Talk of the Town May 2020

EDITION 227

CIRCULATION 4,600

MAY 2020

SALTBURN’S FREE MONTHLY MAGAZINE 1

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SALTBURN’S TOWN TALK Letter from the Editor

There are four main pieces of very sensible advice about how and forgotten about. You might reach up to touch your face to protect yourself from coronavirus. There is no such thing and that is how the virus can get into your throat and lungs. as zero risk but these four steps can virtually guarantee we Washing your hands will not protect you from someone can be safe. The most important is Distancing. Every day I coughing or sneezing right in your face but again, that is why have to take our dog for a walk, and that’s my exercise too. distancing is so important. Try to keep more than the minimum Just like shopping, walking the dog has become a fearful, two metres apart. Three or four would perhaps be better. wary and dangerous activity because people just don’t keep During previous pandemics these rules were not their distance! It’s incredible how unaware of getting too understood and so the Black Death and the Spanish Flu killed close some people are. Some joggers and cyclists in the millions. It wasn’t even known what viruses are. Most woods seem to be particularly disrespectful of other people’s biologists would not even recognise them as life forms. It is safe space. They invade it without a care! They run or ride more accurate to describe them as pieces of rogue genetic right at you, quickly coming up behind without any warning, material but they are not even DNA. They are RNA. They are trying to get past on a narrow path. The vast majority of so tiny that most were not discovered until the invention of the people who use the woods and streets are friendly, patient and electron microscope. They cannot even reproduce on their respectful of the need for distance. They hold back and wait own. They need to hijack their host’s cellular machinery to to let you pass safely and give a friendly wave and a hello. make copies of them. They don’t do it themselves. They get Nothing is more important than distancing. If everyone the host to do it for them. Quite nasty little things! But not followed this rule the virus would have nowhere to go. alive, just pieces of chemistry, and easily avoided if we follow The other three pieces of good advice are Stay at Home these four simple, easy to understand, guidelines. (the virus doesn’t travel through bricks and mortar and glass, It’s lovely to take part once a week in a huge countrybut from other people outside your home who are already wide round of applause for the NHS and all the other key infected. It’s awful to be isolated but home is the safest place workers helping to keep us safe and fed, the police, the to be!), Do not Travel (except for essential journeys but at all supermarket staff and the council workers. Heroes all of them! times keep your distance) and Wash your Hands. This last Stay safe, stay at home, stay happy and healthy. Love, Ian one is because there is some evidence that the virus can Send letters, adverts and contributions for the next issue (by remain viable on some surfaces which you may have touched Friday, 15th May 2020) to: The Editor, Talk of the Town, Saltburn Farmers’ Market has had to close until the Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, Cleveland, situation for all of us improves. Keep and eye on our face TS12 1AQ. Telephone: 01287 623903 (or email: book site and website for any developments regarding home talkofthetownsaltburn@gmail.com). delivery services and meanwhile stay safe and we hope to be Talk of the Town can be found on a new Facebook back for later in the summer! address at www.facebook.com/talkofthetownsaltburn. of Gallery: ClevelandDue (Embroiderers’ Guild) are Craft Club Busy Fingers: We have cancelled our normal Random Saltburn Stitchers Studios and to the current situation our Saltburn Library this month on 12th June at 2.00pm. sessions on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month, in the in Gallery will remain closed and Open Studios eventsSee are article on be page 10 forupdates further details.

Coffee Room, Saltburn Community Centre until further Library cancelled.

We’ll posting on artwork our artists are notice. creating in their studios on our Instagram and Facebook pages.

Saltburn Traditional Music Workshops: Unfortunately we WI Report: In common with all social groups Saltburn WI are cancelled until further notice but we hope to resume again have cancelled all our meetings and other activities until further as soon as we can. notice. However, this does not mean we have been inactive.

Random Stitchers of Cleveland: Random Stitchers of Immediately this decision was made, all our members Cleveland (Embroiderers’ Guild) are cancelling all meetings were contacted by email or phone and a buddy scheme was set with immediate effect. These meetings usually take place in up, so that everyone had the chance to have contact with other Sunnyfield House at Guisborough. Members will be kept up members. to date with any changes as they arise. Any further info from Our April meeting was to have been a quiz evening, so Gill on 01642 480 344. as the members couldn’t meet together we sent the quiz to them Emmanuel Church Hall Table Top and Collectors’ Sale: on our website and our Facebook page. This seems to have We cancelled the sales in March and April and are doing a been successful from the feedback we have received. We now twelve week shutdown. We will notify everyone when we are intend to add a weekly activity to our website.

Other activities are also added to the website: recipes, back. There’s about 75 percent of our customers who are elderly and their safety is important to us. There’s also a lot of knitting patterns and reports of other activities.

We hope that soon we will be able to once again invite customers who come and buy our food and freeze it to last till our next sale. I have managed to cater for a few of them that I you to our meetings, but in the meantime please find what we had their phone numbers, but if any of you need to contact me have been up to in these months on our webpage at for anything please ring Denise Marshall on 07929 www.saltburnbytheseawi.wordpress.com or check out Saltburn WI on Facebook.

589538. Everyone stay safe!

Diane Falla Cover Photograph: The Cherry Blossom Walk by Barbara Helen.

Disclaimer: Talk of the Town tries to make sure the articles and announcements made on its pages are accurate, but views expressed in letters and articles printed in Talk of the Town are not necessarily those of the editor. Any offers in adverts included in Talk of the Town are made by the advertisers; details should be confirmed with them. Always confirm event details with the organisers, in case of alteration or error. Talk of the Town is printed by DC (Yorkshire) Print, Mercury House, Grove Lane, Hemsworth WF9 4BB. Website: www.dcprintyorkshire.co.uk Tel: 01977 642331. Proprietor/Editor of Talk of the Town: Ian Tyas c/o Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, TS12 1AQ. (Ian Tyas tel: 01287 623903.)

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Looking back over the years with Cath and Tony Tony, having passed a milestone birthday, has reflected on some of the changes over the years, particularly in the field of communications.

In the year he was born Mickey Mouse first appeared on the cinema screens. The planet Pluto was discovered, sliced bread was available. The year previous, FM radio had been introduced. The patent for the Jet engine had been registered. The present situation we are experiencing shows how reliant we have become on the development of instant means of communication.

In the 1930s very few people had telephones, and communication relied on postal services, telegrams, poster hoardings and newspapers. The telephone system in towns such as Saltburn and Guisborough passed through a local switchboard situated in the front room of a house. Saltburn exchange was in a house in Cleveland Street operated by the lady living on the premises, probably assisted by a young girl during day hours, as it was a 24 hour service. The operator was privy to all the conversations if they so cared.

There were telephone boxes installed on many street corners taking coins to pay for calls, there was a button A to connect and a button B to return the money if the call was unsuccessful. It became a habit of some people when passing a phone box to press the B button in case money had not been retrieved by a user. The first time Tony remembers using a telephone was when he became an office boy at 15 years old and had to operate a small switchboard serving the office.

Radio has developed beyond recognition over the years. The first radio signal heard by Tony was through a set of headphones connected to a crystal, the broadcast being found by his grandfather tickling the crystal with what was known as a cat’s whisker until the broadcast could be heard.

Grandfather then acquired a small radio set with valves which still required headphones but also had to be powered

Glass accumulator which was filled with sulphuric acid 4

Red telephone boxes outside the Post Office where the new telephone exchange was on the first floor

by electricity which was provided by a glass accumulator; this needed charging by an electrical engineer weekly. It meant a change over of accumulators from grandfather’s house which was a mile outside Guisborough to a shop in Northgate, a task that was at times carried by Tony and his brother. The first radio acquired

by Tony’s family came to Guisborough from Middlesbrough supplied by Upton’s, brought by the engineer on a motor bike and side car.

The engineer rigged up an outside aerial which was connected to the radio,. He drove a copper rod into the Headphones ground outside for an earth.

There was a simple switch between the earth and aerial which we were instructed to use to switch off the connected aerial in the event of a thunderstorm. Tony dreads to think what would have happened if lightning had actually struck the aerial. The radio gave years of pleasure to the family.

Interior of a radio with valves

Cath and Tony Lynn

MILTON STREET

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BUT HOPE TO BE BACK WITH ALL OUR ACTIVITIES SOON Watch the notice boards for details 5

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

Here for you: WELCOME! Sundays 10.30am & 6.00pm www.saltburnevangelicalchurch.org.uk

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Help! Your local Playgroup needs you!

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

01287 624575

We have spaces in May for babies and newcomers to the town

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Councillors’ Column While the sun shone, social distancing was practised by a good majority, all seemed well in the gardens of the town.

This of course belied the undercurrent of real concern for those at risk. With a population whose demographic focuses on the elderly, Saltburn houses have many who need special support.

Volunteers have not been backward, the level of volunteering has mirrored that seen so readily across the country, and sewers have been quietly industrious.

Redcar & Cleveland Council established a special food distribution centre, staffed by Council volunteers and several elected members, who were not already self isolating or who were not on the stay at home list. A special number, 01642 771122, can be contacted either to request help or to offer services to volunteer.

Unfortunately Saltburn’s two food banks have been restricted through social distancing in their operation, as have many businesses. Local businesses will have received non-returnable grants from the Government aid scheme which, together with the furloughing arrangement, will assist greatly in keeping their heads above water until the lockdown begins to ease.

Regrettably there have been several negatives associated with the stay at home guidance. One in particular, that of domestic violence, has sadly witnessed levels that have risen.

The almost total absence of visitors has left Saltburn to its residents for the first time in decades. The beauty of the landscape has not failed to reinforce the benefits of

living here. Unfortunately, whilst left alone, the level of litter and waste has not reduced proportionately and this is one area that needs addressing when normality is returned.

