Talk of the Town February 2020

EDITION 224

CIRCULATION 4,600

FEBRUARY 2020

SALTBURN’S FREE MONTHLY MAGAZINE 1

2

SALTBURN’S TOWN TALK Letter from the Editor

As an editor I have to concern myself with the meanings of words and spelling and grammar. However, even at the age of 64 I continue to learn new things all the time and also get quite embarrassed about some things I should have known years ago. For example, this month I was humiliated to learn that I didn‟t realise that „teem‟ (with abundance) was spelled differently from „team‟ (as in sport) and consequently my ignorance led to a mistake in January‟s crossword. It didn‟t matter, as once alerted to the fact, I accepted either spelling as a correct answer. Only my pride was hurt! Last year I was very grateful to be educated by a librarian on the difference between „less‟ and „fewer‟. If you can count them, it‟s fewer,

but if it‟s a vague concept, it‟s less, as in „less traffic, fewer cars‟, or „less sand, fewer grains of sand‟ or even „less delay, fewer delays!‟ I have since wondered if the same quirkiness of the English language should apply to „more‟, as in „more traffic but a greater number of cars!‟ I do not know, but perhaps someone could enlighten me. Sometimes an editor just has to adopt a uniform style and none of the choices are actually wrong, as in email, e-mail, or Email. I prefer email.

Times are traditionally written, for example, 2.00 p.m. but I prefer a more compact 2.00pm as is used in most newspapers.

It‟s now 18 years that I have been doing all of this. Love, Ian Send letters, adverts and contributions for the next issue (by Friday, 14th February 2020) to: The Editor, Talk of the Town c/o Jackie‟s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, Cleveland, TS12 1AQ. Telephone: 01287 623903 (or email: talkofthetownsaltburn@gmail.com).

Talk of the Town can be found on a new Facebook address at www.facebook.com/talkofthetownsaltburn.

Saltburn Farmers’ Market returns to the town‟s centre on Saturday, February 8th. Packed with fresh locally produced food and drink, it‟s what we have all been waiting for to inspire us in 2020. We will see the welcome return of Noble‟s Shell Fish, Gourmet Scotch Eggs, Fabulous Pies and Coeliac and Vegan Treats! Stroll through the thirty or more traders to find your favourite this month!

Saltburn Studios and Gallery: Our Studio Artists are busy Marske Fishermen’s Choir: As the culmination of the being creative in their Studios. Our Gallery will open again in Choir‟s 50th Anniversary year fundraising activities, we will March. be hosting a presentation evening on Saturday, the 15th of Walking Netball is a gentle form of netball, good fun and February at 8.00pm in The Ship Inn at Marske where we will exercise, for all ladies. If you fancy joining us, we meet at be making donations to several local organisations. For any Saltburn Learning Campus between 6pm and 7pm from Friday, further information contact our Musical Director Bill 10th January 2020. No special gear necessary, only comfortable Porritt (01642-473566) or Secretary Dave Harrison (01287- clothing, soft-soled shoes and some water! Cost £3.50 per 623943). session. Further information from saltburnwi@outlook.com.

Random Stitchers of Cleveland are holding their February Craft Club Busy Fingers: 2nd and 4th Thursday of each meeting on the 1st February in Sunnyfield House, Westgate, month, 1.30 till 3.30pm in the Coffee Room, Saltburn Guisborough. TS14 6BA. The meeting starts at 2pm. This Community Centre.

Stitchers of Cleveland (Embroiderers‟ Guild) are meeting is a Members‟ Play Day. We will demonstrate Random Saltburn Traditional Music Workshops: The dates for our Saltburn Library this month on 12th June at 2.00pm. See different techniques and you will have a chance to have a go. in meetings in February are the 14th and the 28th. We meet in the article on page 10 for further details.

Come and join in the fun. The Random Stitchers will be Library Coffee Room at Saltburn Community Hall from 2pm to 4pm. meeting again on Saturday, 7th March at 2pm in Sunnyfield Our small and friendly group play traditional tunes of the House. The Speaker will be Kate Slaughter with „A Creative British Isles at a slow and steady pace for players to join in. For Journey with Colour and Texture‟. Visitors are welcome. more information please contact Dave on 01642 316255. If you Admission £5. Any further info please phone 01642 480344. need to leave a message, someone will get back to you.

Emmanuel Church Hall Table Top and Collectors’ Sale: WI Report: A New Year and the ladies of Saltburn WI are We will be back for our normal sales on 1st and 15th back into full swing. At our first meeting of the New Year our February, then 7th and 21st march. We are really taking off as speaker was Martin Peagam who told us the story of gin. A we are using all three rooms and it‟s really busy. It‟s nice that fascinating and very interesting story. We have already had our we have a lot of people just wanting a clear out. In this sale first knit and natter session, our monthly round of activities we are using three rooms full of stall holders and we have include weekly strolls, a flower class, a food tasting session also let some charity people in like different church groups, where we share recipes, taking samples for others to try cancer charities and more. It‟s helping a lot of people. We are (biscuits this month) and weekly walking netball sessions. Then looking forward to seeing you all again and thank you all for at the end of the month we will have our Christmas meal, since your support. We are also doing our usual lunches and all day there had been no time in December! We meet at 7.00pm on the breakfast, fresh home baked cake, pies and scones. Home 2nd Thursday of each month at the Saltburn Learning campus. made refreshments and light lunches are on sale all day. Why not come along and give us a try on February 13th? Full FREE ENTRANCE and a warm welcome to everyone. With details of all our activities can be found on our website over 26 stall holders, selling lots of bric-a-brac, books, toys, www.saltburnbytheseawi.wordpress.com.

Or see us on baby goods, and all sorts of collectables, there is something Facebook. for everyone. Contact Denise Marshall on 07929 589538.

Diane Falla Cover Photograph: Rippled Sand on Saltburn Beach by Margaret Grant 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.)

3

Saltburn-by-the-Sea News and Views Quite often when we look at photographs, we associate the reported news with an image. Some of which we share with this month‟s issue.

The former subway under the railway is associated with a number of events. In 1885 Mr Edward Hampden Allbrook, aged 32, who was secretary to the Thatched House Club in London, was remanded under warrant with having embezzled money upwards of £4,000. He absconded and nothing more was seen of him until he was arrested on suspicion by the police. The circumstances of his arrest are interesting. A Constable Duckworth was walking through the subway at Saltburn-by-the-Sea, and he noticed Allbrook coming towards him with a lady. They suddenly turned round to go back, obviously to avoid the constable. On exiting the subway, Allbrook was seen some way off and looking around to see if he was being followed and then go off again. Catching up with Allbrook, the constable was given his name as Barker. Not satisfied, the constable established his identity, as his crime and an image of Allbrook had been published in the Police Gazette.

Apprehended he said he was glad at being caught as his life was a misery to him. He was taken before the magistrates at Guisborough Police Court on a charge of embezzling £4,000, kept in custody, eventually being taken back to London for trial by an Inspector from Scotland Yard.

Allbrook pleaded guilty when he appeared at the Old Bailey and was sentenced to seven years penal servitude.

Meanwhile it was noted the woman with whom he was cohabiting had decamped. This information originally came to our attention by an enquiry asking if we could find the identity of the lady he was with!

At the beginning of the Second World War the subway was dedicated as an air raid shelter, and it was still available to walk through.

Old Saltburn has had many tales told, some very serious but others bring a smile. In 1896 a Mrs Jamieson living at Old Saltburn was charged by Skelton and Brotton District Council with permitting overcrowding in a house tenanted by her. There were six persons living in the house, but the cubic area was only sufficient for four people. The bench at Guisborough Police Court agreed the case was proved and ordered that the matter be rectified within a month and the defendant was ordered to pay the costs.

Again, at Old Saltburn. Two tramping hawkers in 1914, William Clancy and Mary Clancy, were charged at 4

Redcar with sleeping out at Saltburn in a stable and the police stated they were begging and drinking in Saltburn.

Clancy pleaded for leniency and said he had 28 years‟ service in the army. The Bench decided to discharge the defendants on their promising to leave the district. (A case of go away and become someone else‟s problem!)

Gaming in Hazlegrove. Three Saltburn men, Joseph Jemison, Frank Ableson and Richard Bellwood, in September 1906 appeared at Guisborough Police Court charged with gaming with cards in Hazlegrove Park.

PC Falkingham was on duty in the park where he saw the defendants playing nap and money being passed.

Having got within several yards of the three, they jumped up and ran away. Many complaints had been received of gambling in the park. The men had been hidden in bushes quite close to the path and the bad language they used could be clearly heard by anyone on the path. Jemison, who appeared in court, was fined 2s 6d and costs, while the other defendants were ordered to each pay 10s and costs.

Cath and Tony Lynn

Looking for that special gift and card?

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

Now also available online.

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

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

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

Cllr. Thomson: 01287 624883.

COME TO WORSHIP ON SUNDAY AT 10.45am AND WEDNESDAY 10.00am SUNDAY SCHOOL 10.45am Mums & Toddlers Tuesday & Thursday At 10.00am Ladies meetings Mondays at 8.00pm

COFFEE MORNINGS WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY at 10.00am Drop in for a coffee /tea and a chat On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10.00am - 12 noon For Hire of Rooms Ring 623145 5

How things have changed I am now in my eightieth year, and have been reflecting on how things have changed over my lifetime. For one thing (the elephant in the room), the world population has more than trebled, from 2.3 to 7.8billion, meaning that there are over three times as many mouths to feed, three times as many people absorbing oxygen and breathing out carbon dioxide, three times as many needing clothing, shelter, water, education, medical care, transport facilities and a good many other things. In most parts of the world, the demand for water and power has increased exponentially.

Most people now have cars, some more than one, but in my childhood only the wealthy could afford them.

When I was born, we lived in a rented house with only one electric light bulb in each room, one power point and one tap for the whole house, the electricity having been installed only in 1937, just three years before I was born.

Our only sources of heat then were a black-leaded domestic range in the living room and coal or wood fires in other rooms. These were lit only on special occasions. We had no bathroom, only an outside toilet, and only one electrical device - a large McMichael radio set, purchased in 1937.

My mother used flat irons heated up on the gas stove. And I can remember the gas-copper boiling away on wash-days, and the scrubbing-board and copper-stick worn white with years of use. I‟m sure this situation was widespread at the time among working-class families.

During my childhood we acquired an electric iron and (during my teens) a second-hand television set and a new National Utilities vacuum cleaner (both on hirepurchase). Prior to that, scrubbing-brushes, soap, dusters, floor cloths, dust-pans and brushes and a Ewbank carpet sweeper were our only means of domestic cleaning. There were no liquid detergents: soap-flakes were used for laundry and washing soda to clean dishes. Water had to be heated in the gas copper for baths (a zinc bath brought in from the yard on bath-nights), or in large kettles on the gas stove for washing-up. This continued until 1957 when my father installed a discarded Rayburn stove which he restored himself (we could never have afforded a new, or even a second-hand, one). This at last gave us constant hot water, something we now take for granted. (The hot tank and airing cupboard was in my now oh-so-cosy bedroom!) In 1960 we moved into another rented house where for the first time we had a bathroom and a fridge. Our telephone was installed in 1962. There were then only three or four others in our road!

In the period of rationing, which extended into the early 1950s, apart from meat, dairy products and bread, most of the food we ate (including virtually all the fruit and vegetables) was grown by my father in the back garden or on his allotment. I remember wrapping home-grown cooking-apples in newspaper in the autumn. These were placed in a large cardboard box in an unheated room, and lasted us for most of the winter: they had to be inspected regularly in case any had gone off. All the cakes were home made (I have never tasted sponges as good as my mother‟s), and most of the eggs came from the chicken-run in the back garden. Although food was rationed, I never recall going hungry.

