UNDER THE EDGEINCORPORATING THE PARISH MAGAZINEGREAT LONGSTONE, LITTLE LONGSTONE,

ROWLAND, HASSOP, MONSAL HEAD, WARDLOW

No. 262 November 2020 ISSN 1466-8211www.undertheedge.net

Some of you may have noticed a previously perilously-posed squeeze stone stile on the footpath just off Beggarway Lane, Great Longstone, that is once again standing tall and proud next to its partner, now with a slightly wider gap to boot, for easier access. The work on this stile was a collaboration between Tom Cox of Church Lane Farm and myself, as the fairly recently appointed Ranger for the Peak District National Park in the local area. But if we are being honest, Tom was the brains of the operation: his walling skills have been previously highlighted in UTE’s February 2019 Farming Notes. His brother Dan bowed out because he can’t stand Tom’s critical eye if everything isn’t positioned within a millimetre’s precision! Squeeze stiles have been a heritage feature of drystone wall areas around the country for hundreds of years, not least in the White Peak. While a few of them are prone to being a bit too much of a squeeze at times for many folk and their four-legged friends, it is important and a privilege to be able to retain these heritage features in our landscape where appropriate.

Where they aren’t appropriate and can’t be rectified, we tend to replace them with a wicket gate.

I suspect for Tom, this might have been just another day’s work but for me personally, this was a bigger moment. Apart from being your local Ranger for a year now, I spent the first eighteen years of my life in Great Longstone, and another three later on for good measure. As a teenager, I wanted bulging biceps and a six pack. Forget ‘gym strong’, I wanted to be ‘farmer strong’! Tom and Dan’s dad, Roger, sorted me out, saving me from having to fork out £30 a month for a gym subscription at Fitness First. Roger was all too pleased (if slightly miffed that I was enjoying it so much) to have me mucking out at Church Farm, grinning from ear to ear as I ached and strained, piling up bigger and bigger piles of steaming manure. In my eyes, I was going to be like Superman.

Easing the Squeeze

The Leaning Pillar of Longstone

Stone safely unearthed

It didn’t quite work out that way in the end, but fast forward 20 years, a decade of overseas expeditions and a brief teaching spell in London later, I could never have anticipated being back on Church Farm premises. I was arguably still the unskilled labourer, but this time under Tom’s meticulous eye, and with the title of Engagement Ranger.

That squeeze stile might still be there in five years or another fifty, like countless other heritage features in the Peak District, but for me it was another, more personal marker of time, albeit a rather less satisfying aching of my muscles the next day!

Rob Kenning

Precision spade work by Tom Squeeze now has a step Ranger Rob and Farmer Tom - a job well done!

Lest we forget

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A Passage to IndiaIt is almost a century ago in 1924 that EM Forster wrote one of his classic novels with this title. It caused quite a stir when it was published. Forster loved India and was a keen observer of every facet of this amazing continent. This was India at the time of the Raj and the novel tells of the desire of one young lady to get to know the Indian people. She had come out to India to meet with the man she was to marry, who was a part of the colonial staff. It was unheard of for the British to mix socially with the Indian population. Her encounter with a young Indian doctor would have dramatic oonsequences!

So, fast forward to 2012 and my first passage to India. Not by a long sea voyage, but an overnight flight to Mumbai and its vast new airport. I had gone there with my son, his Indian wife Ankita and their then very young children, to meet her two sisters, their husbands and their children. We had also come to attend a wedding.

You either love India with its colour, vibrancy and the whole spectrum of its people from the very rich to the grindingly poor, or are unable to cope with the crowds, the poverty, and the sounds and smells of its streets along with a mixture of two, three and four-wheeled traffic. I was in the former category but engaged with it, initially with some trepidation. How on earth did one cross the road, a maelstrom of traffic and wandering animals, with the sacred cows allowed free passage through it? But I was to gaze with wonder at the magnificent buildings and tried to absorb the history of this diverse, teeming continent. The scenery too was breathtakingly beautiful.

