AN ALLEGED ‘erratic driver’ led police on an extensive chase that only came to an end after they collided with other vehicles - though residents believe an incident like this was inevitable officers responded to reports of suspicious circumstances on Brierley Road heading towards the Red Rum pub in Grimethorpe where a white Vauxhall Corsa was said to have been driven erratically who pursued the driver down Barnsley Road and into the centre of Cudworth Things ended dramatically when the diver crashed into other vehicles near the junction with Bloemfontein Street detaining a 17-year-old boy and 26-year-old old man as they left the Corsa other than an officer who was attacked during the arrest and suffered minor injuries The 26-year-old was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving failure to stop and assault on an emergency worker The 17-year-old was arrested on suspicion of aggravated vehicle taking and criminal damage Traffic was brought to a standstill as emergency services responded to the situation with Stagecoach having to re-route services 27 say that it’s not the first time something like this has occurred on the street which is becoming a spot where racers ‘congregate en masse’ Peter told the Chronicle: “There were three police cars outside so you can imagine the lights “We saw these blue lights flashing through and thought ‘what the devil’s going off here?’ “I’ve never seen that many police out there - there was the helicopter going about and everything “I’ve lived on the main road all my life and it’s known that at night there’s a problem “They do a circuit from here and right through the bypass - it’s unbelievable councillors say they’re monitoring it “We can have speed cameras up at the top end of Cudworth on Pontefract Road “You go stand at the Star Hotel and look down this road it’s straight all the way down so people go at speed “Someone will get killed before anything changes.” Cudworth firefighters were called out to a deliberate rubbish fire at 8pm on West Road Firefighters from Barnsley station attended a deliberate fire involving trees at 8:15pm on Worral Close A bin was accidentally on fire at 8:45pm on Well Road Firefighters from Doncaster station attended the incident Aston firefighters were called out to a deliberate rubbish fire at 9:45pm on Rotherham Road Firefighters from Dearne station attended a deliberate rubbish fire on Cooperative Street Rotherham firefighters were called out to a deliberate fire involving pallets and rubbish at 12:40am on Ferham Road A fire crew from Barnsley station attended a deliberate fire involving a carpet and rubbish at 6:35pm on Elmhirst Lane This content was last updated on April 24th Sign up for our bi-monthly newsletter to keep up to date with South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Cudworth firefighters were called out to a deliberate fire involving felled trees at 7:10pm on Bradbury Balk Lane Firefighters from Maltby station attended a deliberate fire involving a tree stump on Lilly Hall Road A bin was deliberately set on fire at 9:15pm on Gleadless Road Firefighters from Central station attended the incident Edlington firefighters were called out to a deliberate rubbish fire at 9:25pm on Gordon Road Firefighters from Elm Lane and Central stations attended an accidental fire involving a towel bin at 9:50pm on Firshall Crescent A van was deliberately set on fire at 11pm on Beech Road Firefighters from Maltby station attended the incident Two fire crews from Central and Maltby stations were called out to a deliberate fire involving a car in woods at 11:50pm on Daresbury Place Central firefighters attended a deliberate fire involving three charity recycling bins at 3:15am on Undergate Road This content was last updated on April 10th A PENSIONER was left ‘trembling’ after her home was vandalised in a graffiti spree that hit several communities faced a mix of shock and anger when her daughter informed her that the side of her house in Cudworth had been covered in paint with vandals writing ‘Barry M grass’ across the wall Hers was one of countless properties hit in the early hours of Wednesday morning with residents in both Cudworth and Grimethorpe finding the mysterious text scrawled across their homes and in at least one case on the back of a van Residents the Chronicle spoke to have no idea who the person named is I’ve been trembling,” Mary told the Chronicle I’m very annoyed and upset that somebody wants to do that “My daughter came round first thing to tell me - she said ‘don’t be upset’ ‘Now I’ve got my son-in-law out there cleaning it off - it’s not fair is it?” Mary says that her biggest concern is that someone could commit this crime only metres away from where she laid sleeping who lives just up the road from Mary and also had her house vandalised added: “It’s all over houses in Cudworth “When I was driving out this morning I just saw it but wasn’t sure why it happened.” and by midday had headed out to residences affected to clear off the mess cabinet spokesperson for public health and communities “We do not tolerate antisocial behaviour of any kind in our communities and it is a shame to see that Grimethorpe and Cudworth have been recently targeted by a spate of graffiti “We are aware of those who have been affected by this graffiti and our team have taken action to clean the areas that have been vandalised “Our team are reviewing any available CCTV footage and working alongside colleagues in the police to identify those who have done this “Damage of this kind is a criminal offence and can carry significant penalties “If anyone has any information about who is responsible they can share this via safer@barnsley.gov.uk or anonymously through Crimestoppers.” Inspector Richard Mangham said: “We are aware of reports of multiple incidents of graffiti in Cudworth and Grimethorpe “Enquiries are ongoing and I would like to reassure residents that we have launched investigations into these incidents and are working with Barnsley Council to resolve the issue and to remove the graffiti “Anyone with information that could help us with our investigation is asked to contact us on 101 quoting investigation number 14/37389/25.” Cudworth firefighters were called out to a deliberate rubbish fire at 7pm on Carr Head Lane Firefighters from Rotherham station attended a deliberate fire involving waste building material at 7:30pm on Sandhill Mews A wheelie bin was deliberately set on fire at 7:45pm on Hunningley Lane Firefighters from Barnsley station attended the incident Cudworth firefighters were called out to a deliberate wheelie bin fire at 9pm on Robert Street This content was last updated on January 30th Firefighters from Cudworth and Barnsley stations attended a deliberate fire involving a caravan at 8:05pm on Pontefract Road Dearne firefighters attended a deliberate fire involving a tree at 8:30pm on Piccadilly Road Firefighters from Aston station attended a deliberate rubbish fire at 10pm on Rotherham Road A wheelie bin was deliberately set on fire at 11:25pm on Bentley Road Cudworth and Tankersley stations were called out to an empty commercial building on Raley Street The fire is believed to have been started deliberately This content was last updated on October 09th Doncaster firefighters were called out to a deliberate fire involving a motorbike at 8pm on Fenton Close Firefighters