Talk of the Town November 2019

EDITION 221

CIRCULATION 4,600

NOVEMBER 2019

SALTBURN’S FREE MONTHLY MAGAZINE 1

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SALTBURN’S TOWN TALK Letter from the Editor

I’ve kept the picture of the calendar here from last month to know nothing’ like Manuel, the much-loved character from remind readers that we need to sell them to raise funds to Fawlty Towers! I’m old enough to be able to say honestly that keep the magazine going. They are available from Jackie’s ‘they don’t make them like that any more!’ Love, Ian Saverstore, Book Corner, Station Gallery and Brambles. If you go to these shops to buy one, please also buy something else as well, as they are full of treasures, ideal for Christmas presents. At the time of writing I don’t yet know if there will late opening shopping nights in December, but hopefully there can be details in next month’s magazine. I am always amused when people think I must know everything that’s going on in Saltburn, but the truth, of course, is that I only know what people tell me and I often find myself saying ‘I Saltburn Farmers’ Market: Enjoy our 1st Christmas Market in Saltburn on Saturday November 9th. Packed with food and drink at the traditional Farmers’ Market and lots of ideas for Christmas. There’s nowhere tastier to be! 9am till 2pm in Saltburn Town Centre!

Craft Club Busy Fingers: 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month, 1.30 till 3.30pm in the Coffee Room, Saltburn Send letters, adverts and contributions for the next issue (by Community Centre.

Saltburn Beer Festival will be held in the SCAA community Friday, 15th November 2019) to: The Editor, Talk of the hall on 15th and 16th November 2019. See article on page 20. Town c/o Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, Saltburn Traditional Music Workshops: We will be Cleveland, TS12 1AQ. Telephone: 01287 623903 (or email: meeting on Friday 8th and Friday 22nd November from 2pm talkofthetownsaltburn@gmail.com).

Talk of the Town can be found on a new Facebook to 4pm in the Community Hall. Please come and join our address at www.facebook.com/talkofthetownsaltburn. merry band if you are interested in, or would like to find out Random of music Cleveland (Embroiderers’ are Priory Arts Society, Guisborough: We hold our annual more aboutStitchers traditional from the British isles. Guild) All tunes in Saltburn Library this month on 12th June at 2.00pm.

See played at a steady pace for you to pick up. For more Autumn Exhibition in Sunnyfield House, Guisborough, on Library article on page 10 for further information please contact Angie on details.

01287 205153. We will Saturday, 23rd November from 10am to 4.30pm, and admission is free. Original artwork by local artists will be on display, at not be meeting in December.

Saltburn Studios and Gallery: Our Winter Show begins on affordable prices, together with unframed paintings, cards and Saturday, 30th November with Open Studios 12-4pm. Our crafts. Also, the Society would welcome new members at their Gallery is open weekends 12-4pm throughout December. Monday evening and/or Thursday afternoon meetings. For We’ll have an unusual Christmas Tree made from a Roman more information please contact 01287-204553.

Fishing Trap woven from willow by Studio Artist Derek WI Report: October flew by; we were so busy with all our Mosey. Our Studio Artists have decorated it with handmade activities. Barbara and Gwyneth, two of our members gave us an excellent talk at our monthly meeting. These ladies were baubles which will be on sale.

Emmanuel Church Hall Table Top and Collectors’ Sale: local magistrates, and it was fascinating listening to how the We will be back for our normal sales on 2nd and 16th magistrates court works and what they had to deal with. We November then December 7th and 21st. Our rich fruit cakes also had a visit from Amy; she needs help with her thesis on are now on sale ready for Christmas. We are really taking off teapots/tea sets. She came to the right place! Our ladies helped as we are using all three rooms and it’s really busy. It’s nice Saltburn’s food bank by bringing in supplies, thanks to that we have a lot of people just wanting a clear out. In this everyone. This month, Jacqui, our new crafts co-ordinator, sale we are using three rooms full of stall holders and we have showed members how to upcycle buttons; Pauline has inspired also let some charity people in like different church groups, some beautiful flower arrangements; and food tasting was cancer charities and more. It’s helping a lot of people. We are anything with apple in it .... yes, there were lots to taste. The looking forward to seeing you all again and thank you all for mention of food brings supper club to mind - Middlesbrough your support. We are also doing our usual lunches and all day College was the venue; the students worked hard and the breakfast, fresh home baked cake, pies and scones. Home evening was a success. We have lots of regular activities every made refreshments and light lunches are on sale all day. month. Why not come along? You’ll find us at Saltburn Learning Campus, 7pm on the second Thursday in the FREE ENTRANCE and a warm welcome to everyone. With month. Simon Harper will be talking ‘Gems around the World’ over 26 stall holders, selling lots of bric-a-brac, books, toys, in November.

See us on Facebook (or at baby goods, and all sorts of collectables, there is something www.saltburnbytheseawi.wordpress.com).

Lynn for everyone. Contact Denise Marshall on 07929 589538.

Cover Photograph: Dawn over Huntcliff by Ken Bladen 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: the changing scene All towns have an ever-changing scene and Saltburn-bythe-Sea is no exception. Here are a few more images which we have taken over the past years. Do you remember?

Dundas Street East, Furniture Centre and Saltburn Taxis

Milton Street Car sales

Church Fish and Chip shop

Windsor Road Saltburn Library interior

From Oxford Street to Upleatham Street, two corner shops and a red telephone box Milton Street, Hamilton’s and Watson’s car parts shop

Windsor Road Cornerstone Estate Agent

Cath and Tony Lynn 4

Station Street King’s magazine display

Looking for that special gift and card?

Choose from our vast range of products incl: Woodwick scented candles, Jellycat soft toys, Thomas Kent clocks, Arran Aromatics toiletries, Emma Bridgewater & Cath Kidston pottery & much more.

Come and Worship on Sunday 10.45am and 6.00pm and 10.00am Wednesday Sunday School 10.45am Prayer meeting Tuesday 1.15pm

Now also available online.

Visit us at www.bramblesgiftshop.co.uk 4, Station Street, Saltburn by the Sea, TS12 1AE Tel: 01287 623 368 www.bramblesgiftshop.co.uk

Saltburn Councillors’ Surgeries Saltburn Councillors’ Surgeries, each month - all on Saturdays

Every Wed. Library 4-5pm Cllr. Craig Hannaway 2nd Sat. Library 10am-12 Noon Cllr. Philip Thomson 3rd Sat. Outside Sainsbury’s Cllr. Stuart Smith 9.30 -10.30am and 11.30 -12 Noon Cllr. Hannaway: 07787 880613. Cllr. Smith: 07557 540628.

Cllr. Thomson: 01287 624883.

Mums & Toddlers Tuesday & Thursday at 10.00am Ladies meetings Monday 8.00pm and Thursday fortnightly 2.30pm COFFEE MORNINGS WEDNESDAY and SATURDAY AT 10.00am The Church is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10.00am - 12 noon. Drop in for a cup of tea/coffee and a chat

For Hire of rooms ring 01287 623145 5

Once Upon a Time in the Wapentake It was almost fifty years ago when I first arrived in Saltburn and became aware of a word that I had not heard before: creel. A creel was, I learned, one of those baskets on the shore that were used for trapping lobsters and crabs. But then I learned that there was another meaning for the word. In several of the houses that I visited, hanging from the ceiling, usually in the back kitchen near to the stove, was another kind of creel, consisting of half a dozen parallel wooden bars about five foot in length and moved up and down with rope pulleys. On this was hung to dry the week’s washing, and I naturally assumed that this was what they were originally designed for, but a few weeks ago, on one of the antiques shows on television, I saw one displayed as a device for drying oatcakes. They may have been wrong (though they are the experts) but it makes a good introduction to the topic that I am writing about this month: the social, economic and political importance of oatmeal.

For several hundred years England had only two universities (Oxford and Cambridge) while Scotland had four (Glasgow, St Andrews, Aberdeen and Edinburgh) for a much smaller population. Traditionally the wouldbe student at a Scottish university arrived, probably to study subjects not taught at Oxbridge, such as medicine, modern languages or mechanical engineering, riding a shaggy pony with saddle bags filled with oatmeal which would keep him alive in the term ahead. The result was that Scotland produced a surplus of graduates, who might go on to teach (Scottish law demanded schools, for girls as well as boys, in even the smallest parishes), or migrate to England, Ireland, continental Europe, the American colonies, or the factories of the East India Company. They would change the world, and the way we see the world.

At Oxford or Cambridge the most celebrated students would be the eldest sons (and therefore heirs) of the richest and most powerful men in England. They were there not to study, of course, but to gamble, womanise and drink whilst making friendships that might come in useful in later lives. They might arrive, not with a shaggy pony, but with a pack of hounds, enough clothes for a different outfit everyday, and their own personal performing bear. Their younger brothers, who would not inherit, were also there, preparing for the church. They might not believe, or even be interested in religion, but thanks to family connections they might get a lucrative bishopric, and its accompanying palace (go to Bishop Auckland to see what that meant). There were some genuine scholars (perhaps an expert in the ancient Syriac language hidden away in the attic) but compared to what was being done elsewhere in the world, in more modern universities, the Oxbridge contribution was uninspiring, to say the least.

As in peace, so in war. In those not so far-off days, once again a man on a shaggy pony moved through the forest with his bags of oatmeal, perhaps the same 6

man and the same pony. He had an extra piece of kit, a round metal plate. He would stop for the night by a clear running stream, light a fire on which he heated the plate, mixed oatmeal with water from the beck, and added a pinch of salt …an oatcake, which would that night’s supper, and the next day’s breakfast. He and his comrades might have supplemented their diets in various ways; especially when they were in enemy territory such as the Tees valley; any cow, pig or sheep they met could end up as dinner. But if they had to, they could survive on oatmeal. After breakfast they would vanish, leaving no sign of where they had been and where they would be going. The English army made its presence felt, with banners and trumpets and shields adorned with ancient family crests. When they left, sometimes they were less splendidly arrayed, especially after battles like Bannockburn. The Scots didn’t always win, of course, but they won enough times to ensure that they were able to preserve their unique culture, and laws, and a Scottish king ended up on the English throne, rather than the other way round.

And what of oatmeal in the modern world? Oats grow where no other grain will grow, very useful in a hungry world. Millions of us still enjoy our breakfast porridge, simultaneously warming, soothing and nutritious. (I like mine cooked in full fat milk, served with double cream, honey and raspberries in season.) Reading the London papers, I see that porridge is actually fashionable; there are cafés serving nothing else, but it seems to be made with aramanth or quinoa, or anything but oats. However, Yorkshire parkin is still made with oatmeal, as is that luxurious Scottish dessert, crowdie or crannachan.

Then there are the Potteries in north Staffordshire.

When I lived round there in the sixties oatcake shops were to breakfasts what chippies were to tea. They were usually on the ground floor of an end terrace house: no furniture, instead a ‘stone’, often a steel plate, but sometimes a real stone (from a special quarry in Derbyshire, I think). A gas jet underneath heated the stone, and the oatmeal batter was then poured on (think pancakes). The result would be passed out of the window for the customer to take home and wrap around their butter and marmalade or bacon and eggs. Many years were to pass and much changed before I was to see Stoke again. We were staying in a very nice bed and breakfast which unfortunately didn’t do breakfasts, so we traipsed into town, and found that the first café we came to that was open and was serving oatcakes: oatcakes with marmalade, oatcakes with beans and bacon, oatcakes with sausages and eggs… and very nice they were too.

NB This is History. I wouldn’t want anyone to think that I believe Oxford or Cambridge to be the sort of places nowadays where some of the sons of the very rich go to make friends, get drunk, trash restaurants, and learn to despise the rest of us. Of course not.

Tim Beswick

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Councillors’ Column There has been considerable encouragement from the new leadership of Redcar & Cleveland, giving support to the provision of additional car parking in the town and making roads safer. Four additional spaces beside the Anchor Garden, which had been on the wish list for two years, were completed in one day.

After being advised that no alterations could possibly be made to improve the junction at Hilda Place, Marine Parade and Milton street, this position has changed. A site meeting to address all the concerns of road safety and to consider solutions has resulted in a commitment to a redesign. This is an achievement in itself. The new layout, when confirmed, will be funded and hopefully introduced next year.

The long awaited traffic count was finally carried out on Milton Street West. Over a seven day period 624 cars per day were recorded over both directions. It is hoped to monitor this on a regular basis. In addition to a numbers count a speed of travel recording was made. This is an unadopted road and has an advisory 10mph speed limit. The average speed recorded was 16mph, with 15% travelling in excess of 21mph and a top speed of 44mph. Efforts will continue to make this a safer place.

White lining demarcating parking bays will soon be in place along the north side of Marine Parade, stretching west from the Marine Hotel. Confirmation of making all parallel parking on the north side of Marine Parade up to Marine Court into right angle parking will hopefully be confirmed soon and implemented next year.

The R&C Climate Change Task Panel has started up again and is keen to make progress towards the 2030 net zero carbon emission target for the Borough. All residents and businesses will be encouraged to share in achieving this extremely ambitious goal. Recycling will play a key part in this as will the conscious sensible usage of energy and natural materials.

The next Saltburn Neighbourhood Action Partnership meeting is on Wednesday 20th at 6pm in the Library. Many of the policing issues raised previously by residents may be answered by the new Chief Constable who is scheduled to attend, when policing and enforcement will again feature on the agenda.