We took a pre-arranged taxi from the airport to Thane, a city an hour or so north by road from Mumbai, where Ankita’s family lived. It was to be a hurried arrival. We left the children with their grandmother while Ankita and I went and hastily bought an Indian outfit for me. We were not closely related to the bride and groom, so we assembled in a marriage hall in Thane with Ankita’s father acting as our guide, where we mingled with the guests and were introduced to a bewilderingly large number of family and friends. The wedding ceremony took place on a large stage or Mandap, and while we watched the rituals and heard the chanting of the priest, one of Ankita’s relatives patiently explained what was taking place. The marriage finishes with the ceremony of kanyadaan, or ‘giving away your daughter’, where the bride’s parents hand over responsibility for her to the groom and his family, and ask them to look after their daughter. The saptapadi, or seven steps, which form part of the marriage vows are as follows:

With the first step, we will provide for and support each other.With the second step, we will develop mental, physical and spiritual strength.With the third step, we will share the worldly possessions.With the fourth step, we will acquire knowledge, happiness and peace.With the fifth step, we will raise strong and virtuous children.With the sixth step, we will enjoy the fruits of all seasons.With the seventh step, we will always remain friends and cherish each other.

After the religious ceremony the guests were able to partake of the vast array of delicious food and find a seat at one of the numerous tables to enjoy the company of their table companions. It was a joyful occasion and at the close all the guests took their leave of the wedding party. There were photographs and words of blessing for the young couple and their future life together. Gifts of money are generally given, rather than the presents we tend to give on these occasions. On this visit we also toured for five days visiting the Taj Mahal and Delhi, staying in some of the palaces of Rajasthan, many of them now five-star hotels. They were splendid and luxurious places for overnight stays.

My most recent passage to India took place in November 2019 after the floods in England in which my Corsa became a casualty and was declared a write off (see UTE February 2020). I left the UK without a car and would have to buy one on my return. Once again I had been invited to a wedding in India. At the previous one I was largely a spectator, but this one would be different as I was part of the groom’s family. On this occasion it was just Ankita and I making the journey as, since it was term time, Andrew and Ankita’s children (at school in Pinner) had to stay at home with their father for the two weeks we were away. Ankita was also able to spend some quality time with her mother and father. She has now lived in England longer than her years spent growing up in Thane. The expense of flights to go to see

them, or for them to come to the UK, mean family reunions are often just once a year. This visit also allowed me to spend time with Ankita’s sisters (she is the middle of three) and their families. Ankita was to stay with her parents, while I stayed with Shubhangi and her husband Ajay. Her younger sister Sonu and her husband Aditya live in the next apartment block with their teenage daughter and eight year old son (the same age as his cousin in Pinner), so I was able to spend time with both families.

We flew out British Airways Business Class this time, again overnight to Mumbai. I had had a hip replacement operation just six months earlier, so did not reilish the prospect of ten hours cooped up in Economy. It was well worth the extra expense, but we still rested in the early afternoon after our arrival, before an evening of fun spent with the bridegroom Sagar’s family. On our arrival the ladies were given bangles and had their hands decorated with henna by a young woman who with great skill produced individual patterns for each of us. We had delicious snacks, and the talk then turned to what we would perform as our half of the following evening’s three hour song and dance celebration. This would take place in the grounds of the coastal resort wedding complex some four hours south of Mumbai at Alibag.

Henna cools the body with its medicinal quality, and is used as an effective stress relief for the bride. Nowadays decorating with henna is celebrated as a party night with the family before the big day.

Ajay, Shubhangi, Pat Westwell, Sonu and Adi all dressed up for the big occasion

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Bride and groom (Prajakta and Sagar) dance under the watchful eye of the Master of Ceremonies while Pat Westwell sings ‘My Heart Will Go On’ from the film ‘Titanic’

We set off in the cool of the day at 8am from Thane, stopping off half way for breakfast. There were sixteen of us travelling to Alibag. Ankita took her parents in a taxi because they needed extra time to get ready, while the rest of us travelled ahead in a three car convoy. We left behind the urban sprawl and crowded streets and entered a green and pleasant landscape

Before the marriage, bridge and groom hold shawls to signify their separate existence. They then take down the shawl and put garlands on each other to show their consent to be married. Here we see the groom with his sister and cousins. The bride is on the other side of the shawl.

This photo was taken just after the wedding; the groom’s mother is embracing the new couple. Forehead garlands are significant in Marathi weddings: the two strings of pearls denote togetherness and are worn as they step on to the Mandap platform to get married.

At the end of the day, the groom’s mother invites the new bride into her house and blesses her. Traditionally most people live in extended families in India.

which at times was dramatic, interrupted only by small villages with their shops and stalls, until at last we reached Alibag. We drove in along a tree-lined drive to a car park of compacted earth marked out in car spaces with white markers. The owner apologised, saying that the monsoon had continued for two months longer this year, preventing them from beginning to tarmac it. The prolonged monsoon (a signal of climate change?) had caused many larger construction sites considerable delays and expense.

