Talk of the Town July 2020

EDITION 229

CIRCULATION 4,600

JULY 2020

SALTBURN’S FREE MONTHLY MAGAZINE 1

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SALTBURN’S TOWN TALK Letter from the Editor

Welcome back to the printed version of Talk of the Town, delivered to every home in Saltburn. We haven’t been completely absent for the last few months but the magazine was only published online. You can still read it at the website www.saltburnbysea.com and many thanks to Lorraine and Rebecca for hosting the magazine during these difficult times.

I adapted well to those times; I was a good ‘lockdowner’ and stayed at home, doing lots of housework, only going out to walk the dog or for essential shopping and obsessively keeping my distance from people. It was strange seeing the reaction of others when they saw me patiently hanging back to let them pass at a distance. Most recognised straightaway what I was doing and thanked me for my consideration but a few would glare at me, not seeming to understand that I was actually respecting their safety. It is still true that nothing is more important than distancing to prevent the awful spread of coronavirus. If we all kept our distance the virus would have

nowhere to go. Distance doesn’t necessarily mean social isolation as we can still see our friends and have a chat, just not right next to them!

One of the highpoints of the lockdown was the weekly round of applause for the NHS and other key workers like supermarket staff. It was so moving to make as much noise as we could to show our appreciation. I don’t know why we suddenly stopped doing it. It’s also been lovely to hear the neighbours singing at 6 every evening. What great strength of character it shows, to sing your heart out while experiencing adversity. All the rainbows and messages of hope in windows around Saltburn are lovely too. I am humbled by the heroic efforts of volunteers. Knowing that we are all in it together brings out the best in us. Stay safe, happy and well. Love, Ian Send letters, adverts and contributions for the next issue (by Friday, 17th July 2020) to: The Editor, Talk of the Town, Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, Cleveland, TS12 1AQ. Telephone: 01287 623903 (or email: talkofthetownsaltburn@gmail.com).

Talk of the Town can be read online at www.saltburnbysea.com and found on a new Facebook address at www.facebook.com/talkofthetownsaltburn.

Saltburn Farmers’ Market: There is a rumour that Saltburn’s Farmers’ Market will return on Saturday, July 11th. It’s been a rough time personally and financially for many people, traders included, so the market organisers are planning a staged return with most of the traders but not all of them. That is if all is still well by the time the magazine is Saltburn Studios and Gallery: Due to the current situation our printed! Hopefully see you on July 11th.

Gallery will remain closed and Open Studios events are Essential works on Saltburn Viaduct: Network Rail will cancelled. We’ll be posting updates on artwork our artists are have commenced repair works to the Grade 2 listed structure, creating in their studios on our Instagram and Facebook pages.

Saltburn railway viaduct, on 29st June. The works consist of Dog-free Zone on Saltburn Beach: From 5th June the local repairs to the brickwork and drainage of the viaduct which is authority’s enforcement team were once again monitoring and scheduled to last until April 2021. The works will involve the enforcing the by-law which prevents dog walkers using the construction of a site compound and temporary access road stretch of beach from Hazelgrove to the Pier to exercise their within the valley and the viaduct itself been encased in dogs. The by-law had not been enforced during the initial Random Stitchers of Cleveland (Embroiderers’ Guild) are scaffolding whilst the works are undertaken. lockdown prevented people recreational use of the Saltburnwhich Library this month on from 12th June at 2.00pm.

See Craft Club Busy Fingers: We have cancelled our normal in beach, but the relaxing of certain restrictions has resulted in article on page 10 for further details. sessions on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month, in the Library greater use of the beach resulting in enforcement of the zone Coffee Room, Saltburn Community Centre until further resuming. notice.

Resumption of Green Waste Collections: Green waste bin Saltburn Traditional Music Workshops: Unfortunately we collections were resumed under the normal collection regime are cancelled until further notice but we hope to resume again on Thursday, 18th June (same day as recycling). as soon as we can.

WI Report: Once again we have not been able to meet during Random Stitchers of Cleveland: Random Stitchers of June, but we have been keeping up with each other in a variety Cleveland (Embroiderers’ Guild) are cancelling all meetings of ways. Our buddy phone call scheme has continued so no one with immediate effect. These meetings usually take place in is left isolated. Although our usual meetings and sub groups are Sunnyfield House at Guisborough. Members will be kept up suspended for the foreseeable future we have been posing to date with any changes as they arise. Any further info from weekly challenges for our members. Recently members have Gill on 01642 480 344. been challenged to make a rainbow in any medium, make a Emmanuel Church Hall Table Top and Collectors’ Sale: paper hat and grow a new plant from one leaf among other We cancelled the sales in the last four months and there are things. We have met via zoom for Saturday evening drinks and still no changes. As soon as we know anything we will let all have had a zoom quiz night. our customers know but we aren’t opening till we feel it is We can’t invite you to join us at the moment, but you safe to do so. We look forward to seeing everyone when we can follow all our lockdown activities on our website do. We are missing you all lots! I have managed to cater for a www.saltburnwi.wordpress.com and on our Facebook page. few customers that I had phone numbers for, but if any of you Once we are allowed to meet again we will be ready to need to contact me for anything please ring Denise Marshall welcome new members and visitors to our monthly meetings. on 07929 589538. Everyone stay safe and take care!

Diane Falla Cover Photograph: Artwork by Whippet Up at the Woodland Centre by Heather Lofthouse Disclaimer: Talk of the Town tries to make sure the articles and announcements made on its pages are accurate, but views expressed in letters and articles printed in Talk of the Town are not necessarily those of the editor. Any offers in adverts included in Talk of the Town are made by the advertisers; details should be confirmed with them. Always confirm event details with the organisers, in case of alteration or error. Talk of the Town is printed by DC (Yorkshire) Print, Mercury House, Grove Lane, Hemsworth WF9 4BB. 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-by-the-Sea Victorian Week events For a number of years our Victorian past was celebrated with great enthusiasm and involvement. The selection of images only represents a small part of the many events which were held.

Judging the best dressed Victorian couple

Punch and Judy was always very popular and enjoyed by all

Old Time Music Hall events were always a complete sell out, held in the Church Hall

On the pier with “Queen Victoria” and “Prince Albert”

Sandcastle building competition Fire eating performer

Professional entertainers perform in front of the Station Portico 4

Highway robbers, the top of Station Street Cath and Tony Lynn

MILTON STREET

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Saltburn Evangelical Church (Leven Street Mission) Following Jesus - the Bible our guide

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Councillors’ Column With lockdown easing, life is gradually returning to some normality. However, we are not there yet and much needs to be achieved before all guards can be lowered.

Increased use of public transport is taking time, with key workers being the main users. The introduction of face mask wearing for travellers has met with a very good response and the revised railway schedule introduction reflects the greater usage of this means of travel. The opening of the places of worship has meant so much to many residents.

Greater access to Covid testing is giving reassurance and assisting with workplace planning. Relaxation in social distancing rules will make a significant difference in the viability of many businesses and it will allow some judicious reopening of community facilities.

Council services have mostly moved on-line since restrictions in movement. Some notable success stories have included virtual visits to museums and e-book reading.

Discussions are ongoing about the reopening of service points. These includes libraries, where it was recently advised that the rewiring of Saltburn library might cost £60,000, even after competitive tendering, thus placing a question mark over the manner of future delivery of services.

Some aspects of life have not changed and the threat to Saltburn’s heritage was reawakened with the announcement that an Inspector has now been appointed to allow the appeal by the Caravan and Camping Club to progress its application to develop land to the East of Saltburn Lane. New objections and refreshing of old can be

communicated in writing, in triplicate, to the office of the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol. Full details are on-line at Redcar & Cleveland and the Planning Inspectorate with references being R/2019/0259/FFM and APP/V0728/ W/19/3243156 respectively and a deadline for submission of the 13th July, Recent flooding has been a reminder that the town’s infrastructure is still far from perfect. Much work remains to be undertaken and this is being pressed for. Particular areas requiring resolution are the outstanding issues in Princes Road, the storm overflow system in Hazelgrove and the continual disruption of the highway beside Cat Nab after high rainfall.

The Albert Memorial has undergone some detailed structural investigation. The full findings will be advised soon, but in the interim fencing has gone up around the structure and adjacent pathways closed to prevent access until remedial work can be funded and completed. This may take some time and residents in the interim are asked to share in surveillance to avoid further vandalism and desecration being inflicted on this important aspect of the town’s heritage.

With the main Council focus on Covid-19 avoidance and many Council employees not being able to attend work as a result, much of planned improvements in the town, which were expected to come to fruition during this financial year, have been either postponed or dropped off the wish list. Efforts will continue to realise these aspirations, tempered by the knowledge that there will be competition for investment funding and capital spend as a result of this changing world.

Philip Thomson 7

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Waiting for the Nod at the Cons Club Welcome to my monthly article from Saltburn Conservative Club.

I hope this finds you all safe and well as we continue to have our daily lives turned upside down with Covid-19. The situation has brought about many hardships with financial and mental problems causing major concerns for many families, which, together with the health related problems this has brought on, it has been a very difficult period for us all. We must all stay strong and support each other and follow the advice of the government.

Moving on to the situation at the Cons Club I can report that we still had our article during the past three months which you may have read online. It is so nice to return to our printed magazine which I know gives pleasure to so many people. Naturally there was not a lot to report as I could not give information on past events as we did not have any, and as we had to cancel all future events until a time when we are able to rearrange them there was nothing to report on these matters.

Any tickets bought for events planned to be held when the club has been closed will be valid for the rearranged date.

As the current situation stands when I am writing this article, and where social distancing is 2 metres and people cannot come into the club, we will have to remain closed. In anticipation of an announcement by Boris saying the social distancing is reduced to 1 metre and we can open our doors we have taken steps to ensure we have everything in place and all safety precautions covered to ensure we have no hold ups for the glorious reopening.

These steps include the following measures: Both bars (upstairs and downstairs) have been fitted with plastic shielding protection for the safety of the bar-staff and hand sanitising stations will be in place where necessary. Myself, Joe Cockfield (Chairman) and Michelle have been in the club and measured the 1 metre distancing requirements between tables and chairs and marks will be placed on the flooring to indicate the positions of the tables in all rooms.

Laminated notices are in the process of being made and directional arrows and distancing lines placed where necessary. A one way system will be in operation with one way in and one way out plus a one way system to the toilets. Signage will be on the outside toilet doors to indicate when free or in use.

Once we reopen, no non members or children, even if accompanied by a member, will be allowed in the club while social distancing rules are still in place.

The inside foyer door will be kept locked and members must ring to gain entry into the club from the bar-staff.

Lastly, on the matter of reopening, an early decision had to be made regarding Temporary Opening

Times, taking into account staff wages and anticipated customer usage and we have decided on the following: Opening Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 2pm.

Opening Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 1pm.

Closing Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 9pm.

Closing Thursday at 10pm.

Closing Friday and Saturday at 11.30pm.

These are only temporary times which hopefully won’t last too long. A lot of decisions had to be made quickly with regards to ensuring we had access to materials before the rush started and we hope you understand and support what we have put in place to overcome the situation we have been placed in.

Other changes are also taking place and these are as follows: I mentioned in an earlier edition that plans had been submitted to the Council’s Planning Department regarding the proposed alterations and refurbishment of the downstairs gents toilet to incorporate a unisex toilet (this will not include the removal of any urinals). Unfortunately, when enquiring on the progress the Council are making in replying to our application we were informed that the Council have lost all our paperwork. A new application, professionally drawn up, has now been submitted and we now await a decision with anticipation once more.

