Talk of the Town May 2015

EDITION 167

CIRCULATION 4,800

MAY 2015

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

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SALTBURN’S TOWN TALK Letter from the Editor Last month’s magazine was the biggest ever, with 72 pages.

This month it is a more manageable 64 pages but still has 24 pages of colour in the middle. Looking back at some of the black and white editions in previous years they were still packed full of local news and information but it’s great now to be able to publish some pictures in colour. We’re not yet at the stage when the whole magazine can be printed in colour but that time will come I’m sure. At the moment many pages still don’t need to be in colour (like this page 3) but there will come a point in the development of the magazine when it will be cheaper to have the whole thing printed on one machine rather than two different ones as it is now.

Last month I actually said that I was looking forward to the General Election. I’m now looking forward to having it over and done with. We have some excellent candidates for all three of the elections we are going to enjoy on May 7th in Saltburn. For the first time ever (for me) there are more candidates in the council elections that I would like to vote for than I have votes to give! See page 14 for a list of all the

candidates. To once again thwart those who would accuse me falsely of political bias, I wish ‘good luck’ to all taking part.

I’m very choosey about what pictures can appear on the front cover, but when I saw the picture of the chicken from the Friends of the Valley’s Easter Fun Day I couldn’t resist it. It made me smile. It’s so funny! I wasn’t there on the day but clearly I had missed out on what was a very enjoyable occasion. The picture subject is not what I would normally choose but it certainly conforms to three of my criteria: it’s very colourful, it’s something different and it’s something to do with Saltburn. I often get sent pictures that aren’t suitable, in my opinion. For example they might be completely the wrong shape or not very interesting. Huntcliff, the pier and the cliff lift have all appeared many times before so a picture of these subjects would have to be very different from the usual to appear on the cover. The most common reason that a picture is not chosen, however, is simply that it doesn’t have enough memory in it. It might otherwise be an excellent subject and composition but when enlarged to the size of the cover it becomes horribly blurred, fuzzy and pixelated. Although the Send letters, adverts and contributions for the next issue cameras on mobile phones are improving, most of them do not (by Friday, 15th May 2015) to: The Editor, Talk of the take a picture of good enough quality for the cover. Love, Ian. Town c/o Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, The Guisborough and District Branch of the Embroiderers’ Saltburn, Cleveland, TS12 1AQ. Telephone: 01287 623903 Guild are holding their monthly meeting on Saturday, 2nd (or email: talkofthetown@tyasi.freeserve.co.uk). Talk of May, 2015 at 1.45pm for 2pm in Sunnyfield House, Westgate, the Town has a website: www.tottsaltburn.co.uk and the Guisborough.

TS14 6BA. Our guest speaker is Pete Friends of Talk of the Town can be found on Facebook.

Winstanley and his subject will be Batik.

Saltburn Farmers’ Market: Saltburn Farmers Market will Visitors are welcome whether non-stitchers, beginners or be back on Saturday, May 9th for the sale of all things locally more experienced stitchers; we will be very pleased to see you. made! Come and enjoy a browse around and a bite to eat. The Belmont House car park (behind the council offices) is free Saltburn Town Centre 9.00am till 2.00pm. Nobia is back from on Saturdays.

Ghana and will be cooking up a few favourite goat recipes.

For more information please call 01642 314860.

Nigel is also back at Saltburn Farmers’ Market this month. Ripples: Saltburn’s pop-up shop will be open again on His first appearance this year will be with a great array of Saturday 9th May, from 10.00am to 3.00pm at The Workhouse Yorkshire grown chilli plants - sown and grown in Yorkshire! (next door to Ripping Yarns), Dundas Street West, Saltburn.

Nigel’s plants always do well and give a good return for not The shop stocks a large selection of gifts - some of which are too much effort! sold to raise funds for Teesside Hospice. So why not visit us, Eebydrum! will be meeting at their new home at Toc-H (off have a browse and perhaps treat yourself (or someone special) Albion Terrace) at 7pm on Friday 1st, 15th and 29th May. to something unique and useful. For further details, contact Pat They invite you to join them to practise their African rhythms on 07789 123722 (or email: kath.west45@virginmedia.com). for festivals, fund-raisers and fairs. Contact Colin on 07834 WI Report: Saltburn Ladies WI met on Thursday, April 9th in 213 543 (or at cattersty@ntlworld.com). the Methodist Chapel. The meeting was very well attended and Emmanuel Church Hall Table Top and Collectors’ Sale: our speaker was a Mr James Masters. This was a pseudonym Our next dates are Saturdays, 2nd, 16th and 30th May then for his life in the books that he writes. It was an interesting talk June 6th and 20th. FREE ENTRANCE and a warm welcome about him growing up in Middlesbrough and travelling all over to everyone. With over 26 stall holders, selling lots of bric-a- coaching athletics etc. We have decided this year to celebrate St brac, books, toys, baby goods, and all sorts of collectables, George’s day by having a fish and chip Barbara supper. You can’t get and some crafts, there is something for everyone. Home made much more English than that, plus wearing our rose as well. refreshments and light lunches are on sale all day. Our all day Our resolution for all WIs this year is to support the needs for breakfast and lunches and popular home baked stall are each individual in long term care, and remember, the WI ladies always available. Our kitchen is very busy and popular. carry a lot of clout.

Contact Denise Marshall on 07929 589538.

E. Leonard Cover Illustration: The Easter Chicken from last month’s Friends of the Valley Fun Day made by Jane Cuthbert and Paul Hyde, photographed by Lorna Moone. See page 12.

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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Looking Back over 60 Years Married Life in Saltburn-by-the-Sea. A photograph from each decade.

1950s Is this the pioneer board paddler now in vogue at the present time?

1980s Medd’s shops and Gladder’s shops ceased trading.

1960s Semaphore signals were very much in evidence soon to be replaced by modern technology.

1990s Saltburn Electric Laundry in Randolph Street closed and moved to the Skelton Trading Estate

1970s The Brine baths were demolished (opened 1n 1891) Note number 62 bus in bay.

2000s John King retired and the business closed. John with two members of his staff.

Left: 2010s Commemoration held to remember the start of World War One.

Cath and Tony Lynn 4

Saltburn and District Group for Visually Impaired People (VIP) What a fascinating subject!

Looking for that special gift and card?

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

Now also available online.

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

Saltburn Councillors’ Surgeries Normal service will be resumed after the election. Ask at the library for times of surgeries immediately after May 7th or wait to see this advert in June’s Talk of the Town.

At our meeting in April, we welcomed Malc Thomas who pans for gold! He led us through the process of deciding where to pan (that is where we will all be soon) and brought along his equipment for us all to feel. Lots of different pans, some with ripples to sort the gold from the stones and sediment in the rivers. Malc also brought along some of his finds which he has stored in glass bottles. Some of his larger pieces he has given to relatives who are now the proud owners of earrings and necklaces.

Malc has won eight titles in the past, including World Champion. He has been so successful in California that he has been prevented from entering in the future! What happened to the spirit of competition? If you are technically minded, Malc can be seen on YouTube winning the World Championship.

Some of his other conquests in America are axe throwing and log cutting. He can saw through a 12 inch diameter tree trunk in 38 Seconds!

A fascinating and interesting subject, so thanks to Malc for delivering it to our small but enthusiastic group.

Our next meeting is on Wednesday, 13th May, 2pm in the Community Centre, Albion Terrace.

Saltburn. We are open to all. Our speaker will be Rosemary, a writer for Talk of the Town.

Please contact Chris Ferguson on 01287 204 170.

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Once Upon a Time in the Wapentake With an election only days away I have told myself that I should steer clear of politics, though telling myself to leave out the politics is, as I explained to a friend recently, a bit like telling Milton to rewrite ‘Paradise Lost’ leaving out God. But I shall try.

Last month I visited the town where I was born and spent my mildly wild youth, and although the place has changed in so many ways, I found myself being reminded of so much.

I’ll try and put that a different way because ‘reminded’ isn’t strong enough, and neither is ‘remembering’. I once read an interview with Cliff Richard in which he was asked whether he found it odd as a man in his seventies to be singing songs that he had sung when he was seventeen and he replied that it wasn’t odd at all because when he sang those songs he was seventeen.

So it was when I went past the shop that had once, long ago, sold me Airfix construction kits and the rolling stock for my Triang electric train set, and in my hand I had a kit that I would make into a blue plastic tank engine that very night after school, and park in a siding to supplement my two working locos; at least I could pretend it would… Then I realised who I was and when and where I was and that the shop now sold fitted kitchens. It too had grown up.

That place made me feel things, but other places had me thinking too.

In particular I thought about coffee bars and the part they played for us then, at least in our small town, and I imagine in other towns and cities across the land. If you were too young to legally be in pubs, and too old or too cool to use youth clubs, you met up with your friends in the coffee bar.

I must digress here and say that the word ‘cool’ would never have been used in those days in the way that I’ve just used it. ‘Cool’ was the kind of word that adults who made films about teenagers thought teenagers used.

We real teenagers never used it, except as a joke. To do so would have been really uncool.

Anyway, coffee bars. There were three in the town.

There was Jimmy B’s where the older lads, the hard men (some of them fully dressed teddy boys in drainpipe trousers, drape jackets and beetle crusher shoes) and their even harder girl friends gathered. I never went in there because, and I dare admit it now, I was scared, so I’ve no idea what it was really like. There was the Bus Station Café, which was really just a Bus Station Café, though it did have a Juke Box and we used it a bit, for a change.

And then there was the one that was our real local. That had bead curtains, a real Italian Bull Fight Poster (Eh?) and a real Italian coffee machine, though I can’t remember anyone ever drinking an espresso; Coca Cola was what we all drank. No wonder most of my generation lost their teeth young. It was, of course, called The Cool Spot.

Then, while part of me was still somewhere fifty6

five years ago, I started comparing how I was then with what I could see of fifteen year olds in Saltburn now.

Where, for a start, would be their Cool Spot, the place they could hang out with people of their own age group, out of the house and away from adults, listen to their kind of music, show off their own kind of clothes? Which led into another kind of question: would they need something like that anymore?

First, though, is there anything like a coffee bar open today? I’ve heard it said that for today’s teens KFC and McD’s do the job. I doubt it, not least because the key to the success of the Fast Food franchises is that word ‘fast’.

Get the punter sat and served and out again as quick as can be, so another can take their place is the name of the game.

The name of our game was to sit all afternoon and half the night on two cokes and a piece of cake. No, I don’t know how the owners made money either, but that never worried us then.

I’m sure most of my readers are, at this point, thinking that I’m ignoring the obvious: today’s teens do all their socialising on the Internet. I know that’s what’s supposed to be happening but I do feel that to really get to know people you need to make use of all five senses and, at least with the technology we have at present, only two senses, seeing and hearing, are used on-line. What is not yet possible is touching, and anyone who has watched a group of adolescents will have seen how important that is: kissing or kicking, hugging or hurting, but touching all the time. Then there is smell, and if you don’t think that has anything to do with how we feel about other people, and how we think they feel about us, consider how much we spend on perfume, aftershave and deodorant. Finally there is taste. We don’t normally go round tasting each other, but what we often do is to share the taste of a plate of food washed down with our favourite drink. For the moment, we cannot do that on-line.

But in the past, before the World Wide Web, even before coffee bars, there were spaces that young people could call their own: street corners in the great smoky cities; the bushes on the edges of the village green; the market square in some small town. There they could meet up, make friends, share ideas and jokes, show off their new clothes, wrestle and sing and share a drink (non-alcoholic, of course).

So today, as I walk past Sainsbury’s, and the youth of Saltburn are gathering in the square, with their skateboards and their sounds, I do not feel threatened, as I gather someone of my age should do. I feel relieved that the world goes on as it always has done. Everything changes and everything remains the same.

The second of my questions (do young people still need their own space?) I seem to have just answered, or perhaps not. Maybe if I alter it to “in what way is being young different now to how it was then?” I might try and answer it in next month’s Talk of the Town, editor permitting.

Tim Beswick

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The Vicar of Dibley One of the most successful television series of recent years is being re-enacted on the Saltburn stage in May. The engaging, larger-than-life character of Geraldine Granger, the inimitable Vicar of Dibley, will be facing some familiar challenges from her quirky but endearing parishioners, including bureaucratic David Horton, Owen, (whose digestion and cows give him equal trouble), stuttering Jim, pedantic secretary Frank and the tongue-tied (as opposed to star-crossed) lovers, Alice and Hugo. Mrs. Cropley adds to the mix by her original, but horrendously inedible, recipes.

The story starts with the arrival of Geraldine in the midst of a stunned parish council and follows her dealings with the different parishioners, concluding with the marriage of Hugo and Alice. The play offers a hugely enjoyable night of entertainment.

Director Maureen Payne, whose professional life in dance and theatre spans a wide range of experience, has always had a deep affection for comedy as an art form and relishes the spontaneous audience response to hilarious situations. Having been asked by the ’53 Drama Group to direct a play for this Spring, Maureen immediately decided on The Vicar of Dibley. She describes the writers of the TV series and this script as “experts in their field”, able both to shock and delight through the antics of their characters.

Maureen has much praise for her highly experienced cast, but is especially delighted with new-comer Wendy Gosling whose portrayal of the excessively dim but entertaining Alice is thoroughly convincing, and for Sally Lewis, who is “the perfect Geraldine”.

Regular theatre-goers will have seen Sally in many roles over the years, from Mrs. Corney in Oliver! to Maria

in Twelfth Night; from the Wicked Witch of the East in Wizard of Oz to Mrs. Jones in Blood Brothers. Sally is a compelling actress and apart from her loving attention to characterisation, she is an astonishing look-alike for Dawn French. Sally’s aim is to re-create the Geraldine with whom we are so familiar: the vicar who displays kindly good humour and thoughtfulness together with occasional and understandable exasperation for her small, motley flock of parishioners. “These characters are wonderfully drawn, and the comedy has a gentle touch” Sally explains. “It doesn’t rely on putting people down, but on celebrating the sheer variety of human nature, and the crazy situations that can arise as a result.”

One very special feature of this production is that, by particular request of the authors, all the royalties from the show are donated to Comic Relief.

Thanks are due to the volunteers who have knitted some amazing jumpers for Geraldine. ` Whilst Sally insists that her main challenge will be keeping a straight face through all the hilarity on stage, Maureen guarantees the audience an evening of laughter. So, turn off the TV, come to the Community Theatre and enjoy this unique visit to the parish of Dibley.

PLEASE NOTE THERE IS STRONG LANGUAGE IN THIS PRODUCTION. Production: The Vicar of Dibley. Venue: Saltburn Community Theatre. Dates: 20, 21, 22, 23 May 2015. Time: 7.30pm. (doors and bar 6.45pm). Tickets: £7 (£5 concession).

On sale: The Book Corner, Station Square; Theatre Box Office (Wed. Thurs. Fri. 2-4pm and online at www.saltburnarts.co.uk). See the colour advert on page 27.

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25 Years with Saltburn 500 Club Saltburn 500 Club is 25 years old this year and to mark this on the 29th May we have invited all known friends and helpers to a lunchtime celebration in Saltburn Community Centre. Unfortunately this will be founder Jackie Taylor’s last public appearance for the Club as she has had to retire because of ill health. Jackie moved to Saltburn from Boulby in 1988, a couple of years after I had first become acquainted with her. Although she was born in Suffolk and was a relative newcomer to our town she soon realised that she loved living in Saltburn and made up her mind (and once she has made it up she never changes - as you all know) that she would spend the rest of her days working to improve Saltburn’s environment. In January 1990 she decided to form Saltburn 500 Club and approached me to act as Chairman - a job I readily agreed to do, and 25 years later I am still in that position.

To those few of you who do not know about the club’s activities we have at any time between 450 and 520 members each paying £12 a year subscription. Each month we have a Draw consisting of 6 cash prizes, ranging from £100 downwards (double at Christmas). In addition Jackie has organised all kinds of money raising efforts from table tops to Band Concerts, and is especially adroit at targeting prominent individuals and corporate organisations asking for help and donations, as all her helpers and patrons are only too well aware when their phones become red-hot! A prime example of her tenacity was in 1996 when we were trying to raise money for the new Bandstand. This cost initially £120,000 and by the time it was opened in 1997 we had raised approximately £70,000; the rest came from a Grant. Jackie heard from one of our local historians that the last standing Saltburn Bandstand situated in the gardens below the present site had been destroyed by a German bomb during the War. She cheekily got in touch with the German Embassy and asked politely for a contribution towards the cost of the new Bandstand. The Embassy wrote back and said that she should understand that they could not admit any liability for any destruction of foreign

property during the War but they had had a “whip-around” the staff and enclosed £50 donation! Since the Bandstand’s erection we have raised £15,000 for the screens and the further surrounds. Every year the outgoings for the Band Concerts are around £5000. Any contributions by the public on the day vary considerably with the weather and the balance of Band fees has to be paid for by the Club.

In 1992 Jackie started off “Beachwatch” in order to clean our beach and this is still carried on today. In 1990 “Saltburn in Bloom” was founded by her and the Club. For the past three years this has been run as a separate entity and over 25 years it has certainly put our town on the Coastal Map. Saltburn 500 Club along with Tony Lynn and the late Norman Bainbridge and other 500 Club members was largely responsible for raising money for the restoration of the Pier: a £1,000,000 Grant and at least a further £300,000 since.

Saltburn Lights is a major annual project. This year we expect to pay around £5,000 to upgrade to LED lights, we hire one electrician - the rest (ie all the putting up and dismantling) is carried out by our volunteers.

Our current main project is raising money for Saltburn War Memorial. Please help as this is Jackie’s last Hurrah! We have raised over £10,000 to date and we are in the process of applying to the War Memorial Trust for the remaining £20,000. The Memorial is grade 2* Listed and on the “At Risk” English Heritage Register so an application should be successful.

Finally, the longevity of the Club is entirely down to the stalwart support given freely by the Committee and Members throughout the years. However, our numbers are dwindling due largely to natural wastage. We are desperately in need of new members - how about asking your family, friends, neighbours and all other residents of our precious Town to join Saltburn 500 Club? Application forms are available from Saltburn Library and Jackie’s (no relation!)

Saverstore. Here’s to the next 25 years and a happy and long retirement to Jackie Taylor!

