Causeway February 2021 by Causeway Magazine Thorp Arch and Walton

CAUSEWAY FEBRUARY 2021 Covid19 Vaccine Update Love in Lockdown Brian Wilson Remembered

Serving the communities of Thorp Arch and Walton Advertising Index

Contact: John Pendleton, 07828 524568 jlp@proportionmarketing.co.uk

Accountants

Curtains, Furnishing

Holiday Cottages

Gillbeck Associates..........30

Louâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Threads....................19

Priory Cottages.................22

Decorators

Kitchens

Alarms

Oliver Willard....................28

Aberford Interiors.............19

PGK Security.....................30

The Decorating Centre.....22

Architects

Electrical Services

Andrew Morgan................28

McNicholas Architects......30

P Collier.............................22

Cameron Beaumont..........05

Bed & Breakfast

Estate Agents

PA/Secretarial Concierge

Four Gables......................23

Beadnall & Copley............32

David Bransby...................27

Funerals

Plumbing and Heating

Tony Barker.......................28

Peter Norman...................30

Gardening

Retail Parks

Lawn Keeper.....................19

Thorp Arch Retail Park......04

Peter Howard...................23

Building Materials Kirbys................................14 Carpet Cleaning Wetherby Carpet..............28 Cars/MOT Westmoreland Cars..........31 Chimney Sweep Mooring Brothers.............22

MK Landscaping...............04 Hairdressing

Opticians

Taxi Services Jorvik Travel......................28

Ian Blakey..........................30 Hardware

Tree Services Bardsey Tree Services.......14

Douglas Yeadon................23

Chiropody Boston Spa Chiropody......28

Front Cover - Frosty All Saints Photo by John Pendleton Causeway - Editors Lisa Sherratt and Victora Etherington. Chair, Design, Advertising John Pendleton. Distribution (Thorp Arch) Jane Clayton (Walton) Gay Childe and David Spencer. Big thanks to the entire distribution team. Please refer to the Contacts Page for contact details. The Editor and Management Committee do not endorse any content of articles or advertisements in this magazine nor shall they be liable directly or indirectly for any damages which may arise from information or views contained in these pages. 2

From your Editors causeway.editor@gmail.com

Dear Readers

This edition marks the first anniversary for Lisa and myself as editors of Causeway and what a year it has been! This edition is slightly different, for the first time I am flying solo as Lisa is awaiting a new arrival any day now. I am sure you join me in wishing her and the new baby well. Living throughout the pandemic continues to be a huge challenge for us all, some more than others. If you are in need of help please visit www.leeds.gov.uk/coronavirus or contact the Boston Spa Volunteer Action group penny.stables@gmail.com or 07941 797902. If on the other hand you are able to offer help I am sure that Penny will also be glad to hear from you. It is more important now more than ever to try and support one another; as an alternative to the usual Valentines Day fare, we have some thoughts about what love in a time of Coronavirus might look like on page 17. Or perhaps your New Year’s resolution involved getting fit and healthy? If so, you might like to check out page 6, which invites you to consider running for Martin House this year. After that run you might want to refuel with Anne’s scrumptious sourdough chocolate cake recipe on page 16! And we remember Brian Wilson on pages 24 and 25.

Contents

Hopefully, there is something for everyone in this month’s edition. Please remember it is

Editor’s Letter News from Martin House News from our Churches Clergy Letter Sunday Services Thorp Arch Parish Council Wetherby Ward Councillor Message

3 6 7 8 9 10 11

your contributions that make the magazine what it is and without them we will be unable to keep it going. Let us know what your (third) lockdown life is looking like! If you have any contributions for Causeway or would like to join the team please email us at causeway.editor@gmail.com. Blessings

Now available online at issuu.com/ causewaymag and LARGE PRINT VERSION AVAILABLE BY EMAILING CAUSEWAY. EDITOR@GMAIL.COM. Causeway is a voluntary community magazine which is published 10 times a year (monthly except for January and August). Contributions are considered by our Editorial Team and are invited to be emailed to causeway.editor@gmail.com by 10th of the month prior to publication. Local News Green News Sourdough Chocolate Cake Love in a time of Coronavirus The Birds in your Garden Christmas Trails Brian Wilson Remembered

12 15 16 17 18 20 24

Available online at issuu.com/causewaymag and LARGE PRINT VERSION - EMAIL CAUSEWAY.EDITOR@GMAIL.COM. Causeway is a community magazine produced and distributed by a team of dedicated volunteers which is published 10 times a year (monthly except for January and August). Contributions are considered by our Editorial Team and are invited to be emailed to causeway. editor@gmail.com by 10th of the month prior to publication. 3

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Calling all Runners! Join Team Martin House and Sign up to Run

Runners who sign up to run for Martin House each receive a fundraising pack and support from the events team to help them reach their sponsorship target, along with a Martin House running top.