Thoughts of normality are still far off and the immediate purpose must be to concentrate on supporting those who are serving the community at every level and on every front. Thanks to them have been demonstrated in so many ways and will long continue.

There have been several deaths. Those resulting from Covid-19 are received with such sadness as this enemy is unseen and still not fully understood. Beyond that, two deaths of local community activists have further reminded us of the frailty of life. Joan Sands, born in Normanby but who adopted Saltburn for her home and her community, serving it on Parish and District level with love and enthusiasm, and Norah Cooney, Parish and District Councillor with four decades of service to the community of Marske but also Saltburn, which was dear to her heart, have passed on and our thoughts are with their families in this most testing of times.

Staying at home has compromised the meeting of organisations and committees. Inventiveness has seen many continue through the means of adapting IT to a daily life.

Video conferencing has allowed church services, Board meetings and social gatherings to be facilitated. Zoom will be one of the new words in the next edition of the OED. Two cherry trees planted three years ago in Cherry Tree Walk as part of a forward planning programme, are today in bloom. There will be a future.

Philip Thomson 7

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

What’s on at Marske Hall

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

Follow Marske Hall on Facebook for the latest news.

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Saltburn Scouts News These are strange times indeed. Scouts are not used to staying in; much rather be out in the fresh air, learning new skills and getting mucky! But everyone is staying home, staying safe and well, as we hope you all are too.

But the Cleveland Scouts are a resourceful lot. We have had a virtual campfire on facebook live. Stuart, a Leader from 7th Redcar Scout Group hosted a ‘live’ campfire where Scouts joined in with songs and songs with actions, while Stuart ran himself ragged and we all worried his campfire blanket was getting a wee bit too close to the real fire! It was great fun and let us touch base with our Scouting roots. At its peak nearly 10,000 Scouts were watching worldwide.

An Indoor Challenge has also been devised. There are 17 challenges and 10 have to be completed. This includes a variety of activities from making paper aeroplanes to making a model of the Transporter Bridge to cooking a three course meal for your family. Badges will follow for the successful Beavers, Cubs and Scouts.

We have also climbed Roseberry Topping… at home!

After calculating how many stairs it would take to get to the top, we set about the challenge. Some were quicker than others, some stopped for their flask and some are still going!

The next challenge is Helvelyn and on Thursday night 23rd it will be the Moon encouraged by Bear Grylls.

All Sections can still gain awards at home for example the meteorologist award for Scouts doesn’t have to be carried out at a meeting, indeed most of the criteria should be done at home and pictures and examples shown to Leaders on 10

completion. So we can still be busy earning awards even though we are not attending meetings. Beaver Section should have been on a sleepover at Kettleness on the first Easter weekend; obviously this had to be cancelled but not to be outdone they made a blanket den at home and slept in it. As I say, a resourceful bunch!

Leaders will be keeping in touch with those on the waiting lists when we know when we will be meeting again. Unfortunately due to the lockdown, the local community groups who hire the Scout Hut are unable to have their meetings too. This has meant a drop in donations which may leave the Group struggling to meet day to day running costs. Therefore, if anyone would like to make a donation to 1st Saltburn Scout Group which will ensure the continuation of Saltburn Scouts, please get in touch on the email below. Thank you.

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

T: 01287 201876

M: 07737 654772

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

Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible

Website: www.flintoffs.co.uk

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

Ring Stevie on

01642 474920 11

Keeping It Clean At Saltburn A huge KICAS thank you to all who are picking up litter on their daily permitted walks. Please stay safe and remember to wash your hands thoroughly when you return home.

We find a lot of “Blue Pom Poms”, (pictured) on our beach cleans and often get asked what they are and where they come from. Well, they’re called Taprogge balls, and are used in the cleaning process of the heat exchangers at the EDF Hartlepool nuclear power station.

If you find any brown ones, they are likely to have travelled from the Lynemouth power station in Northumberland. These foam rubber balls are injected through the water pipes to clean off algae and other debris from the cooling systems. The lost balls are not radioactive but do add to the pollution in our seas. EDF have acknowledged escapes of these balls from time to time, but new systems introduced in 2016 were expected to significantly reduce these accidental spillages.

It’s difficult to know exactly how old the balls are that we find on the beach, but newer balls are around 2cm in diameter and are perfectly spherical. Older ones (perhaps many years old) tend to wear down unevenly and become darker in colour. KICAS are collecting these balls during the monthly beach cleans and returning them (via the Environment Agency, who measure the size and number collected) to EDF to attempt to properly

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understand the scale of newer releases. So, if you do find these on your litter picks or walks we’d love you to give them to us at the next KICAS beach clean, whenever that will be.

Our regular first Saturday of the month Beach cleans are postponed for the time being, please follow us on our Kicassaltburn Facebook page for up to date information.

Together we KICAS !

Saltburn in Bloom We are well and truly in quarantine, with key workers still working and how thankful we are. Going to the Spar or Sainsbury’s is a different experience from that which we ever expected, I’m sure, but staff members are still smiling and helpful. I hope that all the independent shops which are currently shut, get the support they need to reopen when some kind of normality returns. I love our Thursday evening cheers for the NHS too, and the fireworks. We are an inventive lot, the human race!

For Saltburn in Bloom, 2020 will be marked down in history as the year we could relax a bit on the fundraising front. There will be no hanging basket displays this year and we don’t expect that the barrels will go out for summer at the cliff lift or station portico. On the other hand, fundraising events such as table top sales and coffee mornings have been halted for us and everyone.

It’s become a matter of course that baskets go up and barrels come out, look beautiful, get watered, come back down again as the annual cycle spins. It doesn’t happen by magic though, even the wonderful, committed gardeners, committee members and other helpers of Saltburn in Bloom don’t have a secret money tree. It happens because we raise the funds to do it every year. Shops and individuals sponsor baskets and tubs, we write applications to other funders to meet shortfalls, pay for watering and support any extra projects. When you go for your daily walk (not all together though) have a look at the fossil garden near the cliff lift, it’s a picture at the moment, but it wasn’t always so. It took hard work to fundraise to achieve it and more hard graft to keep it so pretty. We are fundraising currently to return the old Victorian railway buffers that were at the end of the line here, to Saltburn, with explanatory signage and railway themed mosaics to go round two railway platform raised beds.

Before quarantine we collected some sponsor money and we are contacting those kind sponsors to offer them the opportunity to have their money returned, held over to 2021 or, used to pay outstanding costs this year, such as any incurred by bringing plants on which we couldn’t use. This seems only fair, as it seems fair not to ask shops, which have had to close and will struggle, to pay money to Saltburn in Bloom this year.

Gardeners are still going out for their daily exercise and pulling weeds out here and there and tidying and planting as they pass by. We will do our best with what the situation brings so that our town looks good come what may.

Keep sane, Sue

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

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

Articentric Community Interest Company

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

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

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

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

Saltburn Councillors’ Surgeries

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

Cllr. Craig Hannaway 07561 467168 craig.hannaway@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk Cllr. Stuart Smith 07557 540628 stuart.smith@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk Cllr. Philip Thomson 07747 044858 philip.thomson@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk 16

Hazelgrove Court residents keeping busy The residents at Hazelgrove Court have been keeping themselves busy making butterfly feeders. These were constructed out of glass jars with lids, bath sponges and dilute sugar solution. They have put them in the garden and outside residents’ bedrooms, seen here in the photograph. They have also had a ‘virtual Grand National’ after the real one was cancelled. It was played like on a board game with dice being shaken to decide how far each of the home-made model horses were running. The winning horse had been named ‘Winner’ in advance.

Another was named ‘Hope for the Future’ as a reference to the current coronavirus pandemic. The residents enjoyed it so much they might have to do it all again next year.

Saltburn 500 Club I open this article with the sad news of the death of Michael Guyler, who passed away on Thursday, 9th April. Michael was Treasurer for Saltburn 500 Club in the formative years of the club. Michael was in his nineties and passed away peacefully in the night, with no link to the Covid-19 virus as far as I am aware.

The Covid-19 virus lockdown means that, like many other organisations, Saltburn 500 Club and Friends of Saltburn activities are on hold. Subscriptions for the 500 Club can still be paid by internet banking but other forms of payment are being postponed until further notice.

Fund-raising for 2020 activities such as the band performances and Saltburn Christmas lights have been badly hit. As a part of the fund-raising, I normally hold four catering events at the Saturday table top sales in the community centre. These events raise funds towards the cost of the Christmas lights. To date, we have lost the April event and the June and August events look to be doubtful.

The May band performances have already been cancelled and, if lockdown continues into June, it can be assumed that the June performances will also have to be cancelled. The work we have commissioned for refurbishing the power supply to the Christmas lights will be completed as soon as the electricians are allowed to continue with their work.

I know that there is a very strong community spirit in Saltburn and I remain convinced that you will continue to support efforts to continue our work in the town. Even though we are in lockdown, I would like to remind you that anybody wanting to join the volunteers for work on the bandstand performances and Christmas lights would be most gratefully received into the groups. Under normal circumstances, we usually hold our monthly committee meeting on the first Wednesday of each month. The meeting starts at 5.30pm in Saltburn library and, although it is usually attended by committee members only, members of Saltburn 500 Club are welcome to attend.

I hope that you all keep safe and well and I am sure that this horrible virus will be beaten soon.

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

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Brotton Library Knit and Natter Group We are a small group making items for charity whilst sharing skills and friendship. It is free to come to the group. We have a few regular members and would welcome more. Thursday afternoon 2pm till 4pm in Brotton library (attached to Freebrough Academy).

Deborah

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Bring On The Sheep I decided some days ago that when the next article for Talk of the Town became due I would certainly not talk about the dreaded virus. As awful and heartbreaking as it is we have been immersed in it for weeks now and I thought something different might take us all out of ourselves.

