Friends of Ruskin Park

Chair  Councillor Veronica Hardstaff - 64, Linaker Road, Sheffield S6 (Tel. 233 5414)

Secretary Rosemary Telfer – 167, Walkley Crescent Road, Walkley, Sheffield S6 (Tel. 234 1576)

Web site: http://www.ruskinpark.org.uk

Minutes of the meeting of the Friends of Ruskin Park, held on Tuesday, 26th November, 2002

Present :  Veronica Hardstaff (Chair); Rosemary Telfer; Max Telfer; Diane Leek; Fraser McDermott; Chris Ireland; Rachel Stevenson; Deb Loasby

  1. Minutes of the previous meeting and matters arising

1.1.           The minutes of the AGM were agreed as a true record.

1.2.           Veronica is to re-submit the application to NUCA, after consultation with Rob Jones and Gillian Missen.

1.3.           Sue has spoken to St Mary’s School, who have offered to have the lines put on the pitch. It was agreed to include this in the bid as matched funding in kind.

1.4.           Rosemary, Veronica and Sue had spent a very successful morning with the children, planting bulbs on the bank opposite the school. Photographs were taken at the school and it was agreed that Rosemary should write to Tim Rose and ask for copies of the photos from Mrs Travis for our web site.

Rosemary reported that she had written to Tim Rose, thanking the staff and children for their hard work and saying how much FORP members had enjoyed working with the school on the bulb-planting.

1.5.           Veronica showed photographs of the area as it used to be. Deb to put them on the web site.

1.6.           Chris is still in the process of gathering signatures of volunteers.

  1. Funding

2.1.           Richard Caborn MP has passed on a letter from Frank Dobson, asking for examples from Sheffield Central constituency of good practice re community involvement in the restoration of parks. There may be the possibility of funding. Rosemary and Veronica to compose a reply.

2.2.           Veronica has contacted the Littlewood’s Foundation for Sport and the Arts and is being sent an application pack. Rosemary and Veronica to complete the application form.

2.3.           Veronica to speak to Peter Price and Ernest Brewin re other possible sources of funding.

2.4.           Fraser has located another possible funding source within the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) and will report back with details at the next meeting.

  1. Any other business

3.1.           Fraser reported that expenditure on the playground is now urgent, as only the swings remain.

3.2.           Fraser reported that, on Sunday 12th January, 2003, the chipper will be in Ruskin Park, for the chopping up of Christmas trees. The chippings can be used as compost and there is a possibility of selling them per bag. It was agreed that the event be publicised in the school and in the shops along South Road. and an advert would be placed in the Star. The staff at Meersbrook will produce the notices, Rachel will laminate the ones for the Ruskin Park notice board and Fraser will organise distribution.

3.3.           Deb reported that Ian has asked to use the domain name of Walkley, which he would want us to share with the Walkley Forum. Veronica to contact Jude to discuss the practicalities of a combined set-up.


  1. Date and time of next meeting

Tuesday, 21st January, 7.45 p.m. at the Royal Hotel, Walkley Street.