Hillam News April May 2009

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The voice of hillam village, North Yorkshire. Delivered free to all residents. Volume 21, Issue 3. April–May 2009

Our villages are worth protecting. Together we can put a stop to this destruction.

WIND FARM WORRY PREPARING TO FIGHT Progress so far • Stopwwodlanewindfarm.co.uk. from Howard Ferguson New website with full information.

Ready to fight • Co-ordination between villages - The We are now all set to fight the planning Parish Councils of all the villages have met application for a wind farm near to Hillam. and agreed a plan to co-operate.

As you all know there are presently two • Information leaflets delivered to every planning applications being prepared – one home in Gateforth, Hillam, Monk Fryston, called Bishops Wood and the other Haddlesey, Birkin, Beal and Kellington.

Woodlane. A total of 21 turbines, each 405 • People receive regular update reports via feet high. There is nothing natural and green e-mail. or farm- like about these.

• A strong core group of people are A lot of work has been done over the last two undertaking the research required to months to ensure that people in the area are effectively oppose the plans. well informed and setting-up systems to get • We have set up links to other objection the message out when the application goes groups to share information and best in. We will tell you when to submit letters of practice. objection.

Exclusive Report

ferguson@maspin-house.co.uk

www.stopwoodlanewindfarm.co.uk

What you should do At this stage the best thing is to check out the website and get some more information about the project. It is only when you see the detail that you will fully appreciate the enormous scale of the development. Even if you are generally in favour of wind farms please give a bit of thought to the misery that this will inflict upon the residents of Gateforth, Haddlesey, Birkin and along Hillam Common.

Next Step Prowind have been working on their plans for two years and we get just 4 weeks to respond. They have said before Easter but I would not be surprised if it slips to the end of April. If you are not already on the mailing list please ask to be added. That way we can let you know when you need to be sending in a letter of objection.

Howard Ferguson

MONK FRYSTON BUS STOP Contractors have started work on a new bus stop on the A63 Leeds Selby route in Monk Fryston.

saga which has lasted years but which came to a head when the bus stop outside Butcher’s Farm was closed and passengers had to decide Following the de-trunking of whether to catch the bus the A63, the Highways outside the Crown Inn or next Agency has wasted no time in to Monk Fryston Cemetery. instructing Carillion to establish a bus stop outside the Workmen on site in early Doctors’ Surgery adjoining March told Hillam News that the new bus stop would be up the Post Office. and running this Spring.

This should bring to an end a

Guest editor for this issue - Rob Preston HILLAM NEWS is financed solely by advertising revenue and the generosity of contributors, photocopiers and distributors. The Editor is solely responsible for the paper’s contents. If you have a view you would like published, or if you wish to advertise, phone David Atkinson on 684577 or email at dsa99uk@yahoo.co.uk.

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LOCAL NEWS AND PEOPLE IN THE NEWS Tag Rugby FinalFinal-Monk Fryston Champions!

On Sunday 8th March 2009 M o n k Fr ys t o n P ri m ar y’s Tag Rugby team took part in a competition at York City Knights Stadium.

The primary schools who were there (all from the Selby District), had already shown great skill by winning their groups at a tournament at Selby Abbey in January. In the group stages, our team played 4 games where we won 3 and drew 1. This meant we made it to the final against Barlby Bridge.

It was a very close game, where the score bounced back and forward, with Monk Fryston eventually winning 5-4 – meaning we were the CHAMPIONS!

Everyone supported each other so well, rewarding us with a fantastic outcome!

An added bonus is that our team will be going to the Youth games in June where we will represent the Selby The Monk Fryston Tag Rugby team is: Emma Buckley, District!

Bethan Williamson, George Dobson-Wright, Courteney Jackson, Oliver Raywood, Eddie Kelly, Izzy Jenkins, We all showed great team spirit towards our own team Harry Knight, Dylan Tonks, Katherine Birch, Rebecca and the other teams there.

Birch, Megan Law and Josh Wilby.

100 CLUB WINNERS January £20 - Lorrie Burger (No. 78) £10 - Mr. J. Cole (No. 66) £5 - Stuart & Alice Proctor (No. 61) February 1st - £20 - The Kitchen Family (No. 52) 2nd - £10 - Neal Wilson (No. 30) 3rd - £5 - Ralph Atkins (No. 23)

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OBITUARIES Tom Gill 1922 – 2009 A Son-in-Law's Viewpoint Thinking back I am amazed that Tom lived to the grand age of 86, as I am sure many a West Riding League cricketer could cheerfully have strangled him at times, even me on the odd occasion too.

I got to know Tom some forty five years ago when I was a seventeen year old trainee railway signalman at Church Fenton. He was one of a number who taught me the rudiments of railway signalling and was probably the teacher of many of the riper words in my vocabulary too.

Tom was born and bred in Monk Fryston and apart for his war service in the RAF alongside his two elder brothers and a few years residing in Castleford on his de-mob, he has spent all his time living in Monk Fryston.

As Ray Newton commented, “Common Lane won't be the same without Tom patrolling his end of the road”.

Barbara Hill 1941 - 2009 It is with great sadness that Hillam News reports the death on 11th February of Barbara Hill. She had been ill for some time with myeloma and died in hospital in Leeds.

I must have committed this to memory because some three years later, after girlfriend number two had decided to call it a day with me I thought “Where do I go now?” Then it came to me, 'Celia', so instead of taking my motor-bike down to Tom (a former motorbike and side-car man) for running repairs, I went knocking on the door for Celia instead and the rest as they say is history! It was Tom's wife Barbara who finished the jumper my ex was knitting me at the time after unceremoniously leaving it at South His other hobby was his garden, Milford station for me to collect along particularly cutting his extensive area of with my wages. grass which has been the home to a number of very enjoyable church garden fête's So, I am eternally grateful that forty years ago this year Tom walked down the aisle over the years. of St Wilfrid's and gave me his only Tom was a great story teller too and loved daughter’s hand in marriage. to tell us reminiscences of his days in West Africa during the latter part of the Although I had the odd difference of war. One such story was when he spent opinion with him both he and Barbara some time in hospital after contacting were always there if we needed anything. malaria. His dhobi boy was so dedicated I just wish I had paid more attention to all to his post that he was found under the bed the stories he told me on those eight hour shifts we spent together. Well done Tom, in the hospital ward. you had a good innings, we will miss you.

Back in those early days at Church Fenton he used to talk about his daughter Celia.

Peter Watkinson He had a great love for cricket all his life, playing for various teams including Hillam & Monk Fryston. Following on from his playing days he trained to be an umpire officiating in the West Riding League. Most Saturdays would see him working an early shift, finishing at 1pm and then travelling to a cricket match to umpire until early evening. He also took up golf in later years playing at Pike Hills Golf course in York with other retired railwaymen.

taking contract services for farmers such as harvesting and baling of hay and straw.

Barbara was always with him, they worked together on the fields. This life style paid off and Roy and Barbara were able to move out to a bungalow on Common Lane, which they eventually bought. It was here that their two daughters, Sharon and Fiona, were brought up. Val Richardson remembers this time with great affection and the Richardsons are still great friends of the Hill family to this day.

the outer casing. There was no prouder woman in Hillam on the day that the pump was recommissioned. She later added cuttings from the extensive associated press coverage to the immaculate pump renovation album she had compiled.

Barbara’s support for Hillam Historians’ ventures continued. She subsequently brewed yet more tea, and welcomed to her home not only more visitors, but also another woman close to Roy’s heart, “Victoria”. This was when “Victoria”, the century old steam engine, needed lodgings When I moved to Hillam in 1985 the for a week or so, on the occasion of a Hills were the first local people that we subsequent pump day where she was the met and they offered us a very warm star attraction. welcome to the area. I still have a vivid memory of my young son on Fiona’s Barbara will be often in our thoughts, pony. Livestock and animals were a great warmly remembered and sadly missed. part of Barbara’s life. The other thing that Howard Ferguson I will always remember is the baking – there were always fresh baked buns and cakes on the Hill’s table thanks to Barbara’s efforts.

Barbara spent her childhood in Thorpe Willoughby, she lived there and in Hillam for all of her life. Her parents were keen gardeners and the love of flowers and the garden was something which they passed to their daughter. Barbara was a country girl at heart and although she lived beyond the edge of the village for much of her married life she was always enthusiastic about village events and was prepared to put in that special effort for the benefit of others. Marlene Thompson remembers living next door to Barbara as a child and going on a coach trip to the seaside with her when they were about 15. When Barbara left school her first job was working for the St John Ambulance service.

