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Scarborough Review
February - Issue 42
Going potty for a good cause by Mike Tyas
£5,000 with various events throughout the SNOOKER players went potty at the annual year. The money will be match funded in a ratio of three to one from the European Union Christian Aid fundraising marathon. Held at its usual venue of Westborough so that £5,000 will become £20,000.’ Methodist Church, the marathon The coffee morning was held on the final snookerathon was held over two days at the Saturday of the month. end of January, with play continuous from At Westborough, the snooker event organiser Jeff Moorhouse led the home team while 8am to 8pm. Scarborough Christian Aid group secretary Chris Garforth, from Burniston Methodist Sally Garforth said they hoped to beat last Church, the chair of the Scarborough branch year’s cash total when £2,900 was raised from of Christian Aid, headed the away team’s both the snooker sponsorship and a coffee challenge. Each player gathered sponsors from their morning. All of the proceeds this year support a project church, friends and workmates. in the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the world’s poorest countries. The central African country has suffered years of armed conflict, corruption and human rights abuses, with estimates reporting the civil war has claimed six million lives. ‘The money raised will help the poor of Maniema province have their voices heard and their needs met,’ said Sally. Already the project has helped to provide clean drinking Right on cue are, from left: Ray Sykes, Chris water to the area for the first time. Garforth, Jeff Moorhouse Sally added: ‘This year we’re trying to raise and Gordon Fishburn
Owl flies out of cupboard Words by Dave Barry STAFF at a carpet shop had a shock when an owl dropped in. Shop assistant Jade Holloway had the living daylights scared out of her when she opened a cupboard and a tawny owl flew out. It flew around the shop – Beevers in Whitby – before settling on an upturned roll. The owl broke into the premises by falling down a heating flue into the boiler room. It was rescued by Whitby Wildlife Sanctuary. A spokesman said: “He is a tad underweight so we are going to feed him up before releasing him. Caps on chimneys and secure wire fence pieces on vents is a must if you want to prevent birds from getting trapped. We have had to rescue a number of birds from chimneys and vents before now”. Shop manager Rob Riby, of Scarborough, commented: “At Beevers, we always aim to do everything properly for all our customers, no matter how small, and this is no exception. We were ever so worried that this little fellow might injure himself so called in the professionals.
The owl at Beevers (photo by Jade Holloway) “The ace lady at Whitby Wildlife Sanctuary arrived in 10 minutes and carefully and expertly caught him, safe and unharmed. He went off to be fattened up a bit and then released. “I can't praise them highly enough. They were superb!” The episode raised a few chuckles on social media. Others chipped in: “He didn't give a hoot”. “He didn't want to be owl by himself”. “Carpets going cheep?”
Dead house opens to the living Words and photo by Dave Barry The Dead House at Dean Road cemetery in Scarborough is open to the living every Sunday, starting this weekend (5 Feb). The Dead House is a small building at the back of the chapel, which is in the middle of the cemetery. Built in 1856, it was used as a mortuary for the bodies of people who had died of infectious diseases and couldn’t be laid out at home, as was the custom. It was also used for people who lived in cramped conditions or who had died at the nearby workhouse or while visiting the town. Inside, it has an attractive Minton tiled floor and glazed white tiles on the lower half of the walls. From 10am until noon every Sunday, volunteers will sell books and bric-à-brac and accept donations of unwanted currency – British or foreign, old or new, coins or notes. Visitors will be able to learn more about the
project to restore the chapel, which is to become a heritage centre and café. In September, the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded over £50,000 for Dean Road Chapel Ltd to begin work. York architects PPIY have been appointed and specialist surveys are being undertaken in preparation for the submission of planning permission. Volunteers have to raise another £50,000 and have already passed the £10,000 mark. Dean Road Chapel Ltd recently became a registered charity, L-R, Rita Hooton, Jan number 1171057, Cleary and Liz Blades which will help with with their stall at the fundraising efforts. Dead House (to order photos ring 353597)
by Dave Barry A BLAST from the past raised over a grand for two worthy causes. Legends of the Discotheques, at the Roscoe Rooms in Scarborough, raised £1145.70 through ticket sales, a raffle, games and a collection. DJs Paul Murray, Ron Wilkey, Dave Marshall, Cliff Miller, Alan Blaque and Terry Fishburn reaquainted themselves with guests from long ago, reminiscing on the good old days of disco and well-remembered tunes. On behalf of Ellie’s Fund, Andrea Mason and Lucy Marshall accepted a cheque for £572.85. The same amount was given to Scarborough
Mencap, represented by Greg Jackson, Jenny Stamford and Edward Stamford. A similar event is scheduled for later this year.
