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Sheffield renewables

February 2, 2010 by Sheffield blog

Developing renewable energy projects across Sheffield

If you’re concerned about maintaining a low carbon future for yourself and the city then Sheffield renewables will be of interest.

This volunteer-led organisation is launching community-funded renewable energy generation projects in and around Sheffield. They are encouraging people to adapt their lifestyles and adopt new technologies to drive the city towards a low carbon future in a way that will bring benefits to both Sheffield and its people.

One of their projects is a hydro power scheme at Kelham island and there are plenty of ways to get involved, whether it is through volunteering, investing or general support.

You can also keep in touch with Sheffield renewables via their website, email newsletter,  Twitter and Facebook.

Sheffield renewables

Posted in environment, sheffield, volunteering, websites | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

How the Digital economy bill will affect you

January 31, 2010 by Sheffield blog

Individuals, businesses and community groups in Sheffield to be impacted

You may have read coverage of the Digital economy bill that is currently working its way through the house of Lords. It is a response to the Digital Britain report and looks like it will do more to cripple our digital economy than support its growth.

One aim of the bill is to deal with internet piracy and to do this several draconian measures have been proposed that could have a big affect on people in Sheffield.

The major point of contention is that fines and disconnections can be enforced on the internet connection subscriber – i.e. the person whose name the connection is in – if someone uses their network for an activity like illegal file sharing.

Individuals, businesses and groups will choose not to take this risk and this could spell the end of free wifi and open internet connections in libraries, universities, schools, cafes, council buildings and community groups.

Obviously this isn’t just an issue that affects Sheffield; it will impact the whole country. But it seems particularly ironic that in south Yorkshire where the Digital region project will soon be providing us with super-fast broadband, many of the businesses and organisations that would be able to pass on the benefits of this to the public will not feel able to do so if the proposed legislation goes through.

Further detail regarding the bill and how best to object to it is outlined in the north west Sheffield news online blog post.

If you care about your online freedom and our local and national digital economy then take the time to write to or visit your MP to object.

Posted in blogs, business, digital industries, grassroots, sheffield, technology, wifi | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Threads

January 26, 2010 by Sheffield blog

Sheffield, as devastated by a nuclear attack

A few weeks ago I finally got round to watching Threads. If, like me, you are too young to remember it from when originally broadcast, it is a 1984 TV play that depicts the effect of a nuclear attack on the country, and in particular Sheffield.

Given the subject matter it is unsurprising that Threads makes for as grim viewing today as I expect it did 25 years ago when cold war paranoia was perhaps at its greatest. The extended synopsis is on Wikipedia.

If you can see past the bleak story, then the fact that it is set in Sheffield also adds a level of interest. There are plenty of landmarks to pick out including the eggbox town hall extension, the city hall, the Moor, Finningly in its days as a RAF base and the Nottingham house pub in Broomhill.

After the explosion hits Sheffield, there are shots of a devastated city centre that don’t look too dissimilar to the Moor in recent times.

However, it would be a mistake to watch the film and expect to come away warmed by the rose-tinted glow of nostalgia. Judging by the reviews on Amazon, it seems that Threads had quite an effect on the people watching it back then.

Memories of Threads and its association with Sheffield seem to live on. In the recent edition of Fighting talk recorded down at Ponds forge, one of presenter Colin Murray’s opening quips was ‘I thought I’d driven through the post-nuclear set of Threads 2 last night until somebody told me it was Manor council estate’.

Someone has uploaded the whole thing to Google video, so you can watch Threads online now. Be warned that parts of it are quite harrowing though and may not be suitable for young children.

Do you remember watching it on TV in the mid-80s, or have you watched it since? How shocked were you?

Posted in architecture, film, history, regeneration, sheffield, shopping, television, videos | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments »

Sheffield five-a-side world record attempt

January 21, 2010 by Sheffield blog

30 hours of five-a-side football

A quick post to draw your attention to this world record attempt taking place in March in aid of Sport relief. The organisers hope to break the record for near-continuous five-a-side football and raise £30,000 for charity at the same time.