Barbara’s support for Roy and his many and varied enterprises was a great feature In those days people went courting and of their life together. When Roy took on her suitor was one Roy Hill who lived the daunting task of renovating the with his mother in Hillam at a cottage on village pump, little did Barbara know how Tom Lane, later they moved to a cottage many cups of tea she would have to make at Hillam House. Roy and Barbara got for Roy and his willing, but unmarried in 1963. At first they lived with knowledgeable, helpers. As work Roy’s mother in the cottage. They lived a continued, Barbara became more and frugal and industrious life, very much more involved, keeping a faithful together. Roy worked for various local photographic record of the progress, and farms and was building a business under- eventually sandpapering and varnishing

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COMMUNITY COMING SHORTLY, THROUGH YOUR DOOR… A copy of the Parish Plan for Hillam and Monk Fryston. This is the culmination of the work of the Fund For All Group, who have for the past 4 years collected views from villagers and groups through questionnaires, public meetings and village events such as the Summer Fayre and Scarecrow Festival.

The Fund For All Group sorted all the information we received and categorised it so that it became manageable. Some issues were highlighted several times, for instance speeding traffic, lack of sports

History is made in Monk Fryston Friday 30th January 2009 is now an important date in the history of Monk Fryston. It will be remembered as the day the Community Association sponsored Monk Fryston History Group was launched during a presentation by local Historian Don Bramley.

Don, a farmer from Sherburn in Elemet, was billed to present a slide show recalling and illustrating village life over the past 130 years, but he surprised everyone prior to the show starting by recalling how he had lead the creation of the Sherburn History Society 28 years ago, and then went on to propose that Monk Fryston create a History Group.

The proposal was overwhelmingly and enthusiastically supported by the large number of people who had squeezed into the Community Centre.

facilities and so on, so we arranged the When the Plan is published and is issues into topics with priorities for ac- delivered through everyone’s door later tion. in March 2009, the Fund For All group will evolve to drive forward the actions The Parish Plan is not an inventory or presented in the Plan. We have already survey and isn’t just a record of village started this by forming a new committee facilities and life. It is a record of where with smaller focussed groups. we are in terms of community and the environment we all live in. It records our We are delighted that new members have views on how we want to maintain and come forward to join us since last year, if improve our parks, streets, shops and you are interested in playing your part in facilities. It is a document that should improving the villages come along to the help community groups be more success- Parish Plan Launch at the Summer Fayre ful in their funding applications by pro- on June 20th or contact me and get viding actual evidence of what we want. involved!

It also shows us how to go forward to improve the villages and what actions Julie Sadler should be taken.

01977 685795 underestimated and everyone showed their full appreciation for him giving up his time to entertain and help create the History Group. Likewise thanks are due to the Hillam Historians who have whole heartedly supported the Community The list sounded extensive, and it has Association in their efforts to launch the proved to be so, as the Group is still go- Group. ing strong today. Don also told us of his involvement in helping to form a second At the end of a very convivial evening the group at Fairburn which is going from newly formed Group decided to meet again on March 3rd at 7.30/8pm at the strength to strength.

Community Centre.

Everyone hopes that the new Monk Fryston Group is as successful and has the This first ‘History Group’ meeting will longevity of Don’s previous two groups. start with the attendees sharing with each other what they already know about the The budding historians enjoyed a fasci- History of the Village, as well as nating slide show of life in Monk Fryston considering how they will organise (along with some about Hillam), from the themselves including choosing a name.

1880’s to the present day. This was complemented by Don’s amazing commen- Anyone who is interested in the history of tary which was a mixture of interesting & the Village or the wider area, or would obscure facts and anecdotes which added just like to enjoy what promises to be a colour to the predominately black and good night out is welcome. white slides.

More details are available from the Don’s contribution to the success of a Secretary Jacki Sanderson on: 07899 memorable evening must not be 060420 or 01977 685281 Don told us of the type of research and activities the Sherburn Group anticipated doing, as he read from the original letter he had written 28 years ago to those interested at the time.

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COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Remember the Community Centre is available to hire for private gatherings and parties (contact Becky on 689230).

If it’s chairs, tables, marquees, gazebos or even crockery you want to borrow, give Kath Ratcliffe a call on 683590.

Leaving Hillam?

If you are leaving Hillam, we are sorry to see you go.

However, hillam News can help ease the pain!

Just take out a subscription for two years, and keep in touch.

Two years — twelve issues £12.00.

Please send payment and details to the treasurer.

Preliminary Events Calendar 2009 Month

Adults

Children

21st Barn Dance School Hall

March 11th & 12th (P) Easter Crafts Egg Decoration & Hunt

April

Rogation Walk & Curry Evening (date TBC)

May

June

Community-wide

20th (P) Monk Fryston & Hillam Village Day & Second Annual Yorkshire Egg-Throwing Championship

July August

Teddy Bears’ Picnic (date TBC)

September

Second Scarecrow Festival Weekend (date TBC)

October November

December

5th or 7th (P) Village Bonfire

Social Evening: Quiz Night (date TBC) 5th 2:00 pm (P) Kids’ Christmas Crafts (P) denotes provisional date

Recycling at the Community Centre Income from the recycling bins at the Community Centre over the last financial year is £688. This is a valuable source of income for Community Association funds.

A big thank you to all who bring their recyclable items to the banks.

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Précis of PC Minutes for the Meeting in February 2009 Matters arising Very informative presentation given by Mr H Ferguson about the environmental impact and effects of the Woodlane Wind Farm Proposals. Residents urged to become aware, informed and active to do all possible to prevent planning approval being granted.

MF and H Community Association.

- £36.00 Hall Hire

Environment Agency Lower Aire flood risk management strategy.

CSR Electrical - £143.50 Streetlight repairs

Letters of concern re the proposed wind farm received from Mr and Ms Bradley, L. Ingledew, and J. Sykes.

Clerk acknowledged that response to MF and H Community Association which Hillam Ring Tree Lights Committee – should have been made last October had thanks for support Re-location of dog waste bin in Stocking been overlooked and would be addressed.

Lane approved.

Correspondence Out CSR Electrical – request for removal of foliage from 2 street lights.

Cllr. Lorriman resigned his post as PC Correspondence in representative to the MF and H MF and Hillam Community Association Planning Inspectorate-notice of objection Hall Hire charges Community Association. to appeal re Fletton House condition 2 variance Various councillors will cover the post CSR Electrical invoice £143.50 until Cllr Humphreys can take up the J Royle – thanking him for the prompt position full-time, from, it is anticipated, LR Wright – Invoice £30.00 cutting back of overhanging branches.

May. SDC – Planning appeal lodged by Mr Jones following refusal of application to SDC – requesting an increase in the Finance.

C/A £98.68 vary condition 2 of planning appeal precept to £7,895. decision - alleged unauthorised HI/ A £4,807 development at caravan and stables L. Wright – requesting repair and Lowfield Road. Enforcement notice for re-siting of dog waste bin.

Paid out Mr L Wright - £30.00 above .

Repairs and re-location to dog waste bin. Increase in precept approved to £7,895 for the year.

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Précis of PC Minutes - continued Planning Matters Cllr Tonks reported damage to litter bin in square. Mr. L Wright to be asked to undertake the repair and permanent fixing.

Request from a resident for a dog waste bin on Austfield Lane. Agreed that bin should be purchased and located at the bottom of Dunce Mire Road.

Reduced grass cutting agreed to cut cost .

More rubbish deposited at Betteras Hill Crossing by Network Rail contractors.

Network Rail to be notified.

Agreed the full version of the PC minutes will be put on the village website and village notice board.

What’s new down Dunce Mire Road?

As you will know from earlier reports of proposed changes, the Parish Council have been working with the footpaths officer to develop both a footpath and bridleway down Dunce Mire Road.

Our aim has at all times been to safely develop wider access and usage to facilitate access for both walkers and horse riders. We aim to engender and develop a

Burial Committee Clerk Mrs. P Twidale has resigned.

Vacancy advertised.

Community Association Cllr Lorriman queried none response to Community Associations request for funding. None response a clerical oversight, ongoing support to be affirmed but funding in the near future was reluctantly refused. Clerk to inform Community Association.

Staffing problems with Before and After School Club.

Funds have increased to £26,000 Centre upgrades planned.

Yoga class starting.

School News York Minster trip included meeting with Archbishop Visit to Bradford Film Museum Year 6 tag rugby tournament Parent/child consultations held Elmete Forum Cllr Cole provided a brief report of the meeting held on 22nd January in respect of the discussion about the proposed wind farms.

Fun(d) For All Cllr Lorriman reported that the committee have approx. £1,800 cash balance with some monies earmarked for printing 1000 copies of the village plan.

