Talk of the Town June 2014

EDITION 156

CIRCULATION 4,800

JUNE 2014

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

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SALTBURN’S TOWN TALK Letter from the Editor For a long time I have thought of my monthly timetable as slow, orderly manner and I didn’t get deluged! That was most consisting of deadline week which builds up to deadline day unusual, and, although less stressful, most frustrating, because which is followed by deadline weekend. Recently, however, I the job still needed to get done, and a lot of contributions have identified another day in this hectic week. I have called didn’t arrive until three days after deadline day. It’s a slightly it deluge day. This is usually Thursday or sometimes deadline later deadline next month so there won’t be the luxury of being day itself, always a Friday, when contributions arrive so able to wait too long. A few people were on holiday, whatever quickly that I am unable to deal with them and I get behind. one of those is, so their regular articles aren’t here. Love, Ian It’s only when the deluge ceases that I can begin to catch up.

Send letters, adverts and contributions for the next issue (by Deluge day didn’t happen this month! Things arrived in a Friday, 20th June 2014) to: The Editor, Talk of the Town c/ Football field cheer: Saltburn Athletic FC’s junior football o Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, club has secured £50,000 of lottery grants to renovate the Cleveland, TS12 1AQ. Telephone: 01287 623903 or email: changing room hut at Hob Hill. Separate funding will mean talkofthetown@tyasi.freeserve.co.uk. Talk of the Town has a the football field (surrounded by a high fence) will be website: www.tottsaltburn.co.uk and the Friends of Talk of improved so football will again be played there. the Town can be found on Facebook.

Saltburn Farmers’ Market: Dig deep for Saltburn farmers’ Brockley Hall: Agents who are selling Brockley Hall said bids market this month as volunteers raise funds for water aid and were received by the deadline date of April. These will now go the world development movement. There will be games to to the committee running the national charity which comprises play so be competitive and have fun! Next market is Saturday several Christian holiday homes in addition to the Saltburn one.

14th June, 9 am till 3 pm and with a vast selection of food, It is understood most of the bids want to turn it into a large beddrink and crafts its worth heading into town for the day and and-breakfast or hotel business. checking out our summer cocktail corner!

WI Report: Ladies of Saltburn WI met on 8th May to discuss Slow and Steady Music Session: next session at Saltburn the resolution which will be voted on at the Annual Meeting to House is Wednesday, 11th June. See the article on page 20. be held at Leeds on 7th June this year. The resolution will be to The Guisborough and District Branch of the increase organ donation. The National Federation of Women’s Embroiderers’ Guild are holding their monthly meeting in Institutes notes that three people die every day whilst waiting Sunnyfield House, Westgate, Guisborough, TS14 6BA on for an organ transplant. The WI calls on every member to Saturday, 5th July, 2014 at 1.45 for 2pm. Our guest speaker make their wishes regarding organ donation known, and to is Magie Relph and her subject is ‘Africa - Ashanti encourage their families and friends, and members of their local Inspirations’. Visitors are welcome whether non-stitchers, communities to do likewise. This resolution was discussed by beginners or more experienced stitchers; we will be very members and after views were heard from the floor a vote was pleased to see you. The Belmont House car park (behind the taken and the resolution was accepted and will be taken council offices) is free on Saturdays. forward to Leeds. A coach party of members from Saltburn WI For more information please call 01642 314860. will attend the meeting at Leeds in June.

Further activities are planned for our own members this Emmanuel Church Hall Table Top and Collectors’ Sale: month.

There is a visit to Coxwold and Helmsley and members Our next dates are Saturdays, 7th and 21st June and then 5th have been invited by Brotton WI to the Group Rally when the and 19th July. FREE ENTRANCE and a warm welcome to speaker will be Sheila Dibnah (wife of the late Fred). The everyone. With over 26 stall holders, selling lots of bric-aregular activities of flower arranging, walking, cookery and brac, books, toys, baby goods, and all sorts of collectables, supper club are also timetabled throughout the and some crafts, there is something for everyone. Home made month.

Members of the show committee are gearing up for the refreshments and light lunches are on sale all day. Our all day eighth Craft and Produce Show to be held on Saturday, 12th breakfast and lunches and popular home baked stall are always available. Our kitchen is very busy and popular. July, at ECHO, Emmanuel Church Hall, Saltburn. Show Thank you everyone for your support. Contact Denise schedules will be available soon in local libraries and other venues. There are a wide variety of classes – something for Marshall on 07929 589538.

Comedy Capers: Big Mouth Comedy’s Saltburn adventure every member of the family – so we are hoping for a bumper continues with more top gigs down at The Spa Hotel this crop of entries. Our speaker this month, on 12th June, is Mr summer. Saturday, 7th June sees Roger Monkhouse, John Bob Brunger who will tell us about the West End Methodist Warburton, Lauren Pattison & special guest MC Katie Church at Skelton. If you would like to join us as a guest or Mulgrew in town. And Saturday, 5th July has another top line new member you would be most welcome. We meet every 2nd -up including Comedy Store favourite Richard Morton and Thursday (except August) at the Methodist Church Hall, Milton Irish charmer Paddy Lennox. More info can be found at Big Street, Saltburn at 7.30pm.

Barbara Spanner Mouth North on facebook (or www.bigmouthcomedy.co.uk).

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

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World War I - The Home Front

The UK declared war on Germany on August 4th 1914, and sadly very soon on Friday, 21st August 1914 a visitor to Saltburn was fatally shot by a sentry on duty. Notices regarding military law being in operation had been published in the area.

The visitor was Thomas Pearson Taylor, the son of Alderman T S Taylor, a former Mayor of Hull. he had arrived in Saltburn at 11.35pm on a motor cycle and sidecar with his brother, leaving some parcels and their coats at the house in Britannia Terrace where their father was staying.

Thomas then went to put the motorcycle and sidecar in the garage at the rear of the premises. Shortly after he had started the motorcycle up the father heard a report and assumed that a tyre had burst, rushing out he found the motorcycle in Amber Street and a body lying in the middle of the road; it was a very dark night. Patrolling on the grassed area of the promenade towards Huntcliff was a sentry from the 7th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment who was instructed to challenge everybody and to use the firearm if they did not respond to the challenge. In a witness statement the sentry Private A E Green, who had been in the town for three days saw a flashing white light approaching; he shouted a challenge four times before raising his rifle taking a low aim and fired with a fatal result. The inquest jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased was shot by a sentry whilst on duty.

The Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough published a full report of the inquest below which was the following.

When you are near sentries expect the order ‘Halt’. If you get the order stop dead at once or you will be shot.

Lighting regulations were applied very vigorously as the following letter to the Editor of the Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough illustrates in 1916.

A Saltburn Complaint Kindly permit me a few lines in your valuable paper to ventilate what I consider to be a public grievance writes ‘British Taxpayer’ under the above heading. The other night after business I went to Saltburn where my family are, for 4

the benefit of their health and naturally took my wife on the promenade which was fairly crowded. After watching the searchlights and glowing furnaces, I fancied a smoke and stood with my back to the sea near the promenade railings and struck a match, covering it with both hands and slipping the light in the outer part of the match-box whilst I lit my cigarette. Then I blew the match out and then stepped on it.

Instantly a police constable approached me from the inland side of the promenade and in an official manner demanded my name and address for striking that match. Of course I complied telling him that I had a copy of the New Lighting Order in my pocket, and I had not seen any regulation forbidding the striking of a match, when he replied the ‘offence’ was ‘showing a light out to sea’. Now it was rather dark and I could not recognise the constable and I don’t think he could see me very clearly, but if it had happened after we passed along distant furnaces lit up the promenade so brilliantly that I could have easily recognised the constable and all others within sight, or even read the paper by the light and this light from the furnaces kept continuously recurring. Under these circumstances does it not seem absurd to suggest that striking a match is an offence? Even if the police think it is right to stop matchstriking on promenades would it not be fairer to issue public notices forbidding it absolutely, instead of putting on duty constables purposefully to pick out individuals and treat them as offenders without giving them any warning?

Such methods won’t encourage visitors to Saltburn and surely residents will protest against a continuance of it.

The answer to the writer of the letter is that he is entirely in the wrong. It has been from the first an offence under the Defence of the Realm Act to strike a match on the sea front at night and the importance of the order should be perfectly obvious. To go into detail is inadvisable but it should be clear that it is not a precaution taken against air raids alone. The letter is published in the hope that it will serve as a warning.

Foot note:- In all probability the light referred to from the furnaces was the slag being tipped over the cliff edge at Skinningrove works, from personal experience when there was low cloud the reflected light lit up Saltburn for a several seconds.

The meaning of Toc H (Briefly) Several people have asked the question ‘what does Toc H stand for?’ An army chaplain Rev Phillip Byard (Tubby) Clayton was instructed to set up a sort of rest house for troops in the town of Poeringe, Belgium. Renting a temporarily vacated hop merchant’s house he set up an Everyman’s House and named it Talbot House. The house became known by its initials TH, and then in radio signallers’ parlance of the day it became Toc H. Cath and Tony Lynn

Ruth Cowen MICHT

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Saltburn Councillors’ Surgeries Councillors Joan Guy, Philip Thomson and Stuart Smith Second Saturday in the month at Saltburn Library from 11am - noon.

Councillor Stuart Smith: Third Saturday in the month at the Station Portico outside Sainsbury’s Supermarket - 9:30am - 10:30am and 11:30am - 12:15pm Councillors Joan Guy and Philip Thomson: Fourth Saturday in the month at Saltburn Library from 11am - noon.

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Friends of Talk of the Town Hello from Friends of Talk of the Town.

I’d like to begin by thanking Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council for the recent award of a precept grant to Friends of Talk of the Town to help towards the continuing publication of this magazine. The funds have been used to help with printing costs for this edition of Talk of the Town and we are indebted to the Parish Council for their kind consideration.

As you will recall earlier in the year I lost my best friend of over 40 years, Alan Newsome who was always interested in what I was up to and like me, had a fond regard for Saltburn and its folk. Like many families, his are still coming to terms with their tragic loss. There’s not a day goes by when I don’t think of him and I still compose photos on my mobile and cameras that I would have been sending to him as that was how he enjoyed seeing ‘my world.’

Nowadays, you may have noticed that I have ‘joined’ our local conservation group: now a registered charity and officially known as Saltburn Friends of the Valley Ltd. The truth is, I was press-ganged into joining and hoodwinked into taking on the role of Treasurer after being lured by the cache that goes with the title of Trustee Director! You’ll know these lovely folk already: an enthusiastic group of determined people steered by Chairman Colin Grant, the indefatigable Ingrid Salomonsen and the effervescent Lorna Moone. I affectionately refer to them as the ‘Valley Bandits’ and I’m sure you will know why by now.

Some have asked if this will have a bearing on my ‘work’ for Friends of Talk of the Town and in reply I would suggest that whilst I may in fact be a little mad, there are many areas where we can work together in a mutually beneficial way. There are of course areas where our aims will cross but I passionately believe that like Talk of the Town, Valley Gardens is a vital community asset that also deserves your support. We believe that thanks to your continued support this magazine is in better shape than ever

and will continue to grow. Because Saltburn Friends of the Valley Ltd are now a registered charity their fund raising options include routes the magazine cannot explore; however, (and please pardon the pun) grass-roots support is needed for the Valley, too.

I would like to personally thank the former, plain old, Friends of the Valley for inviting me to join them when they did as I was at a very low point after losing my friend. I am blessed with the love and support of my wife, Denise, my son Andrew (who works with me in and around Valley Gardens: when we’re not having the odd coffee break) and my daughter Lyndsey who is a fully paid-up Saltburn passport carrying resident. Being welcomed into the Friends of the Valley family couldn’t have come at a better time for me. I might have been warned though of all the ‘little’ things they had in store for me, like revamping a web-site, overhauling their IT usage and oh a little matter of digging, hoeing, painting....it goes on.

Seriously though, for a moment it has been therapeutic and if you or perhaps somebody you know who may find themselves with time on their hands, you would be welcomed with open arms by my new colleagues. You just might find a little solace down there: then again you’ll more than likely find the odd weed or two, also.

Let’s not forget that there are also other groups in and around our community who are all in need of additional voluntary help, most of whom you will find in this magazine.

If you would like to know more about membership and volunteering in the valley, you will find all you need to know on our website (www.saltburnfriendsofthevalleyltd.co.uk).

Thanks for reading and to quote the by-line of a national retail outlet ‘every little helps!’ Just one last thing: when you get in touch with the Saltburn Friends of the Valley, Saltburn in Bloom or whomever (or indeed all of us) please tell them ‘Richard sent you!’

Richard Dales-Coupland Secretary, Friends of Talk of the Town

4 People Not Profit present

‘Pussy Riot - A Punk Prayer’ 4 People Not Profit’s film night ‘Open your mind’ returns with ‘Pussy Riot - A Punk Prayer’. This is a powerful and pertinent film telling the tale of three young girls who dared to stand up to the might of the Russian state and became international icons.

The film will be screened as usual upstairs in The Marine, Saltburn and will be on Thursday, 19th June, Doors at 7pm and the film starts at 7.30pm. With time for discussion after the film, and as ever the event is free entry.

Sundance award-winning documentary which tells the compelling story of how a group of young, feminist punk rockers known as Pussy Riot captured the world’s attention by protesting against Putin’s Russia.

Through first-hand interviews with band members, their families and the defence team, and exclusive footage 6

of the trial, the film highlights the forces that transformed these women from playful political activists to modern-day icons.

In early 2012, members of the collective donned their colourful trademark balaclavas and participated in a 40second ‘punk prayer protest’ on the altar of Moscow’s cathedral. Once arrested, Nadia, Masha and Katia were accused of religious hatred in a trial that triggered protests and arrests in Russia and caused uproar around the world.

The film reveals the personal motives and courage of the women behind the balaclavas and exposes the state of Russian justice through the court’s final verdict.

“Pussy Riot remains a significant contribution to the ongoing dialogue assessing the current state of Russian society and culture, as well as the sometimes tenuous status of free speech in the free world.” - Sundance Review

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Councillors’ Column It is now nine months since that dreadful evening when the skies opened and water cascaded through Saltburn bringing chaos to transport, domestic life and town infrastructure.

Particular damage was suffered in Skelton Beck.

The gabions above Forrest Halt were swept away with the force of the swollen waters. The majority of ballast from the miniature railway was washed out and several areas of beck side eroded with the greatest effect experienced alongside Cat Nab car park. The miniature railway is now back in business. The swamped engine shed cleaned out, the submerged engines running again and the railroad ballast reinstated, all thanks to hours of volunteer labour and love.

The Forrest Halt bank side, however, remains un-repaired.

Concern has been expressed at the inaction in addressing the vulnerability of the railway to further flooding. Hopefully there will be none in the short term, but unless there are reasonable plans and funding put in place, this will be a continuing cause for concern. Requests for site meetings with all interested parties have yet to receive any positive response.

The Valley Garden Steering Group continues its work in seeking improvements in the Valley. After twelve months of, at sometimes fruitless, discussions there now appears to be some progress in implementing the meagre programme of £45,000 of capital works left from the Coastal Communities award. Two new picnic settings will be established near the popular play areas on the valley bottom. A new entrance from Albion Terrace will be constructed, allowing access

without having to negotiate the existing steps. This is seen as the start of a long term aim to increase disabled access.

A recent incident in the Wilton Bank area was a reminder of the dangers awaiting where road conditions are not properly managed. Requests for 20 mph on the estate have stalled. Clear road marking, especially at junctions has been chased up. There still remains a need for care and respect for road conditions by all road users.

Residents can apply for Safer Street packs which are a useful tool in reflecting local needs and are carefully examined by highway engineers in designing road layouts.

Vehicle owners have been requested not to park on the slipway at the Ship Inn as this impedes emergency service access to the beach in the event of an incident.

Sight lines at corners are improved when hedges are trimmed back and this good practice allows normal pedestrian passage, particularly for those of limited vision.

Good news has been received for community projects. The per capita annual sum allocated to Ward Councillors for local distribution has risen to £3,000.

Funding to support tourism and leisure businesses, either start-ups or existing ones looking to expand and create new jobs, is available. Applications for a grant of up to £10,000, which will assist in matching funding of up to 50% of project costs, can be made to Debbie Allinson on 01642 444329.

Councillors attend every 2nd and 4th Saturday in the Library at 11am.

Philip Thomson 7

A Review of 2014 Grand Ol’ Oprey

President Don Hibbert of The Rotary Club of Saltburn presents a cheque for £1000 to Pat Robson (Chair) and Barbara Newman (Trustee - Chair Elect) of Redcar & Cleveland MIND

The Grand Ol’ Oprey, a musical festival of extraordinarily talented people, proved to be an extraordinary success for Saltburn. All five nights at Saltburn Theatre were full houses.

Many of the audience said this was the best Oprey yet and danced off into the night wanting more. The Rotary Club of Saltburn have produced The Grand Ol’ Oprey since 2009 as a fundraiser and are delighted with the public support and are now determined to carry on for at least another year.

The festival opened on Easter Sunday with Blues night and what a terrific night it was. ‘Dr. Brown and the Groove Cats’ opened the show and were followed by local duo ‘Easy Street’. ‘Emma Wilson Blues Band’, were excellent with the soulful but powerful voice of Emma filling the theatre.

‘Skinny Blues’ closed the evening with the audience dancing in the aisles.

The following night was Folk Roots night and opened with fascinating rhythms from percussionist HanG, with Kev Howard on didgeridoo and Phil Cox on Guitar. Next came ‘Danny’s House,’ pleasing colourful, eclectic mix of songs.

Flossie Malavialle followed, accompanied by Paul Donnelly, both international artists. As always they delighted the Saltburn audience. The evening was completed by the lively local band ‘Fat Medicine’.

Rock night on Tuesday 22nd April, was blown away by three fabulous contrasting bands. ‘Old School’ opened the night with some old fashioned Rock and Roll. They name themselves ‘crocks that rock’ and to their fame they lived up to their claim. International singer songwriter Claire Hamill came next with a terrific set backed by her Northern Boys.

The finale of the evening came from ‘The Mentulls’ who raised the roof. This very young band have recently been on tour with Wishbone Ash. Guitarist Andrew Pipe performed like a new Jimi Hendrix, his brother Jamie was brilliant on keyboards and drummer Nick Colman played with passion and maturity beyond his years.

