Talk of the Town April 2018

EDITION 202

CIRCULATION 4,600

APRIL 2018

SALTBURN’S FREE MONTHLY MAGAZINE 1

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SALTBURN‟S TOWN TALK Letter from the Editor

Recently I watched a really disappointing documentary about for by our government so that the exporter makes a profit and the recycling industry. Thousands of tons of plastic and the people‟s sensible efforts are betrayed. The documentary cardboard are still being shipped abroad to China and Poland only mentioned plastic and cardboard so I‟m guessing that at to end up in landfill because it has not been processed least glass and metals might be recycled properly. Love, Ian properly to be recycled. The mentality is to get rid of the problem, and make it someone else‟s, while not developing a Send letters, adverts and contributions for the next issue (by responsible recycling industry in Britain. Worse, it‟s all paid Friday, 20th April 2018) to: The Editor, Talk of the Town c/o Jackie‟s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, Saltburn Farmers’ Market: Saturday, April 14th and Cleveland, TS12 1AQ. Telephone: 01287 623903 (or email: Saturday, May 12th will be the dates of the next two Farmers‟ talkofthetownsaltburn@gmail.com).

Talk of the Town can be found on a new Facebook Markets in town. In April we‟ll be celebrating the amazing amount of wild garlic we can forage in Saltburn and all the address at www.facebook.com/talkofthetownsaltburn. different uses it has! How to ensure you‟re eating the right The Guisborough and District Branch of the Embroiderers’ stuff and what to cook. In addition Hope Animal Shelter will Guild: The subject of the monthly meeting of the Guild is be at the market raising much needed funds. So come along “What Shall I Do With This?” It is going to be a fun, practical early and grab yourself a fine loaf of bread, a wedge of session consisting of a number of workshops run by members Lacey‟s cheese and some wild garlic pesto! of the Branch. The meeting will take place on Saturday, 7th Craft Club Busy Fingers: 2nd and 4th Thursday of each April 2018 at 2pm in Sunnyfield House, Westgate, month, 1.30 till 3.30pm in the Coffee Room, Saltburn Guisborough, TS14 6BA. Visitors are very welcome, whether Community Centre. a non-stitcher, a beginner or an experienced Saltburn Studios and Gallery: A Spring Exhibition opened embroiderer. Admission is £5.00. Parking is free on Saturday in with our Open Studios event on the 17th of March. Come and the Council car park behind Belmont House which is a short view during April. We are open each weekend from 12noon walk away.

Contact Gill on 01642 480344 for more to 4 pm. information.

The speaker at the meeting on Saturday, 5th of May Redcar’s Visual Presentations: The 2017-18 Season is now drawing to a close. We now have just one outstanding 2018, which is held at the same time at the same venue, is Lisa Presentation and a very fascinating one it appears to be. On Smith and her talk is entitled “From Art To Luxury”.

Tuesday, 10th April at 2.15pm in the Redcar East Community An Exhibition of members‟ work, entitled “Cleveland Centre on Durham Road, we welcome Nona Jenkins of Through The Eye of A Needle” is on display at the Python Guisborough who will be Visually Presenting „Quilts and the Gallery, Royal Middlehaven House, 21 Gosford Street, Underground Railway‟ and bringing along her Collection of Middlesbrough, TS2 1BB (just behind the train station). It Quilts. These Quilts tell the story of how escaped prisoners at runs until the 27th April 2018. Opening times are 9.30am the time of the American Civil War could find their way to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.

Sybil Whitton safe areas of the country. On conclusion of the Quilts WI Report: It‟s been another busy month for Presentation, we shall be holding our short AGM when ideas WI. Middlesbrough Theatre wardrobe mistresses came along for future Presentations will be particularly welcome. to our meeting with a selection of ball gowns, some from As usual, Admission at the Door will be £2.50 for around the 1920s up to the 1950s. They brought their visitors and all are very welcome. favourites - delicate; lacy; velvet; and all hand-sewn. They Tony Crow could still be worn today and would not look out of Emmanuel Church Hall Table Top and Collectors’ Sale: place. The monthly coffee morning at Saltburn House is an We will be back on 7th and 21st April and then May 5th and hour (or so) to do nothing but chat and have a cuppa. The craft 19th. Our apologies for not opening when the snow beast hit group visited a farm for lambing as part of a „Sheep to Shawl‟ us in March, It‟s the first time ever we have had to close project where we follow a fleece from birth through different because of the weather but we did manage to deliver some processes to the yarn knitted into a square at the end. Flowers, food orders to people who could not get out. If anyone is walks, book and supper clubs are all popular and we can interested in booking a stall to have a clear out contact me on always offer more if members want something different. The the number below. We are also doing our usual lunches and trip to Bowes Museum to have a guided tour and see paintings all day breakfast, fresh home baked cake, pies and scones. of Paris commissioned by Queen Victoria was a really Home made refreshments and light lunches are on sale all interesting day.

The speaker for our next meeting on 12th April is day. FREE ENTRANCE and a warm welcome to everyone.

With over 26 stall holders, selling lots of bric-a-brac, books, Jeanette from Pippa Teas. Why not join us? We meet on the toys, baby goods, and all sorts of collectables, there is second Thursday of the month in Saltburn Learning Campus at something for everyone. Contact Denise Marshall on 07929 7pm. There‟s always a warm welcome. See our website for details (www.saltburnbytheseawi.wordpress.com).

Lynn 589538.

Cover Illustration: Rainbow over Saltburn Pier by Heather Lofthouse Disclaimer: Talk of the Town tries to make sure the articles and announcements made on its pages are accurate, but views expressed in letters and articles printed in Talk of the Town are not necessarily those of the editor. Any offers in adverts included in Talk of the Town are made by the advertisers; details should be confirmed with them. Always confirm event details with the organisers, in case of alteration or error. Talk of the Town is printed by DC (Yorkshire) Print, Unit 34a, Lidgate Crescent, Langthwaite Business Park, South Kirkby, West Yorkshire, WF9 3NR. Website: www.dcprintyork shire.co.uk Tel: 01977 642331. Proprietor/Editor of Talk of the Town: Ian Tyas c/o Jackie‟s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, TS12 1AQ. (Ian Tyas tel: 01287 623903.)

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Saltburn-by-the-Sea 150 Years ago 1868 150 years ago, Saltburn-by-the-Sea was rapidly developing. Already two hotels had opened, the population was beginning to increase and several major developments were being made.

The opening of the new church of Emmanuel was opened by His Grace the Archbishop of York (William Thompson) in August for worship but was not consecrated until July 1872. The church was not completed as there were insufficient funds.

The first pile of the new pier designed by John Anderson was driven on 27th January by Mrs Thomas Vaughan and surprisingly it was announced in the newspapers on Saturday, 14th March 1868 that the Board of Trade proposed to proceed with the order allowing the pier to be constructed.

Arrangements were made for the supply of water drawn from Lockwood and Swindale springs to supply Skelton and Saltburn. The water pumped from Skelton beck to the water tower in Upleatham Street had caused Typhoid in the town.

In September The Earl of Zetland laid the foundation stone for a new British School in Upleatham Street on land given by his lordship.

September also saw the laying of the foundation of the Bridge over the Glen (Halfpenny Bridge) being built for Skelton Estates.

An early photograph of the Bridge over the Glen

Emmanuel Church as opened for worship

Photograph of the British School, Upleatham Street

An original pile tip from the Victorian Pier salvaged during the recent extensive renovations 4

Saltburn pier nearing completion Cath and Tony Lynn

Same chef and owner for over 6 years

MID WEEK MEETINGS Monday at 8 Ladies meeting

Looking for that special gift and card?

Choose from our vast range of products incl: Woodwick scented candles, Jellycat soft toys, Thomas Kent clocks, Arran Aromatics toiletries, Emma Bridgewater & Cath Kidston pottery & much more.

Now also available online.

Visit us at www.bramblesgiftshop.co.uk 4, Station Street, Saltburn by the Sea, TS12 1AE Tel: 01287 623 368 www.bramblesgiftshop.co.uk

Saltburn Councillors’ Surgeries Saltburn Councillors‟ Surgeries, each month - all on Saturdays 1st Sat. Library 11-12 Cllr. Craig Hannaway 2nd Sat. Library 11-12 Cllr. Philip Thomson 3rd Sat. Outside Sainsbury‟s Cllr. Stuart Smith 9.30-10.30 and 11.30-12.15 4th Sat. Library 11-12 All Councillors Cllr. Hannaway: 07787 880613. Cllr. Smith: 07557 540628.

Cllr. Thomson: 01287 624883.

Tuesday at 10 a.m.

Mums & Toddlers At 1.30 p.m.

Prayer Meeting At 2.05 p.m.

Discussion Group Thursday at 10 a.m.

Mums & Toddlers Ladies meeting 2.30 p.m. fortnightly COFFEE MORNINGS Wednesday at 10 a.m.

Saturday at 10 a.m.

SOUP AND BUN LUNCHES 1st Tuesday the month at 12.30 p.m.

COME AND WORSHIP With us on SUNDAY at 10.45 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Sunday School At 10.45 a.m. for all the children.

Mid week worship WEDNESDAY AT 10 a.m.

Anyone is welcome At any service.

Our Church is open From 10 a.m—noon Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday.

For Prayer or Sit and have a cup of tea with us.

SALTBURN METHODIST CHURCH MILTON STREET SALTBURN ROOMS FOR HIRE RING 623145 5

Once Upon a Time in the Wapentake I am now going to break a promise I made to myself, and to others.

About a year and a half ago I was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus.

I swore (who wouldn‟t?) that, although I might write poems dealing with it, there would be no mention in my Talk of the Town articles. Why not? Several reasons. I wanted to carry on as normal as much as possible. Some might say that this was evading reality.

Perhaps it is, and perhaps I‟m not the only one who thinks ignoring an unpleasant reality is sometimes the only way to stay sane.

And, believe it or not, I felt an obligation to you, dear reader. I like to think of myself as a professional (unpaid) who has to bang out the copy to time, whatever else is happening. But probably the strongest motivation was my dislike of what I can only call cancer-porn. It seemed like every time I picked up a paper or switched on the radio there would be some celebrity (that is to say, somebody famous I‟ve never heard of) giving the details of the progress of their own cancer cells. I was already sick of this before I got my own diagnosis. (So, granted, there are worse things to be sick of.) The celeb‟s articles only ceased appearing, when their obituaries appeared instead. This is not encouraging.

I grew up in a world where being told you had cancer was regarded as a death sentence, but I thought we had grown out of that, and could think of cancer as a disease, like any other, and which was, like any other, treatable. I know that really there is no guaranteed permanent cure, only a remission (for good behaviour?), and that we all get to die in the end, but, still, there are some of us, walking around saying, “I‟m feeling better now.” Not completely well, of course, but better, which is the most we can hope for. The message we ought to be sending is that there is life after cancer, and hope.

Another thing that annoys me about the cancer diaries, and the obituaries, is the language used. “After a long battle/struggle/fight against the disease he/she died…” It sounds heroic, the lone human being wrestling with the monster, but really, it‟s not like that. As a patient, you just lie there whilst other people do things to you. It‟s those other people, the doctors, nurses, surgeons, anaesthetists, radiologists and radiographers, who are the real heroes.

While we are handing out medals, we should also remember the people who created the drugs, and perfected the surgical procedures that are used. In my case that means the Romanian surgeons who found a way to deal with what had previously been an inoperable cancer, and Henry Heimlich, he of the Heimlich Manoeuvre, who introduced the technique to a wider world.

A final objection that I had to writing about my illness was that I did not want to appear to be wallowing in self-pity, the worst possible stuff to wallow in, in my 6

opinion.

So why have I changed my mind? Partly because several people whose opinion I respect have found it odd that I haven‟t written about it, and told me they would find it interesting. Like most people, I‟m susceptible to flattery.

The other reason is that I usually try, when writing about my own experience, to find some wider meaning to it. An example would be what seemed the most painful part of the whole business: the food. I would think that, if you wanted people to get well as quickly as possible, giving them food that was not just nutritious, but appetising, not just tasting good, but looking and smelling good, tempting in other words, would be a good idea.

And getting people out of bed and off home ASAP is not just good for them; it‟s also good for the overcrowded hospitals.

But what did we get? For breakfast what was described as porridge, a watery gruel that would have shamed a Dickensian Workhouse. At least I can describe that, unlike lunch and dinner, which were so disgusting as to be literally indescribable.

I was fortunate because Sheila was bringing in Real Food for me. Otherwise I would have lost even more weight than I did, and would have taken a great deal longer to come home. I must now say that I am not blaming James Cook Hospital for the food. As with so many important parts of our public services, the catering had been subcontracted out to a private company… in this case Carillion.

I think the curse I put on them may have had some effect. But then I was always somewhat sceptical about how this kind of thing was going to work. We were told that private companies would give a better service and cost less. But to give a better service you need the staff to do it, and that means better pay and conditions to recruit and hold them. And they will need the tools, or in this case, the best ingredients, to do the job properly. This all costs money. At the same time the company has to keep the shareholders happy, which means making a profit. And then, last on my list, but I suspect, first on theirs, the people who run the company have to pay themselves multi -million pound salaries and bonuses. I‟m sorry, but the sums don‟t add up.

Another point I‟d like to make is this. Most of us know by now that smoking cigarettes greatly increases the chances of lung cancer. We have been warned often enough. However, I was surprised to discover that drinking alcohol greatly increases the chances of cancer of the oesophagus. If there had been any Government Health Warnings on bottles of wine, I must have missed them.

I‟m not saying I would have lived my life differently if I‟d known, but, still, it would have been nice to have known the risks I was running.

And, of course, how glad I am that we still have an NHS. Tim Beswick

Real Meals Purveyors of Fine Foods

Join The Tea Revolution at Real Meals April 21st for National Tea Day! After a trip to Harrogate Fine Food Show we came back thinking we should update our range of Teas and what better way to launch this change than with a tea party on National Tea Day! Get your tickets directly from the shop or via our facebook page We’ll be offering a range of new teas, tea pairings and perfect accompaniments to tea.

Our very own little Fes-Tea-Val April 21st 3pm onwards REAL MEALS, 25 MILTON STREET, SALTBURN, Tel: 01287 622266.

New email address: realmeals.uk@gmail.com

New Website: www.real-meals.co.uk

Councillorsâ€&#x; Column The traditional indication of a liability coming through the letter box used to be signalled by an envelope being brown.

No longer. Any colour can now hold portent, more likely with a cellophane window.

Residents will have received the ubiquitous Council tax demand, setting out what needs to be paid and an annual justification. The die is cast so, unless one can appeal the rateable value of a property, settlement is all that remains.

Phased payment allows a monthly instalment to be made over ten months. For those on a challenged cash flow this period can be extended to twelve monthly, but a formal request has to be made. Do not hesitate to request. It cannot be reasonably denied. Eligible residents who have genuine difficulty in meeting payments may benefit from a hardship fund which exists to respond to such situations. If any help is needed in accessing this fund, please get in touch.

Easter was somewhat earlier this year. Those who understand Gregorian calendars will not be phased. For others who see this occasion of worship as part of a wider liturgy, Easter may truly be a time of reprogramming thought processes and reflecting on comfort zones and reasons for doing or not doing. Such thoughts might focus on ourselves and some thoughts may focus on others.

One area of understanding that does merit further examination is Dementia. Surprisingly it is not a specific disease. Although associated with the elderly it is not simply triggered by age. The common challenges affect memory and language. Understanding the nature of the

symptoms that are caused by disorders which affect the brain may allow us to better understand the challenges that sufferers face and likewise the challenges encountered by their carers. By acquiring a greater understanding it may be possible to be of assistance and not to stand impassively or walk on another side.

Another area of understanding that is equally challenging, but from a totally different perspective, is antisocial behaviour. Anti social behaviour and vandalism arise intermittently and affect areas within our neighbourhood, damaging physical features and also the emotions of those affected. The Woodland Centre has experienced many such instances in recent weeks. Residents who pass through this area could collectively address this challenge by simply being observant and reporting incidents. What is not reported does not get recorded and does not then become a matter to be addressed. Genuine anti-social behaviour or damage does need to be reported. 101 is the number to ring.

Who mentioned calendars? Was the Cliff Lift not meant to be completed and open for Easter?

Unfortunately, having started two weeks late it was an inevitable consequence that with stripping down and reassembling this historic feature was always likely to be late reopening and May Bank Holiday is now a target date.

Thereafter late opening will be a regular feature!

Five diseased trees, beech and ash, will shortly be felled in the Valley Gardens as a result of a Borough wide survey on woodland condition.

Philip Thomson 7

Saltburn Beachwatch New Plastics Economy Since the beginning of Saltburn Beachwatch (SBW) twenty-two years ago we have seen year on year increases of plastic litter on our beach. This is hardly surprising as more than 8 million metric tons of plastic is dumped in the ocean every year. The proliferation of plastic products in the last seventy years has been extraordinary: quite simply we cannot live without them. We are now producing 3 hundred million tons of plastic every year, half of which is for single use.