Peter Nixon

Saltburn Beachwatch Great British Beach Clean Results 2014 In the last ten years there has been a huge increase in the amount of litter found on UK beaches. Over the same ten year period Saltburn Beachwatch volunteers, in 2 hour sessions four times per year, have removed 78,744 pieces of litter from our beach! This is an astonishing number and a great achievement.

At last September’s national Great British Beach Clean 5,349 volunteers cleaned and surveyed 301 beaches.

A record 2,457 items of litter were collected per kilometre of beach surveyed. There were more volunteers, more bits of plastic found and more volunteer-hours spent cleaning than ever before. The litter volunteers find is recorded according to what it is and where it may have come from.

PUBLIC:- plastic trays, caps and lids, drink bottles, food containers, drinks cans, dog-poo bags, glass bottles, party poppers and balloons have all had a helping hand from humans on their journey to the beach. There are lots of tiny 8

PLASTIC PIECES that can’t be identified. NON SOURCED litter is from sources that are hard to establish—bits of rubber, cloth, pieces of metal, wood, and paper. FISHING LITTER includes line, net, crab pots and tops, weights, lures and hooks. SEWAGE DEBRIS is made up of things like wet wipes, cotton bud sticks, tampon applicators, condoms, toilet fresheners and nappies - stuff that should be put in the bin NOT the loo. SHIPPING LITTER can include pallets, oil drums and rope which is often lost or just thrown overboard.

FLY TIPPED rubbish is stuff that has been dumped on purpose like builders rubbish, traffic cones, car parts, appliances and paint tins. Thankfully there is not much MEDICAL litter on our beach but it does turn up – inhalers, plasters and syringes.

If you would like to help at the next Saltburn Beachwatch litterpick and survey please meet at the pier car park on Saturday, 20th June 2015 at 10am where grabs, gloves and bags will be provided.

Roy Smith

New team at Saltburn retired men’s forum

Michelle Rudd Dip NTC MPTA CGLI New secretary Ken Bladen shows off the Saltburn and District Retired Men’s Forum minutes book as the new top team takes over. From left Ken Bladen, retiring secretary Arthur Corbett, new speaker-finder Tony Gibson, and his retiring predecessor Mike Morrissey, with chairman Stuart Wright at right.

A new top team took over at Saltburn and District Retired Men’s Forum with the opening of the summer season on Monday, April 13th.

Arthur Corbett has stepped down as secretary after 15 years and Mike Morrissey has ended 10 years as speaker-finder.

Their successors are Ken Bladen and Tony Gibson.

Thanks from the 58 members for the retirees’ work was expressed by chairman Stuart Wright.

A presentation on the work of Redcar and Cleveland MIND was made by volunteers Carole and Donna.

The speaker on Monday, April 20th was Stan Laudon, a long-time presenter at BBC Radio Tees.

Meetings are held on the first Monday of each week at Saltburn’s Methodist hall, Milton Street at 10am for 10.30. Guests are welcome for a trial period.

More information from 01287-623906 or 622493.

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or email: simon.robson1@ntlworld.com

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Saltburn Station Gallery May exhibition Within its first year of business, Saltburn Station Gallery is a small family run arts and craft gallery located in the heart of the town.

The gallery offers Saltburn residents and visitors alike, a mix of art including: oils, watercolours, photography, driftwood sculptures, handmade jewellery, contemporary ceramics, handmade speciality cards and gifts for any occasion. The gallery also offers its visitors a changing exhibition so there will always be new artworks on display. If you’re decorating and looking for that something special to hang on your wall or simply want to look at the best of local talent and culture, this is the place to come. All items cover a vast range of styles and are spread across a reasonable price range to best suit any individual.

Exhibitors at present include Sean Halcrow-Cook the resident artist specialising in oil paintings of local landscapes, local paintings by Di Fox, professional photography by Nigel Lee and Stephen J Dowd, Bespoke driftwood ornaments by Rob Winders, ceramics and jewellery by Artsinc based at the Saltburn studios and Alan Bulmer mixed media to name but a few.

May 2015 will see a new exhibition including paintings by Lita Conradie and high quality handmade jewellery by her husband Frans Conradie. The exhibition starts as of the beginning of May, lasting till the end of the month. There is no admission fee; the gallery is free to enter at all times. A promotional event will take place on the 2nd May 4.00-6.30pm. All are welcome.

We hope we are an asset to the centre of the town to help raise its profile and encourage visitors to the town, which can only be a positive to all the businesses as a collective. Please keep an eye out for future updates.

For any further information please get in contact via: seanhc@saltburnstationgallery.co.uk Mob: 07825 264907 www.saltburnstationgallery.co.uk

Flooding in Skinningrove Visitors to the Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum can come along and investigate the effects that flash floods have had in the Skinningrove area, with contemporary images, and also discover what measures are in place now to help people deal with flooding incidents in the future.

Ian Wilson, a volunteer at the museum, welcomed people to a gentle stroll through the village with him on 15th April.

This one hour walk was free and was especially suitable for people with health problems.

Gemma, a volunteer at the museum, and local resident, said, “the effects of the floods that occurred fifteen years ago were devastating, especially as no-one knew it was coming.

Unfortunately more recently the bridge was ruined due to flash floods, in September 2013, but thankfully has now been rebuilt to an excellent standard. The community spirit that ensued after the floods was amazing: everyone pulled together and helped each other. Thankfully measures have been put into place now to reduce the event of further flooding and damage to the area and also to let people know of a flood coming.”

For more information on the museum and any other activities visit the website www.ironstonemuseum.co.uk or contact the Cleveland ironstone mining museum: 01287 642877.

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Saltburn in Bloom So many people have commented to me on how lovely the town is looking at the moment and this makes the efforts of the Saltburn in Bloom group really worthwhile. Over the Easter period the drive along Marske Road down into town has been a joy. I would like to particularly thank our Neighbourhood team from Redcar and Cleveland Borough council for their hard work grass cutting and picking up litter on a daily basis. Thank you to those individuals who pick up litter as they walk about the town. The Saltburn in Bloom gardeners also litter pick every week as they garden.

One improvement recently has been the reduction in dog fouling on Marine Parade and on the grass at the Rose Arbours. I, and other residents, reported this problem to the Enforcement team and you may have noticed a Dog Watch sign was erected in that area. You also are entitled to report problems of this nature to the Enforcement team.

The Northumbria in Bloom judges will have visited when you read this and let’s hope they are impressed with the efforts all groups and individuals make.

I would like to thank residents who have made generous monetary donations to our work in recent weeks. We are pleased you like what we do and rest assured we always try to use the money wisely.

The sponsorship of floral displays and hanging baskets has gone well, but it is not too late to contribute. We also received the news recently that Saltburn in Bloom has now been awarded charitable status and will be able to access different sources of funding.

Some of the gardeners grow plants at home for planting in the tubs and gardens, with the emphasis being on pollinator friendly perennials, and this cuts down the costs of buying plants. If anyone has any spare plants during the year or if you are splitting perennials we would be happy to receive them. We would also be glad to receive plant pots, especially the 15cm (6in) size. We would reuse them for you rather than you putting them in the rubbish. If you contact me I will come and collect or you could bring them down to gardening on a Wednesday morning. Ring 01287 209518 if you can help.

Some new gardeners have joined us recently and they are enjoying being part of the group and being out in the fresh air regularly. We would certainly welcome some younger people especially as some of us have struggled lately with aches and pains.

Last of all, we are holding a Table Top sale in the Community Centre on Saturday, May 16th when we will be selling some of our homegrown plants and serving homemade refreshments all day. Come and support us there.

Lynda Parkes (Chair)

Saltburn Photographic Society A very successful Annual Dinner and presentation of trophies was held at Saltburn Golf Club with 58 members and guests attending.

Outdoor meetings have been organised throughout the Summer. In May we will meet for a walk around Stokesley. June we will be at Staithes. Saltburn is our Venue for July. An evening in Whitby will be the venue for August. On Saturday, May 30th we are meeting at Beamish Museum for the Georgian Fair.

Our indoor meetings will commence on Wednesday September 16th. 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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11

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

As I may have mentioned before today, deadlines for magazine articles creep up on one and take you by surprise! I could cite that as an excuse as I write this little piece two days after the official ‘deadline’; however, I wont.

I don’t do deadlines. I don’t (for sure) follow fashions and perhaps unlike some of our readers I really couldn’t care less about the election. Some talk of change, some talk of broken promises remade but have you noticed how much extra litter and garbage lands through our doors and gets posted alongside the useful stuff on many a notice board around town? Round my way, I am sure the local charity bag peddlers are in competition with each other as to how many they can get through your door in a week. I am just waiting for the Charity Bag Association bag to arrive, it’s getting that bad. Now don’t get me wrong, I am an ‘official’ of a very worth charity but even we don’t expect everybody to give generously.

I was somewhat amused to see that the venerable BBC felt it was worthwhile to run a contest to determine ‘our’ favourite Eurovision Song Contest Winner. Seriously? That international travesty of an event sits up there with watching paint dry or owning up to being someone who enjoys going to the dentist. What it used to do was introduce us to ‘singers’ whilst touting for tourism and improving our cultural knowledge…as if.

Talking of the ‘unsung’ I’d like to take a moment to thank the many members of our community who spend so much of their time beautifying the town and gardens for your pleasure. Saltburn in Bloom have recently achieved charitable status: I know from experience that can open doors in different ways but it’s far from easy. The folks who tend the flower tubs around the Miniature Railway also do a fantastic job and without doubt we have some pretty gardens adorning care homes and private dwellings all adding to the beauty of the town.

Let’s not forget also the silent partners who help us in as many ways as they can. I’m hoping not to embarrass anyone in particular but among my unsung heroes you will find Sophie Ingleby, Tereena and James Haddow, Faye Simpson, Harry Simpson, Guy Cuthbert, Jackie Bunn, Andy Pollard and Trevor Welburn, to name a few.

Naturally, we all rely on the generosity of the public in our endeavours and between us I can assure you we have another year of outstanding events and entertainment worthy of your continued support. Naturally, you’ll read about them all here in Talk of the Town.

Richard Dales-Coupland Secretary, Friends of Talk of the Town Email: rdcoupland57@gmail.com Trustee Director Saltburn Friends of the Valley Ltd

News and Views from the Valley For those unfortunates among you who failed to attend the Easter Chicken Run, you sure missed a treat. This is what it was: a chicken (not live!) was hoisted up to the top of a zip wire run, children put their decorated eggs in the basket beneath the chicken and when the chicken whizzed down the wire and hit the buffers, the eggs flew out and had to be caught. Totally bonkers but endlessly entertaining. As were the Easter bonnets and the face paintings and the egg and spoon races and egg hunt and the cakes. . . . All in all a great day. “The best Easter ever,” said one satisfied participant. The weather was perfect too. See this month’s fab front cover!

Dates to note for this month are May 4th “Folk in the Valley”, a day of outdoor music provided by Saltburn Folk Club on the lawns beside the Woodland Centre.

Tickets available from Book Corner, Saltburn Store, Saltburn Folk Club and directly from ourselves. You can also pay on the door on the day. See the advert on page 29.

In the half term week at the end of May the centre will be open every day for children’s activities. More details will be on our website and on posters.

We are collaborating with Tees Valley Wildlife Trust on some survey work and members of the public are welcome to join in. The surveys are on the presence of bats and otters in the Valley. We have survey forms in the centre and people taking part are asked to go at certain regular times for sightings of either the actual creatures or evidence of them being there. Otters leave distinctive “spraint” (posh word for otter poo) and of course paw 12

prints. We are also helping the Trust with looking at the feasibility of encouraging water voles to return to the beck.

The Valley is at its freshest and best at the moment with different blossoms and flowers following along in rapid succession. Good weather brings more visitors to the valley but unfortunately some bring and leave more litter. The lush growth does in part hide some of the trash but visual unsightliness is not the only point. Broken bottles and plastic are dangerous for wildlife, not to mention our dogs. Recently I heard a delightful name for the polythene bags that get stuck in trees and stay there flapping out of reach for months on end. In some parts of the country they are referred to as “witches’ knickers.” I like the name – but it doesn’t endear me to the items themselves. So many types of litter stay around for the long term and do not safely biodegrade – like the quantities of micro particles of plastic which now make up a considerable proportion of the “sand” on our beaches and ocean floors. The particles are inevitably working their way up the food chain with who knows what consequences for the future.

Sometimes our fun events might seem unconnected to the serious work of conservation and respect for the countryside but I disagree. We need to love and enjoy the outdoors in all sorts of ways and encourage our children to feel the same way. If they do not find nature inspirational and enjoyable, will they bother to care for it?

Lorna Moone www.saltburnfriendsofthevalleyltd.co.uk

Friends of Saltburn Cemetery Hello everyone and here we are in MAY! What happened to April? It just flew by so far as the friends were concerned. I will make little noise about the bad stuff that happened, that’s been and gone, and we won’t let trifles such as that deter us from our task.

As for other matters: well, I’m sure you all remember me rattling on and on (and on) about our first fund-raiser of the year, a Pie n Peas supper. As the voice of the group, and those of you who know me know how big my mouth is, I can tell you the evening was a RESOUNDING SUCCESS! The total profit made was £317.00. Amazing, don’t you agree? I must also thank local businesses who cheerfully and generously gave raffle prizes; never doubt the love that people have for this town.

YOU ARE ALL TRULY AMAZING! All that money will go towards the restoration of the wooden gate leading into what will be a memorial garden, eventually, and we are hoping the borough council will allow us to add to the framework of the gate an archway, which we hope will add to the general atmosphere of the garden and provide a beautiful entranceway into the garden. All hopes and dreams for now but hey! The new seats, planters etc. were all dreams when we started out.

We can’t thank you enough, all who helped to raise this amount, but please be assured that your efforts are appreciated and the friends hope that you will find the results just as pleasing in a few months’ time.

You will, I am sure, all remember how I, personally, grumbled in early days, about how slowly things seemed to move. Well, believe me, once those wheels got moving it was like a ride on a superfast train!

Projects are flying by, people are not quite so shy to add suggestions, ideas and dreams of what else needs to be done within the grounds of the cemetery so please, please, keep your ideas and thoughts coming in but always try to bear in mind we are talking about the cemetery, and so some things, though interesting, are really not practical or suitable. I was reminded of this when an officer of the council commented to me, “it’s a cemetery not a park.”

That comment being in reference to how many seats we need in there. Though the council and I do not often agree, I have to say that very often their words of advice are sound and do help me to keep my feet on the ground.

T’wouldn’t be a good idea to give ME a free reign, I can promise you that!

Anyway, I will offer you all grateful and sincere thanks for all your help in such a successful night and the whole group hope to be able to repeat the success later in the summer with an “afternoon garden party” that other members of the group are organizing. I know very little about this one, it’s not my party and I so do like surprises so Brian and I are keeping well away from organizing anything, perhaps selling a few tickets nearer the time.

Once more, well done Saltburn, be proud of yourselves, you did a sterling job and until next month I say goodbye and THANKYOU! Deana

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Five for Saltburn’s Election meeting Five candidates are vying for the MP’s seat in the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency, which takes in Saltburn.

The 2015 General Election has been low-key in the town though thousands of leaflets have been delivered. The April farmers’ market day saw the most visible appearances from local political figures in Saltburn so far, but a public ‘hustings’ meeting on Thursday, April 30th promises to see all five candidates in action.

All are due to attend at Emmanuel church hall, Cambridge Street, starting at 7pm, light refreshments available from 6.30pm. People attending will be welcome to write questions on cards provided at they come into the hall.

The candidates are Tom Blenkinsop, Labour; Martin Brampton, Green; Ben Gibson, Lib Dem; Will Goodhand, Conservative; Steve Turner, UKIP. Tom Blenkinsop is the current MP. The meeting is being arranged by local churches’ groups, but they stress that it is open to all. The Rev Catey Morrison, minister of the East Cleveland United Reformed Church group, who chaired a similar meeting in Redcar in 2010, will be in the chair.

The organisers are the local Catholic group Caritas Justice and Peace, Saltburn Churches Together and Emmanuel church.

In addition 12 candidates are fighting for three seats on Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council - several challenging the sitting councillors are Saltburn-based. They are Sue Featherstone, Independent; Joan Guy, Labour; Craig Hannaway Labour; John Lambert, Independent; Harry Lilleker, UKIP; Stan Martin, Lib Dem; David Masterman, Green; Kath Sainsbury, Labour; Stuart Smith, Independent; Philip Thomson, Conservative; Ellen Wilkinson, Green; Jim Wingham, Independent.

Joan Guy, Stuart Smith and Philip Thomson are sitting members, all seeking re-election.

Voting will be on Thursday, 7th May. The parish council elections will also be held on 7th May. Saltburn, Marske and New Marske parish council has eight people chasing six Saltburn seats.

Candidates are Sue Featherstone (‘protecting the interests of allotment tenants’), Malcolm Graham ‘Independent, supporting local issues regarding Saltburn’), Joan Guy (Labour), John Lambert (Independent), Stuart Smith (‘Independent, serving the residents of Saltburn’),

ORGANISERS: The Saltburn election meeting is publicised by the Rev Adam Young, curate of Emmanuel church; the Rev Catey Morrison, who will chair it; and Emma Thompson, of the local Caritas Justice and Peace group.

The meeting will be held in the Cambridge Street church hall at 7pm on Thursday, 30th April.

Bernard Storey (‘putting the needs of local people first’), Angela Wardale (Labour) and Jim Wingham (Independent).

Five - Malcolm Graham, Joan Guy, John Lambert, Bernard Storey and Jim Wingham - are current members with the other three being new candidates.

More information, including the names of electors proposing the candidates, can be found on the parish council website.

Mike Morrissey

Earthbeat embraces social media (whatever that means) A new website has been created for the Earthbeat centre. The idea of the website is so that people can find out about the centre, hire a space or discover what events are taking place. The website is still in development but already has a load of useful info on it. You can also learn about the various businesses that are now thriving within the centre and maybe take advantage of their services. Big thank you to Rob Wood who has kindly created the website free of charge (you can access at www.earthbeatcentre.co.uk).

We also have a new Facebook page and you can access it by typing ‘Earthbeat centre’ into the Facebook search strip.

Tony Galuidi adds: “Speaking of electronic media – a lot of people are still not signed up to the email mailing list. Come on people – it’s costing us a fortune in postage!”

