Download - Talk of the Town January 2014
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EDITION 151 CIRCULATION 4,800 JANUARY 2014
SALTBURN’S FREE MONTHLY MAGAZINE
www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
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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 Thurston Printers, 6 Amber Street, Saltburn,
Cleveland, TS12 1DT, Tel: 01287 623756. Proprietor/Editor: Ian Tyas c/o Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, TS12 1AQ. (Ian Tyas tel: 01287 623903.)
SALTBURN’S TOWN TALK
Cover Illustration: Visitors to the Woodland, by Richard Dales-Coupland
Barbara Spanner
Saltburn Charity Crafters would like thank everyone for their response and offers of help. We look forward to seeing you all on 8th January at ‘The Workhouse’, Dundas Street West (next to Ripping Yarns), between 2pm and 4pm. For further information please contact Angie on 01287 205153 or email [email protected].
Emmanuel Church Hall Table Top and Collectors’ Sale: Our next dates are Saturdays, 4th and 18th January. FREE
ENTRANCE and a warm welcome to everyone. I would like
to thank every one who has supported us at our table top sales
last year and are looking forward to seeing everyone in the
new year. We wish you all a happy new year. With over 26
stall holders, selling lots of bric-a-brac, books, toys, baby
goods, and all sorts of collectables, and some crafts, there is
something for everyone. Home made refreshments and light
lunches are on sale all day. Our all day breakfast and lunches
and popular home baked stall are always available. Thank you
everyone for your support. Contact Denise Marshall on
07929 589538.
Happy New Year, everyone! It is unusual to be given so much
space on this page for my letter from the editor. Some of the
regular contributors to this page can be found elsewhere in the
magazine while others have been too busy preparing for
Christmas to think ahead to January so early in December.
Although this is January’s magazine it is printed before
Christmas and at the time of writing it feels more like the end
of a year than the beginning of a new one. It would require
too much time for me to write a review of the year but others
have done so, and I have no plans for the new year other than
the continued survival of this magazine, a great achievement
in itself. I remember once being asked what my five year plan
was, and that was long before the current economic climate,
but even then I replied that it was simply survival. The person
who had asked me insisted that I should have a five year plan,
but I just laughed. I remember in the 60s a book called ‘The
Limits to Growth’ but fifty years later businesses still make
the same mistake: overstretching themselves and being
obsessed with every last penny of profit instead of what really
matters, survival and customer service.
I’d like to thank the Friends of Talk of the Town for
making a real difference to this magazine’s prospects, as well
as to my own wellbeing. It’s good to have them here. I thank
Richard for always helping out in any way he can and I’d
especially like to thank James and Tereena Haddow of
Chocolini’s, partly for the magnificent chocolate snowman
which they kindly donated for Talk of the Town’s Christmas
Draw and also for their kindness recently in helping me with
my beloved Siamese cat. The Christmas Draw took place in
Jackie’s Saverstore so she deserves lots of thanks too, for
hosting Talk of the Town’s post box and for selling the
calendars and mugs, not to mention the draw tickets, that the
Friends have organised to help raise funds. I also must thank
all the readers of Talk of the Town who think to put something
in the collection boxes. Every donation helps to ensure the
survival of the magazine. Thank you very much to each and
every one of you!
I was once told that a local town (not Saltburn) had a
meeting of its business association and debated the question
‘why haven’t we got a magazine like Saltburn has Talk of the
Town?’ I was delighted to be told this and said that I could
answer that question immediately. I replied ‘because they
haven’t got me!’ I have recognised for a long time that the
greatest asset to the magazine is ‘me’ but that I am also the
greatest threat. Although I am quite dedicated if at any time I
become lazy, bored, tired, depressed, ill or distracted by other
things, then the magazine suffers. That’s why I am in the
contradictory role of greatest asset and greatest danger, but
then life is full of contradictions and opposites. Almost every
decision is a choice between two opposing forces resulting in a
‘trade-off’. For example I’d like the magazine to be even
larger, and in full colour throughout, but must balance the
income against expenditure. I can only do so much. Anyway,
that’s filled this space, so once again I shall wish everyone a
happy new year and now start preparing February’s. Love, Ian.
Letter from the Editor
Send letters, adverts and contributions for the next issue
(by Friday, 17th January 2014) to: The Editor, Talk of
the Town c/o Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings,
Saltburn, Cleveland, TS12 1AQ. Telephone: 01287 623903
or email: [email protected]. Talk of the
Town has a website: www.tottsaltburn.co.uk and the
Friends of Talk of the Town can be found on Facebook.
WI Report: Ladies of Saltburn WI have had a busy month
starting with a Carol Service at Emmanuel Church, Saltburn, on
the 3rd of December. This service was attended by invited
guests from other WIs and our own members. A congregation
of over one hundred ladies heard readings from the Christmas
Story and the first advent candle was lit by president Ann
Cowie. The service was followed by light refreshments and
heralded the beginning of Christmas activities, another of
which was helping to erect and light the Christmas Tree in the
town’s bandstand. On the l2th December a Christmas buffet
supper was held in Saltburn House with invited guests and
again more than sixty ladies were entertained by members of
Hinderwell WI choir – these troubadours created an evening of
hilarity and good cheer. This was followed by a festive buffet
that WI members can always be relied upon to provide. Our
next meeting is in the New Year on the 9th January when Tony
Nicholson will tell us about “Further Secrets of the
Attic”. Meetings are held on 2nd Thursday of each month,
except August, at the Methodist Church Hall, Milton Street,
Saltburn. New Members are always welcome.
Barbara Spanner
Correction: In last month’s Talk of the Town it was stated
that two people were interested in taking over the Brockley
Hall business. Unfortunately there was no truth in this.
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
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Saturday, 7th December witnessed an unusually crowded
Saltburn station platform at 8.00am. Folk from Saltburn
and elsewhere had come to join the special train organised
by Saltburn Railtours, destination Lincoln. This was the
third special train to leave the town in 2013; the previous
trips were a long weekend on the Isle of Wight organised
by Saltburn Railtours, the other was to Dundee organised
by Compass Tours by Rail. In addition the station has
been visited by excursions from other parts of the country
including a steam hauled special and the Royal Train,
proving that the station is a valuable asset to the town.
After picking up passengers at Redcar,
Middlesbrough and Eaglescliffe, we were fortified by a
bacon and sausage sandwich, tea or coffee. Our journey
took us through York where we spotted the A4 locomotive
‘Bittern’ in steam ready for a journey to Kings Cross
which would run at 90mph for a short section. After
Doncaster our train passed through Gainsborough before
arriving in Lincoln. Lincoln Cathedral and Castle
dominate the city, standing on what must be the only hill
in the whole of Lincolnshire.
The Christmas market was held in the grounds of
the Castle and surrounding area, a one way system was
operating for pedestrians. We eased our passage through
the expected crowds. It was difficult to see some of the
stalls such was their popularity but in general we got to
see most of them. Feeling ready for a sit down and being
near the Big Wheel I suggested a ride at £4 each, and
much to my surprise Cath agreed. It was a first time
experience for both of us and thoroughly enjoyable
viewing the landscape of Lincolnshire from a lofty perch.
Sainsbury’s stall provided us with a little sustenance with
free tasting samples before we made our way back to the
city centre finding it as busy as the Christmas market.
Although we have visited the City on a number of
occasions many changes had taken place but the congestion
caused by the level crossings still persists.
Returning to the station early for our return journey
we were confronted by two queues, one for the Saltburn
train and the other for the steam hauled special for London
Kings Cross, great efforts were made by both the police
and the railway staff to ensure people were in the correct
queue. However, when our train was on the move there
was a very perplexed couple wondering why coach F was
full and looked different to the one they had arrived in.
Steve the guard took matters in hand and found that they
should have been on the steam special to Kings Cross
instead of heading for Saltburn. An unscheduled stop at
Doncaster ensured that they were able to catch another
train to London. On the return journey we were treated to a
glass of mulled wine, a piece of delicious Christmas cake
and a tot of Bailey’s. Our arrival back in Saltburn was on
time and thanks to the organisers and stewards we had
thoroughly enjoyed the whole day. It would be nice to visit
Lincoln when things were a little less busy.
Tony’s first visit to Lincoln was on Easter weekend
in 1952 when a group of cyclists from the Redcar Section
of the CTC decided to cycle to Hull, Lincoln and Selby
before returning home. Tony had to work on Good Friday
but arranged to meet the group at Lincoln Cathedral at
4.30pm on the Saturday. His 6.00am start and with an
excellent tail wind he arrived in Lincoln at 3.30pm. There
were no sign of his friends until they decided to visit the
other end of the Cathedral from the one where they were
waiting. No mobile phones in those days. Our B&B
overlooked one of the level crossings so it was a very early
wakeup call the following morning.
Lincoln Christmas Market
Cath and Tony Lynn
Wednesday, 8th January: The results of members’ Bingo
Photo shoot will be shown. Wednesday, 15th January:
NY&SD Silver Salver competition prints will be shown.
Wednesday, 22nd January: the results of the 3rd monthly
competition, ‘Tranquillity’ will be shown. Wednesday, 29th
January: presentation of the RPS 2012 International
Projected Images Portfolio will be shown.
Practical night will be held during January; more
details available from contact number.
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 on 01287 622519.
Saltburn Photographic Society
Lincoln Cathedral from Big Wheel Spot Saltburn People! Lincoln Cathedral from City Centre
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
5
Ruth Cowen MICHT
Reflexologist Fully qualified
and CNHC Registered
Enjoy the Benefits of Reflexology
in Your Own Home.
This gentle therapy reduces stress, tension and
inflammation. Improves circulation and restores the flow
of energy and nutrients to the body’s cells, strengthening
the immune system and encouraging the natural healing
processes of the body.
Tel: 01287 623029
Saltburn Councillors’ Surgeries
Every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month
11.00am – 12 noon, Saltburn Library
Councillors Joan Guy, Stuart Smith, Philip Thomson
Every 3rd Saturday of the month, Councillor Stuart Smith
will be available in the Station Square area 11-12, weather
permitting, if not, in the Methodist Hall.
Need a Taxi? For a Reliable,
Friendly Service,
call Colledge Cabs
01287 622800
A New Year begins.
Make the most of each and every moment
so that at the end of the year
you can look back with the knowledge you are
closer to fulfilling your dreams.
Have a happy 2014.
4, Station Street,
Saltburn by the Sea,
TS12 1AE
Tel: 01287 623 368
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
6 6
Hello from Friends of Talk of the Town!
We would like to wish all of our readers, advertisers
and supporters a Happy New Year. Let’s hope we all
continue to enjoy good health and success in all that we
undertake.
Friends of Talk of the Town have been going quite a
while now and thanks to your support we have, I think, made
a reasonable job of helping to sustain this magazine. By the
time you read this our first ever Christmas raffle will have
been won and all prizes distributed to the lucky winners. We
thank you for your support in buying the tickets and I would
like to personally thank my wife and daughter for selling
tickets for us in their respective work-places! Once again,
Jackie of Jackie’s Saverstore has been our local ‘champion’
in hosting the draw and indeed selling lots of tickets in
Saltburn. I’d be surprised if you haven’t actually met Jackie
or Mandy; however, I can assure you they’re both fantastic
ambassadors for Talk of the Town who really don’t like much
in the way of publicity! Regardless of that I’d just like to
repeat our appreciation for their efforts: you’re both stars!
The wonderful staff at Thurston Printers, who always
get Talk of the Town out on time, have a much deserved
Christmas holiday, so we have to ‘go to press’ very early in
December. This of course puts more pressure on me (I’m
writing this on the ninth of December) and naturally our
Editor has more things on his mind than Figgie pudding or
even decking his halls! “There’s no rest for the wicked” I can
hear him saying doing his best scrooge-like impression as he
ponders just who’ll be the blighter to make him wait for their
article, this month. I do like to be that ‘one’ myself usually
but as we’re getting into the spirit of things festive I thought
I’d have a change and surprise him this time round.
A New Year is something to treasure isn’t it:
bringing with it fresh hopes and ambitions but not always
the determination to see these things through. I prefer to be
a little more conservative (but certainly not at the polling
station) in the making of any resolutions. Unlike our
Facebook friend Kipper Tranter who has made remarkable
‘gains’ in the weight-loss department I can’t pretend I made
any real progress with absolutely any of my own
resolutions! Congratulations Kipper, I’ve wondered at your
achievements for quite some time, now!
I do feel like I’ve gotten a little fitter as the year went
on and feel that thanks in that department should probably
go to those lovely folk at Friends of the Valley. We’ve spent
a good few hours down there leading up to Christmas and
I’m sure that bank down to the Woodlands Centre gets
steeper every time! Thanks to all who’ve said hello to us
while we’ve been working down there: especially one
certain lady (who knows who she is) whom I’ve not seen
for almost twenty-five years. Talk about a blast from the
past, I suddenly felt all of my forty-five years!
Finally, our thanks to all who have maintained their
standing order support and everybody who has kindly
donated through our collection boxes over the past year. We
appreciate every penny you give and hopefully through your
continued support, this time next December we will be
reflecting on another year of progress in sustaining Talk of
the Town.
All the best for 2014!
Friends of Talk of the Town
Richard Dales-Coupland
Secretary, Friends of Talk of the Town
A Happy New Year to one and all.
Let’s hope that the festive season was a relaxing one
for you and your pets. If we follow tradition, then the
decorations will be coming down in early January. Cats and
dogs being what they are, they will love the tinsel and
baubles coming down and might be tempted to play with
them and they might vanish into their mouths! Take care and
make sure these tasks don’t lead to a trip to the vets.
One interesting question that followed from the
December article asked if it was only pork that ought not to
be fed to dogs and cats as a rule. Pet food companies have,
over the years, introduced different flavours to diets, as well
as adding different types of food to them. When you read a
food label, see if it is flavoured or has the designated meat(s)
in it. Flavouring would not mean there are the proteins
associated with that meat, but, equally, it may make you think
it is okay to feed that form of meat in its pure form. As far as
which ones are all right to be fed, by and large they all are,
unless your pet has developed an allergy to one of them. In
my experience I believe a lot of food allergies are derived
from wheat gluten, dairy products and pork in any form.
Another asked that if cats are fed a wet diet, do they
need to drink? Humans have mostly lost the ability to know
when we need to drink and often, when to stop: however, the
animal kingdom still retains a water divining capability. A
normal cat, or dog, needs about 30ml (6 teaspoons) of water
for every kilogramme they weigh, per day. This will vary
depending on level of activity, time of year, whether they
live inside and we have turned on the central heating, and so
on. If you feed a wet diet to dogs or cats, they are around 70
-80% water, whilst dry diets are around 10%. Therefore on
a wet diet, a 4kg cat eating two 100g pouches a day will get
most of its fluid from the food, and possibly only sip at
water. Equally, I am often asked why someone’s dog has
suddenly started drinking “loads” when they change to dried
diets.
New Year has always been a traditional time for
making new resolutions. Do not forget to take your pet into
account when you decide to train for Everest, as your dog
may not be quite up to it. Equally, you might spend long
sessions researching a new hobby whilst your pet misses out
on regular exercising! Cats may seem detached, but they do
love human companionship, and dogs can develop
separation anxieties at any age. Whatever we decide to do
this year, enjoy your pet’s company and they will enjoy
yours.