Today I live in a house with at least four power points and numerous electric lights in every room, though 6

my overall lighting bill is proportionately less as modern LED lighting consumes roughly 10% of the power of the old tungsten-filament light bulbs. Most of this has happened over the last 20 years. I recently changed the strip light over a wash basin for an LED version which consumes only 4 watts and is much brighter than the old one which was 60 watts. With the ever-rising cost of electricity, such measures are economically prudent as well as environmentally friendly.

I have never run a car, and have not been in an aeroplane for over four years, probably the last time I shall ever fly. I go everywhere (and not very far these days) on foot, by public transport, or as a passenger in the cars of kind friends.

We hear much today about carbon footprints and that there is a climate emergency, and it is no surprise that with the huge increase in population and the rising expectations of everyone in the developed (and developing) world, demand can only increase. But we must make sure that measures to combat climate change are proportionate and not counterproductive. We should beware of imagining that - even with crippling Herculean effort - we can put the climate clock back to the days before the industrial revolution. We may simply have to live with – and mitigate where possible - the situation we have created.

The Danish environmentalist Bjorn Lomborg, in a recently published newspaper article, addresses the problem. I here quote a few excerpts: “Climate change is a real problem.

It is man-made, and it will have negative consequences. But trying to stop emitting CO2 by 2050 or sooner is a very expensive way to do almost no good. Weaning economies off fossil fuels and onto pricier, less efficient forms of energy reduces growth and prosperity. The impact quickly adds up.

The climate challenge will not be solved by asking people to use less and more expensive energy. A sensible middle ground must be found that could include policies like a low and rising carbon tax.

“But we must ultimately focus on the reality that the best way to fix climate change is innovation that lowers the price of clean energy below that of fossil fuels.”

The full article is here: https://nypost.com/2019/12/08/ reality-check-drive-for-rapid-net-zero-emissions-a-guaranteed -loser/ Dan O’Hara

Real Meals Purveyors of Fine Foods

Real Meals Valentine Takeaway Crab and Fennel Bruschetta with Salad Spicy Carrot & Mango Soup (VG) Pate & Toast with Salad (Meat/VG option) ------Mussels with Chorizo, Cannellini Beans & Samphire served with Garlic Bread Braised Ox Cheeks with Ginger Mash, Curly Kale and Chantenay Carrots Fig & Aubergine Tabbouleh with Almond and Tahini dressing and Flat Bread (VG) ------Champagne and Raspberry Foul Salted Chocolate Pots Sticky Apple Cake with Dark Chocolate Sauce (VG)

£13 for 2 courses, £16 for 3 courses Order now to pick up Friday 14th February

01287 622266 5 Milton Street, Saltburn. Open 7 Days a Week

New email address: realmeals.uk@gmail.com

Councillors’ Column Crossing any road can usually be a bit of a challenge, but particularly if you are in any way infirm. Reduction in speed of vehicle travel has been requested, but to date with little result. There is good news, however. The success gained by the raising of the level crossing at the bottom of Princes Road and in so doing giving safer passage across Windsor Road for pedestrians, but also slowing the rate of vehicle travel along Windsor Road, has prompted a senior police officer to lend support for the request to treat all other crossings on Windsor Road and Marske Road in a similar manner. Hopefully residents will now be listened to.

White lines in front of dropped kerbs in the town centre to highlight that vehicles should not obstruct have been requested. This latter request has been on the table for so long that one is given to wondering whether a Court Order is the better solution to achieve implementation.

A joint church service held on the cliff pathway towards Skinningrove last month brought together those of Christian faiths to recognise work needed and being done to help those who have reached a crossroad in life.

Much thought has been invested in recent times, reaching out to address the challenges that some find in dealing with life itself. One man now walks this pathway daily giving an ear to those who need someone to listen. This work is carried on each Thursday evening in Toc H, off Albion Terrace, for all who want to give and for those

who are in need of support.

The Tour de Yorkshire, now recognised as a major international cycling event, will be coming through the town on the 30th April on its way to finish its first leg at Redcar. A wonderful occasion for the town to come together in providing a warm but fleeting welcome to the followers of a sport that has raised the profile of our County. An opportunity for all to share in this excitement and promote the name of Saltburn-by-the-Sea. Anyone with or without a botanical eye will have seen the early appearance of daffodils, groundsel, blue bells and snowdrops. If further evidence of climate change were required we need only read the daily international news and listen to friends and family around the globe for their experiences.

Redcar & Cleveland is committed to be being carbon neutral by 2030. Each of us can be part of that commitment and endeavour together to ensure its achievement. Positive recycling will be a contribution. This can be done voluntarily. Do we have to adopt the practice of Stratford on Avon of fining residents if waste is not recycled correctly?

Ash Wednesday will appear later in the month on our calendar, signalling the start day for a traditional period of Lent. This is usually seen as a period of abstinence, preparation and reflection. Reflection can be challenging but rewarding too, if not taken at speed.

Philip Thomson 7

Saltburn Evangelical Church (Leven Street Mission)

MILES, HUTCHINSON & LITHGOW SOLICITORS Conveyancing (Domestic and Commercial) (Free written quotation on request) Property Leases Probate and Wills Divorce and related Property and Financial Issues Children Disputes

Following Jesus - the Bible our guide

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

Immigration, including Visas, Leave to Remain Naturalisation, Passport applications and EEA Applications Powers of Attorney Deputyships Civil and Criminal Litigation

For a friendly efficient service on all legal matters Tel:

01287 623049

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

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

Help! Your local Playgroup needs you!

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

01287 624575

,

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

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

No Job Too Small

Call 07773 091727 Email: simpsonc999@gmail.com 8

9

Saltburn Churches Together Lent Course

Can we help?

The „New Day Singers‟, a ladies choir based in Saltburn and led by Paula Odell (a former student of Betty Middleton), are now taking bookings for 2020. The choir were very busy in 2019 and performed in various concerts which supported local charities helping to raise over £3,500. Pictured here are the choir in St Mark‟s Church, Marske, where they raised £700 for the Whitehouse refurbishment fund. If you would like the New Day Singers to sing at a charity event you are organising or are interested in joining the choir, please get in touch with Paula Odell on 07882 935877.

10

Lent is a great opportunity for Christians to meet together to reflect on their spiritual journey.

This year‟s Thursday evenings Lent Course run by Churches Together in Saltburn will be particularly relevant for that, with its theme of “Journey to Jerusalem”. It will bring together two parallel thoughts. Luke‟s Gospel tells us, “As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” This echoes some of the Old Testament “Psalms of Ascents”, used by pilgrims as they made their own way up to Jerusalem to worship.

Each week there‟ll be two short talks, with each talk followed by small group discussion. The main talk each week will look at one of the stories in Luke‟s Gospel from Jesus‟s Journey to Jerusalem, towards his death on the cross. The second talk will tie in with that, reflecting on our own journey as pilgrims in this world.

The speakers will be Saltburn ministers from various churches, Anglican, Catholic, Methodist and Baptist. But all are welcome, from any church or from none.

The course starts on the first Thursday in Lent, 27th February, and runs for six weeks through to Thursday 2nd April. The venue is the main hall at ECHO (behind Emmanuel Church, TS12 1LE) and the start time is 7.30pm, with a prompt finish at 8.50pm. Refreshments will be available each evening from 7.00pm.

If you would like to come along, just turn up on the night. There‟s no charge. For further information, email geoffbland2009@gmail.com or ring 07432 654567.

Here are the details of the weekly topics, with the Bible passages from Luke and Psalms: Feb. 27 Mar. 5 Mar. 12 Mar. 19 Mar. 26 April 2

Setting out on the journey God‟s kingdom has come A life rich towards God Honour and humility The view from beyond What awaits in Jerusalem

Luke 9:51-62; Luke 11:14-26; Luke 12:13-21; Luke 14:1-14; Luke 16:19-31; Luke 18:31-43;

Psalm 84 Psalm 133 Psalm 127 Psalm 131 Psalm 126 Psalm 130

11

T: 01287 201876

M: 07737 654772

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

Website: www.flintoffs.co.uk

12

13

Saltburn in Bloom It‟s not been the best of starts to the year has it? I don‟t suppose a lot of gardening has been done by anyone, although, sitting in the warm, planning and looking at catalogues isn‟t a bad way of spending cold, winter nights.

One thing a group of gardeners has done, has been to empty six flooded planters along Marine Parade. This is a big job and requires strength, so many thanks to the parish warden for his help. Thanks too to the Spar shop at the zebra crossing which arranged for us to have a lot of compost donated. This enabled us to take out the old, waterlogged substrate from the planters and refresh them with good, new stuff. The daffodil and other bulbs were carefully saved and replanted so there should be some good displays along Marine Parade in the spring.

You may have noticed last year that another six of the Marine Parade planters had a skin of chicken wire put around them. The purpose of this was to experiment in softening the chunky, black planters and providing a base that we could tie things to. In 2019 knitters produced lovely large flowers for us, which two volunteers carefully tied to the wire. The task took hours and it was only when the same two volunteers came to remove them, did they realise that the flowers had proved to be too great a temptation for dogs to ignore. So... we would like to do something else this year. It was a difficult job getting the wire round in the first place and so we don‟t want to give up on the idea just yet. If anyone out there has any thoughts, please email saltburn.in.bloom@gmail.com or contact us on our facebook page. We‟d love to hear from you.

I‟d be in trouble with my fellow committee members if I didn‟t remind you that it‟s “sponsorship” time again. We are very thankful to all our sponsors and hope you‟ll be able to support us again this year. Anyone new to Saltburn or new to sponsorship who would like to, maybe, remember a loved one, please do get in touch and we can talk about options. Donations too are very welcome. We‟d like to know roughly how much sponsorship we might achieve as early as possible this year as we think that the Tour de Yorkshire might pass through Saltburn. Whether it does, or not, we‟d like to give 2020 a little bit of a “spring splash”. It makes such a difference to be able to lift the spirits with floral joy after the dark, wet winter.

I hope you‟ll be pleased to hear that our celebration event on 30th January was a success. It provided us with the opportunity to thank everyone formally for all their help and support during 2019 and to mark the occasion with the mayor of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council giving out our awards and saying a few words about the value of volunteers. Fingers crossed that 2020 will be brilliant too. Our AGM is to be on 31st March at 6.30pm probably in the ECHO building. You are welcome to come along. Confirmation of venue will be on facebook.

Sue 14

Saltburn-by-the-Sea Garden Flat available for holiday lets Less than five minutes walk from the sea and from the train station, shops and local restaurants etc. The property consists of a fully fitted and equipped kitchen, spacious and well furnished lounge overlooking the garden (which is for your personal use), and a king size bed with en-suite bathroom.

WiFi access Contact Mr & Mrs Smith on 01287 623740 (home) Or 07988 838956 (Mr Smith mobile) Or 07877 384977 (Mrs Smith mobile)

Andy Pollard

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

SPONSORED SWIM Set yourself a fitness goal for the New Year and help us provide vital swimming lessons to children in Vietnam at the same time.

SALTBURN LEISURE CENTRE SATURDAY 15th FEBRUARY between 1.15-3.15pm Choose your own personal challenge: 400m (16 lengths), 0.75k (30 Lengths), 1.5k (60 lengths), 2.5k (100 lengths) or 5k (200 lengths).

TO ENTER: SIMPLY EMAIL US AT HUEHELPSWIM@GMAIL.COM OR TEXT OR CALL 07891 171944 AND WE WILL SEND YOU ALL OF THE INFORMATION. THERE WILL BE A £5 ENTRANCE FEE TO SECURE YOUR PLACE PAYABLE PRIOR TO THE EVENT. HUE HELP WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2006 BY A YOUNG SALTBURN RESIDENT. THE CHARITY RELIES ON OUR SUPPORT TO CONTINUE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO LIVES OF CHILDREN IN THE CITY OF HUE (REGISTERED CHARITY 1117116) Around 8 children drown every day in Vietnam, the highest number of any country in South East Asia. Drowning is the single leading cause of death, claiming more lives than any disease or infection, and more than malaria, TB, HIV/Aids and malnutrition combined. The swimming for safety programme trains school teachers as swimming teachers, who then go on to train children in their schools in survival skills, safe rescue and water safety awareness.