Plastic is cheap and very versatile with properties that make it ideal for many applications. However, these qualities have made it an environmental issue. As marine scientists throughout the world look ever closer at the consequences of marine pollution they are discovering that the whole of the planet and the ecosystem is affected from pole to pole and from simple organisms to more complex creatures like ourselves.

We have developed a “disposable” lifestyle and estimates are that 50% of plastic products are used once then thrown away. About 95% of the value of this packaging, worth £60 to £100 billion pounds annually, is lost to the world economy. Plastic packaging also generates costs to society and the environment valued at £30 billion. If we carry on as we are by 2050 the plastic industry could consume 20% of total oil production.

The New Plastics Economy (NPE) initiative is a strategy towards a plastic system that works. Applying the principles of a circular economy this initiative brings together key stakeholders to re-think and re-design the future of plastics, starting with packaging. This is a good place to start as today 14% of all litter comes from beverage containers; when caps and lids are also considered the number is higher.

The World Economic Forum and the Helen MacArthur Foundation have now published the second part of this initiative entitled “NPE Catalysing Action”, a 3 point plan which points the way to a sustainable future.

Firstly, fundamental re-design and innovation (about 30% of plastic packaging will never be used or recycled); secondly for at least 20% of plastic packaging re-use provides an economically attractive opportunity and lastly with concerted efforts on design and after use systems, recycling would be economically attractive for the remaining 50% of plastic packaging.

Plastics are one of the most wasteful examples of our existing linear take-make-dispose economy. Change in this global material flow will not only create a more effective plastic system but will also demonstrate the potential for a wider shift from a linear to a circular economy. Oceans are fundamental to the health of our ecosystem. To survive and prosper we need a harmonious relationship with it.

The next Saltburn Beachwatch litterpick and survey will take place on Saturday, 14th April 2018 from 10am until 12 noon. Meet at the pier car park where Grabs, Gloves and bags will be provided. Mid-session free refreshments will be available.

Roy Smith 8

MILES, HUTCHINSON & LITHGOW SOLICITORS CONVEYANCING DOMESTIC AND COMMERCIAL LEASING (FREE WRITTEN QUOTATIONS ON REQUEST) MATRIMONIAL MATTERS CIVIL - CRIMINAL LITIGATION

CHILD CARE IMMIGRATION PROBATE & WILLS POWERS OF ATTORNEY LEGAL AID PRACTICE

For a friendly efficient service on all legal matters Tel:

(01287) 623049

Our New Address: First Floor, 15 Station Street, Saltburn-by-the-Sea TS12 1AE

Help! Your local Playgroup needs you!

Little Nippers is in desperate need of willing volunteers to help out on Monday and Wednesday mornings, either in the kitchen or in the group. We need people to help set up and put away. If you can help, even if it is only for a few hours each month, we would love to hear from you. So, if you love spending time with young children, painting, glueing, singing, making music or reading stories, or even simply making drinks, then please contact Little Nippers Playgroup on

01287 624575

We have spaces in April for babies and newcomers to the town

Christina Simpson Bespoke Furniture, Joinery Fully Qualified, Experienced, Local Carpenter/Joiner 1st, 2nd Fix Doors, Flooring, Skirting, Loft Conversions Hand-Made Kitchens/Bedrooms, Painted Furniture Paintings Commissioned

No Job Too Small

Call 07773 091727 or 07387 766779 Email: simpsonc999@gmail.com

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Friday Friends We are an independent, inclusive friendship group, based in Saltburn, for people aged over 18. We are a friendly group and welcome people with different abilities.

We are having another fundraising concert at Saltburn House! Sound Investment (some members were in Soul Survivors) are playing on Saturday, 14th April at Saltburn House from 8.30. They play the best of 60s/70s Soul and Motown and more. Free entry - there will be a raffle. Thank you to Saltburn House for the night.

Everybody is welcome and it will prove to be a great night out again!

April programme 6th - Taylor‟s Keep-Fit to music then Bingo. The afternoon session is drawing a picture of our dogs - Cassie and Jim. 13th - Skittles Tournament, then 11 - 12 Relaxation Techniques with Alison. Then making a dream catcher.

14th - Sound Investment at Saltburn House, benefit night for Friday Friends.

20th - Day trip out to RSPB Saltholme (trip fully booked).

27th - Bowling at Saltburn Bowls Club and pre-booked lunch, then back to the hall for an afternoons paper crafting.

We are an non-profit making group, run by volunteers. We meet on Fridays at Emmanuel Church Hall, Macnay St, Saltburn TS12 1LE. Activity mornings are 1012.30. Arts and Craft afternoons by Caroline 1-4.00pm.

First taster session is free then £2.50 a session or £4 all day to help cover costs. Door money helps to cover costs as we are non-profit making and volunteer run. Carers are always free. Tea/coffee and board games/colouring-in too. We are a friendly group and you‟d be more than welcome!

For more info please contact 07833 895 501 (or Thefridayfriends@outlook.com).

Anjee Charman-Clark, chairperson

Ken Lightfoot remembered A thanksgiving service for Ken Lightfoot, a World War Two Saltburn veteran, was well-attended at the town‟s Evangelical Church, Leven Street, on 24th February.

Pastor Steve Southgate said Ken had been wellknown as an ex-servicemen who took up a wreath to the war memorial each November for many years. He had been pastor at Leven Street helping the church to grow, and had been a familiar, cheerful figure round town.

Ken, a former chairman of Saltburn and District Retired Men‟s Forum, had been a popular newsagent and tobacconist in Grangetown until the council built the A66 through the area in 1971.

Tributes were paid to Mr Lightfoot, formerly of Diamond Street, by among others, his son and daughter-inlaw and former pastor David Brooking.

Mike Morrissey

Charity Crafters Saltburn Charity Crafters will be meeting on Wednesday, 5th April from 2pm to 4pm in the coffee room at the Community Hall. Everyone welcome. Come and join us for a cuppa and natter if you would like to find out more about what we do. For further information contact Angie on 01287 205153.

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Saltburn Evangelical Church Saltburn Evangelical Church (Leven Street Mission) Following Jesus - the Bible our guide Here for you: WELCOME! Sundays 10.30am & 6.00pm www.saltburnevangelicalchurch.org.uk _________________________________

“I‟ve become an old man now. And I‟ve preached all over the world. And the older I get, the more I cling to that hope that I started with many years ago, and proclaimed it in many languages to many parts of the world.”

Dr Billy Graham spoke these words to a hurting nation in the aftermath of 9/11.

The farmer‟s son from North Carolina, who as a boy hated going to church, had a life-changing encounter with Christ at the age of 16, and served Him with energy and grace until his death in February at the age of 99. His 9/11 message continued: “The cross tells us that God understands our sin and our suffering, for he took them upon himself in the Person of Jesus Christ. From the cross God declares, „I love you. I know the heartaches and the sorrows and the pain that you feel. But I love you. The story does not end with the cross, for Easter points us beyond the tragedy of the cross to the empty tomb. It tells us that there is hope for eternal life, for Christ has conquered evil and death and hell. Yes, there is hope.”

When he first came to the UK to speak in sports stadiums, the critics and cynics were ready to pounce. There would be hysteria … another religious phoney on the make. But in reality they found a straightforward humble man with a powerful message and impish sense of humour: “The only time my prayers are never answered is on the golf course.”

His autobiography, “Just as I am” is well worth reading.

His message, the Gospel of Christ, will continue to thrill and challenge! More on our website.

Emmanuel Church Hall, (off Windsor Road) Saltburn Mondays at 9.30am and

Tuesdays at 3.30pm, 5.30pm or 7.30pm.

For Details Ring

Stevie on

01642 474920

Klondike at the Cricket Club The Klondike Grand Prix cyclists will pass by Saltburn Cricket Club along Marske Mill Lane on Sunday, 29th April between 12.00 and 4.30pm. In collaboration with Saltburn Sports Centre we are organising a sponsored event on bikes.

A number of „spin bikes‟ will be placed on the grass verge (close to the footpath) during the cycling event and teams of 16 riders will pedal enthusiastically for 15 minutes each, aiming for a competitive 20 miles per team. We hope to match the 100 miles challenge, between us, alongside supporting and gaining inspiration from the Klondike cyclists as they pass by, pushing hard up the hill.

Cricket Club cyclists, are looking for sponsorship towards a Sports Campus Community Defibrillator, (working with the „Be Like Tom‟ Appeal) and Club developments. You are invited to sponsor our cyclists for „The Price of a Pint‟. A circuit will be set up on the car park for younger children to complete laps on their own bikes. Two „balance bikes‟ will be available for loan for children under 6 years. The clubhouse will be open for drinks and refreshments.

If you would like to be part of a team, sponsor a cyclist, or perhaps help out on the day, then please get in touch via the club on 01287 622761, or Facebook saltburncricketbowlsandtennissocialclub.

So... bring yourselves, your bikes and join us for a sporting afternoon, inspired by the Klondike event.

T: 01287 201876

M: 07737 654772

E: darrenflintoff@yahoo.co.uk A: Unit 2, The Drive, Longbeck Industrial Estate. Marske, TS11 6HB

Website: www.flintoffs.co.uk

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Saltburn in Bloom At the AGM in February the following officials were elected to serve on the Saltburn in Bloom Committee in 2018: Chair – Sue Featherstone, Vice-Chair – Stuart Smith, Secretary – Ingrid Salomonsen, Treasurer – Elizabeth Rae. Committee members – Sue Cook, Lesley Curwen, Peter Hartley, Joyce Howard, Lynda Parkes, Anne Pallister, Sam Rae, Mo Shevis, Roy Smith.

Paul Smith resigned from the committee and thanks were recorded in his absence to acknowledge the work he had done in developing Social media.

The retiring Chair, Lynda Parkes gave her thanks to all the committee, RCBC and SMNM Parish Council for all their support and hard work in 2017, which was very successful, despite not having entered Northumbria in Bloom. There was still plenty of work for the Committee to do and everyone was able to concentrate on the completion of the Fossil Garden Project, which had been ongoing for the last 3 years. Without the persistence of Sue Featherstone and Stuart Smith and the support of Groundworks NE and Cumbria, this project might well have floundered, and they were all thanked.

The reconstruction work to terrace the slope by Brambledown Landscapers took place last Spring, with many residents watching with interest. The Saltburn in Bloom gardeners weeded and planted the gardens, organised by Roy Smith, who grew 600 plants to do this. Thanks were extended to all those concerned. The official opening is planned for May. New committee members and new gardeners are needed, so please consider if you could spare some time to contribute.

Contact us by email saltburn.in.bloom@gmail.com or message us on our Facebook page. Many hands make light work!

Thank you to those people who have already made donations to sponsor floral displays and hanging baskets.

There is still plenty of time to donate – just get in touch.

Last year the flowers and gardens were stunning and as always, we will strive to achieve high standards in 2018, especially as Saltburn has entered the Coastal Resort category in Northumbria in Bloom. Spring Judging is on Tuesday, 24th April and we hope that Spring will be in full bloom with the town looking amazing to impress the judges.

The gardeners have started work and their first project was to cut down a huge cordyline and remove shrubs from the raised beds near Sainsbury‟s. Soil improvements are being made and new planting will take place soon. The picnic garden, the Rose Arbours and gardens near the cliff lift have also been tidied. Please contact Lynda Parkes on 01287 209518 if you would like to join this group. If you have time on your hands, are lonely, miss your garden or simply want to volunteer in our wonderful community please come along and meet us.

Wednesday mornings 9.30 – 11.30 with a break for coffee and a chat!

Lynda Parkes 12

Saltburn-by-the-Sea Garden Flat available for holiday lets.

Less than five minutes walk from the sea and from the train station, shops and local restaurants etc.

The property consists of a fully fitted and equipped kitchen, spacious and well furnished lounge overlooking the garden (which is for your personal use), and a double bed with en-suite bathroom.

WiFi access Prices - £40.00 per night (minimum of two nights) Contact Mr & Mrs Smith on 01287 623740 (home) Or 07988 838956 (Mr Smith mobile) Or 07877 384977 (Mrs Smith mobile)

Andy Pollard

07773006361 (based in Saltburn) Residential and Commercial Property Maintenance Plumbing, Drainage, Property Refurbishment, Roofing Repairs, Fencing, Carpentry, Joinery, Painting and Decorating, General/Ongoing Property Maintenance.

Brotton Library Knit and Natter Group We are a small group making items for charity whilst sharing skills and friendship. It is free to come to the group. We have a few regular members and would welcome more. Thursday afternoon 2pm till 4pm in Brotton library (attached to Freebrough Academy).

Deborah

Architectural Services & Chartered Structural & Civil Engineers Architectural Planning and Building Regulation Advice Listed Building Experts House Extensions & Loft Conversions Alterations and Refurbishments Residential New Builds, Shop Layout Designs, Alcohol Licence Applications Office Warehouse Designs

Structural & Civil Engineering

Also, Joinery Work Undertaken

Call Liz on: 01287 203571 Mobile: 07834 022289

Structural Surveys, Beam Designs, Building Restoration Foundation & Underpinning Design General Building Works Professional and Friendly Service Structural and Civil Engineering contact: Gregory Sills BEng (Hons) CEng MIStructE FGS

t: 01287 624644 m: 07960 967865 Architectural Services contact: Martin Ledger BA (Hons) PgDip Arch

m: 07870 631415

Email: liz.ingledew@btinternet.com Website: www.liziesdecorating.co.uk

www.scurator.co.uk info@scurator.co.uk www.beamdesignservice.co.uk 13

Friends of Saltburn Library There must be hundreds of Saltburn children, some now in their twenties, who benefited from contact with “Storysacks” at an early stage of their education.

However, there must also be a large proportion of Saltburn residents who have never heard of them and have no idea how they are made and used. The Friends are delighted to welcome Jen Leaver as our guest speaker on Wednesday, 11th April to tell us about “The Story of Saltburn Storysacks”.

As Nursery teacher at the Upleatham Street base, Jen was one of the driving forces behind the project. She will bring some examples to show, explain and demonstrate “Storysacks”. They will give you an inkling of what a simple but brilliant idea they are. Jen will give plenty of tips about what they might contain and how they can be used to help build those vital foundation skills in an imaginative, fun way.

Everyone is welcome, as always, and we are particularly hoping that parents, carers, grans and granddads will come along. Hot drinks and biscuits will be available upon arrival and the talk begins at 1.45pm.

Other News from the Library Not long now until the “Klondike” racing bikes come zooming through the town! Just as last year, the library will be open on the day, Sunday 29th April from noon until 4.00pm, as a drop-in centre for visitors and townsfolk.

Light refreshments will be on sale and there will also be activities for the children to enjoy.

Valerie Hanson

Hewitt‟s Property Services Cleaning Contractors and Building Maintenance Joinery Plumbing Woodworm Treatments Garden Maintenance Driveways, Patios, Gutters Cleaned End of Tenancy Cleans, Landlords and Contract Work welcome, Fully Insured, Competitive Rates, Est. 12 years For all your property needs call Steve on

07966 152553 Julie Jurgan Medium - Healer - Soulactivist Life Readings & Healing Sessions available. @ Yoga, Meditation & Therapy Space in Earthbeat Centre, Saltburn.

Call/txt: 07506 032301 Email: julie@blossomofthesoul.org www.blossomofthesoul.org 14

Saltburn Photographic Society Members‟ photographs will continue to be displayed and changed monthly in Saltburn Library. Outdoor meetings are being arranged for the first Wednesday of the months of May, June, July and August. Details are still being arranged. visitors will be welcome. For further information please contact Tony Lynn 01287 622519.

Saltburn launches into Space Age - from Riftswood Saltburn has joined the Space Age through a rocket about a foot high being developed partly in Marske Mill Lane.

The Coach House, next to the mansion Chards, overlooking Riftswood, is a key cog in the project.

Darlington-born chartered engineer Shaun Whitehead, who has lived in the house for the past four years, is putting the final touches to the launch of his space replica rocket.

He hopes it will lead to 100 spinoff jobs in the NorthEast and around £10 million in revenue over the next five years. It is possible the rocket launch will take place at the NetPark business area, Sedgefield, in April.

His firm Scoutec Ltd has been awarded a place on Business Durham‟s space incubation programme, which is backed by the UK Space Agency.

The rocket will send tiny satellites full of scientists‟ experiments into space and orbit. Scoutec is linked with Teesside University through its Tu2space project.

Mr Whitehead said: “everything that is required for a ground station system can be done in the North-East and Scoutec wants to bring as much of it to the region as possible.”

Catherine Johns, innovation director of Business Durham, said: “The work Scoutec is doing is incredibly exciting for those involved and for those waiting for the first rocket launch in the North-East.”

A test launch was carried out recently from The

Entrepreneur-engineer Shaun Whitehead, of Saltburn, with a replica rocket and receiver at Teesside University

Coach House. Mr Whitehead said both Teesmouth and Saltburn could be seen in close inspection of images sent from Space. It used a meteorological balloon.