Care and Share approach, where all users walkers. The central area, we are going are caring and considerate of each other’s to leave uncut, to form a natural barrier needs. between the two.

Experience has shown us that horses churn up the ground in wet weather making it very difficult underfoot for walkers.

Thus, the plan is to totally separate the two.

Fortunately, because of the width of the road, we have been able to contract that a swathe of grass be cut at the northern edge of the track to be used as the bridleway, and a swathe of grass be cut to the southern edge of the track for

Temporary notices to this effect will shortly be erected at both ends of the track. The success of this venture, depends upon you, the users.

Whether walker or rider, please spread the word about these new arrangements and help us establish a new pattern of usage which will be to everyone’s advantage.

Hillam Parish Council

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MUSINGS FROM A LONG WALK Sex, intrigue, crime, death, politics, fear, anticipation and awe - not, as you may imagine, a review of the next bestseller, but a snapshot of life in Hillam and Monk Fryston.

Having somewhat more free time than I have had for years and, at the same time, wanting to shed six stone of unsightly and strength-sapping midriff that thirty years of dieting has produced, I decided to walk my way back to a fitter, slimmer me.

The benefits are not only physical but social. It’s virtually impossible to plan a walk without allocating at least half an hour for conversations en route with people not seen for years, as well as introductions to all those four-legged walkers. But where do crime and sex and the rest of the headline grabbers come into it?

SCOURGE OF THE COUNTRYSIDE It all starts, really, with litter. The bareness of the hedgerows and verges at this time of year mercilessly exposes the obscene violation of the natural beauty of the countryside and its flora and wildlife.

There is barely a single metre along all the local roads and lanes that is not scarred with cans, bags, cigarette packets and plastic bottles.

I bumped into Phil Boothroyd and his son near the level crossing on one of their litter-clearing expeditions. Phil has long highlighted the problem and also does something about it by regularly removing bag loads from the verges. He tried to persuade me to grab a bag and get on with it but I resisted, partly because the aforementioned midriff was a definite obstacle to scrambling under the hedgerows, but primarily because the scale of the problem is so great that one or two litter collectors won’t cure this affliction and certainly won’t prevent its recurrence.

Could the Parish Council find out how work is allocated on community-service orders and see if some of those hours could be spent cleaning up our village?

Are there enough of us in the village willing to follow Phil’s example and take some pride in its housekeeping?

available on the lower shelves of the newsagent’s.

We’ll never know who it was, perhaps some youngsters from Cas, maybe an illicit liaison between lovers from local villages, or it might just be that your next-door neighbour is a bit more interesting than you thought!

not to stick my nose in any further! Now I’m fairly broadminded but there was no way I was going to skip back to Hillam swinging a large black handbag, so I put all the contents back inside and concealed it in the ditch with the intention of trying to locate the owner when I got home. It was only then that I realised how stupid I had been. What if the owner had disappeared or come to grief in some DEATH IN THE HEDGEROW As I progressed along the A63 towards way? What if she was having a bit of fun Lumby my eyes were glued to the verge in the woods and it went wrong? It was under the hedge to see what other secrets now my fingerprints that were all over the might be revealed. My mind was bag. What if she had been murdered and programmed to look for litter, so it came the bag was found by the police with my as a horrifying shock to see a motionless prints before I had the chance to report it? body. The markings were identical to Should I find her phone number and ring those of my beloved ginger cat, Thomas. her, or would I risk getting her husband The position was also identical to that in and somehow land her in it? In the end I which Thomas received his final injection decided to call the police as soon as I got last year. It’s always sad to lose a pet and home and report it and, thankfully, a few it brought the grief flooding back. I moved days later have still not been arrested on a little closer to see if there was any suspicion of murder. identification so at least I could let the owner know, but I then realised it was a YETI AT LARGE? fox with a brilliant tan and ginger coat and Back in Hillam, I was checking out the white chest. Only the eyes betrayed his fenced footpath from Betteras Hill Road real state - blank, white and staring. He towards Burton Salmon. This was when appeared to be intact without obvious sign there was still some fairly wet snow on the of injury. I left him to enjoy his long sleep ground and it revealed, very clearly, the and take his place in nature’s inevitable morning’s footprints. After a short while I cycle. had to turn back as the route was flooded.

Coming back through the snow I saw the most unusual footprints. They were a A SIMPLE THEFT? By now my eyes were scouring every spread of 6 to 7 inches. Are they from a square inch as I wondered what else might large dog or is it the return of Yeti? have been ejected from a car window.

I decided to venture towards Fairburn. My Talking of dogs, it does seem that the stamina seemed to be improving after a curse of previous years, little doggie defew weeks of walking and my ankles posits on the pavement, is not quite as weren’t in a state of collapse after five great a problem as it was just a couple of miles any more so I thought I’d “go the years ago. Plaudits must go to the many extra mile” or two. dog owners who do scoop the poop. The patterns left on the pavement where some The road wasn’t so much littered as a bag-adorned fingers have scraped up the linear rubbish dump, a veritable sea of offending substance suggest absolute Carling, Foster’s and Red Bull cans. But heroism. After appreciating this then I came across my most interesting civil-minded largesse I settle for a nod of find of the day. In the ditch was a large acquaintance and not a handshake! black handbag, a bit sodden, but bulging Continued on Page 10 sufficiently to suggest there was something inside. I could see a few credit cards scattered around and one or two lipsticks. There were various personal items and my first thought was that the owner would like to know it had been found - and with all the cards not stolen.

The name was obvious from the cards and there was some correspondence with a very vague address in Tadcaster, but no ALTERNATIVE WILDLIFE! phone number. There was a diary which How different nights once must have been. Judging by the variety of jetsam left had hardly any entries, presumably because it was stolen at the beginning of the in the bushes by visitors one can only year, but it fell open at a back page with surmise that they were chain-smoking, lager-drinking, crisp-crunching specimens some strange entries. They were specific who for some reason, after their activities, dates and times and suggestions of secluded rural areas and a brief message, left behind various items of seductive “RUUP4IT?” Not being female, I decided underwear and magazines not normally

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NEWS FROM CATNAPS Hello Everyone, Well we are still here as it would appear selling a business is not straightforward and there are endless problems. Hopefully we are near the end but it is in the lap of the Gods I think.

Not much has happened at the cattery as it is not really holiday time at the moment and we are just ticking along. However, I had a quite frightening experience earlier this week.

I suppose you have all heard of hare coursing and perhaps some of you are unaware what a barbaric 'sport' this is. A dog, or a number of dogs, are released after a hare where it is ruthlessly chased until exhausted. It is grabbed by the dog, or dogs, and generally ripped apart. Hares are fantastic runners and will run great distances. I have had many happy moments watching the few in my field, particularly at this time of the year where they box. The female apparently is refusing the overtures of the male but it could be two males fighting for supremacy.

Anyhow, back to my story - whilst the dog or dogs are enjoying this pursuit, the men with them are betting on who will kill the hare. The poor hare is left in the field, dead or dying as they have no use for the body and if caught with it, will be prosecuted as it is an illegal offence.

So on Tuesday teatime, there I was sitting at the computer, when a dog shot past. I initially thought it was a fox after the ducks and ran outside to see it off. However it was a greyhound and driving up the adjacent field to mine was a white vehicle with a man and two more greyhounds on slip leads, walking behind. I instantly realised what they were doing and rage took over. I ran at the men screaming for them to get off that field and also my land.

One of them said ' Its alright, we have permission' but I knew that to be untrue as it is illegal. I yelled that they must leave and that I was calling the police but first was going to take their car number. I was so angry and forgot my disability in my attempt to stop them. They shoved the two dogs which were on lead in the car and set off quickly down the field leaving the running dog behind, which stopped its pursuit and set off after the vehicle which parked lower down the field. The dog was still running round in circles so they drove onto the football field road and again tried to retrieve their dog. I ran (this is me who normally struggles to walk) inside to get help and fortunately Howard was in and he instantly contacted the police who immediately searched for them. Unfortunately they escaped.

By the time they were driving off and I had alerted the police, my anger left and fear set in. These people are notorious for aggression and have beaten farmers up in the past if they were causing a problem. I had dropped my spectacles in the field as I had pushed through the hedge to shout at the men and suddenly, the thought of going alone into my field was extremely daunting. I rang my son in Hambleton and he came immediately and we found my specs but I was soundly told off for being so foolhardy as to tackle them on my own.

I shall certainly be more diligent in spotting these loathsome people but will notify the authorities before defending the poor harmless hares. In the past, I have written of the joy on finding a small herd of deer in my field but apparently these same types of men have exterminated the few in our vicinity and are here or off the A63 on a daily basis pursuing their disgusting activities.

