Talk of the Town October 2017

EDITION 196

CIRCULATION 4,600

OCTOBER 2017

SALTBURN’S FREE MONTHLY MAGAZINE www.tottsaltburn.co.uk

2

SALTBURN’S TOWN TALK Letter from the Editor Everywhere I look there is plastic. It litters the pavements as to learn that there is now plastic deliberately put in to tea bags. bottles and wrappers and it seems like very little can be It’s polypropylene and it’s used to heat-seal the two halves of bought that isn’t wrapped in it. Not only is our food packaged the teabag together. What was once a perfectly biodegradable in it (when bought from supermarkets) it’s actually in our product always recommended for compost heaps now food. We can expect that drinks in plastic bottles are of course contaminates the soil. The tea bag makers say it is an ‘industry going to contain chemicals dissolved from the packaging but wide practice’. Even the organic and fair-trade teas use it. The it’s shocking to realise that plastic has been eaten by fish and fine words on their packaging about respect for people and the shellfish in the sea and has now become incorporated into our environment are clearly meaningless. I have dusted down the own bodies as a result. I am told that the amount of plastic old tea pot from a shelf in the kitchen and returned to using waste in the world is the size of Argentina and getting bigger loose leaf tea. It’s cheaper and better than tea bags. I won’t use all the time. This is complete madness and international tea bags again until the tea industry comes to its senses and legislation must be passed to stop it. The industries that profit stops polluting the nation’s favourite drink. Love, Ian from plastic are not going to stop voluntarily, as we saw with Send letters, adverts and contributions for the next issue (by the supermarket carrier bag scandal. Recently I was appalled Friday, 20th October 2017) to: The Editor, Talk of the Craft Club Busy Fingers: 2nd and 4th Thursday of each Town c/o Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, month, 1.30 till 3.30pm in the Coffee Room, Saltburn Saltburn, Cleveland, TS12 1AQ. Telephone: 01287 623903 Community Centre. (or email: talkofthetownsaltburn@gmail.com). Talk of the Redcar Lecture Society: The opening Meeting of the Redcar Town has a website: www.tottsaltburn.co.uk and the Lecture Society will take place on Tuesday, 10th October - Friends of Talk of the Town can be found on Facebook. slightly later than usual. The venue is unchanged and meetings continue to be held at the Redcar East Community Saltburn Farmers’ Market: The ever-popular Market adds to Centre on Durham Road, Redcar starting at 2-15pm. For our the Saturday morning buzz around the town, with more than 40 opening Meeting we are delighted to welcome Graeme stalls brimming with good local food on Saturday, 14th Aldous who will Visually Present ‘Sir Tony Robinson Talks October. See our story on page 47, and see Saltburn Farmers’ like Me’. A fortnight later on Tuesday, 24th October, David Market on facebook for more info.

Rodway will take us to ‘The Isle of Mull’. Membership for Christmas Tree Exhibition: Saltburn WI are hosting a the complete Season is unchanged at £20 and Visitors are Christmas Tree Exhibition in Emmanuel Church between 2nd16th December 2017. Decorate your own tree with a theme of very welcome at each presentation for £2.50.

The Guisborough and District Branch of the your own choice. If your group, organisation or business Saltburn Studios Artists: Embroiderers’ Guild are holding their monthly meeting on would like to take part contact us at saltburnwi@outlook.com Saturday, 4th November in Sunnyfield House, Westgate, for more details and to confirm your interest.

Guisborough. TS14 6BA at 2pm. Our guest speaker is WI Report: After our August break, our September meeting Maggie Smith and her subject is The Joys of Hand Stitching. was very lively in more ways than one! There was a buzz of Visitors are welcome whether non-stitchers, beginners conversation as everyone caught up with friends before the or more experienced stitchers. The car park behind Belmont meeting began. After the business part of the meeting when we House (council offices) is free on Saturday. Contact telephone welcomed three new members, we were entertained by Border Morris, an energetic group of Morris dancers who after dancing number 01642 314860.

Emmanuel Church Hall Table Top and Collectors’ Sale: for us to enjoy were then brave enough to invite members to The next sales are on Saturdays 7th and 21st October and then join in. The six volunteers were taught a complete dance. The 4th and 18th November. We are still up and running evening was finished with soup and a bun, much appreciated regardless of some strange rumours that we aren’t here and enjoyed by all.

We are already in full swing of our round of monthly anymore! We are definitely here and will always be! In fact we have a lot of new stall holders and anyone who would like activities. Having already had our craft and masterclass to join us or just to have a clear out can contact Denise on the sessions, a group of us are off to see the seated man on the number below. What a good start to the new year we had Moors above Castletown tomorrow. Still to come later in the when a lot of people rang for a table so they could have a month are flowers, book club and supper club. Plus a day out clear out! We are also doing our usual lunches and all day shopping at the end of the month.

Details of all our activities can be found on our website breakfast, fresh home baked cake, pies and scones. Home made refreshments and light lunches are on sale all day. www.saltburnbytheseawi.wordpress.co.uk or you can follow us FREE ENTRANCE and a warm welcome to everyone. With on Facebook. Our next meeting is on Thursday, 12th October at over 26 stall holders, selling lots of bric-a-brac, books, toys, 7.15pm in the upstairs room of the Methodist church Hall on baby goods, and all sorts of collectables, there is something Milton Street. If you would like to join us, do come along, and for everyone. If anyone would like to book a table please you can be sure of a warm and friendly welcome.

Diane Falla contact Denise Marshall on 07929 589538.

Cover Illustration: Marine View from Huntcliff by Heather Lofthouse Disclaimer: Talk of the Town tries to make sure the articles and announcements made on its pages are accurate, but views expressed in letters and articles printed in Talk of the Town are not necessarily those of the editor. Any offers in adverts included in Talk of the Town are made by the advertisers; details should be confirmed with them. Always confirm event details with the organisers, in case of alteration or error. Talk of the Town is printed by DC (Yorkshire) Print, Unit 34a, Lidgate Crescent, Langthwaite Business Park, South Kirkby, West Yorkshire, WF9 3NR. 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.)

3

Saltburn-by-the-Sea Moments in Time

Above: Saltburn Saleroom circa 1999. Below left: “Little Imps� of Cambridge Street taken 1969 by the late Madge Carrick before the Church Hall was built.

Above right: Two horse riders after crossing over the Halfpenny Bridge photographed by the late Madge Carrick 1968.

Windsor Road from railway 1987.

4

Cath and Tony Lynn

Same chef and owner for over 6 years

SALTBURN METHODIST CHURCH MILTON STREET, SALTBURN. 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.

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 1st Sat. Library 11-12 Cllr. Craig Hannaway 2nd Sat. Library 11-12 Cllr. Philip Thomson 3rd Sat. Outside Sainsbury’s Cllr. Stuart Smith 9.30-10.30 and 11.30-12.15 4th Sat. Library 11-12 All Councillors Cllr. Hannaway: 07787 880613. Cllr. Smith: 07557 540628.

Cllr. Thomson: 01287 624883.

Su n

p.m.

Come to us for worship On Sunday at 10.45am & 6pm Wednesday at 10am Bring the children to Sunday school at 10.45am Prayer meeting Tuesday at 1.30PM

WE ARE OPEN - 10am - 12 noon MONDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY. A quiet space with a listening ear, Or just call in for tea or coffee.

MID WEEK MEETINGS MONDAY LADIES MEETING at 8pm.

TUESDAY KNIT & NATTER at 2pm.

THURSDAY (fortnightly) LADIES MEETING 2.30pm

TUESDAY & THURSDAY MUMS & TODDLERS at 10am.

COFFEE MORNINGS Wednesday 10am - 11.45.

And Saturday 10am - 12 noon.

First TUESDAY OF THE MONTH Soup & Bun lunch at 12.30pm.

5

Once Upon a Time in the Wapentake So… last month I promised I would change the subject, but it seems that I left too much unsaid at the end of that last article, and I have been asked by my readers (well, some of them, actually one of them) for clarification. Well, all right then.

What’s wrong with the Free Market, Neo-Liberal Ideology that’s been all the rage for the last forty years?

Many things, but one in particular: the insistence that the only thing that makes us humans tick is money. We buy only where prices are low, and sell things (including our labour) for the highest price we can get. It seems rational enough but imagine… imagine finding a perfect market of the kind economists dream of, let’s say twenty stalls, all in a row, all selling cheeses, of pretty much the same kind.

There are more cheeses than customers, so one bright spark (at number 17) is selling cheese at less than the usual price, and everyone, including you will go there to buy. Except they won’t, and you won’t.

One customer will go to No 5, because they always do, and another will go to No 9 because their cheese, to them, is just that much tastier, and one will go to No 14 because she’s got such a nice smile, and you’ll go to No 1 because you’re in a hurry and it’s the first stall you come to. And that’s in an ideal world, on an ideal market, a thing you are as likely to encounter in the High Street as a unicorn or a mermaid.

In the real world, when we buy a house, do we buy the one that’s cheapest, or the one that wraps itself around you as soon as you walk in the door and tells you ‘welcome home’? When you get a job do you choose the one that pays the most money, or the one that seems worthwhile, the one where your talent can be best used, the one where the bosses are rumoured to treat their staff like human beings?

Yes, some sad people who are so lacking in self-esteem that they can measure their worth only by their wealth may opt for the money; I, with my rosy view of human nature think most would opt for the worthwhile job. And, so rosyspectacled am I that I think many people do their very best work for next to nothing: volunteers serving the community, hobbyists at their work bench, easel, or potter’s wheel (plenty of them in Saltburn). Not to mention the RNLI. Are there reasons why a view of humanity’s motivations so one-dimensional became acceptable for so long? One reason might be that it is so much easier to reduce everything to numbers that can be fed into a computer, and money is numbers. (“The things that matter can’t be counted, so the things that can be counted will come to be the only things that matter”.) And, for any of our leaders who didn’t feel like trying too hard, it was an easy cop-out to leave all the big decisions to the anonymous, impersonal Market. As I said before: ‘Not me, guv.’

Anyway, I’ve bored you long enough, so on to this month’s main topic: Yorkshire. Is it possible that one day Yorkshire might have some control over its own destiny, if not actual independence, in the way that Scotland or Wales have managed to get?

The first problem I can see is how Yorkshire defines 6

itself. By this I mean that the Scots and the Welsh have never thought of themselves as English. There were times in the past when some would accept the label ‘North Briton’ or ‘West Briton’. But never English. By contrast Yorkshire folk not only think of themselves as English, but as the only true English, in the sense that the language is spoken properly only between the Humber and the Tees, between the Pennines and the North Sea. And, of course, a proper England cricket team consists of three or four Yorkshire Men (at least), one of whom should be the Captain, and a couple from neighbouring counties, (for even the most prejudiced has to admit that County Durham has produced some fine players in recent years) and then some Southerners to make up the numbers.

Where would the traditional English Sunday Dinner be without Yorkshire puddings, and, I would argue, where would a Full English Breakfast be without Doreen’s Black Pudding?

And yet there is a distinct Yorkshire identity, shown in the famous Yorkshire modesty: they know they are the best people in the world living in the finest country in the world, so feel no need to go round boasting about it.

When trying to find this identity, I realise I must demolish a certain myth: that of the White Rose. At school (in Cheshire, so neutral) I was told a Fairy Story of how the Wars of the Roses began with the Ladies of Lancaster and York going together into the rose garden and some picking red roses, and some white. A complete invention, given that they weren’t called the Wars of the Roses until the 19th Century, and nobody went into battle with flowers on their banners until the Welsh Prince, Henry Tudor, soon to be Henry VII, fought beneath a standard depicting a pinkish sort of rose. And the House of Lancaster owed much of their wealth to their lands in Yorkshire, whilst the House of York had its strongest support in Kent.

The earliest date where I can find a connection between Yorkshire and its rose is August 1st, 1743: the battle of Dettingen, a famous victory over the French for the British and their allies. Before the battle the English regiments gathered red roses and wore them in their hats, except the Yorkshire contingents that picked white roses.

(This is why the anniversary of the battle is now officially Yorkshire Day.) But why? Were they just being awkward? Or was there any significance to what they were doing? I think there might have been. Following Henry VII’s victory, the Tudor Rose became increasingly one of the symbols of the English monarchy, and increasingly red. By the time of Dettingen there were rival royal families, the Protestant Hanoverians whose descendants still sit on the throne, and the Kings in exile, the Catholic Stuarts, whose supporters chose to show their difference by wearing white roses. Is this why the Yorkshiremen wore white? If so, an extraordinary thing to do. The French they were about to fight supported and sheltered the Stuarts. King George II, whose red rose they rejected, was about to lead them into battle in person, the last English King to do such a thing. As some would say, “Nowt so queer as folk.”

Tim Beswick

Real Meals Purveyors of Fine Foods

Come to Real Meals for a Warm Welcome and a Wonderful Selection of Cheese For more details contact: REAL MEALS, 25 MILTON STREET, SALTBURN, Tel: 01287 622266.

New email address: realmeals.uk@gmail.com

New Website: www.real-meals.co.uk

Councillors’ Column Whilst there is a drive to increase economic activity in the Borough through promoting and encouraging tourism development this needs to be considered in the context of community facilities and resident amenities.

Those who remember the halcyon days of Victorian Weeks will recall the benefits to the economy in a rapidly declining town. The success of those weeks depended primarily on the participation of townsfolk, without which the benefits and the memories would not have been engendered.

Today the influx of visitors has a balance to achieve in bringing revenue to sustain and allow considered expansion of existing businesses, bringing income to a struggling treasury, challenged through reduced business rates chargeable to industry and commerce.

Some positive discussions are being conducted.

Movement towards a permanent Park & Ride provision is underway offering a reasonable alternative to ‘in town’ parking but still allowing enjoyment of all the facilities afforded both ‘above’ and ‘below’. Further investment in the infrastructure of the town is planned with increased and better use of the highway for vehicle parking. This will not involve any suggestion of on-street charging. The proposed Coach Park, together with the ‘drop off’ and ‘collection’ point, will reduce the incidence of coach parking which takes up seven to eight vehicle spaces. White lining to designate individual car parking spaces is being considered but meeting with technical resistance so far.

Reams of ideas have been delivered to the highways team to improve the use of the limited tarmac that exists.

Even with the implementation of any of these measures residents will still be faced with increased traffic volume, sometimes too fast moving, and the ever extending seasonal visitations as our climate reconsiders its direction.

New developments are continually considered, each bringing demands upon infrastructure and resident enjoyment. Recent proposals for larger development have raised eyebrows and, understandably, some blood pressure levels. All developments require the utmost scrutiny.

One opportunity that affords such interrogation is the Saltburn Neighbourhood Action Partnership meeting. This is an open forum wherein all residents and those who work in the town can have a platform to air their views and propose motions and challenge perceived wisdom. The next meeting is on Wednesday, 11th at 6pm in the Library. All are welcome, be they from the barracks, the bar, the soap box or the quietude of the domestic dwelling.

Good news. For passengers who use the Cliff Lift so regularly that they seem sometimes to be part of the service team, a seasonal ticket is to be introduced. At least one Marine pathway that was formally closed to the public a decade ago may be reopened if funding can be found to reinstate it. As part of the wider Borough regeneration, the town will be eligible for a million pound townscape programme of works. Residents will be invited to offer ideas on how this money could best benefit the town.

Albion Terrace residents, adjoining Greta Street, might be forgiven for questioning highway maintenance priorities, but Christmas is coming.

Philip Thomson 7

Saltburn Beachwatch New Products 2 The first item of litter on the Marine Conservation Society’s (MCS) survey form which Saltburn Beachwatch uses is the plastic four or six pack rings/yokes used for drinks containers. Worldwide as many as 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals and sea turtles die each year by getting trapped in these discarded rings.