The wedding complex was beautiful. The gardens were landscaped with palm trees and exotic flowers. At the centre was a two storied building; the ground floor housed a huge restaurant. Above it the marriage hall was beautifully decorated. The food was buffet service and vegetarian, with a great variety of dishes to choose from. Being Hindu, no alcohol was served; instead fruit cordials, iced and delicious, were on offer, as was a continuous supply of tea and coffee. There were water stations around the grounds, so no-one was in danger of getting dehydrated! The guests, some 300 of us in number, were housed in villas set among the trees. That evening the entrance was lined with columns

of coloured lights and the scent of jasmine filled the air. There was a ceremony to welcome the bride and groom and the entertainment then began at around 9pm. There were rows of white linen-covered chairs set in a specially built outdoor theatre. As latecomers, we were not due to perform until approximately 11.30pm, so it was a long and somewhat nervous wait, especially for me, as the only European present. Ankita and I had had less than 24 hours to rehearse. I knew how popular films are in India; it is a major industry and imported ones too are very well received. I opted to sing the love theme from Titanic. Towards the end of the song the bride and groom stood up and danced very gently together. It was a lovely evening and thankfully we were blissfully unaware of the pandemic ahead of us.

On Sunday, the climax and most important part of the ceremony would take place. Beforehand the ladies were all dressed by attendants. Most of the younger women never wear a sari, but for the older ladies it is their daily dress. It was my first ever time and I found it both comfortable and elegant. We took our seats in the hall and the ceremony began with prayer and lovely hymns. The most sacred part of the wedding takes place out of sight behind a screen. At intervals we threw the Hindu equivalent of confetti in the direction of the bride and groom as prayers were said. Finally they emerged with strings of jasmine hanging from their head-dresses. Each of us in turn were given two strands to hold and the scent is gorgeous. The wedding was now over and it was time for goodbyes, blessings and thanks. Money, rather than wedding presents, had been given discreetly before the wedding. And so we departed and returned to Thane for more visits, one in particular to Ankita’s young cousin Dipti who before her marriage spent a year in Warwick doing a post-graduate course there. She spent Christmas with us that year in Great Longstone. It was a white one and she loved the carols around the tree and the Living Nativity on Christmas Eve.

There have been huge advances in India since 1924, bringing a slow but transforming change to people’s lives. The Dalits, or untouchables, are being given more education, so increasingly they can compete for jobs with the rest of the rising middle class. There has been economic growth, and a gradual levelling of society. I hope and pray that India comes through this pandemic. They are a resilient people. I hope it will, in the end, prove a more equal world for us all. But it will be a long haul.

After experiencing 30°C plus temperatures we landed at Heathrow to rain and gusting winds which had made our return flight an hour longer. Andrew was there with the children waiting to greet us. It was December 10th, not long until Christmas which we were to spend together in Great Longstone. The New Year brought in celebrations and then the pandemic hit, for which we were unprepared. Who knows what the future holds for the world? As Mahatma Gandhi once said “There is enough for every man’s need on this earth, not for every man’s greed”. They were and are prophetic words indeed.

Pat Westwell

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Longstone and District Horticultural SocietyHello to all members of the Society. I hope you are keeping well and staying safe.

Regrettably, the committee decided to cancel all events planned for 2020, including the Horticultural Show scheduled for Saturday 29th August. We hope next year will bring an opportunity to hold the events once more.

It has been a good growing year for flowers and vegetables as illustrated by the many lovely photographs appearing in this magazine. Despite abiding by the government rules of lockdown, the gardens and allotments have never looked better, and it’s a great pity that all the hard work could not have been displayed in the Village Hall.

So, looking forward to 2021, the committee will try to meet up to discuss events and a show schedule. Unfortunately, there will be no open Annual General Meeting in November.

Let us hope we can all move forward, leaving the recoil of COVID-19 behind, but we expect the population will have to live with the virus for a considerable time to come.

The committee will announce developments for the Society in the New Year and post information in this magazine, now beautifully edited in colour.

It is a pleasure to announce that Andy Hanna has passed on the sum of £200 to Thornhill House. This was from plants purchased by neighbours and friends that he had grown for the Society’s cancelled plant swap and the Village Sizzle, also cancelled. He set up a stall at the entrance to his drive and would like to thank everyone for their generous donations. Well done Andy!

