Talk of the Town

EDITION 184

CIRCULATION 4,800

OCTOBER 2016

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

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SALTBURN’S TOWN TALK Letter from the Editor

I was saddened this month to learn of the death of Jeff with extra articles and more colour pages. While that’s great Robinson. Jeff had helped many people in Saltburn with their for readers and advertisers, it’s not so good for the person who computers and he would never charge a call out fee if he has to pay for it. That’s me. Everyone wants this publication to couldn’t fix the problem. He did so much for people freely continue so I’m appealing to advertisers to pay quickly for and was well known as a musician and as a likeable, friendly their adverts and for people to give generously in the collection character. A tribute to him appears on page 46. At the time of boxes when they pick up extra copies. Love, Ian. going to press his friends and family were planning a big Send letters, adverts and contributions for the next issue (by celebration of his life on the last day of September.

This month’s Talk of the Town is a 64-page special Friday, 14th October 2016) to: The Editor, Talk of the Town c/o Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Watercolour class: there are a few places available at a Saltburn, Cleveland, TS12 1AQ. Telephone: 01287 623903 Watercolour Class in Saltburn. Monday and Thursday (or email: talkofthetownsaltburn@gmail.com). Talk of the afternoon. a fun and friendly class. Beginners welcome. Ring Town has a website: www.tottsaltburn.co.uk and the Kathryn on 01947 897803.

Friends of Talk of the Town can be found on Facebook.

Saltburn Friends of the Valley are holding their Annual General Meeting (AGM) on November 4th 2016 at 12.30pm Football clubhouse: The clubhouse at Hob Hill is to be to 1.15pm approx at Saltburn Woodland Centre. All are renovated and extended, according to a planning application notice, which was put on display on Guisborough Road in welcome to attend.

Macmillan Cancer Support Coffee Morning at Emmanuel September. Plans include providing showers and a social Church Hall, Saltburn on Friday October 7th, from 10.30 - 12, area. The field has been reseeded - thanks to a large grant - and hosted by Friday Friends. Everybody welcome to support this will be used this winter for the first time for several years. great cause. Also see page 40.

Craft Club Busy Fingers: 2nd and 4th Thursday of each Redcar Lecture Society: There will be Visual Presentations month, 1.30 till 3.30pm in the Coffee Room, Saltburn on the second and fourth Tuesdays of October in the Redcar Community Centre.

East Community Centre on Durham Road at 2.15pm. On 11th Miniature Railway safety rail: Vandals have broken down October David Rodway will be presenting the second part of 100 yards of miniature railway wooden safety rail in the his visually stunning topic on Cornwall. Then on October donkey field. This meant rail volunteers working hard over the 25th Bill Ferguson will take us on a journey to East Anglia weekend of 3rd-5th September to get the train back in action for his Odyssey which will be of particular interest to Train after two days. The vandalism was the only incident of its type Buffs. New and returning Members and Visitors will be most during the summer holidays. Police were informed. welcome.

Back Alex Pub’s hopes: The Back Alex pub has been Saltburn Beer Festival: 11th and 12th November at the shortlisted for the national finals of the Great British Community and Arts Centre. Any local businesses or Pub Awards in its community premises section. Category individuals who would like to support the festival by winners will be revealed in London on 5th October. sponsoring a cask of beer please contact Jill (at Deacon Ruth: The wife of a former vicar of Saltburn, the Rev jilljakday@gmail.com). More details on page 53.

Guy Donegan-Cross, has been appointed curate of a parish in Saltburn Farmers’ Market: The popular monthly market the Ripon area. Mr and Mrs Donegan-Cross worked in Saltburn adds to the weekend buzz around the town on Saturday, 8th from 2003-10. Guy is vicar of a Harrogate church and the October. More than 35 stalls packed with good locally couple have four children. produced food, and there’s three market hampers up for grabs WI Report: After a summer break, with no meeting in August, in a prize raffle on the day itself. See our report on page 35, or the ladies of Saltburn WI met on the 8th September for a social see www.saltburnfarmersmarket.com for more info. evening. A chance to catch up with each other while taking part Emmanuel Church Hall Table Top and Collectors’ Sale: in a lighthearted quiz and enjoying a bowl of homemade soup.

The next sales are on Saturdays, 1st, 15th and 29th October The business of the evening made us realise just how then 5th and 19th November. We are also doing our usual busy we are, with a full programme of events throughout each lunches and all day breakfast, fresh home baked cake, pies month. There really is something for everyone. Everything and scones. Home made refreshments and light lunches are on from cookery sessions, flower arranging, craft workshops and sale all day. FREE ENTRANCE and a warm welcome to walks. Not forgetting monthly outings (A mystery tour this everyone. With over 26 stall holders, selling lots of bric-a- month) and of course supper club. Our next meeting is on brac, books, toys, baby goods, and all sorts of collectables, Thursday, 13th October at 7.30pm in the Methodist church hall there is something for everyone. We have new stall holders in Milton Street. Do come along if you would like to join us; selling lots of different things now. If anyone would like to you will be most welcome. Full details of all our activities can book a table please contact Denise Marshall on 07929 be found on our website (www.saltburmwi.org.uk).

589538.

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

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Saltburn-by-the-Sea Milton Street Shops In 1904 William Imeson built a small terrace of shops including a first floor flat in Milton Street on a former excursion platform, we believe for the North Eastern Railway Company. The shops would cater for excursionists

arriving in the town. There have been many changes of businesses over the years but rarely an empty shop. Here is a selection of photographs showing some of the occupants.

1. The West End of the terrace with the flat.

2. The Eastern portion of the terrace where the subway was adjacent.

4. Fishmongers with flat over.

3. Tessa’s Antiques a veritable treasure house.

5. Above: Candybank for many years.

6. Left: Fruit instead of sweets.

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Cath and Tony Lynn

Same chef and owner for over 6 years

SALTBURN METHODIST CHURCH Milton Street, Saltburn.

Sunday Services at 10.45 a.m.

Looking for that special gift and card?

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

Now also available online.

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

Saltburn Councillors’ Surgeries Saltburn Councillors’ Surgeries, each month - all on Saturdays 1st Sat. Library 11-12 Cllr. Craig Hannaway 2nd Sat. Library 11-12 Cllr. Philip Thomson 3rd Sat. Outside Sainsbury’s Cllr. Stuart Smith 9.30-10.30 and 11.30-12.15 4th Sat. Library 11-12 All Councillors Cllr. Hannaway: 07515 863440. Cllr. Smith: 07557 540628.

Cllr. Thomson: 01287 624883.

Mid Week Worship AndWednesday 6.00 p.m. at 10 a.m

Sunday school 10.45 a.m.

Mid week worship Wednesday at 10 a.m.

Prayer Meeting Tuesday at 1.30 p.m.

OPEN CHURCH - 10 a.m. - 12 noon MONDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY. A quiet space with a listening ear, Or just call in for tea or coffee.

MONDAYS AT EIGHT LADIES GROUP at 8 p.m.

COFFEE MORNINGS: WEDNESDAY 10 - 11.45 a.m.

SATURDAY 10 a.m. - 12noon TUESDAY 2.p.m. KNIT & NATTER. TUESDAY & THURSDAY TODDLERS GROUP. If you would like to come please drop in and ask as there is normally a waiting list.

First TUESDAY OF THE MONTH Soup & Bun lunch at 12.30 p.m.

See notice board for other events.

Anyone is welcome to join us at these events, do come along, we’d love to see you.

We also have rooms to rent for meetings etc, for more information please contact 622826.

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Once Upon a Time in the Wapentake Writing last month’s column awoke memories of my early years living on the very edge of town. As there were farms close by, then that was where you went looking for holiday work; as potatoes were the main local crop, potato picking was the work you most often found.

It was hard, sometimes miserable work, especially when it rained, but you could earn as much as two bob (10p) for every hundredweight sack you filled and dragged to the gate. Two bob was a lot of money for a fourteen year old in 1960. And it was work that had to be done: the potato was an even more important part of our diet in those days than it is now. I’ve been told that, on Teesside, schools shut for Tater Picking Week, and lorryloads of children were sent off to the potato fields. One thing I learnt, and I’m sure others did too, was the real cost of food. So that we may eat somebody somewhere is breaking their back, though nowadays that somewhere may no longer be a field just down the road, and that somebody may not speak a language we understand.

They’re not doing it out of the goodness of their hearts of course; they are doing it so they can afford to feed their family and eat themselves.

For a week or so after the picking our backs would ache and we would walk down the street looking down just in case we missed a tater, but we were young and soon recovered. And there were other jobs to do on the farm. There were a memorable couple of days we spent mucking out the shippon, as we called the cowshed.

However, what I remember most vividly was hay making.

A machine cut the grass and then, to help it dry out, we would walk round and round the meadow, turning it with what we called a pikel, a kind of pitchfork. It was very hot that year, and we got very thirsty. The first morning the farmer’s wife brought out an enormous enamel jug of hot sweet tea. I didn’t drink tea in those days, because I didn’t like it, but this was the most wonderful thing I had ever tasted. I’ve been a tea addict ever since.

Once the hay was dry enough it was baled by another gadget towed behind the tractor. Finally the bales had to be loaded onto a trailer to be towed back to the farm.

We were an oddly assorted gang on that hay making. There was my mate and I, both Grammar School boys, and there were four girls, Sixth Formers at the Convent School. There was the Farmer’s son, who had a bit of a thing about one of the lasses, and a very ancient farm hand, no doubt younger than I am now, but still: he was bent like a thorn bush that’d been blown by too many gales, and so frail looking that it seemed quite right that he did nothing very much except be rude about everybody else.

One corner of the field was damper than the rest, and the hay bales from there were so much heavier; ‘like bloody concrete,’ the Farmer’s son said. My mate and I tried to shift such a one, but the two of us together could barely raise it six inches off the ground. No way was it going to go on the wagon. Then the little old man came 6

along, and, with his pikel in his left hand, flipped the bale onto the top of the stack as easy as you might toss a coin.

He said nothing, but his silence said it all: all the book learning in the world is no use when it comes to making hay.

The old feller was also weather-wise; just by smelling the wind he seemed know what the day would bring. (Perhaps what he really did was listen to the weather forecast on the wireless. Perhaps.) It was he who told us the weather would break very soon. We would have to get every last bale out of the field and under shelter before nightfall. So we did, and, as the very last light was fading, we loaded the last bale onto the wagon, and then climbed aboard. Sprawled exhausted on top of the hay, we sang songs and passed around the cider. It should have been a stone jar of scrumpy, made on the farm, and what we should have been singing were old folk songs, but it was really 1963 (the last summer there was before I went off to Uni) so what we were singing were probably songs by the Everly Brothers and maybe the Beatles, and the cider we were drinking was Bulmers. But still…I had the feeling that I was playing my very small part in a drama that had been played out so many times before.

But might not be played so many times again.

Nowadays the grass is cut green for silage, and everything else has changed. But then everything is always changing.

Some ten thousand years ago human beings started farming, planting and harvesting crops, instead of hunting in the wild for nuts and berries. That meant they settled down whilst they waited for their crops to ripen. It was the beginning of towns. But after some nine thousand years had passed probably only 10% of people lived in towns and most of those would still be farming even if they also had specialist trades such as metalwork or carpentry.

Then, two hundred and fifty years ago, beginning in Britain, there occurred the Industrial Revolution. Millions moved from the land to the cities, became factory workers or miners rather than farmers or craft workers. We exported factory made goods and imported cheap food, and drove yet more farm workers off the land.

I’ve been wondering whether, if they had held a referendum, and if, even more unlikely, they’d given the farmhand and the handloom weaver a vote, whether they’d have voted to have an Industrial Revolution at all, even if they had the promise that it would make everybody better off in the end. But, of course, they didn’t know they were having an Industrial Revolution. They didn’t know what was happening to them, and neither do we. Nobody knows what’s happening until it’s over, and even then we still argue about what it was that happened.

Still less do we know what’s going to happen next. One of the most ridiculous aspects of the referendum we’ve just had was the way that both sides claimed to know exactly what would happen if we did, or did not, leave the EU. How did they know?

Tim Beswick

Real Meals Purveyors of Fine Foods

As the days grow shorter, the need for soup gets stronger.

Every day Real Meals makes a fresh and wholesome soup, to eat on the premises or to take away.

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday: 8.30am to 6.00pm, Saturday: 8.30am to 5.00pm, Sunday 10.00am to 2.00pm.

For more details contact: REAL MEALS, 25 MILTON STREET, SALTBURN, Tel: 01287 622266.

New email address: realmeals.uk@gmail.com

New Website: www.real-meals.co.uk

Councillors’ Column In days of cut backs, austerity and interest rates bringing little or no investment return, the recent Festival of Thrift seemed an appropriate vehicle to focus the mind. Set among the splendours of Kirkleatham Estate, which boasts more listed buildings than any other square footage in the North, the days of supreme bloodstock and the success of the Flying Dutchman, were stirred if not quite brought back to life.

The magnificent stables hosted talented young artists from the region and a multitude of inventive stalls and platforms demonstrated that frugality has a place in any household even with the pedigree of Turner. The throwaway society that the planet is now struggling to live with was challenged by a multitude of upcycling and recycling creativity that demonstrated admirable ingenuity and provoking of thought.

Lessons could be learned closer to home in local back streets, where some refuse bins in certain areas remain permanently marshalled after collection day and become a magnet for fly tipping and resultant environmental health concerns, making those residents who have to live in such areas suffer a most unpleasant and undesirable experience.

With consultation for the Local Plan coming to an end, an analysis of the returns has produced few surprises, not least the wish of developers to further extend the boundaries of the town with additional agricultural fields being given up for housing. Fortunately, clearly defined limits had been proposed and these have been supported by the whole Council, allowing this ghost to be laid.

Senior figures from the Arts Council and Yorkshire

Forward recently visiting the vicinity may indicate that good news may be on the horizon for the Borough. With industrial decline, cultural and tourism development are seen as important sources of growth for the area.

Further tourism ideas, chalets and a camping site, are in the pipeline but failure to adequately maintain the Valley Gardens leaves this salient feature at risk.

Currently discussions on forming a Community Interest Organisation are being held with a view to raising funds to support restoration. A public meeting in the Community Theatre on the 4th November will debate this.

If exhaustion by consultation has not set in, the announcement by the Boundaries Commission of initial proposals for new Parliamentary Constituencies affords another opportunity to express a view. Printable thoughts are welcome until the 5th December giving plenty of time to reflect. The Commission's web site www.bce2018.org.uk will allow access to the feed back form.

Before then All Hallows’ Eve may have intervened and celebrations entered into. Traditions possibly originated from the ancient Samhain harvest festival and this may have been given a Christian interpretation in early days or possibly always were simply from Christian roots. Either way, time has invented different manners of celebration. One time honoured feature being the use of pumpkins. Taking the message from the Festival of Thrift, pumpkin contents should not be discarded before the candle has gone out but recycled. Two immediate delicacies come to mind. Pumpkin biscuits and pumpkin soup.

Philip Thomson 7

Saltburn Beachwatch Deposit Return Systems For every kilometre of beach surveyed in 2015 by Beachwatch volunteers throughout the UK a whopping number of 99 plastic drink bottles were found along with metal drinks cans and glass bottles. Single-use drinks containers made up 10% of all litter on beaches that were surveyed. Of all single-use drinks containers found, plastic ones made over 70% of the total. Drinks containers are a blight on our beach and our surveys have found that discarded plastic containers have increased significantly in the last few years.

The Marine Conservation Society along with others have called for a Deposit Return System (DRS) to be introduced in England (Scotland and Wales have their own proposed systems) to try to halt the continuing rise in marine pollution and beach litter. There are now discussions about how such a system could be implemented. DRSs already work well in parts of Europe, Australia, and the US. Studies have shown that a DRS increases recycling and leads to a reduction in litter.

Container return rates in European deposit systems are generally very high with rates of 98% of bottles returned in Germany. US states that have a DRS have shown large reductions in drinks containers in the general litter stream with some states achieving an 80% reduction of these items going into municipal waste. Litter reduction would be of primary benefit to local authority waste management costs and could lead to possible savings in council tax.

The problem of dirty and contaminated recyclable material is often a problem for the recycling industry, plastic recyclers in particular, and a DRS would deliver a cleaner and less contaminated product for industry. In many countries around the world when you go into a shop, supermarket or system collection point you take your bottles with you, scan them through a machine, and get your money back. Deposits vary widely but it is envisaged that a deposit of 10 to 20 pence for a standard container, based on overseas experience, could give a return rate of over 85% recycling.

This idea is nothing new as older readers will remember deposit and return was standard practice in the Fifties and early Sixties and I remember “collecting� glass bottles to take back to the shop. Researchers have found that where a DRS exists young people are much more likely to recycle drinks containers and are generally more aware of recycling.

In autumn 2015 the single use plastic bag was subject to a 5p charge and subsequently we have seen an 85% reduction in use. Unlike a tax a deposit is fully refundable when you return your empties. The introduction of a DRS for England could reduce littering, increase recycling and change behaviour. Like the carrier bag charge it’s a simple idea that can have an immediate effect. Like many other countries it is time for a system to be introduced here in England so that our seas, beaches, streets and countryside can be made cleaner and safer for all.

Roy Smith 8

Hands On Therapy Clinic Remedial Therapy Reflexology Sports Injuries Relaxation Louise Clark ITEC Diploma MBSR, GCP, BCMA Reg Saltburn Leisure Centre, Marske Mill Lane

Tel: 01287 625700 Mob: 07775 610745

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

June Hume Aesthetics, RGN, INP. Fully Qualified Practitioner with 38 years medical experience offering all Non Surgical Treatments including all injectable procedures to correct wrinkles and volume loss due to the natural ageing process.

Wrinkle injections, dermal fillers and acid peels along with other advanced treatments and procedures are carried out professionally and to suit each individuals requirements using only the highest quality products.

FREE Consultations offered at home without obligation.

For further information or to book an appointment contact: June 07815 839996 or email june.hume33@virginmedia.com

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Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council At the September Parish Council meeting the Chairman presented prizes to the Joe Abraham allotment competition winners. The winner of the best allotment in Saltburn was Mrs Sunley, whose plot is on the Hazel Grove site (pictured here with Councillor John Lambert).

Zetland Hotel, Marske won the shield for the best overall site in the Parish.

It has been agreed that future Leisure Committee meetings will be moved to a Tuesday night with immediate effect. Dates of all meetings are published on our website.

Saltburn Historic Motor Gathering and Hill Climb, organised by Middlesbrough & District Motor Club, and sponsored by the Parish Council, made a welcome return to the town on Sunday, 11th September. The weather was kind and the event was once again a huge success with record crowds.