Cutting the rings does not guarantee the animals’ safety, because turtles and other sea creatures often die through eating the plastic debris as it floats through the ocean.

Whilst alternatives to traditional ring packaging exists (100% recycled plastic can carriers and cardboard holders) they do not reduce the risk of entanglement or being ingested.

A micro-brewery in Florida has designed an edible (fish love it!) 100% biodegradable beer can ring made from wheat and barley waste—natural by-products of the beer making process. This is a pragmatic solution, reusing waste from the brewing process, and at the same time the company hopes they can help combat the problem of ocean plastic pollution. If this packaging does get into the ocean it starts to disintegrate within 2 hours, it can be eaten by all sea creatures and if it ends up on the beach will fully degrade after 3 months. However, caution is still needed as there is very little research into the long term effects of marine life swallowing wheat and barley products. A spokesman for the company said that he “believed consumers were willing to pay more for these edible beer can rings instead of the dangerous predecessor but if craft brewers and large beer companies implement this technology, manufacturing costs will drop and make it more competitive.”

In the UK environmental activists are lobbying major supermarkets to urge them to only offer food packaged in biodegradable materials. People are realising that plastic is not disposable and is harming the planet.

There now exist alternatives to plastic food packaging including hot and cold drinks containers/cups and general food packaging. Products made from Bagasse, which is re-cycled from sugarcane, contains less embodied carbon than polystyrene. Using Bagasse, international companies like Vegware who operate globally are providing products for the food and catering industry including street food wraps, cups and take away containers. These eco-catering disposables are now used in 50% of British Universities, corporate restaurants and artisan cafes all over the UK. Using this fully compostable packaging Cambridge University catering service saves per month 1.5 tonnes of carbon, 710 kilos of virgin materials and they compost 1.5 tonnes of used packaging.

At the present time many eco products are more expensive than plastic ones. However, under a policy of “the polluter pays” maybe the government should do something to help companies who make “greener” packaging by imposing a tax on packaging which is not biodegradable? Manufacturers should be made accountable for the financial clean up costs to governments (ie currently paid by you, the taxpayer) for the clean-up and disposal of plastic waste.

Roy Smith 8

MILES, HUTCHINSON & LITHGOW SOLICITORS CONVEYANCING DOMESTIC AND COMMERCIAL LEASING (FREE WRITTEN QUOTATIONS ON REQUEST) MATRIMONIAL MATTERS CIVIL - CRIMINAL LITIGATION

CHILD CARE IMMIGRATION PROBATE & WILLS POWERS OF ATTORNEY LEGAL AID PRACTICE

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

Help! Your local Playgroup needs you!

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

01287 624575

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

Christina Simpson Bespoke Furniture, Joinery Fully Qualified Experienced, Local Carpenter/Joiner 1st, 2nd Fix Doors, Flooring, Skirting, Loft Conversions Hand-Made Kitchens/Bedrooms, Painted Furniture Paintings Commissioned

No Job Too Small

Call 07773 091727 Email: simpsonc999@gmail.com

Saltburn 500 Club Congratulations go to J Suscens, who won the £100 First Prize in the Saltburn 500 Club draw. We also pay out a second prize of £50, third prize of £25 and fourth prize of £10. We have managed to sustain this level despite the dwindling number of members in the Club. However, recent months have shown a slight increase in membership and we are hoping that this trend will continue.

Saturday, 14th October is the final 2017 table-top sale, in the Community Centre, for raising monies towards the cost of the Christmas lights and lighting-up parade. This will be the fourth event of the year and we have managed to raise approximately one quarter of the monies we need. You will shortly be seeing me trudging around the businesses in the town with my begging cap and, of course, Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council always make a generous contribution towards events. It is fair to say that, without the contribution from the Parish Council and businesses, the town would be a little darker around Christmas. Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council have managed to make a donation towards the cost even though they are hit with austerity measures.

This year, we are looking to hold the biggest procession we have ever held in Saltburn which will include some surprises for the children (and also the parents). The lighting-up will take place at 5.30pm on Saturday, 2nd December and the aim is to have bands playing Christmas music that day and every other Saturday up to Christmas. I am in the process of negotiating some funding which will enable me to have all of the town lit up with LED lights. It has been a long, hard slog but I believe that we have finally raised sufficient funding to achieve this. However, the fundraising for the Christmas lights is a bit like painting the Severn Bridge.

The large motif, which adorns the front of the portico, has had to be sent away for refurbishment as it was showing signs of a little metal fatigue. I am taking the pessimistic view that this will herald the start of other motifs following suit.

The lights will be brought out from storage on 6th & 7th of November and the Christmas trees will be put up on 24th November. If you feel able to volunteer your help with this, please contact me on the email address below, or, by leaving a note in the library marked for my attention.

South Bank Band play the final concert of the season on Sunday, 1st October and I would like to thank those people who were involved in the setting up and dismantling of seating, collecting donations and organising the performances. The show could not go on without these people. Finally, I would like to thank all of the bands for providing us with brilliant music throughout the summer season.

East Cleveland Arthritis Care Group Do you have arthritis or another condition which affects your ability to socialise? T.O.T.R.A.S. was a self help group which used to meet at Redcar Community Hospital, but we no longer do so. We have reformed as East Cleveland Arthritis Care Group, and we cordially invite new members to join us for the opportunity to socialise, enjoy the chance to explore mindfulness, quizzes, crafts and activity ideas from members. Meetings take place at Lingdale Village Hall on the 3rd Tuesday of the month between 12noon and 2pm. There will be tea, coffee and biscuits. Meeting 20th October. Contact Anne Lake on 01287 650671 for further information.

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

Trevor Welburn Secretary, Saltburn 500 Club/Friends of Saltburn trevor.welburn@btinternet.com 9

Friday Friends

Saltburn Evangelical Church

We are an inclusive - all abilities welcomed - friendship group, based in Saltburn, for people of all abilities over 18. We are a friendly group and welcome new members.

The Friday Friends Annual Sponsored Walk raised an amazing £567.40p - many thanks to all those who sponsored us and all of us who walked. Funds raised will help us to stay open as we are run by volunteers and are non-profit making.

Friday Friends in October 6th - Table tennis and games morning, bingo. The afternoon is making a woolly octopus - no home should be without one!

13th - A lovely morning of music with Ian on guitar singalong to old favourites from the 50s/60s/70s. A painting challenge - paint a picture using only the three primary colours of red, blue and yellow.

20th - A morning of computer fun at Destinations Cafe, Saltburn (in the centre of Saltburn). Meet at the hall at 10/at the cafe at 10.20 for a 10.30 start. Thank you to Paul Davis from Destinations for this treat. Back to the hall for making origami paper boxes.

27th - A morning at Saltburn Bowls club with Bowling Bob, lunch if pre-ordered. Then a spooky session with Halloween tissue paper ghosts.

We meet at Emmanuel Church Hall on Fridays.

Macnay St, Saltburn. Activities 10-12.30. Arts and Craft

by Caroline 1-4.00pm. First taster session is free then £2.50 a session or £4 all day to help cover costs. None profit making and run by hardworking volunteers. Carers are always free.

For more info please contact 07833 895 501 (or Thefridayfriends@outlook.com).

Anjee Charman-Clark, chairperson

“Have I got news for you?” Well, have you? What sort?

Alternative facts? Fake news? Pick ‘n’ mix news, probably! There’s so much happening out there that our media news editors have enormous power over which bits make it into the papers or TV bulletins. For instance: Did they tell you about the people in North Korea hung on a cross over a fire, crushed under a steamroller, herded off bridges and trampled under-foot?

Did they tell you about the Eritrean 8-year-old girl locked up with her family long term in a filthy lice-infested shipping container, sweltering by day, freezing by night?

Did they tell you about Howard Lam in China, abducted, detained and tortured by government agents as a warning not to send a signed photo of footballer Lionel Messi to Liu Xia, the widow of Nobel Laureate and activist Liu Xiaobo, who died in Chinese custody on 13th July.

They shot 29 staples into the skin on his legs, in the shape of crosses, telling him it was because he was a Christian. And that’s what drives the abuse in North Korea, Eritrea and many other countries. It goes on daily, and it’s largely unreported in Western media.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (among other organisations) campaigns tirelessly for persecuted minorities. Not just Christians: it took up the cause of the Rohingya people of Myanmar long before our media took any notice. But the truth is that across the globe it is Christians who are most likely to be abused, imprisoned or slaughtered for their beliefs.

29th October – 5th November is Suffering Church Action Week. We are marking this with a special event: SATURDAY 4TH NOVEMBER, 11 AM at 27 GARNET STREET, SALTBURN. (Hosted by Robert and Christina Dring. Refreshments provided.)

You are welcome to join us, either to pray (if you do), reflect or simply learn more of the news the media didn’t have for you!

Saltburn Photographic Society Wednesday 11th October SPS member Trevor Shelley gives a display of his photography.

Wednesday 18th October David Stout, a muchtravelled photographer, with “By the Mekong River”.

Wednesday 25th October The Moore Trophy Competition, short Audio-Visual sets. Results of Harry Brittain Trophy.

Wednesday 1st November Northern Counties Photographic Federation Portfolio of the best work from 50 Northern County Clubs.

Members’ photographs are displayed in Saltburn Library changed monthly.

Practical nights will be held frequently, more details available from contact number or web site.

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 web site www.saltburnphotographicsociety.co.uk or contact Tony Lynn 01287 622519.

10

SALTBURN EVANGELICAL CHURCH Leven Street, Saltburn Seeking to be more like Jesus and sharing His love with those around us.

"We love Him because He first loved us."

(1 John 3:19) Please join us as we gather to worship and learn more about Jesus, to build and strengthen our faith, and encourage one another to grow more like Him. We meet each Sunday at 10.30am and 6.00pm.

11

Saltburn in Bloom Here we are midway through September (at the time of writing) and there is a definite autumnal feel. The hanging baskets have looked fantastic throughout the summer and we must thank Rainbow Nurseries for the planting and Simon and Lynn our waterers for doing such a marvellous job for us this year. Many residents and visitors positively commented about them. A lady who sponsored a basket at the Methodist Church told me how, when she heard that we were discontinuing sponsor signs on hanging baskets because of the workload involved, decided to be positive about it. She went to look at the hanging baskets in that location, picked the best, deciding that was the one in memory of her husband. Every time she passed she felt the pleasure of her memories. She told me this with such a smile on her face that I felt proud of what we do and smiled too. Thanks to her!

I heard earlier in the summer about a complaint about the lack of colour in the centre of Darlington, having a detrimental effect on the feel of the town, and it made me think how lucky Saltburn is to have a group of volunteers who are prepared to give up their time to add colour through floral displays in the summer months. Of course, we also need the financial support of residents, businesses and the Parish Council for this to continue and we do appreciate all the help that we can get.

The hanging baskets took a battering in the strong winds of Storm Aileen and were taken down on September 19th by volunteers with the help of Councillor Smith, the Parish Warden and Buoygues, to whom we are very grateful. Plants and compost were salvaged for use around the town.

The hanging baskets have been put to bed in the Zetland, but the volunteers carry on their work throughout the year. Gardening on a Wednesday morning, 9.30 – 11.30, will continue as long as the weather permits, up to December. Attendance has been fantastic lately and it means that we can make such a difference in a short time. If you would like to join this friendly group please get in touch (by email lyndaparkes4@gmail.com). There is no obligation to come every week or to stay for the full 2 hours. People work at their own level and enjoy the chat and coffee too! We would certainly welcome you.

Lynda Parkes (Chair)

Craft Magic Looking for that special gift, something different and handmade? Then you have come to the right place. Craft Magic stock unique handmade goods and some quirky new goods.

Craft Magic, 4 Dundas Street West, Saltburn.

Open Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm Closed Wednesday and Sunday 12

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.

The property consists of a fully fitted and equipped kitchen, spacious and well furnished lounge overlooking the garden (which is for your personal use), and a double bed with en-suite bathroom.

WiFi access Prices - ÂŁ40.00 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)

Andy Pollard

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.

Christmas Toc H Appeal This Christmas Saltburn Toc H will be sending ‘well wishing’ Christmas cards and letters to our soldiers who don’t receive cards or gifts from home.

We know of some charities who are making up toiletries, gift parcels and knitting 4-inch stockings to be filled with sweets as gifts. We would like to add to these by sending cards and letters.

If you would like to help please drop in your cards, letters etc at Saltburn Toc H on Monday afternoons when we are open for refreshments etc or you can take them to Saltburn library on a Friday afternoon where you will find the Building Bridges team serving Teas and they will pass them on for you.

Thank you for this little gift of kindness which can mean so much. May we be the first to wish you a very merry & peaceful Christmas.

Mark, Maria and Joyce Building Bridges Day Service Toc H Saltburn

COMPLETE PROPERTY MANAGING SERVICES A PERSONAL TOUCH

CHRISTINE HACKNEY PROPERTY MANAGER (OVER 10 YEARS EXPERIENCE) 28 HAMBLETON AVENUE REDCAR, CLEVELAND

07881556145

chrishackney@ntlworld.com

Let me take the hassle out of renting your property.

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 Gregory Sills BEng (Hons) CEng MIStructE FGS

t: 01287 624644 m: 07960 967865 www.scurator.co.uk info@scurator.co.uk www.beamdesignservice.co.uk 13

The First Howzat Music Festival Following several years producing the Grand Ol’ Oprey of Saltburn (as a result of which an estimated £25,000 was raised for a number of local charities) Saltburn Rotary Club decided that this year there should be a change of direction.

Consequently, in partnership with Saltburn Blues Club and Saltburn Cricket, Bowls & Tennis Club the town’s first Howzat Music Festival was born: a charity event, with funds going to our vitally important regional facility, the Great North Air Ambulance Service.

Planning the event utilised an ideal allweather venue (the Indoor Nets Hall at The Cricket Club), the fund-raising knowhow of Rotary and the live entertainment expertise of the Blues Club, which ultimately proved a winning combination.

Seven superb and hugely popular acts performed throughout the afternoon and evening to an audience of approaching 200 who took full advantage of the superb hospitality provided by the members of the Cricket, Bowls, Tennis & Social sections.

So, after months of hard work by individual and collective raffle tickets selling and with substantial sponsorship from Saltburn Blues Club, Saltburn Business Community, Cricket Bowls, Tennis & Social Club and a partial pound for pound match funding by Barclays Bank (arranged by Allan Whiley) a total of around £4000 is expected to be raised for the Great North Air Ambulance Service.

Also, because of food & drinks sales on the day by the Cricket, Bowls & Tennis Club a further £1000 was raised to reinvest into maintaining the town’s excellent sporting facilities.

Again, a huge thank you to everyone who supported us. Bands have already been booked for next year (and you can follow our progress at www.howzatmusicfestival.co.uk).

0726 0280 0885 1586 1506 0409 0743 0740 0748 1036

Winning Raffle Tickets Mike Wood £200 Mark Smith £15 M&S Voucher Rodmell £20 Wilko Voucher Shirley Ridsdale £100 Karin Clarke Pamper Basket Marin Green Picture Print Andy Pollard Beauty Bag David Thorne Bottle of Whisky Carla Gallon Spa Set Mike Sellars £30 M&S Voucher

Photographs show Rotary President John Wilby with Blues Club (and Rotarian) Harry Simpson, proposing a vote of thanks and. the audience enjoying two of the bands. Many more on Saltburn Rotary Clubs Facebook Page. Article by Howzat Chairman Dave Sadler 14

Rowan and friends present ‘A Concert4Crawford’ October 14th, at Saltburn Community Theatre, sees the occasion of a very special concert to celebrate family, friendship and music-making, in memory of Crawford Hall, ex-Band Sergeant Major, Welsh Guards, inspirational music teacher and member of several brass bands and ensembles around the North-east.