Could you help Footprints in the Community make a difference to the lives of local people in 2020?

If you‟ve started 2020 with a New Year‟s Resolution to make a positive difference by helping people more, or you‟ve been thinking about it for a while, volunteering with Footprints in the Community could be for you.

We have lots of different volunteering opportunities across our projects, which include Redcar Area Foodbank, our Next Step Shop, First Steps and our Footprints Community Cafe. One thing all of our projects have in common, is their aim to reduce poverty and isolation in Redcar and East Cleveland.

We have over 200 volunteers across our various projects. Our volunteers have told us about the benefits to them of volunteering for Footprints in the Community. They include: making a positive difference in their local communities, making new friendships, improved mental health and reducing feelings of loneliness.

Like our Men‟s Shed project volunteer, Sean. Sean has been a member for just over 3 years and became a volunteer six months ago. Sean was feeling isolated in a new area and struggling with confidence when he first started attending Men‟s Shed, which is a social space for

men over the age of 18, to meet and relax in an informal, supportive environment. There is also a woodworking shop for members to work on their own projects, with support from Manager John and volunteers including Sean.

Sean said, “Volunteering at Men‟s Shed has really improved my confidence, as well as my physical and mental health. I enjoy coming along and helping other people.”

CEO Ruth Fox said, “Footprints in the Community is dedicated to reducing poverty and isolation in the Redcar area.

Our dedicated volunteers are central to us providing projects to work towards this goal. Sean is a perfect example of how our volunteers can also benefit from improved wellbeing by being involved in local charities, such as Footprints.”

For more information about Footprints in the Community‟s projects, visit our website or Facebook pages.

P l e a s e e m a i l R a c h e l a t volunteer@footprintsinthecommunity.co.uk to find out more about our current volunteering opportunities.

15

Emmanuel Church Hall, (off Windsor Road) Saltburn

Tuesdays at 3.30pm, 5.30pm or 7.30pm.

Earthbeat Centre, Marske Road, Saltburn

Saturdays at 8.30am For Details Ring

Stevie on

01642 474920

Saltburn Charity Crafters Saltburn Charity Crafters will be meeting on Wednesday, 5th February in the Coffee Room at Saltburn Community Hall from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. The aim of our group is to enjoy traditional crafts and, at the same time, help local charities. If charity crafting also appeals to you, please join us at our monthly meeting or, if you would like more information, contact Kath on 01287 205242 (or email: kath.west45@virginmedia.com).

A.J.’s Building and DÊcor *General maintenance *All aspects of building work 20 years experience!

Competitive rates

Call: 01287 349716 16

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

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

Articentric Community Interest Company

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

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

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

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

Saltburn Photographic Society Wednesday, 5th February NYSDPA individual PDIs competition results. Wednesday, 12th February Jarvis and Lynn print sets and Ladies competition results.

Wednesday, 19th February NYSDPA Interclub prints and PDIs competition results. Wednesday, 26th February Tin Cossins presents 7 days in the Masai Mara.

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

Practical night 7.00pm on Monday, 17th February with „understanding colour printing‟.

Meetings are held in the upstairs hall, Saltburn Milton Street Methodist Church TS12 1EB at 7.30pm.

Visitors are welcome to any of our meetings; there will be a small charge. For more information, visit our web site www.saltburnphotographicsociety.co.uk or contact Tony Lynn 01287 622519.

17

Saltburn Athletic FC With Christmas having been and gone the season resumed on the 5th January. Prior to Christmas, we saw a lot of postponed games due to the weather and state of the pitches affecting all teams in the region.

The U9s were well beaten in their first game back in a cup match but were then able to win the following Sunday with a league win versus Great Ayton.

The U11s also suffered a cup defeat against Seaton Carew Lions but followed that result with a resounding victory against Billingham Junior Lions, The U12s Sharks playing their first game since late November lost in the cup versus Hartlepool Pools Youth 3-0 in a game where minor errors were costly but they bounced back in a league game when beating Marton Whites 7-2 when Aaron Bell scored four goals.

The U12s Seahawks losing their first game 3-0 against Riverside Blues but again a Saltburn team redeemed themselves by winning their next game 15-0 versus Linthorpe Accies.

The U13s continued the trait by losing the first game in the cup 1-0 against Eaglescliffe Elementis and then winning the next game against Nunthorpe in the league 5-1.

The U15s Falcons having lost many games to the weather, cup and other issues finally got a game when playing Linthorpe Accies and won 4-2.

The U15s Dolphins who, unfortunately having lost several key players for one reason or another, are having a torrid season, although they are having good cup runs and are through to the quarter final of the county cup when beating Grangetown Boys club 6-1 and then winning 8-0 against Billingham in the TJFA Challenge cup. They have since lost in the Challenge cup 4-1 to New Marske and then losing in the league 6-3 to Bishop Auckland Kings.

A mixture of good and bad results but at least we are able to play some games so let‟s hope the weather stays reasonable.

Andy Croll, Club Secretary, CWO, Coach

Christmas Gift Fair Success The Christmas Gift Fair held on 14th December 2019 in Saltburn Community Hall was a great success. Thanks are due to the stallholders for turning the hall into a treasure trove of goods and for such a great atmosphere. Thanks also to Denise and her staff who did us proud in the kitchen and put the icing on the cake of a splendid day. Both the 1st Saltburn Scouts and RNLI did well on their stall and Saltburn Charity Crafters sold over £150 worth of goods. Angie would have been proud of you all.

Saltburn 500 Club

Congratulations go to the following prize winners in the January Saltburn 500 Club Draw: £100 D Locker, £50 L Clark, £25 C Vanham and £15 J Devasagayam. For new readers, application forms to join the 500 Club are available from Saltburn library or Jackie‟s Saverstore.

The 2020 summer Saltburn Bandstand performances commence on Sunday, 3rd May and finish on Sunday, 27th September. At the time of writing this article, the schedule is undergoing final adjustments and will be released in the very near future. The programme will be displayed on the notice board in the bandstand and schedules will be available from Saltburn library. In addition, I will print the appropriate month‟s performances in my Talk of the Town article. The performances cannot go on without the volunteers who are involved in fund raising, the preparation of the schedule and arranging seating/collecting on the days of the performances. If you can volunteer some time, please contact Cllr Philip Thomson and let him know.

The 2019 Christmas display, apparently, was the target of many on social media who felt that the display and parade were “boring and the same old thing”. I haven‟t seen any of the negative comments but have received verbal comments from many people, some negative, but mainly positive. The Christmas lights cannot happen without the help of volunteers, who give their time in various ways. We have four fundraising events in the Community Centre each year when volunteers bake and/or man the kitchen.

We have a team of volunteers who help to bring the lights out and put them away after the event and we have volunteers who organise the parade.

If you are one of the people who complained about the lights, why don‟t you come along and join us to see, exactly, what is involved each year? The sharp-eyed people among you will have noticed that three motifs opposite the Queen‟s Hotel had to be disconnected because of electrical faults. These have been sent for refurbishment and, following the successful fundraising of 2019, we may have sufficient funding to send the remaining motifs away for refurbishment.

The Sunday table-tops are a valuable source of fund-raising for the Christmas lights and the Folk Festival so please go and have a browse to help us with the funding. The people who man the stalls are there most weeks and will be happy to see you. If you want to have a stall, please let me know and I can let you have the full details.

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

18

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

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

Email: liz.ingledew@btinternet.com Website: www.liziesdecorating.co.uk

www.scurator.co.uk info@scurator.co.uk www.beamdesignservice.co.uk 19

20

Free faller or Starfish? What’s your sleep style?

I have been battling with sleep for a few years until recently. During the summer I spent some time studying circadian rhythms and routines in line with Ayurvedic practices, after a little trial and error and cancelling my Netflix account I have eased my way into an awesome night time routine which sends me in to a slumber without being disturbed in the night.

I’m sure you’ve been called an early bird or night owl. If you and your partner are different it can be challenging to sync rhythms. I’m an early bird so my routine is set up to give me 7-8 hours of sleep to wake by 6am, my winter wake up time.

So working backwards I would ideally like to be asleep by 10pm, for this I have an hour pre-sleep ritual which starts with turning off all phones, TV, laptop anything with blue light or that could distract me. Then I make a sleepy bedtime drink, usually almond milk, turmeric, nutmeg and cardamom (for the moon milk recipe visit @treelivingyoga.com). I give myself a foot massage with lavender and sesame oil, read and then enjoy a little gratitude meditation before sleep. I also have no phones or laptops in the bedroom.

It seems really simple but sticking to this routine and bedtime has given me just the right amount of rest so that most of the time I wake up without my alarm feeling fresh and ready for the day.

Whilst doing some research into sleep hygiene and how to get the optimum sleep I came across sleeping styles and your personality: which one are you and which one offers the best night’s rest?

The Foetus: Tough on the outside but sensitive at heart. This is the most common sleeping position, adopted by 41% of the 1,000 people who took part in the survey.

Log (15%): These sleepers are easy going, social people who like being part of the in-crowd, and who are trusting of strangers.

The yearner (13%): You have an open nature, but can be suspicious, cynical. They are slow to make up their minds, but once they have taken a decision, they are unlikely ever to change it.

Soldier (8%): People who sleep in this position are generally quiet and reserved. They don’t like a fuss, but set themselves and others high standards.

Freefall (7%): Often gregarious and brash people, but can be nervy and thin-skinned underneath, and don't like criticism, or extreme situations.

Starfish (5%): These sleepers make good friends because they are always ready to listen to others, and

offer help when needed. They generally don't like to be the centre of attention.

The remainder of those in the poll said the position they fell asleep varied or did not know.

From the research that Professor Chris Idzikowski, director of the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service carried out on 1000 people, he concluded that the freefall position was good for digestion, while the starfish and soldier positions were more likely to lead to snoring and a bad night's sleep.

If you would like more information on Ayurveda routines or for help in finding your own sleep ritual get in touch with Victoria Sky or check out my website www.treelivingyoga.com.

21

Saltburn Miniature Railway Update The Railway is now closed until Easter 2020 and our winter period is focused around maintenance issues. However, there were some minor additions during the summer: a set of signals at C/N, two new benches sighted one at each station, a flagpole complete with our flag plus a Victorian style information cabinet sited at the shed.

After suffering one attempted and one major break in we are in the process of setting up a state of the art security system which will monitor anyone entering the area, which entails more cost but it appears to be a function of the times.

Now we return to our maintenance issues. We did have a timetable but this has slipped back a little. The steamer Blacklock R has had all of the motion rods fitted with new bushes machined at NYMR and all refitted by ourselves.

All locos and coaches have been fitted with HGV standard hoses and couplings, a vital safety update.

The emergency horn has been replaced by a more 22

modern system; this was also a vital safety update.

Prince Charles (the green one) is at present having a major overhaul as he has been with us since 1953 and things do wear out. This entails a new set of tyres on the wheelset under the cab, update of electrical connections and a brand new set of axle boxes for the tender. These have been cast in bronze and are being machined by NYMR, the axles will run directly in the bronze.

The coaches are scheduled for painting when the weather picks up.

We intended to fit some more heavy gauge track but have instead concentrated on replacing the sleepers, some sixty up to now.

We have maintenance mornings on Wednesdays and Sundays which is the best time to see the locos or visit the shed.

Robert Proctor (Chairman)

or email: simon.robson1@ntlworld.com

23

Friday Friends Friday Friends is a drop-in group for adults over 18 who have special and additional needs or are at risk of social isolation. We are a diverse group who meet on Fridays at the ECHO centre, Emmanuel Church, McNay Street, Saltburn.

We are open from 10am until 3pm, with activity sessions, should you wish to join in with them, running from 10-12 and 1-3. Arts/Crafts, games, refreshments and a good chat are available all day.