If you want to ask me a question or raise a topic for
this article, contact me by e-mail on [email protected]
or call me at Jacqui Paterson vets on 01642 604555.
James Haddow, Veterinary Eye Consultant
Veterinary Matters
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
7
A New Year opens, a list of good intentions lies on the table.
To rebuild a shattered foreshore and a valley drowned
from the sea and the land. To reshape the democratic process
and service structure of a Council. To grow a stronger local
economy.
Tides not experienced for 60 years left a devastation
that will cost much to repair. Promenade frontage, the pier
and pier building, slipways and walkways suffered. Such
was the strength of the combined wind and tide that stone
sleepers which formed the road bed for the original Stockton
and Darlington Railway and brought to Saltburn as
foundations for a permanent foreshore, were lifted and
tossed aside like Lego. The little sand that was left after
recent years of erosion now hardly covers the shoreline
leaving exposed the Boat Park. Cat Nab car park stands
ready to resume its former boating lake status.
Short term remedial measures are already in hand and
medium term rebuilding is on the drawing board to
reconstruct and strengthen the foreshore for use once again,
whilst building in features that experience has brought.
‘Shaping Our Future’ has been the title for a root and
branch review of all services provided by the Local
Authority. Radical thinking has been applied, searching for
cost savings and a new approach to service delivery. Not all
change will be welcomed, inertia having its own comfort
blanket.
One might ask why does cost saving alone have to
drive improvement. Some elected members have
reservations about the new structure but time will tell. The
democratic process will also alter, with some semblance of a
Committee system being introduced but the main decision
making body remaining a Cabinet of 10 members, leaving a
question mark over democracy.
One remaining feature will be the Saltburn
Neighbourhood Action Partnership which meets next on
Wednesday 15th in the library at 6pm and to which all
residents are invited to attend.
A stronger local economy will undoubtedly be a
possibility if the City Deal announcement is followed through.
The Tees area has 1% of the UK population but 10% of
carbon emission. European levies topped up by further UK
penalties ensure that local heavy industries are struggling to
compete in the international market place. Development of
low carbon technologies and carbon capture is to be given
encouragement with our area now being at the forefront.
There are many aspects of the package, including
District Heating Schemes to recycle waste heat from high
energy usage companies, all of which are to be spearheaded
and managed by Tees Valley Unlimited, the Local Enterprise
Partnership.
With sights set on high attainment there will be many
challenges to be met in the interim, not least tackling a current
harsh economic environment and cold weather. Some
neighbours may need help to get through and looking out for
them is a contribution that all can make.
Councillors will be in the Library every 2nd and 4th
Saturdays at 11am, awaiting New Year wish lists from
residents.
Councillors’ Column
Philip Thomson
Real MealsReal Meals
Winter Opening Hours: Monday to Friday: 8.30am to 6.00pm, Saturday: 8.30am to 5.00pm, Sunday 10.00am to 2.00pm.
For more details contact: REAL MEALS, 25 MILTON STREET, SALTBURN, Tel: 01287 622266.
Purveyors of Fine Foods
Email: [email protected], Website: www.realmeals.co.uk
Sunday, January 19th is The
Great Real Meals Food Quiz. 50p per person to enter and
£10 voucher first prize.
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
8 8
The winner of this month’s Pride of Saltburn is Philip
Chisholm, who has become the first nomination by the
Friends of Talk of the Town. About Philip they say, “We felt
that it was high time Philip’s outstanding efforts on behalf of
the people of Saltburn and Marske was brought to the
attention of our readers. Our Facebook ‘faithful’ are well
aware of Phil’s educated views on many local matters,
especially those concerning the works of Sustrans
(Sustainable Transport). Keen cyclists will be well aware that
Phil is a volunteer Ranger Coordinator and his team recently
built the NCN168 which comes from Kildale into Saltburn
via Kilton. His team of eleven Rangers also maintain the
Dover to John O’Groats NCN1 as it passes through our
borough from Staithes to the Tees Barrage. Phil is perhaps
best known by his camera, being principal photographer at
Studio Tristan for forty years. He is passionate about the
renaissance town of Saltburn where he is an Honorary Fellow
of the Saltburn Photographic Society. Phil says “Saltburn is a
town of Art, Photography and wonderful restaurants. Its cafe
culture supports the varied music of the community, choirs,
brass bands and the many voices of the folk singer.” Philip
claims he has travelled the length and breadth of the UK with
his camera and nowhere else has he found the unique
combination of culture and energy that runs within the
voluntary fellowship of this Edwardian town.” Thank you
Phil, for being you, the Pride of Saltburn.
Every month, a £25 bunch of flowers, kindly donated by Eveline
Brentano’s Florists, is awarded to someone in Saltburn who has
earned admiration, gratitude and love for whatever reason. Talk of
the Town invites nominations from you, the readers, to chose whom
you would like to receive recognition and a bunch of flowers. Send
your nominations to Talk of the Town’s postbag at Jackie’s
Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, Cleveland, TS12 1AQ.
(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.
Talk of the Town’s monthly
Pride of Saltburn Award
M. BELL
Freelance Postal and
Courier Services
2, North Avenue
Saltburn-by-the-Sea
North Yorkshire TS12 1QD
Tel/fax: 01287 623673
Email: [email protected]
Can pick up mail from local sorting office and
deliver to you by 9.30am for £1 per week
Michelle Rudd Dip NTC MPTA CGLI
Piano Tuning and Repairs by a qualified and experienced professional (Est. 1983)
Covering Teesside, East Cleveland and the North York Moors. Free advice, friendly service.
Tel 01609 779983 Mob 07740 201188 email: [email protected]
website: www.pianotuningyorkshire.weebly.com
Free delivery in Saltburn and Marske
Happy New Year to all our customers
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
10 10
Saltburn in Bloom
As the year draws to its close the Saltburn in Bloom
committee have been reflecting on 2013 and making
plans for the year ahead. We believe that we have had an
outstanding year, enjoying success in Northumbria in
Bloom, gaining 6 Gold Awards and Saltburn winning the
best Small Coastal Resort. But more importantly we
have worked hard, in co-operation with Redcar and
Cleveland Borough Council and Saltburn, Marske and
New Marske Parish Council, to ensure that the town has
looked attractive all year round and continues to attract
visitors. Like you, we want Saltburn to thrive.
We have already made some plans for 2014. Our
AGM will be held on Tuesday, 14th January at 5.00pm
in Saltburn Library, to which you are invited. We would
welcome new members to the committee!
We will be holding a quiz to raise funds in the
New Year. Keep your eyes open for more details.
The sponsor letters for floral displays (in the
Summer) will be delivered at the end of January.
Gardening work on Wednesdays 10.00am – 12.00
will continue when the weather allows. The amberol
planters on Marine Parade are going to be moved
slightly, into groups of three to try and make more of a
visual impact. The small fossil bed will be planted with
Flanders poppies to honour the memory of all those
killed in conflicts since World War 1. The Engine bed
will have soil improvements made and some new
planting.
Just a few tasks there to keep us going! If you’re
worried about the amount of work we’re doing you can
always help! Contact Lynda Parkes 209518, email
Finally, on behalf of Saltburn in Bloom I would
like to wish you all a happy and peaceful New Year. Lynda Parkes (Chair)
Saltburn Beachwatch My first Beachwatch litter pick in September as
organiser followed the worst floods in decades; my
second on 7th December followed the day after the worst
storm surge in 60 years! I’m beginning to wonder what
the next one will have in store for the volunteers who
once again did a great job in helping to keep the beach
free of litter. In two hours the volunteers surveyed and
removed 4132 items of rubbish off the beach weighing
80kg. The results of the survey showed that 80.01% was
plastic waste (more about this in the next issue of Talk of
the Town) and the overall total worked out at an average
of 10.33 items of litter per square metre.
The area of beach surveyed is from the Pier to the
Ship Inn and if you would like to be a volunteer at the
next Beachwatch event in March 2014 please see notices
in Talk of the Town or contact myself on 01287 204204.
Roy Smith
Saltburn Miniature Railway
As many of you will know that earlier this year the
Railway purchased an unfinished steam locomotive and
the picture shows that work is steadily progressing in our
workshop. The two main driving wheels are now in place
together with the brake hangers, also the steam cylinders
are now in place with the crosshead and guides being
visible (enthusiasts please note that valve gear is
Walschaerts). Work has been slow as we have nearly
completed repairs to the track after the great flood which
has nearly taken the 60 tes of ballast which was delivered
earlier.The repairs have taken many hours and it is
something that we do not want to be doing on a regular
basis.Possibly some people will be asking if we have a
name for our steamer, well we have and it is call
“Blacklock” after our Chairman. It is modelled on a 4-4-2
big boiler Atlantic with a separate six wheel tender and
this ( when completed) will make our fourth locomotive,
these being Prince Charles (4-6-2), George Outhwaite (0-4
-0) and Saltburn 150 (4-6-2).
R. Proctor (chairman)
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
11
Emmanuel Church Hall,
Macnay Street, Saltburn
Tuesdays at 7.00pm.
NEW 5pm SESSION
ADDED FROM 7th JAN
Telephone Stevie on
01642 474920
Also, The Civic Hall,
Coniston Rd, Skelton,
Wednesdays at 7pm.
Ring Susan on
07787 701558
My Time – The Spa Hotel Saltburn
Saturday 25th January 10 – 4pm
With John Pearson
Inner Shell Therapy “Looking after yourself – is not selfish
It’s essential”.
A New Year – Create the change you want to
see. Enjoy a day’s NLP workshop in a
relaxing atmosphere including meal.
Discovering and caring for self –
Max 20 to keep it personal.
Feel free to call for further details.
Bookings before 11th January £40
9:30 for coffee & registration –
The Waves room – Spa Hotel
01287 622544…
John is a Master Practitioner NLP & member
of NLPtCA
07769 694121
The easy to follow, toning version of
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Mon 6pm / Thurs 10am
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strength, toning and flexibility.
Weds 7pm / Fri 10am
Offers a variety of classes for ALL AGES & ABILITIES.
Dance your way to fitness in 2014!
This steamy workout will awaken the sassy woman in you… a toning workout using a chair and wearing
heels (or trainers)! Thurs 6pm
FOR INFO: CALL ESTELLE ON 07887525234 OR VISIT...
Jackie’s is the home of Talk of the Town’s post box
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
12 12
Saltburn’s Second International Over Fifties Table Tennis Tournament at Saltburn Leisure Centre
Saltburn Over Fifties Table Tennis continues to go from strength to strength. Membership now stands at over 35 with the weekly sessions (Wednesday 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm) attracting up to twenty-six players. We have had marvellous cooperation and support from the staff at Saltburn Leisure Centre and we now have four new full size Table Tennis tables for our weekly two-hour sessions. We have recently purchased an electronic table tennis robot which can be used for practice at all levels. The group remains focused on enjoyment rather than excellence, although some of the players are becoming quite formidable, but most of us are in it for laughs. Our second Christmas Doubles Tournament was held in Saltburn Leisure Centre on Wednesday, 18th December, around twenty four players competing for the prestigious gold (coloured) platters. Look for a report in the next issue of Talk of the Town. Remember if you feel like having fun and getting some exercise with a friendly group of people just come along any Wednesday at 2.00pm. A Happy New Year from all at SOFTT.
Bernard Storey
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
13
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Cakes sold at the library
Kristina Agnew selling cakes at Saltburn library chats with colleague Louise Redding, who was visiting with her newly-
born baby girl Isla.
Cakes were sold and a raffle was held at Saltburn library to help the Prince’s Trust to aid young people in need. Over £99 was raised. A neighbourhood apprentice Kristina Agnew, who works at Saltburn and Marske libraries, organised the event for the Trust’s ‘Million Makers Corporate Challenge 2013’. Kristina, 22, thanked local businesses for giving prizes and her family and friends for baking cakes. She made the biscuits on sale. The children of her sister Helen Rant, of Saltburn, came to the cake sale. She has worked at the libraries since last June following gaining a level three extended diploma at Redcar and Cleveland College where she completed an art and design course. “My aim is to get into customer service or business admin. I enjoy meeting and helping people. Those who come to Saltburn library are very polite and community-spirited. They are also cheery. Most are computer-literate,” she said. Kristina, who went to Bydales School, Marske, said she enjoyed reading biographies and was currently reading Caithlin Moran’s autobiography ‘How to Be a Woman’. Library colleague Louise Redding, who was visiting Saltburn library with newly-born daughter Isla, said she expected to return to work in April following being off on maternity leave.
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
14 14
Father Christmas made a visit to Saltburn on Saturday, 30th November. The Christmas tree lights were switched on by two local children who had won a fire safety poster competition. Tracy Meadows, Clerk of the Parish Council accompanied competition winners Chloe Fowler and Laura Wigmore to the Christmas tree where Stefan Peddie, aka Big Keith from TV show Hebburn, did the countdown to the switch on. Mary, Joseph and a donkey led the parade organised by Saltburn Fire Station, which included a festively decorated fire engine. Santa brought his sleigh to a halt at the tree so that Chloe and Laura could jump on and accompany him to his grotto located at the Station Portico. Hundreds of local residents turned out to enjoy the festivities throughout the afternoon including face painting, Punch and Judy, circus skills and balloon making. Entertainment round the tree was provided by Ten Feet Tall and children’s activities in the afternoon had been organised by Saltburn 500 Club, Saltburn Library and the Borough Council neighbourhood team. The Parish Council wish to thank all those involved who helped to make this a wonderful community event.
The Fire Brigade are appealing for photos or video
footage (on a disc if possible) of the event. If anyone can assist, these can be dropped into Saltburn Fire Station on Leven Street either Tuesday nights between 6-9pm or Saturday mornings between 9-12noon. At the December Parish Council meeting a decision was made to invite the Crime and Police Commissioner to a meeting with Members in the New Year. It was noted that Arriva had responded to the complaint about the poor X4 bus service through Saltburn. They advised that a different bus was being deployed in East Cleveland and Saltburn as the bus previously used had been unable to cope with the hilly terrain. Arriva were making efforts to improve the service and they apologised for any inconvenience. An application from Friends of the Valley for a grant to complete the toilet facilities at the Woodlands Centre was considered. Members agreed to a grant of £4,500 so hopefully work will be able to commence shortly. The Parish Council office will be closed from 23rd December 2013 to 1st January 2014 inclusive and as reported last month our website and email address will be changing, details to be given in the next edition. Best wishes for a peaceful New Year.
Tracy Meadows (Clerk and RFO to the Parish Council) 01287 623477
[email protected] www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/SaltburnMarske
Saltburn, Marske & New Marske Parish Council
15
‘The Blues Is My Business’ they sang, and then went on to
prove it, beyond any doubt! The Little Devils headlined the
Club on November 23rd and put on a performance that
showed just why they are currently riding so high. Lead
singer/saxophonist/flautist Yoka had the audience rapt, her
evocative vocals leading us down many emotional paths.