from Central station attended a deliberate rubbish fire at 8:05pm on Spotswood Road A car was deliberately set on fire at 10:30pm on Crown Avenue Firefighters from Cudworth station attended the incident This content was last updated on February 12th A CHURCH is having to find more than £750,000 to repair its crumbling infrastructure which is putting the 19th century building in jeopardy - though its priest is doing his best to see it as an opportunity to bring the community together St John the Baptist Church in Cudworth has been facing structural issues that are particularly affecting the west window masonry like tired paintwork and much-needed redecorations to create a costly challenge for the church’s congregation Canon Darren Percival BEM told the Chronicle: “I took over in January last year and was obviously taken aback by the fabric of the church “Within the Church of England we have inspections every five years of all the churches “The team came last year and the amount of recommended work was quite astounding really “We’ve got one window that’s held precariously in place and it’s expected to cost £280,000 just to fix that “The scale of it is quite significant - everything needs decorating as well the walls are no longer white but grey.” the required work is expected to cost around £750,000 Though the determined clergyman isn’t ready to give up in the face of such a large cost as he is preparing to work with his congregation and the wider village to preserve the historic structure “I’ve spoken to the congregation with regards to what we’re up against,” he added “At some of our recent public services like carol concerts I’ve also made people in the village aware “I’ve certainly not come to close down the church - I’ve come to get my hands dirty in service of the Almighty “We’re going to make sure we get the church functional for the community - it’s the only building of historic significance in the village “It’s a place that’s stood the test of time.” Fr Percival took over from long-serving David Nicholson who managed the church for more than two decades before his retirement he’s determined to keep the church serving the community as best as he can and is already planning to shave his legs at a fundraising event in April and is looking into taking part in a sponsored parachute jump which he says he’d ‘do tomorrow if the opportunity came’ he is meeting up with local businesses and community groups to organise fundraising events as he prepares for a long journey to bring the church back to its former glory he is treating it as an opportunity to improve the facilities and bring the heritage and culture of the village into the church “I’m in the process of working with the church architect on a project to change the damaged window from plain glass to stained glass “It would depict the heritage and history of the village - something that shows off the mining past or brass bands through the work of a community project it still needs to be used by the community “It’s a building for the community we take services there and groups continue to use it to this day “We’ve just got to keep on going really Tankersley and Cudworth stations were called out to a premise on Hermit Lane The accidental fire involved the fuse board A wheelie bin was deliberately set on fire at 10pm on Amersall Road Firefighters from Adwick station attended the incident Maltby firefighters attended a deliberate vehicle fire at 10:50pm on West Lane Firefighters from Birley station were called out to an accidental car fire at 10:55pm on Ringinglow Road Rotherham firefighters attended a deliberate rubbish fire at 11:35pm on Hawthorn Grove Firefighters from Central station were called out to a deliberate fire involving rubbish and wood at Algar Place This content was last updated on February 07th Cudworth firefighters were called out to a deliberate wheelie bin fire at 7:10pm on Hunningley Lane A wheelie bin was deliberately set on fire at 8pm on Burnsall Grove Firefighters from Cudworth station attended a deliberate wheelie bin fire at 9:10pm on Maltas Court Maltby firefighters were called out to a deliberate car fire in a field at 10:15pm on Blythe Gate Lane This content was last updated on January 29th A MUCH-LOVED councillor who clocked up half a century’s service before he died last year has had a bench dedicated to his life was elected in 1974 and served for the Cudworth ward He became the first councillor to in Barnsley to receive a distinguished service award when he stepped down from his role due to his battle against oesophagus cancer having left ‘significant donations’ to local groups friends and benefactors gathered at the bench’s unveil at Cudworth Park’s peace garden - which Charlie opened - on Wednesday The ornate bench - which features a train in its backrest given his passion for the railway - also has a plaque in his memory said: “Charlie was one of a kind and truly was the go-to guy in Cudworth “He supported us immensely and we thought the bench was a fitting tribute “He loved the peace gardens and came every Saturday “He’s much-missed and was extremely popular not just in Cudworth but across Barnsley Mind the Gap: Join the Place North Viability Gap Campaign While we’re all still feeling a bit of Olympic inspiration this seems a handy time for Barnsley’s first pump track to open the facility has been developed with funding set aside following the removal of the skate park at the Dorothy Hyman sports centre is wheelchair-accessible and features a number of different terrains to cater to different skill levels (phew The council’s parks team worked with Bike Track in designing and installing the new track cabinet spokesperson for environment and highways at Barnsley Council “The new bike track at Darfield Road is another example of our commitment to providing our residents with the facilities to lead a healthier and more active lifestyle “By providing opportunities for different skill levels and uses the track shows our commitment to making Barnsley healthier Read our comments policy Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Located on a 30-acre site north of Rawmarsh all of the houses would be affordable and developed in conjunction with Vico Homes The housebuilder has completed the survey stage and is clearing the site for work to begin at its second Sheffield scheme Register for free Yorkshire property intelligence Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Stay updated on the latest news and views in Yorkshire property views and opportunities in Yorkshire property By subscribing, you are agreeing to Place Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); PLANS to expand a Cudworth care home by demolishing a former cinema have been submitted to Barnsley Council’s planning board. Belle Green Court care home currently has the capacity for 42 occupants - but applicant Jeevan Shergill is hoping to increase that number to 60. The original care home was built in 1998 by the previous owners, but Mr Shergill purchased both the care home and the adjacent cinema building in January and February 2020. He originally aimed to expand the home at that time but the Covid-19 pandemic hit and the home were forced to close for any new residents, leaving the expansion on hold. As the country has moved out of Covid, plans to extend the home were further hampered by subsequent management