4
Scarborough Life
Scarborough Review
October- Issue 38
Chain gang turns out The key to a long and for Filey civic service happy marriage Words and photos by Dave Barry EVERYONE was in their best bib and tucker for Filey Town Council’s annual civic service and buffet lunch, at Filey Methodist Church. The was out in force, with at least nine people wearing chains of office. The civic dignitaries, councillors and guests hailed from several parts of the borough of Scarborough, which embraces Filey and Whitby. They were greeted by Filey’s mayor, Cllr Susan Bosomworth, whose daughter Natalie is the mayoress. The church minister, Rev Chris Kirkman, conducted the service, which had a theme of inclusion and opportunities for all. Readings were given by Filey’s deputy mayoress, Jacqui Walker, and former Filey mayor Cllr John Shackleton.
The service was attended by four Filey sea cadets and a team from Ebor Academy, formerly Filey School: head girl Emily Hinchliffe, deputy head girl Rheanne Chalmers, head boy Cavan Walker and deputy head boy Jordan Orange.
The chain gang, aka the civic party and guests, assemble on the church steps
L-R: Mayor Susan Bosomworth with Ebor Academy head boy Cavan Walker, deputy head boy Jordan Orange, head girl Emily Hinchliffe, deputy head girl Rheanne Chalmers and mayoress Natalie Bosomworth
Cllr Bosomworth with Filey sea cadets
Filey town crier David Bull and his escort Paula Forrest lead the civic party into the church
Words and photo by Dave Barry IF you want a long and happy marriage, never go to bed on an argument - always sort it out beforehand. The sound advice comes from a couple who should know. Derrick and Margaret Jeffels have just celebrated their platinum wedding. They married on 12 September 1946 at Scarborough register office, when it was on Dean Road. Derrick and Margaret marked their 70th wedding anniversary with a meal at the Mayfield Hotel in Seamer. They were joined by most of their huge family. They have two daughters: Eileen Williamson, born in 1948, and Linda Jones, born in 1956; and two sons: Tony, born in 1950, and Terry, born in 1958. They have 12 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren (the oldest is 28) and a great great granddaughter, Daisy Williamson, who appeared a few days before their big anniversary. The party featured Margaret’s brother Stan, his daughter and her husband, from York. Derrick, 88, and Margaret, 87, have known each other for about 80 years, since childhood. He lived in Scarborough and she lived in Hunmanby, where she was born. Margaret’s earliest memory of Derrick dates back to when she was seven, visiting her older sister in Scarborough. The two children began to clock each other and the seeds of romance were sown. When Margaret was 13, she and the rest of her family moved to Scarborough. “I used to look at Derrick and think ‘I wonder if he's got a girlfriend’,” Margaret recalls. Shortly afterwards, she and Derrick contrived to meet in the queue at the Odeon cinema, which is now the Stephen Joseph Theatre. That was in 1942. They can’t remember which film they saw but it could well have been Casablanca. They might not even have been looking at the screen. “She was very good looking,” recalls Derrick, whose sister Marjorie married Margaret’s brother George just after war. Margaret’s father was a churchman and thought she was too young to be dating. But they persevered and tied the knot as teenagers, just before Derrick was posted abroad with the army. Knowing he would eventually be conscripted, Derrick had volunteered and spent 12 years in the army. Seven were in Germany; Margaret joined him for the last three before they returned to Scarborough. He would have been sent to the Korean war if hadn’t broken an ankle. “When I left the army, we lived in Scalby Road and I couldn’t get a job,” Derrick says. He eventually found work at a bookie’s, then at a quarry at the top of Malvern Crescent, then as a miner at Manvers Main colliery in Barnsley. Before and after rearing her children, Margaret spent 42 years working at Marks & Spencer and Woodhead's baker’s in Newborough, Westborough and Aberdeen Walk. She retired in 1999 when Derrick had a heart attack.
Derrick and Margaret Jeffels with their anniversary cake
Derrick and Margaret on their wedding day, 70 years ago They clearly get on well, after over 70 years together. “We sometimes have a shouting game but we've never walked out on each other,” Margaret says, with a chuckle. “I haven't chucked him out!” Just before posing for a photo with Derrick, Margaret informed her daughter Linda: “He’s done all t'washing this morning”. They used to go abroad a lot, especially after Derrick got better, but now they are content to potter about their Sandybed Lane home, run by Hanover Housing Association. The couple lived independently until seven months ago.
SDSG Volunteers launch new merch range SCARBOROUGH disabled swimming group have revamped their merchandise range in order to raise funds for the group so it can continue to develop and increase the number of residents that can join and benefit from swimming. SDSG is gearing up for an increase in membership in anticipation of their move to their new venue at Scarborough Sports Village, May 2017. Particularly, as the new venue will be a lot more accessible, including having a changing bed hoist, accessible steps into both pools, a Pool Pod Hoist into the main pool, family changing areas, as well as an extra two lanes.
Many residents with a disability have been unable to access the facilities at Scarborough Indoor Pool due to the lack of accessible provision, will now be able to access the benefits of swimming and our group at the new venue from May 2017. The swimming pool is an Olympic Legacy Pool which forms the largest part of the Sports Village that is being built for Scarborough Borough Council, in partnership with Everyone Active, North Yorkshire Sport and Sport England. It will be the home of three swimming clubs who were involved in the initial plans of the venue: Scarborough Disabled Swimming Group, Kingfishers and Scarborough Swimming Club.
by Dave Barry HUNMANBY’S second annual apple-pressing day takes place at the community centre on 8 October, from 11am-3pm. People can get their apples pressed by Hedgehoggers of Seamer and turned into juice or cider. “We had an absolutely cracking day last year”, says Ruth Milner, one of the organisers. There will be an apple bake-off competition, stalls,
games, a bar, tea, coffee, cake and music from the Woolgatherers, including Phil Hooley and Dave Kemp. To book a stall, and for further details, ring Jane Hamlin on 890439 or email her at hamlin1403@ gmail.com.
* Folk-rock band Merry Hell will play at the community centre on 15 October, at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10.