Masterminding this musical treat is his niece, Rowan Pierce, whose career has been followed by many in Saltburn, since her early appearances on the Saltburn stage for the ’53 Drama Group and the Music Festival.

Having completed her studies at the Royal College of Music she is now appearing on concert platforms throughout Europe, and August this year saw her debut at the BBC Proms. Her time at the RCM culminated in the honour of being awarded the President’s Award (for outstanding contribution to music) by none other than the President himself – HRH the Prince of Wales.

Rowan has gathered together a host of talented musicians, many of whom are from this area and have fond memories of Crawford. Though engaged in their own professional careers, they were delighted to be able to contribute to this Gala Concert. A variety of musical genres will be featured, reflecting Crawford’s eclectic musical tastes – from opera to jazz, folk songs to musicals - and there will also be an opportunity for audience participation! All monies raised will go to supporting the work of Teesside Hospice; admission is £20, to include a glass of something sparkling, and there will be a fantastic raffle, with prizes donated by local businesses. If you would like to be present at this unique event, please email

or message susan_pierce@icloud.com or phone her mobile: 07813 769548 or Julie.hall59@btinternet.com, mobile 07809 364173. But hurry: there is likely to be a huge demand for tickets and only 150 spaces available! We would love to see you – so come along and join in with all the fun, for this very worthwhile cause. October 14th, Community Theatre, Doors and Bar 6.45pm, Curtain up 7.30pm.

Halloween Holiday Fun in Gisborough Priory Woodland Gardens The woodland gardens of Gisborough Priory will be full of fun and spooky activities on Sunday, 29th October 2017, between 1pm and 3.30pm. Come along to explore the witch’s den and follow the potion trail before enjoying some tasty treats.

Spend the afternoon enjoying the atmospheric, autumnal woodland gardens where Broomhilda the witch has set up her den. If you dare, explore the den and find out what’s lurking there.

Follow the witch’s potion trail around the woods to discover what goes into the witch’s cauldron. Whisper your very own spell, and see what happens.

Alternatively, make a scary creepy crawly to take home or to add to the many creepy crawlies in the wood.

Throughout the afternoon, stories will be told by the resident Halloween storyteller, so why not settle down for some scary, spooky stories with spells and magic galore.

For adults and children alike there will be tasty treats available to buy, with a range of homemade cakes and warming drinks on offer. All funds raised will go towards the continuing restoration work in the woodland gardens.

Visitors should enter through the Gisborough Priory entrance, next to St Nicholas’s Church, between 1pm to 3.30pm. Then head for the woodland gardens.

Entrance is FREE. 15

SALTBURN CRICKET CLUB Marske Mill Lane, Tel 01287-622761

HOWZAT MUSIC FESTIVAL 3rd September A TREMENDOUS MUSIC DAY RAISED OVER £4,000 for GREAT NORTH AIR AMBULANCE BINGO – Wed 11th & 25th Oct – eyes down 8.00pm CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CRICKET TEAMS Seniors & Juniors have had a great season Best of luck for next year too!

Play FLOODLIT TENNIS all winter – contact us for details Sat 28th October Saltburn Blues Club FRAN McGILLIVRAY & MIKE BURKE with MARTIN FLETCHER (harp) – all ticket night, £10 (10% discount for club members) *Free WiFi in Club* * BIG screen TV showing SKY sports etc * ***FEATURED IN CAMRA GOOD BEER GUIDE!!***

GREAT VENUE for YOUR family events, weddings, parties, funerals & meetings - free use for charity/community groups during normal opening hours.

Now booking Christmas parties Convenient venue, free parking, reasonable bar prices. Contact us to book your event.

Members and non-members welcome.

Facebook saltburncricketbowlsandtennis socialclub PLEASE add us as a friend and check our Facebook page regularly!

SALTBURN BLUES CLUB £4,006 is on its way to The Great North Air Ambulance Service thanks to our first and fabulous HOWZAT Music Festival – the combined efforts of Saltburn Blues Club, The Rotary Club of Saltburn-by-the-Sea and Saltburn Cricket Club. 165 came to the event, enjoying seven excellent acts from 2.00pm – 11.30pm on September 3rd.

The Nets Hall at the Cricket Club was set out, lit up and made a superb venue. Refreshments were served throughout and many willing helpers worked hard to make the festival such a success. My sincere thanks go to all who contributed. The consensus is that we do it all again next year.

To our regular gigs now. There will be two in October. The first, on October 13th at The Earthbeat Centre, Marske Mill Lane, is not a Blues gig. It’s HENRY PRIESTMAN returning by popular demand.

His witty light-hearted banter makes for a great feel-good atmosphere while the lyrics to his songs are insightful and thought-provoking. He was The Christians’ main song writer when he enjoyed great success with that band in the 80s. Henry will be supported by the French-born singer with crystal clear vocals, FLOSSIE MALAVIALLE. Flossie sings a wide range of classic favourites including Jacques Brel’s soul stirring, ‘Ne me quitte pas’.

On the 28th October, back at our usual venue, the Cricket Club, the FRAN MCGILLIVRAY and MIKE BURKE DUO will be joined by guest blues harpist, MARTIN FLETCHER. Sounding at times like a mix of Rory Block and Bonnie Raitt, Fran’s performances are polished, professional and tight. Her warm vocals meld well with the intricate finger picking guitar playing of Mike Burke. This great pairing play a balance of original tracks and covers. There’s a cross-genre element to their music but they never stray far from the blues. Harmonica maestro, Martin, animates every number he plays. He always goes down a storm. Newcomers to the club are very welcome.

Doors 7.30pm. Tickets for both gigs are £10 from Whistlestop Wines, Saltburn, www.yorkshireticketshop.co.uk, www.saltburnbluesclub.co.uk and 07960 935263.

My radio show, Still Got The Blues, is on Zetland FM every Monday 7pm – 10pm, on line, or you can catch up on Mixcloud at a time that suits you (just visit the website, www.zetlandfm.co.uk).

Harry

Saltburn Charity Crafters

01287 624505 16

If you enjoy knitting, crochet, card-making etc please come and join us. We have our monthly gathering on Wednesday, 4th October from 2pm to 4pm in the Coffee Room at Saltburn Community Hall. We can supply you with wool and patterns to get you going and we offer tea, coffee, biscuits and a warm welcome. We look forward to seeing you. For more information please contact Angie on 01287 205153.

Saltburn ’53 present The Phantom of the Opera Saltburn ’53 Drama Group are back after a much needed summer break with their autumn production – The Phantom of the Opera. The tragic love story of the disfigured musician who falls in love with a beautiful opera singer will be familiar to many through the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. This, however, is a very different version, adapted from the original novel by Gaston Leroux by Jenna Warren who also directs the production.

Set in the Paris Opera House in the 1880s, the Phantom is played by well-known local baritone Bill Greenwood who, along with a cast of more than 20, will perform the ‘play with music’ at Saltburn Community Theatre from Wednesday 18th to Saturday 21st October.

Musical director Andrew Pierce has produced a score that includes music from the period from composers such as Offenbach and Mozart and the result is a spectacle of colour, music and drama – with some deliciously comic moments too.

Says Jenna, “As ever, this is a real team effort.

The whole group – from costume and set designers to the musicians and, of course, the actors - have worked incredibly hard on this and we can’t wait to bring a little bit of Paris to our lovely theatre in Saltburn.” Tickets priced £7/£5 (conc) are on sale now from the venue, SPAR Gosnays (and online at www.saltburnarts.co.uk).

17

DOG GROOMING www.saltyseadogsgrooming.co.uk

Kelly - 07523 216363

18

19

20

Landscape History Workshops for East Cleveland The places we live and the nature around us have been shaped by geology, ice and the activities of successive generations since the last ice ages. East Cleveland has a rich history that has left its mark on the landscape from: the roads we use, the location of our villages, features found in the landscape, and the wildlife we see today. To reveal the history of the land the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust and Tees Archaeology will be running a unique series of interactive workshops to explore how the East Cleveland landscape has evolved through time.

These informal and friendly workshops, funded

by National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund, will use practical hands on sessions to explore the shaping of the land and its landscape history. The sessions will include: geology; landscape history through maps, aerial photos and archaeological records; case studies based on local archaeological sites; examination of the effects of successive industries, changing farming practices and consideration of the effects of landscape change on wildlife.

Each workshop will focus on different areas of East Cleveland and use materials and artefacts from specific sites to reveal insights into the landscape at different periods in history from the Jurassic to modern day. They are aimed at anyone who would like to know more about their local history and landscape.

These workshops are likely to be popular. To book a place please email info@teeswildlife.org or call 01287 636382. Tea and coffee will be provided. Bring a packed lunch. All workshops begin at 10:00am and end at 4:00pm. The dates and venues are as follows: Workshop 1: Wednesday, 25th October, Skelton Green Methodist Hall.

Workshop 2: Wednesday, 8th November Loftus Town Hall.

Workshop 3: Wednesday, 22nd November, Margrove Heritage Centre.

A gold coin donation to support the work of the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust would be welcomed.

Photos below are of Skinningrove and Kilton Beck.

21

Cleveland Diving Club

To continue Cleveland Divers’ appreciation of the fascinating lives of some of the marine animals that live beneath the waters of our local coastline, this month’s article applauds the humble Sea Hare (Aplysia punctata). The Sea Hare belongs to the group of marine creatures known as molluscs which also includes sea snails, sea slugs, cuttlefish, octopus and squid. It is easy to see how this creature got its name, as the two antenna -like protrusions (called rhinophores) on its head resemble the ears of a hare, see photos 1 and 2. These protrusions are used to sense a range of substances within the surrounding waters and help to ensure the creature lives in a suitable environment.

In the North Sea this creature tends to be brown in colour but can also be green, dark red or maroon depending on what type of seaweed or rock-covering algae it grazes on.

Although the Sea Hare appears to be soft bodied like the octopus, it does have a much reduced shell hidden within its body, being disguised by two accommodating large flap-like lobes on its back, see photo 3. These large flaps, which are also used by some species for swimming, can be more easily identified in photos 4, 5 and 6 which show a lighter spotted Sea Hare, photographed by one of our members in the warmer waters of the Atlantic, off the coast of Lanzarote.

Unlike the octopus and squid which can be difficult to photograph because they move swiftly, the Sea Hare is a slow moving creature and on occasion is picked up by ill-disciplined divers. In such instances the Sea Hare, like the octopus and cuttlefish, employs one of its defence weapons by squirting a dark purple ink-like substance aimed at confusing the predator to allow it time to escape. As an aside, in America this ink is used by Native American Indians in the dying of cloth. In the case of a marine predator the Sea Hare can also squirt a sticky white substance called opaline aimed at deactivating a predator’s sensors, thereby disorientating them and causing them to spend time cleaning the substance away. I expect this is could be likened to the slimy substance found wherever land snails and slugs have been in our garden or garden shed. Like their land counterparts which seem to be everywhere, Sea Hares appear to have mastered a way to ensure a prolific abundance of subsequent generations of their species.

22

Sea Hares are hermaphrodite which means that any individual can be both a male or a female. In fact, curiously, they can play both roles at the same time when coming together to form a chain for group sex, sometimes called a ‘Roman Circle,’ each creature will act as a male to the one in front and female to the one behind. A single Sea Hare may lay up to 500 million eggs during a breeding season. This year appears to have been a good year for our local Sea Hare population as our photographer was able to claim that this September these creatures have been spotted in abundance grazing on the scar rocks off Redcar.

Although described earlier as a humble Sea Hare, based on the recognition that these creatures have a very simple nervous system, the neurophysiology of the Sea Hare is being used by biomedical science during cancer research and its reproductive hormones used in understanding the development of human beings.

As claimed on many occasions the sea has many curious and interesting creatures to intrigue, fascinate and to learn how they contribute to the well-being of our planet and the sustenance and support of the human population.

Cleveland Divers are currently preparing for their winter training programme which includes a number of 4 weekly ‘Scuba Taster Courses.’ So if you are over 14 years of age and are interested contact us on 07960 608529. Alternatively, come along any Monday night at 8pm to Saltburn Leisure Centre and have a chat about learning to scuba dive.

Qualified and experienced divers are also most welcome.

June Coomber

REDCAR GOSPEL HALL Edenhall Grove, Redcar TS10 4PR

A warm welcome awaits you at our regular

Sunday evening Gospel Service, 6.30 p.m.

And on a Wednesday at

‘Coffee and Chat’

Morning group: on Mondays at 9.30am at Emmanuel Church Hall, Macnay Street, Saltburn.

Emmanuel Church Hall, Macnay Street, Saltburn

Tuesdays at 3.30pm, 5.30pm and 7.30pm.

from 10.30 till noon.

For a personal chat please ring 07514 229577

Telephone Stevie on

01642 474920

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3 v 16 (The Bible)

We sell a good selection of Stationery i.e. Envelopes, Labels, Tapes, Mailing Bags, and a wide range of Greetings Cards Plus lots of Saltburn Souvenirs We now offer a Card Service on line at giftsandbobs.co.uk so you can order your personalised cards and collect them in the shop

23

Restaurant for Marine Parade?

Piano Lessons with Margaret Shields LRAM, GRSM A teacher with a lot of experience and “endless patience”.

You can start from the beginning, improve your skills, or work towards the ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) Exams (Grades 1 to 8).

100% pass rate; many pupils pass at Distinction level.

01287 624778 Email: margaretshields2003@yahoo.co.uk

Saltburn Station Gallery Saltburn resident Andrew Leitch looks at a new sign which says a development site on Marine Parade is ‘under offer.’ A cafe and restaurant might be built there, overlooking the beach near the fenced picnic area.

An unnamed business is in the later stage of negotiations with Redcar & Cleveland Council about leasing a site on Saltburn’s Marine Parade for a cafe and restaurant.

The concrete building, which adjoins the fenced- in picnic area, has been unused for many years.

According to Councillor Stuart Smith’s monthly newsletter the planning application is for the former bricked -up shelter and viewing point.

In addition a council contractor is rebuilding a Victorian-designed shelter on the bottom promenade, near the pier, to replace one knocked down during a storm in 2013. Victorian-designed lamp-posts are also being put up all along the prom to Hazelgrove.

In the town, a planning application has been lodged to change the use of a former car showroom on Marske Road, near the railway bridge, to a veterinary practice.

A cafe and micro pub is planned for the Milton Street tanning shop.

or email: simon.robson1@ntlworld.com

24

Saltburn Station Gallery would like to thank all customers for their invaluable support for our fundraising for Children with Cancer UK - we have raised to date £100. We hope to continue this trend with your help.

We continue to support local artists and are pleased to welcome new artist Simon Edwards (the driftwood artist) to the gallery, with his fantastic hand painted sea creatures on driftwood and inspiring creations using sea glass. And also new original work by Yvonne Darby.

Visitors will notice the gallery has a new layout and displays alongside lots of new exciting stock, for example scented candles, exotic bath bombs and many more. These are ideal for gifts and the oncoming festive season.

G . Bishop - Decorator *Interiors and Exteriors

*Free Estimates

*All Aspects of Decorating Undertaken *Realistic Prices

Time Served Telephone 01287 624016

*Reliable Service Assured

40 Years Experience Mobile 07757 912575

4 People Not Profit 10th Anniversary Party Saltburn’s premier social justice party starters return after a summer hiatus to celebrate their 10th anniversary of putting on socially conscious events on Saturday, 21st of October. This special night is also supporting the Plastic Pollution Coalition, raising awareness of the effects of plastics polluting our seas and oceans. The event will be in the main lounge of the Marine, Saltburn and will run from 7.30pm till late and as ever is completely free.

