Hillam news june july 2013

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Superfast The voice of Hillam village. founded 1989 by mary little . Delivered free to all homes in hillam. Volume 26 Issue 3. June–JUL y 2013

SUPERFAST BROADBAND FOR HILLAM Superfast broadband for North Yorkshire was launched by Nigel Adams MP on 26th April in Sherburn. The launch event was the first in a 2-year / £70 million project to upgrade broadband services across North Yorkshire. At the launch we heard how it works, and that we were in the first group of villages to benefit from the project.

Local villages already connected are Sherburn, Hillam, Burton Salmon, South Milford and parts of Monk Fryston.

Thanks to the advance publicity in Hillam News, lots of readers submitted orders and were already connected before the official launch. Hillam also had a good contingent at the launch event when the Superfast North Yorkshire team explained the project in detail. The new equipment includes new street cabinets, which are a clear indication that superfast broadband is on its way. At the launch a BT engineer was on hand to explain how the cabinets work.

After receiving comments from readers, Hillam News is predicting that Hillam would be a contender if a competition was launched to find the most enthusiastic

Colour front page kindly sponsored by Nigel Adams MP

Nigel Adams MP with BT engineer Andy Jackson at the launch event

Background to the project Nigel Adams MP was one of a group of North Yorkshire Conservative MPs who made the case for extra money to be spent providing better broadband to rural areas. The ambition was to make superfast broadband available at more than 90% of properties, and a minimum of 2Mbps everywhere else. This complex 2-year project is being managed by North Yorkshire County Council through a company called Superfast North Yorkshire. The network is being delivered by BT, but is available for all service providers.

At the launch event Nigel Adams said, “ I am delighted to see this project progress from getting the money, appointing BT as main contractor and now making the first deliveries. The enthusiastic response from villagers is very gratifying; I now know that it was well worth my while pushing so hard to get the money.”

Our readers report ……

All signed up – thanks to Hillam News for all your help. The new world of superfast broadband! I so love technology! Richard Wright, Burton Salmon

I have ordered the unlimited fibre optic BT Infinity Broadband package which is actually going to save me money compared with my present deal. It is a pity I am not transferring to BT from another provider however, as I I wanted to know what speed will we get and would have liked the Sainsbury’s vouchers! was told “between 25Mbps and 80Mbps, I am chuffed to bits with this nevertheless, so depending how far you are from the cabinet. thank you Hillam News for putting me in the It could be 80Mbps but if you are 1.5km picture. Hillam Square resident away, then it will be more like 25Mbps. Any broadband service provider should be able to Mine was installed the day of the Sherburn supply you and it will cost a premium of about launch publicising our cabinet at Mill Close. £3 per month.” Ray Newton Hillam News team member

Got home from Gloucester to find a nice BT man has fitted new broadband. Speeds up to 37Mbps on son’s laptop. Hillside resident Too far away! I put my order in and they tried to make it work, but I am simply too far away to get it. The project commitment is at least 2Mbps to everybody so I am patiently waiting further developments – currently in the slow lane at 1Mbps. It would be nice to double my present speed. Howard Ferguson

Hillam News is financed by advertising and the generosity of contributors, copiers and distributors.

Issue editor - David Atkinson If you have an article for publication, please phone David Atkinson on 684577 or email dsa99uk@yahoo.co.uk Advertising enquiries to David Edwards on 682346 or exSite@talktalk.net

www.issuu.com/hillamnews

2 THE BIRDING COLUMN There was a memorable record for the village on 14th March: a large flock of exotic Waxwings. In mid-morning, and following a disturbed night’s sleep, I wearily answered the phone to Tony Hudson telling me about 50 Waxwings feeding on crab apples in his garden, the flock ranging between Bedford’s Fold, Hillcrest and Prospect Close. This was an opportunity not to be missed so, fully galvanised into action, I headed off eagerly, camera in hand, listening intently for the telltale high-pitched trilling of a Waxwing flock. After ten minutes’ fruitless search I had just about given up, when I diverted to check on a large tree adjacent to the footpath leading to Austfield Lane, and there they were, evenly spread amongst the branches, all facing the same way into the wind, a flock of no less than 39 birds! Desperate for food, and no doubt on their long flight back to northern Scandinavia, they were on the lookout for anything with fruit on it, but in mid-March there is precious little left after the Fieldfares, Redwings and Blackbirds have devoured everything. Eventually, after circling the area, they settled in trees over the road from the old primary school, before skirmishing in small bursts into a bush in a front garden on the corner of Hillcrest, hoping to make a meal of a pathetic selection of shrivelled berries. I bumped into Imelda Smolinski, en route from the post office to home and, being a very keen birdwatcher and all-round naturalist, Imelda joined me on the bench where we sat enthralled at the prospect of views of such colourful and unusual birds at close quarters. Alas, this rare opportunity was short-lived, as suddenly there was a horrendous blast of dance music from the school – it was break time – and the birds flew off, never to be seen again. I did manage a few photos, one of which accompanies this article.

Like the rest of the UK we have experienced a long period of intense cold that inevitably delayed the arrival of our summer migrant birds, so that birds have been few and far between. On many occasions I have had to shelter in the lee of bare hawthorn bushes from the cold easterly winds. It was on one such day that I thought I would explore the countryside beyond Newthorpe, in the hope of seeing prospecting kites. I had not expected it to be so cold, and even with my parka, filled as it is with the down of Steller’s Eider and with a wolverine fur-lined hood, I was not expecting to be met with such a blaze of icy daggers from the wind, the weak sun totally ineffective against its force. I bet I cut a sorry figure, leaning into the wind, ploughing through the remaining snowdrifts and mud in my wellies, as I headed off into the woods, the spindly birches creaking, like me, in the wind.

After a while, seeing that there were no birds about, I set off into the heart of a small patch of woodland to take a closer look at a nest from last year that seemed to have a lot of wool in it. This was in a cleared area of pollarded ash, with lots of potential besoms lying around, piled up neatly in stacks. Obviously a skilled woodsman had been at work at the end of last year. Just as I moved beyond the second stack I noticed a glinting in the dead undergrowth, and I stooped to pick up a shiny metal object which I was shocked to identify as the business end of a handgun.

It turned out to be a 9mm pistol, which I have since given to the police, so even if there were few birds around apart from circling buzzards, the trip out was not entirely uneventful!

I had not been to Gateforth Wood for a couple of months, so on 7th April after a relatively warm start to the day with bright early morning sun, I made a prompt start, arriving in the wood at 7:45, then spent the next couple of hours walking slowly along the many paths that criss-cross this wonderful wood – which perhaps I should emphasise is a private wood, and it is only with the kind permission of the owner that I am allowed to make the occasional visit to watch birds. Making an early start was a good decision, as there was no sound other than birdsong. A Green Woodpecker laughed hysterically from the top of a prominent ash tree; a Bullfinch lisped and piped from the top of a dense bush, the bright fire of its breast reflecting in the rays of the morning sun. Flocks of Woodpigeons clattered from the treetops,

by Graham Todd

Waxwing by G Todd

advertising my stealthy approach to anything not yet aware of my presence in the woods. I always feel like an intruder on occasions like this, especially when a russet-coloured Woodcock, head down with its long straight bill, shadowed its way upwards from the edge of the path in front of me, ducking and diving away through the birch scrub, defecating in panic! For a birdwatcher, it is always important to note when you hear your first summer migrant, so after such a long wait for spring to arrive, I was pleased to hear the monotonous song of a Chiffchaff descending from the top of a stark, leafless ash tree. As I write this article in mid-April, the first pale yellow buds of Blackthorn are starting to burst in patches of undergrowth that have been sheltered from the cold and wind, with the Barn Swallows returning to Rose Lea on 15th April, and dozens of Willow Warblers arriving in the woods on the 16th.

On 19th April there was a solitary finch with a pinkish breast sitting near the top of the birch in our garden chewing sunflower seeds, and for a change, rather than writing it off as yet another Chaffinch, I picked up my binoculars to have a closer look. To my surprise I could see from the orange breast, black speckled head and black and white wing markings that it was a male Brambling just moving into summer plumage. Bramblings are pretty scarce in these parts and this was the first one in our garden for over twenty years!

Finally, on several occasions in early April I was woken up in the middle of the night by a coughing and wheezing on the roof above the bedroom window, which I guess is an owl, but then again as I lay there wide awake it did occur to me that it could have been my next-door neighbour Ken, a retired roofer, sleep-climbing? It kicked off with a soft wheeze and snoring noise, then a little hoot, before culminating in a shriek, so perhaps it was a nocturnal duet with Sylvia? After much deliberation, including considering the possibility that I may have been having a Mervyn Peake moment, I have since concluded that it was likely to have been a Tawny Owl from nearby woods, on the lookout for Field Mice, tempted by the leftovers from our bird table. Anyway I hope it was, as roof repairs are pretty costly!

Open Sunday

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GETTING ON WITH THE JOB WILFILEAKS

Keeping out lampers and in memory of Steve In memory of Stephen Longbottom 1959 to 2013 I first got to know Steve about five years ago. Up until then I barely knew where Fryston Common Lane was, and certainly didn’t know anybody who lived down there. This was at the height of the invasion by dog men and lampers, and the police said that Steve was somebody I should talk to, so I did. From that day on Steve always greeted me with a chirpy “Na then, ’Oward” and a big beaming smile.

It might seem odd that you would go and meet somebody at the suggestion of the local police, but that’s what I did. Those were the days when crops were being driven over at night by poachers with lamps, and during the day our wildlife was being run down and killed by dogs, just to give their owners something to boast about.

Those were also the days when a great team was established across the area around Hillam, and if anything suspicious was seen the team was always on the case, watching and sharing information. Steve was the eyes and ears down Fryston Common Lane.

He was a sharp observer and if the horses in the paddocks near his house suddenly showed interest in something unusual, he would notice and check it out. Steve knew what was where, and when, and was happy to go out and have a look. “We’ve ’ad that green Subaru down here again,” he would say. “Av you seen it over your way?” Fortunately, through the diligence of Steve, we no longer have this problem. But it was during this era that what I now think of as the Stephen Longbottom memorial was put in place. The old chisel plough on the dyke crossing that you see from the A63 was put there by Steve to prevent lampers driving over fields between Fryston Common Lane and the A63.