FUTURE DATES FOR THE DIARY – Saltburn Christmas event will take place on Saturday, 3rd December. There will be children’s activities and entertainment during the afternoon at the Library. The Christmas tree lights will be switched on at 5.00pm and then the local Fire Brigade will lead the parade bringing Father Christmas into the Town - anyone who would like to volunteer to assist on the day should contact the Clerk to the Council. The theme this year is Disney and fancy dress is encouraged! A colouring competition will be held - the winners will get to switch on the Christmas Tree lights. Further details will be given next month.

A Parish Council Carol Service will be held in Emmanuel Church. Saltburn on Wednesday, 21st December in association with the Middleton Choir followed by light refreshments in the Church Hall. As well as invited guests, members of the local community are invited to come along and the event is free.

Any resident interested in renting an allotment in Saltburn can download an application form from our website (www.smnmpc.co.uk).

Tracy Meadows (Clerk and RFO to Saltburn, Marske & New Marske Parish Council) The Conference Centre, Saltburn Learning Campus Marske Mill Lane, Saltburn, TS12 1HJ Tel: 01287 623477 email: office@smnmpc.co.uk www.smnmpc.co.uk 10

Saltburn 500 Club I am writing this article having just returned from holiday, coming from the Spanish sunshine to the typical weather we have to suffer on this stretch of the coast! I have just returned home from a pleasant evening at Saltburn Cricket Club where I enjoyed watching the Saltburn in Bloom team being presented with their well-earned honours. Congratulations go to Lynda and David and all of their helpers for the winning so many awards!

The Jitterbug, organised to raise funds for the Christmas lights, is only a week away and, to date, only twenty of the eighty tickets have been sold. If I have to cancel the event, my apologies to those who bought tickets but you will be fully reimbursed. If it went ahead, I hope you all enjoyed it! It is difficult knowing what the people of Saltburn would like to participate in in order to raise funds for YOUR lights and the Jitterbug seemed to be a different approach to try and raise much-needed funding.

Whilst talking about the Christmas lights, the cost of erecting/dismantling them versus the monies I manage to raise in a year means that the 2017 show of lights could be the last. The number of members of Saltburn 500 Club is dwindling at an alarming rate and the businesses in the town find it more difficult each year to donate towards the cost. I do receive support from the Parish Council and the Ward Councillors but I cannot rely solely on these donations. If you have any suggestions on how to find funding, please let me know! The old saying is very true – you’ll only miss it when it’s gone.

This year’s lighting-up is on 3rd December and the committee are looking towards having a group of Star Wars characters in the parade, along with children in their Disney costumes. The planning involved in road closures etc is proceeding well and the two things we can’t control are the weather and the number of people attending on the night. So, if it’s raining, please remember to bring your brollies because the Force will not be able to keep you dry. I have nearly finished the booking of bands to play Christmas music on the Saturdays leading up to Christmas so please try to get into the town to hear the music and spend your cash in the local shops. Let’s all make the effort to keep Saltburn the Jewel in the Crown of the Redcar & Cleveland area.

Hopefully, October will bring forth a multitude of volunteers and a secret millionaire. This would mean that my future columns in Talk of the Town could take on a more pleasant tone!

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

or email: simon.robson1@ntlworld.com

Saltburn in Bloom Following the official Northumbria in Bloom Presentation Awards at Gateshead on 14th September, Saltburn in Bloom hosted an evening for their own volunteers and representatives of different groups in the town, who work so hard to keep this special place looking good throughout the year. The Mayor of RCBC was invited to present the awards to this year’s Northumbria in Bloom entrants, pictured here.

Julie and Peter Short, 22 Wilton Bank were awarded Silver Gilt for their lovely front garden, whilst both Huntcliff Court and Zetland Terrace Allotments gained Gold. Saltburn Valley Gardens were awarded Gold and won the trophy for Conservation.

Saltburn again was awarded Gold and won the trophy as the Best Coastal Resort. We are delighted as we work so hard. Marske and Seaham were awarded Silver.

I would like to congratulate all those who were involved in the competition and gave up their time to talk to the judges about what they do. The judges were very impressed with all that they saw and made many positive comments about the contribution that volunteers make, in partnership with the Parish Council and RCBC, to the town. A big thank you to those who show they care and are prepared to make a difference.

The Northumbria in Bloom judges praised the work of volunteers in Laurel Road, Huntcliff Court and Hanover House and particularly the floral displays on Marske Road and hanging baskets and tubs in Albion Terrace and around the Station area, the responsibility of Saltburn in Bloom. Paul Neimer at Rainbow Plant Centre and Ray Richardson at Moorsholm were responsible for the planting and with the help of a new waterer and a new watering regime, they have been stunning this summer. The choice of plants and colours carrying on throughout the town was beautiful. John Taylor was unable to water as he has knee problems and Simon, the Parish warden kindly stepped in at short notice, but watering in his own time and totally separate to his Warden’s role. Sadly, after watering stopped the plants deteriorated rapidly, suffering from the strong winds and high temperatures drying out the compost.

We had hoped they would look good for a further two weeks, as we had pre-arranged the day for taking the baskets down and our budget is limited. Perhaps we’ll get the whole summer right next year!

Next summer will be without Ray Richardson however, as he is retiring from his commitment to helping Saltburn in Bloom after 26 years. He and his wife Lily have been a major part of the success of the town’s entry into Northumbria in Bloom and Britain in Bloom during these years. We are so grateful to both of them for the dedication they have shown, always going the extra mile to help. We would like to wish them well in the future.

Lynda Parkes

SALTBURN EVANGELICAL CHURCH Leven Street, Saltburn Seeking to be more like Jesus and sharing His love with those around us.

"We love Him because He first loved us."

(1 John 3:19) Please join us as we gather to worship and learn more about Jesus, to build and strengthen our faith, and encourage one another to grow more like Him. We meet each Sunday at 10.30am and 6.30pm.

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What’s Happening at

Marske Hall

Craft Fair Saturday, 15th October 2016 At Marske Hall - 10am-3pm.

Traditional craft fair with fabrics and knitted crafts as well as personalised embroidered gifts, decorated wine glasses, phone cases and mirrors. jams, pickles, wooden plaques and planters and much more. Refreshments, cream teas and raffle. Entry free, donations welcome. A few stalls are still available for hire; call 01642 482672.

Appeal The fundraising team is always looking for tombola and raffle prizes to use at events throughout the year. Any larger prizes are most welcome for our Christmas and Summer main raffles. Simply call into Marske Hall from 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday (or visit www.facebook/marskehall.com).

Thank you for your continued support. Funds raised at these events will enhance the lives of people living at Marske Hall. Registered Charity No: 218186. For details of these and other events call 01642 482672 (or visit: www.facebook/marskehall.com).

Marske Hall, Redcar Road, TS11 6AA. Kath Bloomfield Volunteer press officer

Redcar & Cleveland Real Opportunity Centre (ROC) Drop In Sessions

We are a user led organisation run for and by disabled people. Our services include Information, scooter hire and sales of mobility aids, promotion of self advocacy and personalised services and support.

Interested? Want To Know More? Then please call at one of the venues listed below and we will be happy to discuss our services in more detail.

Redcar Central Library Tuesday, 25th October 2016 9.30am – 12.30pm.

Marske Library Tuesday, 25th October 2016 1.30pm – 4pm.

Guisborough Library Friday, 28th October 2016 9.30am – 12.30pm.

Saltburn Library Friday, 28th October 2016 1.30pm – 4pm.

Shane Slater Plumbing & Heating All aspects of domestic plumbing

Tel: 01287 625657 Mobile: 07812 391418 Bathrooms Fires/Fireplaces Showers Boilers Tiling Heating Systems Underfloor Heating Systems

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Saltburn-by-the-Sea Garden Flat available for holiday lets.

Less than five minutes walk from the sea and from the train station, shops and local restaurants etc.

The property consists of a fully fitted and equipped kitchen, spacious and well furnished lounge overlooking the garden (which is for your personal use), and a double bed with en-suite bathroom.

WiFi access Prices - £35.00 per night (minimum of two nights) Contact Mr & Mrs Smith on 01287 623740 (home) Or 07988 838956 (Mr Smith mobile) Or 07877 384977 (Mrs Smith mobile)

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

Ray retires after 30 years at Signals Looking back to 1985, Saltburn was struggling to retain its image as a thriving Victorian town when Ray Brown seized the opportunity to rent a small shop unit at the station buildings and open it as one of a very few local cafes.

He went to see his bank manager at the NatWest in Station Street. He advised the would-be cafe owner, then working at the Skelton training centre for people with learning difficulties, that he would be wasting his time and money.

In his opinion Saltburn was dead and he advised Ray against risking everything. But Ray, who had earlier had experience in catering and enjoyed the work, decided to go ahead with support from his family.

On a snowy day 21st February 1986 he stood outside the supermarket, then Gateway and now Sainsbury’s, handing out leaflets advertising Signals. It didn’t take long before the small cafe with only eight tables and a tiny kitchen, became a popular meeting place for many people, who have happy memories of it then.

Ray and his sister Sue set out into this venture into the unknown with help from Doris, their mother, who baked apple pies, his mother-in-law Violet Newell, who baked scones and pastries, and a good friend Dorothy Taylor, who helped to bake cakes such as Aunt Edna’s and caramel shortbread. The latter two items are still firm favourites at Signals today.

After running for 10 years, the opportunity came to move to bigger premises at the other end of the square. Ray jumped at the chance and Signals doubled its seating capacity inside and outside.

As Ray’s children Rory, Josh and Lydia reached their teens they took on roles within the family business. Rory and Lydia both trained at Middlesbrough College and in recent years they decided to open in the evenings. Josh masterminded a plan for the upstairs, turning it into a cocktail bar and seating area with a retro feel. Rory and Lydia put together mouth-watering menus and it wasn’t long before customers were booking tables. and returning

Ray Brown says goodbye to Signals after 30 years. Daughter Lydia and son Rory stand on either side. They have worked at the cafe/bistro for several years each.

again and again.

So after 30 years Ray feels it is time to step down and hand over to Rory and Lydia, who will continue to bring their individual flair to Signals with their ever-changing seasonal dishes and menus.

Ray would like to say a big thank you to all of his loyal customers for their continued support. And to all staff, past and present for all their hard work, time and effort. A big thank you goes to sister Sue, who is still active in the business. She helped through good and bad times and without her Signals would not have survived.

Ray also thanks his wife Anne for all her work done behind the scenes while running her own business, the Backstreet Theatre Company, for adults with learning difficulties, at Grangetown, as well as Signals.

Ray says Saltburn has not changed over 30 years and hopes it never will because that’s what makes the town so unique.

Saltburn and District Group for Visually Impaired People Following the heat wave of early September, our first meeting of the new calendar met in thick fog – thankfully our speakers were able to get through from their country address!

Lynne and Steve Nicholls came to talk to us about Coastal View and Moor News. This is a well-known publication in the local area and they gave a fascinating insight into its history.

Lynne and Steve ‘inherited’ the publication and started publishing in 2010. At that time it was a 20 page newspaper with a circulation of 10,000. It is now produced ten times a year with a print-run of 26,500 and averages 80 pages! It is essentially a 2 man team: all articles are edited by Lynne and jointly put together in their home office. Funded by advertisers of local businesses, it then goes to the printers in Teesside and then to local distributers and so on to local addresses and

businesses for its circulation.

We learned of its development over the years and how they support local charities and recognise unsung heroes in their annual awards.

A big thank you to both for sharing your journey of how this well-enjoyed newsletter reaches us all full of information and news. If you cannot get a print copy, it is a v a i l a b l e o n t h e i r w e b s i t e (www.coastalviewandmoornews.co.uk).

On 12th October we will welcome a representative from the campaigns office of RNIB who are constantly striving to improve the right and accessibility of Visually Impaired People.

Please join us in the Coffee Room, Community Centre, Albion Terrace, Saltburn, from 2pm.

For any queries please contact Chris Ferguson on 01287 204170.

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SALTBURN PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY Wednesday, 5th October Competition results Subject Open.

Wednesday, 12th October Lizzie Shepherd presents “Hidden Landscapes”. Wednesday, 19th October Paul Forster gives advice on location and equipment in his presentation “Natural History”. Wednesday, 26th October presentation of shorts sets for the Moore Trophy competition.

Wednesday, 2nd November Royal Society International Portfolio digital presentation.

Practical nights will be held frequently; more details available from contact number or website.

Meetings are held in the upstairs hall, Saltburn Milton Street Methodist Church TS12 1EB at 7.30pm. Visitors are welcome to any of our meetings; there will be a small charge. For more information, visit our website www.saltburnphotographicsociety.co.uk or contact Tony Lynn 01287 622519.

Terror Returns to the Tunnels Terror returns to the tunnels in our annual Halloween hairraiser. On the evening of Saturday, 22nd of October, from six till eight, brave the haunted passageways of the Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum for a spooky tour full of frightful tales.

Tours will run every 15 minutes and whilst you wait refreshments will be at hand and so too will the haunting melodies of folk rock group Stormcrow. For all this and an unforgettable evening, entry will be £2 for children and £4 for adults, being less suitable for under 7s. Afterwards, why not bring the children down to a spooky session of Halloween crafts? On Monday, 24th October, from 10:30am to 1pm, come and craft a frightening little friend (or fiend) in Messy Little Monsters, whilst on Friday, 28th October 10:30am-1pm, make your own Day of the Dead Mask in our Mexican Spooky Skulls crafts session.

“After the outstanding popularity of last year’s Terror in the Tunnels we are excited to offer another evening of Halloween horrors!” says Jean Banwell, Education Manager.

“Special thanks must be given to our dedicated and committed team of volunteers upon whose shoulders the smooth-running of the museum resides. If anyone would like to learn new skills to develop their career or simply devote their time to a worthwhile cause, the museum is eager to hear from people of all ages who would like to join our education, marketing, maintenance or guiding teams!”

We have also teamed up with the Skinningrove History Group to present a second local history lecture. On Saturday, 12th November, from 2pm, Redcar-born author Stephen Chance will be talking about his research into the Alum industry and the discoveries which inspired his novel, The Alum Maker’s Secret.

And when the Halloween horrors are over, we’re looking forward to hosting a very special festive guest! On the 3rd and 4th of December, from 10am till 4pm, bring the family down to our magical underground grotto to meet Santa himself! Entry to the magical grotto will be only £2.50 for children and £1 for adults who can look forward to free drinks and maybe a mince pie or cake!

For more information on this year’s exiting activities, visit our web site ironstonemuseum.co.uk or contact the Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum: 01287 642877 (or whats-on@ironstonemuseum.co.uk).

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Local Sculptor honours Skelton’s Antarctic Explorer Commander John Robert Francis “Frank” Wild CBE RNVR FRGS was born in Skelton in 1873, the first son of Benjamin and Mary (née Cook). The family grew to 8 boys and 3 girls (plus 2 children who died in infancy). At age 16, Frank Wild joined the Merchant Navy and was taken aboard the ‘Sobraon’ – at that time the largest fully rigged composite ship. So began his career on the seas and his eventually becoming one of the world’s greatest Antarctic explorers, often second in command to Ernest Shackleton.

His achievements have been marked several times with the award of medals from Geographical Societies, including the Livingstone Gold Medal, for the most outstanding feat of exploration south of the Equator. Frank Wild was also awarded the ‘Polar Medal with Four Clasps’ – only two of which have ever been issued.

However, little has been made public of this Skelton boy’s success in Antarctica.

William Harling Dip.AD, MRBS, Sculptor, sought to honour this great man and decided to sculpt an image of Frank Wild and asked for the Sculpture to be placed in Skelton-in-Cleveland, the village in which Wild was born.

Originally from Middlesbrough, William gained a Dip.AD in sculpture at Maidstone College of Art in 1969. In 1997 after a period of art and industrial projects, he started sculpting full time in Hove, Sussex. His work has been displayed regularly at Brighton Open Houses, Surrey Sculpture Society, Broomhill Sculpture Park, Newby Hall and Pride of the Valley Sculpture Park, as well as Worthing Art Gallery, Sotheby’s, Burghley House and The Albermarle Gallery, London. Mr Harling sought to honour Frank Wild and has kindly designed and donated this work of art to Skelton, modelled in clay and cast in a resin composite.

William approached ‘Friends of Skelton Community Orchard’ who, over the past 18 months have created Ringrose Orchard, a beautiful garden area in the centre of Skelton-in-Cleveland. The ‘Friends’ were more than happy to work with William and, aided by Skelton History Group, an Interpretation panel has been created to stand alongside the sculpture of Frank Wild. The work has been entitled ‘Frank Wild – Shackleton’s Return’.

A special ceremony will have been held on Thursday, September 29th at 11:00am at Ringrose Orchard in Skelton when Mr Anthony Wharton will unveil this tribute to this great local born Antarctic Explorer.

You are all welcome to attend, celebrate this man’s achievements and share refreshments with us.

Supported by Local Borough Councillors. Skelton and Brotton Parish Council, Skelton History Group, Friends of Skelton Community Orchard

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Fundraising event ‘We shall overcome’ say community minded musicians.

We Shall Overcome in Saltburn-by-the-Sea. This will be one of over 100 fundraising concerts taking place across the UK on October 3rd-9th.

Local musicians have come together to organise live music to give much needed support to EVA Women’s Aid and our local food bank. ‘We Shall Overcome’ is a community effort led by musicians and music promoters who want to do something practical to help people in our area who are being hit hard by homelessness and poverty.

Over the week of October 3rd-9th upwards of 175 gigs will take place across the UK under one unified banner – We Shall Overcome. With more being added all the time, the organisers hope this show of solidarity will also highlight the human cost to the politics of austerity and cuts to public services. Several thousand musicians will perform nationally as audiences are encouraged to bring food for foodbanks or make donations to homelessness and other projects.

Barbara Helen and Sara Dennis, the organisers of the gig, upstairs at The Marine in Saltburn-by-the-Sea said, “We Shall Overcome is part of an anti-austerity movement but it is also very much pro-community. We wanted to do our bit here in Saltburn to show solidarity with others around the country and to be part of something bigger all across the UK.” Amongst the bands taking part in the gig on Saturday, 8th October, are Peg Powler, Barbara Helen, Dave Brunskill and Marie Marx.

To gain admission to the event audiences are being asked to bring a food donation, non perishables, or make a donation to EVA Women’s Aid. Either money, or new women’s underwear, nightwear (all sizes) sanitary items, toiletries and tombola items, raffle gifts/services for EVA Women’s Aid would also be greatly appreciated. Doors open at 7:30pm. Upstairs at The Marine, Saltburn on the 8th October.