Work is also taking place in the garden where we will eventually be laying some decking. An area has been cleared where we intend to lay this but it still requires levelling out. The plants that were removed when clearing the space have been replanted around the garden to fill in spaces that have been created by the removal of some old and unwanted plants and shrubs.

Depending on when we reopen we may well buy plants and shrubs for the barrel planters outside the club front door.

Also, another improvement we wish to make is the replacement of the windows in the snug, which look awful from the street, and we will process this when the situation allows.

To get all the latest news on all matters regarding the Cons Club visit our Facebook page at Saltburn Conservative & Unionist Club. This site is updated on a regular basis.

I have to finish now but I beg you all to stay safe and look after your family and friends. If this Coronavirus has taught us anything it is how much family and friendship means, especially when we have our backs to the wall, Best wishes, David David Rigg, President email: davidrigg21@ yahoo.co.uk Article financially supported by Saltburn Conservative Club 9

Church contest time A ‘mini competition’ is taking place at Our Lady of Lourdes church, Saltburn, about two sunflowers which were planted in the Milton Street grotto on 12th June.

“The five-inch plant on the left facing the grotto is for older members of the parish while the children’s is on the other side,” said a parish garden helper.

The contest is part of the town-wide competition being run by the coronavirus support group with sponsorship from Saltburn Rotary Club.

The tallest sunflower photographed on 24th August will win a mystery prize, which may be floral.

Parishioner Mike Morrissey, who got the original sunflower seed going in his garden, is pictured holding the two small plants before they were planted in Milton Street.

Meanwhile the church is planning to reopen - for private prayer only - when national guidelines are agreed. A few hours a week are envisaged.

Emmanuel Parish is finding online services and meetings are popular. One involves parishioners giving their own talks.

John Rock GROTTO ADDITION: Two four-inch high sunflowers are added to the display at Our Lady of Lourdes church grotto by parishioner Mike Morrissey. He helped parish volunteers to plant them for a competition. They are now 6 inches tall!

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Janice Jarvis 1950 – 2020 Friends and former colleagues of Janice Jarvis were extremely sad to hear of her death at the end of May (not Covid-19 related). With enthusiasm and commitment, she got thoroughly involved and earned great respect in Saltburn’s community when she moved here from Upleatham in 2011. She volunteered with the Earthbeat Theatre Company; supported Saltburn Community and Arts Association; and frequently went the extra mile as a Befriender of local asylum seekers and refugees, being a well-organised and reliable Chair of their Committee from 2018 – 2019.

Born in York, Janice moved to Teesside in childhood. She studied Drama at Billingham Tech and Manchester Poly, also qualifying as a teacher. Janice acted and directed in a professional capacity in various UK cities, before working in Theatre in Education. She later visited Jamaica to study women’s theatre and moved to Dublin to teach Drama in prisons. A spell in Northern Ireland followed; as Artistic Director of the Replay Theatre Company, Janice led performances in Catholic and Protestant schools, following a remit of reconciliation.

Janice returned to Teesside to teach drama in Holme House prison, later becoming a supply teacher at Kirkleatham Special School. She loved this role so much that she accepted a permanent post and taught there for ten years till retirement. She was delighted to meet some former pupils again through Earthbeat.

A staunch supporter of theatre in Saltburn, Janice always attended performances of visiting professional companies.

Janice lived by her socialist principles. She was dedicated to welcoming families fleeing war and persecution in their own countries. Going out of her way to accompany them to hospital visits and other appointments, she earned deep gratitude in return. They offered her hospitality in their homes, which was gratefully accepted.

She was also a Trustee of Carers Together and a member of Saltburn U3A, joining play-reading and French groups.

How difficult these recent months have been for so many people, and how we all long for a return to normality and the time when we can share laughter with our friends, hugs with our families and happy occasions doing the things we enjoy.

The Trustees of Saltburn Community and Arts Association have faced worrying times since we shut our doors at the onset of lockdown. Talk of the Town has continued to provide a platform for the people of Saltburn to share their hopes and fears. We have been able to keep our supporters updated with news of SCAA’s progress throughout the pandemic. Readers have responded to our concerns and have supported us through those initial weeks of deep uncertainty.

We could not have survived without your generosity and we now want to share some good news with you.

The National Lottery has recognised the particular threat to our cultural life and has made special funding available to support the arts through the British Film Industry FAN COVID-19 Resilience Fund.

Our Trustees have been working hard to source

Janice also took part in weekly dance sessions at Earthbeat, and was a consistent contributor to Jeanette Wainwright’s choir.

Janice leaves three siblings – Ann, Alison and Richard.

Her sisters live locally, her brother in Leeds.

In her early years in Saltburn, Janice could often be seen walking her little rescue dog, Bob, whom she had for fifteen years. Now both are gone - but not forgotten.

Rosemary Nicholls

sustainable funding to ensure our survival and we are delighted to announce that we have had some success!

As a result of our funding applications, we have been successful in two bids, one to Film Hub North and one to the Arts Council Emergency Relief Fund. This involved a lot of hard work by Trustees, but the result is that we are now confident that SCAA can not only survive, but will go from strength to strength. Furthermore, we can also look forward to a secure future for cinema in Saltburn.

We are of course aware that the safety of our staff, volunteers and audiences must remain of paramount importance, but we are currently working on our plans for re -opening and will keep you informed.

In the meantime, the future is bright!

Thank you again to everyone who has supported us.

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Saltburn Cricket, Bowls and Tennis Club As the country comes out of lockdown and we all begin to live in a ‘new normal’ way, we look forward to opening up the club house in the near future.

The tennis club has opened its courts, the outdoor nets are available for cricket practice and the bowling club is about to begin social games. All sporting clubs are operating with social distancing guidelines, set by individual sporting bodies.

We are very aware of the difficulties experienced during the last few months, the lack of social gatherings, seeing family and playing sport. The newly extended outdoor balcony, grass areas and seating are ready for members and non members to relax and enjoy the open space and appreciate the sea view.

The breweries have been in touch to announce the start of brewing again and the out of date kegs await collection, to be replaced by freshly made ale.

All staff and volunteers welcome you back to Saltburn Cricket Club as soon as we are allowed.

Guidelines will be in operation to make sure members, visitors and the staff team remain safe just like all establishments. We look forward to seeing you on the balcony and outside, telling your story of how you got through this unprecedented time in our history.

Rosalyn

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Health, Happiness and Choices We humans are interesting. We have this perhaps unique ability to be conscious of our existence and with that we can recall our past and crucially make plans for our future. That ability to plan for our future, can be both for today, the next hour or ten years time.

Yet within this ability to plan for our future perhaps we are the only creatures that find themselves in this strange position, not quite a paradox but not far off, a many worlds scenario perhaps? Whereby we can plan what it is that we want to do and yet our …(what shall we call it?) our instincts, our learnt behaviour, our rebel will, can take us in a whole other direction.

What many of us do with our ability to plan ahead, especially the morning after a heavy night of downing alcohol, is to truly believe we will never drink again, or at very least truly believe that from now we will start a new path of health and feeling better, more self-respecting, more conscious of our choices, more appreciative of our body, more aware of our one fortuitous life.

The intention is set, the aim is clear, health all the way from here. Drink water, cut out sugar, start running. Yet within hours we already feel better and there in the cupboard is the alluring package of the sweet shape of a seemingly harmless biscuit. Memory of intention flickers across the mind, yet so too the taste buds of the mouth remembering that pathway of pleasure and before long our rational mind, as if in a chess game against the biscuit itself, has made solid convincing arguments to oneself and the biscuit is gone.

Two nights later the head is back in equilibrium and a cocky bravado has taken hold once again. A new rationale, one life, I am wild and reckless and free, I am rebel even to myself. I am the wayward film star who smokes and drinks and finds comfort in his self image, the person who is different, not like all the rest, not mainstream, not

controllable. The freebird.

Before you know it this memory, this self-perception, whatever the self-perception is, it comes into sharper focus, as if we see ourselves suddenly in smart clothes, a suit, something suave, something we feel good in, something we truly feel represents the picture of how we see ourselves.

And there in that moment we have subsumed the commitment, the awareness, the path that two days before we had sworn ourselves to take.

In the final analysis, perhaps we are all more creatures of habit than we want to admit.

If we see ourselves as un-tameable and independent then that message, that pattern, is perhaps the strongest thought pattern, the thoughts returned to most often. That is who we are.

Rarely do we stick to our new perceptions of who we want to be. For most of us are actually mentally weak, pattern addicted, immediate pleasure led. By which I mean the desire to change, to live more healthily and be more happy and feel better about ourselves is often short lived. For the power of the biscuit is often more practised than the new thought. The power of our daily patterns, what our bodies have learnt to consume, are perhaps the most powerfully strong and hardest to change.

And all along the body is watching the battle between the new idea of who we want to be and the old habits that have created who we have become. The body is simply quietly keeping score, taking the battering, being worn down over years of self induced micro aggressions, our unhealthy foods, our unhealthy habits driving us faster towards death than our conscious imagining hopeful minds ever wanted us to travel.

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Keeping It Clean At Saltburn

Hello from KICAS. As restrictions are easing, the beach is once again being enjoyed by lots of residents and visitors. In conjunction with high rain fall and pretty enthusiastic tides the rubbish is quite bad.

Perhaps you’re already one of the many people doing regular 2 minute beach cleans or litter pick when you’re out, but if not please consider doing your bit. All you need are gloves and a bag.

All these individual efforts when put together make a huge difference. Not only does it create a beautiful clean space for us all to live in, but it creates a sense of wellbeing

and community.

Our organised monthly beach cleans will remain on hold until further notice. In the meantime thanks to everyone who has helped keep the beach and town litter free.

Please stay safe, wash your hands and wear gloves if you are cleaning up after others.

With thanks and love, all the KICAS crew.

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Saltburn Rotary Club News The Rotary year runs from 1st July to June 30th and so by the time this article goes to print, the club will have a new President and his team leading us into the next 12 months.

In any other year of our club’s 94 year history, the changeover would have been straightforward, based on established custom and practice. But, as we are all aware, we are in unchartered waters, trying to anticipate what the “new normal” will entail.

Firstly, we acknowledge the massive contribution of our outgoing President Louise Foster, who, despite a challenging year personally, has led the club (as only she can) with drive, humour and style. Lou has been so unfortunate that her time in the chair has been disrupted by Covid-19 and many of her planned events did not happen. I am sure that when this is over, we will give her the send-off she thoroughly deserves.

And so, in a similar situation, our new president, Harry Simpson starts his year, with many of his summer activities curtailed due to the pandemic, not least the Howzat Music Festival, the club’s biggest annual fundraiser, due in September. Harry is a well-known Saltburn resident through his various activities, including the Saltburn Blues Club. He was a police officer for 30 years, then enjoyed a second career as a personal trainer for 10 years.

Through the medium of Zoom, however, Harry has outlined to club members, his hopes and ambitions for the coming 12 months and I’m sure everyone hopes this pandemic is over soon and wishes Harry every success.

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Given that this is the first printed copy for a while it may be worth reminding readers that the club has still been busy during the lockdown, with a £500 cash donation and a mountain of Easter eggs (donated to Rotary from Lune Street Social Club), to East Cleveland Good Neighbours Support; donations of £250 each made to Save our Strays, based at Marske and to the Hope Animal Centre, based at Loftus; Sponsorship of a new strip, for Saltburn Athletic under 10s (in partnership with Saltburn Blues Club); A delivery to Huntcliff School pupils of Easter Eggs donated

by Sainsbury’s of Saltburn; our regular deliveries of boxes of biscuits to show our appreciation to our marvellous care workers and other service deliverers in Saltburn and beyond.

