The Grapevine SEAMER & TAME BRIDGE MAGAZINE No. 160 December 2019 – January 2020

The Grapevine SEAMER & TAME BRIDGE MAGAZINE

No. 160 December 2019 – January 2020 Seamer Village Website address: seamervillage.co.uk Carol Singing

Christmas Tree Lights switch on

20th/21st/22nd December evenings

8th December at 4pm

More events inside

Candlelight Christmas Sing-a -long 7th December at 7 pm 1

EDITOR’S NOTES Christmas is a time for remembering all the good and not so good times over the last year, enjoying the joy that Christmas offers and hoping that the future for us all will be better next year. It is also a time of thanks for all that has happened in our lives and, for me, that God sent his son Jesus Christ into this world to save us all.

I would like to thank all those involved in the production and distribution of Grapevine, those organising the many different events, The Parish Council and lastly all residents of Seamer and Tame Bridge who have all made living here an enjoyable experience.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.

The deadline for contributions for the next Grapevine is 8.00am on the 26th January 2020 at 08.00 hours.

ST. MARTIN’S CHURCH CHURCH SERVICES (and major services at St Peter & St Paul's Stokesley) Sunday December 1st - Advent Sunday 11.15am Eucharist at St Martin's 4.00pm Christingle Service at St Peter & St Paul's Sunday December 15th - Advent 3 11.15am Eucharist at St Martin's Sunday December 22nd 6.00pm Lessons and Carols, St Peter & St Paul's (with St Joseph's) Monday December 23rd 7.00pm Carols around the Tree, West Green, Stokesley (with Bilsdale Band) Tuesday December 24th (Christmas Eve) 4.30pm Crib Service (especially suitable for younger families) at St Peter & St Paul’s 6.00pm Candlelit Carols round the Crib at St Peter & St Paul (with Spirit of Harmony) 11.30pm Midnight Eucharist at St Peter & St Paul Wednesday December 25th (Christmas Day) 9.15am (Note time!) Christmas Eucharist with Carols at St Martin’s No service at St Martin’s on December 29th Sunday January 5th 2020 (The 12th Day of Christmas & Eve of Epiphany) 11.15am Eucharist at St Martin’s (the Revd Paul Hutchinson’s last here) 3.00pm Farewell Service for the Revd Paul Hutchinson and family at St Peter & St Paul’s (followed by Tea in Stokesley Town Hall) Please note that, at the time of writing, it is not certain what provision can be 2

made for services at St Martin’s after the Revd Paul Hutchinson’s departure see the Stokesley Parish Church website for up to date information.

OTHER EVENTS Treske Ensemble Concert, Saturday 7th December in Stokesley Parish Church, 7.30 pm

Stokesley Choral Society Concert, Saturday 14th December, in Stokesley Parish Church, 7.00 pm

Vacation Chamber Orchestra (VaCO) Concert, Sunday 29th December in Stokesley Parish Church, 7.30 pm

Stokesley Church Coffee Morning, Friday 24th January in the Town Hall, 9.00 – 11.30 am

Revd Paul Hutchinson’s Farewell – Sunday 5th January 3.00 pm Service in Church, followed by a Tea 4.00 – 6.00pm in the Town Hall. If anyone would like to attend the Tea, please contact Marie Groom on 01842 712138 so that we have some idea of the numbers attending.

Marie Groom

VILLAGE HALL NEWS AND EVENTS POP IN This is an informal fun get together in the Village Hall every Monday morning (not held during School holidays). It runs between 10am -12 noon.

So come along to meet fellow residents and visitors to have a chat over Tea/ Coffee and a scone. Everyone welcome. £1.

Pop in Party see below.

Janet

Pop in Christmas Party Monday 16th December 11.30 for 12.00 Two courses, drinks included £5.00 All welcome To book or for more info Call Janet Bainbridge 01642 715728 3

GARDEN CLUB (GREENFINGERS) For more details of future events, Contact: Viv Hyman 07889096111 ART GROUP This has not met for sometime due to lack of attendees and so will not be running in future unless : Do you know anyone who would be interested in an afternoon of painting in an informal, laid-back atmosphere? If so, why not contact me on 07889096111.