We ask for a donation of £2 per session or £3 for the whole day – if you prefer to stop in for a quick cuppa and a chat we only charge for your refreshments. The first session and Carers are always free.

Friday 7th February – Seated Keep Fit - 10-12 Friday 21st – Singalong with Makaton – 10-11 Friday 28th – Bowls – 10-12 (Please book) For more information please email admin@thefridayfriends.co.uk or call 07921 855242.

Registered Charity No. 1177967

Saltburn Library News February‟s book stand is entitled „Friend or Foe?‟ and features novels with that theme.

DIARY DATES: 17th February 2020 1:00-2:00pm Half Term Kids Craft Session – Make your own Hanging Jellyfish (charge is 50p per child, age 5+, booking essential via library).

20th February 2020 1:00-2:00pm Half Term Kids Coastal Event – Tees Valley Wildlife Trust. Interactive, crafty, journey of coastal discoveries… (£1.50 per child, age 5+, booking is essential via library).

26th February 2020 10:30-11:30am Saltburn Library Reading Group.

25th March 2020 10:30-11:30am Saltburn Library Reading Group Kelly Rose

SALTBURN BLUES CLUB

Our second gig of 2020 on Saturday, 29th February is The Milk Men supported by Paul Cowley. The Milk Men are made up from the cream of British R‟n‟B talent and pedigree. Bringing together members of the legendary Pirates, and British Blues Award-nominated the Mustangs, they have been tearing up venues and festivals all over the UK with their dynamic, white hot versions of classic blues tunes, alongside unforgettable foot-stomping originals.

The Milk Men‟s sound has been called „ZZ/DC Feelgood” by some critics, who have lavished praise on the band‟s dynamic live show and original songs. But the band draws its influences from all corners of the blues world, from early Rod Stewart, through classic Rolling Stones & Steely Dan, to the heavier blues leanings of ZZ Top and AC/DC. The band‟s tight, catchy blend of original songs and classic covers has won them fans all over the UK and the band look set to grow from strength to strength with more live shows in 2020 and a very hotly-anticipated new album due for release in the spring.

The support Paul Cowley is described as „Blues soaked guitar and vocal work with a sophisticated urban lyricism informed by country blues but not dictated by a need to imitate it‟ - David Harley Folking.com. So yet another great night in store for us. Tickets from Milo‟s Cafe Saltburn, The Cricket Club, www.yorkshireticketshop.co and 07960 935263.

February also sees the first gig of 2020 at the recently formed Balmoral Acoustic Blues Club at the Cons Club with Mike Bowden and The A197 Trio providing the entertainment.

This is on Sunday the 9th February, doors at 7.30pm, tickets £8 for SBC members and £10 for non members which are only available direct from me. First come first served and only 40 seats available.

Don‟t forget about my radio show Still Got The Blues on Zetland 105FM and online at Zetland FM website every Monday 7-10pm or catch up later on Mixcloud. Three hours of the very best of the Blues.

Keep diggin‟ the Blues folks!

Harry

Antiques Valuations at the Community Hall, Albion Terrace, Saltburn 10th February, 10am-1pm Our valuers will be on hand to discuss your antiques, jewellery and collectables, and provide you with a free auction estimate for items you wish to sell.

No appointments are necessary and we will be available to advise you on all aspects of buying and selling at auction. Smaller items can be consigned at the event, or you can discuss consigning at a later date.

If you live in the area and have a large item or a large collection you would like valuing, please contact us to arrange a confidential home visit when we are in the area.

Elstob & Elstob, The Ripon Saleroom, Ripon Business Park, Charter Road, Ripon, HG4 1AJ T. 01765 699200 W. www.elstobandelstob.co.uk E. info@elstobandelstob.co.uk 24

A rare pair of Chinese Export padouk chairs, after a design by Giles Grendey. Discovered in a Lancashire property and sold by us for £23,000 plus fees

LK Electrical Electrical contractor based in Saltburn.

Apprentice trained, fully qualified including BS2391, 29 years experience.

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

Contact Lee Kelley lkelectrical1036@gmail.com 07760 349770

25

Cleveland Diving Club It is said that happy endings are the precursors to new beginnings and Cleveland Divers can certainly look back on a perfect happy ending to 2019 having raised £218.45 for the RNLI and the Great North Air Ambulance at Saltburn‟s Farmers‟ Market on Saturday, 14th December. We would like to thank to all those club volunteers who turned out on a very cold and windy morning to help prepare the club‟s boat and organise and manage the tombola stall (photo 1). The club also wishes to thank everyone who visited the stall to support the fund raising event; your contributions are greatly appreciated.

A new year brings new opportunities to create new memories.

However, during the winter‟s inhospitable weather that curbs diving activities, our quiescent members will need to settle for recalling memories and browsing old photos. For example, this beautiful spotted eagle ray snapped during a dive in Thailand‟s Andaman Sea (photo 2).

The beauty and grace of these creatures is breath-taking. Interestingly the spotted pattern is unique to each creature (like human finger prints). They also have panache for jumping out of the water, thought to be for either to escape an unwanted suitor‟s attentions or as a deep skin cleansing way to rid themselves of parasites. To see them in action go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHrrS_hOnZw. Found throughout the world‟s warm waters sighting an eagle ray is always a cause for elation, such as this ray snapped in the Atlantic sea off the coast of Lanzarote (photo 3). There are many species of rays and knowing how to spot some of the differences can be useful.

For example, eagle rays and stingrays have some distinctive characteristics. Primarily, the shape of their wings as eagle rays have a more pointed, diamond shape and stingrays are more rounded shape (photo 4). Both rays are bottom feeders searching for appetising crustaceans on the sea bed but have different shaped mouths. An eagle ray‟s mouth is vented so it can hover up food hidden in the sand but a stingray‟s mouth, which looks like a smiley face, is located lower down on its underside. Also, eagle rays can be found in the open sea where stingrays prefer to hang out nearer the sea bed for greater protection. Tails are also different, the eagle rays are longer and ramrod straight with venomous spines; stingrays having a barb end on their tail. Generally used only for defence purposes but they can cause discomfort and a bacterial infection. However, penetration of a major organ is fatal so respect is mandatory.

The great thing about memories is that they can never be taken away and each day is a new beginning when new memories can be made. Interested in making a new beginning and new memories? Then contact us via Facebook, „The Diving Club-Cleveland‟ or on 07960 608529.

June Coomber

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

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

Please feel free to visit us at anytime.

01287 622498 and 01287 625178 26

27

G . Bishop - Decorator *Interiors and Exteriors

*Free Estimates

*All Aspects of Decorating Undertaken *Realistic Prices

Time Served Telephone 01287 624016

*Reliable Service Assured

40 Years Experience Mobile 07757 912575

What Is Silent, Painless And Can Ruin Your Life?

Glaucoma. It‟s an eye condition that nearly half a million people in the UK suffer from. You are most at risk after the age of 40. The good thing is, in many cases, if it‟s seen early enough, this horrible eye condition can be stopped in its tracks. However, most people don‟t have regular eye tests.

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

My name is John Prouse, I‟m an Optician and I do a home visit eye test service especially for people who struggle to leave their home or you can visit me at my practice. Either way, don‟t risk spoiling your vision and your life.

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

28

Lost Tales of my Father’s War in a Magical Book Discovery When I was a child, long before I even knew of the existence of Saltburn, my “Toy Box” as we called them in those days, was a war correspondent‟s sack.

The stiffened white sack with PRESS in big red letters which was used for sending typewritten news despatches from war zones to the hungry presses of Fleet Street, stood upright on the carpet of my Manchester home stuffed with my Dinky cars, lead soldiers for my fort, and a ventriloquist‟s dummy which my Uncle Sam used to bully me into giving embarrassing performances at family parties.

The sack should have been the reason why I have been reporting and writing for the last 64 years but it never occurred to me until maybe now. Then miraculously a couple of months ago I remembered the name Doon Campbell.

My father, who died in 1977, spoke of him once and he had a yellowed, crumbling front page story from a World War II Daily Herald and the name flashed back into my brain. I Googled it and I discovered that he was a war correspondent for Reuters news agency, and although he was born with only one hand, at 24 he was the youngest war correspondent in the D-Day Landings and he‟d written a book. My soldier father, John Holbert, had driven him to war in a British Army staff car.

My wife Jane‟s younger brother John asked me if there was anything I particularly wanted for Christmas 2019, and I said “That book” - titled Magic Mistress, a 30Year Affair with Reuters by Doon Campbell, published in 2000 by The Tagman Press. When it arrived I hungrily tore off the Christmas wrapping and turned immediately to the Index. And there among the aitches of Ernest Hemingway, Katherine Hepburn and Ho Chi Minh was my father Holbert, Private John 101.

On the 3rd of May 1945 after the defeat of Nazi Germany my father drove him into Hamburg, Germany‟s second city where half the buildings had been destroyed by RAF bombing, for the handover to the British.

But they arrived an hour too soon, and their staff car was halted by bemused German troops with automatic weapons and rifles. They were escorted to the battered and windowless Town Hall where they met the Burgomaster three hours ahead of the first British soldier.

A fortnight earlier on the 30th of April my father drove him into Belsen Concentration Camp near Bremen where they were told that the most vicious SS guards in that hell-hole were women.

I recall as a prying boy finding nightmarish tiny photographs taken on an ancient Baby Brownie camera of 10 -foot high stacks of prisoners‟ naked bodies in a rusting biscuit tin that my father would never have shown to me.

Scots-born Campbell, who was made an OBE in 1984 for his services to British journalism, rose to become editor and deputy general manager of Reuters.

For myself, like many others in our lovely Saltburn and all around the world, there are many gaps in our lives because we don‟t ask the questions when we are lucky enough to have our parents and older relatives still with us.

That‟s why I think we should encourage and take part in recording archives for future generations because we are not all lucky enough to be given the book for Christmas.

Peter Holbert

Donation to the South Cleveland Heart Fund Charity

Dr Adrian Davies, the chairman of the South Cleveland Heart Fund Charity, was the very distinguished guest at the December meeting of the Huntcliff Freemasons Lodge at Saltburn. The SCHF Charity, which was actually founded by Dr Davies, provides support to The South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, The James Cook University Hospital Regional Cardiothoracic Centre.

Dr Davies has now retired. He came to the James Cook Hospital quite some years ago, was principal at the cardiothoracic unit, and has built it into what is acknowledged as one of the leading centres of excellence in the country today.

The donation by David Eason, a past master of Huntcliff Lodge, represents his efforts over the last two years to raise funds from the various events he has organised for his chosen charity. Dr Davies received the cheque, and responded by giving an enlightening and very entertaining talk to round off a very memorable evening at Saltburn.

Redcar’s Visual Presentations On Tuesday, 11th February at 2.15pm in the Redcar East Community Centre on Durham Road, we welcome back David Rodway, who was recently voted 2019 Photographer of the Year by the prestigious Woodland Trust. He will be showing us much of the Natural Beauty of Upper Swaledale in his own inimitable way. We expect his Presentation to be a treat for Lovers of the Countryside.

A fortnight later, on Tuesday, 25th February at the same time and venue, we will be welcoming Ken Bibby as our Presenter and he will be opening the lid on the often controversial country of Burma (now Myanmar). He will be enlightening us with his experiences in that part of our World. This promises to be a most interesting „this is what it is really like‟ kind of Presentation.

Admission to each Presentation is £2.50 and visitors are most welcome at any of our Meetings.

Tony Crow 29

Snowdrop Sunday in Gisborough Priory Woodland Gardens With the Christmas decorations stored away and the elves down from their shelves it‟s time to look ahead to the new year and a new season. So, wrap up warm and come along to the Gisborough Priory Woodland Gardens on Sunday, 23rd February, between 12.45pm and 3pm, when you can join the Gisborough Priory Project volunteers to welcome one of the first signs of spring.

Even though the thermometer is still saying winter the sight of hundreds of beautiful snowdrops flowering under old trees is enough to lift the spirits and make you realise spring is just around the corner. After the dark days of winter it‟s amazing to see the woodland floor transformed by the arrival of these beautiful delicate flowers.