With this being such a special 10th anniversary event celebrating 10 years of creative and inspiring 4 People Not Profit events in Saltburn, we have an equally special line up. Headlining with a very special guest band The Almighty Uprisers coming down from Newcastle bringing their unique eclectic mash up of fast ska, gritty punk and laid back reggae. In support will be 4 People Not Profit favourites, Leddie MC Middlesbrough’s pioneer socially conscious hip hop MC, and the acoustic delights of Saltburn’s own Sez Carr & Faye Nesbitt. And of course we will have resident DJ Marc Fox playing his booty shaking funk soul and breaks, and Visual wizardry from VJ artist Da Pigg.

So tell all your friends and family and get down and don’t forget to bring your dancing shoes and get ready to rip up the dance floor at this special 4 People Not Profit 10th anniversary event.

25

Painting and Drawing in Lingdale A group of people, who meet at Lingdale Village Hall, and come from the East Cleveland area, gather at the hall on a Thursday afternoon (2pm to 4pm) and do their own painting/drawing (and have been for the past five years). They are currently looking to increase the number of people attending and wondered if anybody would be interested in joining them. It costs £2.50 per session and people are not obliged to attend every week.

The fee covers the hire of the room and, also, contributes towards the cost of having occasional local artists doing tutorials. It is a friendly group of people who have the first task of putting the kettle on at the start of each meeting.

Anybody interested in attending can just turn up – materials could possibly be provided to beginners.

Saltburn Athletic FC The season has now begun and all teams have played their first games.

The under 10 Sharks won against South Park Rangers as Jacob Aziz came off the bench to score the vital goals. Excellent performances came from Kesterton and Robinson and a good all round team performance.

The under 10 Dolphins were unable to get the same start and lost against Riverside.

More joy as the under 13 Dolphins continued their winning streak by beating South Park Rangers 6-2 with goals from Warnes (2), Cree (2), Robinson and Brogan.

Under 13 Seagulls were unable to follow the Dolphins’ lead but gained a point in an entertaining draw versus Richmond Town by the scoreline of 4-4 with goals from Barnes, Lloyd, Morrison and King having come from behind three times ruing too many missed chances.

The under 13 Falcons had an off day going down 5-0 against Brompton.

The under 11 team gained a very creditable win versus Ferryhill in what was a physical encounter.

Last but not least the under 14 team won easily against Northallerton by 5-1 with goals from Mitchell, Wise, Morgan, Midgley and Leather.

So that’s four wins, a draw and two defeats which is a good start to the season. Due to FA rulings we are not allowed to print scores and scorers for under 11 teams downwards.

The changing rooms have been fully renovated except for a few minor details and we hope to open them up asap and invite all those past and present to an opening day so look out for that date in the near future.

Work is now underway as to the removal of a large mound and this will give the club more playing space in a year’s time. The excess earth from the mound is being used to good effect at the rear of our field to enhance the derelict area and this will be flattened and seeded to form a training area.

Many thanks again to the support from local people, businesses and also the parents of our club’s children.

Andy Croll 26

The Countryside Ranger and Volunteers, September 2017 Towards the end of October, the autumn countryside produces a final flush of fruits and fungi in our woods and hedgerows. For many British animals, it is time to seek out safe refuges or feeding grounds for the forthcoming rigours of winter.

Being cold-blooded and hence subject to the influences and vagaries of ambient air temperatures, common frogs hibernate during the winter months. They usually enter a state of torpor in mid-October, although a mild autumn can prolong their activity for a few weeks.

They choose surprisingly varied hibernation sites – typical locations include the mud and silt on the pond bed, soft banks beside water, or crevices and holes in woodland adjacent to standing water. These potential sites should be taken into account when planning any conservation work – such as the removal of emergent vegetation or the clearing of banks – on ponds and ditches where frogs are known to be present.

Although the barn owl is occasionally seen hunting at twilight, the species is essentially nocturnal in its habits. As the nights draw in at the beginning of October, barn owls become active at an earlier hour.

Consequently, the likelihood of an encounter with this graceful predator increases. Roadside verges are among the most typical places that barn owls are seen at this time of year. Part of the reason for this is that these rather marginal hunting habitats become a vital source of small mammals when the farming landscape has changed

following the autumn harvest. Furthermore, October can be a particularly good month for watching barn owls, because, if it has been a good breeding season, the presence of juvenile birds as well as the adults will mean that the species’ numbers are relatively high. By October, young barn owls will have left the nest and will be dispersing from their parents’ territory. They may be seen in unusual locations as they wander in search of their own space.

As you will have noticed, the Volunteers have still been busy over the summer months, tackling footpaths and clearing path sides. The Community Orchard towards New Marske Mill site has also had a good clearing just before the summer holidays. Also, though not in the public eye, work is progressing to secure funding to carry out the annual cut, bale and clearing of the wildflower meadow.

Volunteer support for all the above tasks helps to keep the Valley the place we all love to visit.

Saltburn task days continue throughout the year every Friday. We meet at the centre at 10.00am.

To see other tasks carried out by the countryside volunteers, go to: www.saltburncountrysidevolunteers.btck.co.uk For volunteering opportunities, contact: karen.preston@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk For more information, contact: paul.murphy@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk

Saltburn and District Group for Visually Impaired People After our summer break we met on 13th September and were joined by Roy from Beachwatch. He told us how it started 21 years ago and how it has developed since then. The quarterly clean-up sessions are well supported by local volunteers and overseas visitors. Apparently the cookies in the interval are very popular! Roy spoke with such enthusiasm and passion about his subject that I cannot do it justice in this article. Please read Roy’s regular contributions to Talk of the Town for full details

of the amount of rubbish (mainly plastics) that is collected and logged nationally.

Please keep up the good work, Roy, a big thank you to you and all your volunteers for keeping our beach clean.

PLEASE NOTE that our next meeting is on Tuesday 10th October at 9.30 am, in the usual venue of the Coffee Room, Community Centre, Saltburn. We will be joined by Chocolini’s and all are welcome.

Please contact Chris Ferguson on 01287 204170.

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 27

Hands On Therapy Clinic Remedial Therapy Reflexology Sports Injuries Relaxation Louise Clark ITEC Diploma MBSR, GCP, BCMA Reg Saltburn Leisure Centre, Marske Mill Lane

Tel: 01287 625700 Mob: 07775 610745 28

Saltburn’s Seaview Restaurant aiming to become UK’s best seafood restaurant

The award winning Seaview Restaurant which has already been given national recognition as being one of the UK’s best seaside restaurants, has now got its sights on the likes of famous seafood chef’s Nathan Outlaw and Rick Stein.

The Seaview’s ambition is to serve the very best seafood available alongside its already famous fish and chips, to make it the recognised country’s finest seafood experience restaurant.

Leading the exciting new seafood team will be the talented head Chef John Schwarz, who has worked in the very best establishments around the country. John has all the experience required to elevate the Seaview to be one of the nation’s best seafood restaurants.

Both John and owner Glenn Pearson have visited and researched the country’s best seafood eateries to gain valuable knowledge of what the very best has to offer. The restaurant will source the finest seafood available from wherever it needs, as only the best will do. Recently the Seaview has extended the premises and invested heavily in the best equipment to enable this ambition to become a reality.

The famous fish and chips will always be available alongside a selection of the freshest seafood, presented to complement the daytime menu. Evening bookings will be allowed to experience the more extensive evening seafood menu. With the introduction of the new kitchen, vegetarian and gluten free options will be available as well as the finest puddings to give its customers the full experience.

A new website and regular social media posts will allow a constant update of information about the restaurant and exciting menu developments.

Customers are already desperate to make bookings with the news of this exciting development, which is due to begin early October.

With one of the most magnificent locations in the country overlooking the stunning cliffs of Huntcliff and the sandy beaches, the Seaview has all the makings to fulfil this ambition. The Seaview also has exciting plans for further development and creative ventures that will guarantee its place as one of the nation’s favourite restaurants.

Rick Stein….watch out!

29

Health and Happiness Friedrich Nietzsche the German philosopher once talked about the idea that if you were living life to its fullest and you were living it with as much joy as possible wouldn’t that mean that you would be happy if this life repeated over and over so you could savour it again and again?

As with most philosophy it doesn’t have a simple answer as much as poses the question, and the question may be ‘are you living a life that you are fully happy with?’ Are you so happy with it that you would enjoy soaking up the same experience again and again?

I think you might say that wasn’t realistic, that life is a constant movement into sadness and stress and anxiety and then returning to moments of joy and lightness and real peace.

What do you think?

And what would you say if I said that from my perspective you can by and large choose what emotions you have in your life: you can choose your experience?

This is how I live, or at least how I aim to live and how many others I know and have worked with live too.

So if it is true you can choose a lot of what emotional experience you have in your life wouldn’t it make sense, certainly it does to me, to choose to live in the emotions that feel good rather than the emotions that feel down or unhappy or stressed.

I always find it interesting that when I express that view some people always tell me “well, I wouldn’t want to choose my emotions, I like the ups and down and the times when I am totally depressed or sad because without them I wouldn’t have the full scope of being human.”

I always find that an intriguing idea. I find it intriguing because on one level it suggests that actually not all people want to master their own emotions and choose to feel good as much as possible. Instead they would rather let life bring to them nice feelings sometimes and sometimes not nice feelings.

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.

Eric Matson (volunteer), 25 High Street, Skelton, Tel: 07985 767587

30

To me that is like getting thrown around by strong winds that keep changing direction, not really ever settled or comfortable or empowered.

Yet I genuinely feel that whatever anybody wants from their own life experience (as long as they don’t intentionally hurt others in the process), is fine. It is their choice and no one should be telling anyone else what sort of life they should live.

Yet I also wonder if some people say they don’t want to choose what emotions they have because they think they can’t or indeed if they could then they think there would be something wrong in doing that.

I’m interested. I’m interested in lots of things in life and the human psyche is one of them.

I’m interested in what people will do with information and what sort of lives people choose to live, especially once they really understand that they do genuinely have a choice about how they feel in their life.

I’m interested in life and what we can do with it and which direction we choose to go with it. I’m interested in living with as much vitality and happiness in each day that I can create and to know that if I am not happy that I am actually choosing not to be happy.

If I had to live my life again and again as Nietzsche suggested then I would be pretty happy with the one I have lived so far, but I could do better. I know I could make it happier still.

But I do hope Nietzsche was wrong and if we do have another life we don’t just repeat this one.

There is so much more I would like to experience that I simply don’t have time to fit into this one.

Please feel free to contact me for a no obligations consultation or come to our groups at Earthbeat in Saltburn.

Kendal Aitken Health and Happiness Coach / Counsellor, on coach@happygreenblueeyes.co.uk or 07944 883961.

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

Save Hedgehogs and Don’t Build Bonfires in Advance!

Nigel’s VIPs! Very Important Pets!

To save hedgehogs and other wildlife from appalling suffering the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) urges that bonfires should not be built until the day they are to be lit. This will not only save wildlife from burning to death but will also stop the bonfire from getting soaked should it rain the night before! Fay Vass, Chief Executive of BHPS, said “If material is stored on open ground in advance of having a bonfire, it’s crucial to dismantle it and move it to another spot just before lighting. Ensure it’s moved to clear ground – never on top of a pile of leaves as there could be a hedgehog underneath, and not too close to pampas grass which can ignite very easily and is another favourite spot for hedgehogs to hide under.”

If a large bonfire has to be built in advance, protect it whilst building by putting some chicken wire one metre high all the way around the bottom. This should be held in place with stakes and the wire should slope outwards at an angle to make it difficult to climb, as hedgehogs are good climbers!

If, whilst building, a bonfire is left unattended, for however short a time; it’s imperative to check for young children, hedgehogs and other animals, including family pets, before lighting. As hedgehogs tend to hide in the centre and bottom two feet of the bonfire, check by gently lifting the bonfire section by section with a pole or broom. Never use a spade or fork as these can stab them. Using a torch will help and listen for a hissing sound, as this is the noise they make when disturbed. If hedgehogs are found, take as much of the nest as you can and place them in a high-sided cardboard box with plenty of newspaper/old towelling. Ensure there are air holes in the lid and that the lid is secured firmly to the box, as hedgehogs are great climbers. Ideally, wear garden gloves so as not to get human smells on them and to keep them calm as hedgehogs are easily stressed. Also, it protects your hands from their spikes.

Put the box in a safe place such as a shed or garage well away from the festivities. In case you have missed anything light the fire from one side only. Once the bonfire is totally dampened down, release the hedgehog under a hedge, bush or behind a stack of logs.

DOG WALKING, PET CARE & HOME SITTING Co. Est’d. 2002 NigelsVIPs@gmail.com

TEL: 07891 092007 Insured, Excellent References

31

Simon Clarke MP Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland Well, we’ve certainly managed to get our corner of the country on the map this August.

My team and I had the pleasure of welcoming the Prime Minister to the constituency a few weeks ago on the back of her visit which launched the new Tees Valley Mayoral development corporation.

The plans for the former SSI site and the wider area will have long term, positive implications for Saltburn and the surrounding towns and villages. New development means more jobs which will bring opportunities for local people as well as attracting visitors and investors to our towns. I’m confident we are at the start of something big and look forward to playing my part in ensuring we are at the heart of every possible opportunity.

The second cabinet member to visit this month was Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary. She visited Park End ward in our constituency to discuss the issues residents face with anti-social behaviour and what more could be done to help alleviate the problems. In conjunction with members of the neighbourhood police team we had a productive and wide ranging discussion that has given us much to work on going forward.

Whilst hosting ministers is a great way to highlight the needs of our area it’s vitally important that I speak to as many residents and businesses as possible. With that in mind I’ve attended public meetings in Loftus and Stainton this month as well as numerous smaller events. One such meeting was with the fantastic team from Barclays in the town who work hard supporting residents and business alike with their everchanging banking needs.

Finally, I was proud to accept an honorary membership from the members and committee of Saltburn Conservative and Unionist Club. It’s a fantastic venue in the town with its lovely walled garden and views over the sea and I look forward to being a regular visitor in the years ahead.

Simon

Engineer heads Retired Men’s Forum A retired project manager with a heavy-lift engineering specialist firm Ron Elliott, of Brotton, has been elected chairman of Saltburn and District Retired Men’s Forum.

Mr Elliott, 67, of Brotton, succeeds Peter Martin, a former BBC technical engineer, of Saltburn, who has filled the post during the past year.

Mr Elliott, who worked for firms including Mammoet and Econofreight, both Teesside companies, showed a film which featured unusual aspects of his working life. This included moving oilrig modules from the construction base on to large barges to be carried out into the North Sea. He received his chain of office from Mr Martin following a talk given by Jack Wood, of Redcar, who spoke of his working life as a graphic artist designing sleeves for old-style gramophone records.

Among the singing stars of the music scene he met and mentioned were jazz pianist Count Basie, Scottish singer Andy Stewart and comedian Ken Dodd.

The forum meets every Monday at 10am for 10.30 at the Saltburn Methodist hall, Milton Street.

New members and guests are welcome. The autumn programme includes talks on Hartlepool marina, prostrate cancer and the WW1 in East Cleveland.

Further information from Mr Elliott 01287676520 or Ken Bladen 01287 205153.

Mike Morrissey

32

THREESOME: Picture shows speaker Jack Wood, new chairman Ron Elliott and retiring chairman Peter Martin after the meeting of Saltburn and District Retired Men’s Forum. It followed a fascinating talk by Mr Wood on how he designed covers for 78 gramophone records during his career in London.

Photo by Ken Bladen.

33

Dunkirk It was the seventy-fifth anniversary of 10th June 1940 this year.

That day was my seventh birthday and World War Two was nearly a year old.

It was also one of the days that The British Expeditionary Force (after suffering a devastating defeat along with the French Army, The Maginot Line having failed them) were in retreat, whilst the French Army still fought a rear guard action keeping the Germans busy and covering our escape to the Dunkirk beaches. Operation Dynamo was being put into force, slowly the army congregated on the beaches whilst the Merchant and Royal Naval ships arrived.

