Talk of the Town February 2017

EDITION 188

CIRCULATION 4,800

FEBRUARY 2017

SALTBURN’S FREE MONTHLY MAGAZINE www.tottsaltburn.co.uk 1

15% off everything Butcher’s Discount Event Saturday 18th February On Saturday 18th February we will be offering 15% off all fresh meat products from our butchery counter & food to go counter. We will also be hosting a number of different tastings throughout the day, including a few new products! Come in and see us.

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SALTBURN’S TOWN TALK Letter from the Editor

February is an important month for me with Talk of the me I still care about very strongly: two or more sentences must Town. It is the anniversary of me taking over the magazine, never be joined together by a comma; coming round the corner my first one being no. 10, March 2002. Yes, it’s now fifteen of Redcar Road, Guisborough Priory cannot be seen (unless years since I started doing this. During this time I have run it’s on wheels); ‘the reason is because’ is tautological and I the magazine with humility, it never being an ‘ego trip’ for was not stood or sat in the corner but I was standing or sitting, me, and allowed most of the contributors to have their own unless someone had picked me up and plonked me down!

There has been a catastrophic increase in the cost of way, except occasionally. I have often thought of it as being necessarily in the driving seat (someone has to!) but being paper. This is because of the weak pound following the Brexit aware of the desires of the back seat drivers. I don’t have to vote. Most, if not all, of our paper comes from abroad, despite agree with them to listen to their instructions but occasionally all of us recycling. We must adapt to survive. Love, Ian. they have to know who’s really in charge; for example Send letters, adverts and contributions for the next issue (by traditional grammar, spelling and punctuation are paramount.

Friday, 17th February 2017) to: The Editor, Talk of the Actually, I’ve moved on a little since my excellent English Town c/o Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, teacher at school (Geoff Farrington) and I do now accept that Saltburn, Cleveland, TS12 1AQ. Telephone: 01287 623903 a sentence can begin with a conjunction! But he would most (or email: talkofthetownsaltburn@gmail.com). Talk of the definitely have disagreed. However, a few things he taught Town has a website: www.tottsaltburn.co.uk and the Craft Club Busy Fingers: 2nd and 4th Thursday of each Friends of Talk of the Town can be found on Facebook. month, 1.30 till 3.30pm in the Coffee Room, Saltburn The Guisborough and District Branch of the Embroiderers’ Community Centre.

Redcar Lecture Society: On Tuesday, 14th February at Guild are holding their monthly meeting on Saturday, 4th 2.15pm in the Redcar East Community Centre on Durham February, 2017 in Sunnyfield House, Westgate, Guisborough, Road we shall have a return visit from Peter Chester who will TS14 6BA at 2pm. Our guest speaker will be Donna Cheshire be telling us all about the fascinating subject of ‘William’s and her subject is Stitching Stories.

Visitors are welcome whether non-stitchers, beginners or Ladies’! William was a Lord Mayor of London in the 1600s, more experienced stitchers. For more information please lived at Kirkleatham Hall and founded the local Sir William contact 01642 314860. The car park behind Belmont House Turner’s Grammar School. A fortnight later, on February (council offices) is free on Saturday.

28th, we shall have a return visit from Ken Smith, who will be transporting us to Eastern Europe for a Wildlife WI Report: A buzz of conversation greeted everyone as they Presentation entitled ‘Land of the UnDead’! Admission at the walked into the January meeting, as people greeted friends and door is £2.50 and visitors are most welcome. caught up with news after the Christmas and New Year Advance Notice! On Tuesday, 9th May we are Holiday. Our speaker was David Lane who runs The Clucking planning to hold a Special 60 years Anniversary Event. Pig Company. David began by telling us how he started off in a Details later! Watch this space! small way selling eggs from the ex-battery hens he kept on his Saltburn Farmers’ Market: The local foodies are currently small holding. From there he progressed to making scotch eggs having their annual winter break, but will be back for a brand to sell at farmers’ markets and local food festivals. His first new season of popular monthly markets on Saturday. 11th venture was just 70 scotch eggs but this has risen steadily year March. For further news and updates, see Saltburn Farmers’ by year and is now over 2000. The main thing that came over in his talk was his passion for using locally sourced ingredients Market on facebook.

Emmanuel Church Hall Table Top and Collectors’ Sale: and selling them in local markets with a personal touch. We all The next sales are on Saturdays, 4th and 18th February and enjoyed his informative and entertaining talk, and of course the then 4th and 18th March. We have a lot of new stall holders samples of the product which we were able to try. Definitely to and anyone who would like to join us or just to have a clear be recommended.

Now into a new year we are planning for the year ahead. out can contact Denise on the number below. What a good start to the new year we had when a lot of people rang for a Tonight we were asked to form a darts team and a quiz team for table so they could have a clear out! We are also doing our the Teesside federation competitions. We were told of plans for usual lunches and all day breakfast, fresh home baked cake, outings and craft workshops coming up, as well as our usual pies and scones. Home made refreshments and light lunches round of monthly activities, from walks to book club and are on sale all day. FREE ENTRANCE and a warm welcome masterclass cookery. Hopefully something for everyone. For a to everyone. With over 26 stall holders, selling lots of bric-a- full list of all our activities check our website brac, books, toys, baby goods, and all sorts of collectables, (www.saltburnwi.org.uk). Our next meeting is on Thursday, 9th there is something for everyone. We have now got a lot of February in the Methodist Church hall in Milton Street, 7.15pm new stall holders selling lots of different and interesting for a 7.30pm start. New members are always given a warm things. If anyone would like to book a table please contact welcome so please do come along.

Denise Marshall on 07929 589538.

Diane Falla Cover Illustration: Standing Stones at Saltburn Golf Club by Ken Bladen 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.dcprintyorkshire.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 Photographic Society 2017

Falcon on Boat

Kestrel

Saltburn Photographic Society was founded in 1960 and has had a continuous high membership throughout the years. We have been members since the first meeting and many changes to the photographic world have taken place. We feel that the present scene is probably the most exciting than in all those previous years. Spending hours in a dark room is now almost a thing of the past.

However, modern technology still enables members to produce large prints of a very high quality. Modern cameras have capabilities which we could not even dream of in the early days but in real terms the cost of the modern camera is probably cheaper than the quality cameras which we bought. We were delighted to receive a letter from a new member which is titled “Saltburn Photographic Society from the perspective of a new member”. It reads follows: “As you expect, walking into a room full of strangers the first time I attended a meeting was rather daunting. However, it was fine. The treasurer explained about membership and fees; some committee members introduced themselves.

“The week following joining I was given a welcome pack which contained all sorts of useful information.

“The meetings are varied and interesting. Not only do we have the opportunity to see the work of various professional and awarding winning photographers, our own members also share their work and explain techniques.

“Monthly competitions are held, and judging is done by a knowledgeable photographer usually from another Northern Club. I find the comments at these meetings particularly useful in understanding how to improve my photography.

“Once a month there is a practical night. The 4

Tawny Owl on gate

programme is organised at the beginning of the season, based on requests from members. I have found these meetings very helpful and informative as well as being an opportunity to get to know other members better.

“There are skilled and experienced photographers in the society who are always willing to give help and advice. There is no snobbery about who has what camera and you don’t have to have a “posh” or expensive camera or a host of lenses to enjoy being a member.

“A little while ago a trip up to Northumberland to take photographs of birds of prey was organised. As a new member I was a little reticent about putting my name down to go but I am glad I did. We had a fantastic day and I learned so much. More experienced members gave hints and tips whenever appropriate. I came home with photographs of a quality that I never thought I would have been able to achieve.

“I have also made new friends and if we go for a day out taking photographs we can share ideas and expertise. Also, no one is saying “have you not finished yet - you’ve been ages,” or “do you really have to change the lens again?” I am so glad I have joined Saltburn Photographic Society and hope to be a member for many years.”

The letter was signed by a new (lady) member.

Seen here above are photographs from the day out to Northumberland taken by the author of the letter, who wishes to remain anonymous.

The cost of creating images is almost negligible and so easy to share with friends and relatives across the world. Hopefully prints will still be made of photographs taken at the present time which will be available for viewing in a hundred years’ time.

See also page 14.

Cath and Tony Lynn

Same chef and owner for over 6 years

SALTBURN METHODIST CHURCH Milton Street, Saltburn.

Sunday Services at 10.45 a.m.

Looking for that special gift and card?

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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: 07515 863440. Cllr. Smith: 07557 540628.

Cllr. Thomson: 01287 624883.

Mid Week Worship AndWednesday 6.00 p.m. at 10 a.m

Sunday school 10.45 a.m.

Mid week worship Wednesday at 10 a.m.

Prayer Meeting Tuesday at 1.30 p.m.

OPEN CHURCH - 10 a.m. - 12 noon MONDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY. A quiet space with a listening ear, Or just call in for tea or coffee.

MONDAYS AT EIGHT LADIES GROUP at 8 p.m.

THURSDAYS FORTNIGHTLY 2.30 Ladies Meeting COFFEE MORNINGS: WEDNESDAY 10 - 11.45 a.m.

SATURDAY 10 a.m. - 12noon

TUESDAY 2.p.m. KNIT & NATTER. TUESDAY & THURSDAY TODDLERS GROUP. If you would like to come please drop in and ask as there is normally a waiting list.

First TUESDAY OF THE MONTH Soup & Bun lunch at 12.30 p.m.

See notice board for other events.

Anyone is welcome to join us at these events, do come along, we’d love to see you.

We also have rooms to rent for meetings etc, for more information please contact 622826.

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Once Upon a Time in the Wapentake I have lost the original article so I can only give you the few, probably muddled, facts that I can remember.

Numbers, in particular, are only approximations. The article concerned a book, possibly the largest, heaviest book ever made, consisting of, I think, 385 cowhides bound together. It is also one of the most beautiful books ever made. But it is neither its size nor beauty that makes it important but what it is: a translation of the Gospels into Latin. There was already one such in existence but it was known to be inaccurate; a better version was needed, and this book was it. From now on, all Latin gospels would be copies of this book. It has spent much of its life in Italy, but it was not made there. It was made in the one place in Western Europe able to afford the raw materials (included colours brought from as far away as China), the one place where there were craft workers skilled enough, and scholars with a proper understanding of the Greek original, to carry out the work, and, finally, as barbaric wars tore everything apart elsewhere in Europe, a place where there was peace and security, light in the darkness, at least for a while.

It was made in the Kingdom of Northumberland, in one of the chain of abbeys that stretched along the coast from Lindisfarne to Whitby, by way of Jarrow, Monkwearmouth, and Hartlepool. They were so many Earthbound Arks guarding the flickering flame of what was left of our civilisation: the scholars and craft workers; the music and the manuscripts and embroideries. In Whitby the Great Abbess Hilda presided, and Caedmon the Cowherd composed the first Hymn in the English language; on the banks of the Tyne and the Wear, Benedict Biscop assembled the greatest library in Europe.

Because of that library, Bede, one of the greatest men of his day, was able to do his work, work which still shapes our everyday life today. To begin with he invented a word to describe those parts of this island inhabited by people who did not speak a Celtic language (not who we are but what we are not), roughly speaking, the land east of a line from Edinburgh to Southampton. The word he coined meant the Land of the Angles: Ingerland. He could, perhaps have called it the Land of the Saxons, but Bede himself was an Angle, like all those living north of the Humber; Saxons were the soft lot living down south in petty Kingdoms such as Sussex and Essex.

Bede is remembered mostly as an historian, a new kind of historian. Previously historians had written what they thought should have happened and gave their heroes the speeches they thought they should have made. Bede was different: he checked his facts. If there were living witnesses to what had happened, he talked to them; if he had to rely on written evidence, he would crosscheck it. If he found that a miracle was supposed to have happened in the reign of King Oswald, when his other sources said Oswald was dead at the time, then he would question whether it had really happened. However much he might want to tell of miracles, they had to be true ones. Truth 6

was sacred.

The problem with crosschecking in those days was a lack of a commonly agreed way of dating things.

Someone’s life might be described as beginning in the third year of the reign of King Readwald in one source, and ending in the year Gregory the Great became Pope in another. To fit things together in any coherent order was a nightmare. Bede’s solution to the problem, to date everything from the birth of Christ, was not original. He borrowed it from a Syrian scholar called Dionysius Exiguous, but it was Bede who made it widely accepted, and it is because of Bede that we call this year 2017, the two thousandth and seventeenth since the birth of Christ.

Except it isn’t. Dionysius had got his sums wrong, which Bede, a better mathematician had spotted… but that’s another story. And one last thing about Bede: he was the first person to record that the people of Ingerland celebrate the birth of Christ on December 25th.

It was not to last. The barbarians, in the form of the Vikings, were on the way, and the wealthy, defenceless monasteries of the coast were their first targets. Soon the men from the north would overrun the most southerly, and, some would say, the best part, of Northumberland and make it into the Kingdom of York, and there create their own kind of civilisation.

But before this happened, the spark had been passed on. Alcuin of York had gone to the court of Charlemagne to help revive learning in his newly created Empire of the Franks, and many were to follow him.

Why should I be bothering you, dear reader, and myself for that matter, with all this ancient stuff? Why? Because I am living in a world where universities are no longer places where knowledge is sought for its own sake, but institutions which exist to serve the needs of Industry, an industry that no longer exists, living in a world where some great library, built for everyone to use, can become a luxury hotel for the few (a far more profitable use of City Centre space) and the books it once sheltered are sent for landfill. And because I am living in a world where a hundred amusing lies are valued more highly than a thousand mundane facts, valued, that is, by those who control the flow whose only way of telling whether a thing is good or not is whether it makes money.

They say we are living in a post-truth world, and, in the sense that we no longer can all agree what the truth is, perhaps we are. (And I have long known that my truth is not the same as Bede’s.) But does this mean that we should give up trying to distinguish between someone expressing what they genuinely believe to be true, and someone who is knowingly telling a lie to bolster their own position or just for the hell of it.

Once they feared the barbarian at the gates, but our barbarians are inside the walls and in charge of the City.

It feels like there is nowhere left to hide.

Tim Beswick

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Councillors’ Column For frequenters of the Library, including Ward members for surgeries, the notice of intent to reduce opening hours comes as unwelcome news. Opening hours are to be reduced to 31 per week. Before implementation and resultant staff reduction, there is an opportunity to have a say in the proposed change. A drop-in session is to be held on February 16th between 2pm and 4pm. Attendance is encouraged and views of residents welcomed.

Whilst the recent sea surge was not as bad as September 2013, some lower promenade area damage was suffered. More might have occurred if the wind direction had been due North. The Cat Nab car park was subject to beck side erosion once again and the promised retaining wall is yet to make the design stage. The low level footpath crossing the beck, again closed for repair, was to have been raised to highway level. Perhaps this may now be reconsidered.