Sign up for a new challenge in 2021 by putting on your running shoes to raise cash for Martin House Hospice Care for Children and Young People.

The money they raise goes to help Martin House care for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions from West, North and East Yorkshire, as well as supporting their families.

After major running events were cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19, the hospice is now hoping people will sign up to join events planned for later this year, including the Great North Run.

It provides planned respite care, emergency and symptom control care, end of life care and bereavement support, at the hospice, in hospitals and in people’s own homes.

Nikki Denton, events fundraising manager at Martin House, said: “We’re so excited to be able to offer places in this year’s runs. We’re all really hopeful that as the Covid-19 vaccine rolls out, everything will go ahead as planned this year.

Nikki added: “Obviously the impact of the pandemic has been devastating to us all in many different ways, but for Martin House it’s hit us hard in our ability to raise the money we need to provide this vital care.

“After the year we’ve all just had, and even though we’ve just returned into lockdown, we hope people will feel still motivated to sign up and take on a challenge, whether they are putting on trainers for the first time or are a seasoned runner.

“Understandably last year, all the runs we participate in were cancelled, and we also had to cancel virtually all of our own fundraising events, which was a huge blow to us.

“We have lots of fantastic supporters who had signed up to take part last year, who have retained their spot for 2021, but we still have places available on all our runs.

“It costs nearly £9 million a year to run Martin House, and we expect to lose about £2.2 million in fundraising income due to Covid-19, so we’re really hoping people will feel able to take on the challenge for Martin House.”

“We can give you lots of advice and support on how to raise your sponsorship while staying Covidsecure. There’s also plenty of time to train for our runs, as they all take place later in the year.”

You can find out more, and sign up at www.martinhouse.org.uk/events.

As well as the Great North Run, Martin House has places in the Leeds and York 10Ks, Leeds Half Marathon and the Yorkshire Marathon.

News from our Churches A third lockdown is upon us!

worship in their own homes in this way.

Although it is permitted for churches to remain open for public worship this time around, we feel that the best course of action is to offer worship in ways which do not involve physical gatherings of people.

Our Sunday services will be livestreamed from a different village church each week, and there is a new Sunday service being offered over the phone! - see below. As far as we know at the time of writing, we are still able to keep Bramham (10am-4pm) and Boston Spa (9.30am-3.30pm) churches open daily for food bank drop offs and private prayer. You can still contact the Parish Office and our clergy as before. Church has not closed or gone away, in fact we are busier than ever. Do contact us if you need help accessing our services, or simply are feeling isolated. We are here for you.

Overconfidence and exceptionalism have each played their part in the tragedy of our nation’s response to this public health crisis. Our churches need to be part of the remedy, not contributing to the problem. We have also learned over the past year that there is nothing ‘virtual’ about worshipping online. Virtual implies that something isn’t real, and yet many have found a renewed sense of community and spirituality by joining in with

Yours in Christ, THE REVEREND NICK MORGAN

SERVICES ONLINE:

SERVICES BY PHONE:

Live services of Holy Communion will appear on our Facebook page - www.Facebook.com/ BramhamBenefice and also on the main page of our website www.BramhamBenefice.org and you can download an order of service from the Online Services.

A traditional language service of Matins from the Book of Common Prayer will be led by the Rev’d Trish Anslow at 11am every Sunday. Joining in is as simple as picking up the phone and dialling in. This is technology which most of us are familiar with, and this has proven very popular in other parts of the country during previous lockdowns.

Every Sunday, Holy Communion at 10am will be live streamed from one of our churches. Only those leading worship will be present in the churches and it will not be possible for you to physically attend. A special prayer of Spiritual Communion is said as part of the service to acknowledge the very real part which the online congregation plays in this form of worship.

All you need is a Book of Common Prayer (if you don’t have one, contact the parish office and we will lend you one!). Details of how to join this service are on page 9

Ash Wednesday on 17th February will be marked with a live streamed service at 10am.

Letter from the Clergy Rev’d Trish wrote this in January, but we thought it was worth publishing even though it is a little late! Ed

sunshine that brightened our days. Remember the appreciation we all felt for the key workers and the sense of community as we stood in the street and clapped. A sense of community came to mean something important to those who live alone and to those who volunteered to help.

Happy New Year to you all! I looked back on the letter I wrote for January 2020 and found it was full of talk about travel; the visits we would all have made to see relatives and the travel of refugees in most countries around the world.

Our churches survived as the government banned public worship, and those who embraced the world of IT were able to join in and access services put out by Rev Nick. We were encouraged to find that God is with us wherever we are, at home, in the garden or in our bubble.

Well! What a difference twelve months makes. Many of you will have had Christmas without visits or visitors. It doesn’t matter that the government gave us a ‘holiday’ from restrictions, a great number of us were too cautious to rush into a situation that might have put those we love in danger of contracting the Covid19 virus.