Wednesday 23rd, the Country Night was an early sellout. The evening set off impeccably with Brian Dales and Jon Chamberlain in ‘Sweet Baby James’. This was a beautiful homage to the music of James Taylor. ‘Sweet Baby James’ is in high demand throughout the country. Also in demand all over the North ‘The Caffreys’ gave a dynamic performance full of vigour and sheer enjoyment. This six piece Newcastle Band brought their experience and harmony together to give 8

President Don Hibbert of The Rotary Club of Saltburn presents a cheque for £1000 to Gail Tweed (C.E.O.) and Linda Chadwick (Day Centre Manager) of CLEVEARC (Cleveland Alzheimer’s Residential Care).

the audience a special treat. Afterwards Hayley McKay gave a moving performance and proved she is not only gorgeous but an extremely talented singer and guitarist.

‘The Happy Cats’ closed the evening with a performance that had the entire audience on their feet. Led by Marty Craggs, of ‘Lindisfarne’ fame, this band are no strangers to Saltburn. ‘The Happy Cats’ proved why they have such a huge following and had a massive impact on the evening.

Thursday night was Big Band Night and Gene Jarred’s Big Band gave a wonderful finale to a wonderful week. This ever popular band, who have performed in all six Grand Ol’ Opreys, gave a masterclass of swing with classic numbers from our yesterdays. New to Gene’s band were vocalist Paul Skerritt and keyboard player James Harrison, two exceptional young entertainers with the ability to become household names.

Throughout the week members and friends of the ’53 Drama Group graced the stage with enactments of commercials of local businesses that supported the shows.

In true Oprey fashion much entertainment came from the actors, who in true thespian style endeavoured to wring some drama from ads for Gypsum and Insulation.

Thanks to the generosity of the musicians, artists, stage crew and technicians giving their services free of charge, thanks to Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council for their financial support, thanks to the businesses who sponsored the Oprey, and thanks to the people of Saltburn area for buying the record number of tickets, the 2014 Grand Ol’ Oprey has been a huge success.

After expenses, £4,000 was raised by the Oprey. At a Rotary meeting at Saltburn Golf Club on 14th May, cheques for £1,000 each were presented, by Rotary Club President Don Hibbert, to representatives from Redcar and Cleveland MIND, and Alzheimer’s Charity CLEVEARC. The balance of funds raised will be distributed by the Rotary Club of Saltburn in smaller amounts to local charities and worthy causes over the coming year.

Winning numbers of the Oprey Grand Draw were: 1102, 1111, 689, 1565, 206, 1090, 674, 620, 605, 60, 110, 656, 1339, 211, 501, 93. All winners have been contacted.

Mike Sellars, Rotarian.

Neighbourhood Team Hello and welcome to a brief update from Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Integrated Neighbourhood Team.

It would appear summer is really here and the team are very much enjoying the warmer weather. We have all been working very hard keeping the streets of Saltburn free from crime and anti social behaviour.

There has been some recent changes to the team here and I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves to you. We have PC 1099 Darryl Starling, PC 1077 Nicholas Lynch and PC 1965 Craig Spenceley and PCSO 8187 Laura Collins and PCSO 8144 Jeanette Passmore.

Our current ward priority is Anti Social Behaviour in Saltburn Square, with large groups of youths playing football.

The team patrol this area regularly and high visibility patrols have been conducted around Saltburn Square and Milton Street by Neighbourhood Policing Team, particularly on evening shifts and weekends. These patrols will continue throughout the coming months. We will continue to engage with youths at the location and make them aware that their behaviour may at times be problematic and considered anti social. We also have a Facebook page which we regularly update with any goings on within our towns. Please search Facebook for Saltburn, Marske and New Marske NPT. I look forward to meeting more of our residents over the coming months and if any of the team can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us on 101 and the front desk at Saltburn Police Office is open weekdays between 2pm and 7pm if you wish to call in.

Kind regards, PSCO 8144 Jeanette Passmore.

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Good hair day Anyone who is familiar with the bible story of Samson and Delilah will know the significance attached to the power of hair. Similarly in Sikhism ‘Kesh’ is the act of growing one’s hair as a symbol of respect to what God created in its natural state. Anyone who has had a less than perfect haircut will vouch for the stress this can create. The expression ‘bad hair day’ is one that resonates with many of us when we pick up the hairbrush and our hair decides not to behave. Unless you’re bald that is.

I witnessed my first hair disaster in 1985. My brother and sister decided to play a game of ‘hairdressers’. This was back in the day when it was absolutely fine for your kids to play with scissors. My sister left the salon (our bedroom) with what can only be described as a friar tuck haircut, forever captured in a family snap of her in the back garden brushing her teeth.

Fast forward 25 years and I find myself with an equally serious hair crisis. After a 6 month stint travelling around Asia and not knowing what to do with my hair, I dyed it blonde, brown, red and then on my return to England eagerly asked my new hairdresser about the possibility of going back blonde again. She advised it was no problem and went and prepared the bleach. Only a few days later did I realise something was horribly wrong when a few sections of hair came out in my hands. Over the next week the full top half of my hair snapped off in chunks.

Think 80s Pat Sharp mullet and you will get an idea.

After lots of tears and a trip back to the salon (hairdresser looking stressed and wringing hands) I made the decision to just cut it all off. One hour later I returned home to my husband looking like a 10-year-old page-boy.

Understandably this makes me slightly nervous of hairdressers or actually having anything at all done to my hair. Fast-forward 2½ years and my hair is long again but I’m haunted by that page-boy cut. Scoping out a new hairdresser was a difficult task and having surveyed the town and stuck my nose up against the glass of a local salon - I decided to give it a shot. I needn’t have worried.

They sorted my barnet out in no time. I left feeling pampered, glossy and swinging my mane around like a show pony. It genuinely seemed like a really fun place to work too. Lots of swapping of stories, hordes of magazines and they weren’t shy with the tea either. I left feeling relaxed, caffeinated and with a fill of the latest gossip and beauty tips. The hairdressers’ aren’t half bad in Saltburn are they?

Anna

Saltburn in Bloom What lovely weather we are enjoying as I write this article in mid May for the next issue of Talk of the Town. The gardening group were busy this morning at the Rose arbours and had a wonderful, relaxed couple of hours chatting, watching swifts and even a spot of weeding. Hope you enjoy this area as the roses start to bloom. New gardeners are always welcome in the group and if you are interested contact Lynda Parkes, Tel. 209518 or email lynda_parkes@hotmail.com.

Thank you to all those who have generously sponsored hanging baskets and planters this year. There are still unsponsored baskets on the Station and Consteel House, so it isn’t too late – just give me a ring! The baskets will be going up over two days on June 18th and 19th, starting about 8.30am and if you could give any help we would be grateful.

On Sunday, 4th May Jennie Finch, our local crime writer was invited along to the Library to say a few words to launch our booklet to go alongside the interpretation boards installed last year. Here she is pictured with Stuart Smith, deputising for our Chair, and Peter Spencer, the Chair of the North York Moors Coast and Hills Leader Board. A pleasant afternoon was enjoyed by those who came along. If you would like a booklet (suggested donation £1.50) pop into the library.

Visit tottsaltburn.co.uk/saltburn-in-bloom for more photos of the event.

Many thanks to Chris Robson and his students on the Level 1 Joinery and Carpentry Course at Redcar and Cleveland College, who repaired the Model Pier on Marske Road during March and April.

Lynda Parkes 10

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A PARTNER FREE Latin & Ballroom dance fitness class!

Mon 7pm This steamy workout will awaken the sassy woman in you… a toning workout using a chair and wearing heels (or trainers)!

Thurs 6pm

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Tuesdays at 5.00pm or 7.00pm.

NEW 5pm SESSION ADDED Telephone Stevie on

01642 474920

Also, The Civic Hall, Coniston Rd, Skelton, NEW MORNING GROUP ADDED Wednesdays at 9.30am and 7pm.

Ring Susan on 07787 701558

Spirals

A Pilates, Yoga & Ballet inspired fitness class.

Spirals works on core strength, toning and flexibility.

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Veterinary Matters In May, sadly a puppy died after a trip to the seaside. The little dog was playing happily on the beach and running in and out of the sea chasing toys. Later, on returning home, the dog started to fit and died later that night. Examinations showed there was an amount of sand in the stomach. This puppy died from salt poisoning. I see quite a few cases of salt intoxication, leading to severe diarrhoea and vomiting, but, they get better with appropriate veterinary treatment. This was a small breed of dog, and although the dog was not “drinking” sea water, by simply chasing a toy into the surf too much salt water was swallowed, with severe consequences. If you do take your pet to the beach, be careful and avoid deliberately throwing toys into the water, but if the dog does become ill, please seek immediate veterinary advice.

We are now well into tick season and since last year some new drugs have been introduced to control them from biting and feeding on our dogs and cats. They are, as yet, still only on prescription, but a quick trip to your vets will give you the information you need on the best way to treat. Removing ticks, once they have taken hold, can be painful, especially as they seem to latch on around the eyes. Again, your vet can either remove them for you, or point you in the direction of a good proprietary tick remover.

Following on from last month, when I touched on first aid in our pets, I was asked which pain killers could be given to a dog or cat in an emergency. Simply put, unless an antiinflammatory drug is prescribed by your vet, then none of the routine drugs we humans take are licensed for dogs or cats. In

fact, paracetamol is toxic to cats and should never be given in any form; aspirin can be given to cats, but only for certain conditions, and only under advice from a vet. As for dogs, their owners often give their pets ibuprofen tablets, which can cause severe stomach upsets. One dog owner gave his dog one of his own arthritis pills, and then wondered why she was so ill afterwards. A phone call, as always, to your own vets, day or night, will allow you to explain any problem and get the best, and safest, advice.

I have been asked on several occasions what is the strangest item, or items, that I have taken out of a dog’s abdomen? About 20 years ago a young Boxer dog was brought in, being sick. We X-rayed the dog’s chest and stomach and could see there were a few strange looking objects in both the oesophagus and the stomach. During the surgery, which took two vets and three nurses, we extracted about 10(!) children’s toy plastic shapes - numbers, crosses, blocks and a plastic duck - all about 5cm in diameter! When questioned, the owner was amazed. She had no children, but had re-homed the dog nearly 6 months previously from a family, with young children. The dog made a full recovery, but it just shows that what your pet eats today may not reappear until Christmas!

If you want to ask me a question or raise a topic for this article, contact me by e-mail on j.haddow@live.co.uk or call where I work at Jacqui Paterson vets on 01642 604555.

James Haddow, Veterinary Eye Consultant, GP and Saltburn resident.

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Saltburn, Marske & New Marske Parish Council The Annual General Meeting was held at the beginning of May and Councillor Norah Cooney (Longbeck Ward) was appointed as Chairman and Councillor Margaret Wilson (St Germain’s Ward) was appointed as Vice Chairman. The outgoing Chairman, Councillor Graham was presented with a plaque to commemorate his year in office and his wife and escort was presented with a bouquet of flowers. (Photo L-R Councillors Cooney, Graham and Wilson.)

At the Ordinary meeting, grants were approved for Saltburn District U3A, Saltburn Cricket Bowls & Tennis Club, Doorways, 2nd Saltburn Ranger Guides, 1st Saltburn Rainbows, Friends of Talk of the Town, Saltburn Community & Arts Association, Saltburn Craft & Produce Show, Saltburn In Bloom and The Pocket Watch Project - towards a community event to commemorate the centenary year of the start of World War 1. The next Donations Committee meeting will take place on 7th July 2014 and any community group who would like to apply for a grant should contact the Parish Council office for an application form. The closing date for completed applications is Friday, 27th June 2014.

Residents of Saltburn are eligible to apply for an allotment at any of the sites throughout the Parish. If you are interested please contact the office.

Tracy Meadows, Clerk and RFO Saltburn, Marske & New Marske Parish Council ℅ Saltburn Leisure Centre, Marske Mill Lane,

Saltburn, TS12 1HJ Tel: 01287 623477 email: office@smnmpc.co.uk www.smnmpc.co.uk

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Saltburn Beachwatch The next Saltburn Beachwatch litterpick and survey will take place on Saturday, 14th June 2014 between 10am until 12 noon. Meet at the pier car park from 9-30 am where pickers, gloves and bags will be provided. There will be free hot and cold drinks and home made cookies midway through the session. Any further information can be obtained from myself on 01287 204204 or e-mail roye.smith47@yahoo.co.uk and also Saltburn Beachwatch has now got a facebook page at facebook/Saltburn Beachwatch.

Roy Smith

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Please Return my Missing Kettle On Monday, 12th May I went to a friend’s house and collected lots of dishes and pots that we’d used for a party the day before. Between 7.30 and 8pm that day, I unloaded my car and I left some of the things outside my house on Randolph Street as I carried things inside bit by bit. Two things went missing - someone must have thought I wanted to get rid of them.

These were a new double layered, chrome cafetière which I had recently bought, but most importantly, my chrome (not electric) kettle, with black plastic handle and a tea strainer attached inside. (A drawing of it can be seen on the local florist’s shop door.) This was given to me a long time ago by my mother, who died a few months ago, and therefore it’s very precious to me and it’s most upsetting that it should have gone missing.

I am hoping whoever picked it up will be able to return it to me. You can drop it in to Eveline Brentano’s shop, (our local Florist), - just pop it inside the door.

Thank you.

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Talking Points Cards on the table; I’m no Bear Grylls. I couldn’t nibble my way through the nether regions of a decomposing camel or crunch through a still wriggling beetle. I’m not even sure, no matter how hungry, I could bring myself to a eat a scabby horse. That said, I do a love a good burger.

I was a quite a fussy eater as a kid and although I’m much better now I still tend to avoid eating anything with feathers. Past suggestions of a five-bird roast at Christmas have generally received the kind of reception afforded to Judas at the Last Supper.

Anyway, back to Bear who has been in the news for his belief that parents are doing their children a disservice by not exposing them to risk. He wants survival skills such as lighting a fire, back on the national curriculum.

Now at first I admit this took a little bit of time to get my head around. We don’t exactly live in the outback of Australia for starters and what the hecky decky will health and safety have to say about it all? They’re not exactly mad keen on the terrifying idea of conkers on a string, never mind carving up a sheep to create a makeshift coat should you ever find yourself catching a chill in the woods.

He’s got a point though; just take a look at the National Trust’s list of 50 things to do before you’re 11 and 3/4. I mean there are a few that are a little left-field granted.

For instance I never found myself calling for an owl if I was at a loose end on a Sunday afternoon or tracking wild animals if there wasn’t much on TV. But leave those to one side and there are some real Enid Blyton moments that every child should at least have the chance to experience.

Here’s a few; bury someone in the sand, swing on a rope swing, hunt for treasure, throw some snow, skim a stone, climb a tree. As a kid I did all of those things and many more that appear on the list. We’d spent hours at the beach with a fishing net without catching a single thing. We

would build a den that would inevitably collapse within minutes. We’d play kirby until there was no more light and we were called in for our tea and we’d make a point of getting up early on a Saturday morning to watch cartoons.

The old bunker in a neighbour’s garden would be our HQ, we’d daringly play knock-a-door run and we’d steer clear of playing football near one particular man’s garden.

We referred to him as Mr Poppit as legend had it he would pop the inflatable footballs that landed the wrong side of his fence.

I was a child of the 1990s. An era where Power Rangers were worshipped, the Spice Girls were big news, ice pops were seemingly the only thing you’d eat in the summer months and Friday night always meant fish and chips and a packet of penny sweets.

Looking back it seemed like an age of innocence where life was simple and you lived in your own little bubble. Then along came technology and burst it.

Suddenly computer games were on Christmas lists instead of bikes and roller skates with a new generation exposed to more stimulants than ever before.

I often think that there’s a certain attention deficit disorder that technology creates in all of us. These days we can be watching TV while reading something on an iPad and messing about on our mobile. One thing is just never enough.

Should we break the cycle and encourage kids to roam free and enjoy pastimes that may long have been forgotten?

Absolutely. It’s all too easy to view our youth through rosetinted glasses and pine for the ‘good old days’ while living in fear of the big bad world of 2014.

As a kid life always seemed that much better; ignorance by and large, was bliss. We know how that felt now it’s time to let others feel the same.

Jonathan Whiley

Abi’s Health Advice

Sun, sea and sunscreen - how to make your holiday as healthy as possible That time of year is near. You have saved all year-round for your summer holiday and spent months preparing but, in all the excitement, has your healthcare been overlooked? Here are a few tips to make your holiday as healthy (and stress free) as possible.

Safe in the sun: hopefully wherever you travel there will be some chance of a sunny day! Most people feel better about themselves when they have a tan, but the following advice will help you to remain safe in the sun (and help prevent making the typical British mistake of turning bright red on the first day and then peeling seven days later back to your normal pale self). Cancer Research UK recommends applying factor 15+ sunscreen and reapplying every two to three hours. Avoid staying in the sun for long periods, especially between 11 and 3, and cover up during this hottest part of the day with a hat, sunglasses and T-shirt. Don’t stay out in the sun all day on the first day - it is safer to gradually increase the time you spend in the sun.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): To help prevent a DVT on a long journey wear loose clothing. Get up, stretch

your legs and walk around whenever possible. Drink regularly (but not alcohol, sorry). Compression stockings could also reduce the risk of developing a DVT. Bites and stings: Sleeping under a mosquito net, wearing long sleeved clothing after sundown and wearing insect repellents can reduce the risk of insect bites and stings. However, sometimes insect bites are unavoidable and in such cases an antihistamine cream can help.

Obviously, if you are travelling to an area where there is a risk of malaria then anti-malarial prevention is necessary and it’s likely this will need to be started weeks before travelling so see your GP beforehand.

Read up to date health advice for the country you’re travelling to using NATHNAC’s interactive world map.

Finally, a list of a few basics you might need for your trip: antiseptic cream, sunscreen, after sun lotion, insect repellent, antihistamines, anti-diarrhoea pills, rehydration sachets and a basic first aid kit.

Have a safe trip!

Your local pharmacist, Abi Bowers.

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Saltburn 500 Club The team of people involved with the planned restoration of the War Memorial, are hard at work looking to raise funding etc. This dedicated team can always use help so, if you have some time on your hands, please contact them and become involved.

You may have noticed that work has commenced on the garden around the Friends of Saltburn loco.

(That’s the model train on Marske Road.) The Friends of Saltburn have commissioned Mr R Richardson to do the work, which will include surrounding the loco with pebbles in the same way that the Victorian figures have been done at the bandstand. Easily maintained plants will then be planted and it is hoped that work will soon be completed. Mr E Guy, of Signart, has kindly donated a replacement information board to replace the one that was stolen from alongside the loco.

The Saturday band performances will be starting on 7th June so please go along and help to support these events. I am sure that we are due a long hot summer so what better way to spend a couple of hours lazing in the sun than sitting and listening to the music. Of course, you can always volunteer to arrange seating or collect monies.