They aren’t looking for people to actually play the football, but there are plenty of ways to get involved so get in touch if you can offer people, expertise, equipment or sponsorship. You can follow the project at sheffieldfiveaside.co.uk and also on Twitter (@Sheffield5aside).

In the meantime, the athletes who are taking part in the actual footballing side of the event are continuing their training regime:

Posted in charity, football, sheffield, sport | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment »

Park hill flats – the book

January 18, 2010 by Sheffield blog

Wanted: former Park hill residents

Park hill resident and large portrait artist Gary Hindley is writing a book about the flats and would like to hear from anyone who was born or grew up on Park hill.

He has already amassed some good material by meeting regularly with members of the Park hill community to discuss stories and memories but is on the lookout for more anecdotes for his book.

You can contact Gary directly by sending him an email or via Facebook.

The picture below shows Gary Hindley’s portrait of Grenville Squires on display at Park hill during redevelopment. Grenville has been the caretaker at Park hill since 1981.

In your face by sheffieldhammer on flickr (used under the Creative Commons licence)

Posted in arts, development, history, regeneration, sheffield | Tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Fopp’s return to Sheffield – an update

January 12, 2010 by Sheffield blog

Good news for music fans (but don’t hold your breath)

There were rumours last summer that the much-lamented music shop Fopp was to return to Sheffield. Speculation was rife that one of the new retail units in the old Yates’s bar building on Division street might be the record shop’s new home.

Six months down the line, there is still no sign of Fopp in town. G-star clothing has taken one of the Yates’s units and the other seems to be the temporary home to a clothes shop.

I decided to get in touch with Fopp and ask them what was happening. The news is good, although don’t hold your breath for an imminent return just yet. This is what they said:

We are keen to bring Fopp back to Sheffield if we can, and to this end were actively looking at a site that we considered suitable some months ago. Unfortunately we were unable to agree terms and to pursue our interest at the time. However, we trust that further opportunities will present themselves in future.

They were happy for me to share this here but wanted to stress that they had no immediate alternative options at the present time – although they expected this to change in due course.

Buying records from shops may not be the future, but with only two record stores left in a city with such a strong musical heritage, I still think that Fopp would be a success for at least a few years.

I’ve asked Fopp to let me know of any more news regarding the return of a Sheffield branch and if they get back in touch I’ll post any updates here.

In the meantime, they will probably read this post so feel free to comment below to show your support for Fopp returning to the city.

Fopp's return to Sheffield

The slightly premature party last summer to celebrate Fopp's return to Sheffield

Posted in music, pubs, sheffield, shopping | Tagged , , , , , , | 15 Comments »

Sheffield on Twitter – January 2010 update

January 11, 2010 by Sheffield blog

Who’s new

Here are this month’s additions to the list of Sheffield people and organisations of interest on  Twitter. The full directory can be found on the Sheffield Twitter users page.

There is also a Twitter list of people and organisations in Sheffield in Twitter.

First e11even – regional football magazine
@first_e11even

Louis Louis – electronic music DJ/blogger/promoter
@louis_louis

Fairy communications – PR/communications agency
@fairycomms

Judith David – copywriter
@JComCopy

Safe at last – charity
@safeatlast

Mark Howe – illustrator
@howiehowe

Sheffield start-ups – encouraging people to create internet start-ups in Sheffield
@sheffstartups

Sheffield snow – everything you need to get you through the snow
@SheffieldSnow

Sheffield weather – a two-day forecast tweeted every morning and weather warnings
@SheffWeather

City magazine – Regional magazine company magazine
@CityMagSheff

Gossip girl – columnist from City magazine
@gossipgirlcity

No money records – hip hop record label
@nomoneyrecords

Data dream – software development
@datadreamuk

Sheffield college
@sheffcol

Advanced manufacturing news for Sheffield
@AMM_ShefRegion

Sheffield university health service
@SheffieldUHS

Norfolk arms – Ringinglow road pub
@norfolkarms

Blundells – estate agent
@blundells1

MAD architects
@MADarchitects

Solicitors Sheffield – local news from Sheffield solicitors
@SheffieldLawyer

IT works marketing – SEO copywriting, PR, email and social media campaigns
@itwrksmarketing

