Talk of the Town September 2020

EDITION 231

CIRCULATION 4,600

SEPTEMBER 2020

SALTBURN’S FREE MONTHLY MAGAZINE 1

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SALTBURN’S TOWN TALK Letter from the Editor

Everywhere I look there is litter, mostly plastic. I don’t understand why some people can’t be bothered taking it home and just drop it on the street. That’s bad enough, and in the woodland it spoils the natural beauty of the place, but on the beach it is a severely damaging environmental hazard. Along the whole length of the shore there is a tide line, marked by stones and seaweed. It marks the limit of the high tide and it is where litter that has been floating in the sea is deposited.

There is nothing that can be done about it except pick it up!

Even if nobody dropped their litter on Saltburn Beach, this plastic pollution would still collect along the tide line because it has been washed there from elsewhere. Cans and bottles form part of it, but nearly all is plastic packaging: sweet wrappers, clingfilm, crisp packets, even the plastic bags that had contained fishing line. This really surprises me because I know that fishermen are generally responsible and aware of the need to protect the environment that gives them their livelihood as well as their pleasure. I suppose that all it takes is just one or two behaving badly. During August I found myself litter picking on the beach. I cleared all the plastic and

everything else from the tide line all the way to Marske, filling large carrier bags every day over the course of a week, until I had finished a job well done. The next day I looked forward to seeing the tide line again, hoping to observe how free of plastic it was. Imagine how I felt when I saw that there was just as much as usual! Two further high tides since the previous day had deposited even more. I got on and started picking it up again. There’s nothing else to do about it. It’s good for you, you know! Litter picking not only gives you a sense of doing your bit for the community, for the natural beauty of the area, for the benefit of visitors and residents alike, but also for your back! The first time my lower back ‘went’ it was the most painful I’ve ever experienced, some twenty years ago, but since then, the gentle constant movement of bending down to pick up litter has strengthened it considerably. Love, Ian

Send letters, adverts and contributions for the next issue (by Friday, 18th September 2020) to: The Editor, Talk of the Town, Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, Cleveland, TS12 1AQ. Telephone: 01287 623903 (or email: talkofthetownsaltburn@gmail.com).

Saltburn Farmers’ Market: Thank you to everyone who Talk of the Town can be read online at came to our summer markets. The markets went really well, www.saltburnbysea.com and found on a new Facebook with lots of customers spread out around the three market address at www.facebook.com/talkofthetownsaltburn. areas, following our colourful one way system and using lots Saltburn Studios and Gallery: If you’re passing, take a peek of hand sanitiser! At the time of going to press we will be at our ever evolving Gallery Window Exhibition, with artwork able to increase the number of food producers at the Autumn from all of our 17 Studio Artists. You can also keep updated Markets by about a third, as we all learn to cope with the new with what our Studio Artists are creating in their studios on our way of life! In August we brought in a few new producers Facebook and Instagram pages. and we will continue to bring back new and old favourites as Craft Club Busy Fingers: We have cancelled our normal and when we can to ensure the best selection of local produce sessions on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month, in the that is just not available anywhere else! And remember: many Coffee Room, Saltburn Community Centre until further notice. of our food and drink producers have adapted well and you Random Stitchers of Cleveland (Embroiderers’ Guild) are in SaltburnTraditional Library thisMusic month Workshops: on 12th June Unfortunately at 2.00pm. Seewe can pre-order many items so they will be ready for collection Saltburn are cancelled until further notice but we hope at the market between 9 and 10am. Check out Saltburn Library article on page 10 for further details. to resume again Farmers’ Market Facebook page for the latest information or as soon as we can. individual producers to pre-order. Next Market is Saturday, WI Report: The ladies of Saltburn WI usually have a rest in September 12th, 9am till 2pm. We are suggesting that the first August, but of course nothing is usual this year! It is possible hour is most suitable for anyone who really needs to grab we are doing more than usual. Our meetings have now been suspended for 5 months with no sign of us being able to meet their shopping and go as it is generally the quietest hour! again in the near future, but that hasn’t stopped us keeping in Random Stitchers of Cleveland: Random Stitchers of touch. In July every member received a small hand delivered Cleveland (Embroiderers’ Guild) are cancelling all meetings gift from the committee to let them know they hadn’t been with immediate effect. These meetings usually take place in forgotten. We have started our strolls again and these are Sunnyfield House at Guisborough. Members will be kept up proving more popular than ever. We are to be seen wandering to date with any changes as they arise. Any further info from around Saltburn, Marske and Skelton on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Gill on 01642 480 344.

We have continued to have weekly zoom meetings, sometimes Emmanuel Church Hall Table Top and Collectors’ Sale: for a chat and catch up, other times for a quiz night. Weekly We cancelled the sales in the last four months and there are challenges are varied. This week in August at the time of still no changes. As soon as we know anything we will let all writing, we were challenged to make bread. our customers know but we aren’t opening till we feel it is Despite all this activity we look forward to the day we safe to do so. We look forward to seeing everyone when we can announce a face to face meeting with the message that new do. We are missing you all lots! I have managed to cater for a members are always welcome. few customers that I had phone numbers for, but if any of you In the mean time you can keep up with all our activities need to contact me for anything please ring Denise Marshall at www.saltburnbytheseawi.wordpress.com or take a look at our Facebook page. on 07929 589538. Everyone stay safe and take care!

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

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A Tribute to the Many Years of Saltburn in Bloom Saltburn-by-the-Sea has been enhanced over many years by volunteers working in conjunction with the local Borough Council and Parish Council. The photographs are a very small representation of all the work done by many people.

Despite the difficulties we have faced this year, volunteers have ensured that the town has not been deprived of floral displays, particularly the upper promenade and fossil garden are very attractive.

A school choir greets the judges from Northumbria in Bloom.

A group of volunteers and supporters at a presentation in the Station Precinct.

Action Earth was a National tidy up campaign involving all ages in 2007.

Above left: Saltburn in Bloom has been supported by Saltburn Miniature Railway over many years. On this occasion they used a visiting steam locomotive to convey the judges through the valley. Above right: Pre-school children helped with the floral displays at Upleatham Street School.

Planting bulbs in the Police Station garden 2007.

Presentation of Certificates to children who contributed to a Saltburn in Bloom calendar.

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A 2009 view in the Valley Gardens before the fountain base was removed.

Cath and Tony Lynn

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WE WILL BE

Open For worship At 10.45a.m ON SunDay 6th SEPTEMBER COME AND JOIN US

Safety Guidelines will be followed 5

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

Here for you: WELCOME! Sundays 11.00am www.saltburnevangelicalchurch.org.uk

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Real Meals

Purveyors of Fine Foods Dressed Crabs, Live Mussels Locally caught Haddock Yorkshire Blue Cheese Handmade Wensleydale Cheese and Lemon Cake. .....Just a few of the specialities Real Meals is famous for!

We will continue to increase our opening times throughout September but are still operating a Pick up In Store option and a Delivery Service every Friday afternoon.

Stay safe and eat well.

Tel 01287 622266

www.realmeals.online 25 Milton Street, Saltburn. Open 7 Days a Week Email: realmeals.uk@gmail.com

Councillors’ Column Net Zero Teesside is a nationally significant infrastructure project designed to capture carbon. For residents, who have listened down the years, to theories of carbon capture and local proposals, a real project is about to materialise bringing the aspiration to decarbonise the economy and tackle greenhouse gas emissions one step closer.

NTZ is a major undertaking both onshore and under the sea. Land construction requires Secretary of State approval of a Development Control Order. Part of the granting criteria is evidence of local consultation. Residents and companies within 20 kilometres of the intended site at Teesside Development Corporation are encouraged to respond by the 18th September.

Further information on NZT can be gleaned from www.netzeroteesside.co.uk, contacting the Project Team, consultation@netzeroteesside.co.uk or by freepost, Freepost Net Zero Teesside Project Consultation, or telephone, Freephone 0800 211 8185, where lines are open 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday. Please play a part. The project is scheduled to start operating in 2027, just 3 years before Redcar & Cleveland’s target year of 2030 for being a carbon neutral borough.

Highway matters continue to frustrate many residents.

Parking in rear alleyways, across dropped kerbs and not finding anywhere to park because of visiting vehicles are on the list. There is movement for the planned increase in parking capacity on Marine Parade and also in Marine Court.

This work should surely proceed in the coming months.

A further study has been requested to establish where kerbs, which are yet to be mobility scooter friendly, are

located. A programme of works will then address the deficiencies.

Recently two pedestrians have been knocked down by cyclists. Many reports have been received of near misses from cyclists with experiences of trauma as a result. Whilst the majority of cyclists are law abiding a few clearly are not.

Signage requesting cyclists to dismount will be extended from the Lower Promenade to all woodland areas within Saltburn’s three valleys. In addition, chicane barriers are being considered in Riftswood, site of several reported very close encounters.

The Library is being rewired at some considerable expense, hopefully reopening in October. Meanwhile, BorrowBox provides free audio and ebooks. The mobile library serves house bound and vulnerable, call 07909 906324, while the Select & Collect service allows readers to telephone and select books and then collect by arrangement from a chosen library. Marske Library, 01642 485440, is part of the network.

Covid-19 is still with us. It has affected bodily health for many and directly or indirectly the mental health of others.

Redcar & Cleveland Mind has stated that its priority is the health and wellbeing of our community and its team members understand this is an anxious time for many people. Anyone, irrespective of age, can seek assistance from 01642 296052.

Other urgent support, especially ‘out of hours’, can also be obtained from Redcar & Cleveland Adult & Children’s Services 01642 524552.

The renowned architect, Peter Fenton, has passed away.

The unique Saltburn bandstand serves as one of his many creative legacies.

Philip Thomson 7

Saltburn Cricket, Bowls and Tennis Club So this is the month when autumn begins and this year with social, sporting games going until the end of the month, we look forward to a warm September to enjoy!