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Saltburn 500 Club Saltburn 500 Club celebrates a silver anniversary this year, even though it may be hard to believe. The longevity of the Club is down to the stalwart support given by the members and committees throughout the years. However, the future of the 500 Club is under threat because of dwindling numbers. We are desperately in need of new members and, if possible, additions to the committee. If you are already a member, how about persuading your family, friends and neighbours to join? If you are not a member, why not fill in an application form – available from Saltburn Library and Jackie’s Saverstore?

The aim of Saltburn 500 Club is to preserve and enhance the beauty of Saltburn by raising funds for the Saltburn community. Membership cost for the 500 Club is currently £12 per annum and membership enters you into a monthly prize draw which pays out a first prize of £100 and further prizes of £50, £25 and 3 x £10 prizes. Remaining monies are donated to various events and organisations around the town. The members vote, every six months, to decide what the monies are spent on and the main current beneficiaries are Saltburn Christmas lights, Saltburn in Bloom and Saltburn Bandstand.

The 500 Club has been heavily involved in raising monies for various projects throughout the years. The three most notable of these projects are: 1) Raising approximately £300k towards maintenance work of Saltburn pier. It is fair to say that, without this contribution, last year’s storms could have seen much more damage to the pier than it sustained.

2) Raising funding for the building and running of Saltburn bandstand. Many people attend the summer performances at the bandstand and bring much-needed footfall to the town.

3) Raising funding for the reparation work required on Saltburn War Memorial. This structure is a Grade II* listed monument and there is only one other of its kind in Britain.

Please remember that Saltburn is YOUR town so please do what you can to support the aims of Saltburn 500 Club.

The AGM is to be held, in Saltburn Library, on Wednesday 3rd June at 5.30pm.

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

Charity Craft Fairs at the Methodist Church Charity Craft and Gift Fairs, in aid of Saltburn Animal Rescue Association and Victoria’s Wish, are at Saltburn Methodist Church on Milton Street, Saltburnby-the-Sea. The dates are: 9th May; there is an extra fair on Sunday, 17th May at Saltburn community centre with refreshments 10am-3pm; 13th June Father’s Day fair; 25th July; 29th August Bank holiday fair; 26th September; 24th October Halloween Fair.

The fairs are open 10am-3pm and are free entry.

There will be lots of local crafters with their lovely makes. Saltburn Methodist Church will also be doing a coffee morning downstairs.

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Marske Fishermen's Choir come to Saltburn raising funds for Mary Thompson Mary was a greatly loved Middlesbrough teacher who had been active through the justice and peace movement in the north-east and had been involved in the support of the Vietnamese boat people and the Ugandan Asians who were exiled under Idio Amin’s regime.

It was a fitting tribute to Mary’s work that when she died in 2001 the family set up the ‘Mary Thompson fund’ in her memory.

In its first few years the fund was used to enhance the quality of life of asylum seekers and refugees living in the Tees Valley; we were able to help with the cost of second hand washing machines, school uniforms and books for those at college. However, in recent years our focus has been almost entirely on providing emergency support for asylum seekers who have become destitute, not because they are here illegally, but because they have been refused protection and are legitimately seeking a legal remedy.

Destitute asylum seekers rely on £5 cash per week and a bag of non-perishable food. The Mary Thompson fund provides emergency support for approximately 100 clients each week. Funds are generated through grants from the charitable trusts but mostly as a result of the love and generosity of Teesside people.

That love and generosity came to Saltburn on a Friday evening in March when the Marske Fishermen’s Choir kindly give their time and talents to sing to a packed and appreciative audience in the Marine Hotel.

Thanks to the support of all who attended, £497 was raised for the fund and this will feed our very needy and vulnerable clients for a week. Many thanks to everyone who supported this event: you have truly made a difference. If anyone is interested in donating to the Mary Thompson Fund or would like a speaker on refugee issues to attend their faith or community group contact the secretary, Kath Sainsbury c/o Justice First on 01642 601122.

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Saltburn Slow and Steady Traditional Tune Session On Wednesday, 13th May 2015 and on the second Wednesday of each month from 7.30pm we invite musicians to join us at Saltburn House, Marine Parade, Saltburn-by-the-Sea TS12 1BX for a traditional tune session. We play traditional tunes from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales and encourage playing tunes together. So if you enjoy playing a musical instrument and would like to play with others, then join us and we will break you in gently at first 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 flute (or any other instrument hiding up there) out of the attic and join us.

A warm welcome awaits you at Saltburn House where you can also get a pint of good ale, soft drinks or tea, coffee etc. We are a small friendly bunch, If you are interested why not just pop in and see what we do. Just enquire at the bar and they will tell you which room we are using. Please also pass these details on to anyone you think may be interested. 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. If weather is not good, please contact us beforehand before setting out.

Saltburn Athletic FC The season is almost over as the teams play the last few games. The under 13s unfortunately were unable to complete the season due to the loss of players and had to resign from the league.

However, the two under 10s teams have continued to do well and will finish in high positions in their respective leagues. Due to FA restrictions there are no official leagues at under ten level.

The under 11s have one game to go and should they win it that should be enough to see them finish in third place after a very good début season for them.

The under 12s have unfortunately floundered in the last two games and will finish fifth when a third place was on the cards.

The club have had a site meeting with TGMS (sport England’s representatives) and Cleveland land services (construction) and work will begin on Hob Hill field at the beginning of May. The work and the subsequent growing season for the grass means the field will be out of use for a year.

Meanwhile the lease for the changing rooms is now in place and plans and building renovation can commence as soon as possible on the old changing facilities next to the field. So hopefully by this time next year Saltburn Athletic FC will have a field for mini soccer pitches and new changing facilities.

The funding for both works having been obtained by lottery funding via Sport England.

New players will be welcome. We are looking for players in the year two, five, six, seven and eight in the current school years.

Contact Andy Croll on 07779 648877 who will give you details required.

The club are also organising a Band Night at Saltburn Cricket Club on Saturday, 6th June featuring the Cadillacs.

Tickets will be on sale soon and will include pie and peas.

When the tickets are ready they will be available through Saltburn Athletic club members Andy Croll, Roy Myers, Phil Barnes, Dave Sadler, Kev Robinson and Karl Agar.

See also page 24.

A Plea to Cyclists!

I am all in favour of people cycling as a means of transport or simply for pleasure and exercise. It is healthy and generally environmentally friendly.

However, I am heartily sick of cyclists in Saltburn using the pavement instead of the road. This seems to have become acceptable – I have had many experiences in the last few years when I have been close to being crashed into by someone cycling on a footpath in town. Recently I was walking along the footpath of Marine Parade, which admittedly is quite wide, when some adults approached me cycling 3 a-breast along the pavement towards me taking up virtually the whole of the width. They made no attempt to move over to avoid me. Rather, they behaved as though I was the one who was in the way. Marine Parade is hardly a major highway full of HGVs. I can see no reason for cyclists to use the footpath on such a road.

On occasions I have tried asking adult cyclists to move

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onto the road. I have either been ignored or given a mouthful of abuse.

I would like to point out that it is illegal to cycle on footpaths/pavements if you are over the age of 10. I quote below from the website Bikehub: “Many cyclists are afraid of fast-moving motorised traffic so cycle on footways. While understandable at certain busy intersections and the like, it’s very much against the law. If a certain stretch of road is deemed too dangerous to cycle on, choose an alternative route (via smartphone apps or online journey planners) or walk your bike on the dangerous stretch. If you ride on the footway (‘pavement’ is not the technically correct term), you could cop a fine and you may antagonise pedestrians.”

Please, cyclists, take note!

A Saltburn Resident

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 May for babies and newcomers to the town 17

A Warm Welcome to The Cons Welcome to my first article in the Talk of the Town as President of your local Conservative Club.

The Cons is a venue that encourages Charity nights, where a recent event raised a lot of money for ‘The Friends of Saltburn Cemetery’. Any Charity wanting to use the Club’s facilities would be most welcome and they would receive every help we can give them to making their night a success. Please contact myself or enquire at the Club if you are interested. Another event on April 25th is to raise money for ‘Barnardo’s’. One of our committee members, Shaun Cook, is holding a ‘Music Mash Up’ night and as I write this article the event is still four days away but I am sure that a great night will be had by all.

A very popular event and one to make a note of is a Quiz, Bingo Night & Buffet Supper which will be held on Wednesday, 20th May at 8pm. Tickets are £4 each and can be obtained from myself or from behind the bar at the Club.

(Our stewardess, Michelle, makes a fantastic buffet, so don’t miss out.)

With summer fast approaching the Club will be lighting up the Barbecue on Whit Sunday (24th May) in the Club’s award winning garden. These will then be held every two weeks throughout the summer months with members and visitors all welcome. Membership to the Cons Club is open and only costs £12 per year (members of the Armed Forces receive their membership free of charge). The Club is on the up at the moment with 27 new members in the last 8 weeks.

One of the reasons for this is the atmosphere and friendliness you feel when you walk in. Events are held on a regular basis for members’ enjoyment and you only need to call into the bar to pay your membership. You will be made more than welcome. We serve the best ‘Real Ale’ in the District, and are now in the Yorkshire finals after picking up the award of ‘Club of the Year’ for Cleveland which was presented by ‘CAMRA’ (Campaign for Real Ale). You can’t get better than that.

The Club facilities are available for Wedding receptions, Christening Parties, Birthdays, Meetings, Private Parties and Funerals and also hosts the SLUG meetings (Saltburn Line Users Group), Book Clubs and is a base for Big Band music rehearsals. Julie Towell runs her Quiz nights every 2 weeks and we have a Club draw on a Tuesday and a Beer Draw at 6pm on a Sunday with the jackpot at the moment standing at £250 (the last draw was won recently paying out £800).

Myself and the committee, under the Chairmanship of Joe Cockfield, have a commitment this year towards the barstaff and members to ensure that the Club goes from strength

to strength and this is our aim. We will listen to any suggestions from members and all of us will work as a team to achieve better things. Please join us.

On a more serious note the General Election and Local Elections take place on Thursday, May 7th. Will Goodhand is in politics to enable and help people to achieve their potential. He knows how much potential our area has, from working with our young people to introduce them to quality apprenticeships, to working with those building up local business and tourism. Will believes the job of local MP has the potential to deliver so much more.

It shouldn’t just be about scoring political points in Westminster. There is so much work to be done locally – generating investment to revitalise our communities, championing our area for industrial and tourism investment, connecting young people to skilled opportunities and inspiring them in schools across our area. He has already made a start as the candidate, and as an MP he could take things to the next level.

He wants to bring the skills he has developed in starting and growing businesses and use them to the benefit of our area. He is dedicated to unlocking the potential of this area and our people. We have much to be proud of, and the potential for so much more. Will, I’m sure, will work tirelessly, and he will bring people together regardless of their political affiliations, to deliver real achievements for our area.

You may by now have read of some of the things that Will has already done over the last couple of years, such as holding apprenticeship fairs and events and tackling traffic problems in Southern Middlesbrough. There is a certain amount that he can achieve as a candidate but the role of MP brings pulling power enabling him to bring together more of the right people to make a difference for our communities.

Will really needs your support when your postal vote lands, as this is a very tight race between the Labour man and himself and it is areas like ours where people’s votes will make the difference as to whether we have a Labour government potentially supported by the SNP or a Conservative majority government. The Conservatives only require 23 more MPs to have a majority in Parliament and with your support I hope that Will Goodhand will be one of the new ones who will make a difference for our area.

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

Saltburn Cons Club Future Events to entertain in May Wednesday 13th and 27th. Julie’s Cash Quiz. New teams always welcome.

Every Tuesday night at 10pm. Meat, Wine and Chocolates Draw.

Every Sunday at 6pm. Beer Draw and Cash rollover (now standing at £250 & increasing by £25 each week until won).

Most Saturday afternoons a meeting by ‘The Conmen’, Americano Musicians’ Jam sessions.

Wednesday 20th. Quiz, Bingo & Buffet Supper 8pm. Tickets £4 each available from myself or from behind the Bar. Sunday 24th. Barbecue in the Garden. 3pm until 6-30pm.

Also meetings of the Book Club, Saltburn Line Users Group (SLUG), Camra, Residents Groups and others.

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

Check the Club notice board for more information.

18

SALTBURN BLUES CLUB

Remember this name, blues lovers - LORNA FOTHERGILL, lead singer with the band, NORTHSYDE, who appeared at Saltburn Blues Club in March. This lady can sing the Blues. We’ve had some wonderful female vocalists at Saltburn Blues Club - Kyla Brox, Jo Harman, Zoe Schwarz, to name just three, and we can now add Lorna to that list. Her vocals are powerful and passionate. She can rock but, like the best, a surprising sweetness surfaces every so often when she brings down the tempo and delivers delicious numbers like Stormy Monday.

In the main, though, it was a full-blooded performance by an immensely talented band. With Lorna’s husband, Jules, on lead guitar, Ian Mauricio on Bass and Hayden Doyle on drums, NORTHSYDE delivered two dynamic set.

On to our May gig. It’s some time now since I was watching and listening to the GROOVE-A-MATICS live and decided this was a band I really wanted to bring to Saltburn. It’s something of a coup to have finally secured this booking, they’re so popular. Having ‘Groove’ in their name is exactly right as it perfectly describes their sound.

It’s rich and resonant, easy and emotional, owing much to wonderful bluesman, Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac fame.

Mick Cantwell has a blues voice, plays saxophone and blues harp. He’s totally suited to the genre. Johnny Whitehall has the sweet, soulful guitar sound that Mick sings about in the track, Mr Green.

You don’t have to be a diehard blues fan to enjoy this band. If you are new to the blues, the GROOVE-AMATICS will open up a music experience that I guarantee you will enjoy. If you already love your blues, you will enjoy this gig for sure. The GROOVE-A-MATICS have their own following so I would suggest getting your tickets in good time. It’s May 30th at Saltburn Cricket Club.

I haven’t given much space to the support act, THE GEORGE SHOVLIN BAND, which is a bit remiss as they are excellent too and could easily be the headline act. It will be a superb night. Come along and enjoy.

Tickets are £10 and available from 07960 935263, Whistlestop Wines, Saltburn (and www.yorkshireticketshop.co.uk). Support Act 8pm. Main Act 9pm (approx.)

Find all our details at www.saltburnbluesclub.co.uk and our Facebook page.

Harry

A Little Corner of Saltburn A great philosopher once said ‘I love the feeling of the fresh air on my face and the wind blowing through my hair’. Actually it was Evel Knievel. The point he was making nonetheless is that there’s nothing like a little bit of wind slapping your cheeks to rouse the senses. Even if you’re not a fan of 70s motorbike stunt racing you might agree. Spring is thankfully springing and the dark evenings are fading, but who else is over the strong winds? And I’m not talking about the normal blustery sea breeze we’re all accustomed to. No I’m talking about full on umbrellaturning-inside-out stuff. Skirt around your ears as you struggle to regain control of flapping bits of polyester. It is truly a privilege to live somewhere as lovely as we do, but the winds over the last few weeks have felt more like a tornado. A walk on the beach turns into a full on facial sandblast. A run feels like an Antarctic expedition. On windy days here there is absolutely no point in brushing your hair. Who likes strong winds anyway aside from windsurfers and wind turbines? Meteorologists maybe.

With climate change a very real threat and increasing evidence suggesting that the UK will experience more

severe weather in coming years, we may just need to get used to it. On the flipside, as much as it spoils a sunny picnic, the gales do blow the wasps off course meaning they have more difficulty landing on your ham sandwich.

Now the evenings are getting lighter there is also a new phenomenon in town. Car washing has reached new heights. On every street corner people are washing and rewashing their cars. Once a task plonked solely in Sunday afternoon territory, these days car washing any day of the week is en vogue.

A recent study suggested that washing your car for up to two hours could burn up to 500 calories. Undoubtedly this would have to be a big car.

‘Car-wash-itus’ happens when you wash your car every other day. Car washing can be an addiction and people may need to seek help. If you have more than one car you could be in trouble. Car washing in a strong wind is a particular problem as the soap suds go everywhere and smear the bodywork, meaning you may need to start over again (*See Car-wash-itus above).

Anna 19

PARK NEWSAGENCY Home News Delivery Specialists Cards & Gifts Magazines & Books Blue Nose Friends Toys & Games Confectionery, Drinks, Ice Creams Stationery Lottery

Stockists of Talk of the Town 102-104 High Street, Marske. Tel: 01642 484371

Film and Exhibition at Dorman Museum, Middlesbrough ‘EDDIE STRAIGHT - TO HELL & BACK’ is a new 30minute documentary by acclaimed Saltburn film-maker Craig Hornby. It tells the extraordinary story of Eddie Straight, an unknown Teesside war hero, now 94, whose military service took him from Saltburn into the blitz, Buckingham Palace, Belsen and the Burmese jungle. The film is showing until June 28th at the Dorman Museum in Middlesbrough every half hour and there is also an exhibition including photographs by Ian Forsyth. The museum is open 9.30am-4.30pm everyday except Monday.

Eddie joined the army as a 19 year old in early 1940. A bright and capable lad, within a year he was in command of 60 convicts from Dartmoor Prison pulling people from burning buildings during the blitz. He was then transferred to guard Buckingham Palace and during air raids chaperone one Princess Elizabeth down to the shelter beneath.

On the 15th April 1945, Eddie was ordered to help liberate a prisoner of war camp outside of Hanover. The Saltburn man became one of the first outsiders to witness horrors that within days shook the world. He entered the hell of Belsen. 60,000 people imprisoned in a camp built for 10,000, mostly starving and with no water supply. Epidemics of typhus, typhoid and dysentery and all around some 13,000 rotting corpses. He helped to capture the remaining SS officers and guards and forced them to begin burying the dead in mass graves. When the relief effort was fully underway, Eddie was ordered to push on but before he left, he entered the private quarters of captured commandant Josef Kramer aka ‘The Beast of Belsen’. There he also liberated a few souvenirs including Kramer’s ceremonial sword which he still has - and is included in exhibition.

After German surrender a few weeks later Eddie was sent on another mission - to the Burmese jungle to fight the Japanese. He was given command of a hundred Nigerians of the Royal West African Frontier Force. For three months, they experienced brutal fighting in stifling jungle conditions. When Japan surrendered in August ’45, Eddie delivered his men back to Nigeria and flew back to Britain and to his Skelton sweetheart Ina Bennison.