How many people found the peace that comes from going into our opened churches last autumn and having a quiet few minutes of private prayer? It may become a habit that is well worth keeping up.

As we heard through the summer months of 2020, the travel of refugees did not seem to be affected by the pandemic. Just as the holy family, two thousand years ago, had to flee to Egypt to avoid persecution, many of those who risked the dangers of the high seas or sealed lorries were fleeing from political persecution and a small matter of a pandemic would not deter them.

The last nine and a half months have been a new experience for most of us and I hope this new year brings us to a sense of normality. Grateful thanks due to the people who are the instruments of God’s goodness; the key workers, the scientists who have given us a vaccine, the volunteers and all who have found meaning in the commandment, ‘love your neighbour as yourself’.

The charities set up to give aid to the less fortunate, those in camps or in dire circumstances in their own countries, have noted a dramatic reduction in their income in 2020. The fundraising that comes from the activities of so many who run marathons, hold fetes, donate to shops, or stand on streets collecting spare cash, has all become a victim of the restrictions on our movement. The lockdown has made us all aware of our responsibility to those who rely on charities and so many of you have donated. Thank you.

A joyful new year to you all. REVD TRISH

Love your neighbour as yourself

Last year was one so different and I am reminded of that music called ‘ The good, the bad and the ugly’. Many are eager to tell us all about the bad and the ugly, but we have so many good things we can thank the Lord for. Cast your mind back to the birdsong we could hear as we sat in our gardens in the spring, the 8

Sunday Services Due to a third national lockdown all services are online; please see page 7 for more information or below for details of how to access a phone service.

A note from Rev’d Nick I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone, both in our churches and in the wider village communities, for helping spread tidings of comfort and joy through December and over Christmas. Whether you were contributing to church services online or in our lovely church buildings; keeping Christmas magic alive for children with community events and trails or decorating and illuminating our villages and churches, your efforts really raised people’s spirits. Something which was much needed for most of us at the end of a challenging and often exhausting year. Above all, the spirit of Christmas was alive through charity fundraising, showing love and concern to the most vulnerable, and in being there for each other. So whether you count yourself a Christian or not, thank you to every one of you who, in your own way, spread the Christmas truth that love is alive in the world, and that joy can be revealed through strangers as well as friends.

Occasional Offices

I look forward to working together with you all to keep doing our bit to spread light, hope, love and peace in our villages and in the wider world throughout 2021.

THORP ARCH

FUNERAL 30th December 2020

Maurice Brian Wilson

Love to you all, REV’D NICK

Thorp Arch Parish Council homes now built. Completion date for the site is expected to be March/April 2021. Homes England/Lovells for 119 houses. Ongoing discussions and consultation by Cllrs and local residents continue with Lovell Homes. It is expected that development will commence in the early part of 2021. Councillors are in discussions with the Ministry of Justice Estates (HMP Wealstun) and Highways regarding community issues relating to the cycle path.

January 2021 News Bulletin Happy New Year The Parish Council would like to wish all residents a Happy and Healthy 2021. The past twelve months have been the most difficult in the living memories of most of us.

Volunteers and Helpers Needed

The threat to health from Covid 19; the isolation and loneliness resulting from protective measures, understandably imposed and the constant need for new ways of living, have placed a great strain on our communities as they sought to protect the vulnerable, and the NHS.

Thorp Arch needs you! We are looking for volunteers to help keep the village looking good all year round. If you think you could lend a hand now and again or just want to find out what it might involve then we would love to hear from you. Even something small like watering plants would be helpful. Please get in touch with any of your Parish Councillors or contact: clerk@thorp-arch.org.uk

As we now commence another national lockdown, we hope Thorp Arch residents will continue with their great resilience, good spirits and neighbourliness throughout this period.

Speed Indication Devices (SIDs)

National Lockdown

The Parish Council regularly download data from the SIDs on Church Causeway and Walton Road. The data displays speeds of vehicles, times and dates. The data tables can be viewed on our website: www.thorp-arch.org.uk. There was a slight decrease in car numbers during November and December at both locations and a slight decrease in maximum speeds in both months. The numbers exceeding the mandatory speed limits are very consistent in both locations.

The latest national lockdown is now underway. The Government has said: You must stay at home. The single most important action we can all take is to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives. Please follow the guidance at www.gov.uk/coronavirus. 2021/22 Precept Every year the Parish Council applies to the City Council for a Precept. This is a sum of money used to improve the area and can be viewed on council tax bills.

Police Report The police have developed a new way of collating and distributing the crime figures for the ward. They have set up a website which provides a detailed crime mapping function There are currently some issues with it but once it is sorted out, we will publicise the link. Register for a community alert: For daily crime updates in your area please register for community alert. Here you will receive updates about crime in your area, and crime prevention advice. Visit www.wypcommunityalert.co.uk.

