Talk of the Town December 2017

EDITION 198

CIRCULATION 4,600

DECEMBER 2017

SALTBURN’S FREE MONTHLY MAGAZINE 1

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SALTBURN’S TOWN TALK Letter from the Editor

Merry Christmas, everyone! At the time of writing, however, well-earned flop. There’s lots in this month’s magazine, as is before I can really think about Christmas, I have to get usual for the December edition, with lots going on in Saltburn January’s Talk of the Town done and sent to the printers. and late opening for many shops in the town on Thursday Please note the very early deadline for January’s magazine. evenings before Christmas. But there’s no Pride of Saltburn This is because of Christmas holidays at the printers. There’ll bouquet of flowers this month. I know this is a popular feature be little time between getting December’s edition distributed in the magazine and many people ask me when they get their before having to start work on the next one but that can’t be copy ‘who won the flowers this month?’ so it’s always helped. Hopefully I’ll find loads of time over Christmas for a surprising when not a single nomination arrives! Love, Ian Christmas Tree Exhibition: Saltburn WI are hosting a Send letters, adverts and contributions for the next issue (by Christmas Tree Exhibition in Emmanuel Church from Friday, 8th December 2017) to: The Editor, Talk of the Saturday, 1st December to Saturday, 16th December 2017 Town c/o Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, between 10am and 4pm (12pm on Sundays). Pop in and see Saltburn, Cleveland, TS12 1AQ. Telephone: 01287 623903 the trees decorated by local groups, businesses and (or email: talkofthetownsaltburn@gmail.com). organisations.

Talk of the Town can be found on a new Facebook Saltburn Farmers’ Market will be bursting with fine food address at www.facebook.com/talkofthetownsaltburn. and drink and a great festive atmosphere so don’t forget to come on down on Saturday, 9th December for another The Guisborough and District Branch of the Embroiderers’ Guild are holding their monthly meeting on Saturday, January fabulous event. 9 till 2 in and around Saltburn Town Centre.

Redcar’s Visual Presentations is the new name for the 6th, 2018 in Sunnyfield House, Westgate, Guisborough TS14 Group formerly known as the Redcar Lecture Society. Its 6BA at 2pm. Our guest speaker is Jessica Grady and her talk is final meeting this calendar year will be on Tuesday, 12th on “Embracing the Unconventional”. Visitors are welcome, December in the Redcar East Community Centre on Durham admission £5, whether non-stitchers, beginners or more Road at 2.15pm when Bryan Clare will be Visually experienced stitchers. Parking is free in the car park behind the Presenting for us the delights of ‘Springtime in Paris.’ We council offices Belmont House. For further information phone will then be taking a month’s break for the Festive Season 01642 480344 (or www.randomstitchers.blogspot.com). before resuming our programme on Tuesday, 9th January Vet opening: Saltburn’s first veterinary practice is due to open when we welcome Peter Appleton, who will be giving us a soon in the former car showroom at Windsor Road, which has Presentation, featuring two prominent gentlemen, Michael been closed for several months, opposite the Spar store. Redcar Faraday and Robert de Brus and entitled ‘700 Years Apart.’ and Cleveland Council planners ruled that it should open only Admission at the door is £2.50 for each Presentation between 8.30am and 6pm Mondays to Fridays and 9am to noon on Saturdays, a decision made using ‘delegated powers’. It is and all are very welcome to come.

Bathing waters: Saltburn’s bathing waters achieved an expected to open sometime in the new year. ‘excellent’ standard in new rating figures announced by Craft Club Busy Fingers: 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month, 1.30 till 3.30pm in the Coffee Room, Saltburn Government department Defra.

Emmanuel Church Hall Table Top and Collectors’ Sale: Community Centre.

The next sales are on Saturdays, 2nd and 16th December then WI Report: November looked like being a very busy month we start again in February. We are taking a break in January. for Saltburn WI. There had already been a hectic craft session What a busy year it’s been! Thank you to everyone for such a making decorations for our Christmas tree before our monthly brilliant year. I would like to thank everyone for their support meeting when we welcomed Phil Philo, who gave us a very and wish them a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. interesting talk on the voyage of Captain James Cook to the We are still taking Christmas orders for our popular rich fruit Nootka Sound in Canada. On Monday, 13th November for cake and our usual pies and cakes. Get rid of your clutter! So World Kindness we met for coffee at Saltburn House. Later in if anyone is interested in booking a stall for February contact the month we were having a demonstration of a Christmas me on the number below. We have a lot of new stall holders flower arrangement and our favourite outing of the year, the and anyone who would like to join us or just to have a clear mystery trip. All we knew is that we needed to dress for the out can contact Denise on the number below. We are also weather and wear comfortable shoes; it sounded intriguing! doing our usual lunches and all day breakfast, fresh home We are hosting a Christmas tree exhibition in baked cake, pies and scones. Home made refreshments and Emmanuel Church from December 2nd to 16th. We are hoping light lunches are on sale all day. FREE ENTRANCE and a to have over 20 trees on display so please come along to see warm welcome to everyone. With over 26 stall holders, them. The church will be open each day from 10am to 4pm. selling lots of bric-a-brac, books, toys, baby goods, and all To find out more about our activities visit our website sorts of collectables, there is something for everyone. If www.saltburnbytheseawi.wordpress.com or follow us on anyone would like to book a table please contact Denise Facebook.

Marshall on 07929 589538.

Diane Falla Cover Illustration: Saltburn Bandstand in the Snow by Ian Tyas 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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November in Saltburn-by-the-Sea

Above: Progress on the new lower promenade shelter

Horses on the beach

Above: Panorama from Marine Parade.

Above, left and right: Remembrance service at the War Memorial.

Cath and Tony Lynn 4

Same chef and owner for over 6 years

SALTBURN METHODIST CHURCH Milton Street, Saltburn

Looking for that special gift and card?

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Sunday Services at 10.45am and 6.00pm. Sunday school 10.45am.

Mid week worship Wednesday at 10.00am.

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THE NATIVITY and TOY SERVICE WITH THE SUNDAY SCHOOL And Mrs E Chadwick 6.00pm CAROL SERVICE AT EMMANUEL CHURCH

Now also available online.

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CHRISTMAS EVE at 11.15pm.

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

COMMUNION SERVICE.

Rev H HARBOTTLE CHRTISTMAS DAY at 9.30am.

CHRISTMAS WORSHIP— REV KEITH MARTIN

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: 07787 880613. Cllr. Smith: 07557 540628.

Cllr. Thomson: 01287 624883.

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CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS TO EVERYONE 5

Once Upon a Time in the Wapentake CHRISTMAS B.C. The village was known as The Pits. This was not an insult, but a description of the way it had been made. On the low, flat-topped hill had been dug round pits some ten feet deep, roofed with turf supported on a network of branches. Near the centre of the roof was a large hole, which served to let out the smoke from the fire that burnt all winter long, and let in anyone wanting to climb down the ladder, the only way in.

It was a special place but not because of the homes below the ground, for other villages had them. It was the circle of great stones round the village that made it special.

They were thirteen in number, one for every moon in the year. Eleven of them were of the rough local gritstone; two were not. One of the foreign stones was black, and shone as though polished. It had been brought from the far North. The other was of a pale, almost white, limestone, brought from the South. No mortal could have carried them here. Perhaps the Giants had hefted them, or as one old man insisted, the Wise Women had made music to fly them here. Both of the sarsen stones had carved on them the same sign, a cross within a circle. Tonight the people of the village, and their guests, would witness what that sign meant.

Already there was a blaze in the cooking pit, which would soon settle into a white glow, ready to roast the pigs that were stacked nearby, and the Guesthouse in the centre of the village, bigger by far than any of the other pits, was being prepared for the one night in the year it would be used: fresh bedstraw on the floor, blankets of fur upon the bedstraw, evergreen branches of ivy, holly, bryony and mistletoe hanging from the ceiling, and a great, slow-burning log upon the fire.

And now the guests were arriving, carrying their contributions to the feast. The people from the Shore brought dried salt-fish, threaded onto poles, which their two strongest men carried between them. The Forest Folk brought nuts, dried apples and honey, and a goatskin full of mead made from that same golden honey. From the Mountain came half a dozen hares and a young roebuck, all well hung, and the red berries of the Witch Tree. From the edge of the Great Plain came reindeer, hacked into pieces small enough to fit into carrying baskets, and sacks of barley, some ready for baking, some malted for brewing.

They brought gifts too, as was the custom. The Shore Folk brought many beautiful shells, strung into necklaces and bracelets. (Boring holes in seashells without breaking them was a skill only the Shore Folk knew.) The Forest Folk brought a wooden chest, made from a certain rare, sweet smelling wood, filled with painted beads. From a cave on the Mountain came blue gemstones, and the Great Plain produced a buffalo skin cloak, cunningly embroidered. It was understood that these gifts were not to be used. Rather they would be kept until next year and then passed on. It was important, of course, not to give the presents back to the original givers, so they were carefully stowed away. Presents from the East were placed in the West of the Guesthouse, in the direction that they would be gifted. This was a way goods could travel great distances, but only at a rate of a few miles a year.

As the ceremony of Gift-giving was drawing to a 6

close, there was a stir of excitement, excitement mixed with concern. New and unexpected guests were approaching the village. From the animal heads impaled on beechwood poles that they carried, they knew these were the People of the Wolf, ancient enemies of the clans gathering in the stone circle, ever since the great battle, long ago but still remembered, a fight over pasture-land at the River’s edge that had led to half a dozen deaths.

Concern turned to relief when it was seen that the newcomers carried no weapons, and were singing songs of friendship, not war.

“It has been a long time,” said the Priestess of the Stone Circle.

“A long time, yes,” said the Wolf-chief. “Neither we nor you have forgotten how we fought, but can we remember a time before that when we came here every year, and were friends?”

“We can,” said the Priestess, opening her arms in welcome. “The time has come round that we can be friends again.”

The Wolf Folk had brought four white goats to be slaughtered, and a most amazing gift. It a kind of sceptre, but made from a beautiful green stone. It had come, the gift -givers said, from so far to the East that no one could have imagined a world so big. Now the Village of the Stone Circle had to find a gift to match it. Only one thing that they possessed would do, a silver disc, of the most wondrous workmanship, that had come from the Islands of the West. So that was given, and received with great ceremony and cries of wonder.

It was getting near to the end of the day, and they began to gather in the sacred space, every inhabitant of the Village, male and female, old and young, at the front. The visiting tribes who, as custom decreed, were almost all young males and childless women, stood behind.

As the sun died behind the black stone, they all began to sing the song they would sing at the death of one of their own, but strangely changed, so that it seemed full of the fear of dark unknown things. The longest, blackest night of the year had begun. As the last gleam of light went out, they all, locals and visitors together, made their way to the Guesthouse where roast pork and piles of flatbread awaited them, along with beer, very weak for the very young and old, very strong for the rest.

They were very quiet, as they huddled together around the fire. Even the children were quiet, but they were tired, and soon their mothers gathered them up, off to the land of dreams. After exchanging a few stories the fathers of the Village were off as well. As they climbed down into their homes, surrounded by clouds of smoke, they knew they had one last job to do. They carried with them little gifts, a polished hazelnut, a horse’s head carved onto a scrap of bone, a copper pin. These would be placed besides their children as they slept, and surprise them as they woke. “The Reindeer Man brought it,” the younger children would be told. The older ones, who did not believe in such things, knew that it was Father Frost. He was real, and they could see his works each day: the icicles, the frozen ponds.

Continued on next page

That left the young men and women together. Some were meeting for the first time, and liking what they met.

So it happened that, two by two, they were going to… I almost wrote ‘dark corners’… but circular spaces have no corners. In nine months’ time some of the men would be called from their village to the home of their new family, to the mother and child. The child would be special, as children conceived at such time must be.

Those left sitting quietly around the fire were one by one falling asleep, even those who had sworn to see the long night out. Now, everywhere was quiet.

Later, much later, there was light in the distant sky.

Enough light to waken everyone there, everyone ready to greet the sun. But it was not the same sun that had set last night. That was dead. The sun that was rising now was the new sun that would grow stronger as the days grew longer.

As the sun was seen rising behind the pale, almost luminous, stone, drums began to beat, horns to blow and the people began to cry out loud, cries of ecstasy, cries of almost agony. It was a birth. A year was being born.

Now the Great Feast could begin. On the hottest part of the fire-pit, a flat stone was set on which slices of liver, kidney, blood pudding and sweetbread were quickly fried, followed by great piles of oatcakes, all to be shared along with honey cakes stuffed with dried berries, and goat cheeses wrapped in apple leaves. On the cool side of fire was a huge cauldron in which salt-fish had been soaking overnight with coarse chopped dry, hard bacon. Most of the salty water was removed, to splash over the meats

roasting in the middle of the pit, and then fresh water went into the cauldron, along with pears and apples and dried herbs. To drink there was mead and cider, as well as the beer they drank every day. There was more than enough of everything, for everybody, and it was almost dark before the last visitors stumbled off. A single brilliant star shone in the frozen sky.

All that remained was for the Priestess and her helpers to gather up the ashes of the Guest House fire, and scatter them on the gardens and the fields, to bring good luck and good harvests in the year ahead.

Old friendships had been renewed, old enemies were now new friends. There was peace and goodwill for all, at least for a while, and one day the spring would come. The frozen earth would thaw, so that seeds could be sown, and the pigs that survived the feast could root for food again. All would be well.

PS. Christmas BC (Before Christ) may sound like a contradiction in terms, but I can still imagine something, and even claim some archaeological evidence for my imaginings; they really did eat a lot of pigs in the Megalithic Age, and a fine piece of Chinese Jade turned up in an English grave of the period.

PPS. And in the present day the roll-out of Universal Credit seems to have been timed so that a lot of households will be without money, and so, presumably, food round about December 25th. Might we think about that next time we pass the Food Bank collecting point in the Library Porch?

Tim Beswick

Nativity at Emmanuel As part of our programme celebrating the 150th birthday of Emmanuel Church we are planning a rather different and unusual Nativity Service this year, featuring a real donkey, music, poetry, worship and reflection.

The service will take place on Sunday, December 17th at 6.00pm and everyone is most welcome.

We would like everyone to congregate in the car park outside Echo before the service as together we will look for shelter for Mary and Joseph. However, the church will be open for anyone in need.

The theme of the service is ‘What can I give him?’ and there will be an opportunity towards the end of the service for members of the congregation to lay their gifts before the manger.

We have chosen a local charity to receive the gifts this year, namely ‘ABC Counselling Services’ which works with local vulnerable or troubled children and families, and which has approached us with a request for Christmas presents for children who would otherwise receive very little. The children range from three to eighteen years old and the charity has suggested that suitable gifts might include pamper sets for girls, deodorant sets for boys, stationery and arts and crafts materials, Lego etc. Please wrap your gifts and label them clearly with age range and gender (new toys etc only please).

After the service, mulled wine and mince pies will be available at the back of the church.

Please come along and join our evening of celebration.

See also pages 16, 17, 48 and 49.

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Read All About It!

Saltburn’s Book Corner has lots of great stories to tell This may be an increasingly digital age, but a huge passion for books has led to one of the country’s smallest bookshops going from strength to strength in Saltburn over the last three years.

Jenna Warren opened Book Corner in May 2014, with the shop quickly becoming a favourite landmark with the local community and tourists alike in the postcard-pretty seaside town. And its growing popularity enabled the shop to move to slightly larger premises in the town’s increasingly vibrant Milton Street earlier this year.

We spoke to Jenna about her passion for books, and the creative community spirit she says helps the town stand out from the crowd. We asked, what inspired you to open the shop?

“Saltburn’s an amazing place. I’ve lived here most of my life, and found it surprising that we had no independent bookshop selling new books. I was looking to create a positive career for myself, something I loved doing day-to-day. So, although I had no prior experience as a bookseller, I did have other retail experience and, very importantly, a huge love of books! That was my main inspiration, a huge love of books, and I opened a tiny unit on Station Square in May 2014.

“It was so tiny that Jen Campbell, one of my first visiting authors, said she thought it might be the smallest bookshop in Europe which isn’t on a barge or other means of transport – and she won’t have been far wrong! Then I had the opportunity to move into my current slightly larger shop on Milton Street, and I opened up here in March earlier this year.

“It’s probably one of only a handful of bookshops with a sea view looking straight through the front door!”

Community obviously plays a big part in the day-to-day life of the shop?

“Saltburn has a real sense of community – a fantastic place to be – and I now have a loyal core of good local customers as well as visitors from further afield. I obviously love it here, and I try and contribute to the town’s community as much as I can – by donating books as raffle prizes, sponsoring a planter or hanging basket for Saltburn in Bloom, contributing to the town’s Christmas Lights each year, and selling tickets for local concerts.

“I also embrace Saltburn Food Festival, which is an amazing day and attracts a huge number of visitors to the town.

This year I put together a food-themed bookstall, and I also enjoy meeting people who browse the rest of the town after visiting our monthly Farmers’ Market.”

Being a small independent bookshop, how else do you stand out from the bigger household names?

“Well, we can obviously order any book currently in print for anyone who wants to spend their money locally rather than be swallowed up by multi-nationals somewhere or other.

“But the shop is small enough for me to enjoy carefully selecting my range of books – something you may not find on a typical supermarket shelf. My focus is on carefully selected novels, non-fiction and children’s books. Nature writing is particularly popular – especially given that we’re based right on the coast and have the beautiful North Yorkshire Moors and Yorkshire Dales on our doorsteps.

“Some of my bestsellers this year have been How to Stop Time by Matt Haig, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman, The Running Hare by John Lewis-Stempel, and the ever-popular British Library Crime Classics series.

“There’s also quite a vibrant local poetry and live literature scene, so I have a busy poetry section too.”

And local writers are given pride of place on your shelves?

“Rather than tuck them away on a shelf called ‘local,’ I 8

include local and self-published writers in my main fiction section. I think this gives everyone a fair chance when placed alongside more established writers and household names. I’ve also found it helps to keep all my fiction in one section, as I like the idea a customer might discover something new they otherwise may not have tried if it had been displayed under science fiction or some other category.”

You also have a busy events diary and run a Book Club?

“I regularly host book signings with local (and not so local) authors, and readings from local poets – and they’re always great fun and really enjoyable days. In December I have a poetry event with Kirsten Luckins, who is reading from her new book ‘Utterly Otterly!’, a collection of poems all about… well, otters! It’s a mostly whimsical project, but contains environmental facts too.

“We also have our Book Corner book group, which has grown steadily over the last few years and is now very popular.

