas from all a

Customer in Lodge Moor‘Yet again we were very impressed with Sheffield

Window Centre’s high standards of service.’

Customer in Dore‘Sheffield Windows competed the job in a day. They are lovely’

people, who are not pushy and don’t pester. I like that.’

Customer in Lodge Moor‘I was really impressed with Sheffield Window Centre,

especially their no-pressure sales policy’


With Ian Hunter and his son, Ian, of Sheffield WindowCentre

Pane Relief

THE GLASS OF 2019HOMES FEATURED IN GRAPEVINE THIS YEAR

Showrooms atOakbrook Road, Nether Green, and Rockingham Street (near West Bar).

Our head office is on Broad Lane, and our factory is on Scotland Street.

0114 281 3333

& Happy New Year at Sheffield Window Centre

Customer in Crosspool‘The new windows and front door look great. The fitters werevery efficient, and finished everything without much disruption’

Customer in Dore‘Sheffield Window Centre’s customer service

has been excellent’

Customer in Fulwood‘Our new uPVC facias and guttering are

virtually maintenance free’

ASD Solicitors’ offices on Ecclesall Road‘We were happy with the price, and impressed at how

efficiently the work was completed’



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Full handyman serviceI’m Steve, an all-round handyman and

property repairer. Does your fencing need treatingor replacing? Does the shed need re-felting? If

your kitchen is looking tired, I’ll fit a new one, orspruce things up with new doors and worktops. Letme replace your old internal doors for a modern

look. Visit my website to see examples of recentlycompleted work www.handyman-sheffield.co.uk

Do you need...flat-pack furniture assembled?

new fitted wardrobes?general joinery work?

leaking tap fixing?tiling and grouting?

No job is too small.My rates are very

competitive

Fully insured and CRB checked

Tel: 07761 345 154 or 0114 234 8603 (after 6pm)

• New suites and chairs • Re-upholstery • Loose covers

VISIT OUR SHOWROOM MON-FRI 9am-5pmSAT 9.30am-4.30pm

Tel: Showroom 0114-234-0682Evening: 0114-234-6038

92-94 Bradfield Road, Sheffield

WHERE THE CHOICE IS YOURS

All carried out by our skilled craftsmen in our Sheffield-based workshops

We have been established for almost 35 years, and are Sheffield’s leadingindependent retailer and installer of curtains, blinds, tracks and poles

• Blinds for all rooms, including those awkward bays.• We can design and supply pleated solar-reflective

conservatory and skylight roof blinds.• Bay-tracks and poles, including wrought-iron and

Silent Gliss ‘Wave’ systems. Hand drawn, corded orelectrically-operated.

• Vertical, venetian, roller, pleated, roman, wood-slat,

room-darkening and contemporary ‘vision’ blinds.Manually or electrically-operated.

• Take advantage of our home advisory andfitting service.

• Moonlight’s contracts division has been establishedover 25 years, providing top quality flame-retardantcurtains and blinds for workplaces.

76-88 Abbeydale Road, Sheffield 0114 258 8555

[email protected]

Winter will be so much warmer thanks to the glow ofour vibrant colours, writes Paul Smith, of MoonlightTextiles. We have a vast range of beautiful, versatilefabrics that light up rooms even on the darkest,

dreariest days. In our workrooms we can tailor these materials to suitwhatever you have in mind.

Christmas is coming! There is still time for us to make and fitcurtains and accessories before Santa pops down your chimney.But be quick! We become very busy towards the end of the year.If you would like curtains for Christmas you must visit us before theend of November.

Step One. We give advice on designs and fabric choices in ourshowroom... or at your home.

Step Two. Materials we offer can be converted into curtains,pelmets, blinds, and accessories. Either make them yourself, or let ourseamstresses run them up for you.

Step Three. One of our fitting teams will come to your homeand expertly install curtains, poles or blinds and accessories.

When you visit Moonlight’s showroom, browse through ourextensive fabrics library, which has superb collections featuring manyquality brands. Most have matching wall coverings - including somewonderful designs to co-ordinate with children’s materials.

Do bring a piece of your room to us, such as wallpaper, cushions,an off-cut of carpet, and let us blend your decor with our fabrics.We’ll loan you materials and blinds swatches free of charge.

Nothing is too much trouble for Moonlight!Blinds! Blinds! Blinds! We can design, supply, and install all

styles of blinds for your home, and have a superb range forconservatories.