This year Councillors have agreed a Precept of £20,000, which incorporates an £800 inflationary rise only. Reserves will be used to cover a £4,870 difference between the budget and Precept. Housing Developments The Chartford Homes/Homes England application for 26 dwellings continues on site. The development is well underway with 17 10

Wetherby Ward Message Report a Problem

A huge undertaking to ensure that it goes ahead with the utmost speed, but also that it is done safely. This is where the community element comes in, we are constantly impressed with how volunteers step up time and time again to offer their services, their time, or often both. Thank you to the volunteers who have helped marshal the queues at the vaccination centre and tried to tame the elements and keep the snow at bay and people comfortable while they wait for the ‘jab’.

Residents can report a range of problems online to Leeds City Council concerning potholes, street lighting, dog fouling, blocked drains, footpaths, bridleways, fallen trees and street signs. Please make a note of the link and report problems directly at www.leeds.gov.uk/parkingroads-and-travel/report-an-issue-with-a-road-orpavement

Similarly, back in December, an army of volunteers across the ward helped out to ensure we had some festive cheer on our high streets by helping with the Christmas lights. Unlike at home, it’s not just a case of opening the box, untangling the wire and throwing them up on the tree! These lights have to be inspected to ensure they are safe (and working) prior to being installed – a task that is far more involved and time consuming than you might imagine. Now those same volunteers are helping to bring the lights in so we can have them for this Christmas.

Newsletter Sign Up The Parish Council now produce their own electronic Newsletter. This can be accessed via www.thorp-arch.org.uk If you would like to receive the newsletter and other information directly from us, then please sign up via the website. The Newsletter sign up box can be found on the Homepage. Date of Next Parish Council Meeting The next meeting will be held remotely on Monday 8th February 2021 – 7pm to 9pm. If you would like to join the meeting, please contact the Clerk on clerk@thorp-arch.org.uk

Going back a little earlier in 2020, we had a multitude of volunteers who came forward in the first lockdown to ensure our older residents were looked after. Our thanks go to the good people at WiSE who coordinated efforts so spectacularly and ensured everyone was looked after. Letting you in to a little secret – at the start there were so many volunteers the systems couldn’t cope with everyone wanting to help – thank you. I hope we can call on your support if we need it moving forward.

Wetherby Ward Councillors Message

Covid was a common theme for everyone last year and is still leading the way we live our lives right now. The vaccine hopefully will change this shortly and we can go back to enjoying our normal lives. There have been difficulties along the way, but as a community we have worked together to overcome those challenges together. So finally, a thank you to you too for going above and beyond when it was needed.

Firstly, we would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a prosperous, but more importantly, healthy 2021. 2020 was a unique year and one that many will want to forget and for good reason. As Wetherby Ward Councillors, while this presented our town and villages with enormous challenges, we believe it also brought out the best in those communities too.

Let’s look forward to making 2021 bigger, bolder, brighter and more beautiful than we thought possible.

We are currently at the outset of the Covid vaccination programme for our elderly residents.

For information please contact 0113 378 8581. 11

Local News Boston Spa Surgery - Covid19 Vaccine Update

Once you have received your jab you will be notified by the surgery after 12 weeks that you will be due to have your booster jab of the same vaccine as the first. The surgery Facebook page and www.bostonspasurgery.co.uk is kept fully up to date.

Whilst the Patient Participation Group has not met for some time, I thought one or two points may be useful with regard to the vaccination programme.

Please note that you are currently unable to telephone for repeat prescriptions which should be placed in the box in the lobby of the surgery just by the front door. Better still, sign up for the Systmonline service which allows patients to order repeat prescriptions, view test results and much more. Speak to a receptionist about this.

As things stand, all vaccines are being administered at Wetherby Health Centre and you will be notified by the surgery when you are to be offered a jab. Please therefore do not telephone the surgery to make such an enquiry. As you may have heard or read, the aim is to offer a vaccine to all over the age of 70 by mid-Feb.

Please help the surgery by being patient and be assured you will receive a vaccination in the order set out by the government. Stay well. DAVID COATES PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP MEMBER

Wetherby Health Centre will administer the vaccine

Local News Thorp Arch and Walton YCA (Ladies Group)

Walton Footpath Fouling Causeway had been contacted by a resident of Walton regarding the amount of dog faeces in the grass on the path from School Lane to the old railway track.

The group continues to meet monthly via zoom and in October restarted hosting speakers, which have always been an intrinsic part of the group activity, and have been missed by many during the initial months of lockdown.

The editor too has noticed a significant increase in dog faeces throughout lockdown. Please, please be considerate of others and clean up after your dogs.