Full UK gig listing and more information at www.weshallovercomeweekend.com.

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Megan’s Mind I’m nervous as I write this as it is my driving test very soon! I over think and then I stress myself out. I don’t want to say that I think I’ll be fine because I will probably jinx myself and then I will fail! But fingers and toes crossed for me, please. I will let you know if I passed next month, and if I don’t mention it, then it will probably be because I failed! But if I do fail then all that will happen is I will have to redo it. After all, I won’t die. I don’t know why I’m so nervous! I think I will be fine when I get there and my test has started; it’s just the lead up to it! I hope I pass.

This weekend it’s my driving test, then the weekend after Alex moves to London to start University, and then the weekend after that my mum is away so I will be home alone for the weekend but that might be quite nice to have a little bit of peace and quiet. I think I might have a Dominoes pizza for my lunch, and cook a nice meal for tea. Or on the other hand I might cook a nice meal for my lunch and have a takeaway Dominoes pizza for my tea. Both sound good! Whatever I decide to do to eat, I will definitely have a good pamper, with a nice long, couple of hours long, bubble bath with a bath bomb, bath oils, and exfoliate and do a face mask and a hair mask and paint my nails and cuddle up and watch films all night. It will be nice being able to do whatever I want. I am excited for it now! I will probably want them to go away again straight after.

It’s my birthday soon. It’s a big birthday and I can’t believe it. I still feel about fifteen! It’s scary to think that I will be a real proper adult! I’m not sure yet what I want for my birthday, or even if I want to celebrate it. I’m not one for going out on nights out or drinking a lot (but I like wine very much). We usually go out for our tea to celebrate our birthdays but I’m not sure if I want to do that either. It’s a Saturday, so I could do anything, but I just don’t know! A few months ago I had asked for a big French dictionary, a big Spanish dictionary, a big English dictionary, some sharp knives (because I like cooking and I don’t like the ones at our house!) and some Chanel Chance perfume. But now I don’t really want anything. My mum and I are having a weekend away in Manchester at the end of October. A Birthday weekend but I also have an appointment in Manchester then so we are killing two birds with one stone and having a holiday too because we both need one! And we both celebrate big birthdays this year so we thought we would have a little weekend break.

I’m looking forward to Autumn. I like it when the leaves on trees go orange and the sun’s out but it’s nippy outside and Halloween! I love Halloween! I think I am going to dress up this year but I don’t know as what. Halloween is for dressing scary especially as things like vampires and witches I think! I really don’t like it when people dress as things like ‘dead cheerleader’. I think that’s not Halloween-y!

Megan 16

Borough prepared for recycle week CLOTHES swapping, educational workshops and a recycling art project were all on the cards as Redcar and Cleveland took part in recycle week.

The week, starting on Monday, 12th September, saw a number of schemes introduced to encourage more people to recycle and educate people on what can and can’t go in recycling bins.

Tying in with the borough-wide ‘Check it Before you Chuck It’ initiative, recycle week saw staff from the council’s Waste & Recycling team visit all corners of the borough.

As well as education on what can and can’t go in the blue recycling bin, there were a number of artworks being created out of recycled products. The first is a sculpture made entirely out of recycled plastic to show the public what can be done with all the plastic people throw away.

The week also saw school pupils create their own works of art to teach people about the benefits of recycling in the ‘Art of Recycling’ project which will be part of a number of schemes members of the Waste & Recycling team are bringing into schools across the borough.

Ending the week was a recycling event on Redcar High Street on Friday, 16th September to show people the impact recycling can have on where they live, including the effect poor recycling can have on Guisborough Forest & Walkway as well as other parts of the countryside.

Visitors to the high street could have walked away with some recycled products of their own as a number of bird and bat boxes using recycled wood were being given out.

Residents wanting to learn more about recycling and upcycling, were also encouraged to go to the Festival of Thrift at Kirkleatham Museum and Grounds which offered a number of workshops on upcycling furniture and reusing old clothes (for more on the festival, go to: www.festivalofthrift.co.uk). The Festival took place on the weekend of September 17th and 18th and was a resounding success. Young bands from Redcar’s Tuned In venue entertained the crowds, students from Teesside University and CCAD demonstrated their thrifty fashion skills, whilst young and old alike enjoyed the experience of being pushed along Track close to the site of the track to the former Dunsdale ironstone mine, as they contemplated the canopy of the woodland at the Kirkleatham setting. Visitors also had a rare opportunity to view Kirkleatham’s recently restored Grade II* listed stable block which was transformed for the event by a series of striking new artworks by five emerging artists from Tees Valley and County Durham exhibiting alongside established artist Steve Messam. See the other article on page 48.

Councillor Alec Brown, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “Increasing recycling across Redcar and Cleveland is one of the council’s key priorities in the coming years as we look to make the borough more environmentally friendly than ever before. All the events in recycle week will educate people in what can and can’t go in the blue bin as well as showing just what can be done with recycled materials.”

For more information on recycling, go to: www.redcarcleveland.gov.uk/recycling.

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Science News Arctic ice cover in 2016 has reached the second lowest minimum on record and is tied with 2007. The sea-ice extent on September 10th stood at 4.14 million square kilometres, just a little shorter than the 3.39 million square kilometres record low in 2012. Arctic sea ice cover grows each autumn and winter and shrinks back each spring and summer. It has long been thought of as a sensitive indicator of a change to the Earth’s Climatic System. The US National Snow and Ice Data Centre (NSIDC) in Boulder, Colorado, has been keeping an eye on the ice extent using satellite measurements. However, the centre cautioned that the figures were preliminary, adding that the changing winds could still cause the ice extent to drop lower. Ted Scambos, NSIDC lead scientist, commented: “It really suggests that in the next few years, with more typical warmer conditions, we will see some very dramatic further losses.”

This year’s minimum is seen as something of a surprise as scientists believed that the low atmospheric pressure and the cloudy skies in June and July had slowed down the melt. “It’s pretty remarkable that this year’s sea-ice minimum extent ended up the second lowest, after how the melt progressed. June and July are usually key months for melt because that is when you have twenty-four hours a day of sunlight - and this year we lost melt momentum during those two months.”

Record global land and sea surface temperatures in 2015 that continued to shatter records well into 2016 had led many to believe that the Arctic melt would reach a new low mark this year. But some scientists, including experts from Reading University in the UK, argued that their analysis of melt ponds on ice floes indicated that 2016 would not beat 2012. While tying for the second lowest minimum in the satellite era, this year’s figure is in fact well above the 2012 melt, which saw the ice cover fall to 3.41 million sq km (1.32 million sq mi) - 50% lower than the 1979-2000 average.

Scientists have recreated the colour patterns of a dinosaur, revealing a camouflage used by animals today. A study of a well-preserved Chinese Psittacosaurus fossil shows it had a light underside and was darker on top, an arrangement called counter-shading. This suggests the species lived in an environment with diffuse light, such as a forest. As part of their research, the scientists teamed up with an artist to produce a 3-D model of the creature. The findings by an international team of researchers have been published in Current Biology journal. It may have protected them against predators that use patterns of shadow on an object to determine their shape, just like humans do. Psittacosaurus (which means ‘parrot-lizard’ in reference to its parrot-like beak) was an early relative of the three-horned dinosaur Triceratops, in a group known as the Ornithischians.

Previously, scientists have discovered that some fossils preserve melanosomes, small structures that carry melanin pigments found in the feathers and skin of many animals. In some specimens, like the Psittacosaurus it is possible to make out the patterns of preserved melanin without the aid of a microscope. The researchers projected the colour patterns found in the fossil onto a life-size model to explore how they might have helped the creature stay hidden.

Megan Bridge 17

SALTBURN CRICKET CLUB

SALTBURN BLUES CLUB

Marske Mill Lane, Tel 01287-622761

For those who check our website well in advance of the gigs, you will have noticed there’s been a change to our October 29th gig. Headlining now is THE DANA ALI BAND. Dana cites India Arie, Lauren Hill, Aretha Franklin as her original music heroes and began by singing gospel music in Atlanta, Georgia before she followed a natural progression into soul and blues. With guitarist Dave Hewitt’s background in blues rock, the band reflects a broad base of influences including Jazz, Latin and Funk. They are based in Leeds, and they’re currently enjoying their well-deserved success on the UK blues circuit.

PEG POWLER, the very talented local folk/blues/ acoustic band is the evening’s support. With Sara Dennis on lead vocals, the foursome play guitar, fiddle, ukulele and percussion, covering blues and jazz standards, traditional folk songs, as well as their own distinctive, original numbers. All members of the band sing and their much anticipated debut album, Northern Lines, was released in July this year.

This month we bid farewell to Guisborough Blues Club and warmly acknowledge the commitment of promoter, Kath Whinyates, who has brought many, many wonderful blues artists to our area. Thank you, Kath, for the years of superb entertainment you’ve provided. You can enjoy the music from the audience seats from now on.

Doors: 7.30pm.

Support: 8.00pm.

Venue: Saltburn Cricket Club. Tickets: £10 available from: 07960 935263, www.yorkshireticketshop.co.uk and Whistlestop Wines, Saltburn.

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

A regular reminder that my show, STILL GOT THE BLUES, goes out on ZETLAND FM on 105FM and online for listeners outside the area every Monday night, 7-10pm. Three hours of the best of blues music, old and new. Listen in; add your comments; put in a request. It’s also available to listen to later on Mixcloud.

Just follow the link at the bottom of Zetland FM’s web page.

Sun 2nd JUNIOR CRICKET PRESENTATION Wed 5th U3A QUIZ – 7.30pm prompt Weds 12th & 26th – BINGO – eyes down 8.00pm Thurs 13th QUIZ in aid of OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH Fri 14th Tennis Section Presentation Evening Sat 15th Bowls Section Presentation Evening Sat 29th SALTBURN BLUES CLUB CATFISH, support PEG POWLER All ticket night - £10 with 10% discount for Club members *Free WiFi in Club* * BIG screen TV showing SKY sports etc * ***FEATURED IN CAMRA GOOD BEER GUIDE 2016!!*** GREAT VENUE for YOUR family events, weddings, parties, funerals & meetings - free use for charity/community groups during normal opening hours.

Convenient venue, free parking, reasonable bar prices.

Contact us to book your event.

Members and non-members welcome.

Facebook saltburncricketbowlsandtennis socialclub PLEASE add us as a friend and check our Facebook page regularly!

Saltburn Charity Crafters Saltburn Charity Crafters are a small friendly group who knit for local charities. There is a cuppa waiting for you if you would like to come and join us to find out more. We will be meeting on Wednesday, 5th October from 2pm to 4pm in the coffee room at Saltburn Community Hall. For further info contact Angie on 01287 205153.

Harry

Saltburn Studios’ Gallery October is your last chance to see our ‘Coastal Creations’ exhibition at Saltburn Studios’ Gallery before our Open Studios event in November. Coastal Creation has a coastal theme. Andy Broderick’s ‘Puffin’, Carol Shaw’s ‘Boats at Skinningrove’ and Chris Graham’s Glasswork amongst other interesting works are on display.

The Open Studios event in November has no date fixed yet but it will have a Christmas theme. The Studios are occupied by 16 very talented people! The Studios are situated on Marske Road next to Budget Auto Centre.

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01287 624505

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NEW SEASIDE STORE SET TO INSPIRE

Exciting Times Ahead for Local Art School Graduate and Her Seaside Business Venture.

Recent art school graduate Christina Easton is quickly pursuing her dreams after graduating with a First Class BA Honours Degree in Contemporary Textile Products this summer.

Plans for ‘The LillianDaph Store’ in Saltburn are well underway in preparation for the store’s opening weekend commencing Saturday 15th October till Sunday 16th.

Carefully hand-picking products from local artists on her doorstep as well as from around the globe, design graduate Christina is making it her mission to champion the skill involved in good design and beautiful Artisan homewares, bringing them together to create an exciting shopping experience.

Christina says, “I’m passionate about good quality design, artisan craft and the age old tradition of shopping.

Online and boring retail outlets have taken the sensation out of what should be exciting. The LillianDaph Store aims to enchant, creating a destination like nothing we’ve seen here before. This is my dream and passion, and I’m so excited to share it with the region.”

Born from a frustration of the lack of local interior based inspiration, The LillianDaph Store will be a unique destination where shoppers can get lost in inspiring surroundings showcasing art, furniture, homewares, home accessories, lighting and furnishings that heighten the senses. With her magpie eye, Christina is drawn towards highly tactile and luxurious finishes, her carefully curated products will resound these beautiful qualities.

“I am truly excited by the opportunity to allow shoppers the chance to fully experience the products on offer. To touch them, feel them and see them in the flesh is a

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rare luxury when purchasing these days.”

Combining her innate passion for business and her distinctive designer eye that she has refined over the last three years studying Textiles at Cleveland College of Art and Design, Christina hopes to create a one-of-a-kind shopping experience, where shoppers can indulge in not only beautifully designed products but also surroundings that ‘inspire the reinvention’ of your interiors.

The flagship interiors store will be open its doors to all from 9:30 on Saturday, 15th and Sunday, 16th October. Join Christina for a glass of Prosecco, cake and opening discounts in the store on 10 Station Street, Saltburn-by-the-Sea (the Old Post Office in Station Street). Until then be sure to follow Christina’s progress with the launch of her new venture across social media and online (at www.lilliandaph.co.uk).

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Cleveland Diving Club As a scuba diving club the main focus is of course getting in to the sea and diving, and thankfully the summer has been relatively kind and our members have enjoyed some good local diving experiences. In addition to diving however, one of the aims of members of Cleveland Divers is to use or offer their skills to support and contribute to our local communities, whenever and wherever possible. It is said that ‘A community is like a ship and everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm,’ and in March this year one of our club members, ‘Byron,’ stepped up to the challenge and took on one of the most important roles in the club, that of ‘Diving Officer.’ Then in August this year Byron leased with Staithes RNLI so that members of Cleveland Divers could support Staithes RNLI open day on 20th August. The group, led by Byron, demonstrated vital first aid techniques which included, CPR (photo 1) and how to prepare a casualty and paddles before using a defibrillator (Photo 2.) The day was well patronised by the public and despite an early heavy downpour a number of visitors were keen to learn more about these emergency life–saving skills.

Another way that our members contribute to the community is, for example, helping local fisherman retrieve lost lobster pots or equipment. More recently however, Cleveland Divers were asked by South Gare Marina to help find the anchorage of a mooring buoy which was originally located just off the slip and used by boats as a mooring when it is necessary to wait while other boats are using the slip. The buoy had broken loose from its anchorage during a storm and was found, eventually, up river. The anchorage needed to be found so that the mooring buoy could be reattached. After a number of attempts, hampered by poor underwater visibility of less than a meter (the search was described as ‘like looking for a needle in a haystack,’) they were successful. The anchorage was eventually located amongst a forest of kelp by Derek, one of our keen eyed divers. Derek and his buddy marked the location of the anchorage with a small buoy, so that the original buoy could be reattached. For Derek and his dive buddy there was a great sense of achievement that they had been able to help.

Cleveland divers also try to help the community to learn more about what lies beneath the sea just off our local coastline. Members of the public often ask, ‘Is there is much to see out there?’ Well the answer is yes! For example, these beautiful plumrose anemones (photo 3).

If anyone wants to learn more, then we are happy to help here too. If you think you may want to join the diving community or just want to learn more about what we do then contact us on 07960 608529 or pop along to Saltburn Leisure Pool on a Monday evening about 8pm.

Here you can have a chat and learn about our, ‘Introduction to Scuba Diving Course’ which runs for 6 weeks (for a one off payment of £25.) Anyone over the age of 14 years is welcome. You can also find us on facebook, ‘The Diving Club – Cleveland.’ June Coomber 22

We sell a good selection of Stationery i.e. Envelopes, Labels, Tapes, Mailing Bags, and Greetings Cards plus a wide range of Personalised Cards.

This month’s Bargain Buy: 2 for 1 on our Personalised Greetings Cards.

Order a Personalised Card and pick another one for free! (October only) 23

Saltburn and District Retired Men’s Forum Talks on subjects from the Tees oil industry to sunny Australia will feature in the autumn programme for Saltburn and District Retired Men’s Forum, which meets every Monday at the Milton Street Methodist hall.

“We are a friendly club of over 40 members and have put on a variety of sessions for members and visitors to brighten Monday mornings,” said new chairman Peter Martin.

The ex-BBC TV technician, who lives in Saltburn, said speakers would include ex-politician Chris Foote-Wood on truckers in Iraq, an ‘undercover cop’ Steve Matthews and canal specialist Mary Bielby.

Graeme Aldous, well-known local broadcaster and author from Moorsholm, Saltburn’s newest councillor Craig Hannaway and Cleveland Ironstone miners’ historian Sheila Crossman, will also speak.

Mr Martin, 68, who has lived in Saltburn for three years, said forum members did not only live in Saltburn but from areas from Loftus to Nunthorpe.

He replaces Stuart Wright, who has been chairman for two years. He thanked all members, including ‘unseen’ volunteers like the tea ladies, and those who prepare the hall, organise the Christmas lunch, collect weekly subscriptions, and those who give a vote of thanks.

He also thanked Mr Wright, retiring speaker-finder Tony Gibson, treasurer Gordon Turner and secretary Ken Bladen. Ian Campbell will continue as an auditor with Arthur Corbett. Mr Martin appealed for a new speaker-finder from

Peter Martin, new chairman of Saltburn and District Retired Men's Forum, pins up the autumn programme at Saltburn's Methodist hall where weekly meetings are held. With him are secretary Ken Bladen and treasurer Gordon Turner.

among the 40-odd members. The weekly sub remains at £1.50 and annual fee £2.

A website is being looked at to publicise the group, which was started in 1976. More information can be had from Mr Martin on 01287-626878 or 07840 921875.

Mike Morrissey

What’s on at Saltburn Library in October Summer seems a long time ago now – but we have had a busy summer with lots of children’s activities happening, culminating in a presentation evening for those children who completed the summer reading challenge. This involved them reading 6 books over the summer holidays and for those children who met this challenge they received an invite to a special event on Monday, 19th September. Zoolab, the interactive animal company brought lots of wonderful creatures including spiders and snakes, which the children had an opportunity to touch or hold. The children were then presented with medals and certificates.

We are looking forward to October half term when we will have creepy craft sessions on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon at 2pm.

We will also have our annual Halloween time family walk from the Library on Wednesday, 26th October at 10.30.

This is a pushchair friendly walk from the Library down to the Italian Gardens and back to the Library for refreshments.

Please book your place at the Library just to give us an idea of numbers. This event is subject to the weather being fair though a little rain has never stopped us.