Viv Hyman ZUMBA Come and join us at Zumba, it’s a great way to keep fit. We do Zumba for 45 mins with 10 minutes body toning at the end. Fridays 5.15pm, £3.50. New members always welcome.

Contact Helen on 07502 566054 SEAMER BOOK CLUB There is no meeting in December due to Christmas.

The next meetings are:Tuesday 28th January 8 -9:30 Tuesday 25th February 8- 9:30 Everyone welcome we are an informal group who pick a book read it for the next meeting then chat about it over refreshments.

Cost £1:50 for using the hall; we take it in turns to provide refreshments.

If you want any more information please contact Lynn Clayton. Thank you.

Lynn Clayton

richard.lynn.clayton@hotmail.co.uk

STITCHERS Sorry to say that Stitchers will not continue after Christmas as we have so few attending. Perhaps we'll get together in the spring if more are interested.. There are obviously great knitters in the area as can be seen from the wonderful number of poppies produced last year.

Get in touch with me and we'll get together !

Ann Thomas 710822

STAMPS I will be collecting Stamps for Charity this Christmas.

Please leave your stamps at the hall or 21,The Green Ann Thomas

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More info telephone 710822

SING A LONG The special Christmas event is on 7th December - see below.

Our next normal meeting will be on January 10th at 7pm in the Village Hall Jo Batey

CANDLELIT CHRISTMAS SINGALONG Saturday 7th December at 7pm Village Hall A musical Christmas evening (songs and Carols) by candlelight (music by Ron Kirk).

Bring your own drinks and food to share. (Pooled supper).

(Voluntary Donation to the Village Hall to cover heating, etc) Simply come along and join in this fun evening 5

BRIDGE CLUB This popular well attended group meets on Thursday night at 7.00pm. Everyone is welcome Yvonne Groombridge yvonnegroombridge@yahoo.co.uk SEAMER VILLAGE HALL 100+ CLUB October winners were (136 members) 1st £20 22 Christine Prendergast, Holme Lane 2nd £17 7 Barbara Milner, Tame Bridge 3rd £14 85 Sue & Jim Scheilling, Hilton Road 4th £10 110 Amanda Jones, Hilton Road 5th £7 96 Myra Robinson, Stokesley Road November winners 1st £20 122 Alan Marshall, Tame Bridge 2nd £17 145 Warren Findlay, Tame Bridge 3rd £14 50 Kay Rees, Leconfield th 4 £10 137 Patricia Jackson, Tame Bridge 5th £7 65 Viv Hyman, Hilton Road For those members who joined last December/January this means that you are due to join again. To let me know if you wish to renew your membership please get in touch with me.

The amount of prize money given out each month is calculated on the number of members there are.

To help me to remind you when your renewal fees are due, could you please let me have your e-mail address or telephone number. This is easier than coming to see you.

If you are new to the area and would like to become a member, you can do so at any time. It costs £1 per month/£12 for the year for which you are allocated a number. Each month half the monthly money is given out as prize money and the other half goes to the village hall funds.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Christine Cooper 01642 710294 or chris_cooper1@hotmail.com HALL QUIZ NOVEMBER 16th The hall quiz was once again a great success thanks to our band of volunteers.

Thank you Sue and Jim for all the work you put in preparing the quiz and for doing such a great job as quiz masters.

Thanks to Kay for organising the quiz, thanks to our lovely ladies who helped prepare the supper and to everyone who donated raffle prizes. Well done 6

everyone, you provided a great night’s entertainment for 56 people and raised £352:67 for the Village Hall.

Joan Barnes

"A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES" The Village Hall has a licence to show films. I thought we could start off with a festive film on

Saturday 14th December 7 PM

"Its a wonderful life" Cert U. Bring your own Popcorn and refreshments. A welcome donation bucket will be available.

First come first served on the door to hall capacity!

Mark Murphy 07919407209 JUMBLE SALE 2020 – DATE TBC Yes its returning after a year‘s break. Please keep all your unwanted clothes, brica-brac, furniture, toys, bikes etc. for this annual event.