It would appear that they are not local people but come here from as far away as Newcastle in some cases. They must think we are a dozy lot and don't care about our wildlife to be coming into our area so often even knowing that the police are trying hard to stop this illegality. The farmers too are having their crops ruined as these lovely people drive all over their fields regardless of damage.

I beg you please, and I know if you read my bit, you must be animal lovers, to notify the police if you see men with greyhounds. They are very plausible liars and will say the dog has escaped and they are trying to catch it or other silly stories but if we work together we can get rid of these monsters and make our countryside safe for the creatures which share our space.

Greyhounds are lovely dogs but if trained to hunt will take a small dog or cat with the same eagerness as hares.

I am sorry if my piece is not as jolly as normal but I feel very strongly that we must defend our wildlife.

I won't say this is my last message from Catnaps as I may still be here in the summer. However then, hopefully, I will have more humorous stories to tell and let you know that my grandson, who is due on 3rd March, has arrived and what sex the next one due in July is. I can't wait!

Take care and a watchful eye,

Lynn

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MUSINGS FROM A LONG WALK - PART 2 HARE TODAY - GONE TOMORROW Now this isn’t a subject I know much about (being a townie by birth), but while walking down Hillam Common Lane recently from Gateforth past Maspin Moor I was hailed from the front door of the Ferguson's. Howard set off down the path towards me and seemed quite disappointed to see that it was me and not the poachers he was looking out for. He decided to come out when he saw someone “shifty” walking down the road. I’m used to being called fat but not shifty! Just a few minutes earlier, coming down the back lane from Hambleton, I had been passed by a vehicle which precisely matched the description Howard gave me - a blue Transit pick-up with a small box on the back. It crawled past me at about 15 mph and continued along surveying the fields. I understand the poachers return at night with lamps to catch the hares, frequently causing damage to arable crops. So if you see any suspicious behaviour, please let Howard know.

vista of the pylons and Eggborough Power Station, I asked if they were really that unsightly compared to what was already there.

IT’S AN ILL WIND Protecting the countryside led us, inevitably, onto the subject of the proposed wind farm. This is a contentious issue and most of us will have received flyers.

KEEP WAVING Every so often a car would come towards me and a hand would be gaily waving through the windscreen. Cheerily I would wave back without having a clue who it was. The reflection of the sky on the windscreen made it impossible to see who was so pleased to see me but, please, keep on waving!

As I set off again back to Hillam I was asking myself how valid was Howard’s argument. Obviously, he would want to safeguard his own interests, but just what impact would it have on the locality? I determined to take a closer look at it. Having just started re-acquainting myself with the local countryside I certainly don’t want to lose it to a massive construction site unless it is absolutely necessary.

Looking back across the fields, it did seem that a new generation of mega-sized turbines would be like jumbo jets taking off from Sherburn Aerodrome. We should definitely all consider the proposal carefully, (www.stopwoodlanewindfarm.co.uk).

When Howard raised the subject I was quite open-minded. I could sympathise with him not wanting a wind farm in front of his house but could see the benefits of “clean” electricity. To me, NO PAPERS THIS WEEK For anyone awaiting their copy of the Selby Courier, don’t the main question is “Do we really need the limited amount of bother. Some less than conscientious delivery person has power that this wind farm will produce?” dumped them on the verge of Hillam Common Lane. Not many I ask this question because a few years ago, at a trade exhibition, rats leap up out of the dykes to read the adverts and place an order so, anyone who advertises in the Courier, don’t be too I spoke to suppliers of combined heat and power units with a disappointed if you don’t get a response. view to one being sited on the nursery to heat the greenhouses.

The surplus electricity was to be fed back into the national grid.

It seemed an excellent idea and the supply company was very HORSES OR MEN? Now at one time a horse may have been worth more than a keen until we told them the location was near Selby. They said kingdom but, even today, I would like to think I’m worth more there is ample power in the area due to three major power than a horse. Why then do so many motorists hammer the brakes stations, and no demand for additional power. on when approaching horses on the road but also take great If these turbines are to be built for political brownie points then delight in whizzing past me at 70 mph and trying to spin me round with their wing mirror? let’s put a stop to them. If the energy is needed and these represent an environmentally friendly way forward, then the planning proposal needs careful consideration. ... AND FINALLY As you lock the doors, switch off the lights and ascend the stairs tonight just think of what may be happening out there - a fox Sadly, and I do not exclude myself, many of us take the view will strike, a hare will be lured by the lights, dormice may rest that if it doesn’t affect us too much we’re not interested. If it where turbines could soon stand, an unknown beast may be were on our front doorstep we would be. There are many wind turbines in other parts of the country and from a distance they do leaving enormous footprints and someone may be having a bit more than cocoa down the lane! not look too unsightly. In Germany they seem to be almost everywhere you go. Standing on Howard’s drive, feasting on the Robert Kingsbury

Garden tools Trees and shrubs Grow your own vegetables Spring bedding and house plants

11

WHAT’S HAPPENING TO THE LADIES?

CAR BOOT SALE

The Ladies’ Group started the year with a quiz, including in and amongst a ‘girlie’ element – identifying fashion and beauty product logos. Then, fortified with wine and nibbles, we set about planning the programme for the year.

MONK FRYSTON PRIMARY SCHOOL

Don’t miss the first opportunity to spend a tasty evening with our own local chef and raconteur Robert Kingsbury, when he will showcase what he is offering in his newly launched catering venture. Kath Ratcliffe will kindly be hosting the February event at ‘Hooton’, Lumby Hill.

Sunday 26th April from 10am Held on the school field

Here is the provisional programme for the whole year.

April 16th

A meal at Doyle’s, Tadcaster

May 21st

Visit to Country Baskets

June 18th

Garden visit – Scampton Walled Garden

July 16th

Theatre visit – Blood Brothers at Leeds Grand Theatre

August 20th

Barbecue

September 17th With great pleasure - favourite prose and poetry shared October 15th

Make-up demonstration

November 19th Christmas handicrafts sale or garden centre visit December 17th

Christmas celebrations

The Ladies’ Group meets on the third Thursday of every month, at the Community Centre when not tripping out from base. Meetings start at 7.30 pm. There is no formal membership, just a nominal subscription/contribution each meeting to cover expenses.

So do come along and join us; you will be made very welcome.

David (Dai) Jones

Architect

Dip. Arch. RIBA Fletton House The Square HILLAM North Yorkshire LS25 5HE

Phone 01977 685534 Consultation Welcome – Initial Discussion Free

10 Indoor Tables available monkfrystoncarbootsale@yahoo.co.uk

Open to the general public No traders Pre booked slots £5 On the day £7 Book slots at school reception Cheques made payable to ‘Monk Fryston School PTA’ or e-mail monkfrystoncarbootsale@yahoo.co.uk

Pre-booked vendors set-up from 9.00 to 9.30. On the day vendors from 9.30 to 10.00.

Open to public from 10am.

Bacon and Sausage rolls, tea and coffee etc for sale from 9.30am

12

IN THE GARDEN Spring has finally arrived and it seems a little late this year. The snowdrops have been beautiful and crocus and daffodil have not failed to impress. If you have noted previous advice your bulbs will have increased in numbers and given great value. This can now be used to advantage and large clumps of snowdrops, crocus and daffodil can be divided and replanted to naturalize in the garden.

winter flowering shrubs also provide pollen when it is at a premium. Mahonia, the Oregon grape, flowers from December through to March, and the common ivy, Hedera helix is excellent pollen plant which tolerates many soil conditions and dark corners.

Another good pollen plant found in our hedges is the hazel, Corylus avellana. The lovely catkins always signal spring to me.

Flower arrangers love willow catkins and so do honeybees. The plant is a good doer in damp soils so should grow well around here.

In the herb garden rosemary provides early flower and therefore pollen, to be followed by borage, lavender and thyme to mention a few. Nearly all the herbs are loved by bees and other insects.

Of the early bedding plants used in the spring the wallflower, Ersyimum Cheiri, can flower from the winter through to May and so provide pollen, scent and colour to our gardens.

Planting 'in the green', that is when the bulbs are still showing leaf, is always recommended for snowdrops and plantsmen and nurseries advertise in garden magazines to encourage gardeners to buy at this stage in the plant's life. I use this same technique for the other spring bulbs so that I can group them where there are bare patches in the garden. As the bulbs still have root systems they bed in and establish quickly and come into growth earlier than dry autumn planted bulbs. Another advantage of replanting at this stage is that any poor performers, small or diseased bulbs, may be taken out. Small bulbs can be transplanted to a quieter spot to gain size and vigour and diseased bulbs thrown away.

