Green-haired local hero, John Burkhill, known as the Man with the Pram, has launched his autobiography to raise more money for Macmillan cancer charity. John who is 77 years old, has raised £350,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support and has completed at least 965 races including running the London Marathon 16 times. The book, which costs £9.99, tells John’s life story and explains why, in all weathers, he pushes a pram around the streets of Sheffield.
Sheffield M.E. Group are providing a public information point this week in the Winter Gardens to raise awareness about Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.). Sheffield M.E. Group are a registered charity providing information, support, and a point of contact for people of all ages with M.E., as well as their families and carers. M.E., also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (C.F.S.) and Fibromyalgia, is estimated to effect around 7,000 people locally.
Police have appealed for witnesses after eleven cars were set on fire in a three-hour rampage in Parson Cross on Friday night. Thousands of pounds of damage has been caused, with some of the vehicles almost completely destroyed. The incidents happened on Herries Road, Barrie Crescent and Morgan Road between 11.30pm on Friday night and 2.00am on Saturday morning. Victims told Sheffield Live they were unsure whether insurance would cover the costs.
Musicians in Sheffield are playing a special gig in support of people facing homelessness as part of a national campaign. Local band manager Neil Raymond Clarke, who has himself previously experienced homelessness in London, and Rachel Brown from Northern Exposure magasine are co-hosting the Sheffield event, one of many happening across the UK under the banner ‘Musicians against Homelessness’. The events are the brain child of former Creation Records boss Alan McGee. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
Local historian Lloyd Powell is seeking to raise public awareness of Sheffield Castle and its role in local history. At a packed meeting at the United Reformed Church, organised as part of the Off the Shelf literary festival, Powell explained the building and later destruction of Sheffield Castle and where some of the ruins can be found today. Powell is a member of the Friends of Sheffield Castle, a voluntary group that aims to protect and promote the archaeological site. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
South Yorkshire members from Unite, the union, picketed William Hill in Sheffield city centre against proposed staff pay cuts. Unite have accused the company of slashing the pay of hundreds of long serving and loyal shop managers under restructuring plans. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
Regeneration of Park Hill flats is to be completed within five years, according to developers Urban Splash. The company confirmed that they have reached agreement with Sheffield City Council to finish work on Europe’s largest listed building. The remaining redevelopment will see creation of another 210 apartments and 330 student housing units. Renovation on the site started in 2007. The estate originally opened in 1961 and was seen as the most ambitious inner city housing schemes of its time. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
Former Green Party leader Natalie Bennett is set to challenge Labour MP Paul Blomfield in Sheffield Central. Bennett will take over from Jillian Creasy, who finished second in the 2015 General Election, the third best result for the party across England and Wales. Sheffield Greens increased their average share of the constituency vote by 5 per cent in the May 2016 council elections and have councillors in three of the five wards. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to Natalie Bennett after the announcement.
Sheffield refuse workers walked out this week in a twenty four hour industrial action over pay. The strike affected households in the S6 area including Halfway, Southey Green and Foxhill. The strikes follow a failure to reach agreement between the GMB union Veolia, the company working on behalf of Sheffield City council to manage refuse collection services. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Sheffield social enterprise, Under The Stars, are celebrating a new generation of DJ talent. Newly trained DJs will be demonstrating their skills alongside other artists and music acts, including Sheffield legend DJ Pipes, as part of a collaboration with ‘Party for the People’. Under the stars is a social enterprise run by and for people with a learning disability and their friends.