It is a great excuse for everyone to wear Fancy Dress and there will be a prize for the best fancy dress. This is always enjoyed by the children and gives the adults a chance to have a natter whilst spotting creepy objects along the way….not everyone makes it back to the Library; we assume they have been distracted by the play area along the way, but you never know….

Friends of Saltburn Library Colin Grant – drumming for Adults. We are pleased to offer something completely different for October’s event. Come to 24

the library for an introduction to African drums and rhythms

by Colin Grant of Eebydrum! They are Saltburn’s very own community drumming band. Absolutely no skills or experience required, just curiosity and openness to surprise yourself and try something new. For more information about this event you can telephone 07834 213543. Tuesday, October 18th at 2.00pm – refreshments will be served before the event.

Saltburn House this October!

Now Taking Bookings for Christmas Parties and Christmas Day Lunch.

Please contact our office on 01287 622008 for details. ***Every Friday it’s Karaoke!!*** Bands this month are: Sat 1st Envy Us, Friday 7th Charity Night in aid of "Help save Frankie", Sat 8th Shiver, Sun 9th Dam Jammers ukulele band, Sat 15th Oasis Jam, Sat 22nd Alpha Place.

For further information, contact Ann, Andy or Joanna on:

01287 622008

d.a.n.i.delights shop opening times: Tuesday to Thursday: 10:ooam-4:00pm Friday: 10:00am-6:00pm for all enquiries including those for organic raw vegan catering bookings please contact Dani on 07884 045742, or danimitchell333@yahoo.co.uk or connect with me on my Dani delights facebook page J d.a.n.i.delights, The Earthbeat Centre, Marske Road, Saltburn by the Sea, TS12 1QA 25

G . Bishop - Decorator *Interiors and Exteriors

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Saltburn, Redcar & Cleveland Philatelic Society October Meetings Our next two fortnightly Wednesday meetings (held at the Community Centre, Durham Road, Redcar commencing at 7:00 for 7:15 pm) are: 5th October Stamp Fair. Our popular stamp fairs are held near the start of each season to enable adjoining societies and the general public to visit such events locally. They are always well supported, local dealers attend, and visitors can see just one aspect of one of the strongest philatelic societies in the North East.

19th October: 70 years of Stamp Collecting. (A display by one of our senior NEPA players who never out-grew his school boy hobby, and now takes several aspects of philately very seriously.) He will begin with grubby pages from his first ‘all world’ stamp album (begun in 1944 when 5 years old), his first 1d black, (at 11), sampling later collections of British Commonwealth, GB, and since retirement, research and publications related to maritime postal history. (Begins with 16th Century Venetian Merchant Adventurers’ mail, progresses via Nelson and Trafalgar (illustrated here: Nelson’s left handed signature is a very rare item with eye-catching

Nelson post cards), QV GB etc, to the present day.

Material chosen to show many different topics to ensure there will be something for all – generalist or specialist.

Visitors who are wondering about joining our society are welcome. (NB Google Ocean Penny Postage GBPS).

Geoff Reynolds (Secretary) 01642 478229 David D. Turner 01287 624736

Saltburn Athletic FC The new season is now under way and the first league games were played on Sunday, 11th September.

The Under 9 Sharks got off to a flyer easily beating TIBS at home with excellent performances throughout as the summer training is paying off. So far so good but not for the Under 9 Dolphins who played their first ever official league game when they lost narrowly away to Kader. Better luck next game I am sure.

The Under 10s also lost narrowly to a Skelton team and this was also the first ever league game played by them. Good performances throughout the team and they will learn from this experience.

The under 12 Dolphins got their season off to a winning start by beating Dormanstown 4-3 away.

However, this was not plain sailing especially when they went 3-0 down but goals before half time from Warnes and Robinson gave hope and this hope was rewarded by second half goals from Warnes again and the winner by Dennerly-Muir. Substitutes Brogan and Doddridge made

the difference along with MOM Tom Jeffels.

The U12 Seagulls did not win but at least they got a draw 1-1 against Richmond at home. A goal by Morrison put Saltburn ahead but they were to rue the chances offered and a second half goal by Richmond meant they had to share the spoils. Good performances by Russell, Allison and King but the coach felt it was 2 points lost.

The U12 Falcons on their debut put in a spirited performance but went down 5-3 away to Northallerton. All three Saltburn goals scored by Welford.

The U13 team were beaten away from home 5-0 by Mount Pleasant Rangers of Darlington but coach of the Saltburn team was unhappy at some strange refereeing decisions. I’m sure they will bounce back and put this this result to the back of their minds.

The U14 team did not have a game.

All in all a mixed bag of results but its early season and lots to play for when the season ends next May. See also page 29.

Andy Croll 27

28

My Story by Monty the Staffy

“When I was young my life was so unhappy and I ended up at The Hope Animal Rescue Centre at Loftus. However, my life was about to change for the better. One day whilst at the Animal Rescue Centre my new master Stevie D arrived and I ran to him straight through the gate into his car feeling so excited, it was so strange.

At first it was difficult to get used to my new home, people and other dogs and I loved my first walk, but let me tell you though, I was not well behaved, so to minimise any conflicts Stevie took me onto the big roundabout between Saltburn & Marske. It was great fun!

My new master loved photography and I realised that I had a rival when he took a picture of a Spaniel flying through the air in the snow. I couldn’t cope with competing against ‘The Other Dog’ so I felt rejected and I went off the rails and became a Top Class Thief, stealing Fish & Chips. Stevie even took a photo of this crime and I appeared on the Notice Board at Saltburn Police Station as Saltburn’s most Wanted Criminal.

Thankfully I found a better way than a life of crime and redeemed myself by winning many awards at the S.A.R.A.

Animal Rescue Fun Day, so again I was ‘Top Dog’ with my master. Things got even better when master Stevie D included me on the front cover of his first music CD. I knew then that I was my master’s favourite dog again and I felt secure.

Life was good and one of the thrills of my life was all the walks on the beach and woods and hunting under the seats for bits of fish on the Promenade at Saltburn and my trips to Redcar where I was treated to ice cream, and visited my favourite Pet Shop for more treats. I would like to write more but would fill all the pages in this issue.”

Sadly Monty’s life was ended in June this year so I would like to thank all my friends for their support.

Stevie D

Saltburn Athletic Dolphins It is Saltburn Athletic U9s Dolphins’ first season playing in the TJFA as a team and mine as a coach.

All but two players attend Saltburn Primary School, Williams Grayson, Sam Malbon-Green, Ewan Found, Ryan Dobson, Danny Franks, Quinn Robinson, Haydon Fraser, Charlie Bright, Leo Hall and Danny Blair. All of which are hardworking fantastic lads who get great support from their parents.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bobby Wheelers from Saltburn Motor Co for sponsorship and providing the boys with their kits.

Also Huntcliff Surgery for providing the essential sports first aid kit, but fingers crossed we don’t need to use it!

On Saturday, 3rd of September the team entered their first tournament at Hemlington. Despite the pouring rain the boys dug deep, coming home with the U9s Championship Trophy. Well done boys!

Mark Grayson (coach) 29

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Help find the elusive harvest mouse

Harvest mouse nest: image by Amy Carrick

Harvest Mouse: image by Margaret Holland

The tiny harvest mouse is the smallest mouse to be found in Europe. It weighs about the same as a 20p coin and is less than 7cm long from tip to tail. They have a specially adapted tail that enables them to grab and balance on thin objects such as blades of grass. They have a reddish-yellow coat and white undersides, small hairy ears and a blunt nose.

Once relatively common in arable fields, before changes to farming practices, how is this special little mouse faring today?

The Tees Valley Wildlife Trust is looking for: volunteers to help survey for harvest mice this autumn and information on where people have seen evidence of harvest mice recently and in the more distant past. The harvest mouse survey is part of the Where the Wild Things Were Project funded by National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund and Northumbrian Water.

The harvest mouse is the only British mouse to build spherical nests of woven grass well above ground lashed between tall grass stems. These nests are round and about the size of tennis balls. They are built from the leaves of plants that have been shredded lengthways into narrow strips and then woven together to form the framework of the nest. The nest is lined with finely shredded grass or thistle down. Searching for abandoned summer nests is a good way to survey for harvest mice presence at a site.

The Tees Valley Wildlife Trust is looking for volunteers who would be willing to help look for harvest

mice nests in East Cleveland, this autumn. Volunteers, after some training, will be asked to search suitable habitats such as dense grassland, reed beds, hedgerows and bramble patches for nests. “The nests stand out more in late autumn when the surrounding vegetation dies back” said Kate Bartram of the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust. “Very little is known about the harvest mouse in East Cleveland. We hope that the results of the nest survey may begin to help us better understand the habitat requirements of harvest mice so that conservation action can be taken to benefit these endearing creatures”.

The Tees Valley Wildlife Trust would also like to hear from people that have found harvest mice nests recently or who can remember where they used to see harvest mice nests.

We are particularly interested in hearing from members of the older generation. This knowledge will help to target survey effort and build up a picture of changes in harvest mouse distribution. You can either contact the Trust using the contact details below or, upload your sightings or memories of harvest mice using our website (www.teeswildlife.org/ wildthings).

The Tees Valley Wildlife Trust will be running a Harvest Mouse Survey Training Workshop at the Margrove Heritage Centre on Saturday, 22nd October between 10.00am and 3.30pm. The workshop will include both classroom and outdoor sessions. Come prepared to work outdoors and bring a packed lunch. To attend the workshop please book a place by calling 01287 636382 (or email info@teeswildlife.org).

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 31

SPAR

Like many SPAR store owners around the country, the Gosnay family have provided for the local community of Saltburn for many years. The store is currently managed

by Rachael Gosnay having taken over the reins from her parents, whose involvement in the Milton Street store began in 1976.

The family owned business, which includes Rachael’s sister Emma, opens at 5.30am until 11pm, seven days a week and offers a wide range of essentials to the people of Saltburn. They have a hugely popular food-to-go range, offering coffee, and a wide range of hot food from breakfast buns, lasagne, pasta bake and curries through to pork and turkey dinners complete with roast potatoes and gravy. On top of all this they also have a butchers, which uses traditional butchering methods and sells fresh meat, including burgers and sausages that are hand made in store. Rachael says “We are committed to our local community and supporting it in every way we can. We offer our customers a huge range of services like the lottery and Paypoint, newspaper delivery and a bespoke delivery service for groceries. We look forward to continuing this long in to the future.”

The Gosnay’s SPAR look forward to treating you to a spooky Halloween surprise instore when all the staff will be dressed in fancy dress, with a host of tastings and a Halloween raffle for customers to enjoy! “So why not pop in and see for yourself!” adds Rachael.

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There for Everyone Much, however, has been made locally of the new SPAR store that has opened on Windsor Road, incorporating the town’s Post Office. Like the Gosnay’s SPAR store, this store is now owned by another family run business with a history in community based retailing dating back more than 150 years. Whilst operating under the SPAR name, the two stores have different ownership.

SPAR is the leading convenience retailer in the UK; however, its stores are independently owned by business people serving their local community. Some people own a single SPAR store whereas others like the Gosnays own multiple stores.

The two SPAR stores in Saltburn will complement each other well, as their offering to the community is very different. The 2,900sqft Windsor Road SPAR store offers lottery, Paypoint, coffee on-the-go, news and magazines and most importantly Post Office services. Contrary to previous reports the Post Office in Station Square was closing due to the owner retiring. SPAR is the number two Post Office operator in the UK and with the possibility of Saltburn being left without a Post Office a decision was taken to incorporate it in to Windsor Road. Naveen Vadhera, Managing Director of North East Convenience Stores, which operates the Windsor Road SPAR store said “The Post Office and SPAR fit really well together. The Post Office is an integral part of any community and as a community based retailer we want to provide our customers with as many services as they need.”

The two SPAR stores will be able to provide Saltburn with a breadth of services and will always be there for everyone in the community.

Contact details: SPAR Gosnay 39A Milton Street Saltburn-by-the-Sea TS12 1DW Telephone: 01287 622035 Follow us on twitter @SparSaltburn and on Facebook visit us at Gosnay’s Butchers & SPAR Milton Street http://www.gosnaysbutchers.co.uk/spar SPAR Windsor Road Windsor Road Saltburn-by-the-Sea TS12 1BD Telephone: 01287 625963 www.northeastconvenience.com

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Eston Hills - A Monumental Task Three years ago, I helped found The Friends of Eston Hills to fundraise to buy land on the privately-owned eastern half of Eston Hills. The site had suddenly come on the market. 220 acres for £425,000. We were nothing if not wildly ambitious! We wanted to see the whole site publicly-owned and a conservation programme put into action. The last conservation work was carried out by Cleveland County Council in the 90s. 20 years on and Eston hills are in their worst state ever with fly-tipping, burnt out cars and all the main footpaths absolutely trashed by 4x4s, quad bikes and motorbikes.

In early 2014, after raising £15,000 in public donations in just 6 weeks, we bought a 3 acre plot at the summit. Eston Nab became publicly owned for the first time ever! We followed this with some epic litter picks with an army of volunteers.

We badgered the Police and Council to remove all the car wrecks and install substantial barriers at all access points to stop any more. It took a while, but thanks to the aforementioned, barriers are now in place at Eston and Lazenby with Flatts Lane soon to complete the task.

Another persistent issue has been an illegal flagpole at the Nab. It has been erected repeatedly for 3 years by a local man and taken down repeatedly by the local authority. The reason for its removal was lack of planning permission and also because the Nab is a protected archaeological site of national importance no less. It was popular though and it gave us an idea...

Buying the rest of the site was still the dream but a big ask. We needed an ambitious but attainable goal for the shorter term to build the project. We decided on a new Monument for the Nab charting the epic history of the site (Mesolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age archaeology, site of a Napoleonic Beacon and the world’s biggest ironstone mine was once beneath). The Monument would feature a memorial to the 375 men and boys that were killed in the mine and fly a legitimate flag in their honour. As a solution for the illegal one, it could help us get approval for the Monument. We approached Historic England, the government agency in charge of ancient sites. They told us that the restrictions can be relaxed if a site is in bad shape and an initiative could sufficiently improve it. An archaeological dig would be a pre-requisite. I presented the idea to the Council bosses.

They liked it a lot. There was a chance we could pull this off.

I set about the research and design and approached Greg Sills of Saltburn-based Scurator Ltd. to get plans drawn up. Greg was keen to help and what we ended up with was a series of top quality digital impressions of the piece in situ. In August, we unveiled them to the press and public. We needed to gauge public opinion before approaching Historic England or going after funding. The feedback has been fascinating. It has been called ‘visionary’ and a ‘stunning work of art’ as well as a ‘monstrosity’ and ‘the naffest thing ever’. In the main, the 34

design has been well received but the location not so.

Many fear vandalism and say it should be built down in Eston. Others say that it won’t get touched and must be up there. Some say it will be inaccessible to older people while others say that it will encourage families and kids to get a little exercise and education. I even got an email from someone threatening to mobilise archaeology, environmental and pagan groups against it!

So much to mull over... Building down in Eston would be easier, accessible to all and safer but it would do nothing for the hills. The idea of the Nab was to raise the profile of the site, educate every visitor and attract more of them. It would be an 800ft plinth for these pioneers of Teesside industry that would encourage people to go up and pay their respects, tie flowers to the railings etc. The site would be more respected and the flag would help surely. Or are we deluding ourselves? I know one thing for certain - The world’s biggest ironstone mine made Middlesbrough the world’s iron-making capital. ‘World Heritage Status’ is not so far-fetched and would surely mean big funding; and if we don’t big up the place, why would anyone else?

More details here: www.estonhills.info Craig Hornby

Local food tops Saltburn Menu Seaside treats & foodie hampers on the menu at Saltburn Farmers’ Market Good local food grabs its rightful place at the top of the menu, when Saltburn Farmers’ Market sets up stall again on Saturday, 8th October.

And shoppers are in for a tasty seaside treat, with three market hampers up for grabs in a prize raffle on the day.

Organised by the same team behind Saltburn Food Festival, the popular monthly Market sees a tasty mix of over 35 stalls brimming with good local food from some of the best independent food producers from within 50 miles of the town.

People can enjoy a wide range of locally produced sausages, meat & game, fresh fruit & veg, wild mushrooms, garden herbs & garlic, freshly baked artisan bread, handmade cheese, Skinningrove Wines, cakes & biscuits, ginger wine & gingerbread, fudge, gourmet scotch eggs, jams & honey, handmade gourmet pies, a gluten-free bakery, hot street food, veggie & vegan specials, hog roast, plus local art, crafts and much more besides.

Market Manager Lorna Jackson, who also lives and works in the town, said: “Our visitors tell us that two of the things they like best about the market are the fantastic family atmosphere and the chance to buy good local food that’s often hard to find elsewhere.

“That’s exactly what we set out to do when we started the market back in 2008 and, still fired up with a huge passion and enthusiasm for good local food, that’s

Good Local Food! Farmers’ Market Manager Lorna Jackson with an example of one of the local food hampers up for grabs at Saltburn on Saturday, 8th October.

exactly what we still do today.

“Our stallholders are always happy to chat with shoppers about the food they produce, and it all adds to a fantastic Saturday morning buzz around the town. We’re looking forward to a top day here.”

Saltburn Farmers’ Market is on Saturday, 8th October, based near Saltburn Railway Station, outside Sainsbury’s from 9am to 2pm (for further info, see the website www.saltburnfarmersmarket.com).

Canine Rehabilitation and Fitness

35

A 1000 ‘likes’ for Mike update

By the time this goes to print, I will be half way through my year of adventures and I will have completed 2 ½ legs of my journey. Ziggy and I have worked our way across Europe, up Denmark into Norway, then across through Sweden and back through Denmark. Along the way we have travelled over many huge bridges, through some very long tunnels, encountered a few scary down hills with very tight hair pin bends and spent numerous hours on ferries, including the crossing from Frederikshaven to Oslo, where Ziggy decided to escape from the cabin to do a bit of duty free shopping!

We saw and experienced so many wonderful things. We have sunbathed and built snowmen on the same day. Seen and travelled along some of the most beautiful Fjords, and wandered round some fantastic cities, each of them so very different. Ziggy even tried to take on a herd of reindeer: not sure what he thought he was doing trying to fight them all off single handed but we managed to escape that one unharmed. He has also managed to become somewhat of a minor celebrity; I have lost count of how many time people have stopped us to make a fuss of him and to have their photo taken with him.

During leg 2, I travelled to Uganda with my Mum (Ziggy stayed at home to look after my Dad). Here we visited a number of projects working with the street children in Kampala and with the vulnerable women in the villages around Jinja. We also visited some friends in the south of the country, not far from the Rwandan border, and I managed to squeeze in a short safari too; an amazing experience.