I host it in the shop and we take turns to choose the book, which has led to plenty of variety in our reading material, and plenty of new friends being made along the way.”

December Events at Book Corner ‘Utterly Otterly!’ by Kirsten Luckins is at Book Corner on Saturday 2nd December at 11am.

Children’s author Maureen Lynas will be reading some of her favourite Christmas stories on Saturday 2nd December at 3.30pm.

Christmas Story Time with Kate runs on Monday 4th December at 11am and 2pm (For ages 0-5).

Book Corner Saltburn’s Independent Bookshop

Come and see our great range of Christmas books!

Open for late night shopping every Thursday in December.

Opening Times: 10am - 4.30pm (Closed Sundays and Wednesdays) 24 Milton Street, Saltburn, TS12 1DG

01287 348010 www.bookcornershop.co.uk

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Councillors’ Column The campaign to reduce fly-tipping continues. Notices have now been put up. Initially in the Jewel Streets, these signs advise that fines will be imposed on those who cannot take the time or make the effort to recycle.

Campaigning to reduce the ever increasing accumulation of plastic waste looks to be gaining greater public awareness and support. Let us all join in.

The saga of the hole in the sea wall may finally be resolved. Various suggestions have been made to address this hole in the wall since it was first reported in June. As days passed and no positive repair plans were put in place it was suggested that Hans Brinker might be sent for from Holland.

This was not considered a positive solution and during several following weeks further erosion ensued. By this time the hole was somewhat engrossed. With commendable inspiration, David Shrigley was apparently approached to see if his thumb could be temporarily moved from the 4th plinth in Trafalgar Square. Unfortunately it is on a fixed term contract until 2018. By now all reasonable suggestions seemed to have been exhausted and the hole was allowed to continue to expand and the undermining of the pier slipway to begin. Where this would have ended is unlikely to be determined as it was finally decided to respond to public concern and disbelief that no action could be the plan.

Unfortunately by the time a decision was made to address this ever increasingly disappearing sea defence the planned refurbishment of the Cliff Lift, a carefully crafted four month project, had to be temporarily postponed. The

cranes which had been ordered in to lift out the two carriages refused to access the pier car park on grounds of health and safety until the sea wall was repaired. Repairs have now been ordered, at some augmented expense, and should be complete before the pantomime season gets under way.

Thus, the festive season approaches. Long since has St. Nicholas lost his status and been superseded by other, more secular figures, although some still wear red robes. At a time when celebration will be at the forefront of many a mind, thought may be given to some who may not be able to share in that enjoyment.

In an ageing community more and more are living alone. Such sociological changes can and do make life more challenging. Whenever appropriate, thoughts rightly turn to those who may welcome support. This can, in its simplest form, be just a smile and a hello. More can always be done.

Recently recovered archives from Newcastle University recount the visit of Martin Luther King to receive his doctorate. A poignant reminder that sacrifices have been made throughout time and this was yet another who showed humility and unfailing belief despite many wrongs being inflicted.

Archives of a distant era recall one making the ultimate sacrifice, being remembered now, on a midnight clear, as prayers are said for peace on earth and goodwill to all.

Philip Thomson 9

Saltburn Beachwatch Two Steps Forward?

This last year has seen the battle against marine pollution intensify. You only have to turn on the TV or open a newspaper to find a story relating to ocean pollution, the degradation of the environment and the affect this is having on the long term health of our seas and beaches.

On the one hand we have the government proposing to phase out plastic micro-beads in grooming products while at the same time doing little to address the use of micro-beads in many industrial applications. We have the world’s largest drinks company (Coca Cola) making the right noises about raising the amount of recycled plastics used in its bottles from 40% to 50% by 2020. While this is a step in the right direction during the last year CC produced an extra 1 billion single use throwaway plastic bottles! Fewer than half the bottles bought last year were collected for recycling with only 7% turned into new plastic bottles due partly because manufacturers complain about the quality of these. While it is to be welcomed that CC have tentatively decided to support a deposit and return scheme for plastic bottles they have only decided to support this scheme in Britain and Europe whereas plastic marine litter is a global problem.

Plastic micro-beads, microfibers and nurdles are mistaken for food by birds, fish and other marine animals.

These particles can kill animals not only by causing digestive blockages but also the high concentration of pollutants such as DDT and PCBs which stick to these micro plastics in seawater. New research has shown that micro plastics are now present in sea salt and tap water and that everyone in Britain has approx 600 pieces of micro-plastic in their bodies with the consequences mostly unknown.

As I have reported recently more and more bio plastics which are 100% biodegradable and not made from petro chemicals are being used in the UK food and drinks industry and on the plus side a growing number of outlets in the UK are taking action to ditch plastic amid deep concerns about its effect on the environment.

Schemes to curb plastic waste are being introduced by businesses and charities from pub chains and coffee houses to public institutions. Recently the former boss of ASDA has said that all supermarkets should stop using plastic packaging. Andy Clarke who was CEO for six years said that the billions of pounds invested in recycling plastics has failed and the only solution was for retailers to reject plastics in favour of more sustainable alternatives. Mr Clarke said, “It is vital that the UK packaging industry and supermarkets work together to turn off the tap.”

Saltburn Beachwatch has seen volunteer numbers increase this last year so I would like to say a big thank you to all our sponsors and supporters, RCBC, catering and registration volunteers and all the people who give up 2 hours of their time to help keep our wonderful beach clean. The next Saltburn Beachwatch litterpick and survey will be on Saturday, 16th December from 10am until 12 noon. Meet at the pier car park where everything will be provided.

Roy Smith 10

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Help! Your local Playgroup needs you!

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

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Friday Friends We are an independent, inclusive friendship group, based in Saltburn, for people of all abilities over 18. We are a friendly group and welcome new members.

December Friday Friends 1st - Seated Keep fit with Taylor, Bingo. The arts and craft afternoon is making Christmas cards.

8th A day of arts and crafts, making Christmas cards or Christmas party invitations, the afternoon is making a Christmas candle decoration by Barbara.

15th - Making Christmas decorations and preparing for our 1pm Christmas Party! With the long awaited return of the Building Bridges and Friday Friends Christmas Show!

All welcome - why not pop along and have a look at what we do and have a mince pie....

22nd - A jigsaw morning then making a Christmas picture.

We are then closed until 5th January 2018.

We meet at Emmanuel Church Hall on Fridays.

Macnay St, Saltburn. Activities 10-12.30. Arts and Craft

by Caroline 1-4.00pm. First taster session is free then £2.50 a session or £4 all day to help cover costs. Door money helps to cover costs as we are non-profit making and volunteer run. Carers are always free. Tea/coffee and board games/colouring-in too. We are a friendly group and you’d be more than welcome!

For more info please contact 07833 895 501 (or Thefridayfriends@outlook.com).

Anjee Charman-Clark, chairperson

Saltburn and District Group for Visually Impaired People Hello everyone. Our meeting in November was joined by Steven, a representative from British Wireless for the Blind. This is a charity which has been running since 1928, and their aim is to provide radios to people with a visual impairment and who are in receipt of means tested benefits. The radios are then on permanent loan and are replaced should they become faulty. They currently have over 3.500 units on loan.

Their newest edition to their range is a ‘Vumvle Vee’. This is a tablet computer which has been locked and then a special application added. This allows visually impaired users to access any radio station in the world, access audio books, talking newspapers, and it has its own ‘community’ of users who can chat with each other. Once teething problems have been fully settled and rolled out it is hoped that it will become commercially available to any VI person. The cost is likely to be around £150. British Wireless for the Blind can be contacted on 01622 754757.

Our meeting on December 13th will be entertained

by Jack, who has spent his career in the theatre and he has many anecdotes to share with us! The report on that session will appear in February’s TOTT as it will not take place before the deadline.

January’s meeting will be on the 10th, speaker to be confirmed.

Please join us at 2 pm in the Coffee Lounge, Community Centre, Saltburn.

Call Chris Ferguson on 01287 204170. Have a happy and peaceful festive season!

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Saltburn Evangelical Church Saltburn Evangelical Church (Leven Street Mission) Following Jesus - the Bible our guide Here for you: WELCOME! Sundays 10.30am & 6.00pm www.saltburnevangelicalchurch.org.uk _________________________________

“Peace on earth!” was the cry in the skies the night Christ was born. But 2,000 years later while North Korea and USA square up to each other, millions of war-scarred people desperately seek refuge, and terror stalks our streets. So was it a false alarm? Wishful thinking? 600 years earlier the prophet Jeremiah lambasted those who cried, “Peace!

Peace!” when there is no peace.

But there could be. John’s gospel throws down the challenge and opportunity that Christ’s arrival on earth brings: “Though God made the world through him, yet the world did not recognize him. He came to his own country, but his own people did not receive him. Some, however, did receive him and believed in him; so he gave them the right to become God’s children.”

Jesus was blunt: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the world. No, I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” He knew he wasn’t welcome. He was abused and killed. Even today his name is a common swear word, and in his name atrocities have been committed down the centuries. Sending His Son to live among us, God isn’t offering a cheap religious sticking plaster to cover up our damaged lives and broken relationships. Instead, the offer is transformation: the right to become a new creation, a child of God. A fresh start. It’s personal: an open invitation to all who receive him.

How? There’s more on our website: www.saltburnevangelicalchurch.org.uk Everyone’s welcome at our carol service: Christmas Eve 10.30am.

SALTBURN EVANGELICAL CHURCH We are a small friendly church located in Leven Street (opposite the Fire Station).

We believe that Jesus Christ is the One who gives us forgiveness, comfort and eternal hope.

We believe that anyone can enjoy peace with God through Him. We come from different backgrounds and all ages, sharing a common faith and desire to share God’s love with others.

Sunday services are held at 10:30am and 6pm.

Sunday School is at 10:30am.

Everyone is welcome here, no matter what your background or experience.

Saltburn 500 Club Congratulations go to Cllr S Smith for winning the £100 First Prize in the November 500 Club draw. Stuart informed me that the win will not affect his lifestyle in any way and it is his first win since joining many years past.

At the time of writing this article, I have taken a break from all of the work involved in organising the Christmas decorations around the town. The majority of the lights are now up, with some minor cabling work to do. We are hoping that this year’s display will be the brightest yet and, hopefully, enjoyed by all. You will possibly have seen me trudging around the town with my begging bowl, asking the businesses if they can spare a bob or two. It is a job I hate doing but, as some businesses have pointed out, if it’s not done the lights won’t shine. A lot of the businesses in the town are struggling to compete with the big shopping centres and the internet so I would ask you to please consider them next time you need to do your shopping. If you support the shops, they can support the lights and the display will continue each year. Christmas would not be the same in Saltburn if it wasn’t for the contribution made by the businesses, Saltburn, Marske & New Marske Parish Council and the Ward Councillors – to all I extend a big thank you!

Plans for the Christmas Lighting-up parade have been more or less completed and we just need a little fine tuning.

By the time you read this article, the parade will probably have been condemned to history so please let me know what you felt about the event. I would also like to ask if you could post photos on the Friends of Saltburn Facebook page.

I will shortly be attending my first meeting to discuss a memorial for the late Jackie Taylor MBE and will keep you informed about what is happening.

Nikki Sayer has indicated that the schedule for the 2018 summer band performances is nearing completion and I’m guessing you’ll be entertained with the usual high standard of music. We are always looking for volunteers to help with various things around the town – in my case, it’s the Christmas lights and bandstand but I know that other organisations such as Saltburn in Bloom would welcome fresh faces. Please try to give some of your time so we can maintain the high standards set by our predecessors.

Here’s hoping your Christmas shopping goes without stress.

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

T: 01287 201876

M: 07737 654772

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

Website: www.flintoffs.co.uk

Knit & Natter Skinningrove Group: Christmas Events Two-day Christmas Fair at Skinningrove Village Hall (behind Post Office): From midday Saturday, 9th and Sunday, 10th December: Prize Bingo, Raffles, Gift Stalls, Crafts and Visit Santa! (£1). Also Seaside Bingo on the Sunday. Everyone welcome.

Christmas Carol Concert at Skinningrove Chapel (High Street) With Bilsdale Silver Band, 7.00pm on Thursday, 14th December. Tickets £1 per person, available from the village hall 1 to 3pm Tuesdays or at the door on the night.

Free buffet and blanket raffle in the village hall afterwards.

All money raised will go to Skinningrove Chapel, OAPs, Bonfire and Village Hall.

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Saltburn in Bloom This month the Women’s Institute have organised a Christmas Tree Exhibition in Emmanuel Church from 2nd to 16th December, between 10.00 and 4.00 and groups have been invited to decorate a tree as part of this, choosing their own theme. Saltburn in Bloom have taken up the offer and have decorated a conifer with bees and flowers. Our theme is to highlight the plight of bees and to offer ideas for people to make their own gardens, patios, window boxes, etc. more bee friendly.

Bees have been around for 30 million years, but numbers are steadily declining, an alarming trend when you realise that 80% of the western diet depends on pollination by bees. British gardeners can actively nurture and conserve the wild bee population. Gardens are a rich source of food for wild bees and with a little care can be made even better. So, how can you become more bee friendly and get your garden buzzing?

Bees need plants that are rich in nectar and pollen nearly all year round not just in summer. So, consider the choice of plants to address this. Plant flowers that bees particularly like eg herbs, perennial wallflowers, scabious, types of daisy or thistle, stonecrop, perennial geraniums, foxgloves, legumes (peas, beans), flowering trees, ivy but allow it to flower, etc. Look at seed packets or plant labels for bee friendly plants.

Bees like simple flowers growing close together, rather than huge show blooms that are the result of elaborate breeding. Any flower that is open and simple.

Perhaps you could let part of your lawn grow longer for the bees.

Bees need a drink from a shallow container, perhaps with a few pebbles in. Revive a tired bee with a sugar solution.

Avoid using pesticides in your garden, unless absolutely necessary.

Visit some web sites to find out more: RHS Perfect for Pollinators, Bumblebee Conservation Trust – find out how bee friendly is your own garden, Wild about Gardens – here you can download a free Wild Bee Action Pack, and Wildaboutgardensweek.org.uk.

During the last few years Saltburn in Bloom have made a conscious effort to plant more bee friendly plants and particularly perennials in the public gardens and planters around the town, though some bedding plants are still used for summer colour. Perhaps you could consider this in your own garden.

Bees should be an integral part of a beautiful garden.

If you want further advice, please contact us (on lyndaparkes4@gmail.com).

Finally, on behalf of Saltburn in Bloom I would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas, with best wishes for the New Year. Don’t forget to come along and view the Christmas trees in Emmanuel Church!

Lynda Parkes (Chair) 14

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Saltburn remembers 400 attend More people than ever attended Saltburn’s Remembrance Day service at the refurbished war memorial, off Albion Terrace. Some 400 heard the list of men who gave their lives in both world wars, read out.

Representatives of more than 20 local organisations laid wreaths at the memorial, which has been refurbished.

Civic leaders led by the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, representing The Queen, were present along with dozens of young and old. Among the crowd braving a chilly North Sea wind were 97-year-old war veteran Eddie Straight, of Saltburn, the ‘Singing Policeman,’ now a sergeant based at Redcar, Army cadets, scouts, Guides and Rainbows.

Earlier, a well-attended service was held at the Methodist Church with vicar the Rev Adam Reed starting his sermon in an unusual and lively way - performing 10 pressups. He led a dozen children and a few adults in linking in with a New Testament reading about physical and spiritual activity.

Mike Morrissey

Architectural Services & Chartered Structural & Civil Engineers Architectural Planning and Building Regulation Advice Listed Building Experts House Extensions & Loft Conversions Alterations and Refurbishments Residential New Builds Shop Layout Designs Alcohol Licence Applications Office Warehouse Designs

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Churches Together in Saltburn invite you to join them in their Christmas Worship

Sunday 10th December 2017 3.00 pm

Christingle Service Parish Church In aid of The Children’s Society

Sunday 17th December 2017 9.00 am 10.30 am 10.45 am 10.45 am 6.00 pm

Holy Communion Parish Church Mass Catholic Church All Engage Service Parish Church Hall Nativity Service Methodist Church Carol Service with Nativity Parish Church and Refreshments (United Service)

Christmas Eve: Sunday 24th December 2017 10.00 am 10.30 am 10.45 am 5.00 pm 6.30 pm 7.00 pm 11.15 pm 11.30 pm

Holy Communion Parish Church Sunday Mass Catholic Church Morning Worship Methodist Church Preacher: Revd Helena Harbottle Crib Service Parish Church Carols for Christmas Catholic Church First Mass of Christmas Catholic Church Communion Service Methodist Church Preacher: Revd Helena Harbottle Midnight Communion Parish Church

Christmas Day: Monday 25th December 2017 9.30 am 10.00 am 10.30 am

Family Service Preacher: Revd Keith Martin Morning Worship, Carols, Readings and Prayers Family Mass

Methodist Church Parish Church Catholic Church

Church Locations and Contacts Parish Church of Emmanuel

Windsor Road

Parish Church Office

Upleatham Street 01287 622251

Methodist Church

Milton Street

01287 651340

Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church

Milton Street

01287 623619

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01287 622007

Christmas Message “God Bless Us, Everyone!”

“Merry Christmas! Bah! Humbug! What right have (people) to be merry? Christmas is but a time for paying bills without money, finding yourself a year older and not an hour richer. Every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on their lips should be boiled with their own pudding.”

So said Mr Scrooge.

Could it be that the Spirit of Mr Scrooge has returned to haunt us? We are told that because we live in a multicultural society etc., to be politically correct we must not wish people a ‘Merry Christmas.’ It may offend them. As a matter of fact, we are told that we should drop the word ‘Christmas’ altogether and substitute it with ‘Winter Festival’ or ‘Winterville’. Bah! Humbug!

I am sure that we could be forgiven for thinking that the human race is more than ever bent on an orgy of self-destruction. Let us reflect on a few random headlines that have appeared in the media. ‘An airliner has been shot down.’ ‘A lorry packed with explosives kills countless people.’

‘Terrorists mow down worshippers in church.’

‘Peace talks break down.’ ‘Drug addiction, stress, depression, self-harming, suicides among young people are increasing.’

We could be forgiven if we asked the world to stop so that we can get off. Hope seems so far away. That we should worry about such matters is natural. But it can be a mild form of atheism. Why do I say atheism? Because the Christian knows, but maybe does not always believe, that God is the only answer.

In fact, if the media only gave good news about what goes on in the world instead of sensationally exulting what is bad and in some cases evil, we would then learn that through the help of others a person who sought suicide had come to appreciate the value of life; that a killer, while in prison, had found God and repented; that many, with the help of believers, had moved from addiction to devotion; that warring nations had found peace. Unfortunately, the motto of the media seems to be that good news is no news.