One moment playing a thought provoking track and then in
the next breath becoming total party animals rocking the
place! Then the first of our two December gigs saw the
wonderful talent of Londoner Sean Taylor perform for us at
the newly re-opened Saltburn House, a one off gig at that
venue. A really good turn out enjoyed a very special
intimate night of quality singer/songwriter music. I’ve
never experienced an audience totally quiet during two 45
minute performances before. No having to ask people to
shush this time! Sean held the audience spell bound for the
whole set! I hope we can get him back in the near future!
Our Xmas gig with the Dani Wild band will have been held
when you read this so more about that in the next issue.
On January 25th we welcome back Street Corner
Blues, a duo comprising the Blues roots vocals/guitar
of Chris James and the superb harmonica playing of Martin
Fletcher, winners of the North East heat of the New
Brunswick Battle of the Blues 2013. Supporting Chris and
Martin is the very talented entertaining young singer/
songwriter Lucy Zirins who combines raw energy blues
with sweet melodies. Catch her wonderful debut album
‘Chasing Clocks’. Should be yet another great night. Tickets
only £8 from the usual outlets (see picture).
I am pleased to say that my radio show STILL GOT
THE BLUES is back on air (internet only) on Palace FM
every Friday 2-4pm. Enjoy the best in Blues old and new.
At the beginning of another year I would like to thank our
sponsors Saltburn Car Centre and R.C. Ayres Roofing
Co. for their continued support together with the Saltburn
businesses that support our website (see the Saltburn page on
www.saltburnbluesclub.co.uk).
Happy New Blues Year folks, and I hope to welcome
you to our gigs soon. Keep the Blues alive folks!
Harry
SALTBURN BLUES CLUB
Creative Movement with Movement Therapist, Jo Drew
Moving in your own way, with a friendly and welcoming
group, Creative Movement is great fun, good exercise,
eases bodily tension and relaxes the body and mind.
Creative Movement exercises and nurtures your
body, mind and soul. Exploring Movement and Dance in
Fun Ways, in a safe environment. All abilities very
welcome.
Tuesdays,
12noon to 1.30pm
at MIND,
23a Diamond Street
Saltburn-by-the-Sea
This is a Free Course
The Course is run by the WEA in partnership with
Redcar and Cleveland MIND.
For more information ring Jo: 07551 361593 or
Mind on 01287 622118.
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
16 16
Are you interested in adopting a child?
Redcar & Cleveland’s Adoption Team have
children of all ages waiting to be adopted. These
are children who through no fault of their own are
not able to live with their birth family. Whilst
such children live in foster homes where they are
being well cared for, this is not the same as
having adoptive parents who can offer them the
security, stability and ongoing love that they will
need as they grow up.
We are looking for adopters from all walks of life,
irrespective of their: Gender, Marital status,
Sexual preference, Disability, Employment
Status, Religion, Race/Ethnicity.
What is important to a child is having a parent/s
that will nurture, love and provide a stable home
environment where they can enjoy security and a
structured routine.
If you feel you meet the above and want to help
us to make a difference to a child’s life, then
please ring 01642 304541.
Web link: redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/adoption
Saltburn 500 Club I hope that you all had a lovely Christmas break and enjoyed
the peace of Christmas. I would like to take this opportunity to
wish you all a very Happy 2014.
Thanks go to the small team of people who turned up to
help with the Christmas Lights and who, hopefully, will be
turning up on 6th January to help with the re-storing of the
lights. I would also like to thank all of those people and
businesses who contributed towards the cost of the lights.
2014 is going to be a busy year for Saltburn 500 Club
and Friends of Saltburn. As you know, fund-raising is a non-
stop job and will be continuing throughout the year. These
funds will be going towards the cost of the usual activities
(Saltburn in Bloom, Christmas Lights, Bandstand maintenance
and performing bands) but, also, this year we will be trying to
support extra efforts.
Some time in the early part of the year there will be
Victorian figures placed in the garden at the bandstand. We are
also instrumental in supporting efforts to refurbish the War
Memorial in readiness for the centenary of the start of the First
World War. We will also be hoping to supply funds towards
the cost of replacing the wrought iron fencing around the
cemetery, something which the Friends of Saltburn Cemetery
are involved in.
It is OUR town so if you can think of anything else you
feel we should be doing, please let us know, or better still, join
us in our quest.
All the best to you.
Trevor Welburn
Secretary of Saltburn 500 Club/Friends of Saltburn
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
17
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Wednesday 8th and 22nd January BINGO!
all welcome Saturday 18th January BAND NIGHT featuring
“WET & WILD” Tickets £2
Saturday 25th January SALTBURN BLUES CLUB featuring
“STREET CORNER BLUES” support “LUCY ZIRINS”
All-ticket night £8 (10% reduction for Cricket Club members)
Club available for your functions – Loads of free parking, prize-winning real ales.
Members and non-members welcome. Contact Club for function details and available dates to book your function
Tickets from Club or Celebrations Cards, Milton St Facebook saltburncricketbowlsandtennissocialclub
A WISE man once said that resentment was ‘like drinking
poison and hoping it will kill your enemies’. You
probably know of him; he went by the name of Nelson
Mandela. It was one of those effortless sound bites in his
seemingly endless collection that helped cast him into the
annals of history.
I couldn’t help thinking that particular quote was
quite fitting in light of the outrage the BBC coverage of
his death sparked. In the days and weeks after the world
took a short sharp intake of breath upon learning the 95-
year-old had drawn his last, the word excessive was
bandied about like cheap sausage rolls at an office
Christmas party.
The corporation dispatched around 120 staff members to
South Africa to cover the mourning of the colossus at a
time when the east coast of Britain had experienced the
worst storm surge in 60 years.
In a period of freak weather conditions, Saltburn
was once again slapped in the face by the force of nature.
Railings collapsed, paths disintegrated, the amusements
flooded and the water savagely carved out gaping holes
along the bottom promenade. There was an overwhelming
sense of déjà vu.
Saltburn was not alone. Across the east coast homes
were swept into the sea as thousands of people were
evacuated to safety and the clean-up operation began to
take hold.
Frustrated and emotional, it’s inevitable that people
looked for a scapegoat with the faceless grandeur of the
BBC providing the perfect dartboard. In a sense the BBC
were caught between a rock and a hard place and in my
view, took the correct, if rather difficult, decision.
Perhaps the coverage was a little excessive – but
then rolling news generally is these days. You only have
to look at the Diamond Jubilee, the royal wedding or the
death of Margaret Thatcher in recent years to see that
the coverage of significant events usually dominate the
schedules with a Dimbleby at the helm feeding our
insatiable appetites like pieces of foie gras.
But the significance of Mandela’s passing should
not be underestimated. To undersell an opportunity to
celebrate a man who has changed the face of political
history by unshackling the chains of apartheid is surely
a crime in itself. That’s not to say he was a saint, as is
often portrayed by the media when a high profile figure
dies, but there seems little debate that he was a global
icon.
And yes, undoubtedly the coverage of the storm
suffered as a result, but placed in a wider context, is it
not understandable, if unfortunate? Of all the angry
complaints about the BBC’s so-called excessive
coverage – there have been more than 1,000 in total –
it’s those people who cite the interruption of hit comedy
Mrs Brown’s Boys that rankles the most.
If a man like Mandela can feel no outward
resentment after 27 years of imprisonment in wholly
barbaric circumstances, surely people can find it in their
hearts to forgive the BBC for ten minutes.
Jonathan Whiley
Talking Points
18 18
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Trevor gets an award
Independent Councillor Stuart Smith nominated Saltburn
resident Mr Trevor Cox for this year’s Mayors community
achievement award.
Trevor, who was presented with his award at a
ceremony in Redcar on Wednesday, 20th November, is a
resident at the Victoria Lodge Residential Home and has
been street collecting for the charity Zoë’s Place,
Normanby for the past 5 years and during this time his
endless efforts have raised a staggering amount of well over
£22,000 for this charity. Trevor’s day is occupied collecting
for this charity and he can be found throughout the year, in
all weathers stood in the Station precinct collecting. In the
weeks leading up to Christmas he dressed in a Santa Claus
costume. He also holds a car boot stall every Sunday to
raise funds.
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
19
Saltburn Community & Arts Association
Can You Help?
A community facility has existed in the old Primitive Methodist Church at the corner of Albion Terrace and Windsor
Road since 1970. There have been ups and downs over the years but the community organisation, now affectionately known as
SCAA, has weathered most storms. Today, however, SCAA is insolvent. In order to continue to serve the town, money needs to be raised to pay off accrued debts, make essential
repairs, fund ongoing overheads and rebuild the reserves. A recent Lottery award will pay for work in the theatre, but is ring fenced and will not finance the work needed
to restore SCAA to financial good health. Appeal Letters have been sent to SCAA members, past and present. Now an appeal is made to all those who
have used the Community Association facilities in the past to assist in raising much needed funds. Donations may be made by cheque, payable to SCAA, and sent or taken to the SCAA Office at Albion Terrace,
TS12 1JW, or paid in cash at the Office where a receipt will be given. Fund raising events by well wishers would be welcomed. SCAA has a new Chairman. Les Manship was elected as a Trustee at the AGM on the 19th November and
subsequently elected to lead the Board by fellow Trustees. Les has resided in Saltburn with Rosemarie for 37 years. As a past President of Saltburn Golf Club and
previously a senior member at CORUS, he brings experience and commitment, believing that Saltburn has a
tremendous community spirit and that SCAA, as a centre for numerous activities in the town, merits residents
volunteering to give up their free time. At the AGM, members and residents gave wholehearted support to keep SCAA in business. Les has said to
supporters of SCAA, “There are hard times ahead financially and difficult decisions to make, but with your support we
will succeed.” ` Please do what you can to help rebuild this community facility and help to secure a future for at least another
40 years. Please come and support events that are being organised. We do look forward to welcoming you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SCAA Forthcoming events
Saltburn Jazz Night with
THE MARK TOOMEY QUINTET’S Tribute to Charlie Parker
Fri 10th January Doors & Bar 6.30pm Tickets £8
Valentine Special with
THE HAPPY CATS
Marty Craggs ex-Lindesfarne, brings the Happy Cats back to Saltburn.
“A drop of the Irish, a hot spoonful of salsa, a twist of Tamla, shake it all up with
thirty years of Rock and Roll, experience and garnish with good humour”
Friday 14th February Doors & Bar 6.30pm Concert 7.30pm Tickets £12 (Early Bird £10)
Events in the Community Hall
Saturday 4th January and Saturday 1st February - Flea Market 10am until 4pm both days.
‘Boot Sales’ every Sunday morning - 9am until 1pm
Film club evening
Thursday 30th January @ 7pm (Community Theatre)
Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa - Cert 15
When Alan’s radio station, North Norfolk Digital, is taken over by a new media conglomerate, it sets in motion an
hilarious chain of events which see Alan having to work with the police to defuse a potentially violent siege.
Starring Steve Cogan. Runtime: 90 minutes
Arts Development Promoter, Wilma Gardiner-Gill would like to personally thank every single person who voted for
us for the Saltburn Theatre Magical Transformation Project Big Lottery Fund. It made all the hard work worthwhile.
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
20 20
Friends of Saltburn Cemetery
The Friends of Saltburn Cemetery are pleased to announce
that the cemetery railings should, by the time this magazine
goes to print, have been replaced, after they were removed
during the Second World War, and the gates are being, or
will be very shortly, painted to match. Black was the choice
of paintwork as it was felt more fitting than green, bearing in
mind that the gates and railings are surrounding the cemetery.
Enquiries and quotes are being sought as to price and
design for a notice/information board which will be situated
within the cemetery gates. No further information is
available as yet, but Talk of the Town will be informed as
soon as any further news is available.
Also, the possibility of planting willows and training
them into shelters has been discussed and so further
information and guidance is being sought on this matter also.
The Council is to be approached to request that the
drains and gulleys within the cemetery be cleared and
cleaned as necessary in an effort to reduce the quantity of
water that often runs off when the weather is particularly
inclement.
Finally, if you have any spare time, if you have family
members within the cemetery or if you would simply like to
join us to offer help and or advise, please note our next
meeting will be on Wednesday, 26th February 2014, to be
held in Saltburn Library at 6.00pm.
Deana
Saltburn Athletic FC is one of a number of sports projects
across England to receive a share of lottery funding from
Sport England’s ‘protected playing fields’ fund to improve
their playing field.
The money received will go towards the revamp of the
football playing area on the top field at the rear of Huntcliff
School (formerly used by Saltburn Town Seniors). The
unevenness and bad drainage made it near impossible to play
football during adverse weather conditions. This revamp will
include a drainage system, leveling the field and re-seeding.
Once this has been done the club will be in a position
to have not only a good surface to play on but scope to
expand the number of age levels the club can have to play in
the local TJFA league (age levels range from under 7 to
under 18 in this league). These improvements along with the
guarantee of protection for at least 25 years means the
facility can be enjoyed by our community for years to come.
Andy Croll and Roy Myers of Saltburn Athletic wish
to extend their thanks to the National Lottery, Sport
England, the assistance given by Redcar and Cleveland
Council Sports Development and Council Estates teams.
There has also been numerous letters of support from the
local community and beyond.
Andy Croll and Roy Myers Saltburn Athletic FC
Saltburn Athletic to receive £50,000 of legacy funding
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
21
We are having a great time recording your histories and meeting people around the town. With your help, we would like to learn more about Saltburn’s past. Another important part of the project is recording events and people in 2013/2014, on the grounds that, “today is tomorrow’s history” as one of our team, Tony Lynn, points out. We have taken photographs of some of the events of note this year, but we could always do with your help. If you submit a photograph to us, we will create a digital copy, watermark it for you with your name (or a number if you want to be anonymous - we will retain your name and contact you should anyone ever approach us to use your photo). We would like to thank the salerooms staff (John and Victoria Simmons, Sandy Reid, Dougie Wilson, Jeanette Stinchcombe and Charlie Carr) for their help in allowing us to photograph the salerooms working in the last week. You were all wonderful and we wish you all good luck in your retirement.