Highway maintenance and road safety continue to be a major interest. Resurfacing of a substantial area of Wilton Bank will address a long standing need. An area on Glenside will be designated for visiting buses to drop off passengers and then move to the Council car park at Hob Hill. This should reduce the amount of car parking spaces taken up by parked buses on Marine Parade, but the problem will not be fully addressed until designated car parking spaces are line marked.

30 mph signs are to be moved back from the town entrance on Brotton Road, reducing the speed at which vehicles approach the Ship Inn corner. A similar exercise

will be completed, after years of requests, on Guisborough Road. Here, the speed recorder will be repositioned to give earlier warning on this stretch of road where vehicles regularly, and unreasonably, exceed the speed limit.

The Keep Britain Tidy campaign is again encouraging an annual litter pick at the start of March.

Registering on the website (which is greatbritishspringclean.org.uk) will get one’s name on the national list. After a resident complaint, the bank side next to Jack’s Castle will be one of the sites being listed. Any individual or group can sign up to take part.

The local NHS has confirmed a £4 million redevelopment of Guisborough Primary Care Hospital, starting this autumn and so allowing continuity of existing outpatient clinics. By promoting more use of NHS facilities in East Cleveland there will be a more holistic approach to care in the community.

One piece in the NHS jigsaw that remains missing is positive forward planning for more GPs. Fewer medical graduates are entering general practice whilst many are taking early retirement. Few take further training in the North East and of those even less remain.

Until the promised expanded training programme is in place, temporary gap filling is planned. Funding has been secured to recruit 10 qualified GPs from outside the UK to come to Redcar & Cleveland and South Tees.

Hopefully they can be appointed and a warm welcome given.

Philip Thomson 7

Saltburn Beachwatch Updates Passive Modular Array – floating barrier to capture rubbish This time last year I reported on a scheme to install a floating 60km barrier called a Passive Modular Array (PMA) to capture floating rubbish in the swirling ocean currents known as Gyres with one of these “islands” of rubbish in the North Atlantic Gyre being as large as Wales! The idea is to use a PMA anchored to the sea bed to act like a beach and passively collect this litter which can then be taken away with the intention of recycling what they can. During 2016 the Ocean Cleanup organisation and the Dutch government tested a 100 Metre prototype in the North Sea. Unfortunately storms in the North Sea during July and August (supposedly a once in a 100 year event) meant that the PMA barrier suffered increasing damage and had to be disconnected and taken to shore for a detailed inspection. Engineers and scientists think they understand why the damage occurred and how they can fix it. They intend to restart North Sea testing in the near future. Ocean Cleanup maintain that this technology can be made to work and are involved in a PMA experiment due to take place later this year off the coast of Japan. Many other marine scientists and engineers remain unconvinced that to scale this barrier up to 60km is going to work; also this barrier is only designed to collect floating rubbish in the top few metres of ocean and does not address what happens on the sea floor. With all the damage to the ocean that existing litter pollution causes my view is still that while it is worthwhile to try to remove the rubbish in the seas the long term answer must be to prevent it getting there in the first place.

Cotton Bud Sticks With plastic cotton bud sticks being one of the most numerous items of litter found on Saltburn Beach it is good that this last year has seen a large shift in public awareness and attitude to this issue in the UK, with a recent petition showing huge public support for industrywide change from plastic to paper/card cotton buds. So it is great news that following the example of Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Tesco, other major companies have now decided that they will phase out plastic stems in their own brand products by the end of 2017 and replace them with biodegradable paper/card. Cotton bud sticks are the most common litter item flushed down toilets which then end up on the country’s beaches. Whilst the switch from plastic to paper/card is to be welcomed these items should still not be flushed down the toilet. The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) would like to see much more prominent “Do not flush” labelling on cotton bud sticks and other products (like wet wipes) that are inappropriately put down the toilet. The message is clear; only the three Ps (pee, poo and paper) should go down the loo and everything else should be disposed of responsibly with household waste. Remember - bag it, bin it, don’t flush it.

Roy Smith 8

Tom Blenkinsop MP takes final steps to sign up to the Army Reserve Labour Member of Parliament for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland is set to join the Army Reserve as part of the Royal Military Police Reserves.

Tom Blenkinsop MP is undergoing the final assessment stage before he signs up for phase one basic training, which he will take alongside his parliamentary duties.

Tom said: “I’m looking forward to going to Glencorse barracks in Scotland to start my formal Army assessment for the Army Reserve. Passing these tests will allow me to start training with the 243 Provost Company, Northern Detachment, 1 Regiment Royal Military Police, I can’t wait to start. My family has a strong tradition of military service, my father was a Royal Navy veteran, my grandfather was a British Army veteran and my brother has just joined the Royal Navy Reserve. Military service is a family tradition that I am proud to continue. This has been great motivation to keep, Frankie and Nick from Redcar Amateur Boxing Club have been putting me through paces for months in anticipation for my Army fitness tests, I’m sure that this hard work will pay off.”

The Army Reserve is the largest of the Reserve Forces, and supports the Regular Army at home and overseas. Army Reserve Soldiers come from all walks of life and work parttime as soldiers for the British Army alongside full-time Regular soldiers.

February Friday Friends We are an inclusive friendship group, welcoming people of all abilities and ages over 18. Here is our latest programme: Feb 3rd - Seated Keep-Fit to music with Taylor followed by Bingo; the afternoon arts ‘n’ craft is making a pom pom caterpillar.

Feb 10th - The U3A Ukulele Group will be playing songs old and new, then we are making heart cards for Valentine’s Day. Feb 17th - A quiz then learning sign language with Tom. Folding origami flowers.

Feb 24th - Indoor Bowling at Saltburn Bowls Club.

Back at the hall to make a surreal collage using magazine pictures.

We meet at Emmanuel Church Hall, Macnay St, Saltburn every Friday, with an activity morning 10 12.30 then arts ‘n’ crafts 1 - 4. Your 1st session is free to see if you like it, then it’s £2.50 or £4 all day, to help cover rent. Carers are always free. We are run by friendly volunteers and we always welcome a new face. For more info phone 07833 895 501 (or email thefridayfriends@outlook.com).

Anjee Charman-Clark, chair

Eric and Peggy at Laurieston A recent arrival at Laurieston care home, Leven Street, is a former England football international referee, Eric Henderson with his wife Peggy. Peggy said they were settling in well after moving from their home at Marske. Eric is 94 and gets around in a wheelchair. In his main career, he worked as a steel manager at both Redcar and Consett. Eric Henderson is a former president of the Football League Referees and Linesmen’s Association.

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Saltburn 500 Club Congratulations go to A Croll for winning the £100 First Prize in the January Saltburn 500 Club draw.

We managed to put Saltburn Christmas lights away on 6th January, thanks to the volunteers who turned up in the miserable weather. Unfortunately, I received a phone call on Saturday, 7th January, informing me that our electrician Chris Abbott had passed away on the Friday night. The news came as a total shock as we had been laughing and joking for a fair bit of the day! He was a first-class electrician and also a first-class person who was very easy to get on with. He will be missed by myself and all of the volunteers who had got to know him over the years of his involvement with the lights. My deepest condolences go to Chris’ family.

The Christmas trees, which we took down, were transported to Redcar as a result of me reading an appeal from Friends of Redcar. The Friends of Redcar intended using them to help to preserve the sand dunes and we have decided to cooperate with Friends of Redcar in future years as long as we have Christmas trees to supply them. I think it’s a very good idea and a small contribution towards giving things back to nature.

Plans are already being made in order to raise funding for the 2017 Christmas lights. However, it must be said that the fundraising I organised in 2016 was insufficient as the exercise resulted in a shortfall of money. Unless new funding can be found, I may have to consider cutting back the display for future years, which would be a great shame as the 2016 was “the best display yet” according to many who have commented about them. We need fund-raising ideas because we cannot expect the businesses to donate more than they already do and Saltburn in Bloom still haven’t managed to cultivate a money tree for Saltburn. (I’m sure Lynda would share the crop if she could cultivate one!)

I have booked four table-top sales in the Community Centre, the dates being: Saturdays, 15th April, 19th August, 9th September and 14th October. Some of the volunteers who did baking for me in 2016 have had to retire and I would be grateful if you could help in any way.

The 2017 Summer Bandstand schedule is nearing completion. We have Saturdays 19th and 26th August free at this point in time and would like to hear from anybody interested in playing. Please let me know, as soon as possible, by contacting me at the email address below or by leaving a letter for me at the library.

Trevor Welburn Secretary, Saltburn 500 Club/Friends of Saltburn trevor.welburn@btinternet.com

Beach huts: Storms in mid-January damaged the doors of the three new beach huts on the lower promenade. Other damage included the path over the bridge near the Ship Inn and a wall near the pub car park. Councillors will decide in mid-February on the planning application for more beach huts to be placed on the prom.

Library: A public consultation session will be held in the library on Thursday, 16th February from 2-4pm on providing self-service machines for scanning books in and out and face-to-face advice on council tax, business rates and benefits.

Kerry and Pete’s Wedding Kerry, The Receptionist at Brockley Hall Hotel in Saltburn is looking forward to getting married to Pete on Tuesday, 14th February. If it snows blame her. Thank you to everyone that has wished us well - it means a lot. Kerry xx 9

Lighting up Skinningrove Jetty

The jetty at Skinningrove was built in the 1880s to transport goods by ship from the ironworks on the clifftop above. By the late 1930s road and rail transport had removed any significant need for its use. During its life the jetty has been hit by vessels and, in World War Two, attempts were made to disable it in order to prevent enemy invasion.

This resilient structure has withstood tides and extreme weather but its condition eventually deteriorated until it became unsafe. Fortunately, resources became available in recent years to restore the jetty to a safe condition as part of coastal protection work.

The jetty is now safe for walkers to use and it has been enhanced by the installation of benches and lighting; the path between the village and the jetty also has lighting now. Walkers on the Cleveland Way and North Sea Trail can enjoy fresh views of the coastline from the jetty, with Cattersty Sands to the west and towering cliffs towards Boulby.

Councillor Barry Hunt, Mayor of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council says, “Skinningrove Jetty is a very significant part of the area’s history and heritage.

It’s certainly a unique feature along our coast and probably much further afield as well.

“Support from The Environment Agency, Coastal Communities Fund and the borough council has secured it for safe use and I’m pleased to see local residents and visitors making use of this iconic structure. It’s a dream of mine to one day see recreational use of the jetty include boat trips stopping here so more visitors can explore the local area.”

John Roberts

Saltburn Studios’ Gallery Saltburn Studios’ Gallery is closed this month but in March we reopen with Sue Chipchase’s exhibition of her paintings. Sue joined us a few months ago and we hope you will enjoy seeing her work on display.

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or email: simon.robson1@ntlworld.com

SALTBURN EVANGELICAL CHURCH Leven Street, Saltburn Seeking to be more like Jesus and sharing His love with those around us.

"We love Him because He first loved us."

(1 John 3:19) Please join us as we gather to worship and learn more about Jesus, to build and strengthen our faith, and encourage one another to grow more like Him. We meet each Sunday at 11.00am and 6.00pm.

Saltburn in Bloom In this month’s article I would like to update you with Saltburn in Bloom’s latest news.

After appealing numerous times for new volunteers to join our group, with no response, the committee decided to look at what we do and try to make the workload more manageable. I don’t think people realise how much work goes on behind the scenes, especially for the hanging baskets that are funded by our community.

So, the first subject to discuss was entry into Northumbria in Bloom, a competition we have successfully been involved with for many, many years.

We held an open meeting, with representatives of RCBC, our Parish Council and individuals concerned, where everyone’s opinion was listened to. After further discussion, a vote was taken at Committee with the majority voting NOT to enter the competition this year, to have a break and take the time to look at what we can comfortably achieve in our work around the town. We will continue to garden and put up hanging baskets, working as usual for the benefit of the town. We are also looking at the way we put up hanging baskets (more information next month). Existing sponsors please note the letters will be later arriving this year.

We are delighted to pass on to you the news that after three years of consultations, the Fossil Garden near the Cliff Lift, which has become such an eyesore, is going to have a make-over. Planning permission has been obtained and most of the necessary funding is in place, meaning that the work can take place before the summer.

We are grateful to Impetus Environmental Trust, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council, Groundwork North-East and Cumbria, Greg Sills from Scurator and other individuals for their support. Because of the funding shortfall we will be holding fundraising events during the year. If you would like to make a donation to this fund or perhaps organise a fundraising event for us please get in touch (email saltburn.in.bloom@gmail.com).

It will be such a relief to the committee to complete this project in such a prominent area of town and we hope you will enjoy watching the work progress. The area is to be terraced with stone supporting walls and an access gate and the garden will be planted and maintained by the Gardening group. Information will be posted on our noticeboard in the Library.

Our AGM will be held in Saltburn Library on Tuesday, 21st March at 5.00pm, to which you are invited.

We do need new people with new ideas and would welcome you on board. You do not have to be a gardener as we need people with a whole range of talents and skills, especially computing. Please contact us if you are willing to give us some time.

On a lighter note we are holding a quiz in the Cricket Club on Thursday, 2nd February at 8.00. Teams of 4 preferably. £3.00 including supper – just turn up on the night. Hope to see you there!

Lynda Parkes (Chair)

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 - £35.00 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 11

What’s on at Saltburn Library in February The Friends of Saltburn Library are delighted to be able to offer you a double bill on their February 21st monthly talk.

At 2pm Tatiana Aitken will give a well-researched and informative talk on the controversial subject of “fracking”. To quote her: “A short introduction explaining what the process of “fracking” (Hydraulic fracturing) actually is, its history worldwide and in the UK, discuss any potential benefits and downfalls. In May 2016, the North Yorkshire County Council voted to approve fracking in Ryedale. Find out how this may affect our local area.

Questions and opinions from the audience are invited. We could end up with a debate on our hands!

This will be followed at 3.30pm by a repeat talk (which proved so popular) last year. You are invited to stay on, if you wish. We also are hoping our vocal young people will attend, as it will be of great interest to school leavers and gap year students, especially. This talk is actually biographical as Kendall Aitken who is recounting it, actually experienced all the journeys and adventures from the age of 17 years onwards until three years later, when he returned, to go to University. It will be accompanied by film

and a great deal of humour. If you missed it last time, don’t miss it in February!

As usual there will be refreshments served, and the entrance is free, but donations of any size are welcome – they help to keep your library an interesting place to visit.

B Chaffer Have your Say - Redcar and Cleveland will be hosting a drop in session on Thursday, February 16th, 2-4.00pm, where you will have an opportunity to give your views and ask questions regarding the proposed changes to libraries. We value your thoughts and opinions so would be grateful if you can spare the time to attend, or, if not, alternatively you can also pop in the library and pick up a questionnaire to fill in.

Advance warning too of our next children’s event. We will be “Pirates ahoy” at half term on February 15th 2.003.00pm with pirate’s crafts and small prizes for the best dressed pirates! So bring your best pirate voices and have a fun filled session!