The trouble is that very little is actually happening in the life of the Butlers at the moment. Being of a certain age we are tied more or less to the house, though we do get our allowed walk each day. Other than that we occupy ourselves as best we can in this ‘little’ world we presently inhabit and wait for the day when the metaphorical sun shines again and we are all released back into the world.

I have noticed that during the crisis people have really gone to town on the Internet, especially in terms of podcasts, whatever they might be. Should I put together something to edify and interest the nation? But if so, what? It could hardly be a travelogue of our wonderful area because of course I would not be allowed to video it.

I thought about staying close to home and because I am quite old and somewhat craggy I wondered if I could do a video tour of my lumps, bumps and excrescences but I thought that might be of limited appeal, so in the end I was somewhat stumped and all that was left to me was this strange existence of eating, reading and in my case not sleeping.

And therein lies the rub as the saying goes. I simply cannot get to sleep. It is probably because I am not doing enough, though I have upped my exercise routine as much as I can and I have done my best to keep my mind busy and active, so that by the end of the day I might be tired but no matter how hard I try to drift off I am stuck with watching the numbers on the bedside clock tick on through one, two and three in the morning. I know I will have at least one sympathiser here because it runs in my mind that our exalted Editor Ian also has trouble getting his forty winks and I must pick his brains as to what methods he has developed over the years to counter the problem.

In the meantime I started to do some research to see what other people are up to in the sleepless area of these long days. Of course there are many thousands of possible solutions and I have tried quite a few of them already. One of the potentially pleasantest seemed to me the idea of imagining oneself on a desert island, with yellow sand and azure blue sea. It is a simple matter, the person writing about it told me, to mentally sit on this wonderful beach, taking in all the sights and sounds of the tropical paradise. I got myself prepared. I was comfortable and warm and very soon I found myself in that idyllic spot. All went well for a while. I did what I had been told and focussed my attention on the view before me, letting all other distractions slip away and dismissing new interruptions that came and went. The trouble was that the distractions kept coming and in the main would not go away again. At one point I noticed an interesting looking shell some distance from where I was

sitting and I could not resist getting up (mentally of course) and wandering off to have a closer look at it. Soon my attention was gone and my mind was floating around aimlessly as it always is when I am trying to sleep these days.

Pulling myself together I went back to my sitting place on the beach and started again. All went well and I remained as patient as I had been told I should be until I noticed that there were many coconuts on the tall trees away to my left. Even mentally I could not climb such tall trees so I took to throwing stones at the coconuts, trying to dislodge one and it was some time before it occurred to me that this enterprise was far from what I was supposed to be doing. It was at this point that the whole of the picture in my mind began to dissolve. The yellow of the sand mixed with the blue of the sea and made a sort of murky turquoise and everything else in my beautiful image gradually merged together to form an indistinct and quite unattractive mess.

Similar techniques and others followed night by night but these problems were always the same. I simply could not focus my mind and the moment I began to relax things fell to pieces. I would sit up and read another two chapters of my book and then try again but it always ended up the same. So, as a final resort I went back to the oldest technique in the book and decided the time had come to start counting sheep.

Things seemed promising the night I first tried it, though I am now sure that was because I had so little sleep on the previous few nights and was genuinely tired. The sheep wandered past in an orderly line as I ticked each one off mentally. The result was wonderful and it was not long before I fell into a deep and restful sleep.

That’s it, I thought, I’ve cracked it and I will never suffer with insomnia again – and all by employing such a simple technique. Of course I was wrong. All went well the next night until a particularly mean looking black faced Swaledale ram came along. I could tell from the start that it was going to be trouble. It kept moving out of line and my counting was spoiled by its constantly head butting the other sheep, not to mention biting their rear ends and generally kicking up a great fuss. The whole experiment soon fell to pieces in a shambles of bleating, confused, agitated sheep – and the most agitated person present in this picture was me. As a result I got about three hour’s sleep again last night and I continue to search the internet for a solution to my problems. I don’t think I was built for mindfulness or whatever they call it these days but I remain open to suggestions.

The one good thing about all of this is that I am getting back into reading and re-exploring some of the classic novels that entertained me so much when I was younger. Having worked my way through P G Wodehouse I am now back into the arms of Charles Dickens – though maybe Tolstoy’s War and Peace would be a better soporific.

Stay safe Saltburn.

Alan Butler 19

Saltburn Rotary News Since our last article The Rotary Club of Saltburn has continued to follow Government advice relating to Coronavirus and, at the time of writing, weekly club meetings are still suspended, at least in the flesh. One advantage of these strange times, however, is that many of our members are now engaging technology and we are holding Zoom meetings instead.

Meanwhile, both as individuals and as a club, we have tried to contribute to our community in any way we can. Julie Wilby has been accepted as an NHS first responder. In a text, Julie explained “it’s our National Health Service, we are helping lighten the load by helping the isolated, delivering medication or taking patients to appointments etc in the midst of the Coronavirus.”

Also, Rachael Gosnay is working all the hours imaginable at Gosnay’s / Spar, but crucially has been providing a home delivery service. Rachael (and her family) are bearing up well. Matty McCabe, remains at the forefront of service delivery with Sainsbury’s, which along with the other major supermarkets, are exposing themselves to risk to keep that vital supply chain moving.

Jitti, is a radiographer, on the front line NHS at James Cook, our Junior Vice President Howard Smith remains a crucial member of the RNLI team at Redcar and Andy Drage continues to teach the children of key workers, albeit part time as he shares looking after his own children.

In partnership with the Saltburn Coronavirus Group we have also managed to offer some small tokens of thanks to keep up the morale of our community’s key workers.

Senior Vice President Harry Simpson and Secretary Graham Cottam delivered 30 Easter eggs, donated by Neil of Sainsbury’s of Saltburn, for key-workers’ children at Saltburn Primary School and Huntcliff. Lots of happy smiles from the kids who are still at school while their parents go out to work to keep us all safe and well.

In addition, several members also delivered a box of biscuits to our care homes to cheer up the staff and say a small thank you for the fantastic work they are doing.

As for the rest of us, it’s lockdown and following a lifetime of being on the front line at times like this, many of us find it strange to be reduced to cheering from the sidelines. However, in common with many others, we have children who are all key workers and are risking their health to support the community. I guess this is where we pass our faith on to the next generation and trust that we have taught

20

them well.

Finally, we hope that you are keeping healthy and safe through these difficult times. We will continue to stay involved and hope that normal service will be resumed soon.

Dave Sadler

21

SALTBURN BLUES CLUB

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

Hewitt’s Property Services Affordable, Friendly and Reliable, Serving the Local Community Covering Saltburn, Brotton, Loftus, Skelton, Guisborough and Surrounding Areas Joinery, Plumbing, Bathroom Refits Damp Proofing, Wall Cladding, Supply and Fit, Laminate Wood Flooring, Loft Ladders and Loft Flooring Fitted, And Any Small Jobs, Pressure Washing and Long-Reach Pure Water Window Cleaning Service Now Available, Call Steve for a Free No-Obligation Quote on

07966 152553 Email: steve217@hotmail.co.uk Est. 18 years 22

In these very difficult times for us all and the cancellations of our gigs up to and including May I don’t have a lot to write about. However, I am still hopeful that by late September we will be able to have public gatherings again which means that our weekend of music on the 19th and 20th September will go ahead. The 19th is when we have the great honour of hosting the 2020 UK Blues Challenge when 5 Bands will compete with the winners going on to represent the UK at the European Blues Challenge and then the International Challenge in Memphis in 2021. This is the first time the UK Blues Challenge has been held in the North of England and it shows the high regard Saltburn Blues Club is held nationally to be selected to host this prestigious event. Then if this wasn’t enough, the next day we have the 4th Saltburn Howzat Charity Music Festival from 1pm to 10.30pm with 7 fantastic music acts including Rock, Americana, Blues and Soul. One of the Bands on the bill that day are The Achievers who have played at the Club already and were last year’s winners of the UK Blues Challenge following on from 2 previous winners of the Challenge that have played at Howzat. We bring you the best!

It all takes place in the fantastic venue of Saltburn Cricket Club’s Indoor Nets hall which can accommodate 220 seated.

We are very grateful to the Cricket Club for providing the venue which makes for a great musical experience.

Tickets for the Challenge are £18 or £15 if purchased together with Howzat tickets. Howzat tickets are £25 and £30 on the door. Due to the temporary closure of our local ticket outlet, Milo’s Café, they are at present only available at on line from yorkshireticketshop.co or can be ordered direct from me on 07960 935263.

On Monday nights my radio show Still Got The Blues on Zetland 105FM is still on from 7pm to 10pm although I now record it from home. You can also listen live from the Zetland FM website and you can catch up later on the website Mixcloud (there is a link on the Zetland FM website). Hope you can join me. Blues is a very wide genre now and it’s not all doom and gloom as some seem to think. Give it a listen and you might get a surprise how much you enjoy.

In the meantime stay at home and stay safe. Oh, and if you fancy a laugh to brighten up your lockdown visit Hazza’s Joke Page on FB. Keep diggin’ the Blues folks.

Harry 07960 935263

Thank You, Wally!

On the evening of Tuesday, 21st April, at exactly 7.00pm, the residents of Emerald Street were treated to street entertainment at its finest when they were visited by Wally, the government-appointed lockdown warden who was brought out of retirement and had last worked in the Blitz in 1940. The purpose of his visit was to raise spirits and make people smile, laugh, sing and dance, all from the safety of their doorsteps and their two metre bubbles! The performance only lasted ten minutes or so as he had other places to go. He performed songs like Monty Python’s ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’ and the 1960s Scaffold hit ‘Thank you very much for the NHS!’ He described the music as definitely middle of the road, which was of course exactly where it was! He got lots of applause and was much appreciated. Thank you, Wally. You’re a star!

