November 2018

EDITION 209 CIRCULATION 4,600 NOVEMBER 2018

SALTBURN’S FREE MONTHLY MAGAZINE

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SALTBURN’S TOWN TALK

Letter from the Editor.

It doesn‟t take much to get me feeling emotional so I am deeply moved by the outpouring of “we shall remember them” this month to mark the 100 year anniversary of the end of the first world war. I think it demonstrates one of the greatest aspects of humanity: that regardless of what our leaders say, ordinary people know better. Such was the spirit that led soldiers to play that famous football match on Christmas day. See pages 11, 29, 30, 35, 36, 38, 40 and 49 for other items.

I have another anniversary this month, insignificant compared to “we shall remember them” but one which deserves at least a brief mention. This month’s magazine is my personal 200th edition. Yes, I have personally created, edited, distributed and financed two hundred editions of Talk of the Town. That’s no small achievement, but although I feel obliged to mention it, I don’t want to make a fuss. Especially as there are more important things to mention.

My friend Barry Cook has died. He had suffered for many years from on-going heart failure and really struggled sometimes to get upstairs. Unfortunately he lived in a second floor flat and the last time I was with him, a few days before his passing, it took him over half an hour to get up there. He gallantly continued to get out to see his friends and I met up with him three times a week. Barry had spent all his working career as a car mechanic for the AA. His funeral was on Monday, 22nd October, and no less than seven yellow AA vans turned up outside his Marine Parade flat to escort him to the crematorium and see off one of their own. It was very moving and a large crowd turned out to say goodbye. My thoughts go out to Barry’s sister Sue and his long term partner Bunny and all his many friends. We will do a full page tribute to Barry next month. I will miss him very much. Love, Ian

Send letters, adverts and contributions for the next issue (by Friday, 16th November 2018) to: The Editor, Talk of the Town c/o Jackie‟s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, Cleveland, TS12 1AQ. Telephone: 01287 623903 (or email: talkofthetownsaltburn@gmail.com).

Talk of the Town can be found on a new Facebook address at www.facebook.com/talkofthetownsaltburn.

New exhibition at Saltburn Studios

Everyone is welcome to our new Exhibition which opened on 20th October, featuring our 17 Studio Artists. Our Gallery opens every weekend, 12-4pm. Our next Open Studios will be on the 8th December with mince pies and mulled wine.

Emmanuel Church Hall Table Top and Collectors’ Sale: We will be back on November 3rd and 17th and then 1st and 15th December. We have 3 rooms packed full of lots of Christmas things and our usual stalls. We have also orders for our usual Christmas cakes and mince pies etc. We are also doing our usual lunches and all day breakfast, fresh home baked cake, pies and scones. Home made refreshments and light lunches are on sale all day. FREE ENTRANCE and a warm welcome to everyone. With over 26 stall holders, selling lots of bric-abrac, books, toys, baby goods, and all sorts of collectables, there is something for everyone. Contact Denise Marshall on 07929 589538.

Cover Illustration: Saltburn in the warm autumn sunshine by Maurizio Malavasi.

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Councillor ‘s Column

The Cat Nab toilets are to be restructured. The baby changing facilities to be removed from one of the disabled toilets and space made available in both the male and female toilets. In order to accommodate this the only two urinals in the male toilet were to be removed, immediately reducing 50% of the existing facility. So much for tourism and resident facilities. Fortunately, after lobbying, sanity is to prevail in the sanitary department and the urinals will not be lost after all. A request for an architectural redesign demonstrated that all facilities could be provided without loss of service.

A lone voice is sometimes heard. A similar situation has arisen in Station Square. It is proposed to remove the only public urinal in the town centre to allow baby changing facilities to be introduced to replace it. A lone voice has been raised again.

Crossing Windsor Road has been a challenge over many years, requests for a designated crossing falling on deaf ears. A site visit to discuss the proposed One Way system for Zetland Terrace alerted officers to the reality of a hazardous highway situation. Suffice to say a crossing will be constructed in the near future.

Finally seeing the light might apply in the case of the pier. Since the heavy sea surge in December 2013 the pier has been without its nationally acclaimed lighting feature. The system illuminated the infrastructure and with the aid of reflection from the sea rendered an ethereal dream like quality to the only remaining pier on the Yorkshire coast. Funds of some £50,000 have now been allocated to install a new LED system. The lighting will be primarily white but can offer a colour range for occasional special effects, just in time for next years celebrations commemorating the official opening in May 1869.

Speed of traffic in the town is again on many complainants’ lips. A request for speed monitoring is being made. Most recent official statistics indicate traffic on town roads is exceeding the recommended speed limit levels. Whilst PCSOs are unlikely to directly affect the speed of vehicle travel, the welcome news that Saltburn is to have its own dedicated police officer will be well received by all law abiding residents.

Anyone already in the tourist accommodation trade, or anyone thinking of venturing into it, could benefit from an initiative currently being promoted by the Place Investment Team. Funding may be available to assist in bringing rooms back in to use or for creating new bedrooms, or setting up as an accommodation provider.