Finally, the table top sales are in full swing so please go to the station portico and pick up a bargain.

Who knows, your purchase could end up on the Antiques Road Show. If you wish to have your own stall, you can book it by telephoning 01287 624046 – the cost is £6 per stall.

Trevor Welburn Secretary, Saltburn 500 Club/Friends of Saltburn

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Community Event to Preserve Saltburn War Memorial 29th June WWI Community Day People who live in, or have a love for, our area are being invited to take part in a WWI Community event this June, to help raise money to renovate and repair Saltburn War Memorial.

Clubs and community groups in Saltburn have been working away for months putting together events and attractions, which will begin with a piper leading a parade through the town and will include stalls, music, period costume, video exhibitions and live theatre.

The parade will begin at 10am at the Emmanuel Church, from where it will proceed to the War Memorial on Glenside, were a short service will be given, before the official opening of Glenside community stalls, and bandstand events. At the Toc H building, the public are invited to sign a record in commemoration of their contribution to the centenary event, (records to be placed in the library archives or a time capsule).

The Community Theatre will be showing films and interviews recording the memories of local people, created by the Pocket Watch Project. Huntcliff students’ films will be shown based on their research into WWI. This will be followed by two WWI themed matinee performances, from our very own Valley Player and our special guests the Nunthorpe Players.

The Community Centre will host a variety of local groups, displaying the history of the town and examining how it has changed in the last 100 years, through displays of photos, and documents.

The library will be displaying information about the WWI soldiers whose names are recorded on the War Memorial, as well as those who are recorded in the cemetery. A lot of work has been done to find out who these men were, but there are still gaps, so if you are related to someone on the memorial, we would love to talk with you.

There will also be songs, educational entertainment and crafts, for the young, all on the theme of Then and Now. A stroll in the woods will lead you to the Woodland Centre, where there will be activities for all the family. Keep an eye out for other activities around the Valley Café, miniature railway, and donkey field.

The day will end on Glenside, with a bugler playing the last post.

Do you feel you could contribute to any of these events to preserve the War Memorial for at least the next 100 years and raise awareness of our town’s sacrifice?

If you know you are related to someone on the War Memorial, we would like to get a photograph of you with the War Memorial on the day. As we find more and more people with connections to those men remembered on the memorial, we are beginning to see a fascinating ‘family tree’ emerge.

We need more people to get involved, from dressing shop windows to businesses charting their local history. We would also encourage people to help us chart the history of our buildings over the years.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all groups, individuals, and businesses, so far that have made this commemoration day possible. This event would not be taking place without the support of many groups and people particularly but not exclusively to Cleveland Police Neighbourhood Team, Cleveland Fire Brigade, Saltburn and Marske Parish Council, Friends of Saltburn, the 500 Club and The British Legion.

Please see event list for more details. This can be found in the Library or on our website (saltburnbythesea.org). See also the advert on page 33.

We look forward to seeing you on the 29th.

Maria from Building Bridges and Fiona from Pocket Watch.

Help! Your local Playgroup needs you!

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

01287 624575 We have spaces in June for babies and newcomers to the town 18

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

The Moon may be a Fake The discoveries of Saltburn writer Peter Holbert and his wife Jane on their return to China after seven years The face of the Man in The Moon is tilted to his right in the Shanghai night sky as if he is peeping around the Great Wall of China.

My new friend Brian, an ABC or American Born Chinese, says “It’s probably a fake, everything in Shanghai is a fake,” as he stabs at his plateful of chips in one of two Boxing Cats pubs in the city.

Not quite so, for this amazing place of eight letters beginning with an S just like Saltburn – end of things in common, – has the most amazing cityscape in the world.

Twice as many skyscrapers as New York City in an area five times as big, which makes anywhere else look like a just-started Legoland village.

The area of Pudong was a flatland of boggy farms in 1990, but it is now home to the Shanghai Stock Exchange, China’s largest stock market, and also the Jin Mao Tower, 88 floors completed in 1999 at a cost of £330 million, which has the Cloud 9 bar on the 87th floor where you watch the hawks circling down below. The tower has piles to a depth of 83.5 metres to stop it sinking into the soft ground.

Shanghai’s tallest building is scheduled for completion next year, The Shanghai Tower, height 632 metres costing £1.3 billion with 121 floors making it the second tallest building in the world after the Burg Khalifa in Dubai which stands at 828 metres. The Tower will have 106 lifts including three high-speed models capable of 40 miles an hour – hang onto your trousers - nine sky gardens, a rainwater recycling system and a series of wind turbines.

The city emblem of Shanghai is the magnolia, which lives on in the memory long after the millions of cars and

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bicycles, and birdsong has now returned to drown out the squeak of half the world’s construction cranes.

So too does the vast marble hall of Shanghai’s new railway station next to the city’s second airport Hongqioa where high speed trains arrive with their floors exactly at platform level to link with the capital Beijing four and a half hours away.

The Rolling Stones had been in Shanghai just a month before we arrived, and when we moved on to Hong Kong the Formula 1 circus came to town.

The opulence of China’s international hotels and shopping is matched by the warmth of the people.

Stand on a street corner in Hong Kong looking forlornly at a map or uselessly studying a ticket machine on the Metro and someone will come to your rescue. A businessman walked us for 20 minutes to the Happy Valley race track.

Another Hong Kong gobsmacker was discovering a McLaren cars showroom next to a Rolls Royce one, on roads where Porsches are 100 a penny, and Ferraris and Lamborghinis are the ones that shine. It’s still right hand drive but left hand drive on mainland China.

Hotels and restaurants have a 10 per cent service charge, even the chambermaids spoke English at the Hong Kong Sheraton, but there’s still a no-tipping culture.

China is one of the few places you can start your journey from Durham Tees Valley with direct flights from Amsterdam.

But beware on your return – the giggling teenager at the KLM baggage check-in at Hong Kong International Airport was routing our bags on to Doha, until we pointed out that Durham was, for now at least, our home destination.

Peter Holbert

Charity Crafters The date for the next Charity Crafters drop in is Wednesday 4 May from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at The Workhouse (next-door to Ripping Yarns) in Dundas Street West. Everyone welcome to drop in and find out what we are doing and have a cuppa. All donations of wool greatly received. We’ve been busily knitting for Bonny Babies and a bundle of goodies is shortly to be sent off to them to distribute to hospitals and anyone in need. For further information please contact Angie on 01287 205153 or email Kath West at kath.west45@virginmedia.com

Saltburn Photographic Society

There will be an Exhibition of members’ photographs in the Saltburn Community and Arts Hall, Windsor Road Saltburn on Sunday, 29th June and Sunday 17th August 2014 between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm.

Outdoor meetings have been organised throughout the Summer for details contact as below.

Visitors are welcome to any of our meetings, For more information visit our web site www.saltburnphotographicsociety.co.uk or contact Tony Lynn 01287 622519.

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SALTBURN BLUES CLUB

I’ve got to start with a few words about our April gig. Four notes – that’s all it took. The first four notes of David Migden and The Twisted Roots’ first number, ‘Wamp’, were enough to grab everyone’s attention. Wow! This band is superb. What a great night we had. Migden’s voice is distinctive, soulful, rich and velvet smooth. In fact, it’s so good he’s been nominated for Best Male Vocalist in the British Blues Awards 2014. I knew he was special and the band is much in demand now. They’re aptly named as there is a strong Roots influence evident in their music – and Jazz – and Soul. But take a track like ‘Once Again’ and you are firmly in Blues territory. A truly wonderful performance.

I’m getting so many requests from bands wanting to play at SBC that this month there are two gigs for you to enjoy. First up is the fabulous duo all the way from Kansas, Texas – Moreland and Arbuckle. Aaron Moreland on guitar and Dustin Arbuckle on vocals and harmonica came to Saltburn as part of their very successful debut UK tour last year. You might have heard them on Paul Jones’ BBC Radio 2 Blues Show shortly after they appeared here. Saltburn must be on Paul’s radar!

Skilful, unusual, thought-provoking but, above all, hugely entertaining musicians, you really shouldn’t miss them. Come along, but please note a change from our usual venue. This gig is on June 18th at Saltburn Community Theatre. See their colour advert on page 33.

On June 28th we return to Saltburn Cricket Club, our usual venue, for The Russ Tippins Electric Band. Enthusiasts know that the Blues genre is incredibly broad and this second gig demonstrates just that. Russ Tippins brings an energetic mix of blues and 70s Rock to our club. Something different from recent gigs but we aim to cover a wide range of tastes. Russ is buy tickets are all on our website www.saltburnbluesclub.co.uk ably supported by a wonderful Blues guitarist, Mitch Laddie. and LIKE us on Facebook too. Come and have a good time There’s so much talent out there for us all to enjoy. and support your Saltburn live music scene.

Just to remind you, details of gigs, venues and where to Keep the Blues alive, folks! Harry

Saltburn Slow and Steady Traditional Tune Session On Wednesday, 11th June and on the second Wednesday of the month from 7.30pm we invite musicians to join us at Saltburn House, Marine Parade, Saltburn-by-the-Sea, TS12 1BX, for a slow and steady traditional tune session.

Our aim is to promote traditional tunes from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales and to encourage playing tunes together. If you feel that some of the wonderful music sessions you hear around are a bit too fast and frantic for you, then join us and we will break you in gently by playing the tunes slowly for you to pick up. From 9pm we may speed things up a bit. Our ‘official’ finish time is 10pm so we won’t keep you out too late if you have to get to work the next morning. Players of all instruments and abilities are welcome to join us so dust off that fiddle, drag that guitar out of the attic and come and join us. A warm welcome awaits you at Saltburn House. If you are interested or know of anyone who may be, please pass these details on.

For more information do not hesitate to contact Angie on 01287 205153 or email four.fools@virgin.net. We do send out a reminder so if you wish to be added to our mailing list please contact us.

P.S. We also gather at Guisborough Rugby Club from 7.30pm on a Sunday night for a ‘nurdle’ before Guisborough Folk Club start.

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SALTBURN CRICKET CLUB Marske Mill Lane, Tel 01287-622761

Sun 8th June

FREE ENTRY SUMMER QUIZ WIN BIG PRIZES! (well, a prize anyway) Weds 11th and 25th June – BINGO Sats & Suns - cricket matches – spectators welcome, bar open.

Wed 18th June U3A Quiz Saturday 28th June SALTBURN BLUES CLUB RUSS TIPPINS This is an all-ticket night (£10) with 10% DISCOUNT for Club members WORLD CUP MATCHES See INGERLAND play at the Club including Sat 14th June – Italy k/o 11pm Thurs 19th June – Uruguay k/o 8.00pm Other matches also will be on TV at the Club - check Facebook for details -

“INGERLAND!!”

Members and non-members welcome.

Contact Club for details & tickets Facebook saltburncricketbowlsandtennis socialclub

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01287 677993 Annette Gauchi Annette Gauchi, a member of a large local family, has died at the age of 61.

Rev Father Valerie Haynes, vicar of Skelton, led a well -attended funeral service at Emmanuel Church, Saltburn, on 15th May and spoke warmly about Annette, who had learning difficulties but did not let that affect her having a full life.

She helped in local charity shops, specialising in the role of selling children’s clothes, and was a competent gardener at Upsall Hall, near Ormesby. Father Valerie said Annette was very pleased to be nominated for the ‘Pride of Saltburn’ award in Talk of the Town.

Her family settled in East Cleveland after moving to the North-east from Wales. Annette lived in one of the houses in Milton Street, near the caravan park, for several years and had many friends in the town.

The retiring collection at the church was held for Macmillan Cancer Care and Emmanuel church.

Refreshments were served afterwards at Saltburn House.

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See article in this edition of Talk of the Town on page 30 which gives background and more information and a colour photograph of the performers

SCAA JUNE EVENTS Friday 6th June Saltburn Jazz Night with THE AMY ROBERTS QUINTET Currently on tour with The Big Chris Barber Band, Amy takes some time out to bring her own quintet to Saltburn. Voted the winner of the Rising Star Category in the British Jazz Awards in both 2009 and 2011, Amy has played all over the UK and throughout Europe. Her Quintet features some of the most exciting young musicians on the UK Jazz Scene.

Doors and bar 6.30pm Starts 7.30pm Early bird tickets £10 On the door £12 Thursday 12th June Saltburn Film Club presents PRIVATE PEACEFUL A beautiful portrayal of love and loyalty, this film gives a convincing insight into the lives at home and at war of young men in the First World War. Doors 6.30pm Screening 7pm Members £3 Visitors £6 Saturday 14th June.

SALTBURN UNLEASHED A myriad of talent gracing the stage as a much appreciated fund raiser for the organisation.

Doors and bar 6.45pm Curtain up 7.30pm See article on page 30.

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When you were a Lad Tyke, it was good to read about when you were young and sorry that your cousin was a girl. It brought back memories when you wrote about how you would ride down Hawthorn Drive in Brotton on your roller skate and book. I am an original “Driver” as Mum, Dad and my brother moved into the first houses built and I arrived the same year.

Yes, the use of the skate and book were very much our mode of down hill transport and I wore out the backs of many a pair of plimsolls into a triangular shape where my heels had been used as a brake or for steering. We reached some terrific speeds much to the shock of the unsuspecting pedestrians who would be walking along Linden Road wondering where the sound of an advancing “train” was coming from. They soon found out it was us as we appeared from around the corner and quick footwork was required if they wanted to remain upright with all their limbs intact.

We would be in convoys for hours but sabotage was employed by some householders where ashes would be thrown into our path resulting in a multiple pileup but soon we had someone on brush duty in preparation for this.

The biggest injury, apart from the unsuspecting pedestrians that is, was when my best friend's cousin caught his leg on a metal bolt in a gatepost as he hurtled down the hill. On seeing his injury it was decided that we would walk him up to the hospital through the cattle arch. This would be only if the cows weren’t expected to be coming through at the same time as us. Injured leg or not we weren’t prepared to run the chance of meeting the advancing cattle and then having to walk through the dark arch with us not being able to see how much they had deposited!

A further factor we had to consider was that our mercy mission would need us to go to the Top End! We were Bottom Enders and never the two would meet. Mustering all we could the three of us set off and managed to reach our destination, the hospital, without any attack from the afore mentioned Top Enders.

The nurses dressed the “gaping” wound and we hurried back to the Drive where the assembled masses listened, mouths open, hearing about our dangerous journey into enemy territory.

Gasps were heard when we told them of the gallons of blood which had been lostLorna by the injured Moone party, the battle by the nurses to save his young life and his bandages were inspected by the admiring crowd. After many comments in awe of the happenings we all escorted the lad to Woodside bus stop. On the arrival of the bus he had a hero’s send off, backs were patted and he limped onto the bus, bandage for all to see below his Khaki shorts. One last wave and he was on his way home, to that distant land - Carlin How. PD

When I were a Lad The roadie, a life in Transit The Transit was a Ford Transit van, the workhorse of the seventies rock band. The roadie’s first van was a Bedford with sliding doors that often hit him on the back of the head, after failing to tie them back.

The Transit van was actually owned by the singer’s dad, who was a plumber, and in his infinite wisdom he allowed it to be used to convey the group.

As half the teenagers in the country wanted to be rock stars, they needed a logistics manager to co-ordinate the safe delivery and return of rock stars and equipment.

The roadie. The roadie in his eyes was the most important member of the group, the only one who could put everything together, could tune guitars within inches of perfect pitch and read a road map. He could get everyone safely back from distant gigs, unload the gear into the lock up, carefully peel the stickers with the band’s name from the van and return it to a plumber’s van. Then get a full night’s sleep in the two or three hours before getting up to do his proper job, the one he got paid for.

Roadies were never going to be rich, as after diesel, food and beer there was never much money left.

The good thing about being a roadie, was that he got a comfortable seat, the rest of the band having to fight for who was to sit up front; losers sat cramped in the back breathing fumes from the dodgy exhaust. A later refinement was an old sofa wedged in the back, all were now seated in luxury.

Being on the road led to various incidents. Once in Scarborough, the audience and group were into completely different forms of music, resulting in the band being “paid off” the audience had turned hostile and in the scramble to leave, a double bass was lost, along with the owner of the string section. The roadie came to the rescue, which was why a sad trio were walking down Scarborough sea front, the rest of the band having hi-jacked the van and beat a hasty retreat.

As is usual in these situations, it began to rain, all three tried to seek shelter in a phone box, where they were not helped by the arrival of a police constable who stated “you can’t stay in there”. The roadie congratulated him on his observation, then out of the rain appeared our van, slowly driving down the prom, our rescue assured.

On the way home, passing a large house with a pink flamingo standing in a fish pond, in true rock and roll style, we liberated it. Some days later a pink flamingo was sighted in Scaling dam.

On another occasion, different band, the drummer was not in the best of condition, his drums were set up in the corner of the stage, he was propped up with cushions to prevent him falling off, and still managed to play near perfection.

I haven’t used names to protect the guilty, but some readers may recognise themselves. Some still owe money and beer, but that’s rock and roll.

The Roadie (aka Tyke) 23

Serenity Health and Healing Fair Guisborough has a wonderful array of events that grace various venues throughout the year, but there’s one area that’s never quite been covered. Based in Guisborough for over 8 years, My Serenity has offered a variety of complementary therapies, holistic training, and one of the area’s largest selections of crystals amidst other ‘new age’ and spiritual gifts. They have also enjoyed a strong following whenever they’ve attended events in the surrounding areas. These events however, have never made it to the centre of Guisborough. That is about to change…..

Serenity Fairs will bring their first ever health and healing event to Guisborough in just a few weeks. Bringing together some well-known and respected people working in the ‘Mind, Body, Spirit’ arena in the region, and upcoming and exciting new professionals in the business, all under one roof.

This one day event will take place at Sunnyfield House on Westgate in Guisborough, a building with a long history and beautiful features both inside and out. Serenity wanted to take advantage of the energy of the building with its varied history and bring it together with the new energies of people providing all kinds of products and services.

There’ll be a wonderful selection of complementary therapies available on the day. This is a great way to try something new or perhaps indulge in two or three of your

favourites that will leave you relaxed and calm of mind.

Therapies available include reflexology, Reiki, Indian head massage, Hopi candling and Quantum Touch.

Amidst the therapies there will be an array of stalls selling spiritual gifts, jewellery, original art, angelic items, CDs, incense and much more. If you fancy gaining an insight into what’s happening for you now and why, or perhaps where it will lead, then there’s also tarot and angel readings available from the likes of Richard Cuthbert and Sushannah Blackhall. There will also be information on yoga and meditation classes that are ongoing, and upcoming in the area.