Accident repair – body repair shop
@sheffieldrepair

Sheffield social – social events
@SheffieldSocial

Sheffield libraries, archives and information
@shefflibraries

Zenon – band
@zenonband

Paul Huxley – scriptwriter and part of Medlo
@huxathon

Scott Douglas group – business development and marketing
@scottdouglasgrp

4N Sheffield – business networking
@4NSheffield

Restaurant marketing advice
@restconnect

Sylvesters bar in Leopold square
@SylvestersBarS1

Mr Martin – singer-songwriter and one quarter of Dead world leaders
@mrmartinmusic

Point blank theatre – the new owners of the Riverside – developing a multi-purpose arts/events space
@P0INTBLANK

John Coefield – photographer
@johncoefield

Morgan dias – immigration consultants
@morgandias

David Morris – posts scores from Sheffield Scimitars games
@brassedoff

Joe Taylor – Liberal democrat councillor for Hillsborough
@JoeTaylorLD

Toni and Guy Sheffield – hairdresser
@TONIandGUYSheff

ukpipelines.com – pipeline and drainage tools and equipment
@ukpipelines

Robert Saull – musician from the Purgatory players
@robertgsaull

Richard Hennessy – hypnotherapist
@focusedhypnosis

If you want to be listed on it then follow @sheffieldblog, get in touch or comment below.

Posted in architecture, arts, bands, business, comedy, council, design, digital industries, magazines, marketing, media, music, photography, pubs, restaurants, sheffield, sport, technology, university, websites | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

The big freeze from the air

January 5, 2010 by Sheffield blog

Aerial shots of Sheffield and beyond

This ITN video of  the current snowy conditions includes shots of Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium the Cadbury factory, as well as the Emmerdale set and Harewood house.

Posted in environment, food, football, photography, sheffield, television, videos | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Radio Hallam old audio clips

January 4, 2010 by Sheffield blog

Sound clips from the station’s launch

A former DJ has started an online archive of clips from the early years of south Yorkshire’s main commercial radio station, Hallam FM.

You can listen to 1970s audio samples of the station known back then as Radio Hallam at soundboard.com.

I’m too young to remember Hallam in the seventies, but if you listen to some of the clips then you’ll soon realise how different the station sounded back then. When it launched, it appeared to have had the feel of a community radio station with a broad range of music and speech programmes. This contrasts starkly with the homogenised station we hear in 2010 that plays the same handful of records all day long.

If anyone has any more old tapes of the station then I’m sure the archiver Frank Carpenter would be pleased to hear from you. Perhaps at some stage it will be expanded to also include some clips from the the 1980s and 1990s?

In the meantime there are some more clips and jingles to be heard on radiohallam.co.uk. This site is run by another former Hallam FM DJ, and also the person behind internet radio station Radio 2XS, Jeff Cooper.

Posted in live, media, radio, sheffield, websites | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Sheffield publicity department

December 15, 2009 by Sheffield blog

Flying the flag for the city

Views from the seven hills of Sheffield and more are celebrated by the new Sheffield publicity department blog that promises to tell us about the things that make the place special:

We’re here to tell you about…the things that make Sheffield beautiful, and amazing, and unique. The hills, the people, the industry and the nature. The reasons we love the city. And what’s more, we’re going to show you how to find them. Maps to the best views. Guides to the most beautiful terraced streets. Postcards of the sunsets.

The view from Skye edge (‘as close as you’ll get to flying over Sheffield’) is first entry in the blog, where a red flag has been installed on the summit. I wonder if they’d get away with some guerrilla-style red plaques in the more urban locations?

They also provide printable maps so you know exactly where to find the free treasures.

I love this idea and look forward to seeing what things they come up with.

Sheffield publicity department

Posted in architecture, blogs, grassroots, marketing, photos, promotions, sheffield, walking | Tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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