Whilst helping bees to help us we can also grow plants to provide seed for birds to feed on. Honesty grown in the spring border provides seed from early summer and the little viola continues to flower if we dead head it. Why not let some set seed to give more plants, pollen and seed and help the birds.

Spring grown plants for the summer border also produce seed in the late summer and autumn which may last well into the winter.

One of my favourite summer bedding plants, the Snapdragon, produces lovely flower spikes followed by interesting seed pods.

Many of our good seed producers are also architectural and provide structural interest in the border late in the season.

Delphinium, Echinops, and Rudbeckia are all beautiful border plants when in flower and give added value as architectural plants and seed sources for birds.

This is also a good time to give a general feed of bone meal, or a balanced feed of Growmore or pelleted chicken manure or By doing a little in our gardens to provide pollen plants we can your own homemade compost, as worms will be very active help the bees and other insects to survive and we can enjoy a now Compost is particularly appreciated by them and they will colourful and productive garden. incorporate it into the soil very quickly.

Susan Scott 01977 685205 Spring bulbs are part of the vital cycle of pollen bearing plants much needed by bees. Our gardens are becoming more and more important for bee populations as agriculture becomes more intensive and dedicated to the production of a reduced variety of crops. Honeybees particularly need food from February to October with special need in the early part of the season from February to June. In our gardens we need the help of honeybees to pollinate both flowers and vegetable plants and in agriculture honeybees pollinate about a third of our crops.

Gardeners can help to ensure the good health of our honeybees by providing good food supplies.

Spring bulbs are a good supplier of pollen but some of the

13

ST WILFRID’S CHURCH Message from the Rector Did you know that Easter has outstripped both Mothering Sunday and Valentines Day to become the second most popular time for sending greetings cards. But it’s claimed that fewer that ten percent of the cards for sale have anything to do with the real meaning of Easter.

The Post Office estimate that there will be over 16 million Easter cards sent and received this year and this compares with 12 million for Mothering Sunday and 10 million for Valentines Day. But the bulk of cards are of the eggs, chicks and bunnies type, simply conveying “Easter Greetings”.

A W.H. Smith spokesman said that, “They sell many more secular than religious cards. The ones that sell best, reflected in the choice, are the secular ones, particularly the ‘fluffy bunnies’ type, a bit sweet and sentimental. They’re very popular”.

Soggy verses and muddled message abound. One of the candidates for the title of ‘this year’s best seller’ in the so-called religious category is ‘A special blessing by Emily Matthews'. A typical one depicts two birds on a blossom-laden branch, with the blessing: May you be happy, may you be loved, May you be blessed, by the stars above.

If you can find a religious card then it’s often Jesus in a Palestinian setting with bunnies, bambi’s and frisky cherubs.

Apparently, it tends to be older people who buy the more religious cards to send to younger members of their family.

But as Easter has developed more and more into a family occasion, the only time outside Christmas when families make a real effort to get together, there’s been more of a tradition of younger people buying cards for friends, just to say Happy Easter. And perhaps that’s no bad thing, because if this holiday period can’t remind some people of the significance of Easter, as least it might remind us of how important our friends and families are. And maybe, just maybe, we can thank God for the gift of them to us.

Easter Blessings,

John

1st Sunday of each month 8am Holy Communion at St Wilfrid’s, Monk Fryston 9.30am Parish Communion at St Mary’s, South Milford 11am Family Communion at St Wilfrid’s, Monk Fryston 2nd Sunday of each month 9.30am Family Communion at St Mary’s, South Milford 11am Parish Communion at St Wilfrid’s, Monk Fryston 11am Sunday Club in St Wilfrid's Church Hall (Ages 2-8) 6.00pm Evensong at St Mary’s, South Milford 3rd Sunday of each month 8am Holy Communion at St Wilfrid’s, Monk Fryston 9.30am Parish Communion at St Mary’s, South Milford 9.30am Sunday Club in St Mary’s Parish Hall (Ages 2-8) 11am Family Service St Wilfrid’s, Monk Fryston 4th Sunday of each month 9.30am Family Service at St Mary’s, South Milford 11am Parish Communion at St Wilfrid’s, Monk Fryston 6pm Holy Communion at St Mary’s, South Milford

EASTER SPECIAL EVENTS AT ST WILFRID’S Sunday 5th April - Palm Sunday 11am Holy Communion with Blessing and Distribution of Palm Crosses Monday 6th April 7.30pm Fairburn Singers in Concert at St Wilfrid’s Friday 10th April – Good Friday 10.30am Children’s Activities (Suitable for children up to 8 years) Sunday 12th April – Easter day 5.30am Sunrise Service followed by breakfast (A traditional Easter Service from the 6th Century) 11am Easter Communion (Families are particularly welcome to this celebration 3pm Easter Family Service Followed by an Easter Egg Hunt Sponsored by the Community Association)

For any queries concerning baptisms, weddings, wedding blessings, renewal of marriage vows or any other matters relating to St Wilfrid’s Church, please contact John at the Rectory (Tel. 01977 680788)

Take a look at the church website www.stwilfridandstmary.org.uk

14

HILLAM HISTORIANS www.hillam-village.co.uk

Skirmish One little-reported episode in the history of Hillam occurred on the foggy 1st of April 1644.

At the height of the Civil War the country was a jigsaw of areas loyal either to Cromwell or to the King.

The farmers left the alehouse insisting that the Royalists were not in the area, but wind farmers were regarded with suspicion by the general public, so the soldiers took the information with a pinch of salt.

Meanwhile, in Fryston a small unit of Cavaliers was resting its horses at ponds at the end With Parliament’s forces massing in of Austfield Lane, when suddenly out Pontefract and the Royalists based in of the fog the wind farmers emerged Tadcaster, Hillam found itself in breathlessly, urging them to Hillam to no-man’s-land and on the front line. confront the Roundheads. Keen to Soon after dawn a platoon of capture some Roundheads to find out Roundheads set out north from the Parliamentarian plan of attack, the Ferrybridge to scout for the enemy’s Cavaliers mounted and raced down southern lines. Spies in South Milford Austfield Lane. had reported Royalist activity over previous days.

Back at the Tom Lane hostelry, Bess burst in to tell the Roundheads that Moving North from Burton Salmon, she had heard of the Cavaliers at the little group became confused in Fryston. Quickly into the saddle, the thick gloom, and took the track to Cromwell’s men charged off down Hillam instead of the road to Milford.

Water Lane through the murk.

When realising that they were approaching Hillam, the scouts On arriving at the tavern the relaxed. Even in those days Hillam Cavaliers found only an empty bar had the reputation of being an with a table of half-eaten cheese enlightened settlement where sandwiches and smouldering open-minded people from all corners cigarettes. Realising that they had of the known world were welcome. been tricked by the wily farmers, they The parish council was a model of decided to make the best of a bad job, good governance, diversity, and ordered food and drink for transparency and fledgling themselves, posting a guard at the democracy. Parliamentarianism was door. embraced. This village atmosphere was in stark contrast to the backwardSimilarly puzzled, the Roundheads looking, closed-minded oligarchy found themselves in Fryston, with no which prevailed in Monk Fryston sign of opposition. There the local even in those days. butcher’s boy and fifth columnist, Dick the Snout, put them back on the On reaching Hillam Square the troops road to Hillam. were approached by a friendly and attentive lady, Betteras Bess, eager to The Cavaliers’ lunch was soon fraternise and impart the news that interrupted when the guard reported Royalists had been seen in Fryston. the sound of muffled hooves in the However as midday was approaching distance down Hillam Common Lane. the scouts repaired to the Tom Lane Springing to their steeds, the King’s tavern for ale and cheese. There they finest drew swords and galloped in encountered a couple of wind farmers action. Sticking strictly to the rules of dining handsomely on their profits.

You will be very welcome at the next meetings of Hillam Historians: 7.30 pm on Wednesday 25th March at 11 Bedford’s Fold, Hillam, and on 27th May – venue to be arranged. Further details from Jenny Hoare, 683332 or hoarehsandj@btinternet.com.

the road, each side flew at top speed past the other in the peasouper.

Carried away by the scent of battle, they also carried on, and on, and on – the one side down to Gateforth and the other to Fairburn.

Thus there were two accounts of the successful rout of Hillam, one to the King and one to Cromwell. Because the writers of history books were unable to decide which was correct, they chose to ignore both, and to this day the story of the failed cavalry engagement is one of Hillam’s best-kept secrets.

Names have been changed in order to protect the human rights of the dead, the living and the yet to born.