Entrance to the event is only £2.00 (under 15s free), no booking is necessary, and you can stay as long as you like.

There’s even a Raw Food Café from Café Glow that will be serving delicious and nutritious snacks, treats and puddings, juices, smoothies and tonic teas from 12.30pm. The theme of the day really is to treat your body and mind as it deserves, and that starts from the inside!

Calm the mind, relax the body, renew the spirit at Serenity Health & Healing Fair Saturday June 7th 2014 10am – 4pm at Sunnyfield House, 36 Westgate, Guisborough Enquiries to Kat or Jonny on 01287 634880

News and Views from the Valley Saltburn Friends of the Valley Ltd became a registered charity in February this year and as such all monies received are either donated by individuals or grants are applied for and hopefully obtained.

We do not have any salaried staff and all work undertaken including fundraising is carried out by volunteers: hence any donations in support of our work are gratefully received. Managing the Woodlands Centre itself is our responsibility; it does not receive any public funds and we are currently in the second year of a six year lease from the local authority.

We are keenly interested in developing sponsorship opportunities with both local businesses and individuals and have recently welcomed Longbeck Nursery of Marske as our first. Lee and his team kindly donated the handsome half barrel, compost and climbing rose which is now placed to the left of the Woodland Centre door. Longbeck’s kind donation will bear a sponsorship plaque in due course. If you would like to discuss sponsorship, please get in touch with us.

We are looking to recruit new volunteers who must all become members of Saltburn Friends of the Valley.

Because our work involves interaction with the public and to meet our safeguarding children and vulnerable adults responsibilities all volunteers must have an up to date DBS check. This is a straight forward procedure and you will find further details of this on our website.

Activities are afoot... we are looking to return some stuffed woodland animals to the Woodland Centre: we’ve plans to involve local groups in building a bug hotel in one corner of the garden and to create a larger wildlife pond. It has been suggested we might make a play house for children 24

using willow which could become an attractive feature of the gardens. We have much to do and you’ll understand why we would appreciate some extra help!

Along with all of these projects we have also begun our Events Programme which has started well with around ninety people enjoying our first Music in the Woods on Sunday, May 11th. We are looking forward to the next one on Sunday, June 8th 1.30-4pm at the Woodland Centre.

Prior to that Lit-Up had provided a children’s event which involved animal mask making celebrating the month of May. Full details of our events can be found online and are regularly posted on our Facebook page.

I was lucky to get a place on the Big Lunch Extras community camp in May which involved travelling to Cornwall and spending 3 days at the amazing Eden Project with 80 other participants from around the country.

The aim of the event was to help participants figure out what ‘you and your community can do to become extraordinary’ and included a variety of workshops from ‘Harnessing the power of social media’ to ‘Bees are brilliant’.

We’re also looking to have our own Saltburn Big Lunch on June 1st 2015 in line with other community groups. We’ll have more on this one in due course!

In the valley this month it is very lovely with all the late Spring growth and busy birds and insects. A note to bird lovers, please do not put bread and other human food out for the birds. Please note the paths through the valley are not made for cycling, neither are the woods, therefore we’d appreciate you refraining from doing this.

Ingrid Salomonsen Saltburn Friends of the Valley Ltd www.saltburnfriendsofthevalleyltd.co.uk

Hire a special place for your meetings or family events at the Woodland Centre in Saltburn’s Valley Gardens Contact

Lorna 01287 624571 Ingrid 01287 622454 or Richard 07910 700429 Further details online at www.saltburnfriendsofthevalleyltd.co.uk 25

Redcar & Cleveland Philatelic Society Our final 2013-14 season Wednesday meetings in the Community Centre, Durham Road, Redcar, commencing 7.15pm are 4th June Darlington and Stockton Railway: Postal history – Andrew Stoves; and 18th June AGM and Member’s ‘Anything goes’ displays.

A great deal has happened recently. Brian Land, President of NEPA – the North East England Philatelic Association visited us on 16th April and gave a spectacular display to a full house.

NEPA held its Annual Convention in Durham on April 30th, which included an exhibition of the shortlisted one–frame 16 page entries in its inter-society competitions. Geoff Reynolds’ specialist display of Zeppelin mail to South America was judged the Best in Show winning the Aerophilately Competition with a remarkable 93% (assessed at international Gold Medal standards). David D. Turner won the Postal History Competition with his London Goldmedal frame of September 2013.

On the national/international scene, R&CPS will be setting a NEPA precedent because both our winners are to display in the London’s Stampex National Stamp Exhibition in September.

Stampex usually invites a selected society to provide a display alongside the National Exhibition. In September the honour falls to the Germany & Colonies Philatelic Society. Geoff, active nationally as a Zeppelin Airmail expert will display his NEPA winner extended to 3 frames. David will extend his February 2014 display of Ocean Penny Postage to accompany the launch of his book on the subject.

Our AGM is our last meeting until September and should end on an optimistic note, with good reason to anticipate the 201415 season starting on a roll!

Contact: David Newstead, President 01287 634893.

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The magnificent NEPA Aerophilately Trophy won by Geoffrey Reynolds for the 5th successive year, together with some of his Zeppelin mail

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‘Confessions of an Antiques Dealer’ Semi retired antiques dealer Trevor Taylor ‘confessed’ to secrets of some of his work of over nearly 30 years in the trade when he spoke to Saltburn and District Retired Men’s Forum on Monday, 28th April.

Among objects he showed 26 members at Saltburn Methodist hall was a WW1 Christmas Tin given as a present to the troops on the frontline by Princess Mary in 1914. This resulted in the famous ‘truce’ football matches between British and German troops soldiers in France.

He said the tin alone - without contents of tobacco, chocolate bar and a notepad - was now worth up to £50.

However, generally Mr Taylor said prices for antiques and collectables were well down on the boom years of around the 1980s and early 1990s.

Among his stories under the talk title of ‘Confessions of an Antiques Dealer’ were being offered money for his daughter’s pram, which was left outside his antique shop called ‘Victoriana’ in Dundas Street East, Saltburn.

Trevor talked of his excitement when finding Music Hall 78 records from a music shop that had recently closed down; he mentioned being given preferential treatment when he returned money to an auction room in Leeds when they had undercharged him and the fun when finding something of great value from a box of junk.

He said the closure of Saltburn’s Saleroom in late November 2013 had been a big loss to the seaside town, because it did attract people to Saltburn.

Trevor, of Skelton, who gives several different talks including his hobby of music hall entertainment, is continuing his passionate interest in antiques, because he said his wife Joan, and him “cannot stop buying.”

However, they do not want to run their own business again.

The vote of thanks was given by Ernie Crust. Temporary chairman Ken Bladen stepped down

Retired antiques dealer Trevor Taylor holds up a 1914 ‘Princess Mary Christmas tin’ from WWI trenches before a talk he gave to Saltburn and District Retired Men’s Forum.

Looking on are Stuart Wright, who was temporary chairman in May, and Ken Bladen.

after his month in the chair and Stuart Wright took over for May. The next speaker was Chris Styles, editor of the Evening Gazette, on Monday, May 12th. There was no meeting on Bank holiday Monday, May 5th.

Talks coming up between now and until the end of July include one on Zoë’s Place, Preston Hall museum and Antarctica.

Guests are welcome at meetings, which start at 10am for 10.30, at the Milton Street Methodist Hall, Saltburn.

More information from Mike on 01287-622493 or Rex 01287-283330.

Heads turn at unusual Mini A mini car covered with a lawn - with a red nose at the front. That’s the unusual sight in Eden Street, Saltburn, when Gary Bliss parks his company car outside his house, seen here in the photograph at the weekend.

“Kids love it and it causes a lot of heads to turn along the roads of Teesside and North Yorkshire where the Easigrass franchise I run operates,” said Gary, who has worked for the company for nearly two years.

“Most of our customers want the grass for gardens or yards and we’ve installed them in an office ‘chillout’ room and for a crazy golf operation.”

Prices for small gardens generally range from £1,750-£3,000.

Joan Bliss does the admin work and said she loves going out in the car.

Joan and Gary can be contacted on 01287 201422.

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Gary and Joan Bliss check the ‘grass’ covering their mini car in Eden Street. It has turned heads there over the past few months.

Nab Grab Fab! Around 50 Friends of Eston Hills of all ages climbed up to the Nab in glorious sunshine on Saturday, 3rd May to take part in ‘The Big Nab Litter Grab’, a collective litter pick which made the entire rocky outcrop of Eston Nab litter free!

Friends’ chair Craig Hornby said, “We made history bringing the site back into public ownership and I think we’ve made history today because I don’t think the place has ever had such a deep clean. It really is a sight to behold.”

Friends’ trustee Maggie Gavaghan said, “The amount of rubbish was unbelievable. We filled over 50 sacks with cans, bottles and all sorts including discarded scaffold poles, deck chairs, 2 bike frames, 3 large knives and even a car door! It all goes back decades as a coke can testified - it was dated 1987!”

Friends’ treasurer Glynis Mahon said, “It was an amazing day. The weather was great, the turn out and camaraderie even better. Everyone did their bit and it was cleaned up in no time. The council kindly supplied the grabbers, the bags and a truck to take it all away.”

Friends’ secretary Rita Richardson said, “This land is ours, our responsibility. We need everyone to do their bit and teach their kids, especially then we will have a greater chance of keeping it tidy. We need everyone getting in the habit of not visiting here without an empty carrier and leaving with it

full.”

The Friends’ next plan is the complete removal of all the graffiti off the Nab rocks.

Craig concluded, “We’ve been advised that we need to work with an industrial jet washing company. We may well need scaffolding too so any companies out there who can help us please get in touch. We can’t do it alone.”

The Friends of Eston Hills can be contacted via their website (www.estonhills.info).

Tea on the Rocks!

PG Tips has never been like this ….

‘Tea on the Rocks’ photo by Ian Crockett

A cup of tea by the pier has never looked like this before!

But Saltburn based photographer Ian Crockett managed to bring the simple cuppa to life after enjoying a speciality tea at the town’s Real Meals delicatessen.

Now, his captivating image of a cuppa under Saltburn pier has been re-tweeted across Europe and the UK by specialist tea-makers Flora Tea. Ian said: “I was looking to take a photo of a glass down by the pier, but wanted to do something a little different. I was having a coffee in Real Meals, saw another customer with one of these teas, and the idea just leapt out at me.

“It’s an unusual cuppa to say the least, which in turn makes for an unusual photo.

“For a start, it’s served in a large crystal wine glass rather than a builder’s mug - and it’s a visual treat as much as anything, with a flower emerging in the glass as the tea brews.”

Ian tweeted the photo direct to Flora Tea, who quickly retweeted, describing the photo as ‘stunning,’ ‘artistic’ and ‘beautiful.’

Lorna Jackson of Real Meals said: “Ian’s an amazing photographer, and he’s brought the humble cuppa to life in a way we’ve never really seen before. He liked the look of the tea here in the shop, took away a couple of tea bags and came back with some stunning photos. Absolutely incredible. I wonder what PG Tips would make of it?”

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Saltburn Unleashed Saturday 14th June Saltburn Community Theatre

Local artists taking the stage for SCAA Saltburn hides many secret lives; it’s full of ordinary people concealing hidden identities behind ordinary doors. Open those doors and you will see them writing, singing, dancing and playing. You can glimpse them by the cheeses in Sainsbury’s, plotting their next project whilst grabbing a chunk of Wensleydale. You can see their handy work everywhere: the knitting on the pier; the fairy doors in the woods (this could be fairies) and Jung quotes in Hazel Grove. Saltburn is a place where people can unleash their secret side. So when Estelle Reed, Vicar’s wife and owner of Dancefit Saltburn, put out the call – Saltburn needs you to take the stage for our local theatre – our local artists stepped up to the challenge.

Last year Estelle set the Mr & Miss Booty Challenge to raise funds for James Cook Hospital’s Holistic Care Centre for Breast Cancer Care and was overwhelmed by the way people rallied to support an important cause. Inspired by this camaraderie she agreed to help SCAA raise funds and put on a show. Realising this was not a task to be undertaken alone she brought in the help of Tony Galuidi (Earthbeat) and writer Carmen Thompson (me) to plan the show.

Saltburn Unleashed is not merely a fundraiser; it is a showcase for the incredible talent in our midst. The line up assembled is an unprecedented gathering of Saltburn’s artists.

We can now finally reveal to you the Unleashed: Andy Broderick & Brigit’s Mantle: Andy will be playing with his band Brigit’s Mantle. This raucous group blends the cheek of the Pogues with the eerie wildness of the Dubliners, all mixed into a dark magic of their own.

Cherry Bomb: presenting Suzi France on lead vocals, Bianca Robinson on guitar and vocals and John Croker on keys and vocals, Cherry Bomb delivers a sugar-rush explosion of sweet harmonies.

Earthbeat: Earthbeat is a theatre company made up of adults with learning disabilities who have been producing high quality performance for 23 years. For Unleashed Earthbeat will show their short films, including The Piano.

Faye Simpson & Natasha Graham: Faye is a blues singer, voodoo woman and chocolatier. Natasha Graham is a student of music and a unique blooming performer.

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Kev Howard: Kev ‘The Didge’ is an internationally acclaimed didgeridoo player. His highly energetic style pushes the boundaries of this instrument to the max. His technique, known as double-tonguing, defies the laws of sound. Hearing him live is electrifying.

Tim Marshall: Tim is a relatively new resident of Saltburn, member of the sketch group Heavy Petting, and a regular at THIS comedy club hosted by The Westgarth Social Club, Middlesbrough. In his role of MC Tim will be our guide to the evening of talent.

Andy Willoughby & Tim Coyte: Andy is a published poet, playwright and spoken word performer. His work is known nationally and internationally. His Unleashed performance will be a hybrid of spoken word and music with accomplished musician Tim Coyte.

Owen Stebbings & Alex Puckrin: Owen is a student at Teesside University and along with Alex will be performing songs from Les Misérables. They are definitely a duo to watch.

Carmen Thompson: Carmen is an award-winning writer. Her work draws inspiration from her seaside home, atomic bombs and medieval bras. She has performed locally, at the Royal Festival Hall and on national Radio. For Unleashed she will be collaborating with Kev Howard.

And finally…YOU, The Mr & Miss Booty Challenge The final performance of the evening will be the Mr & Miss Booty Challenge. A group of dancers, male and female, who may never have set foot on stage before, will for one night only unleash their secret side and join this amazing array of artists to help their local theatre. Could you be Mr or Miss Booty for the night? All you need to do is listen to that little voice that wants to be unleashed, and props and make-up tutorial (with Clare Hansford) will all be provided. You will receive full support and training from Estelle. This is the opportunity of a lifetime to unleash your secret self. Email estelle@dancefitsaltburn.co.uk for your registration form.

Come and support your artists, friends and family.

Tickets available now www.saltburnarts.co.uk. Door and bar opens at 6.45pm, performance starts at 7.30pm. There will be a mid-show interval and the bar will remain open after the show to meet the artists.

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When Mr Johnson, Y4 teacher at St Bede’s School in Marske, set his children the challenge of creating a piece of artwork to celebrate a landmark, Lizzie Bonner, age 9, from Bristol Avenue, Saltburn did not hesitate for thought.

She rummaged through her craft box and created a flag to celebrate her favourite place.

Lizzie’s Mum, Sophie said, “Lizzie was so chuffed with her result and it’s so nice to have something celebrating our hometown.”

Spa Hotel Saltburn “Once More With Felix”

Julie Felix Legendary Singer/Songwriter

Special Guest Natasha Graham Saltburn’s very own Rising Star Julie age 75, Natasha age16 Perhaps Best Show Ever in The Spa Tickets Health Food Shop 01287 624622

Sunday, June 8th 2014 at 7.30pm 32

Try something different at Grasers

Fennel

See the article by Fiona Wylie and Maria Beevers on page 18 which details all the events on this day.

Fennel is a vegetable in the carrot or celery family which tastes of aniseed. It originates in the Mediterranean areas but is now naturalised in many countries round the world. The variety which is most commonly eaten is called Florence fennel. The inflated leaf bases and lower stalks together resemble a bulb, but like celery consist of outer layers surrounding inner ones. The seeds are used as an aromatic spice. The unusual but distinctive aniseed flavour of the vegetable makes it well worth trying. It can be eaten raw in salads or cooked whole or sliced in a variety of ways.

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Half Board accommodation £35 per person Bed & Breakfast £25 per person Extended periods of stay welcome Full Disability access and facilities available with Convalescence offered to any CIU member (subject to availability)

Bar Meals served daily along with a full Sunday lunch menu at competitive prices Fosters, John Smiths, Symonds Cider, Real Ale, all £2.20 a pint

Magnet £1.80 a pint Kronenbourg £2.60 a pint Busy Social programme with the best local bands

SKY & BT SPORTS & FREE WIFI Voluntary Sector Showcase Redcar & Cleveland Older People’s Partnership and Redcar and Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency (RCVDA) are hosting an event during Volunteers Week on Wednesday, 4th June to showcase the fantastic work of local Voluntary and community groups.

The event, which is at the new Leisure and Community Civic ‘Heart’, in Ridley Street, Redcar, will highlight the extensive range of support, services and volunteering opportunities the voluntary sector provide in Redcar & Cleveland.

This is a great opportunity for our sector to network with colleagues, recruit volunteers and for members of the community to view the brand new Leisure and Community Civic ‘Heart’.

See also ‘The Muses of Jim’ on page 61.

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G . Bishop - Decorator *Interiors and Exteriors

*Free Estimates

*All Aspects of Decorating Undertaken *Realistic Prices

Time Served Telephone 01287 624016

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*Reliable Service Assured

40 Years Experience Mobile 07757 912575

Talk of the Town’s monthly

Pride of Saltburn Award

The winner of this month’s Pride of Saltburn is Sue Willard from Podology. She was nominated by Laura Dicken of Podology. About her, Laura says, “I would like to nominate Sue Willard as the pride of Saltburn. Sue and I trained together at Durham University qualifying over ten years ago.

When I needed more help in the clinic Sue was the natural choice. Sue trained and worked as an RMN before retraining to be Podiatrist. She is calm, thoughtful and extremely knowledgeable. Sue is well travelled and likes to visit unusual places and is excited by culture. She often keeps her patients entertained with her latest adventure. Although Sue doesn’t live in Saltburn, she regularly socialises here and you will often find her at the theatre, jazz club and cinema nights. Sue and I have worked together for 8 years and she has been an amazing support to me and my young family. She will cover days at the last minute when my small children have been ill and as the business has grown Sue has been a steadying force and is very supportive to younger members of the team.”

