The Icons of Doncaster

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The Icons of Doncaster

The Icons of Doncaster… Doncastrians decide their favourite local heritage.
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The Icons of Doncaster is a project that gives the people of Doncaster the opportunity to decide the local people, places, achievements and stories that matter most to them.

12/01/2026

Doncaster is a town built on rails.

Railway engineering runs through the city’s DNA, and the works at Hexthorpe were at the heart of it. This is where two of the most famous trains in history were built: The Flying Scotsman and The Mallard.

Both were engineering firsts, setting new standards for speed and performance, and helping establish Doncaster as a nationally recognised industrial powerhouse. These weren’t just iconic trains. They were proof of the skill, innovation, and industry that shaped the town.

Not just a pretty face are we.

09/01/2026

Jeremy Clarkson is one of Britain’s most recognisable TV presenters. Loud, opinionated and endlessly entertaining, he is best known for Top Gear, The Grand Tour and more recently Clarkson’s Farm.

Originally from Sprotbrough, Jeremy Clarkson’s journey proves that even from a quiet spot in Doncaster, you can end up talking about cars, tractors and farming mishaps on screens all over the world.

05/01/2026

Butterscotch may be enjoyed around the world today, but this golden favourite was first created right here in Doncaster. In 1817, local confectioner Samuel Parkinson combined butter, sugar and treacle to make the sweet treat we now know and love.

It quickly became a hit, with buying a bag of butterscotch at the races becoming as much a tradition as strawberries and cream at Wimbledon. Its biggest moment came in 1851, when Queen Victoria declared butterscotch her favourite.

Now a world-famous flavour, butterscotch has a legacy that will always be proudly linked to Doncaster.

👉🏼Discover more Icons of and tell us yours, here > https://www.sinefm.com/the-icons-of-doncaster/

02/01/2026

Born in Armthorpe in 1951, Kevin “King Kev” Keegan became one of football’s biggest stars and one of Doncaster’s most famous sons.

He enjoyed a hugely successful playing career with top clubs including Liverpool FC and Newcastle United, before going on to manage at the highest level. Known for his passion, leadership and attacking style, Keegan became one of the most recognisable football figures of his generation.

And of course, no story of King Kev would be complete without mentioning that legendary poodle perm — as iconic as his goals.

👉🏼Discover more Icons of and tell us yours, here > https://www.sinefm.com/the-icons-of-doncaster/

31/12/2025

As 2025 comes to an end, we’ve loved spending the year celebrating the people, stories, and moments that make Doncaster what it is.

Icons of Doncaster exists to recognise the characters, communities, and contributions that shape the town’s identity, past and present. This year has been full of shared memories, local pride, and conversations sparked by the stories you’ve helped bring to life.

Thank you to everyone who’s followed along, shared posts, added stories, or simply taken a moment to celebrate Doncaster with us.

There are many more stories still to tell, and we look forward to uncovering and sharing them with you in 2026.

#2026

29/12/2025

Coal mining

For generations, Doncaster was powered by coal. Beneath its streets and surrounding villages ran a vast underground world that shaped lives, livelihoods and communities.

In the early 1900s, pits opened across the borough, bringing work to thousands and giving rise to tight-knit mining villages built around shared effort, pride and resilience. Life underground was hard and dangerous, but above ground communities thrived through welfare halls, brass bands, football teams and strong social bonds.

The 1980s marked a turning point, as pit closures and the miners’ strike deeply affected Doncaster. By the mid-1990s, most collieries had closed, but the legacy of coal mining lives on through memories, culture and identity.

Coal helped shape Doncaster into what it is today — and its story remains an important part of our shared heritage.

👉🏼 Discover more Icons of and tell us yours here
https://www.sinefm.com/the-icons-of-doncaster/

26/12/2025

Doncaster has given the world many sweet treats, but few are as legendary as Nuttall’s Mintoes 🍬

Back in the early 1900s, local engine driver William Nuttall invented what he first called a “mint dainty.” Renamed Mintoes, they quickly became a national obsession. Demand exploded so fast that Nuttall reportedly found himself thousands of tonnes behind on orders — a true minty meltdown.

From humble beginnings to a household favourite, Mintoes remain one of Doncaster’s most iconic contributions to British sweet history.

👉🏼 Discover more Icons of and tell us yours here:
https://www.sinefm.com/the-icons-of-doncaster/

22/12/2025

Doncaster’s links to world history run deeper than many realise. Two of the Pilgrim Fathers who helped shape the foundations of the United States were born just on our doorstep.

William Bradford was born in Austerfield, near Bawtry, while fellow Pilgrim Father William Brewster came from nearby Scrooby. Both later travelled aboard the Mayflower, helping to establish early colonial governance in America.

Their journey laid the groundwork for principles that would later influence the US Constitution, including the right to religious freedom. A remarkable global legacy rooted firmly in Doncaster.

👉🏼Discover more Icons of and tell us yours, here > https://www.sinefm.com/the-icons-of-doncaster/

19/12/2025

Nellie Stagles was a driving force in Doncaster dance. She opened her first dance school at just 17 and went on to spend decades teaching ballet, tap, jazz and more.

Nellie trained generations of dancers, with some going on to perform on the West End and on television. She even helped a few nervous gentlemen master their ballroom steps and impress their future wives.

Her legacy lives on through the annual Winter Wonderland show and the still thriving school, now one of the largest and most respected dance schools in South Yorkshire.

👉🏼 Discover more Icons of and tell us yours, here > https://www.sinefm.com/the-icons-of-doncaster/

Nellie Stagles School of Dance

15/12/2025

Doncaster Mansion House

This elegant Mansion House has dominated Doncaster High Street for more than 250 years. Opened in 1789 and designed by architect James Paine, it was built to provide a permanent place for civic entertaining.

There are only three Mansion Houses left in the entire country, and Doncaster is proud to be home to one of them. Over the centuries it has welcomed many high-profile guests, from Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1851 to King Charles III and Queen Camilla in 2022.

👉🏼Discover more Icons of and tell us yours, here > https://www.sinefm.com/the-icons-of-doncaster/

12/12/2025

Rhythm Nation Records

In 1993, Rhythm Nation Records opened its doors on Copley Road. More than a record and merchandise shop, it became a creative hub for Doncaster’s musicians, DJs and music lovers.

Higher Rhythm, the parent company of Sine FM, began life in 2001 in a room above the shop. From there, it grew into a larger organisation and went on to launch Sine FM itself. Many local DJ careers also started thanks to the relationships owners Ian and Owen built between venues across Doncaster and the DJs buying records in the shop.

Rhythm Nation was also behind several club nights in the town, most famously The Perfect Beat, which ran at Doncaster Dome Leisure Centre for years before moving to Bambuda nightclub on Lazarus Court. Although the shop closed in 2009, it remains an institution within Doncaster’s dance music community.

Drop your Rhythm Nation stories in the comments!

👉🏼Discover more Icons of and tell us yours, here > https://www.sinefm.com/the-icons-of-doncaster/

08/12/2025

Tan France

Tan France, the international super star, was born and bred in Doncaster. Tan is probably best known for the hit Netflix show Q***r Eye. Other huge TV hits of theirs include Say Yes to the Dress and Next in Fashion.

Tan's passion for fashion started at an early age! When he was 9 years old he helped his grandad make jeans and denim jackets! He then went on to study fashion and then start his own fashion line and has become adored by millions of fans worldwide.

👉🏼Discover more Icons of and tell us yours, here > https://www.sinefm.com/the-icons-of-doncaster/

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