Contact details are placeinvestment@redcarcleveland.gov.uk or 01642 444494.

A draft Strategic Transport Plan is under preparation for publication in early 2019. This will include a Tees Valley wide Bus Strategy, a Walking and Cycling Strategy and individual Borough transport plans.

In the meantime our individual travel priorities are requested in a survey being undertaken to gather information on our travel practices. It is anonymous and can be completed at www.ibyd.com/travelsurvey by the 4th November.

Philip Thomson

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Sporting opportunities for young people in Saltburn

Retired policeman, Dave Sadler, is a key person in the provision of sporting opportunities for local youngsters, being Chairman of Saltburn Athletic Junior Football Club and President of Saltburn Cricket, Bowls and Tennis Club.

Dave became a member of the Cricket, Bowls & Tennis Club in 1970, when he arrived in Saltburn as a young probationary police officer and the club quickly became the centre of his social life “My children and now grandchildren have been brought up around the club and many of my important family celebrations have been held within these walls,” he tells me. Dave became President of the club in 2008.

He continues: “We are all very proud of our current crop of young cricketers who play in the North Yorkshire and South Durham League. We also have a very strong junior section which feeds the senior teams. Last year, the Under- 19s won a North East Region Knockout Competition at Durham‟s Riverside Stadium and this year the Saltburn senior teams picked up league and cup honours. Off the field, they also contribute so much around the club, raising much needed funds to improve our environment.”

Recently, members of the Cricket, Bowls & Tennis Club, in partnership with Saltburn Rotary Club, did a sponsored walk for “Defibrillators for Saltburn‟ raising £4,500. In partnership with Saltburn Blues & Rotary Clubs, they hosted the “Saltburn Howzat Music Festival‟, raising money for the sporting facilities as well as the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. “In this way, we encourage all of our members to get involved in the wider community of people who do so much for us,” adds Dave.

By the late 1990s, Dave had become Police Inspector at Saltburn and with three colleagues, established Saltburn Athletic (Junior) Football Club, primarily to offer youngsters a healthy and safe local pursuit. In the early years, Saltburn Rotary Club bankrolled and supported the club and still has an active involvement, this year sponsoring the new under-8 team.

Numbers multiplied and the football club now has eight teams, aged from under 8 to under 14 and has its own ground and changing facilities at Hob Hill. This has been achieved through the securing of a number of sporting grants, sourced in the main by committee member, Roy Myers.

Dave continues: “Because we have so many football teams, we need to hire pitches at Huntcliff School and are grateful for Mr Eyre, the Executive Head's co-operation. To raise funds for pitch hire, we hold an annual Gala weekend in June. “Each child does pay a modest subscription, but we work hard to ensure that we don‟t exclude any youngster on financial grounds.” Last season, four of six teams won their leagues.

In both clubs, the volunteer coaches encourage the development of teamwork and discipline. The clubs hold social events, including prize-giving, fundraisers & Christmas functions providing valuable experience for youngsters in meeting the demands of such occasions. Trophies won in any of the sports are displayed in the clubhouse for all to see.

Both clubs pay for coaches‟ sport-specific training courses, child safeguarding courses and a first aid course. The coaches, like the players, are mainly drawn from Saltburn but not exclusively. Willing volunteers are accepted from wherever they live. Dave says that the Football Club used to have a girls team, but sadly there has been no demand in recent years; he would like to encourage more girls to join. “However, we do have some very talented junior girl cricketers,” he says.

Both clubs are non–profit making and any surplus funds are ploughed back into providing sport for Saltburn community. Neither club could exist without its local support: “Forty-six local businesses sponsored the “Howzat Music Festival‟ and about half that number supported the Defibrillator Walk. Each team strip is also sponsored by local businesses and organisations,” says Dave.

Dave also expresses gratitude to the Mums & Dads who spend many hours “taxi driving‟ for the youngsters, no mean feat considering both cricket & football teams play fixtures as far away as Thirsk, Whitby, Richmond and Bishop Auckland, often making the game a full day event. They also sell teas/coffees and pastries and do all manner of other activities to raise funds. This income is very important, as every penny counts. There are no grants to help with the day to day running of the clubs.

Both clubs have a website and a Facebook page. Gwen Brown is the publicist for the cricket site and Andy Croll for the football site. There is also monthly updating of the teams events in “Talk of the Town‟ magazine.

“Our clubs are a brilliant community effort. Every year, one of our accountants says: “Keep working hard, this is a gem of a facility‟. That says it all really,” says Dave. “Every single one of our volunteers are to be thanked for all they put in to achieve this.” He wants to pay tribute to everyone who gives up their time to make both clubs a success.

As both clubs are non–profit making, any surplus funds are ploughed back into providing sport for the Saltburn community. If readers can help or wish to sponsor sport in Saltburn. please contact Sadler.rifts@yahoo.co.uk.

Rosemary Nicholls