15

MONK FRYSTON CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL Our Comenius Project Mrs Edwards, Mrs Boulton and I visited our partner school in Kosice, Slovakia during half term. It was a very interesting visit indeed! We were there with teachers from our other partner schools in Turkey, Romania, Italy, Spain and Germany and the children and teachers from Skola Tomasikova made us very welcome indeed. We packed a lot into our free time too with a visit to the opera, an excursion to an outdoor museum and a display of traditional music and dance. The Slovakian people are very proud of their traditions and rightly so as the dancing and costumes were a joy to behold.

Using our photos and videos our school has had a ‘Slovakian week’ during which we have tried to learn as much as possible about this wonderful country.

Each class is linked to at least one other European school and the children are exchanging letters etc.

Eco Schools In order to raise awareness of energy use and consumption we are having a Jumper Day, when the heating will be turned off and a day of using as little electricity as possible. The Year 6 children are measuring energy usage and we hope that the message of saving energy will quickly become embedded in our school. We may even notice a difference in our bills! We will also be growing food, composting and recycling waste.

If you have access to any materials e.g. wood, paving, logs, planters, benches, please let us know as we are developing our outdoor area to make raised beds, paved areas etc.

Authors in school In order to boost enthusiasm for writing we invited two celebrated authors to school to talk to children about how they write and have work published. Con Burdekin and Hilary Robinson worked with several classes and really motivated children to pick up pencils! We also had a live production of ‘Pinocchio’ which all the children thoroughly enjoyed.

Red Nose Day promises to be a fun day as we all do ‘something funny for money’ by wearing our clothes inside out and back to front! There will be lots of fun activities on the day and we hope to raise lots of money! Donations of buns will be very welcome.

Pancake Day was a great event when the PTA produced an amazing number of A date for your diary: PTA Car Boot Sale pancakes for hungry children at the end of Sunday 26th April (more information the day. There were interesting later). combinations of toppings and some sticky fingers as well.

Carole Middleton

BURTON SALMON COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL joined in. Everyone was so impressed!

We have been very busy and active this term. The school h as been a ward e d t h e Sportsmark and Activemark accreditations reflecting our co m m i t m en t t o heal t h y lifestyles.

Class 2 has been on a visit to York as part of their curriculum studies on The Tudors.

They visited the Yorkshire Museum and St. Mary’s Abbey where they met Brother Thomas and helped him recover his “ouches” which were the jewels given to him by Henry VIII.

All pupils in KS2 took part in a dance festival in January and wowed the audience with their performance of “Feel Good 17” which we also showed to our parents and carers at our Celebration Assembly when pupils from KS1 also

Class 1 have been on a visit to Cannon Hall Farm to study animals as part of their project work. They had a wonderful day and enjoyed feeding the animals. It has given them an insight into working in the class pet shop. We have also invited

children to bring their pets into school including dogs, fish, rabbits and guinea pigs.

In February, friends, parents and carers helped us to celebrate Chinese New Year when they joined us for lunch and enjoyed sweet and sour pork from our school cook, Mrs. Jones.

The children have worked very hard this term and produced some really excellent work. We are already looking forward to our many varied Easter activities which include planting in our garden.

Delia Andrews Head Teacher

BOARDING KENNELS AND CATTERY Common Lane, South Milford, Leeds, LS25 5BX Come and see our spacious purpose-built accommodation “YOUR PET’S HOLIDAY HOME” Phone Kathryn Beal on 01977 685404 Open 9 am - 6 pm daily VISITORS WELCOME

16

MONK FRYSTON ART CLUB AN INVITATION From MONK FRYSTON ART CLUB AN OPEN DEMONSTRATION in THE CHURCH HALL On MONDAY 6th APRIL At 1.00pm - 4.00pm Everyone is welcome to see DAVE WOOLASS paint in acrylics.

The majority of our demonstrations tend to be watercolour so this is a rare chance to see some thing different and to be shown techniques in another medium. Acrylic paint is so versatile since it can be used like oil paint or like watercolour.

Unlike oil, it dries quickly so you will be able to see a painting take shape before your eyes and enjoy the finished result.

Perhaps even buy it!

Enjoy a social cup of tea, or coffee and biscuits with us and feel free to bring a friend with you. Everyone is welcome. For further information please contact Jean Dearn on 01977682611.

BURTON SALMON METHODIST CHURCH Minister: Rev J Robin E Fox (0113 2877669) Sunday Services 11.15 am, followed by coffee All are welcome Preachers for April 5th – Circuit Service at Trinity, Castleford: no service at Burton Salmon 12th – Mrs Pam Turner 19th – Rev Robin Fox 26th – Mr Richard Mills Preachers for May 3rd – Mrs Pam Burgess 10th – Rev David Hall 17th – Songs of Praise 24th – Mr Kevin Dobson st 31 – Circuit Service at Allerton Bywater: no service at Burton Salmon

We are now having fewer demonstrations and concentrating on our own work. Some weeks we all work on the same topic and so far have worked on Reflections, Spring Flowers and Paint Animal. The varied results are fascinating and the practice is good for us.

Sunday Group 10.00 – 11.00 am, for children aged 3+ years A variety of activities including games, singing, drawing.

On the 23rd of February Joan Reay showed club members a technique using ink and bleach, the results were stunning and I think most members will be doing more of this work.

Thursday Coffee Mornings 10.30 – 11.30 am Everyone is welcome to come and join in and have a friendly chat.

For further information contact

Look forward to seeing you on the 6th April.

Jean Dearn President

Sandra Sargent (679541) or Irene Wadsworth (676188)

17

CRIME IN THE COUNTRY WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE…???

Scenario A A vehicle passing through a busy city centre, containing three known criminals who each have a dog with them. These known criminals have criminal records for Burglary, Theft, Criminal Damage and Robbery.

Scenario B A vehicle passing through a rural village location , containing three known criminals who each have a dog with them. These known criminals have criminal records for Burglary, Theft, Criminal Damage and Robbery.

seriously. It has become common knowledge that criminals attend Hillam and Monk Fryston to commit rural crime, i.e., Hare coursing, Deer Stalking and badger baiting. With this comes damage to crops and hedges but there are also the more serious offences of Burglary and Vehicle Crime.

In the past months your local Safer Neighbourhoods Team have been directly addressing this problem. This has led to number of prosecutions for offences under the Daytime Poaching Act and other offences. As a direct result of robust patrols there has been a significant decline in travelling criminals passing through the community, and with this a significant decline in Burglary, Vehicle Crime and Anti Social Behaviour which is making our areas a safer place.

Scenario A would be regarded as a serious matter by the police and any vehicle containing three known criminals would be stopped and checked, but Scenario B for would not be regarded with the same degree of suspicion.

Please remain vigilant and report any incidents or persons who are deemed suspicious.

What’s the difference…?

Scenario B happens in Hillam and Monk Fryston villages on a regular basis and we have recently started to treat it much more

See the village hall for updates and times on your mobile Police station service.

Kevin.Kelly@northyorkshire.pnn.poilce.uk

0845 6060247

MONEY MATTERS Wind farms and the Redistribution of wealth Is the wind farm industry the next great Ponzi scheme? The great mystery of the present financial crisis is where has the money actually gone.

If somebody has “lost” £127Bn then you might think that somebody else has “gained” it. Unfortunately it isn’t quite like that. The money that has been lost never really existed, it was theoretical money in the form of a derivative of some form or other. A simple example of a derivative is a option to buy shares or a commodity at a certain price by a certain date. The whole system relies on confidence and continuity, and when that goes the value goes with it. In the scramble to compete with each other the finance industry devised ever more complex

not afford to re-pay them. The system worked while house prices were rising and to escape the loan all the people needed to do was to sell the property at a profit and As for the Madoff scandal I just find it re-pay the loan. The loss of market hard to believe that anybody could get away for so long with a scheme where you confidence resulted in house prices falling take investors money and operate a Ponzi and the people then being unable to repay. scheme. Keep most of the money yourself The people who issues the loans must and then use new income to make any have seen the problem coming because by re-payments and to pay dividends to then they had packaged up the loans into current investors. This was wealth collateralized debt obligations and sold re-distribution on a grand scale—many people lost and a few gained vast amounts. them on to another financial organisation. financial instruments to sell to each other and the unsuspecting public.

The funding of wind farms looks very much like the Madoff scheme to me. We, the tax payers, provide the Government with a generous income. Being good at spending money the government doesn’t actually get enough money in this way so they are also borrowing more and more money every year. Similar schemes are in place offering loans to people who could

The present financial crisis set me thinking about where the next one will come from. The obvious problem is that to solve the problem the government is borrowing yet more money with no security or means to pay. Who knows the long term repercussions of this?