“We are standing on the shoulders of giants like Captain Cook and George Stephenson and we want to do them proud,” said the 51-year-old man, who first dreamed of being an astronaut when aged 10.

Mr Whitehead‟s fellow director is his wife Alison, who has been active in Saltburn In Bloom.

Mike Morrissey

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Magical Mayhem at Book Corner Em Lynas Book Launch: Saturday 14th April, 1pm- 3pm.

Saltburn-based children‟s author Em Lynas will be launching the new book in her „Toadspit Towers‟ series, entitled Get Me Out of Witch School! This is the sequel to You Can‟t Make Me Go to Witch School! which has proven very popular at Book Corner.

The launch will be held at Book Corner on Saturday, 14th April at 1pm. There will be cakes and competitions and magical mayhem! Em will also be signing copies of the book, which is recommended for ages 7 and above. Please come along and say hello!

Here‟s a hint of what you can expect from the new book: Daisy Wart is now Twinkle Toadspit, the witchiest witch of all, and she is STILL an awesome actress! Unfortunately she‟s accidentally unleashed a magical KITTEN OF DISASTER on Toadspit Towers! A kitten that brings chaos and turmoil and MUST BE STOPPED… There will be plenty of copies available on the day, but if you can‟t make the launch or would like to pre-order a copy, please visit Book Corner or call 01287 348010.

Saltburn’s Independent Bookshop

Fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, and bargain books.

Opening Times: 10am – 4.30pm (Closed Sundays and Wednesdays) 24 Milton Street, Saltburn, TS12 1DG

01287 348010 www.bookcornershop.co.uk 16

7th GUISBOROUGH CHARITY BEER FESTIVAL

Organised by The Rotary Club of Guisborough and Great Ayton, The Guisborough and District 41 Club and Cleveland CAMRA This will be held on Friday 6th and Saturday 7th April 2018 at the Guisborough Parish Hall, Bow Street, TS14 6BP. All proceeds will go to local charities.

There will be 30 cask conditioned real ales, predominantly from East Anglia, as well as local breweries, plus real cider, perry and fruit wines. The full beer list can be seen on www.clevelandcamra.org.uk. Soft drinks, tea and coffee will also be available along with a charity tombola stall and raffle.

Guisborough butcher John Lund, of Enfield Butchers, will again be supplying steak and ale pies made with a dark real ale from a local brewery. Alongside these will be other choices of hot food and snacks.

Saturday evening entertainment will be provided by the Jamie T Duo. Admission times are 11:00 – 16:00 and 18:00 – 23:00 with an entrance price for each session of £3.00, which includes a free commemorative tankard, programme and Saturday evening entertainment. CAMRA concession £1.00 off entrance price by refund at the door on production of a valid membership card.

Tickets are available from Guisborough Book Shop in Chaloner Street, TS14 6QD. More details from paul@whitefoot.plus.com and www.clevelandcamra.org.uk.

Saltburn Miniature Railway Ltd

Good Friday and Easter Weekend heralded the start of our new season (1-5 pm weather permitting).

You may think that our winter closure is a time for relaxation with feet up and pots of tea in the “shed”. This is in fact far from reality as we have laid some 120ft of brand new track together with new hardwood sleepers from West Africa (Gabon); these are impervious to damp as well as marine borers so will last indefinitely. The rest of the track has also had some forty sleepers replaced as on going maintenance.

Our engineers have totally re-engineered the transmission on Prince Charles with the others having a complete service. The two middle coaches have been fitted with braked bogies to make train configuration more easy as passenger safety is always paramount.

We have some rather flamboyant new signs for the ticket office which will be fitted shortly. We also have an extremely up to date website where train times, party bookings and a whole host of facts can be gleaned.

Welsh steam coal will be ordered shortly for our “steamer” as this is classed as smokeless and best for steam raising as it has a high bitumen content; we used two tons last year at some £300 per ton.

Robert Proctor (chairman SMR Ltd.)

National Yarn Shop Day at Ripping Yarns

To celebrate National Yarn Shop Day 2018, Ripping Yarns, along with Jane Gatenby from Cleveland Fibre Arts, are planning a Community Craft Project on Saturday, 12th May. Using a photograph of Huntcliff as inspiration customers are being invited to create a 2 inch square known as a Twinchie, in either Needle Felting (no experience necessary), Embroidery, Knitting or Crochet.

These squares will be mounted on a canvas to create a stunning community wall hanging.

Pre bookable 15 minute time slots will be allocated to anybody who would like to be involved on the day Along with this community project there will be discounts, goodie bags and tombola on the day.

For more information contact Angela or Sheila at Ripping Yarns.

Seaview and Greta Cottage caring together 5 star care homes awarded by Redcar and Cleveland for their quality of care and personalised service.

Home from home with daily activities and weekly trips out in our own minibus.

Please feel free to visit us at anytime.

01287 622498 and 01287 625178 17

SALTBURN CRICKET CLUB

SALTBURN BLUES CLUB

Marske Mill Lane, Tel 01287-622761

I‟m writing this just before going to this weekend‟s superb Top Secret Blues Festival at Scarborough Spa. Year after year this festival hosts a top class line-up and I‟m always scouting for quality acts to bring to Saltburn. I can go this year knowing that whichever performers I approach, they will have a good number to play to at SBC. We‟re getting good sized audiences who appreciate the talent on stage. If you are a regular, you‟ll know that it‟s wise to book your tickets in advance of the gigs and come in time to get good seats. Our April 28th gig is MIKE ROSS. Mike writes soulful bluesy rock songs in the tradition of Creedence Clearwater Revival and The Band and plays blues guitar in the style of Duane Allman, Peter Green and Steve Cropper. Imagine having your name mentioned in the same breath as those three! Add in Mike‟s powerfully emotional vocals and it‟s clear why he‟s enjoying success on both sides of the Atlantic. Touring respected blues festivals and venues, he‟s caught the attention of the blues media and strong support for albums, „Spindrift‟ and „Jenny‟s Place‟ „This lad from the far North East has distilled the essence of the Deep South and West Coast of America‟ Blues in Britain. „Burnt in Blues, Soaked in Soul‟ - Kerrang Venue: Saltburn Cricket Club. Doors: 7.30pm. Tickets: £10 available from www.yorkshireticketshop.co.uk, Destinations Cafe, Saltburn, www.saltburnbluesclub.co.uk and 07960 935263.

Don‟t forget, my radio show, Still Got The Blues, is on Zetland FM every Monday 7pm – 10pm, on line, or you can catch it later on Mixcloud at a date and time that suits you.

Just visit the website, www.zetlandfm.co.uk and scroll down to Mixcloud. It‟s 3 hours of the very best of the blues.

Harry

BINGO – Wed 11th & 25th April – eyes down 8.00pm Play FLOODLIT TENNIS or come along for junior and adult coaching – contact us for details SUNDAY NIGHTS – WEEKLY QUIZ – be in it to win it! Teams of up to 6, everyone welcome Wed 18th April AFTERNOON TEA for POLIO ERADICATION Sat 28th April SALTBURN BLUES CLUB THE MIKE ROSS BAND – all ticket night, £10 (10% discount for club members) Sun 29th April KLONDIKE at the CRICKET CLUB see details on page 11. & JOE LUND CUP exciting u17s T20 match – Come along to support our lads! *Free WiFi in Club* * BIG screen TV showing SKY sports etc * ***FEATURED IN CAMRA GOOD BEER GUIDE!!*** GREAT VENUE for YOUR family events, weddings, parties, funerals & meetings - free use for charity/community groups during normal opening hours. Convenient venue, free parking, reasonable bar prices. Contact us to book your event.

Members and non-members welcome.

Facebook saltburncricketbowlsandtennis socialclub PLEASE add us as a friend and check our Facebook regularly!

Also at https://saltburncricketbowlstennissocial.club

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Simon Clarke MP Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland It‟s rare that my articles turn to matters away from our constituency and before I do I want to say what a pleasure it is to write this whilst listening to the news on the radio about Saltburn being highlighted as one of the best places to live in the country. I‟m sure to many of you, like myself, this is of no surprise but it‟s a recognition that‟s well earned and I warmly welcome anything that helps put this thriving little town on the map.

Whilst this news is one of the highlights of my week it‟s sadly been overshadowed by national developments and I want to set out my thoughts on recent very significant developments with Russia.

On Monday, the Prime Minister set out that Mr Skripal and his daughter were poisoned in Salisbury by a military grade nerve agent developed by Russia. This was an appalling act which sought to kill them in a particularly barbaric fashion, and put British citizens including Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey in grave danger. Britain has notified the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons about Russia‟s use of this nerve agent. The Government is working with the police to enable the OPCW to independently verify our analysis.

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We should not lose sight of what this action represents. It is an astonishing and dangerous violation of international law and follows the attack using radiation poisoning against Alexander Litvinenko some years ago. President Putin, who has turned Russia into a rogue state with his actions from the Ukraine to Syria, must learn that his particular brand of aggression will not be tolerated.

The Prime Minister has set out how she we will work with our allies to defend our security, stand up for our values and send a message to those who want to undermine them.

We will dismantle the Russian espionage network in the UK by expelling 23 Russian diplomats. While making full use of existing powers, we will also look at new powers to harden our defences against all forms of hostile state activity. Russian state assets will be frozen if there is evidence that they may be used to threaten us, and all planned high-level contacts between the UK and Russia have been suspended.

I felt that on such an important, nationally significant issue, that I must state my position and I am crystal clear that this is the right thing to do and the Prime Minister has my full support – and the support of the overwhelming majority of the House of Commons.

Simon

Saltburn in the spring This year the winter has been too long, cold, wet and dreary. More than that, it started early with the first hint of snow in November and a two-inch snowfall midDecember. Even the thought of Christmas in Madeira in the sun could not cheer me up even though when it came it was fantastic to see the bright ray of the sun dissecting the bay gaily and the cloud floating out of sight over the mountain not daring to be either rain or cloud bearing.

How hard to return to winter and a spell in Brotton hospital for an infection I had to deal with. Brotton hospital is a place of magical medicine and comfort we are so lucky to have in our locality.

So, I am really looking forward to Saltburn in the spring not just as a pleasure but as a need. I recall last year as a chance trip to Saltburn showed me the gold and purple crocus spears that were thrusting up into the still chilly air and I knew spring was starting behind my back whilst I was still in retreat from the cold ruins of winter. The crocus led me down the hill with my memories from the station path leading to the Alexandra Hotel. I continued my walk to the cliff railway and there discovered daffodils and a few shy snowdrops. Remembering all that makes me resolved to go for a Sunday walk to the valley gardens.

The young lady who runs the tea rooms there shared my last year‟s memories of the Sunday when my sister and I went to the tea rooms as we remembered my mother.

When I told her of my sister‟s breathing problems and her inability to reach the tea rooms, she had taken her refreshments to her as she sat resting by the stream.

As I greeted her I would greet the spring and noticed how the paths are edged with curled up fern which uncurls daily. How the hawthorn hedges hide tight beds of may blossom. How the snowdrops already are bidding a

shy farewell. I pledge to make an annual ritual of this meeting to celebrate spring.

Next, I follow Skelton beck as it trickles and sparkles down to the sea making short shift of the journey. I will look for frogspawn and hatching tadpoles. Can anyone tell me what is in the beck? The tall trees marching along the beck have pale green leaves multiplying to clothe the winter skeletons of trees. Watching and listening I see the birds building their nests and returning to last year‟s resting place.

At a lower level are the bushy shrubs now in bud. Maybe I can get close enough to hear yellowhammers, wrens, thrushes, blackbirds fluttering from bush to bush and their chorus of song.

Saltburn is full of contrasts. First that between the heaving sea and the tranquil stream and secondly that between the birds and the swooping, crooning seagulls beating their strong wings as they depart seawards. The blue of the sea contrasted to the spring colour, white of narcissi, tranquil, shy white snowdrops as they bid farewell. What a mercy spring has come and we all can share. The people look sprightly and renewed in their new light spring colours having cast off winter wrappings. I stand gazing out to sea and a fresh aroma is carried to me by the early morning spring tide. A small group of fishermen lurk on the beach enjoying the spring sun and exchanging tales of their last night‟s catch. An old dog walker stands in spring comfort on the dunes lost in thought. Is he imagining taking his dog to the woods for a spring soft shoe shuffle among last autumn‟s leaves? Will he and the dog disturb hibernating animals who will already have sensed spring: fragrances, emerged from hibernation? Rabbits, hedgehogs, shrews, grey squirrels and insects.

Sylvia Williamson

Loftus ACCORD Walking Group: Thursday 19th April Guided Walk There is a free guided 5.5 mile circular walk from Loftus to Warren Wood on Thursday, 19th April starting from outside Loftus Town Hall at 10:30am.

We shall follow woodland paths and bridleways and examine the changing landscape over Roxby Woods and Borrowby Moor and the land once owned by the Conyer and Boynton families.

Returning via Warren Wood we can observe traces of the medieval practice of Ridge and Furrow system of ploughing.

This walk may have a few muddy sections.

Please bring refreshments and come suitably dressed for a woodland walk. There‟s free parking at South View, off North Road TS13 4JL; Loftus is served by Arriva X4 and 5 buses.

No booking needed; for more information phone 01287 641000 (or ema i l office@loftustc.co.uk).

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REDCAR GOSPEL HALL Edenhall Grove, Redcar. TS10 4PR A warm welcome awaits you at our regular Sunday evening Gospel Service, 6.30pm, and at our ‘Coffee and Chat’, each Wednesday from 10.30am, and at the

EASTER Service on April 1st at 6:30pm.

For more information, e-mail: contact@redcargospelhall.org.uk

For a personal chat please ring 07514 229577 God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8, The Bible, ESV).

“Happy Easter!”

Once Christmas cards, wrapping paper and all the special offers are off the shelves, what‟s next? Easter eggs, Easter Bunnies and other commercial items fill shelves in most supermarkets and adverts flash across TV screens. It‟s a familiar scene to all of us and no doubt boosts sales and turnover of retailers. In practice though, it will only be a “Happy Easter” when the whole story of Easter is considered, from the dark despair of Good Friday to the bright early morning of Easter Day itself.

So, let‟s consider again the events of that first Easter time. It is an historical fact that Jesus Christ was crucified outside the walls of Jerusalem on what we call Good Friday.

His accusers reckoned Jesus was an imposter, a blasphemer, because He claimed to be the Son of God. So, they had Him crucified and His body was carefully placed in a tomb thinking that would be the end of Him. But it wasn‟t.

For us it is an established well-proven fact that He rose from the dead and His tomb was found empty after three days. Many did not accept this. It was a real embarrassment to the authorities of the time. When the news of the empty tomb began to spread, lies were told and those who believed that Jesus was raised on Easter Day were threatened and punished, but the evidence was too strong and even after two thousand years that evidence remains secure and irrefutable. He appeared to individuals, such as Mary, Peter, James, to His disciples who saw Him 22

in different places and on one occasion He was seen by over five hundred people, as the Bible records (1 Corinthians 15 v 6).

So, what does this all mean? What are the implications for us? Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God who came into the world to save sinners as the Bible states (1 Timothy 1 v 15). That is why He came, and that is why He died and rose again.

So, the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ does matter greatly. Our eternal salvation from sin is guaranteed if we believe in Him. If we do not believe in Him, then He will be the appointed judge (Acts 17 v 30 -31) with the certainty that our sins will be judged and we will face the judgement of a righteous God. It is assured that this will happen because God raised Jesus from the dead.

So, while we enjoy our Easter weekend and the Easter eggs, let us take time to remember that without Easter there would be no hope or guarantee that life goes on beyond death, and for those who believe in Christ, there is the absolute certainty of everlasting life with Him. Perhaps take the opportunity at this Easter time to visit a Church near you or us at Redcar Gospel Hall, to reflect on the events of that first Easter and give thanks to God for His amazing love. For He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3 v 16). Happy Easter!

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Persistent Pain Almost everyone who comes to our clinic has a pain problem. In most cases the pain serves an important purpose. Where damaged structures are healing, the pain is a very efficient indicator of safe levels of loading. So someone who has sprained an ankle will get pain when they walk and this changes their behaviour to encourage protection of the healing ligaments by limping. As the tissues recover, they become less sensitive and the pain reduces. Consequently the limp lessens, until normal walking is possible and the pain disappears.

An interesting fact about this type of pain and indeed all types of pain, is that whilst the pain of a sprained ankle (or any other body part) feels as though it emanates from the injured area, the reality is that pain does not come from injured tissues. The truth is that all pain comes from the brain 100% of the time. Now if you have just whacked your thumb with a hammer, this fact is difficult to accept.

However, such an unfortunate and painful experience is an example of how good the brain is at projecting pain.

The basic neuroscientific fact that 100% of pain is produced 100% of the time by the brain is fundamental to understanding why some people suffer from persistent pain. This type of pain may initially be caused by a straightforward injury, such as a back strain. However, in some people the pain just doesn‟t go away, even months or years after the initial onset. Persistent pain often changes behaviour in some subtle and not so subtle ways. People may move awkwardly and avoid normal day to day activities. Persistent pain impacts on work and social lives and causes depression and anxiety. In these situations the brain simply produces too much pain and the reasons for this are usually numerous and differ for each individual.