Good on you Steve; you did a great job. Every time I drive down the A63 and see that harrow I will think of you.

Howard Ferguson Stephen Longbottom’s funeral was held in St Wilfrid’s on 11th April 2013

7:30PM

Tickets from Monk Fryston Post Office or via our website www.wilfileaks.org.uk or telephone 01977-68067 New churchwarden appointed St Wilfrid’s has a new churchwarden, Stuart Wroe from Burton Salmon. Stuart should already be wellknown in the villages after chairing the TRIO project and as a member of Monk Fryston Time Team. Stuart replaces Neil Woodhall who stands down to go on a full-time ordination course. No pressure there, Stuart...

Church walk Saturday 22nd June Cusworth Hall, near Doncaster We welcome you to a 7.5-mile walk starting and finishing at Cusworth Hall. We leave the Hall grounds, and head out over open fields to the village of Sprotborough. We join the Trans Pennine Trail on the banks of the River Don, which we follow for about 3 miles, then return to Cusworth Hall.

Meet in the Hall car park (modest charges apply) at 10.15 am for a 10.30 am start. Please bring food and drink, and wear suitable clothing for the day. Allow about 25 minutes from Monk Fryston. Heading south on the A1, turn off at junction 37 towards Doncaster, and follow the brown signs.

Any queries, please contact Paddy or Stuart on 684180.

David (Dai) Jones

Architect

Dip Arch RIBA Fletton House The Square HILLAM North Yorkshire LS25 5HE

Phone 01977 685534 Consultation Welcome – Initial Discussion Free

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THERE’S A PINK RIBBON ROUND CABINET NO 9 Not so long ago I went to a presentation about the roll-out of fibre optic broadband.

It was held in the Sherburn Community Centre and was hosted by Nigel Adams MP. Your intrepid reporter however made straight for the BT engineers in attendance.

Reductio ad absurdum: If FTTP is implemented, we will have speeds of up to 330Mbps. Perhaps Lumby Lane will turn into a cyberhamlet?

The national fibre backbone passes through Leeds. The South Milford exchange is now connected via Garforth.

There is 1km of fibre still to go into the ground to loop round the former A1/A63/ Ledsham roundabout, where a temporary fix has been made to enable the South Milford exchange.

Editor writes:

Julian Driver

Now things get complicated: Probably because of a reluctance to take cables over the (currently closed) railway bridge en route to South Milford, Lumby Lane properties seem to be ‘historically’ connected to the exchange and not to South Milford exchange now has the racks in it for distribution to street cabinets cabinet 5. This is supported by the numbering of the overhead poles. There is spread around our area. a ‘distribution point’ opposite Ingthorne The jamboree at Sherburn highlighted Lane, from where the cable goes cabinet 9 (Mill Close), which was adorned underground towards South Milford. with pink ribbon for the day, and will The direct connection theory is further connect to up to 1,000 subscribers. supported by the speeds I get on Lumby Residents can now buy fast broadband Lane (12Mbps download, 1Mbps upload), services from their retailer of choice. which are lots faster then those experiAccording to my new best friend at the enced by many street cabinet subscribers.

South Milford exchange, cabinet 9 supplies properties in Hillam and in Monk Now it gets geekish and controversial: In order to honour the commitment to Fryston to the east of Water Lane and connect all properties in the exchange area, Lumby Hill, but unfortunately not the we would need ‘Fibre to the Premises Lumby Lane part of Fryston.

(FTTP). Whether this will be installed as a There is a cabinet next to the A162/A63 matter of course is a moot point and it may roundabout (cabinet 5) which supplies need to be ordered and paid for separately properties to the west of cabinet 9 (Mill by the householder. In essence it means Close) and other parts of Fryston, but it BT pulling a fibre down the underground will not be fibre-enabled for several cableway and then bringing it into each months. property.

Although superfast broadband should eventually be available via all Internet Service Providers, we have heard of suppliers who have refused access in Hillam.

BT seems the only provider right now, but the situation should change.

‘Superfast North Yorkshire’ (SFNY) is an independent organisation aiming to supply 90% of the county with fibre optic broadband by the end of 2014. Installation is being carried out by BT but the network will be open to a wide range of providers.

SFNY has told a Monk Fryston householder that the new service will be available in Priory Park by the end of September.

Presumably that is when cabinet 5 at the ‘JP Plant’ roundabout has been connected.

Sky and TalkTalk have installed ‘unbundling’ equipment in South Milford Exchange to supply their own customers, and this will have to be either replaced or modified.

SFNY has confirmed that Lumby Lane, Monk Fryston is included in the fibre roll-out.

Current plans show connection will not be in the next six months. If you haven’t already registered your interest, then do it today, via http://superfastnorthyorkshire.com

Now there’s room to swing a cat in the Bon. Construction ended late April and there should be lots of room in the new wine bar to celebrate being back in first place of Leeds TripAdvisor.

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Précis minutes Hillam Parish Council April 2013

Matters arising: Cllr Robertson confirmed that properties coming onto the market at Manor Court can be sold only to elderly persons.

Cllr Wright updated the meeting with information about the implementation of alcohol-free zones.

Finances: Current a/c £585.07 High interest a/c £5,202.00 £1,000 transferred from high interest to current a/c.

Cheques drawn Hillam & MF Cricket Club £30.00 - sponsorship MH Walton £180.00 - March salary HM Revenue £45.00 - PAYE MH Walton £197.63 - admin costs for year Thirsk C/Care Ass £34.50 Came and Co £662.07 - annual insurance MF & Hillam Comm Ass £760.00 - donation St Wilfrid’s church £500.00 - donation MF Pre-school £300.00 - donation Hillam & MF Luncheon Club £129.00 Hillam Football Club £500.00 Mr Ian Smithson appointed as internal auditor.

Correspondence in: S Booth - £160.00 quotation for refurbishment of the Ringtree seat. Accepted.

Hillam & MF CC - letter of thanks for donation received.

Hillam Football Club - providing additional information requested. Donation of £120 agreed.

SC Horticultural Services - £230 quotation for refurbishment of the Ringtree seat. Rejected.

NYCC - advising of changes to local bus services in the Selby area.

NYCC Highways - advising action re blocked drains at various locations.

Knottingley Power - advising of proposed combined gas turbine power station.

Network Rail - re action taken to clear up rubbish left by Burton Salmon Parish Council has appointed a new clerk, Debra Meir. Her first meeting will be May 29th.

contractors at Hillam Gates.

Correspondence out: SDC Street Scene - requesting roadways and pavements be swept.

SDC Finance Dept - enquiry about the alleged increase in the precept for Hillam of 4.1%.

SG Parkin Landscapes - awarding grass cutting contract for 2013.

Planning: Applications Mr M Darby - first floor extension at 21 Hillside Close.

Mr and Mrs George - single-storey front and rear extensions at the Granary, Main St. Mr and Mrs Pickington - single-storey front porch extension at Yew House.

Decision T Morley - equestrian ménage at Hillam Grange. Granted.

Environment: Wind farms: public planning meeting to be held 10th April.

Cllr Sadler to write to Network Rail to ask if the company will create more parking bays at South Milford station, and to contact other local PCs to seek their support.

Cllr Collinson asked members to remove all out-of-date fly-posters and others that are of a commercial nature and irrelevant to the village.

Cllr Collinson reported that the area around the Brick Pond is becoming untidy with general debris. Clerk to contact Castleford Angling Club secretary to ask for a clean-up of the area.

Reports: Burial Committee. AGM to be held 21st May. Community Association. Developments plans continue to be the focus of discussion and action.

CEF. Cllr Lorriman will provide members with details of recent meetings and future programme.

Any other business: Cllr Robertson proposed that our local district councillors be invited to update us on current local issues.

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Précis minutes Hillam Parish Council May 2013 Matters arising: Clerk confirmed that no information had been received from the Planning Inspectorate re the planning appeal lodged by Mr T Cannon. Clerk to write direct to the Planning Inspectorate to get current information.

Clerk confirmed his contact with the secretary of Castleford Angling Club re removal of rubbish round the Brick Pond. Action taken by club and apologies given.

Luncheon Club’s difficulties in banking our donation resolved through the intermediary support of Cllr Robertson.

Cllr Collinson informed members that it is believed the parking issue at South Milford station has now been resolved by the planned creation of extra parking spaces and retraction of parking fines recently issued.

District councillors invited to our 5th June meeting. Matters to be raised - update of council business in the area; current position re wind farms; IDB / flooding policy Hillam Common Lane and Rose Lea Close; A63 traffic calming; housing development in the area.

Finances: Current a/c £5,411.18 High interest a/c £5,202.00 Cheques drawn S Booth £160.00 - seat refurbishment npower £764.74 - electricity consumption MH Walton £180.00 - April salary HM Revenue £45.00 - April PAYE Luncheon Club (I Robertson) £100.00 - replacement cheque MF Mother and Toddler Group £100.00 - replacement cheque Annual accounts, previously circulated, considered and agreed as accurate.

Correspondence in: Rev Hetherington - letter of thanks for £500 roof repairs donation.

SDC - half-yearly precept £5,647.50 paid into current a/c.

HM Revenue - BACS remittance advice for £328.35 repayment claim of 31st March.

S & J Hoare - re provision of dog parks. Clerk to respond.

To make representations about the proposed Designated Public Place Order (DPPO) for Monk Fryston, write to: Mr T Grogan, Selby District Council, Civic Centre, Doncaster Road, Selby, YO8 9FT, or by email tgrogan@selby.gov.uk by 12th June 2013.

Alternatively, visit the Council’s website www.selby.gov.uk or Access Selby and fill in the Consultation Response form.

Congratulations to Hillam girl Megan Higgs (14) who has been selected to play hockey for the North of England under-15 ladies’ team (also known as JRPC – Junior Regional Performance Centres).

Watch out for her in Rio 2016!

Hillam & MF CC - acknowledging receipt of £30 match ball sponsorship.

MF and Hillam Comm Ass - receipt for donation and hall hire charges.

CSR Electrical - re parts needed for streetlight repairs.

MF Pre-school - letter of thanks for £300 donation.

Ms Verney for MF Mother and Toddler Group - donation cheque to be reissued in group’s bank account name. Agreed and actioned.

Correspondence out: VAT repayment claim of £328.35 for the year to 31/03/2013.