Hello everyone, I will be temporarily closing the bookshop and concentrating on postal orders and local delivery. This was a difficult decision to make, but I feel it’s the best thing to do under the circumstances.

I'm taking orders by phone: 01287 348010.

While I’m closed, you can still support the bookshop by placing orders via email. I intend to have this up and running on Monday, and you’ll be able to pay via Paypal.

I’ll be offering a free home delivery service in Saltburn. If you’re further afield, I can post books out via my wholesalers for a small fee.

Please email any orders to me here: jenna@bookcornershop.co.uk Thank you so much for all your wonderful support so far, Jenna 23

Cleveland Diving Club

‘We are in this together,’ is a call for the protection of humanity and hopefully one that will become a post-crisis sentiment that will embrace the whole of the natural world; as it appears that reductions in some negative human activities are having a beneficial ecological effect. However, some conservation projects, whether on hold or currently undermanned, are allowing the monitoring of unlawful harvesting of protected marine creatures to go unchecked, in some countries.

In this instant the victim is the humble sea cucumber, (photo 1) which, being promoted as the ‘ginseng of the sea,’ (in the belief it has aphrodisiacal properties) has 16 threatened species and 7 endangered*.

Commonly found in shallow waters, its sedentary nature makes it extremely vulnerable to over fishing by the world-wide black market.

Interestingly though, this benign creature has some fascinating behaviours. For example; although being able to breed asexually, its preference is to party with other sea cucumbers in a water-born frenzy of simultaneously releasing eggs and sperm, the bigger the party the more successful the reproduction. Sadly however, for some species their vulnerability, coupled with weak predator defences, comes from their protracted mobility. Whilst crawling slowly on short feet-like protrusions (photo 2) across the sea bed, foraging and feeding on minute aquatic particles, organisms and waste materials, its defence against marine predators is to exude fine, toxic threads from its anus but these are no deterrent to human predators. Ecologically, like earth worms, its own waste then becomes sustenance for smaller oceanic bacteria. Less vulnerable species, however, burrow into the sea bed leaving only the tip of their body and long flaying tentacles exposed for feeding on water suspended food. These limbs are hyper sensitive to minute vibrations and withdraw instinctively, so well done to John for snapping this species during a previous trip to Loch Creran (photo 3). Predator defence mechanisms used by other species are more complex and involve a shocking, explosive body-mutilating selfeviscerate feat (disembowelling movement). Suicidal one might think but amazingly, and almost unbelievably, the sea cucumber regrows its internal organs, an ability that has inspired beneficial humanitarian scientific study for use in regenerative medicine. As an undervalued hero of the sea it would appear that the pillage and plunder of sea cucumbers (photo 4) may well have far reaching inhibiting consequences for the ecological balance between nature and humanitarian needs. Perhaps the answer lies in a new ‘We are all in it together,’ conservationist approach.

Cleveland divers’ activates are currently suspended during the lockdown but we will be back. * https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2018/11/sea-cucumber-eaten-to-death/ by Marcel Kroese, of ‘Traffic,’ the non-profit organisation for monitoring wild life smuggling.

June Coomber 24

Saltburn Cricket, Bowls and Tennis Club

Let’s get behind the Rebirth of Saltburn

The past month has found all of us living a different kind of lifestyle, with daily routines changing beyond recognition. There are many people in our town who would saunter out to the club for a cool beer, a G n T or a chilled wine, to enjoy the ambiance of the evening sun setting over the sea. We all look forward to reinstating this leisurely habit and when we do, it will be to enjoy the newly extended balcony, which has created more outdoor space for watching cricket and sunsets. Many people have not had a chance to see it yet as the completion took place only a couple of days before the lockdown. The celebration will be announced later!

The club is very grateful for those who have given their time for free alongside their skills and talents to enhance the developments of the sporting site. Dave and Tony are going to look after the bowling green and cricket square for the next few months so that both patches of grass retain their good conditions, for play beginning, hopefully later in the summer! The tennis club continues with plans for refurbishing Courts 3 and 4 and hope to be ready to run with the work, when restrictions are lifted. Plans are continuing to develop to replace the floor surface of the Nets building after some years of wear and tear.

This project will be a staggered ‘work in progress’ to fit in with the sporting calendar and social events already planned.

Sadly, many social occasions were cancelled in the clubhouse for the months ahead. If you are one of those who have booked a significant birthday celebration, don’t be disheartened for long… we can rebook and celebrate like those who have a December 25th birthday. We can welcome you on the ½ year date. In which case, November should be busy with some people becoming 80 ½ years young!

In support of our NHS, we are flying the flag for all those in our Saltburn community who are working very hard to keep us all safe during this Covid-19 period. Thank you one and all.

Our thoughts go out to those members of our club, who have poorly family loved ones, living at a distance, whom they cannot see at this challenging time.

The committee looks forward to our sporting events starting up and welcoming you all back, onto the plot and into the clubhouse and listening to your stories.

Take care, stay home, stay safe.

Rosalyn

Oh, how we’ve missed our dear old Saltburn these past months!

So, as soon as we can, let’s get behind the rebirth of the town that we love so much.

There will be families left grieving by the covid-19, people struggling for money to live, and businesses that have suffered badly behind all the shuttered doors.

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

Celebrate with a meal in our restaurants, raise a glass of something special in our bars, wear something new from our ladies and men’s shops, and order that book whose review caught your eye in the weekend papers.

Nature has continued to deliver us spring despite the lockdown. My wife and I have both been lucky to be able to continue working from home.

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

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

But there are people with no gardens, and with the removal of the lockdown they can take their children to the play areas again, enjoy the beach and the Valley Gardens.

And curl up again with the monthly Talk of The Town!

Let’s make Saltburn “Great” again!

Peter Holbert

Seaview and Greta Cottage caring together 5 star care homes awarded by Redcar and Cleveland for their quality of care and personalised service.

Home from home with daily activities and weekly trips out in our own minibus.

Please feel free to visit us at anytime.

01287 622498 and 01287 625178 25

Health, Happiness and your body Every time I have a little annoyance it has an effect on me, raising blood pressure just slightly, retriggering that neural pathway, strengthening that pattern, that bridge. It is so imperceptibly, so normal, so every day, every hour, so subtle that the changes they create are nigh on impossible to recognise.

We are pattern-making machines. If the blood pressure is constantly bumped up slightly every ten minutes or every hour then sooner or later it normalises at that higher rate. We can’t sense that but our body is adapting. If we are out throwing a ball for our dog every day then it is likely that slowly over time that arm will become stronger along those tendons and in those muscles, in the same way our stress levels are also tightening or loosening.

Our moods are a cumulative experience, an adding up.

If I am generally feeling down on a daily basis this will become my baseline, my average. If I have one incredible hour of joy or pleasure or freedom then it will probably not on its own over the longer time change my overall mood much. It is likely that I will return back soon to the average of all my daily emotions.

If I eat sugar filled biscuits regularly, daily, the pernicious harm of them is not seen in a single one on its own. Individually one is so innocuous and looks so unable to do me any harm. In this country it’s normal to have tea and biscuits together, it is not normal in other places in the world.

And there is something powerfully seducing us when something is normalised into a culture. Everybody is doing it but each body is keeping the score of the health impact individually.

It doesn’t matter if we are not looking at what is in a biscuit, that doesn’t stop the ingredients affecting us. In England we have normalised so many unhealthy things. Look at cereals. We are brought up thinking cereals for kids are normal. Look at the walls full of them in supermarkets. Yet they are soaked in sugar and no knowing parent would treat their child so unhealthily if they knew what they were doing to them with such a regular start to their day and the harm it is doing to their growing bodies.

I see people actually queuing up for unhealthy food but how many of them have ever looked at the ingredients?

There is so much harm it is doing them nutritionally, even if there is an important benefit gained of meeting friends and feeling part of a group. There is a video online that is just a burger and chips sitting there day after day. The last time I looked over a year had passed and it was still just sitting there, it looked identical to the day it was brought. What does this tell you about the nutritional value and the degree of preservatives in it?

People don’t suddenly become large overnight. We are on average the most obese nation in Europe. Why? Because we normalise drinking coke and other fizzy drinks starting as children. And we do not have a habit of looking at what is in the food we eat. Many financially poorer people think that a better supermarket is one that is cheaper. Yet many of these same people do not realise that food is not the same because it looks the same or because it is packaged the same. There are vast differences in the nutritional value of the food and thus in the harm it does to your body. Look how large the average person coming out of a supermarket is, that tells you something about what happens to you if you buy from there regularly. And have a look at what they buy, fizzy drinks are so common. Compare the size of people who drink fizzy 26

drinks regularly to those who don’t at all.

This is where intelligence comes in, not a school intelligence, but a self-awareness, a self-caring intelligence.

Because your body is keeping score even if you are looking the other way. One day you might get ill, your body can’t take the abuse any more and you spend the rest of your life trying to understand where the illness came from and dealing with increasing pain and discomfort.

It is said that in terms of illness your body will often warn you as if it is gently stroking a feather across your cheek to tickle you into awareness, then it will caress you as if with fingertips, and then it will start pressing harder, then lightly slap you, then harder and harder and if you still don’t get the message it will eventually punch you straight in the face and knock you down.

Smoking isn’t generally a major problem if you do it once in your life or even once in a while, nor is drinking alcohol or taking other drugs. The harm is in the regularity.

Your body adapts to what it experiences regularly.

Our bodies are generally self healing and phenomenally adaptable to so much, different weather extremes, different foods and air quality and noise and levels of depression or stress. It is an organic adapting miracle that changes to survive in whatever environment it finds itself in. Yet like a car that runs on petrol you can’t start mixing in diesel and expect it to keep on working. Unlike a car that really can’t adapt, our bodies are amazing at what they can take on board and still keep on moving, at least in the short term. Artificial sweeteners, preservatives, E numbers, alcohol, smoking and the sugar and chemicals from those ‘harmless’ little biscuits next to our tea are all like diesel going into a petrol car. The car will give signs that it is not okay to be fed like that, it will splutter and so will your body. Unless we are wise, unless we course-correct pretty sharpish it will continue to struggle, grind down and eventually pretty much come to a stop.