It is surprising how much turnover there is in population in the town. New residents arrive frequently and they are most welcome. This is good news for volunteer groups, as much community work is waiting to be completed!

Anyone new to the town is welcome to enquire in the Library for details of local organisations where their ‘spare time’ may be usefully spent.

Darker nights are here again. Cyclists might ensure that they are well lit. This assists drivers to identify them more readily. It also allows pedestrians to be aware of those who chose to cycle on pavements.

Efforts are being made to tidy up the sea front by removing abandoned boats and tractors. An organised gathering of sea faring vessels is a delight to the eye.

Philip Thomson 7

Saltburn Evangelical Church (Leven Street Mission)

MILES, HUTCHINSON & LITHGOW SOLICITORS Conveyancing Immigration, including Visas, (Domestic and Commercial) Leave to Remain (Free written quotation on request) Naturalisation, Passport Property Leases applications and EEA Probate and Wills Applications Divorce and related Property and Powers of Attorney Financial Issues Deputyships Children Disputes Civil and Criminal Litigation

Following Jesus - the Bible our guide

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

For a friendly efficient service on all legal matters Tel:

01287 623049

Our New Address: First Floor, 15 Station Street, Saltburn-by-the-Sea TS12 1AE

Also at 68/70 Borough Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 2JH Tel: 01642 242698. e-mail mileshutch@aol.com for enquiries at both offices.

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

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

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Tickets are £8

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SOS - Save Our Saltburn

WHY THE SILENCE? The Save Our Saltburn Action Group continues to do everything possible to oppose the proposed caravan park on Saltburn Lane. Whilst we believe that we are winning the argument – and the evidence against the proposal is overwhelming – the fight is still on and we need to keep the issue in everyone’s minds. One of the difficulties we now face is that of uncertainty.

Why has the council allowed the applicant such a lengthy consultation period, with the determination date being put back for a third time? Are further discussions taking place behind closed doors? Will the developer seek to submit changes to appease the Planning Department without publishing these for public consultation? Though rumours still abound, we seek to get clarity on these matters, though it is at times difficult. Without that we cannot ensure that residents are well informed and that their views, and not just the applicant’s, are clearly heard.

The Council requires developers to carry out ‘genuine and meaningful consultation’ with local residents but we have seen little evidence of this. All that was on offer in this

instance was a single two-hour public exhibition at the Community Hall last March. Despite the claim by the developer to seek ‘a good working relationship’ with local communities we have heard nothing in response to all the arguments made against the scheme. Over 420 local residents, visitors and national organisations submitted carefully argued representations during the consultation period which ended in May. Is it not unreasonable for them to ask what is happening?

We look to the Council to tell us more soon. In the meantime, thank you for your help to protect Saltburn’s iconic landscape, heritage and ecology.

Join the petition. Collect sheets from the library or Jackie’s Saverstore. Or better still, download the form from our Save Our Saltburn Facebook page and get as many signatures as possible. All completed sheets can be placed in the SOS box in the library or handed in to Jackie’s Saverstore.

The more signatures the stronger the message to the council.

Also, please contact your local councillor and make sure they are in no doubt about your views.

The Save Our Saltburn Action Group and Supporters

Well Done Saltburn! Our Scarecrows Raised £639 Thank you all so much for your support. The idea was to create a project that benefited all of our community and bring everyone in all parts of the town together, which the scarecrow event did in several ways, from the scarecrow workshops, to the week of the actual trail event, which ended with a Wonderland party on the final day. The feedback from the town has been brilliant, with great press articles, and even a BBC News film clip.

The money raised from our scarecrows has gone towards Saltburn Christmas lights and the Xmas parade.

The Christmas lights are an on-going concern, with fundraising events and donations needed throughout the year to replace and rewire the multi-coloured festive lighting. So we are really pleased to hand a cheque over to Peter Nixon, the chair of Saltburn 500 Club.

We have found the whole experience rewarding and fun which it should be: try saying fundraiser without saying FUN? If you think we should do another event next year and you would like to be involved please get in touch via facebook or instagram saltburn scarecrow.

With special recognition to: Hazelgrove Court Care Home, Little Nippers Mothers & Toddlers, Saltburn CO-OP, Building Bridges Day Service, Parish Council & friends, Talk of the Town, Toc H, Easington Tappers, Discover Saltburn and all the Volunteers that helped to make it possible.

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T: 01287 201876

M: 07737 654772

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

Website: www.flintoffs.co.uk

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Saltburn Rotary Club News Last month’s article was taken up entirely by our Howzat report. However, following our very successful music festival, Rotary life has continued with a number of events and speakers.

Firstly, we headed up to The Fox and Hounds, at Ainthorpe for our annual Quoits evening on the moors, only to be thwarted by heavy rain. Not to be beaten though, an indoor games night was quickly arranged in the pub followed by an excellent bar meal.

Then it was time to present the cheque for £3200 from Howzat fundraiser to the Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team and we were delighted to host a number of their members, as well as representatives from our partner organisations of Saltburn Blues Club and Saltburn Cricket Bowls & Tennis Club.

Next up, was the Rotary North East District Conference, this year held at the Rendezvous Hotel, Skipton for 250 delegates from 66 clubs.. Twenty-two representatives of our club attended and were treated to a weekend of fun and fellowship. The speakers were interesting, emotional and inspirational, a substantial amount of money was raised for worthy causes and the evening events generated a lot of laughs, especially from the Saltburn contingent (pictured here in fancy dress) who once again “stole the show”!

We are also especially proud of our Junior branch of Rotary, aptly named Rotakids, based at Saltburn

Primary School. Following their recent fundraising for Saltburn Christmas Lights and the Meadow, they swung into action once again. After hearing of the recent break in and damage at the Saltburn Junior footballers premises at Hob Hill, they have donated £250 from an organised cake bake to help many of their friends and fellow pupils who play for the club. A massive thank you to President Bella and every single member of our Rotakids Club.

And so, we start our build up to Christmas, details of which we will set out in the next issue. Remember, if you would like to know more about Rotary and how you could help contact us via our Website or Facebook page.

Dave sadler

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Saltburn in Bloom This may be old news but it’s definitely not “fake” news.... we won GOLD in everything we entered in the Northumbria in Bloom competition this year. Saltburn won a gold certificate and best coastal resort award for its overall entry and everything that was entered into a special award category did equally well. Saltburn railway station gained an award for best railway/metro/bus station in the region and a gold certificate also went to the following:    



Huntcliff Court as a residential community.

Friends of the Valley as a conservation project.

Saltburn Valley Gardens in the parks category.

Saltburn allotments (including Hazel Grove and the wildlife garden, Zetland Terrace and the town centre garden) in the allotments category.

Mr and Mrs Gaunt at Britannia Mansions for private front garden.

We all know that these accolades are an aside as we all do what we do for the benefit of the town but it is nice to do well. We will, as I think I might have said last time, be holding our own celebration night, hopefully before Christmas, when we can say a proper “thank you” and give out certificates and awards formally. Next week (as I write this) we will hear how our efforts fared in Britain in Bloom. All fingers crossed for then.

On a practical note, our Christmas table top sale will be on 7th November 2019. It is on the same day as November’s Farmers’ Market, which is a good thing as it gives those of us who like to spend Saturday looking around what’s on in Saltburn, an extra thing to see. We will be having vegan and vegetarian food for sale in the kitchen, to eat in or to take out, which will include meals, snacks and cakes. This will be as well as the food people are used to such as the famous bacon buns.

We will be having our usual plant sale and, although some of the plants volunteers bring on themselves may be small and, as yet, not in flower, you get a bargain that you can nurture yourselves. Plants are always so much dearer in the shops when they are flowering. We also hope to have some Christmas specialities that will be ideal for stocking fillers such as juice and cordial and quirky candles in interesting containers. Do come and have a look in the knowledge that you will find good quality bargains and, that all proceeds will go towards next year’s floral displays.

The hanging baskets are all down now; we left some up to provide colour at Jackie Taylor’s recent plaque unveiling event. Hopefully you will have seen the lovely picture of Jackie at the Station Portico, above where she used to sit and greet us all on a Saturday morning and squeeze a little cash from us for the good causes she supported in Saltburn. As the last of the tubs and barrels are removed (and the gorgeous knitting from the station), the Christmas lights are going up and so the year turns round again.

Thank you all for your support, Sue 14

Saltburn-by-the-Sea Garden Flat available for holiday lets Less than five minutes walk from the sea and from the train station, shops and local restaurants etc.

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WiFi access Price - £40.00 per night (minimum of two nights) Contact Mr & Mrs Smith on 01287 623740 (home) Or 07988 838956 (Mr Smith mobile) Or 07877 384977 (Mrs Smith mobile)

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07773006361 (based in Saltburn) Residential and Commercial Property Maintenance Plumbing, Drainage, Property Refurbishment, Roofing Repairs, Fencing, Carpentry, Joinery, Painting and Decorating, General/Ongoing Property Maintenance.

Walking The Wing for Saltburn Lights

For many years I have wanted to do a Wingwalk, and as a birthday surprise last year, my family funded it for me.

It was first arranged for June, but I fell and broke my foot! Two further dates were arranged but the plane was deemed to be not airworthy. As I wanted to do this sponsored to help the Saltburn Xmas Lights appeal, we had to travel to Gloucestershire to ensure it could be dome this year.

I do not have the words to describe the experience properly. Amazing, awesome, fabulous and of course, adrenalin filled! But, not as scary as I expected. I was so happy at fulfilling one of my long-held ambitions.

If you would like to watch the video, look on YouTube and search for Chris Ferguson, wingwalk for Saltburn lights.

Many thanks go to my family for funding it for me, my husband David for driving me all that way, and to all who sponsored me, raising the fabulous amount of £700.

Wonder what my next challenge will be .....

Chris Ferguson Saltburn resident

What actually is Yoga? And what actually is Pilates?

Join us on Saturday, 14th December at our friendly studio in Saltburn town centre for a festive open day.

A day to talk to complete beginners and advanced practitioners alike, and bust some Yoga and Pilates myths. We’ve love to see you!

FREE Taster classes Prosecco & Cake Book your taster class online or contact the studio for details.

Vicky Studio 21 Saltburn 15

Saltburn Athletic FC The season is now well underway but bad weather has caused much disruption three weekends in a row.

The under 9s continue their learning process under Tim Raynes. The under 10s have started the season with a string of good results. Due to FA rulings I cannot give scores or scorers but they have comfortably won their games and one of their players, Will Grayson, has been chosen to play for the Redcar and Cleveland Borough as part of a squad of fourteen players from an initial trial of over one hundred hopefuls. Congratulations to Will and it’s a great Kudos for him, his team and our club as a whole.

The under 12s Seahawks have had a good start by beating Billingham Junior Lions 3-1 before losing against Riverside Blues 8-3 and then bouncing back to beat Spraire Lads 8-0. They also had a good cup result when winning 5-3 against Barnard Castle.

The under 12 Sharks lost their first game versus Whitby Fisherman by 4-1 but the scoreline does not reflect the true nature of how the game went and the result could easily have been the other way around in an

end to end game. They then beat Nunthorpe 5-0 and in the cup beat a team higher up the divisional ladder, from Darlington, 5-4. Unfortunately they lost their latest game to Hartlepool Pool Youths 5-3. All four games were literally excellent end to end attacking games.

The under 13s have also had their ups and downs when beating Kader 2-1 and Fishburn 3-0. However, in between they suffered losses against Coulby Newham Reds 2-1 and Great Ayton 2-0. All were league games.

They also suffered a 6-0 cup game loss versus Leven.

The under 15 Dolphins team having been promoted to division one are finding the going tough. In the league they have been beaten by Stockton Town 5-0 and Boro Rangers (academy team) 8-0. They also had a credible 2-2 draw versus Polton. However, in the cup they lost to Stockton Town 5-2, a team they also lost to in the league.

Finally the u15 Falcons had a great start winning 100 against Riverside Juniors and then agonisingly suffered a narrow 3-2 loss versus Redcar Athletic Blues.

Andy Croll, Club Secretary

Saltburn 500 Club

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Scout Post 2019

Monday 25 November – Tuesday 17th December Do you struggle to deliver your Christmas cards?

Let your local scout group deliver your cards for you for just

25p per card Delivered to the following places and box locations Brotton – Spar, Chemist, VG store & post office Carlin How - mini mart store Easington - Farm direct store Guisborough – McColl's Westgate & Esk close, Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s, Sainsbury’s local Avenue & Enfield Chase Liverton Mines—Fish & Chip shop Loftus – Harrops, Co-op, Library, Clarks hardware, Arnies Marske – Cooper’s Chemist, Marske Furnishings, Library & Vicarage news New Marske – McColl’s & Kilbridge mini mart Saltburn – Sainsbury’s, Petrol station, Echo building, library Skelton – Curly Tops, Church shop, Shorts butchers Skinningrove – Post office Guaranteed delivery by 24th December on correctly addressed cards 16

Congratulations go to the October Saltburn 500 Club draw winners, who are: £100, M Green; £50 M McGrother; £25 S Cook and £15 Z Birch.

The fund raising for the Christmas lights is going quite well and we are getting near to our target. I am grateful to all those who have donated to the cause and would like to acknowledge: Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council; Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council; Mike Kay & June Mulroy MBE; Chris Ferguson; Maria Beevers (and all that helped with the Scarecrow week); Cleveland Potash; Ann Maddison, Chris Peart and Liz Tilston (who all organised a coffee morning and also do leaflet drops around the town); Beryl Morris; Ripping Yarns; Crystal Gifts, Mel Foley & Gill Hall (who organised and ran the crystal stall at the October Farmers’ Market) and two generous donators who wish to remain anonymous.