To date our jumble sales have raised £4,050 for village hall funds as follows 2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Total

315

440

493

590

678

532

461

541

4050

Thank you as always.

Jo 077595 31050

SEAMER METHODIST CHURCH SWITCHING ON THE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTS We are very grateful for the provision of a Village Christmas Tree that we site in the Grounds of the Methodist Church. On Sunday 8th December there will be the switching on of the tree lights by one of the children attending. This will be at 4pm and will be followed by a Nativity in the Chapel including the singing of carols and appropriate refreshments. This is a Village event so everyone is most welcome.

REMEMBRANCE DAY We had a good turn out at the Memorial Hall and £90.09 was sent to The Royal British Legion.

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CAROL SINGING Once again we are planning to sing carols around the villages of Seamer and Newby. This continues a tradition that goes back a long, long time, of singing carols from door to door. We always welcome as many as possible who would like to join us so why not wrap up warm and join us. The following are the nights we singing (weather permitting); Friday 20th December from 6pm at Newby (Meet at the Village Hall) Saturday 21st December from 6pm at Seamer (Meet at the Methodist Church) Sunday 22nd December from 5pm at Seamer (Meet at the Methodist Church) Last year we had a visit from Father Christmas at Seamer – who knows what may happen this year!!

TIMES OF WORSHIP 1st December 10.30am at Stokesley Methodist Church 8th December 4pm – Switching on the Christmas Tree lights (See earlier) 15th December 10.30 am led by Rev Richard Bradshaw 22nd December 10.30 am led by the Atkinsons 5 pm Carol singing round Seamer 29th December 10.30am at Hutton Rudby Methodist Church 5th January 10.30 am led by Ron Kirk 12th January 10.30 am led by Arthur Noble 19th January 10.30 am led by Rev Lisa Quarmby 26th January 10.30 am led by Ken Hudson TIME FOR A SMILE (Not for Children) Christmas is cancelled – Father Christmas heard you say that YOU had been GOOD and he died laughing.

THOUGHT FOR CHRISTMAS This is a time of memories. Some of these are special and bring happiness and a feeling of wellbeing. Others bring sadness as perhaps the loss of loved ones is recalled.

As Christians we believe that at the first Christmas a tiny baby was born and given the name of Jesus. At that time shepherds guarding their sheep heard singing and the words – ‘I bring you good news of great joy to all people’.

So however we celebrate Christmas present and recall Christmases past may we find the peace and joy that can come to each of us as we acclaim this child as the Son of God the Saviour of the world.

PEACE AND JOY TO ALL THIS CHRISTMAS Ron Kirk 8

SEAMER OIL CLUB Again we managed to secure a good price before the November price increase which usually happens when a cold spell hit us.

Many years ago my old metal oil tank sprang a leak on New Years day.

I had to secure a number of 40 gallon oil drums from my farming friends and work very quickly to empty it (not something one wants to be doing with a hang over).

Should any of you have a similar problem you could contact Gordon or I and we will put you in touch with someone who will hopefully resolve your problem.

On that Merry note, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous and more importantly a Healthy New Year.

Order dates 1st weeks in January, March, May, September and November.

Contacts. David Ward 01642710333 or Gordon Reed 01642 711495

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PA|RISH COUNCIL NEWS SEAMER PARISH COUNCIL UPDATE The September meeting commenced with a minutes’ silence in tribute to Caroline Seymour, former County & District Councillor and current Independent Chair of the Community Fund. An Open Forum followed, attended by nine members of the community to discuss the narrow roadway, parking issues and common land at Bank Top. Within the main meeting agenda, planning applications were discussed, including those current, pending and granted. Village maintenance issues were discussed, and the completion of tree maintenance noted. Positive comments had been received regarding the flower tubs and local environment maintained by the village gardener, Steve Burton. The Chair gave feedback on the recent ten CSW (Speed Watch) deployments. Councillor Paul Chapman reported back from the second meeting of the local Climate Change group, where he is a member of the environment sub-group. Councillor Chapman also reported back from the Parish Liaison Meeting and relevant local issues. Councillor Mark Murphy (Village Hall Committee) noted that work has commenced on an updated Constitution (CIO). A meeting is needed with remaining trustees. Cinema licence has been obtained.