What is needed today is an upsurge of faith in people, a reaffirmation that faith in Him whose birth we celebrate can move mountains. Truly, life can be grim if there is no God in it. Molehill disasters can become mountains; major world events become overpowering. Faith in God can remove the fears, the anxieties, the inertia, the disappointments which create difficult mountains for the human mind.

This CHRISTMAS, let us really try to listen to God’s message. He asks us to make a present of his love to someone who is experiencing molehill disasters. He asks us to bring His peace to someone who does not know the real peace that only God can give.

Continued on next page

Maybe paying lip-service to God is not enough.

Could it be that just practising our faith is not enough?

Coming to church once a year out of habit is not enough.

Let us truly listen because the Child of Bethlehem is asking us to have a real change of heart – to LOVE AS HE LOVES, to live daily our faith.

All who call themselves followers of the Child should, like John the Baptist, be the voices crying in the desert of this secular, materialistic society the cry of hope, and making straight the Lord’s path by loving and caring for all their brothers and sisters. Let all announce the Good News that the Child of Bethlehem is the Prince of Peace.

The witness of our lives, imperfect as it might be at times, will give the Spirit of God an opportunity to rekindle the faith in others.

We do not need to add or take anything away from the message of Christmas. All we need to do is undergo a change of heart in ourselves and be filled with God’s love, the same love that the Child of Bethlehem declared to the whole world.

“Spirit!” he cried…. “Hear me. I am not the man I was. Why show me this if I am past all hope? I will honour Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all year,” said Mr. Scrooge. Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh. His own heart laughed, and that was enough for him. It was always said of him that he knew how to keep Christmas well.

May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, “God bless us. Everyone!”

Monsignor Ricardo Morgan (Parish Priest of Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Church)

Keeping It Clean At Saltburn Thrilled to say that thirty-one enthusiastic people came to our Keeping it clean at Saltburn beach clean on 4th November. This was the first of our regular monthly beach cleans, to be held on the first Saturday of every month, 11am to 12 noon. We meet in the pier car park, all welcome, even if you can only spare two minutes. We supply pickers, bags and gloves, but if you want to be extra eco friendly, bring along your own collecting bucket. We had some interesting finds, including a knitted mermaid, from one of the yarn bombers works of art; she was looking very lost and forlorn, but is now safe and being lovingly restored.

Our next beach Clean is on Saturday, 2nd December.

We will be advertising this a couple of days beforehand on the lower promenade with our brand new banner, bought with a generous grant from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council Love It Campaign.

The “Love It” team have supported us on our journey and we will also be sporting our “Love It/Kicas” logo’d waistcoats for the first time. For those fantastic people who attend our beach cleans we can now give you a Kicas/Love It button badge, we hope that you will wear them to spread the word about how we love our environment and are being the change we wish to see, by being the “someone who does something about it”. If you can’t make our Kicas December Beach Clean, then there’s another opportunity to make a positive difference on the 16th December at Saltburn Beach Watch Beach Clean and Survey.

You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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SALTBURN CRICKET CLUB Marske Mill Lane, Tel 01287-622761

BINGO – Wednesdays 6th & 20th Dec – eyes down 8.00pm CHRISTMAS QUIZ Sunday 3rd December Play FLOODLIT TENNIS all winter – contact us for details Fri 8th December SALTBURN BLUES CLUB BLUE BISHOPS with CHRIS MARTIN & SCOTT WAINWRIGHT – all ticket night, £12 (10% discount for club members) Sun 17th Dec – ROTARY CHRISTMAS PARTY CHRISTMAS EVE – LUNCHTIME BUFFET NEW YEAR’S EVE – PARTY NIGHT WITH “SIMPLY SANDY” *Free WiFi in Club* * BIG screen TV showing SKY sports etc * ***FEATURED IN CAMRA GOOD BEER GUIDE!!***

GREAT VENUE for YOUR family events, weddings, parties, funerals & meetings - free use for charity/community groups during normal opening hours.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM US ALL 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!

01287 624505 18

SALTBURN BLUES CLUB Before I bring news of this month’s gig, I must acknowledge the sheer breath-taking show we had here in Saltburn on November 11th. Harry Manx, delivered an exquisite night of blues to a most appreciative audience. Used to playing to audiences of thousands, Harry put as much soul and feeling into his performance for our intimate (by his standards) gig. This was fine, fine blues by a world class musician, and one I was very proud to have brought to our town.

To our Christmas gig now. I’ve had to rearrange this one a couple of times but sometimes these things work out for the best and we now have the excellent BLUE BISHOPS to party with us on December 8th.

Please note this is a FRIDAY, not Saturday which is our usual gig night. On first seeing The Blue Bishops at the Bishopstock Festival in Devon back in 1999, the fabulous Robert Cray remarked, ‘I will have to watch my back’! Radio 2’s Paul Jones has called their studio work ‘Superb’ and the music press has consistently praised the calibre of their recordings and live shows. It’s blues/rock at its best. Many top flight musicians have played in this band such as Rabbit (FREE), Steve Rodford (THE ZOMBIES), Rod Argent, Martin Barre (WISHBONE ASH) to name a few. That’s quite a pool of talent and marks the quality coming to us this month. Being our Christmas gig, there’ll also be a buffet. A great night to get the festivities under way.

Doors 7.30pm, Tickets £12, available from Destinations Cafe, Saltburn, www.yorkshireticketshop.co.uk, www.saltburnbluesclub.co.uk and 07960 935263.

My radio show, Still Got The Blues, is on Zetland FM every Monday 7pm – 10pm, on line, or you can catch up on Mixcloud at a time that suits you. Just visit the website, www.zetlandfm.co.uk. It’s 3 hours of the very best of the blues, rich and varied, from the very early days of this genre right up to the latest releases. I’d love to have your company.

Harry

Saltburn Photographic Society Wednesday 6th December Studio Tristan and Les Gould competition results. Wednesday 13th December Christmas party Quiz. Wednesday 3rd January 2018 Bingo night and results of our Summer Photography.

Next practical night is Monday 18th December.

Members’ photographs are displayed in Saltburn Library changed monthly.

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

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 web site www.saltburnphotographicsociety.co.uk or contact Tony Lynn on 01287 622519.

Emmanuel Church Hall, (off Windsor Road) Saltburn Mondays at 9.30am and

Tuesdays at 3.30pm, 5.30pm or 7.30pm.

For Details Ring

Stevie on

01642 474920

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What's On at Saltburn House in December Saturday 2nd December - Delmonts Wednesday 13th December - Labour Party Stand Up Comedy night. Ticketed at £8, £10, £12. 7.30-11.30pm Saturday 16th December - American Girl Sunday 17th December - Christmas Draw Evening 4-7pm with singers Envy Us. Loads of Prizes including Hampers, Cash Prizes.

Saturday 23rd December - Section 20 Tuesday 26th December - Persuaders Saturday 30th December - The Goodfellas New Year’s Eve - Tickets Only: £10 per person. Get your tickets at Saltburn House. Includes Live Music from Doggone Daddies, Extra special Buffet, fun, laughter and games.

Merry Christmas to All Our Customers Hire out one of our Function Rooms for £20 an hour or £100 for the whole day. We have a choice of three very different Function Rooms, providing you with the versatility your company or party requires.

Accommodation Prices: Single Room only £30.00. Double/Twin Room £55.00.

Single Half Board £40.00. Double Half Board £75.00.

All Stay Types include a Complimentary Full English Breakfast!

For further information, contact Ann, Joanna or Andy on: 22

01287 622008

£900 Donation to Teesside Hospice

New Day Singers were delighted to present a cheque for £900 to Teesside Hospice representative Leanne Irving after their sell out Concert in October. The Saltburn based ladies choir were joined by Northern Accord, the male close harmony group, to present a stunning musical evening, which also gave the audience an opportunity to sing along.

New Day Singers was formed just eighteen months ago by a small group of women who wanted to continue to sing together despite having lost their choir leader.

Paula Day was recruited to lead them. Since then the choir has grown to almost forty members and has raised over £3,000 for charity. “We love to sing, it’s great that we can do that and at the same time raise money for worthy causes,” said choir member Carol Hodgson.

New Day Singers will continue their fund raising at their “Early Touch of Christmas Carol Concert on the 2nd December at the EarthBeat Centre Saltburn, 7 pm.

(Tickets from Saltburn Library or The Book Corner Milton Street Saltburn or by calling 07768 313804.) Proceeds from this concert will go to local charities in Redcar, Saltburn and Marske.

All Records Broken at Saltburn Miniature Railway The Railway has just had its best year ever, not only for tickets sold where we have carried some 30,000 passengers but to the new updated methods of working, as to be expected of such a go ahead organisation.

All of the locomotives have performed extremely well due to the in depth knowledge and abilities of our engineering staff. The Railway continues to go from strength to strength with the enthusiasm of the volunteers. We are taking on some ambitious work during our winter period which is to include a fourth rail spur into the shed area for off loading heavy materials, 120 ft of brand new track and sleepers at Cat Nab curve plus the normal scheduled maintenance which keeps the Railway as the Premier Attraction in the area.

We have work days on a Wednesday and Sunday mornings, so if anyone wishes to come down to visit us, take photographs and see our four locomotives then you are most welcome.

Robert Proctor (chair SMR) 23

Cleveland Diving Club ‘You do not stumble upon your heritage: it is there, just waiting to be explored and shared.’ How true these thoughtful words are from the world famous musician Robbie Robertson. As it is without doubt that Saltburn, and its neighbouring towns and villages, are well steeped in this region’s history that is celebrated and shared on all levels by local enthusiasts. The Cleveland Divers Club is no exception to this. This year was the 15th anniversary of an exhibition held at Kirkleatham Hall that told the story of the Greek owned vessel, The S.S. Dimitris, wrecked off the coast of Redcar on December 14th 1953.

Dimitris was a standard ‘A’ class cargo vessel built in 1919 and was owned by various shipping companies during her working life. However, unlike many cargo ships during that time she managed to survive world war two.

Unfortunately her final voyage, carrying a cargo of pig ore, from Algeria to Middlesbrough was when, despite good visibility, she met her demise and crashed into the East Scar rocks at Redcar. Distress flares were fired and Redcar Life Boat City of Leeds was quickly on the scene bravely fighting heavy seas to rescue 22 of the 36 crew, the remaining crew members being rescued by the heroic efforts of two local fishing boats. A salvage operation was soon underway, before the doomed ship was finally claimed by the sea.

Lost but not forgotten, in June 2001 Cleveland Divers were presented with a Local Heritage Grant of £10,000.

Such grants were awarded to local groups so that they could investigate, explain and care for local landmarks, culture etc.

The results of the project, ‘Shipwreck Dimitris,’ were subsequently shared at an exhibition presented at Kirkleatham Hall in April 2002. For more information about the exhibition go to http://www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk and search for, ‘Reviving memories of Redcar Shipwreck,’ and read the archived press release dated 12th April 2002. The exhibition helped to make the Dimitris wreck an important underwater landmark for our region. It is a very popular wreck for local scuba divers and those from further afield because it provides such an interesting and relatively safe dive. Exploring the ship’s boilers, propeller shaft, that provides an exciting swim through, (see photos) its rudder, hull plates and nearby anchor chains offers both the experienced and novice diver a fantastic diving experience.

In addition, the Dimitris has over time become the home of much marine life such as various sea weeds, crabs, lobsters, starfish, anemones, fish and on occasion a visit from inquisitive seals from the local colony having a fun day out. The attraction for underwater photographers is irresistible due to the changing seasons, weather and a sea condition which means no two dives are ever the same. Dive trips to the Dimitris are high on the club’s diving agenda especially for our newly qualified divers as a means of introducing them to their first experience of a wreck dive.

Resulting from BSAC’s drive, ‘This Girl Can,’ aimed at attracting more ladies into the sport, we are expecting one of our younger members, 16 year old Caitlin, seen here having fun feeding the fish and riding on ‘Shergar,’ during her training sessions at Capenwray, to soon be ready to take on sea diving and experience the joy of diving the Dimitris.

If you are interested in learning about our local 24

heritage on a different level, through scuba diving, then contact us on 07960 608529, or pop along to Saltburn Leisure Centre any Monday evening at 8pm. Alternatively, look out for us and our boat at our annual RNLI funding raising event at Saltburn’s Farmers Market on Saturday, 9th December 2017.

June Coomber

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Harry Richardson dies at 92

Harry Richardson, a Saltburn resident all his life, has died aged 92 at his family’s farm in East Yorkshire.

A well-attended funeral was held at Kirkleatham Crematorium on 8th November after which he was remembered by members of several local groups of which he was an active member, at Saltburn Golf Club.

Prominent among them was Saltburn Photographic Society, of which he was a leading member. Also the Saltburn and District Retired Men’s Forum and the Tuesday morning keep fit group, which meets at Emmanuel Church Hall.

Harry was educated at Guisborough Grammar School and became a fuel engineer at Cargo Fleet steel works. He served in the Royal Artillery during his national service period and had a wide circle of friends, particularly at work.

A popular man, he was married to Janet for 57 years and had one son Peter and grandchildren. After Janet died Harry became good friends with her sister Margaret and they went on several holidays, including cruises, together.

A Humanist recounted highlights of Harry’s life. which included several childhood adventures and scrapes.

One was playing in a pond at Chestnut Close where his house was built in the 1950s.

Mike Morrissey 26

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Cascade Cascade Designer Clothing is a family run business with a passion for high end designer fashion. We opened on Saturday, 4th November 2017 at 43 Milton Street, Saltburn, next door to Holly Blue Cards and Gifts.

Cascade was born out of a desire to provide top quality, high end designer clothing, shoes and accessories for men, women and children at affordable prices. We specialise in the highest quality pre-owned and pre-loved clothing, shoes and accessories from the world’s best fashion labels.

Everyone wants to wear the latest and best labels without paying the designer price tag. All our items are hand-picked, carefully appraised and authenticated to provide our customers with the unique shopping experience they deserve with most of the stock being as new, hardly worn or quality vintage as well as brand new.

Our stock changes constantly as items are snapped up quickly so regular checks of our shop are highly recommended.

We want our customers to feel good about designer labels - without feeling guilty about designer prices.

All are welcome; we will always be pleased to see you.

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Saltburn Athletic FC Time flies and at the time of writing we are half way into November already.

We shall begin with the under 10s and the Sharks who have not lost a game as yet and nor have they conceded any goals in five league games. Their next game is against the league leaders Brompton (away) and will be a stiff test for them. They were beaten recently in a second round cup game against a very good Darlington team but the Sharks acquitted themselves and kept the score reasonably close.

The Dolphins are finding it a bit harder and lie further down the unofficial league but are still in the cup.

The under 11s team continue to improve from last year and hold a good unofficial league position.

The under 13s having three teams are having mixed successes. The Dolphins are unbeaten and have won all seven games so far in their division. Scores of 6-1 versus 21st Allstars with Warnes 2, Cree 2, Leone and Slater scoring, then winning 2-1 against Redcar Royals and finally 3-2 away at Mount Pleasant Rangers with goals from Warnes, Leone and Canwell. They also are still in the cup so, so far so good for them.

The Seagulls are having a more difficult season but there is plenty of time to improve and I am sure they will.

The Falcons, the third best team, are playing much better this year scoring more goals and having more victories in early season including a cracking 6-5 win away at Ferryhill with goals from Welford 2, Porter 2, Baker and Day giving them a much needed confidence boost.

Last but not least the under 14s who are having a very good season with six out of six league victories winning 8-0 against Nunthorpe with goals from Midgley 2, Grady 2, Mitchell 2, wise and Morgan. A hard fought victory against Redcar Ath by 3-1 with scorers being Mitchell, Carkett and Munro and a recent cup victory against Whitby Fishermans drawing 3-3 but winning through on penalties with goals from Grady 2 and Morgan.

Work on our drainage system where the large mound was removed has come to a halt due to the weather conditions making the ground far too wet and muddy.

The renovated changing rooms have recently been opened so please look out for a column written by Dave Sadler on the building now known as the Frank Smith Pavilion.

Many thanks once again to all the parents and other family members for their continued support for all teams and is much appreciated.

Andy Croll 28

The Countryside Ranger and Volunteers, December 2017 By late November and early December, most birds have changed either their homes or habits, or both, in preparation for the winter to come. This is your chance to see a last flush of berries and fungi before severe frosts become a regular event.

With the fall of autumn leaves, the woodland floor is flooded with light, making the search for wildlife easier.

Providing an extra source of food in your garden will encourage birds to visit and one of the easiest ways is to put out a variety of seeds and nuts to ensure a greater variety of visitors. Greenfinches and siskins are fond of bags or feeders with peanuts, especially during a harsh winter. The best place to hang your feeders is next to some sort of vegetation, be it a tree or thick bushes, so that the birds feel more secure and are more comfortable darting to and fro. Hang them high enough for cats to be unable to reach them, but near to a window so that you can watch the birds and enjoy their antics.

For some strange reason we don’t understand red peanut bags are more attractive to siskins than other colours, but eventually they will become used to whatever you put out and become regular visitors. You just have to be patient!

Chaffinches spend a lot of their time on the ground and prefer to search for food that has fallen from a bird table or bird feeder. They will appreciate food scattered on the ground, as long as there are no cats nearby of course. Bullfinches and bramlings eat a range of seeds and berries, and may also be tempted by fruit left on the ground.

One of the cheapest and most effective bird foods is lard! The birds love it outside the Woodland Centre, smeared onto a tree with a palette knife or your hand (with rubber gloves on). Put out a good dollop, sometimes adding in some seed for variety and I guarantee you will see some bird activity. The great spotted woodpecker and the nuthatch in particular seem to enjoy it. Just make sure you put it out of dog reach, as they love it too!

Sparrow hawks soon detect concentrations of

small birds at winter feeders. They are magnificent birds similar in size to a kestrel but with distinctive short, broad, rounded wings and yellow eyes. Unlike the hovering then diving kestrel, they will have a gliding swoop at great speed to catch the smaller birds by surprise, leaving just as quickly in a swirl of feathers and loud squawking from the ones that got away. Some people tolerate or even welcome the occasional site of a small bird being snatched, but if you want to minimise attacks, site your feeders a little more in the open where an approaching predator can be seen at a distance.

You can always encourage goldfinches and linnets into your garden if you leave a small area to grow wild with plenty of native seed-bearing plants, such as thistles and teasels. Sunflowers are very tasty for finches if you leave the heads on the plant after flowering and let them go to seed.