and staff issues, which have now been resolved whilst the current economic crisis and build costs have added further complications to the development. Plans have now been officially submitted to demolish the former Rock Cinema on Market Place. Very little is known about the cinema, except that the late Barnsley broadcaster Michael Parkinson used to visit in his youth. It opened on February 24, 1928, with the silent film ‘Michael Strogoff’ before closing as a cinema on April 28, 1962. The site then reopened as Walker’s Bingo Club before turning into Ramsdens - a shop specialising in children’s toys and nursery goods. However it has remained closed since 2019. A report states there has been no interest in using the site for any other purpose and therefore Mr Shergill is asking to demolish it. “Since the applicant’s purchase of the building, whilst they have not actively sought to rent the site as the greater value is in the expansion of the care home, there have been no enquiries for short-term leases or seasonal lets that sometimes occur on similar premises,” it added. “Although a significant building and visible off of Barnsley Road there are no other retail premises in similar locations, a single small retail unit on Market Place also closed with proposals for conversion. “Any future retail use would also potentially exacerbate the current parking issues with the local public house and fast food takeaways on Barnsley Road. “It is also clear that there is no current demand for retail or other ‘town centre’ uses. “In the current economic climate there appears likely to be little future demand and owing to general changes in retailing, the likelihood of the retail use or there commercial uses of the site become viable seems to be slim.” The public are generally behind the plans, according to the report. If the site is demolished, a further 18 new rooms will be added to the site - something which the applicant says is ‘much needed’. “The growth in need for elderly care has been well documented both locally and nationally, Barnsley being no exception,” the report added. “The unanimous response was in favour of both the care home extension and residents welcoming the proposals as an uplift to the area in respect of the overall design and the benefit to the community.” A total of 47 neighbouring properties have been made aware of the plans with no appeals to date. Steve Houghton, leader of Barnsley Council and a local Cudworth councillor, told the Chronicle: “The three local members in Cudworth are supporting this application. “It will sadly, but necessarily, mean the removal of the Ramsdens building. “We appreciate that it’s been there for a long time but despite our best efforts we’ve not been able to find anyone to take over. “It’s an eyesore in the middle of the village and it’s a dilapidated building. “There’s no alternative but it’s a positive that the care home is expanding.” He says that once work is completed on the care home the area itself will receive some TLC. “We also have plans to improve the ‘pond’,” he added. “Once the work is done then we’re going to make some public realm improvements. “That’ll be an improvement for residents in the area.” WITH Thurnscoe Harmonic Male Voice Choir celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, we’ve gone back in time to look at another group’s milestone. Cudworth Male Voice Choir, sadly now inactive, celebrated 50 years of existence in April 2001. They did so with a concert and supper held in The Wesley Hall in their own village. Then chairman Ray Mellor wrote in the evening’s programme: “We have three founder members still with the choir, our conductor Bernard Bagworth and Derek Bonds. “The third founder member, Percy (Curly) Whitmore is the only member with unbroken service. The choir very much appreciates your continued support over the years and hopes you enjoy the concert and supper.” Wesley Aston explained the group’s history. He wrote: “One Sunday evening in the summer of 1950 Jerry Rogerson and I were about this and that whilst waiting for our wives to announce supper was ready. “We got round to reminiscing about men’s weekends at the chapel, we thought that there had been two, in 1938 and 1939. They were rather modest, men occupries the choir stalls for the two services and in the afternoon we gave one or two male voice choir items. “It was probably in 1939 that Arthur Manning, the organist at the Barnsley Ritz cinema joined us to give some items on the chapel organ. “We thought it might be a good idea to revive them if there was likely to be sufficient support. We did a bit of sounding out among people like Cliff and Green Thorpe, Cliff Stothard, Lloyd Jones, Curly, George Pygott, Mervin Hambleton, Len Tiggardine and Bill Clare. I recall that the latter two said: ‘we’re daft enough for owt’ which was their way of saying: count us in.” Wesley added: “We arranged an evening concert, with supper, for the first Saturday in 1951. “The chairman was Wesley Kenworthy, who was a legend in his own lifetime, the accompanist was Raymond Thorpe (Green’s son) and the soloist was Jerry’s brother, Len, who was the possessor of a very fine bass voice. “For a first occasion, the evening went well. The meal, prepared and served by the men was glorious and organised chaos. Nobody had given thought to restricting the number of tickets but we fought our way through. “Although it was in the early hours of Sunday morning before we had finished clearing away, we were there for morning service a few hours later when the preacher was Dr Clifford Towlson, headmaster of Woodhouse Grove School. “The project was deemed to have been a success, so much so that was worth repeating the following year and the next and the next...” The programme featured Vivaldi’s Gloria as a spritely inroduction and Welsh hymn Cwm Rhondda as part of a religious section. Songs in memory were also sung before a duo of love songs. Battle songs incuded Do You Hear The People Sing? from Les Miserables and the ever popular When The Saints Go Marching In. Morte Criste (When I Survey The Wondrous Cross) was sang to finish the show and was in dedication to all men past and present who had performed with the choir. First Tenors: Derek Bonds, Douglas Brooks, Kenneth Burgess, Ernest Eversedge, Sydney Pinkney, Geoffrey Stables, Alwyn Taylor and Percy Whitmore. Second Tenors: Barrie Broadhurst, Malcolm Brown, Derek Byfield and Herbert Jones. Baritones: Eddie Beecroft, John Burton, Alan Clare, Bob Roberts, John Williams. Bass: Ossie Brear, John Coughlan, John Hambleton, Kenneth Martin, Raymind Mellor, Arthur Schofield, Trevor Ward. A BARNSLEY man who killed a father and son in a hit-and-run in Cudworth last year has been given a 12-year jail term. Emergency services were called to the incident on January 20 last year but cyclists Dean Jones, 45, and 16-year-old Lewis Daines were pronounced dead at the scene. Paul Yates, of Manor Road in Cudworth, was subsequently arrested and pleaded guilty to seven counts - all in relation to death by dangerous driving - at a Sheffield Crown Court appearance on April 25. Yates - who was also driving whilst uninsured and without a licence - was sentenced on Monday. He received an immediate sentence reduction of a third - from 18 years to 12 years - having entered an early guilty plea. POLICE are investigating after a man and woman were