We build momentum in our lives, through the food we eat and the way we allow ourselves to get stressed or angry or critical or indeed how light we take life, how much we smile and laugh and how conscious we become of putting quality food and water into our system.

You can’t stick a smile on your face and expect yourself to feel good if you are not genuinely feeling good on the inside. You can’t tell people you are fine and tell them you don’t think about politics or care who does what, when actually you are worried deep down and feel anxious on a daily basis.

Your body can’t be lied to, even if you can lie to other people, even if you think you can convince yourself that things don’t really bother you when they actually do. Your body is never fooled, it is keeping score.

Daily practice is to me the key to healthy pattern creating. It is the key that goes with self awareness and self care which in turn relates to how we feel about ourselves.

You might think you have good self esteem but how often do you give your body and your thoughts an honest scan and check in with yourself? You may feel like you have no worries but how often do you sit quietly and notice your thoughts and your anxieties. And how honest can you be with yourself about what is painful to you and humming away daily in your background, harming you? Your body is not impressed with your acts of emotional toughness, it is keeping score, it is neutral to your ego pretence.

Do you ever wake up and stretch your body daily and Continued on next page

recognise where there is lingering tension being held in your muscles? Do you regularly meditate and appreciate this incredible gift of a body that you have? Do you ever register and appreciate the incredible unlikeliness of you ever having been born? Do you regularly consciously stop and look at all you have been given? Do you read the ingredients of food you buy? And are you conscious every time you are about to put something in your mouth about whether it is supportive to you or if is it harmful and will slowly end up blocking up your system?

Do you notice your thoughts and see how frustrated or angry you let yourself become? Do you question what that is doing to your blood pressure or your neural synapses or how it might be potentially adding daily to you getting debilitating diseases? Do you spend time exploring where your stress and anger come from and making changes to support your life? Do you consciously support yourself to be more appreciative and happier? And do you realise what a massive difference it makes if you do that daily? Because your body is essentially comprised of what you do to it daily.

Your daily practices literally can keep you alive for years or decades longer than a person who doesn’t look at the quality of the food they are eating. Or a person who allows themselves to be frustrated and critical on a daily basis. And do you realise that it doesn’t matter if you realise any of this, because your body is keeping score and will let you know sooner or later.

Kendal Aitken Mental Health and Happiness Training.

Individuals and groups.

Contact: kwayextra@googlemail.com or 07944 883961

Hands Free Physio

Many people have found ways to modify their usual work practices during the current Covid-19 crisis, so that they can continue to be productive whilst at the same time socially distancing and doing their bit to curtail the epidemic. Whilst we decided to temporarily close our clinic last month, we have continued to work. This may sound odd as most people look upon Physiotherapy as being a very “hands on” profession. Whilst it’s true that Physios like us who deal with musculoskeletal disorders, use our hands to perform a multitude of diagnostic and therapeutic activities, that’s only a small part of our work.

By far the most important portion of our work is listening to the stories of our patients. Careful and well structured questioning is the most important part of what Musculoskeletal Physiotherapists do, and this aspect of our work transfers well to remote working using either just a phone or basic video calling apps. This type of remote, hands off Physiotherapy allows us to make a diagnosis and to advise our patients how to self manage.

Whilst our preference is to deliver Physiotherapy in person, this remote way of working can be very effective.

We are very aware of the financial difficulties that many are facing in these uncertain times and we are therefore offering our remote Physio service free of charge. You can contact us for a chat on the number below or email us if you prefer.

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

Used Stamps for Charity

There is a box in Saltburn Library for used postage stamps which are a valuable source of income to a number of charities.

Please drop your stamps in the library, when it reopens. Many thanks for your support. There is also a box in Marske Library.

Eric Matson (volunteer), 25 High Street, Skelton, Tel: 07985 767587 27

May Day, May Day! With it being VE day this month (First May Bank Holiday has been moved to a Friday to commemorate it) I thought of an activity that maybe some of us in isolation would like to dress their windows throughout May or make a fun scarecrow out of any recycled materials for their garden or window sill to mark the occasion. If you are on the internet you could look up any games or food recipes, ideas etc of the war years and share what you have found and done with your family and friends by phone or social media.

Not to be deterred, Talk of The Town is online (at saltburnbysea.com) at the moment due to the print shop being currently closed, so thank you, Ian, at this difficult time of trying to

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The National Health Service was formed on 5th July, 1948. In the current crisis, they are:

Our Army

(Sung to the Dad’s Army theme tune) Who do you think you are kidding Coronavirus?

We’ll soon have you on the run.

We have the NHS to stop your cowardly game.

We have the fighting spirit to make you think again!

So who do you think you are kidding Coronavirus?

If you think Old Blighty’s done!

The NHS are here to stay and they’re aged 71 They will keep on fighting Until Covid 19’s gone So who do you think you are kidding Coronavirus?

If you think Old Blighty’s done! keep some normality in place by getting the much needed magazine out there in one form or another!

Let’s try and keep in touch and show our support to each other in what ways we can.

God Bless to all.

Saltburn Toc H Branch

Saltburn Conservative Club – Stay Safe Welcome to the monthly article from Saltburn Conservative Club.

I hope this report sees you all keeping well through this terrible pandemic that we are all fighting. I sincerely hope that all our members will soon be able to return to the club in the not too distant future. We class ourselves as one big family, as we are all so close to each other, and the time spent apart is very hard.

For a lot of people the fact that we cannot socialise means we lose our identities and miss the friendship that we so much enjoy. Life becomes routine and monotonous no matter how much we try to adjust to the laid down rules and regulations that we are all placed under. Fortunately we show the true British spirit to do all we can to comply and eventually we will come through this stronger. It is heartbreaking to listen to daily updates on the television telling us the news of hundreds of fatalities everyday and the desperation the families face. It is so sad for everyone in this situation and no words can take away the nightmare they have had to endure.

Like every other person in the country I cannot praise the work of the Health Service enough. They are working long hours in terrible conditions and in many cases without the correct PPE plus having to put their own family life on hold. The same applies to the amazing staff in care homes who also work in extreme circumstances and pressure and all the community carers who are so valued by so many people.

We send our greatest respect and thanks to these very special people With regard to club matters, which shrink into insignificance compared to the situation we are all in, I have to report that all arranged functions at the present time have been cancelled and hopefully will be re-arranged for a future

date. We have been unable to make progress on the installation of toilet facilities for both ladies and gents on the ground floor as the council’s planning department is closed and we are still awaiting consent from our planning application for the work to be approved. Also cancelled was the club Annual General Meeting which again will have to be re-arranged as early as possible after we re-open. Until this time all Officers and committee members will continue in their present positions.

I am starting to spend time in the club garden (when the weather is suitable and my Phlebitis stops giving me a lot of pain and discomfort) where I am weeding the borders, taking out some shrubs, bushes and plants ready to replace with new ones if the situation allows, plus Martin Simpson is starting to cut the grass on a regular basis. This year, as you may be aware, there will be no Northumbria in Bloom competition and no planters and hanging baskets in the town. The club actually paid £80 for two hanging baskets that we have every year but as this will not be happening this year rather than get a refund we have donated this money to Saltburn in Bloom towards new brackets etc that will be required next year.

It’s a short article this month, for obvious reasons, and no doubt it will be the same story next month so I need to finish by pleading with you all to follow the Government rules, keep safe and save lives.

It is so strange for us all to adjust, but adjust we must.

It will take a long time to overcome the sadness and hardship we have all witnessed and being part of, but overcome it we will.

With much love to you all, stay strong and stay safe.

David Rigg President, Saltburn Conservative Club

How we learn, laugh, live through uncertain times Saltburn District U3A members embracing new ways to Keep in Touch

U3A Members across the country are finding creative ways to stay engaged, active and connected with each other in these unprecedented times.

Members are embracing technology to keep their learning and activities going. Meetings, activity groups and much more are going online and virtual. Members are using digital platforms such as Zoom, WhatsApp, YouTube, Facebook and HouseParty to keep connected with each other.

And it is not just online. U3As have set up buddying schemes or phone trees to stay in touch regularly.

We have even gathered together nationally holding a movement-wide Shared Learning Project asking members to keep a diary in written or photographic form of the coming days and weeks. We believe it will be an amazing example of living history and already many of you have shown an interest in this project (if you would like learn more please contact us at diary@u3a.org.uk).

At Saltburn District U3A the Committee and newly appointed Crisis Helpers are working hard to contact all our members individually, offering practical and emotional support where appropriate. On our webpage, national information is regularly updated, as is news more personal to

our organisation and region. We have also established a Saltburn District U3A facebook page, which includes activities, updates, and posts from members. The Committee are meeting regularly online via Zoom to ensure the SDU3A is offering inclusive support to members.

Chair of Saltburn District U3A, Louise Moore, said, “We are facing unprecedented times. The health and wellbeing of our 916 members is a priority. I am so proud of our members in Saltburn District U3A, who have stepped up to make the best of the situation and stay learning, connected and in touch with each other.

We have groups offering virtual meetings, speaking online, or telephoning each other, and appointed Crisis Helpers are contacting those living alone or who may be vulnerable during these difficult times.

Chief Executive of the U3A Movement, Sam Mauger said, “We have a movement of incredible people. Our members have shown their support, empathy, willingness to share ideas and experiences, and more importantly, to carry on learning, laughing and living.”

29

Donald Trump in your Shopping Trolley?

Now that the UK has left the EU there is an urgent need for our country to negotiate new trade deals with the rest of the countries of the world. It is looking as though our most significant trade deal will realistically be with the United States of America. Many people are concerned about what this might mean and the risks that will come with it.