Then it was found that the ships could not get close enough, even by standing chest high in the water.

At home family, classmates and the villagers in Swainby, where I lived during the war were all listening to the wireless and imagining the scene.

Our new Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, was speaking and appealing for every available small ship to congregate at the mouth of the Thames and at Dover. I made my own pictures as I thought of the sea, I remembered Saltburn for as a child it was always Saltburn that I saw when I thought of the sea. So that day Saltburn was on my mind and stayed there through the days as we listened with anxiety and admiration for all those brave small ships making their perilous way to Dunkirk. Mr Churchill also told the ships to help some of the French Army.

In Swainby we took our anxiety to church, never has “Eternal Father Strong to Save” been sung with more fervour than it was that day, teachers family, children we all pleaded that day and with a seven year old’s faith I believed. The prayers of all of us were with the Army, the RAF and the little ships, we listened to talk of the weather and were glad to hear that conditions were poor for flying as that made it harder for the Luftwaffe to disrupt the rescue, even if it made it harder for the RAF to protect our ships. A day or two later I remember hearing Mr Churchill making his famous speech in which he pledged that we would never surrender. For my generation, living in Saltburn and elsewhere these words invoke a very personal memory and are not just history.

I heard a film had been made and wanting to replace imagination with pictures. An old lady got out her bus pass and went to Middlesbrough to watch it. Mentally I recalled the little girl of seven who, when Operation Orlando was happening, listened to the wireless with her family. As I watched the film memory accompanied me, Saltburn still in my mind. I went to see the film in Middlesbrough on Monday, and on Tuesday I went to Saltburn in quest for local memories. First I went to the War Memorial and read it carefully. As we all know it is a handsome structure which gazes forever out to sea. All those remembered are forever part of the beautiful view. I asked myself whether they took memories of home with them to war. I also remembered Miss Jackie Taylor who has just died, for after the war she led a campaign for the repair of the war memorial and for help she approached the Queen and the German Embassy. I thought of her then although I only knew her by repute. I am sure she would have known the majesty of the new blockbuster film and I think it sad that she did not live long 34

enough to see it.

Having read the names for both wars and given thought to the young men who once trod Saltburn’s streets, went to school here and played football for the town, I next went to the library. There the helpful librarian found me a book (Behind the Names by Ian Bedford) which details the stories of each soldier appearing on the War Memorial in both world wars. Sure enough amongst them I found the name of Harry Stanton. I don’t know if there is anyone connected to him still living in the town. The book told that he had lived in Saltburn, went to school here, worked as a bricklayer and played for one of the town’s football teams.

He died in France and is buried in a village called Aries, not far from Arras, where he was with his regiment The Green Howards. The date is right and I think we can assume they were part of the retreat when he was killed in the rear guard action. He did not make it but I expect other Green Howards did and probably took part in Operation Dynamo.

I found one more connection to Dunkirk: talking as I often do to people I meet, I met an old gentleman who was eighty -three, elderly like me, and when I told him about the film he said he was local and had lost two uncles from Marske at Dunkirk.

The new film is very well done and a great experience. There is every reason to recommend it to everyone for it has connections to us all. There are those of us alive who remember that day and I would be delighted to here from anyone local with Dunkirk connections. I even wondered if any of the North Eastern Fishing Ships went south to join in, although in the main I know it was a South Coast Operation. If anyone knows of any such ships I would be proud to hear that The Wild North Easterners were represented.

War is sad but there is every reason to remember the brave of all nations and locations.

Sylvia Williamson

35

Pigeongrove!

This year’s bonfire and fireworks display in Skinningrove is set for Saturday, 4th November. There’s always a local or topical theme and this time it’s Pigeon Fancying. Let’s hope the show illuminates the hillsides housing the pigeon lofts that are a big part of village life. As well as bonfire night itself there are free events in October to celebrate the role of pigeons in the area both past and present.

Events include: Presentations at Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum, starting at 2.00pm on Saturday, 14th and Saturday, 28th October. Each session will feature archive film, readings and discussion. Booking is essential: phone 01287 642877 to reserve places. There is stairlift access to the venue. Donations to the museum to support its work are welcomed.

Tours of pigeon lofts in Skinningrove on Wednesday, 18th and Tuesday, 24th October. Meet outside Riverside Building, New Company Row at 1.45pm for visits to lofts where owners will explain what’s involved in keeping and racing pigeons. No booking needed; some short climbs to lofts.

Display at Loftus Library from Monday. 16th October. Phone 01287 640582 for the library’s open hours.

Love dancing? Want to get fit?

GET FIT, TONE UP and SALSA!! with this fun and dynamic ‘Strictly’ style dance class! For ALL ABILITIES and PARTNER FREE. STARTS 30/10/17 Mondays: 7.00 - 7.50pm at ECHO, Saltburn - £4pp (DISCOUNT! ONLY £6 for both Zumba Gold & Ballroom Blitz on Mondays)

This dance fitness class is EASY TO FOLLOW, TONING and a fun OVERALL WORKOUT. Watch out for BRAND NEW ‘bums & tums’ targeted dances!

Mondays: 6pm - ECHO, Saltburn - £4pp Thursdays: 10am - Saltburn Community Hall - £4pp

A PILATES, YOGA & BALLET inspired dance 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 (Booking essential / get in touch for details)

For more info call ESTELLE on 07887 525234 or visit...

36

Saltburn Animal Rescue Association 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! We are Max the dog and Dede and Dolly the cats. We are all looking for new forever homes.

Max is about 6 years old. He’s brindle browncoloured staffie with a big happy, smiling face. He came into SARA after his owner could no longer care for him due to health problems. Max is a lovely natured lad: he mixes well with other dogs and loves to play, especially games of fetch. We think that Max would benefit from some lead training though, as he pulls a bit, due to the fact

that his previous owner lived near a field so he never needed to go on a lead. Max would make someone a great companion as he very friendly and loving.

Dede is a black domestic short hair cat (the smaller of the two cat pictures here, but only because she wouldn’t pose properly) and Dolly is a black and brown domestic long hair cat. They are a young pair of one year old female cats. They came into our care after their owner’s young daughter unfortunately became allergic to them. These two girls both have a very loving and friendly nature. They love to play together as they are best of friends, and they both enjoy lots of attention and cuddles. SARA is looking for a home where they can continue to live together as they get on so well.

SARA fundraising events during October The next monthly meeting of SARA will be held on Wednesday, 4th October, at 7.30pm in the TocH premises, Albion Terrace, Saltburn.

New members are very welcome.

Saturday 7th October – Autumn Bargain Sale. Plenty of bargains to have. Come along and see what is on offer. 10 - 1pm at Foxrush Farm Saturday 14th October – Members of SARA will be holding a Coffee Morning in the Marske Leisure Centre, from 10am to 12 noon. There will be a variety of stalls, including tombola, bric-a-brac, books. There will also be homemade cakes on sale.

Sunday 15th October – The members of SARA will be holding their Twilight Stroll, from 4 to 5pm. This takes place from Foxrush Centre to the top of the track and back.

A gentle stroll to remember all those volunteers, friends and animals who are no longer with us. At the end we lay flowers and light candles in the memory garden.

All funds raised will go to the Foxrush Farm, Sanctuary and Re-homing Fund.

Members of SARA would like to thank everyone who attended their recent Open Day at Foxrush Farm, Redcar. The day was a fantastic success with fine weather. The total amount raised was £2,261.60 with some funds still to come in. The great amount of support we receive at our events makes it possible for us to help the ever increasing numbers of animals that so desperately need our help. For this we are most grateful.

John Fuller, Press Officer Helpline: 01642 488108 37

Grizzly bears are not teddies!

Members of Saltburn and District Retired Men’s Forum who might be thinking of visiting the grizzly bears of west Canada have been warned by a member that they are ‘not teddy bears.’

Arthur Corbett, of Redcar, a long-standing member of the group, said during a 15-minute presentation on his holiday in the British Colombia bear country that grizzlies accepted humans within 50 yards, but they didn’t like threats to their offspring.

Arthur gave a fascinating pictorial account of his visit to the Knight Inlet bear area, north of Vancouver.

One sequence showed a female teasing a male by playing ‘hard to get.’

His talk followed the annual meeting when speaker-finder Ron Elliott was elected chairman. Peter Martin, of Saltburn, stepped down after a year in office and said he had enjoyed the work.

The annual subscription of £2 and weekly charge of £1.50 is to remain. The committee is to look into the possibility of setting up a website.

The club meets at 10am on Mondays at the Milton Street Methodist hall, Saltburn. New members welcome.

The next meeting will feature Judith Varley speaking on mobility aids. More information from Mr Elliott 01287-676520 or Ken Bladen 01287-205153.

See also page 32.

38

“I’m pretty sure I’m good enough to get to heaven?”

Those who believe in heaven or some kind of an afterlife, will sometimes say things like, ‘I know I am good enough to get there. Yes, I’ve done a few naughty things, harboured some unkind thoughts, but essentially I’m a good person.’ In order to think this way they may compare themselves to other people, and particularly those they consider to be not very nice. But the one person they almost never compare themselves to is Jesus, who shows us the character of God like no one else.

Interestingly, in one of Jesus’ encounters a man asks him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luke 18:18). The man makes an all too familiar assumption: ‘Jesus is good, therefore he’s going to heaven; so he can tell me what good things I can do so I can get to heaven.’ Jesus’ reply is unexpected Services Times and telling, “Why do you call me good? No-one is good but God alone.”

Sundays In effect, if we had the equivalent of a goodness 9.00am traditional communion comparison website, and God was included in 10.45am contemporary worship the number crunching with us, then we are going to look very bad indeed.

So, if God is the only true measure of goodness, Tuesdays and heaven is a place that mirrors His goodness, 9.30am said communion just how can anyone be good enough to get to heaven? The simple answer is, ‘We can’t!’ But, there is one solution to this problem, there is one person to whom we can Morning Prayer go to find some good news—Jesus!

9.00am Mon-Fri in ECHO The good news is that Jesus offers us the forgiveness of God for our badness. As Michael Ramsden explains, ‘Jesus came into this world primarily in order to make forgiveness for us possible. It is why, when he looked forward to the Cross, he stated Contact Details that it was for this very reason he had come into this world. The real question is not tel about who is good enough to get in. The real question is how God makes it possible for 01287 622251 anyone to get in at all. The answer is that we need to be forgiven, and that forgiveness is won for us through the Cross.’ So, during October, I would encourage you to think email about trusting in Jesus, and especially the forgiveness he offers and the hope of heaven emmanuelsaltburn@hotmail.co.uk he gives.

(For more on this topic visit, www.bethinking.org/christian-beliefs/why-cant-i-just-be-a-good-person)

SUNDAY 8th OCTOBER 2017 10.00am ST THOMAS CHURCH, NEW MARSKE A LEAVING SERVICE FOR THE REV. JULIE SMITH We pray for Julie as she leaves Saltburn and New Marske to become Vicar of Barrowford and Newchurch in Pendle

web www.emmanuelsaltburn.co.uk

Visitor and Exhibition opening times in Oct Saturdays 7th & 21st 10am - 4pm

TUESDAY 31st OCTOBER 2017 6pm - 8pm

Sundays 15th & 29th 1 - 4pm

LIGHT UP THE NIGHT All welcome at our Halloween alternative in Emmanuel Church and Grounds...

Stories, Songs, Crafts, Camp Fire, Snacks & Drinks 39

Talk of the Town’s monthly

Pride of Saltburn Award

Open 7 days a week Quality Fresh Fruit and Veg at Competitive Prices.

If it’s grown locally we do our best to source it.

The winner of this month’s Pride of Saltburn Award is Kathryn Luczakiewicz. She was nominated by Wendy Weedy who says, “I would like to nominate Kathryn Luczakiewicz, founder and director of Saltburn WellBeing Centre for the Pride of Saltburn Award. She started this charitable foundation 10 years ago this October and we are planning a celebration of that and I think she deserves a medal for helping the people of Saltburn and surrounding areas selflessly. Although not many people realise it she works non-stop under the radar making sure we have funding from various associations so that vulnerable people who slip through the net in our current mental health system have somewhere to go and someone to speak to. She currently works two days a week at Hardwick House in Middlesbrough where she offers counselling to veterans who have found themselves homeless or having addiction problems (veterans and their families can also be seen at Saltburn free of charge). She always makes everyone who walks through the door welcome and offers free counselling where she can should they find they have nowhere to turn to.

People often say they would rather speak to her than a professional in the current system as they are just a statistic to the government whereas Kathryn really listens and helps them without judgement. The centre offers exercise classes at only £2 each, funded through Sport England, for people who have problems such as anxiety, depression or just fear of large groups. Although Kathryn herself is very spiritual she doesn’t push that on anyone else though she realises there is a fine line sometimes between mental health and being spiritual and is currently working with organisations in Middlesbrough to try and bring all parties together to offer a full rounded service to people who slip through the net with mental health or addiction difficulties.

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

Every month, a £30 bunch of flowers, kindly donated by Ruby Lilly’s Florists of Marske, is awarded to someone in Saltburn who has earned admiration, gratitude and love for whatever reason.

Talk of the Town invites nominations from readers, to chose whom to receive recognition and a bunch of flowers. Send your nominations to Talk of the Town’s postbag at Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, Cleveland, TS12 1AQ 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.

40

Stocking a wide range of health foods, chutneys, jams and honeys.

Monday to Saturday: 9.00am to 5.00pm Sunday 11.00am to 4.00pm

5 Station Buildings

Grasers 07703 884184 Find us on Facebook Try something different at Grasers

Go Moroccan!

Grasers sell an assortment of Moroccan goodies. Not just tahini, apricots and of course couscous but a range of Al’fez products for authentic and exquisite Moroccan and Middle East cuisine. Try the Za’atar herby and aromatic blend of thyme and sesame seeds sprinkled over dishes or added to soups. Or the Harissa hot chilli paste, great for spicing up couscous and available as a red or green paste.

Or try the Sumac, 100% red sumac berries, dried and ground with no additional salt as a delicious topping for salads and kebabs. Grasers also sell Gordon Rhodes Tagine gourmet sauce mix and Suma Ras-el-Hanout seasoning, a classic Middle Eastern spice mix.

Viv McLean - an evening with Gershwin: Thursday, 12th October It isn’t, and arguably shouldn’t be, easy to classify music.

It’s also, arguably, not important. Classifying composers is getting more difficult, not easier, and George Gershwin is a classical example, if you pardon the pun. Does how we classify his music depend on whether we hear it in a dance hall, a concert venue or on the silver screen? Is Porgy and Bess a great musical or a great opera? Is Rhapsody in Blue jazz or classical music? Does it matter?

Similar issues occur for performers and Viv McLean is no exception. Since winning first prize at the 2002 Maria Canals International Piano Competition he has had a successful career as a soloist, playing with most of the major orchestras in the UK and touring the world.

He is also a keen chamber musician and has collaborated with star names in the world of classical music. Look him up on YouTube and you’ll find him playing Bach, Debussy, Schumann and... Gershwin.

It’s the same with Leonard Bernstein; they seem to be able to cross the conventional boundaries of classical

Moving North: Coastal comes to Saltburn on Sunday, 1st October A rare opportunity to experience a remarkable mix of archive footage all about the places –and people – we know so well, as the North East Film Archive takes you on a journey through time, revealing the rich film heritage of our North East coastline, with Saltburn and Redcar centre stage. Using amateur and home movies, travelogues and regional TV productions, the curators have been working in partnership with the BFI’s Britain on Film project to preserve and digitise more of our North East film heritage collections to bring audiences a new programme of screenings and events, Moving North: Coastal, in which is revealed the stories of our coastal communities.

From the iconic structures of the Saltburn Pier and Halfpenny Bridge to the end of an era at the last shift of the North Skelton iron ore mine in Cleveland.