Leg 3 which I will be embarking on shortly will be to Indonesia, Australia and Malaysia. By the time you read this I will hopefully have completed a month long yoga retreat and be working my way down the east coast of Australia, before calling into Malaysia on my way home for Christmas.

While we have been on our travels I have completed another 4 challenges out of the 10 that I am planning to complete over the next year, as part of a 1000 ‘likes’ for Mike.

On 7th May I did a bungee jump from the K2 tower in Liege (eastern Belgium), and on 28th May I managed to join a Norwegian hen party and take part in a 36

Bobsleigh run at the Olympic park in Lillehammer. Both were great experiences and while I would happily do another bobsleigh run I don’t think I’ll be in any rush to do another bungee jump.

While in Uganda I spent a day on the Nile Riverboarding and white water rafting, and during a very brief return to the UK I have performed a Wing Walk, which is far more fun than I expected it to be, and competed in the Stockton Rat Race.

The reason behind all this is to try to raise money for two organisations (The Reorg Trust and PTSD Resolution) who work with veterans and reservists who are struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and to raise awareness of this terrible illness. To find out more about why I am doing this, the organisations that I am supporting or to see video evidence of the challenges completed so far go to www.facebook.com/1000likesformike. I am hoping to get 1000 likes on the pages. We are creeping up there slowly but haven’t quite achieved it yet so if you haven’t and would like to support me and find out first hand about the challenges planned for the rest of the year please ‘like’ the page.

If you would like to make a donation, there is a ‘donate now’ button that will take you directly to my ‘just giving’ page (or go to https:// crowdfunding.justgiving.com/1000-likes-for-mike).

Thank you to all those who have supported me so far. Your kind words have been a real encouragement to me.

Many thanks, Esther.

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Third Eye exhibition The third ‘Third Eye’ photographic exhibition was launched at Kirkleatham at the beginning of the month. An eye-catching display of nearly 60 pictures greets the visitor to the Bellamy Hall at Kirkleatham Museum.

The U3A Photography Group is encouraged to see the world through a ‘third eye’ and record images that otherwise would pass the casual observer by with the result that the variety and quality of the pictures is impressive. The images range from a view from North Gare to saltpans of Peru and from a spider catching a fly to avocets in flight. Local printer Nigel Lee has brought out the best from the work which is free to view.

Hugh Melvin U3A Photography Group Leader Submitted images by Ken Bladen, Marilyn Beacham and Lesley Curwen

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39

Macmillan Coffee Morning and Friday Friends in October

Dance your way to fitness!!

Get a slice of the ’Strictly’ magic with this fun and dynamic LATIN & BALLROOM dance fitness class…

Enjoy learning the dances while GETTING FIT and TONING UP! This class is aimed at all abilities and is PARTNER FREE. Mondays 7pm - 7.50pm at Emmanuel Church Hall - £4 pp (DISCOUNT!! ONLY £6 if you stay for both Zumba Gold & Ballroom Blitz on Mondays)

EASY TO FOLLOW, TONING and a FUN OVERALL WORKOUT: This dance fitness class will shake up your routine & get you groovin’... at your own pace!

Friday Friends is an inclusive friendship group based in Saltburn, open to all people with differing abilities and those wanting to make friends. We meet on Fridays at Emmanuel Church Hall.

We would like to invite you to the Friday Friends hosted Macmillan Cancer Support Coffee Morning! On October 7th at Emmanuel Church Hall, from 10.30 - 12. Please join us for a cuppa, a cake and a flutter on the tombola, all proceeds go to supporting this worthy cause.

We have good news - our sponsored walk this year attracted 22 walkers and a dog called Jim, and we raised £525! Thank you to everybody who walked and everybody who sponsored us, and thanks to Colin for the musical bongo beat! Everyone, including Jim, posed for the photograph near the Station Buildings outside Sainsbury’s.

October programme...

7th - 10.30-12 The Macmillan Coffee Morning at Emmanuel Church Hall. In memory of our friend Linda. Afternoon session of sewing felt jewellery or making lavender bags.

14th - Seated Keep Fit to Music with Taylor then Bingo/Drawing geometric shapes.

21st - Positive Thinking, a talk and interactive session

by Heather Carter - this promises to be a feel good and fun morning/sewing cross stitch.

28th - Bowling at Saltburn Bowls Club then back to the hall to fold origami cards.

We meet every Friday at Emmanuel Church Hall, Macnay Street, Saltburn. Activity mornings are 10 - 12.30 and the arts and craft afternoons 1 - 4. The first session will be free and if you’re brave enough to come back there is a small charge of £2.50 one session or a bargain of £4 all day. Carers are always free. We have tea, coffee and biscuits too. Look forward to seeing you...

Thefridayfriends@outlook.com or phone 07833 895 501 for more info.

Anjee Charman-Clark, chair 40

Mondays 6pm - 7pm at Emmanuel Church Hall - £4 pp (DISCOUNT!! ONLY £6 if you stay for both Zumba Gold & Ballroom Blitz on Mondays) Thursdays 10am - 11am at Saltburn Community Hall - £4pp

Spirals A PILATES, YOGA & BALLET inspired fitness class: builds on CORE STRENGTH and BALANCE, TONES and improves natural FLEXIBILITY. 7pm - 8.00pm at The EarthBeat Centre, Saltburn.

For more information call ESTELLE on 07887 525234 or visit...

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

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

Hello dear readers. We are Woody the dog and Misty the cat, and while we are happy being looked after by the lovely people at SARA we would still very much like to find new homes of our own.

Woody is about 6 years old, and he’s a white Staffordshire terrier type dog who came into SARA’s care after his owner had very sadly become too ill to care for him any longer. Woody is a great dog. He is very affectionate, loving and friendly and he thoroughly enjoys his walks and loves lots of attention. You can see from his photograph how full of life he is.

He could potentially live in a home with older

children aged over 10.

Misty is around 2 years old. She is a beautiful dark grey and white cat with striking golden eyes. Even though the photograph here doesn’t do her justice you can see how beautiful she is. This gorgeous girl is looking for a new forever home with an experienced cat person, as although she can be very lovely and affectionate, she will sometimes let you know when she has had quite enough attention and fuss, thank you very much. She would be happiest living as an only pet in a home with no young children.

Love from Woody and Misty.

SARA fundraising events during October The next monthly meeting of SARA will be held on Wednesday, 5th October, at 7.30pm in the TocH premises, Albion Terrace, Saltburn.

New members are very welcome.

Thursday, 6th October – Members of SARA will be holding a street collection in Guisborough. If you can help please ring the centre on 01642 488108.

Saturday, 8th October – Members of SARA will be holding a Coffee Morning in the Marske Leisure Centre, from 10am to 12 noon. There will be a variety of stalls, including tombola, bric-a-brac, books. There will also be homemade cakes on sale.

Saturday, 16th October The members of SARA will be holding their Twilight Stroll, from 4 to 5pm, for the 2nd year running. This takes place from Foxrush Centre to the top of the track and back. A gentle stroll to remember all

those volunteers, friends and animals who are no longer with us. At the end we lay flowers and light candles in the memory garden.

All funds raised will go to the Foxrush Farm, Sanctuary and Re-homing Fund.

Members of SARA would like to thank everyone who attended their recent Open Day at Foxrush Farm, Redcar. The day was a fantastic success with fine weather. The total amount raised was £2,600 with some funds still to come in.

The great amount of support we receive at our events makes it possible for us to help the ever increasing numbers of animals that so desperately need our help. For this we are most grateful.

John Fuller, Press Officer Helpline: 01642 488108 41

42

The Blind Men & The Elephant

BY REV ADAM REED The story of the ‘Blind Men & the Elephant’ is well known and often quoted by people who value diversity and who wish to promote multiple perspectives on particular topics. Applied positively the story is a helpful reminder that we need to recognise our individual limitations and seek to cooperate with others, so that together we can get a more complete picture. However, when applied to religious belief, the story can imply that no one religion is true; but that we need all the religions of the world if we are going to grasp the complete truth about spiritual reality. Unfortunately, the story falls short of teaching this in a number of ways. Before looking at why, here’s a reminder of the story (see also the book by Lillian Quigley): Six blind men visit the Rajah’s palace and encounter an elephant.

Services Times The first blind man put out his hand and touched the side of the elephant.

“How smooth! An elephant is like a wall.”

The second blind man put out his hand and touched the trunk of the elephant.

Sundays “How round! An elephant is like a snake.”

9.00am traditional communion The third blind man put out his hand and touched the tusk of the elephant.

10.45am contemporary worship “How sharp! An elephant is like a spear.”

(The fourth, fifth and sixth follow in a similar way). Then an argument begins, with each Tuesdays blind man thinking his own perception of the elephant was the correct one. The Rajah interrupts their argument, pointing out that the elephant is a big animal, and that each man 9.30am said communion touched only one part. They must put all the parts together to find out what an elephant is like. Armed with such wisdom, the blind men recognise that they each know only a part, but Morning Prayer together they have the whole truth.

9.00am Mon-Fri in ECHO

God is not passive, nor silent… God actively tells us what He is like.

The first problem is that the story itself destroys the very truth it proclaims: it claims to have the complete truth it says is unavailable! The Rajah and his officials can see perfectly well what the elephant looks like! So, as Tim Keller writes, “How could you know that each blind man only sees part of the elephant unless you claim to be able to see the whole elephant? How could you possibly know that no religion can see the whole truth unless you yourself have the superior, comprehensive knowledge of spiritual reality you just claimed that none of the religions have?” (‘Reason for God’, pp.9) The second problem is that the story knocks down the idea that the blind men should be content with their own little bit of knowledge by revealing the full truth about the elephant at the end. Would the blind men not wish to ‘see’ the full reality of the elephant which would account for their individual perceptions? But who can really be satisfied with partial knowledge? Rather the story should drive us to seek and find the whole truth.

A third problem is that the story assumes the elephant is mute, is simply a passive recipient of the blind men’s touch. On a religious level, this cannot be said of God, and most certainly not within the Christian faith. God is not passive, nor silent, leaving us to grope about for Him and guess about His nature. God actively tells us what He is like and what He wants, in two complementary ways—the Bible and the created world. So we read in the Bible, “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, Jesus, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. Jesus the Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” (Hebrews 1)

Contact Details tel 01287 622251

email emmanuelsaltburn@hotmail.co.uk

web www.emmanuelsaltburn.co.uk

Visitor and Exhibition opening times in October Saturdays 1st, 15th & 29th 10am - 4pm

Sundays 9th & 23rd 1 - 4pm

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A dance journey from the British Raj to the current British Bollywood scene

This is another opportunity to participate in one of the Zoobin Surty Company (ZSC), Indian Bollywood Production, ‘BRITISH BOLLYWOOD’. A journey from the cultural dances that the British witnessed during their Raj in India to the dance collaborations today in the UK and India, and how British events and Western influences have been injected into Indian dance culture, creating the contemporary dance forms in the Bollywood film industry today.

ZSC is inviting you and all friends and families who would like to be a part of this production with a bit of love, support and dedication. We are looking for people who can move and wish to glam up to be a part of this show to make it a memory. If people wish to come and try the first day and see how they feel then they are welcome to do so.

Dance Captain is our friend, Estelle Reed, so please contact her and give your names to her, on 07887 525234. I suggest you please give your names as soon as possible so we know where we stand with everything.

The rehearsals are on Sundays, October 9th and 30th, November 13th, 20th and 27th (1.30pm to 3.30pm) and on Friday, 2nd December 2016 (6.30pm to 8.30pm) and Saturday, 3rd December 11am to 12pm stage rehearsal. The show is on Saturday, 3rd December 2016 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

Reporting time at the theatre is 10.30 am for stage spacing etc. Each rehearsal will cost £7 to cover studio / travel expenses. Thanks to Annabeth Robinson for the picture and poster design by Francis Fitzgerald.

Christina Simpson Bespoke Furniture, Joinery Fully Qualified Experienced, Local Carpenter/Joiner 1st, 2nd Fix Doors, Flooring, Skirting, Loft Conversions Hand-Made Kitchens/Bedrooms, Painted Furniture Paintings Commissioned

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Call 07773 091727 Email: simpsonc999@gmail.com 44

Saltburn Variety Show A huge thank you to everyone who had a part to play in the success of Saltburn Variety Show on 3rd September! Thank you to all our performers: Maggie Camp, James Cairns, Nina Scott-Stoddart, Helen Lumsdon, The Easington Tappers, Sarah Paterson and Natasha from Curse Pie and the Amplifier. Also thank you to all the local people and businesses who donated raffle prizes: Smith’s Butchers, Chocolinis, Craft Magic, The Green Room, 360 Surf, Co-op Garage, Mary Welford, and Christine Peart; and thanks to Julie Craig for her wonderfully colourful table centrepieces and providing plenty of Haribo sweets!

Such an event could not have happened without a lot of unseen help, so thank you to Jenny Cook, Martin Bell, Gary Brady, Susan and Tom Paterson, and anyone we may have accidentally missed out!

A final thank you to the audience – it wouldn’t have been much of a show without you! It was fantastic to be sold out, and we raised a total of £644.65 for the Leleka Fund.

Here’s to the next one!

Sarah

Talk of the Town’s monthly

Pride of Saltburn Award

Open 7 days a week Stocking a wide range of health foods, chutneys, jams and honeys.

If it’s grown locally we do our best to source it.

Quality Fresh Fruit and Veg at Competitive Prices.

Monday to Saturday: 9.00am to 6.00pm Sunday 10.00am to 4.30pm Open till 7.00pm on Fridays The winner of this month’s Pride of Saltburn Award is Andrew Dales. He was nominated by David. President of Saltburn Conservative Club, and about Andy he says, “Andrew Dales is a dedicated carer at Seaview Residential Care Home on Marine Parade. He has spent a lot of time over the last few years studying in his own time and taking exams, which he has done with success and some distinction to enable him to give the best professional attention to the work he does. He has also carried out several fund raising events to raise money for the residents and other deserving charitable organisations and he would never refuse the opportunity to help anybody, whether residents or friends. He has a magnetic personality which endears him to all who know him and for these reasons I believe he is a worthy recipient for the ‘Pride of Saltburn’ award.”

Thank you, Andy, for being you, the Pride of Saltburn.

Every month, a £30 bunch of flowers, kindly donated by Ruby Lilly’s Florists of Marske, is awarded to someone in Saltburn who has earned admiration, gratitude and love for whatever reason. Talk of the Town invites nominations from readers, to chose whom to receive recognition and a bunch of flowers. Send your nominations to Talk of the Town’s postbag at Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, Cleveland, TS12 1AQ or email Ian (talkofthetownsaltburn@gmail.com). (Please include your name, phone number and the reason you are nominating the person of your choice.) Please also confirm with the nominee that they are willing to receive the award (many people feel shy about it). All the nominations will be read and kept for future use, so even if your choice doesn’t win this month, they might do so next time.

Grasers 07703 884184 Try something different at Grasers

Pasta and Pesto Seen here are a variety of different pastas with three organic Suma pesto sauces. Packed with flavour, this Italian pesto selection transforms a plain pasta dish into a taste sensation!

Alla Genovese is a traditional basil pesto blended with cheese and pine nuts. The Rosso pesto is full of sun dried tomatoes and is great in casseroles. The Siciliano is the vegan alternative with cashew nuts. These pestos are delicious mixed with pasta or on crusty bread or even stirred into a salad. Grasers have many more pasta varieties available than seen in the photograph: there is organic gluten-free maize and rice pasta from Dove’s Farm; Spelt wholegrain spaghetti and penne from Biona Organics; Italian Lasagne Verdi with spinach; Suma Tricolore Spirals and Hale and Hearty organic Buckwheat, Corn and Rice Macaroni.

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Jeff Robinson 1954-2016 On a Friday evening in September, after one of the saddest weeks of my life, I walked from my house into the hills above Skelton. My backpack was light (after all it only contained a bottle of red wine and a glass), but my heart was heavy because Ian (the editor) had asked me to write a tribute for our friend Jeff and the words I had tried so far were woefully inadequate.

I was going to tell you that the name Jeffrey means God’s Peace, Peaceful Gift, or Gift of Peace, explain that his first name was uncannily appropriate and then I would tell you about his many virtues; that Jeffrey was quiet, highly intelligent, had an encyclopaedic memory, was musically talented, generous, always quick to help others in need, and slow to accept anything in return.

Others will bear witness to these simple truths, so let us return to the wine. The sun was just setting as I reached the top of the hill with Skelton church, the houses and trees forming long shadows below. Truly, a beautiful, and appropriate place to have one last glass together, overlooking my friend’s adopted and beloved land (Jeff’s early life was in Welwyn Garden City and he came to Saltburn in his early twenties).

Then I realised I could hear noises: traffic, people going out for the evening and all the sounds of life still going on. Why, when such a hole has been torn in so many people’s lives this week?

Why, because there is still tomorrow, hopefully the sun will rise, and Jeff, you will not and cannot be replaced and sometimes I will walk up to the top of the hills to share a glass of wine with you.

Don’t worry, mate, I’ll bring a bottle, and two glasses next time.

Stephen Kneeshaw said, “Well Jeff you have finally made it to your Utopia. Through all the years I have known you, I could not have wished for a better friend. Thanks for the good times and memories mate. Just thanks for being there for me, Jeff, you will never be forgotten. Do me a favour, mate, and have a good jam session with B.B. King and Jimmy Hendrix. Mate, you deserve it. Take care, mate.

Jeff R.I.P.” “My dearest Jeff, was a lovely, kind person with a great sense of humour. We shared many wonderful times together. I was very sad to hear of his untimely death. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. I will miss him loads. Those we love don’t go away; they walk beside us every day, unseen, unheard but always near, still loved, still missed,” said Jeff’s friend, Brenda.

Jeff’s friend Peter said, “I first met Jeff about 16 years ago when he was recommended as someone that could help me with setting up a computer. We soon became firm friends and drinking buddies, enjoying the music nights at the Vic and just chewing the cud, exchanging un-PC jokes and generally having a good old time standing at the bar in the Cons and later the Marine. He was a skilled and witty conversationalist, with an amazing knowledge on many subjects, and he would listen too when you had something to get off your chest; not many people will do that. His ever helpful nature and easy going attitude was a calming influence in times of stress, and I have a lot to thank him for as one of my best friends.

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“Most people will know Jeff for his remarkable computer skills. I nicknamed him “The Ecclesiastical Digit”, a reference to the Hancock’s Half Hour episode The Lift, as he would often fix my computer with just one keyboard stroke after I had spent hours trying to solve a problem. There were times I believe the computer shook in trepidation when Jeff sat in front of it. He was like a terrier in his persistence to solve difficult problems though, never giving up until all was well again, no matter how long it took! Jeff was a true one-off and he will be greatly missed.”