Finally, we are proud to be involved with the Saltburn Coronavirus Response in the competition to grow the tallest Sunflower in Saltburn by 24th August. As the slogan says, “Let’s fill Saltburn with sunflowers, brighten our streets and raise our spirits!”

(Pictured Lou and Harry at last year’s handover) Dave Sadler

Saltburn in Bloom Where did all that lovely hot weather go? Our garden team members will be pleased we’ve had plenty of rain as watering was becoming just too difficult and things were dying off a bit; there are always blessings in everything. During sunny May, the treasurer, sponsorship secretary and I made some lovely cordial in a large back garden (social distancing no problem). We made elderflower and elderflower and strawberry. They go brilliantly as an addition to a hot evening’s gin and tonic, so brilliantly, in fact, that they all sold after half an hour on facebook. We plan to make some more soon, and will be adding elderflower and raspberry and rhubarb and ginger to our repertoire. If you’d like some, go to our facebook page or e-mail address and let us know.

They’re just £3.00 a bottle in aid of Saltburn in Bloom funds.

Although we are not putting the summer displays out this year, we are going to have our main garden displays watered during the summer. The contractor will be out twice a week to make sure the gardens and planters on Marine Parade look their best and also along Marske Road and one or two other locations in town. We can do this thanks to kind donors who have let us use their sponsorship money for this year’s activities, augmented by cordial sales and any other fundraising we are able to return to as the year goes by. At the time of writing, we don’t know what will be decided regarding our parish council grant. Hopefully I’ll be able to add in a big “thank you” to the parish next month.

This month we are trialling an e-mail AGM between 13th and 20th July. We have information on this on our facebook page asking people whether they would like to “come along”. I hope it will prove to be an interesting experience for those who take part. We have conducted two committee meetings in this way so far and, as long as everyone involved presses the “reply all” button every time they communicate, it works pretty well as then we all know what people are saying.

Now the rules are being relaxed, there should be more of us out and about enjoying Saltburn during July (safely distancing, of course). We hope the gardening team will be able to work safely as a group again before too long but, in the meantime, individuals and couples are keeping up the good work and you may have noticed some fresh planting in some of our displays. If funding permits, we hope for more colour around Saltburn as the summer progresses.

Also this month, we expect to have the new 2020 sponsor board displayed in the notice board near the entrance to the station platform along with an explanation of what we have and haven’t been able to do this year.

Look out for the possible return of the Victorian railway buffers this month too; we might be fortunate in this but don’t hold your breath.

Keep sane everyone, Sue

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or email: simon.robson1@ntlworld.com

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Drama in the time of Coronavirus: Saltburn ’53 on the BBC!

When the Lockdown began, Saltburn ’53 was preparing for its annual Drama Festival and it was going to be a good one! (Well, we would say that, wouldn’t we?) From an all time entries low in 2019, we had an 8 play festival, and were hugely looking forward to premiering 2 plays of our own. Rehearsals had stepped up a gear and we were just lacking that vital ingredient – the audience! But, sadly, it was not to be. When we received the call to lockdown, we had to leave the theatre, with set and props still in place - a modern day Marie Celeste - and absolutely no idea of when we could return to bring it all to life again.

For a week or so, we resigned ourselves to our fate.

But as it became clearer that we might be in this situation for a long time, we had to consider other ways of continuing - after all, we are the ’53 - with a long history of providing drama in the area – and that, at least, we couldn’t abandon. So when one of our members came up with the idea of recording what he called a ‘radio’ play, we jumped at the chance of trying something new. And #SociallyDistancedDrama was born…

We adapted a short play (itself an adaptation of a short story by Evelyn Waugh) – Mr Loveday’s Little Outing – and chose a cast. They were sent a script, director’s notes and the instruction to record their part on phones or other devices. These individual parts were sent to the director, then to the technical producer and were layered together with sound effects and music to create the play. And by some kind of theatrical and technical magic, it worked! A new way of working had emerged which would enable us to continue thinking and creating dramatically.

Serendipity brought us awareness of the BBC Upload Festival – a call from the combined forces of BBC Local Radio up and down the country for individuals or groups to upload content of any kind. It would form part of a weekend festival, celebrating what was happening in lockdown. They asked for any kind of content: audio, video, text and images. They undertook to watch, read or listen to everything uploaded and what caught their attention would go on air or on digital platforms. Loveday made the cut! And was aired, Monday to Thursday, 15th18th June on BBC Radio Tees.

Needless to say, we are still creating! There are other plays recorded and we are now looking to find a platform where they can be accessed. We hope to work with Saltburn Community and Arts Association who have some very innovative ideas to further enhance what we can bring digitally to the community and a new website for the drama group is under construction. We haven’t forgotten those who are not ‘online’ and are hatching plans to bring our work to you too! In the meantime, if you have a favourite play, or story, that you think would make good #SociallyDistancedDrama then let me know (at susan_pierce@icloud.com). We are, of course, really looking forward to connecting with our audiences in the theatre again, as soon as we are able but in the meantime, please look after yourselves and be assured that lockdown has not stopped us from acting up!

Sue 17

Workshop Space and Gallery Arts based workshops and artwork by local artists for sale.

Workshop space available to hire articentriccic@gmail.com 07910 682695 1 Dundas Street West, Saltburn TS12 1BL

Articentric Community Interest Company

Workshop Space and Gallery Articentric is a new community interest, not for profit, company in Saltburn. We have workshop space to hold a variety of arts based classes and will be selling artwork by local artists.

Why not call in and see what we have on offer?

Open Monday to Saturday 10am – 4pm at 1 Dundas Street West, Saltburn TS12 1BL. Workshop space is available to hire at very reasonable prices and we have some gallery space left for artists to display work for sale. Articentric is committed to providing services for artists, enabling them to connect with each other and those interested in coming along to workshops and viewing artwork.

For more details emai l articentriccic@gmail.com, drop in or call 07910 682695.

Saltburn Councillors’ Surgeries

Redcar & Cleveland Council has cancelled all its meetings in the short term and requested that Councillors suspend surgeries until further notice. Accordingly Saltburn Councillors are withdrawing from holding surgeries but can still be contacted as follows.

Cllr. Craig Hannaway 07561 467168 craig.hannaway@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk Cllr. Stuart Smith 07557 540628 stuart.smith@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk Cllr. Philip Thomson 07747 044858 philip.thomson@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk 18

A Lockdown Recollection

Saltburn 500 Club

These last months, spring and early summer of 2020, will surely remain a lasting memory for most.

For Saltburn District U3A, it has been a challenging time for our members, like so many others. How to stay connected when so many of our activities are face to face, sociable occasions? How to support our most vulnerable, lonely, or isolated members? How to keep the infrastructure of our organisation intact so that there is something for us all to return to when Covid-19 finally loosens its grip?

With these questions, and many more, awaiting answers, the committee moved fast; embracing previously untried technology, making telephone calls, hand delivering flyers offering advice and support, they established a dedicated Crisis Membership team within a couple of weeks whose sole aim was to maintain contact with those needing it most.

A new Facebook page was created, offering information and updates, both local and national. Regular challenges were posed, such as ‘best scone’, ‘recreate an artistic masterpiece’, or ‘ideas for re-using a plastic milk bottle’. A choice of prizes for winners too. Hand sanitiser, a bag of flour, or a toilet roll.

The monthly quiz moved online and embraced Zoom, and a weekly open meeting welcomed all members for a virtual coffee and chat each Tuesday morning. A number of groups adopted new ways to continue to meet, ranging from Facebook pages to keep members updated, Zoom meetings for interactive sessions, emailing, and good old fashioned telephoning for those enjoying a chat.

Although the situation this spring has been anything but positive, hopefully SDU3A’s intentions and actions have made a difference to its members, especially those in particular need. With luck, the time will soon arrive when we will all be able to meet face to face once more.

The Committee Saltburn District U3A

I hope you are all keeping safe and following the rules and regulations. The sooner the virus is cleared, the better! Covid has certainly affected the way we live and been a most unwelcome visitor. However, every cloud has a silver lining and I find it heartening to see how community spirit has kicked in and there appear to be more people doing voluntary work to help out where they can. Thank you to you all.

Membership of Saltburn 500 Club is showing a downward trend, due mainly to the fact that people have not been able to leave payments at the library or Jackie’s Saverstore. A healthy membership means we can do more for the town so could you please consider joining us? It is possible to apply online - if you contact me, I can pass the information on to our Membership Secretary. We plan to resume the monthly draw as soon as possible.

My fund-raising efforts have been severely curtailed this year and I am led to believe that some business owners in the town have forgotten to lock their doors when they see me approaching! Perhaps it’s time I hit the town again! If it’s possible for me to keep my distance at the same time. We are definitely living in uncertain times. The massive reduction in funding means that we will have to trim things back for the rest of this year.

As you know, I am cancelling bandstand performances on a monthly basis, in the hope that we may be able to rescue some of the performances due towards the end of the season. Feedback I am getting from some of the bands would indicate that there will be no performances this year. Apart from the concerns of opening/closing the bandstand and being aware of social distancing, the bands have not had the opportunity to rehearse. On top of that, I fail to see how anybody could play a wind instrument with a mask on! We can live in hope that some of the August/September performances can go ahead.

At the time of writing this article, we remain uncertain about the 2020 Christmas lights. It is my intention to attempt to have the lights put up; however, we may have to sacrifice the trees that normally go around the town. I am informed that the main tree will fortunately be erected. The logistics of putting the lights up need to be looked at, mainly to see how we can maintain social distancing and get the lights from storage, checked and put around the town. I have just ‘attended’ a meeting of the committee that organise the parade and we have no confidence that the parade will happen this year. We are ‘meeting’ again, later in July, to review the situation as things are changing week on week. We are considering various possibilities, the main two being a scaled-down lighting-up involving carols around the tree and a virtual parade to be streamed when the parade would normally start.

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

Used Stamps for Charity

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

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

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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

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Singing a Different Song How good it is to know that Talk of the Town is back in print after three months of being online only. As with so much else during the pandemic not only does it seem an age since this was possible but I am sure that fans of the magazine wondered if it would ever appear again. Thank goodness that Ian worked his magic and a valuable part of our old life has returned.

Despite the fact that our town magazine is now back in place, there is much around us that will never be the same again. The lockdown has given most of us a great deal of time to contemplate life in a way that we generally do not. It also caused most of us to eat more – up to 100 million extra meals per week according to one report and it has made even the most unlikely people into expert internetters. To the vast majority of people the word ‘Zoom’ barely figured in their vocabulary before and family quizzes have become the norm for countless thousands of people. Many of us have seen more of our family and friends on line than we ever usually did in the flesh and rarely glimpsed neighbours have become valued friends.

The fact that all of this took place in the spring was something of a blessing to Kate, who was able to spend a great deal of time in the garden. The hot days of May were especially rewarding for gardeners like her but I was most definitely not born with green fingers so I had to look in other directions to fill my time. Fortunately for me (if not for everyone else) my step children got together and bought me a banjo for my birthday. This was such a kind gesture and it touched me greatly as well as allowing me to finally get round to doing something I have been promising myself for forty years or more. I have played the guitar since I was a teenager and I did at one time also have a banjo but it always took second place and I never got round to spending the time required to play it. In particular there is a style of banjo playing known as ‘Bluegrass’ which is fast, accomplished and to me utterly fascinating. So I looked at the internet to find some lessons, devised a form of notation I could understand and then retired to the furthest recesses of the west wing to start practising.

