The Grapevine SEAMER & TAME BRIDGE MAGAZINE No. 163 July 2020

The Grapevine SEAMER & TAME BRIDGE MAGAZINE

No. 163 July 2020 Keep up to date with what’s happening locally by visiting

Seamer Village Website seamervillage.co.uk

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EDITOR’S NOTES

I hope this finds you all well and healthy as we begin our journey towards living around the Coronavirus. I apologise for not having a Grapevine paper copy for June but I am sure you all appreciate why this was not possible. An electronic version was distributed to those whose emails we had as well as on the Seamer Village website. A paper copy was also placed on the Seamer Village Hall and the Old Blacksmith’s noticeboards, Please note these alternatives as it may need to happen again if we get a second wave.

I hope that, like me, you appreciate how lucky we are to live in this area with all its opportunities to take exercise and “enjoy” the open spaces and views.

I would also like to thank all those volunteers who have helped with getting food /prescriptions/ etc to those isolating or shielding in Seamer and Tame Bridge and looking after the more vulnerable members of the community as well the very special people in our essential services.

Whilst things are now easing we should all still be alert and keep safe.

I hope to produce another Grapevine at the end of July and would appreciate any information about reopening activities, events, articles (including what you did to cope with lockdown), etc by Monday 27th July at 08.00 hours.

Dave Campy

ST. MARTIN’S CHURCH The current Church of England advice is that buildings can now be open for private prayer . However, St Martin's Church Seamer will remain closed. Funerals can now be arranged in the church but obviously social distancing rules must be in force. The number of people attending at St Martin's Seamer will be very limited due to the size of the building.

Stokesley Parish Church will be open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11am - 1pm during July. The church will be closed at all other times. There will be Stewards to assist you when you enter church.

Judith Turland and John Groom (Church wardens)

VILLAGE HALL NEWS AND EVENTS

Seamer Memorial hall is still closed and the AGM postponed due to corona virus until further notice.

SEAMER VILLAGE HALL 100+ CLUB Because of the coronavirus pandemic I haven’t been able to collect some of the renewal fees which have become due. Now that social distancing 2

rules have become more relaxed I intend to come round and visit those of you that this applies to. If you are not at home when I call, I will leave a letter with all the renewal details on it. Please let me know whatever you wish to do as this affects the amount of money to be shared out in the monthly draws.

For any members who know that I DO NOT have a contact email address or phone number for you, it will be most helpful if you can let me have your details. This is easier than coming to see you.

The monthly draws are being held over until the village hall re-opens and they will then take place at the Monday Pop in.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Christine Cooper 01642701733 / 07434171305 or chris_cooper1@hotmail.com NOW AND THEN MAGAZINE A smaller edition of the Now & Then magazine has been produced and anyone in Seamer village can collect a copy from a box which will be placed under the seat at the front of the Village Hall.

Christine Cooper THE POND NEWS The Coots originally had eight chicks, three survived. She is now back on the nest with four chicks and still sitting on eggs. Hope the juvenile Coots help with the feeding, when they all hatch. (See photos on next page).

Tony Barnes Some of you will be wondering how a round bale of straw got into the pond. No it did not fall off the back of a trailer. It was put into the pond deliberately to help prevent the build up of algae . The barley straw produces chemicals as it decomposes which stunt the growth of the algae.

Thanks to Chris Harvey for the photo (also on next page) Dave Campy There has been several unwelcome additions to the pond in the form of a couple of safes dumped after being stolen in the Middlesbrough area.

When they were discovered by a local resident, the police were informed and came and collected them as shown in the photo on the next page.

Gill Burton

STOP PRESS: There are 5 new ducklings on the pond and 5 Coot chicks 3

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TANTON BRIDGE PROGRESS You will be pleased to hear that Tanton Bridge is due to reopen on 3rd July, providing that there are no unforeseen issues in the meantime.

Councillor Bryn Griffiths (20th June)

OIL CLUB It’s been a funny three months regarding oil prices, I always new they were volatile, in fact they have been so volatile that I stopped checking my phone alerts as some days they rarely stopped.

Anyone who wanted oil during the lockdown has enjoyed a bonus. 14.2p per litre was the cheapest Gordon secured for a customer who eventually ordered 4,500 litres (he has two tanks).

However, prices have increased and it is now hovering between 20 and 30p per litre but things could have changed since writing this.

Order dates are still the first weeks in January. March. May. September and November.

However, if anyone has room in their tanks and would like to take advantage of the low prices we will do our best to secure the best deal.