Ian Sidgwick, whose music studio computers Jeff looked after for years, said, “A walking Google. What Jeff didn’t know wasn’t worth knowing. He once told me how many atoms there are in the Universe. Ten to the eighty he said. I asked him how he knew and he replied with a mischievous smile “I counted them!” A true genius, character, kind person and friend who will be sadly missed. Sleep tight.”

Paul Ivison, aged 17, said, “Jeff was a very good friend. He helped me a lot on my computer for college work, getting the right programme. He was a loyal friend to my Mam when she needed it. I remember Jeff coming round the house after my Nana had passed away to do a PowerPoint presentation with lovely photos of the family to show at her funeral. It made the day special. I will miss you, Jeff, you were a unique special friend. Ditty wah ditty no more.”

Gary Bliss said, “A clever, friendly man who was loyal to his friends, just lovely.”

Mark Lindsell

Doorways rises again, thanks to Lottery grant Doorways, Saltburn’s youth project, has been brought back from the dead, thanks to a big Lottery grant.

And, partnered with Destinations, it plans to extend its well-being work to cover all age groups.

Doorways, which was started by Saltburn churches 18 years ago, ran out of money a few months ago, but volunteers kept it going from its office above Destinations internet-cafe in Station Street, Saltburn.

Project manager John Pearson said: “We are receiving £284,150 through Reaching Communities Big Lottery Fund in partnership with Destinations, a social enterprise online training centre. It’s fantastic to get five years funding for the first time.”

Mr Pearson, 62, a former electronics technician, of Skelton, is being employed by Saltburn Christian Projects for 25 hours a week to work with 13 to 25-year-olds to improve their well-being. He will also run his InnerShell life-coaching enterprise.

“Doorways is continuing to support young people, the homeless, unemployed, and those struggling with addiction and mental health, emotional and behaviour issues. Further resources will be created alongside our current work, which includes a Facebook page - Redcar and Cleveland job site.”

Paul Davies, owner of Destinations, said: “We are really pleased to be part of the ‘Ways to Well-being project’ and to be able to contribute to the magnificent work of Doorways. Very often its results and successes are lifechanging for individuals.”

A logo to promote the new work has been created by Doorways young person – former Teesside University graphics student Jordan Grandi, who currently works parttime for Middlesbrough FC on match days.

The five steps to well-being are to connect with people, be active, take notice of what you see around you,

Paul Davies, of Destinations, and John Pearson, of Doorways, pause outside the internet-cafe, which is forging a new link with Saltburn’s rescued youth project.

keep learning and to do something nice for a friend or a stranger, including volunteering your time.

The revamped Doorways will open an ‘Explorers’ Lounge’ in the new year. It will be based in what is now a large unused room upstairs at the back of Destinations, a former newsagents and toy shop.

Further information on the project can be had from John Pearson or Paul Davies on 01287-626432 (or email john@door-ways.co.uk).

Website: www.door-ways.co.uk

Friends of Skelton Old Church The pictures are of Hatchments. The picture on the left is of a funerary hatchment for Thomas, son of Lawrence Dundas who died in June 1820. The other is for Sophia Jane, daughter of Sir Hedworth Williamson. She married Thomas, 2nd Earl of Zetland in 1823 and died in May 1865. These hatchments were displayed last year at the Old All Saints Church in Skelton, having been borrowed from Kirkleatham Museum in Redcar.

There are two other hatchments, both in need of much repair, restoration and conservation work. One remains at Kirkleatham while the other has been taken to the studio of a conservationist in Northumberland. These two works commemorate the deaths, in 1873, of Thomas, 2nd Earl of Zetland and of John, the 5th son of Anthony Lowther and Margaret Penn. John died at Upleatham in August 1741.

It is now proposed to form a Group, under the title of Friends of Skelton Old Church, to begin to raise funds for the restoration of these historic artefacts and to maintain the surrounding churchyard. The Earl of Ronaldshay has committed to support the funding to cover 50% of the cost of reinstatement of one of the hatchments, the remainder to be

sought over the coming months.

Anyone interested in supporting the Group is welcome to contact, in the first instance, John Connolly who lives at 1, Church Lane (which leads to the Old Church). Tel 01287 659242 (or e-mail connollyjp@hotmail.co.uk).

A public meeting, to discuss and agree a Constitution for the Group will be held within a couple of weeks, for which details will shortly be announced.

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New minister causes a stir Burkinis, an openly-gay bishop and a dislike of dog-collars were among controversial subjects touched on by Saltburn’s new Methodist minister when she was officially welcomed to the town. The first-ever woman to hold the post, the Rev Helena Harbottle pointed to the plain top she was wearing without a clerical collar which most clergy wear - when she replied to a welcoming address at the Milton Street Methodist church on Sunday, 4th September.

The 58-year-old, who has been a minister for 27 years, told Talk of the Town after the service: “I am not setting out to be controversial.” She recalled that a 92-year-old member of a previous congregation had told her: “Take off your dogcollar.” So she did except when asked to wear it.

In her five-minute talk Mrs Harbottle, whose husband is Methodist minister at Redcar, referred to Muslim woman who chose to wear the almost full-cover burkini on beaches, and to the Bishop of Grantham, Nick Chamberlain, who has just publically spoken of his celibate relationship with a male partner. Speaking of Muslim women during my interview she said it was up to them what they wore. “God wants us to be different.”

Mrs Harbottle said she was looking forward to working in Saltburn, Skelton, Brotton and Skinningrove and would speak on the ‘big issues’ of unemployment and deprivation.

All the clergy present, except Mr Harbottle, were wearing clerical collars. Spanish-born Monsignor Ricardo Morgan, parish priest of Out Lady of Lourdes, welcomed the newcomer with a kiss on each cheek. The Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland Barry Hunt and Councillor Philip Thomson, of Saltburn, went up to welcome her.

PLAIN SPEAKER: Helena Harbottle meets Donald Ingledew during a tea party held when she was officially welcomed to Saltburn’s Methodist Church.

Opinion among some of those that I spoke to among the 100-plus present was that the new Minister was ‘open’ and ‘nice.’ But one said older members would prefer a Minister to wear the conventional collar.

The Rev Ruth Gee, chair of the local circuit, said ‘quite a few’ Ministers did not wear collars and it was not obligatory. “It’s important to see the person for who they are.

We welcome Helena’s gifts which are a huge asset. She has a great deal of wisdom and understanding.”

Mrs Harbottle, who lives in a new church house at Skelton, has a son Aidan and daughter Emily at university.

Mike Morrisey

Resounding success for fourth Festival of Thrift Over 35,000 visitors flocked to the award-winning Festival of Thrift in its new location at Kirkleatham Museum and Grounds near Redcar. The large-scale, family-friendly event proved to be hugely popular with crowds flooding onto the site throughout the two day extravaganza to enjoy the jam-packed programme of activities. Now in its fourth year, the Festival aims to entertain as well as inspire and educate visitors about how to live sustainably in style.

Throughout the event, festival-goers had a choice of over 140 things to do, see and take part in, including a series of workshops and demonstrations on subjects ranging from foraging for food and wild baking, to talks from a mum of five about how to be hard up and happy and about pursuing ethical careers in fashion by eco fashion champion Safia Minney.

Adults and children alike pitched in to make everything from jam and chutney to bread and cured bacon, join in a large-scale community meal inspired by tales from the Redcar area in the village’s hidden walled garden and enjoy home-made food, cooked to order and served up to diners in camper vans.

Festival Director, Stella Hall, said that the new location of Kirkleatham has proved to be a great fit for the event. “We fell in love with the Kirkleatham site as soon as we saw it and visitors have loved it too. It is wonderful to have been able to share the fun, enjoyment and inspiration that this amazing Festival produces with this beautiful part of the Tees Valley. A year after the devastating blow of the closure of the steelworks the weekend has also provided a positive focus for the area. We have been able to celebrate some of the proud history of this area and share it with visitors who in turn can 48

pass it on.”

The Phoenix Choir, formed for the Festival to celebrate 170 years of iron and steel-making in Redcar, appeared around the site in a series of pop-up performances singing mash-ups of traditional songs whilst artist Pauline Taylor from Infinite Arts worked with visitors to create 170 WISH flags to feature the thoughts, wishes, and dreams of the people who took part. Ceramicist Guy Mitchell also worked with families throughout the weekend to create 170 commemorative tiles that will be fired and installed on the site in the forthcoming year.

Another important focus for the 2016 Festival was to inspire young people to take part, learn and share. The programme included activity workshops to pass on and share key skills, the opportunity to get expert advice in person at the People’s Encyclopaedia and inspirational stories from people across the world at Empathy Museum’s A Mile in My Shoes project.

Festival of Thrift co-founder Wayne Hemingway said that the event had been given fantastic support in its new venue to help it share its underlying ethos of thrift and sustainable living. Living a life that doesn’t cost the earth is an important message for all generations and the Festival is unique in offering masses of creative and money-saving ideas and activities alongside an incredible cultural offering.

Redcar and Kirkleatham have embraced the festival in style and we have had an incredible weekend. The sun was shining, people were smiling and everybody was happy. Bring on next year!”

The Countryside Ranger and Volunteers, October 2016 I started last year’s August article with the news that the site had gained a Green Flag award – well, we have kept up the hard work and have just found out that we have passed again.

A big thank you goes out to all of the volunteers, who have contributed their time and enthusiasm into making the Valley the wonderful place it is – without their hard work it wouldn’t have been possible.

And……the Countryside Volunteers have done it again. In this year’s Awards Ceremony for Northumbria in Bloom, Saltburn Valley was judged as part of the Special Conservation Award, and the group attained a Gold Standard: A round of applause please!

We were all very pleased, and very proud that everyone’s hard work had been recognised. Things got even better when the Valley was judged to be the best conservation project overall.

This makes all the wet days in January, blizzards in March and sweltering days in July worth it. As I’m writing this, I don’t mind admitting I have a large grin on my face. I couldn’t be happier or prouder of the group’s dedication and hard work. Well done everyone.

So what of October? October is very much a month of change within our Natural Landscapes, we say goodbye to high temperatures and fair days, we see the nights starting to draw in, and the last blooms seeking out the final days of fairer weather.

But all is not lost. This is one of my favourite times of the year, when, for me the Valley really comes alive in its own way.

Many of our resident mammal species begin to prepare their winter retreats, hurriedly gathering food supplies to store away for the winter months. The trees begin to draw in precious resources, again in preparation for the coming months and colder temperatures; this results in a glorious display of colour throughout the Valley, the rich diversity of trees all changing at different times, providing early morning walks to rival anywhere in the world.

The wildflower meadows also prepare themselves. The summer blooms may be fading, but the seeds produced will be collected ready to sow again in the coming months. An annual cut takes place during September to ensure that any dying plants/grasses don’t act as a fertiliser to nourish the soil.

Yes, you did read that correctly, poor soil is what we are after in order to produce a traditional wildflower meadow. Too many nutrients will feed the soil, encouraging the growth of coarse grasses and nettles. And to this end, once the meadow has been cut all the cuttings are then baled and taken away.

Some bales are left behind purposely; this is so the volunteers are able to use the bales as vegetation control, piles of grass are laid on top of encroaching brambles and this helps to slow their advances across the wildflower meadow. It is, however, a labour intensive task, so if anyone wishes to come along and join us, any Friday morning, you would be most welcome.

The Saltburn Countryside Volunteers and the Friends of the Valley will continue to try to raise money to carry out the maintenance of the Millfield Meadow in future years.

The Volunteers will continue to meet throughout the year on Fridays at 10am near the Woodland Centre. Their work can be seen on the website (www.saltburncountrysidevolunteers.btck.co.uk).

If you would like any information regarding volunteering opportunities either within Saltburn Valley, or the wider Saltburn area please feel free to contact Karen.preston@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk, Sophie.Lyth@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk or myself (paul.murphy@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk).

The Richard Tauber Chronology In the latest edition of his Richard Tauber Chronology, Daniel O’Hara reveals that the great tenor appeared three times at Middlesbrough Town Hall, each time with his regular accompanist Percy Kahn, whom Daniel met on several occasions.

The first Middlesbrough concert was on 14th November 1935, when the supporting artist was the Russian pianist Simon Barer (later Barere). The next was on 29th November 1938, when Chilean pianist Claudio Arrau shared the bill; and the last was on 6th April 1940, when the honours were shared by pianist Eileen Joyce and cellist Eleanor Warren, whom Tauber also accompanied at the piano in a piece he had written specially for her.

A new cover for the latest edition has been created by Marco Rosenkranz of the Richard Tauber Archive in Germany. He has used an image from one of Tauber’s own glass slides which Daniel inherited, and which Tony Lynn has digitized. It shows him as Lenski in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin at the Dresden Opera in 1917, one of more than a hundred roles in which he appeared on stage.

The latest edition of the Chronology can be accessed online here: http://www.richard-tauber.de/wp-content/pdf/TAUBER-CHRONOLOGY.pdf 49

Smoking Can Damage Your Health SCA2gallery Saltburn Community & Arts Association In 1965 all British television commercials for cigarettes were banned (cigars lasted longer). After 1971 all cigarette packets had to carry a Government Health Warning – now the warning has to cover 33% of the packaging. It was not until 2002 that a full scale ban on general advertising was passed by parliament followed the year after by a ban on sponsoring sporting events in the UK. Against this background the tobacco industry had to find a way of promoting its brand names and no-one did it better than Benson & Hedges and they did it by not telling people what they were selling.

In 1977 Collett Dickenson Pearce (CDP) were given the contract by Gallagher, the owners of B&H, to produce an inventive and original campaign. CDP were an established agency who had made its name with the advent of colour television and the appearance first of The Sunday Times colour supplement and subsequently the ones in The Observer and The Sunday Telegraph. The name may not be familiar but the adverts for products such as Harvey’s Bristol Cream, Bird’s Eye, Parker pens, Pretty Polly or Ronson are entrenched in the memory of anyone over the age of 55:

‘Happiness is a cigar called Hamlet’, ‘Land Rover the best 4 x 4 x far’, and ‘Heineken refreshes the parts other beers cannot reach’. They are embedded in the psyche of the Seventies.

It was this company that gave us the highly contrived Surreal situations that typified the B&H magazine ads and billboards. There were no people (they weren’t allowed) and no words (except the Government’s health warnings) and they set the standard not only for their own generation but for advertising up until the present day.

The collection of ads on show at SCA2gallery in Saltburn is the first of a couple of exhibitions that will present some of the familiar images. The photographers and designers played visual games with reference to 20th century art movements, contemporary painters, classic movies and then current TV programmes. It is sometimes hard to know where the ideas come from and to separate them from the visuals that they, in turn, influenced.

It is an opportunity to present an Art History exhibition in an accessible context that many people will remember. They have stood the test of time and still look fresh forty years later, if only....

Update from SCAA Firstly, a big thank you to those people who responded to my first article by giving donations and becoming members of the Saltburn Community & Arts Association.

We do still need more volunteers and members and would also ask people to consider becoming Trustees.

We were making big strides forward but on the 3rd of September I received a telephone call from the Centre saying that there was water coming through the roof of the main hall onto the stallholders who were holding a table top sale. After mopping up we called out a roofing company who discovered that a lot of lead had been stolen from the roof of the building. They placed a temporary cover over the roof until we can have proper repairs carried out so if anyone has seen anything or has any information

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 October for babies and newcomers to the town 50

about the theft would they please contact Cleveland Police.

I would like to add a big thank you to AAA Roofing for their prompt response.

We are hoping to have an open night at the theatre very soon to give people an insight into the history of the building and what our aims are for the future and what we are doing now to preserve this iconic building at the heart of Saltburn. All are welcome to attend what will be a relaxed event lasting only an hour or so. Tea and coffee will be served and you never know we might be able to run to a biscuit or two! Look out for more information coming soon.

Tony Smith Chairman, Saltburn Community and Arts Association

Saltburn Rotary Club Celebrate 90 Years!

Having been founded on the 7th October 1926 Saltburn Rotary Club are looking forward to celebrating their 90th birthday in style with a black tie dinner at Saltburn Golf Club on Saturday, November 18th with music provided by the Persuaders, a very energetic local band playing music from several decades.

We would love any past members and anyone else who wishes to join us to come along and celebrate with us on this very special occasion. Tickets can be obtained from any present Rotarian including myself (my mobile is 07775 553049) in the coming weeks but be quick to reserve a place as it will very popular.

Allan Whiley (President 2000-2001)

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Brexit: Its Impact on Redcar and Cleveland “As I see it, Brexit means Brexit and must be taken as an opportunity to improve and enhance the economy of Redcar and Cleveland,” says Sue Jeffrey, Borough Council leader.

But there are some big issues to resolve if the area is going to prosper. The Tees Valley was expecting a further £170 million up to 2020 from the EU. The European Structural Funds (ESF) have been used so far to promote economic growth and skills, notably providing the Leisure and Community Heart in Redcar and supporting the work of the Enterprise Team, the Youth Enterprise Initiative, the Rural Development Programme and creative industries.

“There was a seven year plan for the investment,” explains Sue, “and this enabled organisations to plan, to employ people and set up programmes.” Now there is uncertainty.

She has written to Government Ministers and has spoken to MPs Greg Clark and James Wharton, before their jobs were changed by Theresa May. “We need the Government to step up and say that the Tees Valley can be assured of continued funding,” says Sue. “The ministers did say that they expected this to be the case, but I wonder how any such money will be distributed.”

At present, from the EU the North-East gets the second largest amount of funding (after Cornwall) per head of any region in the country. Will the Government recognise the needs of the Tees Valley for direct funding or will we be obliged to bid for the money? If it is the latter, will we get less funding as a result?

The system currently operated by the European Structural Funds is that they will provide 50% of the money for a project. The other 50% sometimes comes from local or central government, sometimes from private business. If in the future, matches aren’t made, double the investment may be lost. Sue is determined to work hard to get the replacement funds needed.

How will Brexit impact on local business and industry? The North-East region is one of the biggest exporters to Europe in key sectors, including chemicals and cars. If the EU imposes tariffs after Brexit, the impact could be significant. It’s vital that the Government negotiates a deal that doesn’t make exporting to European countries more difficult.

Sue continues: “There is also a whole range of investment that we want to come to Redcar and Cleveland, to the SSI site in particular. The key way to bring jobs back to the site is to encourage new industries to locate there and to encourage current industries to expand.” There are concerns that such investment decisions will be affected by Brexit itself, but the Council is confident about the Sirius (York Potash) £multi-million scheme to extract polyhalite going ahead and investment proposals for new power plants are looking positive.