The newly refurbished flooring in the Indoor Nets building will be in full use from October 1st through to March 2021, all being well. Cricketers from Saltburn, as well as surrounding villages and suburbs of Middlesbrough, can make the most of this fabulous facility with bowling machines to enhance practice sessions. A rewarding beer afterwards is a plus.

The cricketers have supported the clubhouse in all its endeavours to progress. They have organized the painting of the two changing rooms, corridor, umpire’s room and the accessible toilet, with Covid-19 guidelines in mind. The extended balcony now seats a greater capacity for viewing cricket matches and enabling social distancing for all members.

The bowlers are pleased with their newly, redesigned edging to the green, which is now providing a safe, weed free, stepping down facility to the sporting surface. The bowling club looks good and thanks go to all ‘socially distanced’ work that has gone on by volunteers and Tony Smith this Summer.

The tennis players are thrilled with their newly resurfaced Courts 3 and 4 which are ready for painting this month, in regulation LTA colours. The flood lighting will enable the season to be extended well into the autumn with outdoor play. Children’s coaching has been taking place on Saturdays during the holiday period with much fun.

Feed back from members has been positive in 8

comments concerning hygiene and feeling safe and organized, inside as well as outside the buildings. The bar team are diligent in recording all ‘Track and Trace’ information. One visiting umpire felt the need to report our excellent ‘safe practice,’ to the North Yorkshire, South Durham league organisers, after experiencing our comfortable procedures for all.

We are missing our Quiz nights, Pool players and competitions, Tuesday Musicians, Bridge club, celebration parties and all those who pop in after playing sport at the leisure centre.

The three sports committees, alongside the general committee, have taken on board the required guidance and changes. Together, we have worked as teams to re-start, regenerate and accept the ‘new normal’ way of functioning.

We all knew it would not be easy! Thank you to the many local people who have come along and supported us.

Moving forward, we now feel in a position to offer new membership to those who would like to join. You can call at the club any evening or daytime after 12.00 midday on Saturdays and Sundays. Make yourself known to a committee person or bar staff and fill a form in.

Subscriptions: Couple under 65yrs £15; Single person under 65yrs £10.00; Couple over 65yrs £10.00; Single person over 65yrs £6.50.

If you would like a business sponsorship board placing on the boundary fence, they are available also. Many thanks go to Coco and Rum for their sponsorship of the shirts this year. It is much appreciated.

Rosalyn

The Mysterious Cloud This is an article that I have begun writing more in hope than expectation. Even as I write these words I have no idea whether or not they will ever see the light of day in the magazine because I am not at all certain that they will live long enough to arrive at Ian’s computer.

My present problems began last night when I walked in the office to turn off my computer before going to bed, only to discover that it was behaving in a most peculiar way. It showed that annoying wheel at the centre of the screen which has been the bane of my life for many years on and off. You know the one I mean, it is made up of black lines and it goes round and round – but nothing else happens. Whenever I see it there is bound to be trouble in store because it means the computer has got itself confused about something and is busy ‘thinking’.

The spinning wheel inspires naked terror for many reasons. If it never stops spinning what am I to do? And if it does stop, what horrifying message will appear on the screen?

I spent an hour pressing this, clicking that and in fact doing everything apart from throwing the computer onto the floor in the hope that to do so would spur it into activity before any coherent message appeared. When it did, it struck horror into my soul. It told me that Windows had failed to load and it gave me a few options regarding what I could do to try and put matters right. The only one that appeared to be available to me was to reload Windows. It promised me that my files would all remain intact (though as a matter of course I didn’t necessarily believe that this was true) but it also informed me that all my programs and apps would be gone forever. Arghhhh!

I am the most untidy person in the world. I literally have no idea where physical backups for all the programs are to be found – if indeed they are to be found at all. The machine kindly informed me that I could reconstruct everything from ‘the cloud’. But what is the cloud?

Where is it and how could I access it if the computer was not working properly?

Even if I could find the mysterious cloud it would probably be of no use to me because somewhere at the back of my aging and confused brain I seem to recall that I was told by the computer many months ago that ‘my cloud’ was full and that I would have to do something about it. I was informed of this many times across several weeks but since I had no real idea what the message meant, I foolishly ignored it, hoped for the best and just went on writing.

As luck would have it the computer fired up this morning, with no explanation about what it was playing at last night but now I’m left wondering if I dare to turn it off in case it misbehaves again. I am determined that when the virus is finally defeated I will set off on a journey to find the cloud and to somehow establish its true nature and intent, though the fact that it is called ‘a cloud’ seems very telling. Is this all part of a diabolical plan to make us so dependent on computers that they will eventually be running us? It’s an old science fiction theme but maybe it’s true.

Alan Butler

Saltburn in Bloom How was “The Lockdown” for the Saltburn in Bloom gardeners?

This year the gardeners started their gardening activities on 22nd January, when we planted hundreds of bulbs given to us by Sainsbury’s in Dewsbury, thanks to the resourcefulness of Eric Lindsay. This seems so long ago now. We then gardened through until March, when Lockdown began.

During the early days no gardening was carried out and consequently the weeds began to grow. My husband Dave and I and Sue Cook decided, as part of our exercise regime, to weed gardens on Marske Road and Marine Parade and at that time I had a conversation with a local policeman asking if this would be permissible as we were working for the benefit of the community. He saw no reason why we couldn’t garden if it was an individual or a couple and that we observed social distancing rules. So, we carried on in this way all through the Lockdown, weeding and deadheading the gardens, often early in the morning. One Sunday morning at 8.00-9.30am we even gardened on the raised gardens near Sainsbury’s, because this was impossible at other times because of the queues!

My husband Dave and I enjoyed some idyllic moments on Marine Parade, with the sun shining, blue skies and blue seas, no traffic and no litter! It was a pleasure to be gardening for the community. At the end of May I enlisted the help of a few more gardeners, who had offered to help. We planted some summer bedding plants in the barrels on Albion Terrace and Marine Parade but had a problem with watering. Requesting some help on Facebook we were delighted by the number of people who lived close to those areas and offered to water on a daily basis during the long dry spell. Thank you so much to those who helped. It was heartening to know that so many people wanted to support us.

The gardens and planters on Marine Parade, Albion Terrace and Marske Road, have looked so colourful all the way through. So many residents have commented on this and how their spirits have been lifted on their daily walk. This is fantastic to hear and we are pleased to be a part of this. Our own spirits have been lifted too. As the town was opened up to visitors, they too expressed pleasure at what they saw around the Cliff Lift area.

The gardening group have now started meeting again on Wednesday mornings, but starting earlier because of the numbers of visitors about – 8.30/9.0011.00. We are being careful to still obey social distancing rules, are wearing gloves and using our own tools. If you would like to join our friendly group please get in touch (email saltburn.in.bloom@gmail.com). We would welcome you along!

Lynda Parkes (SiB Gardening Co-ordinator) 9

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September Family Fun

September is Bear Necessities month WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals charity) Hug a Bear (teddy) and show you care!

It is also National organic month – try cooking some organic dishes and taste the difference.

4th Sept National fish & chip day 8th Sept International literacy day – play scrabble or other word games with family or give someone a good book you no longer want, and tell them how good it is without giving the story away!

11th - 20th Sept Heritage open days - FREE days out to places not normally open or places that normally charge www.heritageopendays.org.uk in these times best check before you go 13th Sept Ronald Dahl day (plant a peach stone) 19th Sept - 2nd Oct British food fortnight 19th Sept Talk like a pirate day. Aye aye Captain! A day of pirate related silliness 21st - 27th Sept World reflexology week. Give a family member a foot massage. Remember you will probably need your face mask and rubber gloves more than ever.

21st Sept International day of peace. Let’s give peace a chance 21st Sept World Alzheimer’s day - 2 out of 3 people globally have little or no understanding of Alzheimer’s disease 22nd Sept World car free day. Try to walk everywhere and as you do so remember autumn has began so take that walk into the woods and look at the changing leaves 26th Sept European day of languages - learn how to say Hello in different languages. Bonjour!

29th Sept World Heart day- write a message in a heart shape note and send it to someone you love ♥ Take care and stay safe.

Saltburn Toc H Branch

Tribal Marquers Tribal Marquers start dancing again at the Earthbeat Centre, Saltburn. On September Fridays, 6.00pm to 7.30pm. Come and join us dancing American tribal style belly dance.

Or join U3A Tribal dancers Monday 2.00pm to 3.30pm at Earthbeat from 7th September. It’s fun and glamorous. Tel 07908 005850 for more information.

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Work starts on new viaduct at Saltburn Work is starting on virtually rebuilding Saltburn’s 150-yearold viaduct at Marske Mill Lane.

A 20-strong workforce of bricklayers is tackling the six-month job from both the Marske Mill Lane end and at Skelton, off the A174 bypass.

Talk of the Town is seeking information about the design of the new bricks and how the old ones will be disposed of.

The contractor AMCO Giffen, which has a regional office at Barnsley, is expected to remain on site until either next March or April.

Local councillors have been warned: ‘There may be unexpected traffic in the nearby lanes. The Cleveland Way and other main footpaths will remain open to the public.’

The railway line carries potash from Boulby and steel lengths from Skinningrove to Teesside, via the main local line at Saltburn.

There is a sign at the end of Marske Mill Lane warning traffic on the rough track going down to the meadow under the viaduct. A village of huts was put up for bricklayers’ use on the meadow.

John Rock

Holly Blue We are Open!

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

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

Tel: 01287 624283

Andy Pollard

07773006361 (based in Saltburn) Residential and Commercial Property Maintenance WATCH YOUR STEP: The meadow under Saltburn Viaduct is closed to the public until April 2021, but The Cleveland Way remains open. Photo by Mark Lawton.

