The meaning of Easter

Embrace weekend poster

By Altine Bootha-King 

Easter. Two days with no work and a weekend in between (long weekend). A time where chocolate eggs can be shared between many and egg hunts are created too. But what’s the real reason?

During the Easter weekend, visits were made to three places: The Central Elim Pentecostal Church on Lee Croft, Sheffield , Embrace nightclub on Burgess street and an easter egg hunt held by Sheffield University’s ‘The Lemon Fresh Society’ . All visits were made to look at how Easter is interpreted by three groups of people, and sum up what the easter period is all about.

Embrace nightclub held three events over the Easter weekend, starting with an Ann Summers lingerie party. Marie Sergeant, an attendee of the event said:

“It’s a different way to begin the Easter weekend, with raunchy underwear and dancing to end the night.”

The next day Embrace held a hot tub party. Jack Henderson, a student from Sheffield Hallam University said:

“This is brilliant! Everyone’s getting whoever they can soaked through and the atmosphere is completely different to a normal night out. Me and the lads are planning on staying here until we get cold!”

On Easter Sunday, Embrace had invited Sheffield born former playboy and Ann Summers model Luci Victoria to entertain the club in the main Decuba room. Around 1200 people attended the event, and a few were asked if the weekend as a whole reflected the meaning of Easter. Charlotte Auld, who attended all three events over the weekend said:

“Easter hasn’t been represented here at all. But everyone that’s out are here to have a good time, which is more important especially when you have uni assignments and exams coming up. It’s a chance to let your hair down and enjoy yourself. Easter to me is a long weekend!”

Lemon Fresh Society
(sheffield.ac.uk)

The Lemon Fresh society held their annual Easter egg hunt on Easter Saturday. John Joseph, the President of the society said: 

“It a great time of the year to get students to come together and do something we used to do as kids!  Its also a great opportunity for students to interact with each other by participating in an activity that requires a bit of teamwork but competition as well.”

The eggs were hidden all around Sheffield University’s student union, and people were going around in groups to find the eggs. Charlotte Ward, a participant at the egg race said:

“I haven’t done an easter egg hunt since I was five I think! It brings back so many memories of my childhood and I actually miss my parents. Whilst I’m here with my friends its something to do without the involvement of alcohol!” 

James Woods, a member of the Lemon fresh society said:

“Its a great laugh going to hunt for eggs with the lads. We’re all competitive but we’ll most likely share what we find between us.”

On the main subject of Easter, its the time of year where superstores such as Tesco and ASDA stack shelves full of eggs, all different shapes and sizes and different characters may feature on the eggs, from ‘Spongebob Squarepants’ to ‘The Milky Bar kid’. The traditional meaning for the eggs, Christians say is to represent new life. Some of the participants were asked this, and their responses were along the same lines:

“The eggs do represent new life. Its the time of the year where flowers are blossoming, baby lambs and sheep are being born and the chocolate eggs do represent the time of year where new life is all around. The time of year where Jesus came back to life? I suppose that depends what you believe in.”

Across the country on Sunday morning many Churches held a morning service talking about remembering what Easter stands for. Sheffield Central Elim pentecostal Church on Campo Lane, Lee Croft held this service. Pastor Paul Edwards of the Church spoke about what Easter stands for:

Easter eggs on sale (www.google.com)

“Easter is a time when we should be reflecting and remembering what Jesus Christ has done for us on the cross. He died for our sins so that we would not perish but have eternal life.”

Jean Weatherhill, an attendee of the church for over 20 years said:

“The way the young people are looking further away from the church and more on what they feel they want to look at is astonishing. I’m 76 years old and in my day when Easter came, you’d see no body out on the street unless it was to go to church, and then back again. Life seems to go on as normal now at Easter and every Sunday and so many people choose not to believe which is sad.”

Looking at the three different events held over the Easter period, and looking back at what the traditional meaning of Easter stands for, apart from the Church, the need to have a good time has taken over what the real meaning of Easter stands for. On the other hand many more faiths are represented in this country so why should Easter be given special treatment?

The real question is, should Easter be respected and represented better? After all, the UK is said to be a Christian country...

Sheffield Roads to be re-surfaced

By Altine Bootha-King


Sheffield City Council is to receive £1.2 billion to re-surface every single road and path in Sheffield.