This year as well as snowdrops you will also be able to have your first sight of the 900th Anniversary Mosaic, made for us by the talented community artists Helen Gaunt and Derek Mosey and blacksmith James Godbold, which will be unveiled at 12.45pm by the Guisborough Mayor, Councillor Mrs Alma Thrower.

Hopefully, as well as admiring the fabulous display of snowdrops and our beautiful mosaic you can be tempted to try some of the homemade cakes and warming drinks that will be on offer. All funds raised will go towards the continuing restoration work in the woodland gardens.

To join us for Snowdrop Sunday come through the Gisborough Priory entrance, next to St Nicholas‟ Church and head for the woodland gardens. Entrance is free.

Keeping It Clean At Saltburn What a positive start to 2020! 66 people came along to the first beach clean of this year. It was great to see so many families and young people joining in. People really do care and are willing to be the change that they want to see. It‟s heart warming. We were also joined by the “Wombles of Hambleton” (look them up on Facebook), who are a cheery group of volunteer litter pickers from Northallerton. This was their first team beach clean and they all had a good time.

We found quite a lot of small green “mystery” plastic pieces which were later identified as parts of rockets.

Something to consider when setting off fireworks on the beach. It‟s amazing how many products now contain plastic.

With the high winds and overflowing litter bins at this time of year we see a lot of litter from our streets and alleyways ending up in the sea. I would encourage you all to pick up what has spilled from the bins before it ends up on our beach.

Our next beach clean will be on Saturday, 1st February. We meet at the Victorian Shelter, next to Marshall‟s Beach huts, 11am - 12pm. See our FB Page for the event information.

Together we KICAS!

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

07825 678757

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

Short stays welcome 2 nights minimum.

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

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

30

Thank you so much for your support over the years!

Why not come in and check us out? Lots of special offers on lots of items and our general Household Cleaning Supplies.

We are worth a visit: Cheaper Prices on your Doorstep!

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

Saltburn Cards and Calendars on sale now!

Open 9.00am till 4.30pm, Monday to Saturday 31

Talk of the Town’s monthly Pride of Saltburn Award

The winner of this month‟s bouquet of flowers is Ron Downie. Ron was nominated by Katie Metcalf. About him, she says, “I would like to nominate my neighbour Ron Downie for the Pride of Saltburn award. He moved down to Saltburn from Glasgow with his wife Anne to help look after their grandchildren. He has been my neighbour for about 9 months now. Ron, like myself is very interested in nature and I invited him to become a Saltburn Countryside Volunteer. He came along and fitted in straight away, working hard every week, rain or shine. He fixed the meadow gate which was falling apart and has made an owl box for the meadow out of an old shed. This is not the end to his talents. Ron has also made several bird boxes and other saleable wooden items so that the volunteers can sell them. All the money raised has gone towards the meadow cuts. In December alone we raised £138. Without Ron this would not be able to happen. He has also taken a regular part in the monthly beach cleans since he has been in Saltburn. Ron is also an amazing neighbour to have about.

Looking after our house when we are away, putting bins out and has even made me a new house number as mine was falling apart. We would be lost without Ron now!”

Every month when a nomination is received, a £30 bunch of flowers, kindly donated by Ruby Lilly‟s Florists of Marske, is awarded to someone who has earned admiration, gratitude or love for whatever reason. We invite nominations from readers, to make someone feel special with a bunch of flowers! Send your nominations to Talk of the Town‟s post box at Jackie‟s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, or email Ian (talkofthetownsaltburn@gmail.com). (Please include your name, phone number and the reason you are nominating the person of your choice.) Please also confirm with the nominee that they are willing to receive the award (many people feel shy about it). All the nominations will be read and kept for future use, so even if your choice doesn‟t win this month, they might do so next time.

32

Cons Club supports Saltburn Christmas Lights

Picture shows the presentation of a cheque for £642 to Peter Nixon and Trevor Welburn on behalf of Saltburn 500 Club / Friends of Saltburn towards the Saltburn Christmas Lights Appeal from Saltburn Conservative Club.

The club thanks members for supporting the money raising activities throughout the year, including raffles, cakestall and a race night plus a donation from LGBT+ which was raised over the Gay pride weekend.

The club were very happy to choose the Christmas Lights appeal as their Charity of the Year for 2019 and thank their volunteers who put in a tremendous amount of their free time to make sure our wonderful town looks picture perfect.

The Cons Club town charity for 2020 will be announced very soon.

Bar Culture Although steel manufacture in Teesside has now all but disappeared, it continues to inform our living heritage in unexpected ways. When former steel construction worker Tony Charles left behind a career in industry to become an artist, the materials and methods of his former trade instead became the mainstay of his artistic practice. “Stroke”, his latest show at The Auxiliary, Middlesbrough, features a selection of his most recent works in paint and steel, including, as its centrepiece, a commercial steel bar bundle on loan from Carter Steel which will remain on sale for the duration of the exhibition. The installation, which reveals a hidden softness in the hardest of industrial materials, is accompanied by “Slow Burn”, a curated exhibition of contemporary geometric abstractions with a strong Saltburn presence.

Stroke & Slow Burn run at The Auxiliary, 31 Station Street, Middlesbrough TS1 1SR until 8th February 2020.

Mark Lawton

33

Health and Happiness Writing this column for the past few years has been an interesting experience. Listen to anyone long enough, hearing one person‟s point of view without the ability to ask questions or give your own point of view and eventually everyone is going to come across something they don‟t agree with.

We live in a media age where there are thousands of people to watch and listen to and not enough space in our heads to give too much time to any one individual. That means we have to make pretty quick decisions about who we are going to filter in and filter out amongst all the noise. So we make generalisations about people and make up our minds perhaps more quickly then we had to when there was less media out there, the world before the internet.

So perhaps in our speeded up decision making we put people into a box quite quickly nowadays, good or bad, nice or not nice, worth hearing or not worth hearing. Then perhaps without realising we make it very hard for them to get out of that box, as often we don‟t make time to revisit and give them a second listen or another chance. We can end up leaving very little space for redemption or being allowed back in a closed group or back into a closed heart. And yet if it happened to us, wouldn‟t we want to be given a potential pathway back?

This month‟s column is a call to going back and reevaluating people or groups or whole organisations or countries that we have decided we don‟t like. It is about using our awareness to realise that what we do to others and what we think of them is what we do to ourselves.

If I support a football team and our closest rivals start doing well and each Saturday afternoon most of the year I spend it frustrated as I hear they have won and it builds up and I hope that they will start to lose but they don‟t and it builds up until it culminates in them winning the league and now I‟m really in a bad mood. Well the football team doesn‟t experience that anger, that frustration, only I do.

If I speak to somebody about Israel or America, or about Brexit or Labour and the Conservatives or about financial inequality or the environment and the people I speak to flatly don‟t agree with my strongly held point of

view or perhaps, even worse, they are ignorant to what‟s going on! Well, if I get angry with them it‟s not them who feels the anger, it‟s me. It ripples through my whole being like a harmful wave. With enough waves it causes real damage and can easily contribute to a heart attack. It can effect my appetite and my sleep and can harm my relationships as I‟m more stressed and less enjoyable to be around. It can even become a bitterness that ends up being soaked up in the pub or with any other drug of choice that feels like it relieves my frustration.

If I then reject that person and consciously block them and refuse to talk with them, consciously bitterly shutting them out of my life, well that is a blockage I am creating in myself and it will have negative consequences both to my physical and psychological health.

It‟s very often an attitude based on our own triggers, what things we find hard to deal with, our desire to be right and at its base, is fear. It can lose sight of people having something of value in their experience, something that I can learn from and that they can learn from me, even if I don‟t agree with their point of view.

If I open to that possibility there is value and learning to be gained from everybody. If I look and listen for what they have to offer and what we have to share, the experience in my own body is one of more openness and more lightness. That lightness is then experienced in our body and experienced in the lighter pressure we put on our mental health.

Being open to people is kinder to ourselves and of course kinder to others. It is a gift we ultimately are giving to ourselves. It helps us live longer and helps us feel lighter and happier.

So this is a call to open to all the people we have ever rejected or turned away from or any group of people we have decided we don‟t like. It is a call to find a way to reopen a path for redemption and for learning and for love, as we would if rejected, like that path opened to us. For how we feel about others is really how we are treating ourselves.

Kendal Aitken: Health and Happy Balance.

Individuals and groups.

Contact: kwayextra@googlemail.com or 07944 883961

Saltburn Rotary Club News Christmas is a time for family and friends and Rotary was no exception. Together with our Rotakids Club, we worked hard and partied hard. The work saw us working as a team to raise funds for the Salvation Army Homeless at Christmas Appeal and the TFM Toy appeal.

And then we partied. Our annual combined Rotary & Rotakids Christmas celebration was once again a fabulous occasion, as was our club Christmas dinner for family & friends. Carols outside Sainsbury‟s with “a Touch of Brass” was our final event of the year and a fitting start to Christmas.

As for 2020, the club starts the year secure in the knowledge that the leadership of our club is in good hands. The leadership pathway has been determined and our next three Presidents elected. Congratulations to you all. They are: 34

2020/21 Harry Simpson, who many of you will know through his fitness classes and / or Saltburn Blues Club.

2021/22 Howard Smith, a Health, Safety & Environment Officer at Sopra Steria and Deputy Launching officer with Redcar RNLI. 2022/23 Rachael Gosnay, who many Saltburn residents will know, works in her family‟s long established Saltburn business and who will follow in her Granddad Alan‟s footsteps as club President.

So, on behalf of our President, Lou Foster and all the members of The Rotary Club of Saltburn-by-the-Sea, here‟s wishing you all a happy and peaceful New Year.

We look forward to serving our community to the best of our ability in 2020.

Dave Sadler

A Warm Welcome at the Conservative Club Welcome to the monthly article from Saltburn Conservative Club.

The weather is still relatively mild for mid-January, although quite windy, and the sun is shining as I write. So far nothing to cause us any problems. One item I could not report in the last article was the presentation of a cheque towards the Saltburn Christmas Lights appeal for the sum of £642. This took place on Wednesday, 18th December and too late to mention in the last article. Myself, Joe Cockfield (Chairman) and Michelle Gilley (Stewardess) presented the cheque to Peter Nixon & Trevor Welburn on behalf of Saltburn 500 Club / Friends of Saltburn (see the article and picture on page 32). The club committee will be choosing their „Charity of the Year‟ for 2020 at their next committee meeting.

Subscriptions should have been paid by the time you read this article. If for any reason you have not been able to pay we will give you a leeway until the end of February but failure to re-join the club for 2020 by this date will mean you will have to re-apply for membership. Your place as a member will be taken from a list of 31 new applications to date and any members missing the cut-off date will go behind the application forms we have already received, meaning you could have a long wait before an opening becomes available. Do not lose your membership! Please pay your subscriptions in the given time allocated.

In the middle of January Michelle organised the first Club Trip for 2020, this time to Harrogate. Places for the coach sold out in the first 36 hours of advertising, meaning we have had to arrange for a further coach to accommodate the demand. Considering that the trip is not taking place until Good Friday (10th April) it shows the popularity of these events and the amazing response we always receive from our members for all events we organise in the club.

Moving on to events arranged for February and we start with the monthly meeting of SLUG (Saltburn Line Users Group) which will be held on Tuesday 4th. Any person interested in any aspects of railways, particularly the local line services, are welcome to attend. These meetings will now commence at 7.30pm and are held upstairs in the Balmoral Room. Entry is free and all are welcome. Two days later, on Thursday 6th the Backgammon Club returns after having a break in January. The evening runs from 7pm to 9pm and takes place in the Balmoral Room. Entry is again free and all are welcome. Experts will be on hand to talk you through the game and assist if you are uncertain of the rules.