For any further information on any of the above just give us a ring on 01287 623584.

See also page 9.

Tracey

Saltburn and District Group for Visually Impaired People Firstly, on behalf of my Guide Dog, Quinta, may I thank everybody who gave us such kind feedback on her letter last month, but, no, she is not yet ready to do a monthly contribution!

In December we were joined by Colin, a volunteer speaker from Blind Veterans U, formerly St Dunstans K. This is a charity who help any ex-service personnel who have or are, losing their sight. They can support in technology, advice on benefits and mobility issues. They also have holiday facilities where all expenses are paid. So, if you were in the services, and this includes Blue Light services, and served, if only for one day, you are eligible for their help. They currently have around 4,700 members whose ages range from 102 to 25. Their target for this year is 9,000. Blind Veterans UK can be contacted on 0800 389 7979.

In January we were joined by Carol who is a Dog Listener. Her role is to help dogs and their owners overcome issues of anger, fear and social issues. The main area is to establish the ‘leaders’ in the pack so the

dog looks to us for food, safety and a loving home with no threats, and they do not have to be the leader and look after us. We had a session with Quinta in our home as she has always had a fear of fireworks. We had 3 weeks before New Year’s Eve, so not long, but, as we changed our behaviour the transformation in her was amazing. Quinta was 80 percent improved on how she had been in November! We now need to maintain our roles as leaders in our ‘pack’. It has not been easy to resist her demands but the results have been staggering in such a short time. We love her enough to continue!

If you, or someone you know, has a dog with a problem, Carol can be contacted on 01642 511774.

Our meeting on 8th February is to see a longawaited return talk from Guide Dogs. Please join us at 2pm in the Coffee Lounge, Community Centre, Albion Terrace, Saltburn.

Any further information from Chris Ferguson on 01287 204170.

Snowdrop Sunday in Gisborough Priory Woodland Gardens Why not wrap up warm and come along to the Gisborough Priory Woodland Gardens on Sunday, 26th February, between 1pm and 3pm, when you can join volunteers to welcome one of the first signs of spring.

Even though the thermometer is still saying winter the sight of hundreds of beautiful snowdrops flowering under old trees is enough to lift the spirits and make you realise spring is just around the corner.

After the dark days of winter it’s amazing to see the woodland floor transformed by the arrival of these delicate 12

flowers.

Hopefully, as well as admiring the fabulous display of snowdrops, you can be tempted to try some of the homemade cakes and warming drinks that will be on offer. All funds raised will go towards the continuing restoration work in the woodland gardens.

To join us for Snowdrop Sunday come through the Gisborough Priory entrance, next to St Nicholas’ Church or via the Bow Street Centre car park, between 1pm and 3pm and head for the woodland gardens. Entrance is free.

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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 February for babies and newcomers to the town

Website: www.annescomputingdesigns.co.uk

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 Structural Surveys Beam Designs Building Restoration Foundation & Underpinning Design General Building Works

Professional and Friendly Service Gregory Sills BEng (Hons) CEng MIStructE FGS

t: 01287 624644 m: 07960 967865 Also, Joinery Work Undertaken

Call Liz on: 01287 203571 Mobile: 07834 022289 Email: liz.ingledew@btinternet.com Website: www.liziesdecorating.co.uk

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

Saltburn Charity Crafters We would like to thank everyone who took part in, or attended the Christmas Gift Fair in December. It was a very enjoyable and successful day during which over ÂŁ800 was raised by local charities. Many thanks for your support.

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, 1st February from 2pm to 4pm in the coffee room at Saltburn Community Hall. Come and join us for a cuppa if you would like to help us.

For further details please contact Angie on 01287 205153.

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Megan’s Mind I can’t believe that Christmas has come and gone already. We moved into our new house just before Christmas so we had a mad rush to get everything in and sorted so we could be settled. We did it though, and our new house is nice and cosy. We went to my aunty’s for Christmas. Normally we do it ourselves but with the move we were all over the shop. I played games with my cousins and drank wine. It was a very good day. I was very spoilt, I got perfume, make up, chocolate, smellies and clothes.

2017 has been good for me so far. We got a slow cooker so it’s been fun making things in that.

We were without internet or television for a couple of weeks but now that we have everything in it is wonderful. We’ve got Sky. We didn’t have it before.

In fact I’ve never had Sky before but we’re enjoying it! My mum’s impressed that she can watch Homes Under the Hammer again and I like watching rubbish day time TV like ‘The Real Housewives of Beverley Hills’. That’s my favourite, but I also like ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’ and ‘Dance Moms’. But apart from watching things like that I’ve been watching a series on Netflix called ‘Warrior Women’. I’m only on episode three but number one was about Joan of Arc, number two was about Grace O’Malley and three is Boudica. I haven’t looked at who episode 4 is about yet because I like the excitement of when it pops up!

After putting on quite a lot of weight at the end of last year I decided to change all of my eating habits and get into a strict routine, especially because I go to the gym a lot. Diet is very important in changing your body, so I have cut out all sweets, chocolate and crisps. Instead I’m eating chicken, vegetables, fish, rice, nuts, and fruit and that’s pretty much it! Sometimes we do other meats as well as chicken in the slow cooker so I’ll have that as well.

I’m feeling much better now after eating like that.

I’ve only been eating like this for one week and so far I have lost three pounds so I am excited about that! I log everything that I’m eating onto MyFitnessPal so I can keep track of how many Calories and Carbohydrates, Proteins and Fats I’m eating every day. I have set myself a certain amount of each and I was pleased to find out that the meals I’d planned for myself before starting hit my Macros almost dead on (Macros are macronutrients, carbs, proteins, fat). I haven’t measured myself with a tape measure yet, but I will. Although I think I am losing the weight from the top to the bottom because my face, neck and shoulders have really slimmed down, but my tummy, hips and thighs haven’t got any smaller yet! Oh well, if I carry on it will come off soon enough! I’ve also found myself not watching the ‘bad’ foods as much anymore! Nando’s is the exception. I think about Nando’s all the time. My mum and I are going to Nando’s soon for a treat and I feel like a small child on Christmas Eve. I didn’t realise how much I loved food until I started eating so strictly!

Megan 14

Bird flu in Yorkshire

SALTBURN ALERT: Two Saltburn residents Don Hibbert and his wife Marjorie read an ‘alert’ notice at the Hazelgrove allotments warning of restrictions on poultry movements while bird flu was about. They were walking nearby when invited to have their photo taken and are not linked to the allotments or owning poultry.

Bird flu has spread to Yorkshire and a further one-month restriction has been placed on the movement of poultry while the measures are in force.

A Redcar and Cleveland Council environmental health official has put up a new notice on Milton Street, near the allotments, saying that Defra has extended the prevention zone to 28th February. Up until now the restriction was up to 6th January, as reported in the January issue of Talk of the Town.

The owners of chickens, turkeys, geese or ducks have had to either keep them indoors or to take other measures to separate them from wild birds.

The council official said the strain of bird flu had been reported active in Settle, North Yorkshire, after wild birds had been found with it in Wales and Lincolnshire just before Christmas. He said a lot of homing pigeon owners were keeping their animals indoors though there was no legal obligation. He added that it was all right for people to continue feeding wild birds in their gardens. Also the flu strain had not affected humans in the UK so far.

Mr and Mrs Don Hibbert, who are pictured reading the December notice at Hazelgrove, were just walking nearby when they were asked to have their photo taken for Talk of the Town.

Mike Morrissey

Saltburn Photographic Society Wednesday, 8th February the results of the Jarvis and Lynn print sets and Ladies competition. Wednesday, 15th February Paul Wilson professional photographer from the Victorian Gallery in Whitby presents a photographic miscellany. Wednesday, 22nd February NYSDPA Interclub prints and DPIs competition results. Wednesday, 1st March results of the Natural World competition. Monday, 20th February: Wildlife photography, equipment and techniques (Tim Cossins) 7.00 pm Practical night Members Critique Night Meetings are held in the upstairs hall, Saltburn Milton Street Methodist Church TS12 1EB at 7.30pm. Visitors are welcome to any of our meetings; there will be a small charge.

For more information, visit our website www.saltburnphotographicsociety.co.uk or contact Tony Lynn 01287 622519.

Trevor Morris June 1923 - January 2017 “He had a very well developed sense of duty to his community and was very involved with his customers as manager of Saltburn Midland Bank,” says Ian Morris, whose ninety-three year old father, Trevor, sadly died on 5th January. Trevor was well-known for his long-standing membership of Rotary and the Freemasons too and his commitment to these was warmly acknowledged at the recent celebration of his life.

Trevor was born in Stockton, the only child of a steel worker from West Bromwich and his wife. He won a scholarship to Stockton Grammar School, but soon after, his father was transferred to Dorman Long steel works and the family moved to Redcar. So Trevor had to cycle along the Black Path from Redcar to school and back every day thereafter!

He was very athletic at Stockton Grammar School and was British Schools Champion for 440 yards. He went to compete in Glasgow. He played for Redcar Albion and had a trial for Middlesbrough Football Club, but a broken leg ended his football career.

When he left school, Trevor joined the army and was with the Royal Signals throughout the war. He travelled to as the Club’s International Chairman and Registrar.

Egypt, Palestine, Cairo, Alexandria and Athens. Sometime Ultimately, Trevor was awarded the highest honour in the during the war, he was given a sensitive posting to Hitchin organisation for his services to Rotary, the Paul Harris and was responsible for a listening station. While there, he Fellowship. joined an army band and played one night at The Hermitage.

In 1972, he became a member of the Huntcliff There he met Pat, whom he married in 1947, one of the Freemasons Lodge and served as Worshipful Master in worst winters of the century.

1983, eventually receiving Provincial Honours. He was Trevor had connections with Saltburn - his grandma, Chairman of the Masonic Trust and was instrumental in Mrs Smith, was brought up in Railway Cottages, Zetland the founding of the 200 Club to raise funds. Trevor was Terrace (now Gresley Court) and it was in Saltburn that he also involved with the Scouts and at Consett, took on the got his first post-war job, in the Midland Bank. He lived at role of Assistant District Commissioner.

Redcar again and cycled to and from work along the beach.

“My Dad fancied himself as Stirling Moss too!”

He was told by the manager that he had to give up his says Ian. “He used to be the navigator on overnight car interest in electrical engineering and his music, to study for rallies and was known to do handbrake turns and other banking exams and it was here that he became known to all hair-raising manoeuvres when at the wheel himself.” as ‘Bill’. (Even his grandchildren called him Billo!)

Trevor was fond of the 1940s furniture at the “As junior teller, he used to go to houses Midland Bank and was devastated when Saltburn Branch neighbouring Rushpool Hall and to the front room of was modernised and called HSBC. When computers someone’s house at Brotton Chemist’s Corner to do began to come in, he decided to retire at the age of 58. In banking,” says Ian. “It was a very personal service.”

1975, he and Pat had bought a house off plan from From Saltburn, Trevor went to work at Midland Knaggs Builders on The Fairway and he loved walking Bank, Middlesbrough and while there, Ian was born in down through the woods to the sea.

Guisborough and daughter Pam was born in Saltburn. In Trevor was devoted to his wife, Pat and very 1958, Trevor was sent to Consett as an accountant and then shaken by her death in 2013. “She was a clerk for LNER to Bishop Auckland. In 1968, he was delighted to be brought Railway when they met and she came north to be with back to Saltburn as the bank manager. He enjoyed finding in him,” says Pam. “She was a classical home-maker, very the strong room lots of the ledgers he had written in as a family-orientated.” They were both very proud of Ian, teenager! It was important to him to be able to walk to who became a Professor of Medical Science at the work, so he set up home in Hob Hill Close and did this until University of York and Pam, whose career was in nursing he retired in 1981. and midwifery. Their six grandchildren and seven greatWith the job came the role of Treasurer of Saltburn grandchildren were a delight to them too.

Golf Club, so he learned to play golf and was awarded lifeStaying in his home in Saltburn was very important time honorary membership. to Trevor; he knew all the old families and felt he While working at Consett, he lived at Shotley Bridge belonged here. But he was very comfortable at and joined the Round Table there. He became very Guisborough Manor Care Home in his last few months, enthusiastic about its community aspect and continued as a appreciating the daytime company and kindly staff. member of the 41 Club in Saltburn, doing lots of charity Rosemary Nicholls work. He held office as Treasurer and President and served 15

SALTBURN CRICKET CLUB

SALTBURN BLUES CLUB

Marske Mill Lane, Tel 01287-622761

At our December and January gigs, we were entertained fabulously by experienced musicians with years of great success behind them. On Saturday, 25th February, we shift our focus to the very young blues guitarist, TOM KILLNER, and his BAND. Expect some passion from Tom who was into the blues from a very early age. You have to wonder what’s behind the depth of emotion expressed in one so young. The answer, of course, lies within that person, his talent and in the music he was exposed to in his tender years. Tom was drawn to Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Gary Moore and their ilk, rather than contemporary heavy metal and pop, and the result is this band which is a tight trio in the classic blues format – Tom on lead guitar, Oliver Tallent on bass and Jake Ashton on drums. Full of energy and a mix of influences (blues, soul, southern rock and funk), they’re becoming well established on the big festival stages and venues on both sides of the Atlantic.

SUNJAY is the support on the night but this talented guitarist could easily be the headline act. His style has that natural drift between folk and blues.

Mellow bass vocals accompany intricate guitar skills. If you usually just come for the main act, it’ll be well worth the effort to come earlier for this superb artist.

REMINDER: The club membership fees are now due for renewal and we extend a warm welcome to new members who’ll benefit from discounted tickets throughout the year.

Doors: 7.30pm, Support: 8.00pm, Venue: Saltburn Cricket Club, Tickets: £10 available from: www.yorkshireticketshop.co.uk, 07960 935263 and Whistlestop Wines, Saltburn. Find all our details at www.saltburnbluesclub.co.uk and our Facebook page.

My show, STILL GOT THE BLUES, goes out on ZETLAND FM, 105FM and online for listeners outside the area every Monday night, 7-10pm. 3 hours of the best of blues music, old and new. It’s also available to listen to later on Mixcloud. Just follow the link at the bottom of Zetland FM’s web page.

SLIMMING WORLD – Tuesday mornings @ 9.00 – 10.30am FRIENDLY BINGO GROUP – Weds 1st & 15th Feb starting 8.00pm - all welcome SALTBURN IN BLOOM QUIZ – Thurs 2nd February. Tickets £3, includes light supper. Teams of 4.

GAREN'S MEMORIAL FOOTBALL MATCH Sat 18th Feb – in aid of MIND SALTBURN BLUES CLUB – Sat 25th Feb TOM KILLNER BAND support SUNJAY All ticket night - £10 with 10% discount for Club members *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 page regularly!