Despite being wounded by German and Japanese bayonets and bullets, Eddie survived the war and lived to tell the tale 70 years later.

See also a review of the film on page 37.

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Hands On Therapy Clinic Remedial Therapy Sports Injuries

Reflexology Relaxation

Louise Clark ITEC Diploma MBSR, GCP, BCMA Reg Saltburn Leisure Centre, Marske Mill Lane

Tel: 01287 625700 Mob: 07775 610745 Christina Simpson Bespoke Furniture, Joinery

Fully Qualified Experienced, Local Carpenter/Joiner

1st, 2nd Fix Doors, Flooring, Skirting, Loft Conversions Hand‐Made Kitchens/Bedrooms, Painted Furniture

No Job Too Small

Call 07773 091727 Email: simpsonc999@gmail.com

Saltburn Charity Crafters

We meet on the first Wednesday of each month and our next meeting will be on Wednesday, 6th May 2015 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at The Workhouse, next to Ripping Yarns in Dundas Street West. If you would like to join us you are more than welcome. Come and join us for a chat and a cuppa and find out more about what we do. We can provide both patterns and wool which has kindly been donated to us. For further information please contact Angie on 01287 205153 or email Kath at kath.west45@virginmedia.com We do send out a reminder by email. If you wish to be added to our list please let us know.

01287 624505

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Why Saltburn House?

• Bed & Breakfast for only £25pp!

• Fantastic 2 course Sunday Carvery, for only £6.50!

Bands this May include: • Sky Sports!

Longwave 2nd May • BT Sports!

Bryan Adams 30th May • All the latest bands!

• The best beer garden in Saltburn!

• Delicious bar meals!

For more information or to reserve a booking please contact us on 01287 622008 or email us at: saltburnholidaycentre@hotmail.co.uk

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Tees Valley Wildlife Trust launches East Cleveland bat project The Tees Valley Wildlife Trust is delighted to have secured funding from the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund and Northumbrian Water Limited for a new twoyear initiative that will involve community groups, volunteers and young people in making East Cleveland a better place for bats.

Whilst not always considered to be the cutest of animals, bats are a vital part of our ecosystem. Sadly bat populations in the UK have suffered severe declines in the last few decades. One of the main reasons for their decline is a loss of important habitat for them - woodland and old buildings they may have been roosting in. For this reason, all bats and their roosts are protected by law. Their declining numbers flag up an urgent need to understand them better before it is too late, and it is important that this knowledge is shared with local communities in order to protect them.

The Trust would like to increase its understanding of the pattern of bat distribution across the area to create a unique “batscape” and help with their conservation. This will mean a wealth of opportunities for people of all ages to encounter, enjoy, learn and appreciate bats in their neighbourhood through programmes of walks, talks, events and activities and primary school visits. By providing a unique wildlife encounter combined with fun, educational and interactive activities, people will be helped to develop positive attitudes to bats, dispelling common myths. It is hoped this will improve peoples’ appreciation of their ecological importance and in the long term, contribute to their conservation.

The wooded nature of East Cleveland and the rural character of the landscape gives it the potential to be important for more than eight species of bats including some of the rarer bats. The Trust will be conducting different bat surveys across the whole of East Cleveland and to achieve this will need to recruit plenty of volunteers to assist with the surveys.

Training programmes will provide keen volunteers with field skills in wildlife recording and the use of technology to detect bats with acoustic recorders. Training will be provided so that people can analyse acoustic data to enable the identification of different species.

UK bats use sonar to navigate and hunt. As different species use different frequencies and call signals, it is possible to use technology and sound analysis to detect and record bat activity.

By the end of the project, the Trust hopes that enough people within the local communities will have been enthused in a way that they would like to continue looking and surveying for bats and a “Bat group” can be formed. All around the UK there are various Bat Groups, but not here! An East Cleveland group would ensure conservation work continues for bats in the long term.

Two community events are being held to launch the East Cleveland Batscape project. These will involve a talk on bats and how to go about detecting them. The talk will also involve a little on why bats are important and some quirky facts that will interest all ages. Echolocation calls will be played so that people know what to listen out for during a bat walk. The bat walk will involve going outside with bat detectors to see what is flying around as bats emerge for feeding as the sun goes down.

Saturday, 9th of May. Saltburn Valley Gardens. The Woodland Centre. 7:30pm.

Photograph of a brown long-eared bat taken by Hugh Clark of the Bat Conservation Trust.

Saturday, 16th of May. Loftus. The old Co-op building. 7:30pm.

Both these events are free and suitable for children.

The bat walk will be relatively easy, but the route will include some inclines and uneven paths. The talks will last around 20 minutes and the walks around 30 to 40 minutes.

The walk will be followed by some hot soup and to have a chat about the bats that have been seen and heard. It is recommended to bring a torch and wrap up warm.

We really hope to see you at one of our events to help us with this new fascinating programme that you can all become involved with.

Please contact if you have any questions: Sarah Barry, Bat Officer, Tees Valley Wildlife Trust on 01287 636382 sbarry@teeswildlife.org http://www.teeswildlife.org/what-we-do/safeguardingwildlife-and-the-natural-environment/cleveland-batscape/

23

Earth mound `free to a good home’ Psst! Who wants a 6ft mound of earth, which stands over a football field at Hob Hill, Saltburn?

It’s free to good home, said Andy Croll, vice chairman of Saltburn Athletic Football Club, which plans to revamp its field thanks to a £50,000 grant from Sport England through the National Lottery.

“The earth should make good backfill for a building business. It measures about two metres (6ft) high and 30 by 120 metres - 20 per cent topsoil and the rest clay. It was dumped there when the new Huntcliff learning campus was built a few years ago and stops us from creating two mini soccer pitches.”

“Andy is a retired police officer,” said the 75 club players - all age five to 12 - were looking forward to playing on the new pitch from early next year.

“Work is due to start in May on taking the top off the present pitch, putting in a drainage scheme and reseeding. It has lain idle for several years because of flooding problems.

“We can’t wait to see it in use for football again.

Both the players and volunteers who run the club will be over the moon when the work is finished,” said Andy, who is also the club’s child welfare officer.

A special group of veteran players who used to play on the pitch from the 1960s to 90s, are waiting anxiously for the rebirth of football at Hob Hill. They include club patron Alan Smith, a former England and Sheffield Wednesday FC physiotherapist, whose father recruited friends to build the changing rooms in the 1960s.

“They are to be renovated in a separate £50,000 scheme, funded through the National Lottery, and we hope to be using it from September. We’ll still be playing

EARTHMEN: Tom Turner, one of the club’s coaches, and vice chairman Andy Croll show off Saltburn’s 6ft high mound of earth which is ‘free to a good home’.

then on a field owned by the school which we have been renting for the past few years,” said Andy.

The junior footballers’ club was started in 1998 by three Saltburn-based policemen, Andy, Dave Saddler and Tim Raynes, who were keen to provide sport for local youngsters. Among them was Andy’s son.

Now several girls are among 16 under 10s who are enjoying training sessions.

The future? The club wants to expand the number of teams and age groups. And floodlights are among the plans - funding would be sought to pay for this work.

Andy Croll can be contacted on 0777 964 8877.

Mike Morrissey

A Garden for the Earthbeat Centre The latest development at the Earthbeat centre, a Community Garden, is gathering pace. Local volunteers Helen Hodgson and Bozz Halliday have taken charge of the project to develop a garden for the whole community to use. There will be a wheelchair accessible path, raised beds, a pond, various willow structures and a number of other features. Bozz and Helen have given their time voluntarily and they will be assisted by a number of other volunteers.

Bozz is part of an organisation called Under The Sun Creative Outdoor learning, which run a range of outdoor activities in woodland settings such as willow sculpture and forest school activities. She can be contacted via email (at underthesuncic@gmail.com). They have just completed a glorious living willow bench (see picture) and plan to create several more willow structures. Under the Sun have kindly donated all of the willows. The cost of creating our garden will be substantial but Saltburn Golf Club have kindly offered to fund the project, in stages, as it develops.

The garden will also provide a memorial for one of Earthbeat’s performers who passed away recently. Trevor 24

Marshall was a Saltburn resident who has been with Earthbeat from the beginning, almost twenty-five years ago.

The Community Garden project is being managed by the Transitions Saltburn group, who are a voluntary group who support wellbeing in nature, healthy food, education and happiness.

BOOK CORNER Come and see our great range of books

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Summer flowers of the Cleveland Coast Ever wondered what that flower is that you see when you walk the dog or take the children to the beach?

This summer the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust will provide plenty of opportunities for local people to get to know their coastal wildflowers. The project, funded by the National Lottery, through the Heritage Lottery Fund aims to get people out and about exploring the glorious wildflowers and different habitats of the Cleveland coast between South Gare and Cowbar.

The Cleveland coast is very significant for wildlife and geology and forms an important wildlife corridor. It contains a series of different coastal habitat The habitat of Grass of Parnassus. Photograph by Martin Allen. types. These habitats and their associated wildflowers have been shaped by the at St Helen’s Church, Rockcliff View, Carlin How. interaction of man with nature. If you have ever wondered Coatham Tuesday, 26th May 6pm – 8.30pm Meet at why one type of flower grows in one place and not in Majuba Road car park, Redcar. another the answers might be quite surprising. From rare We will also be running a series of short walks to find natives to weird exotics the wildflowers of the coast have out about local coastal wildflowers and more detailed events an intriguing story to tell. that look at specific coastal habitats, trace man’s influence on The wildflowers occur in a breathtaking range of the landscape and give interesting insights into the individual colours, tones, sizes and shapes and many have fascinating species. These will be led by Martin Allen, an experienced names. The coastal wildflowers include nationally and botanist and captivating public speaker who is internationally locally rare species as well as those that tell stories from recognised for his skills as a botanical artist. Key dates for history such as: social practices (soapwort); land Saltburn are: management (Duke of Argyll’s tea plant); garden escapees Field event: Saturday, 4th July 1.30pm – 4pm. Meet (bearded iris); land restoration (corn cockle) and industrial Marine Parade, at the end of Diamond Street. development (yellow wort).

Evening walk: Tuesday, 21st July 6pm – 7.30pm.

The project aims to encourage as many people as Meet Marine Parade, at the end of Diamond Street. possible to take snapshots of wildflowers whilst they are at Dates of other events along the coast can be found on the coast this summer and to upload them onto our website the Tees Valle y Wildlife Trust ’s website so everyone can see how flower communities change over (www.teeswildlife.org). the summer and how they differ between different coastal In a few weeks we will be announcing the details of habitats. We will be announcing details of this website our coastal wildflower photographic competition. This is a soon. If you are worried that your wildflower photos always free competition open to all from beginners to experts with a end up blurred or never quite as good as you like we will be separate category for budding young photographers. The running free outdoor photographic workshops to help winning photographs will be people get the best of the equipment they have whether a displayed in an exhibition to be held phone, pocket camera or an amazing SLR. The workshops at the Palace Hub Gallery, Redcar in are open to everyone from beginners to experts. The venues October 2015. for the workshops, all free of charge, are: We recommend that you book Marske Thursday, 21st May 6pm - 8.30pm. Meet at a place for the workshops, walks and St Germain’s Lane by the church, Marske. e v e n t s .

C o n t a c t South Gare Saturday, 23rd May 10am – 12.30pm. info@teeswildlife.org or ring 01287 Meet opposite the Fishermans Huts, South Gare.

636382. Remember to wear suitable Cattersty Sunday, 24th May 1.30pm – 4pm. M e e t shoes and clothing!

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At Ryedale Auctioneers, we have fortnightly general sales, with live internet bidding. We also have Specialist Sales, Antique & Fine Art Sales, Militaria & Sporting Sales and Railwayana & Toy Sales. We also do house clearances, and have our own collection/delivery service.

We provide valuations for probate, insurance and sales.

Upcoming Sale dates for May are: General sales ‐ 2nd, 16th, 30th May Outdoor sale ‐ 9th May Next Specialised sale Militaria & Sporting Sale June 28th

Ryedale Auctioneers Cooks Yard, New Road, Kirkbymoorside, York YO62 6DZ

Tel: 01751 431544 Email: ryedaleauctioneers@live.co.uk Website: www.ryedaleauctioneers.com

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Dance your way to fitness...

This STREET DANCE fitness class is fun and easy to pick up & works on cardio, core strength & toning (16+)

Starts Thursday 7th May 6.30 ‐ 7.15pm @ The Earthbeat Centre with a

FREE TASTER CLASS!!

Spirals

A PILATES, YOGA & BALLET inspired fitness class. Spirals works on core strength, toning and flexibility.

Wed 7pm The EASY TO FOLLOW, toning version of Zumba® packed with Latin rhythms!

Mon 6pm & Thurs 10am A crazy cool Zumba® Dance Club for boys & girls aged 5 to 11. Mon 3.15pm Saltburn Primary School

FOR INFO: CALL ESTELLE ON 07887525234 OR VISIT...

GOOD NEWS in a 'good advice' world Not a day goes by when my email or Facebook is not filled with links telling me to do things. '10 reasons to do a marathon', '6 steps to simplify your life', '8 keys to a happy marriage', '12 films that will change your life', and on and on and on it goes. For every advice column telling me to do something another five tell me the opposite. We are living in a world full of advice. We are living in a world of 'do this, don't do that and then all will be better.' It is a world driven by the basic principle that if I just do more or do better then I will be happy and fulfilled.

The problem is that even if you manage to get that promotion, even if you do move into that house you always wanted, even if you do get the baby twin girls you always dreamed of, something else will soon come along.

Some new list of '48,000 things to do' will make your heart yearn for more.

Easter should have reminded us that in this world full of people shouting 'good advice' Jesus offers us something radically different. Jesus offers Good News. Christianity is not about 'what would Jesus do' but 'what has Jesus done.' The Good News of Christianity is that where it really counts we are loved beyond all imagination. We are treasured as priceless children. Nothing we do is going to change the love God our Father has towards us, and we know this because despite knowing everything about us, including all of our weakness, darkness, and selfishness, God loved us enough to die for us that we might be forgiven regardless. As we move through the year, let's not forget the message of Easter—your value is not in what you do but in what Jesus did for you. If you accept this radical, counter‐cultural truth, then and only then, will you find real happiness, peace, joy, and fulfilment which never ends and nothing can beat and no list of 'good advice' can change.

Rev’d Adam Young (Assistant Curate)

OPENING EMMANUEL CHURCH TO VISITORS Emmanuel Church is one of the landmark buildings in Saltburn.

Would you enjoy being a part of a team of enthusiastic volunteers who would welcome visitors to explore the church building on Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and Saturdays during the carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my summer months? If you yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am are, please contact the humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for Revd Adam Reed your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the or the Church Office. burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28‐30

Pamela

Aged 83 abseiled with friends

Raised £7,800

www.christianaid.org .uk/whatwedo/

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

31

Saltburn Rotarians return from India

In February, as part of a team of Rotarians, my wife Anne and I travelled to India to take part in Polio National Immunisation Day (NID).

UK Rotarian participation in NID has been undertaken for a number of years and this year 76 Rotary volunteers from across Great Britain & Ireland, met up with 250 other Rotarians from Belgium, USA, Japan and Australia in what was a truly international event.

To eradicate polio, in a country of over 1 billion people somewhat defies belief and the scale of the effort required is reflected in the figures: 172,000,000 million children under 5 are immunised during each NID requiring 2,500,000 vaccinators.

However, before arriving in Delhi for the immunisation, Anne and I travelled to the Punjab to spend time in Amritsar and also visited the border with Pakistan at Wagah.

While in this region we were given a tour of a local Rotary supported school and attended Amritsar Rotary Club meeting where as a visiting Past District Governor I was asked to speak on behalf of the guest Rotarians on our “impressions of India”.

We also visited the Golden Temple, the most holy place for all Sikhs which incorporates a kitchen that operates 24/7, manned by volunteers, and enables any of the inhabitants of the city to receive free food. A wonderful facility.

The 4.30am train journey from Amritsar to Delhi was quite an adventure and on arrival at our hotel, we were soon immersed in the purpose of our visit, the NID. In the afternoon we were briefed by the head of 32

district health authorities as to how the immunisation would be under-taken and we were given our bright yellow polo shirts which had the purpose of our visit printed on the reverse of the shirts in Hindi so everyone would understand why we were there.

We were told that we could expect to receive more children at the immunisation booths because, as Europeans, we would stand out from the local population.

Apart from the novelty value of meeting a European, probably for the first time, they would also believe that it must be important if we have come so far to give them the drops.

The following day the group split into three, one being located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, the second in Punjab, and the final group, ours, stayed in Delhi. After an early breakfast we departed our hotel to attend Maharaja Agarsen Public School where we participated in a street Rally with interact clubs of the School, the Rotary Clubs of New Delhi and Delhi Uptown and members of the India National PolioPlus Committee.

The procession around the streets was led by what can only be described as an Indian bagpipe band and two camels followed by hundreds of schoolchildren in their uniforms and dozens of Rotarians wearing the bright yellow shirts. It was guaranteed to bring the inhabitants of the town out of their homes to see what the ‘noise’ was about. Everyone seemed very happy to see us and greeted us warmly as we marched past.

The following morning the hotel restaurant was awash with Rotarians wearing their yellow polo shirts. We were divided up into groups of three and allocated to health officials at booths that had been set up around the city.

Each booth was staffed by a GP and several health workers. From the moment we arrived the children started to gather, walking to us with their parents or grandparents. We took it in turns to give the drops under the watchful eye of the health officials, paint the little finger of the left hand with the indelible purple dye and give them a small gift as a reward. It is difficult to truly describe the feeling of immense satisfaction we felt during this simple but vital task.

The following day we were on mop up duty, which entailed entering the townships and basically canvassing door to door in an effort to find children who had not attended the booths. Anne and I were taken to a small shanty town beside the main railway line leading in and out of Delhi.

On both days we saw a very different India from the one we had seen in Delhi, one where the livestock co -existed with the people and where the homes are little more than slums. We were probably the first Europeans that some of the people had ever seen and as we walked along the streets, the young children crowded around asking us to take photographs of them and they were eager to see the results too. It was probably the first time that they had seen a likeness of themselves on a camera and we were happy to oblige.