Thank you, Sue, for being you, the Pride of Saltburn!

Every month, a £25 bunch of flowers, kindly donated by Eveline Brentano’s Florists, is awarded to someone in Saltburn who has earned admiration, gratitude and love for whatever reason. Talk of the Town invites nominations from you, the readers, to chose whom you would like to receive recognition and a bunch of flowers. Send your nominations to Talk of the Town’s postbag at Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, Cleveland, TS12 1AQ. (Please include your name, phone number and the reason you are nominating the person of your choice.) Please also confirm with the nominee that they are willing to receive the award (many people feel shy about it). All the nominations will be read and kept for future use, so even if your choice doesn’t win this month, they might do so next time.

Eveline’s News

As we say goodbye to May and step into June, we wish a fond farewell to many winter/spring blooms, and welcome the wonderful varieties of summer.

This month we get into full swing with our wedding season. Brides enjoy keeping up with floral fashion trends.

We’ve had requests for a variety of styles, most popular being hand-tied and as always, the rose. Country styles, vintage and the ‘just been picked’ look are favourites at the moment. Brides may be interested in a fact sheet we have produced, to guide through choices, budget and styles, please do feel free to collect a copy from the shop.

Although most prefer chocolate, last year we had a handful of orders for Father’s Day bouquets. We can produce a more masculine style of bouquet for those who would enjoy giving flowers. We also carry a good selection of plants and giftware.

For those who have not stopped by the shop of late, we have a fabulous window display of our new air plant selection. Ready made arrangements (the fridge magnets are particularly cute!) as well as plants and sundries for your own creative designs. Quite unique as they don’t require soil and can be attached to just about anything.

Great if you’re looking for something a little different. Air plants are extremely easy to care for, and already several have found new homes with customers whom, though not good at plant nurture, enjoy having them around.

Decorative and unusual, they are the perfect gift for the person ‘who has everything’.

Drop in and take a look around, we’re always happy to help or offer advise on your floral needs and desires.

A rosie June to all, Eveline x

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100 to help second WWI centenary day

More than 100 people have volunteered to help Saltburn by-the-Sea mark the centenary of WWI and raise money for the restoration of their war memorial.

The event in Saltburn will be held on Sunday, 29th June, which is separate from WWI activity on the beach on Sunday, 1st June. It will see a street parade, musicians, stalls, period costume, theatre productions and video exhibitions.

The theme of the event is ‘Then and Now’, with local community and voluntary groups holding exhibitions about their work and how life in the Saltburn area has changed over the past 100 years.

One of the organisers, Fiona Wylie, said: “We have lots of great clubs and community groups running in the area and this is a great opportunity for them to show what they do, find new members, explore their history and raise money for our war memorial at the same time.

“Whenever we hold local history exhibitions, they always spark long-forgotten memories in someone, so we’re really hoping an event like this will help our historians fill in some of the blanks in the story of our town, its people and those it lost in the war.”

Saltburn’s 93-year-old war memorial is something of a mystery itself. Little is known about some of the men whose names are inscribed on it and local historians are working with descendants and other local groups to piece together the stories behind the names.

One of those stories is of Charles Darwin’s Grandson Erasmus Darwin who worked for Bolckow, Vaughan and Co Ltd and lived in Albion Terrace. Much of his story has been uncovered in the British Steel Archives.

More than 20 community groups will be participating in the event, some of which were founded before the war, while many others were started as a direct result of it.

Any group or individual interested in being involved in the event can get in touch via saltburnbythesea.org, or by posting their details in a box in Saltburn library.

Members of the public are invited to join the march from Emmanuel Church to the war memorial, setting off at 10am.

On arrival at the memorial, there will be a short 38

service, followed by community stalls at Glenside and further stalls and family activities through Saltburn woods and the miniature railway.

In the community theatre, there will be an exhibition of video interviews with local people, talking about their memories and family histories within the town.

Also at the community theatre, Huntcliff School will be screening a series of WWI videos created by pupils and two Teesside drama groups will be performing plays with a WWI theme.

A separate event is being organised by the Royal British Legion, Saltburn Rotary Club and others. A period football match is being played on Saltburn beach on Sunday, 1st June.

In the above right photograph, Maria Beevers (Saltburn Building Bridges project), left, and Fiona Wylie (Saltburn Pocketwatch project), hold poppies as a ‘salute’ to the 64 WWI local men whose names are on the Saltburn war memorial.

They are leading the group planning the community event to be held on Sunday 29th June. Money raised will help to restore the 93-year-old memorial.

In the above photograph on the left pictured are some of the group planning the Saltburn community day after a weekly meeting at Saltburn fire station. Back, from left, Crawford Hall (bugler), Kathryn Neeve (Saltburn Guides), Tony Lynn (historian), Nicky Pulman (Saltburn Guides Rangers), Andy Gibson (Saltburn war memorial committee). Front, Councillor Joan Guy, Fiona Wylie (Saltburn Pocketwatch project), Djenane Watkins (Valley Players), Maria Beevers (Saltburn Building Bridges project).

Representatives of any other interested local group or individuals are welcome at the 11am meetings to be held each Saturday in June.

See also pages 18, 33 and 52 for other articles relating to this event.

WHY I AM A CHRISTIAN (in 300 words) by the Rev’d Adam Reed

It was whilst at university in Hull that for the first time in my life I thought seriously about whether God existed. Having left behind the security of my family home and all that was familiar and comfortable, I was faced with questions such as: Who am I? What kind of a person do I want to become? In which direction do I want my life to go? Why am I alive? After many conversations with friends and reading various books, I felt it was reasonable to believe that the world was not here by chance, and that there was a creative, purposeful force behind everything that existed. To my mind the insights of modern science added weight to this conviction ‐ the wonder of creation pointing to a wonderful Creator. But if I thought it was reasonable to believe in God, what kind of God did I believe in? I found that I wasn’t satisfied with simply believing that God created the world and then stood back at a distance to watch it all unfold, because it wouldn’t be much of a God who didn’t want to get involved in what he had made.

Furthermore, it had to be a God who had answers to offer with regards to the huge questions of pain, suffering and death, as well as to purpose, meaning and life. It was Christianity that gave me those answers as I read about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in the Bible. I could not ignore the claims Jesus made about himself, that he was God’s Son, and that by looking at him I had seen God. So, I made my reasoned choice in favour of Christianity. However, I was soon stopped in my tracks when I realized that believing in God was far more than just an intellectual exercise. It took a painful emotional experience to understand the very personal love and forgiveness of God. In my distress I experienced Jesus’s presence, both personally and through the care of my friends. Although I knew Jesus was more than just a name on a page, it took this experience to drive into my heart as well as my mind that Jesus was a living presence in my life. And to this day he remains so.

Image EMMANUEL CHURCH SHOP

Milton Street, Saltburn

‘ECHO’ EMMANUEL CHURCH HALL

I am delighted to share the news that all the costs associated with rebuilding ECHO (Emmanuel Church Hall) have been met. After parishioners raised over £250,000, a loan of £100,000 was taken out with Methodist Chapel Aid to reach the funding required for the rebuilding to take place.

This loan has now been repaid!

If you contributed in any way to the fundraising for ECHO—

FREE BREAKFAST at ECHO (Emmanuel Church Hall)

Thursday 12th June 2014 9am‐10.15am Everybody welcome...

As the summer months approach, do drop in to the Church Shop.

From books and toys, to clothes and hoovers, there is always something interesting and useful for you to find.

THANK YOU!

ECHO offers a variety of rooms for community groups and individuals to hire. Please contact the Parish Office for more details.

Sundays at Emmanuel Church: 9.00am & 10.45am services with refreshments served from 10.10am Tuesdays at Emmanuel Church: 9.30am service with refreshments served from 10.15am Emmanuel Church: Tel: 01287 622251 / Email: emmanuelsaltburn@hotmail.co.uk / www.saltburnparishchurch.co.uk

39

CHOCOLINI'S NEWS NUGGETS Our Diary For June We are introducing some exciting new Tastes to the Break Up Bar and our Abstract Bar ranges.

Call in to find out and try one, or two.

15th of June is Father’s Day; We have a range of gifts in the shop or make your own hamper with our help.

The 29th of June sees the Boundary 500 Classic Ride around the North York Moors with the first stop at Chocolini’s from 9am and also the WW1 Community Day "Then and now" which we are proud to support

June also has a host of important Sporting events in the UK and elsewhere, and we will have a range of designs to celebrate them.

40

Stress Julie Spitler is a registered Stress Manager and Clinical Hypnotherapist. Julie grew up in Marske and moved to London in the Eighties. She had a full time Hypnotherapy Practice in Covent Garden, before returning to the North East in January where she opened her new practice in Saltburn.

Julie is registered with the Complimentary and Natural Healthcare Council and The Society of Stress Managers.

The NHS defines stress as the feeling of being under too much mental or emotional pressure. Pressure turns into stress when you feel unable to cope. Stress can affect us all in a variety of ways. It can affect how you think, feel, behave and how your body works. According to the Royal College of General Practitioners, around 80% of patients that they see are there because of some sort of stress related or psychosomatic illness.

Too much stress can result in bad sleeping patterns, headaches, stomach problems and difficulty concentrating. It can cause someone to have mood swings and emotional outbursts. It can affect intimacy and self esteem and lead to high blood pressure. Some stress is good for us – it can keep us alert and focussed. It can prevent us from being bored and listless. Two of the biggest causes of stress are the inability to say ‘No’ or worrying what other people will think.

Some people are simply over stretched – for example a single parent holding down a full time job, trying to please employers but also wanting to see their child in a school play, or look after them when they are ill. Some are caring for elderly parents, children and working. Searching for a job can be extremely stressful. Constant knockbacks can damage confidence and self esteem. The pressure of sitting exams can be a stressful and an anxious time for anyone. If you think of the mind as an elastic band, it’s flexible and can stretch so far but too much pressure pulling it in all directions and it will snap.

The strain and stress of trying not to appear stressed can cause acute anxiety. We live in a society where stress is often seen as a weakness and so we try to cover up our feelings. Burying our feelings can be one of the worst things to do. Stress causes a surge of hormones in your body. These stress hormones are released to enable you to deal with pressures or threats – known as the ‘fight or flight’ response.

Once the pressure or threat has gone, your stress hormone levels will usually return to normal. However, if you’re constantly under stress, these hormones will remain in your body, leading to the symptoms of stress.

Stress is not an illness in itself, but it can cause serious illness if it isn’t addressed. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of stress will help you to work out ways of coping and save you from adopting unhealthy coping methods, such as drinking, smoking or binge eating.

You can’t always prevent stress – real life gets in the way - but there are many things you can do to manage stress more effectively, such as learning how to relax, and to say ‘No’ occasionally. Asking for help is not easy for some people. They feel as though they should be able to cope, or even that it is selfish to want some time for themselves.

Have you ever been flown on a plane? During the safety announcement the flight attendants will explain that if the oxygen masks come down you must always fit your own before helping someone else. The same is true in everyday

life. It is not selfish to put yourself first sometimes, especially if that means that you can reduce your stress, because reducing your stress will give you more energy and strength to care for the people that you love.

A good way to help reduce stress can be with exercise.

Dancing and walking outside seem particularly effective.

Breaking your routine is good. For instance if you spend most of your time surrounded by people and noise then you will benefit from relaxing time on your own, such as a soak in the bath or reading something you enjoy. If you feel isolated or spend a great deal of time alone or looking after a young child or an elderly parent then finding a group of people to socialize with can make a huge difference to how you feel. Gardening is great for lowering stress levels. There are lots of local groups concerned with keeping the area looking lovely – Saltburn in Bloom, The Library and The Valley Gardens are often looking for volunteer gardeners.

Seek help from a professional. Visit your GP and be honest about how you feel. If they reach for a prescription pad before you have even finished talking then perhaps they are not the best person to help so ask if you can be referred to a counsellor.

If you want to find your own therapist or stress manager than make sure that they are registered with the Complimentary and National Healthcare Register (CNHC) which was set up with support from the government to protect the public and make sure that standards are maintained.

If you think your job might be causing you stress, see how many of these apply to you: • Have you typed your password or till number into a cashpoint machine instead of your pin number?

• Noticed that you speak more to people from work on your days off than family or friends.

• 50% of your text messages involve work.

• Do you rely on stimulant drinks and chocolate to keep you going and alcohol or social drugs to help you unwind?

• Lying awake, desperately tired, and unable to sleep.

• Your personal computer is full of work stuff.

• You speak to your boss more often than your partner.

• You would rather upset an in-law than your boss.

• Someone tells you a colleague is seriously ill and the first thing you think of is the extra workload.

• The only time you go out socially is with people from work, and then all you talk about is work.

• As soon as you take your work clothes off, you seem to be changing back into them.

• Nobody else seems to work as hard as you.

• Intimacy is something annoying that gets in the way of sleep.

• You are so used to eating lunch at your desk that you eat your evening meal standing up at the kitchen counter.

• The only clothes that get washed are work ones, and clothes that can go in the washing machine with them.

• You consider using paper plates.

• The only one that seems to understand you is the dog.

• You feel increasingly trapped by your circumstances.

Manage your stress before stress manages you. For more information go to www.saltburn-hypnotherapy.co.uk 41

01287 348548 or 07796 478361

Jenna fulfils a bookish dream Book-lover Jenna Warren, of Saltburn, has opened the Book Corner shop between Whistlestop Wines and the former NatWest Bank, now Teesside Hospice shop. She used to work at the ArtsBank in Milton Street before it shut in March last year.

“I was determined to get another job, preferably arts-based, but couldn’t find one. So I decided at Christmas to give a shop a go. I’ve found the first week since opening on 1st May great. People are very welcoming and supportive,” she said.

Jenna, 28, worked as a gallery assistant at the ArtsBank since it opened in 2010 and “really enjoyed” working there.

She has stocked her shop - at the corner in Station Square opposite the town clock, with two types of carefully-selected books. One is new hardbacks, which she has enjoyed reading and could recommend, and the other is “interesting finds” among critically-acclaimed bargain books.

“An example of ‘interesting finds’ is last year’s Man Booker prize winner The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton, in paperback, which she is selling for £9.99. A hardback example mentioned is The Emperor of Paris, by C.S. Richardson, selling for £3.99.

Jenna, who gained an MA in creative writing at 42

Jenna Warren shows examples of the two types of books she sells at the Book Corner - a personal favourite hardback, on left, and a new ‘bargain’ paperback, which has been critically-acclaimed.

Teesside University, held an official opening with entertainment on Saturday, 24th May.

‘Grand old man’ Richard Thomas - and modest Architect and author Richard Thomas, of Saltburn, has died aged 93.

His claims to fame - though he would have disputed such a word - included being the main architect for the new town of Coulby Newham in the 1970s and 80s. This included the Parkway Leisure and Shopping Centre and St Mary’s RC cathedral, writes Michael Morrissey.

Richard came to Saltburn with his late wife in 1982 and settled in Diamond Street. He was an opera-lover and keen gardener though he only had a tiny front garden and back yard.

He once planted a white rose (as a proud Yorkshireman) instead of a Lancastrian red rose growing in his front garden.

He was a keen member of Saltburn and District Retired Men’s Forum, for which he was speaker-finder for over 10 years.

He was a prolific writer in his ground-floor officelounge. He wrote several books, setting up a website. One was about Pilate, the Roman governor who sentenced Christ to death. The first ‘Towards the Sun’ was based on some of his experiences as a pilot in the Second World War and it had sold quite well.

He loved writing a regular page in Talk of the Town.

The editor of Talk of the Town, Ian Tyas, said, “I was very saddened to hear of Richard’s passing. I was pleased to be able to give him his regular page. He had a large number of ‘fans’. I had a great deal of respect for him.”

In recent years this page has been mainly about his RAF experiences in World War Two as a gunner with Coastal Command and his memories of hearing famous musical performers.

In the February issue he wrote a memorable piece about his aircraft spotting a German U-boat sitting on the surface of the Atlantic in between trying to sink convoys bound from the US to Britain with vital food and other supplies.

Immediately the U-boat saw that the Flying Fortress - including rear-gunner Thomas - the captain decided to dive, “sacrificing two men sitting on the conning-tower smoking cigarettes.” Richard wrote, “I can still see in my mind’s eye the sight of the men being thrown into the air, a sight I am never likely to forget.”

A very recent photo of Richard taken by Jean Cunion

Richard said the crew were filled with “euphoria” at sinking the enemy vessel - their plane had dived like a divebomber to release six depth charges. “We knew we had carried out a mission for which we had been trained.” Many British lives would have been saved by this action.

In the same article Richard wrote of seeing an Ivor Novello musical in London and hearing him sing ‘My dearest dear’ sitting at the piano. Modern entertainment, he wrote, with all its technical forms, could never compare with the unique moment when actors, singers and chorus on stage became as one with their audience. “It has a magic all of its own.”

Richard was a well-known figure in the town centre walking with his stick and drooping back. In recent months he had been confined to his flat. He was conscious of the seconds ticking by, he told me on a visit last year, but kept his spirits up by writing.

He was a member of the Royal Society of Literature.

The holder of a Cambridge MA, he has been described by those who knew him as a “grand, modest old man,” indeed a great man. A funeral service took place at Teesside Crematorium on 21st May when members of his family and friends attended.

He leaves two daughters Valerie and Judith.

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44

Saltburn Athletic (Junior) FC - The Seagulls Under 12s The under-12s completed their season with three straight wins then three straight defeats, which is a fair summary of what has been an up and down season for the team. The boys have, however, continued to enjoy their football and all have improved as a result. The team has a great spirit and look forward to a summer of training in the sun before the start of next season in September. Anybody interested in joining the team (current school year 7) can contact Chris Watson on 07818 513774.

Chris Watson, Manager Club news The SAFC end of season presentation took place on Sunday 18th May. Details of ‘who won what’ will appear in

the July edition of the Talk of the Town The SAFC Football Gala Day will take place on Saturday 5th July at Huntcliff School. The Gala Day kicks off at 10am and our Club Patron, Alan Smith, will be in attendance. Alan will be bringing his superb replica World Cup to the competition which is a big attraction for children and parents, making an ideal photo opportunity. Teams from across the region will be competing in three different age groups and as it is World Cup year we are hoping to ‘go to town’ and make the competition that little bit special. Everyone is welcome so please come along and support the teams to make it a memorable occasion.

Derek Whiley

Jaguar car points the way A 1967 Jaguar car is ‘pointing the way’ to a new jewellery shop in Windsor Road, Saltburn, with owner Andrew Fox putting a sign on its top so motorists can spot it.