Motorbike and motorcars put through their paces on the sands at Redcar alongside family frolics of the classic seaside holiday, local industries and local characters, you’re bound to recognise familiar faces and places and, who knows, perhaps you might even spot family or friends fleetingly captured on film and now revealed once more as Moving North: Coastal comes to Saltburn.

Doors 1.30pm, Screening 2pm, All tickets £5.

genres and in so doing increase their popularity. Popularity is a dangerous word in music; it has connotations of ‘dumbing down’. One of the most popular stage productions in the West End at the moment is An American in Paris. The choreographer is Christopher Wheeldon who was Royal Ballet trained and the first Englishman to create a new work for the Bolshoi. The designer is Bob Crowley who has worked with the RSC and the NT and won awards for productions such as Les Liaisons Dangereuses or Aida.

The music is by George Gershwin who is one of the most played composers of the 20th century. Yet because it’s a musical it has to have its own category.

Saltburn doesn’t have this problem; the only reason that Viv is playing in the theatre is that’s where the piano is.

The programme will appeal to anyone with any sense and Viv himself is worth seeing playing anything – check him out on YouTube but don’t miss the real thing, whatever type of thing that is.

Doors 6.45pm, Screening 7.30pm, All tickets £12.

70th Birthday

Saltburn Miniature Railway celebrated its 70th birthday on Sunday, 27th August. Here can be seen the Lady Mayor Cllr.

Karen King and the Mayoress waiting to be taken to the Engine Shed for a barbecue. All enjoyed the occasion which was accompanied by music, food and drink topped off by a ride up the track hauled by our steamer “Blacklock R”.

Robert Proctor (chair SMR ltd)

41

Jean Oxley, Saltburn buff, ‘best mum’ and homemaker A straight-talking Yorkshirewoman Jean Oxley has died aged 86 and will be remembered, in her later years, for having a host of ‘guardian angels’ round her and her scooter.

One of her three sons Robert Oxley told the congregation at the Milton Street Methodist Church on 31st August he was really happy that she had spent most of her life in Saltburn (Garnet Street), ‘a special place with special people.’

“I would hear stories when visiting her in Saltburn that she’d been pushed home by neighbours after running out of power on her scooter, once on Saltburn Bank! Pushing that scooter is no mean feat – do you know how heavy those things are?

“The girls at the bank, Faye and Louise, would, with endless patience, explain to her that she had already taken cash out that day up to the day’s limit and she would need to come back the next day if she needed more.

“I know Joan Macdonald had stepped in on more than one occasion to smooth things over when mum was in some dispute or other.

“Keith and Heather Muir were always there in the background and Keith really stepped up and helped mum secure the title deeds to her house.

“When the old back gate came off its hinges Trevor Pendry quickly came round and built a new back gate and threw in some extra trellis, not literally, of course! She’d wonder where the new gate had come from!”

Mr Oxley said he didn’t know the half of all the help the Guardian Angels of Saltburn had given his mother. “So I thank Saltburn folk, especially her nearest neighbours, for taking care of her.”

Jean Oxley was born at Sheffield in 1931 at the height of the Great Depression. Her father took part in an ‘apprentices strike’ in 1921. He was subsequently blacklisted by employers so he could not become a tradesman. “What a waste of talent,” he said. He became a labourer and the family of five daughters was ‘quite poor.’ Jean went to a secondary modern school and worked aged 14 at a nursery, picking up a strong work ethic.

The family moved to Marske and then Garnet Street, Saltburn (in 1964) for work reasons. Among her jobs in married life was as a taxi driver at Marske, earning 2s 6d (12.5p) an hour. When they moved to Saltburn she worked as a chambermaid at the former Zetland Hotel, collecting autographs of stars like the Scottish home international football team - “I still have the autographs.”

She also worked at Lorraine’s, greengrocers, drove for Meals on Wheels, sold Tupperware and made children’s soft toys called Gonks for charity.

She attended night school in Saltburn, training as a hairdresser, and worked at the Home Bakery. She became one of the founder members of Saltburn Youth 42

Club, when she teamed up with the two Robinsons Ray and Norman, in the 1960s.

“She thought it would be a good idea to teach the girls practical things – like dressmaking and how to apply makeup. I think it took a little while for her to realise that the girls just wanted to listen to music and chase boys!” said Mr Oxley.

She lived for the three sons (John, David and Robert), never pushing them, but saying: “You can do it if you put your mind to it.”

Mr Oxley remembered various ‘casualties’ of local family or friendship disputes finding safe haven with Jean in the family dining room and a cup of tea. She told her sons not to take sides in a dispute.

Jean Oxley suffered two bouts of cancer, starting in 1975 and later Alzheimer’s disease. The sons told her every day they visited how much she was loved - “the best mum in the world.”

My own memory of Jean Oxley was merely to receive a ‘good morning’ and a smile when our paths crossed in central Saltburn. She was a lovely lady. Nice to know she was a fellow ‘Yorkie!’

Mike Morrissey

Saltburn Beer Festival – November 2017 Saltburn is holding its eighth Beer Festival this year. It promises to be just as good as ever, but with a difference. It is being organised with Saltburn Community and Arts Association instead of with the Cleveland Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale and all proceeds will be going to SCAA for the upkeep of the Community Centre.

Jill Jakubowiak, the Festival organiser, explained to me how the event started under the auspices of CAMRA. The local Branch runs from High Hesledon to Robin Hood’s Bay and for many years has organised a large Beer Festival. It was first held in Redcar, then in Middlesbrough and currently at the Arc in Stockton and which now offers about seventy choices of beer. ` “I suggested a smaller one in the East Cleveland area,” said Jill, “and we held two in the Memorial Hall before coming to Saltburn in its one hundred and fiftieth year. We started with twenty choices of beer and since have increased to thirty-six. All beers are on gravity, coming straight out of the tap on the barrel.”

Local people, such as Richard and Sue Else, have provided much appreciated home-made catering and bands, such as Fat Medicine, have provided the music.

Jill continued: “We offer real cider too from various outlets all over the country and Skinningrove fruit wines.

There are no additives in the cider; it’s just like real ale.

Third of a pint measures as well as half pints and pints can be bought, enabling people to taste a variety.”

Tickets for the event, which will run on Friday, 10th November from 11.00 to 5.00 and 6.30 to 11.00 and on Saturday, 11th November from 11.05 to 10.00 are on sale at the SCAA Box Office and Whistle Stop Wines in Station Square. The ticket price covers the hire of the hall and equipment, extra toilets and publicity. Beer is priced from 70p to £1.30 for a third of a pint according to strength, which ranges from 3.5% to 10%.

There are lots of jobs for volunteers, many of whom come from Cleveland CAMRA. These include treasurer, cellarman, tombola runner and person in charge of glasses.

“It’s a bit like a big pub,” said Jill, “and people come regularly from all over: the London area, Somerset and Ireland. One man arrives from Croydon every November and attends each session to try all the beers!”

Everyone enjoys the very happy, friendly atmosphere. Children are allowed in the morning and afternoon sessions as long as they are supervised, but no dogs. People sit at tables and get to know the person next to them. The popular small-scale Festival has sold out in recent years.

“We always have a different logo of a Saltburn landmark,” adds Jill. “We started off with the 150 logo and since then have featured the cliff lift and the pier. This

year, we have the viaduct.” Glasses are ordered in with the logo, which people can buy as a souvenir. Orders are taken for polo shirts and sweat shirts, which some people like to collect.

No cash is taken at the bar, as beer tickets are sold at £7.50, entitling people to an amount of beer, cider and wine. If any of the ticket is left at the end, it can be refunded or donated to charity and over the years, this has raised funds for Saltburn Scouts, Talk of the Town, SCAA and Sue Ryder.

Jill remembers how she became involved in CAMRA in Bradford about thirty years ago. A friend took her to a Beer Festival there and as she liked the atmosphere, she joined for the social side. She helped out at the Middlesbrough and Stockton Festivals and still now she goes to Olympia in London annually to volunteer behind the bar at the Great British Beer Festival, a Tuesday to Saturday event. She says that she has learnt a lot: how to keep beer in best condition and how to serve it and has picked up ideas about how to run good Festivals, by attending many of them. She has passed on tips to her son, Karl, one of about thirty volunteers at Saltburn, who also include several members of Guisborough Rotary Club.

They are needed! The planning for the Festival starts six months in advance and it takes a full day to set up and a day to take it down. As many as nine hundred people visit the Festival over its two days.

“We are trying now to get all the casks sponsored at £50 each,” says Jill. “We would appreciate as many local sponsors as possible; in the past, we have been grateful to the Spa Hotel for sponsoring the glasses. The Festival wouldn’t be viable without this help.”

Jill is proud that the Festival was the first to commission David Jowsey to design the logos. He has produced them all, except the 150 and the pier ones. “He is a retired Art teacher from Middlesbrough and he has a website: www.davesdoodles.co.uk,” she adds.

So this promises to be a very successful event. Put the dates of Saltburn Beer Festival 2017 in your diary and get your tickets before they sell out! Contact jilljakday@gmail.com for more information re sponsorship too.

Rosemary Nicholls 43

Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council Saltburn Historic Motor Gathering and Hill Climb, organised

by Middlesbrough & District Motor Club, and sponsored by the Parish Council, made a welcome return to the town on Sunday, 10th September. The weather was kind and the event was once again a huge success with record crowds. The Chairman Olwyn Twentyman, the Vice Chairman Vera Rider and Councillor Bob Harding had a ride in one of the vintage vehicles (pictured).

At the recent Parish Council meeting prizes were given out to the winners of the Jo Abraham Memorial allotment competition.

In July the Parish Council owned play area at Mount Pleasant, Marske was vandalised and suffered some fire damage - if anyone has any information about this incident please contact Cleveland Police. Over the next few months some outdoor gym equipment will be installed on Marske Recreation Ground to enhance the current provision - if you would like further information about this project please contact the Parish Council office.

FUTURE DATES FOR THE DIARY – Saltburn Christmas event will take place on Saturday, 2nd December.

There will be children’s activities and entertainment during the afternoon at the Library. 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 - anyone who would like to volunteer to assist on the day should contact the Clerk to the Council. The theme this year is Disney, and fancy dress is encouraged! A colouring/ craft competition will be held and the winners will get to switch on the Christmas Tree lights. Further details will be on our website shortly.

Saltburn WI have arranged a Christmas Tree Exhibition - to be held at Emmanuel Church, Saltburn. The

Canadian remembered A Canadian chemical engineer Michel LaBonne, who lived in Saltburn a few years ago, was remembered at the bandstand on 3rd September when Cleveland Concert Band was playing.

Conductor Keith Morley told the Sunday audience that the score of the Grieg number the band was about to play had been given by Mr LaBonne, who joined the band during his stay.

“He came to Saltburn for six months to help at a Wilton plant and stayed for two years.”

The tune was a piece connected with a bridge and Mr Morley asked the audience if any could recall the Halfpenny Bridge (where the bandstand now stands) and several raised their hands.

News of the mention was sent by email to Mr LaBonne and he replied to say he was pleased to be remembered.

He and his wife Debbie visited Teesside in May and called on Mr Morley and his family.

“We also went to Northern France to visit WW1 and WW2 battlefields at Vimy Ridge and the Juno beach, which had significant connections with Canadian troops.”

44

event will run 10am - 4pm daily between 2nd and 16th December.

The annual Parish Council Carol Service will be held in St Mark’s Church, Marske at 7pm on 14th December. Marske Fishermen’s Choir will be performing and Marske Junior Brass Band will be providing a musical interlude. This will be followed by light refreshments. As well as invited guests, members of the local community are invited to come along and the event is free.

Tracy Meadows (Clerk and RFO to Saltburn, Marske & New Marske Parish Council) The Conference Centre, Saltburn Learning Campus, Marske Mill Lane, Saltburn, TS12 1HJ 01287 623477 email: office@smnmpc.co.uk www.smnmpc.co.uk

What’s Happening at

Marske Hall

Craft Fair: Saturday, 14th October 2017 At Marske Hall - 10am-3pm.

Traditional craft fair with fabrics and knitted crafts, Cards, fabric crafts, bags, gifts, Christmas crafts, jams, chutneys and much more. Refreshments and raffle.

Entry free, donations welcome.

The team is busy working on events for the rest of the year including the Ball in November. Tickets are selling fast. For details call the Hall on 01642 482672 or find us on Facebook (or 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 Thank you for your continued support. Funds raised at these events will enhance the lives of people living at Marske Hall.

Registered Charity No: 218186.

Marske Hall, Redcar Road, TS11 6AA. Kath Bloomfield Volunteer press officer

Earthbeat Vegfest Saltburn has put itself well and truly on the map with regards to its incredible food festival. Our wonderful town is also fast becoming renowned for an alternative food festival which is set to attract hundreds and hundreds of food loving herbivores. I am, of course, talking about the Earthbeat Vegfest.

On Sunday, October 29th from 10am to 4pm the Earthbeat Centre will host over 30 stalls offering an alternative cruelty-free lifestyle.

There will be vegan food stalls with cakes, crepes, curry, pies, desserts and everything in between with hot food stalls outside, including Shanti, serving delicious takeaways.

The Earthbeat Vegfest has one main goal – to showcase what is available locally to those people who want to cut meat and animal products from their diet. The festival will therefore have stalls ranging from cruelty-free make-up to Vegan cheeses to clothing and be packed full of information and contacts for anyone who wants to replace animal products with plant based foods.

As if that was not enough, throughout the day, there will be talks and demonstrations. Shanti Café, Saltburn’s only vegetarian café, and Earthbeat’s inhouse café, will be open serving a full menu as well as Dani Delights, Earthbeat’s in-house raw food shop.

Our headline speaker will be the internationally renowned academic, Dr. Alex Lockwood, who will be talking about the benefits of a plant based diet. He’ll be taking questions afterwards so if you have any queries or challenging questions – he’s your man.

Dani Mitchell, one of the organisers, says ‘Due to the success of our last Vegfest we’ve decided to run the event twice each year. Our last event was a phenomenal success but we want this one to be even bigger and better. We want our event to be family friendly and we want to make everyone feel welcome, whether they’re a

meat eater, a vegetarian or somewhere in between.’

The event is free and there is parking on-site.

Earthbeat Vegfest – 29th October, 10am to 4pm Earthbeat Centre, Marske Road, Saltburn, TS12 1QA

Saltburn, Redcar & Cleveland Philatelic Society October report We meet on the first and third Wednesdays of each month between September and May (7:00 for 7:15pm) at the Redcar Community Centre. Our September meetings were both well attended and two visitors became members. The October meetings are: 4th October, Stamp Fair – non-members welcome. 18th October, Illustrated Envelopes – display by David McGonagle of Corbitts Stamp Shop (Newcastle). We wish to thank Martin Snowdon, our outgoing president (shown left) being congratulated for his second of two inspirational presidential displays by Vice President John Simms. Martin’s specialist displays have focussed on Germany, her stamp designers and the Third Reich, and he also introduced a number of social activities into the calendar.

John, who will preside for two years, has a fine collection of British Empire, and consequently members are assured of two stunning annual presidential displays.

Geoff Reynolds (Secretary, 01642 478229) David D. Turner (01287 624736) 45

From Strength to Strength at The Cons Club Welcome to the monthly article from the Cons Club.

As you know I like to make my own personal comments on any problems we have, or may have in the future, regarding our beautiful town and with this in mind I feel I must mention the terrible road surface that we have between the corner of Windsor Road as far as the Bowls Club. It is so uneven due to previous roadworks meaning that when I use this stretch of road I have to constantly swerve in and around holes to avoid damage to the car. What irritates me more is the fact that the Council have re-surfaced the Coast Road in Redcar which, in my opinion, was perfectly flat and the work was not necessary.

As we have a Labour led Council with many Councillors from the Redcar area it definitely looks like a case of looking after number one and putting Saltburn to the back of the queue.

