Talk of the Town June 2020

EDITION 228

CIRCULATION 4,600

JUNE 2020

SALTBURN’S FREE MONTHLY MAGAZINE 1

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SALTBURN’S TOWN TALK Letter from the Editor

Like many people, I laughed when I heard the government’s came and violated your safe space. Anyone out walking their new slogan last month. The message ‘Stay at Home’ was dog knows that this is true however alert they are. A popular quite clear but they had to change it to ‘Stay Alert’ which was idea at the moment is that the lockdown is easing but I’m sure vague and required further explanation. It was pointed out to it is still true, paramount even, that we must remain distanced me that a hidden message of the slogan was ‘victim blaming’ from each other and if we all did, the virus would have by which I understand that if you didn’t stay alert and caught nowhere to go, and the lives of hundreds of people everyday in the virus then it was your own stupid fault. Obviously this is the UK would be saved. Stay alert and distant! Love, Ian not a very nice message because you could have just been Send letters, adverts and contributions for the next issue (by very unlucky and you could have been staying very alert Friday, 19th June 2020) to: The Editor, Talk of the Town, indeed watching out for other people getting too close while Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, Cleveland, walking or shopping when suddenly out of nowhere someone TS12 1AQ. Telephone: 01287 623903 (or email: Saltburn Studios and Gallery: Due to the current situation talkofthetownsaltburn@gmail.com).

Talk of the Town can be found on a new Facebook our Gallery will remain closed and Open Studios events are cancelled. We’ll be posting updates on artwork our artists are address at www.facebook.com/talkofthetownsaltburn. creating in their studios on our Instagram and Facebook pages. WI Report: May 2020 will go down as one of the quietest in Saltburn Farmers’ Market has had to close until the the history of Saltburn WI. With all meetings and subgroups situation for all of us improves. Keep and eye on our cancelled, all communication has been limited to phone calls facebook site and website for any developments regarding and on line activity.

Our buddy phone call scheme has continued so everyone home delivery services and meanwhile stay safe and we hope has had the chance of regular phone calls. to be back for later in the summer!

We decided to have a zoom coffee and cake meeting to Gentleman John: John Jackson, a former resident of Victoria celebrate VE Day on the afternoon of May 8th. Only a few Lodge, Emerald Street, Saltburn, has died aged 84. John, who members were able to participate but those who did enjoyed the was known to friends as ‘Gentleman John’ for his good chance of a rare face to face meeting. This got us thinking, did manners, was well-known in the town centre where he had we have any members who remember VE Day 75 years ago many friends. One of his claims to fame was that he walked and what, if any, were their recollections? round the edge of the country in his early 20s. See page 26.

After making several calls a few memories were The Lockdown at Hob Hill: Hob Hill and Guisborough collected but rather limited as the ladies were in the main only Road have never been quieter with Lockdown in place. More 5 or 6 years old at the time and had thus known only wartime people are walking around both in the public field opposite throughout their life.

One recurring memory was of huge the golf club and down to the town by various routes. We bonfires, a blaze of light after dark something that had been have never been fitter! missing throughout the wartime blackout.

Random Stitchers of Cleveland (Embroiderers’ Guild) are Craft Club Busy Fingers: We have cancelled our normal One lady remembered heronmother crying with reliefSee and in Saltburn Library this month 12th June at 2.00pm. sessions on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month, in the her immediate desire was to get rid of the Morrison shelter and Coffee Room, Saltburn Community Centre until further Library article on page 10 for further details. to bring the table back into the house from the garage.

The lady notice. herself remembers thinking that she would be able to go to Saltburn Traditional Music Workshops: Unfortunately we school (a feeling I am sure will be echoed by many children are cancelled until further notice but we hope to resume again today who are missing going to school and seeing their friends), as soon as we can. an activity that had been restricted because of lack of space in Random Stitchers of Cleveland: Random Stitchers of the air raid shelter. Another lady remembers being told by her Cleveland (Embroiderers’ Guild) are cancelling all meetings older sister who was in the WAAF about celebrating in London with immediate effect. These meetings usually take place in and being part of the crowds in the Mall. While another Sunnyfield House at Guisborough. Members will be kept up recalled that they lived in the country, her mother was in the to date with any changes as they arise. Any further info from land army and her father was employed servicing and Gill on 01642 480 344. maintaining aircraft. Her mother couldn’t wait to get back to Emmanuel Church Hall Table Top and Collectors’ Sale: Saltburn once the end of the war came.

We cancelled the sales in March and April and are doing a There were no recollections of big parties. Those of us twelve week shutdown. We will notify everyone when we are facing lockdown today find it hard to imagine how difficult it back. There’s about 75 percent of our customers who are must have been, when the main means of communication was elderly and their safety is important to us. There’s also a lot of by post, few people had phones at home, telegrams were more customers who come and buy our food and freeze it to last till often than not bearing bad news and social media was our next sale. I have managed to cater for a few of them that I something which had not even been imagined. had their phone numbers, but if any of you need to contact me If you would like to keep up with our activities please for anything please ring Denise Marshall on 07929 look at our website www.saltburnbytheseawi.wordpress.com or 589538. Everyone stay safe! look for Saltburn WI on Facebook.

Diane Falla Cover Photograph: Saltburn VE Day Window by Heather Lofthouse Disclaimer: Talk of the Town tries to make sure the articles and announcements made on its pages are accurate, but views expressed in letters and articles printed in Talk of the Town are not necessarily those of the editor. Any offers in adverts included in Talk of the Town are made by the advertisers; details should be confirmed with them. Always confirm event details with the organisers, in case of alteration or error. Talk of the Town is printed by DC (Yorkshire) Print, Mercury House, Grove Lane, Hemsworth WF9 4BB. Website: www.dcprintyorkshire.co.uk Tel: 01977 642331. Proprietor/Editor of Talk of the Town: Ian Tyas c/o Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, TS12 1AQ. (Ian Tyas tel: 01287 623903.)

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Saltburn-by-the-Sea Views of Huntcliff Huntcliff dominates the view to the east of Saltburn-bythe-Sea. It is a very imposing landscape and would be one of the factors attracting Henry Pease to develop the seaside resort. The view of the cliff is ever changing, sometimes lit by the afternoon sunshine, waterfalls cascading down after heavy rain, spectacular during the winter snowfalls and the white from the birds’ dropping all add to its uniqueness. There is also an active railway running near the cliff edge.

In Summer

Huntcliff excavation by local man William Hornsby lead a team excavating the site of a Roman lookout station before erosion of the cliff face removed all traces. Their finds are in various museums.

Winter after a snowfall

Freight train drivers enjoy a splendid view as they pass near the cliff edge The fairground provides foreground interest with this view

Left: Aerial View taken by the late Ken Bowers from a helicopter Below: A view from South Gare shows Huntcliff in relation to its larger neighbour Boulby Cliff which is reputed to be one of the highest sea cliffs in England.

P & O cruise liner sails past 4

Cath and Tony Lynn

MILTON STREET

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BUT HOPE TO BE BACK WITH ALL OUR ACTIVITIES SOON Watch the notice boards for details 5

Saltburn Evangelical Church (Leven Street Mission) Following Jesus - the Bible our guide

Here for you: WELCOME! Sundays 10.30am & 6.00pm www.saltburnevangelicalchurch.org.uk

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Help! Your local Playgroup needs you!

Little Nippers is in desperate need of willing volunteers to help out on Monday and Wednesday mornings, either in the kitchen or in the group. We need people to help set up and put away. If you can help, even if it is only for a few hours each month, we would love to hear from you. So, if you love spending time with young children, painting, glueing, singing, making music or reading stories, or even simply making drinks, then please contact Little Nippers Playgroup on

01287 624575

We have spaces in June for babies and newcomers to the town

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Councillors’ Column We have come a long way since the 23rd of March.

Who would have thought that life could be turned upside down in such a short period? All the life patterns which had been taken as routine and all the values taken for granted have changed, almost in a moment.

Families have lost loved ones and our mobility has been much challenged. Some who are shielding or simply self-isolating are experiencing the most difficult of times.

Where family members exist this has proved easier to come to terms with, be they at the end of a telephone, a fuzzy virtual face on a screen or a real live face at the window.

It has not been easy for those living alone.

Fortunately, the Saltburn community has risen to the challenges of loneliness and other mental and physical needs.

One group, Saltburn Coronavirus Response, has been at the forefront of extending that firm hand of fellowship. Help is available for a variety of support be it delivering of food or listening on the telephone, 01287 658133. Many other local organisations including our Churches have been reaching out. Redcar & Cleveland Council is also at the end of the telephone on 01642 771122. Thus, no one need be alone at this time. If it is known anyone is in need please do something about it. If in doubt please contact one of the Saltburn Ward Councillors.

As the Lockdown eases more challenges appear and what might have been easy to come to terms with in a black and white world is suddenly fraught with decision making.

It is clear what stay at home means. What actually does stay safe mean? Is it not easier for someone else to decide? How much information do we need to decide? Is it not self evident what is right? Sadly, the more decision makers that there are the more difficult the choices seem to be.

Our area has been selected along with another 10 local authorities to provide vital feedback in the roll out of the track and trace programme across the country. Redcar & Cleveland together with Middlesbrough will be the lead authorities for the Tees Valley. A National Local Government Advisory Board is being established to work with the test and trace service. This will include sharing best practice between communities across the country. Track and trace will be very much to the fore in managing the Coronavirus in the months ahead. Until such time as a vaccine is up and proven life will continue to be constrained. Whether being tied to our mobile phones for prompting will be a constant part of life in the future remains to be seen. Certainly more IT will be part of any future for all of us.

With every guidance that stares out from bill boards, press and other media the challenge rests with us, to share in community responsibility, staying safe and helping others to be so by thinking of what we ourselves do.

Philip Thomson 7

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Saltburn Photographic Society All meetings suspended until further notice due to precautions against the spread of Coronavirus.

What’s on at Marske Hall

Thank you to everyone who has shown wonderful support to Marske Hall under these difficult times. Residents and staff have really appreciated the wonderful Easter gifts, cards, paintings and messages of love sent over the last month. Follow Marske Hall on Facebook for the latest news. See also a thank you letter on page 26.

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Saltburn Scouts News Everyone here at 1st Saltburn Scout Group hopes that you and all your friends and family are keeping safe and well.