Sue says that the Combined Authority, (i.e. the five Tees Valley Councils, including Redcar and Cleveland) is working closely with UK Trade and Industry (UKTI) to encourage investment from abroad, including India and China. “We need to identify markets and make sure we have a really good offer to get investment here,” she says. “We also want to make the area the best it can be, a place where people want to live.” This means ensuring a good transport infrastructure and attractive executive housing, as well as affordable homes.

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It is a priority to create high value jobs, with good wages that provide a good standard of living. This involves the Council working with industry and business to identify any skills gaps, so that local people can train and get those jobs. But where needed, there must be a flexible policy towards inward migration, avoiding closing local and national borders, Sue suggests.

There is niggling concern about continued investment in innovation and research, as our area is at the forefront of cutting edge work including at the Materials Processing Institute in Grangetown and the Chemicals Processing Institute at Wilton. A lot of their work has been funded by the EU in the past.

Sue believes that the Redcar and Cleveland economy only works within the context of a wider Tees Valley, where 80% of Redcar and Cleveland people work. Ministers Greg Clark and James Wharton told Sue that the area is better placed to receive successor funding, because it is working through the Combined Authority.

Locally, she has written to businesses to ask them to talk to her about the impact of Brexit on their investment decisions. A key priority will be getting education and skills development for local people right, so they can take advantage of any new jobs that are created. “We have an opportunity to reboot the way we do things here,” says Sue.”We’ve got to see Brexit as a positive.”

But there are question marks about what will happen if European standards are abandoned. The bathing water directive is part of European legislation and Saltburn has met its requirements for the benefit of residents and visitors. If the UK is no longer bound by European emissions targets, the air we breathe in our industrial areas could become less healthy.

There are European regulations concerning Health and Safety at Work, Employment Protection Rights...... we wait to see how the discontinuation of these might affect the people of Redcar and Cleveland.

Rosemary Nicholls

Letter to the Editor I am becoming increasingly concerned about the traffic situation outside the Nisa/Spar/post office on Windsor Road.

I can’t be the only one in town aware of the near accidents happening on an almost daily basis and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if we have a death or casualties in the very near future. If you hang around there for any time, and some of us have to in order to try to cross the road, you will see cars entering the car park very fast from either end and failing to be cautious at the possibility of Zetland Terrace traffic. Now that children are back at school the shop fills up at the end of their sessions and this again creates a dangerous situation for those needing to cross or even just make their way along the road. I have seen kids running across the road trying to dodge traffic as they get tired of waiting for a safe gap.

I am not aware of any plans for a crossing or lights to be placed near the shop in the future but would urge that anyone responsible does something about this before there is a serious injury.

Loll Thorne

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t: 01287 624644 m: 07960 967865 www.scurator.co.uk info@scurator.co.uk www.beamdesignservice.co.uk The Saltburn Beer Festival, organised and run by volunteers from Cleveland CAMRA, is now in its 7th year and people travel from all over the country to enjoy a selection of real ales from different areas, served in excellent condition in a friendly social atmosphere. If you’ve never tried real ale this is the time to start as you can buy beer in 1/3rd of a pint, as well as the usual ½ pint and pint measurers, so you will be able to sample a variety of different styles of beers. There will be a total of 36 real ales to choose from as well as cider and perry and local fruit wines from Skinningrove Wine Company. Richard and Sue will be providing a choice of hot and cold food, as well as snacks and soft drinks.

The above logo of the miniature steam train Blakelock R, designed by David Jowsey (www.davesdoodles.co.uk), will feature on the festival glasses (£3 each) and polo shirts, which will be available to order in assorted sizes and colours at the festival, or in advance before 1st October from jilljakday@gmail.com.

The Saltburn Town Crier will open the festival at 11:05am on 11th November. Entrance is pay on the door for the afternoon sessions (11am-5pm) and evening tickets (6:30 11pm) are on sale at Whistlestop Wines in Saltburn Square from 1st October or SAE with payment to Mr G Hooker, Cleveland CAMRA, The Close, Darlington Lane, Stockton-on -Tees, TS19 8BB. CAMRA members will receive a £1 refund on the door on production of a valid membership card.

More information available from jilljakday@gmail.com and www.clevelandcamra.org.uk.

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Eric Matson (volunteer), 25 High Street, Skelton, Tel: 07985 767587 53

Summer is over but fun continues at the Cons Club Looking back at the year now that we approach the winter months I find it so satisfying to see the great progress that we have made at the Cons Club. The new snug has proved to be a great asset in the short time it has been open and we have plans in place to finish the room off by replacing the windows with small bay windows and curtains. On the entertainment side over the last nine months we have held regular themed ‘Music Nights’, with another three planned before the end of the year. A lot of thanks regarding these nights must go to committeeman Shaun Cook who has helped to upgrade the music system, install the disco lights and acted as host DJ on the decks. His commitment has been immense.

Shaun has also provided the music for some private members party’s which have all been very successful nights.

Stewardess Michelle Gilly is such a vital part of the progress we have made. Her personality, and that of the bar staff, have been the reason for a lot of the new members we have. Apart from organising all aspects of running the bar and employing such brilliant staff she also goes above and beyond her duties. She puts on great buffets on a regular basis for events held in the Club, she now organises the Quiz/ Bingo/Buffet nights plus she organises our Club outings to various towns and cities where the members visit the local hostelries, bars and restaurants before returning back to the Club on the coaches to an early evening buffet followed by a Music Night. These days out have proved to be very popular which means that Michelle now has to book two coaches to accommodate the numbers. The next outing is to Richmond on 15th October and both coaches are fully booked.

We have been fortunate this summer in the respect that every two weeks from the end of May to the end of September we put on a barbecue in the garden, manned by committee and members and this season we have not lost any to the weather. The barbecues this year have been very well attended by our members and guests which has resulted in a good profit which will go towards the upgrade of the club and the garden (more news on bar alterations at a later date).

Membership this year to date has reached the highest level we have had with new applications coming in every month.

(28 passed in the last 3 months alone). The members of the club have really put in a great effort. Every social function that we arrange results in a near full house every time. What is so pleasing is the number of members who assist the committee by volunteering their services to help the club. I said at the last AGM that we needed the committee, bar-staff and members to work as a team to bring the club together to achieve success and the response has been overwhelming.

Another big asset we have at the club is the beer garden, which is undoubtedly the best in town. This area, with the marquee, gives us a great area for members and guests to relax and thanks must go to all who maintain it to such a high

standard. We have been regularly entertained by ‘Teesside Steve’ and Liz Bishop on the last Friday of every month hosting the ‘Open Mic Night’. Both of these people, who are both members, arrange and put on live music at its best, and it is becoming more popular and my thanks go to them for their commitment. It is so much appreciated.

On a sadder note I have to report that owing to ill health our Treasurer, John Robinson, has had to stand down. He has been replaced by committeeman John Ainsley, who is a qualified accountant, who I know will continue the good work that John Robinson put in. John Robinson married partner Barbara Britton earlier this year and we send them both love and the very best wishes for John’s recovery and many happy times together. I must also pay tribute to Jeff Robinson, a longtime member, who sadly passed away in September. He was one of the great characters of the town and will be very sadly missed.

Moving on to the events planned for the club in October and we start with a Quiz, Bingo & Buffet Supper to be held on Wednesday 12th, starting at 8pm. This has been organised by Michelle with assistance from Andy Dales & Chris Bell, with Julie Towel on the mic. Team’s of up to 6 players can take part and tickets are priced at £4 each and they can be purchased from Andy, Chris or from behind the bar. Tickets always sell well so buy early to avoid disappointment. On Saturday 15th we have another club outing, this time to Richmond, followed by a buffet and music night at the club. On Saturday 22nd we are hosting the ’53 Drama Group’s after show party and buffet supper. We look forward to welcoming them and their guests for what should be a very enjoyable evening. Friday 28th sees the regular ‘Open Mic Night’ hosted by ‘Teesside Steve’ & Liz Bishop. A very popular night and members and guests are welcome to come along from 8pm. Entry is free (live music at its best).

Looking further ahead, the Halloween Party this year will be on Saturday 5th November on a theme of the ‘Rocky Horror Show’. Attendees are encouraged to be in costume, although this is not a necessity. The evening starts at 7-30pm and entrance is free. We will also be providing a Chilli Night, served from the barbecue.

As you can see from this newsletter, another good month of entertainment lies in store so why don’t you become a member. Call in for a form. It is very friendly, we all know each other and the atmosphere is brilliant, plus it’s a safe place to come and relax.

Keep happy.

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

Saltburn Cons Club Future Events to entertain in October Every Tuesday: club Draw Nights for Meat Voucher, Wines & Chocolates…………..10pm Every Sunday: Beer Draw & Cash rollover. Increases by £25 each week if not won…..6pm.

Saturday Afternoons: A get-together by ‘The Conmen’. Americano Musicians’ Jam sessions from 3pm.

Wednesday 12th: Quiz, Bingo & Buffet Supper. £4 per ticket (Teams of up to 6) ………8pm.

Saturday 15th: Club outing to Richmond. Music Night and Buffet on return. See coach times on Club notice board.

Saturday 22nd: ’53 Drama Group. Private after show Buffet & Party Friday 28th: ‘Open Mic Night’ with Teesside Steve & Liz Bishop…………………….8pm start. Free entry Saturday 5th November: Halloween Party (Rocky Horror Show theme) Chilli Supper. Free entry 54

Who controls you?

Ralph Waldo Emerson was one of the great philosophersages. Born in 1841, he noticed back then that people were starting to lose themselves only to start re-defining themselves by their place in society, their job title, the constructs from outside of themselves rather than the constructs that begin on the inside.

In the happiness philosophy this is one of the primary processes, practising getting aware of how we’ve been influenced by our society to believe that we ‘must’ be a certain way, which leads us to ‘do as we are told’ or what we are told is our ‘duty’ to do. Such as going to war for the sake of our Queen as many men and women have in the past or doing a job that we don’t enjoy or paying a bank debt.

It’s interesting to me that RBS and other banks when they ended up owing money, it was us, the tax payer, who paid their bill while the employees carried on receiving their full wages, while individuals who borrowed from the bank are still having to pay it back many years later?

Some people kill themselves over the worry of debt, sometimes quickly sometimes slowly. Yet when looked at in a different way financial debt is simply the possession of numbers on a screen and debt is far from a clear obligation.

Stock brokers know full well there are many ways to consider debt and it’s easily wiped out if wanted. Yet debt can be used as a strong means of mental control.

You may call this politics, you may say it has nothing to do with happiness, yet in order to be sustainably happy I think it’s important to see where and how in our life we are being coerced to perceive the world in a certain way and then we can notice how we may have constructed ourselves and our lives around the perception that we’ve been fed.

Alternatively, can we start to cultivate an internal understanding of self that perhaps doesn’t begin with external status or self-created social obligation? What I mean by this is who are you when you are not defined by being a manager, or a specialist, or a schoolboy or the pretty girl or the father or the office worker, or the person in debt, or the farmer?

Who are you when you start from a still moment with yourself? Can you redefine yourself as something more ‘real’, something that you might carry with you through your life rather than something that might be a title given to you for a few years and which then changes.

When you sit with yourself quietly, when your ego is not held aloft by your position in society or your value as a girlfriend from the perspective of your boyfriend, or your value as a dad from the perspective of your son or daughter, then who are you?

When you sit with yourself, closed eyes perhaps and in silence perhaps, what part of you can you still contact? Can you find the part that you can feel is kind perhaps, or honest, peaceful or loving?

Can you acknowledge that if you take away your social situation you are no longer a bank clerk or an unemployed person or a binge drinker or a man with an expensive car or a woman with pink hair. You are instead, deep down and more real than any socially ascribed label can ever pin upon you, unless you let it, but deep down the real you, sat alone in the silence, who is that? Can you contact that kind part of you, that peace loving being, that caring person who wants to love, because it feels so good to spread that feeling that feels so good and because you know how good it feels when someone loves you back and treats you with care, treats you as the

small and sometimes hurt yet unique miracle of an individual that you are, the being that is you here now alive with them at this same time on this same planet.

At our base I think we are all loving beings all of us, I believe children are born like that and following on from last month’s article, I think no one would cause other people harm unless the person inflicting the harm is in pain themselves or if they are not aware that they are doing it.

So a big part of the process is becoming aware of what we are doing in our lives and what we have constructed as our social role, which largely means seeing where we have allowed society or our social status, or our lack of it, to manipulate or define who we are, and how we act.

It means noticing the indoctrination of our mind and noticing where we have created constraint and going back to ourselves to redefine ourselves as essentially a loving person first and foremost.

For when our ego and desire for status do get hold of our self-construction it can easily lead to people carrying out actions that are not loving at all but are being justified by one’s view of their role, be it by a father, policeman, judge, or messed up alcoholic, every self-definition based on a construct in society can justify actions which are not in alignment with the essence of ourselves when we sit quietly alone.

Tom Butler-Boowden writing about Ralph Emerson said, “...Emerson thought if we could not examine ourselves and identify our calling, we would be of little use. Lack of awareness would see us quickly moulded into shape by society.”

“This is the path most of us take, happy to go along with society’s programming in exchange for a level of status and reasonable material circumstances. Though we profess to break away from limitations, the reality is comfort in conformity.”

“Your conformity explains nothing,” said Emerson.

We tend to rely on things like sex, work success, eating and shopping for that feeling of aliveness... Emerson saw through the veil of the external, knowing that it is the inner domains that reveal true riches.

Happiness is an inside job and I think of it as our base level. It runs concurrent with a belief that all children are born with a loving baseline and they either learn or unlearn how to continue like that. Just as I think people can unlearn how to be happy yet it remains within us when we come back to ourselves.

So finally what about what Emerson names as ‘our calling.’ How can we know what that might be? Well, isn’t that the difference between being led into a career or a lifestyle by the manipulation of others, by our mental construct of looking at society and feeling like we have no choice but to do things we don’t enjoy doing in our daily life. As opposed to how free, liberated and happy, we can be if we return to remember who we are and what we really align with and really enjoy doing by free choice. When we are quiet, sat alone reminding ourselves of our essential kindness and peacefulness and our ability to show love and feel love, that is where we can perhaps contact ‘our calling.’

For comments, questions or support, contact me, Kendal Aitken, Health and Happiness Coach / Counsellor, on coach@happygreenblueeyes.co.uk or 07944 883961, at no cost.

55

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56

The Saltburn Profile by Rosemary Nicholls Wendy Shepherd “Saltburn has stunning views and lovely people,” says Barnardos worker Wendy Shepherd. “I always knew I’d come back here.”

Wendy was born near Colwyn Bay, North Wales.

Her father was from North Wales and her mother was from the Darlington area. She was one of four children. When she was two, she moved to Yorkshire and lived some years in York and Brotton. She went to Warsett School at Brotton and moved to Saltburn at sixteen.

“I worked at Hinton’s supermarket,” she remembers, “and I had a great teenage life in Saltburn. I went to Philmore’s and watched Chris Rea sing. I played five-a-side football for the Youth Club and used to surf with Tim Gladders and his crew.”

When she was twenty-five, she moved to Durham to take up a managerial position with Hinton’s and after that, she became a manager of a small news agency firm in Durham and Spennymoor. In this role, she saw quite a lot of deprivation amongst the paper boys and decided she would like a change from retail.

Wendy moved to run the Youth Opportunities Programme for Stockton Council. “We got young people into training and we did community work with them to learn skills,” she says. “Then after seven years, I took up a post as a Residential Social Worker at Aycliffe Secure Unit for very disadvantaged children.”

Alongside her work, Wendy gained a Social Work degree at Teesside University and trained as a psychotherapist with the Northern Guild. She then became a Social Worker for children and families at Stockton Council.

After a while, a job came up with Barnardos Bridgeway Project, working with children who had experienced sexual abuse and Wendy has been at Barnardos for the past twentyfour years.

After doing research to identify the problems, Wendy set up SECOS - Sexually Exploited Children’s Outreach Services. The issues then were focused on prostitution, but since the rise of the Internet, online abuse has come to the fore. “We have projects to combat this and to build up good self-esteem in children,” says Wendy. “We need to teach children and parents safety online.”

Wendy has done a lot of fundraising for Barnardos: she cycled 400 miles across Egypt one November and the team raised £100,000 between them. She has also cycled the Coast to Coast route and the 159 mile Yorkshire Wolds Way. “Saltburn people have joined in with these and we have a lovely team of riders and supporters,” she adds.

The money raised helps to provide extras for the children. Wendy has recently returned from taking five youngsters on a sailing boat from Newcastle to Whitby to Hartlepool. They had to pull together and developed teamwork skills and a great sense of achievement. Also, there are residential stays at Peat Rigg on the North York Moors, where young people who’ve experienced trauma are introduced to archery, walking, canoeing and abseiling.

Wendy has an eight month old black Cocker Spaniel named Maurice. They walk on Saltburn coastal path, in the woods and on the beach. Maurice goes into work with Wendy and he is a pet dog for the young people. It’s hoped he will be able to go to Court with them.

Wendy occasionally swims at Loftus Baths and last

year had six sessions of training with Invictus gym. She cycles often from Redcar to Saltburn and when she retires, she would like to build up her fitness.

She has just joined a Book Club and will be reading ‘The Little Red Chairs’ by Edna O’Brien for the next meeting. Her taste includes Stieg Larsson and she has a passion for the work of screen writer Sally Wainwright, whom she feels really understands people. Favourites are ‘Happy Valley’ and ‘Last Tango in Halifax’. With regard to music, Wendy likes pop, rock and Barbra Streisand. She will have a go at a sing song for fun and once tried to learn the guitar.

‘Les Misérables’ is amongst her favourite films, because of its songs and storyline. She has attended concerts featuring the singers Barbara Dixon and Janis Ian at the Sage in Gateshead. She goes to films at Saltburn Film Society and contributed a film about exploited children to Saltburn Film Festival. “I do a bit of film-making,” she says.

Wendy enjoys her big garden, which is largely lawn.

“It is a lovely outside space, with a view,” she explains. She grows flowers and herbs in pots; she likes visiting gardens and was particularly taken by Sissinghurst Castle in Kent.

Wendy has travelled extensively. She had a three month sabbatical through the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust to look at global sexual exploitation of children. She visited Eastern Europe, Hungary, the Philippines, Australia and America, where she spent a few days with the Los Angeles FBI on missing children. She has a two-bedroomed house in a rural part of Britanny, as she likes the French culture.

Her two cars, a Z3 BMW and a Landrover Defender, are a source of pleasure to Wendy. She has had all sorts of cars, including Jags, over the years. She loves to drive to work in the old Z3 and loves to come home again to our ‘lovely, safe and secure community’.