This is a very informal, relaxed and fun night which you will very much enjoy and you will be made very welcome if you come along. On Saturday 8th February we will be hosting a private birthday party in the Balmoral Room and on Sunday 9th we are hosting a „Blues Night‟ organised by Harry

Simpson. This will be the first of four consecutive „Blues Nights‟ in the club on a Sunday, the others are in March, April & May on dates to be given in the magazine nearer the date.

The guests for the February gig are Mike Bowden and the A197 Trio, an original Blues based, guitar driven trio, incorporating many influences but remaining true to Blues.

Tickets for Saltburn Blues Club members are £8 each and for guests the price is £10. Tickets are only bookable via Harry Simpson on 07960 935263. We have limited numbers available so purchase your tickets early. This even takes place in the Balmoral Room and starts at 7.30pm. Please note that the upstairs bar will be open for this event. Following this event on Thursday 13th February we will be hosting a private party from 7pm to 11pm. This will be the second private members party in the month and, as I have said before, it shows the advantage gained through being a member of the club which gives you the advantage of using the club‟s facilities free of charge. In this respect we have already booked in two wedding receptions to date for 2020 giving the members involved a very big saving on expenditure. On Wednesday 19th February we are holding the first Quiz & Bingo night of the New Year. We will be serving Pie & Peas and looking to have a curry night in the near future. Anybody wanting a vegetarian option instead of Pie & Peas must inform the bar-staff when purchasing tickets. The evening starts at 8pm and tickets are priced at £3.50 each and can be purchased from the bar. The final planned event of the month is the „Open Mic Night‟ on Friday 21st. Please note that this month‟s and next month‟s event have been brought forward one week owing to Liz Bishop having other engagements on the usual nights. The event starts at 8pm with names for people wishing to play or sing taken from 7.30pm. Entry is free and all are welcome upstairs in the Balmoral Room. Please support Liz Bishop & Friends and live music in Saltburn.

Progress will soon be taking place with regard to installing downstairs Ladies toilets. Further updates will be given in future editions of Talk of the Town. We will also be doing some touch-up work on the paintwork and flooring in the downstairs bar and hallway. All monies made in the club are put towards upgrading the facilities, maintenance and charity donations and with the amazing members we have we are in a good position to continue our aim to give them the club they deserve.

It‟s going to get colder so keep warm, check on your neighbours and stay happy with relatives and friends.

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

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

Every Sunday: Drinks Draw & Cash Rollover. Increases by £25 each week if not won. Currently standing at £625 … 6pm.

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

Tuesday 4th: SLUG Meeting (Saltburn Line Users Group)… 7pm Thursday 6th: Backgammon Club. Everybody welcome to come along... 7pm to 9pm Saturday 8th: Private Party Sunday 9th: Blue‟s Night with Mike Bowden & the A197 Trio… 8pm Thursday 13th: Private Party… 7pm to 11pm Wednesday 19th: Quiz, Bingo, Pie & Pea Supper. Tickets £3.50 from bar… 8pm Friday 21st: „Open Mic Night‟ hosted by Liz Bishop & Friends. Come and support live music... 8pm

35

Used Stamps for Charity

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

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

NEW DAYTIME CLASS !!

A PILATES, YOGA & BALLET inspired fitness class: Works on OVERALL TONING, CORE STRENGTH, BALANCE and FLEXIBILITY. Wednesdays 7pm / EarthBeat Centre NEW CLASS!! FRIDAYS 9.30am / EarthBeat Centre.

Disco, Latin, Bollywood, Charleston, Burlesque, Jive, Vogue, Cabaret...

SOSA will get you TONED UP, FIT & puts the FAB into FITNESS! This fun and feel good class is for ALL AGES and ABILITIES...

Mondays 7pm / Emmanuel Church Hall, Saltburn.

Packed with Latin rhythms and International beats…

This FUN and EASY TO FOLLOW class is TONING and a great OVERALL WORKOUT! Mondays 6pm / Emmanuel Church Hall, Saltburn.

Thursdays 10am / Saltburn Community Hall.

Watercolour Class at Saltburn

I have a place available on my Thursday Afternoon Class and also spaces available on a Monday afternoon class too. We meet 1-3 in the upstairs room of the Milton Street, Methodist Church in Saltburn, opposite Sainsbury‟s.

It would suit a complete beginner or someone returning to Art after a break. I have been teaching for 17 years this spring, 10 of those for Hull University.

I‟ve worked in Watercolour for over 50 years. I absolutely love it and love teaching people how to enjoy it too. I have specialised in teaching complete beginners and prefer a fun and relaxed class with chances to chat and get to know fellow students.

If you are interested please ring Kathryn on 01947 897803 and have a chat.

Take a look at DANCEFIT SALTBURN classes on YouTube!

More info? Call ESTELLE on 07887 525234 or visit...

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 36

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! This month is the beautiful Effy and the sweet Anika and Gizmo, the two cats.

Effy is a beautiful brindle greyhound girly who is 4 years old. She came to SARA after retiring from her racing career. Effy especially loves going for long walks with our other sighthounds, Lenny and Zebo. She also enjoys playing in the exercise pen, chasing her toys. Effy is looking for a home with no small animals or young children. We do feel that Effy could be happy living with

another greyhound of similar temperament.

Anika is a 4 year old female cat and her best friend is Gizmo, who is a 6 year old male. They both arrived at the centre together, and they were „a handover‟. One cat is a tabby Torti and the other is brown. Both cats are very friendly and super chilled out and laid back. We are looking for a home where they would be the only pets in the household and are to be rehomed as indoor cats.

SARA fundraising events during February Please note our monthly meetings for SARA supporters and the public are now held in the Cleveland Bay, Ings Road, Redcar on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30pm. Bar open, there‟s a friendly atmosphere, and everyone‟s welcome, so please join us on Tuesday, 4th February for a pleasant evening and hear all our recent news.

SARA’s New Year’s Day Dip SARA held its annual New Year‟s Day Dip in Saltburn as is now tradition. The mild weather, with sunshine and blue skies as a bonus, brought scores of visitors out into the fresh air to celebrate the coming year.

Hardy participants lined up to take part in the actual dip complete with an array of fancy dress. The pirates made for a great photo-shoot. A wonderful line up on the beach consisted of all ages, all their faces beamed before the countdown and claxon blew starting the race to the icy waters ahead. Luckily the tide was kind so it wasn‟t too far for the brave souls to run. Surprisingly the „brave hearts‟ stayed in the sea for quite a while, embracing the waves and banter

before those inviting towels and warm clothes beckoned.

The offer of sweets and hot mulled wine from the SARA van awaited those who felt the need to warm up and was greeted by grateful SARA volunteers.

STARPAWS of Saltburn also entertained the crowds on the promenade and pier by organising their own dip earlier in the morning. Fun was had by all. The proceeds of their „sea experience‟ will be handed to SARA. Once again the charity would like to thank them for their continued support for which we are most grateful.

Indeed, a huge thank you to all the brave and enthusiastic participants who make this event a success and so much fun each year. Also a very big thank you to our supporters, sponsors and the public who donated so generously to our local animal charity who is celebrating their 25th Anniversary in 2020.

The Team and The Residents wish you all a very HAPPY NEW YEAR. Joy and Mandy Volunteers at SARA 37

Wanted: More Dedicated, capable, people for Saltburn Folk Festival I have been a passionate folkie since 1965, when I walked into Alan Bell‟s Blackpool Folk Club and saw my first live professional artist Alex Campbell take to the stage. It‟s about that long since John Taylor became interested in folk music and got involved with what became Redcar folk festival, later to become Saltburn FF. Little did I know that I would be looking after that same festival for John 55 years later.

However, my health is failing and I am finding it difficult to keep up. What was once easy is now an effort and will be so for anyone in their 70s. The world has changed, but not so the Saltburn audience. As I am aging so the audience is aging and those dedicated returning festival goers from the 60s, are getting fewer, along with as we all know, older performers. A look at the Saltburn bench will testify to that. Audiences are half what they were 5 years ago, so I have decided that if this festival is really going to go forth into the next decade and survive it, strong and fully, it needs both a younger audience and a younger Director.

Chippenham FF is about to be taken over by the 38 year-old son, of the current organiser. Steve Heap is standing down from Towersey Folk Festival, for his son to carry on. I never planned to be a festival director in my 70s and I‟m not intending to carry on after 2020.

38

I am looking for people to join the dedicated team and to replace me, fulfilling a range of tasks and duties through the year as preparations for the festival are ongoing. I‟m willing to train them to do the various jobs professionally, hopefully handing over most of the roles for 2021. Saltburn FF is a not for profit company limited by guarantee, accountable to relevant legislation and not an excuse to make money.

These jobs require variously, a good organisational mind, high level of computer literacy, knowledge of legislation, the ability to schedule events simultaneously, in multiple venues such that each venue is full to capacity.

It needs social networking and web design skills, an eye for design, the ability to negotiate artists‟ fees by knowing them, knowledge of sound and lighting installations, what works in which venue, how to draw in a younger audience alongside the dedicated returners. It also needs someone to be respectful of the people of Saltburn and the fact that the festival invades the town every year. This is just a part of it, so if you are interested, the benefits can be enormous and could launch or continue your own career in a range of arts administration roles or as a performer.

Contact me, Ken Hall, by email at artists@saltburnfolkfestival.com

Strength Training for Runners

Runners frequently ask us to give advice on things they can do to prevent injuries. The advice that we give generally falls into two areas. The first concerns training programme design and focuses on well structured training schedules that avoid too rapid an increase in physical loading. The second area focuses on strength training. At this point, most runners concede that they do little if any regular strength training.

However, the potential benefits of following a regular strength training programme go beyond simply reducing injury risk.

There is a growing amount of scientific and practical evidence that demonstrates significant improvements in running ability in those individuals who perform regular strength training. To achieve these benefits the strength training has to be appropriately targeted and has to involve the use of relatively high loads. For many runners, this poses problems of being unfamiliar with weight training principles and those with pre existing injuries or physical conditions often feel that doing weight training could be problematic.

However, resistance training when delivered well and progressed appropriately, is very safe. At our clinic we have resistance training equipment on hand and more importantly we have the expertise to advise on individually tailored strength training programmes for runners of all levels and abilities.

If you would like more information on the potential benefits of strength training for runners then check out the blog section of our web site. We are also giving a presentation on the subject at our clinic on Monday, 16th March 2020. Admission is free but places are limited so we ask that you email us to reserve a place or book at the “Events” section of our website.

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

Events at Marske Library Wednesday, 26th February at 1:30pm My Granddad was a „Felon‟ by Peter Appleton Wednesday, 25th March at 1:30pm Animal Rescue by S.A.R.A. 39

‘DIVINE COMEDY’

BY REV ADAM REED Laughing and having fun are probably not the first things that come to mind when folk think about the Christian faith, but in my experience joy, laughter and fun have always been at the heart of the best of times I have spent with my Christian friends and family. I do not deny those moments when I have seen humour being cruel and destructive, but used in the right way humour aids our relationship with God and each other. It helps us understand ourselves better, which can keep us humble. It gives us a different way of seeing the world, which can keep us honest. And it deepens our relationships, which can open our hearts and homes to other people. Humour often works best in the realm of paradox, and apparent contradiction. The Christian faith inhabits this same realm: in Jesus, the poor are blessed; fools teach the learned; persecution is privilege; God becomes human, and death leads to life!

Services Times Sundays 9.00am traditional communion 10.45am contemporary worship

Tuesdays 9.30am said communion

Morning Prayer 9.00am Mon-Fri in ECHO Morning Prayer is open to everyone. It is an informal and friendly gathering.

We read from the Bible, share any thoughts that arise and offer to God our prayers for Saltburn and the wider world.

It is a precious time of peace at the start of the day.

Please come along and find out for yourself.

Contact Details tel 01287 622251

email emmanuelsaltburn@hotmail.co.uk

web www.emmanuelsaltburn.co.uk

40

Coatham House: a local charity offers housing support to young people „I feel so lucky to have people around me and Coatham House has become my home,‟ wrote one young person who was very grateful to the charity for responding to her homelessness.

