30 Years of Service

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In 1993,Anthony took on the Post Office after leaving the Finance industry to pursue a new self-employed opportunity as a Postmaster. Mr Chapman has been lucky enough to receive the help of his family within the business. During the early years, his late mother was heavily involved on the retail side of the business and more recently, his daughter Olivia has helped with going tothewholesalersandontheshopfloor.

Anthony was presented with his 30 Years’ Long ServiceAward.ThepopularPostmasterhadalsopresented with Community Service Award from Post Office Area Manager, Martin Wyer, who was also able to thank Anthony for the long-standing work he had done for both thePostOfficeandthelocalcommunity.

Anthony said: “It has been an interesting and life changing journey becoming Postmaster for North Skelton. It allowed me to merge myself within my community further,whilstalsoinmyearlydaysbeingaCouncillorfor the local Parish Council and becoming Chairman of a local organisation, Action North Skelton. Becoming Postmaster was an even better way to meet new people andgettoknowthecommunity.

“During the pandemic we managed to keep our shop and Post Office open. They needed us for shopping, fresh produce, to send mail and parcels, home shopping returns, billsandtheirbanking.

Post Office Area Manager, Martin Wyer said: “Anthony really is the pillar of his society. I commend his great work for looking after the Post Office for over three decades now and going above and beyond to help the community in all that they do. Anthony is a first-class Postmaster. It was great to be able to visit and mark his 30thanniversary.”

Anthony is involved in his community in so many ways. Throughout his three decades, he has supported a plethora of local charities within the town, including his work with the local Rotary Club, in which he has been President twice and is now the Treasurer. Anthony’s customerscomefromacrossthewholecommunity,andhe isveryhappytoserveeveryone.

Saltburn in Bloom

We’vehadsomelovely,mild,sunnydaysrecentlyandthe birds have been hopping about and singing and all the signsarelookingtowardsspring.Ihaven’tseenanylambs yetbutImightnothavebeenlookingintherightplaces.

Last month I focussed on the fact that we are back in the Northumbria in Bloom competition and I asked if anyonehadanareathey’dliketosuggestjudgesvisit.One group has replied and we will be getting in touch with them and visiting their area. It’s not too late; if you are involved in a group which is improving your street, cul de sac, whatever, let us know. Another option if you are a small, very local group is to join the “It’s Your Neighbourhood”competition.Youarejudgedagainstaset of criteria, not against other groups, and you will be awardedacertificate.

Nowwecomeontosponsorship.Oursponsorshipclub has been working hard to get letters out to current supporters identifying what they have done in the past in terms of baskets, tubs etc. We have also contacted potential new people and businesses, outlining what opportunities are available for them. If you are interested in joining our club, there are extra areas available such as thebarrierbasketsontherailwaystationrailingsandsome of our gardens. For example, the amazing fossil garden can now be sponsored, along with the picnic area, the anchor bed and other areas we look after. If you are interested to findout more, doget intouch withus on facebookorsaltburn.in.bloom@gmail.com.

We are aiming for a cut off date of 31st March after which we may not be able to promise your usual basket or barrel. I have added a picture this time so that you can see some of the lovely things you could sponsor. Sponsorship includes compost, planting up, maintaining and watering. Untilnextmonth, Sue

Saltburn Solidarity Food Bank steps up in 2023

“Having our own premises is great; we can offer help to people in lots more ways,” says Saltburn Solidarity Food Bank founder, Lynn J.P. Since the volunteers moved into the ground floor of the former Zetland Medical Practice at 2 Windsor Road, Saltburn, in June 2022, they’ve welcomedpeopleinneedfrom12pmto4pmonMondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and have now extended Monday opening to 10am to 8pm, so that working people struggling to pay their bills on low wages can call in if theyneedfooditems.

“I don’t think everyone realises how people are suffering. There's real poverty both nationally and within Saltburn,” says Lynn. She would never break confidentiality, but she says there are more people with one or more jobs, including nurses and teachers, now coming to the Food Bank. Especially if they are single parents, some are finding their incomes insufficient to buy enough food after meeting ever-increasing rent, fuel and household bills. “Wages aren’t going up, but everything else is. One lady told me that she used to put £10 a week by for electricity, but now it’s £40 a week,” she adds. “Somethinghastogive.”

The ramp at the entrance has been kept from its Medical Practice days to make the Food Bank accessible for wheelchair users. Disabled people can often struggle financially and Lynn says: “Hard times can happen to anybody; we welcome people from every possible demographicthatyoucanthinkof.”

Despite doing all they can to earn enough to feed their families, Lynn says it’s very common for people to feel shame as they ask for food. To alleviate their distress, the volunteers can offer them a hot drink and a comfortable chair in the new space. One resource that SSFB isn’t short of its volunteers; so many local people want to help and this has enabled Lynn and her team to expand their offer, adaptingtochangingcircumstances.

“As fuel has become so expensive, we’ve changed what we buy, for example from fresh chicken breasts to frozen cooked chicken slices from Iceland,” she explains. “Since the Saltburn launderette closed, we’ve set up a washing machine and tumble drier for free use and we haveabrandnewfridgefreezer.Thefundingforthesehas beendonatedtousbylocalindividuals.”

A skilled volunteer made twenty Christmas cakes and Sainsbury's provided twenty bags of seasonal vegetables and fruit to go in Christmas 2022 hampers for families in need.

“Mentioning every person and organisation who’ve helped runs the risk of missing someone out,” says Lynn, “butwe’reverygratefultothemall.”

“Our donation tub in Sainsbury’s needs daily emptying as it fills up quickly with food,” says Lynn. “We’ve benefited from some generous fundraisers too. The Community Meal arranged by Sarah Hill last November raised over £2,000 and Paul Como’s music night at Shanti Cafewasforus.”TwoyoungladscalledtoaskLynnwhat foodwasneeded,asthey’d decided to shopfortheFood

Bank rather than buy each other Christmas presents and members of Saltburn Cubs and Brownies have made collections.

Ever resourceful, Lynn developed skills in making mulled wine before Christmas, when she was offered a stall to do it at the Bees and Carols Saltburn Concert. “I did some research into how it's made and even at a moderate charge, it raised £660 for us before stocks ran out!”

She pays tribute to the help given by Councillors Craig Hannaway and Stuart Smith: “Craig has been busking for us with his guitar and Stuart cleared all the rubbish out of thepremisesbeforewemovedin.”

Lynn is acutely aware of the importance of preserving the dignity of people coming for help; she won’t ask them to jump through hoops. Since that day when after watching a Panorama programme on life on Universal Credit, she knocked at the doors of Garnet Street residents asking for food donations to meet local hunger, she and her volunteers have helped numerous people. But she says they’reworkingatthetipoftheicebergreally.

“It’s a bigger crisis than is realised,” she believes. ‘Yvonne’ says that since her partner died, she and their three children would have gone hungry without SSFC’s help. “We wouldn’t have had a Christmas dinner without them, so we’re very grateful to the volunteers and the people who donate the food. They probably don’t realise whatadifferencetheymake.”ShepraisesLynn’sresponse to appeals: “She doesn’t make you feel embarrassed about it.”

‘Susan’adds: “They’re marvellous. I wouldn’t be able toaffordfoodwithoutit.They’rebeautifulpeople.”

Lynn confirms that SSFB is non-political, but when I’m back home, I wonder why the sixth richest country in the world runs in this way. What do we want our children andgrandchildrentolearn?

Rosemary Nicholls