Howard Ferguson

18

THE BIRDING COLUMN Writing the article has been a particularly difficult task for me this time, not just because I have either been away, or simply too ill to go out birding, but also because I am struggling to think of anything positive to write about the local wildlife, which seems to me to be under intense pressure from a variety of factors.

I suppose on a positive note, I can tell you that the Kingfishers seem to have survived the spell of intense cold weather, which means that they must have been able to find some water that wasn’t frozen over in order to feed.

Kingfisher Not such good news for the Long-tailed Tit I fear, as I have not seen any in the garden for several weeks now. This species in particular is very vulnerable to cold weather and the population is likely to have been decimated.

Long-tailed Tit

I guess the main worry for me at the moment is the human threat to our wildlife in the area; on the one hand we have the pressure of the shooters in Gateforth Wood, who seem to be there in 4x4s on a semi-permanent basis and also the dog men who Howard Ferguson has written about at length in this magazine.

After reading Howard’s articles I always keep a pen and paper with me when I am out, and also my mobile phone, as it is important to contact the police when a suspicious 4x4 is encountered in the wide expanses east of the village, or anywhere else in that case, when you see the occupants wear camouflage dress or have dogs with them. We are lucky to have a thriving hare population in the immediate environs of our village and I would like to keep it that way. Personally I cannot understand the mentality of anyone who likes to kill things for sport, whether it is using guns, dogs, or whatever, but that is only my own personal view, and will not be agreed by all who read this magazine, but I am entitled to give my view and will continue to do so.

Another threat on the horizon is the proposed wind farm development east of the village and we should be grateful that Howard Ferguson has taken it upon himself to challenge this hideous monstrosity. Our views of the countryside are already blighted by pylons and power stations, so why should we be subjected even more eyesores? I suppose some might say I ought to look at things from a less parochial perspective and think of the greater good, but having seen the plans, all I can say is that the scheme looks to me to be totally out of scale with the surrounding villages and rural landscape and will restrict the sense of rural openness and dominate the landscape for miles around. Visual impact is not my only concern, as I am concerned about the

effect of the turbine development on bird populations. To give one example, from late February and into March I have seen thousands of Pink-footed Geese migrating North West, right over where the turbines are to be built.

Pink-footed Goose This is an annual event and is a great concern to me, particularly because the turbines are to be so tall. The effect of turbines on migrating bird populations can be catastrophic, as anyone with an interest in birds will know. The massive development on the ridge above Tarifa in Southern Spain exacts a heavy annual toll on storks and raptors every spring and autumn as they migrate between Africa and Europe.

So, whilst the sun may be shining outside at the moment, I see dark clouds gathering on the horizon for our wildlife, so if you want to keep it safe, make your voice heard; we maybe cannot stop the shooters, but at least we can make it difficult for the dog men and wind farm developers!

Graham Todd

NEW SERVICES FOR 2009

19

SNIPPETS The Singing (ex) Postman

Umpiring Jokes

Ross Bennett, who used to deliver letters in Hillam and Monk Fryston, has posted a catchy clip on YouTube as part of his anti-Identity Card campaign. It is called the NO2ID song.

Have a look at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgaOWPmiR2M or search for 'Axtivist'.

The late Tommy Gill always liked to tell of the batsman who complained about one of his umpiring decisions.

‘Look in the Skyrack Express next week, if you want to see whether you were out, lad.’ He retorted.

An earlier song opposed the introduction of 42 day detention. That battle has been won. Ross performs locally with his group Tandem.

Don Bramley came up with another cricket umpiring joke recently. An umpire had given several dubious decisions in a village cricket match and members of the home crowd tackled him about it.

‘Nay, it were your umpire, that started it, he came back.’

Ross feels very strongly about ID cards and civil liberties.

He comes from a campaigning family. His sister led the successful fight against an asphalt plant at Ferrybridge Power Station. Perhaps he should turn his attention to wind farms.

GOING NATIVE: Inuit

dozen

A dozen vital expressions for travellers hello

kutaa

goodbye

takuss

thank you

qujanak

yes

aap

no

naamik

cheers!

kasuuta!

how much is it? toilet

qanoq akeqar pa? anartarfik

house

iglu

Greenland

Kalaallit Nunaat

England

Tuluit Nunaat

mush, you huskies!

ingerlagit!

… and a bonus word arsarnerit = the northern lights (believed to be caused by the souls of the dead playing ball with walrus skulls)

We thank Gauntlet Risk Management for supporting the copying and distribution of Hillam News

20

RURAL RAMBLINGS It’s an Ill Wind...

The last time your agricultural correspondent reported on the state of farming he noted that farmers were suffering the double whammy of falling crop prices and rocketing fuel and fertilizer prices. All quite true, if a little predictable.

The wet autumn meant that some crop drilling would have to be left until spring. Large areas remained unploughed by the onset of winter frosts. And not all of these fields were potential wind farm sites.

Well, in the short space of time since harvest, we have witnessed a bigger devaluation than Norman Lamont oversaw, or even the one which occurred when our great grandfathers abandoned the Gold Standard. And guess what, when our economy officially went into recession, agriculture was the only sector to buck the trend.

A weak currency suits farmers down to the ground. We import around a third of our food. The price of wheat which tumbled after harvest has now recovered to well

over £110.00 per tonne. Brussels subsidies, which are all paid in Euros, are worth 25% more. I remember the National Farmers Union pressed to join the Euro fifteen years ago, as this was seen as a way of forcing the pound down. This policy might have been quietly dropped but many farmers are now raising a discreet glass to Gordon Brown for his devaluation by stealth.

Agricultural Correspondent

Fishing at Hillam Pond Thinking of fishing at the Pond this year?

Firstly, you will need to buy a Club Year Book costing £16. These are available from local tackle shops such as Selby Angling Centre, (01757 703471). They will also supply your gate key for £3 too.

You also need an Environment Agency Rod Licence, costing £26. These can be purchased on-line or at Post Offices. Check out www.environment-agency.gov.uk for details.

Most baits work at the Pond and evenings are a great time to fish. Carp, Perch. Bream, Roach, Rudd and Chub can all be caught on simple tackle.

Bert Hazell The recent death of Bert Hazell of Acomb, York would probably go unnoticed, apart perhaps from a reference to his 101 years. But his experience is an indication of how much things have changed in the countryside in a single lifetime. Born in Norfolk, he was sent to Yorkshire in the 1930s by the Agricultural Workers' Union to organise farm workers. Even after the war when our village still had an agricultural economy, farmers hired labour and many workers joined the Agricultural Workers' Union.

Bert Hazell became an important figure in Yorkshire and served on the War Agricultural Executive Committee and was a York magistrate. He was also a member of the Agricultural Wages Board, which set farm wage rates.

As a representative of farm workers Bert Hazell stood for Labour in the 1945 General Election in the Barkston Ash constituency which was the predecessor of Selby electoral district. He lost by only 116 votes to the newly demobbed Colonel Ropner.

Rob Preston - 681163

21

SMALL ADS

Only £1.00 per issue To give it a try, please contact David Atkinson on 684577

HORSE FOR PART LOAN Sam is available for part loan from April 2009.

Sam is a 20+ year old, 15 hand, grey cob.

A stunning-looking and easy to care for horse.

He is great for hacking out, very safe and comfortable.

Currently in part-time livery in Hillam.

In a part loan arrangement the costs of livery and care are shared and you would be able to share riding at the weekend and through the week.

If interested call Julie Sadler 01977 685795 or Trish on 01977 670530.

Contributions for the next issue are very welcome, and can be sent to any of the Hillam News team listed below.

Deadline for copy: Wednesday 13th May.

Please support our advertisers; tell them you saw the ad in Hillam News. They keep us going in more senses than one!

Monk Fryston Mums and Tots Need to get out and about with your little ones?

Well, come and join us at Monk Fryston Community Centre.

Local mums, dads and childminders meet every Tuesday (term time only) between 9.00 and 11.30 am.

We offer a warm welcome to new faces, so why not drop in for a drink and a chat?

Our toddler group provides great opportunities for your children to play and learn with others whilst allowing you to meet up with other adults in an informal and relaxed setting.

So don’t be shy…

Come along and see for yourself!

For more information please contact Becky Gatenby 07894 336386 or Carla Candler 07926 379233

22

SPORT -

IN

Another column and yet another chance to talk about a high profile footballer getting into trouble with the Police. In the last edition I made reference to Steven Gerrard’s arrest and now it’s his England colleague Ashley Cole who has felt the strong arm of the law. There really doesn’t seem to be any end in sight to the continued failure of highly paid sportsmen to act in a decent manner. It’s a sign of the times when the bookmaker William Hill is now taking bets on who will be the next Footballer to be arrested…..By the way, Joey Barton is the current favourite!