It occurred to me that in the hands of someone who has to practise the same piece over and over again a banjo is about as fascinating to everyone else as a violin or even the bagpipes. I did not want anyone to hear what I had been doing until I could play at least a couple of bluegrass pieces competently and at speed. Kate’s children were anxious to know how I was getting on but I refused to demonstrate my progress during our Zoom encounters mainly because of Saturday mornings when I was a young man back in Leeds.

There was a large music shop in Leeds called Kitchens and every Saturday morning I would take myself there, along with dozens of others just like me to survey the vast array of guitars on display and to try them out.

The staff called us ‘the Saturday plonkers’ and the sounds that emanated from the shop as would-be rock stars tried

out licks and breaks made famous by their musical heroes must have driven everyone except the enthusiastic would-be virtuosos to distraction.

The banjo has always struck me as being the most odd of musical instruments, being a species of guitar that unaccountably got itself mixed up with something akin to a mid Victorian pumping station – a sort of cyborg of the musical world. The banjo gradually developed from the 18th century on and appeared in its earliest forms on plantations in the American Deep South. Its earliest relative was an African instrument which was made from a dried gourd and a pole, though how this turned itself in the banjo that we know today is a long and quite confusing story. The developing banjo became popular as a party instrument and especially in music halls on both sides of the Atlantic and by the start of the 20th century it looked very much like its modern version. It is comprised of a rim, made from either wood or metal, over which is stretched a drum skin, which is secured with a series of metal clips. Like a guitar it has a neck and frets and it comes in four string, five string and six string versions. The most common is the five string banjo, which is the one favoured by players of bluegrass.

Bluegrass banjo, which is typified by the popular song ‘Duelling Banjos’ was more or less invented by a man with the delightful name ‘Earl Scruggs’. He developed a form of finger style playing that is distinctive and which carries elements that appeared alongside ragtime and jazz back in the 1920s.

For me, and during most of my life, there was one tune above all others that I wanted to be able to play on the banjo, This was composed by Earl Scruggs in 1949 and is entitled ‘Foggy Mountain Breakdown’. It is fast and furious and certainly not the place for a banjo beginner to commence. However, as Kate says of me, ‘Alan does not have interests, only obsessions’ and so, note by note and phrase by phrase it is starting to come together.

The saying goes that it’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good and I suspect that I am far from being the only individual who has been able to use lockdown as a way to achieve a lifelong ambition – one of those things that was neither necessary or particularly useful but nevertheless rewarding and I hope that you too have found some diversion from our enforced period of isolation. Maybe you have painted a picture or written a poem or got on with that novel you always meant to write; perhaps you have built a garden shed or created a new flower bed in the middle of the lawn. Whatever you have been doing I hope that ‘singing a different song’ has been a useful and rewarding exercise and that you will never get ‘quite’ back to normal. We did not let the virus beat us in Saltburn and that is perhaps the most important realisation of all! At our worst we are pants but at our best we are magnificent.

Alan Butler 21

Saltburn Scouts News Everyone here at 1st Saltburn Scout Group hopes that you and all your friends and family are keeping safe and well.

Still no face-to-face meetings for any Scout Section but we now have the power to Zoom! Zoom is a computer application for conference calls between many people.

Beaver Section had their first Zoom meeting, it was very well attended and everyone enjoyed the Scavenger Hunt which was arranged for them…at home, of course. Meetings are being planned for Cubs and Scouts.

I hope you managed to catch the fabulous pictures on the fence of the Scout Hut, drawn by Beavers and Cubs, before the rain and wind destroyed them or blew them away.

June was the month when Volunteer Week was held, to celebrate all who give their time for the benefit of others.

All adults in Scouting are volunteers, from Leaders to the Executive Committee. To celebrate the thousands of volunteers within the Scout Association, Bear Grylls sent a special message over Facebook thanking them for all they do in whatever capacity.

This weekend should have been the annual Watersports Activity weekend where every Scout in the

County of Cleveland joins together to kayak, canoe, try bellboating and rafting on the River Tees at Yarm. This is always a fabulous activity, much enjoyed by all and hopefully can be rescheduled for later in the year.

Continuing the Indoor Challenge; a safety poster for the use of matches has been produced and a periscope, made out of recycled materials. A sofa bed was also made from recycled materials but the pièce de résistance was Ewan, who has learned how to ride his unicycle! Amazing work, Ewan.

To contact 1st Saltburn Scout Group, please email: saltburnscouts@hotmail.com.

Whippet Up and Design Hub launch Stitched Up! Whippet Up, in partnership with the Design Hub, are encouraging people to get creative with cloth, threads, wool and any other materials they can find.

Stitched Up! links to climate change using gentle activism; where the slow nature of stitching and creating gives folk time to consider the meaning behind a piece. The project will bring together different sized pieces created in lockdown homes to become part of the bigger picture. For inspiration themes could include save the bees, use less plastic, clean seas, plant trees and climate change quotes.

There will be live inspiration sessions held on zoom, email and telephone support and we can supply free needles, thread and starter kits too.

Stitched Up! will run until September when we plan to bring pieces together that will be displayed in a unique way. There will also be an online gallery. If you know people who want to take part in Stitched Up! use any of the contacts below.

Whippet Up is a Community Interest Company formed by artists and community workers. Whippet Up uses art and creativity as a way of working with people to improve wellbeing within individuals and communities. Whippet Up is committed to Asset Based Creative Development, this builds on the creative assets found in all communities and mobilises individuals, groups, and institutions to come together to realise and develop their strengths.

Vicky and The Whippet Up CIC team For more information please contact Whippet Up via https://www.facebook.com/whippetupCIC/ Email – whippetup4@gmail.com www.whippetup.org.uk 22

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Saltburn Learning Campus responds to the Lockdown “I think the teachers that have come in during this pandemic are fantastic. So, it’s a big Thank you to those teachers and all the effort they put in to making those children smile,” wrote one appreciative parent about the response of Saltburn Primary School to the Government’s lockdown.

Head of School, Mrs Caroline Chadwick, told me: “Our challenge was to provide home learning for every child. We immediately put together a physical pack of work and provided access to Seesaw, an interactive learning platform online. If parents were self-isolating, we delivered the packs or arranged for a pick up.”

On Seesaw, teachers could upload work and children could message them in response. They also encouraged logging on to other sites, such as BBC Bitesize and National Oak. “The children already had experience of other learning apps, such as Times Table Rockstars,” added Mrs Chadwick.

Minimum expectations were set – some English and Maths daily and a selection of other subjects during the week, but staff ensured that the work was at the right level for each child and that the tasks weren’t too onerous. “We also suggested to parents that home learning could include cooking, gardening and bike riding as a family,” she said.

Class teachers and learning support staff have been phoning each family at least fortnightly to hear if there have been any difficulties with the work set and to offer help and reassurance if needed. The school has applied to the Local Authority for support from Government funds for internet access and following the meeting of strict criteria, two laptops and help with Internet connection have been provided. “Fortunately, all our families now have access to email, so I can send out letters to parents about developments,” said Mrs Chadwick.

Since lockdown in March, Saltburn Primary has been open every weekday (including the Easter holidays) to key workers’ children and to children with extra needs.

Every teacher has been on a rota once a fortnight on site. A few, who are self-isolating, have been assigned non face-to -face tasks. “Every staff member wants to contribute,” she explained; “they’ve responded to the challenge by setting up What’sApp groups and having virtual breakfasts by Zoom, but I have to keep an eye on their well-being, especially those who have their own children at home during the day and start school work in the evening.”

The teachers are very mindful of the importance of a transition to secondary school programme for Year 6 children and are planning virtual tours with Huntcliff School staff. “We’re proud of the resilience our Year 6 children have shown and recently emailed them a congratulatory letter, which was printed in the Gazette!” she said.

Huntcliff staff have also received appreciative comments from parents. One wrote: “I’d like to thank you for all the support and help you are providing students at this time. I am very impressed with Class Charts and the communication provided. It’s all been very clear. As a teacher myself, I fully understand the strains and stresses of the current situation so thank you!”

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Mr Lee Henderson, Assistant Head with responsibility for Curriculum and Safeguarding, explained to me that Class Charts is an online platform that allows teachers to set home learning activities and learners to upload their completed work. Teachers then view this and provide feedback. Class Charts is used as a messaging system whereby staff and learners can be in regular communication.

“We’ve been responding to many challenges following the lockdown,” he continued. “We wanted to allay the anxieties of learners, who were facing big changes in their daily patterns. Our curriculum plan aimed to provide access to education and the security of routine. We developed a key document listing all the local agencies offering mental health support, including online counselling.

The staff wanted to ensure that learners who attend Time for You counselling at school still got support via emails and text messages.”

Also, teachers have been encouraging the young people to keep physically healthy with daily exercise.

Nowadays, only a small proportion of learners have no IT access, but in the first instance teachers offered hard copies of tasks. Since then, the school has been successful in its bid for Government-funded resources distributed by the Local Authority. Five laptops and several 4G dongles were acquired.

Parents can monitor their child’s work as they have their own code for Class Charts and senior teachers monitor submission rates. Staff, including the Inclusion Team, have worked very hard to make sure that the work set matches the ability of each learner.

Huntcliff has also been open to children of key workers and those who have extra needs since the start of the lockdown, including the Easter and half-term holidays. Time has been allocated to academic work, to sport and to personal development. Art work has included making banners to thank NHS workers.

“A member of the Senior Leadership Team, a teacher and a support staff member have been in on a duty rota daily,” explained Mr Henderson. “Several staff have also joined me in the creation of a four minute motivational video with inspirational quotations for learners, which has been viewed on social media over 3,600 times!”

The leadership at both schools thank families and the community for their support.

Rosemary Nicholls

Saltburn Photographic Society All meetings suspended until further notice due to precautions against the spread of Coronavirus.

What’s on at Marske Hall

Thank you to everyone who has shown wonderful support to Marske Hall under these difficult times. Residents and staff have really appreciated the wonderful Easter gifts, cards, paintings and messages of love sent over the last month. Follow Marske Hall on Facebook for the latest news.

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SALTBURN BLUES CLUB

E C N CA

D E LL

Well, here we are another month on and things haven’t changed much I’m afraid and unfortunately I have some sad news for those of you who were looking forward to the Saltburn Howzat Music Festival at the Cricket Club. Together with the Rotary Club of Saltburn it has been decided to cancel the Festival as it is suspected that indoor gatherings of over 100 people will not be allowed by September 20th. Also with the nearness of the event now it would be difficult to promote and sell tickets. I thank all that have been involved in the organisation so far and I hope we can work together again in the near future.

We do have one of our normal monthly gigs scheduled for September 26th with The Head Hunters Blues Band and local Band the Little Criminals at The Community Hall. At present that is still on but obviously may be subject to the availability of the Hall and Government instructions at that time. Watch this space on that one.

Also scheduled is a gig at the Balmoral Blues club on the 13th September (upstairs in the Cons Club) with Fran McGillivray and Mike Burke returning to Saltburn. Again, watch this space for news on that one probably in next month’s Talk of the Town.

In the mean time there is always my little old radio show Still Got The Blues on Zetland 105FM and online to get your Blues fix. Every Monday evening 7-10pm and later available on Mixcloud to catch up Stay safe folks and I hope to see you soon at a SBC gig.

Harry 07960 935263

Saltburn Library News All the Redcar and Cleveland libraries are closed during April as a precaution against the spread of the Coronavirus. We hope to be open again soon but at the moment we do not know when.

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Thank You, Wally!

Wally the Lockdown Warden entertained the residents of Emerald Street on Tuesday evenings throughout the lockdown period with his amusing ‘middle of the road’ performances. He started on 21st April as Wally the Warden but the residents soon learned that his real name was Terry.