We recorded the last ever sales day at Saltburn Salerooms. It would be lovely to hear your stories of the salerooms, or other places that have now gone. You can already visit our website, or if you’re not online, come in and see us in the library to watch some of the videos and photos we have taken - not just of the salerooms but of all out contributors. We have begun working on a project to take the names of the men on the war memorial and fill in some of the information about them. With people’s help we have our first picture of a gentlemen named on the war memorial; would you have any others? We appreciate the help and research done by Ian Bedford and Cath and Tony Lynn. Much information can be found in Ian’s book ‘Behind The Names’, but there are still gaps to be filled in. We have photographed some medals and we are in the process of finding out what the medals where gained for. So if you have medals in your loft, bring them in and we will photograph them and if our researchers don’t know what the medals relate to, we will help find out. Do you have medals in your loft you don’t know much about? Do you have a connection to someone who served or died in one of the many wars? Do you have a connection to one of the men on the memorial? Not all the people who died in the wars have been commemorated on
the Memorial. We are working with other groups around the town to arrange an event to commemorate the First World War starting at the end of June 2014. This is not only an important commemoration, but an opportunity for groups to inform the wider community of what they do and maybe recruit some new members. To get involved, your group must be not for profit, benefit the community or a particular part of the community and not in any way political. If you are interested in taking part, we would love to hear from you. We are looking to show how things have changed between then and now. Did your group or anything like your group exist in 1914 and can you find out how many members the group had? This event is being held at the end of June 2014, the 100th anniversary of the day Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, starting the chain reaction that led to the First World War. Life in the UK would change forever; social barriers were removed for many and we can still see echoes from that time, right down to some of the language we use today. Not all of those we remember were fighting; some were medics and drivers, others working in reserved occupations like doctors and some coal miners (many people were involved in mining in this area), who the government deemed more important to be home to provide the skilled labour and expertise to keep our country going and to keep supplies to those fighting in both wars. Many of our parents and grandparents lived through WWI and so we want to take this history and turn it into something tangible for people of all ages, abilities and interests. If you have an idea or you are part of a group and would like to do something or be a part of the commemorations, please get in touch either through a box on the library counter (leave a message and we will contact you), or you can email [email protected] and let’s get together and turn the names on the war memorial back into people with lives and loves. We understand that it may not always be possible, but let’s have a go. We have already started by meeting and talking to a gentleman who lost his grandfather in the First World War and his father in the Second World War. Thanks to all who have helped so far; let’s continue getting together. It’s lovely to see people meet with us and, as they talk, others come over and begin to share their histories, each story prompting a memory of something else. In some cases, people who have first met at our drop-in sessions at the library have begun to meet independently, to discuss old times. We are 6 months into collecting people’s histories and we have learned a lot from you. We have heard there may have been some German writing on a part of the town, inscribed during the Second World War. Can you shed some light on this? If so, we’d love to hear from you. We look forward to meeting you every Wednesday in January, apart from New Year’s Day. We look forward to seeing you there.
Fiona Wylie of The Pocket Watch Team
Saltburnbythesea.org
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
22 22
Will buys a car
Will Goodhand, Saltburn resident and the Conservative
Parliamentary candidate for this constituency, bought a
classic car recently and told Talk of the Town all about it.
He says, “I have done a foolish thing. In a moment
of nostalgic indulgence I bought a 1973 Triumph Dolomite
as my daily car - my Granddad owned one as I grew up,
and this one is magenta – irresistible. Tragically, it broke
down within an hour of buying it (loss of third and fourth
gears on the motorway!) and only my brother’s skills as a
mechanic have got it to the point that I can enjoy it around
Saltburn. (Though I wonder how she will handle the S
bank when the snow comes…perhaps I can get a push
from the bus?)
“It’s incredible to think that when this car was built,
Britain still had a thriving motor industry of its own. I’m
too young to remember those days, but I do know how
lucky I am to have grown up in this country where there is
plenty to celebrate today – take Nissan’s car production
here. This is not an empty sentiment – seeing so many
Nissans being driven on Teesside is testament to the people
of this area: they have made a deliberate choice to support
what’s important to us, backing the production, showing
solidarity.
“I look forward to meeting people – and hopefully in
circumstances other than appealing to you to help push a
badly-driven 1970s British Leyland car up the bank over
the next month or so!”
Well Being For All Well Being For All is a new charitable community
organisation based at Saltburn WellBeing Centre, on
Station Street, with the aim of improving people’s
physical and mental health and general wellbeing. We
have great news of some free groups and low cost or no-
cost activities available to anyone from the Tees Valley/
East Cleveland area.
With the aid of funding from Awards For All and
the Community Health Fund, we are able to offer a new
drop-in, open to everyone, and are running several
groups to help people or families with health issues. Call
in, and see what’s happening.
Here are just a few things you’re welcome to
attend – all free except where stated:
Well Being Drop-In – Fridays 10-12, every week -
free, from Friday 10th January. All welcome. It’s an
informal coffee morning format, with an opportunity to
find out about the many services in the area – many of
them free! Just come for a chat, or get information.
There will be guest speakers in future. Information is
available on services like carers’ organisations,
volunteering opportunities, addiction services, health and
wellbeing activities, social opportunities and signposting
to other agencies and groups. We’ll also be asking you if
there’s anything you’d like to see us set up, to help you
or people you know.
Meditation for Relaxation - 12 till 12.30pm
Wednesdays, from 15th January. Half an hour of relief in
the middle of your day! Pop in during your lunch hour.
Small donation requested.
Allergy & Anaphylaxis Support Group - last
Wednesday of the month - 10am until 12 - free – for
anyone affected by allergies themselves or their family/
friends.
Cancer Support Group - 2nd Saturday of the
month, 12-1.30pm – free, from 11th January. For anyone
affected by, living with, or recovering from cancer,
including family and friends.
We are also working with Health Watch, helping
people get their views across about what they want to see
in health services.
In addition, the Wellbeing Centre hosts or runs a
range of alternative health and therapeutic activities for
mind, body and spirit – from Counselling, Personal
Development, Confidence building, NLP and Life
coaching to Acupuncture, Bowen, Reflexology,
Homeopathy, Massage, Fitness, Yoga, Laughter Yoga,
Reiki, Angelic Reiki, Buddhist Meditation, Spiritual
Channelling, Tarot and Mediums, to jewellery making,
creative writing and more. We have monthly taster
sessions and open days on market days. Pop in for a chat
from Tuesday to Saturday and see what’s available – or
run something yourself. If we don’t do it, we know
somebody who can help!
For further details, pop into Saltburn WellBeing
Centre at 6A Station Street, Saltburn, TS12 1AE, or
telephone 01287 204400 or 07855 990491. We’re also
on Facebook & Twitter!
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
23
On the morning of Wednesday, 27th November, I was walking along the road to the allotments when I discovered a crew of tree surgeons busy with chainsaws along the railway siding. They were from Railscape contracted to Network Rail. I asked them what was going on and they told me in no uncertain terms that they had been instructed to chop down all the trees from opposite the caravan park - all the way to the cattle arch (approx 300 yards). I asked them why and they said they were just following orders. These trees were of no danger to the railway tracks as they were 40 feet away and of no danger to the road. I rushed home and called Network Rail’s hotline and also the Council’s Planning Dept in the hope of getting a preservation order slapped on the trees. Saltburn councillors Smith and Thomson also contacted the planning dept and more complaints from the public followed. By the end of the day I counted 8 chopped down. Some of these were planted by British Rail decades ago because the original stakes were still beside them. They were relatively young trees ranging between 15 and 40 years old and all valuable habitat. It’s not rocket science, less trees equals less wildlife, birds, insects etc and they look a lot better than just a steel fence! The contractors were due to return the next day but they didn’t show. The job had been stopped. Representatives from the Planning Dept and Network Rail made a site visit and I took the Gazette down there too. The Planning Dept later informed me that none of the trees would be saved as they were not of “sufficient amenity value”. Whatever that meant I’m sure the wildlife would disagree. All the trees were coming down. The contractors didn’t return until a week later and after the article had been in the Gazette. I got straight down there to film it all and to my amazement was told by the contractor that there had been a sudden change of plan. The trees were no longer coming down but being trimmed back apart from the biggest one, a 40 year old sycamore. I asked why it was still being felled and he said he didn’t know. I asked him if it was diseased or
dangerous and he said it wasn’t. I began filming this beautiful tree being butchered. The chainsaws cut through its limbs like butter. Its branches were fed into a machine and spat out like peanuts. If us mere mortals did it we’d be prosecuted. Suddenly the contractors’ manager was on the phone telling them that I had no permission to film. I replied that I didn’t need permission as I was on public land and. Shortly after, British Transport Police arrived following a complaint that I was “being abusive and threatening” to the contractors. What lies! The Officer spoke to the contractors who knew nothing of the allegations made against me, obviously by someone higher up the chain of command. I informed the Officer of the facts and he happily left though he must have thought what a wasted journey it had been following the bogus call. Then a Network Rail manager, Tom Brand, turned up. He told me that the contractors had got it all wrong. He claimed they were only ever felling two or three trees that were a danger and trimming the rest back. When I asked him why the big sycamore was being felled, he said that the base was hollow and diseased and had to come down. I was unconvinced. Had the contractors really got it wrong? Or was this Network Rail saving face in the wake of bad local press following bad national press when the RSPB criticised them heavily for habitat destruction last year? Why were lies told to the police about me being abusive and threatening? And why did the stump of the ‘diseased and hollow’ sycamore, felled the next day, prove to be perfectly healthy? I think it is safe to say that all the trees, around 40, would have come down in no time had the whistle not been blown. I personally believe Network Rail’s plan was to cut them all down as a money saving measure to avoid coming back to trim them in the future. But they didn’t get away with it! Thanks to all those who also made their voices heard.
Craig Hornby / www.pancrack.tv
Network Rail stopped in its tracks!
24 24
01287 348548 or 07796 478361
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
25
Returning goods
Many people are unsure about their legal rights to take
back unwanted items to shops and stores.
There is no legal right to a refund or replacement, if
an item is an unwanted present except if the seller
specifically agreed to a refund or exchange on return of the
goods and for certain home shopping purchases which can
be cancelled from the day on which the contract is
concluded until 7 clear working days after receipt of the
goods.
Many shops have ‘goodwill policies’ of their own.
This means the retailer will provide a ‘no quibble’ refund
(often valid for 3, 6 or even 12 months) or will allow you
to exchange goods within a specific period, even if they
are not faulty. Check with the shop if it has a goodwill
policy before you buy, particularly if you are buying the
item for someone else. This will prevent problems if the
goods aren’t suitable.
Sales Goods
Your rights apply equally to goods bought in a sale. You
should ignore any signs which say otherwise as they have
no legal effect. In fact traders who do so can be prosecuted
by trading standard officers. Some sales goods can be
reduced because of slight defects so check carefully. The
seller is not obliged to give you your money back if you
are complaining about faults pointed out prior to purchase.
Gift Vouchers
Many people don’t realize that gift vouchers are only valid
for a certain period of time, typically 12 months from the
date of purchase and they are not normally exchanged for
cash. You may be offered vouchers when returning faulty
goods, but you don’t have to accept them, as among other
remedies you may be entitled to a cash refund.
The Sale of Goods Act says goods must be:
‘of satisfactory quality’, which means standards that
a reasonable person would regard as acceptable,
bearing in mind the way they were described, what
they cost and any other relevant circumstances.
‘fit for their purpose’ which includes any particular
purpose mentioned to you by the seller, eg if you
buy a computer game and say to the trader that you
want to play it on a particular console, it must be
compatible.
‘as described’ on the package, display sign or any
the seller, eg a jumper described as cashmere
mustn’t be acrylic.
Anyone seeking advice on the above or any other issue
can ring CAB consumer help line 08454 04 05 06, or
contact the Bureau as below:
DROP IN ADVICE SESSIONS
REDCAR LIBRARY, Redcar and Cleveland House (at
the back of the old library) Tuesday and Thursday
10.00am – 1.00pm
GUISBOROUGH, Belmont House, Monday and
Wednesday, 9.30am – 12.30
SOUTH BANK LIBRARY, Normanby Road, Friday,
9.30 – 12.30
LOFTUS LIBRARY, Every 2nd and 4th Thursday, 1.30–
3.30pm
SKELTON LIBRARY, Monday – every 1st & 3rd week,
1.30 – 3.30pm
TELEPHONE ADVICE, Friday, 10.00 – 12.00 Tel:
01642 469880. You can also find us on facebook at
www.facebook.com/redcarcab.
Redcar & Cleveland Citizens Advice Bureau
Our two Wednesday meetings in January at the Community Centre, Durham Road, Redcar, commencing 7.15pm are: 8th January Members’ evening, and 22nd January President David Newstead’s Choice. At the first meeting most members display aspects of their collections so the session is always popular, non-specialist and varied. It would be a splendid opportunity for prospective members to see what we do. Anyone wishing to come along will be most welcome. If they then join, they will receive free a commemorative postcard, showing the un-issued design for the One shilling stamp intended for King Edward VIII’s Coronation, pictured here. These are now scarce and we have very few left. The December issue of Talk of the Town referred to the Teesside Trophy. This was won by Middlesbrough Philatelic Society but our team lost by only a narrow margin. A photograph and report will follow in the next issue.
Contacts: Geoff. Reynolds (Secretary) 01642 478229. David D. Turner 01287 634893.
Redcar & Cleveland Philatelic Society
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
26 26
The Guisborough and District Branch of the Embroiderers’ Guild
The Guisborough and District Branch of the Embroiderers’
Guild are holding their monthly meeting in Sunnyfield
House, Westgate, Guisborough. TS14 6BA on Saturday, 4th
January, 2014 at 1.45 for 2pm. The meeting will be
‘Inspiration’.
Visitors are welcome whether non-stitchers,
beginners or more experienced stitchers. Please come and
join us and start the New Year with a fresh hobby or to
revive an older one.
In February our meeting will be on Saturday, 1st
February, 2014 at 1.45 for 2pm. Our guest speaker is Liz
Ingledew and her subject is ‘From Concept to Design’.
The Belmont House car park (behind the council
offices) is free on Saturdays. For more information please
call 01642 314860. Linda Danby
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 January for babies and
newcomers to the town
Healthy Eating for a Healthy Planet
The phrase ‘you are what you eat’ refers to an age-old concept that the food we eat can have an effect on our health. Centuries ago, Hippocrates allegedly said: “let food be thy medicine, and thy medicine thy food”. There is little doubt that our diet can have an influence on how our bodies look and function, and may even contribute to how happy we feel. Most people are aware of the direct link between what they choose to eat and how they feel. However, the benefits of eating healthy foods are not limited just to how we feel when we eat it. What we choose to eat can also have an impact on the health of the soil, the animals, farmers, local communities and the environment in general. For example, when food is grown organically this means that less pesticides are used. Since many commonly used pesticides are suspected of being carcinogenic, eating organic produce can benefit our health. In addition, using less pesticides is also healthy for the soil – since the use of artificial fertilizers has become widespread, the levels of certain nutrients in fruit and vegetables have also declined sharply. When less nutrients are present in the soil, less nutrients are consequently present in the plants that we eat (and the animals we eat that eat those plants). In addition, organic farms often support a more diverse range of wildlife. According to the Soil Association, there are more wildlife species – from larks to butterflies – on organic farms, which benefits the greater environment. A reduced use of artificial fertilizers also means that less energy is consumed. Farming in gentler, more eco-friendly ways is not limited to organic farming – permaculture and growing your own are just two examples of potential additional sources of high-quality produce. The way we farm not only affects the crops, but the animals too. Those animals which are factory farmed often live in unnatural, cruel conditions. Choosing meat and animal products which have been raised in more humane ways helps to support those farmers and industries which are more concerned with standards of animal welfare and the animals’ behavioural needs. Ethical reasons aside, leaving factory farmed animal produce off the dinner table also means less antibiotics and growth hormones, amongst other substances, in our diets, which is beneficial to our own health. Another choice which can be healthy for both our bodies and the greater environment is sourcing locally produced food. This saves on transportation costs, and helps to support local farming communities. Finally, healthier eating can be done on a budget. Getting an organic veg box delivery can be cheaper than getting the (mainly non-organic) equivalents in the local supermarket. Cooking the veg from scratch and freezing any leftovers can also work out economical, especially if cheaper veg like carrots, onions, cabbages and potatoes are used. Cutting down on meat can also save money, since it tends to be the more expensive option.