found dead in a Cudworth property. South Yorkshire Police said the pair were discovered after concerns for their welfare were raised, and confirmed they were pronounced dead at the scene. A spokesperson said: “Police attended a property on Market Place in the Cudworth area of Barnsley following the discovery of two bodies. “Emergency services were called to the property at around 11.50am on Wednesday May 11 following reports of concern for the welfare of a man and a woman. “Officers attended and sadly, a man and woman were pronounced deceased at the scene. “Enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding their death, and post mortems are being carried out. “Anyone with information which could assist police enquiries should call 101 quoting incident number 390 of May 11, 2022.” A MAINSTAY of Cudworth’s bustling high street which had its 40-year existence threatened by a fire after it tore through its building has bounced back from the brink - and will finally reopen on Monday. Lakis Fish Bar, run by the Georgiades family, has traded from its Barnsley Road base in Cudworth for 38 years. Georgina Georgiades-Ellison, 41, works in the shop alongside her brother Andreas and their mum, Christina, who came to the UK when Cyprus was invaded by Turkey in 1974. However a fire - which took hold at the end of May - gutted the building which doubles up as Christina’s home and although her upstairs flat still requires work, the shop is set to reopen its doors at 11am on Monday. Georgina told the Chronicle that local tradespeople - many of which are customers - have chipped in to help get the business back on its feet. “It’s been overwhelming seeing how many people have offered their support,” she said. “So much hard work has gone into it. “They raised more than £3,000 for us and we’ve had so much help from local businesses. “It’s been a rough year - two weeks before the fire we lost our uncle, and our nan in October, so there were times when we thought we couldn’t come back. “We’ve worked constantly to get the shop back to what it is and although we’ve still got the flat to sort, it’s looking fantastic downstairs and we cannot wait to reopen. “My mum came on Sunday for the first time since the fire - the last time she saw the shop it was in a terrible state and she was so sad, but she was able to see just how hard we’ve worked so it was emotional for everyone. “I’d like to thank everyone on behalf of my family who helped to get us back trading. “We’ve been in Cudworth for so long and trading from the shop is all I’ve ever really known, but it just goes to show how strong our community spirit truly is. “The mess was unbelievable and the smoke damage was bad, and because it’s a 150-year-old building we were constantly finding issues which put the reopening date back, but we’re so proud we’re now counting down the days.” Coun Joe Hayward, who represents the Cudworth ward, paid tribute to the family - and the subsequent community response soon after the fire - for their efforts. “Lakis is arguably the best-known shop on the high street and it’s because they’ve fed generations of Cudworth families,” he added. “It was truly devastating when the fire happened and I am thrilled the end is now in sight - Monday’s reopening will be an emotional time for the family. “The support they’ve received from the community shows just how popular they are in this community.” Illustration by Richard Wilkinson is a writer and journalist based in Brooklyn, New York. Previously an editor at Nautilus and at Guernica magazines, she is the author of How to Think Like a Woman: Four Women Philosophers Who Taught Me How to Love the Life of the Mind (2023) Edited byNigel Warburton SaveSYNDICATE THIS ESSAYEmailSavePostShareIn 1696 an Englishwoman and a reluctant philosopher stepped from obscurity to publish a book whose title – A Discourse Concerning the Love of God – concealed the feminist gems within contrary to some philosophers and theologians of her day that mothers were not corrupting forces but foundational to the pursuit of knowledge Then in 1705 she entered the public sphere again with another work titled Occasional Thoughts in Reference to a Vertuous or Christian Life in which she argued that women should contribute to all intellectual subjects: ‘I see no Reason why it should not be thought that all Science lyes as open to a Lady as to a Man.’ Masham was also close to the Enlightenment philosopher John Locke Their friendship endured for almost 20 years personal and at times romantic exchange that began before her marriage and endured after Locke moved into her home with her husband and children No need to write letters when you can share ideas near the fire in the evenings This was a period of great philosophical flourishing for Masham during which she wrote her two and only books If it were not for Masham’s affiliation with Locke I’m certain that these two books would have been completely lost to us I resisted exploring her close bond with Locke when I wrote my dissertation about her ideas years ago I wanted to treat Masham’s body of work as I would have treated any male philosopher’s: independent of his private life and by acknowledging Masham’s relationship to Locke – he broke her heart yet encouraged her philosophical work – I gained a deeper appreciation of her oeuvre as well as her experience of being a woman in philosophy When I finally sat down to read her letters to Locke I was in a relationship with a philosopher a few years older than myself a man who had initially been my teaching fellow and eventually also my colleague – and to whom I frequently looked for validation I’d pursued a career in philosophy with the dream of living a life of enquiry but I didn’t expect it to be such a boys’ club or that I’d be managing chronic self-doubt and self-censorship a man in philosophy on whom I depended for a sense of belonging in the field I began to see how Masham’s relationship with Locke was an important story to tell despite being raised among the intellectual elite she still questioned whether she was right for philosophy not yet the author of a landmark treatise on empiricism that would transform philosophy for centuries to come but a former diplomat and medical practitioner who held a permanent post at Oxford He was an entertaining guest at parties but intellectual conversation – just like Damaris did He asked her if he was being too forward by contacting her She replied she wasn’t interested in romance Locke was ambivalent about academic life and the seat of the latest experimental methods of enquiry His view that philosophical insight came from varied experience and that the senses were the origin of all human ideas contradicted the rationalist theories of her father and most other Cambridge Platonists She must have found Locke’s confidence and ideas refreshing She shared that she was drawn to philosophy although she had been unfortunately ‘Diverted from it when I was Young … by the Commands of others.’ She didn’t identify who’d held her back though it probably wasn’t her father whose philosophy she understood well Locke trusted Damaris as a stand-in for her father whose metaphysics he wished to better understand He called her his governess and praised her brilliance how his persistent philosophical questions revealed his confidence in her mind She described these moments as ‘Fitts’ that made her sick and which she linked to the pressure to perform brought on by Locke’s enquiries: ‘I almost wish sometimes that I were Dumb.’ she realised she’d fallen in love: ‘I onely write you now to let you know that you have a Governess who cannot forget you.’ She was of the age when women were expected to be married and it’s likely that she hoped Locke would propose Her romantic tie helped keep Locke within her orbit and a marriage to him would cement philosophy into her future she wrote to Locke: ‘Household Affaires are the Opium of the Soul’ nearly one year after Locke first wrote to her because their next exchange is a poem they composed about two lovers Locke confesses Damon’s willingness to give up his singlehood to be with her: ‘My freedome I to you resigne.’ He is captivated by her: ‘Was I not always in your power?’ Yet there was no intimation of a marriage proposal Damaris decided to ignore Locke and his many letters she told him that her silence was his fault: ‘the Consequence of giveing me no Direction’ England was in the throes of anti-government plots and his associates had fled the country after accusations of treason Two years passed along with a handful of letters and still no proposal from Locke she did what most single 26-year-old women at the time did: she got married a widower with nine children who lived on a large estate in the countryside of Essex and the promise of affording her some leisure to study she wrote to Locke: ‘Household Affaires are the Opium of the Soul.’ Then her son was born She wrote to Locke: ‘For All my quarrel with you I cannot help telling you that there is scarse any thing I would not give to see you Here in my Closet where I am now writeing to You.’ She signed one letter to Locke as if she were a published writer: ‘I will Conclude like other Authors Finis.’ In another she wrote: ‘[Y]ou may see me in Print in a little While.’ He also urged her to do philosophy He asked her to give him comments on his manuscripts Masham now expressed feeling intellectually up to the task and Locke became her most significant connection to the world of philosophy Masham’s circumstance made it difficult for her to experience those pleasures of the intellect that philosophers throughout history praised and she was having a much harder time living in rural England than she let on in her letters to Locke filling pages at the end of her second and final treatise her descriptions were more like an existential nightmare Masham described in the third person the struggles of being a smart woman in the world – especially in the country – yet some sections read as autobiographical She reported that a smart woman is intimidating and for this she is mocked and gossiped about all over town Her local parson is too shy to speak with her Her doctor worries that she is concerningly peculiar Because she is intelligent enough to manage her own home Masham says the smart woman is at odds with society whether she wants to be or not; her very being is a threat to the world as such If a woman even has the leisure to practise philosophy What might redeem the practice of philosophy for a woman would be an idea that compensated for the social battering and self-doubt she would inevitably have to endure on account of her sex it was now safe for Locke to return to England Her home quickly became his favoured place The philosopher would pay one pound a week in return for lodging for himself and his butler Locke was provided with the two large rooms on the first floor of the house his belongings spilling into adjacent rooms Masham described Locke to a friend as like a brother or father The exception is a mysterious passage in Masham’s work about love and adultery in which she writes that a wife’s love of another man competes with the love she owes her husband but it does not diminish the love she feels for her child Locke introduced into Masham’s life good conversation and a steady flow of intellectuals He also connected her to Awnsham Churchill of the Black Swan socially reformist book publisher who issued Locke’s works and would do the same for Masham’s Although Locke was essential to securing Masham’s sense of self-worth as a philosopher It’s women and their experiences that motivate and shape her books her philosophy doesn’t focus primarily on metaphysics or epistemology – though these ideas are there – but rather on the forces that inhibit women and keep them from participating in the life of the mind Locke shared with Masham a text about the ideas of Nicolas Malebranche an influential French philosopher who held that mothers inflict irreversible cognitive damage on their babies while in the womb She was troubled by his claim that God should be the only object of our love and that to love something other than God was a sin Masham risked the censure she knew intelligent women faced She came to see how the power of reason could release women from the tired conceptions of men She argued that Malebranche’s claims were impractical No human could avoid feeling desire for things that please us including a delicious meal or a dear friend we would have to live as hermits to lead a life of minimal sin though men might ‘pretend to be their Masters’ She reasoned that knowledge of oneself and the world is the consequence of being social and forming loving attachments which God implanted in us to direct us to the good And she drew on careful observations she must have made as a parent who spent time in a nursery: from our first pleasurable perceptions we desire to be in the presence of those things that bring us joy Our pursuit of pleasure propels us to attach to other people and things of creation and this process eventually leads us to wonder about the originating cause of our universe it is necessary to first love creation in order to love and obey God And mothers emerge from her philosophical vision in a vital role: the transmitters of love who set us on the path of inquisitive engagement with the world After the publication of Discourse, Masham corresponded with Gottfried Leibniz and Pierre Bayle Yet for all her insight into the debates of her day none of these topics dominate in Masham’s second and final book the book takes inspiration from a conversation Masham had about education with a group of mostly women who ‘expres’d much displeasure at the too general neglect of the Instruction of their Sex’ Masham said that they didn’t reach a solution but that her book written a few years later – and at the urging of others – was her answer She wrote that the fundamental problem was that women’s minds weren’t free Though men might ‘pretend to be their Masters’ Women should be guided only by those ideas whose truth is affirmed by the operations of our own mind she will perceive the far reaches of the injustices that shape her world the pleasure of contemplation will be mixed with notes of sadness The thinking woman will see that the freedom to reason belongs to everyone that Scripture describes chastity as a ‘duty to both Sexes’ unlike the common practice of treating its infraction as Masham turns to mothers and their role in maintaining social and political harmony Mothers who had a rigorous education that instructed them how to think for themselves and follow God’s law would raise smart sons who would one day be responsible for successful governance She thought the current social