The town was broken down into sectors and we accompanied two health workers house to house making enquiries about the children living there, checking for the tell-tale ‘purple pinkie’ and immunising where necessary. The health workers were amazing and we held them in the highest regard for the job they were performing.

But the emotional rollercoaster was not over just yet, as we were taken to St Stephen’s Hospital in Delhi.

It is a 125 years’ old private hospital with the only

dedicated polio wards in India and is supported by the Rotary Foundation. The corrective surgery undertaken is led by Dr Matthew Varghese and his team, who carry out all the surgeries and follow up treatment for over 500 polio patients a year, often working 16 hour days.

It was difficult for us to see these patients and even more difficult to take their photographs, but we were encouraged to do so in order that we could tell the story back home. At the conclusion of the visit we knew firsthand the reason why we had come to India.

After leaving Delhi, our small group then experienced some relaxation in the Golden Triangle, visiting Agra and the Taj Mahal and then onto Jaipur.

Overall, our experiences brought out many emotions: it was, humbling, exhilarating, fun, frustrating, challenging, and motivational. An absolutely unique experience and a privilege to be involved.

On reflection, Anne and I were quite apprehensive about the trip and we were somewhat daunted as it was our first visit to India. We had of course had lots of advice in how to survive in India.

But we took comfort that we would be in the company of Rotarians, so we would be okay. And so it proved. We were blessed with the most wonderful travelling companions. Together we laughed, we cried, we supported each other during the inevitable bouts of “Delhi Belly” and generally enjoyed the special fellowship Rotary is famous for. It was truly amazing.

As Immediate Past District Governor I thought there was little left in Rotary for me to experience. How wrong I was. NID is a wonderful experience, good for the soul and uplifting of the spirit. Given the opportunity, I would recommend you try it. You won’t regret it.

Dave Sadler 33

Emmanuel Church Hall, Macnay Street, Saltburn Tuesdays at 3.30pm, 5.30pm and 7.30pm.

Telephone Stevie on

01642 474920

See the article on the opposite page

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Cleveland Divers Cleveland Divers would like to announce that their ever popular 6 weeks ‘Introduction to Scuba Diving,’ course is due to commence on Monday, 11th May 2015.

This course if offered in conjunction with ‘Redcar and Cleveland Sports Development Team.’ The aim of the course is to introduce the sport to anyone who is interested and aged 14 or over. For a one off fee of £24 participants are given 6 weeks of tuition and diving experience within the safety of Saltburn’s swimming pool. If you can manage a short swim across the pool, are in reasonably good health and have a desire to try something new then why not contact us on 07960 608529 or come along to one of our weekly Monday evening

sessions (8pm) at Saltburn Leisure Centre. But hurry, places are limited.

If you then decided to go further you may find yourself enjoying exciting exotic diving in warmer climates encountering colourful, interesting and sometimes bizarre creatures of the sea. For example during the night dive, being only one of the highlights of our Lanzarote diving experiences, the sea came alive with its hidden treasures of a sea-bed carpet of snake-like anemones, a mysterious red spotted octopus, secretive redhog fish and enigmatic sea hares and more, all accompanied by a magical orchestral display of florescent plankton. A truly awesome and never to be forgotten experience. However, once you get the diving bug you may then find yourself diving throughout the year and learning to appreciate the rich diversity of our local marine life and maritime history.

Photographs shown here all taken by Cleveland Diving Club member John Lampett while in Lanzarote.

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

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

Hello, my name is Kady. I’m a gorgeous 4 year old black and white staffie girl. I came to live with SARA as a stray and I have been with them a little while. I am a typical staffie girl who is very loving and affectionate but doesn’t know my own strength! I am a very lovely sweet natured dog who really loves tummy tickles (as you may guess from my photograph!) and going for long walks and I walk nicely with the other dogs at the centre. One of SARA’s volunteers takes me to a caravan for days out and I am always on my best behaviour. I would need to be an only pet and could would love to live with older children; I will make a fantastic companion for a loving family. This month is another double act! May I introduce Irish who is a handsome gold eyed

ginger cat. He first came to us at SARA as a rather tubby stray (the people who found him thought he was pregnant, how embarrassing!) he has been with SARA a while, which is a shame because he is extremely affectionate with everyone; his only issue is that he is a typical cat who sometimes gets a bit over excited and likes to have a nibble.

He is very unhappy being here stuck in a pen much of the time when he is used to living in a home. He will make a wonderful companion in a home with experienced cat owners who don’t have other pets. Irish is a lovely cat who is looking for a home as an only pet where he can get lots of cuddles and the TLC he deserves. With his sweet nature he will make a wonderful companion.

SARA fundraising events during May Saturday May 2nd – SARA is holding a 20th Anniversary Celebration 1995 – 2015, in Saltburn Golf Club from 7.30pm to 11.30pm. Entertainment will include a Film Show, Disco, Raffle and Tombola. Tickets are £7 including Pie and Peas supper. Tickets are on sale from Foxrush Farm, and the SARA Charity Shop Guisborough. Come along and join in what promises to be an enjoyable evening.

Bank Holiday Monday 4th May – SARA will be holding a Spring Stroll as part of their 20th Year Celebration. This will take place from the Stray Café, Redcar, meeting at 11am and finish at 1pm. Come and join us with your family, friends and pets. All the dogs that are looking for loving homes will be taking part. Even if you do not own a dog, come along and meet the members of SARA and learn more about our friendly group.

Sunday 24th May – SARA will be holding their Annual Sponsored Dog Walk at Foxrush Farm, Kirkleatham Lane, Redcar, from 11am to 2pm. There are two walks: 30 minutes or 1 hour. The starting point is at Foxrush Farm, with a registration fee of £1.00. Even if you don’t have a dog we will 36

lend you one. All dogs must be on a lead in the woodlands and on the farm. There will be various stalls including tombola, pet stall, raffle and others. Homemade refreshments will be on sale. There will also be the opportunity to see the improvements that have been made during the past year. There is plenty of parking space on the field at Foxrush. Come along with your family, friends and pets, have a good time and find out more about SARA. This is a very important year for SARA and all funds raised will go to the continuing improvements to the rescue centre and the very important welfare of the animals which so desperately need our love and help. This is only made possible by the great generosity of the general public, and we are most grateful for your support. Sponsorship forms are available from Foxrush Farm, or our charity shop in Guisborough. You can also download and print one from our website (at http.//www.s-a-r-a.org.uk).

Funds raised recently: Our thanks to everyone who supported the Easter Fayre at Marske Hall. A grand total of £1,026 was raised.

Sheila Green

Craig Hornby’s new film about Eddie Straight A steady stream of visitors is going into Middlesbrough’s Dorman museum to see a Saltburn-made film about the horror of Belsen concentration camp.

Several told Talk of the Town that “Eddie Straight To Hell and Back,” featuring ex Saltburn soldier Eddie Straight, should be shown on national TV to reinforce the lessons of World War Two. Film-maker Craig Hornby deserves congratulations for a firstclass production of the 35-minute video which is being shown every half hour - on the hour and on the half hour - at the museum until mid-June.

Craig Hornby, who has made several videos including Century of Stone and one about folk singer Vin Garbutt, promised the film would be screened in Saltburn.

But he said he was unable to make it available commercially on TV or as a DVD because to do so would attract ‘astronomical’ licence charges because some of the footage was from the Imperial War Museum.

In the film Eddie Straight, now a frail 94 and ill in a Saltburn care home, is shown talking of his wartime experiences including being among the first British troops to free the Belsen camp, north of Hanover in 1944.

A note at the start of the film warns viewers that some scenes might be upsetting. They are. They include scenes of naked bodies looking like skeletons being thrown into burial pits.

Among Company Sergeant Major Eddie Straight’s memories are: being unable to stop his men

killing Germans responsible for starving Belsen inmates; recalling that only two of the 12 soldiers he trained with returned from the war; and suffering fro m flashbacks for months after returning home from Germany.

Eddie, who was born at the former Burton Terrace (now Gresley Court, off Hilda Place), reveals that among his Army career was looking after the royal family’s children at Buckingham Palace. One Princess Elizabeth was a “proper devil with me, but made me laugh.” She obeyed his command to stay downstairs while bombing went on or he would get into trouble.

After freeing Belsen, Eddie served in Burma. Six bullets hit his body, but he survived.

Friends John Connolly and Peter Nightingale get a special mention.

After the showing retired Baptist minister Malcolm Potter, of Billingham, said: “It’s an excellent film. I saw some of it and an interview on BBC One’s Look North, but would like to see it on prime time TV. The message for me is Britain needs to keep the armed forces strong because Europe is still threatened. Replace Trident nuclear submarines.”

Valerie Parkes, of Redcar, said she echoed the appeal for screening on national TV and said, “everyone should see what happened.” She had visited Belsen with a daughter being in the Army.

Mike Morrissey

3 Balmoral Terrace - Holiday Apartment 3 Balmoral Terrace, is a spacious ground floor flat with sea views. It sleeps 4, plus infant. There are two bedrooms. The larger bedroom boasts a kingsize bed, while the smaller bedroom has two single beds.

A travel cot and highchair are provided, as well as buckets and spades for the beach!

The dining kitchen is spacious and very well equipped, featuring a fabulous rangemaster cooker.

The modern bathroom has basin, toilet and a great walk-in shower. There is a second toilet in the flat, very useful!

The enormous lounge looks out over the long front

garden and has views of the sea.

Ideal for families, couples, or a group of friends, there is also disabled access to the rear of the property.

Prices are extremely reasonable, starting from £283 for 7 nights.

To find out more, and to book, contact Sykes Cottages – Phone 01244 356666 and ask for 3 Balmoral Terrace, property ref no.

917264 or go to their website, www.sykescottages.co.uk.

If using the website, "find your cottage" by typing in "Saltburn" and "within 1 mile" and then you should find it easily.

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Friday Friends I’LL ALWAYS GIVE GRAHAM A CUDDLE! Seventeen years ago I came out of hospital, not really sure of what life could possibly have to offer me. I could no longer do Carol Vorderman impersonations. In fact I had bother counting my change when buying a few items from the local shop. Seeing myself across the road was a challenge.

I found my way into the local Mind at Guisborough. This bearded chap with a long face and a particularly droll expression sat next to me. “Knock, Knock,” he said. You say, “Who’s there?”

He said, “Isabelle,” and he prompted me.

Thus, painfully he completed the joke.

He told me about twenty stupid, clean jokes with this droll expression, his monotonous voice never changing. The final joke was, “What is the difference between Frank Sinatra and Walt Disney?”

The answer was “Frank Sinatra sings and Walt Disney” (The joke is told on YouTube. “Diversity Dave” where Graham is a star.)

I still couldn’t manage to laugh but I was smiling and the ice between us was broken. I felt so much better. Life was not meant to be taken so seriously.

This lovely man sang ‘Happy Birthday’ for each of us in turn on our birthdays and he surprised me by writing a song for me. He sang it to me, accompanied by his guitar, as a present one year. This is my thank you to him.

Graham now lives with his sister but at one time lived with his niece and babysat his great niece regularly. If Graham hadn’t smoked so much I would have said he made

the perfect babysitter, for any child, at that time. He is so placid and has such a wonderful manner with children, is so caring and has such a good sense of humour. You would be surprised at Graham’s diagnosis and he is open about it.

Diversifying slightly, when I became ill, psychiatrically I didn’t care and didn’t even notice that my status had changed. I had been a professional physiotherapist. Recovery is defined as ‘living with your condition, making the most of your life’. Total acceptance. I have recovered.

I can have dinner with Mensans and be treated on an equal basis and I attended college and was treated on an equal basis with the PGCE students. I cannot still, of course, socialise with professionals or helpers who have worked with me in the past, during my illness.

The psychiatric illness label can be so difficult to shake off and the reality is a physical illness has prevented me looking for part-time employment which fits in with our voluntary group.

Now, back to where we were, having experienced this aspect of boundaries from both sides, I can assure you, I shall always recognize my friends and there will always be a hug for Graham, who has done such a lot for me, no matter where I stand in life. Graham, you have lots of friends in Friday Friends. Please join us.

Marion Anderson

Saltburn’s Easter Garden An Easter garden has been built in front of the altar at Our Lady of Lourdes church, Saltburn, and has been a centre of interest among visitors and parishioners.

Several parishioners combined their talents to create the scene which features a new set of figures including of the Risen Christ, a Roman soldier and women who found the tomb empty after Christ was buried.

Parish priest Monsignor Ricardo Morgan said: “It’s been a joint effort from a lot of people and I thank them. A parishioner drove to collect the figures from the Liverpool workshop, another made a crown of thorns and another the wooden cross. In addition a Saltburn builders’ merchant gave the stone which was used to seal the tomb and parishioners decorated the garden scene with flowers including carnations, white roses, lilies and liatris blossoms.”

“The garden involved several people, who are creating a lot of interest among parishioners and visitors. It enhances the appearance of the altar and has helped to get over the Easter message of hope,” he said.

The garden will remain in place until Sunday, May 17th, the Feast of the Ascension.

The Easter scene garden at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Saltburn. The features include new figures from the Resurrection scene, a colourful floral display and a wooden cross made by a parishioner. It created interest from parishioners and visitors. It will remain in place until the feast of the Ascension Sunday, May 17th.

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Saltburn Cons Club’s CAMRA Award

Saltburn Conservative Club has recently won the Cleveland Campaign for Real Ale (C.A.M.R.A.) best Club award, as the best Club of the year for 2015 for the Region.

Credit for the award is attributed to Michelle Gilly the stewardess for the manner in which she chooses and manages the beers to such a high standard.

As a member of the bar staff and while deputising for Michelle when required, Julie Towell has also assisted with the managing of the beers.

As a result of the award the Club goes forward as representative to the Yorkshire Regional finals to compete against sixteen other Clubs.

Zach is home safe and well: huge thank you to everyone in Brotton My 17 year old West Highland white went missing from my home (think he was taken by someone) on Tuesday before Easter weekend.

CCTV from neighbours shows a sighting of a man carrying a white dog a short distance from my home. Further CCTV a few minutes later shows Zach running for his life towards Hunley Hall Farm. Zach normally does not walk any distance let alone run due to severe arthritis. I think the whole of Brotton were out looking for him and posting on Facebook trying to locate him. He eventually was found safe and well on Good Friday morning (I think he had been taken in by someone but we will never know for sure). What a wonderful Easter Miracle.

I would like to thank, through Talk of the Town, Family, Friends and Neighbours, Vets near and Far, Dog Kennels, Rescue Centres and what seems like everyone in Brotton. Whoever said Community Spirit in villages no longer exists does not live in Brotton!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP in bringing Zach 40

home. He is quite well for a 17 year old and seems to have got a new lease of life.

Jan Snaith

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Redcar & Cleveland Philatelic Society

First we remind readers that 6th May is the 175th Anniversary of the World’s first adhesive postage stamps: the 1d Black and the lesser known 2d Blue (for double weight letters), along with illustrated prepaid letter sheets known as ‘Mulready’s’ after their designer, William Mulready RA. True, the 1d black is famous; but only because it was the first ever issued – so every serious collector wants one which greatly increases its price and value. However, it is certainly not rare: over 68 million were printed of which perhaps 1-2 million survive. Whilst ‘space fillers’ can be bought for £40-50 each, ‘exhibition quality’ examples cost considerably more. An example shown is the first transatlantic use of a 1d-Mulready envelope (London/ Boston, USA) uprated by three 1d blacks and two 2d blues; @ 8d postage – about £12 today. One of the world’s most

VÄtáá|vtÄ

13th, 14th and 15th May – The Earthbeat Centre

Forget all that you know about classical music! We’ve taken the world of ‘posh’ music and given it the Earthbeat

treatment. Imagine a rap version of Beethoven’s Fur Elise, a hilarious rendition of the Skaters Waltz or a beautiful dance routine to Stravinski’s Firebird. And just try to think what the Pizzicato in honk minor looks like! This will be one of our best shows and will also be our very first show at our new theatre.

Tickets are gonna sell ridiculously fast, so don’t delay. This show is clever, creative, dramatic and, of course, funny. Tickets are available now.

The show will be staged at The Earthbeat Centre on the 13th, 14th and 15th of May at 7pm.

We look forward to seeing you for what promises to be a brilliant show. Please call us on 07969 623118 if you have any queries. The following three points are very important!

1. Book your tickets as soon as possible because this one is gonna sell out really quickly.

2. Our new tiered seating is like cinema seating so let us know if you require seats at, or near, ground level. Ground level seats will be reserved for elderly or disabled patrons.

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spectacular and expensive philatelic items, it is not owned by any R&C PS member – even so, R&C PS has sufficient of these items to open our 2015-6 programme with quality displays.

In March, two R&C PS members each gave 2frame displays to the annual Royal Philatelic Society London regional meeting in Newcastle and might be recognised from the group photograph.

Our fortnightly Wednesday meetings for May continue at the Community Centre, Durham Road, Redcar, commencing 7.15pm: 4th M. Ellison ‘Lighthouses around the UK’ and 18th May T. Waugh ‘WW2: The gathering storm’.

Contacts: Geoff Reynolds 01642 478229, David D. Turner, 01287 624736.

3. Because of the new theatre layout we will not admit latecomers so please, please arrive on time. All the seats are numbered and doors will open from 6.15 (45 minutes before the show starts). Latecomers will be admitted at the interval.

Tony Galuidi

Talk of the Town’s monthly

Pride of Saltburn Award

This month’s Pride of Saltburn, for the first time, is awarded posthumously to John Smith who was nominated by Julia Rayson. John appears here serving in his shop photographed

by Tony Lynn. Julia says, “I would like to nominate John Smith for a posthumous Pride of Saltburn award. Sadly, John passed away in February of this year. He was an extremely kind and special man, who ran our local corner shop for around 25 years. He was loved by all of us and will be greatly missed. A constant figure around Saltburn, despite retiring over 10 years ago, he always took the time to stop and chat and to ask how you were. Amazingly, he knew everyone’s names, especially his old customers. He will be fondly remembered as ‘one of life’s nicest people’, generous to a fault and always supported different local charities and groups around his local area. One of the groups to benefit from his kind nature was ‘Little Nippers’ Play group, when I volunteered there: he donated fresh fruit twice weekly for the children to eat. He carried on this donation to the Jolly Sailors Playgroup too. John was also a big supporter of Saltburn Primary School (Upleatham Base). He sponsored their very first Story sack ‘The Hungry Caterpillar’. And he was always happy to donate to tombolas and fairs. His veg was legendary! He only sold the best and would only accept the best! He never liked to receive praise and refused many a nomination in the Talk of the Town in the past. However, I think he would be happy to know that we are remembering him, and as he can’t accept his flowers, a donation will be made to The British Heart Foundation in his memory.