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

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

Harry

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

For a friendly efficient service on all legal matters Tel:

(01287) 623049 16

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

01287 624505

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Saltburn Lady Golfers Win Promotion!

Following their most successful season to date, Saltburn Golf Club Ladies Scratch team were promoted at the end of the 2016 season to the top division of the Yorkshire Ladies Golf Association league. This was a real achievement, and many thanks go to all the team members who took part in matches throughout the season. Many thanks also go to Coatham Coaches, who have provided the ladies teams with transport for their away matches for the past few seasons.

The coaches are always immaculate and the drivers always polite, good-natured and extremely helpful loading and unloading all the golf equipment. In addition, Coatham Coaches have provided the ladies teams with sponsorship for the past two years, enabling them to purchase their team colours (see photo) which have been admired wherever the teams have played.

Saltburn Golf Club also held an extremely successful Taster course in 2016, for ladies who had not played golf before, which resulted in 14 new lady members joining the club. We are hoping to repeat these sessions again around March/April this year, and further information can be

obtained by contacting the club on 01286 622812.

The Countryside Ranger and Volunteers, February 2017 Despite some mild days, the countryside is still very much in the grip of winter. More concerned with finding food than with human observers, lots of animals can be surprisingly easy to see at this time of year.

It may seem like winter to us but to our resident tawny owls spring is in the air and the end of February is a time for courtship. At the start of the breeding season, the owls become extremely vocal and, if you take a woodland walk at dusk or after dark, you may hear their familiar calls: harsh screeches are common as is the familiar ‘terwiit-terwoo’ of duetting pairs of birds. It is likely that within a week or two the female will be sitting on eggs. The nest site may be a tree hole or crevice. Nesting takes place this early in the year so that the chicks and newly-fledged owlets can take advantage of early spring’s food supply in the form of new families of young mice and voles.

As winter progresses, berry, fruit and nut supplies in the countryside become depleted and many birds are forced closer to towns and gardens in search of food. This makes them all the easier to see. One species in particular that is affected in this way in mid-winter is the fieldfare. This smartly plumaged member of the thrush family then turns up in sizeable flocks in open areas with short grass such as urban parks and school playing fields. In common with its cousin the redwing, the fieldfare is a flock-forming winter visitor to Britain and the two species often mix in suitable feeding areas. Fieldfares are appreciably larger than redwings, however, and closer in size to the mistle thrush. A close view of the fieldfare in good light reveals an attractive bird with mainly blue-grey and chestnut upperparts and pale underparts marked with dark streaks.

Candlesnuff fungus grows on rotting wood in clusters, which are 4-6cm high, with branched, antler-like projections.

At first the fungi are pure white but as they mature they blacken from the base, until eventually they become completely dark. Candlesnuff fungus is common throughout most of Britain and is mainly encountered in deciduous woodlands where there are plenty of rotting stumps and fallen 18

wood. Although it can be found throughout the year, it tends to be most conspicuous in late winter and early spring.

Being amphibians, newts are perfectly able to survive on land as long as their immediate environment is tolerably humid. This ability enables them to leave the water in autumn to forage for food on land. During the coldest periods of winter, however, they become torpid and hibernate, seeking refuges away from the elements and the prying eyes of predators. In the countryside, palmate newts typically hibernate under fallen logs or in holes in the ground among tree roots. If you have a pond in your garden and wish to attract newts on a permanent basis, remember that creating a pond is not enough – make sure there are plenty of secure hiding places in the garden, not too far from the water. Piles of logs and branches make ideal sites for the newts, but don’t disturb them in winter.

The wildflower meadow looks very quiet at this time of year, but the wildlife is still active. Birds are constantly seeking food from the wild plants and trees and the large number of molehills show that survival goes on below ground as well as above. You may have noticed that the meadow has not been cut since 2015, which means that the invasive grasses and brambles will gradually take over the area. This is not because the volunteers have given up looking after the meadow, but because we have been unable to find a farmer willing to cut it for us. If you are aware of anyone who might be willing to cut and clear this area at a reasonable cost, please contact Paul at the email address below, or the volunteers via their website.

Saltburn Countryside Volunteers continue to work throughout the year, meeting every Friday near the centre at 10.00am (to see the work we have done in the past, go to www.saltburncountrysidevolunteers.btck.co.uk).

For more information, contact paul.murphy@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk and for Volunteering opportunities, contact Karen.preston@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk

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Saltburn House this February! ***Every Friday it’s Karaoke!!*** Bands this month are: Sat 4th Feb Tom Jackson, Sat 11th Feb Shake the Snake, Sat 18th Feb The Elderly Brothers (60s and 70s), Sat 25th Feb The Delmonts

Bookings are now being taken for Mother’s Day Lunch on Sunday, 26th March. Our Popular Carvery with a choice of Four Meats, Home made Yorkshire Puddings and a Selection of Potatoes and Vegetables: Only £6.95, plus all Desserts £1.95. Book Early to Avoid Disappointment.

Hire out one of our Function Rooms for £20 an hour or £100 for the whole day. We have a choice of three very different Function Rooms, providing you with the versatility your company or party requires.

Accommodation Prices: Single Room only £30.00. Double/Twin Room £55.00 Single Half Board £40.00. Double Half Board £75.00. All Stay Types include a Complimentary Full English Breakfast!

For further information, contact Ann, Andy or Joanna on:

01287 622008

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21

Cleveland Diving Club This month’s article is taking a break from our animal talk focus to extol the heroism of the RNLI. When faced with dangerous seas and life threatening situations there would be few who would not agree that the crews of the RNLI boats are heroes in every sense of the word. Many of us ordinary folk can only wonder how these brave people achieve to save lives in conditions that are terrifying and appear insurmountable, to us lesser mortals. (Photo 1, courtesy of RNLI website.)

However, as Nelson Mandela once said, ‘It always seems impossible until it’s done,’ and these valiant rescuers are certainly no strangers to facing the impossible. I can only imagine (thankfully) that there must be no more welcoming sight, when at sea and in distress, than when the bright orange rescue boat appears on the horizon and an experienced calm voice takes control of the situation. During the Cleveland Divers annual RNLI fundraising event, at Saltburn Farmers’ Market, on Saturday, 10th December, many members of the public kindly demonstrated their support and appreciation for the RNLI. One lady remarking, ‘If it wasn’t for the RNLI I would not have a son today.’ Cleveland Divers would like to thank: Laura from Real Meals, who organises the market for providing us with a pitch; our club members who organised and managed the tombola and the club boat; (photo 2), John Smith’s butchers who provided the star tombola prize and finally, everyone who generously bought tombola tickets or offered contributions, making a total £218.16 raised (Photo 3). Further funds were also raised by our hardy (or crazy some would say) members who joined Bob George (one of the team who manages ‘The Jim Maidens Fund,’ that supports the RNLI and the Great North Air Ambulance) in taking part In the ‘Boxing Day Dip.’ These intrepid dippers appeared not to be deterred by the brisk chilling north wind and tempestuous seas (photo 4). After being cold and wet our plucky dippers were provided with a warm fire, hot soup and bacon butties by the staff of the Ship Inn; this was greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

After the busy festive season our members have got straight on with the business of scuba diving. Although the weather, sea conditions or the tides have been against sea diving, there has been much to keep our members busy. The maintenance and organisation of scuba kit, in particular, has been driven by an overwhelming response for applications to take up our six week introduction to scuba diving course. The January course will be well underway at the time of publication. However, Cleveland Divers plan to continue to offer this course throughout 2017. The primary aim of the course is to introduce non-divers to the basic skills of scuba diving within a safe environment and under the supervision of British Sub Aqua Cub (BSAC) qualified instructors. Many course participants go on to continue their training to become qualified divers. This then opens the way to a whole new underwater experience and enjoyment. So if you would like to learn more about the course or Cleveland Divers BSAC club then contact us on 07960 608529 or visit our Facebook page, ‘The Diving Club- Cleveland.’

June Coomber 22

Emmanuel Church Hall, Macnay Street, Saltburn

Tuesdays at 3.30pm, 5.30pm and 7.30pm.

New morning group: on Tuesdays at 9.00am at the Cricket Club, Marske Mill Lane, Saltburn.

Telephone Stevie on

01642 474920

We sell a good selection of Stationery i.e. Envelopes, Labels, Tapes, Mailing Bags, and Greetings Cards plus a wide range of Personalised Cards.

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BOOK CORNER We are moving!

Join us for our Grand Opening on Saturday 4th March at our new, larger shop at 24 Milton Street, Saltburn Fiction Non-fiction Cut-price Books Children’s Books Ordering Service Gifts for Book-lovers Opening Times: 10am – 5pm (Closed Wednesday and Sunday) Unit 1 Regency Buildings, Station Square, Saltburn

01287 348010 www.bookcornershop.co.uk

d.a.n.i.delights shop opening times: Tuesday to Thursday: 10:ooam-4:00pm Friday: 10:00am-6:00pm for all enquiries including those for organic raw vegan catering bookings please contact Dani on 07884 045742, or danimitchell333@yahoo.co.uk or connect with me on my Dani delights facebook page J d.a.n.i.delights, The Earthbeat Centre, Marske Road, Saltburn by the Sea, TS12 1QA

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Help me open a bookshop!

Book Corner, Saltburn’s independent bookshop, is moving into larger premises at 24 Milton Street. The Grand Opening will take place on Saturday, 4th March at 10am.

I’m holding a competition to find two local children to ‘cut the ribbon’ (or tear through a giant piece of paper!) to officially open the shop. There are two categories, ages 3-6 and ages 7-11. If your child would like to enter, all they have to do is pick up an entry form from Book Corner and tell me what their favourite book is and why. Both children will also win £20 worth of free books which they can choose themselves. Entry forms need to be returned to the bookshop by Friday, 24th February.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all my customers who have supported my shop on Station Square. I hope to see you on my opening day!

Jenna

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Seldons, Saltburn Pier Amusements

Come along and enjoy a family fun day in a beautiful Victorian building at Saltburn Pier.

We have a wide range of fun games to suit all ages.

Open all year round 10am-8pm.

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 25

Large Bags At The End Of The Line

Anyone who has been in the valley gardens will be wondering why there are all these large bags at the end the Miniature Railway line!

Well, as you all know the Railway was devastated by flooding in 2013 and we have only finally completed the repairs. The RCBC placed interim flood defence measures to the bank at forest Halt this January but successive storms have gradually eroded this away culminating in the Railway being badly damaged some four weeks ago. This was repaired so that the Santa Special could go ahead.

RCBC had promised a more substantial bank work which was put back until early December. However, as the beck is classed as a migratory fishery no work in the beck is possible until May. The dumpy bags are deemed to be the most robust interim option until late spring of 2017 when hopefully a neater solution will be implemented.

Robert Proctor (chairman Saltburn Miniature Railway Limited)

What’s Happening at Marske Hall The team is busy finalising a date for a jumble sale in February, please call the Hall on 01642 482672 or find us on Facebook (www.facebook/marskehall.com).

Look out for details of The Spring Ball coming soon. Contact us to find out more.

Appeal: The fundraising team is always looking for tombola and raffle prizes to use at events throughout the year. Please keep any unwanted Christmas gifts for our tombolas.

Simply call into Marske Hall from 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday (visit www.facebook/marskehall.com).

Thank you for your continued support. Funds raised at these events will enhance the lives of people living at Marske Hall. Registered Charity No: 218186.

For details of these and other events call 01642 482672.

Marske Hall, Redcar Road, TS11 6AA. 26

Flat Feet The human foot is a complicated thing. It is made up of 26 bones that are connected by 33 joints and 107 ligaments, with 19 muscles and tendons that help to control movement and provide stability.

Feet come in many shapes and sizes and the shape and posture changes with age. The posture of an adult foot in standing is often described as being either pronated, neutral or supinated. These three foot types relate to the position of the heel bone and to the arch or instep. When a foot is said to be supinated, the arch appears to be very high. At the other end of the spectrum is the pronated or flat foot, where there is either a very low arch or none at all. Both of these foot posture extremes have been linked to foot pain conditions and also to problems higher up, including the shins, knees, hips and back. However, it has been the flat foot posture which has historically received most bad press, despite the fact that many people with flat feet never experience problems.

Flat feet only need attention if a clear link can be identified with a specific pain condition. In such cases, the use of well fitting shoes or corrective insoles may help.

However, simply correcting a faulty foot posture may not sort out the problem. Even if the complaint is localised to the foot, it is important to fully assess the rest of the body, as there are frequently other issues that need to be addressed. A commonly associated factor with flat feet is tightness of the calf muscles or of ankle stiffness. In such cases, the foot adopts a flattened posture to compensate for the restriction of movement at the ankle. Weak muscles may also play a part in causing the foot arch to drop, by allowing the thigh and knee to drift excessively inwards when walking or running, with the result being too much inward and downward pressure through the foot, causing it to flatten. Weakness of the foot muscles is also a common feature of painful flat feet. Simply using insoles to correct a flat or over pronating foot, could make this weakness worse as the weak muscles aren’t encouraged to work.

Rather than being the cause of a painful condition, many flat or over pronated feet are often the result of other factors such as restricted mobility and reduced muscle control

and strength.

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

Saltburn, Redcar & Cleveland Philatelic Society February meetings Our February meetings at the Community Centre, Durham Road, Redcar, commencing 7:15pm, are Wednesday, 1st February: Competition Night – to shortlist entries for North East England’s Philatelic Competitions at its Annual Convention in Durham on April 22nd. Winners qualify to enter the UK’s National Philatelic Competitions judged during the York Stamp Fair in July. And on Wednesday, 15th February: Spirit of Teesside Trophy Competition – viewing of entries, followed by Members’ displays.

On Wednesday, 18th January, Martin Snowdon gave his second Presidential display: The inside story – Bohemia and Moravia. Martin showed a keenly researched specialist postal historian’s in-depth touch to describe Hitler’s take over in the years before World War Two. His material was both spectacular and expertly displayed. Remarkable! The photograph shows Martin (left) being congratulated by Vice President John Simms.

Geoff Reynolds (Secretary, 01642 478229) David D. Turner (01287 624736 27

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Hair & Extension Boutique 7-9 Marske Road

Hairdressing, Extensions & Make Up Coming soon: Nails, Brows, Lashes Tel: 01287 200037 Or mobile: 07393 739942 Like us on Facebook @fugazihairextensionboutique 31

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‘Legend’ trumpeter Crawford Hall dies at 63 Emmanuel Church was crowded on 10th January for the funeral of Crawford Hall, a much-loved resident of Saltburn for the past 20 years, who has died at the age of 63.

He was well-known as a talented music teacher, ex Welsh Guards musician, trumpeter at Saltburn’s annual Remembrance Day parade in recent years and a member of ‘big bands’ which played at venues, including the community theatre and bandstand.

He ran the Silverwood band and is remembered as a charismatic MC and band leader.