The threat of chlorinated chicken has become quite a famous symbol involving birds raised in such dirty conditions that they have to be washed in bleach before they are safe to eat. Hormone beef, increased use of pesticides and rates of food poisoning fourteen times greater than our own are all features of US food production that we could see over here after a deal with the US. There is also evidence that the NHS will be on the table during trade discussion. Despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s insistence that this won’t happen, can we really believe what he says? A key area that is being proposed is greater access to our drugs market for big American pharmaceutical corporations. This would massively increase the cost of medicines for the NHS, leaving less money for actual care.

Having said what will be included in trade talks, it’s important to note what won’t be up for discussion and the really big omission is the climate crisis. We know that trade deals can make the climate crisis worse by undermining or blocking the actions that are required in order to tackle it. At one of the early trade meetings the UK raised the subject of climate change but they were bluntly told by the US that the subject was off limits. It was never mentioned again.

So whether you are concerned about food safety, the future of the NHS or the future of the planet (or all three) the dull and opaque matter of trade deals is of vital importance.

There was going to be an opportunity to learn more about this subject at a public meeting on the US-UK trade deal due to be held in Saltburn at the end of April at the Earthbeat Centre. The speaker was going to be Nick Dearden from Global Justice Now which is an organisation that campaigns on issues that effect poorer peoples. You might not have heard of GJN but you may remember the leaked trade papers that hit the news last November. It was GJN that took the government to court to order that the documents be released.

So this was going to be a great chance to learn more about an important subject from someone who has special knowledge of it and you wouldn’t have even had to leave your own town! Unfortunately though, as with so many events planned for April, the meeting has had to be cancelled as a precaution against the spread of the Coronavirus. However, it is hoped that it can be rearranged for a future date. When that will be, we do not know, but the editor of this magazine has made it clear that he is willing to give us publicity, so watch this space!

If you want more information or to make contact with the local group the email is globaljusticecleveland@gmail.com 30

Respect for the People

A public meeting, organised by Respect Saltburn’s Heritage, took place at Saltburn’s Community Theatre on Tuesday, 10th March.

The aim of the meeting was to raise awareness of the Pease family Restrictive Covenant of 1902 and, in particular, to discuss the proposed development of the Marine Parade Viewing Platform and Shelter.

The proposed development is in direct contravention of the Covenant.

The meeting was well attended and very supportive of the issues raised by Respect Saltburn’s Heritage.

It is clear that Council Officers are well aware of the Covenant, held discussions with the shareholders of the applicant company as early as 2017 and indeed have proposed the idea of an indemnity to the applicant in case the breach of the Covenant leads to legal action.

It is astonishing that Officers (and indeed the directors of the applicant company) are potentially advocating a course of action that will lead to a breach of legal commitments. Whatever justification might be given, it is, in our opinion, of dubious legality and certainly unethical and immoral.

Please remember that in this case, as in the case of the proposed caravan park on Huntcliff, it was the Council’s own estate’s department which initiated action and liaised with potential developers.

The proposed development on Marine Parade is in clear breach of the National Planning Framework and it is not compliant with Redcar and Cleveland’s own policies. For example, Local Plan Policy HE1 is to prevent unacceptable developments in conservation areas, to protect open spaces and to tightly control demolition of existing buildings within a conservation area; Policy HE2 is to protect non-designated heritage assets; Policy N1 aims to preserve the character and distinctiveness of the coastline.

Why have these policies if they are to be ignored?

Perhaps what is most important, and most shocking, is that this proposal aims to take an asset owned by the public (and held in trust by the Council for the public) and to transfer it into private hands for private gain. If agreed, and with a 45 year lease on offer, there would be little that the public could do to retrieve the situation.

The viewing platform (not a former viewing platform as claimed in the planning proposal) is a community asset; it is used by hundreds of people every week; access is free and available to all, so that everyone can enjoy the vistas up and down the coast and over the beach and pier. Its development would restrict access to those with the financial ability to pay for it. How can this be acceptable?

The Council covenanted to ‘hold the said... land.. as open spaces to be used and enjoyed by the public freely.’ It is time for the Council to honour its commitments.

Respect Saltburn’s Heritage Email: respectsaltburnsheritage@hotmail.com

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Saltburn Community & Arts Association Saltburn Community and Arts Association is a much-loved local icon with its original architectural features and stained glass, but sadly, like other organisations and businesses in the town, it has had to close its doors in the face of covid-19.

The temporary loss to the town of such a vibrant community facility has implications across the board for our staff, hirers, audiences and those who showcase their talents through performance by bringing entertainment, educational opportunities and joy to the community.

The Trustees of Saltburn Community and Arts Association, under the Chairmanship of Tony Smith, are the custodians of the building and, whilst we cannot bring you events and exhibitions, we are just as committed to maintaining the fabric of the building, caring for the garden and ensuring that your enquiries will be dealt with. Our Trustees devote many hours in a voluntary capacity to the organisation.

Whilst our beautiful building remains in safe and caring hands, our future as a thriving cultural centre cannot be assured without support from the community we serve.

We are so grateful to everyone who has already sent us financial donations and thank you all for your encouragement and help at a time when we all face uncertainty in our lives.

This pandemic has brought out the best in our communities, who are working together to support one another so that when we emerge from the current lockdown, we can 32

rebuild the lives we have come to value and the things we treasure. If you feel you can, please support us. Donations can be in the form of cheques made payable to SC&AA and posted to The Treasurer, Saltburn Community and Arts Association, Albion Terrace, Saltburn, TS12 1JW or by BACS payment or Standing Order to our bank account at Barclays Bank: Saltburn Community and Arts Association, Sort Code; 20-56-78, Account number 03021017. If paying

by BACS, please use your name as the reference.

If you are willing and able to Gift Aid your donation then please send us a postal or email address so that we can forward a form to you. Alternatively, a form can be downloaded from here: https://www.gov.uk/government/ publications/charities-and-casc-gift-aid-declaration-forms-for -multiple-donation. Please make sure you download the Charity form and not the CASC one. Completed forms should be returned to the Treasurer at the address given above.

The Trustees of SC&AA send our good wishes to you all and thank you for your support. We look forward to being back soon and being able, once again, to offer this wonderful town of Saltburn and its residents the variety of cultural, educational and entertainment activities that you have come to expect from us.

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

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

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

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

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LORNA SMITH 34

Saving And Re-homing Animals THE ANN PROSSER FOUNDATION

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

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

Hello dear humans! We hope you are all safe and well. We are Lenny the dog, and Dibley the cat.

Normally we’d ask you to visit us at SARA, but unfortunately you can’t currently due to the coronavirus pandemic. SARA have had to close the centre temporarily to the public and volunteers and cancel many of the events which are vital for raising much needed funds. The wonderful staff are working hard to ensure all the animals are happy and well during this difficult time. We would appreciate any donation no matter how small to help us.

Lenny is a two year old male Lurcher, who came into SARA after his owner could no longer give him the care he needed. Lenny is a lovely sandy coloured dog, with bundles of energy and he loves nothing more than to play in the pen with the volunteers and his friends. This young man is super affectionate and adores being cuddled and loved. Lenny is looking for experienced owners who will carry on his training and be able to give him plenty of exercise. Lenny could potentially live with a female dog.

Lenny finds it hard to resist reacting to other dogs that he doesn’t know whilst on the lead but we feel he may have possibly had a bad experience with another dog in the past, but saying that, he is improving and he is controllable with his head halti collar. Lenny is amazing with all the dogs at the centre, new and old and it doesn’t matter what breed, size or sex they are, he is completely at ease with them and has become great friends with many of them, enjoying play time in the pen and long walks. We have had Lenny for

quite some time now and he has watched many of his friends go to their new forever homes. It breaks our heart that Lenny has yet to find his. If you feel you could offer Lenny a home or would like to make an enquiry then please get in touch. We are positive that one day the right person will come along and see what we see in him and how much potential this sweet boy has.

Dibley is an adorable seven year old boy. He is black with a tiny white patch on his chest. Dibley came to SARA as a stray at the end of January and was terrified of everything and everyone when he first arrived. Dibley has become more confident day by day and now this shy little boy enjoys the attention of the cat cuddlers volunteers and has turned in to a little sweetie. This little boy is now ready for a new beginning in a new home. We feel he would be best suited to a quiet household and he could live with a cat of a similar calm temperament. He would need access to the outdoors.

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

Future SARA Events We mention two events planned for May in the hope that they might happen but these might also have to be cancelled.

Spring Stroll – Monday 4th May 11am – 1pm – a 2 hour stroll

along Redcar Stray to Marske for fun. Bring your own dogs along and receive a doggy goodie bag. All supporters receive a treat. Please meet at The Stray Café on the stray to begin the walk.

Spring Bargain Sale – Saturday 9th May 10am – 1pm at Foxrush Farm. Clothes, bric-a-brac, kitchenware, household items, pet stock are all on offer. Come along and bag a bargain. Light refreshments available.

Joy and Mandy Volunteers at SARA 35

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WHO IS YOUR ROCK AT THE MOMENT? The following is a favourite Bible story for many church run toddler groups.

But, whilst it is a fun story to tell with all the actions, and then to perform with the well known song ‘The wise man built his house upon the rock…’ it is NOT a children’s story. It’s a story that asks us a fundamental question: Who or what are you building your life upon? In challenging times who or what is your rock? For me there is only one answer… JESUS. 24

‘Jesus said, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on Church services sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and are taking place on beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”’

(Matthew 7.24-27)

Zoom until further notice.

We hope to keep the parish office open as much as possible.

The parish office answerphone will be checked regularly.