The revelations were made after Cllr Paul Scriven came to Sheffield Hallam University for student interviews. He quotes:

Some of the conditions on Sheffield's Roads

“Sheffield is the pothole city of the UK. Oven the next 25 years we aim to re-surface every road and path. The number of potholes around Sheffield have increased over the last 4 years, especially since the floods in 2007.”

The £1.2 billion being used on the roads and paths have received mixed reactions and surprise for many residents.

Aarron Redman, a resident and motorist from Grenoside said:

“That’s a great idea. Once that has been done Sheffield will be a city worth living in! Its a great way to boost the profile of sheffield as it is a city renowned for its terrible road surfaces ''

Simon Gesage, a resident and motorist from Shiregreen said:

“Roads in the main parts of Sheffield are quite good but its the inner estates that would benefit more on resurfacing, road markings and signing them making the smoother to drive on, smoother on the cars and also safer for us drivers and pedestrians.”

Charlotte Bell, a student at Hillsborough College said:

“It will be a great improvement, I just fear and hope that prices for road tax doesn’t go up as a result.”

The plan to resurface the 1,200 miles of road is expected to begin in the summer of 2012.

Sheffield Sitting Pretty.

By Luis Register.

Sheffield has transformed from an industrial blur of grey to a vista of art, colour and grand architecture. The city has regenerated itself over the last couple of decades from a place steeped in steelwork factories and abandoned warehouses to one now recognised nationwide for its unique sense of style and art.

The Winter Gardens, a 21 metre high greenhouse, bustling with exotic plants and one of many reasons why Sheffield is now being considered as such an exciting place to live, was opened by the Her Majesty The Queen in 2003. The garden, who's huge glass walls have played host to a series of events such as the World Snooker Championships in April, recently featured an exhibition of high-fashion dresses inspired by the human reproductive system.

This out of the box venture was created by two sisters; Helen and Kate Storey, who's admiration for Sheffield's strong artistic and cultural vibe inspired them to show their collection here. "We come back to Sheffield time and time again because it all blends in. The pieces we put out just feel better here."

"We had a collection of dissolving clothes feature in Meadowhall, last year. The people of Sheffield were really receptive to it. We enjoy coming here, we always feel like there's a great level interest." said Helen Storey, who's fashion collection stayed at the Winter Gardens for a couple of weeks.

It seems the people of Sheffield are as inspiring and notable as the city itself. When talking to Joe Horton, 19 and student at Nottingham Trent University, he said "Sheffield was my first choice to do my Fashion Design degree. The people here dress so well and are always on top form style wise."

Leigh Allen, a Jamaican student at Sheffield University, added to Joe's comments on the vibrant community "It's not even necessarily about the art … the city is just so cultured. You'll see so many different types of people walking through the streets. The city just feels so hyperactive and different. I love studying here and meeting all these new people."

With students and the youth of today gravitating towards Sheffield for it's bustling art scene and fashion forward community, it's almost no surprise that the city was in the final 4 to become the UK's first ever "City of Culture". Backed by the likes of indie band Arctic Monkeys, hollywood actor Sean Bean and Monty Python star Michael Palin, Sheffield was a front runner to snatch the esteemed title for it's musical, theatrical and aesthetic charms.

The city however, lost out to Londonderry. Despite this, spirits were not dampened. Paul Billington, head of the bid, said "The city will move on. It's been a huge boost for the city's confidence and most of all it's reputation." Councillor Paul Scriven said "I'm proud of Sheffield. To make it as far as we did is a fantastic achievement and I'm sure it won't end here."

A professor at the London College of Fashion, Imogen Slater, informed me of her journey into Sheffield and how that alone inspired and wowed her. "I came into Sheffield to promote some art work and as I walked through the city, I just saw walls and walls of this beautiful graffiti. Like so much time and effort had been put into it. It's just dotted everywhere and it looks fantastic. It wowed me. The Millenium Gallery alone is wonderful and the architecture of some of the buildings like the Town Hall is amazing. " 

Although Sheffield lost out in the "City of Culture" bid, it's clear that it's really at it's prime culturally and artistically. People in the artistic profession appreciate it's strong display of culture and attention to detail whilst the youth revel in the stylish and varied community.

Sheffield is moving quickly and we just better keep up.

School meals set for "revamp" over summer

By Luis Register.