“I park my car opposite the shop during the day and it’s leading to a lot of interest being shown, but business so far has been slow,” he said.

“Jewellery and photography art, which we sell, are mainly for presents so the business will take time to build up.”

Andrew, 43, took over the shop, a former sandwich outlet, after spotting it was to rent near his home in adjoining Cleveland Street. He has named it Jaguar.

“I’ve been working in a Redcar jewellery shop for the past two years, but have had enough of travelling. I’m also a panel-beater and have restored the Jaguar car over the past five years. I’d welcome more artists calling in to show what they create. Saltburn people like galleries - you would be surprised what we can get into our shop.”

Marketing-savvy Andrew has put a sign outside his shop to publicise both his business and the valley gardens cafe

PUBLICITY VEHICLE: Andrew Fox and his wife Tracy ‘point’ to their new jewellery shop in Windsor Road by using their 1967 Jaguar car as a publicity vehicle.

- with the cafe doing the same for Jaguar. “It’s helping each other,” he said.

45

Citizen’s Advice Bureau Contacted out of the blue? Sounds too good to be true?

Every day Citizens Advice Bureaux throughout England and Wales see clients who have fallen victims of scams. People desperately looking for housing, jobs and better energy deals for their homes, are targeted by scammers.

Redcar & Cleveland Citizens Advice Bureau is calling for people in the area to be on the lookout for any website, letter, doorstep seller or phone call with a proposal that sounds too good to be true – because it might very well be a scam.

Scams come in lots of different shapes and sizes, including dodgy online adverts and tricksters using dating websites to build relationships with people they later defraud. Other common types include ‘phishing’ emails and ‘vishing’ phone calls designed to con people into giving away sensitive information, investment scams, and advanced fees requested to claim unexpected lottery wins.

With fewer than five per cent of people in the UK reporting scams to the authorities, it is time to “fight back against scammers” to ensure they don’t get away with conning innocent people.

Scammers often target elderly people with sophisticated scams such as posing as their bank or phone company. People regularly come to us with heart-breaking stories about con artists taking their money and it’s important that people know what to look out for and what they can do.

Redcar & Cleveland CAB advise anyone who is unsure about someone asking for their financial details should check with someone they trust and report anything that sounds dodgy to their local Citizens Advice Bureau.

You can get the low-down on scams by visiting Citizensadvice.org.uk/sam14.

Top tips for dealing with scams • If it sounds too good to be true it probably is.

• It you haven’t bought a ticket – you can’t win it.

• You shouldn’t have to pay anything to get a prize.

• If in doubt, don’t reply. Bin it, delete it or hang up.

• Persuasive sales patter? Just say: “No thank you”.

• Contacted out of the blue – be suspicious.

• Never give out your bank details unless you are certain you can trust the person contacting you.

• Take your time – resist pressure to make a decision straight away.

• Never send money to someone you don’t know.

• Walk away from job ads that ask for money in advance.

• • • • • • • • •

Your bank will never attend your home.

Your bank and the police will never collect your bank card.

Your bank and the police will never ask for your PIN. Computer firms do not make unsolicited phone calls to help you fix your computer.

Don’t suffer in silence – tell others about scams.

What to do if you have been scammed Report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 to help stop it happening to others.

Often you can’t always get your money back if you’ve been scammed, especially if you’ve handed over cash.

If you’ve paid for goods or services by credit card you have more protection and if you used a debit card you may be able to ask your bank for a chargeback.

Get advice and report it to Trading Standards through the Citizens Advice consumer service on 08454 04 05 06 (for advice in Welsh phone 08454 040505) or online advice at www.adviceguide.org.uk

Anyone seeking advice on the above or any other issue can call in oat one of our drop in advice sessions – see below REDCAR LIBRARY Tuesday & Thursday Redcar &Cleveland House 10.00am – 1.00pm GUISBOROUGH Monday & Wednesday Belmont House 9.30am – 12.30pm SOUTH BANK LIBRARY Friday Normanby Road 9.30am – 12.30pm LOFTUS LIBRARY 1.30pm–3.30pm

Thursday – every 2nd & 4th week

SKELTON LIBRARY Monday – every 1st & 3rd week 1.30pm – 3.30pm TELEPHONE ADVICE Friday 10.00am – 12.00 noon 01642 469880.

June Events in Saltburn Library The Summer Reading Challenge is nearly here again. We will be calling all children to meet the challenge of reading 6 books over the Summer holidays, and be involved in an exciting programme of events and activities. This year’s theme will be Myths and Legends so look out for dragons and fairies appearing in the Library. We hope to have more details available in the next few weeks so just pop in and see us to find out further information.

We are very pleased to see the addition of a new play kitchen in the Library – kindly funded by the Ward 46

Councillors. Already we have seen it in great use. Also come and make use of our lovely Library garden. Children can come and water the plants and grown-ups can sit and relax - plenty of good books to choose from!

We are also pleased to be part of the World War I Community Day “Then and Now” on Sunday, June 29th.

The Community Animateurs will be in the Library running craft and story session. Also local singers Steve and Liz will be singing War songs. Refreshments will be available. Just pop in or ring 01287 623584 for further details.

1st Saltburn Scout Group We had a good St George’s Day with our friends in the District at Marske; with excellent support from Inspector Harrison’s Police team. Many thanks to Redcar & Cleveland Council for road arrangements. Marske Silver Band were on superb form and all ran smoothly in church. Our thanks also go to Bydales School for use of the parking and our departure and return point; as well as Cheshire Home for use of the grounds for our entrance and exits from church. Our young people were a credit to Saltburn; all in uniform, well behaved and weather unfortunately broke whilst we were in church so the return parade could be described as moist!

Beavers have completed their activities to achieve “Le Grande Depart” badge, also are busy working to achieve their Global Challenge Award and are now starting to enjoy the outdoors. “Moving on” to Cubs of Indi, Lydia and Willow has been compensated by the arrival of Harry, James, Luke, Matthew, and this last week Lochie; so despite some leaving without warning we are maintaining a Colony of 20 Beavers.

Cubs are currently working towards their Road Safety Badge at Pack nights and undertaking the Home Help Badge over the Whitsun break; they bare also completing their Community Challenge and Global Challenge Awards. The fruits of their efforts will be apparent at our Presentation Evening in June. As well as the three from Beavers, we have been joined by Rowan which means we have a Pack of 20 Cubs. They too are enjoying the evenings out and are discovering the nooks and crannies of Saltburn. Whilst undertaking a search for interesting street furniture rubbings they discovered the NER brick adjacent to the station and were amazed to discover this would be among the older parts of Saltburn being 150 years old.

Scouts continue to maintain their numbers, Owen coming on a “taster” before Easter, arrived at St George’s Day parade in his new uniform makes up for the departure of Matthew and William to Explorer Scouts. Congratulations

Saltburn Line User Group Next Meeting: Tuesday, 3rd June 2014 This meeting will be the AGM and representatives of the rail industry have been invited to speak.

Meetings at Saltburn Conservative Club are held on the first Tuesday of the month 19.15pm for a 19.30pm Start. As always, all welcome.

Talk to Saltburn Line User Group.

The Group exists to protect passengers’ interests. See our website: www.saltburnlineusergroup.co.uk

Telephone the secretary on:

07875 242350 SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LINE

are in order for William, achieving his Chief Scouts Gold Award before Easter (that makes four in the last six months!), very well done! Matthew will be working with Marske Explorer Scouts owing to his theatrical commitments in Saltburn; William will be with Explorer Scouts at Guisborough continuing as a Young Leader with Saltburn. In the meantime the Scouts have been getting out, enjoying undertaking the Trim Trail at Guisborough as part of their Fitness Challenge.

Many thanks to parents who transported and partook of some of the activities. Especial thanks to Jane and Harry our personal PTIs who led us through a variety of activities and exercise. A special well done to Aaron who tried everything!

The Group has been grateful of the financial support of Saltburn & Marske Parish Council (£1,000) and Redcar & Cleveland Council (£500) enabling the refurbishment of our toilet facilities (including a disabled toilet) as well as ensuring our electrical safety. We are preparing for our Presentation Night in June: this is an opportunity for parents to see the results of our young people’s endeavours. It is a pleasure to see our young people receiving their Awards; they are so busy having “fun” in our weekly sessions that they are unaware of how much they have achieved. The Group is actively involved in the June 1st World War I activities: Beavers, Cubs and Scouts will be assisting in the preparation of the Poppy Cemetery on the beach, and committee members are supporting in many other ways. We are also gathering parental support for our Bag Pack at Sainsbury’s on 14th June (Farmer’s Market Saturday) so we expect to be busy. Please come along and support us!

We are grateful to all our parents and friends who continue to be involved in all our endeavours; but continue to welcome assistance in all our activities and if you are interested in joining us, please enquire: John G. Hannah – 07811 801627 or johnghannah@yahoo.co.uk

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

Simply send a cheque payable to “Gbiz IT” for £33.50 to TotT Subscriptions, 9 The Wynd, Marske, Cleveland, TS11 7LD. Don't forget to enclose your name and address. Alternatively, you can call us on 01642 477200 if you wish to pay by credit or debit card.

47

The Life and Adventures of Tom Colclough The remarkable life of a First World War hero who lived in quiet retirement in Saltburn has come to light with the approach of the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. Thomas Colclough - known to everyone as Tom - was born in Thornaby-on-Tees in 1895, the fourth oldest of nine children of Richard and Emily Colclough. He attended Westbury Street School in the town prior to leaving at the age of fourteen, as was usual in those days, to take up an engineering apprenticeship at Head Wrightson’s where his father was Head Foreman.

Life as a child was always interesting. As a very young boy, Tom would tell of his earliest, most vivid memory being the celebrations in Thornaby when news of the relief of Mafeking during the Boer War reached the town in May, 1900, when he was five years old.

By the turn of the century, one of Tom’s uncles, William Colclough, had become owner of the Thornaby Pottery Company, previously known as the Stafford Pottery Company. In addition to his business interests in the town, William was a keen supporter and benefactor of the Middlesbrough Empire Theatre of Varieties. The theatre was opened in 1899 and Tom would recall family outings on a Saturday evening to see the famous music-hall stars of the day, some of whom would later become world famous. After the shows, Uncle William would invite the performers to parties and further entertainment at his house, Stafford Villa, in Thornaby. Tom remembered meeting Marie Lloyd, Lillie Langtry, Vesta Tilley, George Robey and a relatively young Charles Chaplin who was performing at the time as a member of the touring troupe known as Casey’s Circus. In days when life was not always easy, these were glamorous and memorable diversions.

Another never-to-be-forgotten event which Tom often recalled seeing was when Buffalo Bill (William Cody), Annie Oakley and Chief Sitting Bull visited Stockton in 1904 during their tour of the UK and Europe as part of “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.” Replete with native American Indians, the show seemed to make a lasting impression on almost everyone who saw it; contemporaneous accounts report audiences being dazzled and spellbound by seeing a “real and genuine piece of the American West” in days long before television and universal cinema attendance.

During the very early part of the 20th Century, Tom and his family regularly visited Saltburn, staying for weekends and always for a week’s holiday in the summer when accommodation would be found in any one of the many boarding houses which were located at that time in the Jewel Streets. This was when Tom developed a great affection for the town, not least because of the sense of freedom, light, open spaces and fresh air which he and his brothers and sisters enjoyed, away from the confines and heavy industry of the day in Thornaby, Stockton and Middlesbrough. As with so many aspects of life, it was the anticipation of the arrival which was always remembered. Once the train had left Redcar, the journey in those days was to all intents and purposes a trip through unspoiled countryside. Between Redcar and Saltburn, there were virtually no houses to be seen apart from a view down Marske High Street from the railway bridge above the road. Approaching Saltburn in the early 1900s, there was no caravan site and there were no houses to the south of the railway line. All was countryside, fields, 48

woods and small ravines until the Convalescent Home came into view as the train approached Saltburn Station.

Tom’s memories of Saltburn in those days were clear and vivid. He would always talk of the visiting pierrots and their daily shows on the lower promenade. Likewise the large number of bathing machines on the beach and which used to be stored on the land across the road from Cat Nab. Probably the greatest excitement came from the motor races on the sands between Saltburn and Marske which, at the height of their popularity, would be attended by tens of thousands of spectators sitting on the cliff sides.

Summer evenings were spent promenading with the family along the top promenade to Rosewalk and then down into the Valley Gardens which used to be illuminated by fairy lights and where a band would be playing. Times in Saltburn were magical and idyllic……and then, in August, 1914, everything changed forever.

At first, the outbreak of the First World War affected the family little. Gradually, however, as the conflict progressed and casualties mounted, it was inevitable that more and more people, both locally and nationally, would answer the call to serve “King and Country.” Of course, times were different and it seems as though a great sense of patriotism and duty combined with the naive prospect of some adventure captured the public imagination. Hundreds of thousands of volunteers were sought and recruitment drives became commonplace. It was in response to continued local activity of this sort that Tom volunteered to join the Army in May 1915, at the age of 20.

Because of his profession, Tom was assigned to the Royal Engineers and duly became part of the 225th Field Company. The Company initially commenced its training at Marton Hall in Stewart’s Park, Middlesbrough, before moving on to Aldershot and then, finally, to Milford Camp in Surrey from where the Company embarked for northern

France in March 1916, where it joined the 39th Division of the British Army.

Within a month, Tom’s Company was in the thick of the action on the front line and suffered its first casualties.

For the next two and a half years, Tom and his fellow soldiers endured a hell on earth. His diary notes record that the 225th Field Company was involved in most of the major military actions and fighting across the Western Front between 1916 and 1918, including the slaughter at the Battle of the Somme in 1916 and the horror which endured in the mud of Passchendaele in 1917. German artillery shelling was a daily constant and soldiers would go for days on end without adequate food and sleep. Poison gas attacks were also commonplace. A British Army report written after the end of the War referred to the British Army and its units “suffering to the limit of human endurance.”

It was as a result of Tom’s remarkable bravery and actions during a period of the latter stages of the Battle of the Somme in October 1916, that he was recommended for a Victoria Cross following numerous and repeated reconnaissance missions over a period of days and nights across no man’s land under heavy and sustained German machine-gun and rifle fire in order to assess and test German defence positions along their lines. On every occasion when volunteers were sought for these actions, Tom volunteered. Subsequently being awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal - the second highest military award for bravery - the citation reads “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has performed consistent good work throughout and his courage under fire has been invaluable.” In recognition of the measure of his achievement, Tom was presented with his DCM by Field Marshal Haig during a ceremony on the battlefield. Before the end of the Battle of the Somme, Tom was also Mentioned in Despatches by his Commanding Officer for further outstanding bravery during hand-to-hand fighting with fixed bayonets in the German trench lines.

In the spring of 1918, and by now a Sergeant, Tom successfully led an assault on two heavily fortified German machine-gun positions and was awarded the Military Medal for “gallantry in the field and devotion to duty.’ In addition to the long months spent on the Somme and at Passchendaele, Tom was also present during some of the most seminal moments in British military history. He witnessed tanks being used in battle for the first time in September 1916. He saw some of the last cavalry charges ever made by the British Army and viewed the first sorties by the Royal Flying Corps - the forerunner of the Royal Air Force - as an effective, attacking military unit.

Tom was wounded three times during the War, twice being shot in the legs and once by a shrapnel wound to the shoulder. On each occasion, recuperation and recovery followed and Tom readily rejoined the fighting on the front line and in the trenches. He was a tough, brave and indomitable soldier and when he was finally demobbed from the Royal Engineers in 1919, it was as the second most senior fighting soldier in the British Army.

Returning to civilian life, Tom went to live in Glasgow for a short period and completed his engineering apprenticeship at the Harland and Wolff shipyard on the River Clyde. Now fully qualified as a constructional engineer, Tom returned to Thornaby and resumed employment at Head Wrightson’s.

Regular visits and holidays in Saltburn became the norm; it is so difficult to understand and comprehend how

“normality” at the seaside must have seemed after the only too recent horrors of France and Belgium. Tom often spoke of how he used to be sustained during some of the darkest times in the trenches by his happy memories of the sea and woods and walks in and around Saltburn. These were the thoughts which always came to him when days and nights were difficult and challenging; the image in his mind’s eye of the sea and the pier and the cliffs at Saltburn. Against this backdrop, one can understand how he came to love the town and how it played such an important and significant part in his early life.

In 1925, Tom’s attention was drawn to an advertisement from a company in India which was seeking to recruit British engineers. Industrial expansion in India was continuing to proceed at a rapid pace, particularly in the years following the First World War, and the opportunities for career progression were considerable. Adventure and a different way of life beckoned again and so it was that in October 1925, Tom set sail for India - and Calcutta - where he joined Balmer Lawrie and Company, a company which has today become India’s leading trans-national conglomerate. It is interesting to reflect that when Tom first travelled out to India, sailing from Tilbury via the Suez Canal to Bombay and then onwards to Calcutta by train, the journey took three weeks. Now one can fly directly from London to Calcutta in eleven hours.

Life in Calcutta between the two World Wars was pleasant and enjoyable in almost every respect and Tom eventually became General Manager of Balmer Lawrie’s. It Continued on next page 49

was in this position that he played a prominent role in the building of the world-famous Howrah Bridge which, taking six years to build, eventually opened in 1943. The bridge - a single-span cantilever bridge - remains an integral part of the Calcutta skyline. It is regarded as the busiest bridge in the world - 2 million people and 100,000 vehicles cross the bridge and the Hooghly River each day. Of course, life changed again with the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. On this occasion, Tom decided to remain in Calcutta and contribute to the war effort by organising, coordinating and ensuring that Balmer Lawrie and all the other major engineering companies in Calcutta and Bengal worked to maximum and optimum capacity in fulfilling the ongoing demand for munitions, armaments, vehicles and aircraft to support the Allied forces across south-east Asia. As the war progressed, this work and effort became increasingly difficult due to the Japanese advance through Burma. Calcutta was bombed and attacked by Japanese war planes from the autumn of 1942 until the spring of 1944, one of the main targets being the newly-built Howrah Bridge. Such was the concern in Calcutta that the Japanese might actually capture the city - at one point the Japanese Army was only 250 miles way - that arrangements and packing had started for a full scale evacuation of all women and children who still remained there. Fortunately, the Japanese advance was halted at Kohima, to the east of Calcutta, in April 1944; the prelude to eventual Allied victory and surrender of the Japanese in 1945.