Moving on to what has been happening at the Club and on Saturday, 2nd September we had the pleasure of welcoming our Conservative MP Simon Clarke to the Club to present him with his Honorary Membership. A good audience was present in the garden on a warm sunny day and a good afternoon was had by all, rounded off by the Club providing a free barbecue for everyone. As I write this article it is only 4 hours before two of our members, Kenny Wales & Janey Tee, get married and they are holding their reception in the Club garden. You may have noticed a big marquee in the garden which looks absolutely fantastic inside and it makes the perfect location for such an event. Everyone at the Club wishes Kenny & Jane all their very best wishes for a long and happy future together.

Earlier in the month another two of our members, Rita Learman & Michael Kemp, also got married and again we send them our very best wishes and much happiness in the future.

We will finish September with a LGBT (Gay Pride) party night on Saturday 30th. The Club is a strong supporter of LGBT and I know that this event will be very popular with a big turnout expected.

Onwards into October in the Club and on Wednesday 25th we are holding a ‘Halloween’ Quiz, Bingo and Pie & Pea Supper starting at 8pm. Tickets are priced at £3-50p and are available from the Club or myself. Tables of up to 6 people and everybody is welcome. The success of the quiz nights has a lot to do with Julie Towell who asks the questions and calls the numbers for the bingo. Her personality and humour always has the room in laughter. She is a star and we all thank her very much. On Friday 27th ‘Teesside Steve’ & Liz Bishop will again be hosting the monthly ‘Open Mic Night’ at 8pm in the new function room (names taken for those wishing to perform from 7-30pm). Everybody is welcome, with free entry, to sing, play or just listen to the best live music in Saltburn. It’s a very popular night and a great atmosphere you don’t want to miss.

Saturday 28th brings a ‘Rocky Horror’ themed music night with our resident DJ on the decks. Once again this will be a very popular night which starts at 7-30pm. Although not compulsory we encourage people attending to dress in costume

as we approach Halloween Night. Entry is free and it’s another night you really don’t want to miss. The following day we are holding a private birthday party with a buffet from 4pm to 8pm.

As you can see from all the events mentioned many members are taking advantage of our free hire of facilities for such things as birthdays, wedding receptions, meetings, funeral wakes, anniversaries, christenings etc. which you could take advantage of if you became a member. Many events are put on throughout the year to entertain all age groups plus we hold a regular club draw every Tuesday and a Beer draw every Sunday at 6pm where you can win gallons of beer plus a chance to win the cash rollover, currently standing at £475. To become a member in October you would only need to pay £3 which would cover you until the end of the year after which your full membership for 2018 would be due in January at a cost of £12 for the year. Many new members have joined the Club this year, including 92 in the last 3 months and all new members have enjoyed the company and made many new friends, It’s that kind of Club with no bad behaviour, just a great atmosphere and everybody getting on well together. To become a member just call into the Club and fill in an application form. Don’t forget you get beer at £2.10p per pint during ‘Happy Hours’ which run from 4-30pm to 7pm midweek and 3pm to 5pm weekends.

I can now report that we have installed Sky TV enabling our members to watch all the top football matches and sporting events. It’s currently showing on our existing TVs but during this month a new big screen TV will be arriving and fitted into the stage end of the Club enabling members in the other half of the Club who don’t watch sport to still enjoy their visit without interference. I am also pleased to report that the Club opening times have altered and from the beginning of October we will now be opening every weekday afternoon at 4-30pm. All other times remain the same.

Regarding the Club alterations, the stage end of the bar is now being upgraded and new ‘Tiffany’ lamps have been installed in the bar. More lamps and wall lights will soon be fitted in what was the lounge end of the bar with new ceiling lights and chandeliers (Tiffany) fitted into both sides of the new bar.

There’s a lot happening to enable us to give our members the best facilities. Come and join us. You can keep up to date on all club events by using our Facebook page ‘Saltburn Conservative & Unionist Club’.

Keep well, stay safe and be happy, 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 October Every Tuesday: Club Draw Nights for Meat Voucher, Wines & Chocolates… 10pm Every Sunday: Beer 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 Tuesday 3rd: SLUG (Saltburn Line users Group) meeting … 7-15pm 46

Wednesday 25th: Halloween Quiz, Bingo Pie & Pea Supper.

Tickets £3-50p … 8pm Friday 27th: ‘Open Mic Night’ hosted by Teesside Steve & Liz Bishop … 8pm Saturday 28th: ‘Rocky Horror’ Party Music Night (Dress for the Night) … 7-30pm Sunday 29th: Private Birthday Party … 4pm to 8pm.

Neil Wilson Builder and Joiner

Your local professional builder Established 1974.

All aspects of building and joinery work undertaken by qualified, experienced tradesmen.

For free estimate call:

01287 652124 or 07976 628783

A Local Flavour

Member of the Federation of Master Builders

Photo: l-r: Julia Robinson & Claire Leonard from Saltburn Allotment Association by Stuart Boulton.

Local food fans have more than 40 good reasons to visit Saltburn Farmers’ Market on Saturday, 14th October, with a tasty mix of more than 40 stalls brimming with good locally produced food, drink and art.

And it’s perhaps the most local food of all that will be taking centre stage at the ever-popular Market, with Saltburn Allotment Association always proving a big hit with shoppers.

Julia Robinson of Saltburn Allotment Association said: “It’s great that so much good local food is right here in the heart of town every month, and we love being part of the Saturday morning buzz around the Farmers’ Market.

“Growing our own food at the allotments is a real passion and a labour of love for us all, and it’s great to share that with so many people on market day.”

Saltburn Farmers’ Market Manager Lorna Jackson said: “The Allotment Association have been with us pretty much right from the start of the Market nine years ago, and we love having them around the place. All their profits go towards the upkeep of the allotments and their work in the community to help people grow their own food. They have a wonderful mix of jams & preserves, plants, fresh fruit & veg and a whole lot more - some of it picked fresh on the morning of the market itself. The allotments are literally just a few hundred yards up the road from the Market, so it really doesn’t get any fresher or any more local than that.

It’s no wonder that people love them so much.”

Saltburn Farmers’ Market: Saturday, 14th October.

Based near Saltburn Railway Station. 9am-2pm (for further info, visit www.saltburnfarmersmarket.com).

47

G Hodgson Joinery For Domestic & Commercial Property maintenance, Repairs and Improvements Including

Kitchens Bathrooms Bedrooms Doors Windows Flooring Skirting

UPVC Doors & Windows Tiling Glazing Plumbing Electrics PVC Wall & Ceiling Board Decking

For quality workmanship guaranteed by time served tradesmen at a sensible price call for Free Estimate

01287 623099 07900 492439

Our upstairs bar has reopened!

Come join us every Thursday, Friday & Saturday evening between 6 & 11pm.

As well as serving cocktails, we now stock a selection of premium gins, craft beers & quality wines. Please note that we no longer serve evening meals – we do however have light snacks available for purchase including Joe & Sephs gourmet popcorn, olives, crisps, nuts & confectionary

Hot meals, breakfast, snacks & drinks served all day, every day Sunday-Thursday 8am-4pm and Friday & Saturday 8am-6pm.

Fully licensed. www.signalsbistro.com 48

The Saltburn Profile by Rosemary Nicholls John Besford “I was born on St Swithin’s Day in 1923,” says John Besford, who has lived in Saltburn since he was twelve and seen the number of banks shrink from five to one, despite the town becoming increasingly vibrant, in his opinion.

John’s birthplace was Hexham, but he was only there briefly, as his father who worked for an insurance company was promoted to Maidstone. When John and his two brothers were at Primary School, his father became ill. The family moved to Brighton for his health, but he sadly died and they moved back to Maidstone. Having passed the 11+, John began at Maidstone Grammar School, which he remembers for its beautiful new buildings. However, after a year his mother decided to return north and chose Saltburn, as she had once had a holiday here. The family rented 1 Exeter Street.

John transferred to Sir William Turner’s Grammar School at Redcar and remembers finding the buildings ancient.

While there, he joined the Air Training Corps and passed his School Certificate. He left school at sixteen to be a clerk at Redcar Railway Station Booking Office, a job he greatly enjoyed. In 1940, John volunteered to become a messenger for Air Raid Precautions. He served alongside former Saltburn resident, Norman Bainbridge and if the communications system broke down, they were obliged to get on their bicycles with information.

In 1942, John applied for training in the Air Crew in the RAF. He was accepted and told to report to Lords Cricket Ground in London, before being sent for training in Torquay and Carlisle. He flew Tiger Moths solo after eight hours of instruction. His next posting was to Manchester, where he trained as a navigator with the Commonwealth Air Training Scheme. From there, he was sent for training with the Royal Canadian Air Force Central School of Navigation, near Winnipeg.

“After I was awarded my wings, I spent one month’s leave in America,” he remembers. “Then I returned to the UK on a ship called The Aquitania, which was packed with US servicemen. There was no space, lots of queuing and we had to sleep in hammocks!”

There was more training in the UK for John, who was posted to 514 Squadron based at Waterbeach, near Cambridge.

As a crew, the men did twenty-two operations against Germany and were equipped with special radar equipment. He took part in two low level food drops to The Hague, where the people were starving. “We could see both the people waving to us from the rooftops and the Germans pointing their AA guns at us!” he says.

While he was away, 1 Exeter Street was demolished by a German bomb, but fortunately, his mother had moved to 18 Exeter Street and was safe.

At the end of the war, John was involved in flying part of the Belgian Government back to Brussels and bringing back prisoners of war from Bari in south-east Italy and from France. After the Squadron was decommissioned, he was appointed Transport Officer for the RAF at Hamburg. But when he returned to Civvy Street, he rejoined the London – North-Eastern Railway at Redcar.

John passed further exams and for the next nine years was a Relief Station Master at various stations, including Kirby Stephen and Hawes. In 1951, he married Freda Whiteley of Lune Street, whose father was a founder pastor of the Leven Street Mission Church and they had one daughter, Janet.

In 1958, John was promoted to a post in the staff

section of LNER and then to Depot Manager of National Carriers Ltd at Darlington and later, Operations Manager at Stockton. After accepting eventual redundancy, he was appointed as Operations Manager for the North York Moors Railway, based at Grosmont. When his contract ended, he changed tack.

He became an administrator at a new branch of the National Association for Care and Resettlement of Offenders at Middlesbrough, under the auspices of the Probation Service.

“It was most rewarding work,” he says. But he decided to retire early at sixty-three. He celebrated his golden wedding in 2001, but sadly Freda died of vascular dementia in 2005.

Freda was a pianist/piano teacher, who also taught nursery children at Rushpool Hall before she married. She was accompanist to her daughter, Janet, who was a singer. John enjoys classical music, including Mozart and opera singers Lesley Garrett and Katherine Jenkins. He likes to listen to talking books and is fond of TV programmes such as ‘The Two Ronnies’, ‘Last of the Summer Wine’, ‘Countryfile’ and ‘The Antiques Roadshow’.

For several years, John was Secretary of Saltburn Retired Men’s Forum and he has long been a member of the Methodist Church. He became a Saltburn Chapel Steward and then Treasurer for the whole of the local Methodist Circuit. As Circuit Steward, he served one year as a representative at the Methodist Conference. He can no longer attend Chapel in person, but Ian Johnson of Sleights and Alan Richmond of Saltburn keep him in touch with CD recordings of morning services.

He used to appreciate holidays in Northern Scotland and met the Queen Mum a couple of times on Royal Deesside, when they were all out with their dogs. They were apprehensive about her corgis, but she soon put them at ease!

49

1st Saltburn Scout Group The first week of the Autumn session for all the Sections usually involves speaking to new entrants to the Sections; be it Beavers, Cubs or Scouts, those moving up from a lower Section or those ‘new’ to 1st Saltburn. But as expected all Section meetings were lower in numbers as expected, so week one is often almost a ‘games’ night (much appreciated by the Cubs and Scouts) with an opportunity to have a very active evening! All Sections are now well accustomed to the changes in the building; it being lighter, warmer, and more suited to all Sections for activities. All have noted the changes outside; the white rendering and the re-sited Scouts notice ensure all know who we are! Also the re-aligned outside light will be useful as the nights draw in.

Beavers returned after the summer break and numbers are steady at twenty-four; Dylan having ‘moved on’ to Cubs and the Colony welcomed Douglas, James and Max. There will be another influx after the October half-term break as a further four move on to Cubs and we attempt to reduce the burgeoning ‘Want to Join’ list. For those who are awaiting please bear with us, the building size and Leadership team can only cope with twenty-four. Jamie (Section Assistant) is settling in well and parents are starting to volunteer again to join the rota for supporting the weekly meetings.

Cubs should number twenty-one Cubs, but the first two weeks have seen only a 50% attendance so we will wait and see; however, the October half-term move up from Beavers will also see two Cubs moving to Scouts. The Leadership team is a little depleted at the present time: Garry (Section Assistant) is working away during the week at present, so more parents are going to have to step forward to join Julie and Richard who already have been out and about

Saltburn Line User Group Next Meeting: Tuesday, 3rd October 2017 at 7.15pm.

Meetings at Saltburn Conservative Club are held on the first Tuesday of the month, 19.15pm for a 19.30pm start.

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 50

with us; our Scout Peter (who continues with his Duke of Edinburgh’s Silver Award) is with us and after the October break will have another Sam as a Young Leader Explorer Scout. This is owing to the ‘older’ Sam reaching adult age and wishing to become a Section Assistant with Scouts; he has been invaluable with all our activities and events.

Scout numbers remain steady at twenty-two members; but by the half term break that will change with Sam changing Sections and the additions from Cubs. Four Scouts are off for a Training weekend at Kettleness (District Activity Centre) with Scouts from within East Cleveland in October and we are planning to enter a team (or teams) for the five-a-side District Football Competition in November. The Leader team is strong in Scouts with Keith and Paula as Assistant Leaders; Jonathan (Section Assistant) who will be joined by Sam; and the helpers of Ann, Sarah and Tony.

We are awaiting the installation of roller shuttering to the front entrance area, which will be even more noticeable as it will be in ‘Scouting’ purple and other internal works are still to be undertaken. At the same time the Group Executive is preparing for Scout Post in December and hopefully a bag pack at Sainsbury’s in December as well; so it is heading up to a busy Autumn term.

As we move on into another year of Scouting @ 1st Saltburn, we still need more involvement particularly with the Cub Section! In the meantime our parents and friends continue to be involved in all our endeavours; for which we are very grateful. We welcome any assistance in all our activities (however little!) and if you are interested in joining us, please enquire: John G. Hannah – 07811 801627 (or johnghannah@yahoo.co.uk).

RITSON Tree Care QUALIFIED ARBORISTS

 Sympathetic Tree Pruning  Sectional Dismantling  Hedge Trimming  Storm Damage  Tree Planting  Tree Inspection  Woodchipping  Stump Grinding  All Aspects of Tree Surgery

MEMBER

Local Authority Approved

undertaken

 All Debris Removed  All Areas Covered ALL WORK TO BS3998 STANDARD.

N.P.T.C. Certified & Fully Insured Environmentally Friendly Member International Society of Arboriculture

(01287) 625457

Postal Subscription to Talk of the Town If you enjoy reading Talk of the Town, why not subscribe to the postal service? You can have the magazine delivered to your door, anywhere in the UK for as little as £33.50 per year.

Write to us at TotT Subscriptions, 9 The Wynd, Marske, Cleveland, TS11 7LD. Don’t forget to enclose your name and address or alternatively, you can call us on 01642 477200 if you wish to pay by credit or debit card.