On VE Day he came for a special WWII show dressed as a bomber pilot and residents were delighted to hear the theme from the Dambusters and other WWII songs. The following week he came dressed as a hippy and performed songs of the sixties. Then next time he was dressed as a nun and performed The Sound of Music. By special request he performs ‘Happy Birthday to You’ and recently did songs of the 80s. He certainly raises spirits and everyone smiles and claps. Terry lives in Marske but his daughter lives in Emerald Street which is why the neighbours are so privileged to receive him!

On the afternoon of Saturday, 20th June he did a performance outside Signals dressed as a tea lady. The Russian-made brown box he carries provides all the music so he can concentrate on making people smile.

What a star!

Saltburn Athletic FC There have not been any games played nor any training since mid March and the season has been declared null and void by the Teesside Junior Football Alliance.

There is, however, a glimmer of hope as permission has now been granted by the FA to allow training to take place under strict guidelines. We have no definite date as to when the season may start but the TJFA have plans in place when and if the season begins.

The club will have six teams in place for the season at U10, U12, U13, U14 and two teams at U16s level. Some teams will need new players to ensure they have a large enough squad to see the season through to its conclusion.

I would like to thank the players and parents for their patience and I know the players are chomping at the bit to start again.

We have begun the process of ground repairs to our

field but have been plagued by unauthorised persons using our ground and would ask if such persons please keep off as they are trespassing. Some damage has been caused and this means we have to use precious monies to repair instead of using it for other legitimate purposes.

This coming season the club has the following coaches: Tim Raynes, Mark Grayson, Andy Croll, James Kesterton, Ron Campbell, Dan Bennett, Rick Day, Kev Robinson and Tom Turner. Other senior members of the club include Roy Myers, Dave Sadler and Sue Day. If there is anyone out there that would like to become a coach and run a team we would like to hear from you and any young players who may fit into the above age groups.

Andy Croll SAFC Club Secretary 07779 648877

Footprints in the Community launch ‘crafty’ community project Redcar charity Footprints in the Community have launched a community craft project to bring local people together to share their experiences of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Footprints are hoping to create a large piece of artwork, like a patchwork wallhanging, to display in their Footprints Community Cafe on Redcar High Street, when it reopens. They want their supporters, donors, volunteers and local people to all get involved, by designing and making their own patchwork squares to commemorate their individual experience or thoughts about this time.

The square could pay tribute to a keyworker or loved one affected by the virus or be based on a personal memory or experience, like a new hobby or unexpected pleasure that helped them through this time. The squares could even depict an aspect of Footprints in the Community or its projects.

Footprints in the Community runs a number of projects in Redcar and the surrounding area to support people struggling with poverty and isolation, including Redcar Area Foodbank, Next Step Shop and First Steps, which have continued through the current pandemic. They also run a number of other projects, including craft-based groups like the Men’s and Women’s Shed and ArtSpace, which have all been temporarily paused.

Footprints are hoping that the project may also raise some funds for the charity, if people consider making a small donation when they submit their completed square for the project.

Pictured here working on the patchwork, CEO Ruth Fox said, “We know that for many of our supporters and volunteers, crafting will have helped them through this difficult time, especially if they’re isolated at home. We’re hoping that local people will join us in making what we hope will be a creative and poignant piece of artwork, that we hope may also raise some funds for our charity.”

And you don’t need to be an expert to get involved.

Material squares need to be 100% cotton and 7x7inches in overall size (including a half inch seam allowance, making the final square 6x6 inches). They can be decorated in a variety of techniques including embroidery, cross-stitch, appliqué or using embellishments. You just need to have a go!

You can find more information on how to get involved at Facebook/footprintsredcar or by telephoning 01642 484842.

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A Stone Story

Do you recognise this stone? It’s a copy I made from a headstone in a cemetery in the TS11 postcode area, but where is it? I call it ‘Winged sun face’ but it’s probably an angel. There’s another stone behind it with the same motif which has lost its details to time and lichen. I made my stone to preserve the design before both of them succumbed. Many of you will have taken a quiet stroll around a graveyard, reading the inscriptions and wondering about the lives lived by those that lie beneath.

My Mum and I used to regularly pack sandwiches and go looking for ancestors. The best time to see the inscriptions is 11.00am. Headstones are arranged so that the shadows show the letters up most strongly at 11.00am because this is the time of the Solemn Mass.

The original stone that I copied belongs to John Pickering who died on August 16th in 1759 when he was 37.

He was born in 1722, nearly 300 years ago! Some of you reading this might be his descendants. He was young when he died but wealthy, as his headstone would not have been cheap. I wonder how he made his living?

There’s no record of the mason’s identity but it would have been a man. Female masons are unusual now and would have been unheard of back then. Masonry is one of the oldest recorded human professions. Carvings have been found on stone dating back to 4,000 BC, typically concentric curved lines around a central circular depression. These are known as cup and ring markings.

Making houses from stone really took off after a breakthrough made by three little pigs. Memorials made of stone were built by ancient civilisations all around the world.

Many, like the pyramids of Egypt, must have kept thousands of masons in work. Stone memorials have stood the test of time. Other memorials would have been made of wood, reed and clay but will have degraded and disappeared. Stone remains to tell us about our history.

The mason who carved the stone for John Pickering was skilled at his job, he would have had a few years of experience behind him. Masonry was a respected profession especially in the days before universal education when few people could read. Masons had the power of the word!

John Pickering’s headstone is made of local sandstone. Sandstone is quite soft, certainly compared to granite and marble. Over the years it has been eroded by rain and ice. It’s also a popular surface for lichen to colonise.

Lichen carry a record of our history and they can tell us a lot about our present in the way they respond to pollution but that’s another story!

We are very fortunate to have our ancient gravestones; they are not found everywhere. For example, in the Netherlands, because of the restricted space the dead can be interred but only for a maximum of 30 years. Space in graveyards is rented. It would be great to hear from anyone who can tell me more about the history of memorial stones, 28

this design in particular. I’d also love to hear from you if you know of any other stones that need copying and preserving.

If you want to get in touch, just email Talk of the Town on talkofthetownsaltburn.gmail.com and the editor will forward it to me.

How did I make my winged sun face? It was tricky to measure up. I worked from photographs and drew it out by hand. I now know that the best way to do it is to transfer the image onto greaseproof paper and then onto graph paper. The pattern can then be copied onto the stone and the dimensions accurately checked; you live and learn! I think I got away with it but if you like a game of spot the difference you’re looking at quite a high score! Photographs can show dimensions but not curves and for that I needed to feel the curves on the original stone. Carving was a joy, I used a beautiful white piece of Portland limestone with a very fine and even grain. It has a high ring, which means when it’s hit with a hammer it produces a clear note. In the hey day of the Portland quarries the ringing of the stones could be heard over the whole island and was known as the quarry bells. I use tungsten carbide tipped chisels. Tungsten carbide is an odd material, incredibly strong in one direction but brittle when hit from the side so best not dropped. Fortunately chisels are weighted at the blunt end. I hit my chisels with a wooden joiner’s mallet because it’s not too heavy, other people use small metal hammers and nylon mallets. Except for the surround, the whole design is made of curves. Curves are easier to make than straight lines, if you swing your arm in any direction it will make a curve in the air. Carving in the sun is best so that you can see the shadows. Carving is the act of creating shadows. As the sun moves across the sky the shadows change. From 3.00 till 4.00pm on my balcony is the golden hour when the shadows are at their longest and strongest.

Winged sun face took me ages to make but it was during lockdown so that was a good thing! I was obsessed with the wings for days! Then I went through that frustrating point where I really didn’t want to do any more, did a little bit more and done! The darkest hour is right before the dawn! The location of John Pickering’s grave will be printed in the next issue of Talk of the Town.

Helen Blyth

Letter to the Editor I spoke to you a few days ago on the phone and you invited me to write about ‘How was the lockdown for me?’ Thank you for that. I thought I would take this opportunity to share with your readers my concerns over how some people, unnamed of course, have been behaving during these difficult times.

I have a dog that requires walking. The dog walks have been the only times I have left the house during these last three months. Gosnay’s have kept me supplied with my essentials with their wonderful home delivery service (thank you Rachael and family!) so I have had no other reason to go outside. It has been nice to occasionally see a friend and chat from a safe distance while walking my dog, and it is that ‘safe distance’ that I want to talk about.

Most people are so kind and give a friendly wave and a smile, even asking if I am okay, from the other side of the road, but some behave like complete idiots. It is as if they have no regard for their own safety, let alone mine.

Joggers and cyclists move quickly and can be upon you suddenly and without warning. It is almost as if they think that if they hurry past they won’t catch the virus, but why should they be so deluded? How do they know that I don’t

have the virus? They could have just infected themselves by running or cycling past right next to me. On one occasion someone got so close to me I shouted at them, but they ignored me. On another, a jogger said ‘don’t worry about it!’ as they violated my safety. I thought to myself ‘have a heart, you just might have killed someone; have a brain, it might be you!’ I have taken the guidelines seriously. Why can’t they?

Another danger I’ve noticed is people sitting in parked cars with the windows wide open. Anyone walking past them on the pavement has no warning or awareness that they are suddenly going to be right next to someone, albeit just for a few seconds. I know that the government has told us that the chances of catching the virus are slight when outside, but joggers and cyclists are puffing and panting and breathing on you as they go past at an unsafe distance. They might be feeling fit and healthy but doesn’t the virus show no symptoms for a week and aren’t those people still infectious during that time? And again, I could be infecting them!

The pandemic has turned me into a nervous wreck.

Am I worrying unduly? Am I paranoid? How I long for it all to be over so we need feel no more fear and anxiety.

Name withheld by agreement 29

Cleveland Diving Club Bit by bit life is beginning to inch towards some sense of normality for some people including our dive-starved members.

The big day being the 21st May ‘when the British Diving Safety Group,’ (BDSG) gave the green light for a return to scuba diving, albeit limited to shore diving, whilst adhering to social distancing guidelines. A number of members were unable to resist the clear blue skies and almost wave–free seas, and quickly took to the depths for their first dive since the beginning of lockdown. However, due to the incredible warm sunny weather, during late spring, the local phytoplankton bloom proved a bit of a challenge on the visibility front, although an expert underwater photographer managed to catch some familiar creatures on camera.

Of the 6 UK species of squat lobsters, the colourful spiny squat lobster (photo 1), is the most common in our local waters and is easily distinguished from other species, such as the long clawed squat lobster (photo 2) by its almost iridescent blue markings on its carapace and spiny legs. The term ‘squat lobster,’ is understandable as when feeling threatened and in defence mode they raise their lobster-like front claws as a warning, before scurrying back to shelter under rocks or crevices.

However, the bolder and more aggressive spiny squat lobster may well stand firm whilst defending its ‘bit of turf,’ thus making for a great photo opportunity. Despite their large front claws and the need to moult as they grow, unlike the common lobster (photo 3), their tail section curls under the body in the same way as their closest relative, the humble hermit crab, (photo 4). Feeding is a non-fussy affair for the spiny squat lobster, eating everything and anything they can scavenge among the rocks and seabed of the sub-littoral zone. However, other smaller species of squat lobsters can sometimes be found in rock pools around the UK coastline.

Poor visibility aside this first dive since lockdown was unanimously given the thumbs up from our liberated group of divers. Scuba diving training, for unqualified divers, remains on hold at this time but Cleveland Divers look forward to the reopening of Saltburn Leisure Centre when training will recommence. In the mean time we wish all our club members, Saltburn Talk of the Town supporters and everyone else in our region a safe journey through this terrible situation.