Plumbing, Drainage, Property Refurbishment, Roofing Repairs, Fencing, Carpentry, Joinery, Painting and Decorating, General/Ongoing Property Maintenance.

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or email: simon.robson1@ntlworld.com

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Just Three Little Words: Silenced by Covid I had my speech prepared months ago, and then Covid-19 crashed into our lives, hence those three little words. But I am still here!

It was going to be the most difficult speech of my life, not the usual hoary old one I deliver about my early life as a baby journo on the World’s worst weekly newspaper in Manchester in the fifties.

Instead of the club room somewhere of retired men the venue on September 22nd was supposed to have been Plot NB 200 in the Town Cemetery in Douglas on the Isle of Man. My mother Mary Isabella Holbert was buried there on the 19th of March 1941 just four days after dying at the age of 24 at the family home in Hillside Avenue, Douglas, from consumption.

I don’t know if I was there at the graveside on that grim Second World War winter’s day because I was just 11 months old.

I once wished a bolt of lightning on a fellow Rotarian nearly three times my bulk who cruelly suggested that I must have been the runt of the litter, but it didn’t work, although his health has not been great ever since!

In my mid-twenties I had an emergency operation at the then Hemlington Hospital and the surgeon photographed an umbilical cyst that he removed which contained hair and finger nails.

A retired Army gynaecologist often told me: “Peter, you’ll live to be 103 because you’ve got double genes!” And

I would respond: “Donald, I can’t afford to live to 103!” He would take another draw on his glass of Laphroaig and advise me caringly: “Well, do your best m’boy!”

So when I reached my 80th birthday in April this year I vowed that I would go back to my mother’s grave to tell her that I’m still here!

But a recent phone call from the Sefton Hotel in Douglas where my wife Jane and I had booked a balcony sea view room put an end to that plan. The Sefton, which was the favourite haunt of the late comedian Norman Wisdom the prince of pratfalls who retired to the island, told us that the island’s borders would remain closed until at least October. The hotel has a statue of Sir Norman, and with my weakness for a last gin and tonic, “one for the bedroom” as I would say, I would probably hit the carpet myself as I did in Shanghai in 2014. Fortunately I always holiday with a spare pair of specs.

Shamefully, I’ve only visited my mother’s grave once in my lifetime, my Manx grandparents are long dead, and my father died in 1977 with all the questions unasked, and all I have are two wedding day photographs and no memories.

Sarah Statham, the bereavement services officer at the cemetery, was to have met us off the No 3 bus and it was to have been the most important engagement of my 80th birthday year. But now we will do it next year, and it remains a reason for staying alive.

Peter Holbert, Saltburn writer and journalist

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

Workshop space available to hire articentriccic@gmail.com 07380 219497 1 Dundas Street West, Saltburn TS12 1BL

Articentric Community Interest Company

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

We are pleased to announce that our workshops will be beginning again from September, with additional safety measures in place. On Tuesday 15th September, a Drop Spindle workshop is taking place with Agnis Smallwood from 10:00 to 15:00, suitable for complete beginners. You’ll learn how to spin on a drop spindle and how to finish your yarn so that it can be used in other projects.

Agnis will also be holding a woven table runner on a peg loom workshop on 13th October 10:00 – 15:00 during which you’ll learn how to warp the loom, how to weave and a variety of other techniques – an excellent opportunity to use some of the yarn spun in her previous workshop if you have attended. Again, no previous experience is necessary.

Textile Techniques with Louise Goult: a monthly textile workshop held on the second Wednesday of the month will begin again on Wednesday 2nd September from 6-9 pm during which different textile techniques are explored with the opportunity to create unique pieces of artwork.

Other textile workshops are being planned and will begin from September onwards – please email or drop in for further information or if you wish to be added to our mailing list.

Workshop space is available to hire for arts-based classes, groups and small community events at very reasonable prices. Articentric is committed to providing services for artists, enabling them to connect with each other and those interested in coming along to workshops and viewing artwork.

For more details email articentriccic@gmail.com, drop in or call 07380 219497.

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

Open Monday to Saturday 10am – 4pm at 1 Dundas Street West, Saltburn TS12 1BL. 16

MAIDENS BROS. Established 1950 Celebrating 70 years A Local friendly family run Business

We provide: Quality Plumbing, Central Heating Systems, Bathrooms, Wetrooms, Tiling and Decorative Panelling.

Also Bathrooms and Shower Rooms for the Disabled.

We are a Gas Safe Registered Company, providing Landlord Reports, Service of Boilers and repairs To Trade and Public.

Now able to offer at competitive prices a complete range of Plumbing, Boilers, Bathrooms and Showers and decorative panels with all required materials and accessories, Designer Radiators, Towel Warmers.

We stock all copper pipe fittings, plastic pipe fittings including solvent and push fit waste spares for toilets, taps and showers, all general DIY silicon, adhesive and fixings.

FREE Estimates and design with quality guaranteed.

Phone for more details and information

4 Amber Street, Saltburn TS12 1DT

01287 622133 Email: enquiries@maidensbros.co.uk

Saltburn 500 Club Saltburn 500 Club have finally been able to make the monthly draws for April to August and we also had a one -off bumper draw offering a prize of £300. The bumper draw was won by C Lynn and I’m sure she will be treating her husband to a new camera! The £100 First Prize winners were: April S Gore, May G Oliver, June H White, July A&J Watson and August J Sturdy. Our congratulations go to all the winners.

The summer band performances have been cancelled and the schedule has been amended and put out to the bands to, hopefully, perform in 2021. The bands have not had the opportunity to rehearse and, on top of this, we decided that policing social distancing would present too much of a hazard to volunteers, band members and the audiences.

We are making every effort to raise sufficient funding for the erection/dismantling of Saltburn Christmas lights and Diane Jones (one of our members) has opened a Just Giving page, which you can visit and leave generous donations! It is hoped that the lights and the trees will be placed around the town and, hopefully, add a bit of sparkle to a year which many people would rather forget. We have managed to gain sufficient funding, from last year’s mammoth effort, to have the old blue and white motifs replaced by multicoloured looms and we will also be erecting strings of lights between the lampposts on Station Street.

If you are interested in volunteering to help with the lights, please let me know. I am looking, particularly for couples who can dress the Christmas trees without breaking social distancing rules.

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

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, when it reopens. Many thanks for your support. There is also a box in Marske Library.

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

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

Deborah

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 18

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

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

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

Health and Happiness: Imagine Imagine all is well, you are well, the world is well, the environment is strong and healthy and all is flourishing.

Imagine how your body feels when you fall into truly knowing that your relationships are fine, on a journey, moving in a positive direction, especially the relationship with yourself. You are being nourished in knowledge by every new experience. Imagine you are literally and metaphorically lying in a warm swimming pool on your back, arms and legs open, palms to the skies, floating.

Imagine you sway easily on the surface of the water, fully relaxed, head back, eyes closed, aware of the sweet sun on your skin. For a while you can just bask there, completely unthreatened, completely at ease, long enough to let the everyday practicalities drip off like ice melting. Until a state of calm and ease, flows over you and with concentrated relaxation, time stretches.

From that place, from that base-layer, that open space of sensory depravation you become mentally untangled, to a pond-like stillness. Using that kind of feeling, that kind of peacefulness, as a scale to mark as zero, what do we each choose to build on top?

When we shape who we are, some say their religion is the first thing that defines them. It makes sense, religion explains God or purpose or the ridiculously unlikely realisation that we are here now, experiencing ourselves living as a trillion multi-celled organism.

Just behind religion for some at least often comes body, human being, or gender, man or woman. People are self-defining of course; that is the point of it. Each identification carries with it some weight. Yes they also carry a sense of security linked to self-identification but they bring the flip side, the sense of pressure self-imposed. And some might say from outside of themselves too to live up to being a “man” or a “woman” or a “good Muslim” or any other title. For all titles of self-alignment are loaded, concepts that effect people differently and apply pressure in different ways. And they do apply pressure. That is pressure placed on oneself through feeling they have to live up to

what they understand the role of holding that title means to them.

The next step of self-defining might be by job. It depends quite a lot, I imagine, on if a person has a partner and a family or not. If they do, they might be defining themselves first as a mother or as a father or as a partner or a wife or husband. Perhaps for some it is pre-empted by brother or tribe member or based on skin colour or hair colour or sexual preference.

Within work titles too there is pressure, from ourselves and absorbed too from the opinions and expectations of work colleagues and others. Within the definition of a wife, or maybe even more as a mother, there is such a huge weight of self-expectation that is doubtful sometimes if it can ever be lived up to. Just as fathers wonder the same and feel the same but differently about being a “good dad”. There is pressure in standing as part of a community or a tribe. A family often carries those group expectations with it too.

Above those layers are other individual and group relationships, sexual kinks, addictions, hobbies, passions and a million other things we dive into and for the time that we do it defines us in our world.

Others worry about a global meltdown or Brexit or their neighbours or the environment, pollution, litter or a million other things that we define ourselves by.

What if our natural state is similar to how we are when we float serenely in a deep state of calm? What value is there in reflecting on how far we have taken ourselves from there? Layer over layer of self-definition, of living in the parameters of an idea, a title, an idea of what we should live up to, all give us pressure. Some of it is valuable as the food of desire, yet much of it is a heavy weight, a cause of anxiety and tension. And we can recognise that we choose to carry these burdens.

Kendal Aitken: Happy Balance Training.

Individuals and groups. Contact: kwayextra@googlemail.com or 07944 883961

PODIATRIST / CHIROPODIST All footcare treatments carried out safely in your own home Looking forward to hearing from you LISA ATKINSON BSc (hons) MSC - HCPC registered

Mobile: 07971 542860 19

Saltburn Rotary Club News Rotarian George Clayson It is with great sadness that I start this article with an obituary.