However, new understandings of how and why pain is produced, have helped Research Clinicians to formulate more effective treatment approaches for persistent pain.

There is more information about contemporary science based approaches to dealing with persistent pain in the “Resources” section of our web site. We are also holding a Persistent Pain Management Workshop on Tuesday 1st May in our Clinic. Places are free, but space is

or email: simon.robson1@ntlworld.com

limited, so if you would like to attend, then you can apply via the “Events” section of our website.

Pauline & Philip Newton Chartered & Health Care Professions Council Registered Physiotherapists Newton Physiotherapy 01287 767287 www.NewtonPhysio.com

Nigel’s VIPs! Very Important Pets!

DOG WALKING, PET CARE & HOME SITTING Co. Est’d. 2002 NigelsVIPs@gmail.com

TEL: 07891 092007 Insured, Excellent References 24

Ricardo Curbelo: Rhythms From Latin America Saturday 28th April 7.30pm Saltburn Community Arts Theatre Albion Terrace TS12 IJW

“Thank you for a wonderful evening. Very moving, evocative music,” and “A delightful performance.

Magical.”

Just two of the many compliments Ricardo Curbelo received after his last solo concert at Saltburn Arts Theatre in April 2015. He is delighted to return to the sea air and this lovely theatre to perform his very special music once more.

Innovative musician, composer and poet, Ricardo takes his audiences on a rhythmic, colourful journey on harp, cuatro, maracas and vocals. He combines traditional pieces from a variety of Latin American countries, together with many of his own, often spellbinding compositions, vibrant, energetic and jazzy pieces contrasting with more classical, captivating melodies and romantic vocals. The sound of his Modelo Corvado harps, adds to the uniqueness of his performances, which always gain him many enthusiastic compliments – especially from those who have never seen a harp played this way before!

Tonight‟s concert will include compositions from his latest album, Espiritu Llanero A Londres, whose two title tracks are the expression of the Llanero artist who has lived for many years in London and of his gratitude to this great city.

“Excellent concer t - mes mer ising performance!” (Arran Music Society, May, 2015) “A wonderful introduction into a completely different kind of harp music, beautifully expressed.” (Lopping Hall, Essex, November 2016) More information: Phone/text Rosie on 07986 589553 (or visit www. ricardocurbelo.com).

Advance tickets: £12 / £10 concessions.

Door: £14 /£12 concessions. NUS / under 16s: £5.

Phone: 07986 589 553 / 01287 624997 Online: www.saltburnarts.co.uk 25

Cleveland Diving Club The unpredictability of the British spring weather was felt by all during March‟s extraordinary deep, widespread, snow falls.

Except, however, for those who had taken the opportunity to visit warmer countries where scuba diving can almost be guaranteed. This article describes some diving experiences gained during a holiday in February to the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. Here the clear warm waters of the Caribbean reefs play host to a stunning, multifarious, spectacular display of beautiful flora and curious fauna.

Before diving in unknown waters, careful divers always carry out equipment checks paying particular attention to weighting which is dependent on not only the equipment being used (for example steel cylinders vs aluminium cylinders) but also the salinity of the water being dived as some seas are more saline than others, the Caribbean being one of them.

In addition divers must also familiarise themselves with local diving regulations which in this case prohibit, in some areas, the use of a snorkel or the carrying of a diving knife.

Throughout this area there is a compelling ethos to protect both the land and sea native environments and the ancient Mayan culture. Once checks are completed the diver can begin to explore the treasures of this wonderful, amazing paradise in clear, warm waters (26°C).

Whilst taking in the richness and diversity of the impressive coral reefs the diver will also be keeping a look out for large marine animals such as sting rays at the same time as searching for more curious smaller creatures, for example the ever illusive timid sea horse (photo 1).

Every dive has something different to offer and on another dive this cheeky, crafty turtle was spotted foraging for food amongst the coral and rocks (photo 2). A special and much unexpected treat, on what was a thrilling drift dive (a dive where the diver is effortlessly carried along on a fast current) was the opportunity to capture a photo of a harmless 7 to 8 meter long nursing shark taking shelter from the strong current under the overhang of a large rock (photo 3). Not an easy task when drifting with the current.

In addition to sea diving a diver can experience some of the world‟s best underwater sinkholes and caves, known as cenotes. These were formed many years ago when sea levels dropped, leaving the marine life high and dry. Over time the decomposing life forms contributed to the formation of a large limestone peninsula. In due course rainfall percolated through the limestone, on its journey to the sea, and carved out underground caves and tunnels. Within these tunnels columns of stalactites and stalagmites, in all shapes and sizes, were formed. Here, divers descend into the warm water (25°C) and, with the help of a guide, explore the majestic, ancient creations in silent, semi-darkness - a truly awesome experience.

However, it is while the diver emerges out of the darkness towards the light that the magnificence and splendour of the cenotes can be really appreciated. The exit path leads to a breath-taking backdrop of crystal clear water illuminated by blue-white, shimmering, dancing sunbeams filtering through from a sapphire-blue sky; the resplendence is undeniable (photo 4).

Experiences such as these are waiting for anyone who aspires to take up scuba diving. If you are new to scuba then contact us on 07960 608529 about our 4 week introductory course or if already qualified and want to dive with friends alternatively, pop along to Saltburn, leisure pool any Monday 26

night between 8 and 9:30pm for a chat with one of the club‟s instructors.

June Coomber

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The Countryside Ranger and Volunteers, April 2018 Hello and welcome to this month‟s edition. As some of you may be aware following walks around the site, we have had a very busy winter period indeed, and our labours are now coming to fruition, especially areas such as around the Albert Memorial, where both volunteers and staff have been clearing large areas of invasive plant species such as bracken and bramble, the resulting wildflowers have been remarkable, well worth a trip on an afternoon.

We have also been busy clearing and widening footpaths in order to make access around the site a lot easier.

Those who walk the paths closer to the area around Mary Martin‟s building will have noticed the efforts of the Volunteers re-setting of the steps.

The arrival of spring brings with it a change in the bird world – winter visitors are departing and summer migrants make an appearance. As the cycle of life repeats itself, a full array of flowers bursts onto the scene.

Sometimes known by the alternative name of cuckoopint, lords-and-ladies is a familiar member of the woodland and hedgerow plant community. The most conspicuous element of its peculiar flowering structure is the pale green cowl that shrouds a purplish-brown, club-shaped spike. The flowers proper are tiny and found at the base of the spike.

Lured by scent, small flies are attracted to the plant and trapped in the flower chamber for a day or so by a fringe of hairs. This improves the plant‟s chances of successful fertilisation, as some of the flies will have already visited other lords-and-ladies.

Conspicuous by their absence in early spring, beetles begin to appear in abundance by late April. Their numbers are particularly evident on warm, sunny days. Among the

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most noticeable are the so-called soldier beetles, whose group name is probably derived from their bright colours, which are reminiscent of those seen on certain military uniforms. One of the most common species is Rhagonycha fulva. Active from spring right through to late summer, this striking beetle is often seen hunting among flower heads for prey to satisfy its predatory feeding habits. In some regions, it is also known as the bloodsucker, but this name reflects its bright orange-brown colour, not its feeding habits. It is a familiar sight on earlyblooming flowers, where it hunts soft-bodied insects.

During the summer months, the bright green fronds of bracken carpet hillsides and woodland floors and the Valley is no exception. The colour changes to golden brown in autumn, indicating the end of the growing season. During the winter, the fronds die back and wither, and evidence of the previous year‟s growth is almost erased by the end of the winter. By April, however, signs of new life can be found with the appearance of bracken shoots among the grass stems. Shaped at first like a shepherd‟s crook, the fronds soon expand and unfurl increasing in size rapidly until fully grown in July.

The Volunteers will continue to meet throughout the year on Fridays at 10am near the Woodland Centre. Their work can be seen on the website: www.saltburncountrysidevolunteers.btck.co.uk.

If you would like any information regarding volunteering opportunities either within Saltburn Valley, or the wider Saltburn area please feel free to contact: Karen.preston@redcar -cleveland.gov.uk, Sop hie.L yt h@ red car - clev eland.go v.uk or m ysel f paul.murphy@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk.

Saltburn St Patrick‟s Day Bill Dobson, of Easington, causes a stir at Saltburn Methodists‟ regular coffee morning on Saturday, 17th March with his „St Patrick‟s Day‟ outfit. Chuckling with him are Maggie Camp and her husband Alan.

Sa ltb urn ca fe c ult ure character Bill Dobson caused a stir on 17th March, the feast day of St Patrick‟s, when he turned up dressed in Irish colours.

“I bought the outfit for a bit of fun on the internet. It cost £7 and was worth it to hear remarks by local people,” he said. Bill‟s outfit consisted of a trilby hat, green braces and an outsize green bow tie.

“I‟ve no Irish blood in me but like to celebrate St Patrick‟s Day,” he said.

He appeared in the clothing at both the Methodist coffee morning in Milton Street, Saltburn, and at Destinations cafe, Station Street, Saltburn, a little later.

Monsignor Ricardo Morgan, of Our Lady of Lourdes parish, jokingly wished him a “Happy St David‟s Day,” referring to the Welsh patron saint, at Destinations.

The parish held a St Patrick‟s night meal at Saltburn golf club as their annual parish social dinner on 16th March.

More than 50 diners sang Irish songs to a small band to raise funds for the church.

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Saltburn Athletic FC

The winter weather has taken its toll over the last month and few games have been played.

The under 10 Sharks managed to beat Riverside then followed up with a disappointing defeat at home to Brompton; however, we are still in the promotion race.

The under 10 Dolphins drew against Cleveland Juniors and a good win versus TIBS means they therefore maintain a middle of the table status.

The under 11 team are top of the league at present but struggled to get games played over the last four weeks.

The under 13 teams have also had weather issues though the Falcons had a recent draw against Riverside with Johnson scoring in a 1-1 draw. They also had an outstanding 7-4 victory over Redcar Town in a division 7 encounter when goals from Burton 3, Welford, Crame, Parsons and LJ Day sealed victory.

The Dolphins lost their 100 percent record when held to a 4-4 draw versus Cleveland Juniors Pumas, their nearest challengers for the Division 4 title.

The Seagulls gained their first victory of the season with an excellent 5-0 away win at Billingham with goals from Doran-Armstrong 3, Russell and Sherwood.

The under 14 side maintained their 100 percent record with a narrow away victory versus Mount Pleasant Rangers when a Grady goal made all the difference thus retaining their unbeaten record at the top of Division 5.

The likelihood of any games played this weekend doesnâ€&#x;t look good as the Beast from the East 2 comes in. Hopefully more to report on in the next issue.

Mark Grayson is looking for more players for an U10 side next season beginning in September, so anyone who is born between 1st September 2008 and 31st August 2010 would qualify. Mark can be contacted on 07903 879717.

Andy Croll

Totally Tea! As part of Emmanuel 150 celebrations we will be hosting a coffee morning with a slight difference there will be no coffee!

On Saturday, 28th April from 10am -12 in Echo we will be serving a wide variety of teas for you to sample. There will also be cakes and scones, plus a stall selling items in aid of the Joshua Orphan and Community Care in Malawi.

As well as no coffee there will be no charge but donations will go to the same charity.

Echo is a great place to catch up with friends and meet new people - we hope to see you there.

Djenane 30

The V Word Have you ever considered cutting animal products out of your diet? If not, allow me to explain why this may be a great idea.

You may have noticed that veganism has become very popular recently. In the last ten years it has risen by almost 400% and our supermarkets are now stocked with a huge selection of vegan and vegetarian products. High profile vegans are everywhere and include Brad Pitt, Natalie Portman, Ellen de Generes, Woody Harrelson and Homer Simpson (okay, I‟m stretching it a bit there – but the actor who provides his voice is vegan).

So why is this? Is it just a fad or has the rise in available information, largely through social media, made us all increasingly aware of the stories behind our food? There are three reasons why people choose to eliminate animal products from their diets – for health reasons, for the environment and for ethical reasons. Perhaps the least disputable reason for cutting out or reducing animal products is that it is a huge benefit to our health. „But we need meat‟, I hear you cry. „What about the protein?‟ This is a great myth because nearly all foods contain protein. When did you last hear of anyone with a protein deficiency? It just doesn‟t happen. Besides, some of the most powerful creatures on the planet – elephants, rhinos and, our close relatives, gorillas obtain all of their protein from plants.

Heck, even broccoli contains protein!

But here‟s the thing. Plant based protein is much better for us because, unlike meat, it doesn‟t increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes and colorectal cancer. Processed meat (and that includes bacon, sausages and ham) has now been classified by the World Health Organisation as a level 1 carcinogen, which means it is „definitely‟ cancer causing. Red meat is one level lower and only „probably‟ causes cancer.

Most people know that the biggest killer in the developed world is heart disease but not so many people know what causes it. Coronary heart disease is caused by the build up of cholesterol in the blood vessels surrounding the heart.

Cholesterol is found in all animal products, including dairy.

Plants contain precisely zero cholesterol which is why some leading cardiologists advocate a plant based diet for their patients. „But everyone knows milk is good for you‟. I beg to differ. We have had this message drummed into us from a very young age but maybe that‟s just down to clever marketing. 70% of the world is lactose intolerant. Most people in Africa and the Far East, quite literally, can‟t stomach it.

Cow‟s milk is designed for cows, not humans. It‟s full of saturated fat, contains growth hormones and is laden with antibiotics. And here‟s another myth for you. Despite what we‟ve been told, dairy products are not good for our bones.

The highest rates of osteoporosis (weak, brittle bones) occur in the USA and Northern Europe which just happen to be the highest consumers of dairy products.

The health argument is pretty much a slam dunk, but if you‟re not convinced, do your own research, Google it. And if you‟re still unconvinced ask Wimbledon champion, Serena Williams or Olympic legend, Carl Lewis or world champion boxer, David Hayes all of whom are thriving on a plant based diet. Or you can ask me. I‟ve been a vegan for 33 years and you know what - I‟m doing just fine.

James Cameron famously said „You can‟t be an environmentalist and eat meat‟. Whilst I don‟t fully agree with

his statement, there is some merit in his words. Simply by avoiding animal products, you can cut your carbon footprint in half.

According to the United Nations, greenhouse gases from animal agriculture are greater than the combined emissions from all the world‟s transport – cars, planes, ships - the lot. In other words, it‟s cows not cars we should be worried about. They go on to say „a reduction in global warming can only be achieved by a substantial move away from animal agriculture‟.

At this point in the conversation someone usually points out that it‟s soya, not cattle production, that is destroying the Amazonian rainforest. But the truth is that 85% of soya is fed to animals and only 6% to humans. A meat based diet requires five times as much land as a plant based diet, primarily because an enormous amount of land is required to grow food for the animals. Which brings me to my third, and possibly most controversial, point – the animals.

Very few of us support fox hunting, bull fighting or people who shoot lions and elephants (remember the uproar around the shooting of Cecil the lion?). Yet most people are happy to eat animals that have suffered terribly and have been slaughtered needlessly.

I don‟t believe that people are inherently cruel but I do think that we „disconnect‟ from the food that we eat.

There has been a lot of publicity recently around the Winter Olympics in South Korea and the dog meat trade. Quite rightly, we are horrified by the practice but is this fair? Isn‟t this just a matter of culture and perspective? And, more importantly, how different from a dog is a pig or a cow or a goat?

The truth is that we eat meat because it‟s convenient, it‟s culturally acceptable and we like the taste of it, not because we need it. If that is the case, then why would we choose a diet that causes untold misery to our fellow animals when we can so easily choose an alternative? Our supermarkets and health food shops are brimming with plant based, healthier alternatives. It has never been so easy.

And here‟s the good news. You can improve your health, benefit the environment and help reduce animal suffering simply by eating less animal products. A vegan world is probably some way off but if everyone reduced the amount of animal products they consumed, the benefits would be huge – for ourselves, the world we live in and the animals we share it with.

A lot of people reading this article may disagree with the ideas I‟ve outlined but others may be intrigued by the possibilities. Well, I‟m now going to give you the chance to have your say. On the 11th of May, from 7pm, there will be a Question Time style debate at the Earthbeat Centre. We will have expert panellists from both sides of the argument and the audience will have the opportunity to raise any questions. Entrance will be free but this will be a ticketed event as we anticipate a strong turnout. If you‟d like to be a member of the audience, send an email to earthbeat@hotmail.com or call into the Earthbeat centre office and collect your tickets. There will be a bar and free snacks (vegan, of course). I look forward to hearing from you.

Tony Galuidi 31

KICAS News A Review of Keeping it Clean at Saltburn‟s first year Thanks to all the enthusiastic people who attended our AGM and to the Spa Hotel, who supported us by letting us use one of their lovely rooms for our meeting.

KICAS formed a committee on 5th April 2017, just under one year ago. Since then, we have hosted 13 organised beach cleans, now held regularly on the first Saturday of every month.