June Coomber

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England’s Green, Pleasant and Disappearing Land Just before Marske is changed beyond recognition, due to the construction of between 800 and 1000 new houses on a currently fully planted and productive Greenfield site, did you know: 1. The UK now imports 80% of its food.

2. Wildlife species in the UK have fallen by 60% since 1970.

3. Brownfield sites are available for one million homes in England alone but developers want Greenfield sites as they provide greater profit potential.

HSBC have undertaken detailed research in relation to a possible ‘no-deal’ Brexit and have found the UK is currently importing 80% of food to feed its present population of 68 million people. This may rise by another 3 million if people from Hong Kong are given UK citizenship. Within the report they also warn their business customers “Any slowdown (for example a no-deal Brexit) would lead to shortages of lorries, drivers and food”. Every Greenfield development destroys prime agricultural land.

The Wildlife Trust has connected the link between wildlife decimation and Greenfield development. They confirm that the UK is going through the biggest increase in house building for 70 years. This also includes infrastructure needed to support this new-wave of building, e.g. sewerage and road systems. This upheaval has a massive effect on local wildlife and natural places. They are also aware that people living in urban areas are increasingly cut off from the natural world and this can be detrimental to their health and wellbeing. Sir David Attenborough reckons “We are among the most nature-depleted countries in the world.”

The Campaign to Protect Rural England states that the redevelopment of Brownfield land has the potential to deliver hundreds of thousands of new homes in the UK but developers, having bought Brownfield sites, are just sitting on them and concentrating their efforts on picking-off more lucrative Greenfield plots. A report produced by the CPRE, State of Brownfield 2019, they conclude: “It can be frustrating for LPAs (Local Planning Authorities) and communities alike when they see valued green spaces targeted by developers whilst suitable Brownfield sites remain idle”.

To sum up, the following points are listed in ‘Sustainable Build’, an impartial information and advice website providing information on sustainable development,

sustainable building and using eco friendly construction techniques.

Once land has been converted to development, it is unlikely to ever be converted back to Greenfield use; Destruction of the natural habitat of some animal and plant species; Loss of agricultural land results in loss of production and loss of employment; Reduction of or complete loss of amenity or recreation value; Negative effect upon transport and energy use; Loss of the green belt of agricultural or designated wildlife land, that clearly defines and separates areas of difference, be they cities, towns, suburbs, villages or hamlets of housing.

Let me say I’m not a ‘tree-hugger’ as such, I understand things have to change, but I was fortunate enough to have been brought-up overlooking the ‘green belt’ at Marske and to see it being systematically destroyed is something, I think, is worth putting pen to paper for.

At school, my best mate’s Dad was a farmer at Marske. His land was protected by ‘Green Belt’ legislation. Move on half a century and that same land’s just about to have 1000 new houses built upon it.

Is it just me, longing for my idyllic youth? Is it just nostalgia getting the better of me or do my concerns deserve greater scrutiny by those responsible for decimating our green, pleasant and disappearing land?

Adrian Beadnell

Some Family Celebrations and Events Ideas for July 2nd July UFO Day. Make an Unidentified Flying Object!

Remember to search the sky for those UFOs. 4th July American Independence Day. Pose as the Statue of Liberty for a photo to send to family and friends.

Also on the 4th, Alice Day. Celebrate the Story of Alice and her Adventures in Wonderland with a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party or create and display a playing card.

7th July World Chocolate Day. There’s a good chocolatier in Saltburn for that!

14th July Bastille Day. French Independence Celebration.

Try some French Cuisine or grab a croissant.

15th July St Swithin’s Day. Legend says that if it rains today it will continue to rain for 40 days but if it is fair, 40 days of

fine weather will follow.

Also on the 15th is the 18th International Nelson Mandela Day (the third Saturday of July). An annual reminder to make the World a better place. Do a kind deed.

29th July Global Tiger day. An annual celebration to raise awareness for the plight of the tiger. Give them a hearty roar. Arrrrrr!

31st July Harry Potter’s Birthday. And also JK Rowling’s birthday, the author of course! Create a wand and magic spell.

Whatever you chose to do this month, stay alert and take care.

Best wishes, Saltburn Toc H Branch.

31

Save our Saltburn

Final Chance to Stop the Campsite

We now know the timetable for the appeal that has been lodged against the Council’s refusal to grant planning permission for a 170-unit camping and caravan site on Saltburn Lane. We have until 13th July to underline our resolute opposition to this ill-conceived proposal.

Then it will be down to a Government-appointed Planning Inspector to make the final decision. Please help to ensure that the Inspector upholds the Council’s decision and listens to what we – the residents of Saltburn – feel about the idea.

By even deciding to appeal, the Camping and Caravan Club has displayed its total disregard for the local community. Prior to submitting the application, CCC held a single, inadequately-publicised and poorly-attended twohour exhibition. Even then, they ignored what they were told.

The CCC appeal document makes absolutely no attempt to address the concerns that local people and respected national organisations expressed so clearly during the planning application process. Despite claims about them wanting to work with local communities, the reality is that well-evidenced and carefully-argued views from over 400 respondents are simply ignored in their appeal.

Instead, CCC have put forward unconvincing arguments to try to overturn the unanimous verdict of the Council’s Regulatory Committee and to dispute the clear advice of local planning officials. Also, no doubt hoping to distract from the weakness of their case, the applicant stresses that they had simply responded to an invitation to develop the site rather than instigating the scheme themselves and that the Council had subsequently changed its mind.

Even if they feel aggrieved, this is wholly irrelevant to the appeal which must be judged purely on specified planning considerations. In any case, surely it is ultimately the responsibility of a developer to ensure due diligence and to check compliance with all relevant planning frameworks and policies.

And, in a final attempt to salvage something from their badly-conceived, costly and fruitless venture, the applicant is now raising the possibility of a smaller alternative scheme on the same site.

Superficially, this new 50-pitch proposition, at the 32

southern end of the Saltburn Lane site and with no static caravans, might appear to go some way to appease local opposition.

However, it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that the applicant is now trying to circumvent the necessary planning application process, and establish a precedent, for what would effectively be a new scheme.

Intriguingly, the new plan (Appendix 11) includes a mysterious dead-end stone road towards the northern end.

Surely, this is simply a thinly-disguised attempt to put in place the first phase of a scheme that they could then expand, using this precedent and their exempt status, to develop the remaining area as per their original plan and without need for further permission. In short, the alternative is not a compromise but, rather, a stepping stone towards achieving their original objective, albeit in stages.

All of the relevant material can be found on Redcar and Cleveland Council’s website. Search for application R/2019/0259/FFM, press the ‘Documentation’ button and you will see all the relevant appeal papers.

Everything that was submitted by residents last year has to be sent to the Inspector so does not have to be repeated. However, you can add to what you have already submitted to confirm and strengthen your opposition, either in writing to or via the Planning Inspectorate web portal (case ref 3243156). Details how to do this are shown in the appeal start letter on the Council website.

Last year, by working together, we helped convince the Council that the scheme was wholly unsuitable for the Saltburn Lane location. With the Council and its planners now also clear that the proposal breaches planning guidance, we must persuade the Planning Inspector, too. The matter will be decided by written evidence and we have got until 13th July to let the Inspector know what we think.

Please take the opportunity to do so.

The delightful vista of our beautiful Victorian seaside town is defined by the view that greets those arriving on the path along the top of Huntcliff or the road descending from Brotton. Let’s keep Saltburn looking that way for residents and visitors alike.

Save our Saltburn Group

T: 01287 201876

M: 07737 654772

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

Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible

Website: www.flintoffs.co.uk

Until then, we are running ‘Virtual Groups’ Contact Stevie for details.

Ring Stevie on

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Temporary Open Times: 9.00am till 1.00pm, Monday to Saturday 34

Bandstand is busy Saltburn’s bandstand was busy one afternoon in mid-June, but not with music, writes our roving reporter John Rock.

Despite the virus lockdown stopping concerts, a dad and his two-year-old daughter were romping around near the bandstand.

Inside the locked bandstand was the figure of a World War Two soldier - wearing a patriotic protective facemask marking VE (Victory in Europe) Day in June 1945, placed by Toc H. Attached to the bandstand was a notice about a WW2 soldier from Saltburn, Alan Fraser with granddaughter Jade, now in the Royal Navy.

Stones coloured by children, including ones with the important BLM (Black Lives Matter) and Protect the NHS slogans, lay on the bandstand edge.

On the bandstand was a photo of a wartime class at the former Saltburn School (now The Earthbeat Centre on the Marske Road/Marske Mill Lane corner). The caption includes a request for more names to be added.

Several newish-looking plaques were seen on seats at the back of the seated area. They included ones marking the lives of Betty and Tom Archbold, of Oxford Street, Pat and Ossy Franks, of Laurel Road, and Vera Kelley put up by their proud families.

A middle-aged couple were enjoying a cup of tea from a flask on a bench.

A peep through the locked railings at Saltburn bandstand reveal the figure of a WW2 soldier wearing a topical facemask for protection

An offbeat angle on the

ubiquitous rainbow photo, popular around town, shows a cheery message in a Randolph Street window

Let’s put the S for Sparkle back into Saltburn!

We might not now recognise everybody behind the masks, and the paddle boarders are vying for attention among the surfers, but oh how we have missed our dear old Saltburn these past four months.

So now that we have started to re-open again let’s get behind the rebirth of the town that we love so much.

There will be families left grieving by the covid19, people struggling for money to live, and businesses that have suffered badly behind all the shuttered doors.

We can’t repair all the heartbreak, but for those of us that are able, we can take simple measures that will restore the Saltburn that was our jewel with a sparkling future.

Just as soon as we are able let’s celebrate with a meal in our restaurants, raise a glass of something special in our bars, wear something new from our ladies and men’s shops, and order that book whose review caught your eye in the weekend papers.

Nature has continued to bake, soak and chill us despite the lockdown. My wife and I have both been lucky to be able to continue working from home.

Tarot & Qualified Lifecoach Telephone or In Person, 20 years experience.

Call Deborah: 07580 336958

I never imagined that one day I would be reporting criminal cases at Teesside Crown Court from the screen of my desktop computer, but I have been doing it with the miracle of Skype and Cloud Video as one of sometimes 19 people known as “guests” invited to join the judge and his clerks in the courtroom.

It saves me three hours of travelling a day as a cardcarrying Arriva bus passenger, and days of sunshine have allowed us to work in our garden and allotment, rewarding ourselves late afternoons with a glass (I mean glasses) of wine.

There are people with no gardens, but there are more bicycle families since before the invention of the combustion engine, and with the relaxation of the lockdown they may soon be taking their children to the play areas again.

Life will never be the same again, or so they tell us.

But some good things are back to normal - you can now curl up again with the monthly Talk of the Town!

Let’s make Saltburn great again.

Peter Holbert

Saltburn Station Gallery We are glad to announce that the gallery is back open after the lockdown closure. We are glad to see our customers back and safe. With our return we introduce a new exciting range of gifts and products. Now more than ever local businesses need the support of their communities to get through this difficult time. We hope to see you soon.

We wish everyone the best of health in these troubling times.

Sean 35

The Albert Memorial Ever since Henry Pease created the Valley Gardens as a significant feature in his dream for Saltburn as a jewel on the North East coast of England, the development and subsequent maintenance of this wonderful facility has been challenging.

Among many aspects of development came the Albert Memorial. Brought in 1864 from Barnard Castle, previously forming a façade for the railway station, the monument was erected in memory of Prince Albert who died in 1861, the very year in which Saltburn was officially formed. Over the years the Memorial has stood above the valley in its splendid prominence attracting much interest from visitors and much reverence from residents.