“We love you and miss you, John. You are most definitely ‘Pride of Saltburn’.”

Every month, a £30 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 readers, to chose whom to receive recognition and a bunch of flowers. Send your nominations to Talk of the Town’s postbag at Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, Cleveland, TS12 1AQ or email Ian (talkofthetown@tyasi.freeserve.co.uk). (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.

Did you know we make fantastic fruit and veg boxes with the freshest market produce?

We will tailor to your requirements, simply call or text your order, or pop into the shop, and we can have it ready for your collection.

10% off your first order with this voucher!

Try something different at Grasers

Potatoes Grasers stock more varieties of potatoes than are shown here, but these are special. At the top are genuine Jersey Royals, new potatoes with a delicious flavour grown in soil naturally fertilised by a seaweed called vraic. They are protected under EU law. Below right are French purple Vitelotte. They are even more violet-purple coloured inside. Below left are good old Yorkshire Reds locally grown in Malton. Above left are Pink Fir, sometimes called Pink Fir Apple, a long variety grown in France which one of Grasers’ customers described as making ‘the best potato salad in the world!’

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Chocolini’s Chocolatier Continental Chocolates Moulded Figures Our Own Recipe Bars Speciality Ice Cream Celebration Cake Toppers Wedding Favours Luxury Hot Chocolate Coffees Teas

www.chocolinis.co.uk

3 Windsor Road Saltburn TS12 1AX 01287 626141

CHOCOLINI’S NEWS NUGGETS Hope you all had a Tasty Easter.

We will be open as usual during the two Bank Holidays in May. If the weather is warm we have Ice Creams.

If it is cold we have Hot Chocolate and Coffees And whatever the weather there is always Chocolate.

Spring is a time for planning, not only for Weddings, but for all your family Celebrations & Successes which we are happy to help you with.

Our new web address is: www.chocolinissaltburn.com

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Back Pain: Fallacies, Fears and Facts Back pain is something that most people have in common. Around 80% of people will experience at least one episode of debilitating back pain at some point in their lives. For most, this will be a relatively short and miserable time, after which, things quickly get back to normal and life goes on as before.

However, for around 15% of back pain sufferers, the story doesn’t have such a happy ending. This group of people go on to experience back pain for months or even years. The reasons why some individuals suffer from persistent and recurrent back pain aren’t fully understood.

For many years, medical researchers have been looking for the best back pain diagnostic and treatment options. This search has mainly been based upon identifying the physical causes of back pain. However, this isn’t as straightforward as some had hoped. For example, research has shown that the presence of joint damage, usually attributed to “wear & tear”, is a poor predictor of persistent back pain. Similarly, the presence of disc damage and disc bulges doesn’t mean that back pain will be inevitable. These facts are unfortunately not always well communicated to the majority of people with persistent back pain. Instead they develop a belief that their backs are structurally damaged and are vulnerable to further injury and pain.

These beliefs make people fearful and stressed and

as a consequence they adopt unhelpful behaviours and strategies to deal with their pain. These may include avoiding certain movements or activities (known as “fear avoidance”), and becoming hyper vigilant as regards their painful back.

Over the past decade there has been a big change in the way that we understand persistent pain. It has become clear that there is rarely a single physical cause and it has also become apparent that simply looking for one “magic cure” is the stuff of fantasy. Instead, current research tells us that persistent pain is perpetuated by numerous factors, which all need to be addressed, if the pain is to be successfully managed.

If you would like more information about the management of back pain, then come along to the second of our free Health & Well-being workshops. This will be held at 7pm on Tuesday, 26th May at the Earthbeat Centre.

Whilst these workshops are free, places are limited, so please reserve your place by emailing us at email@newtonphysio.com. You can also find out more about our series of free workshops and register to attend, at our web site: www.newtonphysio.com Philip Newton (Chartered Physiotherapists) Newton Physiotherapy, The Earthbeat Centre, Saltburn TS12 1QA Tel: 01642 925 812

Veterinary Matters Okay, so I knew it would be said: “Hello Dr James” was the jovial way I was greeted in the shop after last month’s article. Made me smile, but also made me realise that somebody actually reads the article!

Last month I spent two days in Birmingham attending eye conferences and a commercial exhibition of new (and old) products. It was very informative and showed how vets are advancing forwards in newer methods of treatments and drug development. Then I came back to work and decided how to apply my new knowledge to the animals under my care. As vets, we have to spend a reasonable time each year learning new facts and techniques, as well as realising when we need to seek help from other consultants.

When is an animal too old for surgery? This is a frequent question I am asked. The answer is not always straightforward, but will be based on why are we operating/will it benefit the animal/are there any other diseases that the pet has that could interfere with surgery/ what happens if we delay? A small lump on a dog’s back that is benign might be okay left for a few months, unless it suddenly grew in size, but not so the same lump on the lower part of a leg as there may not be a lot of skin to mobilise once the lump is removed. Or, a lame dog that does not respond to one drug may well need an X-ray to determine why there is a problem and indeed if surgery

will make life better for the dog. As vets we rely on our clinical skills a lot, as the cost of MRI and CT scans is still rather high for most pet owners. This reliance means we need to form bonds with the pet owners to get detailed and accurate histories to build up the trust they need to allow us to treat their best buddies, and get them better.

With the milder weather, I have been seeing cases of ticks attached to pet dogs and hedgehogs since midMarch, and also an increase in flea numbers and also the emergence of dogs being stung by bees and wasps. There are suitable preventative therapies and if needed appropriate treatments for any insect based problems.

Ask your vet; they will know the better one for your pet.

Then again, with the warmer weather we also start seeing farmers out on the roads on tractors or moving their cattle from one field to another, or we might spot horse riders out enjoying the light nights in country lanes.

Take care and watch what is happening on the roads.

As ever, look after your pets and enjoy them, because they enjoy our company too.

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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Time to Share We doofer each other The true wealth of any community does not rely on money but on the talents and resources of people!

What is a Time Bank? A time bank is a way for people to pool their time and skills and help each other without payment. Participants ‘deposit’ their time in a pool of talent by giving practical help and support to others and are able to ‘withdraw’ their time when they need something done themselves from somebody else.

Everyone’s time is worth the same and a broker links people up and keeps records.

Giving time: Time banks measure and value all the different kinds of help we can give each other. In a time bank everyone becomes both a giver and a receiver.

Participants can use the time credits they earn to get precious care and support - when and where they need it.

What kind of skills are exchanged through a time bank? There are many ways for members to give their time and it’s always fun: help when you need it, DIY, trips out, exercise, making friends, lifts to hospital or shops, granny sitting, talking on the phone, having a break, gaining new skills, crafts, cooking, massage, car or bicycle repair, music or computer tuition etc. Your imagination is the limit.

A Time Bank can: a) Meet local needs. Time banks measure and value equally an extraordinary variety of skills that people and organisations share. These are often skills which are undervalued in our society, and that are often not valued by the market economy. The market economy provides few of these services. They make a big difference to people’s quality of life.

A time bank rewards people for the time they spend participating in these activities, and encourages other people to do the same. It recognises and rewards the time that they spend, building community. As time banks are predominantly, but not always, set up in areas of social and economic deprivation, the time bank provides a way for those most in need to access assistance and services, and to share their own skills. b) Develop skills and resources within the community. A time bank can also provide services that have more quantifiable benefits, and which bring together the diversity of a community: Practising a new language through conversation; learning new skills; teaching what you enjoy; building social networks through get-togethers; organising community events; learning about IT and computers; work placements with local organizations; job skills such as letter writing and attending interviews.

In this way a time bank can provide a continuum from the ‘softer’ confidence building activities to ‘firmer’ learning and employment-related benefits. It also brings together groups who would not normally mix, such as young people and older people, or refugees and long term 46

local residents, and breaks down barriers between these groups through mutual help. c) Build networks between people and organisations for wider community benefit.

Organisations also participate in time banks. They use the time bank for: Leaflet delivery; assistance at short notice; administration help; networking with other organizations at events; shared use of resources such as computers and photocopiers; advice from other organisations on finance etc; meeting space; training resources; getting repairs or simple decorating done; delivery of goods.

For many organisations the time bank is also a way to develop a positive profile with local people. They may do this by offering incentives to time bank participants through a discount when hiring goods or access to sports facilities at off peak times. Local authorities have offered leisure passes. However, goods are not generally exchanged for time credits. Benefits to individuals are rewards for being a participant in local community activities through the time bank. d) Catalyse local community activities. The time bank can have its own account within the Timekeeper software, used by time banks to record and facilitate exchanges. It uses its own account to facilitate community events, or benefit those who have no time credits themselves. The time bank will credit a participant for the time they have spent on a certain activity, and deduct it from its own account.

Holding Christmas parties for local kids; neighbourhood transport; box schemes; catering at special events; sports; peer mentoring in schools.

People often donate their credits to the time bank account (or to a someone else) if they have no need for them themselves.

The turnover in a time bank’s own account is a measure of the amount of community benefit it has catalysed in its area (in this case, a deficit of time credits is good, because it shows there has been plenty of community benefit).

IT’S TIME TO SHARE Please contact :- Linda 01287 201319.

Pam 07468 335958 or Julie 07836 626288 Email: eastcleveland.timetoshare@gmail.com For more info on Timebanks, google ‘Timebanking uk’ Supported by

Guisborough Rhythm and Blues Club Festival 2015

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Guisborough Rhythm and Blues Club Festival 2015 takes place at Guisborough Town Football Club, Howlbeck Road on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd May. We are pleased to have the very talented, young local band ‘THE MENTULLS’ opening the festival for us. They will be supporting the headline for Saturday night, ‘THE LARRY MILLER BAND’. Tickets for Saturday night are £15. Doors open 7.30pm.

On Sunday, 3rd May we have a great line-up of bands for you, starting with ‘GROOVETRAIN’ (with Danny Allen on keys and sax) playing blues, funk and soul. A great way to get the festival going. Then next we have ‘SIMON HONEYBOYHICKING BAND, it’s sometime that Simon played at Guisborough and it will be great to have him playing here again. He will certainly keep you all in festival mood.

On the evening we have the brilliant band ‘THE STUMBLE’. They have played our club and festival several times and always go down a storm. A brilliant band who will keep the dancers on their feet.

The headline of the festival are the great and one of the best British ‘true’ blues bands ‘BLUES.N.TROUBLE’ with Tim Elliott on vocals and harmonica, and a great bunch of musicians behind him. A great band.

One more act is to be arranged. Tickets for Sunday £30 in advance or £35 on the day.

There will be an acoustic lounge where anyone is invited to come along for a jam. This is FREE ENTRY. For tickets and more information call Kath 01287 634365.

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Annual General Meeting 2015

Friday 15th May 7pm

Community Hall All members of Saltburn Community & Arts Association will have received formal notification of this meeting.

Any S.C.A.A. member not having received formal notification should contact the S.C.A.A. Office on 01287 624997.

Members of the Saltburn community are also welcome to attend Albion Terrace, Saltburn-by-the-Sea, TS12 1JW Tel: 01287 624997 Office Manager 10.00 – 12 noon weekdays Box Office 2pm until 4pm Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 01287 624997 www.saltburnarts.co.uk EVENTS in The Community Theatre/Hall Friday 1st May - Saltburn Jazz Night presents THE STRICTLY SMOKIN’ BIG BAND Doors 6.30pm Bar 6.45pm Starts 7.30pm Early Bird tickets £8 On the door £10 Saturday 2nd May Third Angel & Sheffield Theatres present THE LIFE & LOVES OF A NOBODY - A story of hope, fame and love gone wrong.

Doors and bar 6.45pm Curtain up 7.30pm Tickets £10 (Buy one full price and bring a friend for FREE) SCAA Fundraisers – Doors and Bar 7pm Starts 7.30pm – All tickets £5 Saturday 9th May COUNTRY & WESTERN EVENING Hill Billy Ho Down!

Saturday 16th May SWINGING 60s DISCO - Come and kick up your heels.

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The 9th Annual Saltburn Film Festival 28th until the 31st May featuring Thursday: Director’s Choice ‘The Theory of Everything’, Friday: Fun Film Quiz (In Community Hall), Saturday: ‘Electricity’, Introduction by Executive Producer Alison Morgan followed by a Q & A by the world’s leading expert on epilepsy – Dr. Gonzalo Alarcan.

Sunday afternoon: Saltburn’s World War I Commemoration film ‘We Are Remembering’ – Free Entry Sunday evening: - Annual Saltburn Shorts Competition.

Table Top Sales in the Community Hall Saturday 2nd May – SCAA Flea Market Saturday 9th May – Antique Fair Saturday 16th May – Saltburn in Bloom Table-Top Sale Saturday 23rd May – Folk Festival Table-Top Sale Saturday 30th May – Craft Fair Free Entry – Refreshments by Brickyard Bakery

Saltburn's young mums could help Africa

SALTBURN CRICKET CLUB Marske Mill Lane, Tel 01287-622761

Wed 13th and 27th May – BINGO – all welcome Wed 6th May – U3A QUIZ – all welcome Sat 30th May SALTBURN BLUES CLUB all welcome THE GROOVE-A-MATICS with support from THE GEORGE SHOVLIN BAND

This is an all-ticket night (£10) with 10% discount for Club members st Sun 31 May SAFC PRESENTATION EVENT

Spectators welcome at all CRICKET matches – come and support your local teams!!

*****Free WiFi in Club***** The Club is available to anyone wishing to hold family events, parties & meetings and also community groups and charities wanting to organise fund-raisers or meetings – we offer free use for community groups during normal opening hours too!!

So, if you need a convenient venue with loads of free parking, reasonable bar prices, prize-winning real ales and friendly staff, look no further!!

Contact us to book your night.

Members and non-members welcome.

Mrs Sandy Callaghan checks a Saltburn poster for Christian Aid Week, which starts on Sunday, 10th May.

Young mums in Saltburn are being urged to help young mothers in poor parts of Africa.

The move follows publication of posters put out by the Christian Aid overseas charity showing a young African mum carrying a heavy load of firewood, which she sells to feed her family.

Several young women in Saltburn are expected to help volunteers from local churches who regularly collect envelopes in the annual house-to-house collection.

This year’s Christian Aid week will run from Sunday, 10th May to Saturday, 16th May. Sandy Callaghan, new organiser for the Week, said: “We are very grateful for all the help offered by local volunteers and for the generous donations put in the envelopes. We are very hopeful young Saltburn mums will help - partly spurred by seeing publicity about the hard life of fellow mothers in Africa.”

Sandy, who is a member of Saltburn’s Methodist church, said that last year Saltburn people gave around £1,800 to the Week, about the same as in recent years.

“So residents are still being generous despite difficult economic conditions in the UK.” She added that more collectors were needed as only about half Saltburn’s streets get covered in what is thought to be the town’s only house-to-house collection.

A coffee morning will be held at the Methodist hall, Milton Street, during the Week.

Contact Club for details & tickets

Facebook saltburncricketbowlsandtennis socialclub 49

FRIDAY FRIENDS THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE HELPED US. We had a successful open day on Friday 17th. Thank you to all who provided services, participated in and attended on the day and made the day a success. The cafe atmosphere was really lovely and many people participated in the activities. The rest enjoyed watching and proved an appreciative audience. Our tombola stall was extremely popular and there will be a further one on a Saturday morning at the table top sale (date to be decided).

For those who do not know about us, please see below:

Our Vision: Freedom from Stigmatization. A world where ability should count and we have to start with ourselves and our own attitudes.

Our Mission: (although, still playing with words here) Promoting individual focus and purpose, social inclusion and community integration through mutual support of friendship. We have a practical interactive programme.

Our Background Help: Will Goodhand, Emmanuel Church, the minister, Estelle, his wife, Christine, the hall manager, Elaine, the cleaner, Denise, the table‐top lady and all the others who have helped; The staff of Mind, for giving us the opportunity and the confidence to undertake this venture; Our funders, RCVDA and TEES VALLEY and for their support; Stewart Alsop, for work on our policies; Tees Valley Transport Thurston Printers, Talk of the Town, Steve Thomson.

Our Programme Session Providers: Will Goodhand (Rwanda), Steve Thomson (Digital Inclusion), (David Merigold (Travel Talks), CAB, SUSTRANS, Saltburn Bowling Club (Bob has been most supportive), Health Watch, Self Defence, Brenda‐Arabian Dancing and Relaxation Therapy, Anna‐Circle Dancing, Estelle‐Jive, Laughter Therapy. Gerry Pearson‐First Aid, John Tate, Jake, Colin EE by Drum, Debbie, All our members who contributed and Caroline who facilitates the crafts group.

Open Day Prize Providers: Destinations, Kitty’s, Chocalinis, Cooplands, Lloyds, Brambles, Saltburn Jewellers in Square, Boots, Book Shop, Stonehouse Bakery, Joe Smith Butchers, Cheveux Hairdressers, Trendz, Real Meals, Liza’s Jewellers, Podology, Whistlestop Wines, Joyce from TOCH.

Help on the Day: Jake and Graham, Brenda and the ladies (Arabian Dancing), Estelle (jive), Anna and her dancers (Circle Dancing), Colin from Ee by Drum, Debbie and Edith (Hand Massage), Caroline (Craft) and all our volunteers and members.

All support received has been greatly appreciated. Our members are from various walks of life but a great proportion have mental health issues, although stable enough to live in the community. There are a number of members over 60 and some, of all ages, with learning difficulties. A few have joined us with physical disabilities as well. We are a friendship group.

We would like to reach out to people who might become isolated on the community and ask your help in this. We are open to ANYONE and you CAN volunteer and believe me your help would be most welcome.

There is, however, an all pay arrangement, for both volunteers and members as we are aiming to give everyone a job to do but need to bring in some income to survive.

WEBSITE: fridayfriends.org

Email: friday.friends8@gmail.com Tel no 07894 8114180 help@localgiving.com 03001 112340 localgiving/fridayfriends 50

The day Fred the Fat Frog learned to swim After I had got over the disappointment of not receiving any entries for the writing competition, I thought I had better finish the story myself (and claim my own prize). So here is my version of the full story.