Attendance by the community has grown from strength to strength and we attracted 136 people in their first beach clean of this year and 132 in February. The enthusiasm and support of the community and volunteers have brought us to where we are today.

We have also organised two successful flash clean ups of the riverside banks in the valley and along the upper promenade.

Our facebook page now has almost 1000 followers; we have Twitter and Instagram social media pages and a fast growing mailing list. We were also the subject of two radio interviews on BBC Tees!

This past year we have joined several Saltburn Beach watch and Surfers Against Sewage beach cleans.

The KICAS team has been generously funded by ICL Potash, for two “2 minute beach clean” boards on Saltburn‟s lower promenade, and one additional board was donated by Shoreline Projects. The boards cost £330 each and required Public Liability Insurance which we funded through a grant from the Redcar and Cleveland Council‟s Love it campaign.

Three local businesses each act as a guardian for one of these boards: Saltburn Surf School, Saltburn Pier Amusements and The Ship Inn. Redcar and Cleveland BC‟s “Love It” Campaign has also supported us by funding picking equipment, hi viz vests and banners. Local individuals have also been extraordinarily generous: Mo Shevis has donated money for a picker and Martin Binks, of Binks Landscapes, has also kindly bought 30 pickers for KICAS.

We offer talks to groups, as and when we can and join in with other local and national clean-up campaigns.

KICAS committee member and out-going chair, Barbara Helen, has joined with Carolyn from Marske Litter Action and Simon and Nick, from Surfers Against Sewage to take up the challenge of The Surfers Against Sewage Plastic Free Coastlines (PFC) project. This felt like a logical step from cleaning up litter and plastics to joining in the campaign to reduce plastics and litter at source. The PFC project, as well as KICAS, will be ongoing. See also page 34.

Toby Strickland has now taken over as KICAS chair.

Jo Lloyd stepped down from Treasurer‟s duties and James Haddow has taken up this post. Esther Carr remains secretary.

We were very disappointed that the extreme weather put a stop to our March beach clean, but our April beach clean will be on Saturday, 7th April. If you‟d like to join us, we meet at 11am at the new Victorian shelter on Saltburn‟s lower promenade and the clean up is for one hour, until 12 noon.

We will be joined at this event by Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) and Marske Litter Action (MLA) for a big Spring Beach Clean. Our plan is for MLA to start cleaning from Marske and KICAS and SAS to start from Saltburn, meeting in the middle. Should be fun.

When you join in with our beach clean, remember to wear appropriate shoes and clothing. We have pickers, buckets and disposable gloves, but please, if you can, bring your own reusable gloves and bucket, to be extra ecofriendly. You can buy your own pickers from thrift stores now, but we do have about 70 pickers and plan to buy more.

We would not have come as far as we have without the hard work and commitment of every member of our group and the support of our community. Thank you to everyone who has helped along the way. It‟s been an incredible first year and we hope to have your on-going support.

Love, KICAS.

„Make more‟ of Gertrude Bell call A call for the area to make more of a local heroine was made at Saltburn‟s Retired Men‟s Forum meeting by retired solicitor Gordon Hetherington.

Speaking at Saltburn‟s Methodist hall on 26th February he called the desert explorer “one of the most remarkable women” in history. But she had not received much recognition, he claimed.

Mr Hetherington said a film starring American actress Nicole Kidman, had been “awful.” He recommended a new DVD called „Letters from Baghdad,‟ which was aired on Channel 4 recently, as a good buy at £12 from Amazon.

“It uses Gertrude Bell‟s own words,” he told around 40 men.

Mr Hetherington expressed disappointment in the fact that Red Barns, Kirkleatham Street, Redcar, where the WW1 mapmaker, British spy and friend of Lawrence of Arabia lived, had not become a museum.

Instead it was empty and dilapidated despite Redcar 32

MP Anna Turley championing a takeover campaign.

It was said that the developer-owner wanted £600,000 to take it over before any renovations took place.

An exhibition about Gertrude Bell‟s life and work continues at Kirkleatham Museum, Redcar.

Forum member Peter Nixon, of Saltburn, who worked with Mr Hetherington in Middlesbrough, called the Red Barns project „brilliant,‟ but expressed disappointment that plans were lying dormant.

Red-haired Gertrude Bell, who died of TB aged 57 in 1926, was an Oxford history graduate when few women were allowed at the university, climbed the Matterhorn in Switzerland where 1,000 male climbers had died, and was the only woman at an international peace conference in Cairo in 1919, which was attended by Winston Churchill.

She spoke seven languages, including Arabic, and insisted on having a bath each evening after a day riding a camel in the Arabian desert.

33

Plastic Free Coastlines Plastic Free Coastlines is a national campaign run by Surfers Against Sewage. Volunteers from Marske Litter Action and Keeping it Clean at Saltburn along with local SAS reps, Redcar and Cleveland Council and local Councillors in Marske and Saltburn are all working together to achieve PFC status, initially for Saltburn and Marske.

Plastic Free Coastlines aims to encourage everyone to do what they can to stop using single-use plastic and help prevent it from getting in to the sea where it poses a risk to the environment, wildlife and the human food chain.

Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council are supporting the campaign. Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council have pledged to remove single-use plastic from their premises and functions as soon as existing stocks run out.

Local businesses in Marske The Wynd Fruitiers, The Wynd Cafe and Rose & Potter have pledged to remove at least 3 single-use plastic items from their businesses, and several businesses in Saltburn are doing the same. Rapp‟s, Real Meals, Graser‟s and Camfield‟s have been amongst the first businesses to rise to the Plastic Free Campaign. Student Voice group at Outwood Academy Bydales, the School Council at Errington Primary and the Eco Council at Westgarth Primary School are all keen to work on the campaign to reduce single-use plastic in their schools, and to clear litter from their school grounds and the beach. Saltburn Learning Campus have achieved Plastic Free School Status.

Valley Wildlife Trust and The North Yorks Moors National Park Authority are also working with us to help spread the message.

So, what can you do to help? Can you make some small changes to remove single-use plastic from your daily life? How about using a refillable water bottle instead of buying a single-use plastic bottle every time you want a drink of water; most cafes offer free water refills. Buy a reusable coffee cup, the Hygge Room in Saltburn and Camfields sell these; if you like a coffee on the go, you will get a discount on your coffee too. Buy some metal straws for your drinks at home instead of throw away plastic ones, take a bag for life with you when you go shopping, use a bar of soap instead of liquid soap or shower gel. There are loads of other ideas at www.lessplastic.co.uk and on social media.

Challenge your friends and family to see who can make the most changes.

And finally if you want to help remove plastics and other litter from the beach please join us on our next beach clean on Saturday, 7th April, details will be on the Keeping It Clean At Saltburn Face Book and a Twitter Pages.

Reuse, refuse and recycle.

See also KICAS article on page 32.

Energy flows where attention goes.

Dedicated to the Individual Rainbow Tai Chi & Chi Kung classes Every Thursday @ 7 to 8.45pm in TOCH Meeting rooms (back of) Albion Terrace Saltburn TS12 1JT Cost per class £5 or a block of 6 classes for £25 Rainbow Tai chi & chi Kung is a Chinese martial / meditative art or discipline.

It is non-religious; it can be practised by anyone without affecting their beliefs or lack of them. When practised regularly it has been found to promote many genuine health benefits; this is due to the gentle movements within the series of fifteen exercises. Each exercise and affirmation is introduced by David to encourage energy flow inside the body. This is also supported by gentle breathing exercises throughout the class.

For more details enquire from David A Baines email eebydrum8@gmail.com This balanced Personal Self Development class is open to all over the age of 16.

34

Saltburn and District Group for Visually Impaired People This month we were joined by Danny and Liam to talk about re-cycling. This was a fantastic refresher for us all as things have changed over the years. Personally, I now know that I can recycle yellow plastic trays that have fresh food in, but not black ones! Also, we will now be separating out the plastic lining out of cereal packets and removing plastic tops from milk bottles. It had been rumoured that paper was put into the waste truck along with all other plastic, card, glass etc., but we were assured that there is a separate section in the truck for paper.

Coincidentally, in with our Council Tax Bill

What‟s Happening at

Marske Hall Easter Coffee Morning - Marske Hall, Redcar Road Monday, 2nd April 10am – 12.30pm. Enjoy some Easter fun with Easter themed refreshments, cake stall, raffle, tombola, stalls, children‟s activities, kids crafts, entertainment and much more. Enter the free Easter bonnet competition and enjoy listening to Paula Day and the Easter Choir. Admission free, donations welcome.

Talk on Sir William Pennyman - Monday, 16th April, time tbc, Marske Hall. Contact the Hall for more details.

For details of other events in April, please call the Hall on 01642 482672 or find us on Facebook www.facebook/marskehall.com.

Look ahead: Summer Fair - Saturday, 23rd June. Make a date for our big family day out. Book a table if you have things to sell - make money from your garage or shed or kids‟ toys clearout. Contact the Hall for details. Donations for our bric-abrac and tombola stalls are always welcome and we really need your support for bigger raffle prizes.

Appeal: The fundraising team is always looking for tombola and raffle prizes to use at events throughout the year. Simply call into Marske Hall from 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday or telephone 07714 291979 for collection. If you wish to donate a larger raffle prize or would like details of stall/table hire, please call the Hall.

Kath Bloomfield

received today, there is a list of do‟s and don‟ts on the same subject! The things we did not clarify is that bread and banana skins should not be put into the garden waste! Why not?!

Anyway, we are the 4th best region in the North East at recycling so if we can all improve a little, we should be able to climb the rankings – please read your leaflet!

Our next meeting is on 11th April when our speaker will be the Secretary from the local Rotary Club. Please join us at 2pm in the Coffee Lounge, Community Centre, Saltburn. Call Chris Ferguson on 01287 204170 for further information.

Stockton Synthonia Male Voice Choir

SSMVC is sponsoring and participating in a major music event this spring – The Shine Festival 2018, a modern take on the traditional competitive music festival, open to musicians of all ages and backgrounds. On Saturday, 21st and Sunday 22nd April at the Ian Ramsey CE Academy there will be piano solo, Instrumental solo and chamber music (including all duets, trio and quartet) categories. On Friday 27th and Saturday 28th at Middlesbrough Town Hall, there will be school instrumental groups and school choirs, vocal solos and community choirs.

SSMVC is sponsoring this year‟s Young Singer of the Festival award which will be announced at the Shine Festival's prize winner's concert at 6.00pm on Sunday, 29th April at Middlesbrough Town Hall. The Festival is aimed at promoting music for everyone - providing non-competitive masterclasses, specially designed classes for school and community music groups and no set pieces and no age barriers! For more information on the Tees Valley Shine Festival visit http:// www.shinefestival.co.uk/home.

If you would like to book the Stockton Synthonia Male Voice Choir for a concert or if you would like to sing with us, contact Peter Mason (01325 288278) or Stuart Cook (01642 892698). We rehearse at the Synthonia Club, Belasis Avenue, Billingham on Monday evenings 7.30-9.30pm. We are a registered charity aiming to encourage the appreciation of music and gladly support school choirs and aspiring singers in the area. To stay in touch with us see our webpage: http:// www.stocktonsynthoniamalevoicechoir.org.uk/ or follow us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/StocktonSynthoniaMVC/.

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01287 624505 35

Seaside Folk The newest addition to Saltburn‟s vibrant folk music scene is about to launch this April. Seaside Folk is an ongoing event spanning from April to November, which Kevin Hall (founder of the event) hopes will bring the talents of the folk world to a wider audience and will showcase to that audience the music that has, in his own words, enthralled him for sixty years. Kevin is no stranger to the local folk scene, and has been a part of it since the late 1960s. For most of that time he has sung as an unaccompanied traditional singer, and in 2008 he founded the Ironopolis Singers who promote the work of Graeme Miles.

When asked if he felt Seaside Folk had a place in Saltburn, alongside Saltburn‟s annual festival, Kevin had this to say: “Regionally there are enough weekend festivals to cater for the die-hard folk audience and we did not want to impinge on, or rival Saltburn‟s own folk festival. There is enough room for the festival and our series of concerts.”

He also explains that Seaside Folk will appeal to the more casual folk fan, offering one off performances as opposed to a weekend long festival where they may not enjoy all acts, and with such a varied amount of performers Seaside Folk will prove to have something for everyone.

The event will be kicked off on Friday, 20th April at 7.30pm (Doors 6.45) with Robbie Greig and Owen Sinclair, a young Scottish duo with a wealth of experience and an energetic stage presence which is sure to excite the crowd. Their performance will prove to be a lively evening at SC&AA. These young performers are vital to the folk music scene, as it is they who will keep old traditions alive while modernising them to make them accessible for the younger listener. Kevin Hall has said that “The folk tradition since the revival days of the 1960s has always been robust enough to survive change and different approaches,” so clearly there is room for all audiences at Seaside Folk.

Along with a mix of styles and approaches between

the acts of Seaside Folk there is also a range of regional traditions. Saltburn does not have its own great musical tradition as some places do, although East Cleveland and North Yorkshire do have a tradition of song and Long Sword dancing (though many Long Sword teams have disbanded), and the majority of Teesside‟s „traditional‟ music was written within the last sixty years by local songwriters such as Graeme Miles. However, the North East is being represented at Seaside Folk by The Rachel Hamer Band (coming to SC&AA in June), who perform both traditional and contemporary songs from the area.

The Rachel Hamer Band are also winners of the 2016 Graeme Miles Bursary, which they used to create their debut album Hard Ground.

Hopefully, Seaside Folk will become an ongoing event for Saltburn, and Kevin Hall is planning his ideas for 2019 based on the success of this year. Tickets for Robbie and Owen at Seaside Folk are on sale now both online and at the SC&AA box office.

Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council On Sunday, 29th April the East Cleveland Klondike Grand Prix, an elite bike race and a qualifier for the Tour de Yorkshire, will once again come through the Parish. This year, as well as coming through Saltburn several times, New Marske forms part of the route. The race starts at Guisborough at 12 noon and the exact route and approximate timings can be found via the links on our website. There will be several events taking place in Saltburn on the day and the Parish Council office will be open to serve light refreshments and there will be a safe area inside the school perimeter for the public whilst waiting for the riders to pass by. Anyone wishing to volunteer as a race ambassador, or who has a bike to donate to decorate the route, should contact the Parish Council offices in the first instance.

Following the recent disruption to electricity supply across the Parish caused by a fire at the Windsor Road substation in Saltburn, Northern Powergrid have reported 36

that there are several cabling faults which will need to be repaired over the coming weeks. This will result in some short term roadworks to allow the necessary repairs to be carried out safely. Northern Powergrid wish to thank residents for their patience whilst these matters are resolved.

The Annual Parish Assembly will take place in the Council offices on Tuesday, 17th April at 6.45pm, immediately after the next scheduled Donations and General Purposes Committee meeting. Any group wishing to apply for funding should ensure that their application is submitted to the Council office by 10th April. Further details of how to apply can be found on our website.

Tracy Meadows (Clerk and RFO to the Parish Council) 01287 623477 office@smnmpc.co.uk www.smnmpc.co.uk

37

Rotary News

The highlight of February has to be the Charity Ball in aid of Cancer Research. What a fantastic success it was, a real team effort. Julie Wilby, as the project leader, did an amazing job and it was a great advert for Rotary, especially our club and demonstrated us working effectively with a charity organisation raising much needed funds. In this case around £4500. Winners of the various raffles have been informed and appear on our Facebook site along with photographs of the event.

Next up is our afternoon tea event, in aid of Polio Eradication which proved so successful last year. We are limited to 100 guests so please don‟t miss out. If you came last year you will know how very busy it was. And this year we just may have an added little twist too. It will be held at Saltburn Cricket Club, on Wednesday, 18th April between 4pm and 6pm.

This event will be followed by a sponsored walk on Sunday, 6th May, in partnership with members of the Saltburn Cricket, Bowls & Tennis Club to raise money for defibrillators to be placed in Saltburn. The walk, approximately 8.5 miles, starts at the South Gare and finishes at Saltburn Cricket Club, where hot beef sandwiches will be provided, and we can follow the Boro in what could be a vital game in the quest for a play-off place. The walk is open to all; please join us if you wish to help.

Finally, we have started to plan “Go Head to Head To Defeat Dementia” a quiz, for teams of six to be held on Saturday, 12th May in aid of Alzheimer‟s Research UK. Tickets £5. Full details will appear in the next issue of Talk of the Town.

If you wish to take part in any of the above events, further details of the events and how to contact us can be found on www.facebook.com/SaltburnRotaryClub157 or www.rotary.ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=157.

This dance fitness class is EASY TO FOLLOW, TONING and a great OVERALL WORKOUT. Watch out for ‘bums & tums’ targeted dances!