Since the 1980s, the small charity has provided temporary supported housing, resettlement to help with the transition of moving from supported housing to independence and social lettings to young people aged sixteen to twenty-five. It‟s based in Redcar and offers help to young people in need from the wider area, including Saltburn and East Cleveland. I visited Rachel Woodings, Coatham House Development Support Lead, to learn more.

She explained: “There are lots of issues affecting families and young people that lead to homelessness.

Austerity and economic problems have had a huge impact.

Alcohol and drug misuse, pregnancy and poor mental health can also play a part. The knock on effect for some then creates an inability to meet the demands of college and work, often resulting in family breakdown. In the end something gives and this can be the teenager, who then needs our help.”

The family break-up happens when the young person is most vulnerable; he or she needs support from the family but they find it‟s not there. Many turn to sofa-surfing at friends‟ or other family members‟ homes, without acknowledging that they‟re homeless. At that point, they have no money or means of supporting themselves, which can have a significant impact on their mental and physical health. They don‟t know where to turn for help and support, so they often struggle on.

“We get a lot of referrals from Target (a care service), Leaving Care Services and Social Services,” said Rachel.

Charities such as Mind and AddAction, the Homeless section of the Council and Colleges also refer into our service. We work closely with other services to ensure that the needs of the young people are met. Young people can self-refer too. Coatham House has a housing stock of nine properties, that enable us to house and work with twenty young people.”

Staff contact the young person needing help and do a thorough Housing Needs Assessment. If the charity decides it can support his or her needs, they are placed on the waiting list for accommodation and kept in touch with in the meantime. However, sometimes the needs are too great and more specialist help is advised. An example of this would be heavy drug use.

Rachel continued: “We can accommodate four or five young people at New View in Station Street. Staff spend time there during the day and there is a concierge on an evening and overnight. All young people have a key worker whom they meet regularly with. They work towards meeting their objectives with regard to training, education, understanding finances and benefits and achieving good mental and physical health, with the main objective being managing their accommodation successfully.”

There is a pathway from spending a few months at New View, to shared accommodation for two and then onto independent living. Once the young person is ready to move on, the staff support them through Compass, a choice-based lettings system, or via private sector landlords.

Coatham House is funded from a variety of sources, including housing benefit and donations from Lloyds/TSB, the Virgin Money Foundation, the Ballinger Foundation and

Screwfix. There are donations from the public, including food, household items and clothing – one lady recently brought in brand new winter coats for young people. Rachel said: “Every day, people are sending things in; we couldn‟t manage without the donations.”

The ten employees are rewarded by seeing the young people grow and be in a better place mentally than when they first arrived. It‟s a steep learning curve for them but they develop skills to manage their own tenancies. Very often, as time passes and they are able to stand on their own two feet, relationships with families improve and there is some reconciliation.

Looking to the future, Rachel explained that Coatham House would like to develop outreach work, given funding.

This would entail going out and supporting young people in any sort of tenure to deal with problems such as Universal Credit, fuel poverty and debt. Young mums struggling in their tenancies and others could be taught skills to avoid crises.

To enable the charity to do all it can, Coatham House Projects also have the Reloved Cafe on Redcar High Street. It employs apprentices and offers breakfast, lunch, tea and coffee to the community. All the proceeds are put back in to the cafe to ensure all young people in supported housing get a free hot meal every day.

Rachel continued: “We are also marketing our training room at Coatham House and offering other rooms for hire.

Enquiries about these or any other aspects of our work are welcome. Please contact us on 01642 486844 (or email us at coathamhouseprojects@hotmail.co.uk). We have a website (www.coathamhouseprojects.org.uk).”

Coatham House is changing lives. One of the staff was supported as a young homeless person and she has written: „The friends that I have now and that still support me are the friends that I gained at Coatham House thirteen years ago.‟ What a recommendation for this hard-working charity!

Rosemary Nicholls 41

Anyone for a Parmo?

by Alan Butler

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

Kitchens Bathrooms Bedrooms Doors Windows Flooring Skirting

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

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

01287 623099 07900 492439

42

Every region of our wonderful island home has its local delicacies. Yorkshire as a whole is famous for its Yorkshire pudding, it‟s amazing pork pies and of course for its Yorkshire curd tarts. The tendency for very local forms of cuisine shows itself especially well in the sort of takeaway food favoured by different areas. When Kate and I lived in Bridlington we were surrounded by shops that sold kebabs.

Kebabs are popular is most areas, even though health conscious types would run a mile from these fat laden snacks but in Bridlington it was astounding just how many kebab shops there were. I am ashamed to say that at least once a month Kate and I would succumb to the dubious delights of the donner kebab and when we moved back to Saltburn five years ago, we were somewhat surprised to realise that there were not half so many options in this direction as there had been in West Yorkshire.

In our search for the perfect donner kebab we constantly tripped over a takeaway that is totally absent to most regions of our county – this being the Chicken Parmo.

If there is anyone reading this article who has not tried a chicken parmo yet, allow me to introduce you to its somewhat dubious delights. A parmo is composed of flattened, fried breaded chicken, topped with a white béchamel sauce and lashings of cheese. To those who love the parmo, nothing in the world is more appealing, whilst to the rest of us the mere mention of one is likely to bring on bouts of nausea. A lot probably depends upon the circumstances under which the delicacy is ordered and eaten, not to mention the quality of the establishment where it is purchased.

Whether or not one is fond of this particular takeaway it is nevertheless fascinating to learn how and why it came about and why it still flourishes in this part of Teesside but is not to be found anywhere else. For its very existence we can thank the Second World War and an American by the name of Nicos Harris.

Nicos was a chef in the American army who, like many of his comrades, came across the Atlantic to fight in Europe after the Normandy landings of 1944. Nicos was injured in the fighting and was brought to England to recuperate. Somehow he found himself in Middlesbrough.

He obviously took a shine to the place because having eventually returned to his native soil he decided to come back to Middlesbrough, where he eventually opened a small restaurant on Linthorpe Road which he called „The American Grill.‟ It was in this restaurant in 1958 that Nicos Harris adapted an Italian recipe and made the first Chicken Parmo, or properly Chicken Parmigiana.

It wasn‟t long before locals took a shine to the Chicken Parmo and very soon other restaurants began to create their own versions of the original recipe. The Chicken Parmo became especially popular at the end of a boozy night out – a position it still occupies to such an extent that it has taken the place of the more ubiquitous donner kebab which is to be found everywhere else.

Should we be proud of this fact? It all depends on one‟s palette but it is a fact that the Chicken Parmo took Teesside by storm and shows absolutely no signs of diminishing in its popularity. It might not be the healthiest takeaway to be found in the British Isles but at least it is better than the Glaswegian battered Mars Bar!

The Saltburn Profile by Rosemary Nicholls Rebecca Gutierrez “It‟s an honour to register the births, deaths and marriages of local people,” says Casual Registrar Rebecca Gutierrez. “I like the drama of weddings and also helping people at their major life events. Looking at the old registers is fascinating too, as they tell you about social history.”

Her interest in the past encouraged her to apply for a position as Saltburn Cliff Tramway operator too and she has now been in post for two summer seasons.

Rebecca was born in York and brought up in Tadcaster. Her Dad was Spanish and she can understand her Spanish relatives, although she‟s not a fluent speaker. She went to Tadcaster Grammar School and then Huddersfield University to study History and Politics.

When she was applying for a Master‟s degree with a view to entering museum work, a lecturer suggested she took a year off. She did so and worked first at Leeds City Variety Theatre and then at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. She decided that this would be her preferred career, so in 1998, she moved to London to be a theatre manager at Shakespeare‟s Globe. As one of four paid managers, she shared the organisation of three hundred volunteers. “It was a really exciting time of my life. Mark Rylance was the Artistic Director and lots of well-known people stopped by,” she remembers.

As the Globe is an open air theatre, the work was seasonal, so Rebecca found winter employment at the Millennium Dome. She organised travel group ticketing and was responsible for pier management. She followed this with a post as production manager at Windsor Legoland. “I produced stunt shows, puppet and magic shows; I had to become a member of the Magic Circle,” she says. Producing the shows, although challenging, wasn‟t really her, so she moved on to be Public Services Manager at Basingstoke‟s Milestones Museum.

“I felt I‟d come full circle returning to heritage work,” she explains. “Milestones is a bit like Beamish, with Victorian – 1930s shop fronts and street scenes.”

Unfortunately, Rebecca‟s parents‟ health declined and she decided to move back up north to support them. She says: “It was both emotionally and physically hard, but I also feel fortunate that I was able to be there for them.” She did some work at York‟s Jorvik Museum and then following registering her father‟s death in 2006, decided to become a Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, first at Harrogate, then at Selby. But her Mum‟s increasing dementia led Rebecca to chose to look for somewhere near the coast to live, where they could both enjoy their time together.

Rebecca found a house in Saltburn; she wanted to live here as it felt a creative, quirky place with independent shops and a sense of community, which she wanted to be part of. Her Mum went to live in a Care Home in Redcar and Rebecca took her on trips to the Regent Cinema and along the front to see the amusements, which triggered many happy memories.

Since then, she‟s taken up a job near home. “I love working on the Cliff Lift,” she says. “As team members, we‟re responsible for operating the tramway and for maintenance. I‟ve been trained to use a harness to access the track in order to carry out maintenance checks such as oiling the rollers, measuring the cable circumference to make sure it‟s not stretched, greasing the axles and emptying the tanks if

they‟re too full of rainwater. It‟s a very physical job; it‟s just a shame it‟s only seasonal, as I enjoy the interaction between the locals and the visitors.”

Rebecca also maintains her link to the arts and volunteers as the projectionist at Saltburn Film Society. She says: “I think the community‟s very lucky to have such an amazing venue and arts programming on their doorstep.”

She‟s been invited to join Saltburn Rotary Club to help raise money for good causes this year: “It‟s a great honour,” she says. “I‟ve started volunteering for Percy scrap store at Skipper‟s Lane too, because upcycling is very close to my heart. The public can take out a one year membership and then fill up their trolley with scrap materials.” She would love to start a local Morsbag pod, which involves making shopping bags out of scrap materials to reduce use of plastic bags.

Rebecca has a Saltburn allotment, in which she grows mainly veg, but some fruit and plans to plant a cut flower garden. “I went to the Radio 4 Gardener‟s Question Time programme in Saltburn and my question on how to establish a Victorian themed cut flower garden was chosen!” she says.

Rebecca is well travelled in most continents and in 2019 travelled to Latitude Festival, Goodwood Revival and Florence. Her ambition is to go to Japan to absorb the culture; she is also very keen on Japanese cars and owns a rare Toyota. She likes blues and Lindyhop dancing, the vintage of the 1940s and regularly attends Saltburn Blues Club. She does a bit of Air B & B, putting up band members and other visitors.

Her house is pet friendly. She has a very bouncy rescue dog – a Labrador Springer cross called Marley and a cat named Trouble, who sometimes follows her to the Back Alex!

43

Saltburn, Redcar & Cleveland Philatelic Society THEMATIC STAMP COLLECTING THEMATIC or TOPICAL stamp collecting is the collecting of postage stamps to a particular subject or concept. Topics can be almost anything, birds, trains, flowers, dinosaurs, aircraft, poets, insects, fish, butterflies, space exploration, famous people and events on stamps to name but a few.

In fact, choose your favourite subject and enter it in an eBay search „stamps with birds‟ and you will be amazed at the huge choice and reasonable prices.

Many countries also issued FDCs (First Day Covers) to complement the stamps.

The earliest stamps simply depicted reigning monarchs and presidents or coat-of-arms, but as time went on stamps started to have a wider range of designs.

Bears appeared on provisional stamps of St Louis in 1845, while Beavers were featured on the earliest stamps of Canada.