Best wishes to you all. Wendy Hanna, Chairman

Snakes and LizardsThe adder is our only venomous snake and hundreds of people get bitten every year, but don’t worry as there have only been 14 fatalities since 1876. A bite can cause swelling, drowsiness, vomiting and diarrhoea so you should call a doctor straight away if you think you’ve been bitten by one. Adders occur in England, Scotland and Wales, but not in Ireland. I spotted one recently on Ramsley Moor near Baslow (see photo below). They can be found on heaths and moorland, where

there are sunny spots for basking, dense cover for shelter, and plenty of prey. I play golf at Bakewell Golf Club and there have been many instances of bites to ankles and

hands, so don’t put your hand down a rabbit hole looking for your ball.Adders can grow up to three feet long, but more commonly up to about two

feet. They are not aggressive and will only bite in self defence. They hibernate during the winter and then come out in the spring to lay their eggs. Interesting fact: pairs of snakes entwine themselves around each other and wrestle. This is not a courtship ritual but a duel between territorial males.

NHS THANK YOU SIGNSGLPC thanks the community for supporting NHS workers

during the pandemic.To help keep the village tidy, could you please remove or replace any signs that are

hanging off or littering.Many thanks for your co- operation during these

difficult times.

GREAT LONGSTONE PARISH COUNCIL

Roy Finney as a ToddlerThe following anecdote was found amongst Roy and Janet Finney’s papers. It seems to be from a blog by an American family from Covington, Virginia, in the Alleghany Highlands, with family connections here.

The Holmes family has always been prominent in Great Longstone. Roy Finney lived with Mr and Mrs Holmes, his grandparents, next to Hancocks’ shop. In his later years Mr Holmes worked as an odd job man for the local butcher, Mr Dawson, and his main function seemed to be that of drover. He would drive cattle bought for butchering from Bakewell Market to the field behind Fearn’s shop. When they were needed at the slaughterhouse it was his job to separate them out from the rest and drive them through the village. He would be ably assisted by Roy, who would have been about three or four years old. I will always remember how Roy, when there were no real cattle to drive, would drive imagined beasts up the road to the slaughterhouse. His technique with an imaginary dog was impeccable. He would solicit the help from a passer-by to stop one of his imaginary charges bolting up towards Victoria Terrace. An ancient Miss Hogg lived in a small bungalow to the right (south) of the terraced houses. Two rooms at the most. Probably the last house in Great Longstone with a a dirt floor.

Later, Roy was the backbone of Longstone Cricket Club for many years. Finally, he became the respected landlord of the Crispin Inn. He did as good a job landlording as he did as an imaginary drover.

Di Hawksworth

Snakes are not the only reptiles to roam in the wild. Lizards are quite common in this country and I often see them on my walks. However I have only managed to catch one on camera as they are very quick to hide in the nearest crevice. The common lizard in my photo on the right can grow up to six inches long, but this one was only an inch and a half long. Other types of lizards in this country include sand lizards, slow worms and smooth snakes.

Andy Hanna

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Poo Corner: Station Road AlertUTE has received several complaints, accompanied by graphic photos, of dog fouling outside residents’ doors and gates in Station Road. This has now been going on regularly for two months or so, on the left hand side from the Village Green (not very nice for Bruno and Chris who mow the grass there) as far as Stonecroft. It is thought this occurs after 9pm with a dog that is not on a lead, the size of the ‘bore’ indicating it is small to medium sized. There have also been reports of fouling further down at the junction with Grisedale Road from a different and larger dog. Yes, it’s hard to see what your dog is up to in the dark, so please keep it on a lead until it has ‘done its doody’, and then pick it up! And if you suspect a member of your household could be a Phantom Pooper, please have a word with them. You wouldn’t like to find dog mess when you open your door in the morning, would you?

Read, Mark, Learn and Inwardly Digest, P h a n to m Po o p e r s !

Yet again the subject of ‘dog poo’ has been raised with GLPC and UTE, with photographic evidence of such incidents on Station Road as support. It doesn’t take much to leave the house with a bag or two in your pocket for such ‘accidents’. So please, PLEASE, dog owners, clean up after your dog! The PC have made sure that we have several ‘poo’ bins and the DCC even accept you disposing of said waste, if bagged, in their general rubbish bin, so there is NO excuse.