As time passed, the Memorial became less relevant and the Valley Gardens themselves less financially supported. The original gardener’s villa was lost, as were the conservatories, the paddling pool, the boating lake, the Halfpenny bridge, the bandstand and many other features.

The permanent staffing for maintenance was withdrawn and no visible presence of municipal involvement remained.

In 1973 the Memorial was given listed status and awarded a Grade 11 listing.

In 2008, from a local initiative, a Steering Group was formed to revitalise the Valley Gardens becoming formalised in 2017 when Saltburn Valleys CIO registered as a charity.

Funding was sought for a Conservation Management Plan. The Albert Memorial restoration was one element in the recommendations. Whilst much work had been done in recent years, including laying new steps to the approach and installing new handrails, the main structure required fundamental review rather than intermittent repair.

A due process of procurement secured a team comprising engineering, building and architectural conservation experience. It was duly commissioned to conduct an intrusive investigation of the structure. This was carried out on the 16th of June. Not surprisingly there was evidence of deterioration, primarily through no planned maintenance being in place and in some part to continuing vandalism.

The findings will be formally reported in two months to the CIO. Initial findings indicate that considerable reconstruction work will be required to preserve the Memorial and guarantee its heritage for future generations. The funding raising process has already commenced and whilst precise costing is not yet available there is confidence the challenge will be met.

Saltburn Valleys CIO will publish findings and recommendations on its web site, saltburnvalleys.org.uk, where other information is available.

Support for the work that Saltburn Valleys is doing can be given by simply joining as a member. Application forms can be downloaded from the website or applied for by email from info@saltburnvalleys.org.uk. More support can be given through working groups.

A frequent Newsletter is published and public 36

meetings will continue to be held, social distancing permitting, as they have been since 2015 when the work of the Steering Group and subsequently the Charity has been subject to full consultation and public participation.

The future of the Albert Memorial is secure as long as residents of Saltburn demonstrate their care for their heritage and support the volunteers who are tasked with its delivery.

The scaffolding has gone up

Old photograph showing the back of the Memorial prior to ground maintenance being abandoned

Support beam showing rot on the north face Philip Thomson

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Glaucoma. It’s an eye condition that nearly half a million people in the UK suffer from. You are most at risk after the age of 40. The good thing is, in many cases, if it’s seen early enough, this horrible eye condition can be stopped in its tracks. However, most people don’t have regular eye tests.

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37

FRIDAY FRIENDS Hello Friends far and wide. As you will realise, Friday Friends is closed for the foreseeable future.

In this present crisis we are all coming to terms with a degree of isolation and the ways in which this diminishes our lives. At Friday Friends we know how much more difficult that can be for those whose impairments, whether physical, mental, intellectual or emotional, can lead to even more isolation. This is not just for individuals themselves but also for those who care for them.

The present situation is highlighting the importance of support mechanisms and the essential nature of the communication links which help us to know that we are not alone in our sense of helplessness. As we seek to care for ourselves and loved ones please spare a thought for those whose personal inabilities make it even harder to cope. Anxiety will be much worse for those whose lack of capacity makes them anxious in the best of times, for them the love and understanding (and practical help where possible) of those more able can make a world of difference.

Wishing you all safety and reassurance, Graham Pacey (Chair of Trustees).

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I have recently retired after providing legal services at a local solicitors for almost forty years and am now able to provide legal assistance in respect of wills, powers of attorney and help to deal with matters following a bereavement including the obtaining of a Grant of Probate. Please call me on 07402 777393 and I will be happy to visit you in your own home to discuss your requirements and give a quotation.

LORNA SMITH 38

Saving And Re-homing Animals THE ANN PROSSER FOUNDATION

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

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

Hello lovely people! We are Isobella and Rosco. We hope everyone is keeping well. We miss being able to see visitors here at SARA. When things are safer come and visit us as we are wanting new families.

Isobella is such a cute little girl cat. She has adorable golden eyes and a jet black coat. She came to SARA through no fault of her own. Initially, Isobella was very shy, but she soon came out of her shell and is now really sweet and friendly. Isobella would like a quiet home with no children and she could possibly live with another cat of similar temperament. Isobella would like a home where she can get all the love and attention, she very much deserves.

Rosco is handsome young lad. He’s only three years old, and dark grey in colour. Like Isobella he also came to SARA through no fault of his own, and he’s such a sweet innocent. Rosco is a really lovely dog but is also very shy, especially with new people at first, although after a few treats he quickly relaxes and is fine. Rosco is an energetic young man who enjoys his walks with our other dogs in rescue.

However, we do feel that he would be best suited to a household where he would be the only pet. We are looking for a calm home where he can get all the lovely exercise and stimulation and play that he needs, but most importantly lots and lots of attention, cuddles and love.

SARA fundraising events Monthly meetings for SARA supporters and the general public are usually held in the Cleveland Bay, Ings Road Redcar on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30pm but unfortunately are currently cancelled as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus. Hopefully we can all soon meet again.

Future SARA Events: At the time of writing we have

no information on any possible future events because of the coronavirus lockdown but we will let you know as soon as we can about any plans.

Joy and Mandy Volunteers at SARA

39

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40

“We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain In these difficult days caused by Covid-19 please be assured of the support and prayers of the members of Emmanuel Church.

Please do look at the church website and Facebook page for the latest news.

Contact Details tel 01287 622251

email emmanuelsaltburn@hotmail.co.uk

web www.emmanuelsaltburn.co.uk

41

Back to Business

In April we wrote in Talk of the Town, to explain how during the covid-19 lock down, our clinic would be closing, but that we would be continuing to provide Physiotherapy remotely. We have done this via phone and video consultations and have provided this service free of charge. These remote Physiotherapy sessions have been popular, useful and of significant value to our clients who have been struggling with a wide range of pain related conditions.

This new way of working was only intended to be temporary and the good news is that we are now able to resume some face to face consultations at our Saltburn clinic.

As Chartered Physiotherapists, we adhere to clear and strict codes of professional conduct, which at their heart, are based upon protecting the health and wellbeing of our clients. So we have taken the official covid-19 related guidance and used it to perform a comprehensive risk assessment, which guides us when providing face to face Physiotherapy sessions in a covid-19 secure fashion.

This is how it will work. All initial consultations will be conducted over the phone or via video chat. This will allow us to get the information we need to decide if a face to face consultation in our clinic is necessary and appropriate. If it is, then the initial remote consultation will reduce the contact time we need in the clinic.

We have significantly reduced the throughput of people into and out of our clinic as this will avoid any client crossover and also prevent the need for waiting areas. We also request that our clients use a face covering and we have introduced PPE, hand sanitisation and clinic cleaning rotas that will ensure all areas and objects that our clients come into contact with are as safe as possible.

These measures will probably be in place for several months and we will only relax them as and when the official guidance changes.

Philip & Pauline Newton Chartered & Health Care Professions Council Registered Physiotherapists Newton Physiotherapy 01287 767287 email@newtonphysio.com www.NewtonPhysio.com 42

Support for Keyworkers

I’m a retired Clinical psychologist. I’m one of many former NHS workers who have been temporarily re-registered with the Health & Care Professions Council to practise during the coronavirus pandemic. I’m aware that many frontline keyworkers, who are earning respect, gratitude and admiration for their courage and commitment, are working in highly stressful and sometimes traumatising circumstances. I hope all of those in my local town (and elsewhere) are getting the psychological support they need. My message is simply to say that if you need to talk to someone to get some support as you continue your fine work, you are very welcome to contact me. I may be a little bit rusty but I’ll do what I can.

You can email me using this address: tim.prescott@ntlworld.com

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This month I’ve been let loose on the article and, what a great month it is to take a turn. By the look of the allotments, many of us have been using our enforced “free” time to garden and get growing in earnest. It appears as though a few of you are struggling and I would urge you to get in touch with the allotment association (you are welcome to e-mail me on suefeatherstone58@gmail.com) or contact Rachel in the Parish Council Office. We know that some are vulnerable and have been shielding but, if you tell us what your problems are, if we can, we’ll help.

The very dry, hot sunny May followed by wet, wet June has meant that everything’s surged ahead. My brassicas are as large as I’ve ever been lucky to get them and my peas, broad beans and preans (cross between a pea and a broad bean) are doing Jack and the Beanstalk stuff.

If you’ve never tried preans, let one of the committee know as we will save you some seed for next year. I must admit though, that in their early stages, the sparrows nibble the leaves and, later, the pigeons sit on the support structures and nibble the juicy tips. Fingers crossed I’ll get my share.

There’s still plenty to sow and plant this month.

Sowing can include early carrot varieties (that sounds counter intuitive but anything called “early” is named so because it matures quickly and so is good for sowing late), dwarf French beans, beetroot, cauliflower, parsley, pak choi, Swiss chard, turnips, rocket and various salad leaves.

You can plant second cropping potatoes, kale, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, spinach, Swiss chard, beetroot and more.

This is the month for big time harvesting. If you have soft fruit, raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries and currents, they should all be producing good harvests, as should some tree fruit such as cherries (if you’ve protected them from blackbirds), plums and peaches/apricots. You will also, probably be taking up your first new potatoes and harvesting peas, broad beans, climbing beans, salads, courgettes, onions and garlic. You might be starting to get tomatoes and cucumbers from any greenhouses/ polytunnels you may have.

While you are about all this, remember the wildlife.

I’m sure you’ve noticed the upsurge of bird song this year as our streets have been quieter. Think about the birds and the insects they feed on and think about frogs, toads, hedgehogs etc. All are hugely in decline and need all the help we can give them. Not to eat our crops, of course, but, if you can, protect your crops in a way that doesn’t poison other life. We have wildlife friendly slug pellets in our shop and, at the time of writing, will open by individual request. Keep a little nettle patch as nettles are good for many insect varieties and lastly, when in doubt, leave at least a little, hidden corner untidy, maybe with a wood pile (good use for summer prunings), for beasties to hide in.

Happy gardening, Sue xx 43

Saltburn, Redcar & Cleveland Philatelic Society EDWARD VIII - KING FOR AWHILE Edward VIII, later Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David) 23rd June 1894 - 28th May 1972, was King of the United Kingdom and Dominions of the British Empire, and Emperor of India from 20th January 1936 until his abdication on 11th December of the same year.

He was created Prince of Wales on his sixteenth birthday, nine weeks after his father had succeeded as King George V. While Prince of Wales he enjoyed the company of women and engaged in a series of affairs that worried his father and the British prime minister, Stanley Baldwin.

As King, he showed impatience with court protocol, and caused concern among politicians by his apparent disregard for established constitutional conventions.

Only months into his reign, he caused a constitutional crisis by proposing to Wallis Simpson, an American who had divorced her first husband and was seeking a divorce from her second. The prime minister and government opposed the marriage deeming it both politically and socially unacceptable. Edward knew the Baldwin government would resign if the marriage went ahead, which would force a general election and would have ruined his status as a politically neutral monarch.

When that became apparent he abdicated on 11th December 1936. With a reign of 326 days, Edward is one of the shortest-reigning monarchs in British history.

Great Britain, 1936, urgently issued four precoronation definitive stamps, halfpenny green, 1d penny red, one and half penny brown and two and halfpenny blue with the crown in top right corner, designed by H. Brown. Several FDCs were issued at the time some of which are extremely valuable. The example shown with

Saltburn Line User Group Next Meetings are cancelled until further notice Meetings at Saltburn Conservative Club are held on the first Tuesday of the month, and our starting time is now (permanently) 7pm.

As always, all welcome.