Rotarian George Clayson, known to us all as “Gentleman George” has passed away at the age of 97 years old. George was universally popular with fellow Rotarians, of all ages, due not only to his wealth of general knowledge but also due to his kindness and keen sense of humour. The Rotary Club of Saltburn has lost a committed, enthusiastic member and a loyal and trusted friend.

However, as George would have expected, club activities continue - within the restrictions of the “new norm.”

At the time of writing, it is intended to hold Saltburn Athletic Juniors FC end of season Presentation Day on their Hob Hill pitches on Sunday, 23rd August 2020. Players, families, friends and sponsors are to be invited with gates opening at 12.30 and team presentations starting at 2.00pm.

The event will be held in accordance with FA (Covid-19) guidelines and as always Saltburn Rotarians, including President Harry Simpson, will be helping to make the afternoon a success.

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The Rotary Club of Saltburn are also now registered with easyfundraising, which means you can raise FREE donations for us every time you shop online. Over 4,000 shops and sites will donate to us when you use easyfundraising to shop with them – at no extra cost to yourself! These donations really mount up and make a BIG difference to us, so we’d really appreciate it if you could take a moment to sign up and support us. It’s completely FREE and only takes a moment.

You can find our easyfundraising page at https:// www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/rotaryclubofsaltburn/? utm_campaign=raise-more&utm_content=en-e1

Finally, a reminder, that in conjunction with the Saltburn Coronavirus Response, we are approaching the judging for the competition to grow the tallest Sunflower in Saltburn of 24th August. As the slogan says, “Let’s fill Saltburn with sunflowers, brighten our streets & raise our spirits!”

Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbours, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers where people unite and take action to create lasting change across the globe and in its communities. Saltburn Rotary comprises people from all walks of life, all denominations, all ethnicities and all orientations who are dedicated to aiding its community - and having fun while doing it.

Dave Sadler

Keeping It Clean At Saltburn Be the change you want to see in the world

Despite rather unreliable weather, an incredible number of people have enjoyed spending time on the beach this summer. Our local council workers and volunteers from the area and further afield have been clearing up the litter that sadly seems to accompany humans wherever they go.

KICAS won’t be holding a group clean just yet.

However, we thought that we could encourage anyone who fancies doing their own beach clean to head to the beach (weather and official advice permitting) on Saturday, 5th September, 2020.

You’ll need masks (in case it’s busy), gloves (please wear!), and bag or bucket for litter to be collected in.

Please photograph what you collect and post it to our Facebook page and any other social media you have. Please tag #2minutebeachclean too and remember to recycle what you can and dispose of what you collect safely.

Thanks again to everyone who helps out!

The KICAS crew

Saltburn Scouts News As always, all at 1st Saltburn Scout Group hope you, your family and friends, are keeping well and safe.

All Sections have now finished for the summer break, even though we have had an extremely extended break this year! So, instead of telling you what we’ve been up to, I thought I would share some facts and timeline milestones.

Lord Robert Stephenson Smythe Baden Powell (usually shortened to BP for obvious reasons!) held the first camp for Boy Scouts on Brownsea Island in 1907 and published Scouting for Boys in 1908. I’m not sure BP would recognise Scouting now. The fundamentals are still the same – we practise knots, we parade on Remembrance Sunday and have core values like respect and being friendly and considerate but now we have awards for astronautics, street sports and disability awareness. It may be alien to him but I’m sure he wouldn’t be surprised.

Scouts were founded in 1907 and the younger Cub Scouts in 1916. Beaver Scouts didn’t appear until 1986 and girls were welcomed in 1990.

‘Bob-a-job’ week, which was introduced in 1949, but it no longer exists: probably as it would be a safeguarding nightmare and modern Scouts have never heard ‘dib dib dib’. I would imagine not having to wear shorts in 1961

and the abolition of headgear in 1989 would have been received with a huge cheer from Scouts! One record held

by Scouts was making the world’s longest sausage in 1979 at Hyde Park. It was a mouthwatering 2 miles long!

And in 1997 Scouts helped to clear away flowers laid after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Some celebrities with a Scouting background are and were: Sir David Attenborough, Steven Spielberg, Stephen Hawkin, Nelson Mandela, Baraka Obama, James Martin and Andy Murray. Maybe more surprisingly are David Bowie, Billy Connelly, David Beckham and Keith Richards! So, who knows where a grounding in Scouting may take you.

To contact 1st Saltburn Scout Group, please email: saltburnscouts@hotmail.com.

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SCAA Trustees Forge Ahead during Lockdown “The period leading up to Christmas was the busiest we’ve ever had at Saltburn Community Centre, so bookings coming to a halt in the spring because of Covid-19 was a bit of a shock,” says Trustee Mo Coade. “But we’ve pulled together during the crisis and made a great investment in our future.”

Tony Smith, Chair of Saltburn Community and Arts Association, explains that the twelve Trustees determined to keep the Centre going and began to look for ways to raise funds to cover ongoing costs, such as building maintenance, insurance and the wages of the two part-time staff. This led on to making promising plans for enhancing the Centre, when it’s allowed to reopen.

Trustee Sue Pierce continues: “As Lockdown stopped us meeting face to face, we got together on Zoom, more often than before as it turned out. Our discussions focused on keeping the Centre going and we began by asking for donations from members, user groups and the Saltburn community.” Some patrons donated the cost of their tickets for events which had been cancelled and the Trustees were surprised, but very pleased that a four figure sum was raised in these ways. They were touched by the faith that was put in them to steer the Association through this sticky patch.

Mo remembers that before Christmas the Trustees began a funding bid to booster arts provision, but they speeded up on this and have been successful with not only this, but two other bids as well. “We are delighted that we can now maintain our two staff until we reopen and tick over until our regular income is back,” she says. “We are alert to problems developing with the much loved, but ageing building, such as roof repairs, leaking taps, even flooding.”

The three acknowledge the hard work of Treasurer, Philip Thomson, who keeps a firm grip on financial matters.

SCAA has benefited from an award of £10,000 from Redcar and Cleveland Council through the Government’s support scheme and from a donation from the Relief Fund of Arts Council England. Film Hub North has provided money through its Covid–19 Resilience Fund and the Garfield Weston Foundation has contributed too.

Sue reports that as well as keeping organisations afloat during Lockdown, Arts Council England allows recipients to use donations to innovate and bring on new developments. “Being able to plan for when we reopen is most exciting for Trustees,” she says.

Mo continues: “With the Garfield Weston Foundation funding, we want to develop the cinema and support live theatre. The tech box at the back of the theatre is going to be upgraded with more up to date equipment. We’ll have the facility to allow live screening of whatever we choose, including National Theatre Live productions and sporting events.” Redcar and Cleveland Council are supportive of this, since the closure of the Redcar Regent and has contributed to the cost of the new equipment. While Borough residents wait for a new cinema in Redcar, there can be a wider offering at Saltburn.

“The Arts Council England funding is also enabling us to innovate digitally: we can promote more online content and supply links to sites,” Sue says. “This means that the Community Centre will be looking to encourage young people to create short films and animations; we would love to showcase their work!” She is further enthused by the idea of linking art and photography exhibitions there with 22

information online, to enrich visitors’ experience. The Trustees wrote into their bid their plan to work with external local or national digital experts to achieve this.

The expansion of digital facility is relevant to Sue’s aspiration to work further with Saltburn Care Homes. Some residents like to come out to the Community Centre; others would prefer to stay in and watch events online. She plans to consult them. The feedback SCAA received from last year’s Dementia Friendly Film Screenings was positive. The Trustees would like to restart these and the children’s Sunday afternoon showings, which were appreciated by local asylum seeking and refugee families, with support from the Saltburn and East Cleveland Befrienders.

“As we were successful in our bid to Film Hub North, part of the British Film Institute, we’re now involved in a much wider network of independent cinemas,” says Mo. “This means we’ll be able to show a broader range of films than multiplexes, including archives.”

Tony hopes that with so much planned for reopening, more people, especially youngsters, will volunteer to join SCAA and perhaps become a Trustee. “We’d love to welcome young people with an interest in the technical or film making side. We’re open to new ideas which help this Centre to be the hub of the community. Interested people can contact us through the SCAA website. Alternatively, phone me on 07988 838 956 (or email: tony.smith48@hotmail.com).”

Mo adds that supporting the lovely iconic building is very rewarding in itself. “I am a photographer and think it is a wonderful venue for exhibitions.”

Tony agrees: “My first love is the ’53 Drama Group, which has performed here for over sixty years, but it’s a home for lots of other Saltburn groups, so many longing to be up and running here again.”

Rosemary Nicholls

Saltburn Councillors’ Surgeries Redcar & Cleveland Council has cancelled all its meetings in the short term and requested that Councillors suspend surgeries until further notice. Accordingly Saltburn Councillors are withdrawing from holding surgeries in the library but can still be contacted as detailed below. Stuart Smith has resumed his surgery outside Sainsbury’s on the 3rd Saturday of each month.

Cllr. Craig Hannaway 07561 467168 craig.hannaway@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk

Saltburn Photographic Society

Cllr. Stuart Smith 07557 540628 stuart.smith@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk

Saltburn Photographic Society was due to celebrate its 60th year with a public exhibition of members’ work.

Unfortunately circumstances have prevented this happening. However, through the hard work of one of our members preparing the presentation, we now have an exhibition on line. It is accessible by following: http://saltburnphotographicsociety.co.uk/2020 -online-exhibition.html

Cllr. Philip Thomson 07747 044858 philip.thomson@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk

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SALTBURN BLUES CLUB

E C N CA

D E LL

As was the case with last month, there’s not a lot to report again I’m afraid. I just repeat for the last time that the Howzat Festival is cancelled which makes me very sad as it would have been a fantastic day’s music with that line up.