Under the Dog (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 local authorities were given rights to designate any public land as a ‘poop scoop’ area, where dog owners MUST clean up after their pets – posting signs as GLPC have done. The failure to clean up dog fouling is an offence subject to a maximum fine of £1,000, with some local authorities giving offenders the option of paying a fixed penalty of £50 rather than going to court. The Forestry Commission, backed by the National Trust, have approached parliament to add to this Act that where logically acceptable, dog walkers may adopt the ‘stick and flick’ method: i.e. rather than pick up the poo, they find a suitable stick and flick it into the hedgerow where it will degrade naturally and without harm to livestock or humans. They, and us I might add, are seeing more and more bagged poo left at the side of the road, in trees or on walls, which is far more harmful and disgusting. So dog owners and dog walkers, please be responsible when out and about in public areas. There are certain rural common land exceptions to the offence, which are:

• Land used for agriculture, woodland, or land which is predominantly marshland, moor or heath• A carriageway where vehicles are subject to a speed limit of 50 mph• The person in charge of the dog has a reasonable excuse for not clearing it up

– Not being aware of the Act IS NOT an excuse• The person in charge of the dog is visually impaired

Wendy Long, Chair Great Longstone Parish Council

As COVID-19 rears its ugly head again, Jenny Croft’s volunteers remain available.

Contact Jenny for help or to volunteer: 07518 452081 ( 01629 640257jennycroft2020@gmail.com

LITTLE LONGSTONEPARISH MEETING

23rd November (online) Contact Sarah Stokes for

further details( 01629 640851

parishcouncil@greatlongstone.org

HOW WE CAN HELP:

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Parish Council NotesReaders are reminded that this is the UTE reporter’s interpretation of the Great Longstone Parish Council meeting held on 23rd September 2020 in the village hall. Official minutes for these meeting are published on the Parish Council noticeboard outside Great Longstone School.Glory be! The powers that be, DALC and NALC (Local Council Associations)had in their infinite wisdom declared that indoor council meetings were perfectly legal and did in no way contravene Boris’ Rules of Six. Apparently this was on the grounds that such a concourse does not constitute a ‘social gathering’, though you might be forgiven for thinking so, given the banter and general bonhomie at the first face-to-face GLPC meeting for six months!

In the event, there were in fact only six present, namely Cllrs Wendy Long (Chair), Rick Gooch (Vice-Chair), James Cox, John Shimwell, Parish Clerk Sarah Stokes and UTE representative Adam Rae-Smith. Apologies were received from Cllrs Dan Cox and Phil Barrett and County Cllr Judith Twigg. No other groups currently use the Village Hall. Tables and chairs had been meticulously spaced and wiped before and afterwards, and the door was kept open throughout. The meeting started slightly earlier than usual at 7pm, which as one councillor commented, would prevent any unseemly rush to beat the 10pm pub curfew!CoronavirusJenny Croft had had no requests for community help for nearly six weeks, but had plenty of people on standby to meet any needs. Tom Dean has continued to keep the community website and Facebook page updated. The Chair asked for a record of thanks by GLPC on behalf of the parishioners for their sterling service. With toilet rolls once more disappearing from supermarket shelves, Cllr Cox reflected that a local businessman who had bought a job lot of bidets during the first wave had made a lot of money! Recreation GroundPlayground: Nellie the elephant springer was back in operation. Painting and staining work and safety work on the surface was now complete. The RoSPA report is to be discussed as part of the land inspection in October. Cllr Cox suggested the 30 year old rotten timber on the benches should be replaced (possibly with plastic) rather than be repainted. Work on the

bird’s nest swing and jumbo lander has been delayed.Equipment for years 11+: The tennis court edging stone and entrance work is now complete. A lot of good feedback has been received, complimenting the PC on how neat and tidy it now is. Ted Fraser-Smith had commented on behalf of the Tennis Club on how wonderful the new fence was. The ball now bounces back rather than just ‘going thud’! However, the net screw needs repairing (or possibly replacing with a new winding mechanism) as the thread on the current one has become very worn and even stripped in places. It requires quite a bit of delicate care when operating, making it difficult to remove the net for football and basketball.Court resurfacing project: This is to be deferred to next year. The court is in better condition than that in Bakewell. Bruno Cardona has swept the surface, making it much safer.Cricket and football: The bench work near the pavilion is now complete. Weed and feed has been carried out on the football field. Deep spiking work will be done in the autumn. The Vice-Chair pointed out the goal mouths were now more like holes in a sandpit and would need returfing after the games season was over; a bag of sand was needed now to get through the winter. The grass in the goals was so long it was becoming difficult to retrieve the balls! It was agreed that cutting this grass should be added to Bruno Cardona’s remit, as he already mows the perimeter areas that the Cricket Club ride-on mower cannot reach. The Clerk is to draw up a tender list for football field maintenance in 2021.Trees: A resident had complained about a tree behind the Meadows. Although this had been crowned six years ago, it is once again massive. The tree surgeon has been asked for a quote, but is very busy. The PC have used him for ten years, having had him recommended by the Peak Park, and he always gives sound advice. A quote of just over £300 for reshaping a tree near the bungalow was approved.Village green/Village hall/FieldsNew noticeboard: This is due to be done in October. Work on the west green path will be done this autumn.Cherry tree replacement: The tree near the postbox is to be removed by October. The Peak Park had recommended replacing it with a lime tree, but a previous Parish Council had