Crawford worked with the Tees valley music service during his Teesside career of recent years.

A concert featuring Crawford’s niece Rowan Pierce is to be held in July to raise funds for Teesside Hospice, where he died on Boxing Day 2016. She is a professional soprano, who now lives in London, but she comes from Saltburn.

The 370-strong congregation was silent as his wife Julie Hall paid a moving tribute to the man who a Welsh guardsman described as ‘a legend’ in a remembrance book tribute.

He was born and brought up in Northern Ireland and was head-hunted by the Welsh Guards to join its band based in London.

He played the trombone at two royal weddings, one of which was that of Charles and Diana.

Sons Lewys and Gareth escorted the coffin, featuring a trombone, out of the church. A reception was held at Saltburn cricket club and was packed with friends members of the local Royal British Legion branch. and colleagues, including many Welsh guardsmen and Mike Morrissey

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Saltburn Athletic FC Christmas is over and we enter a new year. All teams have restarted the season.

The under 9 Sharks are doing very well and are second in the unofficial league table.

The under 9 Dolphins are having a struggle to pick up points though their games are tight losing narrowly and with a bit of luck these games could have gone the other way.

The under 10 team continue in their first season and it seems that a win one lose one scenario has developed with the odd draw.

The under 12 Dolphins are going great guns and are undefeated in the league winning all of them and have not been beaten in any leagues games since they started at the beginning of September 2015.

The under 12 Seagulls are having a more difficult time since their promotion to Division 3 but a couple of wins will hopefully give them the confidence they need.

The under 12 Falcons, bearing in mind they are a new team in their first season, are in the bottom four of their division but they continue to improve and a couple of wins are hopefully not far away.

The under 13 team continue and are near the top of their division but losing the odd crucial game is not helping

their cause but are still in the hunt for promotion.

The under 14 team are struggling to put any results together but they keep trying.

The club are in need of players currently in the school year 3 category and also looking to add another mini soccer team for next September’s school year ones or twos. Andy Croll can be contacted on 07779 648877 for any enquiries.

The club would like to thank Dave Laing from the Clucking Pig stall at the farmers’ market for supplying match balls for the various teams. Presently we are working on a sponsored new kit for the under 9 Sharks and monies to obtain a new line marker. We have now also been given permission from sport England to start work on the renovation of the old Saltburn Town changing rooms from lottery funding.

We are also hoping to secure funding for up to £30,000.00 for the removal of a large mound on our field and secure an extension to a council lease.

The club’s annual football gala will be held on the 24th and 25th June at Huntcliff school and our adjoining football field attracting over forty teams.

Thanks to all the parents for their continued support of the club through all weathers.

Andy Croll

Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum Opens for February Half Term

An exciting new year starts this February Half Term at Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum and we’re looking for skilled and enthusiastic volunteers to keep driving our museum from success to success.

This year, discover the story of the people and the history of the industry which together shaped North Yorkshire and Teesside for generations to come in our authentic underground experience. Awarded the Certificate of Excellence for the second year running, our 1½ hour, fully guided tour immerses visitors in the day of a life of an Ironstone miner. Plus, rediscover our freshly restored North Drift tunnel, re-opening ready for the new season. We’ve also planned an exciting series of events and exhibitions lined up over the course of 2017, beginning this half term with some fabulous family crafts. Come and make crafty miner’s lanterns on Monday, 13th from 11am till 1pm or bird feeders on Wednesday, 15th from 11am till 1pm; 34

donations welcome.

Looking for work experience or to give something back and meet new people in a friendly and busy environment (with plenty of cups of tea to go around)? We’re looking for skilled and enthusiastic volunteers to join the ranks of Tour Guides, Artefact Collections Team, Education Assistants and Maintenance Team. Just contact Jean at the museum on 01287 642877 or email jean@ironstonemuseum.co.uk.

So come down this February Half Term, from Saturday, 11th to Saturday, 18th, and discover with your family the people’s story of Britain’s Iron Valley. Tours will run weekdays from 10am till 3pm and Saturdays 1:30pm till 3pm. Children under 5 enter free, children aged up to 15 for £3, adults £6 and over 60s £5.50. The museum opens for the new season on Monday, 13th March.

For more information, check out our brand new website at ironstonemuseum.co.uk or call us at 01287 642877.

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Sea View Care Home This year has already started well for Sea View Care Home. We are proud of all of our staff and their achievements but this has to be a good start to a New Year that two of our staff who have been part of our team since we opened in 2013, sisters Laura and Charlotte Husband have achieved their level 3 Diploma in Health & Social Care. We also have lots of plans for activities in the home for our residents’ families and friends to come and join in.

We plan to hold our very popular Afternoon Tea for Residents to invite family and friends to enjoy a relaxing afternoon. The home is still collecting bras! So come on, ladies, pass your old bras to us and we will send them to raise money for breast cancer.

Carol

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The Green Room is our new vegetarian and vegan bistro which we opened at 114 Borough Road, Middlesbrough in May last year.

We offer a café style lunch menu until 6 p.m., then a delicious three -course evening menu from 6.30 p.m.

Visit our website www.thegreenroommiddlesbrough.co.uk or Facebook page @thegreenroombistro for further details of our menus and opening times:

Telephone: 01642 913730

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Saltburn Animal Rescue Association 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, lovely readers. We are Kia and Chester, this month’s SARA animals. Chester is a lovely sandy coloured cross breed and he’s about 5 years old. He came to live with SARA after he was found running around the streets on his own. He is a lovely-natured dog who is full of energy. He loves his long walks and playing fetch, as well as that he thoroughly enjoys taking refreshing dips in our paddling pool. Chester ideally is looking for an active home with someone who will take him out for long walks and possibly even take up fly ball, agility or even obedience training as he is a very clever dog. Chester would probably be fine living in a home with another

female dog and children aged about 10 and above.

Kia is a beautiful young lady with a very attractive tricolour coat and big green eyes; she is around 3 year old.

She is a very gentle and loving cat who enjoys lots of love and affection and of course lap time and cuddles. She sadly had to come to live with SARA after her previous person could no longer care for her. Kia is an indoor cat; the local bird population have nothing to fear as she prefers to be inside, safe and warm. Her perfect home would be one where she can be the only cat in the household and have the run of the house, getting all the love, fuss and attention!

SARA fundraising events during February The next monthly meeting of SARA will be held in the TocH premises, Albion Terrace Saltburn, on Wednesday, 1st February 2017, at 7.30pm. New members are very welcome.

There are no events planned for February.

For more information ring Foxrush Farm Monday to Friday from 10am to 2pm on 01642/488108 (or visit our website www,s-a-r-a.org.uk).

SARA held its New Year’s Day Dip, despite blustery

showers a number of very brave dippers participated. On the day £195 was raised with more sponsorship money to come in. Thanks to all who participated and those who supported their efforts. This enables us to carry on the work with so many animals that so desperately need our help.

John Fuller, Press Officer Helpline: 01642 488108 37

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ONE JESUS, FOUR GOSPELS

BY REV ADAM REED There are four authoritative accounts of the life of Jesus Christ in the Bible.

They are placed at the beginning of the New Testament and are called Gospels.

By name they are the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Importantly, gospel means ‘good news’ or ‘good announcement’, so when we read one of these accounts we are being told the good news of Jesus. So, gospel is used both as a title of a book about the life of Jesus, and, at the same time, as a way of describing the meaning or purpose of Jesus’ life. In different ways the whole Bible is about God and His good news in sending His Son into the world for a specific purpose.

Services Times Sundays 9.00am traditional communion 10.45am contemporary worship

Tuesdays 9.30am said communion

Morning Prayer 9.00am Mon-Fri in ECHO

Icon Painting of Jesus with Matthew, Mark, Luke & John by Miltiadis Afentoulis

Greg Gilbert succinctly summarizes the gospel in four points based on St Paul’s letter to the early church in Rome: ‘First, Paul tells his readers that it is God to whom they are accountable… Second, Paul tells his readers that their problem is that they rebelled against God… Third, Paul says that God’s solution to humanity’s sin or rebellion is the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ… Finally, Paul tells his readers how they can be included in God’s solution or salvation.’ (Gilbert, ‘What is the Gospel?’, pp.2831). Each of the four points could be reduced to the following four words - God, Humanity, Jesus, Response. So, God creates a good world; Humanity rejects God and things go horribly wrong; God sends Jesus to make things right; Humans respond by accepting or rejecting Jesus!

In a nutshell, this is the Gospel, the good news.

At Emmanuel Church on each Sunday during February we will explore this Gospel by looking at BREAKFAST TIME each of the four Gospels in turn. You are most THURSDAY 9th Feb 2017 welcome to join us: EMMANUEL CHURCH ECHO 9.00-10.00am ALL WELCOME

Morning Prayer is open to everyone. It is an informal and friendly gathering.

We read from the Bible, share any thoughts that arise and offer to God our prayers for Saltburn and the wider world.

It is a precious time of peace at the start of the day.

Please come along and find out for yourself.

Contact Details tel 01287 622251

email emmanuelsaltburn@hotmail.co.uk

web www.emmanuelsaltburn.co.uk

Sunday 5th Feb at 9am & 10.45am—Matthew Sunday 12th Feb at 9am & 10.45am—Mark Sunday 19th Feb at 9am & 10.45am—Luke Sunday 26th Feb at 9am—John 39

Talk of the Town’s monthly

Pride of Saltburn Award

Open 7 days a week Stocking a wide range of health foods, chutneys, jams and honeys.

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

Quality Fresh Fruit and Veg at Competitive Prices.

Monday to Saturday: 9.00am to 6.00pm Sunday 10.00am to 4.30pm Open till 7.00pm on Fridays The winner of this month’s Pride of Saltburn Award is Jean Welburn. Jean was nominated by her sister-in-law Mavis Cooper. About Jean she says “I would like to nominate my sister-in-law, Jean Welburn for the Pride of Saltburn award.

Jean Welburn is married to Trevor Welburn, the Secretary of Saltburn 500 Club/Friends of Saltburn, and supports him in all of the work he is involved with in Saltburn. She bakes and helps in the kitchen at the Community Centre fundraising events for the Christmas lights. Additional to this, Jean helps to erect/dismantle the Christmas lights and helps Trevor when he has to go around the town asking for financial support towards the Christmas lights. Jean is very supportive of her husband when he organises other fundraising events and can often be seen around the town with him. Jean baked all of the scones, and worked in the kitchen, for the provision of refreshments after the recent service was held at the Saltburn War Memorial. All of this voluntary work is on top of her involvement with voluntary work in Brotton, where she looks after flower tubs and does reading at the local school. I feel that Jean truly is a good qualifier for The Pride of Saltburn.”

Thank you, Jean, 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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Grasers 07703 884184 Try something different at Grasers

Quinoa Chips Seen here on the front row are just three of the many different varieties of Quinoa chips produced by the Eat Real company: Sundried Tomato and Roast Garlic, Sour Cream and Chives, and Chilli and Lime flavours. Behind them are Quinoa Puffs and Quinoa and Kale Chips and ones with white cheddar. Quinoa (pronounced kinwa) is a fantastically nutritious and healthy South American grain.

Eat Real also produce Lentil Chips and Hummus Chips, Veggie and Kale Chips and Straws and caramelised nuts.

Their motto is ‘healthier snacking’ and they produce foods based on three concepts: Taste, Nutrition and Real Ingredients, which are healthier alternatives to the usual products on supermarket shelves.

William Buckley 26 August 1946 to 15 December 2016 It is a sad day that I sit here to try and sum up the life of William Buckley, a well-known figure in Saltburn. Bill was born in Sunderland and was a loving, if eccentric big brother to his five brothers and sisters. He married three times and with his first wife Mary had three children: Anthony, Nicholas and Victoria. Sadly, that marriage did not last and he left Sunderland. On stepping off the train onto the platform in Saltburn he said, “I want to live here” and soon after bought his house in Garnet Street with his second wife Sue. Together they raised his son Jake and his step-daughter Beki.

He met Elisa, who was to become his third wife, thirty some years ago, when they were both volunteering as Samaritans. Bill was a proud grandfather and great grandfather.

Outside his family, he was also an accomplished writer and artist.

His involvement in Saltburn ranged from organizing and hanging the annual Art Exhibition at the Community Centre to guerilla gardening. He was exceptionally intelligent but still understood the problems and injustices that were all around him, working for some time as a Welfare Adviser.

But Bill was much more than a collection of biographical facts.

He was unique, eccentric and inspirational. On being asked to put together this piece on Bill, in the end I felt that the best way was to just set out a few memories that make me smile.

One - names: I came across Bill through my friend Elisa. I saw a picture she had hung at the Saltburn Wellbeing Centre that I wanted to buy. It’s still hung over the fireplace in my bedroom and is the first thing I see every morning. But on buying the picture I realized that Bill seemed to have more than one name. Bill was what he was known as in Saltburn. It took a few raised eyebrows and corrections until I realized that when talking about his art, he was William Buckley. And in getting to know his family, I now also know him as Billy. A name for different aspects of one great man – personally I found that Billiam covered most occasions.

Two – intelligence: I think it’s fair to say that Bill was one of the most intelligent people I have ever met.

From leaving technical school to become an electrician (and here I should say thanks Bill for all the free work in my house!) he ended up with three degrees. On one occasion he picked up a book on a coffee table which was on the study of hermeneutics and launched into a detailed discussion on the subject.

Three – knowledge: For the last few years, Bill, Elisa and friends met at the Sitting Room on a Saturday morning.

Or rather perhaps, took it over! In the Guardian, there is a “general knowledge” crossword each week and a quiz. It never ceased to amaze me how much Bill knew. Which

composer’s brother in law had only one leg. The type of hedgehog found in Lapland or the fourth highest mountain in Peru.

Four – generosity: For those of us who have had the privilege of knowing Bill, we are all aware that Bill was an avid collector/hoarder. It took me a while to learn not to say casually, “I don’t think I have a nutcracker/ letter opener/Butler’s Lives of the Saints/a stuffed crocodile”.

Because whatever you mentioned you were missing, Bill would turn up the next day, empty his pockets and say, “Which letter opener would you like?” And he did once give me a stuffed crocodile!

Five – utter self-belief: One day, I hope to develop the same absolute self-acceptance and comfort in my own skin that I saw in Bill. You could see it in the way he walked down the street. A couple of years ago, at Wynyard Hall for afternoon tea, I looked up to see Bill walking back to the table. It wasn’t exactly a swagger, more of a confident saunter. He looked exactly like an (eccentric) Lord of the Manor who was graciously letting us into his house. And you could see that saunter wherever he was – stately homes or the back alleys of Saltburn!

Six – finder: Spending time with Bill has made me open my eyes to all the small things around me. The ability of Bill to spot a red elastic band dropped by the postman was second to none. Which was lucky given that he was filling a jar with them. He stopped to take photos of dead birds so often that I started to notice them and tell him where they were. In fact, when I was clearing out the chimney in my bedroom and the skeleton of a long dead bird fell out, Bill gently wrapped it up and took it home with him.