Funds are to be apportioned to Designated and Reserved Funds. Councillor Murphy will write a report for the October Grapevine to inform the Community about progress on the CIO and the purpose of each fund and objectives of fundraising. The new Parish noticeboards were discussed and the Clerk reported that other local parish councils had made contact to compliment Seamer PC on the new benches and boards.

Minutes of this meeting are displayed on the noticeboards and on the website. An update from the November Parish Council meeting will appear in the next Grapevine. The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Tuesday 21st January, 2020. As always, residents are welcome to attend.

Residents can access information about Parish Council and Community Fund matters in the following ways: a. Attendance at the bimonthly Parish Council meetings, details of which are publicised in various locations: e.g. Parish Council noticeboards, website. b. The Grapevine, where articles are regularly published. c. Parish Council minutes; these are displayed on noticeboards and on the website. d. By attendance at the Pop-In on Monday mornings, which Parish Council members attend whenever possible. If there are any points that need clarification, these will be fed back to the main PC meetings. e. Residents are able to contact the Parish Council via email or telephone to discuss any matters that are of concern to them.

All matters concerned with the Community Fund are discussed as an agenda item at Parish Council meetings. Any residents who attend form part of the discussion and all viewpoints are taken into consideration when making a final decision.

Philip Taylor, Chair of the Parish Council Email: scapa20@hotmail.com (Parish Clerk) Seamer Parish Council encompasses Seamer and Tame Bridge.

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COMMUNITY FUND PROJECT At the request of the residents of Tame Bridge, the Parish Council liaised closely with the NYCC Safety Officer regarding the road junction at Tame Bridge. As a result, the Community Fund has paid for the installation of a refuge to enable a safer road crossing for pedestrians and to deter vehicles from cutting the corner at speed, which has been of great concern to local residents.

Thanks to all concerned at NYCC Highways Department and to County Councillor Bryn Griffiths for their support to enable this project to be completed.

Seamer Parish Council

THE REVD PAUL HUTCHINSON WRITES:When I arrived here in September 2009, I quickly realised that The Grapevine was first and foremost a community magazine. It already had (and has) a variety of contributors from the Methodist Church giving regular faith-related comments; so it didn’t seem right to add any kind of “Clergy letter”. As a result, I’ve been rather quiet in these pages over the last ten years. I do hope that’s not been held against me!

As was announced in the summer, I am moving to St Neots, Cambridgeshire (or, to be more specific, old Huntingdonshire), in January. So it seemed right to accede to the editor’s request, and write a little about past and future, and to be quite Seamer-specific about it.

To begin at the beginning (a very good place to start!), my early months gave me a sequence of surprises...

The first surprise was the discovery that, unlike in many rural communities, St Martin’s didn’t see a substantial increase in attendance at Christmas. I counted on one hand the number of people at the Carol Service (we held them in my first seven years here) or on Christmas Day, who were not otherwise church/chapel goers at Seamer or Stokesley. Baptisms and weddings weren’t very frequent either. After seven years in busier small churches around Penrith, I wasn’t at all sure how to make the church itself a more central part of the community here.

The second surprise was the discovery of ancestors! As many of you now know, I have great-great-great grandparents buried in the churchyard (I have another set of g-g-g-ps buried in Stokesley) along with some of their descendants down other lines; relatives named on Great War memorials; and very distant cousins in 11

more than one corner of the parish. None of these family members is called Hutchinson, by the way. Together with the ability to see from St Martin’s my own place of birth in the far distance, this made me feel strangely at home: unlike in earlier centuries, there are very few clergy nowadays who can just about see a family grave as they stand at the altar!

The third surprise (though this one shouldn’t have been, really) was the way in which community events still had the potential to bring together a wide variety of people who otherwise live different – and often distant – lives. The Village Hall is home to much of it, of course, but it spilled out in the flower/art festivals of Seamer on Show in Spring (in which St Martin’s were very happily involved), and in the St Martin’s 2014 Christmas Tree Festival. It also shows itself in the service that a number of committed folk give to Parish Council, The Grapevine, and associated matters. Seamer is well served by its keen volunteers.