Planning: Application for erection of 4-bedroom detached house and garage at 1 Ashfield Villas, Hillam Lane.

Proposed single-storey replacement front porch extension at Yew House. Permission granted.

Environment: Cllr Robertson reported that the drains on Chapel St are still blocked.

Cllr Sadler reported the pavement surface on Chapel St requires cleaning: loose grit makes walking difficult. Action: clerk. Cllr Sadler reported that a concerned resident had cleared the moss which had formed on one pavement.

Overgrown hedges on Austfield Lane were not cut back over the winter months although the owner had advised they would be. As the birds have now recommenced nesting the opportunity has been lost. Action is required after the nesting season.

Reports: Burial Committee. Cllr Collinson reported the AGM is to be held on 21st May. Community Association. Cllr Robertson reported that it is hoped to arrange a function at Monk Fryston Hall. Centre development plans afoot. Survey to residents re plans and perceived needs underway.

CEF. Next meeting 4th June.

Next HPC meeting 5th June at 7.30 pm, Monk Fryston & Hillam Community Centre.

Memories come flooding back When the River Ouse burst its banks on 22nd March 1947, the water overflowed into Millgate and crept towards the Hippodrome Cinema, where over 500 people were watching The Count of Monte Cristo. The water was already seeping into the auditorium when the manageress Mrs Swift, advised by the police to vacate the premises, moved a reluctant audience out of the cinema and onto waiting buses.

(Patricia Scott’s History of Selby)

It wasn’t just Selby that flooded in 1947.

Turn to page 18 and find out about the Great Hillam Common Flood.

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LOCAL REPORTS Burton Salmon CP School Happy Learning for a Healthy Future We have enjoyed a busy half term with plenty of exciting activities and projects throughout school. Both classes are working on our outdoor trail through the summer term as well as our enthusiastic gardening club, who continue to tend the borders, feed the plants and maintain the wildlife area.

Well done to all our Y6 pupils who completed their SATs tests this week.

They were very sensible and composed and we were very proud of them.

We have almost finished our whole school swimming lessons at Knottingley Leisure Centre, where we have made the most of the two pools. Everyone is doing really well and enjoying their lessons.

After the half-term break we look forward to welcoming our new Reception pupils into school for a number of visits, and they will also take part in sports day on Friday 21st June – weather permitting.

Once again we are grateful to the Friends of Burton Salmon School who will be organising the school summer fair on Thursday 18th July. There will be plenty of entertainment including games, activities and a barbecue; we are looking forward to a really great event. We are also looking for prizes for the raffle and tombola and contributions for the cake stall.

Mrs D Andrews Head Teacher

To whom it may concern

Notice of Action under the Animals Act 1971 We hereby give you 14 days’ notice from the 19th April 2013 to move all horses/livestock from our land failing which we intend to take action under S2 Animals Act 1971 whereby the horses will be classed as abandoned and we will have the right to detain any such horses and after a period of 14 days they will be sold at market or auction. Any damage caused by the horses will be claimed against the owner of the horses/livestock through the County Court.

It would be nice to claim that we do It will be interesting to discover if not understand what is going on anyone reads and takes note. when we see a notice like the one above right. It was attached to a Hillam Football Team would like to thank everyone who attended the Pie and Ale lamp post outside a bungalow on th Lumby Hill. However Hillam News night at the Cross Keys on Friday 15 March.

A total of £459.50 was raised. has already reported on the flyClass 2 are continuing their topic on the grazing of horses down Stocking Tudors and have produced information Lane. Whilst the identity of the topic booklets and a PowerPoint horses’ owner in this case is unclear, presentation, and are designing and gypsies from the Boot and Shoe have building their own Tudor houses. been known to illegally graze horses The whole school took part in Countryside as far as away as Pannal golf course.

Live on the Ledston estate. This is a There are four adjoining fields which fantastic event which celebrates all things come out onto Betteras Hill Road. rural. The children were involved in several activities, including a sheep show, One is separately fenced and stocked with ewes and lambs, with the a flying birds of prey exhibition and a landowner’s permission. working gundogs exhibition.

Class 1 pupils have been learning about the rainforest, and this included a visit to Tropical World in Roundhay. They have produced some beautiful paintings of rainforest habitats and some lovely creative writing.

Pupils in KS1 returned to Stockbridge Research Centre as part of our Science, Art and Healthy Eating studies on reconnecting children with food production. We dug, and planted lots of seeds including salads, vegetables and herbs, and will be returning to watch them grow and harvest them.

The other three fields contain horses and ponies and they attracted the lawyer’s attention.

Hillam News has learnt that a neighbouring householder was asked for water, but refused on the grounds that his supply came through a A group of ten KS2 pupils will be taking meter. The horse squatters may now part in an area Kwik cricket competition at be obtaining water from Monk Church Fenton cricket ground.

Fryston Cemetery.

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PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE Monk Fryston Time Team Events in June and July – some dates for your diary: On Saturday 8th June we return to the grounds of Monk Fryston Hall to investigate the interesting ‘shadows’ revealed by the geophysical surveys last year and this May. We are looking to find the remains of old buildings and tracks shown on early maps. There are hopes we may also find more artefacts to confirm the occupation by Benedictine monks in the Abbot’s manor of ‘Frystune’.

We would be glad of extra hands to help

with the dig, and invite Hillam News readers to join us. If you are happy to spare a few hours to help, then please contact the secretary (see below) for more details on how to join the dig. We are hoping to have our consulting archaeologist Simon Tomson on hand to lead us and interpret the finds.

On Sunday 23rd June we will have a stall at the Summer Fair showcasing some of our recent finds from the village digs, together with some photographs from our archives showing former residents – maybe you can tell us who they were?

On Tuesday 16th July we are entertaining

Monk Fryston Art Club After the horrendous weather in the earlier part of this year we are still playing catch-up! At the very end of April we had the rescheduled acrylic and oil demonstration by Dave Newbould.

Dave set out to challenge himself by attempting to paint two pictures during the afternoon, and of course the resultant pictures were superb. The first was a landscape, and the second a portrait of a dog. As an entertainer, Dave should be on the stage! We laugh at his jokes and admire his paintings; what a talent!

Sherburn History Society to a walking tour of Monk Fryston based on the Heritage Trail (on sale at the post office for £2). If you want to join us for an informative stroll around the village we will be starting from the Community Centre car park at 7 pm, and will finish with some refreshments taken locally!

CONTACT Sue Newton for more details of these events and how to take part, on 01977 682084.

Our next monthly meetings are on Tuesday 25th June and Tuesday 23rd July at 7.30 pm at the Community Centre – ALL WELCOME.

Fryston church and in the Church Hall, on the weekend of October 5th/6th. Proceeds will go to Wilfileaks, the fund for the church roof. At the moment members are preparing for the SAA Exhibition at Wetherby.

I gave my artistic eleven-year-old grandson some of the new XL charcoal and graphite blocks by Derwent which I wrote about in the last issue. He absolutely loved them, found them easy to use and was able to cover large areas of paper at speed! His verdict: “COOL!” The uses for these blocks are endless and I feel sure they will be a hit with schoolchildren and adults alike.

Miriam Laville led a workshop on 20th May, based on natural forms using mixed media. Miriam is new to the club, as is the demonstrator at our next open meeting, when we extend an Dates for your diary: invitation to any of you who would like to come along on 17th 17th June open meeting: Roy Johansen paints in oil June, to see Roy Johansen paint in oil. You will also be offered a cup of tea or coffee with biscuits!

5th/6th October: painting exhibition in the church

At the AGM in 2011 it was decided to move our annual Jean Dearn, President exhibition from November to summer, and the first one was held at the wonderful Jubilee picnic celebrations at Monk Fryston New arrivals Hall. This year, we have been asked to stage an exhibition in conjunction with the Flower Festival which will be held in Monk After a lull since our Christmas bounty of babies, we are delighted to welcome a couple of new spring babies who have arrived since our last issue.

Susan and Matthew of Orchard View recently celebrated the safe delivery at 7 lbs 8 ozs, on 11th April, of their daughter India, a sister for Hamish.

Proud grandparents Graham and Jenny Todd welcome a new hatchling into their wider family nest, in the form of a second grandchild Rosie, who weighed in at 7 lbs 9 ozs on 27th March.

Chernobyl Children’s Project (UK)

Charity Auction Friday 14th June

at Hillam Cricket Club Stocking Lane LS25 5HP

7 pm for 7.30 Lots of lots!

Bar and refreshments Ample parking spaces

Monk Fryston and Hillam

Summer Fair 2013 Sunday 23rd June 1 pm Entry: Adults £1 Children 50p

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SCHOOL REPORT Just before Easter the school had a statutory inspection. All church schools have an additional inspection by Ofsted and this inspection focuses on three main aspects: The distinctiveness of the school as a church school The impact of collective worship on the children The leadership of the school It took place over one day and it was a rigorous and demanding process. I am proud and delighted to say that we were judged to be outstanding in all three aspects and the inspector was very complimentary about our school and our children.

Being a church school means that Christian values underpin everything we do, and through direct teaching and collective worship children learn about values such as forgiveness, respect, truthfulness, compassion – values that matter to us as humans regardless of race or religion. This is what makes a church school particularly special.

Some classes have had the joy of young lambs in the classroom. Thanks to Mandy Shaw, who brought in an orphaned lamb which wasn’t at all phased by 5-year-olds!

Year 3 were slightly more adventurous, with a visit from Animals In-Tuition. They were able to handle a snake, tarantula, rats and several other interesting animals.

Our new outdoor area is taking shape now. Thanks to a lottery grant we have been able to transform our old wildlife garden into something more structured and supportive of children’s learning. The allotment has also expanded and all sorts of things are growing.

With the chickens as well, we are becoming a bit like The Good Life!

Now we are well into the summer term with the Summer Fair, sports day, trips and productions to look forward to. It is always a busy term and activities are often weather-dependent, so we are hoping for some sunshine and dry days in order for everything to go to plan. Fingers crossed!

Carole Middleton North Yorkshire school holiday dates Summer: Wednesday 24th July – Monday 2nd September 2013 Half term: Monday 28th October – Friday 1st November 2013 Christmas: Monday 23rd December 2013 – Fri 3rd January 2014 Schools may also set additional training days

10 IN THE BEGINNING WAS RETIREMENT

(WITH APOLOGIES TO THE WRITER OF JOHN 1:1)

Hillam and Fryston are very popular retirement villages. those years ago – and helping Sue plan for Abbie’s wedding.

