The Grapevine SEAMER & TAME BRIDGE MAGAZINE No. 165 December 2020

The Grapevine SEAMER & TAME BRIDGE MAGAZINE

No. 165 December 2020 Keep up to date with what’s happening locally by visiting

Seamer Village Website: seamervillage.co.uk

Sunday 6th December 4pm Seamer Methodist Church Garden

Christmas Tree lighting ceremony

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EDITOR’S NOTES

Hi everyone , I hope you are all coping with the new regulations which are having an effect on what is happening this month. We are beginning the move towards normality but we must remain vigilant and avoid complacency.

Personally, I have had ups (a new grandson) and downs during November but thankfully not COVID related and am looking forward to the Christmas “break” in the regulations to meet together as a “family” with my two daughters. Our doctor daughter is not working over the period (she works in London) and will be joining us (COVID allowing!) as well as my other daughter, husband and TWO grandchildren.

There are some of the usual events happening in December but many have been cancelled due to the safety risk and I encourage you all to follow the rules of social distancing, washing hands and wearing masks when required. I hope January will bring some easing of restrictions and a new Grapevine will be published then. Closing date for articles is January 1 st 2021!

Have as Merry a Christmas as you can and hopefully a happier New Year.

Dave Campy

ST. MARTIN’S CHURCH PROGRAMME OF CHRISTMAS SERVICES Sunday 20th December 6pm Joint Carol Service st Great Ayton led by Rev Paul Peverell (also available on Zoom or Facebook via Christ Church Great Ayton) Thursday 24th December - Christmas Eve 2-5pm Stokesley Church is open to view the Christmas Tree and Crib.

Families are welcome. Carols will be playing.

11.30pm Midnight Holy Communion in Stokesley Church. Seating may be limited due to covid restrictions so please advise if you are attending by email: info@stokesleyparishchurch.org.uk or telephone 01642712138 or 01642710489 Friday 25th December - Christmas Day 10am Christmas Day Holy Communion St Martins Church, Seamer. Seats may be limited due to the size of the church/covid so please advise if you are attending by email: info@stokesleyparishchurch.org.uk or 01642 712138 or 01642 710489 For all other details of Private Prayer and Church Services for December please check the church website : Stokesleyparishchurch.org.uk We are very pleased to welcome Revd. Ben Gunter in early 2021 as Priest 2

in Charge of Stokesley and Seamer Parish Churches. Hopefully we will then be able to return to normal services in both churches.

Judith Turland

VILLAGE HALL NEWS AND EVENTS

Seamer Memorial hall is still closed until further notice.

SEAMER VILLAGE HALL 100+ CLUB March winners were (126 members) 1st £20 86 Bill & Lynn Burn, Stainton Road 2nd £15 5 Doris Allen, Hilton Road 3rd £12 47 Mark Murphy, Leconfield 4th £10 92 Christine Taylor, School Cottages 5th £ 6 149 Julie Finch, Tame Bridge April winners were (126 members) 1st £20 82 Rita McNicol, Tanton Road 2nd £15 27 Les Bland, The Green 3rd £12 79 Linda Lowther, Brackenhill Walk 4th £10 102 David Ward, The Green 5th £ 6 25 Philip Taylor, Leconfield May winners were (126 members) 1st £20 45 Jim Kendall, Stainton Road 2nd £15 100 Win Briggs, Manor Garth 3rd £12 101 Colin Quinn, Holme Lane 4th £10 128 Karen Stoddart, Hilton Road 5th £ 6 38 Bill Smith, Stokesley June winners were (126 members) 1st £20 114 Jackie Sawney, off Hilton Road 2nd £15 49 David Brodrick, Leconfield 3rd £12 150 Don & Hilary Spenceley, Croft Hills 4th £10 99 Stuart Milner, Tame Bridge 5th £ 6 70 Kath Cook, Hilton Road July winners were (126 members) 1st £20 120 Jan Morris, Leconfield 2nd £15 15 Barbara Morley, Tame Bridge 3rd £12 17 Walter Pattison, Stainton Road 4th £10 78 Nick Walton, Stainton Road 5th £ 6 158 Ian McKenzie, Tame Bridge August winners were (126 members) 1st £20 146 Janet Bainbridge, The Green 2nd £15 18 Ann Startin, Brackenhill Walk 3rd £12 33 Pat Bayliss, Stainton Road 3