Also this month’s two gigs (September) are cancelled now. There is a gig planned for the Balmoral Acoustic Blues Club at the Cons Club on October 11th with Jack Blackman but again I can’t see that happening either but I continue to live in hope.

The gig with the wonderful Canadian Bluesman Harry Manx which was scheduled for October the 29th at the Community Hall has also been cancelled. His whole UK tour has been cancelled in fact. However, I have pencilled him again for next year on October 28th. Surely we will be over all this by then!

Don’t forget you can get your Blues fix every Monday night from 7-10pm on Zetland FM on 105FM and online with my show Still Got The Blues or catch up on it later in the week by going to Mixcloud (link on the Zetland FM website).

Harry Keep diggin’ the Blues, folks.

07960 935263

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

Hewitt’s Property Services Affordable, Friendly and Reliable, Serving the Local Community Covering Saltburn, Brotton, Loftus, Skelton, Guisborough and Surrounding Areas Joinery, Plumbing, Bathroom Refits Damp Proofing, Wall Cladding, Supply and Fit, Laminate Wood Flooring, Loft Ladders and Loft Flooring Fitted, And Any Small Jobs, Pressure Washing and Long-Reach Pure Water Window Cleaning Service Now Available, Call Steve for a Free No-Obligation Quote on

07966 152553 Email: steve217@hotmail.co.uk Est. 18 years 24

Two men, who have been charged over an early-morning raid on a Saltburn takeaway, are due to appear in Teesside crown court on 2nd September.

One aged 41 from Pearl Street, Saltburn, was charged at Teesside magistrates court with robbery while the other aged 37 from Skelton was accused of robbery and the assault of a police officer. They were remanded in custody until 2nd September.

Detectives are still appealing for any witnesses to come forward or private or business CCTV, which may help inquiries. If you can help, contact Cleveland Police through the 101 number, quoting ref 124172.

A dramatic account of the incident - rare in Saltburn appeared in The Gazette’s web news service Teesside Live.

Reporter Joanne Welford said takeaway owner Tony Ho, aged 71, described how he found two men in his Eastern Paradise restaurant and takeaway in Amber Street, Saltburn, at 6.30am on Saturday, 1st August.

He said they pinned him to the floor and demanded cash and his credit card. When he said he had no money they ran upstairs where his wife Susan was attacked and injured.

Mr Ho, who has run the restaurant for 46 years without any problems, said he wanted the media to publicise the incident to warn other business owners. “This happened in daytime. It is unbelievable, a daylight robbery,” he said.

Susan Ho’s cries for help were heard by a neighbour and she dialled 999. Police arrived within half an hour “every second in there felt like an hour,” said Tony Ho. Two of the couple’s three grown up children returned to Saltburn to stay with them as support following the incident.

John Rock

Saltburn Athletic FC The new season would normally begin on the second Sunday in September but due to the covid crisis the season’s start will now begin on the first Sunday in October. Friendly games are now being arranged by all teams as contact is now authorised during training and games.

A lot of hard work has been done to our field and changing rooms by various members of our club though there has been further damage to one of our goals on the Huntcliff Campus field. Due to the hard work our field is now in a good condition and is the best it has ever been.

There are still players required by some teams at U13 and U16 levels with the u10s requiring a goalkeeper so if any child fits that criteria please feel free to enquire.

If there are any sponsors out there who wish to contribute to the club so we can provide extra kit for the

players we would be very grateful.

The club is now 22 years old having been formed in 1998 and the number of teams has ebbed and flowed during that time and we are now in a position to offer new age groups preferably at under 7 and 9 age levels to start in time for next season 2021. There will need to be a period of time in which to train and form these teams and if any parents wish to help and become a coach for these age groups your time is now. However, this would require some time and dedication and would need to attend the relevant courses which the club would pay for, or as in some cases, parents have paid for this themselves.

Andy Croll SAFC Club Secretary 07779 648877

GRAND PRIZE DRAW 2020 To raise funds for our work in the Gardens and Woodland Centre.

Star Prize: A Week’s Holiday in a 5-Bedroom Holiday House in Amble, Northumberland.

Other prizes to include Bottles of Whisky, Chocolates, Vouchers from Local Shops.

Raffle will be drawn on September 12th, 2020 at 4.00pm at The Saltburn Woodland Centre.

Tickets £1 each or £5 a book.

Tickets available now from volunteers at Saltburn Woodland Centre and Gardens Charity Registration 1155787 Company Reg. 8682692

Tarot & Qualified Lifecoach Telephone or In Person, 20 years experience.

Call Deborah: 07580 336958 25

Can You Ride A Tandem?

We are looking to start a small group of like minded cyclists to form an informal group for chats and rides as the weather permits.

If you, or anyone you know, ride a tandem please contact us to show initial interest. Telephone me on 01287 204170 or 07866 961680 (or email me on chris.ferguson2@ntlworld.com).

Please leave your contact details and we will get back to you quickly.

Chris and David Ferguson

Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible Until then, we are running ‘Virtual Groups’ Contact Stevie for details.

Ring Stevie on

01642 474920 26

Cleveland Diving Club There is nothing like adversity that makes not only mother nature bring about change, by way of adapting to a common threat, but humans too. Therefore, as covid-19 looks like it is here for a while yet, people are duty-bound to make changes.

For Cleveland Divers one of the biggest adjustments is in how diving and dive training are managed. Dive site restrictions and continually changing weather and sea conditions each present our members with different challenges. Whilst qualified divers pursue every possible occasion to go diving, it is more problematic for trainee divers. Nevertheless, opportunities for open water training are improving. For example; both members and trainees alike took full advantage of a beautiful sunny day at Ellerton Park to dive and/or progress their training, with the added benefit of an almost Mediterranean water temperature of 18 degrees (photo 1).

On the other hand, however, when setting off on a grey, misty morning for a 2 hour drive to the Capernwray dive site (a converted quarry) near Carnforth things did not look so promising. Yet shortly after passing Kirby Stephens our resolute divers were rewarded with blue skies and sunshine for the rest of the day, making our wet-suit divers particularly happy. The justification for trainees of this long trek is the prospect of training and developing their skills in deeper water (maximum 20 meters) within a safe environment. For our volunteer instructors it is with a sense of gratification to see trainees growing in confidence and competency in performing their skills, in particular the all-important life-saving skills. For instance, rescuing an unconscious or severely injured diver, (worst case scenarios) and bringing them to the surface, is a demanding feat that requires diligent practice. Thankfully these situations are a rare event.

However, all work and no play, as they say, does not a good diver make and dive training must also be fun of which our trainees took full advantage. For example: hitching a ride on a rather large and imposing horse ‘Shergar’ (photo 2) or clinching a trophy photo with the tail-end of the swim-through aeroplane (photo 3). But, unbeaten in popularity, and the ‘pièce de resistance,’ at the end of the day is feeding the ever hungry fresh water trout and elegant sturgeons, up close and personal (photo 4). Unfortunately for members involved in pool training their training remains on hold for now and when it recommences will no doubt require managerial modifications, if these trainees are to achieve their goal of becoming qualified divers.

Why not keep abreast of the club’s activities by visiting our Facebook page, ‘The Diving Club-Cleveland,’ or contact us on 07960 608529.

June Coomber

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

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

Please feel free to visit us at anytime.

01287 622498 and 01287 625178 27

The Selkie And The Saltburn Comb Chris Firth is the author of a new book ‘The Fairies and Merfolk of North Yorkshire’. It is a collection of 18 stories and 32 colour illustrations and features a Saltburn story - ‘The Selkie and The Saltburn Comb.’ He first told the tale at the Shanti Café diverse night last year. Stories from the collection have already appeared in other local publications but here Talk of the Town tells the Saltburn story! The book is on sale at the Book Corner in Saltburn. There will be a reading and book launch event in the Shanti Café, Earthbeat Centre, on Friday, 11th September 2020.

One year there was a great storm from top toe of the country which affected the northern Selkies and the Merfolk very badly.

A group of Selkies were blown right down from the southern Orkney Isles (Shapinsay, to be precise), and when things had calmed down they found themselves in the sea off Saltburn.

Being southerly Selkies, they were somewhat different to their northern kin in that they had the appearance of mermaids, but the gift of shedding their lower fish like tale and possessing themselves of legs if they so wished to. The merfolk that found themselves off Saltburn threw up a little palace there out to sea, just out between the pier and the Redcar wind turbines. Amongst them were seven sisters, six of whom were very pretty with long golden hair which they combed and curled with their fingers, and anyone who glimpsed them could not but admire their beautiful locks. The seventh and youngest sister was somewhat different.

Though equally as pretty as her sisters her hair was always messy and bedraggled and no amount of fingering would make it look as lovely and long and curly as her sisters. For her, every day was a bad-hair day. Oh how she wished she had brush or a comb to sort her hair, but all the brushes and mirrors and ornaments of vanity had been lost back up in Shapinsay.

One day the seventh sister went to play in a rock pool near the cliffs. She lost track of the time and found herself stranded in the pool, with the tide quite far out across the beach.

She could do nothing but sit on the pool edge and wait for the tide to turn. While she was waiting she pulled and she plucked and she finger-combed her hair, wondering if just for once she could make something of it. It so happened that a young fellow – Archie by name, a fisher lad with his own cobble – was out crabbing and bait digging on that stretch of beach. He spied the Selkie there plucking and pulling at her hair and despite her bedraggled appearance he thought that she was the most lovely, beautiful creature he had ever seen and he instantly fell in love with her. He heard her swearing and cussing and snapping on about her hair, and he heard her utter how that she wished she had a mer-comb. Even a half broken one would do.