I had never been a churchgoer. I would go on high days and My friend Frank couldn’t wait to leave work. He was going to holidays, those occasions when you welcomed new life into the spend more time at the golf club. The treasurer’s job had been world at baptisms, and to meet with friends and loved ones for kept open in anticipation and he willingly slipped into the role. the last time to say goodbye.

Over the next couple of years he began to wonder, “Is this But the day I walked Abbie into St Wilfrid’s Church to be really all there is?” married to Nick, something happened to my map.

He emigrated to Canada.

Whether during the service I picked up someone else’s map I When the current pensions system was introduced after the Second World War, we were expected to retire at 65 and quietly don’t know, but when I emerged from the Church into watery July sunshine, the map I held inside me had changed irrevocably. pass on within a couple of years. Not any more. This story isn’t It led me back to Church the next week and the week after that. about what the retirement age ought to be or whether our economy can support a large retired sector. It is about what the The contours I was familiar with on the old map had gone, to be replaced with different ones which were less clear and raised retired themselves get up to when they follow their conscience questions of which way next: right, left instead of the money.

“I went kicking and screaming, but I couldn’t or straight on?

A recently retired member of our local escape it.” Justin Welby As weeks passed, any uncertainties or community reacted rather differently to apprehension which my new map at first had thrown up were Frank. I first met Neil Woodhall when he stood in for Santa at the Hillam Lights ceremony. I have got to know him much better replaced with an excitement and new expectation. The more I followed the new signs, the more my life within the local Church since and hope Hillam News readers will share my admiration developed. I was confirmed in November of that year, along with and respect as he charts his life up to and after retirement.

Abbie and Sue. To fill the gap left by a lifetime of avoiding Unlike Archbishop Welby, who was initially rejected for religious study I enrolled on a Theology and Ministry degree at ordination, Neil was accepted the first time he applied.

York St John University, and suddenly, as if someone had turned Editor on a light, I began to see things on the map which were Someone very wisely told me that a map is often very different previously invisible. from the real thing and that sometimes the end of a journey Two years ago I went along to the Peace Centre in Tadcaster, to comes as a surprise. For most of my life, the map I used seemed an event organised by John Hetherington aimed at helping people fine and, with only an occasional blind alley or wrong turn, it got understand Christian faith in the context of exploring vocation. me to where I wanted to go.

The day and the fellowship I shared with others stayed with me For 34 years it guided me well. From London’s East End to for weeks, and set me thinking about whether someone like me Yorkshire and Leeds General Infirmary, to wonderful years could offer something to the Church in our community. In the working in healthcare across the Heavy Woollen District of summer I was accepted to commence training as a lay minister or Kirklees, before taking me to the five towns of Wakefield reader, within the Diocese of York. That was two years ago, two District, which include Pontefract. But suddenly, out of the blue, wonderful years that have passed all too quickly. But vocation retirement loomed. can be like an itch that won’t go away; the more you scratch the I gave myself twelve months to plan out a future. New features more it itches; it was always there. For just over a year and with would appear daily on the map – travel to foreign destinations, the help of many people I entered a process of discernment to the creative writing course I had always wanted to enrol on, better understand this itch, this calling on my life that appeared landscaping that bit of land we bought from Bernard Shaw all from nowhere on my life map.

Continued on page 11

11

LOCAL NEWS Continued from page 10 It was with some trepidation that I drove into the East Riding village of Bishop Burton last summer. My meeting with the Bishop of Selby would determine whether he saw God’s calling on my life and to seek his sponsorship of me to go forward for assessment with the prospect of becoming an Anglican priest.

Conclusions reached at the meeting led me to the Bishop’s Advisory Panel last October. This was a vocational assessment at Bishop Woodford House, Ely, in the shadow of the magnificent Cathedral. The three-day process, although demanding and enquiring, provided a wonderful experience that I will never forget. The implications of this experience will be with me for ever. When September arrives this year I will begin my ordination training at the College of the Resurrection in Mirfield and then, God willing, I will be deposited on an unsuspecting world, dog collar and all – in 2015. As for the map, that’s consigned to history, a record that tells me where I have been in life.

These days I have a sat nav. I sit back, relax and let the navigator take me where He will.

Neil Woodhall

Property news Recent sales near LS25 5HP 33 Deer Park Court, Monk Fryston 104 Main Street, Monk Fryston 56 Lumby Hill, Monk Fryston 70 Lumby Hill, Monk Fryston 1 Brambles Court, Hillam 14 Fryston Common Lane 12 Orchard Close, Monk Fryston

Price paid £142,000 £276,450 £245,000 £428,000 £369,000 £328,000 £295,000

Sale date 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2013

Source: Zoopla Property for sale in the ‘sought after village of Hillam’ advertised by Dobsons Thirty years after Margaret Thatcher embarked on council house sales, now Hanover Housing wants to sell a ‘retirement bungalow’, formerly available to rent and part of Manor Court, Hillam – priced at £110,000.00. The Parish Council is relaxed that the home will still be available for people of 55 years and over. Six of the original homes were reserved for Hillam residents but take-up at the time was patchy. There were however no restrictions in the original agreement to prevent Hanover from selling the homes.

Source: Rightmove

Monk Fryston Hall theatre lunch The Library Theatre Touring Company

Sunday 23rd June 2013 THE KINGFISHER

by William Douglas-Home With echoes of PG Wodehouse, this effervescent romantic comedy takes a light-hearted look at the lives and loves of three fascinating characters.

As he peruses the Times obituaries, famous writer Sir Cecil Warburton makes a discovery that has him whistling in the bath!

At last, the dull Reggie Townsend has died, widowing the only woman that Cecil truly loved ... and lost. With only one thing on his mind – matrimony – he arranges to meet Evelyn under the same tree in his garden where he kissed her years earlier.

However, Cecil’s expectations of a joyous engagement are foiled as it becomes clear that he hasn’t considered any possible objections of his bride-to-be, or indeed of his butler Hawkins!

2-course luncheon, concluding with coffee and the theatre presentation, 1.45 – 5.45 pm approx £23.00 per person

12

HILLAM AND MONK FRYSTON NEWS Carole Middleton is retiring after 15 years as head teacher of our village school Typically, it was at the end of the first Hillam News report of her final academic year that Carole Middleton announced the news of her retirement from Monk Fryston School.

She concluded, ‘It has been a pleasure and a privilege to lead this school, and this year will be a very emotional one for me.

Don’t be surprised to see me from time to time with tissues and red eyes!’

Carole has played an important role in the community, as well as the school. Parents, pupils, former pupils and villagers will share her emotions.

Mr Gove than ever before – I can hardly listen to the news any more for fear of what he might do next! Head teachers are constantly challenged by managing the changes and still providing consistently good education for children.

The ethos of this school is very special and visitors always remark on the good ‘vibes’ they feel here. I am particularly proud of the excellent behaviour and good manners of children shown around school. We work hard on personal and social skills, for without these children will not be able to function effectively in society. Our children do not always start school with these skills; they have to be taught, and we teach them well!

Many thanks and best wishes for the future We have been working with other schools internationally since 2002 and we now have partner schools in several countries. We usually have a joint project. At the moment it is art-based; the countries are sharing children’s art and information about local I started here in September 1998. So this will be my fifteenth artists. The children learn about other countries and cultures year. I had a picture in my head of a lovely village school, with through direct communication. They have pen pals, and exchange the prospect of a brand new school being built that year, and I cards and gifts, and they learn that some parts of children’s lives was impressed by the warm welcome I received. I was shocked by the physical conditions that staff and children were working in are pretty much the same wherever they live. They learn about countries they might know very little about, such as Slovakia and – which is why we needed a new school!

Sweden. The teachers gain a different perspective on education I took over from Mike Smit a very successful school and it by visiting schools. They learn about different systems, methods achieved even greater success. I moved the school to its present and ideologies, and this is such good professional development. location and laid the basis for two ‘outstanding’ Ofsted reports by being very determined about everyone having high expectations, I will miss the children more than anything else. There is and at the same time having a really good time at school. Happy nothing better than spending time with children. They are very children (and staff) work harder. It was, and still is, important to humbling, and when I have been dealing with difficult paperwork me to do the right thing for children and not always to follow the the reception class children bring me back to earth! I will also directives from the Government or ‘North Yorkshire’. We follow miss the staff and the community. I have been so lucky to work the rules but in our way; I have always been a bit of a maverick in with such amazing people. that respect. This has taken some courage but so far it has I will not miss Ofsted, SATs, data, and changes to education that worked! I have also been able to appoint excellent teachers and do not benefit children. teaching assistants. The staff team here is second to none and I I am looking forward to having time to do what I want to do. have been privileged to lead such a brilliant team. The parents here also contribute hugely to the success of the school – they are Spending more time with my husband, even going out for lunch part of the team, supporting their children and us. sometimes! Getting on top of my garden. Riding my horse during There have been great changes to the role of head teacher in the the week! past twenty years. The biggest and arguably the most important Carole Middleton changes followed Kenneth Baker’s great Reform Act of 1988.

The National Curriculum and SATs were born and local management of schools began. This meant that for the first time head teachers were responsible for all the school finances, the Drilling for diesel building and the staff. This made a huge change to the role of Thieves made a hole in the fuel tank of a horsebox in Monk head teachers who previously were concerned only with teaching Fryston and stole about £95 worth of diesel. The Renault and learning. When I started as a head teacher in 1998 I was Midlum vehicle was damaged overnight on 12th April. The overwhelmed with the responsibilities I didn’t know heads had! thieves also stole two 12-volt batteries.

Asbestos, budget, building maintenance, cleaning, security, Susan Ferguson put a number of questions to Mrs Middleton and here are her thoughts on the past fifteen years.

health and safety – to name but a few, and I was completely unprepared for it all.

Each year there are changes in education, more so under

Acknowledgements to York Press

13

OUTDOORS Who remembers the hosepipe ban?