It is planned to bring the lights out on Monday 4th November and we are hoping that they will all be shining brightly in time for the lighting-up parade on 30th November. The tree lighting will take place at 17.00 and the parade will continue down to the station portico where Santa will be in his Grotto. Lockwood Band (12.30 - 14.30) and Marske Band (15.00 - 18.30) will be playing in the town on Saturday, 30th November. I am also hoping to have a band playing on Saturday, 7th December but it has not yet been confirmed.

I hope you have all got started with your Christmas shopping and are using the good assortment of shops we have in Saltburn - please help them to serve us and buy from them rather than using the internet.

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

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

Architectural Services & Chartered Structural & Civil Engineers Architectural Planning and Building Regulation Advice Listed Building Experts House Extensions & Loft Conversions Alterations and Refurbishments Residential New Builds, Shop Layout Designs, Alcohol Licence Applications Office Warehouse Designs

Structural & Civil Engineering

Also, Joinery Work Undertaken

Call Liz on: 01287 203571 Mobile: 07834 022289 Email: liz.ingledew@btinternet.com Website: www.liziesdecorating.co.uk

Structural Surveys, Beam Designs, Building Restoration Foundation & Underpinning Design General Building Works Professional and Friendly Service Structural and Civil Engineering contact: Gregory Sills BEng (Hons) CEng MIStructE FGS

t: 01287 624644 m: 07960 967865 Architectural Services contact: Martin Ledger BA (Hons) PgDip Arch

m: 07870 631415 www.scurator.co.uk info@scurator.co.uk www.beamdesignservice.co.uk 17

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Redcar’s Visual Presentations On Tuesday, 12th November at 2.15pm in the Redcar East Community Centre on Durham Road, we welcome back Steven Frost of Billingham. There will be much for Railway ‘Buffs’ to savour. Steven will be taking us in and around one of the busiest stations on the East Coast Main Line, namely York and his Presentation is entitled, ‘York’s Railways’. He will not only be giving us a view of today’s busy rail traffic, but will be taking us back in time, too, when things moved at a far gentler speed.

A fortnight later on 26th November, at the same time and venue, we will be taken ‘behind the scenes’ by Graeme Aldous, who has worked in radio and television for many years and indeed still has many ‘connections’ in the media. His Presentation promises to be greatly amusing as he promises to let us in on many of the things that can and indeed, have gone wrong in front of television cameras and on radio. Hence the title, ‘Take 2’ or could it be 3, 4 or 5?

Admission to each Presentation is £2.50 and visitors are very welcome. Further details from Tony Crow on 01642 481544.

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Saltburn Photographic Society Wednesday 6th November, Photographing Natural Things, Graeme Clarke talks about capturing the Natural World.

Wednesday 13th November, Pauline Pentony tells how she creates her Stage and Studio photographs. Wednesday 20th November, Second Monthly competition “Old and New”.

Wednesday 27th November, Members of Whitby Photographic Society visit to show us a selection of their work.

A selection of members’ work is on display in Saltburn Library; this is changed every two months.

Practical night 7.00pm on Monday 18th November “Photoshop and Infinity.”

Meetings are held in the upstairs hall, Saltburn Milton Street Methodist Church TS12 1EB at 7.30pm. Visitors are welcome to any of our meetings; there will be a small charge.

For more information, visit our website www.saltburnphotographicsociety.co.uk or contact Tony Lynn 01287 622519.

Tribal Marsquers

Tribal Marsquers and Saltburn U3A ATS groups have danced through the summer at various local events, including a great event for U3A ATS group at Cheshire Homes Summer Fair.

Both groups attended SARA Strawberry Fair, and joined a day of dance with Jet Set Border Morris. Tribal Marsquers were recently asked by Longbeck Councillor Vera Rider to dance for New Marske Friendship Group, who appreciated our style and costume.

On October 12th, Tribal Marsquers chose Brockley Hall to dance ATS Worldwide Flashmob, and had great fun battling with wind whilst controlling our skirt dance. Of course we enjoyed refreshments there later.

Saltburn U3A ATS group will deliver a basic steps workshop for U3A members in December, date yet to be arranged. So if you are a member or wish to join, just come along. As Xmas isn’t far away both groups are thinking about updating their Xmas costumes and dances for the festive season.

If you like to try this joyful and glamorous style of dance on Sunday mornings or Monday afternoons, or book us for performance, please get in touch by texting or ringing 07908 005850

10th SALTBURN BEER FESTIVAL Friday 15th and Saturday 16th November, 2019 Saltburn Community & Arts Association, Albion Terrace, Saltburn, TS12 1JW A charity festival run by volunteers with all proceeds to SCAA The beer list of 36 different beers from all areas of Britain is almost completed, including seven from local micro breweries. There are many different styles of beers, some from breweries which haven’t been available in this area before, so there is something for everyone and we need you to drink us dry! There will also be some non-alcoholic beer to cater for those who might be driving and a gluten free one. Cider and fruit wines are coming from local producers. Commemorative glasses and polo/sweat shirts, both featuring the above logo, will be available to buy. There will also be our interesting tombola stall.

The Mighty Redcar Kat, who is now Manager of the newly opened Footprints in the Community Charity Cafe in Redcar, will again be producing her wonderful homemade hot and cold food and snacks.

Tickets from SCAA Box Office (01287 624997) and The Spar, 39A Milton Street, Saltburn. Festival opening hours are Fri/Sat 11am-5pm £2, Fri 6:30-11pm £4, Sat 6:30-11pm £3. CAMRA members will receive £1 refund on entrance to the festival with a valid membership card.

More information on www.clevelandcamra.org.uk and www.saltburnarts.co.uk

or email: simon.robson1@ntlworld.com

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Carruthers Jewellers ‘Quality Choice with Quality Service’ Expert Jewellery & Watch Repairs incl. Battery and Strap Replacement Service.    

Christmas Orders Now Being Taken Put Away Service Bespoke Jewellery Making Service Sterling Silver Jewellery from £6.50 5 Station Street, Saltburn (next to Boots)

01287 622649

www.carruthersjewellers.co.uk

Saltburn Charity Crafters We will be meeting on Wednesday, 6th November from 2pm to 4pm in the Coffee Room at the Community Hall.

We are busy organising a CHRISTMAS GIFT FAIR which will be held in Saltburn Community Hall on Saturday, 14th December from 10am to 3.30pm. Don’t miss it! Come into the warmth, browse our stalls and choose the perfect gifts for those special people. Support the RNLI and the 1st Saltburn Scout Group. Treat yourselves to great refreshments all made by the wonderful Denise, our favourite caterer from Emmanuel Church, available all day.

We look forward to seeing you all. Please spread the word by telling your friends. There will be a bin for Saltburn Solidarity Food Bank in the Hall throughout the day and they welcome any food donations you can give, especially at this time of year.

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Friday Friends Friday Friends would like to thank all who came along to our Macmillan Coffee Morning. We are delighted to have raised a fantastic £260.00 for the cause.

Friday Friends is an inclusive friendship group based in Saltburn, for people aged over 18. We are a friendly group and welcome people with different abilities.

Activities for November 1st November Seated keep fit with Taylor and Afternoon Craft 1.00pm Butterfly prints.

8th November 10-12 music from our in house duo The Spanglers and Craft 1.00pm Collage a mosaic picture.

15th November Easington Tappers and Craft at 1.00pm painting Autumn leaves 22nd November Guest speaker Graeme Aldous on The Yorkshire Films of Nell the Sheepdog with Craft 1.00pm4.00pm Christmas cards.

29th November Bowling and lunch (if pre-ordered) at Saltburn Bowls Club 10-12 followed by Craft 1-4pm Sew a felt Christmas decoration.

We are a non-profit making group, run by volunteers. We meet on Fridays at Emmanuel Church Hall, McNay Street, Saltburn. Activities are 10-12.30 and arts and crafts 1-4. First session is free to see if you like it then there is a charge of £2.00 per session or £3 all day.

Carers are always free. Registered Charity No 1177967.

For more information ring 07833 895501 (or email thefridayfriends@outlook.com).

Saltburn Library News The penultimate month before we say goodbye to 2019.

Has it been memorable? With this question in mind, this month’s book stand is entitled November, November… the month to Remember a collection of books and other items that focus on looking back at the past.

DIARY DATES 8th November 2019 Health Checks available. Please contact the library on 01287 623584 to book an appointment time.

13th November 2019 at 2.00pm Christmas Wreaths, Friends of Saltburn Library Event.

21st November 2019 1-2:30pm Art & Mindfulness Event.

27th November 2019 10:30-11:30am Saltburn Library Reading Group (new joiners always welcome).

Looking Ahead 11th December 2019 2.00pm Liz & Steve Sing along…

Friends of Saltburn Library Event.

13th December 2019 Health Checks available. Please contact the library on 01287 623584 to book an appointment time.

Children’s Christmas in the Library…(further details in December’s issue).

14th December 2019 10-12 Noon Santa’s Christmas Grotto 16th December 2019 2-4:30pm Santa’s Christmas Grotto 23rd December 2019 3-4.00pm Polar Express ‘Pyjama’ Story Time.

Kelly Rose 22

SALTBURN BLUES CLUB

On November 30th, ANGELO PALLADINO, accompanied

by Chris Taylor on piano and accordion, returns for our penultimate gig of 2019. Born in 1949, the inevitable early musical influences on the young Londoner of Italian descent were Robert Johnson, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley. It’s been a career that has seen Angelo steeped in and shaped by the gutsy, gritty, guitar blues of artists like Steve Cropper (Booker T and The MGs) and Micky Green of The Pirates to pick out two of the greats from the Blues canon. To have supported an astounding number of big names including Sting, Sheryl Crowe, The Chieftains and Steeleye Span gives you an insight into the calibre of Angelo’s talent as a musician. When playing in his band, The Barflies, he was flying, playing on the same circuit as Dire Straits and Squeeze. A songwriter, too, he’s written with the mighty Carole King, with Ted Nugent and The Bangles showing that he’s an artist who’s adopted many styles while still retaining his own originality. Armed with his Fender Telecaster, great riffs and vocals, Angelo is essentially a Bluesman to the core.

Supporting Angelo’s Band on the night will be Rowland Jones.. AND as his major i.

Venue: Saltburn Cricket Club. Doors: 7.30pm.

Tickets: £10 available from Milo’s Cafe, Saltburn and The Cricket Club, www.yorkshireticketshop.co.uk, www.saltburnbluesclub.co.uk and 07960 935263.

A regular reminder that my radio show, Still Got The Blues, goes out on Zetland FM every Monday 7pm – 10pm, on line, or you can catch it later on Mixcloud. Visit the website, www.zetlandfm.co.uk and scroll down to Mixcloud. Three hours of the very best of the blues.

Harry

KR Décor painter & decorator domestic & commercial fully insured DBS checked

07825 678757

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Cleveland Diving Club Equinox eve excellence! Setting out at 6:30am on a beautiful sunny morning for a two and a half hour drive to a rather mist shrouded St. Abbs for a day’s diving may, for some, not be the desired way to spend the last day of summer. However, as the saying goes ‘no pain, no gain,’ as our small band of divers eagerly embarked from the small harbour aboard the catamaran ‘Pathfinder.’ Paul, the skipper, being extremely proficient and knowledgeable, took no time at all to reach the first dive site, ‘Thrumie Carr,’ (a location used in the 2019 Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame.) Upon descent, a breathtaking sight of a far reaching carpet of soft coral ‘Dead men’s fingers,’ along with scatterings of urchins and performing lobsters soon had the underwater cameras clicking (photos 1 and 2, opposite). Dive two was ‘West Hurkar’, and here in clear visibility the group enjoyed an amazing swim through a ravine festooned with more colourful soft coral. The video can be viewed on the club’s Facebook page, ‘The Diving Club – Cleveland.’ Throughout the dive discoveries of enigmatic plumose anemones and friendly indulgent fish such as corkwing wrasse (photos 3 and 4) entertained and pleasured our divers. Although the last day of summer is long gone, ever optimistic our divers are looking forward to some autumnal dynamic diving with seals before the winter storms arrive.

Cleveland Divers are pleased to announce that their training programme will be re-opening this month. Interested in learning to scuba dive then contact us via our Facebook or on 07960 608529.

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 24

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G . Bishop - Decorator *Interiors and Exteriors

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Time Served Telephone 01287 624016

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40 Years Experience Mobile 07757 912575

What Is Silent, Painless And Can Ruin Your Life?

Glaucoma. It’s an eye condition that nearly half a million people in the UK suffer from. You are most at risk after the age of 40. The good thing is, in many cases, if it’s seen early enough, this horrible eye condition can be stopped in its tracks. However, most people don’t have regular eye tests.

Not going to the Dentist is one thing (you can always eat with false teeth) but neglecting the Opticians is another (you can’t see with false eyes!)

My name is John Prouse, I’m an Optician and I do a home visit eye test service especially for people who struggle to leave their home or you can visit me at my practice. Either way, don’t risk spoiling your vision and your life.

Call 01287 644211 or visit www.loftusoptical.co.uk for your free over 40 eye test.