Contact. David Ward 01642 710333 or Gordon Reed 01642 711495 TIME FOR A LAUGH (We still need it)

Submitted by Anne Clements

The following questions were set in the 2019 GED (American equivalent of A levels) examinations along with genuine answers.

1. Q. Name the four seasons.

A. Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar 2. Q. How is dew formed?

A. The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire.

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3. Q. What guarantees may a mortgage company insist on?

A. If you are buying a home they will insist you are well endowed 4. Q. What are steroids?

A. Things for keeping carpets still on the stairs.

5. Q. What happens to your body as you age?

A. When you get old so do your bowels and youre intercontinental.

6. Q. What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty?

A. He says goodbye to boyhood and looks forward to adultery.

7. Q. Name a major disease associated with cigarettes.

A. Premature death 8. Q. What is artificial insemination?

A. When the farmer does it to the bull instead of the cow 9. Q. How can you delay milk turning sour?

A. Keep it in the cow 10. Q. How are the main 20 parts of the body categorized?

A. The body is consisted into 3 parts - the Brainium, the Borax and the abdominal cavity. The Brainium contains the Brain, the Borax contains the heart and lungs and the abdominal cavity contains the 5 bowels: A, E, I, O and U. 11. Q. What is the fibula?

A. A small lie 12. Q. What does “varicose” mean?

A. Nearby 13 Q. What is the most common method of birth control?

A. Most peoples prevent contraception by wearing a condominium.

14. Q. Give the meaning of the term “Caesarean section”.

A. A district in Rome.

15. Q. What is a seizure?

A. A roman emperor.

16. Q. What is a terminal illness?

A. When you are sick at the airport 17. Q. What does the word “benign” mean?

A. Benign is what you will be after you be eight Copied from The Loop, Stokesley 6

WHAT I’VE BEEN DOING IN LOCKDOWN Please find below a selection of poems I have written over the past couple of months throughout the pandemic.

[Editor: I hope you find them as entertaining and thought provoking as I did]

Another week of madness

Another week of worry Stay inside is the key If you don’t you will be sorry Take the advice seriously If not it will just get worse Just the key workers go to work A doctor and a nurse If you follow the rules correctly And do exactly what they say Hopefully this virus Will soon be on its way Always cough into your elbow And Always wash your hands If not the germs will continue Killing people as it lands So please for your own sake And everybody’s life Think of your children Your husband your wife Think of the old folk When you go and break the rule Please be responsible Please do not be a fool !

When this is all over When this is all over What will you want to do Will you want to go out and live your life Will it stop you feeling blue Will you want to do the simple things And just go out for a walk Pass people on the same old track And simply stop to talk Will you want to do the wildest things Go out travelling a far Go to the ends of the world By plane or boat or car Will you want to go down to the pub For a bite to eat and a drink When this is all over what would I do I don’t even have to think When this situations all over It’s quite simple for me you see The first thing I will be doing Is hugging my whole family If there’s anything I have learnt from all this It’s that life is as precious as gold It’s not about the material things It’s about all the hearts that you hold x

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What to do today So you get up on a morning Wash your face off in the sink What am I going to do today Is what you start to think Maybe watch some tele Have a cup of tea or two What am I going to do today It’s entirely down to you I could go outside and see my friends I could go and have some fun What am I going to do today In this lovely April sun I could go and do my hobbies Like I did in weeks before What am I going to do today I need to be out the door I know that if I do these things The virus it will double What am I going to do today If this happens It means trouble I’ll struggle to breath and be thinking I should have done what they said What am I going to do today I’m unable to leave my bed !

If only I’d been considerate And took on board the advice What am I going to do today I should have been thoughtful and nice I’m going to re think my actions Think about what I should do What am I going to do today Think about me and you Instead I’m going to stay in doors And not be a selfish fool What am I going to do today I’m going to follow the rule 8

I’ll stay at home and take some time I’ll think and ponder a lot What am I going to do today Be thankful for what we’ve got We still have our friends and family Some cannot say this any more What am I going to do today I’m staying behind my door.

Kay Sanderson SEAMER METHODIST CHURCH Sponsored Tandem Ride for Teesside Hospice Were you wondered why the Methodist Church was decorated with bunting, signs and balloons on Saturday the 27th June?

Reverend Lisa and Andy Quarmby (The Methodist minister and her husband) were completing a sponsored Tandem bike ride visiting all the remaining 6 Methodist Churches in the Stokesley Circuit (Great Ayton, Easby, Carlton, Hutton Rudby, Seamer and Stokesley) as well as 3 that have closed (Ingleby Greenhow, Great Broughton and Faceby) in order to raise money for Teesside Hospice. This was a total distance of approx. 29 miles!! The Seamer congregation decided to welcome her and offer moral support when she came to Seamer (other churches did similar) by decorating the outside and having a social distancing welcoming party.