The Big Dog Walk 21st April 2013 Organised by Wilfileaks, fundraising group for St Wilfrid’s roof restoration

The past twelve months have brought record rainfall, low temperatures and not much sunshine. Wheat crops down Hillam Common are a good month behind where they should be for the My name is Poppy, and I took part in the Big Walk. It was a time of year and don’t look very good. The area drilled nationally lovely sunny morning when we met at the Cross Keys pub, is down 25 per cent with the prospect of imports. Potato plantings registered and collected our quiz papers and route map. We set have been delayed and yields will be down. off, and made friends with Butch and his owners, Mr and Mrs If anyone wonders why farmers didn’t completely rip up their McWhirter. Butch was a great looking Labrador, larger than me; patchy winter wheat crops, the reason is simple. For every week he was very fit, muscular and fast. after the end of March that spring drilling is further delayed, there We walked from the Cross Keys pub and down the lane is a significant reduction in yield. Better to stick with the partial towards Bluebell Wood where we were allowed off our leads, crop that is already in. Winter-sown crops have a yield potential which was great! We passed Burton Salmon Cricket Club and greater than their spring-sown cousins and the grain can be more went down towards McCloy’s land. I had my lead put back on to valuable. In places where redrilling has occurred, parts of the avoid scaring the game birds, but at other times I was allowed off winter crop remain and this will lead to problems at harvest with lead to sniff around and explore. Quiz answers were collected different maturity dates. along the route. By the time we reached Poole we were relieved However the farmer who went abundance last year at Brecks Farm on spring beans has now drilled the rest of his Hillam Common land with beans. He has planted a field near Maspin Grange, which is still known as Duckpond, with potatoes, a crop never grown there before. (It’s all in the name.) Potatoes also went in late May (that’s very late) on Austfield (or Nancy) Lane.

to find someone had left out a water bowl for us. We walked a circular route and it ended back at the Cross Keys. Following our three-mile walk my Mum and Dad enjoyed a filling Sunday lunch. I was allowed into the taproom on my lead with my wellbehaved owners.

A few days later, there was another nice surprise when we got a call from Sally Whittingham, letting us know that we had been awarded a prize for getting the quiz answers correct. The nice lady then called with a big box of dog treats – delicious!

Thank you for a lovely day.

From Hillam Common to Burton Salmon war memorial there are Poppy x bare patches in winter wheat crops. Farmers have plastered what Twenty dogs took part in the walk. The money raised was has come through with nitrogen. With poor ground cover, there is shared between Wilfileaks and the Dogs Trust. a risk that crops could dry out if we get a prolonged spell of http://wilfileaks.org.uk/ desiccating winds.

A farmer on sand land complained that even mid-April his tractors were getting stuck. Another said he was ploughing for summer fallow, and the next crop would be oilseed rape which would go in mid-August, for harvesting next year.

It will be interesting to check on yields and quality, come harvest.

If you feel you have some time to help cutting the grass at St Wilfrid’s and would like to join the rota of volunteers, then please do get in touch with John Hetherington at the Rectory (email hetherington556@btinternet.com or tel 01977 680788 ). You will be very welcome.

Coming in third after David Beckham Monk Fryston’s Paul Caddick is placed third in the Sunday Times ‘Sports Rich List’. He is just behind Dave Whelan in a list headed by David Beckham (£165 million). … and from Twitter ‘@leedsrhinos chair Paul Caddick 3rd on Sunday Times Sport Rich List (£150m).

What might have been, had he followed his early passion for Cas!’

14

A VIEW FROM THE BOUNDARY Remembering ‘Bert’ and competing for the Ian Thompson Memorial Trophy The cricket season has had a mixed start, but performances are improving. On Tuesday 21st May, Hillam and Monk Fryston 1st XI played in the first round of the WCL Senior Evening Cup and beat Ledsham CC by 9 wickets. They meet South Milford in the second round on Tuesday 11th June, at South Milford.

Cricket is on every Saturday during the season, so please come along and support your local team. The kitchen and bar are always open throughout the match – bring your friends and family for a lovely local afternoon.

The pavilion is available for hire. We now have plenty of tables and plush chairs, and We held our first “Big Bash” event on some easy chairs and sofas, courtesy of Sunday 19th May, a limited overs Tony Richardson and the late John Withers. tournament of 7 overs per side, featuring Come and have a look: it’s a perfect venue Hillam and Monk Fryston, Sherburn, for wedding receptions, christening Church Fenton, and South Milford Cricket celebrations, birthday parties, picnics, office Clubs. The weather was kind to us and we seminars, training programmes and much, had a lovely relaxed day with a bouncy much more. If you have an event to castle, BBQ, teas and beers. The celebrate or you just want to hold a meeting competition, which is to be played on an or seminar, contact Tonu or Julie who will annual basis and will in future be known as be happy to discuss your requirements: the Elmet Villages Tournament, was won by Tonu Vaks 07787 117650 or Julie Sadler South Milford. They took possession of the 07762 546571.

Ian (Bert) Thompson Memorial Trophy You can also see what is happening at the which was being presented for the first time. club by visiting It was a poignant moment for Bert’s wife www.hmfcc.cricketclubwebsite.co.uk.

Marlene who had agreed to present the trophy, with her son Jason in attendance.

Former Hillam opening batsman The match ball sponsorship drive has been Harold Smith has celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary. Heather whom very popular, so thank you to all who have Harold married in South Africa observed donated money – and don’t forget to come her 70th birthday at the same time. down for your cricket tea.

Twittersphere The Bon restaurant @TheBonOnline We have just gone to no 1 @TripAdvisor out of 729 restaurants in Leeds!

and find a farm to visit. Search for ‘Open Farm Sunday’ on Google.

A recent search brought up the Co-op Estate at Swinefleet near Goole (site of a proposed wind Kirsten Hunter @KirstenHunter farm), also Swithens Lane, Enjoyed 2 and a half pints in the Cross Keys. Rothwell and Hazel House Farm, Methley. The third one specialises Big news. May get headline story in Hillam News unless the editors have got the scoop on in farm visits for schoolchildren.

the flag repair job.

Hillam and Monk Fryston Cricket Club @hmfcc New club website http://hs1.in/YinP2J Visit a farm on Open Farm Sunday Open Farm Sunday this year is on 9th June. This is an annual event providing a chance to go round a local farm and perhaps talk to the farmer. There is a website where you can input your postcode

Another choice could be Swillington Organic Farm, Coach Road, Swillington, which has hit the headlines recently as being on the route of the proposed High Speed Railway HS2. So if you like controversy as well as ecofriendly agriculture, this is the one for you.

Remember, the Community Centre is available to hire for private gatherings and parties (contact Becky on 689230)

15

THE GARDENING PAGE in my garden the graceful lily-flowered tulips have stayed and flowered for many With spring so cold and windy I have years. My favourite is Ballerina in orange been happy that I have a large greenhouse flamed with red, but they also come in to potter in and grow my plants. I have pink, purple, yellow and white. Slightly spent so much time in there this year that shorter and with good foliage is Princess I even managed to give it a good clean out Irene (also orange) and Couleur Cardinal and wash down with Jeyes fluid in March (red). Much daintier for front of border, before I began with my seed sowing. rock garden or pot is Honky Tonk. In spite I delayed sowing my seeds of annuals and of the silly name it is beautiful in lemon veg until late April as the cold and poor yellow, about 8 inches high, and has light levels would mean them sitting in On that same visit I went to their persisted for 3 years for me, flowering cold compost rather than growing away. wonderful library (I can spend several well. All stand up to wind and rain, an Germinating most of them in on my spare hours there on a cold winter’s day, with a essential attribute in May. If you grow room windowsill, they were quickly break for a takeaway coffee from Betty’s) tulips as annuals and want to dig them up transferred to the greenhouse and pricked and picked up a book on using succulents after flowering they can be planted 2 or 3 out into small pots as soon as the first pair in pots. These included sempervivums and inches deep, but if you want to keep them of true leaves formed. I now have pots of sedums (hardy) and echeverias, haworthias in the ground, plant them 8 to 10 inches cornflowers, cosmos, ammi majus and dill and other exotics (not hardy), all deep and you can plant over them when to fill spaces in my borders, and leeks, fascinating in their forms and colours. The peas, sweetcorn, French and runner beans book was lavishly illustrated with wonder- they have disappeared. waiting to go out. Small broad bean plants ful combinations displayed in beautiful and If you grow lilies watch out for lily beetle were planted out several weeks ago but unusual containers, some found in junk over the summer. The only good thing haven’t grown much. My tomatoes have shops or even using pretty cracked bowls, about lily beetle is that it is bright red and all germinated: Sungold and Gardener’s pots and teacups. Lovely ideas for a dry easily spotted. Pick them off and squash delight for outside, and Black Krim, a sink garden, rock garden, or for pots in them, as they and their revolting offspring large tomato with excellent flavour but outlying areas of the garden where can turn a stand of lilies to mush. needing the extra warmth of the watering may be neglected, or small pots greenhouse. My only regret is that I had on tables indoors or out. Most are easily Susan Ferguson the whole greenhouse paved. My friend propagated and can be quickly bulked up has one third of hers as a border and she or bought for a few pounds in many garden The ground is really dry so don’t forget to water your grows her tomatoes in this, and sows salad centres. Harlow Carr had a good selection garden. I was in the Dales and many of the becks have dried up. There is an old formula: “Water + leaves all year as underplanting, much from £2 to £5. Perfect for someone who carbon dioxide (in the presence of sunlight and better and easier to manage than in pots. goes away a lot as they will survive several chlorophyll) > sugars + oxygen” (the synthesis of weeks with no watering or attention. carbohydrates from H2O and CO2). Water is, in its I recently visited the alpine house at Harlow Carr and was thrilled by the sight May is the month for tulips and each year I own right, a plant food. It also makes, depending on David Mitchell of so many beautiful and colourful small buy lots. Many disappear without trace but its source, very good whisky!

Undercover gardening

plants grown at eye level. It is very large and one side of it is a rocky outcrop permanently planted, and the other a sand bed into which are set pots of miniature plants at their peak of perfection. (I assume they have another growing house to bring things on: what luxury!) This seems to me to be the perfect way to garden in later life, pottering about with everything close, in a sheltered environment and no bending.