Throughout Tom’s time in Calcutta, the Indian nationalist movement caused problems for the British. This was heightened and exacerbated during the 2nd World War when the “Quit India Movement” with Mahatma Gandhi as its de facto leader started to gain significantly more popularity and support, principally from the majority Hindu population.

50

Local and regional activism was particularly strong in Calcutta and Bengal, and was lent support by increasingly militant, paid Communist sympathisers, many of whom deliberately sought industrial confrontation at Balmer Lawrie’s.

In due course, India was granted Independence with the transfer of power to take place on 15th August, 1947. It was a day which nearly cost Tom Colclough his life.

Arrangements had been made for the formal handover at Tom’s company, Balmer Lawrie, to be accompanied by a ceremony in one of the company’s compounds in Calcutta at which the new Indian national flag would be raised. At the last moment, the Hindu workforce demanded that all the Muslim employees be removed from the offices and engineering works belonging to the company. Tom refused to accept these demands, insisting that both Hindus and Muslims were to be treated equally by the company. A stand -off ensued. Refusing to give ground, Tom was then attacked by elements of the increasingly angry and volatile Hindu workforce, badly beaten and left for dead. The incident is covered in detail by Sir Owain Jenkins in his book “Merchant Prince” which recounts his own time spent in India. As a director of Balmer Lawrie’s, Jenkins relates that he was attending a function elsewhere in Calcutta when news reached him of the attack upon Tom. Extracts from Jenkins’ account continue: “Someone behind me said: ‘They’ve killed Tom Colclough.’ It transpired that the flag-hoisting at Balmer Lawrie’s had gone awry and there had been a riot. At Balmer Lawrie’s on 15th August the workmen had not, in fact, killed Tom Colclough but they had had a damned good try. They had attacked him with iron bars, fracturing his skull and three ribs, breaking both his arms and one leg before his friends among the workforce dragged him away, unconscious, to

safety. This was the dramatic beginning of a long period of industrial unrest. There was no doubt in my own mind that Tom’s enemies had waited for this moment and opportunity. It was my first experience of mob fury and I found it frightening.”

A n ambulance rushed Tom to the Presidency General Hospital in Calcutta. Tom’s injuries and loss of blood were so severe that he was not expected to live. A Catholic priest happened to be present when Tom was admitted and, despite Tom not being a Catholic, administered the last rites to him. A nine-hour operation followed.

Tom survived although he was to remain unconscious for the next three days. Rehabilitation was slow and painful but Tom was nothing if not determined and refused to be daunted by what had happened or regard it as a setback. Within nine months, he had returned to work and initially undertook shared responsibility on behalf of Balmer Lawrie for elements of post-Second World War reconstruction around Imphal and Kohima in the north-east of India. Thereafter, he was appointed to oversee work on upgrading and modernising the engineering processes on the major tea estates and tea gardens in Assam in which the company also had commercial interests.

Once again, Tom encountered drama and adventure.

Making the five-day journey up to Assam on the River Brahmaputra, the boat on which he was travelling hit a sandbank and sank. All the passengers and crew were safely rescued. The area in Assam where Tom was sent to work by the company was in the far north-east of the country and only 160 miles from the Chinese-Burmese border. Life was never dull. The local tribal people regularly caused problems for the tea plantation workers and managers as they sought autonomy from the newly-independent India.

Assam is beautiful but also challenging and unforgiving.

The climate is problematical with rainfall in the region of one hundred inches of rain per annum. Roads could be washed away in an hour and bridges would regularly collapse. The tea estates were vast and, as well as dealing with regional politics and social unrest, Tom also used to talk of the jungle terrain through which one would have to travel from estate to estate. It was not uncommon for an area to be on high alert due to leopards attacking the inhabitants of remote villages. Earthquakes were a common occurrence and great fissures and ravines would suddenly appear across the hills. And on one occasion, it was necessary for a local veterinarian to be summoned in order to capture two king cobra snakes which Tom discovered at the bottom of his garden.

Eventually, the major part of the engineering work on the tea estates was concluded. For the first time, the idea of retirement and a quieter way of life seemed attractive to Tom. And he had the perfect solution - he would return to England and retire to Saltburn-by-the-Sea. Thoughts and memories of Saltburn had never been far from Tom’s mind throughout the years since he had first visited the town as a

boy and the prospect of returning there again to live and retire became increasingly attractive to him.

In 1947, Tom had married Noelle Yorke in Calcutta. Noelle was born in India and had lived in Calcutta all her life. The way of life to which she had always been accustomed in India was changing rapidly and she came to acknowledge that it was time to leave. Many friends and contemporaries who left India at that time went to live in Australia, New Zealand or South Africa but Noelle was eager to make England and Saltburn her new home.

Accordingly, Tom and Noelle left Calcutta in April, 1949, and came to live in Saltburn. It proved to be ideal for them. They bought one of the newly-built houses in Exeter Street which had previously been destroyed by the Luftwaffe in one of the bombing raids on Saltburn during the Second World War. They were extremely happy together in Saltburn and in 1951 a son, Ian, was born. Life in Saltburn must have seemed quiet and peaceful during those early post-War years and Tom quickly and easily settled into retirement, becoming a member of Saltburn’s bridge, whist and solo clubs. He was also a member of Saltburn Cricket Club for a number of years. Worshipping at Saltburn Parish Church, Tom formed a close friendship with the Vicar, Arthur Perryman.

Speaking exclusively to Talk of the Town, Tom and Noelle’s son, Ian, elaborated on his thoughts in finally making public the story of his father’s extraordinary life.

“Over a period of time, one comes to realise that the historical record needs to be preserved for future generations.

The centenary anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War seems an entirely appropriate time for my father’s fascinating life and achievements to be made known. He was immensely proud of his service with the Royal Engineers during the First World War and the awards for gallantry which he received. Likewise, in a somewhat different context, the challenges and achievements during his engineering career in Calcutta and India.

From an early age, he also loved visiting Saltburn and came to appreciate its unique charm and beauty more and more as the years passed. The happy years of retirement in Saltburn with my mother served to reinforce these views. He liked his quiet walks in the woods at any time of the year but particularly during springtime. Paradoxically, he used to say it often reminded him of his time on the Western Front. Only now he could hear the birds sing!”

Tom died suddenly, of a heart attack, in December 1965. Noelle continued to live in Saltburn until her death in 1993. Ian now lives in Guisborough with his wife Ann, and they continue to visit Saltburn regularly.

Preliminary discussions have already taken place with Preston Hall Museum for Tom’s Distinguished Conduct Medal and Military Medal to be displayed there as a lasting legacy of his life and achievements.

Copyright 2014, Ian Colclough, All Rights Reserved 51

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Valley Players The Valley Players are very much looking forward to performing alongside Bill Greenwood and the White Rose singers on June 29th, the day on which Saltburn salutes the many Saltburn residents whose lives were turned upside by the tragic events one hundred years ago.

Please note that it has now been decided that tickets for the combined play and concert, which begin at 1.30 will be priced at £2, with all profits going towards the restoration of Saltburn War Memorial. Please come along and support the young people, who are working so hard on this production. The Health Food shop is selling the tickets for the kids’ play on June 29th.

Djenane

Go Girl Guiding This month our members are busy with their exams and we continue to recruit new members. We meet at the Methodist Church Hall in Saltburn and thanks to Cathie, we enjoyed a circus skill workshop. The Girls surprised themselves with their new skills, walking on stilts and juggling various items.

Saturday Mornings we have found ourselves at the fire Station, meeting with a committee planning the World War 1 community day on 29th June 2014 and we look forward to seeing you at our stall. Next year the Methodist Guides are 100 years old.

We have also been busy training and one of our girls achieved her First Aid Qualification.

This summer we are attending an International event. Last year we enjoyed Amsterdam and more International opportunities are on the horizon. June finds us off to camp, flexing at yoga, and attempting to hit the target at Archery!

We cannot to do this without the support of the community and we would like to thank the Parish Council for their kind donation.

So, girls if you are aged between 14-25, and want to join us, text “rangers” to 07841 611234 and we will get in touch.

Go Girl Guiding 52

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White Rose Singers and Valley Players join for a Concert On Saturday, June 29th in Saltburn Theatre at 1.30pm, the Valley Players Youth will be teaming up with The White Rose Singers and Bill Greenwood.

The Valley Players will be performing a new play written by Djenane Watkins, called ‘On a wing and a prayer’, with music composed by Caroline Scales. The choir and Bill will be singing songs from the World War 1 era, and the profits from the whole performance will go to the restoration of the War Memorial. Tickets, £2, will be available on the door and are on sale at Saltburn Health Foods.

There will be a repeat performance, with more music, on Sunday, 20th July, but this will be held in Emmanuel Church, Saltburn. Entry will be by donation, with some of the proceeds going to ECHO. So, ‘pack up your troubles in your old kit bag’ and come along to a great event!

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Now summer is almost here I can report that things are beginning to progress in our aims to clean, green and improve the environmental aspects of the cemetery.

Many thanks to Groundwork Trust and Friends of Saltburn for the re-installation of the railings on Marske Road.

A grant has been made by the Parish Council towards seating in the Cemetery, and other requests are in the pipeline to other funding streams for a Notice Board at the entrance to the Cemetery, natural shelters and more seating.

Volunteer gardeners would be appreciated for the second Saturday morning of the summer months to assist in keeping the cemetery clean and tidy.

All Queries and offers of help please contact John Robinson @ 07400 750500.

J. Robinson, Chairperson 53

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Saltburn Sounds at The Cons At last summer appears to have arrived and we can get out into the club beer garden and enjoy the sun to the sounds of bird song and children playing. People talk about favourite smells but favourite sounds are very rarely mentioned. Ever since the Upleatham Street School closed, I have missed, just beyond our back garden, the schoolyard buzz at playtime. You never noticed it until the whistle blew and then it stopped, total silence. Another favourite is blackbirds singing in the dead of night, as the Beatles sang. Walking home from the club along Albion Terrace after the club has closed I often encounter a solitary blackbird singing its heart out. For what reason we do not know. It has been suggested that it is because of the street lights or because it is seeking a mate. I like to believe they sing just for the joy of it, because they have such a beautiful gift and at night there is no competition except the odd owl hoot. The dawn chorus at this time of the year is another glorious sound and well worth staying up for, if you are a night owl like me.

Saltburn is still resonating with the glorious sounds of this year’s Grand Ol’ Oprey. There is a review written elsewhere (see page 8), so all I wish to say here is to thank Michelle, our Steward, for the excellent buffets she prepared every night of the show for our guests and musicians, who came back to the club after the final curtains closed. It was an exceptional week of music.

As our members know, music is a major part of the club’s rejuvenation, putting our lounge to good use as a function room. Our reputation is growing among musicians who love the intimate atmosphere and appreciative audiences that our club provide. Some of our regular Jazz musicians are going to use the club for a regular ‘get together/rehearsal/jam session’ every Tuesday night between about 7:30 and 10:00. Club members will be welcome to come along as an audience; it will add to the atmosphere. These sessions will be informal, unadvertised and free. There should be at least four or five musicians at every session, no names, but some well-known faces will be there. The get-togethers are starting in May, so should be established when you read this. Come along listen to some great music and enjoy the atmosphere. As it is not being advertised, this is secret information I am passing to you, so don’t tell anyone, except your best friends.

Our Sunday Beer Draws and cash rollover have become so popular, we have decided that some rules and improvements will be implemented on the start of the next rollover, (after the current one standing at £700 is won). The

improvements are that we will start the draw at £150 instead of £100 and increase it by £25 per week instead of £20. This will mean that the jackpot could reach a maximum of £1500 before being won instead of £1180 as it currently stands.

Another change will be that a prize of 4 pints will be given as a consolation prize if the rollover ticket holder does not win the jackpot. The new cash rollover can only be won by a paid up member. Non-members may buy tickets for the beer draw and win the beer prizes. These rule changes have been made to protect the interests of our regular members who buy tickets every week which builds the cash in the jackpot.

Having read that Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council have commissioned yet another parking review from a consultancy firm at our expense, I have to ask are we being well served by our Council or are we being exploited by a group of self-serving, glory seekers? A bunch of tea drinking chimpanzees would have had the intelligence to learn from their past mistakes. After the Napoleonic and duplicitous attitudes displayed by some councillors during the last parking debacle, has the time not come to ditch the whole sorry lot? Would we not be much better served by a smaller more local tier of government such as the old Saltburn and Marske Urban District Council or should we just call in a team of professionals from PG tips?

It is pleasing to know that since my note of protest last month against plans for siting wind turbines near Yearby, The Wurzels are in sympathy with the cause. In spite of my appearance on a windy day, I have no connection with The Wurzels, other than my strange passion for combined harvesters. In their latest single, ‘The Mendip Windfarm Song’, they sing ‘They’re noisy, they’re ugly and no one wants them here’. With The Wurzels aboard along with Don Quixote, Prince Charles and the Duke of Edinburgh, we could make a formidable anti windmill team. (It occurs to me that I may borrow this song to express my affection for RCBC councillors.)

For the sake of new readers to this article, please be aware that the satirical opinions expressed here are mine alone and in no way reflect those of the club committee, nor the editor of this publication. Just like a blowing whale, this old sea dog likes to have his day of sounding off.

Mike Sellars, Club President.

Email mike.sellars@ntlworld.com This article financially supported by Saltburn Conservative & Unionist Club.

Our Events to entertain in June Fri 6th June and every Friday from 8pm. All new Friday Mic nights hosted by Jono and assisted by Rosie Potter, with all musicians winning. Artists please come early to register.

Sat 7th June.

Skyran, Three piece group, check out their music at https://soundcloud.com/skyran-1 Sat 14th June.

Teesside Hot Club, ‘gypsy jazz’ and related styles of swing, blues, bebop, and bossa nova.

Sat 21st June.

Dr Brown and the Groove Cats, from Grand ol’ Oprey Blues night.

Sat 28th June.

Paul Skerrit Band. Vocalist from Big Band Night with keyboard maestro James Harrison.

Wed 11th and 25th June. Julie’s Quiz, new teams welcome.

Every Tuesday night at 10 pm, Meat and bottle draw. Also Jazz sessions in green room.

Every Sun., 6pm, Beer Draw and Cash Rollover, (now £700 & increasing by £20 each week until won).

Most Saturday afternoon meetings of ‘The Conmen’, Americana Musicians jam session.

Also meetings of The Book Club, Saltburn Line Users Group, Camra, Residents Groups and others.

Happy Hours:- Weekdays 5:30pm till 7:00pm, Saturday & Sundays 3:00pm till 5:00pm. All Beers still £2 Pint.

55

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The Saltburn Profile by Rosemary Nicholls Les Manship “It’s good to be able to put something back in the community and I encourage readers to join the volunteers at the Community Centre,” says Les Manship, Chair of Saltburn Community and Arts Association. “We are currently welcoming people willing to serve in the bar, act as Front of House and lock and unlock. Please call in and let us know what you can offer.”

Les was born and brought up in Catcliffe, a small village between Sheffield and Rotherham. He went to Woodhouse Grammar School and then to the local United Steels plant as a technical apprentice. He is a Sheffield Wednesday supporter. From there, he moved on to Strathclyde University, where he studied for a degree in Metallurgy. “I was there before it became a City of Culture and brightened itself up, but Glasgow was a good place to be when I was a student too,” he says.

Les returned to South Yorkshire to work for British Steel, but moved north-east when he was thirty-two to be the Teesside Work Study Manager. He went into engineering next and became the Manager of the Workshops. Then at Redcar, he took up the post of Senior Engineer in charge of Primary Processes at the blast furnaces.

“In between times, I lectured at Sheffield and Teesside Universities,” he adds. “I also achieved an Open University degree in Maths and Engineering.” He became President of the Institute of Refractory Engineers during these years.

He rates his last job before retirement as the best one he had in the industry. British Steel was in the top three in the world in terms of productivity, efficiency and cost. He travelled to the USA, Japan, Brazil and all over Europe. “I did enjoy it,” he says. After retirement, he became a Consulting Engineer and did home-based work for the USA, Korea and Brazil.

Outside work, Les was persuaded to step up to the Committee at the Golf Club. He was subsequently elected as Treasurer and then President for six years. He oversaw course alterations, extensions and improvements in drainage. A keen golfer, he plays with a group of friends at 7.00am. “It’s a good time,” he says, “as I can be home by 10.00 and have the rest of the day in front of me.”

He has played at Open Golf courses, including those in Scotland and Ireland and at the time of writing is looking forward to watching the forthcoming PGA Wentworth. He has a comprehensive collection on books on the subject and describes himself as a golf fanatic!

For nine years, Les was the independent Chair of the Standards and Ethics Committee at Redcar and Cleveland Council. It worked to achieve the highest standards of conduct for councillors and involved a fair amount of training, education and communication. He still acts as an independent who can be consulted, although the Government has changed the system.

Les agreed to audit the books for the SCAA Committee a few years ago and found finances in good order.

Now as Chair, he is working with others to get the Association back into the black, so that creditors can be paid and plans made for pointing, electrical work and the treatment of damp.

Enjoying jazz, Les goes along to some Saltburn Jazz

evenings and Big Band concerts. He likes Count Basie, Woody Herman, Anita O’Day and Mel Torme. Folk is another interest and he appreciates the music of the Dubliners. He doesn’t play an instrument now, but he was a drummer in a good band when he was a Boy Scout!

He was an enthusiastic Scout between the ages of eleven and eighteen, frequently going on camps. When his sons were Saltburn Scouts, he helped out, supporting the Leader on various nights and becoming Chair of the Parents Group. “I’m a great believer in the Scout Movement,” he says. “ It does a tremendous amount of good.”

Eight years ago, Les joined Rotary and became VicePresident. He has helped out at the Grand Ol’ Oprey at the Community Centre and at charity events. 2014 has been the most successful year in terms of ticket sales and substantial amounts have been raised for local charities.

Les is an enthusiastic reader of travel books and crime fiction. He rates authors such as Michael Connolly and Peter Robinson. “I like anything with a good tale to it,” he adds.

He has delved into his family tree: he’s looked up censuses and found that his relatives came from Norfolk, Leicestershire and Flintshire. “They probably came to South Yorkshire looking for work in the coal mines,” he says. He has found that there are pockets of Manships round the country, including a cluster at Staithes.

Les enjoys travelling with his wife, Rose Marie, who comes from Ireland. They make trips to see relatives there and appreciate the fine scenery, the walks, good food, art exhibitions and especially poetry readings by the late Seamus Heaney, who was a good friend. They’ve also taken a round trip based on California and good tours of European cities.