Contact Details tel 01287 622251

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web www.emmanuelsaltburn.co.uk

37

Counting my Blessings during the Lockdown Never have I spent so much time appreciating the cherry blossom and listening to the birdsong as I do now, taking my daily exercise during the coronavirus lockdown. Each day, I set out on my fifty minute circular walks down to the town, along the top prom and back home via Glenside. I exchange a hearty “Hello” with passing Saltburn residents.

We step off the pavements for each other, keeping the recommended two metre distance and acknowledge the forethought.

I notice the changing tides, the smooth or choppy seas and hear the waves reaching the shore with daily varying intensity. The elements know nothing of Covid – 19 and connect us with a coronavirus past and future.

Most days I recognise someone I know and shout a conversation to them at a distance. There are couples I knew when I was a parent of teenagers, retired widows and widowers – sometimes with dogs giving their lives a new structure and neighbours past and present. It’s a bonus to meet them again. We confirm that we are well and counting our blessings, which include being able to take such scenic walks straight from our front doors.

Before the spread of Covid -19, I considered myself a healthy, well person but now I find I am in the ‘elderly at risk’ category. I’ve gradually accepted the need to selfisolate mentally and don’t enter any buildings apart from my own house. I’ve taken advantage of repeat prescription deliveries from Saltburn Pharmacy for the first time and signed up for weekly deliveries from the wonderful Rachael Gosnay and her team at the Spar shop in Milton Street. I thought a small shop would be challenged to deliver a varied order, but I’ve been delighted with the very close match of what arrives to what I’ve requested. Rachael has also managed to put my valued Saturday newspaper on the Spar delivery round. This is the first time in fifty years of reading the Guardian that I’ve had it brought to my letter box!

I’ve received several offers from very thoughtful, younger friends and neighbours to pick up anything I need from the shops and it’s heartening to note how local people have really looked out for those whose age puts them at greater risk of the effects of contracting Covid – 19. Their kindness is appreciated and won’t be forgotten.

Modern technology has really been a boon for people in self-isolation too. Being able to order online makes greater independence possible and I’m grateful to Destinations for running those computer classes that I attended twenty years ago. I never imagined how the skills I learned then would be of use two decades later in a pandemic.

Receiving photos of grandchildren on What’sApp on my mobile phone has been a delightful way to keep in touch with family and text messaging has enabled me to communicate with our local asylum seeking and refugee friends as a Befriender. How difficult it must be for those who have fled war-torn countries to curtail their efforts to integrate into their new home, when English classes and social events have been abruptly cancelled. By return, I’ve been touched by their concern for me.

However, I’ve been challenged by too much technology! I’ve had to withdraw from one What’sApp group I was a member of, as I couldn’t cope with the constant pinging of my mobile phone to give me the 38

minutiae of message senders’ lives. I also had to delete an unsolicited email chain letter asking me to send a poem to multiple email addresses. In return, I was promised I would receive multiple poems myself! No, thank you. I never took part in chain letters when they were sent by post years ago and even self-isolation doesn’t tempt me to get involved.

But my main means of communication has been the phone. I have a landline and a mobile, so there is back-up in case either fails and I’m very conscious that I’m reliant on Plusnet’s continuing service. I’ve rung English friends and relatives in Scotland and Germany. Hearing the perspective of people in other countries keeps me looking outwards and encourages a sense of perspective.

Submitting the Profile and an article each month for ‘Talk of the Town’ has given a structure to my life for many years. I have to keep my ears open for possible subjects and keep an eye on the Editor’s deadlines. I’ve the enjoyment of carrying out interviews and shaping what I’m told to what’s required for publication. I’ve considered continuing interviews by phone during the lockdown, but I fear quality would be lost and justice wouldn’t be done to the subjects. I look forward to starting again, though, when the magazine printer is ready to go.

Till then, I’ll reflect on the valuable work being done by younger people during this lockdown. We are seeing those who are called ‘low-skilled’ step up and show that they are essential key workers. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if their efforts were rewarded by a truly living wage in the future to reflect their contribution to our society? To all those who are working to keep us safe, I send my thanks and a round of applause every Thursday at 8.00pm.

Rosemary Nicholls

Saltburn Allotments Association

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Who would have thought back in 2019 that we would spend weeks restricted to our own homes and gardens and only going out for essential journeys with many people losing loved ones and life changing so much? Well, we find ourselves in a very different place than May last year.

While in lockdown people have discovered or rediscovered gardening. So many that access to gardening websites has been limited and I have had to queue for a 10-minute slot! Maybe you will find the habit stays with you? Maybe it will just be something that helps you to keep your sanity! It has provided families and individuals with a new hobby perhaps for life, giving time in the fresh air, valuable exercise, something to immerse yourself in and a bonus of something to eat or that looks amazing when grown. Whatever it is, let’s just enjoy it.

May is the month where you can put out lots of the seedlings you grow as we are getting to when the frost should not be so much of a problem. The most tender ones will still benefit from some protection, however. I use fleece or cut the bottom off plastic bottles to shelter them, you could use sheets of glass or plastic. I have also used greenhouse shading like a fence to reduce the power of a cold wind.

Hoeing is your best defence at this time of year, seedlings chopped when small on a warm day die quickly! You can cover the ground with a mulch to reduce the chance of them coming back; however, making compost takes time and getting supplies may still be challenging. Instead use things like grass cuttings to smother the ground. To help you can even purchase special biodegradable mulch sheets. Just use whatever you can get.

We sadly had someone fly tipping next to the wildlife garden recently. Bags of household goods from a ‘spring clean’ had been deliberately left up there. Clearly a deliberate act as it would have to have been driven up there. The allotment association has removed these ourselves as council collections are reduced and we do not want to impact on local services. The council staff are simply there to empty the bins and not collect piles of rubbish left anywhere. Complaints about this may mean we would have restrictions placed on our ability to use the allotments! In the current situation that is the last thing we want and would be grateful if anyone witnessing people fly tipping would kindly let us know details as this is a problem everywhere and we certainly don’t want this to become a regular problem at the allotment sites.

Finally, I would like to send good wishes to all readers and I hope that we all manage to stay safe and continue to support each other in the quite spectacular way that has happened in our lovely little town so far at this worrying time.

Julia 39

Saltburn, Redcar & Cleveland Philatelic Society WAR STOPS OLYMPICS !

Great Britain hosted the first Olympic Games after the end of WW2, the 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad and which were held in London from 29th July to 14th August, during the reign of George VI. Britain issued a set of four postage stamps to commemorate the occasion, each stamp having a different designer. The 21/2d two ultramarine was designed

by P. Metcalfe, 3d violet by A. Games, 6d purple by S.D. Scott and the 1/- brown

by Edmond Dulac, a Frenchman.

Several attractive FDCs (envelopes) were also issued to celebrate this event.

After a twelve year hiatus caused by the outbreak of WW2, these were the first summer Olympics held since the 1936 games in Berlin. The 1940 Olympic Games had been scheduled for Tokyo, and then for Helsinki, the 1944 Olympics had been provisionally planned for London - all had to be cancelled - because of the onset of WW2, and now the war on the Coronavirus is having the same effect in 2020.

The 1948 ‘Games’ became known as the ‘Austerity Games', as rationing was still imposed in the aftermath of WW2 and no new venues were built for the Games, with events taking place mainly at the Empire Stadium and the Empire Pool at Wembley Park. A record 59 nations were represented by 4,104 athletes, 3,714 men and 390 women, in 19 sport disciplines. Germany and Japan were not invited, the Soviet Union was invited but chose not to attend, instead sending observers to prepare for the 1952 Olympics.

One of the ‘star’ performers was Dutch sprinter Fanny Blanker-Koen, dubbed ‘The Flying Housewife’ the thirty year-old mother of two won four gold medals in the athletics. In the decathlon, American Bob Mathias became the youngest male ever to win a Gold medal at the age of 17. Great Britain was not so successful achieving only 5 silver and 1 bronze during the games. To see what Hitler’s Nazi Germany did for the 1936 Berlin Olympics make sure you see next month’s Talk of the Town, whether it be online at saltburnbysea.com or in print.

For free advice buying or selling stamps, contact GEOFF REYNOLDS 01642 478229 or MARTIN SNOWDON 01287 622504.

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

As always, all welcome.

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Postal Subscription to Talk of the Town If you enjoy Talk of the Town, why not subscribe?

You can have your favourite local magazine delivered anywhere in the UK for just £33.50 per year.

Just call us on 01642 477200 and we can take card payment over the phone.

You’ll then get the next 12 issues delivered direct to your door at the start of every month.

The Saltburn Profile by Kath Sainsbury Rosemary Nicholls Most Saltburn people know Rosemary Nicholls as the author of the Saltburn Profile, a much-loved regular feature in Talk of the Town.

Through her interviews, Rosemary not only gathers material, but provides a sympathetic insight into the experiences of Saltburn residents, drawing the reader into some remarkable life stories.

Long-standing readers may remember two previous articles in Talk of the Town, one written about Rosemary’s move from the south to Saltburn, her teaching career and her considerable contribution to the local community as a School Governor, Parish Councillor and founder member of Saltburn Mothers Co-operative.

Another, by Michael Morrissey, focused on Rosemary’s regular production of “The Saltburn Profile” and how, over the years, it has inspired young writers to develop their skills.

However, the most recent of these was several years ago and all that water which has flowed under the bridge is also worthy of attention!

I met with Rosemary recently to chat about the things that inspire and motivate her. In talking about her very active, interesting life, Rosemary highlighted her love of the arts. She spoke about her membership of Saltburn Community and Arts Association and how she particularly enjoys the Film Club events. “I love going to see the National Theatre streamed films of live plays at Cineworld too and ‘Small Island’ by Andrea Levy that I saw in summer 2019 about the Windrush story was, I think, the best play I have ever seen.