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Meeting Jim Wingham “I’m a bit of a...what’s the word? A polyglot; I dabble. A polymath? Yeah, that’s it. I tend to be a butterfly; I flutter about.

“I come from Pontefract; I’ve still got the bill for my birth. Ten pound it was, in a private maternity hospital, which, when you consider that the wage would be about thirty -seven bob, it was a lot of money. My family were quite prominent, and my father was quite famous because of his good works and war record; he was an aircraftsman.

“He was an example to me, a father figure. My first memory is of when he said he took me to an aerodrome in Leicester, and he said he was taking me to fly, and I refused when we got there because they had the cowls off. He took me in the officers’ mess and the table cloths were that white it hurt my eyes. I remember us coming back in his sports car and he had a cat in a sack in the back with me. The next memory is of him teaching my mother to drive, and she drove and knocked a wall down in the nurses’ home. It cost about £11 to mend and I’ve still got the bill.

“At the start of the war, he went to America for a year to learn how to fly, and he had the time of his life, being feted by those British stars. I’ve got a menu from the Hollywood Tennis Club where the British stars dined and they signed it.

It must have been that Christmas that my mother says that one of them broadcast to the BBC dedicating a song to me and saying daddy’s missing me. There were no means to record it in those days, of course.

“I’ve still got his flying goggles and his combat wings and his medals. When he came back from California he had two kit bags: one with his gear, and one full of tinned fruit.

When he got to the railway station he said to the taxi driver ‘do you want half a crown or do you want a tin of peaches?’ and...well, the peaches got him home. He was a methodical man, my dad, and when he came back he brought me seven pairs of jeans (different sizes), a cowboy hat, and about seven sizes of cowboy boots, and...I was wearing jeans for ages from when I could walk. I was known as the first person in Pontefract to wear Jeans. He was a bit of a folk hero.

“During the war I was quite happy at home, living in the house and sleeping with my mother. I can remember seeing German planes flying overhead and being in our air raid shelter. It was surreal, really, because you were sitting there and you could see these planes chasing each other.

“Then this stranger, father, came back when I was four or five years old and kicked me out of bed and I developed a stammer. He was a quiet man, confident, very caring, a keen gardener, and he put me off gardening for life because when I

was about eight he had me picking stones off his allotment and he didn’t pay me, and I think that’s when my trade unionism started, because...he should’ve paid me. I’ve had a dislike of gardening ever since. He was a fine man, though.

“I only went to a secondary modern school; Pontefract Boys’. It used to be a military barracks, and then it became a grammar school, which my father went to. His father - my granddad - had three children and he put them all through grammar school, which was an achievement for the ’20s. My dad won a place at Oxford but my granddad couldn’t afford it.

“I enjoyed my time there, but it was a boy’s school and the only lady was a school secretary who must have been about ninety-nine. I mean, when you’re fifteen…

“It had a playing field, and the cricket pitch was better than any that Yorkshire (County Cricket Club) had, and a football pitch and a rugby field, and being a secondary modern we played League not Union. It’s now a car park for Morrison’s.

Jim Wingham was talking to Mark Lawton

What’s Happening at Marske Hall An Xmas shopping evening takes place on Wednesday, 6th November. Enjoy an evening of Christmas shopping, browse the stalls and enjoy refreshments.

Christmas Fair - Saturday, 30th November, 11am-3pm.

Get into the spirit of Christmas with craft stalls, kids crafts, Christmas songs, Father Christmas, stalls, winbola and the grand Christmas raffle. Free entry. All proceeds go to help improve the lives of the residents of Marske Hall. Marske Hall,

Redcar Road, Marske, call 01642 482672 for details or find us on Facebook www.facebook/marskehall.com.

Appeal: The fundraising team is always looking for tombola and raffle prizes to use at events throughout the year.

Simply call into Marske Hall from 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday. Visit www.facebook/marskehall.com. look out on Facebook for what’s on in coming months or call the Hall number 01642 482672.

Kath Bloomfield 27

Find the Elves!

Hello! My name is Caitlin and I volunteer for Redcar & Cleveland Mind as a Fundraising and Events Assistant. I’ve recently been working closely with some of Saltburn’s local businesses to organise a children’s Christmas competition that will run from Saturday, 16th November to Sunday, 15th December.

Fifteen cheeky elves will be hidden and causing mischief in various shops and cafes around the town, each with a different name tag attached. Children will need to locate the elf in each store and write down its name on the entry sheet, next to the corresponding business. Entry forms for the competition are to be collected from Brambles Gift Shop (4 Station Street) along with a suggested donation of £3 to Redcar & Cleveland Mind. Once they have collected all 15 names, participants should then submit their entry form back to Brambles Gift Shop and will be in with a chance of winning one of the 15 elves and other great prizes kindly donated by participating businesses. This is a great way to get into the festive spirit and an excellent opportunity to support local businesses as well as an important local charity!

Redcar & Cleveland Mind (charity reg no. 1142520) is an independent charity working to support the mental health and wellbeing of everyone in our local community.

We are a separately registered charity from Mind and we raise all our own funds, so your support and donations would go a long way in enabling the charity to continue to offer invaluable support to people in our local community and a place to turn to when you need support. If you would like any further information about the charity, please visit our website at www.rcmind.org.

Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council On Sunday, 29th September the Mayor of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, Cllr Billy Wells, unveiled two plaques in memory of Jackie Taylor MBE. In his speech the Mayor praised Jackie, who had for over 30 years shaped and influenced the green spaces and floral displays, not only in Saltburn but all over the Borough. One plaque was located on the Station Portico where Jackie used to sit every Saturday promoting the Town and raising funds. She had also been instrumental in raising funds for the Bandstand, which is where the second plaque was unveiled. (Pictured Mayor of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council with Parish Council Chairman Councillor Stuart Smith.)

At the recent Council Meeting Members were advised about works that Northern Powergrid would be undertaking in the Parish in the coming months - this would result in traffic restrictions at certain times but the work was necessary to secure the network. Further details can be found on our website.

Grants were approved to Saltburn Miniature Railway, Marske Brass Band, Friday Friends and Marske & New Marske Guides. Grants were also given to support the Christmas events throughout the Parish. Any community group who would like to apply for a grant can get further information from our website. The next meeting to consider applications will be in January 2020.

Details for this year’s Armistice Day service and parade (Sunday, 10th November) were discussed. A Church service will take place at Saltburn Methodist Church at 9.30am, followed by a service at The Cenotaph commencing approximately 10.50 and wreaths will then be laid. This year the Vice Lord Lieutenant, Mr Peter Scrope, will be in attendance.

Congratulations were extended to all involved with Saltburn In Bloom for their outstanding success in the 28

Northumbria In Bloom competition. It was noted that every category entered had resulted in a Gold Medal.

Saltburn Christmas event will take place on Saturday, 30th November. There will be children’s activities and entertainment at the Library 2 - 4.30pm. The Christmas tree lights will be switched on at 5pm. and then the local Fire Brigade will lead the parade bringing Father Christmas to his grotto which will be situated in the Station Portico. The theme this year is Disney and fancy dress is encouraged! The event will be hosted by Zetland FM. A poster colouring competition will be held and the winners will get to switch on the Christmas Tree lights. Posters can be picked up from the Parish Council offices where a postbox, for completed entries, will be located at the start and end of the school day - the closing date for entries will be Friday, 15th November.

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

Saltburn’s Independent Bookshop

Fiction, Non-fiction Bargain Books, Children’s Books Opening Times: 10am – 5pm (Closed Sundays and Wednesdays) 24 Milton Street, Saltburn, TS12 1DG

01287 348010 www.bookcornershop.co.uk 29

Linda Hodgson BSc (Hons) McPod / SRch HCPC Registered

Podiatrist / Chiropodist Appointments available call

07985 194056

From the woods to the sea Saltburn’s woodlands were traditionally managed to produce stands of timber, oak and ash for building, with an under storey of hazel coppice.

The hazel coppice was really important to the local economy. Among other things it was used to make large strong baskets for the Durham coal mines; fuel for bread making and, for the local fishermen, it was used to create crab and lobster pots.

As part of the Saltburn Valleys Ancient Hazel project, supported by funding from National Lottery players through the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Saltburn Valleys CIO will be running a workshop on the use of hazel in lobster pot making. Led by local fisherman Eddie Woodall and supported by the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, participants will: explore the history of local crab and lobster pots; learn how hazel was used to make them and try their hand at hazel bending and net making.

The event takes place on Friday, 29th November at Saltburn Woodland Centre, from 10.00am to 3.00pm. Places will be limited so you will need to book a place by calling 01287 636382 or by emailing info@teeswildlife.org. Bring a packed lunch and wear warm clothes.

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Glimpses of Saltburn If you are a Saltburn resident or visitor, if you have moved away and have nostalgic recollections of the seaside town, if you enjoy roaming through the woods or like gazing at the views of sea, sky and cliff, then you will certainly enjoy a newly published collection of poems called Glimpses of Saltburn by H. Elliott (19081987).

Herbert Elliott knew Saltburn well as he lived here for 38 years from 1949 to 1987. He spent much of his leisure time enjoying the fresh air in all weathers and all seasons, by the sea and in the woods. These were the inspiration for his poems about Saltburn. He lived in Upleatham Street within easy reach of the sea and woods and took great delight in contemplating the natural scene.

It is hardly surprising that he had a keen eye for the landscape. He grew up on a farm near Dewsbury and spent his school summer holidays on another Yorkshire farm in Ryedale where he learned a lot about harvesting; this inspired his autobiography. He knew the Lake District well because his first teaching post in Whitehaven on the Cumbrian coast gave him the opportunity to spend the weekends walking and climbing in the magnificent mountains which also inspired the poet Wordsworth. In the holidays, he and his brother went on camping tours the length and breadth of the country.

Then his next teaching post in Redcar led him to the North Yorkshire coast and his home in Saltburn.

Alongside his teaching and cultural interests, he kept up his outdoor pursuits, including gardening, sports and family holidays in the Lakes and Scotland.

He knew much about literature so no wonder was it that he could turn his hand to writing poetry. He excelled in his study of English at Durham University, gaining a first class Honours degree and an M.A. He was the first in his family to go to university and pursue an academic career. He decided to be a schoolmaster and after gaining a Diploma in Education also at Durham, he taught English at Whitehaven Grammar School where he met his future wife Ethel, a lively young teacher of Domestic Science. Henceforth, with her well-informed mind and sense of initiative, she supported and encouraged him in all his ventures. They married in 1945 and had a daughter Anne. He moved to Redcar in 1944 to become Head of the English Department at Sir William Turner’s School (Coatham) the 300 year old foundation which sadly closed when schools became comprehensive. He was there for 28 years. Many former pupils, known as Old Coathamians, owe their enjoyment of words to him and speak of him with affection and admiration. After retiring he researched and wrote a detailed history of the school, entitled Sir William Turner and his School.

He did much for Saltburn. In the 1960s he and his family were founder members of the Saltburn and Marske Arts Society, a forerunner of the Saltburn Community and Arts Association. There are two plaques dedicated to the memory of him and his wife on seats in the Saltburn Community Theatre. He attended Milton

Ethel and Herbert relaxing on holiday

Street Methodist Church and was for many years the Treasurer. He was a familiar figure out and about in Saltburn, enjoying shopping, chatting and exchanging news with people.

He wrote an assortment of unpublished works such as an autobiography of his farming in Ryedale, short stories and poems on many subjects. His published work is Sir William Turner and his School.

He wrote most of his poems shortly after retiring in 1973. Part of his daily routine was going for walks round Saltburn especially in the afternoons when he could relish the beauties of the natural scene at leisure knowing time and work commitments were not at the front of his mind.

He was fascinated by the landscape – Huntcliff, farmland on the headland, trees, sea, sky, sunset, changes of light – and when he came home he would write down his thoughts, pictures in words so that we can easily imagine exactly what he means. Descriptive, reflective, peaceful, sometimes sad but always positive, his poems are a delight to read.

Herbert Elliott was my father. I followed in his footsteps by being a Durham graduate and a teacher of English. After he died I kept his manuscript notebook of poems safe because I knew they were worthy of publication. At last I have the opportunity to do them justice and am so pleased to share them with everyone.

Glimpses of Saltburn is an exciting little book which will make an excellent gift for Saltburn enthusiasts.

Photographs and comments accompany the poems making them a pleasure to read. It is due to be published in November and should soon be available in Saltburn, including at the Saltburn Community and Arts Association and at Book Corner on Milton Street.

Anne Elliott 31

Keeping It Clean At Saltburn Thank you to all the beach clean volunteers in October, who helped to clear so much plastic and washed up fishing gear from our beach.

Keeping It Clean At Saltburn is a voluntary group and we lead a monthly beach clean on Saltburn beach. We meet at the Victorian Shelter, next to the new beach huts, on the first Saturday of every month at 11am. We pick for around an hour and recycle what we can. New volunteers are always welcome and all equipment is provided - if you have gardening gloves, please help us to be even more eco-friendly and bring them along.

New Children’s Store in Saltburn

As Saltburn’s interior store celebrates its third year of business, it welcomes a Little Sister Store to the town.

The Lillian Daph Store has been Saltburn’s Interior destination for three years now, and has gone from strength to strength, opening the second floor of the building, adding an online store with in-house photography studio and a Coffee & Cake Parlour. But never one to slow down the pace, the Husband and Wife owners have opened their second store just in time to celebrate their third birthday.