Once you have started to encourage birds into your garden you must keep up the supply as they will learn to rely on that little bit extra, and it is definitely worth the effort.

The Saltburn Countryside Volunteers will be working even harder now the trees and other plants are resting through the winter. The first task of winter is to cut back the bracken and brambles so that the flowers will be able to grow unhindered once the early spring sunshine starts to warm the soil. If we leave it too late, we will not be able to walk on the soil without damaging the new shoots as they start to emerge. We will also try to clear some of the overgrown paths and mend fences through the valley.

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.

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 29

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 30

REDCAR GOSPEL HALL Edenhall Grove, Redcar. TS10 4PR

A warm welcome awaits you at our regular Sunday evening Gospel Service, 6.30 p.m., at our ‘Coffee and Chat’, each Wednesday from 10.30 am, and at the Christmas Carol Service on Dec. 17th at 6:30 pm.

For more information, e-mail: contact@redcargospelhall.org.uk

For a personal chat please ring 07514 229577 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3 v 16 (The Bible)

Don’t Miss Christmas ‘The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world’ (1 John 4 Verse 14, The Bible).

Christmas is a busy time and it is so easy to be so busy with shopping, buying and wrapping presents, writing Christmas cards, arranging the Christmas dinner, etc., etc., that we are in danger of letting it pass by without giving any real thought to the significance of what happened in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. It would be good for us if we could just stop for a few moments to think about the birth of Christ. We should try and avoid letting Christmas come and go without considering such words as those written above.

What is Christmas all about? It’s about God showing His love to us in that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to be the Saviour of men. The Bible says ‘Jesus came into the world to save sinners’ (1 Timothy 1 Verse 15; The Bible). Jesus Himself said, referring to Himself as the “Son of Man”, ‘the Son of Man is come to seek and to save the lost.’ (Luke 19:10; The Bible).

Jesus came to save those who were lost, away from God because of their sins. Every one of us is, or has been, in that position, lost without God, with no hope beyond the grave. Even the best among us are still rebels in need of God’s mercy, and we should not fool ourselves that we are good enough for God. We

need to be saved from the consequences of our sins. We need forgiveness, and it is not effort on our part that will earn it. We need new life, not a turn-over of a new leaf, and that can only be found through faith in Jesus Christ, who loved us and gave Himself for us on the Cross.

Though Jesus came as Saviour of the world, this does not mean that every person is automatically saved.

That only comes if we believe in our hearts that God sent Him, and that He died on the cross taking the penalty for our sins. Do we know the Son of God like that, as our Saviour? If we don’t, or are not sure, then do come along to our Christmas Carol Service (or any other Sunday evening at 6:30pm), and learn more. It is not whether we know Him as an example to follow, or as a moral teacher, but do we know Him as the only One who can save us from our sins? Countless thousands have come to Him in simple faith, resting on Him alone for salvation. Before we meet God, we must have Him as our Saviour. Eternal life is given by God as a gift when we truly repent of our sins and believe that Jesus, the Son of God, died and rose again on the third day.

Only at that very moment are our sins fully pardoned.

A Child has been born, a Son has been given. A Saviour has died! He lives again! Trust Him for salvation.

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Keep Christmas Live The Christmas season is always a time for live performances, whether that be little Chloë in the school nativity, taking Mam to the Advent services, giving to the Salvation Army Band outside Sainsbury’s or Uncle Arthur’s drunken rendition of There’s No Place Like Home after the Queen’s Speech.

It is also traditionally a busy time for theatres and this year is no exception at SC&AA, with a lot of performances by groups hiring the theatre for their own seasonal shows. The highlight of the events at the theatre will be a week before Christmas Eve with A Brief History of Christmas in the Community Hall on Sunday, 17th December. This takes in 600 years of musical history in 90 minutes, beginning in the Middle Ages and ending up in the 20th century.

For those who were lucky enough to see GreenMatthews perform last year this will be a welcome return; for those who didn’t, this is a treat in store. Featuring long forgotten songs and tunes, GreenMatthews paint a vibrant and vivid picture of our musical DNA, mixing the familiar and the obscure, the raucous and the reflective and the courtly and the commonplace. Complete with a bewildering array of instruments such as virginal, rauschpfeife and lute (and that’s just the first 100 years). A Brief history of Christmas uses tunes, songs and humour to put you in that special festive mood.

Whilst the emphasis will be on tradition, it is also a first in that Selwyn Hedgley, Estate Agents & Lettings, are supporting the cost of this production in Saltburn. This is the beginning of our collaboration as Selwyn Hedgley will be assisting in the presentation of the best of live performance at the theatre. Their financial contribution will help keep ticket prices at their incredibly competitive rate. It is also one of a number of ways that ensure the high quality of visiting productions and artists that make up the annual programme of events.

The exhibitions in SCA2gallery will finish the year with the last in the series of three tributes to the Benson & Hedges adverts of the 70s and 80s. This time it will have a festive theme looking at the ways in which they depicted Christmas throughout the years of the campaign.

Unfortunately, due to an ingress of water, the corner space of the gallery will not be used. There will be no further new exhibitions until this problem is resolved.

It has been a successful year in the theatre with a number of memorable highlights that produced full houses and a number of excellent productions that didn’t. Talk of the Town continues to help in promoting awareness of what is happening at the theatre and it is always worth keeping an eye open to see what is coming next.

The New Year will again be a time for making resolutions, so why not make a simple one that will lead to pleasure not punishment and support your local theatre. That might, like Selwyn Hedgley, be financial support but it could also be wanting to provide help in volunteering to work at the theatre or it might be as simple as making sure that you go out and enjoy yourself more often and in doing so help to keep SC&AA thriving and alive.

Quiet community stalwart remembered Mrs Carol Hardy, who died aged 84, was one of Saltburn’s ‘quiet army’ of community activists.

She was remembered at a service at the Kirkleatham Crematorium on 16th November for many of her good works, which included running Saltburn WRVS (including the thrice weekly Meals on Wheels service) for over 45 years.

Carol, who was married to retired steel manager Colin Hardy, also ran a popular luncheon club at WRVS and the Community Centre for older residents who appreciated a home-cooked meal.

Carol loved dogs and will be remembered by many dog -walkers whom she met while walking her own dogs as well as the 21 Guide Dogs she looked after while their owners were ill or on holiday. She was secretary of the local Guide Dogs for the Blind committee and helped raise thousands of pounds in the 40 years of her involvement.

She was a member of several local women’s groups including Inner Wheel and Tangent. She also was one of a team of ‘tea ladies,’ who helped Saltburn and District Retired Men’s Forum to start their weekly meetings with a cuppa.

Members held a minute’s silence on 13th November to remember her with gratitude.

Born at Barnard Castle, Carol moved aged 14 to Skinningrove then Marske because of her father’s work as a 32

Carol Hardy with retired guide dogs Ingle and Bunty

gas engineer. She was educated at The Towers, a small private school on Glenside, Saltburn. She did clerical work at ICI Wilton but left to look after her children, Colette and Richard plus her voluntary activities.

The service was led by the Rev Adam Reed, of Emmanuel Parish, Saltburn. A collection was taken for the Guide Dogs for the Blind and raised £220.50.

Mike Morrissey

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Making the world a better place – The Earthstore in Saltburn The EarthStore at 12 Dundas Street is full of beautifully handmade, crafted things from India, Nepal, Bali and other third world countries. The idea of bringing fair-trade products to the people is not new and especially in our turbulent times we do realize our global responsibility even more. Yes we can make a difference in someone else’s life by choosing and buying consciously and support others in need. The shop was created by Ness Brigham in the Enterprise Arcade Stockton as a test pilot to see if fair-trade would work with the everyday shopper and to create a big change in the idea that fair-trade is expensive. If you visit you will see that it’s not any more expensive but it is high quality and comes with an added feel good factor.

Ness travelled to India and Nepal after the earthquake in 2015 to visit first hand the people that she talks about every day. Such beautiful souls that make these products with amazing skills that would die out if it wasn’t for these sales. She found that tourism had dropped and conditions were extremely desperate in some areas. The ambition to see fair-trade grow continues and we want Saltburn to show the rest that it’s possible to be fair to the makers and sustain the environment.

We do not only care for people in other countries but also for people in the community. For this reason we created The Healing Rooms with a variety of holistic therapies and treatments as well as workshops and events for your wellbeing. Why not come along and have a look for your Christmas Shopping or a nice treat for yourself. We do have gift vouchers for in-house shopping and treatments too.

Free Community events December Healing Rooms Free Healing for Senior Citizens – Wednesday 10.30 am – 12.30am, The Healing Rooms within Earthstore.

Free Meditation Evening – Every other Wednesday Evening during December, 6.30pm - 8.30pm, donation based, booking required.

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

34

Dancing returns to the Spa in Saltburn Dancing sessions have returned to the Spa Hotel, Saltburn.

A mix of ballroom, sequence and Latin dancing takes place once a month under the supervision of longtime dance enthusiasts John and Jane Smith, of Sleights.

“We don’t hold classes, but our sessions keep you fit. Dancing keeps the grey matter alert and gives you an interest,” said ex-policeman and council employee John Smith, who lived in Nottingham before moving to Sleights five years ago.

“It’s early days yet for us at the Spa, but the November session attracted 14 people. Twenty would be nice, but we have room for 40.”

John, who runs the dance with wife Jane, said the charge was £3 and covered the cost. Dancers are advised to bring a partner. No booking is needed, but inquiries could be made to the couple on 01947 811783 or at the Spa 01287 622544.

The hotel was noted in the 1930s, 40s and 50s for its tea dances. In the 80s disco dancing was held when the hotel was run as Philmore’s, a popular night club and venue.

Mike Morrissey

Nigel’s VIPs! Very Important Pets!

Saltburn Charity Crafters Charity Crafters will be meeting on Wednesday, 6th December from 2pm to 4pm in the coffee room at Saltburn Community Hall. If you enjoy knitting, crochet or other crafts, please come and join us for a cuppa and find out how you can help us. You will receive a warm welcome from all of us. Charity Crafters will also be meeting on Wednesday, 3rd January. For further information please contact Angie on 01287 205153.

Saltburn Learning Campus win against litter After a week of deliberation recently, organisation ‘Surfers against Sewage’ announced Saltburn Learning Campus to be the winners of the 2017 Be the Change North East Award.

Last month, Surfers against Sewage delivered their anti-litter education programme award scheme to over 1500 children. It challenged 6 NE schools, including Saltburn Learning Campus, to recognise that they can play a crucial role in keeping their communities litter-free, healthy and happy by being the change that they want to see and creating their own ‘anti-litter action plan’.

Entries were scored on things like reach of the project, messages surrounding it, and implementation.

Upper school of Saltburn Primary and lower school of Huntcliff delivered a fantastic PowerPoint presentation to the judging panel, and were announced as the winners on Thursday, 9th November! Well done to all of those involved. The campus won a trophy and £250 to make their plan a reality.

Heather Ollerenshaw Senior Administrative Assistant PA to Heads of School Saltburn Learning Campus

DOG WALKING, PET CARE & HOME SITTING Co. Est’d. 2002 NigelsVIPs@gmail.com

TEL: 07891 092007 Insured, Excellent References

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36

Saltburn student heads to Africa A student from Saltburn is trading the bracing weather of the North East for the more tropical climes of East Africa in a bid to help children and young people in one of the world’s poorest countries.

18 year old Honor Wilkinson-Bell has been chosen to join a group of volunteers who will be travelling to Malawi in February with the International Service, a charity which supports women, children and disabled people in developing countries across the world. Honor will spend 3 months in Malawi, where she will live with a local family and work alongside volunteers from both the UK and the local community.

Explaining why she applied to join the programme, Honor, a former pupil at Huntcliff School, said: “When I decided to take a year out before I start my degree at the London School of Economics next September, I wanted to do something that would not only broaden my horizons, but also make a difference to the lives of others. It’s really important that young people like me understand the challenges that other parts of the world face, and although I’m quite apprehensive at the prospect of living in a place that has limited electricity and running water, I’m really looking forward to meeting people and contributing to the amazing work that International Service does across the globe.”

During her placement, Honor will be tasked with helping raise awareness of health issues and promoting active citizenship amongst young people. “Part of the challenge will be to try and understand how to get important health messages across in a society where average life expectancy is just 55 years and people live on less than 73p a day. Malawi also has some of Africa’s highest rates of HIV and AIDS.” Before she heads off, Honor has to raise funds which will go directly to help the communities she will be working with. She is planning a series of fundraising events in the run up to Christmas, and has already raised over £100 through the sale of home made jams.

A keen artist, Honor is also producing a range of limited edition cards, bags and prints from her own illustrations and in December, she is organising Saltburn’s first-ever ‘ReinDog Walk’ in which dog owners will be invited to a fun walk through Saltburn woods, with free reindeer antlers and a goody bag for their pets.

When she returns to the UK in April, Honor will be visiting schools and community groups across Teesside to raise awareness of International Service’s work and encourage other young people to get involved in overseas development work.

Anyone interested in contributing to Honor’s fundraising efforts can find out more on her Justgiving page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/malawi-honor-wb or via 07768 994436. A selection of Honor’s products are also available to order via her website (www.madeformalawi.wordpress.com).

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My Father and the Forgotten War Once again it is that time of year when I think of my father and his doings in World War I. It is Armistice Day, when the war in Europe is so deeply and painfully remembered both at the cenotaph in London and at war memorials throughout the country. Survivors present themselves at the cenotaph whilst yet they were alive and everyone remembers the horrors of trench warfare.

Always there have been other deaths, victories and survivors who over the years have been equally forgotten on that day. Reading up that war now it must be recognised that it had a brand of horror all its own and hundreds of soldiers died. It can all be verified on Google.

Always down the years there have been survivors of that war that have been forgotten. There have been those who fought in Mesopotamia in the middle eastern campaign of those years against the Turks and Germans in defence of British access to oil. Today we know the area as Iraq. A war that some, including my father, survived against all odds.

Thousands were killed or starved to death and yet they are not remembered.

When war was declared my father, newly qualified to teach, had taken up his first appointment teaching history at a school in Arbroath, Scotland. Yet he gave it up to join the Northumberland Fusiliers in the rank of lieutenant. From there he was seconded to the Second Royal Kent regiment who were then dispatched to Mesopotamia. He must have been at the landing in Basra that I read about in another biography where many landing troops suffered severe losses.

At first they thought the Turks would be poor soldiers but such was not the case.

They were fighting in a middle eastern campaign in defence of the rights of the British Empire against Germany and the Ottomans. Worse than any soldiers were the conditions in which they fought: a desert terrain with mosquitoes and only marshes and no clean fresh water. The heat of the climate was beyond their experience and they fought disease and malaria and long marches in desert conditions. Now this is all verifiable Google and I have read biographies of those who fought then. An added difficulty was that supplies to the army were neglected. Other troops

that fought here were Indian troops from Poona and my brother told me that there were Ghurkas.

I first became interested in my father’s first war experience as a teenager but at last I have time to ask questions for now I am retired and my curiosity is on behalf of all that fought then, for my father did not talk about it. But as a little girl I was aware because of three of my father’s belongings kept from the war. First he had an officer’s sun helmet, second he had a water bottle which was made of metal and insulated with animal fur. Third he had a heavy canvas tent in which he sometimes camped in our garden in Stockton along with a Scots friend.

Otherwise sometimes he pitched in to make a playroom for my elder brother and I. Apart from being a soldier my father was an historian and as I think of him at this time I see him standing in the fertile crescent between the river Tigris and Euphrates in the Cradle of Civilization where he commanded troops in such dreadful conditions. There too he contracted malaria which recurred throughout his life.

He suffered an accident which made him deaf in one ear and was sent home to England and back to his regiment, The Northumberland Fusiliers who next dispatched him to guard prisoners on the border of Afghanistan.

In1948 he was killed in a road accident in England so after all that adventure he did not live to tell his grown up children his true wartime story nor to know the modern facts about present day war in Iraq or Afghanistan. I think he may have been acquainted with another local person who had very real middle eastern connections: Gertrude Bell who became known as the Queen of the Desert. Just a few months ago there was an exhibition about her at Kirkleatham Museum.

Still, I want to conclude this article with a question.

Can anyone tell me why this part of the Great War is not remembered on Armistice Day? They too were brave men and boys who gave their lives for their country. If they died there was no possibility of bringing their bodies home to England.

Sylvia Williamson

Earthbeat - Giving something back Festive Fundraiser The Earthbeat Centre is going from strength to strength. We’ve been open now for three years and to celebrate that fact we’re about to stage a concert to help destitute children in India. The Nirvanavan project is building schools in the most deprived area of India and our performers want to lend them a helping hand. Often, learning disabled people are the receivers of charity but we think it’s empowering that our performers are able to give something back.

We’ll be joined by artists from our local community who also want to use their talents to help others. We have singers from Jeanette Wainright’s mighty 100 voices and the Tribal Marsquer’s will be providing some steam punk inspired dances.

We have some beautiful creative pieces from the Legato Dance Company and some spine tingling vocals from the ethereal Scarlet and Richard Pink. On top of all that we have the dynamic Estelle Reed and the Dancefit Divas and, if that wasn’t 38

enough, we also have the amazing Earthbeat Theatre Company. There will also be a bar, serving alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks.

The show, which has a wonderful Christmassy feel to it, will take place at the Earthbeat centre on Friday, 1st December from 7.30pm. The bar will be open from 6.30pm.

Organiser Tony Galuidi says, “We’ve done a number of shows for other charities but this is our first Christmas offering and is really quite special. If you want to start your Christmas celebrations early, then this is guaranteed to leave you with a warm glow. We’re all very excited about this one and we’re confident that our audience will not be disappointed.”

Tickets are available from the Earthbeat Centre, by calling 07969 623118 (or by sending an email to earthbeat@hotmail.com). See also page 56.

Health and Happiness: Beyond things or experience Did you know that Bhutan is the only country in the world that has a ‘GNH’ or “Gross National Happiness”? And did you know that the British government is interested in measuring our happiness too?

More than 100,000 adult UK residents were asked to answer the following questions, on a scale of nought to 10, with nought being ‘not at all’ and 10 being ‘completely’: 1) Overall, how satisfied are you with your life nowadays? 2) Overall, to what extent do you feel the things you do in your life are worthwhile? and 3) Overall, how happy did you feel yesterday?

A higher proportion of people reported very high levels of life satisfaction, happiness and feelings that life was worthwhile in the year ending June 2017 compared with the previous year. The average ratings at the end of June 2017 was: 7.5 out of 10 for happiness.