“I am a member of Saltburn U3A and have recently joined Guisborough as well. I am also a member of the ‘Golden Girls Quiz Team’ – we never win, but we enjoy trying and I like going on the theatre visits and summer outings! In December we went to Harewood House and have previously been to Castle Howard and the Piece Hall in Halifax.”

Rosemary loves travelling with her family. To celebrate a significant birthday in 2019, she went to Zermatt in Switzerland with her daughter Isabel and on the actual birthday weekend they enjoyed going to Rockcliffe Hall at Hurworth for dinner, bed, breakfast and a spa experience!

For the last 10 years, Rosemary has regularly been away with her other daughter, Zoë, her son-in-law and her 4 grandchildren to a children’s farm in north Devon. Activities on offer include feeding sessions, donkey rides, stroking a chicken and even goat grooming. Rosemary laughs as she explains how everyone mucks in. In 2019 the owners won 1st prize for the best holiday accommodation in North Devon and in 2020, won 1st prize for the best self-catering accommodation in south-west England.

Rosemary speaks fondly of her daughters; Isabel is a local government officer and is ‘mum’ to Max the cat and two horses who are stabled locally. She smiles “I don’t ride myself, but I treat them to carrots!” Zoë is a part-time statistician with the Office for National Statistics which is a job she is able to combine with looking after 4 children aged 7 – 12. Both girls went to school in Saltburn and Rosemary herself has been a School Governor for 38 years.

When I asked what had sustained her interest and commitment for so long, she replied “I just love it – the challenge of doing your best for the children.” During that time, Rosemary has overseen many initiatives. Having started in 1982, she has served under 10 Headteachers.

Rosemary is an avid reader and explains that she is a regular customer of Jenna Warren’s ‘Book Corner’ saying “I would rather pay a bit extra than support cut-price online booksellers who treat their employees poorly and don’t pay their taxes.”

Rosemary listed some recent books she has enjoyed on popular politics: “Air Head” by Emily Maitless, “Rise: life lessons in speaking out, standing tall and leading the way” by Gina Miller and Malala Yousafzai’s inspiring “We are displaced”.

Rosemary would never indulge in self-praise, but it is clear that she gives an enormous amount of time to helping others. She explained “I am involved with a writing project at Teesside Hospice so I write up the thoughts and memories of people with life limiting illnesses to share with their families.

Teesside Hospice is a wonderful, positive place where people value each day very highly. It gives me enormous respect for the people facing their own mortality and it has given me a calmness and encouraged me to focus on the things that are really important in life.”

As we talked about opportunities to learn about the lives of others, Rosemary told me: “I am very proud to be part of the team of Saltburn and East Cleveland Befrienders who are supporting asylum seekers and refugees in practical ways.

I believe that how you treat other people tells them how you would like to be treated yourself. The people we meet are wonderful and it is good fun working as part of the team of volunteers.”

Rosemary is very interested in politics. “I believe that inequality impoverishes us all and I am committed to helping everyone understand the lives of other people through my writing.” I think that Rosemary can rest assured that her thought-provoking eloquence in Talk of the Town has helped us all to understand many things and hopefully we now understand a little more about her.

41

The Saltburn Crossword no 227 set by Dinosaur

Name___________________________________ Address_________________________________ ________________________________________ Telephone_______________________________

Across 1 Existential threat we currently face arranging various corn (11) 8 Precious and vital, a vane bull I redistribute (10) 9 Small land of this lesson (4) 11 Reference sounds like vision (4) 12 Remove from throne, ’e posed apart (6) 14 English trees threatened by Dutch disease (4) 15 Capture backing part (4) 16 Simplicity and trusting initially not any I value except that’s yours (7) 17 and 30 Across One sensible way to avoid 1 Across finds git’s coin scandal I put in disarray (6, 10) 19 Happenings in seven T-shirts (6) 21 Cute North American mammal is motoring organisation first then company on! (7) 23 Saltburn beach experiences it twice a day after edit returns (4) 25 Swarm with wildlife etc (this time spelled correctly) in mate emblem (4) 27 Painful disease found when sang in a bath (6) 28 Deserve remittance? Greek vase we hear (4) 29 Piglet sound puts nothing in front of writing material (4) 30 See 17 Across 31 7 Down might require it for the English but on last train out (11) Down 1 Alternative name for 1 Across in ten dove cine projection (5-8) 2 Become ill again concerning omission (7) 3 Slow walker puts student in a Saltburn jewel street (6) 4 They are melting with global warming I see by the sound of it returning what is out there (3, 4) 5 All join together in a single direction (5) 6 You are lucky if 1 Across only gives you this after sorting if in mince told (4, 9) 7 One Celtic tongue gauges when all put about (5, 8) 10 Another sensible way to prevent the spread of 1 Across is on float lies dreaming (4-9) 13 Eye infection sounds like where 29 Across may be heard (4) 18 Little bird found hiding in few rents (4) 20 Replacement act substituting get upright at home (5-2) 22 Italian wine wrapping chain before redirecting it (7) 24 Fairy story young woman or dragonfly? (6) 26 Constructor we all eventually go to meet? (5)

Solution to Crossword no 226

There was no winner of last month’s crossword because of the coronavirus

No crossword entries can be received until the shops reopen and things return to normal after the coronavirus restrictions have been lifted. Stay at home, stay safe, stay healthy. Love, Ian

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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The Muses of Jim It is rather ironic that we received the Prime Minister’s personal letter to the nation about the importance of keeping to the guidelines set out in the said letter. On the same day that Boris was admitted into hospital for what was the clear breaching the terms of his own letter.

Apparently other political officers and other experts have been doing the same. Shame on them all. To his credit the PM has thanked the National Health Service. Hopefully, he will now publicly scold and name the Party member who stated Nurses are only semi skilled, even though they have to have a degree, which they have to pay for themselves. Unlike MPs who don’t need any qualifications to enter the Commons, just votes.

To be fair I must admit that the Government’s response has been remarkable and surprising with their economic reaction being more in keeping with a more supportive regime and the acknowledgement of the need to provide financial support and help to a great number of the population and to all classes of people. Perhaps this is truly is a new beginning of one-nationhood at last. This coupled with the suggestion of possible reconstruction of the tax system so that everybody contributes the social cost of society. For once, we could really be in it together. Only time will tell.

Here in and across Leven Street each evening at 6.00pm we celebrate our togetherness in the strange situation we have found ourselves. It’s a fun way of checking up on people like myself who live on my own, because I can’t depend too much on Spud’s ability to get help. In fact I was late one evening and was told off by a neighbour. She used words I had last heard at the coalface, down Ackton Colliery, Pontefract in 1968. I bet she drinks pints of beer…. We sing and dance to two iconic piece of music per night. Unfortunately, my request for any Billy Fury songs have been ignored for more modern tastes. My day will come.

It’s pleasing to see how people are complying with social spacing because of what it means to people like myself, who feel well enough to look after ourselves, thus not risking the lives other others, but can do our own shopping. I have had some very interesting conversations with people, whilst walking the line. Only a few selfish people are tut-tutting and then they move away, refusing to queue even for a few minutes. It is amazing how wonderful are the people who are doing their day to day jobs in all aspects of everyday life. I thank you all.

It appears that with the Global shut down the earth appears to be cleansing itself, with China’s air quality showing signs of improving. Also it is said that Venice’s water quality is clearing so fast that fish can now be seen in the canals. Also wild life appears to be bouncing back because of less interaction of humans in the countryside throughout the world. In fact I am expecting the return of house martins any day soon. So watch this space or rather the apex of my gable end. There is no charge but donations are expected.

So perhaps it is time to look again at globalisation.

Do we really need China to be the workshop of the world?

It is not the free society we would or should expect. I would say no. British industry has recently proved to be flexible enough to meet the needs of the medical world.

Which proves we have skills that we need. Never mind the profits British investors make with their offshore investments.

Many years ago I worked at a flourmill and one of my roles was to unload the barges of the different types of grain for the different flours to be ground. This took minutes to transfer the different grains to the appropriate bunker at the top of the mill. Others barges passed the flourmill in each direction, each with different loads, including King Coal. Where one single barge would tow ten plus tom puddings, which were very large steel floating containers carrying a very large amount of coal each to feed the local power stations, taking a lot of traffic off already busy roads.

I travel by train often, not only both up and down but also across the country and one very rarely sees a mixed goods train, which you did when I was a young man. When every town had a local depot, where Scammell three wheelers made very local deliveries. Again this took heavy goods off the roads.

It is rather strange walking around Saltburn regardless of the time of day. The town appears to be deserted apart from when I went for a walk at 5.00am, one morning, for risk free exercise, you understand, and the main road though Saltburn was busy with single drivers in their cars. There were several large lorries, clearly delivery vehicles, taking goods to stores and shops in the larger area.

I have always had a wonderful service from Huntcliff Surgery over the years. Recently, I had a problem over some medication, but they soon sorted it out, double quick. I don’t know how they put up with me at times but they do, so thank you all. Likewise the staff at Boots have always been very helpful too. This goes for all the staff that work within Saltburn as well. We are lucky indeed. Let’s face it workers of the world have does us all proud they have gone that extra marathon not just the mile. Let’s hope that the National Health Service gets the much needed funds that it has been starved of. Instead of naming hospitals after a 19th Century woman, they could be named after staff that paid the ultimate price serving the people.

Looking forward to the future, I am thinking about having holiday after C-19 has been kicked into touch.

Which I see as a fresh start, therefore it will have to be somewhere I have never been to before. Where shall I go?

Or where should I go, that is the question. First of all, it has to be mainland UK and be the first time visit for me. A castle would useful and a Saxon Church a bonus. Several pubs are a must as is a good book shop and a decent hotel and a range of cafés and a wide range of reasonably priced charity shops. I shall have to Google my requirement and see what it comes up with. So that now is on my to-do-list.

Jim Wingham 43

£35.00

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