Mondays 6pm - 7pm @ ECHO, Saltburn - £4 Thursdays 10am - 11am @ Saltburn Community Hall - £4 (DISCOUNT! Only £6 for both Zumba Gold & Sosa on Mondays)

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Sosa will get you TONED, FIT whilst having GREAT FUN! For ALL ABILITIES, LOW IMPACT but HIGH ENERGY! Mondays 7pm - 7.50pm @ ECHO, Saltburn - £4 (DISCOUNT! Only £6 for both Zumba Gold & Sosa on Mondays)

A PILATES, YOGA & BALLET inspired fitness class: Spirals will build up CORE STRENGTH, TONE and DEFINE YOUR FIGURE. It also works on BALANCE and FLEXIBILITY. Wednesdays 7pm - The EarthBeat Centre, Saltburn

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If you are interested please contact me for further information: Clark.sutherland1@outlook.com 38

Saving And Re-homing Animals THE ANN PROSSER FOUNDATION

A small charity seeking to rescue and re-home cats and dogs, Tel: 01642 488108 (weekdays only, 10am to 2pm).

SARA has many dogs and cats that need new homes. All are clean, healthy, neutered, vaccinated and microchipped.

Hello Readers. We are Max the dog, and Eliza and Louis the cats. Max is about 6 years old, and he is a lovable brindle coated staffy cross. He came to live with SARA following a change in his owner‟s circumstances. Max is a very playful lad, full of fun and he utterly LOVES his tennis ball! Max will walk well alongside other dogs, but we feel he would prefer a home as an only dog. Max is very strong on the lead so he would benefit from a continuation of his current training. Since coming to SARA, Max has already made such a great improvement in his behaviour, and you can see what an adorable and fun loving boy he is!

Eliza and Louis are a lovely pair of cats who came to SARA through no fault of their own. Eliza is a beautiful black girl and Louis is a stunning ginger and white boy.

As you can see from his photo, Louis loves to stand on his cat tree. While he is posing like this, he will call out for our SARA friends to come and give him a fuss. All the while Eliza just waits patiently in her bed until they arrive

with her toys and Dreamies treats which she utterly adores! Eliza and Louis are looking for a home where they will have safe access to the outdoors, and Dreamies of course!

SARA fundraising events during April The next monthly meeting of SARA will be held on Wednesday, 4th April at 7.30pm in the TocH premises, Albion Terrace, Saltburn. Members of the public are cordially invited to attend. New members are always welcome. Please come along to the meeting and find out more about SARA and the work we do to help the ever increasing numbers of animals that need our help. We look forward to meeting you.

UPCOMING EVENTS Saturday 31st March – Easter Fayre – Marske Hall,

10am-1pm.

Sunday 29th April SARA will be holding a volunteers day where you can come and talk to other volunteers to find out what is involved. The areas we need volunteers for are working with the animals, DIY, gardening, street collections, our Guisborough charity shop and general fundraising.

John Fuller, Press Officer Helpline: 01642 488108 39

150 Years in the Life of Emmanuel 1920 onwards Inside Emmanuel, many memories were evoked of sacrifice and service to nation. The magnificent and poignant rood was constructed in memory of JRB Kennedy and stands today as a salutary reminder of sacrifice.

Outside, other grieving parents raised the town War Memorial to a son and more who were never to return.

Post war prosperity served to divert attention from broken bones and spirit and where even the strongest of faith was tested in the face of such universal conflict.

The 1921 Education Act raised the school leaving age to 14 and State primary education was free for all children and starting at age 5. Sunday School was hyper active and the many Saltburn private schools continued to grow.

For a short period some building took place but fields north and east of Emmanuel remained green as the value of Sterling waivered. Post-war prosperity was short lived. The re-introduction of the Gold Standard kept interest rates high rendering UK exports expensive and a period of depression, deflation and decline followed.

In 1925, after twelve years in partial residence, the Venerable Archdeacon recognised that Saltburn should have a Vicar who was able to give his whole time to the parish. The attempt to combine parochial and diocesan duties had not been a success. In remedy, Leonard Faulconer Bury Knight, Canon of York, was to succeed and subsequently fulfil a ministry to a community in need.

A community that would enjoy the good times of 40

Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Al Johnson and Mickey Mouse, marvel at Howard Carter, Charles Lindbergh and John Logie Baird, benefit from the formation of the British Broadcasting Corporation, with an annual fee of ten shillings, be grateful for the discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming, but experience the hardship of depression, desperate unemployment, a general strike and ultimately the fall out from the Wall Street crash.

Class divide would continue and it would take until 1928 before the right of women to vote was reduced from 30 to the age of 21.

As the decade came to a close, so did the life of verger John Laycock. Serving the community and his church for 28 years. His memory lives on in the carved seat donated from members of an appreciative Emmanuel congregation.

Emmanuel, its clergy and its congregations have been at the heart of the town for much of its life. Christian worship continues and many celebrations are planned to commemorate 150 years of service in the community.

Each month there will be a lunchtime concert in Emmanuel Church with the first on April 21st at 12 noon. All residents and visitors are welcomed. This will be an organ recital, bringing together four organists from East Cleveland contributing to a varied programme of inspiring church music. Entrance is free to this recital which lasts for one hour.

On April the 28th there is a Big Coffee Morning in ECHO from 10 until 12. Again all are warmly welcomed.

“I don’t have to go to church to be a Christian, do I?”

by Rev Adam Reed

How often I hear this comment and variations of it. It’s sometimes made as a statement or asked as a question. But, when asked as a question, I can’t help thinking that it’s the wrong kind of question for someone who calls themselves a Christian to ask. As a Christian, why would you not want to meet with other followers of Jesus, and celebrate the hope you have through his death and resurrection?

The Church is God’s idea Much of the New Testament is about the church that Jesus established. The frequent use of language such as ‘family’ and ‘body’ in describing the church leave us in no doubt that it is about Christians gathering together, sharing together, struggling together, learning together, and praying together. Being a Christian is not a solo activity.

The Church is a mess Yes, the church is a mess because it is a community of broken, sinful, and at times pretty horrible people. Which is why much of the New Testament writings about the church include teaching, correction and rebuke, as well as blessing, hope and love. I can understand why some people do not want to be a part of the gathered body of Christians on a Sunday morning—it can be painful and uncomfortable. But if being a part of one particular church is too difficult, and problems cannot be resolved, then join another one! Go somewhere!

The Church is a means of God’s grace As hard as it may seem, it is God’s way to use fallen, faulty and fickle human beings like you and me to show His patience, grace and power. Remove a piece of coal from a fire and it will soon lose its ability to share heat and light. It needs to be in contact with the other pieces. As a Christian you are called to dwell in the fire of God’s love, to be purified and refined, to become over time more like Jesus. You cannot do this on your own, which is why God has given you fellow believers to meet with together. ‘Disconnecting yourself from community is actually less faithful than connecting yourself to a flawed community.’ (Carey Nieuwhof) Excuses, excuses, excuses…

Let’s face it, it would be so much easier not having to establish a weekly rhythm of going to church, and taking an active part in the gathered church community. And of course everybody faces occasional situations that change established plans, and going to church is no different. But try and be honest with yourself about your intentions towards church attendance and membership. Ask, ‘what is my attitude toward my local church, and what does that say about my commitment to following Jesus?’ On the evidence of the New Testament, to claim to be a devoted Christian and yet ignore Christ’s church seems a little like saying, “I want to drive a nice car, but I’d rather not have an engine.” Or “I love to eat, but I despise food.”

Services Times Sundays 9.00am traditional communion 10.45am contemporary worship

Tuesdays 9.30am said communion

Morning Prayer 9.00am Mon-Fri in ECHO

Contact Details tel 01287 622251

email emmanuelsaltburn@hotmail.co.uk

web www.emmanuelsaltburn.co.uk

Visitor and Exhibition opening times in April Saturdays 7th & 21st 10am - 4pm Sundays 15th & 29th 1 - 4pm

(for more on this topic see Jeff Robinson ‘Must I Join a Church to Be a Christian?’ TGC August 2017) 41

Talk of the Town‟s monthly

Pride of Saltburn Award

Quality Fresh Fruit and Veg at Competitive Prices.

If it’s grown locally we do our best to source it.

The winner of this month‟s Pride of Saltburn Award is Margaret Watson. She was nominated by her sister Nancy Sellars. About her she says, “I would like to nominate my sister Margaret Watson for your Pride of Saltburn Award. She taught at Huntcliff School for many years as well as running the local Youth Club with Ray Robinson. Many of her ex-pupils acknowledge her when we are in the town and she is a firm supporter of the local individual shops. She even got her grandson to deliver Talk of the Town magazine and attends local concerts and plays as well as the film club.”

Thank you, Margaret, for being you, the Pride of Saltburn.

Every month, a £30 bunch of flowers, kindly donated by Ruby Lilly‟s Florists of Marske, is awarded to someone in Saltburn who has earned admiration, gratitude and love for whatever reason. Talk of the Town invites nominations from readers, to chose whom to receive recognition and a bunch of flowers. Send your nominations to Talk of the Town‟s postbag at Jackie‟s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, Cleveland, TS12 1AQ or email Ian (talkofthetownsaltburn@gmail.com). (Please include your name, phone number and the reason you are nominating the person of your choice.) Please also confirm with the nominee that they are willing to receive the award (many people feel shy about it). All the nominations will be read and kept for future use, so even if your choice doesn‟t win this month, they might do so next time.

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Goji Berries

Goji berries, of the genus Lyceum, are actually members of the potato family, Solanaceae. They are also known as wolfberries and are grown in China where they have been cultivated for thousands of years. In China they are also made into wine and boiled to make tea. Contrary to myth, they are not Himalayan in origin and it is quite legal to buy them in Britain. Many claims are made for their health benefits. They are a good source of vitamins A and C, and iron and zinc and are surprisingly rich in protein, containing 8 essential amino acids. There is some evidence that they should not be consumed by anyone taking Warfarin but they are generally considered healthy for the majority of people to eat and are often called a superfood.

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Universal Credit – Coming to Redcar and Cleveland “Will Universal Credit replace my pension?” asked a worried Senior Citizen of Debbie Hesk, Head of Advice Services at Redcar and Cleveland Citizens‟ Advice Bureau. The answer was no, Universal Credit is for working age claimants only.

It replaces in one monthly payment: Income-based Jobseeker‟s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and Housing Benefit. Instead of the current fortnightly payments, Universal Credit will be paid monthly.

The Government has been developing this since 2010 and after many postponements, it is due to be rolled out in Redcar and Cleveland in November 2018.

Universal Credit is designed to support claimants from the age of eighteen to state pension age. Some sixteen to seventeen year olds in limited circumstances will be eligible; the State Pension age is under review and may change in the future. The Citizens‟ Advice Bureau anticipates that claiming will be very confusing for many.

The lengthy application form has to be completed online and thereafter maintained. The Government promises that there will be some support for vulnerable people, but the expectation is that claimants will be computer literate and that they will own or have easy access to a computer. Debbie says: “The process could be very demanding for those with mental health problems. Faced with the task, their first response may be to bury their heads in the sand.”

There is a six week waiting period with no money paid out, while the Government assesses the first claim. A recent decision has been made to reduce this to five weeks.

Claimants are expected to use their savings to tide them over; there doesn‟t seem to be an understanding that most people seeking means tested benefits don‟t have a nest egg of several thousand pounds to fall back on.

“It is possible for people to claim an advance, but this will be deducted from the monthly payment at the end of the waiting period,” explains Debbie. “To qualify, people have to prove hardship by producing bank statements.”

Our local CAB staff have been tracking the problems of the roll-out in other areas of the country. Food Banks are being used more and Debbie feels we are very fortunate locally with the Redcar Food Bank and the Guisborough Bridge Project. They can provide three days nourishment at a time of crisis to people who come with a voucher. There have also been problems elsewhere over accommodation. Without income for five – six weeks, people can‟t pay their rent and a further problem has been that Universal Credit isn‟t paid direct to landlords as Housing Benefit is. Claimants short of money may use their rent support on food and heating.

Landlords with mortgages have turned to evictions to stay afloat and homelessness may result.

“It is also very common for people in dire straits to take pay day loans, because this is what they can access in the waiting period,” says Debbie, “and these have very high interest rates.”

The Government is very positive about Universal Credit; does it work for some people? Debbie continues: “If someone is computer literate, has regular work, no changes in circumstances and in good health, their claim should tick along and it will mimic a monthly salary. However, those who struggle with getting access to a computer, are on zero hours contracts, have changing home circumstances or poor

health will find the new system more challenging.”

Claimants must update changes in their situation online, as they happen and if they don‟t manage this, they are sanctioned, which means that their benefit is suspended.

The Council has a limited discretionary social fund to loan to help with day to day living expenses and utilities costs in this event. A lot of people are on key meters and look for support with heating. Some help is provided by charities too, such as the Salvation Army or by family members.

It is possible that some claimants will lose their homes next winter in Redcar and Cleveland, especially privately rented ones. Elsewhere landlords, who knew their tenants would be transferring to Universal Credit without income for six weeks, have given them notice. In cases where the Local Authority deems tenants have made themselves intentionally homeless through not paying their rent, there may not be much help. “However, we have a very good Homeless Team at Redcar and Cleveland Council and the CAB has a project with them,” reflects Debbie.

Universal Credit is designed to ensure that people are better off in work than on benefits. Claimants are assigned a work coach and are expected to prepare, look for work or to increase their earnings if they are already working. As we saw in the film „I, Daniel Blake‟, people have to prove that they have done this at regular interviews. They sign a Claimant Commitment and have to fulfil it to prevent being sanctioned. I ask Debbie about the awareness of the approaching changes.

“I would say claimants are partly aware. When they receive official letters, many come in and ask us about them.

At our free sessions at Redcar, Guisborough, South Bank, Skelton and Loftus, we deal with the problems in a nonjudgmental, impartial, confidential way,” she says. “We expect to be very busy next November.”

Rosemary Nicholls 43

Health and Happiness

The third of the trilogy on the power of momentum Little regularly creates momentum, like many thimbles of water can create a great wave One day you have an alcoholic drink, one is no problem, your body adapts, yet after four your body is somewhat saturated in alcohol and you feel drunk. The next day you still have some alcohol in your bloodstream, if you then drink again you top it up. If you keep doing that for a few days in a row or for longer you build up a momentum and eventually you get alcohol poisoning, Your body and particularly your brain may be harmed in ways you may not be conscious of. And in emotional terms alcohol is a depressive so taken regularly it‟s very likely to draw your emotions down. And constant use of any substance is almost always a sign of something else unresolved and that is painful to face in your life.

Everything we do impacts us. We never completely stop moving when we are looking for balance. We are always repeating a pattern or starting a new one. We are always moving in directions and therefore creating momentum.

In general terms we can break down being human into the mental, the physical and the spiritual (or call it our sense of purpose if you prefer). What effects these areas most strongly are the patterns of behaviour we create and follow.

For example the person who sits down daily with themselves and meditates or prays or takes time to appreciate how valuable their life is, they are very likely to feel a deepening sense of their spirituality, a bigger picture, a bigger sense of purpose about their life. Yet if they do this only once or don‟t regularly do exercise they will find that their body will degenerate. If you don‟t use muscles they will atrophy. Or you can do weight lifting or other sports and gain muscle.

Your muscle growth is either going one way or the other depending on the momentum you create through use or lack of it.

Equally your happiness or what you could generally

call feeling okay or pretty good or amazing, as opposed to ... feeling a bit crap, is also always in a process of momentum, either towards feeling amazing or away. That momentum depends on what you are thinking and how you feel on a regular basis. If you let yourself feel regularly down you give that emotion more and more momentum. If you‟ve felt crap for years it can feel like a massive heavy weight you can‟t get off you, it can even feel like it has always been with you. Yet you gave it momentum and you can reverse it.

First you notice your patterns that take you there, neutralise their power and very slowly start to build momentum in the opposite direction. It takes time, it takes self awareness and reversing momentum can feel so difficult sometimes, but it can be done.

You are a whole being. I see little point getting highly spiritually attuned if you leave your body largely forgotten. Or if you learn how to have an amazing body but you don‟t learn how to feel good emotionally. Each part of you, your body, your mind and your spirit require your attention and your awareness of what momentum you are building or letting slide into weakness through non-use.

Your daily practices are vital to your overall wellbeing. So notice the patterns that feel good to you and notice those that feel worse. You hold the ability to create whatever patterns you want and to build whoever you want to be. You control your momentum. Every choice you make is a decision in a direction to feel more healthy or less or to feel less happy or more happy. Your life and how you feel is literally made by the regular choices you make.

Kendal Aitken Happiness and Wellbeing Coach / Counsellor.

Contact: coach@happygreenblueeyes.co.uk or 07944 883961 First session free.

Great Support for SARA from Pets at Home During December the Support Adoption for Pets held their Santa Paws appeal at all their Pets at Home stores.

All the staff at the Middlesbrough store, supported by a team from SARA, asked customers to contribute 50p towards a Christmas dinner for animals in rescue centres. It was a tremendous effort and the support by customers was outstanding.

In the month £2,897 was raised. This was split between Support Adoption For Pets and SARA. This resulted in a cheque being presented to SARA for £1448.50. This will help SARA look after the animals. The animals at SARA were given a Christmas dinner of chicken, beef and pork together with the trimmings. There was so much food that they had the same on Boxing Day. Our thanks go out to all the customers who kindly donated.