To trial the speaker sessions, two members gave talks to their fellow members, so in October we were entertained by Val Howse’s trip down memory lane remembering her numerous amateur dramatic appearances and enjoying the photos she shared with us. In November, Fiona Spence shared her experiences of working in oil refining with photos of her international travels and anecdotes of some of her adventures. In December we held our virtual Christmas Party. We should have been at the Bridge Inn enjoying their hospitality, but we’ll be back there in 2021... (everything crossed!). We had a Christmas themed quiz and all enjoyed wine and mince pies, a good chat and a photo montage of some of our activities from the last few years. Many of us enjoyed the Thorp Arch present trail and Walton’s beautiful lights during December. At the time of writing this we are looking forward to hearing a talk by Tara Howell about her life adapting to becoming paraplegic after a riding accident. This is our first external speaker via zoom so watch this space to hear how it went!

Design a Sign Calling all young budding designers! The Friends of Stables Lane are looking for a unique design for a new sign pointing to the park.

If you are interested in joining the group then please do get in touch, as well as the monthly meetings we also have a lively newsletter and members continue to share limitless support and friendship in these slightly unusual times.

They’re encouraging all local schools and organisations to get creative and enter the competition. The closing date for entries is 28th February 2021.

FIONA SPENCE SECRETARY THORP ARCH & WALTON (YCA) LADIES GROUP

tawyca@outlook.com 01937 520271 / 07930 342104

Green News Green Homes Grant Our homes are one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gases in the UK. You could reduce your carbon footprint and save money on your energy bills by adding additional insulation: in your loft, your walls or under your floor. You could also consider an Air Source Heat Pump or adding solar panels to your roof - and create your own energy! There are currently Government Green Homes Grants available to apply for, which will cover up to 2/3 of the cost up to a ceiling of £5,000, or 100% up to £10,000 if you are on benefits. See this article: homebuilding.co.uk Green Homes Grant Extension Until 2022 is Huge Boost for Homeowners The Green Homes Grant extension announced on Wednesday will give homeowners longer to complete green home improvements. Save Energy Help the Planet: Did you know that the voltage at your home is too high? We are in the vanguard to get it changed for everyone. Please help. Reduce electricity bills, save the planet – sign the petition: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/561281.

Recycling our Coffee Cups You will all have noticed the massive increase in waste produced from the increase in takeaway coffees, filling our bins and spilling over onto the streets and riverside. The Community Green Group has decided to do something about it. We are holding a competition to design new bins to recycle coffee cups that can be industrially composted. The winner will receive £50 vouchers for Stew & Oyster and Tom Foolery. See details on our website bostongreengroup.co.uk/recycling/ design-a-bin-competition-and-win/

Chocolatey Heaven! Sourdough Chocolate Cake

Having updated it slightly, I’m pleased to say it still lives up to its former eminence. The gentle acidity and moistness of sourdough marries perfectly with chocolate… I have to say, it’s a winner. The secret ingredient, as before, is that little hint of cinnamon.

Judging by the handwriting on my original recipe card, I’ve had this one for nearly 50 years. I’ve tried making various cakes with sourdough with mixed results, so I was keen to try this one again - it used to be my piéce de resistance.

ANNE WATTS

Serves 12

Alternatively, butter the bottom well and dust with 1 tbsp. flour – shake out the excess. Preheat oven to 160 C. (convection), 350 F.

175 g. (1¾ c.) flour 75 g. (2/3 c.) cocoa (unsweetened) 1½ tsp. bicarbonate of soda ½ tsp. baking powder 1 tsp salt 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon 150 g. (2/3 c.) butter, softened 300 g. (1 2/3 c.) caster sugar 3 large eggs 225 g. (1 c.) sourdough starter 1 tsp. vanilla extract 140 ml (3/4 c.) water

Combine all of the dry ingredients and stir well with a fork. Cream the butter with the sugar until light – 3-4 minutes with electric beaters. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Add the starter and the vanilla extract and combine. Add the dry ingredients alternately with the water – mix at low speed, don’t overmix. Pour into prepared pans and bake for 25 - 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 5 minutes, then invert onto a rack. Frost as you like!

Prepare 2 x 23-cm (9-inch) cake pans – spray with cooking spray or butter lightly, line with a round of baking parchment.

Valentine in Quarantine? Love in a Time of Coronavirus

fertility festival of Lupercalia. Others point out there are numerous early Christian martyrs named Valentine or Valentinus. The most likely explanation is that Lupercalia is why it is on February 14th and the early martyrs are responsible for the naming of the day.

February is traditionally the month our thoughts turn to love...or perhaps not! Many people say they find Valentine’s Day to be over commercialised and somewhat artificial. I would tend to agree. If the only day Andrew expressed his feelings was February 14th, I suspect our relationship would be in dangerous waters. Despite this, Brits spend around £1.5 billion on Valentine’s Day!