What is interesting about our modern society is that we have moved towards the valuing of ‘things’. By that I mean material objects, things you can see have gained value in all of our priority lists. It goes in line with the idea of setting targets and reaching goals and a society that is more and more fixated on tests and measuring achievement.

We have been encouraged, especially young people, aided by marketing and consumerism and simply by that old fashioned want to keep up with our mates, to have the latest phone or laptop; it used to be trainers, it probably still is, but tests at school and performance analysis at work and house price values as a sort of modern day sport is the new normal. All of this has moved our society towards one of valuing things above things that can’t be seen, like our emotions.

However, over the last few years in response a new shift has occurred in our buying habits, from the consumption of objects to the buying of experiences, holidays, yoga retreats, hot air balloon rides etc. It is as if people are reawakening to the awareness of what they knew before mass consumerism moved in about forty years ago. People are getting wise to what the Beatles knew, what we all knew but sort of forgot, that ‘money can’t buy you love’. The more material things you own in no way equates to the more you can love and accept yourself as you are. In fact the more we get into materialism and with it comparison to others, the more we dress ourselves in fine garments and get our nails done and botox away lines and feel worried about our body shape and buy a mask to cover ourselves with, the less positive we can end up feeling in our skin. So we are shifting our buying habits to want experiences rather than objects because experiences bring us, or we think they will bring us, more happiness. But do they?

A few years ago I was travelling around India and at the end of a long journey I decided to spend the last weeks in a place I had heard so much about but never visited, Goa. I wanted to go where the tourists weren’t and I jumped off the train at a tiny station and was suddenly in the middle of nowhere and as the train pulled away I realised I was the only one who had got off and I was the only person in sight, which is rare for India. I started walking, it was hot but incredibly beautiful: lush green fields, lizards scurrying away and birds of every kind darting through the trees in flashes of colour or souring above like gliders in the clear blue sky. After a long while a single car bumped along the dusty road I was on and it turned out to be a taxi with a Spanish couple in. They offered me a space and within seconds told me about where they were going, to a magical beach not far away and it sounded perfect.

The next thing I knew I had found a room, a wooden box with a bed in it and I soon walked out to the beach and there I was standing in as close as I have come to paradise: the sea a beautiful blue green, the waves fat and happy with a big frothy smile. Either side of the white sand beach were giant cliffs covered in thick jungle, giving the whole place a sense of seclusion and magical privacy. The beach was about half a mile long with almost no one on it, the occasional person doing yoga stretches and some wandering cows. Behind were palm trees and dotted in between a few places to stay and eat made of wood and palm leaves. This was paradise, and as the sun set I sat on the beautiful white sand, so soft it caresses you in, like a silky temptress and all I could think of was how come I’m in paradise but I don’t really feel very happy? And then it struck me, on that day I hadn’t cultivated it within myself and it didn’t matter that I might be in paradise or not.

So I think in this new age of buying experiences instead of things we are moving in the ‘right’ direction. If we can feel our way there and not block it, then I believe we will all move in the direction towards personal fulfilment and more happiness. Yet I think that when we buy experiences, we may realise something else, that you can’t buy your way to happiness. You might be able to rent happiness a while but it originates inside of us and we can learn to cultivate it wherever we are. The question is, do we invest in ourselves to learn how to do that or do we keep on trying to buy ‘things’ or experiences, to try and ‘make ourselves’ happy?

Please feel free to contact me or come to our groups at Earthbeat. Kendal Aitken Health and Happiness Coach / Counsellor. Contact: coach@happygreenblueeyes.co.uk or 07944 883961.

Pudsey Bear visits children at Rosedene Nursery Rosedene Nurseries Kader, in Acklam, received a welcome visit from a very special guest on Wednesday, 15th November.

Pudsey Bear popped in to have his picture taken with the children and to thank them in advance for their fund-raising efforts for the BBC Children in Need appeal. Since 1980 Children in Need has raised over £600 million for disabled children and young people in the UK. With over 60 years of operation in Tees Valley and North Yorkshire, Rosedene are delighted to be able to say that children from their settings have been supporting this amazing fundraising effort since its very first year.

Rosedene Nurseries have settings with a geographical spread from Northallerton to Billingham and Darlington to Saltburn, and all were raising money for this great cause. In spotty or yellow fancy dress the nurseries had a variety of exciting activities arranged including an all-day sing-a-thon, decorating cookies and painting a giant Pudsey Bear!

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Saltburn Man Remembered at Smith’s Dock Ceremony A Saltburn man was remembered at a poignant ceremony to unveil a memorial for men who lost their lives in a tragic incident off the Tees in June 1940 when a French corvette built at a Tees shipyard sank during its trials.

Former shipyard workers and their families were among a crowd of people who witnessed the ceremony at Smith’s Dock Park, Normanby, Middlesbrough, on 11th November.

The event marked the completion of a campaign to raise money to mark the deaths of 18 Smith’s Dock shipyard workers, who built the corvette La Bastiase at the South Bank shipyard, and 43 French seamen.

It was sunk when it hit a German mine off Hartlepool on June 22nd 1940. This was also the day when France capitulated to the Germans.

French seamen, as well as shipyard workers, were among the 61 who died.

The memorial, an obelisk, was built because civilians were not included in the park’s war memorial.

Liz Chambers, ceremony organiser of the Friends of Smith’s Dock park, thanked all who had taken part.

VIPs attending included the Deputy Lord Lieutenant David Kerfoot, the Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland Councillor Karen King, honorary consul of France Eric Donjon, and the chief executive of PD Ports Frans Calje.

A booklet has been produced to mark the sinking of the corvette, which hit a mine off the Tees during ship’s trials. A number of French seamen and shipyard workers lost their lives. It has been produced by County Print.

“The weather was cold, but many ex-Smith’s Dock workers and their families made the event and a lot travelled a long way. South Bank Rangers Football Club was, as ever, well represented,” wrote Mrs Chambers in November after the ceremony. She can be contacted at liz.chambers1@hotmail.com.

According to Chris Lloyd, of The Northern Echo, the local men believed to have died included William Pringle, aged 58, of Saltburn. Nothing more is known of him. Talk of the Town would be glad to hear from anyone with knowledge of Mr Pringle.

The others named were (not all spellings are exact): Johan Gustof Andersson, of South Bank, R.M. Balls, J. M. Broad, Charles Edwin Crowell, John William Dobson, Frank English, Robert. E. Fenwick, William Gent, V. Hansson, Charles William Hall, of Stokesley, Alec Henderson, 64, of South Bank, S. Hickling, Thomas Hunter, 58, the Tees pilot, of Middlesbrough, F.A. Morton, Thomas Alfred Moreman, Herbert Pateman, of Middlesbrough, Louis Stanley Powell, of Normanby, Harry Rackshaw, of Middlesbrough, Howard William Townshend, of Eaglescliffe, and W. Young.

Mike Morrissey 40

Saltburn author republishes book

Una Horne, who is probably Saltburn’s most widely-read author, has just had another book reprinted.

She showed me a copy in the Hazelgrove care home where she has lived for several months.

It is called The Wartime Nurse by Maggie Hope, her main nom-de-plume, and is published by Penguin Random House, an international company.

It is a Sunday Times best-seller and tells of a young nurse and her romances in the 1950s. This was when Una was a student nurse at Bishop Auckland General hospital.

I borrowed one of her 14 Una Horne books at Saltburn library and noted it had been borrowed once a month this year. Not bad for a story-teller whose writing days ended 10 years ago through deteriorating health.

Una had lived in Diamond Street with husband Bill since 1995. They moved to the town to be near son Peter, who ran a pine business from Milton Street.

Una, 84, is visited by Bill every afternoon and they unashamedly hold hands as she tucks into a box of fruit like strawberries. They smile a lot and are well-known to the Methodist community at Milton Street.

Una was born at Shotton Colliery on the Durham coast and went to Bishop Auckland grammar school. A teacher wrote: “She could become a writer,” but it was not until she was in her 50s that she started to write. Her first published work was a story in the Northern Echo.

Before that she had been a staff nurse and later kept the books for the family haulage business. She picked up a lot of stories about Durham in the early part of the last century, including life in a workhouse, on the dole and in the coal mines.

Romance was at the heart of many of her tales, which have been published by different big firms. Two were under the name of Priscilla Page.

In one book she acknowledged help given by doctors and retired nurses who provided background information.

“I’ve enjoyed writing the books. They meant carrying out a lot of research to make them feel authentic,” said Una, who is a member of Mensa, the exclusive society for people of high intelligence. Her IQ is 157.

Mike Morrissey

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THE VALLEY GARDENS VICTORIAN TEAROOMS CHRISTMAS CHARITY EVENT 2017

WE ARE SITUATED IN THE VALLEY GARDENS IN SALTBURN BY THE SEA EVERY YEAR WE TRY AND HELP SUPPORT A VERY GOOD CAUSE & WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE’S HELP, KINDNESS & DONATIONS OVER THE YEARS

THIS YEAR WE ARE SUPPORTING REDCAR AND CLEVELAND SHELTER FOR FAMILIES AFFECTED FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THIS AFFECTS WOMEN, MEN AND CHILDREN THIS YEAR WE ARE ASKING FOR HELP BY DONATING A SMALL GIFT FOR CHRISTMAS. IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE EXPENSIVE - MAYBE A STORY BOOK, COLOURING BOOK AND PENCILS, A BOTTLE OF IMPULSE, MEN’S LYNX SHOWER GEL - JUST A SMALL GIFT WE CAN WRAP AND GIVE TO THE SHELTER FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS JUST TO HELP CREATE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT AS FORTUNATE AS US. WE WILL BE SO PLEASED WITH ANY GIFT YOU CAN AFFORD TO DONATE. PLEASE DROP OFF YOUR GIFTS TO THE TEAROOMS - ALL GIFTS TO BE RECEIVED BY THE 10TH DECEMBER. PLEASE DO NOT WRAP YOUR GIFT AS WE WILL WRAP AND TAG THEM ACCORDING TO AGE GROUPS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR GENEROSITY.

‘Sing a Song of Gladness and Cheer’ - The Saltburn Songsters Yes, it’s that time of year again …. “Oh no it isn’t!” …. “Oh yes it is!”

The Saltburn Songsters are frantically rehearsing for their upcoming Christmas Concert titled ‘Sing a Song of Gladness and Cheer’ which will be performed on Saturday, 9th December 2017 at 7:15pm (doors open 6:45pm) at the Christ Church in Great Ayton.

This year, we are delighted to welcome back Anita Aslin on the Harp as our special guest. Sure to bring a bit of sophistication to the evening, Anita is a true professional in her field of music and is not to be missed.

All tickets are £8 which does include a glass of mulled wine (or soft

drink) and a mince pie. These can be obtained by calling 07729 332258 or by visiting Thompson’s Hardware Store in Great Ayton.

This concert is truly not to be missed and is filled with lots of festive features sure to get you in the Christmas mood. Please come along and support this wonderful 40 strong ladies choir who are accompanied once again by Natalie Taylor on Piano.

I look forward to welcoming you all personally to the concert and thank you for your ongoing support.

Dan Matuszak Chairman / Musical Director – the Saltburn Songsters 43

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Piano Lessons with Margaret Shields LRAM, GRSM A teacher with a lot of experience and “endless patience�.

You can start from the beginning, improve your skills, or work towards the ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) Exams (Grades 1 to 8).

100% pass rate; many pupils pass at Distinction level.

01287 624778 Email: margaretshields2003@yahoo.co.uk

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Friends of Saltburn Library News The Friends’ Christmas tree will join the display at Emmanuel Church on the 1st December. We are proud that our tree will be trimmed by the children of Saltburn guided by local illustrator, Katherine Lynas, and the result of her November Craft Workshop event.

Our next fundraiser will be our ‘Christmas Festival’ combined with a Grand Christmas Stall running for three days. We begin on Wednesday, 6th December with firm favourites, Liz and Teesside Steve, singing seasonal songs to put us in festive mood starting at 1.45 – 2.45pm. Hot drinks and mince pies will welcome you on arrival. On Thursday 7th, local historians, Cath and Tony Lynn, will be presenting ‘Christmas Scenes’ of Saltburn in wintertime over the decades. This will be held at the same time as above with drinks and mince pies to greet you.

The Grand Christmas Stall will run for all three days with prizes of gifts for children, adults, beautiful craftwork, festive items and home-baked Christmas cakes (un-iced so you can personalise your decoration. The Christmas cakes can also be ordered in advance (please ring 01287 622906 to give your requirements about shape and size).

We hope you will be able to join us at some point in this, our main fundraising event for the library, and any gifts to add to the stall would be most gratefully received.

Ongoing Library News “Tiny Tunes” will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays at 10.15 – 10.45am for the under fives.

On Friday afternoons, “Building Bridges” will continue their excellent work, serving tea and refreshments.

Also, please make a note of the following closing times over Christmas. The library will close at 12.30pm on December 23rd and re-open on 3rd January at 9.00am.

I thought a point of interest to our supporters would be to explain how we have used the donations and monies made from events over the last year. We have subscribed to many of the children’s events, including the entertainment available in the library during the Klondike Bike Race.

Also, a considerable sum has been provided towards providing new books for our borrowers’ enjoyment. A big thank you to all our helpers and supporters. Please keep up the good work in 2018. Our library needs you!

Barbara Chaffer

Central Saltburn new for holiday lets, within a 300 yard walk from Saltburn centre.

This pleasantly refurnished self catering cottage offers a modern well equipped kitchen, lounge and 2 bedrooms, comprising of a double room, bunk beds in the single room, sleeps 4 comfortably (6 if needed with a sofa bed in lounge). WiFi provided and a private parking space.

Bookings now being taken.

Contact Carol for further information on either 01287 651896 or 07817 506784.

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Saving And Re-homing Animals 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 lovely readers! We are Milly the cat and Charlie the dog.

Milly is a pretty black and white short hair girl, with olive green eyes. She is 8 years old. She came to live at S.A.R.A. after her owner sadly passed away. Milly is a very gentle and loving natured cat who enjoys spending time in her cosy dome bed, but she will always come straight out for a fuss when the S.A.R.A. staff and volunteers go in to visit her. Milly has lived as an indoor cat who loves going outdoors, so she would like to have

access to the outdoors when she has settled in her new home.

Charlie is a very charming and sweet lad. He is about 6 years old and is a handsome tan and white staffy cross. He came to S.A.R.A. following an unfortunate change in his owner’s circumstances. Charlie really enjoys going for walks with our volunteers, almost as much as he enjoys relaxing in his bed with a lovely chewy treat! Charlie will walk well alongside another dog but we feel he would be better rehomed as an only pet.

SARA fundraising events during December The next monthly meeting of SARA will be held on Wednesday, 6th December, at 7.30pm in the TocH premises, Albion Terrace, Saltburn. New members are very welcome.

Saturday 9th December – SARA will be holding a Christmas Fayre at Marske Hall, Redcar Road, Marske (Formerly Sir Leonard Cheshire Home). This will be held from 10am to 1pm. There will be a large variety of stalls, also a raffle. Refreshments will also be on sale. Come along and enjoy the festive event. All the proceeds will go towards giving the animals in our care a lovely Christmas.

Sunday 10th December – Once again SARA will be enjoying Carols at Foxrush Farm. Kirkleatham Lane

Redcar, from 2pm to 3.30pm. Coffee, mince pies and mulled wine will be available. Come along with family, friends and pets to join in this lovely Christmas event.

We look forward to seeing you.

Twilight Stroll: On Sunday, 15th October 2017 SARA held its annual Twilight Stroll. They had a quiet stroll up the lane and back ending up at the memory garden to remember all those friends and animals that have passed.

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 47

150 Years in the Life of Emmanuel The second decade in the life of Emmanuel saw building continue.

The Nave, North aisle and transept had been constructed and under the ministry of the Reverend Benjamin Irvin the church continued to grow.

The church itself was being built in the Gothic revival style and was truly a sight to behold, even in its formative state, standing on the outskirts of the new town.

Outside rock faced sandstone was specified and ashlar dressing used. The art of stone masonry was still alive and the technique of cutting stones which were squared off and requiring very thin joints between blocks was still very much alive. Vitruvius would have recognised the technique if he had happened by.

The chancel was constructed, a South Aisle added and also a South Transept. Inside red and blue Staffordshire bricks and Ancaster stone dressing were used to provide a singular effect which was at once simple in its construction but elegant in its style but above all creating a atmosphere of serenity which welcomed then as it does now all who enter within its walls.

Whilst worship continued in Emmanuel, pastoral work was very evident under the Reverend Irvin’s long period of community service. To assist in this and to extend the activities of the church, a parochial hall was acquired in Diamond Street in 1886. The mission of Emmanuel was as strong then as it is now in seeking to grow in the love of God and to share it with others. These new settlers of Saltburn by the Sea lived in exciting, innovative and ever changing times.

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The much heralded pier was beset with challenges and in 1879 the Saltburn Pier Company ceased trading. The pier and the original Cliff Lift were sold for £800.

This was indeed a decade of innovation. GMT was introduced. Electric clothes irons, inflatable tyres and box cameras changed life styles. The Oxford English Dictionary was published, Karl Benz designed an automobile and Gustave Eiffel built a rather iconic structure in Paris, a city which some then left to travel to Constantinople in an Orient Express.

As part of our celebrations for 150 years of Emmanuel Church we are planning many activities, one being a rather different Nativity Service this year. This will take place on December 17th at 6pm. We would like all people who are able to meet in the car park before hand. The service will involve carols, poetry, worship and reflection. There will be an opportunity for people to lay gifts before the manger. These will be then taken to ‘abc counselling’, a local charity working with vulnerable and disadvantaged children and families. Please bring gifts suitable for 3 to 18 years, wrapped and clearly labelled.

Mince pies and mulled wine will be available after the service. Please join us - all members of the community are very welcome.

Did someone mention singing? Our planned massed choir of past choir members is still planned. One past ‘choir boy’ is now taking up the challenge of gathering such an esteemed body together. If you would like to be involved contact Stuart Whiley.

GOOD ADVICE or GOOD NEWS?

BY REV ADAM REED There are people who think the stories about Jesus in the Bible should begin with the words 'Once upon a time'. Such a beginning is found in various fairy tales, as well as the opening scene of Star Wars movies. It says that what follows didn't really happen, although we may learn some interesting and helpful things about life. In effect here's some good advice to reflect upon, follow and do. As far as it goes this is okay.