Lisa has completed her appointment in the Circuit and will be leaving in early August to take up a new post in Sheffield. They undertook the ride to thank the area for their time here by hopefully raising money for Teesside Hospice and to say a goodbye to Church members, as they have been closed for services. It was hoped to raise £2000 but by the end of the day the total was £3600!! Donations can still be made at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/RevLisaQ Lisa will be missed by the congregation at Seamer and by all those who have attended the Christmas Tree lighting ceremonies and Nativity services over the past couple of years. During the pandemic and church closure, Lisa has been doing weekly ‘You Tube’ services from the manse in Great Ayton and these are much appreciated in these difficult times as the Churches are not allowed to be open for Services .

The pictures on the next page show them at Seamer with members of the congregation who turned out to support them (socially distancing), provide them with water and bananas, and thank them for both their efforts on the 9

day and the work they have done throughout their stay in the Stokesley circuit.

We wish her (and Andy) well in her new life in Sheffield and hope God Blesses them both there.

The Congregation at Seamer

Re opening of the Church Building The pandemic has resulted in Church buildings being closed. A recent easing of the restrictions now allows them to open for private prayer but with the need for safety measures to ensure safety of those using the building. Churches await the Government’s confirmation as to opening 10

for services on 4th July. However, within the Methodist Church, the governing body - Methodist Conference (taking place this week virtually) - will be deciding whether this is possible and what needs to be done. In the meantime preparations are being made.

Seamer Methodist Church Council decided that at present they will not be reopening as the requirements and regulations cannot safely be enforced due to the size of the building and the age/vulnerability profiles of its members. We are sorry about this and will review this as and when restrictions change.

We will continue to worship using the online services provided by Great Ayton and Stokesley Methodist Churches on You Tube which anyone can access.

Other Methodist Churches in the Stokesley Circuit hope to open for private prayer for a couple of hours a week after July 4th on a timetabled rota. As yet this rota has not been published but when it is a note will be placed on the Door/Board outside Seamer Methodist Church with the details.

God Bless you David Campy COMMUNITY SPEED WATCH AND LITTER PICKING These activities have been suspended during the pandemic. It is hoped that within the next month, with the easing of restrictions, they will restart.

I think we have all noticed how the speed of traffic within the village increased dramatically in the beginning but the amount reduced. As the restrictions are lifted the amount of traffic has increased but the speed unfortunately remains high and thus the danger level has increased.

As regards litter, this decreased dramatically at first but now is probably worse than normal with bottles, cans wrappers etc being disposed without regard to the environment.

There is a team of volunteers for each of these activities who are awaiting permission from the authorities to restart and hope this will be within the month of July.

If you would like to join them (the more the merrier!!) - it is an enjoyable and rewarding experience and a chance to benefit the community in Seamer and Tame Bridge - then please contact Phil Taylor (Parish Council Chair) email scapa20@hotmail.com or Dave Campy (Grapevine Editor) details under Contacts.

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LOCAL SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES During the Pandemic there has been a number of events reported to me by local residents: Two safes dumped in the pond, burglaries involving quad bikes and tools, cars parking for drug dealing, people acting suspiciously around houses and gardens, cars driving up and down the same stretch of road many times in a small time zone, fly tipping on local roads etc..

Thank you for this but can I please ask you all to  be alert to anything suspicious  Not get involved directly, but make a note of registration number, description, times, place, etc. whilst remaining safe  Report the matter as soon as possible to the local police by dialing 101 (anonymously if you feel threatened). Do not think you are wasting police time . Every bit of information is important in the big picture even if it proves not actually to be suspicious.

Your help may prevent you and others from being affected.

Dave Campy

GRAPEVINE CONTACTS All numbers are prefixed with 01642 Magazine Layout, Editor, Printing and Distribution Coordinator David Campy, 5a Holme Lane, Seamer E mail: david.campy123@btinternet.com 710320 Front Cover Illustration Vivien Hyman 269663 St Martin’s John Groom john@hillviews.co.uk 712138 Judith Turland judithturland@gmail.com 710489 Methodist Church Ron Kirk, 2 Rosehill, Great Ayton 722053 Seamer Village Hall Chairperson: Mark Murphy Email : medinnov8@hotmail.com Bookings: Ann Thomas catcabcam@googlemail.com 710822 Village News and Events Contact: Ann Thomas catcabcam@googlemail.com 710822 Dave Campy david.campy123@btinternet.com 710320 Seamer Parish Council 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 12