4th £10 104 Sylvia Ward, The Green 5th £ 6 31 Ann Woodward, Holme Lane September winners were (126 members) 1st £20 94 Dennis Sanderson, The Green 2nd £15 64 Arnold Cook, Hilton Road 3rd £12 46 Jimmy Hutchinson, Hilton Road 4th £10 139 Andrew Branch, Hilton Road 5th £ 6 20 Edmund & Pam Phillips, Tame Bridge October winners were (126 members) 1st £20 4 Barbara Hutchinson, Hilton Road 2nd £15 37 Gill Jopling, Holme Lane 3rd £12 21 Marjorie Burn, Stainton Road 4th £10 3 Jo Batey, Hilton Road 5th £ 6 121 Ann Thomas, The Green For those members who joined last December/January, this means that you are due to join again. I will contact you be email, phone or call and see you. If you are not at home, I will leave a letter with details of how to contact me.

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 me coming to see you.

At the moment the village hall is still closed and this is the only source of income it has, so I hope you will continue to support it. If anyone would like to become a member, it costs £12 a year per number and 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 chris_cooper1@hotmail.com 01642 701733

NOW & THEN MAGAZINE The December/January copy will be available from December 7th to collect from a box under the seat at the front of the village hall.

If you are out for a walk, pick one up when you are passing. There will also be some copies of the last issue if you didn’t get one.

SEAMER METHODIST CHURCH We hope you are adjusting to the new regulations and looking forward to this very special time of the year - Christmas. We are all hoping we can have as good a Christmas period as usual meeting friends and families, but need to bear in mind that the spread of Covid is still to be considered.

As Christians, Christmas has an extra special meaning for us as it’s the 4

birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who came into the world to forgive our sins. In these difficult times for us all, we believe that God has a plan for us and this helps us cope with whatever we are confronted with.

This does not mean we expect to be exempt from what happens but gain comfort from his love for us.

The Seamer Church has been closed over the lockdown period with online services being streamed from Great Ayton and Stokesley Methodist Churches but we will be holding some events in December.

The Tree lighting Ceremony will take place at 4 pm on Sunday December 6th but will be held in the Garden with social distancing. One lucky child will get to switch on the lights. We are allowed to sing some carols and Christmas songs outside but the event will be shorter than usual. Please come well wrapped up and with facemasks.

On 20th December at 10.30 am there will be a short (35 minutes) Carol Service held in the Church. Numbers will be limited by covid regulations which will be fully followed.

On January 3rd a service will be held at 10.30 am led by Rev Graham Peacock. Again this will be a short 35 minute service.

It is with great regret, that for the first time in over 60 years, Carol Singing around the village will not take place. Whilst the regulations do allow us to do this, in the interest of people’s safety, both those doing the singing and those inside the houses. We do hope to produce a card and deliver these to everyone in Seamer and if it can be organised perhaps including details of how you can join in a community Singalong instead from your own home.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. God bless and take care.

All at Seamer Methodist Church STOKESLEY LOOP For anyone who is not familiar with this newsletter, it is definitely worth subscribing to.

It is a regular newsletter covering items from Stokesley and surrounding area. These can be from Stokesley businesses, the library, Parish Council, planning matters, police information, Community Care Association, Coronavirus updates with a diary from a surgeon on the front line at James Cook Hospital, photo’s, quizzes, video’s plus much more.

If you would like to subscribe the email address is stokesleyloop@gmail.com 5

JAM & CHUTNEY This is another selection of Jenny’s produce that I have. If would like to buy any of the following, please let me know and I will deliver them to you: Jams @ £2 Strawberry Strawberry & Rhubarb Bramble & Apple Raspberry & Apple Chutney @ £2 Beetroot & Apple Green Tomato Chutney @ 1.50 Spicy Pear Apple & Ale Chutney @ £1 Rhubarb & Ginger Mint Jelly Christine Cooper 01642 701733 JAM JARS WANTED It is over a year since I told you about my friend Jenny Firman who in her spare time makes jams, jellies, marmalade, chutney's and pickles of every description to sell to raise money for Cancer Research UK. This is a message from Jenny The total is in.

This year I’ll be handing over £3,150 to Cancer Research UK. That’s a project total of £28,750 since the beginning.

I’d like to thank all my customers and everyone who donates produce year in year out. This project wouldn’t happen without you.