But, the biblical stories of Jesus, the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and Services Times John, do not begin this way. Matthew begins his account with, 'This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah', and he goes on by describing Jesus' family tree which include some really shady, sinful characters. Beginning with Abraham, Matthew presents the family line of Jesus, warts and all. If Matthew wanted to impress his readers by saying that Jesus came from good stock, he should have Sundays chopped out a fair number of them! But this is the human side of Jesus’ history, 9.00am traditional communion not make believe; it’s news of past events, not advice for the future.

And it’s the same with the accounts of the Christmas story. First and foremost they 10.45am contemporary worship are to be read as news, and good news in particular. They are the good news Tuesdays accounts of what God has done in history: being born as a baby in a stable in 9.30am said communion Bethlehem. They are not stories telling you what to do, although there will be things you can learn from Mary & Joseph, the shepherds or the wise men.

Morning Prayer Developing this argument further, Tim Keller writes, “The founders of the great 9.00am Mon-Fri in ECHO religions say, in one way or another, ‘I am here to show you the way to spiritual reality. Do all this.’ That’s advice. Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity, comes Contact Details and says, ‘I am spiritual reality itself. You could never come up to me and, tel therefore, I had to come down to you.’ That’s news... Christianity, then, is not 01287 622251 primarily about self improvement… it is first of all a message that you need to be saved, and you are not saved in the slightest by what you can do but rather by email what God has done. You begin with Christ… you begin by believing the report emmanuelsaltburn@hotmail.co.uk about what has happened in history.” (Keller, ‘Hidden Christmas’, pp.23-24). web So, this December, may you not only enjoy the ‘Once upon a time’ stories and movies, but also embrace the good news story of Jesus’ birth. www.emmanuelsaltburn.co.uk

Visitors are especially welcome at Emmanuel to view the WI Christmas Tree Festival from 2nd—16th December

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Man in a million A retired vicar, who almost died from a ‘hole in the heart’ when he was two days old, has died at 74.

Former Bishop of Whitby the Rt Rev Gordon Bates, called the Rev Eric Norris, a ‘man in a million’ at a celebration funeral service at a well-filled Emmanuel Church, Saltburn, on 9th November.

Many people, including wife Audrey, wore red to mark his football club Liverpool. That was also the colour dominating the church hall during a memories session after the service. The bishop said Eric, “had a great life which he enjoyed.”

Eric and Audrey, who were married for 50 years, retired to Saltburn after spells in different parts of the country, including Boosbeck. Eric helped to take services at Emmanuel and to play an active life in the local community.

Their four sons took part in the service. A collection was taken for the South Cleveland Heart Fund, the National CJD Surveillance Unit, the Children’s Society and Emmanuel Church.

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Cheveux Hair Salon Cheveux Hair Salon would like to wish all of our very loyal customers a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. Also a big Thank You for everyone’s continued support. We look forward to seeing you all in the future.

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Seen here are a boxful of Tamarind pods and some loose pods which Grasers also sell separately. Tamarind is a tree probably native to Africa but which has been grown in India for thousands of years. The tree produces large seed pods which contain an edible pulp, sweet and sour in taste and widely used as a cooking ingredient in many cuisines around the world but very often in curries. It is high in B vitamins, iron and calcium. In Britain it is famous as an ingredient of Worcestershire sauce and it is good in chutneys. It is rumoured that the name Tamarind means ’Date of India’ and it has a long history of being used in traditional medicines for digestive disorders.

Doorways Open to Young People “At Doorways, we apply active listening to understand each individual’s issues and then put in practical support,” explains Project Manager, John Pearson. “It often starts with a coffee, then we think about what’s causing stress and anxiety for the individual at the moment. The service, which caters for 13 – 25 year olds from Saltburn and East Cleveland, finds that 48 per cent of the young people coming in have well-being concerns.

Doorways was boosted in August 2016, when it received five years’ funding from the Big Lottery Reaching Communities Fund. “Saltburn Christian Projects is the main recipient,” says John, “but we have a partnership agreement with Destinations, whose staff members Paul and Sue have always offered free advice and guidance around IT and employment issues to adults.”

The grant has enabled John and his coworkers to promote five ways to increased health and well-being. Youngsters are encouraged to learn what they can do, to give by sharing their time with others, to connect with people around them, to be physically active and to take notice of the world beyond themselves. A welcoming space, the Explorers’ Lounge, has been created and one-to-one discussions take place there. The comfortable room can be booked by small groups for work which fits in with the ethos of Doorways. There is also a set of shelves, housing a book shuffle – people can donate a book and take one away at designated times.

“We’ve created a new website: dw2wellbeing.co.uk and this can give people a good insight into everything we’re doing,” he says.

John is employed for 25 hours a week, co-worker Vanessa for 20 hours and Sue of Destinations is also employed part-time at Doorways through the Big Lottery funding. They work together to enable change, to promote personal development. For the young people, this may involve taking on a new job and/or developing a sense of identity and self-awareness as key outcomes. The team works closely with the Job Centre staff, who declare themselves ‘over the moon’ with the transitions in the youngsters, as a result of coming to Doorways.

“We get referrals from the Job Centre and other agencies, such as Foundations for Jobs and Community Keyworkers,” says John. “We were asked to work with the long-term unemployed, who had limited experience and qualifications, so Vanessa and I set up Be U.” This is a two session course for young people looking at identity, asking questions such as ‘Who am I?’ ‘How do I relate to people?’ and ‘Where am I going?’ In simple and practical ways, these interactive sessions enable them to explore.

Also developing social skills are Young Explorers, groups of girls who come in to do Art and Craft. They can be listened to and they learn more than artistic skills. John is aware that some young people who want to come upstairs to Doorways find it challenging to walk through the Destinations Cafe, however, and he and Paul are considering some graphic designs to make it easier.

The team members, who include some volunteers, are keen to go out from the Station Street premises to meet a younger age range. “We plan to get a van on the road on an evening and to park it up firstly at Loftus,” explains John.

“We want to listen to boys and girls and let them know that Doorways exists, if they need us. After Christmas, we will move on, possibly to Skelton or Brotton.”

I ask John what the biggest issues are for the youngsters he listens to. He says that anxiety looms large.

They struggle to cope with the levels of stress they are experiencing. Some find independent living demanding.

They may not be able to handle relationships and not know how to manage their emotions. “I use a lot of diagrams to help them see what’s happening to them and when they understand why they feel as they do, then we can put the practical solutions in. We need to break the negative cycle.”

The team see about 120 young people a year at Doorways and these make 600 annual visits to the project.

The staff do go out to the local churches, for example, Vanessa attends the weekly Young Mums group at Emmanuel. Although Doorways is Christian in ethos, the focus is to listen, not to preach, although spiritual questions do sometimes surface.

Doorways has linked with the National Citizens’ Service, who sent out a team from ‘Imagine You Can’ to the street to undertake surveys of young people and parents. The answers to the question ‘What are your needs?’ were simpler than expected. They wanted somewhere for the youngsters to go and be, a space where they would be listened to and where responses would be forthcoming when needed. All singing, all dancing events were not top of the list.

Social media are a big part of young people’s lives nowadays and Doorways is proud of its presence on Facebook. A young volunteer posts job opportunities. John says: “We got a private message last week, because a young man got a job from this site. He thanked us for our good work. We don’t often hear back from the successful, so when we do, it just makes our day!”

Rosemary Nicholls 51

Rotary News It’s been another busy month for us as we welcomed District Tree Champion, Paul Keeley, guest speakers from SARA and Saltburn in Bloom and visiting Rotarians Paul Gibson (of Northallerton) and Carole Ford (of Thirsk). They were so impressed, they later purchased a table of 10 at the Charity Ball in February The club highlight of the month, however, must be the news that members Dave and Anne Sadler have been invited to a reception at the House of Commons to celebrate 10 years of Rotary teams assisting in keeping India Polio free. Well done to you both.

We now have a complete Leadership team, ensuring continuity over the next few years. Next year Paul Chappell will be our President with Lou Forster becoming Senior Vice President and Harry Simpson agreeing to be Junior Vice President. I think they will make a fantastic team next year with Lou making history by becoming the first female president in our 93rd year.

Both the monthly tombola (special mention for Julie for the fantastic prizes) and sales of raffle tickets for Cancer Research at the Farmers’ Market were again a success. Thank you for your support. (The picture here shows the Rotary Stall at the Farmers’ Market.)

And on Remembrance Sunday, members of the club attended the service of remembrance at the war memorial before joining the players and families of Saltburn Athletic FC in the dedication of the new

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changing and playing facilities at Hob Hill followed by a buffet in the Cricket Club.

We are now preparing for Christmas, which includes our club Christmas Party at Crossbutts in Whitby (on 9th December), our traditional Chocolate Tombola at the Community Centre (on the 16th) and best of all our annual children’s party at Saltburn Cricket Club (on the 17th) where we hope to have a very special guest!

Dave Sadler

SNAP Questions and Answers Readers will recall that questions raised at the Saltburn Neighbourhood Action Partnership public meeting were passed to Redcar & Cleveland for answers. The reply received is listed below together with the original questions.

Q1. Is there a published programme of scheduled road works that the public can look through? What number of years does it cover? Can the public see this? If residents want to add suggestions how can this best be done?

A. Residents can view the major road works within the borough on the weekly road works update which is on the Redcar & Cleveland Website.

Q2. There are cyclists using the Lower promenade as a highway and disturbing pedestrians. Is this allowed? How can it be stopped? Cyclists are disturbing pedestrians walking in the Valley Gardens. The signs showing no cycling are being ignored.

Can the No Cycling be enforced please? Can clearer and more prominent signs be put up?

A. The enforcement of cycling on a footway would be one for Cleveland Police. However, from an enforcement perspective each situation would have to be addressed and considered on the situation and a decision would have to be made by a police officer whilst witnessing an act taking place on site. In some circumstances a cyclist may be riding along a footway for a legitimate reason (age of the cyclist / confidence level). Having a blanket enforcement policy would not be best practise. All signs that are placed on the highway are compliant with the Traffic Signs Regulations; however, we can look at the siting of existing signs to determine if more suitable locations are better placed for visibility.

Q3. What is the latest on the renewing of the under pier lighting?

Can a clear answer be obtained?

A. Alternative quotes from lighting contractor have been sought.

An order will be placed once all requirements are agreed.

Q4. Quad bikes have been using the beach. They have been very near to other beach users. Is this allowed? Can it be stopped?

A. Signs have been made and will be shortly erected on site stating that no unauthorised vehicles are permitted on the beach.

Q5. A national survey has been undertaken showing that marked car parking bays can make more efficient use of highway for car parking. What is the Council doing to follow this guidance, particularly on main parking areas used by visitors?

A. All our parking bays on street are in accordance with the statutory instrument The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions marked individual parking bays are only implemented

on street where on street pay and display parking is present.

Q6. Instead of the proposed development above the pumping station being for caravans, could it be made into a car park and government money obtained to improve the road from the Skelton by pass so that it could be accessed to save all the traffic coming through Saltburn?

A. The land is not owned by the authority. We are assisting the facilitation of the site to which tenders have been received from interested parties.

Q7. Can a pedestrian crossing be put in opposite the Windsor Road SPAR shop?

A. Due to concerns raised previously with the opening of the store and the traffic impact assessment submitted by the developer we as the highway authority arranged for Middlesbrough Council Traffic Survey Team to carry out a pedestrian survey which took place in May 2016. The results of the survey showed that the numbers of pedestrians crossing Windsor Road is minimal and there is not enough pedestrian movement to warrant a crossing facility. Because of the figures recorded we will not be able to consider any form of controlled crossing at this location due to the criteria we have to adhere to from the Department For Transport for the installation of controlled crossings such as zebra crossings and traffic controlled crossings (pelican/puffin).

Q8. Can improvements be made to the traffic flow outside the new SPAR shop?

A. In respect of traffic flow no waiting at any time restrictions are in place on Windsor Road to prevent parking. However, there is a 5 minute waiting period for no waiting at any time restrictions (Double Yellows) before a civil enforcement officer can serve a penalty charge notice to a vehicle that is parked up not legitimately loading or unloading. If a vehicle is constantly loading and loading this is permitted during the timescale the vehicle is loading and unloading. Any new requests for new parking restrictions / modify existing restrictions will not be investigated / processed till Autumn 2018 due to the legal order consolidation process being carried out. The most recent speed survey that has been carried out on Windsor Road (May 2017) recorded the average speed of 24mph with the 85 percentile (speed at which 85% of vehicles are travelling at or below) recorded at 27 mph. The survey recorded a total of 61,776 vehicles over the week period to which the survey was carried out.

Skinningrove Bonfire & Fireworks Display Saturday, 4th November 2017 saw one of Skinningrove’s best ever shows as spectacular fireworks illuminated the hillsides and a bonfire that represented pigeon fancying in the local area.

There’s been a theme to all the bonfires in the village since the first one in 1982; this year it was the turn of an activity that’s been part of the local landscape for more than a century. In the weeks leading up to 4th November there were guided visits to pigeon lofts and shows at Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum that featured archive film of pigeon fancying in the North East of England, together with readings and talks. There was also a display at Loftus Library that featured images kindly provided by the mining museum, East Cleveland Image Archive, Teesside Archives, Dawn Holliday, Skinningrove History Group and photographers. Thanks are due to the bonfire committee and history group for their work on these activities; look out for news of a project to highlight the significance of pigeon fancying in our to the organisations and individuals who gave financial area. The bonfire and fireworks display could not go ahead support and many hours as volunteers to make this without donations of money and time, so it’s a huge Thank You community event such a great success.

53

Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council At the recent Parish Council meeting Members were informed that Saltburn Valleys is now a registered charity and would promote the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of the Saltburn valleys. If anyone would like to become a member of the charity, membership forms are available from the Parish Council offices and if you would like further details please email the secretary of the Charity (on saltburnvallleys@gmail.com).

Members were pleased to note that the final bathing water quality report for the season had been published and both Saltburn and Marske had been deemed “excellent”.

It was noted that proposals had been put forward for an annual pass to be introduced for regular users of Saltburn Cliff Lift from 2018. This would give unlimited use and would cost £20 per adult, £15 for a child and £50 for a family ticket (2 adults and 3 children) per annum.

As reported last month, the Parish Council is working in partnership with the SIevert family from New Marske to install defibrillators throughout the Parish. So far enough funds have been raised for 3 units, together with vandal proof cabinets, which will be located at Stevies Shop on Kilbridge Close; New Marske Pharmacy on Beacon Drive and Andy Levy Vehicle Body repairs on the Longbeck Trading Estate in Marske. When someone has a cardiac arrest every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces the chances of survival by 10%, so having a defibrillator in your local community could be the difference between life and death as it will enable potential life saving treatment to be administered before the Ambulance Service arrives. If you would like to give a donation, no matter how small, you can send a cheque to the Parish Council offices made payable to Be Like Tom.

DATES FOR THE DIARY – Saltburn Christmas event will take place on Saturday, 2nd 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 to his grotto which will be situated in the Station Portico. The theme this year is Disney and fancy dress is encouraged! This event could not take place without the wonderful volunteers who freely give their time, so a huge thanks to all of them.

Saltburn WI have arranged a Christmas Tree Exhibition - to be held at Emmanuel Church, Saltburn. The event will run 10am - 4pm daily between 2nd and 16th December.

The annual Parish Council Carol Service will be held in St Mark’s Church, Marske at 7pm on Thursday, 14th December. Marske Fishermen’s Choir will be performing and Marske Junior Brass Band will be providing a musical interlude. This will be followed by light refreshments. As well as invited guests, members of the local community are invited to come along and the event is free.

Winkies Castle, Marske - 14th December 4.30pm to 6.00pm are hosting a magical Santa experience - £1 per child and includes a gift (more details from www.winkiescastle.co.uk).

On behalf of the Parish Council best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

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

Children Outside with Nature On Monday, November 20th the children from the two Reception Classes at Saltburn Primary School were invited to take a ‘Winter Walk’ down to The Meadow.

The Countryside Volunteers have been successful in securing the skills of a local farmer with an interest in preserving our planet. Paul Darbyson has cut the meadow and will be removing the bales at a more convenient time.

He will recycle the cut onto his own land. The Meadow needs to be nutrient poor in order for the wild flowers to survive against the grasses.

The volunteers are very grateful for the generous funding from the Parish Council and Friends of the Valley.

This has enabled us to pay for the completion of this task.

As the children walked from school they undertook a Maths Number Task which involved taking pictures of any numbers which were noticed on the journey. Paul Murphy, our Ranger, joined the visit with his expert knowledge on animal habitats and the children distributed the Common Knapweed seeds which had been collected in August.

Further visits by the children in Spring and Summer 54

are planned and will enable them to appreciate their contribution to looking after, and then enjoying, our beautiful space. In addition they will be able to locate, record and study the butterflies in their rich environment.

Rosalyn Boyes

Holly Blue Saltburn’s brand new card & gift shop Open late every Thursday in December & Christmas Eve from 10.00am.

We have a large selection of quality Christmas cards, wrap, bags, Advent calendars, Balloons, 2018 Calendars & Diaries, Stationery, Jigsaws, Orchard Toys, Books & much more.

Quarterly Prize Draw & Loyalty Card System

45 Milton Street (Opposite Sainsbury’s Car Park) Tel: 01287 624283 Meet local Authors signing their books at Holly Blue in December Saturday 2nd Neville Turner 11-2 Signing his book The Dales Vet Wednesday 6th Gervase Phinn 11.30am-1.00pm Saturday 9th Frank English 10.00am-5.00pm Signing his Mulberry Road Children’s books Thursday 14th Julian Norton 6.00pm-7.30pm Saturday 16th Christine King 11.00am-2.00pm Signing her book Echoes of the Stones Saturday 23rd Deborah Barwick 11.00am-2.00pm Signing her new book The Chronicle of the Lake: Blood Brothers

Here at Holly Blue

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year to all our Loyal Customers 55

Jeanette and the 100 Voice Choir are back in Saltburn This Christmas Jeanette Wainwright and the 100 Voice Choir will be performing for two nights at the Saltburn Earthbeat Theatre and two nights at the Stokesley Methodist Church.

“It will be lovely to perform again in Saltburn and in the fabulous Earthbeat Theatre too.” says Jeanette.

The concerts cover every genre from Mozart to Birdy’s Wings with plenty of Christmas music too.

The proceeds from all four concerts will go to the charity School Aid India, a charity that provides a school and education to the street children of Darjeeling in India and to families who would otherwise not be able to afford to send their children to school.