Tatiana
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
27
BELIEVE Holistic Therapies© are pleased to announce
the opening of their POSITONE© programme in the
New Year. This is a three tier programme built around
physical exercise and overall mental and emotional well-
being which helps in dispersing stress whilst releasing
those feel good endorphins.
Enjoy complete low impact exercise which is
gentle on the joints whilst toning the body. Proven to
have beneficial effects with multiple sclerosis (MS),
repetitive strain injuries (RSI) and rehabilitation amongst
many more. Benefits of the programme are improved
circulation, better posture, improved flexibility and joint
mobility, and dependent upon the package chosen can be
life changing.
Jenny, the creator of the POSITONE
‘Mentoning’© programme has a working background in
education, health and the voluntary sector with over 30
years’ experience covering management, swimming
teaching, and advice work. She is a self-published
author, motivational speaker and advocate, and expert
patient. Her fun loving, compassionate personality is an
inspiration to others. Along with a natural empathic
talent to teach her self-motivated passion originates out
of very diverse personal life experiences. In 2007 after
13 years where a toning table regime played a major part
in her physical recovery, Jenny healed from a crippling
disability. She went on from not even being able to hold
a piece of paper to hammering, chiselling, decorating and
oh, much more! Now as your holistic health mentor
Jenny brings you the opportunity to achieve the changes
in your life that you aspire to.
POSITONE© comes in 3 very special packages,
Deluxe, Supreme and Precious.
The Deluxe package works on the physical
bringing about muscle toning and inch loss, consisting of
a 6 week block of two toning sessions per week set on
specific days.
The Supreme package works on the physical,
mental and emotional, consisting of a 6 week block of
one toning session plus one ‘Mentoning’ session per
week during which you have the opportunity through
varying modalities, to rediscover where you are and
where you want to be in life.
The Precious package is totally about You. With
no time limit, this works on the physical, mental,
emotional and spiritual, consisting of two ‘Mentoning’©
sessions, one in-depth, per week during which you have
the opportunity through varying modalities best suited to
you, to explore those areas in your life you wish to
change on a much deeper level, to enhance and maintain
your overall sense of well-being. Together Jenny can
help you find your way around the maze of healing
knowledge to bring freedom and choice into your life. A
confidential ‘Mentoning’© programme purely about
‘YOU’ that is uniquely tailored to meet your desires will
emerge.
Sue Anderson from Be All You Can has known
Jenny since she arrived in Saltburn eighteen months ago
when she first popped by Rigwood House to say hello.
Sue says, “Jenny’s commitment to maintaining her own
personal growth with a positively optimistic I Can Do It
attitude will greatly benefit others on their personal
journey of enlightenment. Many of us ask the question,
am I the best I can be? Exercise with a mentoring
programme tailor made to suit your needs is a fantastic
idea to explore a new you. Jenny, a strong loving woman
with a good heart is holding on to her personal dreams and
I am so proud of her for getting into action! Delighted too
that she is inputting the Be All You Can ethos of searching
to find ways for people to fulfil their potential into the
PosiTone programme. I have no doubt that all who
connect with Jenny will benefit greatly from the
programme to become the best they can be. I wish Jenny
every success, and to all who take their first step into this
unique opportunity to reach for the stars!”
We live in a society today often full of fear,
negativity, stress, ‘dis’-ease…where fears can hold us
back. Jenny’s persistence in letting go of unfounded fears
continually moves her forward in life. Jenny has inspired
many along her journey making her knowledge a priceless
gem. Rediscover yourself in reaching the peak of your
potential physically, mentally and emotionally, feel
reinvigorated! Let Jenny’s expertise guide you through the
stress and confusion in your life.
POSITONE© opens its doors in the New Year to all
ages, 18-80+ Why not drop by to the Open Day on
Sunday 5 January 2014 between 11am - 3pm. See how
you can benefit from this new and refreshingly exciting
programme! Studio 3, Sea Studios, 1-3 Bath Street,
Saltburn-by-the-Sea, TS12 1BJ. Jenny can be contacted on
07837 775483.
POSITONE© SEA STUDIOS
A new and innovative service has come to Saltburn!
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
28 28
Sometime things creep up on us and it takes a photograph
to make us accept the reality. This was certainly the case
for Saltburn resident Julia Robinson. “I was looking
through some pictures taken at a wedding in February
when I realized I looked just like my Gran! It was a shock
to see that my weight gain had aged me as well as making
me heavier and it was the kick-start I needed to do
something about it. In April I joined the Saltburn
Slimming World group and am really glad I did. I’ve lost
two stones and feel happier and healthier than ever” says a
delighted Julia.
“It took me till July to lose ten percent of my
starting weight and that’s when I really started to notice a
difference in my clothes and work uniform. It was great! I
had no idea when I first joined that I would enjoy the
Slimming World eating plan as much as I do and cooking
for the family has been easy. One of the new family
favourites is lamb tagine. Lots of the things I cook are
really quick and easy which helps a lot. I still enjoy my
social life and haven’t felt like I’m on a diet. Now I’m at
my Target weight I go to the group every week for free
which is even better”
“I love seeing people transform from being
uncomfortable and reserved to much happier and confident
with every pound they lose. Losing weight makes such a
huge difference to overweight people in so many ways”
says Julia’s proud consultant Stevie.
If you’d like to lose weight in a generous, flexible
way please come along. Group details can be found in this
Talk of The Town on page 11. New Year brings lots of
resolutions. If yours is to lose weight in 2014 come to a
group where no food is banned and you’ll be eating normal
meals such as roast dinners, curries and egg, chips & beans
while you lose weight.
Pictured opposite: newly slim Julia Robinson.
Having a ‘Gran Old Time’
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29
Rehearsals are well underway for Saltburn ’53 Drama
Group’s January pantomime, Ali Baba and the Forty
Thieves. Like all pantomimes, it features a cast of
colourful and likeable characters, including a music-
loving dame, a villainous head-thief and his long-
suffering employees, an endearing hero and heroine and
a magical storyteller.
However, no good panto would be complete
without a particularly important character, a character
who neither speaks nor sings, but who occasionally
dances: the pantomime animal, usually a horse or a cow.
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves is perhaps a little more
unusual, as it features a highly intelligent camel, known
as Kamil.
Kamil is played by Samantha Lightwing and
Becky Tranter, both aged fifteen. These two young
actors are never seen by the audience, and yet they have
the unique challenge of bringing Kamil to life. They
volunteered to play the role, which requires both
creativity and teamwork.
“It’s hard to get everything across without
speaking, and to get things in perfect time,” says
Samantha. “It takes lots of practice.” Kamil also has his
own dance routine – “Egyptian Reggae” – which needs
to be both comedic and in time.
Samantha and Becky joined the ’53 Drama Group
early in 2012 as members of the backstage crew for ‘Oh
Oh Malvolio’, a one-act play based on Shakespeare’s
Twelfth Night. Directed by Sue and Andrew Pierce,
‘Oh Oh Malvolio’ was performed during last year’s
Saltburn Drama Festival. It was also part of the Royal
Shakespeare Company’s Open Stages project, a festival
in which amateur theatre companies from around the
country performed their own adaptations of
Shakespeare’s plays. Samantha and Becky toured with
the production as it visited Bishop Monkton, the Sage
Gateshead and finally the RSC Open Stages final in
Worcester, providing backstage support at each stage of
the competition. They continued to work backstage for
the full production of Twelfth Night, as well as Nickleby
and this year’s October production, Lady Windermere’s
Fan.
Samantha and Becky have now made the switch
to appearing onstage, first in the chorus of last year’s
panto, Beauty and the Beast, and now as Kamil the
camel.
“We wanted to try different aspects of theatre,”
says Samantha. “It’s a different experience,” Becky
adds, when asked how it compares. Both girls say they
would work backstage again.
Samantha and Becky say that playing Kamil is
hard work, but enjoyable and different to anything
they’ve done before.
“It’s different but good fun,” Becky says.
When asked if they would be in other
productions, the girls say yes: “We’re looking forward
to being in the next youth production or the Drama
Festival.”
The ’53 Drama Group gives its members the
opportunity to be involved with theatre both onstage and
behind the scenes. This would not be possible without
Saltburn Theatre, where the group stages its productions.
Saltburn Arts (SCAA), who manage the theatre for the
community, have just been awarded a grant through The
People’s Millions, a programme run by the Big Lottery
Fund and ITV. Saltburn Theatre Magical Transformation
won the viewer’s vote and £50,000 of Lottery funding,
which will allow for refurbishment of the theatre, thus
benefiting the venue’s user groups, including the ’53
Drama Group.
Any theatre production requires an extraordinary
amount of effort from all involved. In addition to the
hardworking visible actors, there are also many who work
unseen to create a show, whether they are painting the set,
providing costumes, moving scenery…or, indeed, playing
a camel!
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves is at Saltburn
Community Theatre from Thursday, 16th to Saturday, 18th
January, and again from Thursday, 23rd to Saturday, 25th
January. Evening performances commence at 7.30pm, and
the Saturday Matinees at 2.00pm. Tickets are £7
(Concessions £5) and are available from Saltburn Health
Food Shop, the Theatre Box Office or online at
www.saltburnarts.co.uk.
Camel’s Bid For Saltburn Stardom
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
30 30
It’s the time of year when people start thinking about
New Year Resolutions and being healthier after the
excesses of the festive period. Whilst I fully endorse any
resolution that results in you improving your health most
resolutions don’t last as people quickly fall back into
their old ways.
When thinking about your resolution try and think
of something that you believe you will be able to stick
with not just for a month or a year but something that
will become a habit for the rest of your life. Try and
make it specific, instead of just saying that you are are
going to exercise more specify what exercise you are
going to do and how often. You then have a clear plan to
stick to.
You might also want to make it a small change,
these are easier to keep than trying to stick to a big
change. Eat healthier may seem like a big change but if
you say that you will eat an extra piece of fruit a day or
not eat a bag of crisps a day you are not only eating
healthier but it is a small change that will hopefully
become a habit that can be built upon over the year.
It has also been shown in numerous studies that
people find it easier to change their behaviour if they find
it fun. If you want to exercise more find an exercise that
you find fun you might want to follow the strictly trend
and start dancing, not only is it great exercise but it great
fun and a wonderful way to meet new people and socialise.
Or if you want to eat healthier but don’t really know where
to start then take a cookery class.
Some resolutions may not do much for your
physical health but can be a great boost for your mental
health. Here are a few different resolutions that you may
want to consider. Get your photo taken in five different
places. Learn a language. Learn something you wish you’d
learned as a child. Trace your ancestry.
Whatever you decide to do, or not do, good luck
with achieving it before 2015. Tony O’Neill, Pharmacist, Boots Pharmacy.
Tony’s Health Advice
New Year, New You?
A warm welcome is promised in Saltburn on Saturday,
18th January when a table-top sale is held to ‘banish the
mid-January blues.’
Plate-sized Yorkshire puddings with steaming
chicken stew and hot drinks are among goodies on offer at
the event, which is being held to help build a church in the
middle of Africa.
Caterer Doris Welcome, of Loftus, said she would
be making Yorkshire puddings, eight inches in diameter,
with chicken stew “to keep out the frost.”
She said the £2 dish was popular with both visitors
and locals.
Pat Watson, 79, of Middlesbrough, said as she
tucked into a ‘Yorkshire’ at a December table-top: “These
are gorgeous. I enjoy one each time we come with my
friend Pam Watson, who is no relation.”
Pam, who is 66, said: “They are fantastic value and
are just what we like an a nippy day.”
Table-top organisers are putting on a sip of hot
punch drink for those who buy raffle tickets.
Joyce Conlin, of Loftus, who collects rents from the
17 tables, and who runs a bric a brac stall, said: “Many of
the sellers are regulars and turn up whatever the
weather. Among good causes which benefit on most
Saturdays of the month are the local animal charity, the
’53 Drama Group, and Saltburn in Bloom.
She said the hall and kitchen were rented out by
Saltburn Community and Arts Association, for different
charities. SCAA itself held a flea market on the first
Saturday of each month.
The 18th January event is being organised for an
appeal being run by Mike and Bernie Morrissey, of
Saltburn, for St Patrick’s parish, Madera, Soroti, Uganda,
which is rebuilding its 100-year-old church. They plan to
put on a table-top tombola at the event.
Among items for sale at a recent table-top were three
foreign coins for £1 - including one from the former
Yugoslavia - newspapers reporting World War Two,
including the D-Day landings in 1944 at £2.
Regular visitor Carol Gaunt, of Marine Parade,
Saltburn, said: “We are always looking for a bargain. The
best buy I’ve had was a beautiful turquoise stone for a
pendant. It cost a modest £8 and was made by a local man.”
The sale will run from 9am-4pm at the Windsor Road
community hall, next to the library.
Banish the January blues!
Pat Watson, left, and Pam Watson, on right, thank cook Doris
Welcome for the “gorgeous” plate-sized Yorkshire pudding
chicken stew they enjoyed at a recent table-top sale at the
community centre. Doris is to make more £2 puddings for the
‘banish the January blues’ 18th January sale.
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
31
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32 32
WHY I AM A CHRISTIAN (in 300 words) by the Rev’d Adam Young
Though I was raised going to church I never really had a ‘spiritual life’ that I can remember. By the age of fourteen I had decided that though a God probably exists He must be a mean and vindictive God as He took my Great Aunt from me and she was an amazing Christian. That would have been that but for two things that persuaded me that I was wrong and God was real, loving, and good. Firstly, there was my calling to ministry. At the age of six-teen I went to bed one night set on being an archaeologist. That night God powerfully revealed Himself to me in all His holiness. I can’t really explain it, but when I awoke I knew that I had to be a minister in the church. My faith was weak and ignorant, and I believed so many wrong things, but I knew that I had experienced something. It wasn’t the last time that I have felt God with me or speaking to me, guiding or delivering me, but it was certainly the most dramatic. But so what if a God exists, that doesn’t mean the exclusive claims of Christianity are true. The other reason why I am a Christian is that during my studies at university I have become totally convinced that the man who was called Jesus of Nazareth died on a Roman cross. I am also certain, based on the historical evidence, that this Jesus three days later rose from the dead. This resurrection was the divine stamp of authority and authenticity on every-thing Jesus said and did. That means when Jesus said He was God and that the only way to heaven is to believe in Him He was not a lunatic, He was not lying, He was God revealing Himself. That is why I am a Christian – personal experience and historical evidence.
Emmanuel Church: Tel: 01287 622251 / Email: [email protected] / www.saltburnparishchurch.co.uk
FREE BREAKFAST at ECHO (Emmanuel Church Hall)
Thursday 23rd January 2014
9am-10.15am Everybody welcome...
Sundays at Emmanuel Church: 9.00am & 10.45am services with refreshments served from 10.10am Tuesdays at Emmanuel Church: 9.30am service with refreshments served from 10.15am
At the Silent Auction, there will be a number of un-usual wreaths from the ArtSpace exhibition available for purchase. If you have items you would like to give to the organisers of Silent Auction, they can be dropped off at the Church Office in ECHO.