ChristmasCurtain CallMoonlight Textiles will brighten your home in time for the festive season

With Paul Smith, ofMoonlight Textiles,

Abbeydale Road, Sheffield

Fine Fabrics



OVENS CLEANED!I’m Gary Parker, The Oven Guy. I do the job you hate - cleaning the oven, hob, grill and extractor.

I use a non-corrosive, odourless solution that isharmless to children and pets. All oven racks

are removed and cleaned.

It costs £45for me to clean a single oven

• Double oven - £55• Oven ranges from - £70• Hob or extractor £10 each • Range-hob and extractors are from £15

07960 799 904

CHRISTMAS DINNER... ...is only weeks away - and I’m taking

bookings for December

Merry Christmas to all my customers

•Driveways resurfaced& widened

•Patios, steps & paths

•Artificial grass

•All types of walling

•Block paving, flags & natural stone

•Wood decking

•Composite decking & balustrades

•Fencing & turf laying

We are garden design& makeover experts

www.groundforcepaving.co0114 400 1718 Open: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm

Sun 10am-4pm

• Carpets• Vinyls• Rugs• Woods & Laminates• Karndean Flooring• Roll Ends

GUERNSEY ROAD

QUEENS ROAD

LONDON ROAD

LONDON ROAD

WOLSELEY ROAD

BROADFIELD ROAD

COMET DUNELM MILL

MACHINE MART

BENSON’S CARPETS21 Guernsey Road, Sheffield S2 4HG0114 258 4404

www.bensonscarpets.co.ukMention this Grapevine advert and receive a

£50 voucherwhen you spend £500 or over on any of

our Karndean flooring.Available on orders placed in December & January


Independent Bespoke Bathroom &Wetroom Refurbishment Specialists

Free Quotes, Fully Insured, All Work GuaranteedOver the last 13 years we have established areputation for trust built on our integrity, qualityand reliabilityWe provide free, independent advice, excellentcraftsmanship, plus 12month guarantees onwork we undertakeOur prompt, polite engineers will treat you, your family and your home with respect,and ensure that everything is left clean and tidy

Our customers say…‘Great attention to detail’

‘The work is nothing less than perfect’

‘We can’t recommend the service enough’

Call Chris on 07908 898 827 www.shephardltd.co.ukIntegrity, Quality & Reliability

ShephardPlumbing

& Heating Ltd

Owner Chris ShephardNOW TAKING BOOKI NGSFOR INSTALLATIONS FROM DECEMBER ONWARDS

Want to extend your home?Need help with planning or

building regulation drawings?Millhouses Design Limited is an architectural

practice specialising in newhouse builds, home extensions and loft conversions.

We provide impartial, reliable, affordable designadvice and project management services.

• Led by qualified professionalswith senior architectural andproject managementexperience

• Pressurefree expert advice• Guidance for design, planning

and preconstruction stages• Project management

during the construction phase of your project

• Full professional indemnityand public liability insurance

• Fixedfee quotations

To arrange a free design consultation with Warren Brown (right) please [email protected] visit our new website for further details and customer reviewswww.millhousesdesign.co.uk

0114 236 3525 or 0784 697 5847Dobcroft Road, Sheffield S7 2LT

Grapevine’s front cover shows Fargate of yesteryear.It is one of the last Sheffield scenes painted by artistBill Kirby, who recently passed away aged 85.

He often included himself in his work, and can be seenwalking across the road with a package under his arm.Bill was originally from Liverpool, and the blue and whitescarf he is wearing is in honour of Everton, not Wednesday. We featured Bill in an article last Christmas, when at

his house in Lodge Moor he told of leaving school at 15,and going to work in the art department of an advertisingagency. He was called up for Army service during theKorean War, and endured frontline combat for almosteight months, during which time 148 soldiers in his regimentwere killed.

Bill often cut the hair of men he served with, and afterbeing demobbed in 1953 took a hairdressing course that ledto him working in London at a posh Mayfair salon where hewore a tartan dinner jacket and was known as ‘Mr William’.He styled the locks of countless famous ladies, includingTwiggy, Mia Farrow, Dusty Springfield, and Sixties’ sex bombsChristine Keeler and Mandy Rice-Davies, whose saucy anticsresulted in the Profumo Affair that rocked the Conservativegovernment of Harold Macmillan.

Bill’s bosses in London eventually sent him to theirSheffield salon on The Moor - Andre Bernard - where hebecame manager. Later, Bill and his friend Graham Bowerset up in business as hairdressers William & Graham onRustlings Road, and afterwards on Abbeydale Road, wherethey were for 20 years, until their retirement in 2000.