The Saltburn Earthbeat Theatre concerts are on Friday, 15th of December starting at 7pm and Saturday, 16th of December starting at 2pm. Tickets are £8 and include a glass of wine and The Stokesley Methodist Church concerts are on the 21st and 22nd of December and both start at 7pm.

Jenna at the Book Corner is kindly selling tickets.

John Cruickshank VC Among the more than 20 people who placed wreaths at the war memorial was Harry Simpson, of Bristol Avenue, Saltburn, who was thinking of his father who served in Coastal Command, (Catalina flying boats anti-submarine service), during WW2.

He particularly recalled John Cruickshank VC, who piloted an aircraft when his father could not take part owing to illness.

“John won the VC for his part in sinking a German Uboat during a mission in the Atlantic. He spotted a sub on the surface and went in with a dive, but the depth charges stuck.

So he circled the U-boat and came in again. This time the Germans were ready and were firing directly at the flying boat. Cruickshank’s body had 72 wounds mainly to his chest and legs; he was badly injured. He was taken to the rear of the plane and treated for his wounds but refused morphine during the five and half hours flight back to base.

“They sank the U-boat and were limping home to Poole, Dorset. The co-pilot needed help with landing and Cruickshank got his crew to place him on the pilot’s seat. There was a real danger that the aircraft would be unable to land safely, but his skill brought it back okay. He was awarded the VC for his bravery and featured in one of the series of TV documentaries which the BBC did under the title For Valour. It is available on YouTube and is well worth watching.”

Harry wore medals which his father gained for his service in the war. He told a little of the story of John Cruickshank and his father during a keep fit session at Emmanuel church hall on 14th November.

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What’s Happening at

Marske Hall

December 2017 Coffee Morning, Marske Leisure Centre, Saturday, 9th December, 10am-noon.

Enjoy a home made scone and a coffee.

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. 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 Kath Bloomfield

Used Stamps for Charity There is a box in Saltburn Library for used postage stamps which are a valuable source of income to a number of charities. Please drop your stamps in the library. Many thanks for your support. There is also a box in Marske Library.

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

The Vista Mar Back by popular demand!

We have decided to continue our Mediterranean Tapas and Meze menu all year round. With new & exciting dishes for both meat-eaters and vegetarians we have extended our menu.

Christmas Eve tapas special offer Any five tapas dishes Plus a bottle of Prosecco £45.00 !!!

Boxing Day Sea-dippers breakfast – Breakfast roll and tea/coffee £5.00 Winter favourites served all day Fish & chips, Beef Stew & dumplings, Chicken Parmo etc.

New Year’s Eve 60s 70s & 80s music by DJ Stephen Thomson Full Tapas menu available – Late bar.

New Year’s Day Food served from 11.30am to 9.00pm December Meze special deal Christmas party? Office night out? Family gathering?

Why not have your party at The Vista Mar? Our December special offer Meze is the ideal choice for something a little different. Around a dozen dishes, chosen by our Chefs to provide a balanced choice of dips, meat dishes, fish and shellfish specialities. There’s something for everyone. The Meze is a Cypriot style of celebrating. Dishes arrive to your table, two or three at a time throughout your meal. Eat what you like, leave what you don’t! Relax and enjoy a Christmas night out with friends – The Mediterranean way. Yamas !!!

Superb value for money at £17.50 per person.

Booking advisable on 01287 623771 Saltburn, Redcar & Cleveland Philatelic Society December report We meet on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at the Redcar Community Centre.

On 18th October David McGonagle, Director of Corbitts Auctioneers and Stamp Shop, 5 Mosley Street, Newcastle. NE1 1YE (website www.corbitts.com) gave us a stunning display of over 200 Victorian and Edwardian colourful hand illustrated envelopes. November 1st proved a highly successful, well attended auction. On 15th – Geoff Reynolds (Zeppelins) and David D. Turner (Maritime Postal History) were selected to be the SR&CPS entries for the Spirit of Teesside Trophy 2017-8 in the Aerophilately and Social Philately Competitions respectively. December meetings are: 6th – Members’ displays; 20th – President’s Christmas Party.

Contacts: Geoff Reynolds (Secretary, 01642 478229); David D. Turner (01287 624736).

David McGonagle with his hand illustrated envelopes 57

Cracking Christmas at The Cons Club Welcome to the monthly newsletter from the Cons Club.

Before concentrating on club matters may I just say a big welcome to the 3 new businesses who have opened up in our beautiful town. We wish Earth Store, Holly Blue & Cascade our best wishes and hope they have a long and successful relationship in Saltburn. Also a thank you to the Council for the re-surfacing of part of Windsor Road, a point I raised in my article a couple of months ago.

During December at the club we have arranged an abundance of entertainment to cater for all ages and tastes and these are itemised below.

Tuesday 5th: The monthly meeting of SLUG (Saltburn Line Users Group which is held in the new function room, beginning at 7-15pm. Any enthusiasts of trains, particularly the local line services, are welcome to attend and the entry is free.

You would be made very welcome.

Friday 15th: The ‘Open Mic Night’ are holding their Christmas Party Night with a free buffet available. Whether you wish to play, sing or just listen you are all very welcome and the entry is free. Again, this will be held in the new function room starting at 8pm and hosted by Teesside Steve & Liz Bishop. It’s the best place in town for live entertainment on a Friday night.

Saturday 16th: We will be entertaining the ’53 Drama Group to the club for drinks and food following the singing of Carols in the Station Portico. Also on the evening of the 16th we are holding the club Christmas Draw, starting at 8pm. Numbers for the draw are available to buy in the bar at a cost of 25p per entry and the prizes are Meat Vouchers, Pheasants, Wines, spirits, Chocolates, Bubbly, 10 x 1 Gallons of Beer (or drinks to the value of) plus many other varied prizes. Everybody welcome to attend.

Wednesday 20th: Christmas Quiz, Bingo & Buffet Supper.

This proves to be a very popular event over the holiday period and tickets, priced at £4 each, are available from the bar or myself and will sell fast. Don’t leave it late to buy yours.

Michelle will be setting the seasonal questions and preparing the buffet while the amazing and hilarious Julie Towell will be asking the questions and calling the bingo. Amazing night of entertainment you don’t want to miss. Starts at 8pm.

Saturday 23rd: Children’s afternoon. Father Christmas will be in his grotto, assisted by his Elves, handing out free presents to members’ children, grandchildren and godchildren. For a child to qualify the member must fill in a request form, located in the snug, and post it in Santa’s Post Box. In conjunction with this event we are also holding a Children’s Disco & Karaoke, hosted by our resident music man DJ Cookie. The afternoon runs from 2-30pm to 4pm. All children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. This event gives the club the opportunity to say a big thank you to all our members who have supported us over the year in so many ways. We are a very friendly and family orientated club and it is so nice to give a little something back to show our appreciation.

On the evening of Saturday 23rd we are holding the club Christmas Party Night from 7-30pm till late, hosted by our in house DJ Cookie. This is an opportunity to wind down after Christmas preparations with a fabulous party. Fancy Dress is optional, but encouraged. Start your Christmas with us. Free entry.

Sunday 24th (Christmas Eve): We are holding our traditional Christmas Carol Concert at 6-45pm in the club. Chris Jones will be playing the music and the singing will be led by Paul 58

Morrison. Carol sheets will be provided and a free buffet will be available. This event has become very popular over the last few years with members and families singing in full voice making it a night to remember leading up to Christmas Day. Tuesday 26th (Boxing Day): We have arranged a superb Concert, starring the ever popular Paul Morrison, starting at 7pm. Entry is free and everyone is welcome. This is another club tradition which has proved very popular and is always well attended. A fantastic night of live music at its best is guaranteed.

Sunday 31st (New Year’s Eve): We finish the month with our famous New Year’s Eve Party Night. This is a night to beat all others to see in the New Year and bid farewell to 2017, starting at 7-30pm till the early hours. Entry is free.

Seek out your party clothes and come and join us.

Other regular club events will continue throughout the month with the following: Saturday afternoons: A get-together by ‘The Conmen’ Americana Musicians; Jam sessions from 3pm.

Tuesdays: Club Draw where you can win Meat Vouchers, Wines, Chocolates or Biscuits… Starts 10pm.

Sundays: Drinks Draw and Cash Rollover (currently standing at £375) and increasing by £25 each week if not won. Draw starts promptly at 6pm.

As you can see we have something for everyone and we hope you can join us at as many events as possible. You are always welcome. We are friendly, you always have fun and it is a safe club.

On other club matters, the Christmas tree will be going up on Saturday, 2nd December and we have a little surprise for you all which you won’t help but notice.

Subscriptions are due in January at a cost of £12 each and must be paid before the end of the month. If you are away in January you can pay your subscriptions before the end of this year. Membership is growing rapidly and you don’t want to take the risk of losing yours. Everybody who paid membership this year, no matter which month they paid, must re-join in January paying £12. New members next year will pay on a sliding scale, as they did this year, but remember the sliding scale of payment is only for new members and not existing members.

Just a reminder that the club now opens at 4-30pm midweek every day and at 1pm weekends. Happy hours are from 4-30pm to 7pm midweek and 3-5pm weekends when the price of a pint is only £2.10p (this is only available to members). New membership is still open to join but may have to be reviewed in the spring owing to the numbers we now have so don’t lose your membership. Membership of the club, apart from everything we offer you over the year, also entitles you to 15% off the price of all alcoholic drinks.

Christmas and New Year opening times will be announced very soon and displayed on the notice board.

Keep up to date with all club events by visiting our Facebook page at ‘Saltburn Conservative & Unionist Club’.

Thank you for reading our newsletter every month. On behalf of the club and its members may we all wish you a very Merry Christmas and we will be in touch again in January. May you all stay safe and healthy. Enjoy life.

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

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Christmas Toc H Appeal This Christmas Saltburn Toc H will be sending ‘well wishing’ Christmas cards and letters to our soldiers who don’t receive cards or gifts from home.

We know of some charities who are making up toiletries, gift parcels and knitting 4-inch stockings to be filled with sweets as gifts. We would like to add to these by sending cards and letters.

If you would like to help please drop in your cards, letters etc at Saltburn Toc H on Monday afternoons when we are open for refreshments etc or you can take them to Saltburn library on a Friday afternoon where you will find the Building Bridges team serving Teas and they will pass them on for you.

Thank you for this little gift of kindness which can mean so much. May we be the first to wish you a very merry & peaceful Christmas.

Mark, Maria and Joyce Building Bridges Day Service Toc H Saltburn

Saltburn Beer Festival 2017 Over 700 people enjoyed another very successful Beer Festival on 10th and 11th November, many travelling from different parts of the country and staying for the weekend to enjoy all that the town has to offer, including the monthly farmers’ market. There were many enthusiastic comments about the friendly atmosphere in the venue and selection and quality of the 36 beers available. The Town Crier opened the festival at 11am on Friday and a 2 minute silence was held on Saturday 11th.

Over £2,500 was raised to go towards the upkeep of the Community Hall and Theatre thanks to the generosity of volunteers giving their time to organise and run the festival and local sponsors: Real Meals, The Guns, GR Henderson Architects, Brew Build, Saltburn Cons Club, AP Maintenance, Saltburn Blues Club, Seaview Restaurant, Cygnet Law, Saltburn Rotary Club, Steel Bay and Rita's Pantry, as well as local individuals. This event would not happen without their help and support. ` Thanks also to Whistle Stop and Hygge for selling tickets and Ian for publicity in Talk of the Town.

There are still some ½ pint wine style and pint glasses featuring the viaduct available to buy from SCAA priced at £3 each.

59

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The Middleton Choir Christmas Concert 2017 At St Peter’s Church, Redcar (Cross roads of Lord Street and Redcar lane) Guest Artistes: Guisborough Salvation Army Citadel Band on Wednesday, 13th December at 7.00pm Tickets £6 including Seasonal refreshments, available from choir members, Rita on 01642 479038 or at the door.

The Middleton Choir (Formerly The Middleton Festival Choir)

GOLDEN JUBILEE In 2018 it will be 50 years since the late Betty Middleton formed The Middleton Festival Choir. In celebration of this ,there is to be a Golden Jubilee Concert in Saltburn on Saturday, 23rd June 2018.

We would like to hear from former members of the choir and would welcome former members to join us in this concert. For further information, contact Christina at christinahubbard@btopenworld.com or on 07955 951833.

60

The Saltburn Profile by Rosemary Nicholls David Turner “We love living in Saltburn, because everything is on foot: the library, the doctor’s, the train station...” says philatelist David Turner, who has happily made his home in the Zetland with his wife, Wendy.

David was born in the village of Lightcliffe, near Halifax on 9th April 1939. He shares his birthday with the Victorian Civil Engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel. His younger brother, also now retired, became a Chartered Electrical Engineer. David learned his tables at Lightcliffe C. of E. Primary School, under the threat of having his legs smacked by Mrs Smart until he did. She was determined that everyone should pass the 11+ exam and he owes her a lot.

With his friends, he duly moved on to Wycliffe Mount Grammar School, Cleckheaton.

“We had few books at home in the war, but I had an adventuresome childhood, in the open air,” remembers David.

“We loved climbing trees.”

After one year in the Sixth Form, he left to become an articled Civil Engineering pupil in the Borough Engineer and Surveyor’s Department at Brighouse. This involved one day release each week plus three evenings a week studying Civil Engineering at Bradford Institute of Advanced Technology, (later Bradford University). He graduated with an M.Sc and qualified as a Chartered Civil Engineer (CEng MICE) in 1965.

After articles, he worked for several Local Authorities to widen his experience: 1959-60 Halifax; 1960-62 Batley; 196264 Dewsbury; 1964-66 Normanton; 1966-72 Wakefield; 197278 Aycliffe and Peterlee New Towns Development Corporation, where in 1979 he was promoted to Chief Civil Engineer.

In 1965, whilst at Normanton, he married Wendy.

Their son, Timothy, who studied at Teesside University, now lives in Nottingham with his sixteen year old daughter, Lois.

Tim writes music and plays the guitar and organ, inheriting an aptitude from David’s father, who was an accomplished pianist and organist.

David found work at Peterlee exciting: planning, then overseeing the development of a major industrial estate (employing 15,000), west of the A19. In 1972, he began parttime lecturing with the Open University (North East), in anticipation of the eventual winding up of the Development Corporation and transfer of its assets to Local Authorities. In due course, he moved to Sunderland Polytechnic (now University) as a Senior Lecturer.

From there, under the British Council’s Overseas Erasmus Scheme in 1992-93, David was seconded as a Visiting Professor to introduce western engineering practice to the Technical University, Sofia (Bulgaria), Thessaloniki (Greece), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and Tampere (Finland).

“Students liked the practical engineering thrust rather than ‘just theory’, which Erasmus provided,” he says.

David retired in 1999, aged sixty. Having collected world stamps since 1945 and British Empire/Commonwealth stamps since 1956, he then chose to take up philately seriously.

He joined the Sunderland, Ferryhill and Saltburn philatelic societies and the North East Philatelic Association (NEPA).

On its Management Board, firstly as Newsletter Editor, he became President of NEPA from 2008-09. David is also a member of five national philatelic societies and holds two national large gold medals, four gold for displays of pictorial envelopes at Stampex in 2013-14 and an international gold medal from Europhilex in London in 2015.

Since 1990, David has specialised in Victorian British postal history, particularly mid-nineteenth century pictorial propaganda envelopes and wrote the 420 page A4 book, ‘Ocean Penny Postage 1840-1918’. Following publication, in 2014 he was honoured with Fellowship of the Royal Postal Society, London and in 2015 with the Great Britain Philatelic Societies Literary Award. In 2016, NEPA asked him to sign their Roll of Distinguished Philatelists and by competitive exam at the age of seventy-six, David qualified as an Association of British Philatelic Societies Philatelic Judge.

As Past President of Redcar Philatelic Society, David contributes reports to Talk of the Town. He tries to encourage us to read old letters and learn something of the history behind them, particularly the social history. “I’m more of a postal historian than a stamp collector,” he confirms.

Chess is another interest, begun at school. He played successively for school, university and in chess leagues before finally playing for Yorkshire. After moving to the North East, he played for Darlington and the County Durham team and was Captain from 1974-9. He now participates in U3A’s National Internet League.

David takes five monthly philatelic magazines and studies maritime postal history. He regrets that he hasn’t inherited his father’s musical talent, but he likes to listen to Tchaikovsky, Beethoven and 50s and 60s musicals, such as Oklahoma, Carousel, South Pacific and the Sound of Music. “I like songs in which the words are clearly enunciated!” he says.

David and Wendy enjoy getting out for a walk every fine day for fitness and their Zetland flat is excellently situated for this. They first took it on as a holiday home, but found themselves spending more and more time here, so they moved in permanently. Watercolours on the wall show that David is a talented artist too; all his landscapes are of locations where he has walked.

David attends Emmanuel Parish Church and modestly describes himself as a junior member of the Fabric Committee.

Occasionally, he is called upon to give a view on technical matters and his experience was gratefully welcomed when the ECHO Hall was being planned.

61

1st Saltburn Scout Group We can tell Christmas is coming; this year Beavers and Cubs are entering the Christmas Tree event, and that combined with the anticipation of the Santa Parade, means all our young people get excited! We had a good Remembrance Day, all the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts enjoyed the opportunity to parade and all Sections were a credit to Scouting and to Saltburn and made a lot of parents proud with their behaviour.

Saltburn Beavers welcomed Elliott, Ewan, Gabriel, George and Kitt. They have started to settle in and enjoy the hectic time at Beavers. They have been busy preparing birdfeeders; this involves peanut butter, with grains and seeds stuck to toilet roll tubes – messy, but great fun to make! – and then creating hangings for their Christmas Tree competition entry. They are equally excited about their forthcoming District Christmas Party in December. Lindsey, Jo and Jamie will be pleased when we get past Christmas and things return to normal, whatever that is!

The Cubs all received their Personal Safety Activity Badge as they returned after their half term break. This had been worked on over several weeks, so all know how to stay safe, at home, on the street, on the internet and are more aware of the dangers around themselves, as well as being able to remember the home addresses and contact phone number for mum or dad. A team of Cubs were at the District Bowling evening, being transported each way a bus they shared with Brotton and Loftus; all were safely back by

Saltburn Line User Group Next Meeting: Tuesday, 5th December 2017 at 7.15pm.

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

As always, all welcome.

Talk to Saltburn Line User Group.

The Group exists to protect passengers’ interests.

Find us at www.facebook.com/ saltburnlineusergroup Email the secretary on: slugsecretary@virginmedia.com

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LINE 62

8.00pm and so not too late; especially as they will have a school day to follow. Former Beavers joining Cubs Bodhi, Harry A. and Harry S., are settling in well.