33
Hands On Therapy Clinic Remedial Therapy Reflexology Sports Injuries Relaxation
Louise Clark ITEC Diploma MBSR, GCP, BCMA Reg
Saltburn Leisure Centre, Marske Mill Lane
Tel: 01287 625700 Mob: 07775 610745
AMATSU Japanese Natural Therapy
A complementary whole body approach to regain health, function and balance by empowering the body’s own natural repair mechanisms.
Eric Birbeck MBRCP Oriental Medicine
Master Amatsu Practitioner Telephone 07812 746246
Firstly, a big thank you to the Parish Council which has
stumped up enough money for the toilet to be finished and
with luck this will all take place in January.
The first week in December is National Tree Week and
we were blessed by a visit by the secret yarnstormers. The
beautiful silver birch tree just below the picnic area has been
adorned with knitted baubles and stars and looks beautiful.
Thank you, whoever you are.
We apologize to anyone who turned up for the
Christmas Grotto. We put out as many notices as we could
three days beforehand but I know some people will have come
along with their children and been disappointed. At short
notice a few key people were unwell and we had insufficient
volunteers to fill the gaps so we had no choice but to cancel.
By the time of reading this we will either be “in the
money” having sold all our Christmas trees or we will be in
debtors’ prison if we don’t sell enough. I hope it will be the
former.
We have received another grant from Groundwork and
this is for a program of workshops and we feel now able to
focus on the task of having the centre staffed and open more in
2014.
We hope the Saltburn community will continue to
support us this coming year and on our part we sincerely hope
we can build on and increase our services to the community
and be a valuable resource.
A Happy New Year from all of us down in the woods.
Lorna Moone
www.saltburnwoodlandcentre.co.uk
News and Views from the Valley
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
34 34
Ideas for a proposed new memorial feature to mark World
War One came thick and fast from Saltburn pensioners when
Fiona Wylie spoke about the town’s Pocket Watch project.
She told Saltburn and District Retired Men’s Forum
meeting on 25th November that she was part of a group
which is planning events to mark the war’s centenary in
2014.
One idea being looked at was to put up a wall near the
town’s war memorial to record the names of servicemen,
who died of their injuries following the war, not only those
killed during it.
Among suggestions which came from forum members
were to add the names of miners - known as ‘Bevin boys’ -
who were conscripted during World War Two, Merchant
Navy men, and conscientious objectors like Quakers, who
served as ambulance drivers rather than fighting. Other
examples mentioned were of those who were killed in
bombing raids on Saltburn and nurses.
Among wartime stories related by members was of
some words in German, which were displayed on the bridge
over the stream near the Ship Inn. This said: “How are you?”
It was thought that the tongue-in-cheek question was aimed
at Germans invading Saltburn.
Fiona and the Pocket Watch team are available at
Saltburn library on Wednesdays from 2-4pm. She can be
contacted by email on [email protected].
World War One memorial planned
Fiona Wylie with a lunch group following her talk to Saltburn
and District Retired Men’s Forum. From left: Melanie Caddy,
Les Ellwood, Peter Martin, and Rex Scales.
The hammer fell for the last time on Tuesday, 26th
November 2013.
Saltburn Saleroom was bursting at the seams with
buyers for the last sale conducted by Auctioneer John
Simmons. John has decided to retire after 45 years
conducting weekly sales.
John climbed onto the rostrum and announced he
would like to say goodbye to as many people as possible. He
then played a recording of ‘I did it my way’ by Frank Sinatra
and proceeded to walk amongst the public shaking as many
hands as possible. In hot pursuit was one of the porters,
Charlie Carr, handing out tissues to whoever needed one!
This was the cause of great hilarity.
On completing a circuit of the Auction Room he
returned to the rostrum and gave a speech to thank everyone
involved in the business over the years ending with a tribute
to his wife Victoria who has been by his side from the very
beginning.
John was happy to have his daughters, Katie and
Sarah and his two grandsons, Oscar and Max at his last
Antiques and Collectors sale (pictured above).
John’s father came to the Saleroom in 1946 after
military service in World War II, and took over the
business in 1966 from Mr Dickinson who in turn bought
the business from a Mr Hunter. Saltburn Saleroom has been
in existence for more than eighty years.
Current members of staff, Sandy Reid, Doug
Wilson, Charlie Carr and Jeanette Stinchcombe are also
retiring, after many loyal years.
John has been deeply moved by the warmth and
good wishes he has received since announcing his
retirement.
The business is being marketed by Thomas-
Stevenson, Chartered Surveyors of Stokesley.
Saleroom ‘of memories’ for sale
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
35
Saltburn Line User Group
Next Meeting: Tuesday, 4th February
2014
Meetings at Saltburn Conservative
Club are held on the first Tuesday of
the month 19.15pm for a 19.30pm
Start. As always, all welcome.
Talk to Saltburn Line User Group.
The Group exists to protect
passengers’ interests. See our
website:
www.saltburnlineusergroup.co.uk
Telephone the secretary on: 07875 242350
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LINE
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ALL WORK TO BS3998 STANDARD.
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Into another year and all our
young people are hoping for as
good a year as 2013. We held
our AGM and Presentation
Night in late November; this
was very successful and even
more awards being presented
than our young people
expected. The Santa Parade which the Beavers and Cubs
were invited to join was even more fun, being enjoyed by
all involved – despite the vast numbers of people thronging
the streets; somewhat unnerving for some of our smaller
Beavers – but overjoyed to receive a present from Santa
and all with two fire engines and rockets! Many thanks to
all involved in arranging the event. It was great fun and we
will be there again. We can also have a rest after another
successful year with Scout Post. In January our Chief
Scout’s Award recipients will be attending the County
Awards Night at Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough, so
congratulations to Jacob, Willow, Matthew, Sam and
William on their success.
The Beaver Section saw successes at our
Presentation Night – with two Chief Scout’s Bronze
Awards in the Beaver Section – well done to Jacob and
Willow! All Beavers gaining Challenge Awards, much to
the delight of parents and families. They have been busy
preparing Christmas gifts including dwarf daffodils in pots
for mum, cards and decorations. Also experiencing French
cuisine as part of a badge to celebrate “Le Grand Depart”
next year, the Beavers seemed to particularly like the garlic
cheese and of course French chocolate! Several are due to
“move on” to the Cub Section and by the time this is being
read will be well settled in.
The Cub Section enjoyed the Presentation Night, all
achieving Challenge Awards, but particularly Abigail, Alfie
and Peter and were told by our District Commissioner (Chris
Gell) that within the first few weeks of moving to Scouts in
the New Year - could achieve their Chief Scout’s Silver
Award. Cubs enjoyed the Santa Parade, particularly the
rockets to announce the second parade moving off; their only
question being “Could there be some more?” They have been
equally busy and have achieved their Road Safety Badge,
although we also saw some interesting ideas for traffic signs
-which would certainly have slowed motorists down –
thinking about their significance. The influx of Beavers
moving up will increase Pack numbers in January despite
Abigail, Alfie and Peter moving to Scouts.
The Scouts after seeing Sam and William be presented
with their Gold Award at the AGM (Matthew unfortunately
could not attend) are working well and have gained their
Information Technology Award (this is in levels and works
through all Sections). We must thank Miss Wills (Saltburn
Primary School) and Miss Knock (Huntcliff School) for their
assistance in this achievement. Plans are now afoot for some
night hikes and sleep overs at our building in the New Year;
in other words getting OUT.
Our parents continue to assist – particularly in Scout
Post – and in other ways and we thank them for their
excellent support. We are continuing with our recruitment
strategy to attract Leaders for the Group and young people to
our Sections; presently asking our parents to volunteer to
assist on one evening each term with a Section meeting. It is
pleasing that parents are involved in supporting our young
people, ensuring our Section meetings or activities are
exciting and interesting for our young people. If you can
offer assistance or are interested in joining us, please enquire.
1st Saltburn Scout Group
John G. Hannah – 07811 801627 or
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
36 36
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Blue Nose Friends
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Confectionery, Drinks, Ice Creams
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Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
37
“We’re going out on a high,” says Manager, David
Brooking, as he anticipates the closure of Brockley Hall on
January 3rd 2014. “Christmas and New Year are fully
booked. Our Advent House Party was totally subscribed
and the December Thanksgiving and Reunion House Party
was full within four days of the letters of invitation being
posted.”
Christian Endeavour Holiday Centres were launched
over a hundred years ago to provide moderately priced
holidays, centres of rest and relaxation and venues for the
use of Church groups, in a Christian atmosphere. Through
this, the charity aims to promote and extend the Christian
faith, without denominational bias and without alcohol
allowed on the premises. It caters for families, individuals,
Church and youth groups, Sunday schools, conferences
and schools in four centres in England and Wales: St
Rhadagunds on the Isle of Wight, the Plesaunce in North
Norfolk, Beechwood Court in North Wales and Brockley
Hall in Saltburn.
These Victorian buildings are well-loved, but the
cost of their repairs and maintenance exceed the charity’s
income and provision is being cut back. The Isle of Wight
and Norfolk centres closed for the winter in November and
won’t reopen until March; the Saltburn centre is closing
for good. “We’re not in debt,” explains David, “but we’re
losing the money in our reserves and this is unsustainable.”
Surprise has greeted the decision to close Brockley
Hall, as a brand new block of eleven bedrooms was only
opened in May 2011. Previously, a lot of the
accommodation was in four - five bedded rooms and this
development enabled more people to have single or double
bedded ensuite rooms. “The new building was mostly self-
financing from the sale of part of our land to McCarthy
and Stone and its cost is not a factor in the decision to
close,” comments David. “Its popularity has given us a
longer life rather than a shorter one.”
David has been the Manager for sixteen years.
Before that, he worked one season for Christian Endeavour
in Cornwall and further back, he was Manager of the
Methodist Cliff Hotel in Scarborough. Some people, who
were initially loyal to the Cliff Hotel, have been coming to
Brockley Hall for up to six times a year and David
welcomes them as friends rather than customers. As an
Elder at Saltburn’s Evangelical Church, he understands
their commitment to Christian values.
Taking part is optional for guests, but Brockley Hall
offers morning prayers before breakfast and evening
epilogue at the end of the day. The guests frequently attend
Church services in the town and David thinks that Saltburn
Churches will miss them. As the centre brings in several
thousand people a year to the town, he thinks that our
shops, especially the charity shops, may notice a fall in
trade. Although Brockley Hall has thirteen car parking
spaces, most holiday makers arrive on public transport;
they appreciate the level access to facilities here and pop
along to their favourite coffee shops after a browse.
As Brockley Hall has been a holiday centre since
before the war, some guests are now very mature, but
Christian Endeavour venues also cater for today’s young
people. “The charity started as a youth organisation a
hundred years ago to enable young people to learn about
Christianity and to share their faith,” says David. “In
November, we had forty children from a Methodist Church
near Durham for a stay and we enjoy catering for families
with children too.” Quizzes and games are put on by the
staff and there is the opportunity for sharing fellowship.
The catering consists of three meals a day, including
cooked breakfasts and a packed lunch option for those
wanting to go far. David organises popular day trips with
Coatham Coaches to places such as Whitby, Scarborough,
Helmsley, Richmond, Hawes and County Durham and gives
the commentaries himself. People like to explore churches
and abbeys especially. Groups have also set off for five day
coach trips to Scotland with him, while staying at Brockley
Hall at either end of their holidays.
Most guests come from the UK, including some
Saltburn residents, but a Swiss family has booked for
Christmas and it’s favoured accommodation for people
coming to Saltburn Folk Festival. “They will miss us too,”
adds David.
The twelve staff will certainly miss their jobs as they
face redundancy, As well as David, an Assistant Manager,
Angela is employed, as are a housekeeper, a handyman, two
cooks, two in the dining room and two washers-up. “The
working hours are erratic,” says David, “but we’ve had a
very long-serving staff.”
David is looking forward to three months rest and
relaxation, before he takes on a new role. He will be based at
his house in West Yorkshire, but will be coming back to
Saltburn once a month to take services at the Evangelical
Church.
The future of the building is being decided by the
Charity’s trustees. David draws attention to the beautiful
front of the building, which is within the conservation area,
and to the new extension which provides very good modern
facilities. It is hoped that someone or some organisation with
enough money to keep up costly repairs and maintenance
and put the building to good use comes forward.
Rosemary Nicholls
The End of an Era for Brockley Hall
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
38 38
O’Gradys Hotel 18-20 Queen Street, Redcar TS10 1AE
January Gigs:
Fri 3rd - TBC Sat 4th - TBC
Fri 10th - TBC Sat 11th - TBC
Sun 12th - District 504
Fri 17th - Four Letter Word Sat 18th - Fizzy Fish
Fri 24th - Soul Rebels Sat 25th - Idolise
Sun 26th - Sticklebacks
Tue 28th- Benidorm Irish Rovers Wed 29th- Benidorm Irish Rovers
Fri 31st- Shiver
JANUARY GIG LIST Possibly the best January ever!
Thursday 2/1/14 – Alpha Place
Sunday 5/1/14 – TBC
Thursday 9/1/14 – TBC
Sunday 12/1/14 – Flatback 4
Thursday 16/1/14 – Flashback
Sunday 19/1/14 – TBC
Thursday 23/1/14 – Sticklebacks
Sunday 26/1/14 – Columbia
Thursday 30/1/14 – Russ Tippins
Tel: 01287 626131
The Victoria Quiz Night
Every Wednesday £30 First Prize, £10 Second Prize.
Last Wednesday of the
Month: £150 Prize Fund.
The jackpot quiz will take
place on Wednesday, 29th January 2014.
THE VICTORIA
Roy, Jan, Helen and all the staff at The Victoria wish all their
customers a Happy New Year The Vic Real Ales: with Deuchars
IPA being our resident ale, and our ever changing guest ales, there’s no
excuse to go elsewhere.
4 People Not Profit present
‘Affluenza’ 4 People Not Profit’s film night ‘Open your mind’ returns with Affluenza, a groundbreaking film that diagnoses a
serious social disease - caused by consumerism, commercialism and rampant materialism - that is having a
devastating impact on our families, communities, and the environment.
The film will be screened as usual upstairs in The Marine, Saltburn and will be on Thursday, 23rd January.
Doors at 7pm and the film starts at 7.30pm. With time for discussion after the film, and as ever the event is free entry.
Shopping centres have really become the centres of many communities. Children, as well as adults, see a shopping centre as just the natural destination to fill a bored
life. Through revealing personal stories, expert commentary, hilarious old film clips, dramatized vignettes,
and ‘anti-commercial’ breaks, Affluenza examines the high cost of achieving the most extravagant lifestyle the world
has ever seen. Last year, Americans, who make up only five percent of the world’s population, used nearly a third
of its resources and produced almost half of its hazardous waste
Add overwork, personal stress, the erosion of family and community, skyrocketing debt, and the growing gap between rich and poor, and it’s easy to understand why
some people say that the western consumerist ideal is no bargain. Affluenza travels across the country to show you
men and women who are working and shopping less, spending more time with friends and family, volunteering
in their communities, and enjoying their lives more.