While working asa hairdresser, Billcontinued to earna steady income fromhis oil and watercolourpaintings of Sheffield,which were still indemand at the time ofhis death, selling forup to £2,000. The one shown

here (our Christmascover for 2018) has him in the foreground, walkingarm-in-arm with his wife, Audrey, whose hair he trimmed.She survives him, along with their two sons, daughter and seven grandchildren.

Another feature of every Bill Kirby work is a small redballoon with a streamer attached, which is a salute to the1956 film that impressed him in his youth - a 35-minutefeature called Le Ballon Rouge, which tells the story of a boypursuing his red balloon as it floats across Paris. On ourfront page the balloon is high up, on the right, and on thepainting above it is also on the right, but a little lower.

“If ever I write my autobiography,” said Bill, “it will be entitled:‘Are You Still Painting?’ It’s what people ask whenever I meetthem. The answer is always yes.”

He spent his last days being cared for at St Luke’s Hospice,which this year is again featuring one of his paintings on itsChristmas cards (the scene on Grapevine’s cover).

My Hair-Raising LifeArtist Bill Kirby

Bill Kirby, who is picturedbelow in his hairdressing

heyday as ‘Mister William’

GRAPEVINE NURSERY SCHOOL421 London Road, Heeley, Sheffield

[email protected] 255 8881 www.grapevinenursery.net

Grapevine Nursery School uses song charts with images sothat children can choose their favourite songs - a practice

that starts in the baby room

Berit and Matt Ritchie send theirson Reuben to Grapevine Nursery School

1. For how long has yourson attended GrapevineNursery School?Reuben began attending when he

was eight-months-old. He started withtwo days a week, and now attends onfour days.2. How did you hear about

Grapevine Nursery School?We live in Meersbrook, and had

heard from friends and neighboursabout the nursery. We decided tocome and have a look when one of myclose friends brought her child toGrapevine, and spoke well of it. 3. How did Reuben settle in? At the beginning he did cry, but the

staff have helped him settle inbrilliantly. When we pick him up healways has a smile on his face.He seems very happy at the nursery.

4. Would you recommendGrapevine Nursery School?Definitely. We used childminders

in the past because we were unsure about the benefits of nurseryschools, but Reuben really enjoysGrapevine. Seeing other children every day has

aided his development in what is asafe, happy and reliable place for him.The staff are great, and we really likethe fact that many of them haveworked at the school for many years.5. How has Reuben benefited

by attending Grapevine NurserySchool?He has gained a lot of confidence

at Grapevine, and we think hisdevelopment is more advanced than our two other children were at his age.

Our ‘Safe AndHappy Place’

Berit and Matt Ritchie withtheir son, Reuben, who has been

attending Grapevine Nursery Schoolsince he was eight-months-old

Baby room is air-conditioned

Playground slide is lots of fun

I


Here’s how to avoid your vehicle breakingdown on Christmas Eve, when the bootis full of gifts, the kids and in-laws, writes

Nick Crouch. Let me give your car a winterservice. It will ensure that themotor purrs through thecoming Sheffield winter.

I specialise in Audi, VW,Skoda and Seat vehicles.

These manufacturers makegreat cars, but they need to be

properly maintained. I can save you

up to 50% on the price of having your vehicleserviced or repaired by a main dealer - leavingyou more money to buy gifts this Christmas.

My New Garage.We have recently moved into huge new

premises near Centertainment, which is close toMeadowhall.

I set up my garage in 2010 after 11 yearsworking for Gilders in Sheffield. I have all thediagnostic equipment needed to check-overnewer cars.I can collect your car, and return itafter it has been worked on (but please makesure you book this service in advance).

The festive season is a bad time to suffer cartrouble, so have your vehicle checked now

Invitation To MyChristmas Service

Unit 5 Dannemora Drive, Sheffield S9 5DF Mobile: 07841 910 611 or 0114 275 4189www.sheffieldvwaudispecialist.co.uk [email protected] Autos

SAVE 50% OFF THE COST OF SERVICING AND REPAIRS - COMPARED TO A MAIN DEALERWe have aseparate areafor changingtyres

InterimServicefrom £89 (including parts, labour and VAT)

MoTand servicing

Give your VW, Audi or Skoda a great service history

With Nick Crouch of Tec-Nick Autos

Safe Motoring

SpanishLessonsFrom Only £4 An Hour

With Alfredo Peraita, who is from Jerez,in southern Spain. He has been teachingSpanish in Sheffield for seven yearsJoin Alfredo’s conversation groups at his home in Walkley (max. eight people), or have individual tuitionHe says: ‘Spanish is not a difficult language for English speakers to learn. Within a short timemy students master basic phrases, and progress to a good conversationalstandard. Lessons involve games that are entertaining and instructive. Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided.’