All Sections of the Scouts are still busy – indoors of course, and socially distancing where needed. Some of the activities completed for the “Indoor Challenge” have been a model of the transporter bridge from Lego, stop go animations using dinosaurs, floating (hopefully) home made boats and designing and flying paper aeroplanes and a Lego maze was made for woodlice races. There have been experiments with cornflour, a cliff top violin concert and one Scout is learning how to ride a unicycle!

Unfortunately, we could not celebrate St George’s Day on April 23rd as we normally would with a church service and parade but again being resourceful our County Leaders came up with an event to remember...virtually. After thinking about St George (who is the patron saint of Scouts) and the lessons we can learn from him, Scouts were set a challenge – to make a dragon in two hours. So, dragons were made from recycled items, Lego and paintings, big and small. A second challenge was set to build a ballista (a floor standing catapult) in an hour. Many were built, big and small and all could fire a missile. They then renewed their promise. Scouts also put on their uniforms to cheer and bang pots and pans for the NHS and key workers on the night of St George’s Day. After climbing Roseberry Topping (at home) last month, The Big Night In Appeal on April 24th saw Tim Peake and Bear Grylls encourage Scouts to Hike to the 10

Moon. Each Scout in the country had to walk a mile – which added together equated to the distance to the moon – and make a donation to the BBC Children In Need and Comic Relief. To date nearly £350,000 has been raised by Scouts UK. Another disappointment has been the cancellation of Damboree, where every Scout from all Sections from every Group in the County were to camp for the weekend at Ravengill in the Yorkshire Moors. Not to be outdone though many Groups have held camps at home and shared stories and photos.

Planned celebrations around VE Day could not be carried out but our ‘Tommy’ appeared at the Hut to remember all who made sacrifices in all conflicts and Scouts made red, white and blue bunting, flew Union flags and some had street parties within current restrictions.

Our weekly meetings still cannot be enjoyed but look out for rainbows appearing at the Scout Hut. To contact 1st Saltburn Scout Group, please email: saltburnscouts@hotmail.com.

T: 01287 201876

M: 07737 654772

E: darrenflintoff@yahoo.co.uk A: Unit 2, The Drive, Longbeck Industrial Estate. Marske, TS11 6HB

Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible

Website: www.flintoffs.co.uk

Until then, we are running ‘Virtual Groups’ Contact Stevie for details.

Ring Stevie on

01642 474920 11

Saltburn Rotary News The Rotary Club of Saltburn continues to follow Government advice relating to Coronavirus and therefore weekly zoom meetings remain the norm in these unusual times Nevertheless, we are adapting and, apart from still enjoying the fun and fellowship, we have made some important donations intended to benefit our local community.

Firstly, a £500 cash donation and a mountain of Easter eggs (donated to Rotary from Lune Street Social Club), to East Cleveland Good Neighbours Support, who are an active army of 120 volunteers who go out daily supporting the East Cleveland towns and villages, bringing a wealth of skills to benefit those in need, from friendly phone calls, chemist support, advice on shopping to delivering essential food parcels.

Also, it was considered that, as many animals are currently being abandoned during the current pandemic, donations of £250 each would be made to Save our Strays, based at Marske and to the Hope Animal Centre, based at Loftus. Both are voluntary organisations and rely solely on voluntary contributions from the public.

In addition, our regular deliveries of boxes of biscuits to show our appreciation to our marvellous care workers continues and to celebrate VE Day, members delivered an afternoon tea of cream scones and cake to care homes and individuals in Saltburn and Guisborough.

Finally, we are proud to be involved with the Saltburn Coronavirus Response in the competition to grow the tallest Sunflower in Saltburn by 24th August. As the slogan says,

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“Let’s fill Saltburn with sunflowers, brighten our streets & raise our spirits!”

So, all in all, we continue to be busy, playing our part in supporting our community, summed up perfectly in the image below.

Dave Sadler

Saltburn in Bloom It’s getting busy again with more cars and people about. It would be nice to be able to go back to “normal” in some respects, things like going to a friend’s for tea would be lovely, and a meal out too for that matter but, I have been enjoying clear skies, birdsong and the “smell” of fresh air.

We all want Saltburn to look nice when we take our exercise, and when visitors are allowed back, they will be pleased to see the town looking florally good. For that reason, gardening team individuals are continuing to keep features tidy and planted up. Thank you to all of you, I know you take much care and account for social distancing.

Thank you too, to the number of residents who have answered the call to water our planters in the town, please do this with care while taking your exercise and make sure you keep your distance from others. It’s becoming more difficult to keep to the distance rules as more of us are out and about and, the fact that people can drive to take their exercise means there will be more visitors again, all the more reason to be careful.

Our treasurer and sponsorship secretary have been busy recently, getting in touch with our past sponsors about this year’s activities. Some have kindly let us keep their donations for use during the year. Thank you to you too, as we can’t run any table top sales etc. this will be very helpful. We intend to put up a 2020 sponsorship board in the notice board near the entrance to the station platform to thank everyone formally, particularly our parish council which provides year round support to our efforts.

Hopefully, funding permitting, we will be able to do a few extra jobs this year. Some of our existing “town trail” interpretation panels are getting a bit tatty and they need re-skinning. We hope to have this done in the summer. Also the story of the return of the old Victorian railway buffers will need to be explained and we would like to put up a board to describe what was the old railway shunting yard, now transformed into the town centre garden. This is located behind the Farmers’ Market’s “secret square”.

You may remember that we had a booklet for sale in the library, Understanding Saltburn’s Heritage which had a town trail included in it. This has sold out and is now out of date. If we are successful in getting funding for the two new boards, our next task will be to fund an update of this publication and to include a new, extended walk.

Understandably, the focus for funders at the moment is to relieve in one way or another, the results of Covid-19. We had applied to the Heritage Lottery Fund for most of what I have described above and also the making of two snaky mosaics to go round two of the station platform raised beds. This has been put on hold for the time being but you can help us by keeping your fingers crossed.

Enjoy the fresh air as much as you can, Sue.

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or email: simon.robson1@ntlworld.com

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LK Electrical Electrical contractor based in Saltburn.

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Industrial, commercial and domestic electrical work undertaken, including: Fire Alarms Emergency Lighting Alarms/CCTV Home Automation Re-wires Free no obligation quotes, fair prices

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07760 349770

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Workshop Space and Gallery Arts based workshops and artwork by local artists for sale.

Workshop space available to hire articentriccic@gmail.com 07910 682695 1 Dundas Street West, Saltburn TS12 1BL

Articentric Community Interest Company

Workshop Space and Gallery Articentric is a new community interest, not for profit, company in Saltburn. We have workshop space to hold a variety of arts based classes and will be selling artwork by local artists.

Why not call in and see what we have on offer?

Open Monday to Saturday 10am – 4pm at 1 Dundas Street West, Saltburn TS12 1BL. Workshop space is available to hire at very reasonable prices and we have some gallery space left for artists to display work for sale. Articentric is committed to providing services for artists, enabling them to connect with each other and those interested in coming along to workshops and viewing artwork.

For more details emai l articentriccic@gmail.com, drop in or call 07910 682695.

Saltburn Councillors’ Surgeries

Redcar & Cleveland Council has cancelled all its meetings in the short term and requested that Councillors suspend surgeries until further notice. Accordingly Saltburn Councillors are withdrawing from holding surgeries but can still be contacted as follows.

Cllr. Craig Hannaway 07561 467168 craig.hannaway@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk Cllr. Stuart Smith 07557 540628 stuart.smith@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk Cllr. Philip Thomson 07747 044858 philip.thomson@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk 16

Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council

Due to the current coronavirus pandemic the Parish Council offices have been closed to the general public. Staff have continued working during this time either from home, in the community or in isolation at the office but from week commencing 18th May adaptations were made to allow everyone to return to their usual workplace. At the time of writing the office remains closed to the general public but can still be contacted by phone or email.

As a result of the current situation and the fact that meetings cannot take place face to face temporary legislation has been passed by the Government to allow Councils to meet remotely. After a few teething problems we have now successfully held several meetings and we are all adapting to this new way of working. Under the legislation there is no requirement to hold an AGM so all appointments made in 2019 will continue until 2021, therefore Councillor Stuart Smith will continue as Chairman for another year and Councillor Stan Glover will continue as Vice Chairman.

Unfortunately, many events have had to be cancelled or postponed including the Klondike Bike Race, Tour De Yorkshire, Folk Festival, Saltburn Hill Climb‌..the list goes on.

Plans are being tentatively made for the Saltburn Christmas parade but at the moment we are unsure whether this will be able to proceed in its usual format and alternative arrangements for a virtual event are being considered.

A decision was made at the start of lockdown to allow the allotments to remain open as long as Government guidelines were followed, and whilst some people objected to this, most tenants have expressed their appreciation that they have been able to go and work on their plots. There are, however, some plots which have become untidy and we are aware that some tenants are having to self isolate and have not been able to get to their allotment. If you fall into this category please telephone or email the office so that we can make a note on your tenancy. There has been an increased interest in renting allotments during this time and the current waiting list in Saltburn is the longest it has been for many years. Patience will be required!

Stay safe and take care.

Tracy Meadows (Clerk and RFO to the Parish Council) 01287 623477 office@smnmpc.co.uk www.smnmpc.co.uk

Saltburn 500 Club This pandemic has certainly placed us all into a new world, which is strange to us all. We do not know how long the pandemic is going to be a threat to us and, consequently, we don’t know how far ahead to plan.

The 500 Club committee are looking to hold a video conference at the start of June. However, a decision has already been made to cancel the June bandstand performances as we must obey lockdown procedures and keep safe. We have to consider the volunteers who arrange seating and collect money and, also, the bands have not had the opportunity to rehearse.

The Sunday table-top sales have been cancelled and I have also lost the opportunity to have two fund-raisers at the Community Centre (to date). The funds raised by these go towards the cost of the Christmas lights. I have been sending out letters/emails, to various businesses, asking for donations towards the lights and have met with no success.

We have to be aware that we are up against a lot of charities vying for a greatly-reduced source of funding. We have raised the JustGiving page, however, if you have any thoughts about who I could approach for funding please let me know - or have a go yourself.

When doing the lights, I arrange for a group of volunteers to bring the lights out of storage, check them and place them around the town for the electricians to erect.

This would be early in November so you can see that, apart from lack of funding, social distancing could be still a problem at that time. We have had a video conference to discuss the matter and one committee member has volunteered her husband to put together a virtual Christmas lights parade. This would require you to send in video clips of previous events and they would be put together. (This is a far too complicated procedure for an oldie like me!)

I was also working on the possibility of replacing the aging blue Christmas motifs, on Station Street, with new ones and I had the funding in place to do this. However, I am not sure when you will see the result of that.