Now it also so happened that many years before, when she was a girl and Saltburn was nothing more than a bunch of huts and shacks, Archie’s mother had been out beach combing and she had come upon a strange looking object half buried in the sand. It was greenish and white and all manner of strange colours, made of ivory or whale tusk and when she dug it out she saw that it was some kind of comb. It had wide spread teeth, too widely spaced for human hair. All over it was engraved with strange runes and pictures. His mother hadn’t known it but it was a mer-comb, lost long ago far out at sea and washed ashore right there at Saltburn. When Archie and his siblings had been children she would get the comb out now and then for them to look and wonder over, and she’d weave up fabulous tales about the pictures and the strange lettering. But now that they were grown up and had all left home bar Archie and the wonder was over in them the comb was dumped somewhere in the back clutter of the cupboard under the stairs and no one bothered to look at it anymore.

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Seeing that the Selkie was in distress over her wild hair, Archie stepped out from behind the rocks and somewhat startled her. She dragged her hair about to cover her dignity.

“Don’t be afraid, pretty maid,” he said softly but boldly.

“Erm – I’m not,” she replied. “You just made me jump, that’s all.”

“I heard you complaining about your hair,” he said.

“You know some choice words for a mermaid! By the way, your hair looks lovely to me. It might be that I have just the thing to help you out.”

He was a bit of a smooth talker for a northern land. He described his mother’s comb to her, and she was all ears for she recognised that it could well be a mer-comb.

“If you like I’ll go fetch it for you,” he offered. “I could even comb your hair for you. I want nothing in return and swear that I’ll do you no harm.”

She could see that he was good at heart if only a simple fisherman. She cast her eyes toward the sea and said, “Well I aren’t exactly going anywhere, am I? The tide’s out.” And so she agreed to wait and to let him comb her hair. He sprinted away up the hill toward the town, all manner of plans to woo her and to make her his wife running through his mind. Back at the cottage he rummaged about in the cluttery cupboard under the stairs and at last found the comb in an old linen box.

“What are you up to?” croaked his old mother, wondering what all the banging and scratting about was for.

“I think I might have found myself a bride, Ma,” he said. “She’s really beautiful but a bit...odd.” His mother sniffed at him. “Hope not,” she grumbled. “Another mouth to feed.

Somebody else to clear up after.”

Being a fisherman, Archie knew all the tales of Selkies and Mermaids. He knew that if he could get her to hand him her fishtail and walk with him ashore she’d be bound to marry him, and he’d hide her tale away in the linen box so that she couldn’t return to sea and she’d fall in love with him and they’d marry and have children and they could live rent free there in the cottage with his mother and they’d all be happy ever after until the end of their days. He borrowed his mother’s hand mirror and with that and the comb ran back down to the sea shore, Sure enough, true to her word, there was the lovely Selkie still waiting for him at the rock pool. The tide was further in now but fortunately not close enough for her to have slipped away.

“Here we go, pretty maid,” he said, showing her the comb. It really was quite beautiful and she knew that she had to have it, by hook or by crook.

“Go on then,” she said, turning her back to him. “Get combing. And try not catch that comb on any knots or tangles.”

So Archie started combing her tangle of hair and smooth out

continued on next page

her unruly locks. Most lovely she found it, and soothing too, the sun on her face and her eyes closed, for surely there isn’t a woman in the world who doesn’t love it when someone else combs and brushes and smoothes at her hair?

“Ah,” she sighed when he’d finished at last. “That was gorgeous. If only someone could do that for me every day.”

He showed her reflection to her in the mirror and indeed at last her hair was long and curling and just as beautiful as that of her sisters. Seeing her look so happy and pleased, Archie decided to chance his hand.

“Well, if you step out of your tail and allow me to carry it for you, you could come up to meet my mother at our cottage, and I’d comb out your hair every morning and evening that you stayed there.”

The Selkie thought a brief moment. “All right then,” she said. “If you’d do that every day I’d be happy ever after. Let me hold the comb though – it’s such a pretty thing.” He handed her the comb and she went to the edge of the pool.

“Close your eyes now though,” she said. “A human isn’t allowed to see a mermaid stepping out of her tail – it would only bring misfortune.” So he closed his eyes as she’d said.

When she called out for him to open them he was somewhat surprised to see that, with the prettiest pair of legs, she had clambered out from the far side of the rock pool with her tail held in one hand and the comb in the other. The tide was nearly in now. With a smile and a wave she turned about and went sprinting over the sand on her slender legs. Before he could

even react she was away into the shallow waves.

“See you, and thanks for the comb,” she cried over her shoulder. She leapt in the water, slipped back on her fish tail and was away into the ocean, disappearing beneath the surface with a last wave of the comb.

She swam back to the palace, which is still there to this day, just there between the pier and the wind turbines. Her sisters were all amazed to see her hair neat and long and curling for once and so of course they questioned her about what she’d been up to.

She told them of her little adventure, and the fisher lad, and the comb.

“But perhaps you should have married him,” said the eldest sister. “It sounds as though he would have loved and care for you until the end of his days.”

“What!?” cried the youngest. “All that drudgery, and children, and living with his old mother? Urgh! He wasn’t a prince, and he wasn’t a looker either. Why, one eye looked this way, and one eye looked that, and his little fat nose was just like a pig’s snout. Bless him, though. He was very kind to me.”

Poor Archie was quite broken hearted, of course. For quite a while he’d wander down to the rocks every day, hoping for another glimpse of his beautiful Selkie. His fishing was always good thereafter, however. His nets full to bursting and always the best lobsters in his pots. In time he did marry, to Karen from Redcar, and they had a brood of lovely children who did all right at school, and apart from his Selkie he never wanted for anything again until the end of his days.

29

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Stone Story 2 I made a stone for my Mum. It says ‘All shall be well.’ The words were written by Mother Julian of Norwich. Mother Julian was an Anchoress in Norwich Cathedral between 1343 and 1416. For most of her life she lived in complete isolation in a tiny cell. Food was delivered to her and she spent her days and nights alone. Some of us can relate to that! Times were hard in Norwich back then. There was the Black Death, the Peasant Revolt and the suppression of the Lollards. She might have made a good choice! Mother Julian devoted her life to prayer and contemplation. Following an illness that took her close to death she had visions. She wrote about them in a book called Revelations of Divine Love. It is the oldest surviving example of a book written in English by a woman and is now available on kindle!

I came across her best known words on a bookmark in Liverpool Cathedral which said ‘All shall be well And all shall be well And all manner of thing shall be well.’ Very reassuring I think you’ll agree? When I made this stone, Mum was in the early stages of dementia. I propped it up against a tree in the garden so she could see it from the kitchen window. It was lovely to hear her reading it out.

Time has passed, and Mum now lives in Hazelgrove Court where she is loved and cared for by the wonderful people who work there.

The stone has also changed: it’s now covered in lichen! Lichen is pronounced ‘liken’ which is odd, if the same rule applied to cheese you could open the door with it.

The word comes from the Greek word leikhen, meaning “what eats around itself”. I can relate to that as well! The plural of lichen is lichen. Mostly it goes about its business quietly and unobserved. If you’re sitting outside now you won’t be far away from some lichen. It grows on stone, wood, concrete, and as long as there’s something to cling onto, lichen will be there. Because it is the first thing that can grow on a bare surface, lichen is called a pioneer species. As layers of lichen build up on rocks there is then enough organic matter for mosses, then grasses, then shrubs and finally trees to grow.

If you want to remove lichen there are websites to tell you how: scrub with bleach or detergent or use a pressure washer. If you want to grow lichen there are websites to tell you how: cover your rock with fertiliser, milk or yoghurt and leave it in a shady place outside for a couple of years. Lichen gets everything it needs from sunlight, air and water. It uses trees and rocks as a support but it doesn’t damage them. It might not look good on your patio but lichen is very good for the environment because it absorbs carbon dioxide and produces oxygen.

Lichen live all over the world, and there are around 15,000 species. It can cope with extremes of moisture and temperature. It grows on the sides of volcanoes and in the Arctic. Reindeer and caribou rely on lichen during the winter; they dig through the snow to find it. Moths, beetles, slugs and snails like it too but don’t try it yourself. It can be toxic to humans and probably a bit gritty. Lichen comes in many shapes and sizes. All of them are made up of a fungus and an algae working together. The fungus provides support and shelter to the algae. In return the algae takes energy from the sun and shares it with the fungus. This kind of arrangement is called mutualism because both species benefit. Mutualism is the most common relationship in nature. Lichen are usually shades of green when they’re wet.

When they dry out they can be red, orange, yellow or brown.

Cloth was, and maybe still is, dyed with lichen. Lichen has been used in medicine to treat bacterial and fungal infections and in perfumery.

Because lichen use only air and water to live, the quality of the air and water are very important. Many types of lichen will only grow in very clean air. Lichens will bleach in polluted air and die in air that has too much sulphur dioxide.

Sulphur dioxide is also toxic to humans. Lichen are bioindicators: if the lichen dies we’re all in trouble! Lichen are very slow growing (between 1 and 5 mm a year) and very long lived. The oldest living thing on earth is a crustose yellowgreen map lichen in the Arctic which is thought to be 8,600 years old. Lichenologists use these ancient lichen to find out what air quality was like in the past.

Last but not least, lichen could save your life! If you’re lost in a forest, check to see which side of the trees has lichen growing on it. This will be the north! This side of the tree is in the shade so it stays moist; that’s how lichen like it.

How did I make ‘All shall be well’? I started with a rough shaped stone deliberately. I like the way it looks as if it was once part of something bigger. Paul in Portland drew the letters; he’s the best! Pencils need to be as hard and sharp as possible. Stone forms a ‘skin’ over time. The outside surface is slightly harder. The first lines I cut were right down the middle of each letter. These lines open up the stone. Next I cut the vertical bits of all the letters. The angles of every side of every letter need to match; doing them all at once helps. The letters all need to be the same width. Humans invented straight lines and our visual system is fine tuned to detect lines that are not straight. This high level of vision is called vernier acuity, and it is used in the design of micrometers. It means that if you cut a line even a tiny bit wrong, you will never stop seeing it. I started chipping in the midline of each section and worked outwards, holding the chisel at an angle of 45 degrees to the stone. Next I cut the horizontals, finally the curves. Keeping the midline in the middle can be a challenge, especially on the curves. I finished the ends of the letters with a single chop at 90 degrees to the sides. It’s painstaking work, detailed and precise. Then it gets covered in lichen!