Scouts have remained constant in numbers following Sam H. becoming an Explorer Scout Young Leader with the Cub Pack; the Troop was joined by Fay (our second girl!) and James moving-up from Cubs. Four Patrols of six Scouts seems to fill the main hall to an amazing degree and the noise levels need to be heard to be believed. But opening and closing ceremonies with the four Patrols standing and reciting in unison their Promise and Scout Laws still quietens parents waiting to collect them. Sam C. has now joined the Troop as a Section Assistant as an adult member of the team and is a welcome addition joining Keith, Paula, Jonathan and Tony; who with Karen supervising programme planning ensure we are fast catching up on Badge work and Awards.

Scout Post is from Saturday, 25th November till Saturday, 16th December (boxes close at 12.30pm that day!); boxes are at: Sainsbury’s, Saltburn Library, Marske Road Petrol Station and the Leisure Centre; hopefully we may also be in the Echo building following the closure of Saltburn Stores. The cost is 25p per card! Delivery destinations as displayed on all boxes. Help your local Group by using this service, as it benefits all Scout Groups involved. More importantly, all monies for cards posted in Saltburn boxes to Saltburn addresses comes to our Group.

Many thanks to our parents who continue to assist, hopefully in the forthcoming Scout Post; as well as in other ways and we are grateful for their excellent support.

If you could offer assistance or are interested in joining us, please enquire: John G. Hannah – 07811 801627 (or johnghannah@yahoo.co.uk).

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

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.

Halting the Sun by Alan Butler As we push and jostle in the shops, worrying whether there will be enough Brussels sprouts for the day or if we remembered to buy Aunty Maude a present, we sometimes ask ourselves whether what we put ourselves through at this time of year is worth the effort. It might be interesting for Talk of the Town readers to learn that there is nothing remotely new about the pressures this season puts on us. As much as five thousand years ago our ancestors in these islands were addressing worries of their own, though in their case and in their estimation at least, addressing the time of year properly could be a matter of life or death.

Christmas itself is a newcomer on the scene of humanity’s cultural history and only dates back a couple of thousand years at most. This Christian tradition is celebrated at this time of year to compensate for the loss of a much earlier pagan festival. It relates to that event known as the winter solstice and it was of supreme importance to our ancient ancestors.

Each year the Sun can be seen to alter its position on the eastern horizon at dawn. In high summer the Sun rises well north of east, whereas at the opposite time of the year, in midwinter, the rising point of the Sun is well south of east. These happenings are a response to the angle at which the Earth stands in space and is tied to the seasonal nature of the year. This goes more or less unnoticed these days, except in the case of people who might have an interest in astronomy. Our indoor lives and our general detachment from nature make us far less aware of what is taking place around us than was once the case.

The problem for our ancient ancestors was this: They could see as winter began that the rising position of the Sun each day was further and further south and they knew this coincided with colder and colder weather. If the Sun did not halt its southern journey, surely the world would freeze and all of nature would eventually die – including the people themselves. They appear to have seen it as their duty to do the right things to make sure that the southern path of the Sun would halt and that it would once again begin to move towards the north at dawn. For this and other reasons the Stone Age and then the Bronze Age peoples of Britain gradually made themselves experts at splitting the sky into sections and keeping track of what was happening each night above their heads. In order to be sure they were correct they started to create small and then eventually huge monuments that acted as reference points for the cosmological events. Some of these still exist and they comprise what we call Megalithic structures.

As an example of how important these structures were we could travel just a little way down in North Yorkshire to the Thornborough Henges, which are not far from Ripon. There, even now, we would see three massive circles on the ground, defined by deep ditches and high banks. Each of these henges is a colossal one hundred and seventy metres in diameter and the three henges together stretch for well over one and a half kilometres. They must have taken many thousands of man and woman hours to create and they represent one of the hardly known wonders

of the Megalithic period.

The henges together are a very accurate representation on the ground of the three stars we know as Orion’s Belt. They were created with absolute precision and they point roughly south, south west.

Running through the henges is a processional path that passes through entrances and exits made when the henges were built. From the middle of the southern henge the view of its southern entrance coincides exactly with the position of the Sun as it rose at dawn on the winter solstice as much as five thousand years ago.

Day after day the people would have gathered as the solstice drew near, only too aware that the days were shortening and the Sun was moving ever southward at dawn. They were farmers and they knew the pattern of the seasons only too well. Somehow – some way, they had to take the necessary steps to ensure that when the Sun rose in the gap they were watching, they could see its southern journey would cease and it would turn back into the north. How they addressed this we have no idea.

Doubtless there would have been elaborate rituals and maybe even sacrifices but in the case of Thornborough they doubtless had another ally – the brightest star in the heavens, which we call Sirius but which to them almost certainly represented a powerful goddess, who far to the east in Egypt would be called Isis.

The sky watchers were aware that just as surely as the Sun would rise in the gap on a particular day, so during the previous night, the beautiful star Sirius would do the same thing. Everything was so carefully laid out at Thornborough that it seems certain these ancient peoples believed that Sirius somehow had the power to halt the Sun in its path and to urge it once again on its journey from winter to summer. Perhaps the star was considered to be the consort of the Sun and somehow persuaded him to take pity on humanity and to gradually offer once again the bounty of his warmth. We will never know for sure but Thornborough sleeps away the centuries as testimony to their skill and knowledge.

The beliefs of these long dead people were very different to our own but their basic motivations were no different. What celebrations must have followed the winter solstice, when it became obvious within a couple of days that their efforts had been worthwhile and that their hard won crops would get the sunshine and warmth they needed to grow in the following spring. They would surely have danced, eaten whatever food remained from the autumn and thank whatever gods they relied on for the chance to live another year. The cold of winter was far from over but there was at least the promise of a stable future.

As surely as we cheer in our new year, they welcomed theirs and in that respect at least nothing has changed. The seasons pass and as much as everything gradually changes, so in some respects it remains forever the same.

Merry Christmas, Saltburn.

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Saltburn Allotments Association It always amazes me how quickly the year races by.

Here we are, nearly Christmas and, just when we think we can give the garden/allotment a rest and concentrate on Christmas cards and shopping, we find there are lots of jobs that can be done. There are some I like and some I don’t but.... here goes.

If you sowed broad bean seeds in October, they are probably looking like healthy little plants now.

The further advanced they become the harder they’ll find winter frosts. It’s a good idea to protect them with fleece, a cloche. Another good job is harvesting. If you still have any carrots, parsnips or beetroot in the ground you can take them up and store them over winter in boxes of dry sand or compost for easy access.

You might have some winter brassicas to harvest, e.g. sprouts and kale. Any brassicas you have left in the ground could be staked or earthed up to help the stalks withstand winter winds.

There are all the preparing, checking, tidying jobs too. Winter digging, if you do, spreading compost or manure for the worms to drag down into the soil over winter, covering beds with mulch (again could be compost, manure etc. and covered over with cardboard and/or weed suppressant). If you don’t dig, you could clean and oil your tools, check and clean down sheds, greenhouses and polytunnels and even carry on weeding between rows of over wintering crops. I’m going to give my big pots that I use for my tomatoes, peppers, chillies etc., a really good clean and disinfect, much as I dislike the job, and disinfect my greenhouse and polytunnel. I had a fungal disease that affected my crops, not blight but disease that made the leaves and then stalks dry up and wither.

You can see when it’s starting by the drying up of the leaves and the plants stop taking up water. I don’t want that to happen next year.

If you have any guttering for rain water harvesting, check they aren’t clogged with leaves and cover over your water butts so they don’t fill up with fallen leaves (unless you want them to). You could make good liquid feed over winter though. If you have any spare, water tight containers, fill them with weeds and then top up with water. The weeds will rot and die and the liquid will be great, diluted in spring, to give your seedlings a boost.

If you fancy new fruit trees or bushes, there’s still time to plant them and, you can also start to winter prune fruit bushes. With black currants, prune out some of the oldest wood down to ground level.

For red and white currants prune out the middle and crossing over branches and shorten the new, long shoots down by a third.

Remember, keep checking produce in storage to make sure anything rotten doesn’t infect the rest; you want the best for Christmas.

We’ll have new seeds and seed potatoes in the New Year, but in the meantime: Happy gardening, Sue. 64

Saltburn Labour Party News

Whither Saltburn? It’s a question I’ve been thinking about a good deal in recent days. What does the future hold for our town? How will it change? As so often, the head does not speak for the heart. After all, why should it change at all? Let’s keep it as it is now. Personally I’d favour taking it back about fifteen years or so; the late Mr Smith still running his shop on the corner of Lune St, King’s Newsagents on Station Street and The Queen’s Pub still open across the way.

And yet it seems to me from my experience in local government that the forces of change that surround us, which used to operate in a more straightforward way, are joining together and starting to revolve into something that looks horribly like a vortex. The government has withdrawn a massive amount of money from our Local Authority budget, whilst at the same time Austerity has made local people need our services more than ever. Housing developers are allowed to replicate the same boring house on any green field they wish, it seems. Privatisation and deregulation have opened the gates for the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse to ravage the land.

The drying up of Government funding has made us much more reliant on money we must raise ourselves locally, which means that economic growth has to be a central priority for our Labour Council.

This is why I’ve supported council plans to develop Saltburn as a visitor destination. It seems to me that the best argument to preserve our green spaces from being covered with new housing (none of it ‘affordable’) is that Saltburn has great and distinctive qualities which need to be kept if we want visitors to come. To this end, we have also provided new opportunities for businesses on the seafront and are busy trying to create more parking spaces to relieve those jam-packed sunny weekends.

Of course this effort also involves the existing fabric of Saltburn; keeping the place clean, picking up dog poo, abiding by the rules of the conservation area, emptying the public bins regularly, repairing the Community Hall roof to keep the rain out. This is also why your Labour Council has made a major investment of £400,000 in the future of the Cliff Lift (though for some reason council officers don’t call it that - to them it is a Vertical Tram or some such nonsense). But development is never without controversy. The needs of visitors and the needs of residents can sometimes chafe. The average dog being told to shoo by a visitor in front of her beach hut is likely to belong to a Council Tax payer, who may be inclined to see their own peace, and that of their snuffling friend, as having being disturbed; not that Fido has disturbed someone else’s. There will always be such moments.

All of which brings me to the proposed camp site. Because Saltburn is not yet blessed with a large amount of overnight accommodation, especially at the cheaper end of the market; to help local businesses and address the fact that, though we have the largest number of visitors in the borough we also have the smallest spend-pervisitor, there are early plans in development (that word again) for a possible camping and caravan site over the other side of the valley, to the left of Clifton, within Skelton Ward.

I want to reassure residents that, after the planning stage, and if a suitable operator is found, the proposals will need to go through a planning application in the normal way, and residents will be able to make submissions. As far as I understand these things, any controversial applications go to the Regulatory Committee, a quasi-judicial body which makes decisions without party politics. I thought it a good idea to write this in order to hobble some of the rumours I have heard recently; rumour being another kind of vortex.

Whatever the outcome of the committee’s just and wise deliberations, should it come to that, I feel very much aware that there seem only to be two kinds of seaside town around the country now: the thriving and rising ones, like Brixham in Devon, or the moribund ones, haunted by long-gone laughter, like Cleethorpes.

As a resident, I’m not entirely sure which I’d rather live in, having a perverse liking for grey, lonely, wind-and-rain washed places.

But as a local representative, with my share of responsibility for the social and economic viability of our town, knowing what happens to places that rely mostly on grants and benefits, and thinking about passing this fine town to the next generation; it can’t be Cleethorpes.

Councillor Craig Hannaway

The Muses of Jim I am feeling rather smug. No, very smug. No, I am feeling delightfully smug at the moment, but more about that later. I realise how lucky I feel and how grateful I am that I am a member of Saltburn’s Huntcliff Surgery. Let me explain more fully. I can remember how we were treated in the days before the NHS was founded. One turned up at the surgery and then we had to work out our place in the queue. It was worse in the case of a hospital appointment. We were all given the same time to appear.

Then we had to wait until our name was called, to be seen. This occasionally could lead to being seen late in the afternoon. Today via the appointment system you can select not only the time but also the doctor you wish to see. So the old system has been swept aside, saving us all valuable time in our valuable busy lives.

Furthermore, I personally experienced the superb service offered by the Huntcliff surgery. Over the weekend I discovered that I had run out of one important item of medication and by Monday, even though I had an appointment to see a Doctor the next day, I knew from previous experience that it was more than likely that I would have to call an ambulance during the night. So I went to the surgery and explained my plight to the receptionist. Within five minutes I had a prescription in my hand. It was all done with a smile and the professionalism that one has come to expect from the surgery. Personally I blame Spud for the missing tablets.

He is still annoyed that I didn’t take him to Milton Keynes.

The reason for my visit to Milton Keyes was that I am a member of the National Council of the Association of Local Councils. I was attending the AGM of the Association. A meeting of the National Council, and Policy Committee, no less. All these events were taking place over two days. Milton Keynes, unfortunately, is at just too far a distance from Saltburn to return home every night. It meant I would have to stop over for three nights.

Fear not, fair citizens of beloved Saltburn. This extra cost did not come out of the public purse! The Wingham estate paid the hotel bill as it always has. My Scottish estate has also assisted. The reason my two estates support my work for the NALC and the Cleveland branch of the Association of Local Councils, of which I am the Chairman is that the Cleveland Association is probably one of the smallest in the country, but it is also one of the best and was even nominated for an award. As we are a small Association so therefore are our coffers. So I gladly paid my way. I treated myself to a good standard hotel with a large bed in case I pulled, but have only done this in the last five years (sorry, children). As always it was good to see colleagues and old friends. As always is the case unfortunately, it was the first year of new changes and a new format and it didn’t quite work out as expected but lessons would have been learnt I’m sure, and next year will be better. I feel certain of this. With the new arrangement it was possible to attend only one workshop and the main speaker.

The first speaker was the Head of the Planning Institute who spoke on planning matters and how Town and Parish Councils can play a major role in planning matters and how vital a role our sector can play in Neighbourhood Plans. I spoke to her afterwards about the challenges by developers re the five year stock. I have mentioned my concern re planning issues within the borough so I won’t continue.

The Main Speaker was the Government Minister for Communities. He spoke well about his support for our sector. He answers to a member of the Policy Committee, of which I was a member at the time. He was also a member of the sustainable group. This group works with requests from Town and Parish Councils, and we have some success converting requests from Councils. We are asking the Government to amend Law in certain cases. We have had reasonable successes in this area. For example, it is very likely that public toilets operated by Council will be free of Council rates. Thus saving money which can lower the rates or be spent elsewhere in the area. We were working on the matter of the Town and Parish Councils being able to appeal to the Minister of State for Planning against plans that do not meet the needs of the local community.

Unfortunately, the last section of the final day was the newly named Assembly which replaced the National Council. The main business on this section was the election of the various committees, which all had been reduced in members, to save monies. As this was the last bit of business, day numbers were down so therefore was the vote, because people had already left for all points of the compass. I was one of the three members of the Policy Committees that lost out as some of my support had gone for home. Two of us were on the special group: me and the Chairman, who met with the Minister. Even in defeat we scored a victory. As the Minister has recently stated publicly that he is to write to various councils on their lack of action over Neighbourhood Plans. That’s why I am feeling so smug.

I started with my health, so it is appropriate to finish with my health. In the last month I was called to James Cook Hospital one Monday morning as they had a cancellation and could I come in for my promised Bone Scan. I got there as fast as my Bus Pass could take me and arrived with 10 minutes to spare. Strangely, they only scanned my lower half. Thinking on it, I realised that they didn’t want to do my head in case it was found to be a void. It has not been received yet. So the wait continues.

On speaking to the Doctor it appears that I have a new medical problem, that of irritable bowel syndrome or IBS. I was given a sheet of information but I will have to speak to Jill, daughter number 3, who is a nurse, mother of Molly.

There now, Molly, I have mentioned you at last.

Finally, I am thinking about getting a small motorbike. Please remember I am a very poor pensioner who can’t afford a lot and it will have to fit in my spare room.

Jim Wingham 65

The Saltburn Crossword no 198 set by Warlock Across 1 4 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 21 22

Name___________________________________ Address_________________________________ ________________________________________ Telephone_______________________________

25 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35

Down 1 The prop to use for a seer? (7) 2 How Stan’s forty men composed a popular children’s Christmas song (6, 3. 7) 3 End free rum amendment causes ballot (10) 4 The servant of Baron Hardup in the pantomime Cinderella (7) 5 Celestial flower? 1961 Christmas hit for Danny Williams (4, 5) 6 Puts in order when signal changes (6) 7 Poem cline arranged for public guardians (9) 9 Listen, a diet woman changes 1988 No 1 Cliff Richard Christmas hit (9, 3, 4) 18 Role Don had adapted to give a good opening turn (4, 6) 19 We pass Meg turn into these Saltburn houses, off Coral Street (5, 4) 20 Organising LGBT Union unlocking restraints (9) 23 Cure Les organised for one leading a solitary life (7) 24 He was a hit with Prince Charming in 1981 (4, 3) 26 Come to a conclusion when donkey followed by back 8 Across (6)

Solution to Crossword no 197

The winner of last month’s crossword was J Franks of Meadowlands Close, Easington.

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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PR free, free to chose a better option (6) Now Mumbai, but associated with potatoes and duck (6) Large bird not for Christmas but found in them unions (3) Japanese health food made from Mimi’s onions (4) After one, initially to win offers (3) Destroying crop pest enhances likelihood of future event (8) Ask again rebuilt Japanese city (8) Possessive pronoun found in four ways (3) Many peer redesigned to relate to pure heaven (8) Make changes to sale unit to cover and heatproof (8) Bugs hid inside mixed sap (6) Principals quality of musical sound for memorial (9) Meat menus brought some delight (9) Belgian first changed money for artists with 1978 Christmas hit (5, 1) Fictitious country rich in gold, lead door apart (2, 6) Changed each end with direction upgraded (8) French lake of dark red resin? (3) Tram some used for cute primate (8) Breather before limbless invertebrate makes dog parasite (8) Document that states what you are owed by me (1, 1, 1) Admonish from war nation (4) Our sun of Peruvian currency (3) Garden guest carried a mosquito-borne fever (6) Immune from former lover and confused temporary worker (6)

Send your completed crossword to: Saltburn Crossword no 198, c/o Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, TS12 1AQ

by Friday, 8th December 2017. Please note the early entry date.

First correct solution out of the bag wins a £10 voucher kindly donated by Tim and Sheila of Real Meals.

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