A Grand Day Out by Alan Butler As I lay in bed awake last night I could hear the first chill winds of the gradually dying year moaning around the house and I thought with some slight trepidation of the frosts and snow to come. We haven’t had the most stunning summer on record but at least it has afforded some happy memories that can surround me as I struggle to keep my footing and wear copious amounts of clothing to keep out the cold when January arrives. In particular just last weekend we had a grand day out that would not have been out of place for Wallace and Grommet themselves.

Not far from Richmond, less than an hour from here by car is the strangest attraction I have ever visited.

It’s called ‘The Forbidden Corner’ and if you have not been there I would strongly advise you to book in and visit the place just as soon as the next returning year makes it practical to do so. Forbidden Corner is a place that is actually quite difficult to describe. It began its life as the idea of an obviously wealthy man who owned a large manor house with extensive grounds and who wanted to do something that would delight his family and friends. He obviously had a somewhat unique sense of humour and must surely have been a fan of the works of Lewis Carroll because the results of his extensive efforts would not be out of place in the strangest adventures of Alice and her many peculiar friends.

I had visited Forbidden Corner some years ago and was delighted back then but it has to be said that those who run the place have not allowed the grass to grow under their feet. New attractions have been added and although it is a mammoth trek along dark passages, up and down stone stairs and around stunning vistas, the whole experience leaves one feeling that one has been on a journey – the like of which is hardly ever experienced during the cut and thrust of our everyday lives.

It all begins as one passes literally through the mouth and down the throat of a great stone giant, who belches loudly at every footfall and this sets the scene for every wonderful little adventure that lies ahead.

Keeping to the prescribed path is almost impossible. If you are in a large group expect to get split up, so be sure to make arrangements to meet up at some place that is easy to find – that is if you can discover such a thing. Be prepared for shocks at every turn and if you are the sort of person who is a stickler for health and safety then maybe some other resort would suit you better. I am quite frankly astonished that the place is even allowed to exist or function because there are some parts of it in which there is absolutely no natural light at all. Feeling one’s way along long, pitch black caverns might not seem to be a good way to spend a Saturday or Sunday but it is actually tremendous fun.

At every corner expect to be assaulted by water sprays, howling ghosts, disembodied voices involved in incomprehensible conversations with other unseen entities and statuary of a ‘singular’ sort, some of which

could just possibly affront those of a prudish disposition.

The place is very big on tomb stones, most of which carry epitaphs that will have you still laughing long after the long journey is over – there are upstanding coffins in which you can hide and then surprise the rest of your party as they round a bend, stairs that go nowhere, vantage points that demonstrate the best of what a Yorkshire Dales landscape can offer, a frog fountain that will be certain to catch you out every quarter of an hour and secluded seats amidst the assaults on sight and hearing that are the stock in trade of this most remarkable place.

The most enduring memory of the place is how difficult it is to stay on track, no matter how one might study the map that is given at the entrance. The trouble is that there are doors everywhere – usually closed, but all demanding to be opened and explored. Crystal ceilings allow coloured light to filter down, just around the corner from a veritable chamber of horrors; great gold birds stare down, cackling laughter fills the air and passages unaccountably get narrower and narrower, allowing one to get stuck like a cork in a bottle. Retracing one’s steps is inevitable on many occasions and that means meeting perplexed visitors coming in the opposite direction.

Nobody has the slightest idea where they may be or whether they will ever manage to enter the ‘real’ world again. I fully expected to see ragged hermits begging for food – people who might have been in the place for months or years and who have given up all hope of ever regaining their liberty.

If all or any of this makes the experience sound unpleasant you can be certain that it was actually one of the most liberating days out that I have ever experienced in my life – and I have been lucky enough to travel the world.

It is impossible in the Forbidden Corner to live one’s life by the normal rules that govern our days and I am sure this is what makes the whole scenario such an absolute delight.

Kate’s grandchildren were absolutely delighted with not only the experience itself but the chance to partake in a grand family picnic, surrounded by ducks and the largest goose I have ever seen. The surreal behaviour of these feathered dining companions added to the constantly unfolding spectacle and stimulated the children’s sense of wonder and even incredulity better than any video game or Pixar movie.

At the end of it all is the obligatory souvenir shop but also a large restaurant serving wholesome food at very reasonable prices and all of the staff we encountered were courteous and seemed to be having as good a time as any of the visitors. I would travel a vast distance to experience anything like Forbidden Corner, if only because in a world that is becoming so sanitized that it is impossible to do almost anything without ‘Nanny’ disapproving, here is a location in which all the laws designed to keep us safe and secure seem to have been mysteriously but absolutely abandoned.

Roll on next summer. I want to go there again – and again – and again!

51

Saltburn Allotments Association As I write this it is distinctly autumnal. It’s chilly and wet, much like the summer really. The leaves of my courgettes, marrows and pumpkins have been attacked with mildew now but there still seems to be plenty of fruit to harvest so I’m keeping my fingers crossed. If you have pumpkins and squashes it’s likely that they are not ready to harvest yet. If the leaves are dying back you can cut them off, put something under the pumpkins to lift them slightly off the soil and leave them to turn the correct colour and for the skins to harden. When you knock on them it sounds a bit like knocking on a door, the fruits need to be harvested. Store them in a cool, dark, dry place where they should keep for months.

Of course, later this month, we will all want pumpkins to make Halloween lanterns. Our pumpkin party will be on Friday, 27th October this year at 4.30pm in the Wildlife Garden as usual. We are on the lookout for new quizzes, pictures to colour in etc. and there will be the usual food and activities. It’s useful to have an idea of numbers so, if you want to join in, let me know (on spf.bs@ntlworld.com).

In terms of jobs, try to make sure all your potatoes are lifted this month, dried and stored in a cool, dark dry place. You could then fork over the area, add some fertiliser such as chicken pellets and sow autumn broad beans. Once you’ve forked the area over, tread it down as broad beans like firm ground. Then, sow the seeds 2 inches deep and nine inches apart in double rows 12 inches apart. Sow some extra seeds at the ends of the rows so that you have a few plants to fill gaps where the seeds don’t germinate. The reason for double rows is that as the plants grow in spring, it’s easier to support the double rows to stop plants toppling over.

If you have ripe fruit, pick it and if it will store, store the unblemished fruits. Bruised fruit or any that have been slightly damaged can be eaten or used in jams and preserves (or cordials or wine).

Keep weeding your winter crops, such as leeks, sprouts, cabbages etc. This stops weeds competing for light and nutrients and keeps pests and diseases at bay. Also, check anything you already have in store, such as onions and potatoes, every week if possible. You can spot any signs of rot and remove it before it spreads.

In our heavy clay soil, it can be a good idea to lift root crops such as beetroot and carrots and store them in layers in boxes of dry peat or sand in a dark, cool, dry place. This stops the roots rotting if it’s very wet and keeps them safe from pests such as slugs.

Happy gardening, Sue. 52

Saltburn Labour Party News Have you tried to get a doctor’s appointment at the Huntcliff practice recently? I went in last week, and discovered that the calm and focussed atmosphere of our main surgery had gone missing. There was a long queue at the desk, the seats were full and the staff members were obviously working on the stretched side of full stretch. It was as if, by some dark magic, an inner-city surgery had been transplanted into our small coastal community. When I spoke sympathetically to the receptionist about the state of things, she told me it was ‘just chaos at the moment’.

It is several months since representatives from the South Tees Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) came to our borough’s Health and Well-Being Board and announced to us that the Marske Surgery would be closing. Two years ago, Marske became the first surgery in our area to be contracted out to the private sector. A consortium of Doncaster GPs won the contract to treat the 5000 patients at the practice, after the NHS decided they didn’t have enough doctors to run the service and that temporary locum doctors were too expensive. The finance director of the private limited company told the Gazette, “We do not make massive profits, but any profit generated is ploughed back into providing quality health care and improving or procuring new services. Because we are owned by GPs we are focused on primary care, and have the knowledge to provide that quality.”

In March the company went into administration, leaving 37,000 patients, including 5000 in Marske, without a GP. Almost 1000 of those abandoned patients are now registered at Huntcliff, hence the chaos.

This is what the privatisation of the NHS looks like. For a long time we have been told that private money in the NHS is a good thing; that it brings much needed reforms and greater efficiency. Unfortunately, it also brings the normal operations of the market, where companies can go bust and leave their customers (that’s what we are now) high and dry. It also brought the infamous Private Finance Initiatives, involving contractual payments which are crippling hospital finances all over the country.

And this is just the start. I have previously written here about the Government’s NHS Transformation plans. The plan for this area is intended to ‘save’ £181million from the NHS budget.

Following no consultation at all, Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary in Theresa May’s Cabinet, has decided to enlarge the area for our plan, creating a single body which bears a remarkable resemblance to the system in the USA, where regional health and social care is paid for through private health insurance from residents. Take my word for it - the private health care companies are already applying (for more info on this, see David Walsh’s article in the Northern Echo, 14th September).

Redcar and Cleveland Council has passed a motion, proposed by Labour, to reject the STP plan. I spoke supporting it, but was told by opposition councillors that I was exaggerating, and that there was no need to bring the USA into the debate at all.

Good idea, why not suggest it to the Government!

There is no need now to make claims about NHS privatisation - it’s happening. Instead of producing freedom of choice it feels like living in the Soviet Union, where the queues just got longer and longer in the best of all possible worlds.

Still, if you do have trouble getting an appointment you can always phone your MP, Simon Clarke, on 01287 631928. Why not ask him to try to renationalise the NHS while you’re there.

Councillor Craig Hannaway

The Muses of Jim I must start with abject apologies. Let me explain: on Sunday evening there was an incident in the Club, which was only brought to my attention after the member concerned had left the Club. There is no need to go into the details, but the Stewardess requested that I do something about the incident. So, the next day I used Facebook, as I could not find the email address of the vice-chairman of the club. I detailed all the relevant facts, thinking that I had used the methodology so that the receiver would be the only person able to read the message. Unfortunately, I had gone wrong and only realised I had when Julie from the club phoned me to tell me what had happened. As soon as I was informed and was told how to delete the message I did. I was mortified in what I had accidentally done. It must be remembered that there were other members in the room that knew about the incident before I did and it would be likely that the word could have hit the street before the bookies would have opened the next day. I still feel bad about my part in the matter. I have spoken to people about my experience and they all said welcome to the club of pressing the wrong button. I did speak to the member concerned and give my apologies in person, explaining my actions, which were accepted. I then found the missing email address. I did feel such a fool.

I had occasion to watch a recording of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council 3rd of August 2017 and it was very revealing indeed. There appeared to be no passion when talking about our and their communities, including matters concerning evening buses. And take housing for example. A forest of housing is springing up throughout Tees Valley. Is it the housing we the public want or need, or which the government wants and needs, or is it what the developers want to build and sell to the gullible public? I would suggest it is the latter. I feel that what people really need and want, is affordable housing with energy saving factors, sizable garden spaces with solar panels to reduce costs and an infrastructure to serve these communities. I would have thought that most councillors would have had that opinion, but very few spoke. There was more said about the dead than defending the conditions for the living. There seemed to be no passion in the Chamber on that day. These people were discussing how local people are going to face the future will low pay cuts to benefits and worst of all cuts to public services, for example evening buses.

I have just changed my internet and TV provider from Virgin to Sky. Thus saving £31 a month.

Remember, I am a pensioner and a Yorkshireman, therefore it is useful to be thrifty. Just before I changed Virgin sent their latest box and none of my three sets could use it as they are too old, being hand me downs by rich children, bless them all. Remember I am a poor pensioner with an expensive cat to keep. Likewise it is the same with Sky. Hence I am looking for a new up-todate TV set. When I contacted Virgin about changing providers, they offered to match Sky’s offer. Surely that’s an indication that they have being overcharging me

for years. That’s the job for the weekend, hitting the large charity shops in the big city, which I supposed was going to have to be Middlesbrough. I hoped they would give a free delivery. However, the replacement television was purchased without having to travel to the bid city of Middlesbrough. The bargain buy was done at Redcar’s Cash Generators. I always feel rather sad using this shop as I feel I am taking advantage of other people’s problems, but a bargain is a bargain and they are really good value and they even organised a taxi for me to take my purchase home. Now I was waiting for the arrival of the Sky engineer, to set up the system. However, the engineer arrived shortly after being contacted and set the system up nice and quickly. Now I have a new toy to play with after Megan, my granddaughter, gives me a few lessons in its operation over the weekend, I hope. Spud appears to be very pleased the new arrangement, or is that my imagination?

As over the years I have been struggling in getting out of the bath I have had a walk-in bath fitted. It was a bit weird at first. As the two water outlets are spring loaded I kept standing on them. It was nice to be able to get out quickly, rather than with my usual struggle with gravity.

That reminds me: I must return the bath seat to the NHS as soon as possible. Because I am disabled I did not have to pay any VAT. In a sense I saved money and I can truly recommend it to other people with mobility problems. The work of the staff from Rubberduck from Redcar was of the highest standard and they left the bathroom tidier than it was before they started.

Another successful motor event, the September Hill Climb, was supported by the people of Saltburn. A great folk festival and food fair in August. Saltburn seems to be growing in stature year by year. Shops do not lay unused for long before they are back in business offering something new and original to please the eye. With such variety it makes Saltburn well worth visiting. Compared say to Redcar our shops make it worthwhile for visitors returning to Saltburn time and time again through the year, where the other attractions and delights of Saltburn can be discovered and explored.

I have just booked my place on the conference and AGM of the National Association of Local Councils at Milton Keynes. It is a two day event but because of the position of the town in the country I will have to spend extra nights away. Now I have to find a cheap hotel close to the Football Ground. This year the Cleveland Local Council Association, of which I am the Chairman, has been nominated for a national award. So fingers crossed. If we do well it will solely be due to our administrator Margaret from Hardwick in Partnership, Stockton. She runs a very tight ship and keeps a very close eye on me, keeping me on the straight and narrow. The association may be one of the smallest in the country but it is one of the best.

Sorry about the rant but it’s been a hell of a week and I am glad it is over and done with.

Jim Wingham 53

The Saltburn Crossword no 196 set by Dinosaur Across 1 8 9 10 11 13 14 15 18 19 21 22 23 24

Local elected representative (5, 8) Hindu shelter of flash ramifications (6) Light-sensitive organ will interpret in amorous embrace (6) Parliamentary negative singular (3) Local elected representative (5, 6) One of the three main states of matter adds pound after Roman fifty-one (6) 11 Across is one when voting with the 21 Downs (8) Listen as an eavesdropper or perhaps it’s too loud (8) Plant disease is second-rate but then what’s needed for photosynthesis (6) Get the wrong idea scattering toner’s music (11) Insect for a New Testament? (3) Go Away! I’ll go after commercial transport. Be Quiet! (6) Such a rate is seldom paid these days, though timely (6) Local elected representative (6, 7)

Down Name___________________________________ Address_________________________________ ________________________________________ Telephone_______________________________

1 See 18 Down 2 A method that’s distant? (4) 3 Old-fashioned word for rampaging insane shown by thorn made to lose extremities (4-3) 4 So called but not really, in name only (7) 5 Gas movement necessary for life and owl fair enough (7) 6 Different choice breaking a trial event (11) 7 See 20 Down 11 Local elected representative (6, 5) 12 Safeguards provide it when scattering coin potter (10) 16 A new age is often described thus when chop ale spills (7) 17 Traditional source of vitamin C stirring ore ship (7) 18 Local elected representative (7, 10) 20 and 7 Down Redcar river street opens a van door (4, 4) 21 Parliamentary positive plural (4)

Solution to Crossword no 195

The winner of last month’s crossword was Jim Duff of Montrose Street, Saltburn.

D. V. Townend & Co 8 Dundas Street East, Saltburn TS12 1AH

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

54

Send your completed crossword to: Saltburn Crossword no 196, c/o Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, TS12 1AQ by Friday, 20th October 2017. First correct solution out of the bag wins a £10 voucher kindly donated by Tim and Sheila of Real Meals.

55

56