The answer to the question in July’s magazine: John Pickering’s grave is in Upleatham Churchyard. Finally, if you want me to make a stone for you or show you how to make your own, please get in touch with Talk of the Town.

Helen Blyth

31

The Muses of Jim

Well, Lune Street Club opened as arranged and members are slowly returning back to normal, but not as fast as I thought it would have. As members were asking me when we were opening I assumed that they would be eager to return. Members using the club now appear to be enjoying seeing each other, as well as enjoying a pint of beer, as well as been able to talk to each other, myself included.

The Borough has sprouted red barriers closing off the Queen’s Highway; perhaps it is Boris’s way of leaving a touch of the European way of life after we have become independent of the EU. I have always wanted to drink a coffee in the pouring rain.

My latest venture is to set up a fish tank containing fish from the Beck and Gill. At the moment I am allowing the plants to settle in before collecting the fish, but it is certainly better than house work though. When I worked at ICI I had several fish tanks and even used to show and breed them. Well, it took away the pain of working at Wilton.

At the risk of been serious for once, clearly, these are grave times. Mankind has faced many such dangers, and it will of course face many more in the future. There was a very interesting programme on BBC Radio 4, which is surely to be repeated many times. The main factor in the survival rate in all medical attacks is that it appears that most people are not that affected. It would be interesting to know how many people died solely of Covid-19, but it appears that not all deaths that are reported are from Covid -19, especially if you have been knocked down by a passing shark on a skate board on Milton Street, barriers permitting.

Likewise, this development over exam results beggars believe. To be a teacher, these days you have to reach a standard of education just to start to train and learn how to teach, to know at least one subject inside out and to reach an accepted standard of education. And then gain a certain level of experience and knowledge. So that they can make a valid professional decision. The Government then finally makes the decision that teachers’ appraisals will be used after all to decide grades in exams. Great common sense at last. Wait now; it announced a formula that will be used to check the results which reduced them by several grades. Thus reducing the life chances of working class families.

I have searched the internet but I must admit that I could not find any mention of public schools been thus affected by these downgradings. Many, many years ago when I lived in Selby in the late 1950s, I had a friend who was on a placement on one of his family’s farms. Learning about farming, it appeared his family owned lots of Yorkshire (and I really do mean lots and lots of the three Ridings). One night I asked him about school because I knew he had gone to Harrow. He did not want to go to University but to go into the family business instead. He said that he was told that even with his average results he could still get into any university he wanted. It seems this privilege and injustice is still as widespread today as it was then. Students are right to have protested against this unfairness. The government should have known better.

Jim Wingham 32

Helen moved to Saltburn just over a year ago. You may have seen her around with her dog Dennis, aka Dennis the Menace. Born in Guisborough, her family moved to Great Ayton, and then to Stokesley, where she lived for many years. Helen loves Saltburn and the people. She has been surrounded by dogs most of her life and is dedicated to them. Helen will love and support any dogs and when booked in for grooming will give them a full health check.

The dogs will be very well cared for. Helen also offers a pick up and drop off service. In fact, Helen will accommodate any requests. Helen has qualified as a dog groomer at East Durham College at City and Guilds level.

You can trust her to look after your pooch! Helen is also wishing to start a dog walking group, obviously negotiable to clients’ requirements. Any dog and owner will get a warm friendly welcome. She looks forward to hearing from you. Phone 07869 371123 to book an appointment.

What’s on at Marske Hall

Marske Hall sends very best wishes to our valued volunteers, we miss you all and look forward to the time when we can welcome you safely back. Many thanks for your continued support; it is really appreciated. For more news and updates please follow us on Facebook.

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

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

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

33

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Love dancing? Want to get fit?

With evening and daytime classes: For your safety, online, a little while longer…

Packed with Latin rhythms this EASY TO FOLLOW dance fitness class is TONING and a great OVERALL WORKOUT! Mondays - 6.15pm - £2.50 on ZOOM Thursdays - 10am - £2.50 on ZOOM

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More info? email: estelle@dancefitsaltburn.co.uk

TIME SERVED

LEGAL SERVICES AVAILABLE IN YOUR OWN HOME AT VERY COMPETITIVE RATES

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

LORNA SMITH 34

Saving And Re-homing Animals THE ANN PROSSER FOUNDATION

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

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

Hello lovely people! We hope you are all staying sane through these strange times. We’ve missed having human visitors. We are Coco the dog and Felix the cat.

Coco is an absolutely gorgeous lady. She’s around three years old, and is a rich chocolate coloured greyhound. Coco enjoys going for walks with our other large dogs, with whom she always behaves very well, and she enjoys playing in the pen with her toys. Like all greyhounds she loves lazing and sleeping. Coco is looking for a home with no small animals, but we feel she could live happily with another large dog with a similar laidback temperament and loving nature to her own.

Felix is a two year old male. He’s black and white.

His markings make him look slightly grumpy, but he’s the

complete opposite. Felix is such a very laidback chap! He loves to be stroked and fussed. We often find him laid out on the cattery floor relaxing and catching whatever rays of sunshine he can get. He is also very fond of cuddles and warm places to nap. We feel Felix would be best suited to be rehomed where he’d be the only pet, and he would need access to the outdoors for his regular sun baths. Felix would make a lovely addition to most families.

Love from Coco and Felix.

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

Future SARA Events: At the time of writing we have no information on any possible future events because of the coronavirus lockdown but we will let you know as soon as

we can about any plans.

Plans were made quickly for an event in August and it was too late to publicise it in last month’s magazine. We had a weekend event on the 29th and 30th of August, a massive bargain sale at our animal sanctuary in Foxrush Farm. There were no refreshments because face coverings had to be worn at all times and social distancing adhered to.

Joy and Mandy Volunteers at SARA 35

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36

Which? Survey at Saltburn Some 3,700 members of the ‘Which?’ consumer organisation took part in a survey of the best seaside town, which resulted in Saltburn coming 24th out of 100.

The survey, which was taken after recent visits, and before the virus struck early this year, put Saltburn’s scenery as its best attraction, scoring five out of five points.

Peace and quiet, the beach and value for money each scored four points with ‘attractions’ notching three.

The top resort was voted St Mawes, Cornwall.

Whitby came 19th.

John Rock

What have you learned from the Covid-19 pandemic?

St Paul wrote, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”

(Romans 12:15) First of all, the Covid-19 pandemic has given us so many reasons to weep, including:  Worldwide suffering  Loved ones dying alone  Mental, physical and emotional health afflictions  Uncertainty around exams, jobs and livelihoods We will continue to live with these and other reasons to weep over the coming months and years. But even before Covid-19, there were always reasons to weep.

Some of these reasons are mundane, others are extremely affecting. Paul Tripp writes of what Covid-19 has taught him to weep about in his life: “I don’t know about you, but COVID-19 exposed my pride, autonomy, delusions of self-sufficiency, and tendency to grumble and complain. Most importantly, COVID19 was a reminder of a deeper, greater pandemic – the sin that lives inside of us.

And for that, we should weep every day.”

But, strange as it might seem, Covid-19 has given us reasons to rejoice, including: 

Families spending time together



Learning new skills



A reminder not to take the freedoms of life for granted



Community support, with acts of kindness and generosity

And one of the greatest expressions of rejoicing has been by those people for whom Covid-19 has been a key reason for discovering the truth about God, and the good news of Jesus Christ. The ‘bad news’ of Covid-19 became the wake-up call to hear and accept the ‘good news’ of being loved and rescued by Jesus. Their rejoicing joins that of many other Christians who can say with St Paul, “...that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:3839).

If you have questions about what you have learned through Covid-19, and especially those concerning God, please do contact me. I am available to talk.

Every blessing, Rev Adam

SEPTEMBER Services Times Sundays 9.00am said communion 10.15am worship on ZOOM

Tuesdays 9.30am said communion

Morning Prayer Monday to Friday 9.00am worship on ZOOM

Contact Details tel 01287 622251

email emmanuelsaltburn@hotmail.co.uk

web www.emmanuelsaltburn.co.uk

Covid-19 Update This September we hope to hold our first Sunday services in the church building since the middle of March.

Social distancing and appropriate health & safety measures will be in place.

37

Sciatica

We see many people in our clinic who complain of back and leg pain. Most of these people refer to their leg pain as being “sciatica” but the majority of back related leg pain isn’t a true sciatica. Sciatica is the name given to leg pain that is caused by damage or irritation to the sciatic nerve. This is the nerve that is formed from nerve roots that exit the lower part of the spine and then pass down through the buttock, the back of the thigh and then into the calf and foot.

The sciatic nerve is the biggest nerve in the body, in the thigh being about the diameter of the little finger. It supplies the hamstring and calf muscles and the muscles which pull the foot upwards. The sciatic nerve also provides sensation to the majority of the leg.

Sciatic nerve damage can cause feelings of pain, pins and needles, numbness, electric shock like sensations and a wide variety of feelings, which some people find difficult to describe. In more severe or long standing cases, there may be muscle weakness or even paralysis.

Most but not all cases of sciatica are accompanied by back pain. Many cases of leg pain are caused by damage or irritation to things other than the sciatic nerve. The discs of the lower spine and the joints and associated ligaments and muscles can also refer pain and other symptoms into the leg.

In these cases the leg pain isn’t a true “sciatica” and it is important to make this diagnostic differentiation as the management and treatment options are quite different.

You can find out more about sciatica by visiting the resources page of our website. There you will find a link to a short educational video.