I was last in Saltburn on 17th March, apart from walking my weary bones to the Coastguard Cottages, and miss the banter I have with various business owners and other people I know down there. Mind you, my garden has never looked better and I’m looking forward to eating the fruits of my labours some time soon.

Keep safe.

Trevor Welburn Secretary, Saltburn 500 Club/Friends of Saltburn trevor.welburn@btinternet.com

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Brotton Library Knit and Natter Group We are a small group making items for charity whilst sharing skills and friendship. It is free to come to the group. We have a few regular members and would welcome more. Thursday afternoon 2pm till 4pm in Brotton library (attached to Freebrough Academy).

Deborah

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Copper Connections Readers with long memories might remember how much time and effort Kate and I have given over the last few years to dissuading slugs and snails from eating delicate plants in our garden. It was a long and fascinating struggle and it led me up many research paths I would not have expected. In the end we found a reliable way to give our mollusc visitors a very small but definite electric shock if they came too near Kate’s prized seedlings. It did them no harm but it turned them back and that is exactly what we wanted. This end was achieved with the aid of copper, but alloyed with other metals such as zinc and aluminium.

Copper on its own, which is often advertised as a sticky backed tape for deterring molluscs does not work under all circumstances and whether or not it gives the snails and slugs an electric shock depends upon what the creatures have been most recently eating. If they have recently consumed plants that are high in iron or especially zinc, these metals will be present in their slime and together with the chemicals called electrolytes, which are also present, these will combine with the copper to create what is known as a galvanic cell. However, if there are no other metals in the slime, the molluscs will cross the copper with impunity. What we did was to add the extra metal along with the copper and that almost always did the trick. What is more, the slimy creatures seemed to remember their brush with electricity and did not tend to return for a second dose.

All research leads to connections (at least it does in my life) and towards the end of our mollusc research I happened across a reference in my historical research to how the Ancient Greeks and the Ancient Egyptians believed that to wear a copper bangle or bracelet could help to alleviate the pain caused by arthritis, rheumatism and various other aches and pains. Copper bangles and bracelets are still sold and worn for the same reason, so the idea never went away. A little bell rang in my mind, as it often does and this began a whole new skein of research that has thrown up a wealth of surprises and a great deal of fascination.

As a researcher and a writer of many books on our ancient past, I came to understand a long time ago that supposed ‘old wives tales’ often contain more than a grain of truth and my experience with the molluscs had introduced me to the amazing properties of copper, which is truly a miracle metal. I knew that recent scientific studies seemed to indicate that copper bangles could not alleviate pain but I began to wonder if those who had instigated the research really knew what they were looking for. If they had been ignorant as to what was actually taking place, they might have failed to hit upon the truth.

What followed were months of research and several years of testing. I was aware of copper’s relationship with electricity and I was also familiar with a treatment known as electrotherapy. This is a well accepted form of pain relief in which a very small electric current is applied to the skin of a patient, which in many

cases alleviates pain from which they might be suffering.

How this works remains quite mysterious but it is thought that even a small current could overpower the even tinier electric charge running along the nervous system of an individual to and from the brain.

Thinking back to the molluscs I wondered if, under specific circumstances, copper bangles could generate a small electric charge and if they could, maybe this was dulling the pain a patient might be experiencing. I found this to be the case but it certainly was not reliable and as with the snails and slugs it also depended on what the person in question had been eating. Our ancient ancestors in Greece and Rome (and in fact all around the Mediterranean) consumed a diet high in shell fish, squid and various plants that are high in zinc. Human beings don’t have slime but we do have perspiration, which contains electrolytes and which also carries excess zinc and also iron. If this was the case, when these came into contact with the copper bangle, a current of about 0.7 volts would be created, which is not dissimilar to what is used in electrotherapy.

Sadly our diets these days are very different, especially up here in the North, despite us all knowing that a ‘Mediterranean diet’ is healthy. This means that for the majority of people the vital electric current would not flow.

The way round this seemed to be to either eat a dozen oysters every day or to add the necessary second metal to the copper band. If this was done the two metals would sit happily together and do nothing until they were bridged by the necessary chemicals, those essential electrolytes.

I obtained supplies of copper and zinc and began to experiment. The results were very surprising and a good 70% of the test subjects I used reported an easing of their symptoms when they were wearing a copper and zinc bangle – even often if the pain was far from the place where the bangle was being worn. My tests were not truly scientific and were not large but they seemed to show that those who had dismissed the whole idea in the first place had found no pain relief because the copper bangles they used were not ‘turned on’.

This is only part of a very big and very fascinating subject because here we find only one of copper’s many attributes. It is a fact that copper kills bacteria and many viruses – as a natural consequence of what it is and we are only now beginning to realise many of its benefits. It turns out that the very first metal used by humans is also the most remarkable.

Not only have I begun to manufacture copper and zinc bangles that do work, I have created a website that you can see at https://www.bimetalband.com which you might want to read.

I hope the whole subject fascinates you as much as it has captivated me. It all goes to prove that our ancient ancestors were just as intelligent as we are. They might not have known ‘why’ something happened but they could take note of it. It also goes to prove that a good observation and a useful idea can span millennia.

Alan Butler 19

Podology news Podology has been closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic for the last nine weeks. We hope you are all well and have been staying safe at home. Last week we heard that we can reopen on the podiatry side of the business and hope the beauty aspect will follow on in July.

Being a medical and beauty clinic we already have strict infection controls in place and all suitable measures of disinfection and sterilisation. Those of you who have been to our clinic before, know all of our instruments including beauty tools are disinfected and then sterilised in an autoclave in pouches. We disinfect surfaces and hand contact points using antibacterial and antiviral solution. We have clinical waste and sharps bins in place and we use PPE for tasks that require it. In light of the current pandemic we have elevated our protocols, rewritten our risk assessments and added detailed infection control policies to suit the current situation. Sneeze screens are now the new norm and you will see them throughout the building. When you choose Podology - you choose high standards of customer care, treatments and environment.

We reopen for podiatry treatments and product collection (by arrangement) on Monday, 1st of June.

What happens at your appointment?

IF YOU HAVE A HIGH TEMPERATURE OR COUGH PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND YOUR APPOINTMENT

and seek medical advice through 111.

Come to your appointment alone as we are trying to keep reception areas clear. We positively encourage you to wear a mask or face cover to your appointment.

When you arrive for your appointment wait outside the clinic, observing social distancing rules. The receptionist will collect you when your podiatrist is ready.

Temperature checks will be carried out, clinisept will be applied to your hands and payment will be taken before your appointment (if you haven’t already paid online).

Your podiatrist will carry out your treatment and make any necessary future appointments.

All of our staff will be wearing appropriate PPE. All appropriate infection control policies and risk assessments have been updated following guidance from the Government, Governing bodies and local council.

Please ring 01287 622280 for appointments. Or book online (through our website www.podology.info).

We look forward to seeing you and Thank you for your patience. Team Pod x Laura J Dicken Podology, 37 Milton Street, Saltburn, Cleveland, TS12 1DN 01287 622280 www.podology.info

Health, Happiness and the virus continued Well, it’s about wellness. Suddenly it comes streaking into focus, like a jet plane over the hills of Wales. One moment life is deeply still, you are deeply immersed in a walk, in the cycle of repeating thoughts and then the sound comes in to your mind, strange, unfamiliar and out of place. The brain tries to make sense of it and at first nothing connects, nothing makes sense. There can be a sense of fear of the unknown and the unconnected. And then it crashes over like a wave, in a roaring streak. It is seen, acknowledged, yet seems so incongruous, like a reminder of war and death amidst the lush greens and rolling greys, that lie back so heavy and seemingly passive.

One moment we were looking at the picture of our lives, much of which feels safe in its familiarity and then one moment later, nothing has changed, yet everything has changed. A concept arrives in your head, brought to you by your television and your radio and your internet and your friends and then it is there and once there it is hard to push it back inside the bowler hat.

Notice how your whole sense of safety is changed not by something you can see but by an idea.

It is said that no two people in a cinema see the same film. The world is not one thing, though you can take a photograph and say “look there it is the same for everyone”.

Each person focuses on different elements and pulls those out, from a picture, from an experience and from every aspect of living. The big factor is focus. What is it that your mind focuses on and what is it that your mind doesn’t so it goes unnoticed? And crucially are you aware of what you focus on and what your brain is thinking?

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It is sometimes said that mental health is all built upon a sense of safety. That often means what is recognised and feels solid or known. It explains why many people are change averse. It explains why people who believe that science explains everything can get so upset with someone who doesn’t see it like that. For the science becomes like a religious dogma, truth, it is stable, known and thus safe. To those people engaging with someone in a conversation about the possibility of spirits or fairies or magic can feel not only foolish but actually dangerous. Dangerous to their sense of safety and what is secure and so to their mental health.

The virus is by definition the unknown. For many who hold on tightly to a sense of certainty about their world, that is scary. For others they can more fluidly enter the world of the unknown and hold that possibility more lightly.

What is a determining factor in their emotional state, in their happiness, is their focus. If your focus remains on the changing information for your sense of security that can quite quickly become tiring, draining, towards breakdown.

Your greatest power is perhaps your ability to choose what you focus your mind on. It is something you can train yourself to get better at, in part through meditation. It puts you in charge of your mental wellness, rather than you giving your power away to what is out there, floating around, real or not.

Kendal Aitken Happy Balance Training. Individuals and groups.

Contact: kwayextra@googlemail.com or 07944 883961

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Saltburn steps up in response to Coronavirus

Sharing the same commitment to helping the “I’ve done unicorns, red and white, New York skyline, community in the coronavirus crisis is Saltburn resident, Cat Middlesbrough Football Club and floral and next I’ll be doing O’Neill. As a Teesside University lecturer, she is still Disney and Mickey Mouse ones!” says sewing volunteer Juli working online from home, but she misses seeing her family Fraser, on the subject of scrubs that she’s been making for and is a relative newcomer here.