Talk to Saltburn Line User Group.

The Group exists to protect passengers’ interests.

‘soldier’ and four pairs of stamps has an auction value of £400 (signed by the King himself).

Several other designs for a coronation stamp were hastily invited and several thousand were printed, but, with the abdication crisis looming none were released for issue, Crown above or on the head.

Our Society is still in ‘virus lockdown’ but if you require advice on your stamp collection please contact: Geoff Reynolds 01642 478229 or Martin Snowdon 01287 622504.

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The Saltburn Profile by Rosemary Nicholls Helen Pasco Readers may have seen Helen featured on the side of a Redcar and Cleveland dustcart last year; she was taking part in a Council promotion of fostering. Her photo was also on the banner outside Saltburn library. “Hopefully, the campaign jolted people to think more about taking up fostering – and it was fun,” she says. Helen and her husband, Steve, have fostered about twenty-five children since 2011, providing stability, security and a loving environment.

Helen was born in Stockton, but she moved to Marske when one. She has a sister, Claire and a brother, Liam. In 1977, the family moved to Saltburn and apart from nurse training in Harrogate, she has lived here ever since. After attending Saltburn Primary and Huntcliff Schools, she went to Prior Pursglove College where she studied ‘A’ levels for a year.

She then chose to enter the world of work and was employed by Barclays Bank as a cashier, a machine room operator and a standing orders clerk, in the days before computerisation. But in 1991, she began general nurse training at Harrogate. “I didn’t want to progress any further in the Bank and had always been interested in nursing,” she remembers.

When she qualified, she took up a job in ophthalmic nursing at Middlesbrough’s North Riding Infirmary, now demolished. Two years later, she moved to Castle Court Nursing Home at Boosbeck. “I enjoy elderly care,” she says, “and I later became Deputy Manager at Ayresome Court in Yarm.” In 2000, she was appointed as Manager of Shoreline Nursing Home at Redcar and in 2008 she took charge of nursing at Seaview in Saltburn.

Three years afterwards, Helen and Steve decided to apply to the Council to become foster carers. They were accepted and registered to take under-sevens in the first instance. “We’ve been caring for children ever since,” she says. “Quite a few keep in touch after they’ve moved on and we enjoy hearing how they’re doing.”

The couple are now registered for long term and short term fostering; they have a placement for an eleven year old at the moment. “We really like making a difference to their lives, for however long they’re with us,” Helen explains. She appreciates the support they’ve had from the Council and the help and training given by James Cook and Newcastle Hospitals – they’ve cared for babies with complex health needs.

She says that she and Steve work as a team, although he has a full-time job and Helen does the day to day caring. They look after three fostered children and their own three year old currently. “If Steve were here, he’d say that he values the opportunity to make a difference to a child’s life,” she says. “The challenges are far outweighed by the rewards.”

Helen doesn’t have much time for hobbies, but manages to squeeze in a visit to Podology every three or four weeks for a massage and a coffee with friends at Virgo’s. Nights out are very occasional, but she says she

has a good support network of friends and family, who help out for hospital appointments – her Mum and Dad, Chris and Judy Daniels, live a few doors away.

Helen always has music on in the house; she was brought up on the Beatles and Bob Dylan and loves sixties and seventies songs and American rock. She and a friend had had tickets to see Tom Jones in concert at Darlington in June but it would have been cancelled.

She has recently read ‘My Name is Why’, the story of Lem Sissey, who was brought up in foster care. “I prefer factual books to novels,” she says. She and Steve successfully took their three children to Lanzarote in February, which was their first flight for two of them.

“Usually we holiday in Northumberland and we’ll be spending time in Craster in the summer,” Helen explains.

The Pasco household includes a ten year old Patterdale dog, Zak and a cat called Lola, aged thirteen.

Last winter, they lost Tibby, their nineteen year old puss.

Zak has a heart condition and can only manage a walk round the estate, although she enjoys time in the garden.

Helen likes pottering there with the children too.

Steve is a keen cook and prepares excellent fish dishes and steaks for Helen on an evening after work.

They like to eat at Saltburn’s Ship Inn as a family and Helen is full of praise for the staff who give them brilliant service. “When our son’s adoption went through, we went there to celebrate,” remembers Helen.

She loves watching rugby and cheers for Ireland, as her Dad came from Dublin. Steve supports England, so there can be some family tension when England plays Ireland on the TV! Helen did see a live game between Samoa and New Zealand in Newcastle and when she was younger, used to go to Boro matches.

Helen uses Messenger and Facetime to keep in touch with her brother Liam in Australia and sister Claire in Qatar. “They come home regularly and it’s so easy to phone abroad today,” she says. However, she’s never wanted to move away from her childhood home and really appreciates life in Saltburn, with the beach, the woods and everything else in walking distance.

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The Saltburn Crossword no 229 set by Dinosaur Across 1 Lift the coronavirus restrictions? Not before showing a chewed look sent around (4, 3, 8) 8 Perform a surgical act or indeed, just do anything! (7) 9 Sounds like there is a possessive adjective! (5) 11 Local organisation for performing etc redesigning the bare net trace (9, 6) 12 Strictly Saint Ernest? (5) 13 Nearly half a hectare of land hiding a creature (4) 14 Abbreviated mineral powder of that alchemy (4) 17 Unit of length for Scotland? (4) 19 Mimics the higher primates? (4) 20 Disgust or shock of back slap parent (5) 23 Local organisation for fundraising etc. French due build. V for varying (4, 7, 4) 25 As far as United Nations set fire to returning (5) 26 The best possible for ophthalmologist mother? (7) 27 Expression for an improvement in the graphical depiction of the casualty numbers of the coronavirus outbreak rewriting haven’t felt truce (7, 3, 5)

Down

Name___________________________________ Address_________________________________ ________________________________________ Telephone_______________________________

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 10 13 15 16 18 21 22 23 24

Without ceasing to conclude Lesley craftily (9) Cause of widespread affliction but also meaning to whip (7) Local road puts part of a face into thee (3, 5) Rub out geological ages to East (5) Orchestral openings or romantic advances (9) Cute baby mammal has equipment before back of the net (6) NHS hero back in estates runner (5) More found part of sex trade (5) Musical instrument for the Swiss mountain cowherds or breakfast cereal brass (9) To have fun to commemorate an achievement or make famous or conduct a ritual correctly (9) Global disease like coronavirus? (8) Bolt that enthrals? (5) Large molecular substance constructed of many repeating elements initially planning or lowering your merry, empty rapture (7) Holiday home? In each a letter (6) Bungle something soft and downy (5) Heave to sound like a poor unfortunate person (5)

Solution to Crossword no 228 There was no winner of last month’s crossword because of the coronavirus but entries are accepted this month.

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

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

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Send your completed crossword to: Saltburn Crossword no 229, c/o Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, TS12 1AQ

by Friday, 17th July 2020. First correct solution out of the bag wins a £10 voucher kindly donated by Real Meals.

The Muses of Jim We in Leven Street are still coming out of our houses at 6.00pm with the excitement of special events such as birthdays, a game of street bingo and even a quiz. The captain of the winning team who did not answer any questions, claimed the credit and even the trophy as his own. I understand we are holding another street bingo night soon. We as a street are coping very well indeed.

We played bingo last night and it was very enjoyable (my apologies to the editor for the delay in sending this article) and there was an additional music quiz and the team I was in was the winner! But I must admit I could not answer any questions. Our captain did not answer any too but did his usual lap of honour. The latest craze in the street is for us residents to provide a painted stone for a neighbour to place in her front garden.

I have my own structured day which helps me to survive, under the control of Spud of course. the real support that carries me through each day is the support and friendship of the residents of Leven Street, Even the overbearing team captain has his uses, but I have yet to find them. I must give thanks to all the people that have continued to work to serve us in so many ways. My own special thanks to the staff in the following Saltburn businesses: Boots, Cooplands, The Post Office, and The Spar, The Milton Street DIY shop and now they are open, Keith’s Sports and Podology. Thank you all for cheerfulness, kindness and good humour and of course splendid service.

Lisa my youngest Daughter has requested that I try and reach all her old school friends from Huntcliff School as she is hoping to arrange a class reunion. It appears this can be done by Facebook Huntcliff 1986.

Now to be serious for once. Like many people I dabble with Facebook and have contact worldwide and as you must know, I have more than a passing interest in the subject of history. It was only in the 12th century that the word ‘she’ was used, within the developing English language. Before that, it was only the term ‘mankind’ that was used to cover both sexes. Also most history is written by the victors so therefore it is probably their version that only survives today; the rest is lost or even ignored. As they say the rest is History.

Recent events across the world and at home have shown the dark side of mankind and the internet and devices like Facebook spread the news in a flash across and around the world. Some people believe what they hear and read. Partly because they want to believe it or don’t have an opinion at all.

What happened in the USA to George Floyd was terrible but appears to be common, unfortunately, which of course is no excuse and one can understand the ground support for the Black Lives Matter movement growing, but in fact surely all lives matter.

This thing about statues intrigues me a lot. For me they are a landmark to the past not a signpost to the future. If I remember correctly slavery is mentioned in the Old Testament. Rome was built on slavery, survived on

slavery. Nobody flattened Rome and sowed salt on in its fields like Rome did to Carthage after the Punic Wars. The Irish raided our lands taking a young lad called Patrick back with them as a slave. In the Museum at Peel on the Isle of Man, is a Viking longboat, within which is a very attractive young girl chained to the boat and I don’t think she was the cook that had burnt the breakfast. Spain, thanks to Christopher Columbus, visited newly discovered lands destroying nations, stealing that much gold that Spain destroyed the economy of Europe, which took years to recover as well as enslaving nations in their greed for gold.

At the same time the Arab nations were plundering the East Coast of Africa for slaves. East Africa is of interest in that it appears the African tribal Leaders sold their own tribal members. This practice soon spread to the West Coast of Africa.

India was a different game altogether. The East India Company was in fact a private company and was nationalised after the Indian Mutiny. In fact it could be said that the relations between Britain and the ordinary Indian people were very good as seen by the great number of men that volunteered to fight for Britain in both world wars.

England, it would appear, was a late starter in the slave trade but with the development of the golden triangle, John Hawkins, a Yorkshireman from Normanton and a friend of the famous Drake, was said to be the first Englishman to use the route. Goods were taken from England to the West Coast of Africa to be traded for slaves, which were then taken to the West Indies to be traded for rum and sugar and later on, slaves were taken on to the southern states of America. During the American Civil War, the Lancashire cotton workers went on strike in support of the North and the shipyards of Birkenhead, Stockton on Tees and Hartlepool started to build blockade runners, fast ships to take supplies to the south. Once afloat they were armed in international waters. I understand that many of the plantations in the West Indies were owned by prominent Quaker families and the Church of England.

Now we come to statues, which in my opinion are there mainly to provide a resting place for birds, with the ones at Crosby being self cleaning as they are covered by the sea twice a day. A statue is a mark in time and probably has no relevance in today’s life at all, apart from the way time placed Churchill’s statue but that is a different kettle of fish. Many Yorkshire miners remember the time he ordered the local militia out of the barracks that became my secondary school, telling them to fire on striking miners at Featherstone Main. They missed but killed a women hanging out her washing half a mile away. An old teacher at the same school who had served in the First World War and had been at Gallipoli, said it was Winston’s plan to assist the Tsar of Russia. Finally, at the occasion of his funeral the dockers on the East End of London Docks refused to allow the cranes at the docks to be used as his coffin passed. Finally, it is rather funny that his statue (which I think is rather ugly) in Parliament Square is close to Ghandi’s.

Jim Wingham 47

£35.00

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