The little dog in the picture is Sam who was rescued 2 years ago with a deformed foot. After an appeal to raise funds to cover his treatment and 7 operations later he has finally been given the all clear and now he just needs physiotherapy and hydrotherapy to finish the job. In two weeks time he can run off lead for the first time since the treatment began.

44

Pets at Home VIP Club have also donated in February a pallet of cat food (approximately 3000 pouches). Their generosity will really help SARA and is much appreciated.

John Fuller, SARA 01642 472875

Gisborough Priory Project Easter Fun Day

Used Stamps for Charity

There is a box in Saltburn Library for used postage stamps which are a valuable source of income to a number of charities. Please drop your stamps in the library. Many thanks for your support. There is also a box in Marske Library.

Eric Matson (volunteer), 25 High Street, Skelton, Tel: 07985 767587

What better way to round off the Easter Weekend than an afternoon trip to the Woodland Gardens at Gisborough Priory?

The Gisborough Priory Project Easter Fun Day will be held on Monday, 2nd April 2018 from 1pm to 3.30pm and is sure to have something for all the family.

There will be handmade crafts for sale, including gifts made from wood from the woodland gardens.

For the children there will be story telling, an Easter Trail and other activities.

And of course, no Gisborough Priory Project event would be complete without the refreshment stall – delicious homemade cakes and baked goods along with hot or cold drinks, all of which can be enjoyed at either the picnic tables or one of the many benches located around the gardens, while you take in the view of the emerging spring flowers.

So why not come along to the Woodland Gardens in the beautiful Gisborough Priory site? Entry is FREE and all funds raised will go towards the continuing restoration work in the woodland gardens.

Saltburn, Redcar & Cleveland Philatelic Society April report We meet on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at the Redcar Community Centre. Next month‟s meetings are: 4th April: Display by North East England Philatelic Association (NEPA) President Keith Mitchell.

18th April Members‟ Night.

Saturday, 28th April is NEPA‟s 69th Annual Convention (10 am-4pm) held at Bowburn Community Centre, Durham DH6 5AT (see photo). The event is always well attended by dealers (2017 had 14) buying and selling postcards, stamps and postal history. Many of the 16 NE philatelic societies enter display competitions to be judged against ABPS criteria – i.e. national standards. SR&CPS has submitted three frames of 16- QV India. sheet entries: Aerophilatelic – Zepplins; Great Britain – Contacts: Geoff Reynolds (Secretary, 01642 the embossed QV head of 1841; British Commonwealth – 478229); David D. Turner (01287 624736).

45

Springing Forward: April in The Cons Club It‟s now officially Spring and as I write this article we have light drizzle, the sky is overcast and snow and frost are forecast over this coming weekend. Nothing changes!

Last night in the club I had the pleasure of being in attendance for our Quiz, Bingo & Buffet Supper night which was again a big success largely due to our wonderful Julie Towell who kept us entertained throughout with her humour and comments when reading the quiz questions (compiled by Stewardess Michelle) and calling the bingo. Once again we had a very good turnout of members who thoroughly enjoyed the evening. The next Quiz & Bingo night has been arranged for Wednesday 2nd May at 8pm when we will also be having a Pie & Pea Supper, all for the price of £3.50p.

On mentioning Michelle, she has only recently come out of hospital and, although still in some pain, she is making good progress and should be back with us very soon.

It‟s just not the same without her.

Coming up in April we turn our attention to the Annual General Meeting which is being held on Monday, 9th April at 7-30pm. This usually takes place on the first Monday in April, but this year, as this date falls on Easter Monday, the meeting has had to be put back a week. All members are strongly encouraged to attend. The nomination sheets will have been put up on the board on Monday, 19th March and left up for 10 days, as required by the club‟s constitution, by which time nominations will have been placed. The positions of President, 2 Vice-Presidents, Secretary & Treasurer are voted for every year and committee members, when elected, serve 2 years. This year we have 6 committee members seeking re-election with 4 committee members having another year to run. Should we receive more than the required number of nominations for the positions available then a ballot would need to be held.

The club accountant will be present at the meeting and he will go through the balance sheet in detail and answer any questions members may have regarding the club‟s finances.

Other events planned for April consist of the SLUG meeting (Saltburn Line Users group) on Tuesday, 3rd April at approx 7-15pm in the function room. This monthly meeting gives enthusiasts the opportunity to discuss all railway matters that generally relate to the local line services.

The meetings are free to attend and all are welcome.

Saturday, 14th April brings about the first of our Club Trips for the year, this time to Wetherby. Places for the coaches have been sold out for approx 3 months, such is the popularity of these events, and the people going will no doubt try out all the pubs, dine in the cafés and restaurants and check out all the charity shops for bargains. Thanks go to Michelle for her organisation and the small buffet she will have arranged for everybody when they return to the club.

The day will be completed with a music night. The regular „Open Mic Night‟ , which is always held on the last Friday

of every month, takes place on 27th April, starting at 8pm.

Names for people wishing to play or sing are taken from 730pm. Teesside Steve and Liz Bishop have really brought things together in a big way with these events now bringing in full houses every month. We receive a great feedback from attendees and social media and we really appreciate their input into our club‟s activities. I promise you that there is nowhere else in town where you can get such a diverse and top quality evening of live entertainment. With free entry there is no excuse for not joining us.

As you are aware the members of the club are able to hire the rooms for private functions, parties, meetings, christenings, funeral wakes, birthdays etc. for free. This concession has been taken up on several occasions already this year all the bookings have had a fantastic time. Arrangements can also be made to provide a buffet whenever required.

Membership is still going up every month with 24 being accepted at the March committee meeting. It is nice to see how many women on their own are joining because they feel secure in the friendly atmosphere we have created in a club that is always safe. Long may it continue!

Moving on to the function room and we are still progressing the work required to install soundproofing and the fitting of a new bar. Another project for this coming year, which was discussed at the last committee meeting, and which we place great importance on, is the installation of an invalid / ladies toilet on the ground floor. Having the ladies toilet on the first floor causes a lot of concern to some of our members and the time has come to put this situation right. Plans and designs will be drawn up, with Council advice and input, to continue our desire to have the best facilities for our members.

Membership to the club is still open and to be a new member in April you only pay £9. Thereafter you pay £12 every year in January. The number of members we have is reviewed on a monthly basis and we may reach a stage where we have to limit the numbers, such is our popularity.

I will finish my article by having to announce that one of our longest life members sadly passed away this week. Bob Murray MBE was a real character and had many friends both within the club and in the town and will be sadly missed by all who knew him. I attended the funeral and his popularity was evident with the crematorium full. He was a good man.

Late news just in: Peaky Blinders Themed Disco & Race Night arranged for Saturday, 22nd September. For all the latest happenings in the club visit us on our Facebook page at „Saltburn Conservative & Unionist Club‟.

My little thought this month is an old saying but so very true: „Life is what you make it, so make it what you like.‟ Stay happy and healthy. Best wishes, David.

David Rigg, Club President Email: davidrigg21@yahoo.co.uk Article financially supported by Saltburn Conservative Club

Saltburn Cons Club: Future Events to entertain in April Every Tuesday: Club Draw Nights for Meat Voucher, Wines & Chocolates… 10pm.

Every Sunday: Beer Draw & Cash Rollover. Increases by £25 each week if not won. Currently standing at £800 … 6pm.

Saturday Afternoons: A get-together by „The Conmen‟ Americana Musicians Jam sessions... 3pm.

Tuesday 2nd: SLUG Meeting (Saltburn Line Users Group)… 7 -15pm 46

Monday 9th: Annual General Meeting … 7-30pm Saturday 14th: Club Trip to Wetherby… Food & Disco night on return.

Friday 27th: „Open Mic Night‟ hosted by Teesside Steve & Liz Bishop … 8pm.

Wednesday May 2nd: Quiz, Bingo and Pie & Pea Supper…

8pm… Tickets £3-50p.

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The Middleton Choir (Formerly The Middleton Festival Choir)

GOLDEN JUBILEE In 2018 it will be 50 years since the late Betty Middleton formed The Middleton Festival Choir.

In celebration of this, there is to be a Golden Jubilee Concert in Saltburn on Saturday, 23rd June 2018.

We would like to hear from former members of the choir and would welcome former members to join us in this concert. For further information, contact Christina at christinahubbard@btopenworld.com or on 07955 951833.

47

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48

„Curtain of poppies‟ task at care home Residents of Hazelgrove care home, Randolph Street, are busy on Monday mornings putting together part of a massive „curtain of poppies‟ to represent all the British people who died in World War One. Walter Frost, 90, is the only man among the knitters and he told Peter Barron of The Northern Echo: “It‟s a nice thing to do, isn‟t it?”

He is knitting the eye cords which hold strings of poppies together. The residents, who are led by events coordinator Sharon Lewis, aim to knit 500 poppies and so far they have done 460.

Walter, who used to work as a sales rep going round stationary shops and newsagents, including King‟s of Saltburn, was a prison officer during World War Two. “When they surrendered we gave them something to eat and tried to look after them as best we could until the war was over. They were just like us, scared and hungry,” he said. Walter‟s compassion resulted in him and his wife being invited to the wedding of one prisoner in 1947, but they were unable to make the journey to Germany. “I couldn‟t get time off work, but it was a nice thought,” he said.

The rest of the knitters are Barbara Millikin, Stella Wells, Peggy Bland and Joyce Tibbett.

Mike Morrissey

The Saltburn Profile by Rosemary Nicholls Howard Leake “I was born in Sunnyfield House in Guisborough and my younger brother, Malcolm, was born in Overdene,” says Saltburn U3A Newsletter Team Leader, Howard Leake. His Dad was a fitter and turner at Dorman Long, South Bank and the family lived at Manor Green, Normanby.

Howard went to Normanby Junior School, where he learnt that an earlier building on the school site was listed in the eleventh century Domesday Book! He moved on to Eston County Modern School and at fifteen, left to become an apprentice fitter and turner at Dorman Long.

“For the first few months, I was an office boy in the main works engineering offices,” he remembers. “I used to watch the foremen come in wearing bowler hats to see the manager – a foreman was really someone in the early sixties!”

Howard went to Redcar College on day release and served his time at Dorman Long; then a year later, he moved to ICI Wilton, where the Olefines 5 plant was just starting up.

After four years there, he took a job as an engineer with Metalock, a firm that repaired metalwork all over the world.

“I travelled all over the country including to the Isle of Skye and I went out to Tenerife and South Africa,” says Howard. “I was at Metalock for twelve years, before I went to British Steel as a fitter on the coke ovens.”

After that, he became a mechanical foreman on the By-Products plant and then a shift engineer at Cleveland Power Station. That shut down, so he transferred to Redcar Power Station, from where he retired ten years ago.

When he was at Wilton, he married Margaret and they have three children: Wendy, Stuart and Alan. Wendy now lives in New Marske, Stuart lives in Warrington and Alan lives in Saltburn. Wendy and Alan have two children each.

Margaret and Howard were very involved in looking after the grandchildren when they were younger; he looks back on enjoyable days teaching them how to ride bikes.

Since retirement, Howard has taken varied roles in Saltburn U3A. He first joined a photography class and then volunteered to sit on the Committee. He became responsible for communications and leads the team that produces the quarterly newsletter. He is also one of two people who looks after the website. “I still enjoy the photography class and I play backgammon and go along to cookery for fun,” he says.

“The U3A keeps us active and provides a social network for people who‟ve retired. The Saltburn group has over eight hundred members, who find it friendly, easy-going and wellrun.”

Motorbikes have been a lifetime interest for Howard.

He passed his test on a 175, at a time when he says all you needed to show was that you weren‟t going to fall off. After he retired, he bought a Honda Pan European model and the licence acquired earlier enabled him to ride this 1100 cc bike.

He has taken it all over the country, including to Cookstown in Northern Ireland and up to Inverness on a five day trip. He meets up with other bikers at Whitby‟s Whistlestop Cafe on Thursday nights.

A chance conversation with another biker at the cafe led to him returning to employment as a working consultant for four months when SSI started up again, about five years ago. “They needed people with experience to get things going quickly. I enjoyed it, but I was glad when it finished!” he remembers. “One intriguing thing that I learnt was that the

Thai chief chose to set up here because the initials of the company SSI are in the middle of Teesside – he was apparently superstitious and thought this was a good omen.”

Running has also been a lifelong interest of Howard‟s. The Cleveland Major was his first half marathon and then he ran the Great North Run annually for eighteen years. The charities he ran for changed, but included Teesside Hospice and Zoë‟s Place. For atmosphere and crowd support, he says that the Great North Run is one of the best half marathons in the world. Also, he used to run home the seven miles from work occasionally.

Howard has travelled far and wide, taking holidays seeing spectacular scenery. Last year, with Margaret, Wendy and her husband, he took a bus trip round Canada and then a week‟s cruise up the west coast, spotting whales and icebergs.

He and Margaret have taken cruises to the Caribbean and the Mediterranean too. They have been east to India, Thailand and Singapore, where a friend was working.

Howard has been to Silverstone to watch Formula One races and he follows them on TV. “I love anything to do with moving machinery,” he says. As a family they‟ve been to see traction and steam engines at Pickering, Masham, Harewood House at Leeds and Tarrant Hinton near Bournemouth, which is the biggest event in the country.

In their corner plot garden, Howard does the pruning and grass cutting, while Margaret grows begonias in tubs.

Although he enjoys his U3A cookery class, Howard says that Margaret is in charge in their kitchen, as she is a very good cook. Nevertheless, they sometimes like to treat themselves to a meal at the Bay Horse in Great Broughton.

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1st Saltburn Scout Group 2018 is moving on, British Summer Time has started and we are enjoying the Easter break. The hopefully better weather and lighter nights means all Sections will be taking the opportunity to be out. Our next outing as a Group will be to St George‟s Day parade and service in Guisborough this month; an opportunity to see how smart they all look in uniform!

Our Beaver Colony is remaining steady with 24 Beavers; a lively group who are all enjoying the opportunity to discover new activities and develop new skills. The decision to limit the roll at 24 owing to Leader numbers has been successful with some parents being more actively involved in weekly meetings, but it still could be better. The Beavers have a District trip to Lightwater Valley planned for the summer, but are more interested in getting back outside to explore. Thanks are due to those parents who have assisted in the past few months.

The Cub Pack will be down to 15 Cubs after the Easter break, with no Beavers due to join us until September; Gabriel and Kaii having moved up to Scouts. We took two teams to the District Quiz, coming sixth and eighth from 10 teams, but all enjoyed themselves and the opportunity to meet other Cubs in the District. Our supporting parents won the music quiz so shared the spoils with the two teams. A good afternoon was had by all. Cubs will also be undertaking the District Human Monopoly in June which is planned to be held in Saltburn, so I hope they know their town! Many thanks are due to Jamie (Section Assistant), Sam (Section Assistant),

Saltburn Line User Group Next Meeting: Tuesday, 3rd April 2018 at 7.15pm.

We have a speaker from Trans Pennine Express, Graham Meiklejohn, Regional Development Officer Meetings at Saltburn Conservative Club are held on the first Tuesday of the month, 19.15pm for a 19.30pm start. As always, all welcome.

Talk to Saltburn Line User Group. The Group exists to protect passengers‟ interests.

Find us at www.facebook.com/ saltburnlineusergroup Email the secretary on: slugsecretary@virginmedia.com

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LINE 50

Sam (Explorer Young Leader), Peter (a 1st Saltburn Scout who is undertaking his DoE Silver Service with Cubs) and Aidan (a 1st Saltburn Scout who is undertaking his DoE Bronze Service with Cubs); also to those parents who have assisted with Pack meetings.

The Scout Troop will have a total membership of 24 after the Easter break; Peter moving on to Explorer Scouts, two new members having moved up from Cubs and Josh having joined the Troop before the Easter break. One team of 1st Saltburn Scouts attended the Scouts District Quiz and WON. Well done! The Scouts are also preparing for the District Orienteer in early June. Thanks to Keith and Paula (Assistant Scout Leaders); Sam and Jonathan (Section Assistants), also Tony for their unstinting support, ensuring we run every week. Especial thanks to Karen who with Sam is ensuring a very active programme weekly to pursue various awards.

Our Group continues to fundraise in a variety of ways; Ann and several parents organised a quiz and raffle night at Saltburn House and raised £200+ for funds. Parents and young people had an enjoyable night; hopefully more activities will result from this parent involvement and support. Karen, our „fundraising guru‟, continues to attract funding and is always looking for new sources and ways to achieve our developments. Planned work will result in some more improvements to the front area of the building, so watch that space!

Some of our parents continue to assist us with Section activities; but as I have said repeatedly previously we need help! If you can offer assistance or are interested in joining us, please enquire.

John G. Hannah – 07811 801627 or johnghannah@yahoo.co.uk

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Postal Subscription to Talk of the Town If you enjoy reading Talk of the Town, why not subscribe to the postal service? You can have the magazine delivered to your door, anywhere in the UK for as little as £33.50 per year.