So now we start again and as we were shut down for the early part of the year, I’m saying this next year will run for 12 months from now.

Let’s see what we can achieve.

Jenny This amount has been raised in ten years and is sent to Cancer Research UK to be used in the Newcastle research facility. I’m sure you will agree this is a tremendous achievement in what has been a very difficult year to fundraise.

To be able to do this Jenny requires lots of jam jars and produce to fill them with. Many of you have been saving jars for her and she would be grateful if you could keep on doing so. Please save any glass jars varying in size up to 1lb or 454g.

If you have a surplus of any produce and don’t know what to do with it, frozen or fresh, she will be glad to take it off your hands and is willing to 6

pick it as well.

The glass jars can be left at the village hall when it is re-opens or they can be left at Lowfields Farm, Stainton Road, Seamer – by the gates, or you can contact Jenny and she will collect them and/or any produce from you.

If you would like to see what she makes and wish to place an order -maybe for Christmas presents - or if you have an outlet where you could sell her preserves, take a look on her Facebook page.

Her details are: Jenny Firman 01642 723934/07725207515: Facebook: easby charity preserves , e-mail: easbycharitypreserves@yahoo.co.uk With your help I hope she will be able to raise a lot more money for this very deserving charity.

Many thanks Christine Cooper 01642 701733 STOKESLEY TOY BANK APPEAL George Carter founder of Labman collects toys every year for this good cause (children who don’t get much at Christmas). Ideally new or almost new.

If anyone has anything to donate please drop it off at Labman or hang on my gate (Churchside Cottage 4 Hilton Road) by Thursday evening and I’ll take it along.

Jo Batey HOW TO BUILD A HEDGEHOG HOUSE PART 2 Now for some good news on the animal front.

The picture shows Jo Batey’s new hedgehog house built after last months instructions in Grapevine.

On the same theme, Viv Hyman has this story to tell Looking into our back garden after lunch one day in early November, what should I see but a small hedgehog walking across the lawn! If they are out and about during the daytime it is usually a sign of illness or injury, and if they are underweight around this time it is unlikely they will make it through hibernation. Ours was only 275grams.

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So we rang the nearest available member of Cleveland Hedgehog Preservation Society, who turned out to be in Stockton.

We put our little hog in a stout cardboard box lined with magazine pages and stuffed with torn up newspaper, and gave her food and water. On the lady’s advice, we added a warm hot water bottle and set off in the car to deliver her to the rescue centre.

The youngster was declared uninjured, and the lady was happy to adopt her for a month or so to build her up, ready for the winter before she’s returned to us.

Apparently, hedgehogs get to know their native area so it’s best that they are returned to it as soon as possible. We have several hedgehog houses in the garden which we hope will provide her with a winter nest when she returns.

Meanwhile, here are some hedgehog First Aid tips from CHPS. If the hedgehog is out in daylight the best thing to do is leave it alone PROVIDED that: 1. It is not in immediate danger, e.g. on a main road or being molested.

2. There are no signs of injury.

3. It is not swaying or wobbling as it walks.

4. It has not been lying in the same place for more than an hour.

5. It is not late autumn and the hedgehog weighs less than 600grams.

If one of these does apply, put on gloves and put the animal in a box, as described above. DO NOT GIVE IT MILK, but offer water and cat or dog food, NOT FISH based, or chopped up cooked chicken. Take it indoors and keep it warm.

Ring CHPS for advice, or for them to take the hedgehog. If there is any sign of injury or blood, take it straight to the vet’s, if possible. After touching a hedgehog, always wash your hands well.

You can contact CHPS on www.clevelandhedgehogs.org.uk where you can find the phone numbers you may need. Another good website for information on hedgehogs and many other animals is www.helpwildlife.co.uk Viv Hyman

TRIBUTES TO SUE SCHELLING Coronavirus has overshadowed us for many months, Unfortunately it also masked the passing of one of our villagers. We felt we must mark the occasion.

Sue was a vibrant personality, embracing life and gathering people into a warm ,friendly circle. We miss her as a friend, an accomplished hostess, a singing partner (Singalong), an energetic table tennis player and of course as quizmaster. To remember Sue and Jim conducting our Village Hall quiz 8

was something else. They put on a unique show that educated and entertained. To put it bluntly no one else did it their way to our great benefit.