“A brilliant job of examining a complex issue from
many perspectives, in one totally captivating hour.” Ellen Furnari, Director, Center for a New American Dream.
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
39
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Saltburn Library Reading Together at Saltburn Library: Saltburn Library is
providing the venue for a Family Learning Reading
Together session. Join us to explore the world of stories and
craft making with your little ones. This is a free course and
will run for 6 weeks starting Monday, 6th January 3.45-
5pm. Snacks will be provided. Please phone to book a place
on 01287 623584. All our normal activities will continue.
We run Rhymetime sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays
10-10.45am and Craft session on Thursday 3.30-4.30 and
Saturday 2-3.00pm.
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
40 40
Supporting Young People in East
Cleveland What we’ve been up to! The Chosen Charity: DoorWays applied for Saltburn Sainsbury’s local charity of the year. This had been attempted previously but was unsuccessful. We went away, raised our profile and tried again, and were successful! This means that DoorWays work with Sainsbury’s throughout the year partaking in fundraising activities; this will be put in to a pot and donated to DoorWays at the end of the year (May 2014). The current total is around £1,300. Foodbank: DoorWays now give out foodbank vouchers. For those who are struggling with benefit changes or delays, have a low income or are in debt (no age limit on this service), pop into DoorWays and have a chat. Saltburn Youth Club is now running at DoorWays on a Monday night in partnership with Redcar & Cleveland Youth Services. Doors open from 6:30-8:30. Please come down! If you are 13-19 you are welcome. Come hang out, play pool, Xbox, challenges or come in and spark a conversation. The Painful Trek: On the 28th September Andrew Campbell of Sainsbury’s in Saltburn and our own John Thompson completed a sponsored walk from Middlesbrough to Saltburn. They started on the journey from Sainsbury’s in Middlesbrough at 11:00am, walked along the “black path” parallel to the train tracks all the way to Redcar and then on to the beach for the final small stint to Saltburn. Between the three of them around £350 was raised. That’s NEET: NEET is Not in Employment, Education or Training. DoorWays work with young people aged 13 - 19 helping them move into further education, training or employment. Through the summer we went knocking on young peoples’ doors, actively encouraging them to come and use the free facilities here at DoorWays and look for work. We regularly receive e-mails about apprenticeship vacancies from local agencies. These are advertised in DoorWays, and our advertisement board in Sainsbury’s. Visitors to the project here in Station Square, have reached the 900 mark over the last 9 months; the data base has registered 100 young people during that same time. This is a mix of youth club, drop-in and support work and is a reflection of our current change and need. Please feel free to ask more about the project, or catch us on facebook/ website. To contact us: Email [email protected] or phone 01287 625305. Opening hours are Monday to Friday: 10am - 4:30pm.
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Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
41
Our best wishes go to members and friends of Saltburn
Conservative Club. Let us look forward to 2014 in the
expectation that it will be a good year of new beginnings.
As 2013 becomes part of history, it is worth
reflecting on what has passed. Saltburn has survived two
storms that have caused considerable damage to our little
town. Our club’s flag seems to have been far too frequently
flown at half-mast. We have lost many good friends. Some
of Saltburn’s oldest businesses have closed including
Simmons Sales Rooms and Brockley Hall; our town will
not be the same without them. However, not all is filled
with gloom: new business ventures have opened and we do
not have many vacant shops. This in itself is a symbol of
hope for the future and an indicator that all is well in
Saltburn, as we survive not only flooding but also waves of
economic recession.
Much of the hope for the future is a direct result of
the indomitable spirit of Saltburn people. We gained a huge
victory over our foes in Council who wanted to inflict
insane parking restrictions on us. We demonstrated that we
were not willing to stand by and accept bad decisions. Good
news came with the winning of £50,000 to improve our
theatre and we should acknowledge the dedication of the
team, (led by club member Sue Pierce), who worked for and
won the grant in the face of much obstruction. I personally
wish Saltburn Arts every success in 2014 and hope that they
can overcome their current problems. Another ‘well done’
in 2013, is to our members in Camra Club, who had a sell
out at their 4th Saltburn Beer Festival. Our members and
friends in the Rotary Club also had a success with their 5th
Grand Ol’ Oprey music festival, which raised a record
amount for local charities and gave the area a great five
nights of wonderful entertainment. Plans are in place for a
2014 event, which has attracted fresh and very well
respected artists which will give an even better Oprey,
starting Easter Sunday. Well done also to the organizers of
The 16th Saltburn Folk Festival in 2013. Yet again we had a
great weekend in the club with our musical influx of happy
singing people.
Our club has done well in 2013. We have completed
all of our planned structural repairs and paid for them
without borrowing money. We have renovated and fitted our
2nd floor apartment. It is now let out and providing the club
with a steady income for the first time. We have a record
number of members of the club. A steady stream of new
members have flowed in during 2013, to swell our numbers to
420 for the first time. I would remind members that
subscriptions for 2014 are now due. As agreed at the last
AGM, 2014 fee will be £12 plus £2 for an affiliation card
giving access to 1,200 clubs throughout the country. Your
renewal fee may be paid to any of the bar staff, who will
supply a receipt. If fees have not been paid by February,
loyalty cards will become void.
We encourage members to use our facilities, at no
charge, for their own private functions. Birthday Parties,
Christenings, Meetings, Anniversaries, Wakes and Weddings,
we have done them all. Our Stewardess Michelle can provide
catering, see her and make a booking. The club committee
have been discussing new ideas to benefit our members and
increase bar sales. These include Happy Hours, Charity
Karaoke, converting the lobby to a snug, improvements to
toilet facilities and much more. The committee have been
doing a wonderful job over the past few years and much has
been achieved without putting the club into debt. I pass the
Chairman Joe Cockfield and his team, my congratulations of
a job in progress and being very well done.
I am pleased to be back writing in Talk of the Town;
reports of my demise have been somewhat premature and I
am planning a lifelong career in writing. My thanks go to the
many people who have made kind comments during the
absence of this page. As I have said in the past, although I try
to reflect club policy in this newsletter, opinions expressed
are my own. Please email me, if you wish to comment on
anything written on this page. I enjoy getting a response be it
good or not so good.
Mike Sellars, Club President. Email
This article is financially supported by
Saltburn Conservative and Unionist Club.
Happy New Year from the Cons
January Events at the Cons 31st Dec 1st Jan. New Year’s Eve Party. See in the New Year with your friends and us at the Cons.
Fri. 3rd Jan Open Mic Night Be a S.T.A.R. with host ‘Silver Fox’.
Sat. 4th Jan. Behind the Green Door. Multi Talented Richard Bracknall and friends.
Fri. 10th Jan. Open Mic Night Be a S.T.A.R. with host ‘Silver Fox’.
Sat. 11th Jan. Behind the Green Door. Garry Stuart, Paul James & Julian Allinson.
Wed. 15th Jan. Julie’s Bingo & Quiz, pie & peas. By ticket only, 8pm start.
Fri. 17th Jan. Open Mic Night Be a S.T.A.R. with host ‘Silver Fox’.
Sat. 18th Jan. Behind the Green Door. Bob Caswell with Kindred Spirit, Nostalgia Night.
Visit from Members of Northallerton Conservative Club.
Fri. 24th Jan. Open Mic Night Be a S.T.A.R. with host ‘Silver Fox’.
Sat. 25th Jan. Behind the Green Door ‘Kelly’s Country’ with The Newtons and Friends.
Fri. 31st Jan. Open Mic Night Be a S.T.A.R. with host ‘Silver Fox’.
Every Tuesday night at 10pm Members Draw for Meat Voucher, Wine, Chocolates or tins of Biscuits. Bar Snacks.
Every Sunday afternoon Gallons of Beer Draw and Cash Rollover.
Wednesdays 8th and 22nd January. Julie’s Quiz. Bring a team and be part of the craic.
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
42 42
Brian Hudson Decorator
Interior and Exterior 30 years experience
Free estimates
01287 624011
Moola 1 Dundas Street
West
(Next to
Easy PC & Music)
Moola is open
from 10.00am
until 4.30pm
Tuesday to
Saturday
Repairs and Alterations
Sewing Workshops
Dressmaking
Mobile: 07980 292969
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
43
Hello, my name is Ben; I am a black and white collie with
a silky coat. I might be a little bit older than most of the
young pups and the cats that have appeared previously in
Talk of the Town, but please don’t let that put you off
because I am young at heart and full of life. I just want to
be loved and have fun and enjoy myself in a relaxed and
not too taxing way.
I came to live with SARA after my person sadly
passed away and the rest of his family were unable to
keep me, so I really desperately need a quiet and loving,
long term foster home. As a foster carer my vet bills
would not be your problem, as SARA would pay these. I
would also come with all my own bedding and toys;
please see SARA’s website for more details on fostering a
pet.
As you can see from my photograph I am a lovely
and handsome old boy who loves a fuss and a treat; I am
very sociable and friendly with other dogs. I can’t see the
point in being any other way!
I really love people and I was a little star at
SARA’s last open day when I was playing with my ball
with a couple of older children. I am a really beautiful
dog who will be very easy to look after, as everybody has
fallen in love with me here. I am looking for a quiet home
where I can be spoilt rotten and enjoy my twilight years
with a new family.
Love from Ben
Saltburn Animal Rescue Association. 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.
1st January 2014 – The first monthly meeting of SARA
will be held on New Year’s Day, in The TocH premises,
Albion Terrace, Saltburn, at 7.30pm. Please come along
and meet members of SARA to hear about what we
believe will be a very promising and exciting year for
SARA.
1st January 2014 – Once again SARA, members of the
public and pets, will be braving the North Sea when
they hold the New Year’s Day Dip. This will take place
at Saltburn Pier starting at 11am. All money raised from
sponsorship will go towards the welfare of the animals at
Foxrush Farm. This is always a popular event when
everyone, including the dogs, enjoy themselves. Please
come along whether you wish to take part or just join in
the fun. Sponsorship forms may be obtained from
Foxrush Farm, the SARA charity shop in Guisborough.
They can also be downloaded from our website http://
www.s-a-r-a.org.uk. If you require further information
please ring Foxrush Farm, Monday to Friday 10am – 2pm
on 01642 488108.
Funds raised recently – The Christmas Fayre held at
Marske Hall raised the Grand total of £950. The Carols at
Foxrush Farm raised £385.
We would like to thank everyone who attended
these events and made them such a success. All the
excellent funds raised will go to helping the ever
increasing number of animals that come into our care. We
are most grateful for all the support we receive.
A Happy New Year to everyone.
SARA fundraising events during January
Sheila Green
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
44 44
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Leven Street, Saltburn Worship Services each Sunday
10.30am & 6.30pm Ladies Fellowship
1st & 3rd Mondays @ 2.00pm Weekly prayer meeting Thursday 10.30am.
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45
“Saltburn is such a lovely, natural environment,” says
Lynda, the Chair of Saltburn in Bloom. “Just yesterday, we
were a team of five volunteer gardeners working away,
while admiring the quality of the light over the sea.”
Lynda was born in Stanhope in Weardale. She and
her brother had an idyllic childhood with freedom to roam in
the countryside. Her Dad was a surveyor for the local
council and her Mum was an accomplished organist, playing
in churches for sixty years. “They were givers in life, not
takers. It came naturally to them to volunteer for lots of
activities and they were always showing quiet kindness to
people. The house was always full of people enjoying tea
and cake! Their way of life moulded me as a person,”
remembers Lynda. They were both very interested in the
environment and took their children on walks, encouraging
them to look at the world around them and care about the
environment.
After attending local Weardale schools, Lynda went
to St John’s College, York to train as a Primary teacher.
Husband Dave was a student there too. “Our eyes met over a
crowded dining room,” Lynda says and they were married in
1972. Their first years of teaching were in Lichfield in
Staffordshire, before moving to Middlesbrough, as Lynda
wanted to be closer to home. In 1977, they moved into their
current house in Saltburn, a place Lynda remembered from
childhood holidays.
“We moved to Saltburn at the time of the Queen’s
Silver Jubilee Street Parties,” she explains, “just before I
gave birth to our son, Stuart.” Daughter Sue was born in
1979 and both children attended local schools before
heading off to University. Stuart is now a senior pharmacist
at York and District Hospital and Sue is an administrator in
the Language School at Leeds Metropolitan University.
In 1987, Lynda took up a full-time teaching post at
Nunthorpe Primary School, where she spent many happy
years. She always strived to interest pupils in their
environment and to make lessons stimulating. In 2001, she
was asked to become a Reading Recovery teacher at
Ormesby and South Bank, working with children who were
struggling with the beginnings of literacy. “I found it very
rewarding to interest children with low motivation in reading
and tried to build a special relationship with each individual,
so that he or she wanted to learn” she says.
While a teacher, Lynda was an active member of the
Monday at Eight women’s group at Saltburn Methodist’s,
eventually becoming President. But she really grew involved
with voluntary activities, after she retired in 2006. The Royal
Society for the Protection of Birds Reserve opened at
Saltholme, near Port Clarence and Lynda began working
there once a week. “I always try to greet people with a smile
on arrival and enthuse about Saltholme and the work of the
RSPB in making a “Home for Nature”. Dave and I lead
guided walks for newcomers showing them everything of
interest on the Reserve. My knowledge of wildlife has grown
through listening to other like-minded people and we love to
pass this on to other people,” she adds.
Since retiring, Lynda has been developing her skills
in drawing birds and plants. She attended a drawing class
and progressed to another: “Art for Beginners”. Then an
opportunity arose to attend woodcarving classes in Redcar.
“It’s very therapeutic working with wood,” she says, “but it
takes a long time to create a piece.”
As a soprano, Lynda has joined Middlesbrough
Community Choir at the Town Hall; she and Dave sing
weekly for enjoyment with a hundred others and performed
on the stage with the choir at the Town Hall in December.
She enjoys going to musicals and concerts, appreciating
music from opera to folk. Her favourite play is ‘War Horse’,
which she saw in London in 2013: “I absolutely loved it,”
she comments.
Lynda likes light reading, including William Boyd
and Philippa Gregory novels and crime fiction. She’s an avid
Sudoku and word puzzle fan, seeking them out in
newspapers, pencil at the ready. Her speciality in the kitchen
is Lemon Drizzle Cake. “I like to cook tasty, wholesome
food and enjoy having friends round to share it,” she says.
Especially in the summer, Lynda and Dave go
travelling in their caravan. A favourite destination is North
Norfolk, where the bird watching and coastal walking are
excellent, but they’ve also toured through France, Germany,
Holland and Northern Spain. Lynda skillfully does her share
of the towing.
On retirement, Lynda and Dave took an allotment
and really enjoyed growing fruit and vegetables together.
Through this, they were asked to join the Gardening Group
for Saltburn in Bloom and then Lynda joined the Committee.
Every Wednesday morning throughout the year, weather
permitting, the team is at work, aiming to brighten Saltburn
up for residents and visitors. Lynda is also involved in
organising fundraising events, such as SiB Table Top Sales
and Coffee Mornings and she says she has met some lovely
people in her role as Chair, carrying on the good work begun
by group founder, Jackie Taylor.