James Cook University Hospital. She converts old duvets into “I was pleased to be involved in the setting up of workwear for the staff who are doing so much for Covid–19 Saltburn Coronavirus Response Team,” she says. “We patients. started a Facebook group to make sure people in need were Before the lockdown, Juli was busy running a beauty supported at this difficult time. Our helpline was established therapy service and cleaning two holiday lets at Marske and as a safety net - no-one should be stuck in the house without Guisborough. “It all came to a halt with social distancing,” access to food or support because of self-isolation.” she explains, “so I turned to sewing Christmas presents and Ruth Greenwood designed a flyer and 2,500 copies spring cleaning the house instead.” were put through letterboxes in the town. Jemima Stubbs co But a friend alerted her to the website: James Cook -ordinated the distribution, which was achieved before the University Hospital Sewing for Scrubs, which included a start of lockdown. A helpline was set up and this can be downloadable pattern to get people started. Juli decided to rung on 01287 658133 between 9.30am and 1.30pm, have a go, but she preferred to borrow some scrubs from the Monday to Sunday. friend and made a pattern from them. She began working with The team have now made over 100 food and plain blue material, but she had her thoughts on something pharmacy deliveries, arising from the helpline. 58 delivery more imaginative. volunteers have been recruited and checked by Jemima.

She put a message on Facebook and Sara Mitchell, They have been trained in safeguarding, data protection and another sewing friend, who is also making scrubs, contacted good hygiene. The food is mainly bought in Sainsbury’s, Planet Saltburn to ask for donations of old duvets which could but sometimes Asda at Skelton is used. Both Saltburn be made into scrubs. Mindful of social distancing rules, Juli Pharmacy and Boots take part in the service. Petrol costs asked people to leave them on her doorstep and was delighted can be claimed back from the group’s funds by volunteers, to amass a big pile of them over the next few days. if necessary.

“It’s much more fun now using different materials,” £1,400 has been raised in the first few weeks through says Juli. “I’ve made some with a red leg and a white leg and a Just Giving page. This was organised with the help of I’m doing colourful headbands too.” Another friend is making CEO Sleepout, a national charity set up to fight masks and everything is dropped off with Simone Shaw, who homelessness and poverty. co-ordinates distribution, when ready.

“The first phase of our work focused on the physical At the time of writing, Juli and Sara were planning a need for food and pharmacy deliveries, but our second socially distanced event for VE Day on 8th May. They phase is about supporting good mental health,” says Cat. planned to post twenty-three letters through the letterboxes of “We’ve set up a listening service, as more people are Zetland Terrace, asking people to put out red, white and blue experiencing feelings of disconnection as lockdown bunting or flags if they have them to celebrate the day and to continues.” come into their front gardens at 3.00pm with a cuppa or drink The team are encouraging people with a number of to say “Hi!” community challenges. They are urged to take part in daily Well done, Juli and keep going with the scrubs.

Continued on next page 22

Sing at Six sessions, by coming out on their doorsteps. A typical evening includes ‘Lean on Me’ by Bill Withers, tracks put on by individuals and Happy Birthday to You to anyone in the town celebrating a special day.

At the time of writing, VE Day celebrations were being arranged for Friday, 8th May. Plans were being made for picnics on doorsteps at 2.00pm; bunting and Union Jack displays on Coral Street and fancy dress is encouraged.

“We’re hoping that this is fun for everybody,” adds Cat. The team are working with Saltburn Rotary Club to organise a Grow Your Own Sunflower Competition. They distributed packs of pots, seeds and compost in the car park of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church from 11th to 17th May. “We’re also planning a Bakeoff Challenge,” says Cat. “We’ll give out packs of baking supplies and people can send pictures of what they’ve made by email or Facebook for judging. We may give a reward for the best six cup cakes, for example.”

Thank you, Cat and volunteers; you’re making a difference!

Paul Richmond is retired but had completed 28 years in finance and administration for the RAF, before moving to Saltburn last year. He joined a number of gardening groups in the town, including those in the Valley Gardens and the woodland area. Because of the lockdown, he has found that he can only continue on a limited basis as his volunteering was organised around group activity.

So with more time available, he decided to volunteer with the Saltburn Coronavirus Response Team. “I was willing to go to shops or be a general dogsbody,” he says, “but Jemima heard about my RAF experience and recruited me to the admin team to help with the computer work.”

Paul has been instrumental in running a traffic light system to ensure that volunteers aren’t over-used. If they register as red, they are stood down for a while. The team are also working on simplifying the payment system for shopping, so that cash doesn’t have to change hands.

Sainsbury’s and Asda are now on board and the volunteers can pay at the shops with topped up cards. “This works well, as these cards mean that volunteers don’t have to pay for the shopping themselves and some of our vulnerable customers can’t get out to ATMs for cash,” explains Paul.

Maintaining the admin and finances has involved him in making the team’s first bid to Redcar and Cleveland Council for more funding for future projects. The Council has been awarded money by the Government to alleviate distress

under lockdown and staff are assessing bids.

“I would like to continue volunteering after the crisis is over, but if the activity is eventually wound up, any funds remaining will be donated to a local charity,” he says.

Paul does all his work on his computer in his own home. “I’m glad I can be of help,” he adds.

Lauren Shields was enjoying going to ‘mummy groups’ with baby son Noah when Covid–19 struck. She’s on maternity leave from her job as a Special Needs teacher.

She’s also had to give up visiting family, the holidays and trips she was looking forward to and her Yoga classes with Victoria Sky. So the idea of volunteering for the Listening Service of the Saltburn Coronavirus Response Team this spring was a very attractive one.

“I liked the idea of providing a befriending service by phone,” she says. “There’s a wonderful community spirit in Saltburn, but many people find isolation tricky. I feel it’s very useful to offer them an opportunity to keep themselves connected and to meet new townspeople on the phone.”

Lauren explains that the service was tricky to set up as it was important to ensure safety. She worked with Cat to DBS check volunteers and provide them with training. Now there are seventeen volunteers making regular calls to the community. Some people use the helpline to ask for assistance with shopping and prescription deliveries, but the service isn’t just for older people. For those who just want a chat, Lauren can take a note of their interests and match them with a volunteer who shares them. She pays tribute to Bill Dobson, who is organising with the service users.

People typically make between one and three calls a week and the conversation can go on as long as the caller wants.

“We’ve had really positive feedback so far,” explains Lauren. “Topics have included the local area, people’s pasts and their interests. The talk doesn’t have to be about the pandemic.” There is a waiting list of people keen to volunteer, so there is plenty of capacity to respond to callers and Lauren encourages people who’d like to chat to ring 01287 658133 between 9.30am and 1.30pm any day (or to send an email to saltburnlisteningservice@gmail.com).

Thank you to Lauren and all the volunteers: you’re making a difference and keeping our community going!

Rosemary Nicholls 23

SALTBURN BLUES CLUB

Saltburn Library News All the Redcar and Cleveland libraries are closed during April as a precaution against the spread of the Coronavirus. We hope to be open again soon but at the moment we do not know when.

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Hi all! Not much going on at the moment at the Blues Club for obvious reasons. Hope you are all staying safe. Regarding the Saltburn Howzat Charity Festival scheduled for Sunday, 20th September we are still hoping that it may be on but will take on board any guidance regarding mass gatherings issued by the Government on July 1st before we make a decision on the Festival’s fate. Fingers crossed, but as I write this I must admit it is looking doubtful. Tickets are available still at www.yorkshireticketshop.co at £25 but it may be wise to hang fire before you purchase until the July decision.

Some news which illustrates the top class quality acts we bring to our Saltburn club was the results of the 2020 UK Blues Federation awards held on the 17th May. Winners included the following acts that have performed at SBC, Elles Bailey as Blues Artist of the Year and Best Blues Album, Catfish Blues Band of the Year (one of the 7 Howzat acts on September 20th), Connor Selby Young Blues Artist of the year and Matt Long lead guitarist and vocalist in Catfish won Instrumentalist of the Year! The awards were held online and can still be viewed at the UK Blues Federation Facebook page. Others that played at the awards were Kyla Brox and The Achievers both winners of the UK and European Blues Challenges and who have also played Saltburn Blues Club. Only the best for you at SBC! After Howzat if it happens is our monthly gig on September 26th with a fantastic Blues Band who cover all the Blues Classics, The Head Hunters Blues Band with local Band The Little Criminals supporting. This gig will be held at our new venue at Saltburn Community Hall back where we started 9 years ago in September. Again let’s hope it is possible. Also scheduled in September is the Balmoral Acoustic Blues Club at the Cons Club on September 13th when we hope to welcome back Fran McGillivray and Mike Burke for their second Saltburn visit.

Meanwhile you can get your Blues Fix with my show Still Got The Blues on Mondays 7pm-10pm at Zetland 105FM. Listen Live on the Zetland FM website or tune in locally to 105FM. Harry Keep diggin’ the Blues, folks.

07960 935263

Thank You, Wally!

Wally the Lockdown Warden has continued to entertain the residents of Emerald Street with his amusing middle of the road performances. On VE Day he came for a special WWII show dressed as a bomber pilot and residents were delighted to hear the theme from the Dambusters and other WWII songs. The following week he came dressed as a hippy and performed songs of the sixties. Then next time he was dressed as a nun and performed The Sound of Music.

He certainly raises spirits and everyone smiles and claps. Wally (real name Terry) lives in Marske but his daughter lives in Emerald Street which is why the neighbours are so privileged to receive him!

Love in a time of Coronavirus I’m a retired Clinical psychologist. I’m one of many former NHS workers who have been temporarily re-registered with the Health & Care Professions Council to practise during the coronavirus pandemic. I’m aware that many frontline keyworkers, who are earning respect, gratitude and admiration for their courage and commitment, are working in highly stressful and sometimes traumatising circumstances. I hope all of those in my local town (and elsewhere) are getting the psychological support they need.

My message is simply to say that if you need to talk to someone to get some support as you continue your fine work, you are very welcome to contact me. I may be a little bit rusty but I’ll do what I can.

You can email me using this address: tim.prescott@ntlworld.com This isn’t a conventional love story. It’s just a ramble through some of my reflections during the lockdown. As a retired Clinical Psychologist I’m interested in human nature and behaviour, especially at times of change. Those of you who, at one new year or another, have made determined resolutions to change your own behaviour (eat better food, exercise more often, drink less alcohol) will know that making a sustained change in behaviour is difficult.

Most of us like to get up every morning to find the world as it was the previous day. You don’t want big change in your sandwich every lunchtime. Nevertheless, for many of us, this coronaviral interruption to our usual pattern of life is the most extreme experience of unexpected and unwanted change that we’ve ever faced.

A shift in perspective has occurred that really was beyond imagination. I’ve observed with interest the extraordinary success during these past weeks of widespread behaviour change. I don’t mean to underestimate any of the suffering associated with the pandemic but we seem to be managing with less difficulty than might have been expected.