L-R: Andrea Mason, Terry Fishburn, Lucy Marshall, Dave Marshall, Paul Murray, Greg Jackson (holding cheque), Edward Stamford, Jenny Stamford, Ron Wilkey and Cliff Miller
Gervase Phinn returns to help local charities by Dave Barry AUTHOR Gervase Phinn will be the guest speaker at a fundraising event in Scarborough this month. The former school inspector, who gave a show at the Spa in November, will address the Gervase Phinn mayoress’s charity dinner at the Rugby Club on Saturday 25 February, at 7.30pm. With a keen ear for the absurd and a sharp eye for the ludicrous, Phinn will share his hilarious and sometimes poignant memories of life as a school inspector in the Yorkshire Dales. The dinner is being organised by Sam Greetham and Steve Hamblett. The proceeds will go to the Mayoress's Community Fund (MCF). The next big event in the MCF’s social and fundraising calendar is the Mayor's Ball (see article on page 6) The MCF was established at least 52 years ago. One of its longest serving members was Peggy Pilgrim, who joined in 1964 (when her husband Ernest was mayor) and died recently. Former mayor’s secretary John Fawcett says: “When I came to Scarborough it was called the Mayoress's Benevolent Fund and all the monies raised were distributed in cash to old and needy folk in the town. “As I recall, the amount given to each recipient was 30 shillings. The ladies of the committee used to put it into little envelopes and distribute them personally to the recipients just before Christmas”, Mr Fawcett says. “We used to ask the churches and relevant local organisations to nominate recipients. The ladies of the committee also nominated people they knew to receive the gifts. “In 1974, on the reorganisation of local government, the fund’s name was changed to its present title, the distribution of cash stopped and the fund adopted its present format with donations being made to local charities and good causes”. The longest serving member is Sheila McWhan, who joined in 1971, when her husband Ken was a councillor. Bonnie Purchon and Jane Cockerill joined in 2007 when Janet Jefferson was mayor. Mrs Purchon recalls: “That was the year when towns like Hull and Sheffield were flooded and we brought some of their
residents to Scarborough and gave them a wonderful day out with the generosity of groups like South Bay Traders, Forum for Tourism and many others”. All the other committee members have joined since then. The MCF is chaired by the serving mayoress, who at the moment is Val Green. “I am having an interesting year on the committee, helping them raise funds and meeting a variety of community groups”, Mrs Green says. “On one hand there are groups of people raising money in the community and on the other there are community groups receiving the funds. “It's lovely to see those that 'have' helping those that 'have not'.” The money raised is distributed to deserving groups and individuals at the end of the mayoral year. Irene Webster, a former civic officer at the town hall, was instrumental in arranging the production of a new MCF banner. “Adverset have always supported the Night Before the Colours military dinners and were happy to support the MCF”. The MCF does not donate to national charities, except when the local branch finances and manages its own branch. Its funds were boosted last summer when it was one of 12 local charities which each received £22,000, bequested by a local person who requested anonymity. n An MCF application form can be found on the council website - www.scarborough. gov.uk/mayor.
Mayoress Val Green, left, with former civic officer Irene Webster and the new MCF banner