The quiet subversive of Sheffield<\/p>\n
How Ethel Haythornthwaite \u2018found her truth\u2019 in the Peak District<\/p>\n
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If Mollie\u2019s name rings a bell, it might be because you\u2019ve already read one of her stories for us here. She recently reported on suspensions at Sheffield College (know anything? Drop her a line<\/a>) and has previously written for us about tensions over Travellers in Beighton and Peak District legend Ethel Haythornthwaite.<\/p>\n Or it might be that the reverberations of Mollie\u2019s Manchester reporting have been felt all the way over here. This year, Mollie\u2019s reporting on the University of Greater Manchester (formerly the University of Bolton) revealed evidence of bullying, racism and major financial irregularities so serious that Greater Manchester Police’s major incidents team are now investigating fraud charges and several homes of senior staff have been searched. You can read her gripping write up of the \u201cCasablanca Deal\u201d here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Casablanca Deal: Secret contracts and unexplained payments at the University of Greater Manchester<\/p>\n EXCLUSIVE: Senior executives at the university tried to divert hundreds of thousands in tuition fees into a private company which one of them owns<\/p>\n We often chat to our Manchester friends, and we\u2019d started to notice that Mollie was spending more and more of her weekends over on this side of the Pennines. Mention \u201cSheffield\u201d and a sort of dreamy look came into her eye, a beatific vision of good pubs, lovely parks and affordable housing. And so, our people spoke to her people, and an agreement was clinched before the transfer window closed.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve asked Mollie to introduce herself directly to you below. But just before then, let us say that this is a big step for us. We\u2019ve pulled forward our plan to hire a bit because it was an opportune moment for Mollie to move, and we can see how much an extra reporter of Mollie\u2019s calibre will add to what we can do here. But we\u2019re still running on a shoestring. If you\u2019d like to support a scrappy news operation trying to do things differently, then please join today.<\/p>\n (Meanwhile if you, or someone you know, fancies filling Mollie\u2019s shoes over at The Mill, you can apply here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n ‘Moving to Sheffield had been a little dream of mine’<\/p>\n Hi, I\u2019m Mollie. I grew up in a small village in Dorset, which was very scenic and pretty but not ideal if, like me, you have a low boredom threshold. I spent a gap year doing almost nothing, and in 2017 I moved to Manchester for university. For the last four years I\u2019ve been a staff writer at The Mill. Highlights have included breaking into the Chanel afterparty, tracking down one of those creepy Manchester Nightlife filmmakers and sitting down with the chairman of Peel Group, the vast, all-powerful property group that owns most of the North West.<\/p>\n But during that time I\u2019ve also been spending lots of weekends over in Sheffield, mostly hanging out with friends from university who moved over this way. My editor there, Joshi Herrmann, would often ask me why I visited Sheffield so frequently. It wasn\u2019t hard to find reasons. Seeing various DIY bands perform at Delicious Clam has made up some of the most fun nights out I\u2019ve ever had, there\u2019s an excellent variety of pubs, there\u2019s that falafel place by Endcliffe Park, there\u2019s an annual pickle festival, (need I go on?). Out and about in South Yorkshire and Derbyshire I\u2019ve been able to see the northern lights at a campsite near Bakewell, swim up at Redmires, traipse around that lovely bookshop in Tideswell and sit somewhat precariously on Stanage Edge soaking up the sun.\u00a0<\/p>\n Then, this summer, conversations about taking on a new member of staff at The Tribune began in earnest. Colleagues sounded me out to see if I wanted the role.<\/p>\n Have you ever had it where the thing you\u2019d hoped might happen at some point in the future is on offer now? Moving over to Sheffield had been a little dream of mine. One day, I thought. But all of a sudden there was an opening. It would mean a fair bit of upheaval, but who knew when The Tribune would next be recruiting? I needed some time to think about it.<\/p>\n Not long after, I noticed myself plodding into work, passing scaffolded buildings and cranes teetering over Manchester\u2019s next tallest skyscraper, getting annoyed at men in suits brushing past me, barely noticing any of the lovely architectural details that I used to love about Manchester. I realised that yes, it might be time for a change.