Oddly, in the midst of all of this I’ve heard (from socially distanced positions, some of which I expect to be featured in the next edition of The Joy of Sex) many people recognise that there are elements in the changed world that are surprisingly welcome, e.g. audible birdsong, reduced carbon emissions, shortage of toilet paper.

During my first experience of queuing to shop at Sainsbury’s, the woman in front of me instructed me to look at the bright and brilliantly blue sky. I enjoyed the view as directed and replied “every coronavirus has a silver lining.”

Amongst all of the loss we have been given a chance to see the world in a different light, literally and metaphorically.

There has been some re-examination of what matters in our lives and about what we value in ourselves and in others.

Sometimes when we are faced with testing situations we learn about ourselves as individuals but also, more generally, we get a new look at human nature.

Philosophers, writers and scientists have argued through history about whether good or bad impulses are dominant in human behaviour. The spread of the coronavirus has been rapid but it has been outpaced by the outbreak of essentially helpful behaviours. We have cared for each other.

I guess box sets are helping us through the lockdown.

I’ve started watching the excellent Ken Burns / Lynn Novick documentary series about the war in Vietnam. Between 1945 and 1960 successive American presidents were supportive to

Ho Chi Minh’s campaign for an independent and unified Vietnam, free from French occupation. But suddenly the Americans became nervous about the potential spread of communism and changed their position.

With this confusion of intentions, sympathy for independence was replaced by napalm, agent orange and huge quantities of more conventional weapons over a period of several years. Human beings, killing machines.

Here we are fifty years after the war in Vietnam, facing a virus that is blind to political philosophies and national borders. Our heroic frontline workers deserve particular recognition but the evidence of goodness in human nature has extended widely across populations in the many nations hit by the virus. Tens of thousands of people have responded to the call for volunteer helpers. We are applauding courage and humanity, co-operating in our effort to get through a pandemic. Neighbours are looking out for each other, communities are standing together. I’ve been moved by the many acts of kindness that have characterised our collective response to the “new normal”. Human beings, kindness machines.

We spent three years falling out with each other and forming what seemed to be deep divisions over Brexit. Then, five minutes into the pandemic, we’re all on the same side again. We formed a shared understanding (except for the Donald) and shared objectives. Social psychologists (Sherif and Sherif, 1954) demonstrated how divided communities can be quickly reunited in their summer camp experiment in Oklahoma. First they engineered conflict and division but then they introduced challenging circumstances requiring cooperative problem solving. The divided groups re-united and worked together.

1954 was also the year in which William Golding’s Lord of the Flies was first published. The novel tells the story of a group of children who are stranded on an island.

Their behaviour darkens into savage hostility as they seek to manage their lives together. It’s become a classic and it is a good read. However, there has been a real example of a group of boys who were stranded on a Pacific island in the 1960s for over a year. The real experience was very different to Golding’s fiction. The boys maintained good friendships and worked together co-operatively to survive.

We all know that in reality human behaviour is complex and variable; we know of appalling examples of inhumanity. During this time of crisis, inherent goodness has shone brightly. So why are we sometimes very good and at other times very bad? The key conclusion from the Sherifs’ summer camp experiment was the recognition of a shared objective. That is what produced the unity of purpose. The same can be said about the boys on the Pacific island.

The same understanding applies to the current crisis.

We all want the virus to be managed. When either groups (including nations) or individuals have different objectives the potential for conflict is created.

I’ve been impressed by the way that so many people with all sorts of skills have found a helping role. Some people have carried out tasks to support vulnerable members in their local communities, others are undertaking pioneering new science. As I reflect on how it has all affected me, I feel almost guilty to say in such a time of loss and suffering that I feel some kind of spiritual restoration. Nevertheless, I do.

There is love in a time of coronavirus.

Tim Prescott 25

John Jackson John was well known around Saltburn, he went out daily to the shops and was known for raising his hat in greeting. He was taught good manners when raised in Grove Hill, Middlesbrough by his mum and taken care of later by his sister Marie.

John was in his late sixties when he came to Saltburn, a short while after his sister died. He was a very independent chap with a wide range of interests, when younger he had walked around the whole coastline of England starting and finishing in Redcar. He also did the Coast to Coast walk many years later.

Unfortunately he forgot to inform his home help of his intentions, causing quite a stir!

John loved to travel. He first got a taste for it when, in his twenties, he joined the Merchant Navy. When I met him he asked where I came from, and he said that he had sailed from Southampton and Portsmouth many times. He knew every pub in the area but when abroad he liked to avoid the pubs and his shipmates were surprised to find he went sightseeing instead of drinking.

John and I had a love of theatre in common. John had worked as a volunteer at Middlesbrough Little Theatre, in the lighting department, where he changed the coloured gels on the lights. He watched all the plays, despite not being taught how to read and write, and John could recite whole speeches from Shakespeare from memory and chat about the plots of plays he had seen while there.

John had a travel bucket list. He said he had always wanted to see the Mona Lisa and Napoleon’s tomb in Paris.

He was fascinated by the channel tunnel and loved travelling through it, having first visited the longest champagne bar in the world at Charing Cross station, and he loved the mixture of old architecture and new. My fellow carer and I had the time of our lives with John, visiting the Moulin Rouge and climbing to the top of the

Eiffel Tower. The following year we went to Rome as John wanted to visit St Peter’s. I had one of the best meals of my life in a pavement cafe while an accordionist played John’s requests. It was a joy to see someone so happy.

I think we visited just about every church in Rome, and there are a lot, as well as the Coliseum and catacombs.

A few years later, after a bout of ill health John informed me we had missed something in Paris, as he had not seen the Rodin museum, so off we went again, for a whole week in Paris. We spent two days looking at Rodin’s masterpieces and a day at Versailles. At the Arc de Triumph we “lost” John as he walked right across the top. It was fine though, and he managed to find the only gendarme who spoke English and promptly reported “the girls” were lost!

On his many travels John added to his vast collection of curios. His room was an Aladdin’s cave of interesting objects. We used to joke that it may become necessary for us to sling a hammock for him to sleep in and he was all for it!

John made Saltburn his home. He was secure and content with his faith and made great friends at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and was greatly supported by them, particularly Jackie who called to collect him for Mass when he was unable to go alone and by Mike Morrissey who came every week to read to John from the Journals he had delivered and to chat about his wide ranging interests including art, modern architecture and engineering.

John spent the last year at Shoreline Care Home in Redcar where he was very well taken care of and happy, with a lovely sea view room where he could watch the ships go by.

Mike continued his friendship and the last time they spoke John talked fondly of his holidays. Sadly, a few days later he passed away peacefully. May he rest in peace.

Sally Lewis

Thank you to our Caring Community We at Marske Hall have always been incredibly well supported by all of the local community. Many local publications, media outlets and radio stations have always shown a real commitment and support towards our beautiful home. Indeed, this magazine, Talk of the Town, is always happy to promote our events and fundraisers and to publish articles highlighting the work that we do. We have always known how blessed we are with your continued support, but nothing has prepared us for the past few months. ` As with many of you, we have had to make huge social sacrifices to keep our colleagues, loved ones, and residents, safe from the potential harm from this pandemic. We chose to shut our doors to all but essential workers which means no family members, no volunteers, no events and no outside entertainment. Staff are working in stressful and strange conditions, always with a smile, always trying to remain positive; but it has been hard. However, this is where you all stepped up.

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We have always felt supported but the outpouring of love, generosity and community spirit has overwhelmed us in a positive and uplifting way. From children’s art work, poems and Easter crafts to cakes, biscuits and ice-creams; takeaways delivered to our own homes to takeaways delivered to this home; numerous items of handmade PPE (face shields, masks and knitted extenders) to delicious fruit hampers. A local charity shop even delivered some additional jigsaws and activity items as we had over used ours during lockdown. The gifts, too many to actually list, you have generously donated, have lifted spirits and shown us all that, though you cannot come and see us, you have definitely not forgotten us.

This will come to an end and we will be able to host activities for the community to enjoy with us once again.

Until then, from the bottom of our hearts, we thank you.

Ruth Hebden Volunteer Co-ordinator, Marske Hall

Hello everyone, I will be temporarily closing the bookshop and concentrating on postal orders and local delivery. This was a difficult decision to make, but I feel it’s the best thing to do under the circumstances.

I'm taking orders by phone: 01287 348010.

While I’m closed, you can still support the bookshop by placing orders via email. I intend to have this up and running on Monday, and you’ll be able to pay via Paypal.

I’ll be offering a free home delivery service in Saltburn. If you’re further afield, I can post books out via my wholesalers for a small fee.

Please email any orders to me here: jenna@bookcornershop.co.uk Thank you so much for all your wonderful support so far, Jenna 27

Cleveland Diving Club

That Saltburn’s impressive coastline has a significant draw for those who embrace life here would be difficult to deny. It is truly a testament to the power of nature with ceaseless changing skies and captivating seascapes, intimidating one day and tranquil the next.

Unsurprisingly, when calm seas beckon, scuba divers eagerly head for the briny deeps in the hope of rediscovering familiar marine creatures or making new acquaintances. However, it is well known by seasoned scuba divers that it is possible to observe aquatic life long before making the big splash. Boat trips to dive sites often present close encounters, of a sort. For example, inquisitive porpoises that sometimes swim along with a small boat are enormously charismatic and provide memorable photographic opportunities such as this member of a porpoise pod, photo 1, taken near Redcar’s wind farm.

Another popular destination for scuba divers is the Farne Islands that plays host to a vast number of marine species not least being these lazing, land-bound seals raising their sleepy heads, photo 2, to check out expectant and curious visitors and, if the divers are lucky some of them may well join them for some underwater fun.

More exotic pre-dive encounters such as this encounter with an Atlantic stingray swimming carefree beneath shallow, crystal clear waters off Tenerife, photo3, had all aboard scrambling for their cameras.

While in Mexico an eagle-eyed skipper briefly pursued a small pod of bottle nosed dolphins that teased and entertained their audience with periodic glimpses such as in photo 4, as they swam, skipped and cavorted in the warm aquamarine sea, thereby creating a surge of euphoric pleas for more. Sadly on this trip the dolphins did not stay to play with the divers.

These encounters are truly mesmeric and enrich any diving experience and also add to the passion for scuba diving.

Unfortunately, foreign diving trips are still on hold, however, as we

ease into the lifting of ‘Lockdown,’ restrictions our club members (a sanguine lot) are hopeful that with the publication of new scuba diving safety guidelines they will soon be able to return to diving locally and fingers crossed regionally.

June Coomber

Seaview and Greta Cottage caring together 5 star care homes awarded by Redcar and Cleveland for their quality of care and personalised service.