‘Little LD’ will be known as a ‘little sister’ store to Lillian Daph, housing quirky interior and lifestyle items for little ones. Owner Christina says, “The arrival of our first daughter last December opened our eyes to the lack of cool stuff for kids interiors in our area, we found most high street baby shops run of the mill and uninspiring and there isn’t much in the way of independent stores either. This new venture of ours has been born the same way Lillian Daph was; from a need for something we felt was missing in the North East.

“We simply want to bring you and your little treasures inspiration for your spaces and lifestyle, and teach them how our surroundings have the power to positively effect how we live, learn and feel. Just like we do through Lillian Daph.”

Expect to find quirky designer lighting, Scandinavian textiles, and handmade wall art, alongside essentials for little ones’ lifestyles, including toys, tableware and clothing.

Craig adds, “Our customers at Lillian Daph are conscious of the products and brands they are buying into. It’s about more than just the look of the end product, it’s often the story and the ethics involved that they really buy into. We will be reinforcing this in Little LD through things like recycled packaging, products made from eco-friendly materials, and strong relationships with the makers and founders behind the brands we have selected.”

Little LD is situated on Saltburn’s busy Milton Street.

The team invited people to peruse the store and grab a cake and glass of fizz to celebrate the opening on Saturday, 12th October.

The new kids store is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays 10am- 4pm and Saturday 9:30 - 4pm.

You can follow their progress and stay updated on Facebook, @LD.littleLD and Instagram, @littleld. www.lilliandaph.co.uk 32

We have two beach clean board stations on the lower promenade and one in the town, so you can use our pickers to do your own tidy up if you want to.

F i n a l l y, a s h o u t -o u t a n d congratulations to Saltburn Beachwatch who were awarded a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service this summer and at the time of writing, are due to be formally presented with their award and certificate.

We’re also eagerly awaiting news of Saltburn in Bloom’s Britain in Bloom entry and hoping they receive the recognition they so richly deserve.

Together we KICAS!

Where is Jasper?

Hello, my name is Debbie Ford and whilst on holiday, on Wednesday, August 14th, we lost our beloved boy in Errington Woods. My daughter, back from her holiday, searched the woods in the early hours on Thursday morning, frantically, alone at 4am. She was sure he would come out for her but sadly did not.

He is a 7 year old male Jack Russell named Jasper.

He is white in colour with a tan spot, left side. Tan coloured ears and tan on right side of face.

He has been missing over ten weeks now and we are beyond desperate, to find him. There have been a few possible sightings in and around Saltburn and the people of the town have shown such kindness, concern and immense support in our search for Jasper. Please can people be aware that he is still missing and out there somewhere. Also, big thanks to The Lost Dog Trapping Team who have worked relentlessly in the search for Jasper. Thank you.

Yours, hopefully, Debbie, Craig & Aimee Ford.

Editor adds: I have email contact with Debbie and can pass on any message. Contact Ian on talkofthetownsaltburn@gmail.com

Looking for somewhere to stay?....Holiday, Family, Friends coming to visit?

Short stays welcome 2 nights minimum.

Centrally located only 300yds from Saltburn Square, shops, restaurants, bars, 5 minutes from beach. Self catering 2 bed roomed Cottage offers a modern well equipped kitchen, spacious lounge, bathroom, 1 double bedroom, 1 single with bunk beds. Sofa bed in lounge if needed. WiFi and a private parking space. Pet friendly.

For all enquiries Contact Carol 07817 506 784 or 01287 651896.

Setting the Standard Saltburn & District Royal British Legion went to York on 12th October, to attend their Youth County Standard Bearer Competition. They entered two of their affiliated Army Cadets from Loftus: Harry Lowe and Kurtis Stringer. Harry Lowe is one of their Branch Standard Bearers and both of the lads have attended intense training from the County Parade Marshall, John Courtley, to ensure they were ready for the competition. They were put through their paces and inspected after each command.

Both lads did exceptionally well, and Harry came first in the competition with Kurtis coming closely behind him with second place. The branch and the cadet staff were elated! Harry has now become Youth County Standard Bearer for North & East Yorkshire Royal British Legion and can now compete at Regionals then go to London, for Nationals.

The Chairperson of the branch, Emma-Kate Young, commented that it was a first for their branch to compete, and certainly to win and get a second too! She was very proud and will support Harry to compete at the next stages.

She was beaming with pride for both of the lads.

The 2019 Big Draw Festival Drawn to Life – The Doodle Jam

Saltburn Community & Arts Association were very happy to host another activity for the Big Draw Art Festival at Saltburn Community Hall on Sunday, October 6th.

The Big Draw is a visual literacy charity that promotes the universal language of drawing as a tool for learning, expression and invention through a range of events and activities. The Doodle Jam was a day of dynamic art for all age groups. Organised by Sophie Ingleby and featuring Nicola Golightly as the artist in residence, the event presented a range of drawing activities using a variety of graphic media, as well as print making and 3D engagement. It was themed as creative distraction, to show drawing as a way to promote well-being and emotional expression.

The fun was reflected in the steady stream of children and adults having a great time. Feedback included “Brilliant day - no rules!” and “Doodle jam was better than a party”.

Thanking main sponsor Saltburn’s Hey Ho Print company and also arts and crafts shop Percy Middlesbrough, Saltburn Framing Company, Saltburn Community & Arts Association, and Saltburn Allotment Association (for the vegetables), Sophie Ingleby said “The day was everything we hoped it would be for people of all ages.”

We sell a good Merry Christmas to All Our selection of Stationery Customers, Old and New. i.e. Envelopes, Labels, Tapes, Thank you so much for your Mailing Bags, and a wide range of support over the years!

Greetings Cards Christmas stock arriving each Saltburn Christmas Cards now in! week. Why not come in and check us out? Lots of special offers on We now offer a Card Service on line Christmas Stock and on our at giftsandbobs.co.uk so you can general Household Cleaning order your personalised cards and Supplies. We are worth a visit: collect them in the shop Cheaper Prices on your Doorstep!

We sell Saltburn Souvenirs, Postcards, Fridge Magnets, Key Rings, Prints and Greeting Cards.

Saltburn Christmas Cards and Calendars on sale now!

Open 9.00am till 4.30pm, Monday to Saturday 33

One Ironopolis, there’s only one Ironopolis…’

Middlesbrough Ironopolis FC were, in lots of ways, years ahead of their time, wanting to be professional when Middlesbrough FC preferred amateur status. It was, however, poor gate receipts that finally put paid to their ambitions and the club went into liquidation in 1894.

Having learnt from this experience, the current Ironopolis have eschewed all offers to turn professional and indeed have little or no interest in ‘the beautiful game’; instead they sing.

They first formed in 2009 when Graeme Miles was still alive and it was his songs that brought the group together. Their first recording was two years before Graeme’s death, since which time their line-up has sometimes altered but in essence it remains the same team of enthusiasts that all knew and recognised the value of Graeme’s writing and the worth of the man himself.

Although born in Greenwich, Graeme’s family moved to Teesside when he was six months old and it is the local industrial and moorland scenes of Cleveland that were the inspiration for his songs. His allegiance to the county of his birth survived only in the fact that he was a life-long supporter of Kent County Cricket Club (not the lads) and when called up for National Service, it was to join the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent regiment; some of you may remember the exhibition of his drawings in the SCA2 Gallery three years ago.

Purple Acres is a collection of songs by Graeme that describe his walking the Yorkshire Moors and Dales.

Like all of his songs they stem from direct knowledge: he worked in a youth hostel at Westerdale and a quarry at Castleton; he understood the struggle and effort of ‘working the land’; and he had first foot experience of trudging the rugged local landscape. As a result he ‘lived’ the beauty and the history of the place and his songs

evoke both the pure pleasure of our countryside and the ancient stories that it evidences.

His songs are better known than he is and that is how he would have wanted it. They have been recorded by many of the major artists of the folk world but it is perhaps a greater testament to his enduring legacy that they just keep cropping up or are simply taken for granted. Purple Acres is an opportunity to join him in journeying down familiar roads that we maybe also take for granted.

The line-up for Ironopolis 2019 will be: Ken and Marion Hall (only related by marriage); Kevin Hall (no relation); Paul Lucas; Ailsa McKenzie; Colin Mather; and Alan Young. And yes, at least one of them has got something to do with Whitby Folk Festival and yes, they do sometimes sing together and yes, they have got something to do with The White Hart and yes, you may have gone to school with her and yes, he does normally MC for Seaside Folk.

And yes, you will have a good night travelling to familiar places but not necessarily in the right order.

Porter Bill’s Brothers are Fruitful Friends “There is a special quality that comes from being old friends. All those years have added something valuable that you cannot get any other way.” This was a reflection from Chris Pearson on the unique creative chemistry he shares with song writing collaborator Alan Hiscox. Alan, from Saltburn, and Chris, from Appleton Wiske in North Yorkshire are the heart of Porter Bill’s Brothers, a contemporary folk band whose new album “Plentiful” is due for release this November. “Not that we are ancient!” Chris was quick to add, although both have recently retired, Alan from being a teacher and Chris from being a Church of England vicar.

They met in the late 70s and have been friends ever since. Chris and his family moved south, but on his return in 2004 Chris and Alan began their fruitful musical partnership. Alan brought out his own album of Hiscox/ Pearson songs in 2005. Now, as Porter Bill’s Brothers, the duo has enlisted the help of top folk record producer Gerry Diver and the services of Pete Flood, formerly of Bellowhead to produce a captivating new album of original 34

material.

Porter Bill’s Brothers, backed by a band including some other old friends, will be at Saltburn Arts Centre on Saturday, 23rd November. More details from the Arts Centre or porterbillsbrothers.uk.

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Emmanuel Church Hall, (off Windsor Road) Saltburn

Tuesdays at 3.30pm, 5.30pm or 7.30pm.

Earthbeat Centre, Marske Road, Saltburn

Saturdays at 8.30am For Details Ring

Stevie on

01642 474920

Starpaws Supports SARA Once more Starpaws and Northrifts opened their doors hosting a charity afternoon to support local small animal charity SARA – Saving And Rehoming Animals. Live band music, courtesy of New Horizons, drifted out into the fun-filled comfy seating for a music loving audience, whilst dance enthusiasts took to the dance floor for “Tuxedo Junction” and “Baby Street”.

Homemade delights transformed the impressive hallway into a ‘spoilt for choice’ cake shop, whilst a serve-yourself popup café beckoned customers outside. An array of stalls including tombolas, raffles, jewellery, bric-a-brac and handcrafts tempted supporters and visitors to browse, choose and buy Amidst all of these attractions dog owners and animal lovers mingled, chatted and relaxed in the welcome sunshine, but the best sight of all was to see an array of dogs all sizes, breeds, colours and ages (from 11 months to 15 years), freely running around, tails wagging, noses sniffing, soaking up attention from both the canines and humans (plus snaffling any fallen titbits).

The included mini Fun Dog Show, as always, was a popular event providing entertainment and laughs with rosettes and prizes a-plenty. A fine afternoon in every sense of the word with an atmospheric friendly buzz in this idyllic corner of Saltburn.

SARA would like to sincerely thank Starpaws, Northrifts, Barbara and Kathryn, families and staff for organising this wonderful successful event with proceeds donated to the animal charity. Thanks are extended to donators, supporters and animal charity. Thanks are extended to donators, supporters and everyone who helped make this such a delightful day in the calendar.

Joy and Mandy Volunteers at SARA 36

Talk of the Town’s monthly Pride of Saltburn Award

The winner of this month’s bouquet of flowers is John Wells who was nominated by his daughter Maureen Talbot.

About him, she says, “I’d like to nominate my lovely Dad John Wells for the Pride of Saltburn Award. We moved from near Durham to Saltburn in the snow in January 1960 for him to be manager of the ‘Meadow Dairy’ grocery shop on Marske Road, long gone by now. He turned shop keeping into an art form! Everybody knew him and loved being served by him. Since then Dad (and my Mum, who is sadly now no longer with us), have without a doubt always been Saltburn’s biggest fans and promoted and supported the town in every way they could. I’ve been living in the Midlands since 1972 but there’ll always be a part of me that still thinks of Saltburn as home. My husband, children and grandchildren all love this very special place by the sea. I phone Dad every day and he keeps us informed of the goings on in the town, and sends me the ‘Talk of the Town’ which I read from cover to cover. He sends me Stuart Smith’s council newsletters and any cuttings about Saltburn from the local papers. Over the years he’s collected money for the Pier - shaking a bucket everywhere he went, collected for children’s societies, been in the neighbourhood watch and even now he’s without my Mum he still supports every event he can in the town. He’s probably one of the longest serving members if not the longest serving member of the Retired Men’s Forum too! I think all of this deserves some special recognition!”

Thank you, John, for being you, the Pride of Saltburn.

Every month when a nomination is received, a £30 bunch of flowers, kindly donated by Ruby Lilly’s Florists of Marske, is awarded to someone who has earned admiration, gratitude or love for whatever reason. We invite nominations from readers, to make someone feel special with a bunch of flowers! Send your nominations to Talk of the Town’s post box at Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, or email Ian (talkofthetownsaltburn@gmail.com). (Please include your name, phone number and the reason you are nominating the person of your choice.) Please also confirm with the nominee that they are willing to receive the award (many people feel shy about it). All the nominations will be read and kept for future use, so even if your choice doesn’t win this month, they might do so next time.