Seven – weird: Some may say that Bill was a little, errm, weird. He could carry off the description “eccentric” very well. Forget cuckoos as the first sign of spring, Bill’s hair was the real sign that Spring had come. He shaved his beard and his hair once a year when he felt that spring was really here!

He dealt with his diagnosis with the wisdom, humour and love that we had all come to expect from Bill, making it easier for all who loved him. He died at home with Elisa on 15th December 2016 as he wanted and remained well enough until the end to enjoy time with family and friends.

The advice he once wrote to his granddaughter Sophie sums up his attitude to life. And it is advice we can all take to heart. “Carry on as you are. There is only one of you. You are unique, there is no measure.”

Ruth Wooffindin 41

New Members for Rotary in Saltburn The new year has started on a very positive note for The Rotary Club of Saltburn, who welcomed into the club several new members.

Firstly, four more associate members were inducted, bringing the total number to five. Associate membership is a relatively new Rotary Initiative, which allows an individual to become associated and acquainted with a Rotary Club, its members, its programmes and projects with the intent of becoming a full member within a designated period.

This was followed by the induction of two new full members, bringing the total membership now to 19, 14 full members and 5 associate members. Add to this our 18 strong Rotakids club based at Saltburn Primary School and suddenly Rotary in Saltburn is looking much stronger and more able to continue its service to the community. However, as a club, the aim must be to grow further and thereby secure our future and if you are interested in joining, either as a full or an associate member please contact Dave Sadler on 01287 623301.

Meanwhile, the work goes on. Over the holiday period the club held a family Christmas party at Saltburn Cricket Club, attended by 120 people at which Rotakids jointly with Mrs Julie Wilby of Sainsbury’s raised £175 for The Young Carers Appeal. This was followed by our annual Carols round the Tree in the town centre with Marske Silver band.

January has been a time of planning future events and first up is to celebrate Rotary Day on February 18th when club members, including Rotakids, will be in the Community Centre raising funds for Polio Eradication. Another for the diary is a Big Band Night at the Community Centre on Friday, 31st March in aid of Great North Air Ambulance. Tickets £8. (details to follow).

Above: Associate Members from left: Shirley Ridsdale, Elspeth Chappell, Louise Forster and Julie Wilby.

Below: Full Members from right: Matthew McCabe and Danny Hindson

Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council Representatives from the Big Local attended the January Council meeting to discuss the East Cleveland Klondike Elite Series Bike Race which would take place on Sunday, 2nd April 2017. This new route, sponsored by HSBC, would be a qualifier for the Tour de Yorkshire and would feature between 120 - 140 elite bike riders. It was anticipated that this would take place for the next three years. The race would start and finish at Guisborough and would take in 10 East Cleveland Villages covering approximately 66 miles over the 3 lap course. Although Saltburn was not part of the Big Local it had been decided that the event would come through the town to take advantage of its iconic scenery and the challenges of Saltburn Bank. Details of the exact route are still to be confirmed but it was anticipated that the whole route would be decorated with bunting and an appeal was made for redundant children’s bikes, which would be painted and displayed on the sides of the roads. Volunteers are needed for the event to assist with stewarding, and full training will be given. Anyone wishing to volunteer to assist at the event or who has a bike to donate should contact the Parish Council offices in the first instance. Further details will be given once they are available.

It was noted that the Parish Council carol service had once again been a huge success with over 230 attendees.

Approximately £280 had been raised which had been split between Emmanuel Church, Saltburn and the Blue Cross.

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Thanks are extended to Rev Reed and his team at the Church for overseeing the event.

A reminder that Allotment Rents can be paid at the allotment shop located on the Hazel Grove site - there has been a small increase of 50p (pro rata) to £26 per 1/16th acre plot. Tenants are reminded that NO fires are allowed on the allotment sites. Any tenant who has a fire or uses a stove which causes smoke nuisance will have their tenancy terminated with immediate effect.

The waiting list for allotments in Saltburn is almost cleared, so any resident wishing to have a go at growing their own veg should contact the office.

National Grid are still deliberating over repairs needed to a damaged telegraph pole on the allotment site at Hazel Grove and consideration is now being given to carrying out the work underground. A site visit will take place to ascertain what disruption this will cause to allotment holders and users of the pathway through the site.

An update will be given in due course.

Tracy Meadows (Clerk and RFO to Saltburn, Marske & New Marske Parish Council) The Conference Centre, Saltburn Learning Campus Marske Mill Lane, Saltburn, TS12 1HJ Tel: 01287 623477 email: office@smnmpc.co.uk www.smnmpc.co.uk

Hands On Therapy Clinic Remedial Therapy Reflexology Sports Injuries Relaxation Louise Clark ITEC Diploma MBSR, GCP, BCMA Reg Saltburn Leisure Centre, Marske Mill Lane

Tel: 01287 625700 Mob: 07775 610745

Saltburn Station Gallery The Gallery is inviting all local artists/photographers to participate in our Spring theme competition in May and following on a Coastal theme competition in June.

Entries for the Spring themed competition will be accepted from 1st April via e-mail/photographic form in the gallery. Shortlisted entries will be required from 24th April ready to be exhibited from 1st till 30th May. Entries for the Coastal themed competition will be accepted from 1st May, shortlisted entries will be required from 22nd May ready for the competition start date 1st June and ending on 2nd July. Entry prices for both competitions will be £8 per entry. 1st place winner will win £50 + wall space in the gallery for 1 month (free of charge) and 2nd place winners will also have a free month’s wall space.

For more details and entry forms please collect from Saltburn station Gallery (or e-mail seanhc@saltburnstationgallery.co.uk). We look forward to accepting your work and promoting local talent.

February sees new photographer Cass Castagnoli (Full Spectrum Images) join the gallery and a brand new art piece by Lita Conradie. We wish a fond farewell to photographer/singer Steve Dowd - we wish him well for the future.

Please note Valentine’s and Mother’s Day are soon around the corner and the gallery will have cards/gifts ideal for these dates on display.

Many Thanks, Sean & Sue. 43

The Redcar Beacons: Volunteers Looking out for Local People Redcar Beacons is a Street Angels project working in the High Street between 10.00pm and 3.00am on Thursday, Friday or Saturday evenings. The trained volunteers offer practical help to the vulnerable, as they come out of Redcar pubs and night clubs. Saltburn’s David and Elaine Grimoldby tell me how they became co-ordinators for the project, which runs with about eighteen local volunteers aged from eighteen to eighty.

“We went to Nepal in 2011 with the International Nepal Project. David worked as a Land Surveyor and I was a teacher,” she says. “We are committed Christians and one night we went to Bible Study and met a couple from Redcar! We met up with Bryan and Anne Connelly again in summer 2014 on our return and they told us that they were going to set up a Street Angels Project in Redcar.”

Anne had looked at Redcar from the new Beacon on the Esplanade and decided that through the project, she could help people who get into difficulties. For her, it was a way of showing the love of Jesus to local people. “We decided to volunteer too and became co-ordinators,” Elaine continues.

David adds: “Since the launch on 7th November 2014, I’ve become Deputy Project Manager and am occasionally Chair of the Steering Committee.”

On the first Friday, a team of five people donned high visibility jackets and went out on the High Street. Bryan and Anne take turns with David and Elaine and other coordinators to lead the volunteers on alternate Thursday, Friday or Saturday nights. They use the Lifeline office as their base to respond to vulnerable people, who may have had too much to drink or have used drugs; they may have had an accident or suddenly become ill. They may be threatening confrontation with other clubbers.

“We are First Aid trained and we can give out bottles of water and sugary lollipops,” says Elaine. “Some girls can no longer walk in their high heels and we provide them with flip flops. Broken glass can easily lead to cut bare feet.”

“We sweep up any broken glass and litter pick,” explains David, “and if there is a need, we phone for an ambulance or the police. We can lend blankets and support while we wait for an ambulance and keep bystanders at bay.

The police have given us conflict management training and we can sometimes prevent fights by talking calmly to angry people. But we don’t get into the middle of a fight!”

The volunteers are in contact with the CCTV cameras and sign on and off with the controllers at Kirkleatham.

Occasionally the controllers direct them to a particular incident. They have come across people having angina attacks and one person fell and knocked himself out on a brick wall. Although there is a preponderance of young people needing help, the distressed men and women can be any age.

“The police are very grateful for our work and they have said the crime rate goes down to forty per cent of what it would otherwise have been, when we are out,” says David. “The ambulance staff appreciate us telling them the problem on the phone, so they can prioritise their calls.”

There are always three volunteers out together and sometimes four. One is the leader, one the First Aider and another the note-taker. Every incident has to be recorded with a note of the Beacons involved and even the bags of 44

litter cleared have to be counted. There is always a male and a female in a team, so that it’s less likely that false accusations are made. Everyone is checked by the Disclosure and Barring Service.

The people on the streets show amazement that the volunteers are on the High Street at night to help them and their responses are very supportive. Some give donations which are used for the running costs of the project: the water, the lollipops and the flip flops.

“We have also been supported by Redcar and Cleveland Council who have paid for our high visibility jackets and for a First Aid course for volunteers,” says David.

“A number of local supermarkets have given us cash, bottled water and lollipops too.”

The Beacons find that the waterproof high visibility jackets, saying who they are, make it easier for people to see them and fetch them if they are needed. The volunteers carry Walkie-talkies and a mobile phone and they sometimes ring taxi firms for people in need of transport home.

Such is the impact of the project that Redcar Beacons have already been given two awards by Redcar and Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency and they have been featured on the BBC ‘Look North’ and ITV ‘Good Morning’ programmes, as well as Radio Tees and Radio Zetland.

“We welcome new volunteers and we go to churches and other groups to spread the word. For those interested, we offer opportunities to be supernumerary observers, training courses and handbooks for volunteers,” adds Elaine. “I send out a prayer letter to individuals who have agreed to pray for us too.”

If you would like to contact or read more about the inspiring Redcar Beacons, please see their Facebook page.

Rosemary Nicholls

Are you intelligent?

“The ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills,” is at least one definition of intelligence according to the dictionary.

Though I think I would define it more as ‘the collection of information and an emotional sensitivity that is then used wisely.’

Now there are three reasons why I’m asking this question. One is to raise the question of what it means to be intelligent and to ask the question, are we being intelligent with our own lives?

The second is to highlight the way that language works. As the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein pointed out, language is part of a language game, which means that it is agreed by those who play the same game. So when kids today talk about how ‘sick’ a new film is, they don’t mean that the film made them sick; they are using ‘sick’ in a new way as one of the most positive words they can ascribe to it and the group themselves have agreed on it. That doesn’t make their use of it ‘wrong’ compared to the dictionary definition; it just means they have created their own game inside the game if you like.

So when we realise that language is really just a game built around agreement of understanding we realise that when we speak or read we are all delivering and translating vague approximations of what we mean and we can but hope that our meaning is honestly conveyed as we intended it. That is if indeed we have clarity about what we mean to convey in the first place and if we are using the correct selection of words for the correct group of people. And of course when you write or talk to many people at once you are not going to have the same understanding of the meaning of words that they all individually have.

And my third reason for bringing up this subject perhaps relates most of all to happiness. It is one that I see as twofold: it asks if we are being intentionally passive, unintelligent and dare I say it ignorant about our lives, by not finding out and exploring how we could be more happy.

And it also brings up the question of feeling, and how information or language feels to us when we say it or write it or read it or hear it.

I don’t have too much space here to develop any of these thoughts in too much depth but perhaps the aim here is to encourage you to think about these points yourself.

So I will take the third of these points first, and the second part of the third point.

From a happiness philosophy point of view we are in control of how we feel about anything and more and more so when we learn how to be aware and we practise that awareness. This means that we can choose to feel good about what we hear or experience by translating words into thoughts that feel good. This means that the real importance of a word is not the word itself and what it means in the dictionary but it is how the word, or perhaps more often how a sentence, feels to us. And when you use words you cannot get away from how those words feel to you. Even if the words outwardly sound fairly neutral to some but you know that underneath you feel a sense of bitterness or frustration as you say them. Well, you are likely to feel less good than

if you had said the same sentence with genuine goodwill and appreciation for the subject you were talking about.

So the point here is that what really matters if we are interested in our happiness is to practise more and more awareness, and that means awareness of how we feel behind our language. If I say to everyone “oh I feel so happy today” but actually I don’t, there is no hiding from that within myself. There is an important self-honesty that is required and a subtle noticing of ourselves and not hiding our true emotions behind claims that are made through the image we perhaps want to give others.

So the word ‘intelligence’ for me revolves around the word ‘wisdom’ or being ‘wise’. I think I would add being ‘honest’, with ourselves and about the information we receive and about the language that we use, but most importantly how we honestly and often subtly feel beneath the language, beneath the stories that we tell others, as it were.

So I think intelligence includes an element of emotional intelligence, a sort of sensitivity and compassion, an honesty with ourselves, to recognise when we are not feeling okay and recognise when we can be mature enough to seek support. I see it as including a sensitivity about other people and how they feel emotionally and about animals and how they feel too, and even about the planet. So if we knowingly harm ourselves and live in our own emotional pain, or if we knowingly harm the feelings of others or if we are cruel and insensitive to animals or to nature as a whole, I would include that in our ability to be wise and therefore intelligent.

This is of course all quite different from how a school teacher may talk about an ‘intelligent’ child. They are often simply relating to how well that child retains information and then regurgitates it in the form that they’ve asked them to do. I think there is something in this of value but it has none of the wisdom and none of the emotional sensitivity that I would ascribe to the word ‘intelligence’.

My definition is unique to me, as yours will be to you. The main points I’m making is that we can explore our lives, our emotions, our thoughts and we can learn not to take the definitions of others about who we are, whether you are given the label of ‘intelligent’ or not. We can explore the meaning of words and from a happiness perspective we can see that behind every word is a feeling and that feeling effects us. Behind every word or sentence the feeling can be toxic to us if it is a bitter, angry emotion, or it can be nourishing to us when it is filled with appreciation of ourselves and others and the world around us.

So it is up to us how ‘intelligent’ we choose to be about our own lives.

I would love to hear your point of view on this subject.

Please feel free to contact me, Kendal Aitken Health and Happiness Coach / Counsellor, on coach@happygreenblueeyes.co.uk or 07944 883961.

45

Changes coming to the Cons Club It was not long into the New Year before the first bad weather of the winter hit us with very strong northerly winds bringing a big sea and storm surges along the coast.