Home from home with daily activities and weekly trips out in our own minibus.

Please feel free to visit us at anytime.

01287 622498 and 01287 625178 28

A place I called home I moved to Marske-by-the-Sea from Eston when I was five years old. That was 1958. Number 47 High Street became home to me for the next two and a half years. It was the year I started school and also the year I gained a lot of freedom. I went to White House School in Redcar on my own, on the public United red bus. When I say on my own, I was put on the bus by my mum and handed over to a teacher who was travelling to the same school. All the same I felt very grownup at age 5 in my green uniform of pinafore dress, shirt, and green and yellow striped scarf, with matching tie.

In school I sat in a Victorian cast-iron combined desk and chair designed for two pupils. I can still remember the ridges on the wooden desk surface and the inkwell in the corner. I didn’t like having to sit there all day at age five.

At home I was very active and had a lot of freedom.

There was a field at the back of my house with cows in where I would play. I was allowed to go to the shop two doors away on my own. I loved to buy sweets chosen out of the selection of giant sweet jars, lemon sherbets, toffees, pineapple cubes, humbugs and also sherbet dips with a stick of liquorice to stick in. However, my favourite was the Walls Neapolitan ice cream which went between wafers. I liked this because you got three flavours in one ice cream, vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. The highlight of my week.

I loved to go up to Marske train station with my friend, David, to wave at the drivers of the steam trains and they waved back at us. It was so exciting when you heard the whistle and knew the train was coming. Next you would smell it and see the steam, as it came thundering into the small station. I still have that same excitement when I see steam trains and love to go on them even now. So nostalgic.

Well done to the volunteers that keep the North Yorkshire Moors Railway going. I take my own children and grandchildren on that now.

There was a blacksmith’s down the High Street, which fascinated me as a child. I remember the intense heat, the orange light and the clanking of the hammer. When I brought my own daughter, aged three, on the train from Redcar in 1982, I walked down from the station with her to the blacksmith and she just looked on in awe as the blacksmith worked on a horse shoe. To her amazement, when he cooled it down in water, with a sizzle and a puff of steam, he gave it to her to take home. She kept it then for years. I wonder where it is now?

I also loved to go to the beach with my friends, which was about half a mile away. We walked or ran down Church Street, which led to the dunes and the beach, where the small fishing boats were parked on the sand. We would play hide and seek, den building and mummies and daddies. I always remember my mother’s words, “don’t go in the water”. The only reason to leave the beach was when we were hungry and we were due home for tea. I don’t ever remember wearing a watch. I knew the time by my stomach!

I used to go horse riding sometimes from Marske stables, up into Marske woods. I never wore a riding hat though. Far too expensive. I was envious of those girls who had beautiful black velvet hats, which I didn’t get until I was 14 years old. I think they were compulsory by then. In late summer we watched the haymaking into flat bales and if we were very lucky we could hitch a ride on the haymaking

trailer on the back of the tractor. I loved sitting on the bales dangling my feet.

I moved from Marske to Redcar when I was seven. I also changed schools then, and went to St. Mary’s Catholic Junior School, which was newly built. St. Joseph’s Infant School hadn’t been built then. However, it was built soon afterwards because of overcrowding. I was in a class of 44 children. It was the baby boom after the war and rationing had ended. I was in the Alpha class and we were coached for the Eleven Plus exam for a chance of a place at Grammar School.

So we had maths and spelling tests every day. There was an A class also, I think 88 seven year olds altogether. We were so crowded in the school then that I can remember sometimes being taught in the cloakroom among the wet coats hanging there. We started every morning with the register followed by chanting the Catechism as a whole class. Then the whole class had to chant their times tables up to the 12 times table.

Christmas that year my brother, Nick, was born in our new house close to Redcar station. I was told to run all the way to Redcar East for the midwife to help deliver the baby when my Mum went into labour. Home births with a district midwife were common then. She cycled with her bag all the way to our house. He was named Nicholas as he was a Christmas baby. I came downstairs on Christmas morning and there was my brother. He still lives in the same house 59 years later.

How life has changed for children 60 years on. My children didn’t play in the street, being brought up in a London suburb. They never experienced the freedom I had to run to the beach with my friends from the street, or play in the street because there were no cars, or walk out of our backyard at Marske, past the outside toilet, to play in the field of cows. I appreciate now all the freedom I had in my youth and I was outdoors so much in the fresh air. Even when I moved to Redcar, I still waved at the steam trains. But by then I would walk up the station staircase and enjoy the steam billowing up either side of the bridge over the train crossing, after the signalman had opened the gates by hand. I can still remember the smell of the coal furnace.

My grandson, aged five, has grown up having his own iPad. Talking on a mobile phone is taken for granted by him, even having video chats with his grandma, hundreds of miles away. My family didn’t have a house phone until I was 14 years old, but I wasn’t allowed to talk to my friends on the phone because it was too expensive.

Currently, while writing this, my three grandchildren are being home schooled on their laptops during the Coronavirus global pandemic lockdown. My son didn’t have the internet until he was ten years old, and we got it quite early with dial up. My two older daughters could not research their schoolwork on the internet until after their GCSEs at high school. My two older grandchildren can video chat with their friends on their own mobile phones and communicate through social media. They have never played in the street, far too much traffic these days.

I have written this account of growing up in a village in Yorkshire in the fifties, to give my children and grandchildren some insight into what it was like when I was five years old.

Barbara Westmore April 2020 29

Save our Saltburn

Time to do the right thing It’s six months since Redcar and Cleveland Council Regulatory Committee unanimously rejected the Camping and Caravanning Club’s application to develop an illconceived, large-scale static caravan site on Saltburn Lane in our precious Victorian seaside town.

Although the proposal was found to contravene significant planning requirements, the Club was unwilling to accept the decision and have immediately sought to appeal it.

Since then, of course, the whole country has been rocked by the coronavirus pandemic. The Council is focused, quite properly, on maintaining essential public services in these challenging times whilst recovering from a malicious ransomware attack that took down its website for several weeks. Meanwhile, the Planning Inspectorate, understandably in the circumstances, has yet to appoint an Inspector to consider the appeal and to set out a schedule, which will take several months to complete.

The Club has stressed on several occasions that it seeks to work closely with local communities. Now is their chance to demonstrate that pledge. There can be no doubt what the vast majority of the Saltburn community think about the proposal. During the planning application process a huge number of local residents, through detailed and carefully reasoned comments on the application, alongside a local petition, made clear their opposition.

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Highly respected national heritage groups and many visitors also vehemently opposed this damaging proposal.

At some point, the pandemic will subside. Surely, in such worrying times, the Camping and Caravanning Club would not want to perpetuate the anxiety of local residents, and distract the local council, through pursuing its illadvised scheme and unwarranted appeal.

If, as claimed, the Club cares about Saltburn, they will withdraw their appeal immediately and remove the cloud that continues to hang over our town. Instead, the land should continue to be used for arable purposes. One thing that the current crisis has demonstrated is the critical importance of the food chain.

We have no doubt that the appeal will fail and, with all that is happening around us, this is the perfect opportunity for the Camping and Caravanning Club to withdraw their pointless appeal. Failing to do so will simply underline their total disregard for Saltburn and its residents. It’s time for them to do the right thing.

Save our Saltburn Group

Cons Club Lockdown Continues Welcome to the monthly article from Saltburn Conservative Club where we are still in lockdown due to the coronavirus.

No information has been issued as to when the situation may change at the time I write this report and we can only wait and make preparations and plans for the time we re-open to ensure all steps are taken to conform to the government’s ruling.

Naturally I cannot make comments on last month’s events held in the club as we were closed and I cannot give you any information on future events until we have a clear picture of what restrictions we may have to adhere to. The advantage we will have when we officially get the green light is that apart from the bar we also have the snug downstairs, the Balmoral room (with bar) upstairs, plus the garden area which will enable our members to observe the social distancing rule over a larger area if it is still a requirement. I can assure all members that the Officers and Committee will do everything necessary to ensure the club is a safe place to return to and will enforce all regulations placed upon us.

The lockdown has given me the time I needed to spend time working in the garden and this has resulted in the replacement and removal of some shrubs and a thorough weeding regime of all areas, which I am approximately half way through! We will not be having hanging baskets this year but, depending on when we reopen, I may purchase some new plants and shrubs to fill the spaces that have opened up and we may also buy plants for the barrel planters outside the club entrance.

Although we were closed for the VE Day celebrations (which was so sad as we had a full programme of events planned) Michelle still put posters and banners in the club windows plus bunting was placed

around the garden and on the balcony, where we also had Winston Churchill on view keeping an eye on the town.

Thanks to Juli Fraser for creating Winston who was resurrected from the club’s scarecrow festival weekend memorabilia and he looked very lifelike. Some of the members, mainly from Sunday Club, have been taking turns baking cakes, pies etc for each other, delivering them to houses, ringing the doorbell and leaving the food on the doorstep, plus they have been playing bingo by Skype using the club’s bingo machine and bingo books, with prizes of sweets and chocolates.

The friendship that has been created in the club by so many people was always going to result in these types of activities where regular contact would always be maintained over the lockdown. The club is a second home for so many members where the best of friendships are made to last forever, where we all care for each other like a big family. We are all missing the freedom of movement where we can meet up in person and socialise.

As for myself, I have painted two new watercolour pictures and made a start on a third. I find it very relaxing and the time passes so fast. I spent two years without picking up a paintbrush and now I spend any free time I have putting paint to paper. I never seemed to have the time I needed but now that we are in lockdown I have a lot more free time away from the club’s commitments and I am once again really enjoying myself.

Obviously this is another short newsletter owing to the current circumstances but I beg you all to take care, carry out the government’s rulings and stay safe. Keep in touch with family and friends and we will all meet up again on the other side.

David Rigg President, Saltburn Conservative Club

Keeping It Clean At Saltburn Thank you from KICAS Over the past few weeks during lockdown, many people have had time to reflect on what’s important in life. Using our time well?

Connection with others? Creating a meaningful life? All these aims are right up there for lots of us. To this end, KICAS would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone looking after each other and the environment during this challenging time.

Perhaps you’re doing a two-minute beach clean or litter pick when you’re out, using less plastic, recycling or mending rather than replacing?

All these individual efforts when put together make a huge difference. Not only does it create a beautiful clean space for us all to live in, but it engenders a sense of wellbeing and community.

KICAS would also like to take a moment to send a huge thank you to the wonderful Barbara Helen who has worked tirelessly with both KICAS and plastic free communities for many years now.