School dinners in Sheffield will be delivered by new suppliers in September, in a bid to provide children with fresher and healthier food.

Taylor Shaw, a catering company which already supplies hundreds of schools and colleges around the country with healthy meals, have signed a lucrative 5 year deal with the Sheffield council. This deal could reportedly cost the council £48 million.

Is this the future of the "school dinner"?



Our very own Stocksbridge Junior School, one of the schools that may feel the affects of this change, are keen. "The school is the only one in Sheffield which has received 3 outstanding Ofsted reports and we are looking forward to keeping our good reputation", says head teacher Mr David Foster.

The school cook, Mrs Harvey said "I'm not sure what's going on as of yet, but to have a new kitchen would be great for not only the kids but for us too. I've heard nothing but good things about that company (Taylor Shaw)."

If put into action, Taylor Shaw will give school's around the city brand new kitchens and facilities to prepare better food for the children. The food will reportedly be sourced from local produce and meals made on the day.

Mother of 4 Deborah Housley, who lives in Tinsley, Sheffield, also heard about the news: "I've always trusted the school and what they feed my kids. I don't think there's any problem with it, I mean I can think of other things the council should be spending their money on but if it benefits the little ones then why not?"

The organisation is set to get to work over the summer on the new regime and will be working with around 120 schools in the Sheffield area.

Stocksbridge wheely get their groove on!

By Luis Register.

"The Venue", Stocksbridge's new entertainment bar, is reportedly seeing huge turn outs after starting a weekly wheelchair dancing class.


The Venue, the new building where the classes are beimg held.

The dance class, which teaches disabled and wheelchair bound residents to dance in a variety of styles ranging from Ballroom to Latin American, is being held weekly.

June Higgins, the organiser of the group, is optimistic about the class's future: "Seeing is believing with this type of dancing. It's been featured on Strictly Come Dancing and is a really exciting project to take on. There aren't many activities out there which cater to those who can't move around quite as easily."

The sessions have already accumulated an avid gathering. One keen dancer being Barbra White, 72 of Hills Road Stocksbridge, who has been finding it increasingly difficult to stay active. "With me getting on a bit I haven't been as active as I'd like to be. It's a really nice way to spend your evenings and some of these dancers are very handsome! It's good to keep fit and be sociable."

The classes are being taught by a group of able bodied dancers who dance with their wheelchair bound partners free of charge.

'The Venue', where the sessions are held, was finalised and built late last year and has since hosted a series of musical and theatrical events. The bar reportedly had an investment of 1.5 million pounds invested by the STEP Development Trust and is considered the first of many steps to recreate the centre of Stocksbridge.

The wheelchair dance classes are open to able bodied and disabled people and are being held at "The Venue" every Wednesday evening.

Stockbridge Royal Wedding Revelries

Stocksbridge High celebrated with a Royal Buffet.

By Rebecca Needham.

STOCKSBRIDGE residents celebrated the Royal Wedding in style with several street parties throughout the village.

Applications for party licences were submitted to the local council to mark the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton on Friday, April 29.

Stocksbridge Council Clerk, Teresa Bisatt said: “We received lots of applications, and granted as many as possible. It was a special day to be British.”

On and around Cedar Road, the community has been holding street parties ever since the Queen’s Jubilee in 2002.

58 year-old Joan Graham who organised the event said: “I wouldn’t say we are all flag-waving royalists. But we are very grateful to them for giving us the extra bank holiday.”

“We’ll raise a glass to Kate and Wills, but it’s mainly about bringing the community together. There’s nothing better than a street party.”

The road was closed was closed off to traffic for a full afternoon of celebration – complete with a bouncy castle and marquee.

Young residents also took part in the royal revelries. Stocksbridge High students lead up to the wedding with a full day of cake decorating, flower arranging and t-shirt making. They rounded up the merriments with a wedding buffet style lunch and disco.

Head Teacher, Jan Featherstone said: “Lots of work went into making the run up to the wedding as special as possible for our pupils. The staff baked 80 individual sponge and fruit cakes from scratch for the children to decorate, and the ladies in the school kitchen came in at 6am to sort out the buffet lunch. The time and effort that was put in made the day a joy for all.”

It's summer in Stocksbridge



(Picture credit and Photoshop: Rebecca Needham.)