16

GETTING INVOLVED Engaging everyone in CEF The well-known and popular Fairburn Singers are performing in St Wilfrid’s on 17th June in aid of the church roof fund. See page 3 for details. The group has recently received funding of £1,000.00 from the Western Area Community Engagement Forum (CEF). For a picture, look on the web at pic.twitter.com/nvl8i41mRee

one-to-one with representatives of a whole range of public bodies (Police, planning, Citizens’ Advice) as well as local councillors.

From 7.00 pm under the heading ‘Health and wellbeing’ two experts, Dr Cath Snape and Deon Falcon, will explain changes which are being introduced right now in the National Health Service following the abolition The CEF, which has agreed funding for a proposed extension to Hillam and of Primary Care Trusts. Put simply, it will be about how our local doctors’ Monk Fryston Community Centre, is practices will be funded and run. If that keen to extend its public profile. It used to be known as the ‘Inter-Village sounds a lot to take in, don’t worry: they are there to answer questions.

Forum’. The next meeting will be on Tuesday 4th June at Fairburn Come along to the St Wilfrid’s concert Community Centre. From 6.30 pm and the CEF meeting at Fairburn. onwards you can raise issues

Olympic Torch montage The Community Association would like to thank Julie and Steve Sadler for the very kind gifts which they have made to us, to St Wilfrid’s and to the school of a framed montage of pictures of the Olympic Torch visit last June.

June 16th 2012 will remain in the memories of all who witnessed the visit, and they will still feel the tingle of excitement every time they think about it.

A lot of effort from a lot of people went into making it so successful, none less than Julie who was responsible for publicity and ensured that the village really did ‘punch more than its weight’ in terms of radio, TV and press coverage.

The montage is fabulous and shouldn’t be missed. Anyone who hasn’t seen one of these yet, come to the Summer Fair and look at the one hanging in the Community Centre.

PUT A SPRING IN YOUR STEP Julie and Steve, thank you for capturing If you’re tired of feeling flat, refresh your mind and body with the memory for all of us.

Burton Salmon Fitcamp’s simple tips …

Ray Newton, Community Association Drink water: Your body needs water to transport oxygen to its cells, so if you don’t get enough, you could feel tired and experience headaches. If you’re thirsty you are already dehydrated, so just keep topping up through the day Dose up on sunshine: Gloomy weather can drain your body of vitamin D, which not only fights fatigue, but tackles low moods too. Make sure you get your fill of shiitake (dried in the sun) or button mushrooms rich in B1 and B2, mackerel, herring, sardines, catfish, tuna, cod liver oil, eggs Eat smart: Keep off the sugary snacks which will only lead to a nasty slump later. Go for snacks high in protein, fibre and healthy fats like avocado or nuts Power nap: Twenty minutes will be enough to re-energise your mind and body Sing it out: Music is a mood booster; crank up your favourite tunes and sing out loud Adjust your posture: Slouching can lead to decreased energy levels and low mood, so pull those shoulders back Make scents: A whiff of zingy lemon can improve blood flow to the brain. For more energy try a spritz of peppermint Get fishy: The omega-3 fatty acids in oily fish boost your brain function to keep you alert Clown around: Laughter is a great mood booster - and there is nothing better than a giggle with your mates Get moving: Join us at Burton Salmon Fitcamp. Our weekly Small Group Training sessions have fast, high intensity cardio circuits to generate instant endorphins. You’ll feel good all day. At the moment we are concentrating on getting ‘Beach Body Ready’.

These workouts are suitable for all fitness levels and for both men and women. www.burtonsalmonfitcamp.com Tel 01977 673553 Mobile 07921 689931

BURTON SALMON FITCAMP “After just 8 sessions you will feel better. After 16 sessions you will start to see the difference. After 24 sessions you will have a whole new body.’’ ++ Guaranteed No joining fee No contract Only £45 for 8 sessions per calendar month FREE personal training consultation “We do not sell memberships. We sell results.”

For more information call Jane at Burton Salmon Fitcamp T: 673553 M: 0792 1689931 W: burtonsalmonfitcamp.com E: info@burtonsalmonfitcamp.com The Dormers, Poole Lane, Burton Salmon, North Yorkshire, LS25 5JU

17

WIND TURBINES MOVING IN ON SELBY DISTRICT VILLAGES 10 April: D-day that wasn’t

Not a lot of people know that!

In the April-May Hillam News we said the Woodlane planning decision was to be made on 10 April. After four years Selby District Council would make their decision, and the recommendation was refusal.

The first farm turbine near to Hillam is now running at Beal, with another to follow between Hillam and Birkin.

The foundations are in and it is only a matter of time before the concrete cures and the 67m turbine goes up.

The applicant had still not supplied all the information required. It does seem that applicants are given as long as they want to respond, while the people who live here and who face having their countryside industrialised are given only a few days in which to respond – and we always do so. In this case nearly 200 people made the effort and turned up to be there when our elected councillors should have made the decision.

At short notice people took time off work, picked up the children early from school and did whatever they had to do.

If you travel around Selby District there are an increasing number of farm turbines. So far there have been about 35 planning applications, but as yet only a few turbines are up and working.

They range from small 10Kw two-bladed ones which are only 25 metres high to 500Kw three-bladed turbines up to 80m high.

These are large engineering structures with deep foundations, special buildings for the electronics and substantial new access roads and underground cabling. The hammering of the 20m piles to support the Birkin turbine was clearly heard in Hillam.

The turbines are usually on their own and located at least 500m from neighbouring properties. This all changed a couple of weeks ago when Wistow residents were notified about an application for a 500Kw turbine only 420m from a neighbour’s home. The farmer’s own home is nearly twice as far away. Predicted noise level for the unlucky neighbour is 35dB, loud enough to keep some people awake at night. An unpleasant prospect made worse The exact sequence of events is a bit unclear, but we do know: by the knowledge that the owner of the turbine will be receiving • Tuesday 9 April about 5.30 pm, Prowind submitted some but a subsidy of about £235,000 per year. not all of the information requested nearly two years earlier.

• Wednesday morning – planners and legal advisers concluded This is the new “gold rush” and it has attracted a lot of companies selling turbines to anybody with land. The danger is that as the that the grounds recommended for refusal were illegal. prime sites are taken, large turbines (but still only half as big as • Wednesday afternoon, just before the meeting – I was told those proposed at Woodlane) will be proposed closer to villages. that I would not be required to speak.

So far we have been lucky, but it is only a matter of time before By the time I arrived officials were advising people to leave large turbines are proposed closer to a lot more homes. because no decision could be taken. In a great show of local To prevent turbines encroaching on villages in this way we are commitment 200 people went to Selby to be there when trying to get Selby District Council to introduce policies which fix councillors made the decision. A superb effort by a lot of minimum distances. For regular updates, please register at people who care for the future of the place where they live.

A super effort, only to be treated with no respect by the developer, the planning system or Selby District Council.

People who arrived early were encouraged to leave by council officials saying that the decision had already been taken. This was not true; the decision was taken later by an ill-tempered meeting witnessed by 120 people who stayed.

The question is, “Why was the wind farm on the agenda with refusal recommended on grounds that would have been illegal had the recommendation been followed?”

Grow your own vegetables Garden tools, barbecues, patio furniture

www.stopwoodlanewindfarm.co.uk

Howard Ferguson

18

THE GREAT HILLAM COMMON FLOOD OF 1947 After the war the Pickup Brothers (George and Frank) were tenants of Brecks Farm, with land in Hillam and Monk Fryston parishes. The Pickups had been there since 1927. Father Nicholson died in 1946. George and his wife Rosie lived in the farmhouse, and Frank with his wife Edna and son Cyril (me) lived in a cottage on Hillam Common. Brecks was not an easy place to farm. The land was very heavy and inclined towards clay.

The winter of 1946-7 was very severe, with long spells of snow and frost. This was bad enough, but worse was to follow. The thaw, when it came, was rapid, and soon all the rivers running east into the Humber were bank top. The river Aire at Beal overtopped the banks on the north side and eventually flooded across from Haddlesey to Byram and Birkin. For about a week the water was held back by the raised road along Hillam Common Lane. Our cottage was on the north side, with the water to the south.

Everything that could be moved was taken upstairs, and I was sent to stay at Brecks across the fields.

possible to the farmhouse. There had been about eighteen inches of water in the house, so we planned to live upstairs. However we found that the flood water had got into the freshwater well which supplied our drinking water. This was when rural communities had no ‘town water’, electricity or sewage. We lived for a long time with water supplied in milk churns.

The floods created quite a spectacle and people came from far and wide to have a look. I remember it took quite some time to get back to anything like normal and it must have been very difficult to keep going, what with the snow and ice and then the flood. It was a disastrous year for crops, almost a complete write-off.

Brecks Farm had been sold at the 1946 sale of the Monk Fryston Hall estate to Mr Leslie Walker, who in 1951 sold it on to Stanley Atkinson, together with Common Farm on Hillam Common. Pickup Brothers struggled on, until in March 1953 they gave up the tenancy and sold up. Live and dead stock came Then the river bank at Beal burst. Levels rose dramatically and to something like £2,000.00 – not a lot! the river flooded over the Common. Our cottage and all the nearby Mr Atkinson took on the farming of both farms, together with properties ended up under two feet of water. his own at Burton Salmon. The land was properly drained from 1970 onwards and as a result became more productive and When my parents arrived at Brecks it was panic stations. We had all thought the water would be held at Hillam Common Road. profitable. Mains water and electricity were connected to the There was no telephone at the farm so someone went across to Mr farm and house. Recently the farm buildings have been Fenteman’s at Siddle House to call for help. There were only two ‘converted’. It has become quite a hamlet. cattle trucks locally, Mr Pettinger’s and Mr Kirkman’s. One was The flood affected all the occupants of the area south of the out already helping other farmers, but eventually the other (no A63. Our cottage and other properties were in Hillam. After the recollection of which) turned up at Brecks. flood the cottage was ‘condemned’ by Osgoldcross Council and I was sent with a few spare clothes to ask friends in Monk Fryston we were rehomed in new houses in Monk Fryston. It was not until 1953 that George and Rosie left the farm, when they moved to look after me for a few days, but was told that there was no to Monk Fryston. room. So back I came. But I could not get back down the farm road from the A63 due to the flood. I was stranded.