Although we don’t know which of the martyrs we are celebrating, what they have in common is that the acts they were executed for demonstrate love for neighbour, rather than romantic love. So maybe this year we could make it a celebration of neighbourly, as well as romantic, love? With this in mind what might a lockdown Valentines day look like? Here are ten ideas below for things you could do on valentines day, with your partner (whether you are able to be together or not), with friends, or for people in your neighbourhood.

Although in modern times, Valentine’s Day is associated with romantic love, this interpretation of the festival has its roots in the late fourteenth and fifteenth centuries; and it was not until the eighteenth century that the tradition of couples exchanging tokens of their love was established. Then in 1913 Hallmark started to produce valentines day cards and it was all downhill from then on!

There are lots of things we can do this year. Whatever you do, I hope you have a lovely evening, and if you find something especially quirky please do let us know, but remember this is a family magazine!

The exact origins of the festival are lost in the mists of time. Some people believe it is celebrated in February as an attempt to Christianise the somewhat bawdy Roman

VICTORIA

Alternative Valentines 1

Try stargazing; there are a number of apps available, I used Night Sky

Organise a skype call with someone who lives alone

Do an online cooking class, this is fun whoever you do it with!

Find an opportunity to volunteer

Try organising a virtual book or podcast club with friends or people who live alone

Perhaps you could give the money you would have spent on going out to a charity, many are really struggling due to the lack of fundraising events this year.

Try an online escape room; The Panic Room have a wide range at reasonable prices

Cook or bake a treat for partner, friend or neighbour to let them know you are thinking about them

Donate valentines gifts to the local 10

at the church (see page 7) 17

The Birds in your Garden Who Feeds Garden Birds?

usually take seeds away to eat, whilst Great Tits may do so too or may eat in situ. Conversely, Finches when solitary or in pairs will sit and scrunch seeds for several minutes. Things are different when a flock arrives; then it’s all about competition. Look more closely at finches feeding though, and you’ll see some of them, Bullfinches especially, roll the seeds in their beaks to remove the skin, even with sunflower hearts.

Answer – two thirds of us! And we spend upwards of £600m doing so! I’m not alone in having watched the birds in my garden more this year than ever before. You don’t have to put out food to have birds around, but you certainly see more if you do, and it’s well worth varying what you put out to see which is their favourite. It’s suet balls in this restaurant!

About the only birds which feed amicably as a flock are Long Tailed Tits, and I’ve seen 6 or 8 spend several minutes on suet balls all together.

Our garden is on the edge of York and normally welcomes around a dozen species each week in winter. The last few weeks though, it’s been more like 15 or 16. What has been thrilling me recently though, is the number of flocks around. I’ve had mixed finch flocks, mixed tit flocks and even Robins and Dunnocks have been present in twos and threes – not at all usual. Mind you, birds don’t often read bird books and don’t always realise how they are supposed to behave!

If you find the lives of our garden birds to be of interest, and would like to join in and count the feathered occupants of your garden, please contact me or visit the BTO Garden BirdWatch website (www.bto.org/gbw). Mike Gray gbwmike@gmail.com.

My mantra has long been “the more you look, the more you see” and this includes studying the interactions within and between species, and the different feeding strategies they use. New to me this year has been watching Nuthatches. There are two around, though I don’t think they are a pair, as one is very dominant, and they are never on the feeders together. That said, they both send off any intruders of a different species, and given those beaks, who’s going to argue? They are persistent cachers too. They just never stop going back and forth, and can be seen hiding black sunflower seeds under stones on the path, in the flower beds and in all sorts of nooks. I fear a sunflower explosion this summer, and I know who is going to be expected to pull them all up. A pair of Coal Tits are also busy caching, though not quite as frenetically. Usually, we have only one Robin around, but this year there are at least three and they can be seen swinging their handbags at each other. Robins have winter territories and will defend them robustly. Dunnocks, also usually solitary, are hopping around under and on the feeders in twos and threes, though I’ve yet to see much unruly behaviour. Another difference in feeding strategy to look out for is that of Blue Tits which 18

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A Safe and Fun Tradition... Thorp Arch Village Trails

due to overwhelming community support we have decided to create 3 annual trail events Halloween, Christmas & Easter.

The team behind the Village trails would like to extend a huge thank you to all residents & supporters for their positive spirit and generosity in this extremely challenging year.

Our aim is to foster community spirit, bring the children a safe & fun tradition while raising funds for Friends of Lady Elizabeth Hastings School. To date we have raised £300 which has been spent on classroom & playground equipment.

Born out of a will to give the children a safe way to enjoy Halloween during the pandemic;

For Halloween as an alternative to trick or treat residents displayed letters to make up a spooky phrase for the children to complete. Special thanks to all for making such a fantastic effort decorating houses, we received some amazing comments from trail walkers ‘best Halloween ever’! Particular highlights included a graveyard at Thorp Arch Hall & a quite spectacular horror scene on Pear Tree Acre! Bravo!