and political situation wasn’t ideal and that the general lack of education for women would continue to ‘disorder Common-wealths and Kingdoms; disturb the Peace of Families’ She believed that women were as smart as men but had a greater capacity for empathy making them better suited to raise children This insistence on women’s superior capacity for care bothers me as it further entrenches patriarchal views But it also has a few radical implications It’s why Masham thought that women ought to be the arbiters of parental decisions in the domestic sphere who insisted that fathers should be the ultimate judge in any domestic dispute Her heightened respect for home life anticipated modern feminist laws that support the rights of mothers and attempt to curb domestic violence A biographer who visited her grave around 1800 reported that she was buried under a black stone in the middle aisle of Bath Abbey reproduced in full by the biographer and purportedly written by her son But I’m drawn to where the dedication mentions her ‘small Treatises’ and – especially this final part – her lack of ‘Opportunities to make those Talents shine in the World’ Masham’s son was acutely aware of what she could have been if only her freedoms had extended the length of men’s This passage stands in contrast to the moments when she acknowledged the relatively modest freedom allotted her which she met with a similarly modest aim: if one woman’s soul was saved by her ideas Masham’s gravestone no longer exists in the abbey Some 19th-century scholars came across her work one writing that she was ‘a person remarkable for her mind’ and another that she deserved ‘a niche in the history of English philosophy’ But there were no reprintings of her books until 2005 in the United States and the United Kingdom In finding my way to Masham’s work and life which saw me through an unhealthy relationship with my John Locke that ultimately ended This was partly because of Masham’s preoccupation with the woman question which provided me with material I truly cared about and the inspiration to finish my dissertation and earn my PhD women could make significant contributions to philosophy Leibniz has this peculiar theory that I’ve always loved – that all souls have infinite perceptions of the universe past Though he claims we’re not consciously aware of it I like to think of it as if each of us is an echo of everything when I’m in my childhood home in Iowa to visit my father who was released from the hospital from a near heart attack I’m clutching my baby daughter as she naps sweatily against my chest watching the cottonwoods sway outside my window while she pines for Locke across the English Channel; her father dead her philosophical aspirations lying dormant and her ambitions intimately while the dark wet branches of the tree tap her window EmailSavePostShareSYNDICATE THIS ESSAYSaveessay The Norse ravaged much of Europe for centuries. They were also cosmopolitan explorers who followed trade winds into the Far East Like today’s large language models, 16th-century humanists had techniques to automate writing – to the detriment of novelty Saveessay After a murderous kidnapping in Nigeria, I launched a campaign to put a stop to the abductions. Why did no one listen? When we see the Earth as ‘a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam’ what do we learn about human significance? When AI takes over the practice of science we will likely find the results strange and incomprehensible. Should we worry? In Plato’s Symposium, Socrates shared a theory of love from the teachings of a ‘non-Athenian woman’. Who was she really? PLAY equipment deliberately set on fire earlier this year will be replaced in the coming months has been targeted by vandals a number of times in the past told the Chronicle an investigation would be carried out and the culprits would be named and shamed as a result of destroying a children’s playground He feared - due to the financial constraints - that it’d be unlikely the equipment would be replaced postive news was received that the parks team have secured a way to replace the unit and are hoping to have the climbing frame back by the end of summer “Most people will be aware of the senseless vandalism and the burning of the children’s climbing frame in Cudworth Park in February,” Joe said “I feel ecstatic that the equipment will be replaced “I know a lot of children who used the climbing frame so there are a lot of happy parents “Even those who didn’t use the playground are happy it will be replaced “The park services will place the order this week and hope to have it back by July or August “It will take time for the unit to arrive from the supplier as they are made to order but parks will fit it as soon as they can.” This article was first featured in our Memories of Barnsley magazine back in 2021 From the age of six in 1956 until I began Barnsley Grammar School in 1960 at eleven most of my time during the holidays was spent either sitting on a wall by the approach road to the north of Cudworth Station trainspotting or playing football in an adjacent field whilst keeping an eye out for anything being ‘pegged’ on the railway There wasn’t the worry of homework and in the late 1950s we were more or less left to our own devices It was an ideal spot for both trainspotting and playing football If we looked to our left,towards Cudworth Bridges we could see Cudworth Brickworks with its large brick chimney To the rear of that was Carlton Main muckstack and further still on the horizon loomed Monckton Colliery and Cokeworks with its slender chimney burning off the excess gases in a perpetual flame To our right was the station itself complete with footbridge leading to the prefabs in Cudworth past the old Hull & Barnsley platforms and at the rear of the main station buildings was the goods shed in front of us lay the Midland mainlines and beyond them the goods lines and sidings All were in clear view from our vantage point and other than the weather there was never anything to spoil our pleasure Cudworth was a busy station with good local stopping services to Leeds and Sheffield as well as our very own two-coach ‘pull n’ push’ which trundled between Cudworth and Barnsley Court House before its withdrawal in June 1958 I only travelled on it the one time but it was an unforgettable experience especially traversing the hugely impressive Oaks Viaduct which spanned the Dearne Valley until its demolition in 1968 the Waverley and the Devonian used the route through Cudworth and there was much fast freight traffic in addition to the seemingly endless procession of coal trains coming to and from Grimethorpe and Houghton Main collieries It really was a terrific place for trainspotting which in those days was a hobby for most schoolboys and wasn't sneered at and ridiculed as it appears to be today for what more was there to life than friends collecting numbers was the be-all and end-all but gradually knowledge grew about engine types shed codes and the railway infrastructure in general such as the ex-Hull & Barnsley line in its final couple of miles to its end at Stairfoot which I used to cross four times on each school day where I came to learn of change and the mutability of life we discovered the Cudworth North signal-box had been completely demolished The shed codes and liveries all altered in 1957 so that Leeds (Holbeck) 20A became 55A and the carriages changed from carmine and cream or blood and custard (take your pick) to all-maroon Royal Scots and Britannias became more common but the older locos we'd been used to were being sent to the scrapyard It was the beginning of the end and although the shiny diesels had novelty value we were sensible enough to realise that eventually they would replace our beloved steam and by 1968 steam had been eradicated from the railways of Britain I have so many fond memories of those days I remember using a trolley to take people's luggage at holiday time saving them the heavy task of carrying suitcases on the long approach road Then there was discovering the raspberry canes still producing lovely fruit after the allotments by the railway had been abandoned; being excited to see basket after basket of racing pigeons being released from the small triangle of grass at the station end of Station Lane Best of all was being allowed to cab 41282 in the station before it left on its short journey to Barnsley and having a ride on 45566 Queensland as it deposited coaches in readiness for the following morning's early Leeds train married in 1973 and moved back to Yorkshire to live and work in Harrogate My father and stepmother still lived in my old house on Pontefract Road and although I had stopped trainspotting in 1964 on one of our family visits with our children I thought it would be good to have a trip down memory lane to my old stomping ground The familiar signals were still there even in 1979 although the platforms and footbridge had gone The signal-box at the station was still operative and the main station buildings were reduced in size but still being used for maintenance crews and 37s were still going strong some fifteen or so years since I had first seen them I got the railway bug again and for the next few years took hundreds of slides probably as some kind of penance for neglecting the end of steam a futile attempt to recapture those halcyon days of my youth and I must admit it was a poor substitute After my father died in 1991 we still visited my stepmother I had stopped my photography in the mid-eighties but when she had to go into a care home in 2007 and the house was up for sale I paid a last visit to check everything was in order for viewings and so on Should I go and have what would probably be my last ever look at Cudworth Station and its environs I thought I would re-create the walk I used to take from home to the station and then visit all the places I used to know so well Next to our house used to be a smallholding where Col Porter kept chickens and sold their eggs That was long gone and there were houses on every bit of where the fields and hen huts once were There was no shortcut so I had to walk the long way round to the very top of Station Lane On the right used to be a huge field where we played football fed the horses and had snowball fights in winter but now there was nothing to see but houses but rubbish had been dumped there and the approach to the station was overgrown and derelict The gas lamps which I could remember being lit as the evenings darkened had all been uprooted and the wall where we'd once sat so happily was breached in so many places There were no signals and the site of the station was a wasteland apparently burned down by vandals years before The only evidence that a railway had ever been here were the remains of the ballast and even that was being reclaimed by nature It was so utterly sad and depressing that I truly wish I hadn't bothered By chance a couple of years ago I met a lad from Cudworth who was in his mid to late twenties but when I mentioned the station he looked blank He genuinely had no idea that a large busy station had ever been there I was puzzled until it turned out he was talking about the base of the water-tower and had no idea it was railway-related and it’s inevitable that we must fall back on our memories which I suppose is not too bad when they can be as wonderful as mine are of Cudworth Station in the glorious late 1950s For a full list of archive editions of Memories of Barnsley please click here Also available: The Golden Age of Yorkshire Steam and Beyond from Pen and Sword books by Brianna Boecker | August 19 Anthea Cudworth and Kaylene Hubbard have been appointed as the respective Chair and Deputy Chair of Scouts NSW They join a Board comprising member representatives and independent Non-Executive Directors following its annual general meeting in July.  alongside Carolyn Campbell as CEO of Scouts NSW makes for a first in an organisation that’s historically been male-dominated Campbell said she’s “pleased the Board is reflective of the communities in which we operate this team can bring its frontline Scouting knowledge and professional experience to guide Scouts in continuing to change and grow into the future.” Scouts NSW is part of a global Movement for young people aged five to 25 which has been operating successfully for more than a century.  Cudworth joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director in 2022 having volunteered for Scouts NSW as a Scout Leader and State Commissioner for more than a decade She brings over 20 years of experience as a Corporate Affairs executive She holds international financial and communications qualifications and has previously chaired a not-for-profit youth organisation “It is a privilege to support an organisation that has made such a positive impact on thousands of young people and adults across generations,” Cudworth said “Scouts played a formative role in my youth and it’s exciting to help this long-cherished organisation evolve its valued life skills so that they remain relevant for our local communities year after year.” Hubbard was appointed to the Board as a Non-Executive Director with skills in governance earlier this month She has more than 25 years’ experience in professional services Kaylene previously served as the Managing Partner of the KPMG Greater Western Sydney Office and is now Partner in Charge of Tax Advisory in the Enterprise practice She is also the Chair of the Board of Arthritis Australia.  Chief Commissioner Lloyd Nurthen said he was excited by the energy and enthusiasm the new Board would bring to the Association.  “With Anthea and Kaylene’s appointments as Chair and Deputy Chair we have secured outstanding skills to help us set out a future strategy that navigates the many challenges facing not-for-profit member organisations around the country,” he said.  “After celebrating 50 years of females in Scouting last year I’m proud and excited to see where this new leadership takes us in the future.” by Brianna Boecker Sarah Mcleod has been appointed the new Chair of the Australian Women in Music (AWM) organisation Founder of one of Australia’s largest fitness franchises Diana Williams is stepping away from her role of CEO at Fernwood Fitness Petra Andrén has been appointed the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of Quantum Australia the national centre for quantum industry growth Coaxial has reached a significant milestone in its journey from vision to action with the appointment of Philippa Watson as CEO A/Prof Sandra Creamer has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Women’s Health Alliance Joan Fitzpatrick has been appointed as the new chair of Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) Women’s Agenda is published by the 100% women owned and run Agenda Media Advertising and partnerships support our independent journalism We acknowledge and pay respect to the past present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples A PENSIONER fell through the floor of a Cudworth betting shop earlier today Emergency services were called at 11.34am following reports that an 80-year-old man had fallen through the floor at Coral betting shop A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police said: “Early indications suggest that the floor had been weakened by a previous water leak “The man was removed from the floor by officers from the fire service “Barnsley Road is currently closed to traffic “Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting incident 287 of April 22.” Sophie Cudworth's dragon-inspired necklace wins praise for commercially aware design as it takes gold at Goldsmiths’ Craftsmanship & Design Awards 2024 Sophie founded her studio near Chipping Campden in January 2022 after several years working at Beards Jewellers in Cheltenham Weekly lifestyle and business highlights straight to your inbox Being able to favourite articles is just one of a host of member exclusive benefits Being able to create your own lists is just one of a host of member exclusive benefits Sign up here for your daily business digest direct to your inbox Sign Up Discover our talented editorial team and the principles that drive them will be happy to hear that the local florist and coffee shop is blossoming into a successful business have pursued their dream of owning their own business together by purchasing Poppy’s Florist and Coffee shop in the small South Yorkshire village Alison desired a lifestyle change after working as a school bursar for many years so when the married duo learned that Poppy’s was for sale they immediately began to seek funds in order to invest in the venture Upon deciding that the florist and coffee shop was the perfect purchase Lee and Alison acquired support and the appropriate funds from NatWest including Alison who manages the whole business Alison said: “I just fell in love with the business Poppy’s has a great reputation for its floral displays and packages and the coffee shop is just a nice place to come and visit with friends When the estate agents contacted us to say the business was available just before Christmas we jumped on it and everything progressed quite quickly.” Natwest relationship manager Gavin Senior helped the couple through every step of their new purchase even popping round to our home after working hours to finalise the paperwork as myself and Lee were unable to get into the bank at times due to our current work commitments.” commented: “I was delighted to support Alison and Lee with the purchase of Poppy’s They presented a great business plan which showed their commitment to the business and I wish them every success for the future.” Sign up to receive our popular Yorkshire & The Humber morning email for free A CUDWORTH community group banded together to raise funds for a mosaic to honour a local fundraiser Cudworth Businesses and Community Together’s latest project has seen volunteers team up with Simon and Diane Davey from The Star Hotel to produce a special mosaic artwork to thank bugler Paul Goose for his tireless charity work during the pandemic played The Last Post outside his home every night from March to New Year’s Eve last year The former Light Infantry soldier raised more than £10,000 for the intensive care unit at Barnsley Hospital with his renditions The mosaic will be displayed alongside the Remembrance Day mural at the popular venue in the hope it will inspire the community during difficult times The team’s target to fund it was met in just four days with local residents and firms - including Hadfield Funeral Directors said: “Paul has been a shining beacon of hope during these unprecedented difficult times The community would like produce the mosaic to thank Paul for all his hard work “It’s the least we could do and we’re so thankful.” who was surprised with the news earlier this week told the Chronicle: “I’m completely gobsmacked it was unexpected and I’m thrilled that people have thought of me I did it to help anybody who had been affected in some way by the virus I can’t thank residents enough for their support with me People across the country have donated and shown support and I’m thrilled Home   News   Article A JEWELLERY designer based near Bidford has beaten the robots to win a prestigious national design award won gold at the Goldsmiths’ Crafts & Design Council Craftsmanship & Design Awards held in London on 5th March for her dragon-inspired necklace design “Dragons are my all-time favourite mythical creature,” said Sophie “Early in my career when I had the pleasure of working in China I was told about the legend of the dragon gate when each year koi carp battle up river to leap through the gate at the top of the waterfall and only the most tenacious can become a dragon for their dual traits of tenacity and stoicism I got a koi carp tat-too) so the brief sang to my soul.” and is so technically accurate that it will be used to make a final piece The apple-green peridot in the Dragon Gate design is akin to those mined from the Chinese mountains by the category’s sponsor Fuli Gem-stones – which will use Sophie’s design to make up the necklace While CAD (computer aided design) is often used for expedience in jewellery design – and Sophie is a whizz at this too – she says she loves the artistry of gouache technique “Just like with fashion designers’ illustrations they are artworks in themselves,” said Sophie The designer lives in Bickmarsh with her husband The couple first met in Cheltenham in 2013 where Sophie worked for fine jewellers Beards A childhood visit to an aquarium triggered a love of sparkly things and a career in jewellery design I remem-ber he regularly took us to the aquar-ium I remember just being completely fas-cinated by the colours; then it was just pretty much from that point onwards that I wanted to be a jeweller.” After studying at the Birmingham School of Jewellery Sophie landed a job with as an assistant at a jewellery design company where she honed her trade and travelled the world and con-sider myself a personal jeweller,” said Sophie I just met with a client in a café for a chat and to talk about the design for an aquamarine dress ring I am making for her A popular service that Sophie offers is a jewellery overhaul She explained: “Older women tend to have quite a large collection of jewellery in my experience they are often more adventurous and their col-lection doesn’t represent who they are now “So we will sit down together and go over it together – assess it and break it down The stones can be removed and the gold scraped off then we can use that to make a new piece and pay towards it – adding more gemstones if desired.” Sophie partners with a Bond Street workshop which makes the jewellery to a high standard but without the West End prices – Sophie’s rings start at about £300 that would set you back a little more: £27,000 Sophie’s design is currently on public display at the Birmingham Assay Office as part of the Gold-smiths’ Craft and Design Council Awards Exhibition Find out more about Sophie’s designs at www.sophiecudworth.co.uk.