Barbara was a founding member and chair of this group and although she will always be a beach cleaner at heart, she’s taking some well deserved rest so she can focus her compassion and passion on supporting veganism and music.

Our organised monthly beach cleans are on hold until further notice. In the meantime please stay safe, wash your hands and wear gloves if you are cleaning up.

With thanks and love, all the KICAS crew.

Together we can KICAS! 31

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FRIDAY FRIENDS Hello Friends far and wide. As you will realise, Friday Friends is closed for the foreseeable future.

In this present crisis we are all coming to terms with a degree of isolation and the ways in which this diminishes our lives. At Friday Friends we know how much more difficult that can be for those whose impairments, whether physical, mental, intellectual or emotional, can lead to even more isolation. This is not just for individuals themselves but also for those who care for them.

The present situation is highlighting the importance of support mechanisms and the essential nature of the communication links which help us to know that we are not alone in our sense of helplessness. As we seek to care for ourselves and loved ones please spare a thought for those whose personal inabilities make it even harder to cope. Anxiety will be much worse for those whose lack of capacity makes them anxious in the best of times, for them the love and understanding (and practical help where possible) of those more able can make a world of difference.

Wishing you all safety and reassurance, Graham Pacey (Chair of Trustees).

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Saving And Re-homing Animals THE ANN PROSSER FOUNDATION

A small charity seeking to rescue and re-home cats and dogs, Tel: 01642 488108 (weekdays only, 10am to 2pm).

SARA has many dogs and cats that need new homes. All are clean, healthy, neutered, vaccinated and microchipped.

Hello lovely people! We are Zebo and Rosco, and we both can’t wait to meet new friends and visitors once lockdown is over.

Zebo is a very beautiful brindle greyhound who is around 4 years old. Zebo is very friendly and well mannered. His favourite things are zooming around in the pen, lazing in the sun and going for walks with our other dogs in rescue. Zebo unfortunately cannot be homed with cats, small furries or young children. We do feel Zebo could live with another dog of similar size and temperament, and in a home where he would be able to

get plenty of exercise and somewhere comfortable to laze.

Rosco is handsome 3 year old boy who came to SARA through no fault of his own. Rosco is a lovely, sweet dog, but he is very shy with new people at first although after a few treats he soon relaxes and is fine.

Rosco is an energetic young man who enjoys his walks with our other dogs in rescue. However, we do feel he would be best suited to a household where he would be the only pet. We are looking for a calm home where he can get the exercise he needs and most importantly lots and lots of cuddles that he deserves.

SARA fundraising events Monthly meetings for SARA supporters and the general public are usually held in the Cleveland Bay, Ings Road Redcar on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30pm but unfortunately are currently cancelled as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus. Hopefully we can all soon meet again.

Future SARA Events: At the time of writing we have

no information on any possible future events because of the coronavirus lockdown but we will let you know as soon as we can about any plans.

Joy and Mandy Volunteers at SARA

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In these difficult days caused by Covid-19 please be assured of the support and prayers of the members of Emmanuel Church.

Unfortunately, the parish office is currently closed but the answerphone will be checked regularly.

Please do look at the church website and Facebook page for the latest news.

Please do join us for prayers on Zoom.

Contact Details tel 01287 622251

email emmanuelsaltburn@hotmail.co.uk

web www.emmanuelsaltburn.co.uk

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Some things of interest to do in June

A big thank you to the people of Saltburn!

The Trustees of Saltburn Community and Arts Association are so grateful for the kindness and generosity of everyone who has responded to our emergency appeal for funding, to help us through the pandemic.

Every penny donated has been gratefully received and has enabled us to maintain our beautiful building and support our staff, even though our doors are closed for the foreseeable future.

As I go for my daily walk I am touched by visible gestures of friendship – the smiles of strangers, rainbows in windows, painted pebbles and beautiful flower beds which continue to be lovingly tended by volunteers. It raises our spirits and reminds us that we are all part of a caring community.

Arts and education are a vital part of that community. Online entertainment during lockdown has been a great boost to those who can access it and many performances by individual artists and the National Theatre, RSC, Royal Opera House and many others have brought us much needed light in dark times.

However, the happy prospect of a return to a live theatre production, a shared cinema experience, meeting friends at the Live Music night, joining the Seaside Folk or hearing our talented young people performing classical music, is just as important to our social and emotional well-being. These events enable us to express ourselves and connect with others so, as Trustees, we are committed to ensuring SC&AA’s survival and your support remains crucial.

Our fundraising efforts are ongoing, and contributions from the Saltburn community have shown us that you share our love of the Centre and that means a lot to us.

Once again, please accept our heartfelt thanks for your help so far. Our good wishes go out to you all, particularly anyone who has lost a loved one or is struggling in isolation.

Take care – stay well, stay safe, stay in Saltburn.

Donations can be in the form of cheques made payable to SC&AA and posted to The Treasurer, Saltburn Community and Arts Association, Albion Terrace, Saltburn, TS12 1JW or by BACS payment or Standing Order to our bank account at Barclays Bank: Saltburn Community and Arts Association, Sort Code; 20-56-78, Account number 03021017. If paying by BACS, please use your name as the reference.

If you are willing and able to Gift Aid your donation(s) then please send us a postal or email address so that we can forward a form to you. Alternatively, a form can be downloaded from here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/charities-sponsorshipand-gift-aid-declaration-form Please make sure you download the Charity form and not the CASC one. Completed forms should be returned to the Treasurer at the address given above.

Thank you.

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June 1st is World Milk Day 20th Anniversary.

“Raise a glass of milk!”

Child Safety Week Child accident prevention trust (safety advice for the lockdown) 5th June is World Environment Day. Go on a nature trail, plant some seeds in pots to watch, or in the garden. It is also Eat a Sausage Roll Day. Buy or make some sausage rolls.

6th June D Day 76th Anniversary of the Normandy landings (keep the flags out).

Children’s Art Week Get creative and display your art work for all to see through your window at home or attach to the bandstand at Glenside.

Bike Week Enjoy the simple pleasure of riding or learning to ride a bike.

8th June is World Oceans Day. Make a collage of the ocean deep, or paddle with sponges in the depth of the paddling pool.

13th June is The Queen’s Official Birthday.

(Trooping the colour) held annually on the second Saturday in June. Dress up time kids!

Worldwide Knit in Public Day or in this case knit at home and share with the public (bandstand awaits).

18th June is Cupcake Day for the Alzheimer’s Society. Host your cupcake day online.

21st June is Father’s Day. (Held on the third Sunday in June.) Create and make a card (could make a giraffe one see below). It is also World Giraffe Day. Raise awareness and support the world’s tallest mammal. And it is also the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, and Make Music Day. Bring out the pans and wooden spoons if you have no instrument to play.

24th June is National Writing Day and you could write a short story on your events of the month or a creative fictional tale to share with us all.

Please feel free to showcase your wares at the Bandstand, Glenside. Find out more on the above events by looking at their own individual websites.

Saltburn Toc H

£8,400 shock for ex-MP Tom Blenkinsop, former MP for the East Cleveland area, got a £8,400 shock when he tried to end a personal finance purchase plan on his VW car.

The money was taken out of his account in error and has now been reimbursed, reported The Times Money pages.

“Because I now work mainly in London and no longer need the car to get around my constituency, I can now rely on public transport,” he told the newspaper, it reported on 16th May. Mr Blenkinsop, who was Labour MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland until 2017, lived in central Saltburn while MP.

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Life until 2020 had become superficial, coronavirus has made many people re-evaluate aspects of their life, enjoying nature and simple things much more and using the spare time lockdown has given us to find or revisit hobbies and engage with the world outside and their gardens. Over the years many people have lost their connection to the food they eat and some children have no idea how vegetables grow! Planting your own in lockdown is restoring this imbalance, anything from a pot on the window ledge to digging up your lawn growing vegetables and flowers! I hope this interest continues! Saltburn allotments in particular have never looked so good!

Many people have had a difficult time having to stay home for so long. Little by little things are relaxing but will take a while to find our ‘new normal’. In the meantime gardening has become a saviour for many.

Insects make a massive contribution to your garden.

They pollinate your crops, and there are those that will get rid of pests too! If you have lots of flowers among your veg you are going to encourage in an army of help! Bees, wasps, hoverflies, lacewings, ladybirds and parasitic wasps and many more! You need a variety of flowers to ensure you please everyone.

There are many places to find help with any questions you may have. The Internet is a great starting point. There are many websites covering all aspects. Video instructions are another great resource with step by step easy to follow tips! Facebook groups that specialize are useful; they deal with veg or flowers, allotments, permaculture, no dig; the list is endless. The Facebook groups allow you to ask questions and there is usually someone who will know the answer! Then there is one of the best places to get help… other gardeners! If you have taken on an allotment or you are just growing in your garden at home the obvious thing is to ask your neighbours, the ones with the really nice gardens! There are many people who have a wealth of knowledge and you will often find they are more than happy to share it with you and if you are lucky they may share spare plants with you too!

Watering in this weather is pretty crucial, make sure new plants are watered in well, and try to do this at the start or end of a day to make sure it doesn’t just evaporate away.

It’s the month to plant out all your tender plants including tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes and sweet corn.

Continue to plant your successional crops like salad, roots and brassicas to keep a regular supply. Water them in well and mulch to give them the best start. Harvest crops that are ready regularly.

Check your greenhouse daily to ensure plants don’t dry out, keep cool by wetting the floor and ventilation.

Most of all, I hope we all continue to stay safe and sane.

Julia 39

Saltburn, Redcar & Cleveland Philatelic Society THE NAZI OLYMPICS - BERLIN 1936 In 1931, the International Olympic Committee awarded the 1936 Summer Olympics to Berlin.

The choice signalled Germany’s return to the world community after its isolation in the aftermath of defeat in World War I. Two years later, the Nazi party leader Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany and quickly turned the nation’s fragile democracy into a one-party dictatorship that persecuted Jews, Roma (Gypsies), all political opponents and others.

The Nazi claim to control all aspects of German life also extended to sports. In April of 1933 an ‘Aryans only’ policy was instituted in all German athletic organisations.

All non-Aryans were systematically excluded from German sports facilities and associations.

The German Boxing Association expelled light heavyweight champion Eric Seelig in April 1933 because he was Jewish. Another Jewish athlete Daniel Penn, Germany’s top-rank tennis player, was removed from Germany’s Davis Cup team. Gretel Bergmann, a world class high jumper, was expelled from her club in 1933 and from the games in 1936.