In the middle of the surprises there have been the opportunities to get know Seamer people: in the village, at Tame Bridge, at Newby, and in outlying places too. I’ve not often had time to maintain frequent contact, but I’ve been very grateful for the hospitality of many (and of course all the chat at the Village Hall Pop-in). I hope that, along the way, I have been from time to time a helpful companion at a moment of sadness or celebration.

There has also been in recent years an annual occasion when I have tried to put Seamer on the wider church map. Church of England parishes are grouped into Deaneries, and Stokesley Deanery includes Worsall, Yarm, Ingleby Barwick, Stainton, Brookfield, Nunthorpe, and all the villages at the foot of the Cleveland Hills. There is one church in the Deanery from which it is possible to have glimpses of all these places or of landmarks in their parishes! So we started praying for all our neighbouring parishes from the edges of the churchyard at the end of a big service on Ascension Day. I’m not sure what Bainbridges’ livestock made of it, though!

In my time as Rector of Stokesley with Seamer, I have tried, as in my previous posts, to keep my interests wider than simply the local parish. When I was in Sunderland, and a member of staff at the recently-created Sunderland Minster, my main job was as University Chaplain - which kept my view very wide. In Penrith, in addition to my main town and village responsibilities, I was Chaplain at Newton Rigg Campus, and involved with rural issues, education, and musical matters more broadly. During my last ten and a half years here, as well as being deeply involved in Secondary education and local music making, I’ve been an ecumenical officer for the Teesside and North York Moors area for five of those years and a member of the Church of England’s General Synod for the last six. This latter role has particularly stretched me, and given me the privilege of being part of the Church of England’s decision to ordain women as Bishops.

It’s also provided me with the one occasion in my life when I have been in the 12

same place as (but nowhere near) the Queen! Stokesley and Seamer have kept me grounded and particular when mingling with the great and the good at national gatherings...

So now I move to pastures new: a new part of the country for me, certainly, but not without pre-existing connections (had there not been any at all, it’s unlikely I would have responded to an approach from there). I won’t find ancestors in my churchyards again – indeed I won’t be responsible for any open churchyards – but I will once again be doing market-town ministry; this time at an intersection of major roads in the midst of the rolling countryside of the Great Ouse Valley. I like living and working in communities that have a deep identity and history, though of course each one has its particular quirks and stories, and there will be challenges at St Neots about which I can only guess at this stage. The task will include working with ordained and paid lay colleagues and being part of larger initiatives across Ely Diocese: doing traditional things well at two historic town churches five minutes’ walk from each other (Eynesbury is the older settlement, parish, and church building; St Neots is the grander, larger, church at the heart of the town); and encouraging new work in large areas - on the east side of town where thousands of new homes are in the process of being built, on the south side from where Eynesbury church feels very distant.

The time is right for a new challenge, and it feels the right kind of challenge for this stage of ministry. I will miss the North for a time – North Yorkshire, Durham, and Cumbria have been the major part of my life. But I retain active links with Newcastle and Northumberland, so there’s no danger that I will never come north of Peterborough again!

I ought to add a cautionary note before ending. There are many parts of England where a church like St Martin’s would have been closed by now. I am not by instinct a closer of churches; and, for the time being, St Martin’s is helped by having an open churchyard, a sound roof, and friends in Stokesley who are prepared to pay for the maintenance of the graveyard and from time to time to come out and keep services running. But these things cannot be taken for granted indefinitely – I know several communities in County Durham where burials still happen occasionally in the overgrown graveyard, but the church building is a distant memory. I would hate St Martin’s to reach that point, but it cannot be ruled out. Once lost...

The time for my move draws near. The list of services elsewhere gives details of all that’s coming up here and at Stokesley. My last Christmas morning service at Seamer will be, as ever, at 9.15am. My last normal Sunday morning service here will be on 5th January. And my parish farewell service will be at Stokesley at 3p.m on the 5th, with plenty of familiar Epiphany carols to sing. I do hope you are able to come, if you wish, to one of these. It would be good to see you.