Write to us at TotT Subscriptions, 9 The Wynd, Marske, Cleveland, TS11 7LD. Don’t forget to enclose your name and address or alternatively, you can call us on 01642 477200 if you wish to pay by credit or debit card.

How to Make the Monkey Dance Both Kate and I have a great fascination for boxes. Maybe it‟s something that goes back to childhood and birthdays but wherever it originated it is strong in us both. Sixteen or seventeen years ago this was reflected in my writing because I wrote a Christmas play that was performed at Saltburn Theatre with the title „The Magic Box‟. Because of this fascination we were both intrigued when our good friends Terry and Sue Wilkinson came round for dinner a couple of months ago and Terry produced a mysterious wooden box he had brought to show us. We were instantly delighted by his new acquisition.

If anyone reading this doesn‟t already know, Terry is a multi-talented man. He‟s an actor, comedian, writer, poet and so much more. In particular he is a peerless street performer and the attractive wooden box he brought to show us had been acquired with that in mind. The box is around shoe box size, made from wood and has a crank handle protruding from one side. When this handle is turned music emanates from the box – just like so many Victorian and Edwardian barrel organs I have seen in museums and on television. In the case of Terry‟s box there are differences. For one thing it can play any tune Terry chooses, which was not the case for barrel organs and also the harder one turns the crank, the louder the music becomes.

To say I was fascinated would be grossly understating the case. I could not get this amazing machine out of my head and in the end there seemed to be only course of action – I had to create something similar of my own. I could not have bought one even if I had wished to do so because there is nothing like it to be found anywhere on the internet. Terry‟s came from Russia and had been hand crafted by someone extremely talented but like Terry I am a lifelong performer and the possibilities of owning a magic box of this sort seemed legion.

My ultimate needs in this direction were slightly different than Terry‟s. When involved in street performances Terry moves about all the time, so his box had to be reasonably small and light enough to be carried on a leather strap. In the past I have busked while playing the guitar and singing, so I tend to stay in one place. This meant my box could be slightly larger and could also incorporate a microphone. It took a few weeks to design what I wanted and to source the bits and pieces I would need from across the world in order to create it. When I asked Terry if he was OK with me copying his idea his only joking stipulation (very wisely) was that I could not take his box to pieces in order to establish how it worked.

As a result I had to guess and to do as much research as I could. Eventually it was all sorted in my head and the construction began.

Two specific thoughts entered my head during the planning stage. First of all because my box would look and sound very much like a barrel organ there would obviously be one thing missing that all barrel organ operators had and that was a monkey. It seems that most barrel organ

by Alan Butler

players owned monkeys, which would dance to the music and entertain those passing by. Keeping a captive monkey and making it perform in public is understandably very much frowned upon these days, so that was something of a problem. My second thought concerned something from the historical folk traditions of the North of England, namely dancing dolls. Quite a few Yorkshire and Lancashire buskers in the early 20th century had dancing dolls, which they operated by hand or with foot mechanisms. It occurred to me that perhaps I could incorporate both ideas, preserving two traditions at a stroke and also creating something that would amuse the passing public.

My magic box is now completed. It has a shiny mahogany finish and carries brass and copper fittings. I can‟t help thinking that it resembles something Jules Verne might have imagined his fictional 19th century space ship to have looked like and there is definitely something of the Victorian gothic about it. Through the mysteries housed in its interior, like Terry‟s box it can play any song I wish, including my own songs which I have recreated and arranged here in my office. My box also has a crank handle and therefore does not have to rely on any external power source.

Getting the monkey to dance was the most difficult part of the build. Having sourced the right toy monkey, which Kate Christened Millie Molly, I had to work out some way to coax her into dancing. Of course how she does so must remain a closely guarded secret but suffice it to say that now she stands proudly on the box. When I wish to allow her and when I turn the handle, she dutifully jigs and dances to whatever music I choose to play. It is really quite funny and I think children especially will love her. She wears a ballet dress made by Kate, who also offered invaluable assistance to the whole process. I retain the best of the dancing doll folk tradition and also the barrel organist‟s monkey – and no creature will be in any way inconvenienced on the way.

Why do I do things like this? It is a question that crossed my mind all the time I was sawing, hammering and wracking my brain about generators and mechanisms. Looking at the finished box I have to admit that in this venture, as in so many other facets of my life I sometimes feel like a character from someone else‟s weird dream. My life always seems to have been slightly odd and different but I suppose I am simply the way nature made me. I intend to bring my box and Millie to Saltburn when the warmer weather comes, so look out for me in Station Square or by the Pier end.

I hope that in addition to my magical box of music I might also have created a new expression, which could be a metaphor for life. It seems to me that if we want to be the best of what we can be and to enjoy life to the full, at some stage we all have to work out how to make the monkey dance.

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Saltburn Allotments Association What weather? Last week I was certain that spring was in the air. Today I‟m looking out on snow drifts.

April is supposed to bring the sweet spring showers but, what will it in fact bring, I wonder?

Many people say that parsnips can be sown in February, which, of course, is true but I‟m really glad I haven‟t sown mine yet. They tend not to germinate well at the best of times and, in February, it‟s usually too cold. April is a fine time to sow parsnips and, for baby roots, May is suitable. Germinating seeds on a damp kitchen towel can give parsnips a head start.

I haven‟t dug up all my last year‟s leeks yet (although I might have done by the time this Talk of the Town is out). I tend to sow leeks in cell trays and plant them out on the allotment when they are pencil thick. Others like to sow straight on the plot in a short nursery row and transplant them to their final home when they are pencil thick.

This is the month for celeriac and celery. The seeds of both these vegetables are really small and I tend to broadcast them in small pots and transplant to individual pots/cells when they are large enough to handle. I learned from committee colleagues recently that the reason my celery was never any good was that I planted in rows rather than in blocks. If you plant celery out in blocks, the plants shade each other and are far more successful.

I really like salads, especially when I come out of hibernation and weigh myself. Start sowing lettuce seeds now, on the plot under protection, in a cold frame or in your greenhouse. If you sow some every three to four weeks, you‟ll keep having salad leaves all through the spring and summer (and autumn and winter).

Other vegetables you can start sowing in cell trays or pots for strong, healthy, resistant plants to plant out. These are the brassicas, broad beans, summer radish, beetroot, spinach, khol rabi and climbing and dwarf beans. It‟s also time for getting chitted first and second early potatoes in the ground, and onion sets, shallots and peas.

At Margrove Park Heritage Centre, where the Grow and Learn project has a base, we sowed tomatoes, peppers, chillies and aubergines at the end of February in cell trays and put them on heated mats.

I‟m not sure how they are doing as I haven‟t been in the area much in March but I have high hopes for them as I haven‟t had time to sow any of these for myself yet. Some tomato and pepper seed packets say we can sow up to April so I‟m going to try it out.

Maybe I‟ll be enjoying the results of my labours later into autumn than usual or maybe I‟ll need to add in some plug plants too, to help catch up a bit. Time will tell.

Happy gardening, Sue. 52

Saltburn Labour Party News There are so many issues I could write about this month, but I thought the most helpful topic would be to assist Saltburn parents by bringing some clarity to the discussion on the Government‟s changes to free school meals.

Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 will still all be entitled to free school meals. The Conservative election pledge to end this entitlement for all but the poorest families in their manifesto didn‟t survive the loss of their House of Commons majority last year. So the changes apply to Year 3 onwards.

Since 2013, the Conservative and Coalition Governments have been rolling out Universal Credit, replacing the previous benefits system. The reason the roll-out is now in its fifth year is that the systems involved have failed to cope well with any but the simplest cases (single claimants without children). There have also been administrative failures, massive overspends, and claimants left without means for months. The roll-out has certainly helped to increase food bank usage; however, Universal Credit rolls on.

Under the current system, children are entitled to free school meals if their parents receive an out of work benefit like Jobseekers‟ Allowance. They lose their entitlement once their parent starts working 16 hours a week, or 24 hours a week if there are two parents.

In the five chaotic years the Government has been rolling out the new benefit system, they have deferred the eligibility rules so that all families receiving Universal Credit have been entitled to free school meals, regardless of income or hours worked.

This month, however, the Government announced a means test so that children whose parent(s) on Universal Credit are earning more than £7,400 will no longer be entitled to free school meals, if they‟re in Year 3 or above.

According to The Children‟s Society there are 4,300 children in Redcar and Cleveland who are living in poverty. Of these, 2,300 currently get a free school meal. But, according to the Society, 1900 children will lose their entitlement to free school meals after the roll out of Universal Credit. This would leave, under current numbers, only 400 children in our borough having a free warm meal every school day.

The Department for Education says that no one who currently gets free school meals as part of the early roll-out of Universal Credit will lose their entitlement once it is complete.

Nationally, that applies to over half a million people. The people who will be subject to the means test are future Universal Credit claimants. By 2022, 7 million households are scheduled to receive Universal Credit. So, by that year, if the system survives, the vast majority of claimants will have no entitlement to free school meals.

Some of you may have read attempts at damage limitation on this issue, giving an alternative interpretation. Well, as I said, the figures I use here about Redcar and Cleveland are from The Children‟s Society. You can find them at https:// www.childrenssociety.org.uk/news-and-blogs/our-blog/changesto-free-school-meals-will-hurt-struggling-families.

It is certainly the case that the Department for Education expects that 50,000 more children will receive free school meals nationally under the new system. But then they would, wouldn‟t they? Having failed to get enough support from voters to cut free school meal entitlement, the Tories are going to do it anyway.

Councillor Craig Hannaway

The Muses of Jim I have just had a phone call from the doctor‟s surgery, as a computer programme they are running has indentified me as a possible frail person. This is based on data on file within the records on the surgery computer. This appears to be due to my age, and the fact I live alone, my heart condition and the long list of meds I depend upon. On hearing I realised I will have to think about my future plans. Clearly, further work needs to be done. So watch this space. Of course I will have to consult with Spud as soon as possible.

Notwithstanding the above item the last few weeks have been very rewarding for me in more ways than enough. First of all I was persuaded to take up a claim to pursue a claim of wrongful investments. To my surprise I received a rather large cheque some weeks later. Fair enough, I had to pay a finder‟s fee and VAT (I haven‟t the skills or knowledge to reclaim the money on my own).

Another good result from a cold call paid off. This time from a firm wanting to conduct a survey on beds with the promise of a free Marks & Sparks voucher. I have stopped using them myself, Marks & Sparks not beds, when they moved their clothing suppliers to foreign makers, usually at a lower cost, thus higher profits for shareholders. I had an interest in this as my bed, which is a special one because of my heart condition, I must sleep with my head and shoulders in an elevated position to stop my left lung filling with water, needed replacement. So I bought the most basic single bed possible, being a poor pensioner, as you all know. To my delight and surprise I was offered a free upgrade to their top model. I have only had it two days and its effect is amazing. I am sleeping a lot better, not tossing and turning all night and the ten minutes massage in the morning is a great start to the day!

With regard to my plans to buy a motorcycle. It has been purchased and will soon be delivered and I have decided to call her Betty Number 2. I can‟t keep her in my bedroom so I have started to clear out my shed. In doing so I have found many lost treasures, long forgotten, for example, a stone polishing kit, a power sander, both in working order; several demi johns (I will have to start making wine again); many tins of paints left over from years of decorating and many years of children‟s toys. All with years and years of memories.

I am in London next week, visiting Parliament to speak with some local MPs about local matters and concerns about the future role of Parish and Town Councils in the Local area. At the time of writing I am only seeing two MPs at the moment, another has apologised as he is busy on the Lobby Day, but he is also willing to see me on another day. The rest have not responded at all. Although, there is time yet for the rest to get in touch with me on Monday.

I enjoy visiting London. The train journey from Darlington is a joy for me with sight of York, and a glimpse of Selby Abbey. I can remember when the train went through Selby close to the Abbey itself, the sight of Drax Power Station with the highest chimney in Europe at one time. Eggborough Power Station, the remaining

Pithead of the Mighty K, Kellingly Colliery, with enough coal for one hundred years. Ferrybridge Power Station. I once watched the new giant cooling towers, pulled down by strong winds whilst I stood on top of a flour mill nearby.

Doncaster Railway Station, once out of Yorkshire I fall asleep. Likewise, on my return I wake up at Doncaster and revisit in my mind all the places I have real memories of. At London it is different, because every time is completely different and I love it. Mind you I do prefer Saltburn. Well, the beer prices for example as well as all the free newspapers.

Back to my usual rubbish, I mean my wise words. I was on the bus returning from the Boro, using my very much valued free bus pass, when the following occurred: as the bus pulled away from the stop at Wilcos‟ when the driver spoke to a young school girl. Then he turned his bus down the sea front, saying I will not leave her behind. He returned to the last bus stop and picked up an even younger school girl who thanked him. It appears the driver had seen her running for the bus, but could not stop because of the traffic behind his bus. He had asked the first child if she knew the one left behind. She did. As a true sign of the times, he just said, ring her and tell her I will come back for her. Which she did and as the collected girl thanked him the passengers clapped him loudly. It was very warming to see such a kind and thoughtful action by the bus driver.

Have I mentioned my new bed? It is brilliant. I have never slept so well and the morning massage is wonderful.

Once I work out the timer I will try a massage when I go to bed. I shall have find the manual and read it for a change.

How about that, Betty? I have listened to you at last. Now pick out my, sorry, our lottery numbers, please.

The snow has come back and the country ground to a shuddering halt once more. As the day progressed the slow cold thaw began so hopefully the railway system will be back to normal so that I will be able to travel to London as planned. At the same time as arranging to see the two MPs I‟ve already mentioned, it has been arranged for me to meet with the Elected Tees Valley Mayor sometime in April to also discuss the role of Town and Parish Councils in the Tees Valley Area.

As usual I was taken out for Sunday lunch by my number three daughter, Jill and partner Brian and two children, Molly, or is it Mollie? (I can never remember which way to spell it.) And of course the handsome but modest, Charlie. I am very grateful for the contact and look forward to each meal. Any of the new things I tell them is absorbed with the understanding of a squashed frog. Putting me in my place is of no real importance at. Even with the news of going to Parliament, my new motorbike, my wonderful new bed and even waving my new phone in front of them, they show a true indifference that only a truly loving family can get away with. All I got was „make sure you don‟t forget mine and Lisa‟s birthday next Month!‟ This I can‟t forget as one of my Christmas presents was a diary with every family birthday already marked in it apart from my own.

Jim Wingham 53

The Saltburn Crossword no 202 set by Dinosaur Across 1 8 9 11 12 13 14 16 18 21 22

Local crossroads where flour mixes with sane den (4, 4, 4) Family group of basic land (4) Cold dessert sounds like I cry out (3, 5) French sugar after I left stirring cruise (5) Insects bred by Stan? (4) Intend average or just nasty? (4) Wine drunk in the past I find (4) Local road where walks the sea? (6, 6) See 27 Across Unpleasant diatribe from Iran there (4) Famous volcano has one of 12 Across back after direction (4) 23 She saves animals in Saltburn (4) 25 Paper size I fool around with (5) 27 and 18 Across Helpful Saltburn charity disturbs joy worth sorted a coypu (8, 5, 7) 28 Abominable snowman discovered by ET inside (4) 29 Enthusiastic member of a group is described thus, when about dry racing car (4-8)

Down Name___________________________________ Address_________________________________ ________________________________________ Telephone_______________________________

2 Saltburn houses cost cool taxes eg after rebuilding (2, 5, 8) 3 Win back land from loss or submersion referring to shellfish in which I am inserted (7) 4 Spy or a shortened decent fellow (5) 5 Trees initially English larches, my sir! (4) 6 One who plots after stirring crème… Sh! (7) 7 Couple who contribute to Talk of the Town and Saltburn are told thy canny Nan is rearranged (4, 3, 4, 4) 10 Total or partial disappearance of a heavenly body by another breaks splice around direction (7) 15 Vegetable puts me back in a no-no (5) 17 Animal of salesman for slab of baked clay (7) 19 Movement of vehicles puts cart back around one very loud musical (7) 20 Saltburn‟s cliff lift is one inclined (7) 24 French love Sam - ours to find (5) 26 Poetic adjective of hidden food I consume (4)

Solution to Crossword no 201

The winner of last month‟s crossword was Marilyn Thomas of Linden Road, Brotton.

D. V. Townend & Co 8 Dundas Street East, Saltburn TS12 1AH

Country Outfitters Tel: (01287) 623754 Website: www.dvtownend.com Email: info@dvtownend.com Specialising in practical but stylish leisure and outdoor wear, we also stock a wide range of accessories, gifts and leather items from the most famous brands including Aigle, Magee, Seasalt and Tumble & Hide.

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Send your completed crossword to: Saltburn Crossword no 202, c/o Jackie‟s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, TS12 1AQ

by Friday, 20th April 2018. First correct solution out of the bag wins a £10 voucher kindly donated by Tim and Sheila of Real Meals.

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