<\/p>\n I\u2019m now over in Sharrow, no longer spending most of my income on a cramped, tiny room, peering out of the window to watch the police conduct their weekly raids on my neighbour’s house for their various drug dealing-related crimes. I’m now sharing with some great people on a peaceful tree-lined street in a house with high ceilings and big windows. I also live with two cats, who I am trying my best to connect with (any tips on how to bond with nervous cats, leave me a comment). Perhaps I\u2019m getting swept along in the thrill of the new setting, but I\u2019m going to say it\u2019s already my favourite place I\u2019ve lived. Having gone from one extreme (Dorset) to another (Manchester), Sheffield feels like it\u2019s perfectly in the middle.<\/p>\n September is still feeling warm, and I\u2019m enjoying this brief seasonal window where I can freely explore the city on foot without getting too cold. I\u2019d love to hear your recommendations for places I should try \u2014 I like live music, swimming, yoga, old bloke pubs and indie cinemas. And of course, I\u2019d welcome any tips for stories I should be covering in my first months. You can email me on mollie@sheffieldtribune.co.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n Never miss an edition from Mollie, Dan or Vicky. Just sign up to our free e-mail list today.<\/p>\n Things to do \ud83d\udcc6<\/strong><\/p>\n Saturday<\/strong><\/p>\n \ud83e\ude9b On Saturday as part of Nether Edge Festival, St Andrew\u2019s on Psalter Lane are hosting a repair cafe<\/a> (10am-2pm). Volunteers will be on hand to make small repairs and teach people how to fix things themselves, with the aim of reducing waste and recycling items that would otherwise be thrown away. There is no charge for repairs, but donations will go to the Archer Project. The festival closes on Sunday with Party in the Park<\/a> in Chelsea Park (10am-4pm).<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfa4 The second and biggest weekend of the Castlegate Festival<\/a> gets under way on Saturday with a music festival on Exchange Street. As well as a main stage on the street itself, there will also be performances taking place at Delicious Clam, Panke Social and Plot 22, where the legendary Hacienda DJ Dave Haslam will play from 10pm-12pm. There will also be events taking place at SADACCA on the Wicker, Haymarket and Canada House on Commercial Street.<\/p>\n Sunday<\/strong><\/p>\n \ud83c\udf31 On Sunday, Pollen Market<\/a> \u2014 the inner city flower market which takes place monthly at Grey to Green in Castlegate \u2014 will be four years old! As well as all the usual florals, food, live music and family entertainment, there will also be a special performance and a Q+A with Natural Symphony, who will be teaming up with Sheffield plant shop Gravel Pit to bring you an audio-visual immersive show powered by plants! The market is free and runs from 10am-4pm.<\/p>\n \ud83d\ude37 Also on Sunday at Manor Lodge, become a Tudor doctor<\/a> for a day and discover the weird and wonderful things used to \u201ccure\u201d illnesses in Tudor times, when being a doctor (and being a patient) could be gruesome. Activities include learning about Tudor illnesses, designing your own Tudor \u201ccure\u201d, a Tudor doctor trail in the grounds and, best of all, the chance to craft a plague doctor mask and pomander. Tickets are \u00a35 per child and the day runs from 10am-4pm.<\/p>\n Coming up<\/strong><\/p>\n Tribune members were treated earlier this week to Holly Williams\u2019 report from Sheffield\u2019s oldest and smallest theatre, The Lantern<\/a>. Tribune reader Jim Coleman called it \u201ca fascinating read\u201d in the comments, and we couldn\u2019t disagree. Tomorrow we\u2019ll be going to the other end of the spectrum, and have asked theatre critic Matt Barton to review Dancing at Lughansa, the Crucible\u2019s first play under new artistic director Elizabeth Newman. What did he make of it? Check your inboxes tomorrow to find out.<\/p>\n If you\u2019d like to sponsor editions of The Tribune and reach over 30,000 readers, you can get in touch at\u00a0grace@millmediaco.uk<\/a> or visit our advertising page below for more information<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Artboard-1--4-.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThat’s me, outside The Tribune’s office at Leah’s Yard. Photo: Dan Hayes\/The Tribune.<\/p>\n
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