As a token of gesture to placate international opinion, the German authorities allowed the star fencer Helene Mayor to represent Germany in the 1936 games.

Mayer was viewed as a non-aryan because her father was a Jew. She won a silver medal in the women’s fencing and, like all other medallists for Germany, gave the Nazi salute on the podium.

On 9th May 1936 Germany issued a set of 8 engraved stamps designed by M. Eschle depicting some of

Saltburn Line User Group Next Meetings are cancelled until further notice Meetings at Saltburn Conservative Club are held on the first Tuesday of the month, and our starting time is now (permanently) 7pm.

As always, all welcome.

Talk to Saltburn Line User Group.

The Group exists to protect passengers’ interests.

the major Olympic events. Later on, 1st August 1936 the same stamps were re-issued as blocks of 4 in two minisheets, each mini-sheet watermarked XI OLYMPISCHE SPIELE BERLIN 1936.

If you require help with your stamp collection, buying or selling, contact Geoff Reynolds 01642 478229 or Martin Snowdon 01287 622504.

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Footprints in the Community support local people through the Coronavirus crisis

Local charity Footprints in the Community are continuing to provide help to local people who are struggling financially through the coronavirus pandemic, through developing innovative new ways to deliver services.

Since the start of the Coronavirus lockdown, Footprints have concentrated on their projects which focus on reducing poverty in Redcar and surrounding areas: Redcar Area Foodbank and Next Step Shop.

Redcar Area Foodbank has developed a deliveryonly service, following the Government’s advice to temporarily close its nine centres to protect the health of volunteers and clients. At the end of March, the foodbank also launched a dedicated telephone line to take referrals from agencies and eligible clients who can no longer obtain a voucher. The phone line 07394 635005 is open Monday to Friday 10am-2pm. A team of dedicated volunteer drivers then deliver emergency food boxes to clients within 48 hours of the referral.

The foodbank has seen an increase in people needing help since the start of the pandemic. During March, foodbank fed 730 people from 312 vouchers (compared to 464 people from 220 vouchers in March 2019). During April the number was 776 people fed from 375 vouchers, more than double the 352 people fed from 183 vouchers during April 2019.

Footprints also run a Next Step Shop in Redcar, which is a subsidised members’ shop and is often the next step for foodbank clients. The shop has also temporarily moved to doorstep deliveries only. The delivery service has been gratefully received, with two-thirds of shop members (so far) signing up to use the new service over the coming weeks. One member commented that she had been overwhelmed by her food parcel and the lovely

volunteer driver who had delivered it.

Footprints can only continue to offer this support due to the generous donations of food and money from local supermarkets, organisations and individuals, which are needed now more than ever. The dedicated team of volunteers are also an inspiration, making up the emergency food parcels and delivering them with a smile. Food can be donated at most local supermarkets and the public can make a monetary donation by contacting by email (at finance@footprintsinthecommunity.co.uk).

Ruth Fox, CEO of the charity, said: “Footprints in the Community is dedicated to supporting people in the Redcar area and we are always looking for new ways to meet local needs. By delivering food parcels through Redcar Area Foodbank and Next Step Shop, we are proud to be able to help the people who need it most through the current Coronavirus pandemic.”

For more information on Footprints in the Community’s projects, please visit their website (at www.footprintsinthecommunity.co.uk).

Rachel Wall Volunteer Coordinator

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The Saltburn Crossword no 228 set by Dinosaur Across 1, 3 and 5 Across Sensible advice in the current crisis is that it’s redesigning Sandy Shaw hour (4, 4, 5) 8 See 27 Across 9 Nationality of Iran, came running (8) 10 Feeling renewed strength or spirit fingers her distribution (10) 14 Choice for half optician getting progress (6) 16 See 18 Across 18 and 16 Across Another 1 Across redesigns Disney creature kop (4, 4, 8) 19 A local rule made by the council sounds like it is done legally (6) 20 Bird that eats airborne insects has insect, mammal and dear French pop singer (10) 25 Trading centre or large shop from Rome I’m up for rebuilding (8) 26 Shoe fastener in Starbuck leftover (6) 27 and 8 Across Another 1 Across stirring to land trove (2, 3, 6) 28 See 12 Down 29 Curves sounding like Noah’s fleet (4)

Down

Name___________________________________ Address_________________________________ ________________________________________ Telephone_______________________________

Solution to Crossword no 227

1 Essential service provider to a town but often a euphemism for a kidney problem! (10) 2 Workforce driven by a stick? (5) 3 Shouts putting two learners in the affirmative (5) 4 Inclining towards love? Or full of emotional musical expression? (8) 5 Cute mammal sounding like it has one of the key mammalian features (4) 6 Coming out at night or sounding like a form of emotional musical expression? (9) 7 Lots of this on Saltburn beach mixing two directions with a short advertisement (4) 11 Heroic name invented to describe a place or a character who gives a name to a play has cute mammal in backing me (6) 12 and 28 Across Another 1 Across may haste to rethink (4, 2, 4) 13 Currently national heroes woke sky err mishandled (3, 7) 15 Old-fashioned word for immediately or in consequence of her put one around (9) 17 Word currently describing scheme to take a leave of absence on pay shows key mammalian feature with Irish lake (8) 21 Walk slowly to back British Medical Association before the French (5) 22 Walker perhaps not so slow in rich, I kerb (5) 23 Curve of comb ending (4) 24 True stone pieces? (4)

There was no winner of last month’s crossword because of the coronavirus

D. V. Townend & Co

No crossword entries can be received until the shops reopen and things return to normal after the coronavirus restrictions have been lifted. Stay at home, stay safe, stay healthy. Love, Ian

8 Dundas Street East, Saltburn TS12 1AH

Country Outfitters Tel: (01287) 623754 Website: www.dvtownend.com Email: info@dvtownend.com Specialising in practical but stylish leisure and outdoor wear, we also stock a wide range of accessories, gifts and leather items from the most famous brands including Aigle, Magee, Seasalt and Tumble & Hide.

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The Muses of Jim At the time of writing this I am within four days of having lived in Leven Street for fifty years, but this does not make me the longest resident. That Honour goes to George B Marshall, at 26 Leven Street. At 79 years of age I do believe I am surely the oldest male in the street, if not wisest as I would not dream of asking a lady her age! Leven Street is a wonderful place to belong to.

On VE day this year the street, or rather the people of the street, held a street party to celebrate the 75th year since the end of the war in Europe. It started at about 2.00pm. And some people were since dancing until 2.30am and a good time was had by all. Since the lock down situation we have the street turning out at 6.00pm each evening to show support for each other by playing two songs each night. And of course every Thursday at 8.00pm we all clap to support the NHS and of course all the other workers doing their bit for the nation. Thank you all.

I was nearly four and a half years old at the time of the first VE Day. All I can remember was the amount of food on display on the estate party; there were no cars to worry about in those days. I learnt more when I moved back near the estate when I married. About the community pigs, chicken ducks and rabbits that paid the ultimate price. Even my pet rabbit Snowy paid with his life.

With regard to the War itself I can remember very little, apart from some things. I can remember clearly been taken by my maternal grandmother, in my pushchair to Darrington on the A1 road to see where a German bomber had been shot down. I found out years later that it was a Halifax Bomber, that crashed on returning to Pollington after a training exercise, The crew were all killed as were the four families in the two ancient cottages. I can clearly remember seeing German planes been chased by our planes and spending nights in our own air raid shelter.

After my father had completed the 31 operations with Canadian 420, Snowy Owl Squadron, he was promoted and transferred to a flying school in the midlands and my mother moved to a farm near the airfield. I can remember a giant carthorse called Dobbin.

I used to ride on its back. That was pure magic. But it was as a teenager I was told by neighbours the best tale of all. The house we lived in had large gardens front, rear and side. On sunny days I would be left in my pram, whilst my mother did her housework. My father, when flying, would always fly over the house, dropping low when he did. He would waggle the plane wings. The whole estate knew it was my dad.

Until one day he got his timing wrong and sent a chimney pot flying just missing my pram! That probably accounts for the gap between me and my sister, which is eight years. Even when we attended Senior School, as we called it then, the whole school knew the story of the chimney pot. Mr Carney, English teacher and a World War I veteran, who had served in the trenches and was a

very religious man, knew the story. He always said I would go far and make my mark. The poor man has long since gone to his grave and I still have to make my mark.

Not withstanding the seriousness of our situation there is a New Hope in the air, good humour is rising above the dire problems we are all facing. Most people are following the guidelines; with only a few people being very selfish and uncaring in their attitude and actions. It is good to see the staff in the few shops that are still open attempting to keep to the new rules. I am sure that we are all grateful to all the workers that help us to carry on the best we can.

I got some very good news in the post this week. It appears that I have received a rather large legacy from a David Wingham (Deceased) a sum of over four million U.S. Dollars. All I have to do reply to the given email address and someone will come from China to make the final arrangements to make the transfer of funds possible. I may look daft, and I am probably daft. but I am not stupid.

At least I had a good laugh, which we all need in these uncertain times.

Now we have look to the future and we have to learn to make things better for everyone on the planet especially for those yet to come. We need a fairer society. This globalisation scheme where the company claims global profits in a country with the lower tax rates so their profits are boosted, must change. Plus there are MPs that do not pay income tax because a company abroad employs them, usually in the West Indies and perhaps the Virgin Islands spring to mind quite readily. I wonder why it is allowed. I really do.

They say that history often repeats itself and I firmly believe it does, but perhaps it does in a slightly different way. Take the Great Depression of the Thirties.

Stockbrokers in the U.S. selling stocks caused this and shares and stocks on a deposit only paying the rest from the profits gained which never were made. In this country it led to the dreaded means test. I can remember my Dad telling me that his father was ordered to sell a table because the household had two and, my Granny confirmed it, and the family only needed one. During the Second World War it was recognised that something had to be done. Therefore, Churchill lost the General Election and the Welfare State was born. With regard to the NHS, if I remember correctly and I do, most of the doctors were against the new government plans. Only when Bevin threatened to conscript them into the forces did they agree.

Thus the crash, in the 21st Century, starting again in the U.S. when banks started giving Sub Prime Mortgage Loans to people who had no chance of repaying their debt, thus losing their homes in the process, the banks gaining property at no extra cost. It appears our banks followed suit, as they are part of the global economy. This time under the leadership of Gordon Brown governments of the world stepped in and saved the banks. Now perhaps is the time to change again for the better.

Jim Wingham 43

£35.00

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