decided to replace it with like for like. The Clerk will look into prices for cherry trees. It was felt that the replacement should be an established tree, and a proposal from the Vice-Chair to authorise spending up to £300 was approved.Xmas lights: The subject of new lights and bulbs for the cherry trees was discussed. Cllr Gooch quipped that this was a subject after his own heart and the only thing he’d come for! As there will only be two trees once the one by the postbox has been removed, it was decided to stick with the current set of coloured lights. The whole question of putting up and taking down the lights in a COVID-19 safe fashion was raised and deferred for further consideration.Footpaths and roadsSchool signage: The school were leaving out the new parking signs, contrary to what had been agreed. The Clerk is to write and remind the school to take them in at night, and point out that the ‘girl’ sign needs to be turned through 90°.Speeding issues: A letter had been received from a family about a near escape from a car near Mires Lane while walking to school, and they requested flashing 30mph signs. A car parked partly on the pavement which had contributed to the problem has now been removed. While the Chair felt it important to protect kids, the Vice-Chair pointed out that these signs could only be installed with County Council agreement. Unfortunately this is usually only granted after a fatality has occurred; the Highways Department believe they ‘cause distraction’, and so they discourage extra ‘street furniture’. Cllr Cox recommended ‘rumble strips’ and painted speed limits on the road be considered as an alternative. The Clerk also pointed out that part of the general problem is that the school road is set back and not part of the main road. Cllr Cox noted that it was difficult to get volunteers to use speed guns as people were frightened they might stop someone they knew. The Community Speed Initiative has been challenged on GDPR grounds as to how they obtain addresses for the letters they had sent. The Cllrs remain happy however to fund any community cost involved. A possible way forward is for residents to organise and submit a petition to the County Council requesting the measures.Flooding: This is still an intermittent issue near the bridge at the bottom

7

of Longreave Lane. Cllr Twigg has reported that a job number has been allocated for the Longreave Lane part.New footpath signs on Hardrake Lane and Beggarway Lane are now in place.Electricity power cuts: There have been several interruptions of supply at night recently, one lasting four hours. Western Power have said these were tripped by stealing from a substation.Works in pipeline: The PC is awaiting replies from DCC on resurfacing at Sunnybank, tarmac on Longstone Edge, and hole filling on Chertpit Lane. Cllr Shimwell said that they had ruined the Lane. DCC had ignored his request to leave the old surface, and now it has massive holes. At one point it was completely unusable until he personally filled the worst parts with a load of stone.Council AdministrationLand registration: Fields/track and builders yard still in progress. As there are no deeds, a statement is needed from Longstone Records and evidence the PC has received income from agricultural tenancies. Council owned land will be inspected on 4th October.Facebook and community website: Tom Dean has been very pro-active. The Clerk will check if he is prepared to continue, as he may be relocating.Financial mattersThe clerk was approved to order salt for the PC bins (not much was used last year) and check the state of DCC bins, and also to order an 18’ Xmas tree and Remembrance wreath. An annual donation of £150 to UTE was approved. A donation of £750 from Little Longstone Parish Meeting towards the MUSA edging stone work was acknowledged with thanks. An increase of 3% (about 18p per household) on the PC precept was approved. An increase in the clerk’s salary from £10.16 to £10.44 an hour was also approved. The new DDDC annual cost for households disposing of garden waste in green wheelie bins from April 2021 was noted. Cllr Cox forecast that this would inevitably lead to an increase in fly tipping.Planning mattersApplications: NP/DDD/0720/0682 Former Builders Yard, Main Street. Change of use and creation of single dwelling. A resident had highway concerns over vehicle access. It was noted that it could not be used as a Holiday Let without additional planning permission. No objections.NP/DDD/0720/0682: The Manor