Some small damage affected the pier but overall we appear to have escaped the worst of the storm. One exception was the new beach huts which appear to have received quite a battering, although this was not unexpected by the residents of the town. For the Council to even consider erecting these huts on the bottom promenade where they have been positioned is, in my opinion, absolute madness. Taking into account that meteorologists warn that the weather is becoming more unstable, it becomes blatantly obvious that they will either be badly damaged or destroyed on a regular basis every year. Compound this with the fact that they take up half the width of the promenade meaning that any person renting these huts will have no privacy from the public as, with more visitors coming to visit every year, there will be no room for them to sit outside. Many residents, like myself, remember the chalets that were positioned at the Hazelgrove end of the beach. These were built into the bankside, at a height from the pathway, and not directly facing the northerly wind. This site is the obvious place to build the beach huts as the levels and paths in the bankside are still there and could be utilised, thus saving money. Another way to help reduce the storm damage, and this should be seriously looked into, is to remove the height of the stones built up against the sea wall. When I was a lot younger there was no build-up of stone on the beach and in two places there were wooden steps from the promenade to the beach. The height difference would have been somewhere in the region of 10 – 15 feet. As the beach is at the moment the big tides have a gentle slope up to the height of the promenade to cause severe damage with no control in place to stop it. If the tides crashed into a wall 15 feet high it would hit the wall and rebound back out without spilling over onto the promenade. Must be worth looking at!

January in the Cons Club saw us hold three private parties, all of which were well attended. We also held the very popular ‘Open Mic Night’ with Teesside Steve & Liz Bishop which once again was very well attended with a good night had by all.

Regarding the Card Terminal, we have been encountering some difficulties, none of which were of our making, but we have just received some positive news and it is looking likely that we should be up and running with this system by the end of January. The alterations that we have planned for the bar whereby we will be knocking out the dividing wall between the bar and the lounge, installing a new bar to serve both rooms and carrying out redecoration are now in an advanced stage of planning and we are hoping

to start this work at the end of February/beginning of March.

In the last month we have received a further 12 applications for membership, all of which were approved.

The last 6 months has seen an average of approx. 9 new applications per month which is a great indication of how popular the Cons Club has become in the community. We offer a wide and varied range of entertainment throughout the year with music to suit all tastes, social nights, quiz & buffet nights, a barbecue every other Sunday afternoon from the end of May to the end of September, a book club plus, as a member, you can hire the facilities for private functions free of charge. We also encourage Charity organisations to avail themselves of the club facilities, free of charge, to help them raise money. Buffets can be arranged for all events if required by contacting Michelle, our Stewardess. Other privileges you receive as a member are the use of a top quality snooker table, situated on the first floor, plus ‘Happy Hours’ from 5-30 to 7pm weekdays and from 3 to 5pm weekends with beer at only £2-10 per pint with other drinks reduced proportionally.

Michelle usually arranges three outing per year to local towns to partake of their pubs and eating houses. The latest coach trip has been arranged for Good Friday (14th April) when we will be hitting the town of Ripon. A sheet is on the notice board for members to place their names plus you need to pay a deposit. Details of coach times and other information nearer the time. These tours always sell out so don’t leave it too late to reserve your place.

Forthcoming events in February include a retirement party for one of our popular members which will see a very big attendance in the club. On 7th Feb. SLUG (Saltburn line Users Group) will be holding their AGM, starting at 6-30pm and on Friday 24th Feb. we will be holding the monthly ‘Open Mic Night’ hosted by Teesside Steve & Liz Bishop.

This is a fantastic night of live music & singing which starts at 8pm. Names taken for people wishing to play or sing from 7-30pm. Free entry, everybody welcome.

Current members please note that annual subscriptions should be paid before the end of January. Failure to pay by the end of February could mean you having to re-apply for membership. Any people wishing to join the Club please remember that it is the most friendly and safest place in town, membership is only £12 per year and we are constantly improving the facilities, entertainment and social activities that we provide. Why not come and join us and make it your local. It’s a decision you won’t regret.

Best wishes, stay safe & well, David Rigg, Club President Email: davidrigg21@yahoo.co.uk Article financially supported by Saltburn Conservative & Unionist Club

Saltburn Cons Club Future Events to entertain in February

Every Tuesday: Club Draw for Meat Voucher, Wines & chocolates.

Every Sunday: Beer Draw & Cash Rollover (currently £325). Increases by £25 each week if not won ... Drawn at 6pm.

Saturday Afternoons: A get-together by ‘The Conmen’. Americano Musicians’ Jam sessions from 3pm.

Tues 7th: SLUG (Saltburn Line Users Group) AGM … 6-30pm Fri 24th: ‘Open Mic Night’ hosted by Teesside Steve & Liz Bishop … 8pm start Free entry to all events held in Saltburn Conservative Club.

46

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Cooking up a performance...

Following SC&AA’s recent successful series of contemporary theatre productions such as Stowaway, Thirsty and Under the Bed, the theatre, with the support of Rural Arts, is pleased to be able to ‘dish up’ The Chef Show on the evening of 2nd February at the Community Theatre. It is a gentle two-hander that looks at a range of personal and social issues on a typical Saturday evening in a local curry house. Actually, it’s a three hander as throughout the performance Yusaf from Jadoo will be cooking on stage and responding to questions from the cast. The two actors change roles frequently during the evening including being an all-knowing father/owner with a son/manager who knows better, to portraying a young couple on a date who are wondering if it was a good idea after all.

Community involvement is an important part of SC&AA’s role and it is a fresh venture to be involved directly with a local business in this way. Let’s just hope that Yusaf doesn’t get stage struck and abandon his kitchen. Six productions of the play are being backed by Cumbria Police in the North West as a way of recognising the role that theatre can have in promoting good race relations. The mixture of rural and urban communities that is part of the identity of Cumbria is, in some ways, reflected in Cleveland’s own ‘melting pot’.

Those attending the performance are advised to keep their ticket as it will qualify for a 10% discount on a meal at the Jadoo restaurant in Milton Street throughout February. The relationship between local restaurants and theatres is a well established practice elsewhere in the country and there is no reason why this venture shouldn’t be the first of other positive relationships between the town’s businesses and its theatre.

Cleveland’s involvement in the Tour de Yorkshire has largely been seen as a positive bonus for the region but it also gives the opportunity to ask some important questions about the sport.

The way in which the use of performance enhancing drugs has dominated major sporting events is probably best seen in what used to be perceived as the gentle activity of cycling. The UK now has internationally recognised world leaders in the sport but this rise in prominence has happened alongside a rise in controversy.

On Friday, 10th March the theatre will be hosting a production called Ventoux which looks at a famous contest between two now infamous cyclists in the year 2000, but with hindsight. Armstrong may have gone on to win seven consecutive Tour titles but his lying, cheating and eventual shaming takes away from his sense of victory. Pantani’s use of drugs eventually led to him dying from an overdose of cocaine alone in a hotel room. Both have achieved the celebrity they craved but at what price?

Bringing the excitement, speed and scenery of the Ventoux section of the race has produced an innovative, thoughtful and dynamic piece of theatre that will once again see Saltburn winning over its audience.

47

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48

The Saltburn Profile by Rosemary Nicholls Colin Silvester “I love football and was once chosen as local reserve for the England under 18 team, when they were playing at Ayresome Park,” says retired Saltburn architect, Colin Silvester. “While I played for the Yorkshire Boys team, I was asked to go to England’s training ground at Lillieshall.”

Local lad Colin was born and brought up at Carlin How. Both his grandparents were miners and his parents ran the General Store and Off Licence in The Square. His father also did the books for Mr Pickering of Saltburn Motor Services. Colin has one brother, Terence. After primary schooling in the village, he went to Guisborough Grammar School and then on to Liverpool University to study Architecture.

The undergraduate course included five years’ academic study and one year practical, which Colin spent at Middleton, Fletcher and Partners in Middlesbrough. The medium sized firm then and later gave him broad experience of designing public buildings, including schools, hospitals and offices, such as Steel House for BSC, Van Mildert College and the Gulbenkian Museum at Durham.

In his last year, he married Audrey, whom older readers may remember from her twenty years’ service as a receptionist for Dr MacAuliffe in Upleatham Street. Colin and Audrey met at the Regal Cinema, Loftus, when they were fifteen and have just celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary. Her first job was medical secretary at Guisborough General Hospital, starting on the day the NHS began and the day before it changed its name from Guisborough Workhouse. Then she was employed as a receptionist at Sefton General Hospital in Liverpool for a year after their wedding.

On graduation, Colin was called up for two years of National Service: he was a Sapper in the Royal Engineers.

His training took place in Farnborough, before he was sent to Perth to be stationed with the Black Watch. Next he went to Huntingdon to undertake secret work and then back to Edinburgh. “I was working on a drawing board, looking after buildings in all these places,” he says.

Colin returned to Middleton, Fletcher and Partners, where he subsequently became Associate Partner, then Full Partner, then Senior Partner. When there were retirements, the firm was renamed the Silvester Ashton Partnership and Colin continued there until his own retirement in 1989.

Between her jobs, Audrey gave birth to Tony and Anne. Tony went to Sir William Turner’s Grammar School and Anne attended Huntcliff School. Tony is now an Education Administrator, responsible for children with learning difficulties, at Derby; Anne is a physiotherapist and a qualified teacher, who lives in Sheffield. She has two children, twenty-two year old Joe, who has recently completed a Master’s degree in History at Nottingham and twenty year old Lizzie, who is studying Medicine at Newcastle.

Colin has undertaken many roles in the architectural community. He was an adviser to the Citizens Advice Bureau for a number of years and on the local architects’ committee, becoming President in 1979. As well, he was on the regional architects’ committee in Newcastle. As a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce in Middlesbrough, he organised its quarterly magazine and helped run the annual charity dinner dances.

“I joined Saltburn’s 500 Club as soon as it started and I was a Trustee when the Community Association took on its current building,” Colin remembers. Recently, he joined the Saltburn War Memorial committee and was involved in checking the structure, making a drawing of the area and joining the general discussion. He agrees that the refurbishment of the War Memorial is a big achievement for the town: “You don’t realise how unique it is until you get involved,” he says. He was also architect for SARA for some years and a member of the Friends of Saltburn Cemetery.

He is a Freemason and was Worshipful Master of Lofthouse Lodge in 1980. “The society is not as secretive as it once was,” he adds.

Colin’s deteriorating eyesight means he can’t do the close work he once did, helping friends and family with architectural designs, doing calligraphy and reading small print. Reading fiction is very important to him; he likes Ian Rankin, Peter Robinson and John Grisham. He is helped with this by special lamps.

He likes and always had dogs and cats. To help with security at the family shop, they had English bull terriers, his favourite breed. He says he was brought up in an age when men didn’t cook and he’s happy doing all the washing-up by hand, as it gives him time to think.

Colin and Audrey have enjoyed travelling around the UK and Europe, staying in hotels and gites in France for holidays. They have often visited friends in Spain and France and have kept up with a German family in Winterlingen from the days when Anne took part in a Huntcliff School exchange. They’ve made half a dozen visits to California to see former neighbours. “We like to explore a whole area when we go away,” he says.

Colin has long been a loyal Boro supporter; he can remember at the age of ten getting the bus from Carlin How to Middlesbrough Exchange by himself and finding another bus to the six penny Boys Enclosure at Ayresome Park.

“How times change,” he muses.

49

1st Saltburn Scout Group 2017 has well and truly started with completion of the Scout Association’s annual census. This records the numbers of young people (by Sections) and adults; including Leaders, Sectional Assistants, helpers and our Executive Committee. The results are pleasing in young people, but still woefully short on Leaders!

Our Leader with the Beaver Section lead by Lindsey Snowdon is thriving, with a Colony of 24 Beavers. Having been joined now by Alfred, Isla, JJ, Oliver and Rhys; all appear to be settling in well and getting used to being with a very active group of young people. Visits planned for this term already include ‘The Snow Queen’ show in Saltburn (with other Beavers from the District. Lindsey with assistance from Jo Hopkins, as well as several mums and dads has an active term planned and they are also aware of other Beaver events planned within the District.

Cubs having been joined by Charlotte, Max and Warren (who moved up from Beavers) and Theo means the Pack now is some 24 Cubs strong! At times (particularly when the weather is blustery) it can seem noisy and games take longer; but all are enjoying themselves. Following their Centenary for the Cub Section (Cubs 100), which ‘officially’ ended with a birthday party on 16th December 2016, our District has one more activity planned and so two coaches of Cubs are enjoying the pantomime of Jack and the Beanstalk at Whitby. Forthcoming District events already include the Quiz (which 1st Saltburn has won in previous years) and ice skating in March. Cubs are well supported by Gary and Sam (Explorer Scout Young Leader).

Scouts spent their last two nights before Christmas

Saltburn Line User Group Next Meeting: Tuesday, 7th February 2017 at 7.10pm.

Meetings at Saltburn Conservative Club are normally held on the first Tuesday of the month starting at the new time 19.10pm. As always, all welcome.

Talk to Saltburn Line User Group.

The Group exists to protect passengers’ interests.

Find us at www.facebook.com/ saltburnlineusergroup

with evenings dedicated to delivering Scout Post; great fun for the Scouts. Numbers have also increased, being joined by Lydia (who moved up from Cubs) before the break and JJ, Paul and Rowan; our Troop has now 23 Scouts. It is hoped to have a ‘sleep-over’ at the building, jointly with 1st Brotton as part of their Adventure Challenge; they also are looking forward to the Scout’s District Quiz (which they have also won previously), so we live in hope.

December was a successful fundraising month, raising £652.00 at the Sainsbury’s bag pack, whilst Scout Post was a success for the Group again. Thanks must go to: Co-operative Petrol Station, Sainsbury’s, Saltburn Leisure Centre, Saltburn Library and Saltburn Store for permitting placing of our collection boxes. The Group raised £672 for funds; our parents and young people ensured deliveries before Xmas; a massive thanks to all involved.

Building wise, the internal improvements are complete, with walls to be varnished and ceilings to be painted. We have a gravelled path to complete alongside the building to improve drainage and plan to install roller shutters to our doors for added security. The Executive Committee met this week to discuss fine details and see completion of all our endeavours; much of which could not have been achieved without the fundraising activities of Karen Higgins (as well as parents and our young people); the tremendous work undertaken by East Cleveland Youth Housing, also thanks to David Gill Electricals and Gary of Artisan Carpentry. In the better weather we will have an event to publicise our improved facilities!

Our parents continue to offer assistance in a variety of ways and must be thanked for their excellent support; but our recruitment strategy continues, so if you can offer assistance or are interested in joining us, please enquire – 07811 801627 (or johnghannah@yahoo.co.uk).

John G. Hannah

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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.

Sunshine in a Jar by Alan Butler The period between the start of the year and Easter has traditionally been a rather depressing time here in our little northern islands. Nights are long, days are short and we can expect to be greeted each morning by frost and even the dreaded snow. As a result anything that reminds us of my late mother’s favourite saying “If winter comes can spring be far behind?” is very welcome indeed. Nothing serves that purpose better for me this year or in fact on any year right back to my childhood than the arrival of the Seville oranges.