My name is Herbert the Otter. That’s because I am an otter, the best swimmer on the river. I live in a fine residence in the bank below The Crayfish Club, where they play the best blues music. I listen to so much that I think I might change my name to Otis, but that’s enough about me. I want to tell you about the day Fred the Fat Frog learned to swim.

Albert the toad had challenged Fred to a race from Hazel Bank to the island and back, which was when Fred made his amazing confession: he couldn’t swim.

Albert was so shocked he fell into the river and swam twice around the island before returning to Fred.

“You could swim when you were a tadpole, so what happened?” Fred explained that when he was changing into a frog, the weather was so hot the pond had dried up, and he just paddled around the reeds and forgot how to swim.

A meeting was called to decide how Fred was to be taught to swim. Roger the owl (the professor of everything that needed to be known) appointed himself chairman and sat in the big oak tree, but as it was daytime he had trouble keeping awake, but he still managed to ask Bert the magpie (who managed to ‘find’ things that were needed, and some that were not needed but were shiny).

Bert found some cork rings to use as floats to keep Fred from submerging.

Herbert, or Otis as I now call myself, was voted chief swimming instructor.

Next day the team of experts, and Fred assembled on the riverbank.

Roger suggested that as he was a wise bird, it would be wise for the first of Fred’s lessons to begin in the shallow water of the fountain in the grounds of Hazel Hall.

Otis, who was not as wise as Roger, thought that if Fred just jumped in the water, his instincts would return and he would start swimming. Bert arrived with the corks he had found, they were fitted to Fred, and plucking up all his courage, which wasn’t a lot, he bravely plunged in, but though his buoyancy was less than the weight of Fred, he still went straight to the bottom.

All eyes were on the water, watching the trail of bubbles as it slowly reached the side of the fountain. Fred emerged covered with pond weed. He spluttered, then gasped, “what did I have to do after jumping in?”

Roger said Fred was stupid, and he was going back to sleep.

Otis called a meeting. “Why do we need another meeting?” asked Albert. “Because that’s how decisions are made,” explained Otis.

After much debate, and Albert flying off after something shiny, it was decided that they needed more buoyancy.

“Maybe we could help!” someone called from the reeds.

“Who are you?” asked Otis. “Yes, who are you?” also came from the direction of Roger, but as he was still asleep it was not clear that this was a question.

“Phil and Joe, water voles at your service!” the two voles replied, emerging from the reeds. “We have been watching the pantomime and think we could help with your problem. If Fred swam between us with Otis behind shouting encouragement, when we got up to speed Fred could go off on his own.”

Another group meeting decided that this was a good idea. Otis shouted to Roger, who had nodded off again, “the voles are going to help us!”

“Who, who?” said Roger. “The voles,” Otis repeated .

They took up their positions in the river, Fred between the two voles, with Otis behind. Off they went up the river. Otis shouted for Fred to push harder, then the voles stopped but Fred kept going: he was swimming at last. Picking up speed he shouted, “I can see the finishing line!” ‘What finishing line?’ wondered Otis.

The finishing line Fred saw was in fact the two legs of a big grey heron, who was quite partial to fat frogs.

At this point the story fades away, as the power of children’s imagination fails.

Had the children of Saltburn written an ending, all may have been happy. As it is the fate of Fred the fat frog is in doubt.

Don Agar

Greta cottage residential care home, caring for the elderly and EMI needs. We provide a home from home, our staff are friendly and fully qualified. We have a daily activities programme which includes trips out in our mini bus and musical afternoons. Our rooms are individually decorated and all food is homemade on the premises.

For any further information please contact us on 01287 622498 or e‐mail gretacottage@outlook.com where our staff will be happy to help.

Greta Cottage – Greta Street, Saltburn 51

52

The Countryside Ranger and Volunteers, May 2015 May is a time of great interest in the countryside, with abundant flowering plants, nesting birds galore and insects in profusion. A local walk is all you need to get your fill of British wildlife at the moment. Some of the Countryside Volunteers were even lucky enough to spot a buzzard soaring over the wildflower meadow in mid-April when checking it for the spring cutting.

The green woodpecker is known as the ‘yaffle-bird’ in many areas due to its distinctive yelping call. The call is often the only sign of this species, since it is generally rather shy and retiring when it comes to human onlookers. If you do see one, the sighting is often little more than a glimpse of greenish plumage and a yellow rump as the bird is disturbed from probing for ants on the ground, and flies off to the cover of trees. They become more secretive as the nesting season starts in early May. Look closely at the foliage of a mature oak and you may find rounded, knobbly structures scattered along the twigs. If these are about the size of a table tennis ball, spongy and blotched buff and tan, they are likely to be oak apples – galls caused by the grubs of a tiny wasp called Biorhiza pallida. Oak apples are often more noticeable in late May, just as the leaves of the tree are emerging. Oak Apple Day, on 29th May, commemorates the occasion when the Royal Pretender, later Charles II, hid from Cromwell’s Roundheads in a hollow oak tree at Boscobel.

In May, hawthorn bushes burst into bloom throughout Britain, turning whole hedgerows and patches of scrub white with a froth of flowers. As with other members of the rose family, the flowers of this spiny shrub have five petals and are borne in flats-topped clusters. Hawthorn is an important wildlife habitat – not only are the flowers a key source of nectar for pollinating insects at this time of year, but the leaves also provide food for a variety of insects. Furthermore, the impenetrable structure of the bush itself accommodates many nesting birds.

As well as birds filling the air, take a closer look at what else is industriously filling the woodland glades and banksides. The gentle hum of bees is the sound of summer.

Buzzing from flower to flower, they are nature’s hardest working gardeners: pollinating fruit trees, vegetables and flowers in our gardens, farmland and natural spaces. Bee pollination ensures that our wild flowers keep growing. There are several hundred different types of bee resident in the British Isles. There are two different groups: social bees and

solitary bees.

As their name suggests, social bees live in groups.

Honeybees are particularly sociable and can live in groups of up to 50,000 together in a single hive. Bumblebees are also social, but live in smaller groups of 50-150. Both types depend on queen bees who lay all of the eggs for the group.

On the other hand, solitary bees live on their own.

They can make burrows underground, or live in quarry faces, old wood, and even masonry. A female solitary bee builds her nest and provides food for her young without the help of any worker bees. Despite this some solitary bees may appear to live in colonies, with many bees making their nests close to each other in a suitable piece of habitat.

There have been many reports in newspapers and magazines regarding the decline of bees, butterflies and other pollinators which play an essential role in the fertilisation of flowering plants and thus much of our food supply. This may be due to climate change, use of pesticides and loss of habitat. Much of the work of the Saltburn Countryside Volunteers encourages the spread of wild flowers which helps to counteract this decline. For example, the clearing of coarse grasses and bracken in the valley gardens has encouraged the blooming of primroses, wood anemones and lesser celandines for early insects.

The meadow by the viaduct has now had its spring cut to reduce the coarse grasses which have already started growing. This allows the finer grasses and wild flowers more space to thrive, hence flowers such as meadow buttercup, selfheal and knapweed will provide nectar for the pollinators throughout the summer. The yellow rattle, which has flourished over the last few years, has the added advantage of being semi-parasitic on the grasses and thus reduces their vigour and allows the other plants to grow more freely.

The Saltburn Countryside Volunteers will continue to meet throughout the year on Fridays at 10am outside the Woodland Centre. If you would like to be informed of any changes to the usual arrangement, send your email address (to saltburncountrysidevolunteers@virginmedia.com).

If you would like any information regarding volunteering opportunities either within Saltburn Valley, or the wider Saltburn area please feel free to contact us by e ma i l ( K a r e n . p r e s t o n@ r e d c a r - c l e v e l a n d . g ov . u k , Sophie.Lyth@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk or myself paul.murphy@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk).

Paul Murphy

4 People Not Profit present

‘The Square’

4 People Not Profit’s film night ‘Open your mind’ returns with the first of a three part Revolutions series, looking at Revolutionary actions around the world. In this first part we will be showing ‘The Square’ a film which documents the events in Egypt which led to the downfall of their militaristic dictator. The film will be screened as usual upstairs in The Marine, Saltburn and will be on Thursday, 21st May. 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.

The Egyptian Revolution has been an ongoing rollercoaster over the past two and a half years. Through the news, we only get a glimpse of the bloodiest battle, an election, or a million man march. At the beginning of July 2013, we witnessed the second president deposed within the

space of three years.

The Square is an immersive experience, transporting the viewer deeply into the intense emotional drama and personal stories behind the news. It is the inspirational story of young people claiming their rights, struggling through multiple forces, in the fight to create a society of conscience.

“The film is a wrenching chronicle of the tumult that preceded and followed Egypt’s 2011 revolution, narrated through a clutch of charismatic protesters.” - Time Magazine “This is why The Square is so important - not because it tells us what happened and what didn’t happen, or who is and isn’t right, but because it listens to people. It opens a discussion, and it challenges us to consider what does and doesn’t work, wherever we are.” - The Huffington Post 53

Ripping Yarns promotes The Workhouse “I can’t speak too highly of Angela of the wool shop,” says artist Andrea Cross. “She is providing a wonderful service at The Workhouse.”

Angela is celebrating her third anniversary as proprietor of Ripping Yarns on Dundas Street. There is now twice as much stock as when she opened; she works with six new different suppliers. “I sell a lot of British wool from West Yorkshire Spinners and from King Cole, who use Masham sheep,” explains Angela.

She has started a website for online selling; this is run by her son. Her daughter writes the blog on the website.

Her loyalty scheme is very popular with customers: for each £20 spent, they get a stamp. For every ten stamps, they receive a £10 voucher.

She likes to support other local businesses and sells hand made knitting bags by Jan Mitchell, wool bowls from Wold Pottery in Loftus and hand made ceramic buttons by Kath Himsworth.

When Harry Simpson gave up his Go4Fit business next door, Angela and Mary of nearby sewing shop Moola planned to take it on, but sadly Mary died last year and the project was no longer viable. Instead, Angela decided to act as keyholder, using the premises for her own workshops and promoting it as a venue to other artists and organisations. It is light and airy, has nearby parking and only one small step. It offers excellent value at £5 an hour or £30 for a full day. Twelve people can be seated at tables and there are tea and coffee making facilities, an inside toilet and heating for the colder months.

“Now we have The Workhouse, there are a lot more workshops going on,” says Angela. “Anne Henderson (of Anne’s Computing Designs) from Marske offers Beginners Crochet, including a monthly Drop In for advice with a cup of tea. There are opportunities for people to learn to knit socks, lace knitting or cabling with Kaye Hudson. We also run learn to knit workshops. Andrea Cross teaches felting and rag-rugging once a month. We continue to expand.”

Other Saltburn groups are pleased to book The Workhouse too. Sue Featherstone offers theory classes to the Learn to Grow group and Saltburn District U3A use it for Scrapbooking, European Literature and Philosophy classes. The Women’s Institute have met there for flower arranging. There is a Tuesday evening Craft Group and a Wednesday evening Knitting Group, which runs itself.

“Clare Hansford puts on themed make-up workshops and Mandala painting workshops; both are very popular,” adds Angela. “And once a month, the Charity Crafters, run

by Kath and Angie, knit for various local charities such as the Premature Babies Unit at James Cook Hospital and the Seamen’s Mission.”

There are also two pop-up shops held in The Workshop: one is called Ripples and is run by Kath and Angie on Farmers’ Market Days. They sell locally made gifts. The other is run by artist Clare Hansford every two months. She sells paintings and hand crafted items, including fused glass hanging decorations and wooden decorations.

I was fortunate to be able to call in on the first 54

The Workhouse is also used by WI Ladies for flower arranging

Wednesday afternoon of the month when the Charity Crafters were knitting.

“Kath and I encourage people to drop in and knit or create cards, wooden toys, puzzles and puppets with us.

Everyone is welcome: we’re sewing together squares crocheted by the father of one of our group at the moment,” says Angie. “Some retired people have lots of time, but noone to make things for, so they enjoy this opportunity.”

The items are distributed to local charities, including the Salvation Army, Bonnie Babies, Leonard Cheshire stalls and the Women’s Refuge in Redcar. “We’ve made hand puppets too to distract children on the Air Ambulance,” continues Kath.

“We are really pleased to be able to hire these premises, which are so well situated next to the wool shop and we are most grateful to Ian Tyas, Talk of the Town Editor for helping to get the word around.”

Andrea Cross has a programme of monthly Sunday sessions from February to December at The Workhouse. This year she has run three feltmaking workshops on stylish double pouch bags. “They were planned from 10.00 - 4.00, but people were so enthusiastic, they wanted to stay over and complete their bag,” she says.

The feltmakers work with fine natural Merino wool fibres, soap and water. The rolling is very labour intensive, but there’s a good communal spirit. Andrea likes to give lots of personal tuition, so limits her numbers to six per session.

Rag-rugging workshops are also very popular.

Participants choose what to make: a wall-hanging (April) or eco-rugs (September), for example. “This traditional craft is taking off all over again,” she adds. “Beginners and experienced rag-ruggers work together in a very relaxed way.”

Andrea invites any readers interested in coming along to contact Angela at Ripping Yarns to see the programme and sign up. “Angela is fundamental to everything we do. She’ll go the extra mile for everyone and I think it’s great to have the wool shop next door.”

To book the Workhouse for your own group, you can also contact Angela on 01287 623154 (or email: rippingyarns4@gmail.com).

The website address is: www.rippingyarnssaltburn.com Rosemary Nicholls

Moola 1 Dundas Street West (Next to Easy PC & Music) Moola is open from 9.00am until 5.00pm Tuesday to Friday, 9.30am to 12.30pm Saturday, and Closed Monday and Sunday

Repairs and Alterations

Sewing Workshops Dressmaking Mobile: 07472 178817

Brian Hudson Decorator Interior and Exterior 30 years experience Free estimates

01287 624011 Abi’s Health Advice Sneezing Season Roses are red, Violets are blue, I've got hay fever, Achoo ACHOO! The biology bit: An allergic reaction happens when your body comes into contact with a foreign particle (known as an allergen). In the case of hay fever this allergen is pollen.

The body’s immune system is triggered by the pollen and makes antibodies to attack it. Histamine is released and it is this that causes hay fever symptoms.

The symptoms: Symptoms are typically in the nose, sinuses, throat and eyes as this is where the air-borne pollen is deposited and histamine is released. Hay fever sufferers often experience symptoms such as a runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, sinus pain and red, itchy, watery eyes.

The type of pollen someone is allergic to will affect when they experience symptoms. For example, tree pollen is produced from February to June, grass pollen from May to August and weeds from August to October. The weather can also affect how much pollen is in the air with pollen levels tending to be higher on warmer days and during the evening.

The treatments: Treatments include antihistamines, decongestants, corticosteroids, barrier balm and sodium cromoglicate drops.

Antihistamines block the effect of histamine and reduce most symptoms. They can be taken once symptoms have started. There are some that cause drowsiness though so ask at the pharmacy before buying one.

Decongestants shrink the swollen lining of the nose and this reduces stuffiness. Decongestants should only be used for a few days though because if used for a long time and then stopped they can cause symptoms to reappear (this is known as rebound congestion).

Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory medications. For hay fever these are available for over 18s as nasal sprays and they reduce inflammation in the nose and relieve irritation and sneezing.

Applying a balm under the nose creates a barrier to trap pollen so that it doesn’t even enter the nose and thus reduces symptoms.

Sodium cromoglicate eye drops stabilise the cells that release histamine so that less histamine is produced and fewer eye symptoms are experienced.

Top tips: Avoiding pollen can be difficult but is the best way to avoid symptoms so... Close windows and doors especially when pollen levels are high. Remain indoors when pollen count is highest. Wear wraparound sunglasses.

Your local pharmacist, Abigail Bowers 55

1st Saltburn Scout Group This excellent ‘spring weather’, with pleasant evenings and days have enabled all our Sections to benefit from opportunities to get out. Our next Group ‘outing’ will be to Freebrough Academy for the annual St George’s Day Service and shortened parade.

Meanwhile as Beavers closed for Easter they were saying farewell to James, Lochie and Oscar as they ‘moved on’ to Cubs; as they re-opened welcoming Felix.

This means our numbers in the Colony are briefly lower, as the next influx is after the Whitsuntide break. But overall the Group continues to increase in number. The Beavers are also preparing for the District trip to Beamish; work continues on achieving their Challenge Awards, last week enjoying crushing cans and then visiting the re-cycling point at Sainsbury’s to deposit their collections.

Cubs are also seeing changes; as the Pack closed for Easter Aiden and Ryan were ‘moving on’ to Scouts; whilst after the Break saw the arrival of another new recruit Theo and the new ex-Beavers. We have a busy session, with the District Sports, as well as a trip; Cubs are off to Eureka (hands on experience near Bradford) and also hoping for good weather. Last week we were visited by the Assistant District Commissioner (Cubs) who presented Chief Scouts Silver Awards to Connor,

Saltburn Line User Group Next Meeting: Tuesday, 5th May 2015 at 7.15pm

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

As always, all welcome.

Talk to Saltburn Line User Group.

The Group exists to protect passengers’ interests.

Find us at www.facebook.com/ saltburnlineusergroup Telephone the secretary on:

07875 242350 SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LINE 56

Paul and Tom. Well Done!

Scouts have increased in numbers after Easter to fourteen; they welcomed Aidan, Cole, Nicholas and Ryan.

Cole and Nicholas had a brief intermission owing to other interests clashing with their Pack meeting nights. Plans are now afoot for several preparatory walks for the older Scouts prior to their Expedition Challenge, younger Scouts participating as well as they benefit with their Hikes Away Award. The Troop continues to benefit from the very active and involved support of Sam and William (Explorer Scout Young Leaders) as well as Gordon and Keith our helpful dads. Thank you.

The Group had a successful Bag Pack (courtesy of Sainsbury’s), raising over £700, which will be very helpful in supporting our on-going building works. Many thanks to Alfie, Connor, Ewan, Harry, Jack, Kane, Lydia, Matthew, Morgan, Paul, Peter, Ryan and Ryan (yes two Ryans, it gets confusing sometimes!); as well as several parents and Leaders. Many thanks. We had a good day, enjoyed by all.