Thank you Sue and we send our heartfelt sympathies to Jim. Love from Kay and Joan xx.

My friend Sue Sue I’m struggling to believe that you’re gone A close friend whose kettle was always on Your upbeat persona and wise advice I valued you so much in my life You touched so many with your sparkle and fizz From Sing-a-long to the Seamer Sue & Jim quiz Our cat walk model at the jumble sale, bra to hats The glint when you’d slip a new word in our chats Lockdown saw Cafe Mouton open even in rain There were days that distanced cuppa kept me sane You were one in a million, caring and kind Your memory will forever live in my mind Love Jo XX REMEMBRANCE DAY 2020 Whilst Lockdown prevented

the planned services at both the Methodist Church and Saint Martin’s the event was marked by the village Hall being decorated with the Poppies made by by the Craft Group for the 100th Year anniversary of the services.

Thanks to Tony Barnes for the photograph.

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Note that: although there is no post box for this in the village Hall (as it is closed), cards will still be delivered to residents in Seamer, and can be posted in the post boxes at the listed locations in the advert

TIME FOR A LAUGH Recycled Christmas Jokes to cheer us up.

What do snowmen eat for lunch? Icebergers!

What do monkeys sing at Christmas? Jungle bells!

What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire? Frostbite Who’s Rudolph’s favourite pop star? Beyon-sleigh!

What do you call buying a piano for the holidays? Christmas Chopin!

Who delivers presents to cats? Santa Paws!

What goes Ho Ho Whoosh, Ho Ho Whoosh? Santa going through a revolving 10

door!

Why don't you ever see Santa in hospital? Because he has private elf care!

What’s a child’s favourite king at Christmas? A stoc-king!

Why did the turkey cross the road? Because it was the chicken’s day off!

What do you get if you cross Santa with a detective? Santa Clues!

What did the beaver say to the Christmas Tree? Nice gnawing you!

How does Darth Vader enjoy his Christmas Turkey? On the dark side!

Why did no one bid for Rudolph and Blitzen on eBay? Because they were two deer!

What does the Queen call her Christmas Broadcast? The One Show!

What does Miley Cyrus have at Christmas? Twerky!

What do angry mice send to each other at Christmas? Cross-mouse cards!

Who hides in the bakery at Christmas? A mince spy!

What does Santa do with out of shape elves? Sends them to an elf farm.

How did Scrooge win the football game? The ghost of Christmas passed!

What is Santa’s favourite place to deliver presents? Idaho-ho-ho!

Why couldn’t the skeleton go to the Christmas Party? Because he had nobody to go with!

What do you call a bunch of chess players bragging about their games in a hotel lobby? Chess nuts boasting in an open foyer!

When is a boat just like snow? When it’s adrift!

What did the stamp say to the Christmas card? Stick with me and we'll go places!

Who do Santa’s helpers call when they’re ill? The National Elf Service!

Why is it getting harder to buy Advent calendars? Their days are numbered!

Who is Santa’s favourite singer? Elf-is Presley!

How did Mary and Joseph know Jesus' weight when he was born? They had a weigh in a manger!

Why did Santa's helper see the doctor? Because he had a low elf esteem!

What do you get if you cross Santa with a duck? A Christmas Quacker!

Why was the snowman looking through the carrots? He was picking his nose!

What does Santa suffer from if he gets stuck in a chimney? Claustrophobia!

Why was the turkey in the pop group? Because he was the only one with drumsticks!

What did Adam say the day before Christmas? “It’s Christmas, Eve!” What is the best Christmas present in the world? A broken drum, you just can’t beat it!

What do snowmen have for breakfast? Snowflakes!

What do snowmen wear on their heads? Ice caps!

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What happened to the man who stole an Advent Calendar? He got 25 days!

Who delivers presents to baby sharks at Christmas? Santa Jaws!

What do Santa’s little helpers learn at school? The elf-abet!

What do they sing at a snowman’s birthday party? Freeze a jolly good fellow!

How do snowmen get around? They ride an icicle!

What kind of motorbike does Santa ride? A Holly Davidson!

How did Scrooge win the football game? The ghost of Christmas passed!

What does Santa do when his elves misbehave? He gives them the sack!

What did Santa do when he went speed dating? He pulled a cracker!

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 Judith Turland Judithturland@gmail.com 710489 John Groom john@hillviews.co.uk 712138 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

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