They have a daughter and twin sons and seven grandchildren who like to visit Saltburn. “It’s got so much to offer,” says Les. 57

Defibrillators Come to Saltburn Learning Campus “We’re delighted that Sainsbury’s decided to fundraise to put defibrillators into both the Saltburn schools,” says Alan Fishpool, project lead at Saltburn Primary School. “As we’re growing as a Campus, we’re really pleased to work with local business to offer a life-saving resource to the whole community.”

We are used to hearing of heart disease being a problem for older people, but the statistics of sudden cardiac arrest affecting the young are less well-known.

Twelve to sixteen young people die every week in the UK from sudden cardiac arrest and eighty per cent of these will have no prior symptoms. Each year, two hundred and seventy young people die at school, a place we all consider to be a safe environment.

Hand on Heart, which became a registered charity in January 2012, is committed to reducing these deaths, which occur because of an electrical malfunction in the heart. Since January 2011, it has placed over two hundred fully and partially funded defibrillator packages in schools across the UK. It has given cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training to staff and pupils and has provided useful accessories. For each of those schools, the charity has trained eight school staff to use defibrillators and educated thirty children on basic life support. Defibrillators are designed to be used by any adult who arrives first on the scene of a medical emergency.

Now Saltburn schools will have the benefit of the defibrillators, thanks to the enthusiasm of our local Sainsbury’s supermarket. Each year, Sainsbury’s chooses a Charity of the Year, which will benefit the local community. A nomination box is available in the store for several days (May 28th – June 8th for the coming year) and customers are encouraged to vote for a charity. The three which receive the highest number of votes are invited to come to the store to give a twenty to thirty minute presentation about their work to the Works Council. The presentation includes information on how the charity is funded and what it would expect from Sainsbury’s, if it were chosen to be the Charity of the Year.

Once Hand on Heart was chosen, the supermarket set about raising money to fund two defibrillators, which was exactly what the schools needed. There were sponsored walks by the staff and Dress Up Days, a bag pack, a tombola, a book stall, the sale of pin badges and donations were collected on the tills. Approximately £2,300 was raised and this will fund the programme at Huntcliff and Saltburn Primary Schools. Supermarket staff were very pleased with the amount that was collected.

Caroline Chadwick, Head of School at Saltburn Primary confirms: “We are pleased to have such good links with Sainsbury’s, who also donated bottled water and fruit to our Sport Relief event. We are delighted that the store wants the schools to have the defibrillators and we want the community to know that we have them on site.”

At the time of writing, the schools are looking forward to assemblies in late May at which Hand on Heart will launch the training for staff and pupils. The charity 58

will be pleased to add to its current total of 295 schools made heart-safe, 2,360 teachers trained to use the defibrillators and 8,850 pupils taught basic life skills. The charity will demonstrate that a defibrillator is a small lightweight device that analyses a person’s heart rhythm and can recognise irregular heart rhythms.

Lesley of Hand on Heart charity further explains the training: “Teachers will be able to practise on a training defibrillator. This will take them through each step of the procedure, all in keeping with the UK Resuscitation Council guidelines. Teachers will get to understand the difference between a heart attack and a sudden cardiac arrest. With a heart attack, your heart is still beating and the machine, which is just the size of a handbag, won’t work.”

The trainer will also teach three groups of ten children, including one group of Huntcliff students, basic life skills. They will learn how to tell if a heart is beating and how to put someone in the recovery position, if that is the case. Sensitively, the youngsters will be shown how to do CPR on a training manikin and then have a practice.

They will be shown the defibrillator, but they will not be using it. “That wouldn’t be appropriate, as they won’t understand the significance of speed of use and it would be too much responsibility for them,” says Lesley.

Alan continues: “The children’s training will complement the work we have been doing in school with Heart Start, which is basic First Aid training for Year 6 (ten - eleven year olds).” An in-school team of four trained staff delivers this. The scheme, affiliated to the British Heart Foundation, is very popular with the children, who each achieve a Certificate for their work.

Lesley concludes by saying how wonderful it is when schools, which have received the £1500 training free, give something back to the charity. With funds raised, Hand on Heart can take the package into schools in a deprived area and give them the same opportunities as we have in Saltburn. Now there’s a challenge for Saltburn Learning Campus!

Rosemary Nicholls

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Art Exhibition Saltburn Studio Artist, Sara Henry, is having her first solo exhibition of her paintings.

Titled ‘Exposed’ the paintings are explorations of colour, layered to reveal and expose images which are abstract and subjective.

The exhibition starts on Saturday, 14th June and will continue for 5 weeks at Saltburn Studios and Gallery, 30-32, Marske Road, Saltburn TS12 1QR. The gallery is open every Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon till 4pm.

Will Goodhand receives response from Redcar & Cleveland Council about road repairs and 20mph across Saltburn Will Goodhand wrote to Amanda Skelton the Chief Executive of Redcar & Cleveland Council and has received a response detailing future works.

1) Road Maintenance Will welcomes the news that work is scheduled for Saltburn and looks forward to hearing back from area engineers once they have completed the condition assessments on the roads which were highlighted to him by local residents through his survey in February.

The response reads: “None of the roads mentioned in your letter (Wilton Bank, Milton Street (Near Caravan entrance), Albion Terrace to Victoria Road, Marske Mill Lane) are in the maintenance programme for 2014-2015.

However, I will arrange for condition assessments to be carried out for possible inclusion in future programmes.

The programme for 2014-2015 does include resurfacing of the carriageway on Irvin Avenue at the Junction with Marske Road and resurfacing part of the footpath on Guisborough Road.

2) 20mph Campaign The engineering team leader responded to Will’s request for information on the now stalled 20mph campaign stating that “they have no record of this petition”. Will is investigating this issue and will be contacting residents who signed the petition in the first place to get to the bottom of it.

Will comments: “Although I am grateful for Redcar & Cleveland Council’s response there are still questions that remained unanswered, not least what happened to the large, community-led 20mph petition - it appears to have vanished. I will keep residents up-tospeed on this issue, and other such issues which have been raised with me.

“Today I am urging Redcar & Cleveland to ensure that they have applied to the Government’s £168m ‘Pothole Fund’ which has been created to sort out potholes of the kind which are causing people frustration across East Cleveland.”

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Saltburn Allotments Association At the time of writing this article it’s been a lovely sunny day and Arsenal’s losing to Hull in the FA Cup final 0-2.

It just goes to show that life can be good and bad all at the same time. Gardening should be good this month with opportunities for doing just about everything you want to do. In case you didn’t know, I’m an Arsenal fan. Sorry, Hull City supporters!

If you have fruit trees, (2-1 by the way, there is hope….) keep an eye on how many fruits you have in each cluster. If you have lots, you will end up with lots of small apples. If you pick some of the apples off leaving only a couple per cluster, you will get fewer, larger fruit.

The same is true of pears and plums, and peaches, nectarines and apricots if you have these lovely exotic fruits.

Another job to look out for with fruit trees and bushes in June is a touch of pruning. They put on a lot of leafy growth this month and that can distract energy from making the fruit swell. With fruit bushes you can cut back all new growth, that doesn’t have fruit on, to about five leaves. You can also prune out any new growth that’s preventing air and light getting into the bush.

For cane fruit such as raspberries and blackberries for that matter, you should make sure the canes are tied in to their wires or whatever supports you use and, if they’ve got so tall that they’re waving about miles above their support, trim their tops off, again making sure you’re not cutting off flowers/fruit. I have been noticing lots of flowers and young fruit on bushes and trees in allotments this year and have high hopes that we will all have plenty of fruit for summer puddings and crumbles.

Back to vegetables. We can sow beans, chicory, turnips, swedes, sweetcorn, winter cabbage, peas, beetroot, khol rabi, carrots, lettuce, all year round cauliflower, winter cabbage and salad leaves various. If you haven’t had time to sow seed and are in a hurry, you can buy plug plants from various nurseries, mail order and on the web. You can be planting out indoor and outdoor tomatoes and cucumbers, courgettes and squashes, beans and peas, leeks, celery and celeriac, sprouts, broccoli and kale. I’m sure there’s more.

Do keep an eye out for cabbage white butterflies and their caterpillars. If you can, net your brassicas with a fine netting to stop the butterflies laying their eggs. Also keep on top of slugs using your deterrent of choice. If this weather keeps up, watering will be necessary. Try to make sure your watering goes down to the roots of plants rather than sprinkling the surface of the soil. You can plant a pipe, plant pot, bottomless plastic bottle alongside thirsty plants such as squashes and beans and water into the vessel to get right down to the roots.

You will know the final score now, if you care, but I’m still biting my finger nails since Arsenal have equalised and it’s going to extra time.

Happy gardening, Sue. 60

OPEN DAY at Saltburn Community Hall Friday 13 June 2014, 11.00am – 3.30pm On the occasion of our 10th Anniversary, you are warmly invited to come along & see what goes on at U3A groups:

♦ Crafts & Languages ♦ ♦ History & Theatre groups ♦ ♦ Photography, Art & Walking ♦ Have a go at Making Cards or Silk Painting Join in a Discussion, Play Reading or a Game

A MORNING’S ENTERTAINMENT at Saltburn Community Hall Friday 20 June 2014, 10.00am – 1.00pm Some of our groups will be pleased to entertain you: (includes an interval with refreshments)

Dancing ♦ Singing ♦ Exercise groups Languages ♦ Music ♦ Poetry ♦ Play Reading ♦ *Entrance is free for both the above events*

OTHER SALTBURN U3A EVENTS DURING JUNE

All welcome!

Try your hand at BOWLS - 2 free sessions (10.00am-noon or 2.00-4.00pm) on Tuesday 17 June at Saltburn Bowls Club. Bowls will be provided but please come in flat shoes. Tea and coffee will be available.

TALK & READING from her new novel “The Moth Man” (out in the autumn) by local author Jennie Finch (“Death of the Elver Man” and “Drowners”) at the Methodist Hall, Saltburn, Thursday 26 June at 2.00pm. £1.50 admission on the door.

Further information about all the above can be found on the Saltburn District U3A website: http://u3asites.org.uk/saltburn.

Charity No: 110969

The Muses of Jim

Allow me to introduce myself as the newly-elected Chair of the Redcar & Cleveland Twinning Association.

The Association was formed in 1990 and will be celebrating its 25th anniversary next year, an achievement that is testimony to the strong links that have been formed over the years between the citizens of Redcar & Cleveland and Troisdorf in Germany.

This year in October we shall be taking a party of local people to visit Troisdorf as part of our ongoing programme of exchanges between families and other interested groups. If you have been thinking about whether to join us, let me recommend this short trip as an ideal introduction to the main aim of the Twinning Association, which was founded “to promote international friendship and understanding”. You will enjoy the opportunity to stay with a German family in Troisdorf and to participate in a full programme of varied and interesting activities in a beautiful part of Germany close to Cologne and the River Rhine.

We shall be leaving Redcar & Cleveland on Sunday, 26th October and returning home Saturday, 1st November, travelling to Germany by coach via Hull on the Rotterdam overnight ferry and staying 4 nights with our hosts in Troisdorf at a total overall cost of no more than £250 per person, including one year’s free membership of the Twinning Association. We need a firm booking with £100 deposit no later than 30th June to secure your place.

Please contact the Association’s Secretary Steve Arnold for a booking form (for further details email steven.arnold60@gmail.com).

Pamela Stenson

It’s been another roller coaster of a month, but at least the sun is shining. I have just taken delivery of the sign from the Betty Wingham Café, that used to be in the Old School. I was very touched to be given it. No doubt the girls will fight over it after I have gone, although Jill was the only one to claim it. The sign is of Betty’s name spelled out in corks from wine bottles. Which is very appropriate because she loved a glass of wine.

At the same time in the Old School’s yard sale last month I made an offer for a flat screen monitor and a fancy computer desk.

Some time ago I mentioned an event that was going to be arranged by Redcar & Cleveland Older People’s Partnership. Voluntary Sector Showcase is what it’s called and it’s now arranged and the date is going to be Wednesday, 4th June 2014, 11.00am to 3.00pm. It’s going to be held at the Heart, Redcar Civic Centre, Ridley Street, Redcar. This is an opportunity to discover the exciting world of volunteering and to find out what is on offer and if there is anything you fancy doing. It’s not just for older people but for people of all ages. We all have skills that others need or that others could certainly find useful. So come along and at least you will get to have a look at the new Civic Centre. There is further information about it even within this copy of Talk of the Town, or so I believe.

At least that’s what someone told me anyway but when I mentioned it to Ian he wasn’t sure. (Page 35, Jim! - Ian) At the core of volunteering in the Borough is Redcar & Cleveland Volunteer Development Agency. This organisation assists and supports voluntary organisations within the Borough, both large and small. The support and advice given is extremely useful to the groups and in fact last year 103 groups were given advice, 93 were supported and 19 groups received training, ranging from one to several sessions. £1,620,134 was made secure by the council for groups within the Borough. All of this was in the last year, and was well above their projected target of the number of groups that could be helped. You can meet the Volunteer Development Agency at the Civic Centre on the 4th June.

My friends and critics in the top club will duly note that I have not used so many ‘I’s as usual so far in this article, but that could soon change, or I could indeed use the royal ‘we’, after an event on the 8th of May, when the only son of the late Elsie and Fred Wingham, travelled to Malton, North Yorkshire, to take part in a Workshop organised by the Prince’s Regeneration Trust. We (that’s me) had been invited to undertake training with the group and also to give a report on the work of Saltburn Gill Action Group, which we did.

Likewise, the brother of my two sisters attended a Meeting of the Redcar & Cleveland Community Bank.

Where in the meeting, The Basic Responsibilities of Directors was discussed as it was recognised, nay, it was vital, that directors know what is expected of them. The Community Bank is looking forward to moving on to Redcar High Street, at a site yet to be decided.

Jim Wingham 61

The Saltburn Crossword no 156 set by Saxton Across 1 Young male chickens, male chicken spins film cylinders (9) 6 Punch end of sleeve (4) 8 Hot peppers stop mine in a fashion (8) 9 Grammatical term for part of a verb found in anger undone (6) 10 and 12 Saltburn feature containing ornamental prehistoric remains? (6, 6) 11 Newly born light element at Aluminium (8) 12 See 10 Across 15 Move abroad travelling tire game (8) 16, 19 and 22 They do good work in Redcar and Cleveland and Talk of the Town article (8, 6, 6) 19 See 16 Across 21 Human groups if a slime formation (8) 22 See 16 Across 24 Illusion of oasis is a germ I suspect (6) 25 To do with money saving confused no comic after East (8) 26 Joint required to pat Ella (4) 27 Unhappiness plural senses ad’s plight (9)

Down Name___________________________________ Address_________________________________ ________________________________________ Telephone_______________________________

Solution to Crossword no 155

The winner of last month’s crossword was Mr G Oliver of Whitby Crescent, Redcar.

D. V. Townend & Co Country Outfitters New Shop Premises Open at No. 8 Dundas Street, Saltburn Outdoor Clothing and Footwear, Walking Boots and Socks, Gifts and Knitwear, Hiking Poles and Walking Sticks Plus Lots More...

Tel. 01287 623754 8 Dundas Street East, Saltburn TS12 1AH

www.dvtownend.com 62

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 13 14 17 18 20 22 23

African capital found in orca irony (5) Folded in first seven desecrated circles (7) Former lover backs lot for highly praising (5) Distinctive inner nature from German industrial city to Church of England? (7) Italian young woman raining so badly (9) Pirate, or pirate ship, or car is running wild (7) Fabulous! Going fast can it? (9) State of worrying vigorous mixing (9) Wanting Dennis see around (9) Copy to flatter? (7) Hang or remove temporarily from work (7) Several and unlike each other (7) Skint or colloquially in need of mending (5) A young woman is wrong? (5)

Note the new address for crossword entries Send your completed crossword to: Saltburn Crossword no 155, c/o Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, TS12 1AQ

by Friday, 20th June 2014. First correct solution out of the bag wins a £10 voucher kindly donated by Tim and Sheila of Real Meals.

BATH STREET GARAGE SERVICING ENGINE TUNING MOT PREPARATION REPAIR WORK-WELDING For a fast friendly local service contact: PETER MOORE:

01287 625587 or 622912 Bath St Garage, Bath St, Saltburn TS12 1BJ

THE TOTAL MOTORING PACKAGE

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

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

Hello my name is Daisy, and I’m a beautiful and delicate feline girl with green eyes and a tricolour coat. I’m the one with the pink cushion pictured here. If you are a fan of ‘Cats’ the musical, then you would perhaps describe me as a calico cat. I’m a lovely natured young cat who is only 1 year old, so I still act like a young kitten at times and I love to play.

I am very friendly with people and would love nothing more than to be a lifelong lapcat; a bit like a laptop, but cuter and purrier, and furrier of course, and far more fun. I am also good with children but I need a home without other pets. I came to live in SARA’s care through no fault of my own. I am a delightful cat who is very affectionate and really loves people. I will make a fantastic family companion.

I would also like to introduce Cassie. She is the sweet and pretty black and white girl with glorious golden eyes. Cassie is seen here all wrapped up in blue. Cassie is a cute 5 year old girl cat who first came into SARA as a stray. Cassie sadly was returned to live with SARA after

her last owners passed away recently. She is a lovely natured girl whose main ambition in life is to become a spoilt and pampered housecat.

She is unfortunately very stressed at the centre and really needs to be in an adult home without any other pets or young children. She is a nervous girl who is just looking for a quiet home with experienced cat owners who with patience and love can bring her out of her shell and give her some TLC and show her just how good life can be.

Love and purrs, Daisy and Cassie.

SARA fundraising events during June The next monthly meeting of SARA will be held on Wednesday, 4th June in the TocH premises, Albion Terrace, Saltburn, at 7.30pm. New members are most welcome.

Sunday, 8th June - A Strawberry and Chocolate Fayre will be held at Foxrush Farm, Kirkleatham Lane, Redcar, from 1pm to 4pm. There will be a variety of stalls including tombola, bric-a-brac, pet stall for cats and dogs and others.

Refreshments will be on sale, cream teas, cakes, a chocolate fountain and a sweet stall.

The animals that are looking for loving new homes will be available for viewing. This is always a lovely

afternoon. Come along with family, friends and pets, to support SARA and help us to cater for more animals.

There is plenty of parking on the Foxrush field.

Thursday, 12th June – A collecting day will be held in Guisborough. All donations will go to the Foxrush Sanctuary and Re-homing Centre fund.

Saturday, 21st June – SARA members will be serving Refreshments in Saltburn Community Centre, from 10am to 4pm.

Funds raised recently: The Coffee morning held in Marske Leisure Centre raised £200. Thank you to everyone who supported this event.

Sheila Green 63

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