More than 150 years later, the variety of designs on stamps worldwide is enormous, giving topical stamp collectors plenty of variety to find stamps of their chosen theme. In fact, so many thousands of thematic stamps have been issued worldwide, it has become nearly impossible to complete a collection. And, now there are specialized worldwide stamp catalogues on a single particular theme to aid the collector on what is available.

Within our area in the North East, a good place to start looking for your chosen „thematic collection‟ is NORTON STAMP FAIR, held in Norton Methodist Church Hall, High St, Norton, TS20 2QQ every second Saturday of the month 09.30-13.30, 8 February, 14 March, 11 April, 9

Saltburn Line User Group Next Meeting: Tuesday, 4th February 2020 at 6.30pm.

Meetings at Saltburn Conservative Club are held on the first Tuesday of the month, and our starting time is now (permanently) 7pm.

As always, all welcome.

Talk to Saltburn Line User Group.

The Group exists to protect passengers‟ interests.

Find us at www.facebook.com/ saltburnlineusergroup Email the secretary on: slugsecretary@virginmedia.com

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LINE 44

May, 13 June, ask for Alex Sedgewick.

If you need any help or advice with your stamp collecting (buying or selling) we meet at REDCAR EAST COMMUNITY HALL, Durham Rd, Redcar TS10 3SB, 19.00-21.00 All are welcome FREE! 19th February „Far East‟, 4th March „Auction Night, 18th March „Local Postal History‟.

Contacts: Geoff Reynolds 01642 478229 & Martin Snowdon 01287 622504.

RITSON Tree Care QUALIFIED ARBORISTS

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

MEMBER

Local Authority Approved

undertaken

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

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

(01287) 625457

Postal Subscription to Talk of the Town If you enjoy Talk of the Town, why not subscribe?

You can have your favourite local magazine delivered anywhere in the UK for just £33.50 per year.

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

You’ll then get the next 12 issues delivered direct to your door at the start of every month.

The Muses of Jim

Saltburn Allotments Association February is here and we can start growing all over again.

Make sure you have land ready for plants or seeds to go in. Add a layer of compost to the surface of your beds, it will improve the soil and give your crops a boost as they grow. I start off many vegetables in pots ready to pop in to the ground, you can plant them in the borders in a few weeks and cover with fleece to protect them. Be ready they as can be fairly small when planted, and will grow on really well.

You can cover paths and areas around trees and bushes with wood chips or even a layer of cardboard first if you have a few weeds. It will keep areas clear and gradually break down, adding goodness and feeding the life in the soil.

Many people start off tomatoes now but those you sow in a few weeks will develop faster and need less protection and they will probably keep pace with those started earlier, so wait few weeks unless you have plenty of room and a proper set up to protect them. Start to plant onion seed, early salad or leaves like spinach, cabbage (check the pack to be sure it‟s the right variety) and some herbs under cover; weather can be unpredictable now so don‟t put them out yet. If the ground is not frozen, plant bare rooted bushes and trees. Put in garlic heads that you have left.

You can get your potatoes ready for growing (known as chitting) by standing in a box or tray on a windowsill that‟s frost free with the most eyes (little points that will develop a shoot) pointing upwards so they develop a nice strong green shoot.

Warm the soil with fleece or a cloche to give an earlier start for planting If you have a greenhouse and you have not had a clear out ready for the growing season make sure you remove all debris and clean out using a proprietary cleaner of your choice ready for your new plants and seeds go in.

If you are overwintering any plants in the greenhouse, just keep a regular eye on them to watch for problems and remove dead or yellowing leaves as soon as you see them and keep on the dry side.

Plan where your crops will go so you rotate where things grow to help avoid pests and disease.

Add a water barrel to your shed or greenhouse to collect water for your new plants.

We are now collecting rent in the container every Sunday from 10-11.30am, we have a new batch of seed for sale and we have chicken manure fertilizer again! We are also stocking peat free multipurpose and tomato compost. The allotment shop is open to all but if you are a member of the association you do get a discount.

We are also taking allotment rents for 2020. Hope to see you there very soon.

The start of not only a New Year but the start of a new decade. Christmas brought its own pleasure and a very unusual surprise. Lisa, my youngest daughter, got me a copy of The Coucher Book of Selby Volume 1. Which I had requested in my letter to Santa. To my surprise, it is all in Latin, which is not surprising as it is a 4th century cartulary containing charters and deeds that document the history of Selby Abbey from its foundation under William the Conqueror in 1069 until the middle of the mid-15th century. My interest in Selby is that I lived there from 1955-1959 but the only thing about the book is that it is in Latin. Whilst Google I understand has an English to Latin translation and its not very good and I could do with another computer programme so that I could scan each page. I am not as proficient in Latin as I am in English and so any help I would be very grateful.

My third daughter, Jill, her partner, Brian and grandson, Charlie are season ticket holders at Marske United, who were playing away at Pontefract Collieries.

I went with them with Jill and granddaughter, Molly (with a Y, or is it Mollie with –ie? I can never remember so I have done both!) we went into Pontefract and had a look around the town. I lived in Pontefract before I moved to Saltburn in 1969. What a shock I got! The ancient town of Pontefract was a shadow of its former self. The Saturday market that used to be a heaving mass was pitiful. Its Christmas lights were sponsored by Haribos sweets with illuminated liquorice all sorts.

Many of the pubs have changed their names into modern idioms. The old library that has turned into a museum was terrible. There were some maps on display but you couldn‟t get copies, and paintings on display but no prints. Great disappointment but the worst was yet to come.

Because Pontefract was an ancient borough that had its own corporation for over 600 years it has part Viking and part medieval lay out and the medieval lay out was a series of yards leading out into the main streets. One of these ancient yards was called Star yard where my mother was born in a house that was on the maps that were drawn up in one of the civil war sieges of the castle. When I was a child, my grandparents still lived in it and two of my aunties lived in two different back to back houses. I walked through it and there is not a dwelling place left, just a desert. When I was a teenager, there must have been at least 50 families if not more who lived in the yard.

Spud is urging the people of Saltburn to join the three valleys. We are progressing nicely but we definitely need more members. Memberships can be picked up at Jackie‟s, the library and the parish council offices. Spud says this is an opportunity for you all to be coming along the journey that is nearly as great as when I moved into the town.

Finally, I hope you all had a good Christmas and all of you have a better new year and common sense prevails in the world and we all give peace a chance.

Julia

Jim Wingham (and Megan who did the typing again!)

45

The Saltburn Crossword no 224 set by Dinosaur

Name___________________________________ Address_________________________________ ________________________________________ Telephone_______________________________

Across 1 Saltburn‟s Milton Street row of houses a costly rage wait for rearrangement (7, 8) 8 Moist in Potsdam pearl (4) 9 That which can be improved concerning me laid back (8) 10 Animal doctor retired from the forces? (3) 11 Showing fear far reaching to help (6) 12 Lacking directional guidance going with the flow? (6) 13 Necessitate globe I redirect (6) 14 Relax fist of avuncular northern church? (8) 16 Compiler but not found in 25 Across! (8) 18 Soil of coffee? (6) 20 Where we all need to go regularly! (6) 21 Religious truth? (6) 22 British carnivore Tory MP? (3) 23 To make acerbic first two emails then beer (8) 24 All carnivores need some to survive as it sounds like they ask for divine help (4) 25 Saltburn landscaped feature reconstructs those dear flings (3, 6, 6) Down 2 Not to an ethical standard I‟m providing a proverb (7) 3 Have gun, will dream of travelling (5) 4 Former Saltburn home where many were born; it‟s about mixed need (8) 5 New Saltburn pub poll tax herb I spread around (3, 6, 3) 6 Something 8 Across may shine thus after Gravity. Hear me! (7) 7 Saltburn Estate Agents shy ledge newly drafted (6, 7) 8 Saltburn road. It mastered Don when readdressed (7, 6) 10 Saltburn café star sign initially sold by independent strong type reaching out (6, 6) 15 Endearing animal quality. Babies have it too! (8) 17 That which merits attention not a blessing in part (7) 19 Most cricket matches are primed in disarray after university (7) 21 Leaving, I get gong inserted (5)

Solution to Crossword no 223

The winner of last month‟s crossword was Chris Bell of North Avenue, 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.

46

Send your completed crossword to: Saltburn Crossword no 224, c/o Jackie‟s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, TS12 1AQ

by Friday, 14th February 2020. First correct solution out of the bag wins a £10 voucher kindly donated by Real Meals.

Save our Saltburn: Why Won’t They Listen?

Last year finished, as we had hoped, with the welcome news that Redcar and Cleveland Regulatory Committee had unanimously rejected the application by the Camping and Caravanning Club to develop a substantial caravan site on Saltburn Lane.

This year began, as we feared, with the disappointing news that, despite the Council‟s firm rejection and the overwhelming opposition of local residents and national organisations, the Club is appealing the decision. This inevitably means several more months of uncertainty, and stress, for the community of Saltburn.

Following a detailed report by the Council‟s planning officers, the Regulatory Committee agreed that the proposal - on the Heritage Coast and immediately adjacent to the town‟s Conservation area and a Site of Special Scientific Interest – breached fundamental aspects of national and local planning guidance.

The appeal has been lodged with the National planning Inspectorate. However, until an Inspector has been appointed, we will not know the timetable for the appeal nor the precise format that it will take. However, all of the written materials submitted to the Council during the initial process will be made available and there will be the opportunity to add to these. The Council will contact all those who made submissions explaining the process.

It is extremely disappointing that the applicant is unwilling to accept the Council‟s unanimous decision and is subjecting us all to this unnecessary further period of uncertainty.

As was clear from the detailed report written by the Council‟s planning officers, and is affirmed in the strong and persuasive evidence presented by a number of

important national organisations, the plan is flawed in principle and is not something that could be remedied by modification or detailed changes. Put simply, it is the wrong thing in the wrong place.

Perhaps most revealing of all, however, is the Camping and Caravanning Club‟s patent disregard for the clear and unambiguous views of the local community. In its application, the Club claimed that they „wish to develop a good working relationship with local authorities and communities‟. How does this square with completely ignoring the well-argued submissions of over 360 residents and a 1,700-signature petition? Whatever may be said, local views appear to count for little with the applicant.

So, what next? We have won the argument so far and now the Council will also be defending its decision. Once we know the timetable, and the format of the appeal, we will take every opportunity to repeat what we have already said and keep you informed via Talk of The Town and the SoS Facebook. Indeed, we must do so with renewed vigour, given the Club‟s flagrant disregard for both local planning and local residents. We are confident that the Planning Inspector will listen, even if the Camping and Caravanning Club does not.

Please keep supporting the campaign to protect our fine town from such an unwelcome and damaging proposal.

Save our Saltburn Action Group

Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council At the recent Parish Council meeting the Chairman was pleased to report that the Parish Council Carol Service had once again been a huge success with over 300 attendees. The collection had raised £415 which was split between Emmanuel Church, Saltburn and Saltburn Christmas Lights. Thanks were extended to the Dalesmen Singers and Marske Junior and Learning Brass Band for providing the entertainment and to Rev Reed for conducting the service. (Pictured opposite are Rev Reed (Emmanuel Church) and Trevor Welburn (Friends of Saltburn) collecting their cheques.)

The Parish Council has set its budget for 2020/21 and Members are pleased to advise that there would be no precept rise for residents for the forthcoming year.

It was noted that no waiting or loading at any time had been implemented, for an 18 month trial period, on Milton Street, Saltburn (down towards the caravan park and Hazel Grove allotments) This was due to further development of the caravan park and the types of vehicles accessing the road. Concerns had been raised regarding vehicles parking and reducing the carriageway width making passing difficult for road users particularly for larger vehicles that require access to the caravan park.

It was highlighted that details of the route for the

Tour De Yorkshire were due to be released on 17th January and Members were hopeful that it may pass through part of the Parish - further details next month.

Tracy Meadows (Clerk and RFO to the Parish Council) 01287 623477 office@smnmpc.co.uk www.smnmpc.co.uk 47

£35.00

48