For almost 30 years on and off, S66 postcode area was "My Place". It was where I was born, just outside the town of ROTHERHAM, and spent my childhood, attended primary and secondary school, and then returned to on and off during holidays as a student, and then at weekends when I started teaching, until my parents moved away from the area. I still visit occasionally, in fact I passed through S66 last week on the way to a meeting in Sheffield at the headquarters of the Geographical Assocation (of which more later this year)
The area is now the subject of a book which I'm currently reading.
The book is called WELCOME TO EVERYTOWN. The author chose S66 to represent the UK and spent 6 months there.
"Philosopher Julian Baggini pinpointed postcode S66 on the outskirts of Rotherham, as England in microcosm – an area which reflected most accurately the full range of the nation's inhabitants, its most typical mix of urban and rural, old and young, married and single. He then spent six months living there, immersing himself in this typical English Everytown, in order to get to know the mind of a people."
An interesting read so far. The author lived in Bramley for 6 months near the Ball Inn (which has been renamed a while back), down the hill from Wickersley where I lived for all that time. He visits the Brecks, Maltby, various pubs, mentions Dalton and Rawmarsh and goes to see Rotherham Utd. play. Some good ideas for the Geography pilot, and concepts of happiness, catchments, demographics, community and issues of immigration. I also liked the pictures - always laughed at the sign for the South Yorkshire Forest near to Morrisons in Hellaby. Lots of things on the website, but they're all "coming soon"...
Update: Some mixed reviews on the book. Not everyone is happy with the premise or the execution. A good letter published in The Guardian on Saturday from M Wolverson.
"My mother has happily lived in Maltby, Rotherham, for 80 years. She is regularly asked leading questions by 'researchers' about quality-of-life issues on her estate such as crime and unemployment. They seem very disappointed when she tells them that where she lives is "like heaven with the door shut, love." Great quote....
The area is now the subject of a book which I'm currently reading.
The book is called WELCOME TO EVERYTOWN. The author chose S66 to represent the UK and spent 6 months there.
"Philosopher Julian Baggini pinpointed postcode S66 on the outskirts of Rotherham, as England in microcosm – an area which reflected most accurately the full range of the nation's inhabitants, its most typical mix of urban and rural, old and young, married and single. He then spent six months living there, immersing himself in this typical English Everytown, in order to get to know the mind of a people."
An interesting read so far. The author lived in Bramley for 6 months near the Ball Inn (which has been renamed a while back), down the hill from Wickersley where I lived for all that time. He visits the Brecks, Maltby, various pubs, mentions Dalton and Rawmarsh and goes to see Rotherham Utd. play. Some good ideas for the Geography pilot, and concepts of happiness, catchments, demographics, community and issues of immigration. I also liked the pictures - always laughed at the sign for the South Yorkshire Forest near to Morrisons in Hellaby. Lots of things on the website, but they're all "coming soon"...
Update: Some mixed reviews on the book. Not everyone is happy with the premise or the execution. A good letter published in The Guardian on Saturday from M Wolverson.
"My mother has happily lived in Maltby, Rotherham, for 80 years. She is regularly asked leading questions by 'researchers' about quality-of-life issues on her estate such as crime and unemployment. They seem very disappointed when she tells them that where she lives is "like heaven with the door shut, love." Great quote....
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