Saltburn Station Gallery The gallery is proud to announce that new work from local painters such Sue O’Neil, Robert Moon and Roger Dobson are on display.

October also saw the return of David Hanah’s bespoke mirrors after successful exhibitions at Danby and Sutton bank in North Yorkshire. Two new original paintings by owner Sean Halcrow-Cook are now on display showcasing some of the fantastic views in our area.

Accompanying all the new wonderful artworks on display is our Christmas stock full of fantastic gifts and decorations for the festive season. We are grateful for the support of our wonderful customers and would like to remind them that our loyalty card scheme is still running and is the opportune time to cash these cards in for Christmas.

Hewitt’s Property Services Building Maintenance, Damp Proofing Plastering, Joinery, Plumbing All Roof work undertaken, Loft Conversions Woodworm Treatments, Painting and Decorating Garden Maintenance, Soffits and Fascia-Boards Driveways, Patios, Gutters Cleaned Landlords and Contract Work welcome, Fully Insured, Competitive Rates, Est. 12 years For all your property needs call Steve on

07966 152553 07367 096979 37

Health and Happiness: More Life in Life I wake early, hours before my family do and I tiptoe downstairs. The light is changing, it’s a golden time. I heat water and cut a lemon to bring warmth to my mouth and down the centre of my body. I’ve created different lengths of music depending on how much each day I feel I want.

Waves that start slow, a spiritual sway that grows to full Brazilian carnival or a nightclub at the fulcrum of the rave.

It’s a rise into joy, into full movement, the body in rhythm and flow and a smile on my face. Once peaked the wave begins to calm and mellows slowly back down to a solitary violin and then like a final drop of water squeezed out it comes to a stop.

The body is awake. The process is one of appreciation, to feel more life in my life. I’m trying my best to wake up, to wake up more and more to this experience of life that I’m in, to feel it as deeply as I can.

Nothing changes us quite like something we do regularly. Doing something once or occasionally simply doesn’t have the same power to effect a pattern. For this reason I’m a massive advocate of daily practice.

I shudder to think how unfit in my body or mentally unbalanced or depressed I might now be if I had never started some twenty years ago to keep myself afloat, to grow and not just float but swim.

Meditation is for me about setting a time when I can regularly let my body enter conscious pure relaxation. It’s a major support to my emotional balance.

Firstly I move slowly through my senses, notice the light behind my eyes, the clean smell through my nostrils, the subtle sounds, the soft lemon taste in my mouth and the touch of air on my skin.

It is to me a bringing of awareness to my consciousness, to my senses and to my inner feelings. I so strongly want to grow my appreciation and recognise fully this experience that I’m living.

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Everything will be new today, everything will be experienced afresh if I bring awareness to how true that is, alive in the present always unique, never the same repeated.

Both the dance and the meditation on my senses are times to connect to my body in different manifestations. Then my meditation is to leave the thoughts behind and the aim becomes to enter into no-mind. For the thinking about who I am is limited, a false map often, constrained by language and thought and scientific understanding of what I think I am. My aim is to simply enter a deep state of peace.

Most mornings I add Tai chi (poorly remembered from classes a decade ago but it’s still serving to help find my peace and flow). I do exercises too to increase my strength and over many years this daily practice has done wonders for keeping my body free of pain and flexible. I run, I run now with a joy that my body works well enough at fifty to still run.

I praise that my lungs still work well and have recovered from many years of smoking. My body still has power and stamina and the feeling of fluidity is a magnificent feeling.

And then often I end the run with a cold shower, a wake up call like no other that leaves the body zinging and more awake and connected to living.

It’s so easy to charge on into life, to be focussed on just getting things done. A constant focus on the practical can end up an avoidance of ourselves. I’ve learnt it’s very possible to take time out to heighten our appreciation of who we are and what we have and how incredible this opportunity to be alive in this world is. It’s all too easy to bypass the magic in a blur, miss the subtle and the sweetness that is in the present where we all live. Death and the awareness that it’s coming is a wonderful gift. For me it brings more focus and appreciation to who I am and where I am and the kind of life I am living.

Kendal Aitken Health and Happy Balance Training Free consultation 07944 883961

November to Remember in the Cons Club Welcome to the monthly article from Saltburn Conservative Club. The days are getting shorter and cooler and winter is approaching but the warm welcome you always receive in the club is always constant.

During the last month we held a very successful Blues Night featuring the very talented and acclaimed artist Sunjay, when an excellent audience enjoyed a superb evening of entertainment. This event was organised by Harry Simpson and his efforts are very much appreciated by all involved with the club. You may also like to know that Harry has a weekly Monday evening slot on Zetland FM entitled ‘still got the blues’, which is worth tuning into from 7pm to 10pm.

The quiz bingo and buffet supper was another good success and our thanks to Julie Towell for asking the questions and calling the bingo and to Michelle, our amazing stewardess who sets the questions and prepares the buffet.

Please note that our next quiz will be the Christmas quiz bingo and buffet, held on Wednesday, December 18th.

Tickets for this event will sell out, so keep a look out for the advertising and get your tickets as soon as you can or you will miss out on what is always a brilliant night of fun and laughs.

Moving into November and the first event of the month is on Saturday the 2nd when we have our final club trip, this year to Whitby. All tickets sold out several weeks ago such is the popularity of our trips. Members and friends will visit the hostelries, cafes and shops in this great location before venturing to the club early evening to a small buffet supper and a music night. A good time will be had by all.

Tuesday the 5th is the night for the monthly meeting of Saltburn Line Users Group when any person with an interest or passion in railways, particularly local line services, has an invite to attend. This meeting commences at 7pm in the upstairs Balmoral room.

This is followed on Thursday the 7th with the monthly meeting of the Backgammon Club. Everybody is welcome and we have expert people available to talk you through the game. This event is also held upstairs in the Balmoral room and runs from 7 to 9pm with free entry. On Saturday, 9th November we will be having a staff party when anything could happen in what will be a celebration night in appreciation of the tremendous work Michelle and her bar staff have put in during what seems to be a very good and successful year in the Cons Club. No words can describe the respect and thanks we have for all the staff. They fully deserve a great pre-Christmas party.

Moving to Friday, 15th November we will be holding the monthly open mic night which has been brought forward two weeks from its usual day on the last Friday of every month. The evening is hosted by Liz Bishop and friends

starting at 8pm in the upstairs Balmoral room. People wishing to play or sing can register with Liz from 7:30pm. Entry is free so come along and support Liz and live music in Saltburn.

The monthly events finish on Saturday, 30th of November when we will be holding a ‘Peaky Blinders’ themed music night plus a race night starting at 7:30pm. Members are encouraged to come in Peaky Blinders themed outfits, although this is not compulsory. All money raised from the race night will go to Saltburn Christmas lights which should bring the money we have raised to approximately £500, which will be handed over to a representative from the Christmas lights appeal during the Christmas quiz on Wednesday, 18th December at 9pm. We would like to thank all members who supported this worthy cause throughout the year.

Please note that the post box left by Santa is in the snug for members to fill in their application request to presents for children or grandchildren of members, 11 years old and under.

These presents will be handed out by Father Christmas between 2pm and 4pm in the Balmoral room upstairs. There will also be karaoke disco for the children and parents must be present at all time. Also note that the board to place names on for the club Christmas draw is now in place in the bar. The draw will take place at 8.00pm on Saturday 14th December.

Prizes will consist of one lot of £250 cash, two lots of £100 cash, and two lots of £50 cash, plus bubbly, spirits, wine, pheasants, meat vouchers etc.

Regarding the ongoing alterations and upgrading we have been carrying out over the past 2 years, our next project will be upgrading of the gents toilets which will include an additional toilet area for a lady members, some of whom find difficulty climbing the stairs. This work will commence in the new year after consultations with the council planning department and our architects have taken place and approval has been granted. This work will not include the removal of any urinals as they are very old and of historical importance.

Membership is now closed and will not open again until March 2020. Any person wishing to go on a waiting list until March can fill in an application form without paying and you will be contacted when we start taking new applicants. These people will replace present members who have not renewed their membership for 2020. Present members are reminded that subscriptions for 2020 have to be paid by the end of January and we start taking payments for next year from the middle of December. Once again I have run out of space to write more so I will wish you all a good November. Stay safe and warm. Stay close to family and friends.

Best wishes, David.

David Rigg, Club President Email: davidrigg21@yahoo.co.uk Article financially supported by Saltburn Conservative Club

Saltburn Cons Club: Future Events to Entertain in November Every Tuesday: Club Draw Nights for Meat Voucher, Wines & Chocolates… 10pm.

Every Sunday: Drinks Draw & Cash Rollover. Increases by £25 each week if not won… 6pm.

Saturday Afternoons: A get-together by ‘The Conmen’ Americana Musicians Jam Sessions... 3pm.

Saturday 2nd: Club Trip to Whitby Tuesday 5th: SLUG Meeting (Saltburn Line Users Group)… 7pm Thursday 7th: Backgammon Club. Everybody welcome to come along... 7pm to 9pm Saturday 9th: Staff Party Friday 15th: ‘Open Mic Night’ hosted by Liz Bishop & Friends. Come and support live music... 8pm Saturday 30th: ‘Peaky Blinders’ themed music night plus Race Night from 7.30pm.

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Used Stamps for Charity

There is a box in Saltburn Library for used postage stamps which are a valuable source of income to a number of charities. Please drop your stamps in the library. Many thanks for your support. There is also a box in Marske Library.

LOVE DANCING? WANT TO GET FIT?

Eric Matson (volunteer), 25 High Street, Skelton, Tel: 07985 767587 Salsa, Samba, Bollywood, Disco, Jive, Rock & Roll and more...

SOSA will get you TONED UP, FIT & give you that ‘STRICTLY FEELING’!

This fun and feel good dance fitness class is for ALL AGES and ABILITIES Mondays 7pm - Emmanuel Church Hall, Saltburn - £4 (DISCOUNT! £6 for both Zumba Gold & Sosa on Mondays)

Packed with Latin rhythms and International beats…

This FUN and EASY TO FOLLOW class is TONING and a great OVERALL WORKOUT. Watch out for ‘bums & tums’ targeted dances!

Mondays 6pm - Emmanuel Church Hall, Saltburn - £4 Thursdays 10am - Saltburn Community Hall - £4 (DISCOUNT! £6 for both Zumba Gold & Sosa on Mondays)

A PILATES, YOGA & BALLET inspired fitness class: Spirals will build up CORE STRENGTH, TONE and DEFINE YOUR FIGURE. It also works on BALANCE and FLEXIBILITY. Wednesdays 7pm - The EarthBeat Centre, Saltburn

Holly Blue

Call ESTELLE on 07887 525234 or visit...

We have a large range of Quality Greetings Cards, Wrap, Bags, Balloons, Books, Stationery, Jigsaws, Orchard Toys, Calendars, Diaries & much more.

Book Ordering Service, Quarterly Prize Draw & Loyalty Card System 45 Milton Street (Opposite Sainsbury’s Car Park)

TIME SERVED

Tel: 01287 624283 LEGAL SERVICES AVAILABLE IN YOUR OWN HOME AT VERY COMPETITIVE RATES

I have recently retired after providing legal services at a local solicitors for almost forty years and am now able to provide legal assistance in respect of wills, powers of attorney and help to deal with matters following a bereavement including the obtaining of a Grant of Probate. Please call me on 07402 777393 and I will be happy to visit you in your own home to discuss your requirements and give a quotation.

LORNA SMITH 40

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 folks! We are Zebo and Ava and we need your help to find new families. 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 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.

Ava is a beautiful black and white 1 year old feline girl, who is one of our long termers, and we feel its high time she had her own home. Ava adores playing out in the catio and would happily spend all day in there if she could. Ava is looking for a home with a human carer who has had cats before.

SARA fundraising events during November Please note our monthly meetings for SARA supporters and the public are now held in the Cleveland Bay, Ings Road, Redcar on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30pm. Bar open, friendly atmosphere, everyone’s welcome, so please join us on 5th November for a pleasant evening and hear all our recent news.

Future SARA fund raising events Our CHRISTMAS FAYRE is on Saturday, 7th December 10am to 1pm at Marske Hall (formerly Cheshire Home).

The ‘Local Vocals’ will sing and entertain, whilst folk

browse the assorted stalls and delicious refreshments available.

Our traditional CAROLS AT FOXRUSH will take place in the Arundel Centre at Foxrush Farm on Kirkleatham Lane, Redcar 2pm to 3:30pm. The singing group ‘Local Vocals’ will perform. Mulled wine and mince pies will be served and there will be Christmas stalls to browse and buy. Come along for a good sing-song.

Joy and Mandy Volunteers at SARA 41

Public Meeting Tuesday 19th November There will be a public meeting at the Saltburn Community Theatre at 6pm to which all members of the public are invited.

The meeting is being organised by Saltburn Valleys CIO. The prime purpose of the meeting is to continue to acquaint residents about progress with the Management Plan that has been commissioned by SVCIO to address the challenges associated with removing the Valley Gardens from the Historic England At Risk Register.

The Management Plan contains significant detail including a programme of works to conserve the original features of the valley and sensitively restore the area for the future benefit of the community.

The Valley Gardens form part of the late Victorian seaside resort developed between 1861 and 1873 by Henry Pease. There was a three phase development. Initially upper and lower paths were laid out on Camp Bank and a fountain was installed between 1861-65.