...Continues thanks to all! For the Christmas period we hid 12 presents on display around the village, the children helped Father Christmas find them using our special map & sticker sheet. The twilight

wander up to the church then back through the village for dark was our favourite time to enjoy. The village lights were spectacular & we hope to build on them next year.

Finally special thanks to; All Saints Church, TA Lawn Tennis Club, The Little Treat Box Company, Geo Spence & Sons Ltd, Boston Road Christmas Trees, The Pax Inn pub & Costcutter Boston

Spa. Watch this space for Easter 2021! For more information please contact thorparchmamas@ btinternet.com or find us on Facebook.

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Brian Wilson 1929 - 2020

1st Feb 1929 to 9th Dec 2020 Brian Wilson Remembered

On his father’s side, grandfather Joe Wilson was a master joiner and “built some hotels in Harrogate.” Tony Barker eventually took this business over – you can still see the Wilson name on his building on the High Street in Boston Spa.

Yorkshire Post Notice: Wilson Brian Retired Farmer of Bridge Farm, Thorp Arch, passed away peacefully on 9th December 2020 aged 91 years. Beloved husband of the late Barbara, loving dad of Janet, Heather, David, Martin and Katy, a much-loved granddad and great granddad. A very special and much-loved character.

His father rented a 20-acre park “where he had some cows,” but in 1942 he received a government order to vacate so that they could build a munitions factory, which later became the Trading Estate. In 1945 the Wilson family moved to Bridge Farm in Thorp Arch - to stay. Brian remembers when Thorp Arch Park was built in the late forties; houses sold for around £6,500 each.

From the Causeway archives comes this interview with Brian Wilson written by theneditor Anne Watts in 2014. The family asked Anne to revive this and also provided the eulogy given by Brian’s grandson Harry at his funeral on 30 December. Numbers at the funeral were limited due to the corona pandemic, but the family were gratified to see hundreds of wellwishers lining the street as Brian was taken to the church...fittingly, on a trailer pulled by a tractor. Excerpts from Harry’s eulogy are included in italics.

Brian has a younger brother Geoff. There was just under 3 years difference between Brian and Geoff. Geoff mentioned when they were younger, around 7/8, Geoff fell in the river down Jack Daw Crag and was struggling to get out, but Brian was there to save the day. Brian’s family were mainly dairy farmers. But he had another interest: motorcycle trials (a nonspeed event - trial motorcycles are lightweight and ridden standing up. The competitor rides through sections of an obstacle course without touching his feet to the ground; balance and machine control are key elements).

Getting to Know...Brian Wilson Causeway, May 2014

As a young man he was a real tear-away and his nickname was Crackers - because of his extreme exploits on motorcycles and cars. Brian was a good trails rider, competing in regular competitions, and he once rode in the prestigious SCOTT trial.

Brian Wilson, long-time resident of Thorp Arch, tried to tell me that there is nothing interesting about him... but of course that isn’t true. I know if Brian was here now I would no doubt be getting heckled by him with classic remarks as “you’re a scruffy bugger” and “speak up I can’t hear you!”.

On a farm at the bottom of the village lived the Umpleby family. Young Brian was friendly with the three brothers...

Brian was born on 1 February 1929. Initially his parents lived in Moorlands with his widowed maternal grandmother, Annie Ashworth - she was a lady’s companion to one Mrs Murgatroyd, though Brian doesn’t remember her. He recalls that they later moved into a cottage on Ley’s Lane, and In 1938 the Wilsons moved into newly built Moorend Cottage – Brian shows me a photo of himself aged 9 with his mother in front of this house. “My mother was happy in that cottage,” he said.

He told me how they used to enjoy going down to Elland Road to watch Leeds United and John Charles play football, followed by fish and chips and a night out at the city varieties. ...until their sister Barbara caught his eye. In 1957 Brian and Barbara were married. For their honeymoon they borrowed Dad’s old Humber Hawk and toured Scotland. 25

Long-time resident of Thorp Arch In his later years you could often find Brian watching horse racing at full blast on the telly, doing one of his millions of jigsaws or maybe an evening visit to The Pax for a pint of Guinness.

As Brian tells it, getting up early to do the milking got in the way of the motorcycle trials, so the cows were sold. He turned to arable farming – potatoes, wheat, barley, rape. It was hard work – Brian said that most of the time his kids were growing up, he was out of the house before they got up and didn’t return until after they were in bed. He and Barbara produced five offspring: Janet, Heather, David, Martin, and Kathryn (Katy).

I had the honour of spending 8 months living with my Grandad, and it was great, an eventful experience... just like living with your mate. I’d like to thank my aunt Janet and cousin Rebecca for moving in with Brian after I left, because I know this kept him going and he enjoyed your company.

Which led to 12 grandchildren and followed by two great grandchildren, Oscar and Theo.

I know we all have fond memories of Brian - we could be here for hours telling them all. But I would just like to say thank you for coming out today to celebrate the memory of Brian!