Lynda feels her life is full and happy. She praises
Dave for all the support he gives her. “I couldn’t manage
Saltburn in Bloom without him,” she concludes.
The Saltburn Profile by Rosemary Nicholls
Lynda Parkes
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
46 46
January is with us again and the darkest and coldest days
of winter can be expected for the next month or two at
least. Somehow it doesn’t seem quite as bad as usual for
me, probably because during December I was in
Minnesota in the United States. As my plane landed the
temperature was well below zero but that was nothing
compared with what was to come. Within twenty-four
hours a blizzard began and then the temperature dropped
to 25 degrees below zero. The very act of taking a breath
out of doors was physically painful and if dear old Britain
was to face even a half of what the Northern part of the
USA does each winter, the whole place would grind to a
more or less permanent halt.
All the same, it can get pretty cold here on the East
coast and we all grumble each morning when it’s time to
crawl reluctantly out of a warm bed and tumble out into
the elements on our way to work. Since history is my
living, I tend to spend more time looking back than most
people do, so maybe my perspective is slightly different
but I can’t help thinking that despite anything winter
throws at us these days and bearing in mind the hardship
that some people do still experience, it doesn’t have the
effect on our lives that it once did.
Even as a child myself I can remember waking up
to find that the frost had painted patterns on the ‘inside’ of
my bedroom window, because central heating was barely
thought of in those days. Bed time on the coldest days was
a nightmare, with extra coarse blankets and layers of
pyjamas, whilst getting up often involved putting on one’s
clothes beneath the blankets, with some of them having
resided under the pillow all night.
All of this was less than pleasant, but when I visit
Megalithic monuments across Britain and Ireland, I nearly
always try to spare a moment to think of the ordinary lives
of the people who dragged these huge stones into place
and who dug the extraordinary ditches surrounded the
massive henges. These people all lived in draughty huts,
warmed only by a central fire that voided its smoke into
the thatch. A roaring blaze would have threatened to burn
the place to the ground and in the case of large round-
houses, the central hearth could have done little to raise
the lowest winter temperatures by more than a few
degrees. People would have slept under scratchy woollen
blankets, or if they were lucky they may have possessed
somewhat badly cured animal furs and hides, which were
probably infested with lice and would have smelled
terrible when warm.
Neither the word or the concept of ‘waterproof’
really existed prior to the Victorian period and back in the
late Stone Age and Bronze Age, practically everything
would have soaked up water like a sponge. Both footwear
and clothes would have been damp on every winter
morning and the thatched roof of any hut would have
eventually become waterlogged in the worst rain and
snow.
We might complain about the Council not having
gritted the roads properly, but imagine a time when there
literally were no roads and when only the most
rudimentary tracks would have crossed the landscape. Any
journey at all in winter would have been a muddy, frosty or
snowy experience, undertaken with inadequate footwear
and constantly in danger of attack from opportunist thieves
or wild animals.
The Neolithic people were subsistence farmers.
Survival in winter meant relying on whatever produce could
be laid up during the summer and autumn. If the harvest had
been particularly bad, or if disease had decimated livestock,
as was so often the case, the winter months would have
been that much harder to endure. The British countryside
offers little in the way of sustenance in the coldest months,
so in addition to the general hardships of life, hunger must
have been a constant threat. Here on the coast we could at
least have collected shellfish or fished from the shore but
taking to the sea in primitive boats in search of larger
quarry would have been impossible at this time of the year.
There are unfortunately places in our world where
parents still have to watch helplessly as their children starve
when supplies run out, and this must have been a common
horror across all of Britain in these remote times. Even if a
family or a community had managed to put food by, it was
likely to be stolen by passing thieves or cutthroats and
vigilance would have been an unremitting fact of life for
almost everyone.
It is partly these aspects of winter life in Neolithic
Britain that caused me to look again at the Megalithic
structures that are to be seen everywhere on our landscape.
It occurred to me that most of them must have been created
during the winter months. The needs of farming would have
prevented this sort of massive, communal venture taking
place during the spring, summer or autumn. Everyone
supported themselves and lived or died according to the
effort they put in to grow and store food. However, once the
harvest was in, there wasn’t really a great deal to be done
until the following spring.
Is it possible that at least one of the reasons we can
gaze upon the results of almost superhuman efforts to leave
all the henges, stone circles and avenues to be seen in all
parts of our islands was the need to keep warm? Dragging
huge stones would have been easier across snow and the
sheer effort involved would have helped to knit
communities together during the worst days of the year.
Instead of shivering indoors, everyone in each village
would have taken part. It would have been possible to ‘see’
those who were most in need and to offer assistance where
it was necessary.
It has often occurred to me that such undertakings
ensured cohesion within extended family groups and across
significant areas. It is harder to fight someone with whom
we have toiled and struggled, so inter-community violence
would also have been suppressed. All the same, I can’t help
thinking that even these days we are likely to fight off the
worst excesses of winter and to come through the hardships
smiling if we keep busy and find ourselves in good
company; and if we recognise just how absolutely awful life
must have been for our ancient ancestors, it might make us
less likely grumble at our own insignificant winter woes.
The Good Old Days by Alan Butler
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
47
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All aspects of building and joinery work undertaken by qualified,
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Valley Players Update We were delighted to hear that we have been awarded a
grant of £500 from The BBC Performing Arts Fund,
particularly since we are one of only 58 Community
Theatre groups in the country to be chosen out of
hundreds of applicants.
We were anxious to receive this grant as the next
production to be taken to Richmond festival in February
requires our young performers to be kitted out as two
oak trees, an acorn, four robins, a jester and a couple of
Elizabethan ladies - none of which comes cheap.
It would be an understatement to say that the
youngsters are excited - did I mention the cost of
earplugs and aspirin for the directors?
Djenane
CHOCOLINI'S NEWS NUGGETS. Happy new year to all our Customers
we hope you enjoyed your Chocolatey
experiences!
We will be closed until Monday 13th
January 2014 for routine maintenance
and look forward to seeing you again
when we re-open
We are planning some new creations
and will be working towards Easter!
Follow us on Facebook to find out
what we are up to.
Brass Neck Comedy Club We return with a brand new season at our new
home at The Spa Hotel on Saturday, 1st February.
More great line-ups for spring include a mix of
familiar TV faces and some of the best circuit
comics around. For more news & updates,
see Brass Neck Comedy on Facebook.
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
48 48
Happy New Year to all Talk of the Town readers, whether
you are local or reading this from afar. Looking forward to
a new year of gardening always raises the hopes doesn’t
it? Whatever the weather we can sit in the warm with our
seed catalogues, or increasingly our computers, and plan
what to grow when the weather looks up. The shortest day
is past, the evenings are drawing out and, on a nice day we
should be able to get out into the garden or allotment and
do those tidy up and other jobs in preparation for the
coming spring.
If you have any fruit trees or bushes and haven’t
pruned them yet, you should get this job finished by the
end of February, before the weather starts to warm up.
The allotment association has a shredder which you could
use to shred thin branches. Also, thinking about fruit trees,
if you haven’t put any grease bands around your tree
trunks and stakes, do so as quickly as you can to stop
those pesky moths climbing up the trees to lay their eggs
in the flower growth buds. If you did grease in October,
check that the bands are still sticky.
You might still have brassicas on your plot or in
your garden. Some of us are waiting for the treat of purple
sprouting broccoli, others are still enjoying sprouts, Savoy
cabbages or even various kales. When you can get out and
check them, get rid of any old, yellow leaves, make sure
any staked plants are secure and check and deal with slugs
and snails in your favoured ways. If you suffer from
pigeons and rabbits, make sure your protection is secure.
If you are really enthusiastic to get into this year’s
growing season, you can start indoors this month. A
windowsill, greenhouse or polytunnel could be used to
sow peas and broad beans, onions, leeks, salad leaves,
spinach and some of the hardier herbs such as parsley.
You could also cover up some areas of soil with black
polythene or other insulating material. This will speed up
the warming up of the soil and enable you to sow outside
a bit quicker. If you are planning to extend your fruit
garden, this month is good for getting hold of and planting
up rhubarb. You might find that you know someone who
has had rhubarb for a while and is splitting a crown. This
is a good, cheap way to acquire a plant or two.
Every now and again I use this article to promote
our Grow and Learn training course. This year this hands
on, practical gardening course will be offering a
Horticulture Award to those who take part and would like
recognition for the skills they learn. We have some spaces
on the course this year if anyone is interested in taking
part. If you are on an allotment waiting list, this is an ideal
way to get an insight into what you will be doing when
you get your own plot. If you’d like to know more with
absolutely no obligations, contact me on
[email protected] or ring on 01287 624169. If you
have taken part in the group in the past and fancy coming
back, there’s a warm welcome waiting for you.
With hopes for 2014 gardening, Sue.
Saltburn Allotments Association
Try something different at Grasers
Jerusalem Artichokes Last month we forgot to mention that Grasers will refill a
bottle of Yorkshire cold pressed rapeseed oil, costing £3.99
for only £3. But this month we feature Jerusalem artichokes,
which are a root vegetable well worth trying for their nutty
flavour. They are actually a species of sunflower from North
America, so despite their English name are nothing to do with
Jerusalem and are not related to globe artichokes which are a
type of thistle. In Europe they are called topinambour. They
are about 10% protein and contain no fat or starch but do
contain inulin, which is made of fructose. They therefore
have a sweet taste. Unfortunately inulin can be a problem to
digest so it is best not to eat too many at once, but otherwise
they are nutritious and rich in minerals and vitamins. They
can be used like potatoes but are best steamed or fried than
boiled and go well in soups or mashed. They can even be
sliced raw for salads.
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
49
The Muses of Jim Today (13th December) I got an email from the Evening
Gazette in reference to a story they ran a couple of years
ago about my father’s experience in the war. It appears
somebody in California, had discovered the story and
wondered if my Father was the same Fred Wingham that
had witnessed the death of a fellow air cadet in 1942 and
this Fred Wingham was the only witness. Now my father
trained as a pilot in California at that time but never
mentioned the fact that he had lost a comrade. Anyway I
have made contact with the Superintendent of the
cemetery where the cadet is interned so I should have the
full story. I have contacted my two sisters in case dad had
mentioned the incident to any of them. I know he had fond
memories of training in the States. He found the people to
be very friendly, but he and the other cadets were
surprised at the ‘whites only’ signs and the fact that
coloured people were shocked when the cadets gave up
their seats for them on public transport. More about that in
the weeks to come.
I have been a busy little boy in the last few weeks
with meetings in London (3), York, Hartlepool,
Newcastle, Redcar (3), and Middlesbrough. Not bad for a
73 year old, eh? These are above the normal Parish
Council Meetings and Club meetings that I attend each
month. I have a need to be occupied, more so during the
last two years and I feel that I am making a positive
contribution to the community I have chosen to live in and
Betty would have liked that, nay she would have insisted.
Two meetings were in fact linked, even though one was in
Newcastle and the other was in London. I represent
Redcar & Cleveland on the Ageing Well board at
Newcastle University and as such I was invited to attend a
meeting in London to discuss several issues concerning
older people. The first one was in London and organised
mainly by the DWP and its purpose was to explain what
the government is doing to ensure that older people play
their part in making sure that Britain is Great again, by
having to work longer. This message was given by the
minister for pensions himself. Concern was expressed at
the way the Government is using the term benefit rather
than that more appropriate word.
The second meeting held in Newcastle and was the
annual meeting of the Ageing Well Board and this was to
show what was being done to help the older people in the
area as well as asking people attending what could be
done to make towns more older people friendly. I know
this piece is a bit short on detail, but it does show that we
in the north are playing a part in attempting to improve the
lot of the older people of the region.
Finally, a great man has died and the media is full
of stories of his life and the impact he had on the world of
politics, but I can remember when King George V1 died
and out of a sign of respect the BBC cancelled all
programmes and played chamber music and the like. I and
all my friends were gutted. Not that the King was dead but
rather that the BBC had cancelled Dick Barton Special
Agent. Jim Wingham
NEEDS YOU Saltburn 500 Club is looking for new members
to join! The 500 Club, along with Friends of Saltburn, raise
funds to help to improve/maintain the pleasant ambience of the town.
Funds raised pay for, or go towards: Christmas Lights
Summer Band performances Flower displays around the town
Plus many other activities/displays There is a monthly prize draw which pays a top
prize of £100 and 5 other cash prizes. Membership of the 500 Club is £12 per annum,
which can be paid monthly. Membership forms are available from Jackie’s
Saverstore or the library. People not wishing to participate in the 500 Club
can make donations to Friends of Saltburn, which is
purely for fund-raising.
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
50 50
The Saltburn Crossword no 151 set by Advena
Solution to Crossword no 150
The winner of last month’s crossword was
Anne Elliott of Brookside Terrace, Sunderland.
Name___________________________________
Address_________________________________
________________________________________
Telephone_______________________________
D. V. Townend & Co
Country Outfitters New Shop Premises Open at
No. 8 Dundas Street, Saltburn Outdoor Clothing and Footwear, Walking
Boots and Socks, Gifts and Knitwear, Hiking Poles and Walking Sticks Plus Lots More...
Tel. 01287 623754
8 Dundas Street East, Saltburn TS12 1AH
www.dvtownend.com
Across 1 5 down is one of these if scum sail away (8)
6 I start creatively for a painter or sculptor (6)
9 Mixes sets as valuable possessions (6)
10 Describes a popular Christmas animal character after too
much port? (3, 5)
11 I roar too badly for Bach’s Christmas choral composition (8)
12 They make holes, doctors not well inside (6)
13 Professional boxer dismantles freighter zip (5, 7)
16 Nanna goes back to chaotic dangers at Saltburn’s newest
address (5, 7)
19 Oh stop scrambled images (6)
21 Popular science fiction series could describe the Wise Men’s
journey? (4, 4)
23 These Christmas staples sound crazy (8)
24 He operates a vehicle in Saltburn’s Red River (6)
25 Dangle awkwardly at a slant (6)
26 Measurements of capacity for Santa’s cargo? (8)
Down
2 Badly run, Sue is doubtful (6)
3 Incompetent found in serpentine ptarmigan (5)
4 Irregular stings are making a point (9)
5 A miserly entertainment in Saltburn’s theatre this Christmas
(7)
6 Assisted inside said Edward (5)
7 Along with bread they feed a multitude if he stows
haphazardly (3, 6)
8 Distorted elms rile with more unpleasant odours (8)
13 Arctic lap revised not just in theory (9)
14 Popularly thought to be Santa’s nationality often goes with a
short on the rocks I see (9)
15 No hunter confused being a fugitive (2, 3, 3)
17 Withstands unruly sisters (7)
18 Edible grain appears in instalments we hear (6)
20 In haste, Edward includes a mounted horse (5)
22 Person who steals if in the amalgamation (5)
Note the new address for crossword entries
Send your completed crossword to: Saltburn Crossword no 151,
c/o Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, TS12 1AQ
by Friday, 17th January 2014. First correct solution out of the
bag wins a £10 voucher kindly donated by Tim and Sheila of
Real Meals.
Bowen therapy
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www.bowen-care.com 01287 204400
Visit us online at www.tottsaltburn.co.uk
51
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