Joseph Newton’s proposals resulted in further developments over the next three years, with a walled propagation and nursery area, a croquet lawn, a bandstand, a network of paths linking the lower and upper paths, two new entrances with pay booths, the Albert Memorial, summer houses and seating, the formal ‘Italian Gardens’ and some additional formal tree planting.

Mr Everatt, the head gardener, who lived in the substantial villa built at the entrance to Riftswood, and the second most important official in the town after the Station Master, continued the garden developments in subsequent years. The Pleasure Grounds, which now included tennis courts, were a significant attraction to visitors drawn to this 42

vibrant new resort with its Grand Pier and Cliff Lift. A secluded area accessible in all weathers was a significant feature. The gardens and pleasure grounds have provided much enjoyment over the years including the time when the boating lake was at its best used before its demise in the 1980s.

Purchased by Saltburn and Marske Urban District Council in 1936 the Pleasure Gardens became the responsibility of Redcar & Cleveland after various local government reorganising.

In 1999 the Parks and Gardens were seen as historically important. Registration as being of Special Historic Interest was sought, gaining Grade 11 status.

In recent years there has been a significant reduction in interest in the valley. The demolition of the gardener’s cottage, the dismantling of the conservatories, silting up of the Skelton beck, erosion of bank sides, demise of many pathways, the loss of a main bridge, the deterioration in the Albert Memorial and an almost total absence of any tree management, removing all the traditional vistas which gave such enjoyment. As a result the valley gardens are a shadow of their former self.

The Management Plans have been drawn up after consultation with many user groups and interested parties.

The public meeting will continue the discussion with all interested residents to ensure that the proposals are appropriate and can be progressed and funding sought.

Work has already started on the War Memorial site, exhibiting the benefits of community involvement.

Philip Thomson

PATIENT & HOPEFUL?

BY REV ADAM REED “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’

“The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’” (Luke 13.6-9) How patient are you with yourself when you want to see changes in your life? How patient are you with others - your family, your friends, your work colleagues? How patient is God? The story of the fruitless tree shows us that God is patient for a time.

Indeed, he is more patient with us than we can imagine! But there comes a time when either the tree bears fruit or it comes down and gives an opportunity to something else. Drawing on this story, maybe you can relate to this prayer by Amy Robinson (Image of the Invisible, pp.67): Dear Lord, some of my branches have been fruitless for a long time. There are talents and skiIls I’d love to grow and develop and use to your glory. And the fruit of your Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control—there are plenty of times when I could use all of those! Thank you for keeping me safe in your garden. Please do some digging around me, some nurturing and some pruning, and with your help, Lord, may I grow those fruits. Amen.

Services Times Sundays 9.00am traditional communion 10.45am contemporary worship

Tuesdays 9.30am said communion

Morning Prayer 9.00am Tues-Fri in ECHO

Contact Details tel 01287 622251

email emmanuelsaltburn@hotmail.co.uk

web www.emmanuelsaltburn.co.uk

OPEN CHURCH November 2019 Sat: 2nd, 16th & 30th 10am - 4pm Sun: 10th & 24th 1 - 4pm

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Saltburn Beachwatch: Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

On the 8th October five of our volunteers were delighted to attend a ceremony at Camphill Bedale to officially receive the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service on behalf of Saltburn Beachwatch.

We are delighted to receive this honour and it is testament to the commitment, determination and passion of everyone who has volunteered their time and all who have supported the group – with resources, advice and encouragement – from its inception to present day.

Saltburn Beachwatch was founded 23 years ago by Miss Jackie Taylor and over this time has continued to evolve and champion environmental matters. The group has been involved with Northumbrian Water, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and the Environment Agency in the upgrade of both the sewage pumping station at Skinningrove and drainage at Hazelgrove. More recently our beach and group was one of only 20 in the UK chosen to send our data via the Marine Conservation Society to Defra, for use as part of the European Marine Directive Framework.

Our main work is holding seasonal litter picks, undertaking surveys to record the data of items collected and returning this to the Marine Conservation Society. Over the years our group has gone from strength to strength, and alongside regular volunteers from Saltburn and the surrounding areas, every beach clean is joined by those on holiday and new faces. It has been particularly heartening to see how many children and young people have wanted to get involved with many already helping to champion care for our environment and coast in their schools. An unexpected bonus of the award ceremony was meeting another voluntary group – Scuba Diving for All – who are interesting in joining one of our litterpicks to remove litter from the sea bed below the low water mark – Saltburn SeaWatch!

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When asked why they volunteer, an overwhelming majority said that they got a lot of pleasure and a real sense of achievement from “doing their bit”; testament to every “bit” counting is the 16% reduction in beach litter we have seen at Saltburn thanks to our Beachwatchers, Keeping It Clean At Saltburn and many individual litter pickers. Each month many kilograms of rubbish are collected and removed from the beach but there is still much to be done outside of our litter picking activity; we continue to champion the cause for a deposit and return scheme for plastic containers, more and better recovery of lost fishing gear and a programme to tackle the menace of nurdles and micro plastic pollution.

Lots more to do, but a good time to pause and reflect on all that has been achieved over the last 23 years by the good ship Beachwatch and to celebrate Saltburn itself; a town that is passionate about its coastline and has a fantastic sense of community spirit, with several voluntary groups working hard to care for the town we love and cherish – such as Saltburn in Bloom who are on tenterhooks as we go to press, awaiting the outcome of the Britain in Bloom awards. Good luck Bloomers!

So here’s to another 23 years! We were fit to burst with Saltburn pride when collecting our award and will continue to strive to make a positive contribution to our town, raising awareness of environmental issues and doing our bit to protect our coast.

If you fancy getting involved, just come along to our next winter Beachwatch litter pick – no prior experience is necessary - all you need to bring is you and your enthusiasm (and a very warm coat for those blustery January chills).

Thank you!

Roy Smith and Michelle Dickson

Cllr Karen King promotes Fostering in Redcar and Cleveland “Fostering children is challenging, but very rewarding,” says Karen King, the Deputy Leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council. She speaks with the knowledge of having been a local foster carer herself.

“Fifteen years ago, I decided I wanted to do something beneficial with my weekends. I was working fulltime, so I made enquiries about taking disabled children to give parents a break,” she explains. “But I was persuaded to take teenagers with behavioural problems. They were engaged in risk-taking activities and had difficulties in education because of their behaviour.”

After a positive first year, Karen chose to give up work and foster full-time. She has taken young people in from one night to nine years. They have been coping with bereavement, family breakdown and a general lack of care before being fostered.

Out of interest, Karen started attending Council meetings and realised that if she got elected, she could influence policy on corporate parenting from the top down.

She could serve on decision-making committees and offer first hand experience of fostering. Four and a half years ago, she won her seat and since then, she’s become Chair of the Corporate Parenting Board. “I’ve retained this as well as serving as Deputy Council Leader since last May, because of my passion for making decisions about children’s lives,” she says.

There are increasing numbers of young people needing care. When Karen joined the Council in 2014, there were 148 Redcar and Cleveland children aged from birth to 18 in care. In August 2019, there were 322. Statistics show that this involved 1 in every 100 in 2014, but now it is 1 in 80.

“There are various reasons,” explains Karen. “The biggest problem is neglect, because of social circumstances.

Austerity has had an impact and there is a toxic trio of factors: domestic violence, drug/alcohol problems and mental health issues, causing distress.”

Only the Courts can decide that a care order needs to be issued to Social Services in respect of a child. Sometimes parents agree; in other cases, the Court decides that it’s not safe for the child to go back to their family.

The Council is challenged by the extra cost of funding care when it’s provided by independent fostering agencies, but more provision is being made in-house, despite the recent doubling of the number of children involved.

Increasing the number of in-house foster carers is a priority for the Council: “Redcar and Cleveland has just run an award-winning recruitment campaign,” says Karen. “The next foster care training will run in November 2019 and any reader interested should ring: 01642 444087 (or see foster@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk). We currently have twelve prospective carers working 1:1 with a social worker, with a view to recommendation to the Fostering Panel.”

Successful applicants are approved for a specific age range but whatever the children’s ages, the Council offers foster carers bespoke training and the support of a dedicated Supervising Social Worker. There are opportunities to meet other carers and an invitation to attend the annual foster carers award ceremonies.

Foster carers can be in employment, single, married or cohabiting, in a same-sex partnership or any nationality.

Cultural characteristics of the children need to be respected

by carers, although the borough of Redcar and Cleveland is one of the least multi-racial areas in the country and cultural matching may not be achievable.

The service has to be provided by the Council by law, so if more resources are needed, money is moved from other areas of spending, for example from non-mandatory youth services. “The new administration has to make difficult decisions and is working to reduce waste and streamline senior management to avoid such cuts,” says Karen.

The Council offers a financial package of support to foster carers, which reflects the age and needs of the child.

Redcar and Cleveland is one of only a few Local Authorities which rescinds council tax for foster carers. Meetings with social workers are arranged every 4-6 weeks and assessments and plans are reviewed.

“Redcar and Cleveland has a very good Children in Care Council, where youngsters can present their ideas,” adds Karen. “They obtained a grant used to set up My Place – now called Tuned In youth facility on Redcar seafront and have represented our area across the north-east.”

The children in care have had a say in developing a new Family Time Centre in Redcar where they can spend time with their relatives in a supervised, safe setting. It is appointmentbased, but open to children in care in the whole borough. “I’m proud of how collaboratively we’re working with the children, involving them as much as possible,” she says.

The service recently held an Achievement Award ceremony for children in care and care leavers and Karen is excited to update us about the success of Dylan Cartlidge, the care leaver musician who featured in the TV series ‘The Mighty Redcar’. “In 2019, Dylan has played at Glastonbury and at our Festival of Thrift and has set up his own business in Redcar!”

But alongside Dylan are lots of smaller successes.

About one frightened little boy, it was said that after the input of his foster carer, “He smiles now.”

Well done everybody who has contributed to the service!

Rosemary Nicholls 45

Life is a Beach (2)

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Last week Kate found the largest Devil’s Toenail either of us have ever seen. If you are mystified as to what I mean you probably have not lived here for very long or else are not inclined to walk much upon our glorious beach. A Devil’s Toenail is the popular name for the fossils of a long extinct creature the proper name of which is Gryphaea. They tend to be grey to black in colour and vary in size. In Redcar they are to be found everywhere on the beach because they are washed out of the rocks that run out into the sea, whereas in Saltburn we always found them mostly in the gravel by the Ship Inn or further along towards Huntcliff.

Devil’s Toenails were a primitive form of oyster.

Judging by the amount of them that exist in particular at Redcar, they must have lived in their hundreds or thousands of millions because fossilization is a numbers game and yet the rocks that run at near right angles to the beach in Redcar seem to be composed to a great extent of nothing but the mineralized remains of these curious creatures. They flourished between the Triassic period, which started 251.9 million years ago until the Jurassic period, which extended from around 201.3 million years ago until around 145 million years into the past.

As with any commonly occurring curiosity, the Devil’s Toenail has attracted its own myths and folklore. The popular name itself is a good example. With a little imagination the larger specimens do bear a resemblance to a curved toenail, though how the Devil became involved remains a mystery and does not seem to have any direct explanation that I can discover.

The other commonly held belief regarding Gryphaea was that carrying one around in a pocket or a purse could alleviate rheumatism. Once again it is hard to know where such a belief originated, particularly since one would imagine that the Devil would be more likely to hand out such an affliction rather than being party to preventing or easing it.

If you want to find a Devil’s Toenail yourself you could go to the part of the beach in Saltburn just below the tractor park and adjacent to the side of the stream and look amongst the shale and rocks there. However, if you are determined to find many good examples quickly a short journey to Redcar would be in order. In any of the areas above or level with the high tide line where stones congregate in great numbers you will find many dozens of examples, along with parts of ammonites and maybe even sharks’ teeth if you are very lucky.

I am still laughing at an on-line account of the Devil’s Toenail which speculates that Gryphaea ‘possibly’ lived in large colonies. Even my limited knowledge indicates that there was no ‘possible’ about it and that this was, for many millions of years, a tremendously successful species. No such creature exists today and although our illustrious editor Ian would know much better than me, whatever put paid to the dinosaurs may also have marked the beginning of the end of Gryphaea.

How very lucky we are to have such a wonderful beach where we can find nature’s curiosities in such abundance and where the cares of the world drop away with every walk we take. On the way we might also be able to rid ourselves of aches and pains, whether or not the Devil’s Toenail is responsible or simply the fresh air.

The Saltburn Profile by Rosemary Nicholls Drisc Wardle “I like to be involved – I like to know what’s happening in the town and if anything’s wrong, I enjoy fighting to put it right,” says Saltburn Parish Councillor, Drisc Wardle. “As well as considering bigger issues, the Council looks after the little things that affect local people’s lives.”

Drisc was born in Overdene and she grew up in Redcar, attending West Dyke and Coatham C of E Primary Schools and Cleveland Grammar School. Living just round the corner was fellow Reception pupil Trevor Wardle. “My husband and I have known each other since we were five!” she explains.

Drisc left Redcar to study geography at Reading University, but it didn’t suit her and she came back to Redcar and married Trev. He was at Art College in Stoke on Trent, so they moved there. She took a job as a wages clerk at Michelin Tyres and then at Embreys Bakery. “I loved being there as the people were really good to work with. I used to go on to the bakery floor to collect the clock cards and watch the Heath Robinson machinery in action.