Philip & Pauline Newton Chartered & Health Care Professions Council Registered Physiotherapists Newton Physiotherapy 01287 767287 email@newtonphysio.com www.NewtonPhysio.com

38

Support for Keyworkers

I’m a retired Clinical psychologist. I’m one of many former NHS workers who have been temporarily re-registered with the Health & Care Professions Council to practise during the coronavirus pandemic. I’m aware that many frontline keyworkers, who are earning respect, gratitude and admiration for their courage and commitment, are working in highly stressful and sometimes traumatising circumstances. I hope all of those in my local town (and elsewhere) are getting the psychological support they need. My message is simply to say that if you need to talk to someone to get some support as you continue your fine work, you are very welcome to contact me. I may be a little bit rusty but I’ll do what I can.

You can email me using this address: tim.prescott@ntlworld.com

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One of my biggest gardening pleasures is the wildlife that appears in the garden. A lovely sunny day can result in the most amazing variety of insects which control pests and bring in other creatures to feed on them. You can also disturb many things while weeding and tidying, Frogs, mice, even pheasants! Watching and listening to them is always a delight and late visits to the allotment mean bats follow you home. You don’t have to look far for something amazing.

Once again summer has been pretty dry! Crops have needed lots of water. Some gardeners don’t agree, suggesting that less watering encourages your crops to find the water below ground. This will only work if there is enough organic matter in your soil to retain moisture. I have found in places this year the soil was so dry that when removing it to plant Dahlias it simply crumbled! It helped to water really well when planting and then cover the soil again with mulch but I have a lot to do to improve it all.

No dig is gradually helping my soil and my potatoes were a great success! I simply pulled them out of the ground this year and they have been my best ever with the least amount of damage.

Vegetables and greenhouse plants will still need lots of water and feed to ensure things will finish ripening and continue producing, If you have a lot of tomatoes, take them off as they start to colour and pop in a sunny window.

This will help those left on the plant to ripen.

Tidy away all your plants that have finished producing and make some compost, as it comes in very handy. Chop and mix up what you add, trying to use at least 50/50 brown woody material and green lush growth like grass cuttings as it makes much better compost.

Tidy strawberry beds by clearing runners and dead material, use runners to share or increase your own stock by popping in a pot while still attached to the plant and allowing to root before cutting.

Keep picking and preserving your excess crops for winter and beyond. Apples and other fruit should soon be ready to pick. Twist the fruit and see if they come away easily and you can store separated in boxes if you have plenty.

Sow your winter salad, spinach and spring cabbage.

Late September onwards is time to plant garlic and overwintering onions.

Covid changed everything and the Festival of Thrift is not happening this year. We will look forward to a bigger and better version next year and hopefully all the events that have been cancelled will be able to happen in 2021.

We opened our secret garden in Saltburn during the farmers’ market in August and plan to do the same in September and we hope you will pop in, in a socially distanced way, to see us there. Most of all make time to enjoy your wildlife too.

Julia 39

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

As always, all welcome.

Talk to Saltburn Line User Group.

The Group exists to protect passengers’ interests.

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

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

Martin Snowdon

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Just call us on 01642 477200 and we can take card payment over the phone.

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The Saltburn Profile by Rosemary Nicholls Louise Moore “We’re still here if you need anything,” says Louise Moore in her role as Chair of Saltburn U3A, during lockdown. She has led the Committee in keeping in touch with over 900 members, who’ve had their social activities curtailed by the threat of Covid-19.

Louise was born in Coventry, where she lived until she was eight. Then she moved to the village of Sticker, near St Austell in Cornwall with her parents, when her dad joined her uncle in the china clay industry. “I remember when they came home from work, my aunt and my mum used to lay out newspaper on the floor up to the shower, as they were covered in white powder. It was a ritual every night,” she says. Although Louise loved Cornwall, the family soon moved back to Coventry, where she stayed until she set off for College in London at eighteen. She enrolled on a three year course to train as a secondary school Home Economics teacher, but she didn’t enjoy it much. “To the horror of my parents, I dropped out six weeks before the end!” she remembers.

Next, she became a manager in a small family restaurant in Barnes. It had a lovely view of the River Thames and was packed every Boat Race Day. Distracted by the race on one occasion, she spilt wine over the actor Timothy West. “He was pretty annoyed,” she admits.

She met her ex-husband in London, before she swapped her job to work as a Library Assistant at Kew Gardens, where Bamber Gascoigne was a daily visitor. Then she dealt with people’s book requests for an inter-library loans department, which she found fascinating.

They lived for a few years in a flat in Putney and had a son, Warrick and a daughter, Joscelynne. But he wanted to get a social work qualification at Birmingham University, so they moved back to Coventry. Then in 1989, the family came to Cleveland, where there were new social work opportunities. “We settled in Norton,” explains Louise, “and I decided to take a teaching degree at Sunderland University.

Although I’d almost qualified years before, I had to start at the beginning again. This time, I took a four year B.Ed degree in Primary Education and the Arts.”

Now divorced, from 1994, she taught Infants at Elm Tree and St Mark’s School, Stockton and then became a Numeracy Consultant for the Gatsby Maths Project, a forerunner of the National Numeracy Strategy. Eight and a half years later, she chose to move back into school to teach and became Deputy Head at Pennyman Primary, Middlesbrough. Thereafter, she became Head of Berwick Hills Primary School, Middlesbrough and stayed there till retirement. Soon afterwards, Louise was offered a part-time post supervising a programme for Newly Qualified Teachers, run by Middlesbrough Schools Teaching Alliance and she did this for several years, as she really loved it. “Now I’m getting used to being at home, though,” she says.

Louise’s parents moved to Saltburn from Coventry in 2001, but her dad sadly died in 2003. Her mum, Valerie Moore, then joined Saltburn U3A and found it a lifeline, now she was living alone. “When I retired, my mum persuaded me to get involved and I signed up for a papercraft class,” says Louise. After a while, she was co-opted onto the committee.

This led to her being elected Chair, a post she has held for two years. “I’ve loved every minute,” she confirms. “I’ve made new friends and the lockdown has really bonded the

Photo by Hugh Melvin

committee together.”

Louise belongs to a ten strong non-U3A Reading Group, which has introduced her to writers she otherwise would never have tried. She’s developed a real love for Neville Shute through reading ‘On the Beach’. With regard to music, she has a taste for Paul Simon, Queen and the Beatles.

The first LP she bought was Grieg’s ‘Peer Gynt’, which she played on her red and cream Dansette record player. She remembers the first single she bought: ‘Good Vibrations’ by the Beach Boys.

She has been with her partner, Mike, for twenty-three years now and bows to his expertise in the garden. She enjoys sitting out in it, though. In the kitchen, she bakes cakes, flapjacks and cookies, while he prepares meals when friends come round for dinner.

Louise’s son, Warrick, now lives in Gosforth and has two daughters. Louise’s daughter, Joscelynne, still lives in Norton and has two daughters. Mike’s two daughters live in Redcar and one has a son and a daughter, so they have six grandchildren to keep in touch with. “Our eight year old can Facetime us now and this is lovely,” says Louise.

Mike and Louise have two twelve year old black and white Border Collies, Scout and Jess. Mike can often be seen riding his bike in Saltburn, with the dogs running after him.

Louise has had pets all her life, and when her children were young, they had a dog, two kittens, a rat and a fish tank!

The couple have travelled to Australia, Malaysia and Bali, but her favourite destination was Vietnam. They used cars, trains, buses and internal flights to discover the unspoiled country. Also each year, Louise and her mum visit Europe. “I love Sicily and Italy is my spiritual home,” she sighs.

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The Saltburn Crossword no 231 set by Dinosaur Across 1 Call to get to safety said in many a Western film. Father hid so he’ll remake (4, 3, 3, 5) 8 On the ship? Sounds like a plank! (5) 9 Italian town that makes tomato sauce for spaghetti? (7) 10 Bowels of thin test I nervously hide (9) 11 Became upright or had put forward in an election (5) 12 Molten rock of collar vanity (5) 13 Said of someone who frankly expresses themselves to UK’s open distribution (9) 15 To restore friendship alternatively from rye actor no chip lie revealed (9) 17 Demolished to ground level but sounding quite the opposite initially repetitive and so endlessly damaged (5) 19 Clothing removed or in sporting uniform from first ripening (5) 21 Amphibian’s useful item for mushroom (9) 23 Saltburn jewel of ephemeral dream (7) 24 Bury concealed thin terrapin (5) 25 Must have been said by many a Saltburn smuggler noticing that it was safe to land goods when their cat closes a circulation (3, 5, 2, 5)

Down Name___________________________________ Address_________________________________ ________________________________________ Telephone_______________________________

1 Saltburn road where he’ll trice HSBC on redesign (3, 4, 8) 2 Device for connecting two electrical goods where Pat road about (7) 3 Amphibian’s useful item for reproduction (9) 4 Correct plural for two half diameters (5) 5 Aids where first he explains long playing system (5) 6 Paper record of a car? Ship? Fallen tree branch for reading? (7) 7 Said by many a highwayman when evaluating deviant red lands (5, 3, 7) 9 Respire! The bare calamity (7) 13 Said of something to which has been added an addictive drug from shop I ate disapprovingly (7) 14 Said of an organism that feeds off another and causes harm when I past car I drove about (9) 16 Funeral procession go Crete touring (7) 18 Scandalous problem go curse surfing (7) 20 Musical instrument sounding like P&O? (5) 22 Cast-iron defence back in crib I land (5)

Solution to Crossword no 230 The winner of last month’s crossword was Nick Wilson of Hazelgrove Residential Park, 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.

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Send your completed crossword to: Saltburn Crossword no 231, c/o Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, TS12 1AQ

by Friday, 18th September 2020. First correct solution out of the bag wins a £10 voucher kindly donated by Real Meals.

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£35.00

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