Issue 41 - January
Scarborough Review
10
Call of duty drives mayor’s recovery Words and picture by Mike Tyas A STRONG sense of duty drove Scarborough’s mayor to get back on his feet after recent serious illness. Like all of us, Cllr. Simon Green is looking forward to a healthy 2017 but he has more reason than many to welcome the turn of the year. The mayor had emergency abdominal surgery in September and was out of action for almost two months before he felt fit enough to return to the role that he is proud to perform. ‘I’m looking forward to better health and getting back to everything that I would normally be able to do,’ the mayor told The Review. Cllr. Green, 71, said he was now ‘80%’ along the road to recovery following his recent illness and operation that came ‘out of the blue.’ He said: ‘I attended a function on a Monday night. When I got home, I felt really unwell and I was in a lot of pain – probably the worst I’ve had in my life.’ Instead of ringing for an ambulance, the mayor drove himself to Scarborough Hospital and was immediately seen by doctors in accident and emergency.
Simon Green relaxing at home.
Following a seven-hour operation the following morning, Scarborough’s mayor spent three days in intensive care and another week on the wards before being released home, only to return into hospital a few days later due to an infection. The mayor said he was full of praise for the skill of the surgeons and the nursing care. He added: ‘We all too often hear people criticising the NHS. We do not hear good reports and success stories. ‘I was fortunate to have a team of highly-
skilled surgeons. The care I received was exemplary, the hygiene was of a high standard and the food was delicious. They are using James Martin’s hospital recipes again and I certainly regained my appetite.’ The mayor said his process of recovery was helped by the number of get well messages. ‘I received a tremendous amount of cards and emails wishing me well,’ he said. ‘I can’t tell you how nice it was to receive them – it gave me such a boost.’ A retired farmer who lives with his wife Val at the Stained Glass Centre in Killerby, the mayor said he had been champing at the bit to return to civic duty. He said: ‘As mayor I have a responsibility to do a job and I don’t like not doing it. I felt I was letting people down.’ However the mayor said he had been determined to get back on his feet for the Remembrance weekend commemorations in November as well as getting back to council business. He added: ‘I went to a full meeting of council which looking back I probably shouldn’t have done as I was still a bit shaky. ‘I have to say that everybody I met at the council, including the leader, urged me not
to come back too early and take my time to convalesce. ‘They were very good standing in for me and my deputy, Martin Smith and his wife Cherry, did a brilliant job while I was off.’ The mayor reflected that he has met so many ‘wonderful’ people throughout the borough during the first half of his term in office. He said: ‘I’m a member of the Rotary Club of Scarborough so I know quite a lot of what is happening around town, but being mayor has really opened my eyes. ‘It has been a privilege to meet so many wonderful people of Scarborough, Whitby and Filey and see what they do and how kind, caring and resourceful they are. ‘My theme for the year is ‘Better Together’ and I have seen this working when I visit community groups around the borough.’ The mayor was looking forward to spending the festive season at home, spending time with his three children and seven grandchildren. He said: ‘I really enjoy this time of year when families spend time together.’ Cllr. Green is in his third spell as a councillor, after winning election in 1999, and then again in 2011 and 2015. He represents the Conservative party for the Cayton parish.
‘Happy’ tree festival Tour chief passionate about town finish enjoyed by many Words and pictures by Mike Tyas A CHRISTMAS tree festival brought a ‘happy’ feeling to a Scarborough church. The fundraising event was held at St Mark’s, Newby where more than 30 trees were decorated by local organisations, charities and people to reflect the theme of a Christmas carol or song. A series of events ran alongside the display of trees, including a Santa breakfast, carol concerts, an Advent service, visits from local schools and pensioners, and a film night showing ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’. The festival was opened by Scarborough’s mayor, Cllr Simon Green. Organiser Carol Hagan said the sparkling trees transformed the look of the church. She said: ‘The church looked happy – it looked full of light. ‘People sometimes think churches as dark,
Admirers take decorated tree.
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cold, empty places. But because of all the twinkling lights and all the joy on the faces of people as they looked at the trees, it felt a very comfortable, welcoming place. ‘I think everybody who came enjoyed it. A lot of people were mesmerised by the creativity that went in to decorating the trees.’ The festival was part of St Mark’s on-going fundraising campaign to raise an estimated £800,000 to replace their existing church hall, build an extension with a café to the back of the church, and also pay for repairs and maintenance. The church recently distributed a fundraising leaflet to more than 3,000 houses in the Newby parish advertising its fundraising activities. The festival itself raised £2,000. Carol added: ‘I would like to thank everybody who came along and supported it and all those who helped stage it. Some of the days were really long but it was all worthwhile.’
beautifully Scarborough mayor Cllr Simon Green with festival organiser Carol Hagan.
Words by Mike Tyas THE man behind the cycling success of the Tour de Yorkshire is sure Scarborough will put on a ‘fantastic’ show when it races into town again. Scarborough will host what is likely to be another thrilling stage finish, this time on the first of the three-day Tour de France legacy race, on Friday 28 April. The race starts outside the Bridlington Spa on South Marine Drive. ‘Scarborough has taken the Tour de Yorkshire to its heart in a big way,’ Sir Gary Verity told The Review. ‘The crowds we’ve experienced in the town over the last two years have been absolutely tremendous. ‘Those grassy banks along the North Bay provide a spectacular amphitheatre where thousands of fans watched the action reach a gripping conclusion. ‘The people of Scarborough are passionate about this race as well. I’m sure they and the town will put on a fantastic show.’ Fingers were crossed that Scarborough might host a repeat of the 2016 finale of the event but the honour for 2017 goes to Fox Valley in Sheffield. Nevertheless, Scarborough can expect a massive influx of cycling fans and another boost to the tourism and hotel trade. Scarborough Hospitality Association secretary Ged Wilcock said his members, in hotels, bed and breakfast and guest house accommodation, would play their part in making the big day a success. He added: ‘The additional visitors the Tour will bring on top of the May Day Bank Holiday weekend will be great for the town. ‘Rest assured, our members will be doing their bit to make Friday 28th April 2017 a carnival day in Scarborough and the Tour de Yorkshire 2017 an outstanding success.’ Making a similar pledge was Cllr. Derek Bastiman, Leader of Scarborough Council.
He said: ‘We’ll be pulling out all the stops to showcase the Yorkshire coast at its very best.’ Figures released by the council and Welcome to Yorkshire suggested the local economy benefitted by Welcome to Yorkshire around £1m this Chief Executive year as a result of Sir Gary Verity. the Tour’s visit. The first stage next April is 173 km (107 miles) in length and includes three ‘King of the Mountain’ climbs – Garrowby Hill, Goathland and Robin Hood's Bay, and two sprints, at Pocklington and Whitby Abbey. The Tour was won earlier this year by Dutchman Thomas Voeckler in front of 30,000 fans around North Bay, but organisers are hoping the sport’s biggest names may contest the 2017 version. One of them could even be three-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome. ‘We’ve started talking to him and we’ll keep talking to him,’ said Sir Gary. Froome has not taken part in the Yorkshire race yet as it clashes with the Tour de Romandie – a favourite warm-up event for the Tour de France – which also runs over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend. The second day of the Tour de Yorkshire starts over the newly rebuilt Tadcaster Bridge, spanning the River Wharfe, after it was damaged during last winter’s severe floods, effectively splitting the town in two. The action concludes in Harrogate. The final day begins in Bradford and 195 (121 miles) weary kilometres later finishes in Sheffield. The last leg is expected to be the toughest of the three days, with four climbs during the last 13 miles.