Whereas the majority of jams are made in the autumn, when fresh fruit is in abundance marmalade is a different matter altogether. True marmalade can only be created using Seville oranges and these become available during January and perhaps early February. Once Christmas is out of the way Kate and I begin to visit the fruit and vegetable shops, keen to be amongst the first to get the pick of the harvest that arrives in superb condition from the warmer climes of Spain. What follows is one of the greatest treats of the year for me as I sit and work here at my computer, with the aroma of the Mediterranean floating up from the kitchen as Kate prepares the fruit and begins to boil it with sugar, ahead of the later bottling and labelling. It’s a truly sticky business but the result is jars and jars of sunshine – some to keep for the year ahead but many more to give to family and friends. This winter smell is guaranteed to immediately transport me back across the decades to my earliest childhood, at a time when sugar rationing had first been removed after the Second World War and it once again became possible to create this most quintessential of British treats.

One of the greatest puzzles about marmalade is how it got its name. It used to be suggested that ‘marmalade’ was a corruption of the French ‘Marie Malad’, which literally means ‘Mary’s illness’. It was said that this referred to Mary Queen of Scots. Although Mary was born in Scotland, while she was still very young she became the wife of the heir apparent of France and so spent most of her formative years there. Sadly her husband died but Mary was eventually called back to Scotland to become its queen. She arrived in a very cold and almost alien Scotland in 1542 from France and was knocked sideways by the change in climate. She missed the fresh fruit and particularly the oranges she so enjoyed in France and began to sicken, so a way was created to allow her access to oranges without them spoiling on the journey. As a result marmalade came about. As romantic as this story is, it almost certainly is not true. In reality the original word, ‘marmelada’ is Portuguese and used to refer specifically to jam made from a different sort of fruit. Scotland still claims the right of invention for traditional British marmalade because it is said that in 1700 a Spanish ship was driven ashore by storms close to Dundee. A local merchant called James Keiller who had been suffering a distinct downturn in his business fortunes bought the entire cargo of storm battered Seville oranges. These were no good for eating because Seville oranges are fearfully bitter but his equally

inventive wife turned the lot into preserve, which proved to be extremely popular. Once again this story is unlikely to be true but Scotland definitely does have the oldest known recipe for marmalade. A small notebook from Dunrobin Castle in Sutherland, dating from 1683 contains an entry for ‘Orieng Marmalot’ that is almost identical to modern marmalade recipes.

It is suggested that the chipped or chunked marmalade that is most loved in Britain developed when commercial manufacture began to produce the preserve, simply because the machinery used was not sophisticated enough to reduce the skin of the oranges to a microscopic size. However it happened, devotees of ‘marmalade with bits in’ could never be satisfied with a simple jelly and for many connoisseurs the thicker the cut the better the result. A product called marmalade is also made from lemons, limes and various other combinations of fruit but for the time served veteran, ‘real’ marmalade has to be made specifically from Seville oranges, using muslin to strain the juice from the pith and including the skin.

Going back a good few decades there must have been a time when the alleys and byways of Saltburn briefly smelled like Southern Spain each winter as the oranges arrived and the landladies of the town’s dozens of guest houses prepared themselves for the visitors who would arrive in their thousands once Easter was out of the way. What would bed and breakfast be without toast and marmalade? However, holidaymakers should not expect to get the same treatment where the oranges are grown.

Marmalade is virtually unheard of in Spain and Seville oranges are grown almost exclusively for the British market. The Spanish consider this particular type of orange to be suited to parks and boulevards where they will look good – but they are certainly not intended for human consumption. Indeed, aside from the many tons that are produced for us most Seville oranges are left to rot on the trees.

So Saltburn – are you up for a competition? Kate has put aside a jar of her 2017 batch of marmalade to be personally delivered by us to the first person who emails her with the answer to this question: I already mentioned that the Portuguese use the word ‘marmalada’ to describe a jam made from a fruit other than Seville oranges. We want to know what that fruit is? Email your answer to katebutler46@hotmail.co.uk and if you are the winner we will get back to you for your address and then drop off your jar of sunshine, with its jolly label and frilly top.

Good luck with that and I will ask Ian to announce the winner in next month’s Talk of the Town.

In case this article has put you into a marmalade making mood, it is possible to buy Seville orange concentrates which create a very respectable marmalade at any time of year. Bearing in mind the truly evocative smell of marmalade during its preparation, I wonder if anyone has ever created a marmalade scented fragrant candle? I would certainly buy one, if only to have all those memories drifting back as I sit and write.

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Saltburn Allotments Association So far it’s been remarkably mild this winter. I’m sure we’ve only had one fall of snow here, maybe to lull us into a false sense of security. Usually February is when I start to sow things in the greenhouse or polytunnel and I’ll still go ahead with this, with protection at hand to cover things over if the weather takes a turn for the worse. We have new seeds at the containers and potatoes should be arriving soon, so come and see what we have.

I usually sow broad beans, summer lettuces, salad leaves, early peas, summer cabbages, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, aubergines and turnips. I bring the tomatoes, peppers and aubergines home so they get enough heat. I was reading about the benefits of buying growing lamps, to bring the light levels up for early sowings but I think I’ll try a desk lamp as an experiment this year and see what happens.

Books and magazines also often add parsnips to February’s sowings but I reckon it’s too early and March is better. I was reading about parsnips and the article said that with modern varieties of parsnip, it was possible to have a much longer harvesting period. This was for two reasons, because these varieties matured faster and because they were bred to be sweeter. (This means that it’s not so important to leave them in the ground until the first frost, which converts their starch to sugar, thus sweetening them up.)

If you are going to sow any of the above that are hardy, in the great outdoors, they will benefit from protection from the weather, cloches or something similar. For the broad beans I usually fill the inside of a loo roll with compost and sow one bean per roll, pushing them below the surface to their own depth.

However, one of our plot holders showed our treasurer and me how to make paper pots last Sunday so I may try that. I then replant them outside in late March when the weather’s so much better, loo roll and all. This saves disturbing the roots. With peas, I like the guttering method. Put a plant pot over each end of the gutter (to stop the compost coming out), fill the gutter two thirds full with compost, water and then sow seeds quite thickly packed together as peas really like each other’s company. Cover with another layer of compost. When the plants look nice and healthy and about three inches tall, you can dig a gutter sized trench where you want the peas to grow in the garden and shuffle them out into the ground. It’s better to use short pieces of guttering as it makes the job easier.

Lastly, if you have apple and pear trees and prune them this month, look out for branches affected by canker. They will display patches of shrunken, darker bark which often develop flaky rings. It’s a fungus and, in spring will spread to other branches if left. The best option is to prune everything infected out and get the pruning off your plot as quickly as you can.

Keep warm and happy gardening, Sue. 52

Saltburn Labour Party News I was going to use this article to make some important points on the massive cuts to local government funding. Because I am the Labour Borough Councillor who is responsible for Children’s Services, I was going to say that my brief covers the largest department in the Council - not in terms of money spent, but in the range of services it provides to residents. I was going to follow this up with numbers that are hard to believe, as this government has continued the Coalition government’s policy of cuts to local government funding: £90 million cuts overall for this borough in ten years, including £25 million being made now, which also includes £1.5 million cuts to Children’s Services. I would then have given some insight into the difficulties of our decisionmaking: we cannot make these cuts by reducing the number of social workers because it would leave us inadequately staffed for child protection, and I have a statutory duty to make sure that doesn’t happen.

But there are some things even more important than telling you about the government’s dismantling of your local services, and one of them is the future lives of the children themselves.

We need more foster carers. Two things are rising: the level of child poverty and the levels of neglect and abuse of children. You may conclude that those two things are linked; or you may not, but either way the result is a higher number of children taken into care.

I sit on the panels for fostering and for adoption, where we make recommendations about who should look after these children for the short-term, long-term, or forever. This involves reading about the histories of the children and their families, after which one is never quite the same. They certainly destroy some widely-held assumptions about social workers; one of the reasons the files are often so fat is that they describe the determined attempts of social workers to keep families together. And sometimes, just as one wants to say, please get that child out of there, he or she is removed only to be sent back by the court. (I mean no disrespect to the work of judges here: but from the layperson’s point of view the workings of the system are often hard to understand.)

There are myths about foster carers too.

The stereotype is somewhere in the region of straight, married (first marriage), employed, with a perfect medical history, and no criminal record (not even getting caught on that building site when you were fourteen), smiley, highlyorganised, and with a good BMI. In fact our foster carers come in all sizes and from all walks of life and orientations.

If you think you may have the skills or the passion to foster, or that your family relationships are right for the role, please phone 01642 771500 or email foster@redcarcleveland.gov.uk. There is no obligation: as you would expect the vetting is thorough, but there is also plenty of support from our wise and compassionate staff.

Alternatively, if you would like to discuss the issues I didn’t use this article for, or many other important things happening in the country I failed to mention, then the next meeting of the Saltburn Labour Branch is on Wednesday, 1st February in Saltburn House, 7.00pm for members, 7.30 for the yet-to-join.

Craig Hannaway

The Muses of Jim The year has really started, christened as it was with a covering of snow and a cold spell. The days are growing longer each day and it with soon be spring.

One of the problems of living on the edge of East Cleveland is the poor public transport network system in the evenings and weekends. So it was with that in mind that I travelled to Hawes, in Upper Swaledale. In the company of a mix of staff and Directors of Tees Valley Rural Community Council (TVRCC). I am a director of TVRCC and have been for quite a number of years. One of the remits of TVRCC is the area of rural transport. So therefore, the purpose of the trip to Hawes was to visit the home of “The Little White Bus”(LWB).

I feel a little history is needed here to explain why the TVRCC was going to Hawes. In 1997 we saw the formation of a not for profit community company limited by guarantee called The Upper Wensleydale Community Partnership (UWCP). The Upper Dales is reputedly the largest County Council division in England. 325 square miles with a population of around 5000. Think on about East Cleveland’s size and population. Over time the UWCP developed with the help of Richmond District Council and North Yorkshire County Council and the European Union Fund. As Council resources reduced because of Governmental measures the UWCP was able to provide a home For the Police Station, Business Link, the Library and Post Office.

Public transport is the life blood of remote rural communities and there was a threat of withdrawal of the lifeline bus link between the remote Upper Dales and Garside Station on the Leeds - Settle Carlisle railway line, 6 miles from Hawes as an operator could not be found able to cover it at a cost NYCC could afford. Leeds provides NHS complex health services, key vocational education, University course provision and of course job provision for the residents in the upper Dales. The LWB tender was based on a minimal subsidy plus fares plus fare box income and the use of a NYCC minibus and the use of a volunteer driver.

The LWB now via competitive tenders covers all the local bus routes in the Upper Dales using a fleet of 6 NYCC owned minibuses and one of their owned. They now have a team of 40 volunteer drivers plus 6 part timers to deliver the service. Most importantly the remote communities in the Upper Dales are enjoying an essential local bus service at a level of frequency several times what their size would normally expect as a result of the use of volunteer drivers drawn from the self reliant communities, and at the same time saving NYCC considerable funding on their previous arrangements.

I know I was very impressed by what I saw, as were my colleagues from TVRCC. We do have a minibus and do provide a two day a week bus service for Alwick Parish Council. Clearly, in my opinion the LWB model could fit the needs of East Cleveland and I will be raising the subject at the next meeting of the Cleveland Local Council Association. Of course, the LWB with be on the agenda of the next TVRCC Board Meeting. More about this later but TVRCC is getting two 16 seaters and hopefully is looking to follow the TWB model.

To return to the fold so to speak, work is progressing on forming a charitable organisation to assist with supporting, safeguarding and developing the three important but different valleys that play an important part of Saltburn.

More of this later.

Saltburn survived the stormy sea with slight damage.

Unfortunately the three coloured beach huts were damaged. I can member when we lost the beach huts at Hazelgrove Foot, when they were removed to build a pumping station, linking up the waste of East Cleveland to the Marske Sewage Work, with a promise that they would be replaced back in Hazelgrove Foot. Perhaps, the Victorians knew what they were doing and perhaps near the original site is a better site. Mind you, as the wags in the Top Club say, I know and do nothing, and they could be correct.

Finally, they do say that history repeats itself and in this case it has. Following the success of the Tour de France in Yorkshire and great work by the Borough Council and the Big Local Fund, a cycle race is coming back to East Cleveland: not the Saltburn Grand Prix but The East Cleveland Klondyke Elite Series Bike Race 2017, which will take place for three years. The Borough Council is looking for support from as many quarters as possible. Contact your local councillors for further details. One of the things they are wanting are bikes, not to race, you understand but to highlight the route to stop strangers from getting lost.

Jim Wingham 53

The Saltburn Crossword no 188 set by Advena Across 1 Spanish poem had transformed this Yorkshire restaurant in Saltburn (3, 3, 4, 4) 10 Appropriately it’s a change of play with Tom initially midfield (5) 11 Inward looking and provincial relating to our parish? (9) 12 Senator wrongly betraying King and country (7) 13 and 9 Down Wise kin mingle in front of an Englishman’s home at Marske (7, 6) 14 An equal chance of winning seven oddly (5) 16 Whatever happens, there’s a choice of containers? (2, 3, 4) 19 Beggar led drunkenly to make things dirty and dishevelled (9) 20 Tidal estuary included in a Yorkshire national park (5) 22 Not all by means of one way and another (7) 25 He checks the accounts for gold to Diane before rubbish returns (7) 27 Gold thief converted the increase from five to forty (9) 28 Sounds like this Yorkshire city is a front runner (5) 29 These summertime showpieces in Saltburn strangely began as knights (7, 7)

Name___________________________________ Address_________________________________ ________________________________________ Telephone_______________________________

Down 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 15 17 18 19 21 23 24 26

Solution to Crossword no 187

The winner of last month’s crossword was Mike Sidgwick of Fir Rigg Drive, Marske.

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

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Sounds the same as 28 across (2, 3, 4) Fool engulfed by a deep chasm (5) Relying on upgrade pending insertion (9) Jocular rowdiness conceals a barbed weapon (5) Replay of Cheeky Dan is banal and unoriginal (9) Little Swiss girl in avalanche idiocy (5) Lapel is sewn inside coat as worn by Jane Austen (7) See 13 Across It’s the gap around pasta (9) She has a house and a pub in Saltburn (9) Allocated share is maybe a plot to rent? (9) Entreat Bob initially with cheese mixture (7) Emphasise the tension (6) She is in the same gang contributing to this magazine (5) Grown badly, it’s not right (5) A northern valley terminating at Keld first threatened Dr Who (5) Send your completed crossword to: Saltburn Crossword no 188, c/o Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, TS12 1AQ

by Friday, 17th February 2017. First correct solution out of the bag wins a £10 voucher kindly donated by Tim and Sheila of Real Meals.

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