I suppose the flood was a turning point for the Pickups as In my absence the cattle truck, with the help of Mr Fenteman and farmers. I had shown no inclination for farming. The Pickups retired and I got a job in engineering. And, as they say, that is Peter Riley, had arrived. Local farmers were beginning a rescue another story – watch this space. operation. Cattle, pigs, horses and poultry were transported out.

The poultry posed a problem because they were kept in one of the Cyril Pickup farm buildings with a high roof, so when the water rose they took refuge in the rafters and had to be literally knocked off their perch with a long pole. Hens and rescuers got very wet.

Everything was eventually moved across to Siddle Farm, home of Mr and Mrs Harold Fenteman and their son Godfrey. Godfrey remembers events well and recalls all the animals and people arriving ‘two by two’. The Fentemans were all packed up ready to move to Hall Farm, Burton Salmon.

I don’t know how it was arranged, but we all stayed there for a while until the water subsided. Fortunately the clough doors (non-return valves) which usually allowed water to drain under the causeway had been closed, so very little water got north of the road.

Because of the Fentemans’ situation we moved back as soon as

19

OPINION STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH ……

The current fiasco over horse meat appearing as beef is but the tip of an iceberg. It’s no real surprise that it happens, nor is the enormous scale of this fraud.

Power corrupts, whether it’s politicians or company executives.

As our food retailers have grown from corner shops to global chains of supermarkets, so have the volumes of food products they require. Matched with the incessant demand to drive costs down, it means that only the larger scale suppliers can meet these demands. The multi-nationals and their shareholders have to be appeased every year with some “improvement” on the last.

“Improvement” basically means cheaper, and there comes a time when costs cannot be significantly cut further without making substantial changes. For decades now, our food has been polluted with all sorts of additives, chemicals, stabilisers, flavourenhancers, preservatives and colours.

Now we are outraged at horse meat. It’s not just the fact we seem to have a big love-fest with horses in this country, because we display a similar revulsion to the delicacies of the Chinese eating snakes, Koreans eating dogs, Africans eating monkeys, Peruvians eating guinea pigs and, to a certain extent, many of us eating fluffy little bunny rabbits.

The real problem with this particular fraud is the integrity of the food, which can be harmed by drugs administered to the animals, contamination of foodstuffs, spoilage by pathogenic bacteria and cross-contamination of diseases. So long as the food arrives at the next stage of production with some kind of accreditation, the purchaser is happy as he is not actually committing an offence by believing his supplier.

There are similar scandals that we hear little about, such as egg-labelling fraud. Just because it says “British eggs” on the box, it doesn’t mean you’re getting British eggs. Even more of a The Alan Bennett Talking Heads evening was a great success and Wilfileaks raised in excess of £200, which will go towards the St Wilfrid’s roof restoration fund.

MONK FRYSTON Pre-SCHOOL We welcome children from two years to school age* We provide lots of different activities including: Toys, Songs, Rhymes, Stories, Painting, Modelling, Sand and Water Play, Cutting and Glueing, Playdough, Puzzles and much more…!

Monday to Friday 9:00 – 12:00 am Tuesday and Thursday 12:30 – 3:00 pm Contact Jayne Wood 681050 Church Hall, Monk Fryston We are OFSTED inspected and LEA funded and we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum *places are offered subject to availability

scandal is the number of non-organic eggs passed off as highlypriced organic eggs.

It’s all our fault, of course, as we keep buying the trash of packaged chemicals (aka food) from the supermarket shelves.

We give in and just buy whatever’s on offer and don’t worry about the consequences, or we can spend a bit more on good quality unadulterated food – except there’s no guarantee it’s unadulterated.

The simple solution is the rebirth of local growers, food producers and local fresh food retailers. Then, we might get our food home to our refrigerators while it is still fresh, and we could cut out all the middlemen who ruin our food. It would also provide local employment, reduce diesel-belching wagons on motorways and vapour trails across global skyways, reduce imports and provide a social focus point for the community.

Many things in life turn full circle eventually – and sometimes we need to go back to where we were in the first place. Change is inevitable and we should not live in the past, but sometimes we have to learn from our mistakes – now is the time to revert to buying real food and, dare I say it, learn how to cook!

Robert Kingsbury The above article was sent in for the previous issue, when the horse meat scandal was a breaking story. The large number of contributions received for the April-May Hillam News had the unfortunate consequence that some items had to be held over.

We make no apology in publishing the article now, as its relevance is undiminished.

Message from the editor This has been the best Hillam News I have ever edited. (I had to write virtually none of it myself.) We have received so much material that it has been difficult to squeeze it all into the magazine. Please continue submitting your stories, and if you have an article which will arrive after ‘copy day’ which is a week before print day, please let the editor know so he can reserve space. Next copy day 22nd July.

20

ST WILFRID’S CHURCH RECTOR’S RAMBLINGS It’s amazing what you see if you spend a bit of time watching people. I was at York railway station a few days ago, and you wouldn’t believe the various shapes and sizes people come in, both the males and the females.

But, male or female, we’re often so conscious of our physical presence; we’re so critical of our own bodies and the lack of perfection that seems so apparent to us. In fact we know everything that’s wrong with us, every flaw in our imperfect makeup.

Perhaps our nose is too big, or our ears stick out. Or maybe we’ve developed a second chin, or even a third. Perhaps our breasts are too big, a real problem for some of the men – or indeed too small, perhaps more of a problem for the ladies.

Maybe we carry too much weight in the rear quarters.

Former Vicar of Selby the Reverend Keith Jukes has died aged 59. His wife Susanne was Priest-in-charge of St Wilfrid’s before Keith took up the post of Dean of Ripon six years ago.

1ST SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH 8am Holy Communion at St Wilfrid’s, Monk Fryston 9.30am Parish Communion at St Mary’s, South Milford 11am Parish Communion at St Wilfrid’s, Monk Fryston 11am Sunday Club in St Wilfrid’s Church Hall

How long do we spend looking in the mirror wishing that it was otherwise? How much do we spend trying to change things with exercise, make-up, or even surgery? Or indeed trying to hide the way we look by wearing certain clothes?

2ND SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH

All this effort to try and live up to the computer-generated, artificially produced image of the perfect man or woman who doesn’t really exist – except on the cover of Vogue or Cosmopolitan.

3RD SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH

And if we’re conned into believing they do exist – then it’s not for long, because eventually everything drops – believe me here, because I’m beginning to talk from experience.

We are what we are, and it’s the way that God made us. Why shouldn’t we just be able to accept ourselves as we are, rather than chasing someone else’s image of perfection, which was produced primarily to encourage us to spend vast amounts of money chasing a false dream? The Bible puts this into context: “All is vanity and striving after wind.”

9.30am Parish Communion at St Mary’s, South Milford 11am Parish Communion at St Wilfrid’s, Monk Fryston 6pm Evensong at St Mary’s, South Milford

8am Holy Communion at St Wilfrid’s, Monk Fryston 9.30am Parish Communion at St Mary’s, South Milford 11am Family Service at St Wilfrid’s, Monk Fryston 11am Ignite at St Mary’s, South Milford

4TH SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH 9.30am Morning Prayer at St Mary’s, South Milford 11am Parish Communion at St Wilfrid’s, Monk Fryston 6pm Holy Communion at St Mary’s, South Milford

MONK FRYSTON CYCLING CLUB DOES ITS BIT

I love that phrase. If we interfere too much with our bodies, nature has a habit of kicking back – look at the recent revelations about “breast implants” – very worrying for many women.

Monk Fryston’s Cycling Club has decided to do its bit to support fundraising for St Wilfrid’s Church roof appeal.

You know, one of the tremendous things about being a Christian is the knowledge that God accepts you the way you are – he even likes you that way. That’s the first important step in beginning to like yourself, and if you come to like yourself, then you’re liberated from the contemporary treadmill of trying to sustain eternal youth and beauty.

Some 11 members are to cycle 150 miles in one day, from the Irish Sea at Whitehaven to the North Sea in Sunderland – a climb of over 4500 metres across the Pennines – and in doing so they hope to raise

It’s better to learn this when you’re young than to have to wait until you’re in your sixties – as some film stars have. It will save you wasting most of this life on things which have no significance whatsoever in the next.

Blessings

John

a lot of funds for the roof appeal.

The date is set for Saturday 13th July.

Do support them by donating at www.monkfryston.cc/coast-to-coast FAIRBURN SINGERS CONCERT Wilfileaks are hosting a concert with Fairburn Singers on Monday 17th June at 7.30 pm in St Wilfrid’s Church to continue their work of raising funds for the roof appeal.

Further details can be found on the Wilfileaks website www.wilfileaks.org.uk or from Sally Whittingham on 680677.

BOOKINGS NOW BEING TAKEN FOR WEDDINGS AND BAPTISMS FOR 2013 AND BEYOND Enquiries to the Rector on 01977 680788 or email at

hetherington556@btinternet.com

21

HILLAM AND MONK FRYSTON COMMUNITY

Ambitious plans: We’re making progress Great news for the future of Hillam and Monk Fryston from the Community Engagement Forum (CEF)

“This is what we want”

These are often the words which we hear from youngsters, and they have spoken again. We want a Youth The CEF board has agreed to commit its biggest ever grant of £20,000 to the Community Association to underpin the youth and Club and a Scout group! facility development project.

The first quick assessment of the Community Association (CA) questionnaire survey has shown that for The money has been committed on the basis that planning once youngsters and parents are of one mind, and they are permission for the Community Centre development will be obtained and that the grant must be used as seed money to obtain quite clear why they want a Scout group and Youth Club. further grants from funds such as the Lottery. It is anticipated that They want to get badges, to go camping, to learn first aid skills, to learn survival skills and to have adventures at the £20,000 from CEF should be able to be multiplied between four and five times – so a £100,000 target is being set.

Scouts, while at the Youth Club they have a different set of wants, ranging from spending time with existing and new A key requirement of winning grants is evidence of need, which friends to playing various indoor and outdoor games, means the results of the questionnaires. The questionnaires learning crafts, going to places and, of course, having fun. overwhelmingly support the need for larger facilities, which are required to house a Youth Club, Scouts and an expanded Before and After School Club.

Active youngsters need space – and lots of it – much more than we have now. That’s why the CEF grant is important. It means our aspirations are achievable.

We can do it!

Community Association The Great Yorkshire Show Tuesday 9th – Thursday 11th July 2013

The event is a shop window for the agricultural industry as well as a great day out for the family.