Our building work continues, with many thanks to Dave Landess who has ensure an excellent new floor in the main toilet area; the patches are now gone and a gleaming (freshly varnished) new floor needs sunglasses to view!

We welcomed back the social group from the caravan site after winter break; they are very supportive in our ideas for the building and support our fundraising activities.

Meanwhile work continues on improving our building.

We will be seen out and about as summer is now upon us; but we 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).

John G. Hannah

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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.

The Saltburn Profile Pia Moore “I’ve loads of lovely friends here, who have made me feel very, very welcome,” says Pia Moore, who works at Destinations cafe in Station Street. She came to Saltburn in 1991 and has made the town thoroughly her home.

Pia was born in Gothenburg, the second largest city in Sweden. She and her brother were brought up in Kungalv, a small town nearby with a river and a lovely castle. At the age of nine, she started learning English at school. Sadly, her Mum died when she was fourteen, but she says her Dad did a wonderful job looking after her and her brother after that.

After school, Pia did some further education in England and then got a job as a hotel receptionist in Sweden. This gave her lots of language practice. At nineteen, she went to America and worked for a year as a nanny in Florida and New York. Back in Sweden, she met her first husband, Shaun, who was visiting friends. Their long distance relationship blossomed and she moved to Saltburn to join him. They married in 1993 and set up home on The Green.

“Shaun is an electrical engineer,” says Pia, “and his job involves lots of travel. Our son, Oliver, was born in 1994 and we travelled abroad together. We spent a year in China and further time in Malaysia.”

After a spell in England, during which their daughter, Hannah, was born, they went to New Zealand and to Johannesburg for a while. But then it was time for Oliver to start school. Sadly, Pia’s marriage didn’t last and she and the children moved to Randolph Street, while Shaun returned abroad.

In 2004, Pia began working for Geoff Lynas at Terminus. The University of Teesside and Learn Direct ran outreach computer courses there, which were very popular with residents. In time, Terminus was taken over by Paul Davies and renamed Destinations but with time funding was withdrawn from these initiatives; the cafe was built up and Pia works there for thirty hours a week.

“It’s been a very good job for me while the children were at school and I love the convenience of walking to work,” admits Pia. “It’s a very nice, sociable venue, where people who know each other come to meet. We also offer a service selling tickets for events, give general information, provide European Computer Driving Licence and UK Online computer courses and a Job Club in association with the Job Centre.”

While working here, she has met her new partner, Mark. He is a great cook, she says, who enjoys watching Saturday Kitchen and Master Chef. Pia occasionally cooks Swedish dishes, such as meatloaf.

Over the years, Pia has taken summer and winter holidays to Sweden, introducing the children to the crisp, dry snow for skiing. “We used to load the car up and take the ferry from Newcastle,” she explains. “As it no longer runs, we fly directly from Stansted.” Since the family was travelling so much in the children’s early years, Oliver and Hannah didn’t become bilingual, but they do understand a bit of Swedish. As an adult, Oliver, an electrical engineer at Hartlepool, has started learning the language again.

As well as being a keen skier, Pia learnt to scuba dive in Malaysia. She enjoys walking down the coast to

by Rosemary Nicholls

Skinningrove and Staithes and once walked right down to Whitby for a cancer charity. She goes regularly to step aerobics at Saltburn Leisure Centre. Because her Mum was involved in coaching the game, Pia used to play a lot of handball in her youth. Mark and Oliver follow Middlesbrough Football Club and she sometimes watches with them. However, she prefers to see ice hockey, the Swedish national sport.

Pia likes to read in English and Swedish. She enjoys crime stories by Mons Kollentoft, Stieg Larsson and Steven King. “I can watch Swedish films on BBC4 and download Swedish stories on my Kindle,” she says. “I like seeing costume dramas such as Poldark and detective stories such as Lewis and Inspector Morse too.”

Pia is fond of 1980s pop music, her favourite artists including Marti Pellow, formerly of Wet, Wet, Wet and Jamie Hartman. Living near the big city of Gothenburg meant that there were lots of concerts on offer to her in her teenage years. She has seen David Bowie, the Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Phil Collins, Mike Oldfield, the Eurythmics and Michael Jackson at Roundhay Park, Leeds.

Also in Leeds, she saw the musical ‘Evita’ and sometimes goes to events at The Sage at Gateshead.

Pia would find owning an animal very tying, but Hannah, a student of Law, Sociology and Maths at Prior Pursglove College, has a small fluffy house rabbit called Mr Woffles. “He’s very tame,” adds Pia. Is there anything that she misses about Sweden, I ask. “I like the coastline here, but miss the thousands of islands we have off the rocky coast at Gothenburg,” she says. “We also have such a good recycling system there with money back for empty bottles and cans, so there isn’t a litter problem. I’d like us to have more recycling here.”

57

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t: 01287 624644 m: 07960 967865 www.scurator.co.uk

info@scurator.co.uk

SALTBURN EVANGELICAL CHURCH Leven Street, Saltburn Worship Services each Sunday 10.30am & 6.30pm Ladies Fellowship 1st & 3rd Mondays @ 2.00pm Weekly prayer meeting Thursday 10.30am.

A warm welcome to All An independent Evangelical Church "Christ-centred ministry on the foundation of the Scriptures"

Business self-Catering Serviced Apartments All five self-contained apartments vary in size and are complimented with modern amenities, located in Diamond Street close to the Town Centre at Saltburn-by-the-Sea

www.yorkshire-corporate-accommodation.co.uk Telephone: 07969 280499 58

Our Own Doorstep by Alan Butler We live in an amazing world. At the touch of a button we can view some of the remotest and most exotic locations on our planet. My own work finds me in contact, on a daily basis, with people living thousands of miles from the shores of Britain and like a lot of people these days I also travel extensively. With all these contacts across the planet, both physically and by way of our amazing technology, it is getting difficult for us to even imagine the way life was for our ancestors, even a few generations ago. As I was growing up in Leeds I met one or two elderly people who had never seen the sea and only a couple of generations before that there were many individuals who had gone no further than their own, local market town.

Under such circumstances people would have come to understand every possible fact about the immediate area in which they lived and worked. Any outings they had would have been to local landmarks and so their local knowledge would have been extensive.

They would have known every beautiful vista, each edible plant in its season and the rich variety of wildlife with which they shared their limited world. These days we are so busy with our work and with a wide world that comes cascading into our homes that most of us are far less familiar with our immediate surroundings.

Sometimes, in order to truly appreciate the place where we live, we have to find some means of looking at it through new eyes and that is exactly what happened to me during the Easter break.

Since Kate’s youngest daughter, Sarah, her husband and small daughter Erin were visiting the UK from New Zealand, a grand gathering was arranged to take place in Saltburn. All of Kate’s five children were there with their partners and with their own children.

Kate was of course in her element. As readers will no doubt recall, the weather across the Easter weekend was wonderful and in order to keep the grandchildren in particular occupied, we did a great deal of walking in and around Saltburn.

To me, when spring first starts to burst into life, there is nowhere more magical or appealing than the Valley Gardens. The pungent smell of the wild garlic and the sight of the wild spring flowers immediately takes me back to my own childhood, probably because Saltburn seemed like an exotic destination to me then and was a refreshing and fortunately regular break from the dark fastness of grimy Leeds. And in the sunshine of the autumn weekend I became transfixed by all the sights and sounds of a little town I know now I took so much for granted when I lived there myself as an adult.

It isn’t simply the topography or the natural beauty of a place that makes it special but also the people who inhabit it. As we walked down into the valley we caught site of Clara, a rare and exotic golden chicken, who fastened to a zip wire was soaring down to the Woodland visitor centre, spewing out eggs that had been painted by children, to be caught twenty feet below by the same

excited youngsters, all vying for their personal egg to survive the precipitous journey the greatest number of times without smashing. With the help of the delighted children Clara would be hauled back up to her starting point and would begin her frantic journey yet again.

The air was warm and buzzing with recently awaken insects and alive with the excited cries of the youngsters.

The tea lawn was busy with hungry and thirsty visitors and the whistles of the little engine carrying eager passengers back and forth along the valley bottom added to the simple joy of a ‘local’ English afternoon. It occurred to me that the happiness of the scene was almost entirely due to the unstinting efforts of volunteers, all giving of their free time to offer everyone else enjoyment, with no expectation of any material gain and offered simply from a sense of ‘community’.

Along the valley bottom children played on the amazing array of ‘gadgets’, placed there specifically for their amusement – all completely free of charge, as was the view of the sea, the flat pebbles we skimmed across the incoming tide, the brackish and pungent smell of the seaweed and the shimmering horizons, alive with colour.

Ignoring both the signs and the potential danger (as we did decades ago) children ran up and down Cat Nab. Meanwhile, people stood or sat outside the Ship Inn, glasses in hand, gazing out to sea, maybe imagining themselves to be on board one of a string of ships at anchor and awaiting their turn to move up into the Tees.

On the pier end the slot machines chirruped their various songs, the ice cream parlour was doing sterling business and the cliff lift rumbled up and down, as it has done so faithfully for so many years. We walked on, gazing in awe at the battalion of wind turbines at Redcar and trying to pick out details on the far off horizon that marked Hartlepool.

At the bottom of Hazel Grove we stood silent for a moment, aware of the gentle pulsating that waking nature makes to those who have the time to take it in and my mind transported me back five decades, to when all of this was as exotic to me after the dark and smog of Leeds as a Nepalese village might seem these days.

I have strong genetic ties to Saltburn, so perhaps that explains the sense of loss I felt as I steered the car down Saltburn Bank and headed south again towards Bridlington. Nostalgia itself is a strong emotion and may have contributed but I also think that although many of you who live there now might frequently be too busy to notice the fact, Saltburn is a ‘place out of time’ a reflection of gentler ways and simpler lives. And of all we experienced during that almost halcyon family weekend one of the most heart-warming aspects was to see so many people giving up their own holiday weekend, simply to allow others to have a good time.

Saltburn, you are simply wonderful and I wait with impatience for the time in a few months when we will be there for good. When we are, I promise to do my very best not to take such a special place for granted again.

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Saltburn Allotments Association There’s good news to report this month. One of the people who had been breaking into our allotments was caught by the police and admitted wrong doing. This was helped considerably by the fact that he was caught on one of the video cameras on site. It’s great to see that having cameras is doing the trick. I’d like to say thanks to the people concerned who know who they are.

Hard on the tail of the local and national elections, is Saltburn’s next Farmers’ Market on 9th May. If you have anything you could donate, please come and find our stall and drop it off. Our committee agreed recently that we’d use market profits to buy video cameras to extend the coverage still further.

The growing season is well underway now, despite cold spells in April. Although you may have been hardening off plants that were sown in March and April, the room they leave in your greenhouse or windowsill can soon be filled with new sowings. Examples are many and include swedes and turnips, beetroot and leaf beet, sweetcorn, melon, cucumbers, courgettes, marrows, squashes and pumpkins, Brussels sprouts, kale, caulis and broccoli, salad leaves, lettuce and herbs and the French and runner climbing and dwarf beans. If you have seedlings ready or have bought plug plants, you might be ready to plant them out. Keep cloches or something to hand to protect your young plants if there’s likely to be a frost.

One or two members of our committee were doing an equipment audit recently and found we have quite a few items missing. Things such as manure forks, fence post equipment, long handled spades and the like are probably languishing, forgotten in the backs of sheds. If you think you might have something that’s not yours or your neighbours, please bring it to our containers during this month’s amnesty. If it’s ours we’ll be very grateful.

If you’re short of space for growing vegetables, you could intersperse rows of slow growing crops such as parsnips or swedes, with fast growing varieties such as radishes and salad leaves. If you sow them directly into the ground, sow and mark the rows so you can tell the difference between your emerging seedlings and the weeds.

Beware of slugs and snails though; they’ll be having a field day unless you use your preferred method of deterring them.

Finally, a plug for Saltburn Craft and Produce Show.

Competition was stiff last year with more entries than ever and better quality items exhibited. We also had plenty of people outside Saltburn taking part, which we welcome.

However, we want Saltburn people to take away their fair share of prizes so please think about having a go. Whether you think you might have an odd shaped vegetable, you’re proud of a jumper you’ve knitted or, you’ve taken a photo that catches your eye, get yourself a show schedule and see what’s on offer. They’re available in the library, at the allotment containers and at other usual places in and around town.

In the meantime, happy gardening, Sue 60

EAST CLEVELAND PLUMBING SERVICES Bathrooms fitted, kitchen sinks, leaks and all plumbing repairs, all property and garden maintenance, garden tidy ups, grass cutting, hedges trimmed.

No job too small. Cheap rates.

tel 01287 654878 or 07966152553 Floe White & the Seven Doofers Community Pantomime NEEDS YOU! For Acting, Singing, Costume making, Dancing, Behind the Scene Jobs.

East Cleveland Villages ‘Time to Share’, are organising an all age Community Pantomime to take around the East Cleveland Villages. We welcome groups and individuals in East Cleveland 01287 dial code area to have fun doing it. Get involved and come to meetings at Loftus Town Hall on Monday evenings at 5pm. If transport is needed please contact 01287 201319.

For more info please contact: Linda 01287 201319, or Julie 07836 626288.

What’s happening at Marske Hall?

May fundraising events for Marske Hall Please come along and support our fundraising efforts. If you can’t attend you can still support our residents by donating tombola prizes and any old tea pots!

Simply call into Marske Hall from 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Jumble Sale - Marske Hall, 11am - 1pm, Saturday, 2nd May. Coffee Morning - Marske Methodist Church is hosting a Coffee Morning on behalf of Leonard Cheshire at Marske Leisure Centre, 10am - 12noon, Saturday 16th May. Enjoy a coffee and a cake and take a spin on the tombola.

White Rose Singers - Marske Hall, Friday 29th May – tickets available from Marske Hall Funds raised at these events will enhance the lives of people living at Marske Hall Registered Charity No: 218186 For more details visit: http://www.facebook.com/marskehall

Megan’s Mind

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Who has heard of the Kim Kardashian Vampire Treatment? The one which leaves you with blood all over your face! I had my first treatment of four this month. It was very, very scary, very, very painful but very, very worth it! I thought that it must be like getting a tattoo but a hundred times worse! Maybe I’m just being a wimp. As I washed the blood off my face on Friday morning I started crying in the shower. All my scars that I had lived with for years and years had been reduced by at least 80%. I’ve not had skin this good for about 10 years in fact.

The Vampire Treatment is renowned for getting rid of wrinkles, and people who I told I was having it done had told me how it wouldn’t be worth it as I didn’t need it because I don’t have any wrinkles. They also said how it could possibly lead to me finding other areas of my body that I’m unhappy with and that I’d end up having surgery.

But I’m glad I ignored all that and got it done, because I’ve never been happier with the look and feel of my skin now.

I’m not looking forward to my next treatment, but I can’t wait for my skin to improve even more. I had heard of the treatment in the past, but never considered it until I realised that no matter how many times I exfoliate my face, or have other beauty treatments that my scars were just never going to budge.

I had a consultation at a place in Redcar, where I met the woman who would be doing it. She explained the treatment and what would happen. “Oh, that doesn’t sound so bad!” I thought. Fast forward to the day of my treatment: I was nervous but I just expected it to be a bearable pain. You get numbing cream on your face half an hour before; I’ve never had a numb face before. Felt a bit weird! So, I go into the room and the woman takes my blood, it then gets put into a machine and the platelets get separated. Now the scary part. She takes a little roller which has lots of tiny little needles on it, puts some of your plasma from your blood onto your face, and rolls the tiny needles on your face! Ouch, ouch, OUCH! I didn’t expect it to feel as it did, the forehead is the most painful place so she started with there. She had to press hard to penetrate the skin and you can hear the little needles as they break through! Not nice. The painful part of the treatment lasted about 15 minutes or so and afterwards my face was covered in blood. It was burning and throbbing so bad I thought it might explode. With every pulse it felt like it was just getting bigger and bigger, and it felt tight as the blood dried. It wasn’t a very nice feeling at all.

When my mum saw me she nearly passed out and the journey home was a funny one, people in cars kept doing double takes when they saw me and my boyfriend was so shocked he dropped his iPod on the floor. But when I washed the blood off the next morning, WOW. I couldn’t be happier.

So, moral of the story: Ignore what people say, and just do what makes you happy.

Megan The Muses of Jim will return in June’s magazine but Megan will be invited to continue writing for Talk of the Town, although on a different page!

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The Saltburn Crossword no 167 set by Saxton Across 1 A house with outhouses or cattle made those upset (9) 6 Cloak or the one of good hope? (4) 8 For keeping warm puts long and thin in wagers (8) 9 Getting sick constructs major road before fish (6) 10 and 19 Across Saltburn road finds former lover before confused setter tree (6, 6) 11 Tree collections spoil a brat around mineral source (8) 12 Clever bird to imitate (6) 15 Sailing itchy nag around (8) 16 Saltburn road for a village or golf course (3, 5) 19 See 10 Across 21 Male relative worth £1,000? (8) 22 Saltburn’s Emmanuel is one firm foundation (6) 24 Alternative route of French cycling competition? (6) 25 Old fashioned drinking vessels ranks tad deranged (8) 26 Volcano found erupted from market navy (4) 27 Month is the seventh remains of a fire (9)

Down Name___________________________________ Address_________________________________ ________________________________________ Telephone_______________________________

1 DNA is its double! (5) 2 Terrible creature starts first working day before stirring rest (7) 3 Lance throws pears (5) 4 Happy drug? (7) 5 Disadvantages when art supports? (9) 6 Guilty criminal found jumbled in particularly after discarding some (7) 7 Sorrow for past sins because of ten pence I threw out (9) 13 Really horrible bather Ron encountered (9) 14 Precious things finds Ursa about in trees (9) 17 Venetian boat found in jargon dolabriform (7) 18 Uninterruptedly in backing pots no nonsense (3-4) 20 Edible plant stalks or talking background noise (7) 22 Small boat concealed and not on each initially (5) 23 Drink cried ruin (5)

Solution to Crossword no 166

The winner of last month’s crossword was David Cockerill of Malvern Drive, Middlesbrough.

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

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

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Send your completed crossword to: Saltburn Crossword no 167, c/o Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, TS12 1AQ

by Friday, 15th May 2015. First correct solution out of the bag wins a £10 voucher kindly donated by Tim and Sheila of Real Meals.

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