Keeping on this unsavoury theme, I was appalled to read that a Rugby League Challenge Cup tie between Doncaster and the Leeds based amateur side Queens had to be abandoned due to crowd trouble. Those who follow local Rugby league may not be too surprised to hear that Queens were involved in such an incident given their track record and whilst I accept these type of incidents have no place in society at large, it is worrying to see it now come into the sport of Rugby League. Let’s hope the perpetrators are dealt with and if it is proven that the amateur side were to blame I for one would like to see the club closed down. Their track record is a disgrace and they should receive the severest punishment.

Looking towards the Caribbean and England’s cricketers have continued to take defeat (or at least draws) away from the jaws of victory. To be fair I don’t think they have performed too badly overall with the exception of one bad session in Jamaica when they were left floundering at 51 all out. They could and should have drawn level in Antigua but couldn’t take the one wicket that was outstanding. Stuart Broad continues to progress along the right lines and surely has the potential to become an effective all-rounder over the next few years. As for his team mate Steve Harmison I would suggest he is looking at a spell

- NEWS

back in county cricket. He is a shadow of the man who performed so well on his first tour to the Windies a few years back and unless we see a sudden and sharp improvement, we will need to find another fast bowler to take on the Aussies this summer.

At the time of writing England’s Rugby Union team have two games to play against France and Scotland after suffering two consecutive defeats against the Celtic nations of Wales and Ireland. It’s all a far cry from the heady heights of 2003 when Martin Johnson lifted the World Cup in Sydney and I can’t help but wonder why the RFU have not looked at the run up to that historic event and learned lessons from it. At the moment, we have a group of talented players who are simply not performing and it all seems to point to a lack of coaching and management within the current structure. Given the importance attached to a successful England side, (not to mention money in the form of additional revenue), is it too much to ask for the Administrators of the game to swallow some pride and bring back Sir Clive Woodward?

Doug Hought Cricket News The season starts on Saturday 18th April 2009.

Visit the clubs website to find fixtures, results, committee members, contacts, development news, photographs and forthcoming events. www.hillamandmonkfrystoncc.co.uk

23

LAST WORDS

SAILING BYE

Letter about new bus stop at Monk Fryston Post Office

Wind farm A view from Kellington

All at sea with the England cricket team

I welcome the return of the bus stop but not at the expense of parking for the shop customers, (we will effectively be left with one space), and am disappointed that no action has been taken to control the long term parking.

The wind farm as I admit I've only just been able to force myself to look at the stopwoodlanewindfarm website. The main reason being I am sure I (and I bet I'm not the only one) am still suffering some kind of traumatic exhaustion as a result of fighting, writing, protesting and battling against the 'Eco' town; for nearly a whole year. I'm not sure I'm mentally 'up' for another challenge of that scale.

Passengers on the Silver Shadow Caribbean cricket cruise did not have to wait until the Sun’s allegations about a Lancastrian all-rounder’s ‘boat jaunt’ were repeated in the Telegraph.

I am not sure what to do next but it doesn't particularly bode well for the future prospects of the shop.

I would welcome the opinions of the local residents, which can be sent direct to my Email address.

Kevin Pease monkfrystonpostoffice@dsl.pipex

WEB WISE Google Earth Update Google Earth has recently updated satellite images of Hillam and the surrounding areas. The images are dated 7th May 2007 and show the village bathed in warm afternoon sunshine.

Satellite images for neighbouring Burton Salmon and Castleford are dated September 27th 2008.

Hillam, however, is not yet covered by Google Street View.

Hillam Wikipedia Contributors Welcome Hillam has been in Wikipedia since August 2007. The page has been updated many times.

I challenge villagers to visit the page and contribute new information, photographs and links.

Go to Wikipedia on: http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/hillam Hillam Nerd

But looking briefly at the stopwoodlanewindfarm website the initial facts are horrific. The invasion of our environment is once again a very real threat and I will summon any energies I can to help stop this.

Can anyone tell me how and when our society turned into an arena where normal individuals have to fight tooth and nail to stop our immediate environment being ruined or taken away from us? Why do we have to be suspicious and constantly on our guard to prevent our countryside from being stolen from us?

I need to and will do more reading but for now would encourage everyone to look at the web-site. stopwoodlanewindfarm.co.uk

Jackie, Kellington

BUS NEWS Gateways School Bus Gateways Independent School now operates a bus service from Hillam to Harewood, Leeds. The bus picks up from Hillam Hall Lane at 07:25 hrs, returning at 17:05 hrs in the evening.

For further details call Cathy Preston on 681163

They were there and not too pleased that their voyage was described as a booze cruise. They closed ranks behind Lords’ official line that Freddie (like them) only had a couple of glasses all night.

He nevertheless missed getting ashore before the ship left Kingston, Jamaica. It’s a good job he brought his passport. The way he made his way up the pier at Ocho Rios in the direction of his helicopter suggested he was still at sea.

There was a time when England only had to turn up to stuff the Windies. Rumours abound about what has gone wrong with the English cricket, lack of leadership, following the money or the press for intruding into players’ private lives.

The only things missing from ‘the ship of shame’ were a Russian oligarch and a cabinet minister. The off-stage activities of a recently charged Texan banker, who was knighted on the recommendation of an Antiguan former Labour prime minister, will have to suffice.

Whoever phoned the Sun, he did not come from Hillam!

Hillam News Cruising Correspondent

24

LOCAL SERVICES To amend or to add to the information below, please phone Jenny Hoare (683332) Service

Telephone

Details

Monk Fryston Post Office Post Office counter

682252

Mon - Fri 8 am - 8 pm; Sat 8.30 am - 7 pm; Sun 9 am - 7 pm Mon, Tues, Thur, Fri 9 am - 5.30 pm; Wed & Sat 9 am - 1 pm

Last postal collections

Public transport

Hillam Square Monk Fryston PO South Milford PO Pontefract, Trinity St 0113 245 7676

Mon - Fri 4.30 pm, Sat 9.30 am Mon - Fri 4.15 pm, Sat 11 am Mon - Fri 5.30 pm, Sat 11 am Mon - Fri 6.30 pm, Sat 12.30 pm

Local bus & train timetables & enquiries: www.wymetro.com

South Milford Surgery 682202 Dr A Mackenzie & Partners

Phone hours: Mon - Fri 8 am - 6 pm www.southmilfordsurgery.co.uk

Monk Fryston Surgery Dr D James & Partners

683452

Mon 4 - 8 pm; Tues & Wed 8 - 12 am; Thur 2 - 6 pm; Fri 9 - 11 am www.patient.co.uk

Selby War Memorial Hospital

01757 702664

www.sypct.com

Pontefract General Infirmary

600600

www.midyorks.nhs.uk

Visiting Scheme for the Elderly

681828

Transport, shopping, social events for the housebound, and much more www.sherburnvisitingscheme.co.uk

St Wilfrid’s Church, Monk Fryston

680788

Rector: Revd John Hetherington www.stwilfridandstmary.org.uk

Burton Salmon Methodist Church

679541

Details: Sandra Sargent See also Methodist news page

Mobile library

Sherburn Library 08450 349443

Every 3 weeks: Hillam Square Tues 11.35 - 11.50 am Maspin Grange Tues 1.20 - 1.30 pm www.northyorks.gov.uk/libraries/mobiles

Hillam Parish Council

685186

Clerk: Malcolm Walton 1st Wed of month 7.30 pm, Community Centre

Selby District Council

01757 705101

www.selby.gov.uk

Environmental Health, SDC 01757 292113

Refuse disposal: removal of bulky items

NYCC Recycling Centre, Canal Road, Selby

01609 780780

Recycling centre for household waste. Cardboard, metals, textiles, masonry, bottles, green waste, batteries, TV’s, monitors and oils

Wakefield MDC Recycling Centre, Ferrybridge

01609 533216 (tel) 01609 532474 (fax)

Permits necessary for NYCC residents waste.management@northyorks.gov.uk

Police (non-emergency)

0845 6060247

www.northyorkshire.police.uk

Mobile Police Station, Community Centre car park 682693

Weekly, variable days and times See village notice boards or contact Tony Hudson

Neighbourhood Watch

682693

Tony Hudson

Gas (leaks)

0800 111 999

www.transco.uk.com

Electricity (supply failure)

0800 375 675

www.npower.com

Yorkshire Water (sewerage and leaks)

0845 1242429

www.yorkshirewater.com

Citizens’ Advice Bureau

01757 293015 0845 1203718

For appointments at Sherburn Advice line www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Venue bookings

684180 689230

Church Hall: Paddy Twidale Community Centre: Becky Gatenby

Village website

www.hillam-village.co.uk