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With my good wishes for the future, Paul.

TIME FOR A LAUGH Sometimes, when I look at my children, I say to myself, 'Lillian, you should have remained a virgin.'- Lillian Carter (mother of Jimmy Carter) I have never hated a man enough to give his diamonds back.- Zsa Zsa Gabor I had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalogue: 'No good in a bed, but fine against a wall.' - Eleanor Roosevelt Last week, I stated this woman was the ugliest woman I had ever seen. I have since been visited by her sister, and now wish to withdraw that statement.- Mark Twain The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending; and to have the two as close together as possible. - George Burns Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people only once a year.- Victor Borge By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you'll become happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher. – Socrates I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury.- Groucho Marx My wife has a slight impediment in her speech. Every now and then she stops to breathe. - Jimmy Durante Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat. - Alex Levine My luck is so bad that if I bought a cemetery, people would stop dying.Rodney Dangerfield Until I was thirteen, I thought my name was 'SHUT UP.'- Joe Namath I don't feel old. I don't feel anything until noon. Then it's time for my nap.

- Bob Hope I never drink water because of the disgusting things that fish do in it.- W. C. Fields We could certainly slow the aging process down if it had to work its way through Congress.- Will Rogers Don't worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older, it will avoid you. Winston Churchill 14

Maybe it's true that life begins at fifty but everything else starts to wear out, fall out, or spread out.- Phyllis Diller By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step, he's too old to go anywhere. - Billy Crystal And the cardiologist's diet: if it tastes good, spit it out.

Submitted by Ann Thomas

THE GLOBE For the latest information on Events at The Globe - see our website: http://www.theglobelibrarystokesley.org

More victims of crime in North Yorkshire will have the opportunity to play a role in the criminal justice system with the launch of a new service to help victims receive answers and rehabilitate offenders by helping them to understand the hurt and fear they have caused The aim is to bring victim and offender together outside – but alongside – the criminal justice system to reduce reoffending and give victims answers and the ability to move on by making the crime, and the fear it causes, more personal and harder to ignore.

Emma, who has used the restorative justice service, said: “Restorative justice has changed my life.It gave me an opportunity to talk about what happened using emotional words. For two and a half years it felt like the only words I heard were facts and evidence. What about me and my family and what he had done to us? It finally felt like my emotions had a voice that was being heard and acknowledged. My life kick started the minute I walked back to my car after the conference. I felt free of so many frustrations.”

If you have been the victim of crime and need help to cope and recover: Call Supporting Victims on 01609 643 100, or visit www.supportingvictims.org For more information on restorative justice, or to speak to the team: Call 01423 546 175 or email RJNorthYorkshire@restorativesolutions.org.uk For the full story and a video that explains why restorative justice is important and how it works, visit: https://www.northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk/news/rjlaunch/

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GRAPEVINE CONTACTS All numbers are prefixed with 01642 Magazine Layout, Editor, Printer and Distribution Coordinator David Campy, 5a Holme Lane, Seamer E mail: david.campy123@btinternet.com 710320 Front Cover Illustration Anne Clements (thanks for all your contributions) but next time a new

one, Vivien Hymen!!

St Martin’s Rev Paul Hutchinson, The Rectory, Stokesley (until he leaves) Methodist Church Ron Kirk, 2 Rosehill, Great Ayton Seamer Village Hall Chairperson: Mark Murphy Email : medinnov8@hotmail.com Bookings: Nov– April, Ann Thomas catcabcam@googlemail.com May—October , Vivien Hyman Village News and Events Contact: Dave Campy david.campy123@btinternet.com Seamer Parish Council

710405 722053

269663 710320

E-Mail: scapa20@hotmail.com Seamer Correspondent for Darlington and Stockton Times Christine Cooper 710294 Seamer Village Website seamervillage.co.uk The Globe, Stokesley Website http://www.theglobelibrarystokesley.org ooooOOOOooo

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