House, Main Street. Lowering and adaptation of garden walls to west of Grade II listed building. No objections.NP/DDD/0720/0601: Underedge Farm, Beggarway Lane. Alterations and extensions to farmhouse. No objections.NP/DDD/0820/0741: York Cottage, Main Street. Single storey extension replacing existing, to make more energy efficient. No objections.NP/DDD/0820/0785: Land formerly Bleaklow Farm, Bramley Lane, Hassop. Retrospective application for vehicular access track from Moor Road to provide alternative access to Rowland. No objections.Reed Cottage, Spring Bank. Listed Building Consent for four replacement windows, to be slimline double-glazed, not plastic. Approved.Police ReportNo recent crimes in Great or Little Longstone. “None that we know of!” commented Cllr Shimwell.Other itemsThe Willows tree area: A white van man had attempted to take possession by removing the gate and parking there. Cllr Dan Cox had foiled this by putting a large stone in front of the gate (since removed). The individual has previously attempted tidying up areas in Hathersage to take over possession.Hare coursing: Cllr Cox reported a lot of poachers’ lights had been seen on Longstone Edge. This was thought to be hare coursing and lamping and had also been spotted in fields below The Beeches. Incidents should be reported by calling 111.Camping: Following complaints by parishioners, Peak Park Ranger Rob Kenning had knocked on doors of camping vehicles on Longstone Edge. None had long term plans or were littering, so no action was taken. Cllr Shimwell said they were just passing through and that it was a lovely spot to stop for the night. Unlike Wardlow, it was noted, where the camping was more akin to Glastonbury and a real eyesore. The Chair praised Ranger Rob for his brilliant feedback and said he was the most popular ranger to be appointed for years. The Clerk is to communicate to him the Council’s desire for more notices on the Monsal Trail urging cyclists to go slower. Monsal Head Toilets: The Toilet Group have now received a grant of £7500 and asbestos, electrical and plumbing work has already been done.The meeting closed at 8.19pm with the

Vice-Chair joking that it was starting to look as if the only way people could enjoy Xmas would be to kill a turkey and invite 30 people to its funeral!Date of next meetingWednesday 9th December (online).Contact DetailsSarah Stokes, Clerk to Great Longstone Parish Council, Longstone Byre, Little Longstone, Bakewell DE45 1NN. Tel: 01629 640851. Email: parishcouncil@greatlongstone.org

Christmas Tree Donation

A big thank you to Margaret Davis for donating this year’s Xmas tree. Margaret has kindly donated a tree that has been growing in her field overlooking Longstone Edge.

Sarah Stokes, Clerk to GLPC

XMAS TREE CAROLSGREAT LONGSTONE

VILLAGE GREENWe hope you enjoy the

2020 Xmas TreeUnfortunately there will be no carols around the tree on Xmas Eve this year due

to the pandemicThis is a joint decision

by the Church and GLPCStay safe and Happy Xmas!

GREAT LONGSTONE PARISH COUNCIL

GREAT LONGSTONEPARISH COUNCIL FOOTBALL FIELD

MAINTENANCE - 2021Tenders are invited for:Deep spiking twice a year

Weed and feed -application in springQuotes to be emailedby 8th December to:

Sarah Stokes, Parish Clerkparishcouncil@

greatlongstone.org

8

Life’s about making the right choices

.Investments.Pensions.Protection Broome’s Barns, Pilsley Lane, Pilsley, Derbyshire, DE45 1PFTel. 01246 582242. Email: info@spearfinancial.co.uk

www.spearfinancial.co.uk

Spear Financial Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

spear financial ltd nurture grow & protect

DaDale Fa

Da

DALE FARM MEATSMOOR ROAD

GREAT LONGSTONE DE45 1UA

Grass fed Highland Beef, Lamb & HoggetReared slowly and naturally

Roasting joints, steaks, stewing cuts, burgers, sausages & more

Free Range Old Spot sausages, bacon and gammon also available

Meat frozen or available to orderWe value local support - drop in

or email meat@dale.farm

Aisseford Tea Room Ashford-in-the-Water

Breakfast LunchAfternoon Tea

Stop by for gifts and cards

Dogs and Muddy Boots welcome

Open 7 days a week

01629 812 773

The White LionGreat Longstone

Dine in Safely or Takeaway AvailableTues-Fri 12-2.30, 5-10, Sat 12-10, Sun 12-4

Bar open to 11pm (Sunday 6pm)Closed Mondays

Christmas menu now available! Christmas Eve: book your tablefor food or drinks inside or

wrap up warm and join us forMulled Wine & Soup outsideRear Beer Garden & Car Park

Child & Dog Friendly, Accessible ToiletsRenovated Snug Bar for Drinkers

( 01629 640252www.whiteliongreatlongstone.co.uk

November Farming NotesThe past few weeks have been an exciting and busy time on the farm. John went up north to Bentham market and purchased new breeding ewes, and then a week later John and Joanna went to Bakewell market, returning with more ewes and a ram. We are already thinking about lambing season next year and plan to put 84 ewes to our two rams.