The bakery smell was wonderful and we got cheap bread,” she says.

Trev wasn’t able to secure a lecturing job straightaway, so they moved back to the north-east and bought a house in Guisborough. Trev became a labourer on local building sites and their children, Matthew and Chloe were born. Eventually, a lectureship in Art and Art History at Banbury School of Art was offered to Trev and the family moved to the idyllic little village of Helmdon. Sadly, Matthew wasn’t happy at the local school, so they moved to Towcester. “There we had the benefit of living in a large old house, but the downside was that it was on the busy A5,” Drisc says.

She started getting involved in the Towcester community: she was elected on to the Town Council and became the Mayor; she was also the Chair of Governors of a local primary school for more than twenty years. Drisc was declared to be a Feoffe, which is ‘a man of standing in the parish’, through her volunteering with the centuries-old Sponne and Bickerstaffes charities. This entailed administering an endowment fund to increase educational opportunities for Towcester youngsters. She was also busy with environmental initiatives, including pocket parks.

While there, Trev and Drisc established homebased Two Faces Design, a graphic design company, which they still run in Saltburn today. They attracted a great range of clients, from the World Health Organisation to the local bookshop owner.

“But I still felt that the north-east was my home and we used to come up for Saltburn Folk Festival regularly.

We would travel back across the moors, stopping for a walk and a drink at the Lion Inn at Blakey Ridge. One year, while there, we decided to move back. The children had grown up and gone to work in London. Trev finished lecturing and we bought our house in Saltburn, where we’ve now lived for six years,” she remembers.

Drisc is very happy to be back. Two Faces Design is doing very well. In addition to fulfilling commercial contracts, they do pro bono work for the community, such

as Justice First, Saltburn Community and Arts Association, Saltburn Valleys and the Church.

Drisc soon became involved in Saltburn community activities. She was elected on to the Parish Council and has become the Company Secretary of SCAA. She is a Trustee of the East Cleveland Youth Heritage Trust, helping less fortunate youngsters become apprentices in construction and active in the new Saltburn Valleys charity, which aims to protect and promote the town’s three valleys. She is also on the Parochial Church Council and Secretary of Churches Together.

Since she was eighteen, Drisc has been a member of the Labour Party and she was persuaded to stand for Saltburn in the 2019 Borough Council elections. She was an active member in Guisborough when Ben Pimlott was the Parliamentary candidate and in Towcester, she pretty much stood for every position, except MP, as there weren’t many members to share the ‘burden’ of standing.

Trev and Drisc make daily visits to their Saltburn allotment, half of which is devoted to growing fruit and veg and half to being a conservation area. She is proud of the corncockles they have grown as part of their annual cornfield. They have perennial wild flowers and a pond too.

“I love gardening,” Drisc says. “Even though our yard is only eight feet wide, I have lots of plants and fruit trees in it.”

She enjoys music, especially folk, classical and opera. She likes to go to London theatres. Her favourite painter is Gerrit Dou, a Dutchman: “He paints small pictures with wonderful treatment of light, backgrounds and interiors,” she tells me.

When Trev was lecturing, he and Drisc used to take parties of young and mature students to art galleries in European cities, such as Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Venice, Florence and Rome. In the past, the two of them have travelled in Eastern Europe and across India by train. More recently, they have been keen day visitors to Edinburgh by train and they have a soft spot for the North York Moors Railway.

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Saltburn, Redcar & Cleveland Philatelic Society NORWEGIAN WW2 HERO GETS PHILATELIC RECOGNITION 2018 Born 11th January 1918, Rjukan, Norway, Gunnar Sønsteby D.S.O. was a member of the Norwegian Resistance Movement during the German occupation of Norway in World War Two. Known by the nickname ‘Kajakan’ (the cheeks) and also as Agent No 24 or Erling Fjeld, he was the most highly decorated citizen in Norway, including being the only person to have been awarded the War Cross with 3 Swords, Norway’s highest military decoration. The Gestapo did not acquire his real name until the end of the war.

He was just 22 and a simple accountant when Germany occupied Norway in 1940 and after Norway’s regular forces surrendered on June 10th 1940, after months of fighting, he quickly joined the Norwegian Resistance. In 1941 he was brought into the secret British military unit S.O.E. (Special Operations Executive) at their office in Stockholm, Sweden.

Later, in Sweden, he was arrested and imprisoned for 3 months by the Swedish Police but managed to convince them he was not the same Gunnar Sønsteby they were looking for.

Back in Norway in 1943, he was caught by the Gestapo but managed to escape and fled back to Sweden. From there he was sent back to Britain, where in June of that year he enrolled in the Linge Company which was formed to participate in Britishled operations in Norway. In October he parachuted into Norway as leader of the Milorg Group. In the same month, he also became head of the newly formed ‘Oslo Gang’, a sabotage group. British historian William Mackenzie called the Oslo Gang “the best group of saboteurs in Europe”. This group performed several spectacular acts of sabotage among them smuggling out printing plates for the printing of the Norwegian Kroner from the Norwegian Central Bank to the exiled government in London and blowing up the office for Norwegian Forced Labour at Parkveien 8 in Oslo - 27th August 1944, thereby stopping the Nazis’ plan of sending young Norwegian men to the Eastern Front. Other acts of sabotage included blowing up several ships

Saltburn Line User Group Next Meeting: Tuesday, 5th November 2019 at 7.00pm.

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.

Find us at www.facebook.com/ saltburnlineusergroup Email the secretary on: slugsecretary@virginmedia.com SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LINE 48

in Oslo harbour, destroying the Kongsberg munitions factory, killing several leading figures in the occupation forces, including the Nazi head of police in Norway Karl Marthinsen.

Other actions included the theft of 75,000 ration books, destruction of sulphuric acid plants in Lysaker, destroying or damaging over 40 aircraft being repaired at a train company depot in Korsvoll, starting a fire in an oil storage depot in Oslo harbour. His exploits are too numerous to mention here. After D-Day, Sønsteby concentrated largely on bombing Norwegian Railways, thereby keeping German reinforcements from being moved to the front line.

He survived the war and died peacefully May 10th, 2012, at the age of 94. The British awarded him the D.S.O. A statue of him was unveiled in his home town of Rjukan Torg. A special postcard and FDC (First Day Cover envelope) were produced and Norwegian Air displayed him on their tail fins.

Come and join us at our next meetings: 20th November ‘Bahamas’, 4th December Terminology Queries Answered. (If you have a fortune lurking in your loft bring your old collection along. Advice and valuation free of charge. Non members welcome. We meet at 19.00 - 21.00, Redcar East Community Centre, Durham Rd, Redcar TS10 3SB. Contacts: Geoff Reynolds 01642 478229 or Martin Snowdon 01287 622504.

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The Muses of Jim

Saltburn Allotments Association Autumn is spent busy clearing and preparing for next year. Depending on how you garden, either cover with compost, leaf mould or manure in a layer several inches thick on the surface for next year if you are no dig, or turn over soil for winter after your crops have been cleared away. If you cover you will be protecting the surface of the soil feeding it and suppressing any weed seeds underneath. You could give a small area a try and see how your soil benefits!

Keep picking your crops that are still producing.

Keep tidy to reduce pests!

Check your stored fruit and veg regularly for things that may be going rotten; if you remove quickly it stops the rot spreading.

Plan your crop rotations for next season and have a look through the seed catalogues.

You could plant broad beans, as an early planting is likely to get away quickly when the soil starts to warm up, as long as you can keep the mice off! Plant winter density lettuce, baby leaf Kale, Mizuna and chard to give winter salad, and be prepared to pop on a cover or cloche in case of really bad weather, to protect them.

I have become increasingly uncomfortable about using peat and have been looking at peat free alternatives to use for potting compost. Peat takes thousands of years to form and we are removing it at an alarming rate! It may be cheap to buy but the cost to the environment could be huge as digging out the peat ravages the countryside, removing areas of valuable habitat, and it also releases carbon, something we already have too much of in the atmosphere! It is estimated that between 5-10% of all peat habitat in the UK is all that remains pristine! The rest is degraded or just completely gone. It is time to make a change to the growing medium we use so much of! There are a lot of different options out there and they vary widely in cost.

I have used a more expensive option this year from Dalesfoot but it is really nice to use and provides a season long fertilizer for crops. I have had a really good crop from tomatoes and squash which I have used it for and I will definitely be using it again. I’m looking in to other options too. The association is planning to stock a peat free option this year ourselves! We have found one at a fairly reasonable price and hope you will give it a try. Do try making your own compost and collecting leaves to make leaf mould! It costs nothing but a little time and will help with soil conditioning.

As the main growing season comes to an end I like to look at what I have grown successfully and any failures and see if I can find anything new to try! Time to plan for next year, which is a task to ease the dark nights and get us through to spring.

Julia

Another interesting period – my past has come back to bite me on the bum! The thesis I did whilst at college (Middleton St George) has surfaced and I have been persuaded to finally have it published. I have changed the title of it from The History of Saltburn to One Man’s View of Saltburn. There is work needing to be done on it though. I have to acquire a front piece – a bit about me which I have written (and which could have filled the whole book) and then I have to do a final chapter explaining the changes in Saltburn between now and 1977 when I wrote it and to correct any errors. As expected, Spud is completely unmoved by this panic and is showing no sympathy or interest at all.

I have played a trick on my youngest and most gullible daughter by telling her I was getting married next month and she immediately returned my text and lo and behold she turned up unexpectedly (or should that be expectedly?) the following weekend saying that the rugby had been cancelled. Unfortunately I hadn’t time to photoshop a suitable bride looking lovingly at me. But I did tell my number 2 daughter (who is Vicki –and the youngest is Lisa - they do have names in case you ever wondered!) that it was a joke just in case Lisa decided to kill me.

I am delighted to say that the work of the Three Valley Group is progressing nicely with some exciting plans for the future of the Three Valleys and please, please attend their next public meeting – I can’t remember when it is because I am old but it will be well publicised. Please come and listen and then add your comments and views. It is the most exciting thing in Saltburn since they delayed the opening of the pier because the price of iron had gone up.

The 5th October would have been my 56th wedding anniversary (and Betty’s of course). I spent the day quietly at home and have just now found a photograph, which had fallen down the side of my desk, of Betty and I at the refurbishment of the pier which I think was taken in 2002, but I can’t remember exactly because I am old! I really must do more cleaning! The refurbishment of the pier was also due to the people of Saltburn who marshalled behind the late Norman Bainbridge to obtain a lottery grant. If my memory serves me correctly this is one of the few heritage lottery grants awarded to this area. But I could be wrong, as I often am according to my children.

Things to look forward to – my 79th birthday in December and a trip to see the treasures of Tutenkhamun (forgive the spelling if it is not right – it is a long time since I met him) with Vicki and Megan. I was in London the last time there was an exhibition of treasures from his tomb – on the way to a camping trip to the Isle of Wight, and then the following week I am in London again for NALC’s AGM (National Association of Local Councils).

I represent the Cleveland Association and have done for a number of years. And then it’s Christmas and I have been working on my birthday and Christmas list as that way I am more likely to get what I want rather than what the girls think I need!

Jim Wingham 49

The Saltburn Crossword no 221 set by Dinosaur Across 1 Essential nutrients shy boar crated for sorting (13) 8 Essential nutrients created mints via redistribution (8) 9 Reptile hiding back in plan augite mineral (6) 11 What 7 Down becomes when it rots in a heap! (7) 13 Saltburn’s cliff lift is one Cu nail fur grows about (9) 14 Japanese art I’m a Giro away from backing (7) 15 Jump to a beer ingredient of growth operation (3) 16 To wheel heavily, clumsily or slowly runt led there (7) 18 The mountain ash makes arrow, teen throws (5, 4) 19 Uncomfortable squawk, warding off concealment (7) 25 Slowly infuse by drops provided by pains till revealed (6) 26 Saltburn’s former maternity home ended church dignitary by the sound of it (8) 27 Essential nutrients are minerals found in small quantities (5, 8)

Down

Name___________________________________ Address_________________________________ ________________________________________ Telephone_______________________________

1 White sparkling wine produced by Blanca Valley (4) 2 Many happy ones for the leftovers? (7) 3 Cheveux can be raised or cut (4) 4 Food on a plate? (4) 5 The acid part of 17 Down dissolves main zero (5) 6 Provide with pique of interest? (5) 7 Essential nutrient for healthy bowels, Bert in flap disarray (5, 5) 10 Egg-laying spiny anteater disturbing The Chine ad (7) 11 Harvest or cut 3 Down? (4) 12 Posting gin drunk after Liam’s disorderly conduct (7) 13 ‘Essential nutrients’ said catty F before falling apart (5, 5) 15 Group of animals with an instinct? (4) 17 Essential nutrient initially partly roasted or then enriched in nectar (7) 20 Essential nutrient provided here by Northumbrian (5) 21 Object of historical interest part spare license (5) 22 Essential nutrient for well-being, perhaps, disturbing vole (4) 23 Only some remain (4) 24 Clutter where the officers eat? (4)

Solution to Crossword no 220

The winner of last month’s crossword was Linda Davis of Hanover House, Saltburn.

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Send your completed crossword to: Saltburn Crossword no 221, c/o Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, TS12 1AQ

by Friday, 15th November 2019. First correct solution out of the bag wins a £10 voucher kindly donated by Tim and Sheila of Real Meals.

www.qalandars.co.uk 51

£35.00

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