The venue is the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate.

They are unanimous that they want something to do and somewhere to go, so the challenge is on for the CA to do something about it!

Now that we have had the first official feedback, we have to get going. We have an interim steering committee to form a Youth Club with the help of North Yorkshire Youth. What we now need is support from anyone over 18 who is interested in giving us a hand and helping to meet the youngsters’ aspirations and build a better community.

The questionnaires have still to be fully analysed, but we would like to thank over 300 people who took a little time to respond and gave us their views.

Ray Newton

22

SPORT - IN - NEWS There’s no shortage of news in the sporting world, not least around the climax to the football season: Fergie’s retirement, Mancini’s sacking, the doping scandal in the world of horse racing, the odd golf tournament, British Lions’ squad announcement and the cricket season starting, just thrown in for good measure!

Let’s start with arguably the biggest doping scandal to hit the world of horse racing, which has seen the Crown Prince Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed, ensnared after his string of UK-based horses was found to have been administered anabolic steroids. As a follower of the sport of kings, I have to say I find this whole episode utterly disgraceful.

The East German athletes of the 60s and 70s were heavily castigated (rightly) for their use of steroids, and this is largely the same with the exception that the horses had no say in whether they wished to take part (though some may say the same was true for the East German athletes). Sheikh Mohammed, the same person who claims to be ‘very hands on’ within his training establishment, knew nothing of these misdemeanours. This is however the very same person who leads a country where the use of steroids

in horses is openly accepted and indeed he himself has been found guilty of riding endurance horses that have subsequently been found in breach of doping rules. This is also the very same person who last year refused to run any of his horses at the American Breeders’ Cup as he didn’t want to be seen to take part in a series where the host country allowed horses to run on medication and drugs. When the doping scandal emerged it was his trainer, Mahmood Al Zarooni, who was charged, found guilty the same day and banned for 8 years.

No other person has been charged or implicated in a case where one in four horses tested was found to contain a banned substance.

Sheikh Mohammed has so far refused to comment and has quickly distanced himself from Al Zarooni. I do not know what actually happened or how high this goes within Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation and unfortunately, due to the nature of this ultra-quick enquiry, no one else knows either.

The UK horse racing public rightly remains suspicious of any horses that run in the blue silks of Godolphin.

announced his retirement. No one can be in any doubt as to the profound impact he has had by leading the football club to unprecedented success. Replacing him will be a near-impossible act but that chalice has fallen to David Moyes. Now I have nothing against him but the fact remains that in his 11 years managing Everton, Moyes’s plan at the start of each season would have probably looked something like ‘let’s see if we can get into the Europa League, have a good Cup run and come above Liverpool’. I would suggest his objectives leading the red half of Manchester will look slightly different and that’s on top of having to manage over 20 multi-millionaires all wanting to play every week in a side that can contain only 11 players. No easy challenge, and maybe the best testament to Sir Alex is that his departure has given the supporters of clubs such as Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and maybe Tottenham real belief that they have a chance of securing the title.

to put together a side that can send the invariably antagonising Aussies back home with their tail between their legs. If not, it could be a long summer of ‘whinging Poms’...!

The domestic Rugby Union season may be drawing to a close, but the British Lions are about to embark on a trip to Australia to take on the green and golds in a three-test series. As ever, opinion has been divided by the content of the squad that has been chosen, but after securing back-to-back Six Nations titles, perhaps it was inevitable that Wales would make up most of those heading south.

Time will tell if that decision was right, but I remain doubtful that taking 15 players from a side which has yet to lower the colours of Australia away from home (and has not done that well against them in Cardiff) is the right choice. There’s also the small issue that until February Wales had lost eight consecutive games, including a couple to nations from the second tier of international rugby. We live in hope however that the boys will In the cricket season also there is come good come at the time of reckoning – particularly if the test much to look forward to, Manchester United secured their including the Ashes series. Let’s side contains only a small number 20th title and in the process lost of those from the Valleys...! hope the team can build on the their guiding light for the last two series win in India and the Yours in sport, Doug Hought decades when Sir Alex Ferguson fortuitous draw in New Zealand

23

IN CONCLUSION Dear Editor Pooch poo On a recent visit to Australia we stayed with family members who are dog owners. We therefore had occasion to visit some of the dog parks which in that country are a feature of every community.

Personal small adverts £1.00 per issue Business small adverts £4.00 per issue please contact David Edwards on 682346

This set us thinking: would Hillam and Monk Fryston benefit from a dedicated dog park – or maybe even two? The menace of mongrel mess is a difficult problem to eradicate entirely.

However, the setting aside of a specific exclusive area where dogs can exercise ought to go a long way towards alleviating the situation. Such an area could be avoided by anyone not wishing to participate in canine capers, particularly if in charge of children. Furthermore, a place where dog owners are encouraged to meet regularly should be of interest even to those few people whose irresponsibility leads to the expression of frustration in nearly every issue of the Hillam News.

What do our village dog walkers themselves think? We wonder whether the matter could be taken up jointly by our two parish councils, in consultation with other bodies affected, such as the Foundation Field Trust, and the cricket and football clubs.

Jenny and Stuart Hoare Hillam News would like to know what our readers think about ways of curbing the continuing blight of fouled pavements.

Please let us know your views: see page 21 for contact details.

Stan Timson died on 29th April 2013 in York District Hospital. He came originally from Doncaster and worked on the railways after leaving school. It was at Ferrybridge Power Station that he met Betty whom he married in 1972. They lived in Pontefract for a short while before moving to Hillam, where he retired aged 59 in 1984. He took an interest in painting, decoupage and stained glass, and played dominoes in the Cross Keys. The funeral service was in St Wilfrid’s. He will be sorely missed by his widow Betty and daughter Rachel.

ZUMBA Latin-inspired dance fitness workout St Wilfrid’s Church Hall Every Thursday, 6:45-7:30 pm, £3 For more details contact Hannah Howcroft Qualified Fitness Instructor 07707 929393

24

CLUBS & GROUPS To amend or to add to the information below, please phone Jenny Hoare (683332)

CLUB OR GROUP

LOCATION

DAY & TIME

Community Centre www.mfhcc.com

Bi-monthly 2nd Wed 7.30pm

Ringtree Lights Committee

Cross Keys

Occasional

Karen Merry

685694

MF & S Milford Mothers’ Union

St Mary’s Church, SM

2nd Thur 2pm

Paddy Twidale

684180

Women with Interests

Usually at Community Centre

3rd Thur 7.30pm

Kath Ratcliffe

683590

MF & Hillam Luncheon Club (for anyone over 70)

Community Centre: for catering purposes, please book your place

1st Wed from 11.30am

Kath Ratcliffe

683590

S Milford Youth Club

SM Church Hall

Wed 7-9pm (term time)

Annabel Hey

07517 314720

Breakfast & After-School Clubs

Community Centre & Hambleton Play Safe Club

Monk Fryston & Hillam Community Association Church Hall booking

CONTACT Booking: Becky Gatenby 689230 Secretary: Tony Hudson 682693

Paddy Twidale

7.30am-6.30pm Mon-Fri 9-12am Tue & Thur 12.30-3pm Tue 9.30-11.15am (term time)

684180

Rachael Peacock 01757 229910 Jayne Wood 681050 (Playschool hours only)

MF Pre-school

Church Hall

Little Monkeys (Mothers & Toddlers)

Community Centre

Rainbows (girls 5-7)

Church Hall

Friday

Becky Gatenby

689230

1st Hillam & MF Brownies

Church Hall

Fri 6.30-7.30pm

Marie Parkin

680363

Sarah Force

07879 452293

S Milford Guides 682506, Hambleton Guides 01757 705535, Sherburn Cubs and Scouts 07913 158839 Air Cadets (ages 13-21)

RAF Church Fenton

Mon & Fri 7-9pm

Chernobyl Children’s Project (UK), MF Group MF, Hillam & Burton Salmon Defibrillator Group

Crown Inn

Hillam & MF Cricket Club

www.hmfcc.cricketclubwebsite.co.uk

Occasional Tues 7.30pm

01937 557340 Paula Spencer

682506

John Colton

671172

Kate Vaks

Burton Salmon Cricket Club

John Nesbitt

07747 045060 684444

Monk Fryston United FC

Stocking Lane

Steve Tope

Innter Crown FC

Lowfield Road

Lee Hammerton 07774 048913

Castleford & Dist Society of Anglers

Hillam Pond, Betteras Hill Road

St Wilfrid’s Parish Walks

Variable

4th Sat 10.15am

Stuart Twidale

684180

Circuit Training (children & adults)

MF School

Mon & Thur 8-9pm

Pat Birch

680580

MF Cycling Club

MF Square

7am summer, 8am winter

Iain Mitchell

681063

Dancing (2+, also teen classes)

Church Hall

Tue 4-7.30, Wed 4-6.30pm (term time)

Lucie Fox

01757 228841

Tappy Tots

Community Centre

Thur 1.45-2.30pm

Sue Brierley

0113 3790610

High-Low Quick-Slow (for under-5s)

Community Centre

Thur 10-11am

Anne Nicholson 01757 611234

Zumba Fitness Workout

Church Hall

Thur 6.45-7.30pm

Hannah Howcroft 07707 929393

Pilates

Community Centre

Mon 9.30-10.30am (term time)

Beverley Fletcher 01937 530079

Monk Fryston Time Team

Community Centre

4th Tues 7.30pm

Sue Newton

682084

MF Art Club

Church Hall

Mon 1-4pm

Jean Dearn

682611

University of the Third Age, Sherburn and Villages branch

Various groups, locations and times detailed at: www.sherburnu3a.co.uk

Lorna Pope

683514

Local evening & daytime classes

Adult Learning Service, Selby & Sherburn

0845 3006686

Sherburn Library

Has a list of local societies covering a wide area

0845 0349443

E Addle

07970 868288

07535 782380

The Hillam News is a free newspaper produced by volunteers. We make reasonable endeavours to ensure the accuracy of the content but we do not guarantee the accuracy of nor endorse the opinions of third-party contributions including adverts.

We publish our material in good faith and strive to comment fairly. If we make a mistake we are willing to correct it when it is pointed out to us. Because the paper is free we do not permit copying for gain but are happy to grant permission for reproduction.