Contact Alfredo: 07401 769 858Email: [email protected]

PRICES: conversation groups £4 an hour (min. two hours)

Individual tuition £15 an hour (£20 one-and-a-half hours)

Start learning Spanish now ready for your holiday

Chauffeur Class Service

Your Airport Chauffeur

Contact John Bolton on 07740 486 740www.CclassService.co.uk [email protected]

• Business Meetings • • Special Occasions •

• Cruise Trip Transfers • • Coastal Destinations •

• Airports •

John Bolton offers a first-class service that costs much the

same as hiring a taxi

John Bolton uses a Mercedes-Benz

What do you have planned this Christmas?Elderly people are often alone during thefestive season, but at Loxley Park there isalways something going on, and people

with whom you can share the many events and mini-bustrips (perhaps to go shopping, or for a pub lunch).

Loxley Park has the feel of a five-star hotel,with its 24-hour concierge service, licencedrestaurant, conservatory and drawing room. Also available is round-the-clock support from our

on-site domiciliary care staff who are expertlytrained, and were recently rated ‘outstanding’ in aninspection by the Quality Care Commission.You will never feel lonely or isolated at

Loxley Park, as there are always other residents andstaff to join for a coffee to mull over the day’s listof activities. Enjoy an independent or assisted livinglifestyle in a beautiful and secure environment whereyour property and gardens are maintained for you.

Bring your furniture and treasuredpossessions to make your apartment ahome from home. Brenda Ridgeway(pictured) is activities manager at Loxley Park,and the festive period is a busy time for her.

“Our Christmas fayre is great fun,” she says.“Everyone is welcome to attend - and if you arethinking of coming to live at Loxley Park, then thisis the ideal time to see what a close-knitcommunity you could be joining. We will have about adozen stalls, offering all kinds of hand-crafted cards and gifts- some made by members of staff, or residents.”Brenda is a talented seamstress, and will have a stall of

her own stocked with items she has made from denim:shoulder bags, aprons, badges and rosettes.

“In the summer,” she says, “we asked people to donate their old denim jeans, and I have recycled them intosome arty designs. All proceeds will go to Bluebell WoodChildren’s Hospice.”At the fayre members of Wadsley Women’s Institute

will be selling bamboo ducks at their stall, where freemulled wine and mince pies will be available. Reindeer food, for the kids to leave out on Christmas

Eve (carrots, oats, etc.), can be bought at one stall, andknitted dolls at another. Chefs in the kitchen at LoxleyPark have baked a Christmas cake for visitors to guessthe weight of, and there will be a raffle to win the largeknitted golfer Brenda is holding in the above photograph.

The Christmas Fayre will be held on Saturday, 30th November, from 2.30am to 4.30am. If youwould like to know more about Loxley Park,ring Carolyn Slaughter on the number below

Loxley Park Assisted Living Loxley Road | Sheffield | S6 4TFCall 0114 232 1583 or search ‘Loxley Park Care’ on

Christmas Is ComingTo Loxley ParkBusy! Busy! Busy! There are always activities and trips available foreveryone at Loxley Park, where preparations are underway for the festive season. The programme of events will include a fayre witha multitude of stalls, mulled wine, mince pies, plus visits from choirs,handbell ringers, a brass band... and Santa!


SOME CHRISTMASEVENTS AT

LOXLEY PARK2nd Dec. Scrooge, drama by NorthEast Productions4th Dec. Sheaf Choir Singers6th Dec. Elf Day, when everyonedresses up as elves in aid of theAlzheimer’s Society9th Dec. Malin Bridge School Choir10th Dec. Salvation Army Band16th Dec. Visit from Santa ClausGift-giving, entertainment, mulled wine, mince pies - and later a buffet tea18th Dec. Christmas concert

Activities manager Brenda Ridgewaywith a knitted golfer that will beraffled during the fayre

The lounge-library at Loxley Park

T

DAVID J. MARTINA.I.O.C.

CRAFTSMANOF EXCELLENCEDESIGNERS & MAKERS OF BESPOKE FURNITURE

Tel: 0114 268 6718210 Springvale Road, Sheffield www.david-j-martin.co.uk

Open: Mon to Fri 8am - 5pm • Sat by appointment only

Makers of bespoke kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, offices and studies and any individual item of furniture.

Full consultations. Beautiful woodwork designed to last. Full project management undertaken.

Established since 1980

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