Just as Brian had once taken over the farm from his father, so he passed it on to his son David when he retired (he uses the word loosely) – Brian and Barbara moved to their house on the Park about 20 years ago. But retired? No – he still hasn’t retired, Brian says. In fact, he was supposed to be giving David a lift somewhere as we spoke.

One final note from the Wilson family:

We would like to thank everyone for their kind words and support. It has been a comfort to us all and very much appreciated.

The Wilsons had their first holiday abroad in 1975. It was the year when potatoes were scarce, and the Wilsons had a good crop: they did well. So they went to Madeira with John and Christine Kilby. Barbara liked to travel, and more holidays followed: Tenerife, Mallorca, Canada, but Madeira remained a favourite. “One year we had four holidays,” Brian tells me.

Donations in Brian’s memory can be made to Martin House Hospice Care for Children and Young People via martinhouse.org.uk/donate, and to All Saints Church, Thorp Arch, via 50 Thorp Arch Park, LS23 7AN.

A big milestone occurred in 1999, the year son David took the reins: the owners of Bridge Farm wanted to sell and offered the farm to the Wilsons; until then they had been tenant farmers. So the family pooled their resources and bought the farm. But sadly, Barbara became ill and passed away in March, 2012. Brian and Barbara had been married for 55 years. There are other stories. Brian was good friends with “Jimi” Heselden and “sold a lot of land to him.” There was the uncle who moved to Australia; he was a wool buyer. Any given Saturday will see Brian Wilson at his home, surrounded by his children, 12 grandchildren – and as of this year, a great grandson, young Oscar. You may also see Brian in the Pax.

Rest in Peace Brian

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CONTACTS FOR THORP ARCH & WALTON ORGANISATIONS THORP ARCH

WALTON

All Saints’ Church Rev. Tricia Anslow 844789. Priest In Charge for Bramham Benefice, Rev. Nick Morgan 849471, 07387 728009, revnjmorgan@gmail.com. Parish Office 844402

St Peter’s Church, Village Church Council Clergy: See All Saints’. Church Wardens: Doreen Lister 842344, Bill Kilby 842561. Secretary: Anne Kilby 842561. Treasurer: Fiona Robinson 843338, fionarob@outlook.com. Flowers & Cleaning: Liz and Geoff Harrison 845978

All Saints’, Parochial Church Council Church Wardens: Kathleen Sanderson 844818. David Spurr 842772, david@mulberrycroft.me.uk. Secretary: Georgina Squires 849747, Treasurer & Covenant Secretary: David Spurr 842772. Flowers: Margaret Smyth 841181

Walton Cricket Club Chair: Caroline Hobson 07860 615154, caroline.hobson@btinternet.com Walton Parish Council Chairman: David Aspland. Vice Chair: Brodie Clark CBE. Clerk: Helena Buck, secretary@walton-pc.gov.uk. Members: Stephen Sharp, Edward Simpson, Mark Wake, David Taylor.

Lady Elizabeth Hastings School Head: Michele O'Donnell, secretary@thorparch-leh.co.uk Friends of the School Chair: Hayley Cullen 07712 175178

Walton Village Hall Booking: Brian Eldred info@waltonvillagehallwetherby.org

TABS Cricket Club Chair: Adam Gough 07725 047555

THORP ARCH & WALTON

Thorp Arch Community Association Secretary: Ian Hall 842665, ian.m.hall1@gmail.com

Wetherby Ward Councillors Norma Harrington 01133 788 557. Alan Lamb via The Fox and Hounds. Linda Richards 0113 3788557 linda.richards@ leeds.gov.uk

Thorp Arch Parish Council Chair: John Richardson, Clerk: Tina Wormley 0113 289 3624, clerk@thorp-arch.org.uk. Members: Ian Grainger (Co-opted), Steve O'Loughlin, Nicola Midgley (Co-opted), Charlotte Dyson (Co-opted)

Causeway Magazine Secretary: Jane Clayton 843153. Editors: Lisa Sherratt and Victoria Etherington causeway.editor@gmail.com. Chair, Design and Advertising: John Pendleton jlp@ proportionmarketing.co.uk

Thorp Arch Tennis Club Chair: Neil Brooks. 07960 934497, brooksneil@hotmail. com. Secretary: Jill Tarr. 07709 893046, tarrhigh@hotmail. com. Treasurer: Rob Seldon 541797

Yorkshire Countrywomen’s Association (YCA) Chair: Judith Symonds 541799. Sec: Fiona Spence 520271 tawyca@outlook.com, Treasurer: Fran Bowers 01423 880112

Thorp Arch Village Society Chair: Gill Johnson 541485, gilljohnson.tap@gmail.com. Secretary: Sue Clayton 843181. Treasurer: Shirley Davies 541976.

Leeds City Council general.enquiries@leeds.gov.uk

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