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1st Saltburn Scout Group A u t u mn i s b a c k ; unfortunately all Sections were unable to benefit from the unseasonably warm weather by getting out in the first couple of weeks.

The first week of all the Sections usually involves speaking to new entrants to either Beavers, Cubs or Scouts; either those moving up from a lower Section or those ‘new’ to 1st Saltburn. However, the first night Section meetings were lower in numbers than expected; compounded by some confusion about when the term started, this despite notes being sent out as we closed for the summer break. All Sections are getting accustomed to developing changes within the building: we are awaiting the installation of double glazed windows, followed by insulation and new wall linings fitted to the main hall.

Over the October break the timber floor will be sanded and ‘wax oiled’; all this being possibly following our Lottery grant, a grant courtesy of our local Councillor Stuart Smith and the work undertaken by NCS in the summer break.

Beavers returned after the summer break and numbers remain steady at twenty. We have been joined

by Eddie & Ollie, Tom, Rylee and Oliver; with possibly another two awaiting confirmation. It is early days as they find out about Beavers but they appear to be enjoying the experience.

Cubs have a register of twenty-four Cubs. Beavers who have ‘Moved up’ were Angus, Daniel, Ewan and

Saltburn Line User Group Next Meeting: Tuesday, 4th October 2016 at 7.10pm Meetings at Saltburn Conservative Club are held on the first Tuesday of the month starting at the new time 19.10pm. As always, all welcome.

Talk to Saltburn Line User Group.

The Group exists to protect passengers’ interests.

Find us at www.facebook.com/ saltburnlineusergroup

Telephone the secretary on:

Matthew (we await confirmation that Paul is to join us); although we also saw Alfie and Ryan deciding to concentrate on their other sporting activities and we wish them luck. Gary is changing his role to that of a Cub Scout Leader, with Joanna having to step away for a while with an expanding family role and we are still ably assisted by Sam (Young Leader Explorer Scout).

Scout numbers are now at their highest level for years with twenty-three members; including Caleb, Harry, Harry, Indi, Jacob and Sam ‘moving up’ from Cubs, and new members JJ, Paul and Rowan have joined the Troop.

We have entered a team into the District five-aside football tournament later in September and hopefully some of the Scouts are off for a Training weekend at Kettleness (District Activity Centre) with Scouts from within East Cleveland. This is for Patrol or Assistant Patrol Leaders; a chance to develop new Scouting skills, make new friends and help them to develop as young people. Our Leader team is further strengthened by Jonathan joining from Cubs owing to work commitments and other dads are volunteering to help.

As we move on into another year of Scouting @ 1st Saltburn, we still need more involvement! In the meantime our parents and friends continue to be involved in all our endeavours; for which we are very grateful. At this point I must confess I managed to delete an offer of assistance from a mum with our Beaver Colony; whose daughter was six: PLEASE can she get back in touch! We welcome any assistance in all our activities (however little!) and if you are interested in joining us, please enquire: John G. Hannah – 07811 801627 (or johnghannah@yahoo.co.uk).

John G. Hannah

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58

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

Write to us at TotT Subscriptions, 9 The Wynd, Marske, Cleveland, TS11 7LD. Don’t forget to enclose your name and address or alternatively, you can call us on 01642 477200 if you wish to pay by credit or debit card.

All Wrapped Up I have a great love of gherkins. Don’t ask me why because I can take or leave cucumber. Dr Johnson said that cucumber should be finely diced and then mixed with precious herbs and spices before being thrown away as it was no use to anyone. Maybe it’s the vinegar that makes the difference but for whatever reason I eat gherkins practically every day – or at least I do if I can get at them.

Whenever we have to buy a new jar of pickled gherkins I know that the same performance is going to be forthcoming. Kate passes me the jar and asks me to open it and I struggle manfully, not wishing to admit that the metal lid is beyond my strength.

The next part of the procedure is to run the lid under the hot tap in order to expand it but that never works because the tap water is not hot enough so I fill and boil the kettle, before gently pouring the boiling water across the lid of the jar – invariably scalding myself. Finally, after nearly turning myself inside out I manage to dislodge the lid. I usually end up spilling vinegar and the gherkins are by this time warm. The final act in the performance is me swearing at the incompetence of the gherkin bottlers for not supplying a jar that can be opened by anyone who is not a contender for Britain’s strongest person.

This regular eventuality leads me onto one of my favourite gripes – which I am allowed to have now that I have reached the age where I possess a free bus pass.

Why is it that in this wide and wonderful world, where almost anything is available to us and in which technology has leapt forward in leaps and bounds almost no manufacturer can devise a form of packaging that is both adequate and easy to use.

I’m sure almost everyone reading this article buys cheese on a regular basis, so you should all be with me in this example. It isn’t so long ago that someone had the bright and ostensibly very sensible idea of making plastic bags for cheese that can be resealed once the required amount has been cut. This is wonderful in theory but in practice turns out to be a nightmare. It involves getting a very thin plastic strip to line up with an opposing plastic channel and in nine cases out of ten it proves to be impossible. I told myself a long time ago that it would be much easier to simply put the cheese into a different plastic bag, turn the top over and put it back on the shelf in the fridge – but no, because that’s not the sort of person I am. Instead I wrestle and struggle for ages, refusing to be beaten once again by packaging manufacturers who are either incompetent or who have a strange sense of humour and who go to bed each night giggling at the thought of people up and down the country trying to achieve the impossible. I suppose my point here is that before the contact strips were fitted to cheese bags I don’t recall our cheese going hard or mouldy because in our house it doesn’t stick around long enough.

by Alan Butler

While we are on the subject of dairy products I also have an axe to grind with plastic milk containers. On at least fifty percent of occasions when it comes to opening the sort that are sold in supermarkets the lid proves to be almost as stiff as those on gherkin jars. When the lid finally does yield, usually after a titanic struggle it will bring with it the little tab that is supposed to allow one to remove the inner foil seal. It is then necessary to get a pair of scissors with which to attack the foil and the process often ends with milk all over the kitchen; which in turn brings us to the issue of kitchen scissors.

I don’t think there can be a single person in the land who has not lost their kitchen scissors at one time or another and who has had to go to the shops to buy a new pair. These days they are put into what is commonly called a blister pack. I’m sure you are ahead of me here.

These blister packs are clearly intended to survive Armageddon if necessary and resist all efforts on the part of those who want to get into them, short of being attacked with a pair of kitchen scissors. But the scissors one needs are ‘inside’ the blister pack because the original kitchen scissors are lost. Just as a side issue here, once one somehow does manage to break the scissors out of solitary confinement the original kitchen scissors are almost always found to be sitting on the worktop in full view, laughing silently but nevertheless uproariously and having enjoyed the performance immensely. They pretend to have been there all along. Hmmm!

Almost everything that can be purchased these days is packed in such a way that it makes simple entry virtually impossible and along with so many other people I struggle to understand why it is that something so potentially simple is beyond the wits of highly qualified engineers to get right. I was born into a world of brown paper bags. I have no doubt that they had their limitations but we seemed to get by fairly well. Milk came in glass bottles, which were infinitely recyclable and easy to open, lemonade bottles even had a deposit which young people could use to earn money, whilst cheese was always wrapped in that excellent waxed paper, which the French still insist on using. It was easy to use and did not encourage the cheese to sweat as plastic wrappers do if one forgets to put them back into the fridge immediately after use.

Getting back to the gherkin jars, which really are the bane of my life, a few days ago I happened to peruse a Betterware magazine that had been delivered to our door.

I’m sure you get them too. They contain a plethora of products that nobody ever really wants or needs but which they buy in any case, in order to keep them in some cupboard for decades. One product did attract my attention; it was an ingenious device for opening jar lids, no matter how stiff they are. I toyed with the idea of sending off for one but I have decided against in on the grounds that I probably would not be able to get it out of its wrapping when it did arrive.

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Saltburn Allotments Association Winter’s approaching. It’s getting chilly at night (and during the day for that matter, with all that mist and fog recently when we were threatened with a heat wave) and the leaves of our courgettes, marrows and pumpkins look bedraggled. All is not over, however, because there’s still plenty to do. First of all, if you have pumpkins and squashes and the leaves are dying back like mine, the fruits need to be harvested. If the skins aren’t ripe (still soft or not the correct colour), leave them outside to ripen before you store them in a cool, dark, dry place where they should keep for months.

Of course, later this month, you’ll be wanting pumpkins to make Halloween lanterns. The Pumpkin Party in our wildlife garden will be on Friday, 28th October this year, starting at 4.30pm. Last year was really good so, if you want to join in and are able, please let me know (on spf.bs@ntlworld.com). We can then make sure we have enough pumpkins and goodies.

You should really make sure all your main crop potatoes are lifted this month and, if possible, stored in hessian sacks in a cool, dark dry place. You could then fork over the area, add some fertiliser such as chicken pellets and sow autumn broad beans. Once you’ve forked the area over, tread it down as broad beans like firm ground. Then, sow the seeds 2 inches deep and nine inches apart in double rows 12 inches apart. Sow some extra seeds at the ends of the rows so that you have a few plants to fill gaps where the seeds haven’t germinated. The reason for double rows is that as the plants grow in spring, it’s easier to support the double rows to stop plants toppling over.

Another good job as you harvest crops is to dig your empty beds over, think what you are going to grow in each bed next year and incorporate well-rotted manure where this will be of benefit. Instead of manure, you could add your own compost from your compost bins or heaps (if you have them and the compost is wellrotted).

If you have ripe fruit, pick it and if it will store, store the unblemished fruits. Bruised fruit or any that have been slightly damaged can be eaten or used in jams and preserves (or cordials or wine).

Keep weeding your winter crops, such as leeks, sprouts, cabbages etc. This stops weeds competing for light and nutrients and keeps pests and diseases at bay.

Also, check anything you already have in store, such as onions and potatoes, every week if possible. You can spot any signs of rot and remove it before it spreads.

In our heavy clay soil, it can be a good idea to lift root crops such as beetroot and carrots and store them in layers in boxes with dry peat or sand in a dark, cool, dry place. This stops the roots rotting if it’s very wet and keeps them safe from pests such as slugs.

Happy gardening, Sue. 60

Midsummer Magic meets the Roaring Twenties Exuberant dance routines, costumes to rival Downtown Abbey and songs from the Broadway musicals of the Jazz Age – just a taste of what audiences can expect from Saltburn ’53 Drama Group’s autumn production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The play, at Saltburn Community Theatre from October 19-22, is set in the Roaring 1920s and features fairies in flapper dresses, women playing men and some energetic choreography.

“It’s an exciting, colourful performance full of mischief and fun. I’m sure Shakespeare would have approved wholeheartedly,” laughs director Sue Pierce.

“The 1920s were a period of great social change in this country and, given that the play deals with a young woman wanting to marry the man she has chosen, rather than the one her father wants her to marry, it seemed very appropriate to set it in an era of women’s suffrage,” she adds.

Sue, who is co-directing the play with husband Andrew, has worked on numerous Shakespeare productions and believes it is the perfect play to introduce new audiences to The Bard in this 400th year celebration of his legacy. “It’s essentially a romantic comedy,” says Sue. “It’s probably his best known and most accessible play and we’d love people who have never seen a Shakespeare play – maybe never even been to the theatre before – to come along and see what all the fuss is about.”

Following the fate of four young lovers who find themselves in an enchanted forest ruled by fairies and mischievous sprites, the show is a feast for the senses.

Presented by a cast who range in age from 11 to 70, Sue promises an explosion of colour, music and movement.

“Too often, people’s experience of Shakespeare is confined to the classroom. There’s nothing like a live theatre production to bring the plays to life. People are often very surprised at just how bawdy, funny and riotous Shakespeare’s plays are. There’s so much visual comedy in A Midsummer Night’s Dream that it is just a dream to direct.”

Saltburn ’53 Drama Group – so called because they were formed in 1953 – boasts an impressive history. Former members have gone on to follow professional careers in the world of theatre and music; the group have worked with the RSC; reached the finals of the All England Theatre Festival and presented everything from Ayckbourn to Ibsen, Agatha Christie to Anne Frank, Oscar Wilde to Fay Weldon. They also produce Saltburn’s annual sell out pantomime every January.

“We are really trying to move away from the clichéd idea of am dram,” says Sue. “Our members come from all walks of life. We have nurses, chefs, teachers, civil servants, beauticians and, of course, our fabulous youth – and yet what they all have in common is enthusiasm and incredible talent. People are often genuinely blown away by the standard of the performances and we would love as many people as possible to enjoy the magic of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Tickets for A Midsummer Night’s Dream and this year’s panto The Snow Queen are on sale now priced £7 adults/£5 concessions from Saltburn Community Theatre (Box Office open Wednesday 2pm - 4pm. Thursday & Friday 11am -1pm, 2pm - 4pm); from The Book Corner in Saltburn’s Station Square (10-5pm every day except Wednesday and Sunday) and from Chocolinis in Windsor Road (10-5pm Monday-Saturday and 11-4pm Sunday). They can also be bought at Saltburn Farmers Market - look out for Saltburn ’53 Drama Group’s stall!

The Muses of Jim It was not my turn to pay for high tea on that Sunday at Brockley Hall. I paid the last time at Betty’s at Harrogate and in fact I still have the bill safe and sound to prove it.

Enough of details of very personal family matters and more about myself.

I started the month by gaining a tattoo. I say ‘gaining’ rather than getting a tattoo. As people that know me know that I am rather against the very concept of body art. There I was one Sunday morning. I repeat one Sunday morning there was I lying on a trolley in a procedure room at James Cook Hospital, Middlesbrough, on Sunday morning surrounded by both equipment and more importantly people, not just people but rather highly qualified staff from all corners of the world. I was told that the NHS didn’t operate at weekends. To continue the Saga. There I was after a 36 hour fast and with no alcohol during Saturday night, with all dignity gone, viewing on the large monitor parts of my anatomy never before seen by my mother and my wife neither. Half way through the procedure it was decided I would have to return and I was given another appointment there and then. So after another 36 hour fast and another alcohol free evening I arrived back at the same unit. This time on a Wednesday.

Different staff, but with the same cheerfulness and professional manner and similar geographical spread.

This time success, objects of interest removed after some difficulty, due to the size of them. During the second

procedure, my newly imposed tattoo was removed. It was just a blue smear very much like Granddad Wingham’s pre First World War militia tattoo. Thus ended the saga of the tattoo.

On my last trip to London I was booked on the 4.00 pm train at Kings Cross for the return home. Which was my usual practice? On this occasion the meeting finished unusually early so I was able to catch a much earlier train.

So I was feeling rather smug as the train sped quickly up north. For the benefit of the people of the club that doubt my skill and knowledge base: the meeting was of a special board of four exports I mean experts. Of which I seem to be one. This board is elected by the members of the Policy Committee, which in turn is elected by the National Council members. The agenda had been light but very important as we represent the opinions of various parish and town councils and assisting them to shape or rather reshape their requests for changes to legislation to the various secretaries of state. It must be said we have a very good success rate.

To continue on with my journey back to God’s Country. The trip down had been as smooth as silk and every bit of the return journey seemed to be the same. Then suddenly we ground to a halt and were told that the overhead lines were down. Early on at the start of the journey we were told that the train was crowded and because of this there would not be any trolley service due to the extra luggage overflowing from the racks. In the good old days, the train I was on, being diesel, would have just switched tracks around the failure point and then carried on as normal. In the good old days that is. Much later it was announced we would be travelling to Doncaster by a different route. So we set off on this new route, only to stop again by a faulty farmer’s level crossing. Once at Doncaster we had to wait for a slot and again at York and Darlington. Arriving there, Darlo, about an hour later was when the 4.00pm train should have arrived, but that one was behind us. Compensation form quickly given on the advice of the Guard. The staff were brill and free refreshment was given out to all.

On the same Friday in the Top Club, without any biscuits, as they were used on the train for survival reasons, for the needy a well-earned drink was consumed and really enjoyed. On the way home I heard the sound of raised voices coming from the garages behind Upleatham Street.

On investigation I discovered a male adult in heated discussion with what appeared to be a group of teenagers of both sexes. As I was rather tired from my adventure on Virgin Trains and because I am noisy, I sat on the wall and observed the situation. After a few moments a clear pictured emerged. It was clear that one young man was set on assaulting the adult and it was clear that the girls in the group were stopping this idiot from really getting at the adult. After a time the group managed to drag this clot away as the gentleman had by now been joined by another adult. As they both passed me I congratulated them on his restraint.

Jim Wingham 61

The Saltburn Crossword no 184 set by Advena Across 7 Red tape redistributed becoming reduced gradually (7) 8 Seen in the mist a kestrel is a misapprehension (7) 10 Kate’s other confusion is the result of a high body temperature (10) 11 We hear great strength in this little creature (4) 12 Careful or not, Steve chose lovely unsung ballad initially for this Saltburn venue (4, 4) 14 Orange County leads a sect with supernatural practices (6) 15 It goes round and round statistically on Talk of the Town’s front cover (11) 19 With childcare, Erica accommodates a profession (6) 20 and 26 Across Blurry rain blast obscured our town’s important community hub (8, 7) 22 Included in the animals of Africa as well (4) 23 Reworking large miner is a shirker (10) 25 Moved quickly with a large bag to plunder and loot (7) 26 See 20 Across

Down Name___________________________________ Address_________________________________ ________________________________________ Telephone_______________________________

1 Arrived with a great deal at Arthur’s castle (7) 2 This achievement can sound like what we need for running (4) 3 In a maiden talk relating to teeth (6) 4 A thin cable connecting to safe anchorage is found monthly on Talk of the Town’s page 3! (1, 1, 6) 5 I’m Bobcat Mo, horribly deadly nuclear weapon (6, 4) 6 Likes mingling with the Isle of Man road race, one of usually ninepins (7) 9 Unquestionably old style bus renovated (11) 13 A powerful equine breed found in Yorkshire horsebox (5, 5) 16 I’m scarce, badly made from clay (8) 17 Item of dining furniture finished with gold chemically makes a picturesque scenic group (7) 18 Deficit for a Rolls-Royce fitted with listeners (7) 21 From Ash Wednesday to Easter sounding not well making legume (6) 24 Receive a salary in a classical container we hear (4)

Solution to Crossword no 183

The winner of last month’s crossword was Judith Sturdy of Redwood Drive, Saltburn.

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

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

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Send your completed crossword to: Saltburn Crossword no 184, c/o Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, TS12 1AQ

by Friday, 14th October 2016. First correct solution out of the bag wins a £10 voucher kindly donated by Tim and Sheila of Real Meals.

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