The highly anticipated store lamb sale at Bakewell on the 9th October was a good day, and a successful sale with our entry of lambs narrowly missing out on the top sale price of the day. We were very happy with the lambs we produced, so it was a proud day seeing them sold at the market. Now is the time to get the ewes in good health before they go to the ram in mid-November, so we will be worming them, trimming their tails and feet, which is always a dirty, time-consuming and backbreaking job!

The majority of our Highland cattle went down to the land near Station Road at the end of September where they will stay for a few months before coming back to wean the calves from the cows early in 2021. We are still waiting on two calves to be born any day now, so fingers crossed they will be strong and healthy.

John and Joanna Shimwell

Store lamb sale at Bakewell marketNew breeding ewes

Autumn views from Chertpit Lane

9

Dear All,

Snippets

The Packhorse InnLittle Longstone

David and Lorraine welcome you to The Packhorse.

Excellent hand-pulled ales and quality home cooked food

Mon-Thurs 5-10, Fri 12-3 & 5-10Sat-Sun all day 12-10

(drinks only from 4-5pm Mon-Fri) Tables bookable for 2-8 people

Takeaway beer & food from menuBeer garden at rear and

two covered benches in the frontCheck website or

Facebook for latest details packhorselongstone.co.uk

( 01629 640471

AGENT FOR DRY CLEANINGService Washes Bed and Bath LinenTable Linen Workwear & Overalls

IRON ONLY SERVICEUniforms Sleeping Bags

Sports Kits Duvets

HillspringsLAUNDRY

The Dale, Stoney Middleton, Hope Valley S32 4TFwww.hillsprings.co.uk ( 01433 631442E-mail: enquiries@hillspringslaundry.co.uk

Open Monday-Friday 7am-5pmCollection and delivery available

Shooting on the EdgeI have seen three bird coops on the Edge, although the one over High Rake has been taken down again. The coop in Blakedon Hollow has 30-40 red legged partridges and the one above Black Harry Gate appears to be empty. Approaching Blakedon Hollow, a lot of pheasants and partridges took flight as I walked along the footpath. I also noticed about 70-80 ducks behind Bleaklow Farm. I believe there will be ‘Driven Game Days’ on the 13th, 20th and 27th November, so I hope the public will be given due notice, as footpaths and shotguns do not mix. I also hope that the birds of prey are not in any danger, as they are attracted to where the partridges are. Andy Hanna

November is sometimes described as a month of remembrance. On November 2nd the church celebrates the feast of All Souls, when we remember the faithful departed. This is quickly followed by November 5th, Bonfire Night…. Remember, remember the 5th of November. The second Sunday of November is, of course, Remembrance Sunday, a day when we remember the fallen and all who have been the victims of conflict and war.

The human need to remember appears to have widened and deepened over the years. As someone who has the privilege to conduct public worship, I have noticed this particularly on Remembrance Sunday. Remembering the fallen in war has, it seems, become the focus for the wider expression of grief. We are, as it were, given permission to remember the loved one who has gone before us, the children of the world who have suffered and died, the untimely miscarriage, or maybe a friend or a victim of a fatal accident. Perhaps Remembrance Sunday has become an opportunity to carry within our inner being a general sense of loss, a sense of bereavement made more acute by the longer hours of darkness and the onset of winter.

This season of remembrance will be made all the more stark because of the global pandemic we are now all living through. November is a month when we can be silent and reflect and remember

all who have died from COVID-19, not only from our own country but from across the world. Even if it is difficult to comprehend the numbers we can at least remember that behind every number there was a unique individual. We can acknowledge the fact that there are friends and families who will continue to suffer and grieve. Therapy teaches us that the pain involved in remembering is not to be supressed but to be embraced. As one of my teachers once told me, ‘If we all cried a bit more, the world would be a better place’. It is that ‘better place’ that most yearn for and long to reach. The world will never be perfect but it can be better. Remembrance reminds us of this existential truth. Remembering becomes the life-giving catalyst that can help us arrive at that better place. When we remember we honour not only the dead but also the living.

With every blessing,James

• Our Annual Church Meeting took place recently to appoint churchwardens, along with the Annual Parochial Church Meeting to appoint Parochial Church Council members. Mike Hirst and Frank Hammond were appointed churchwardens to serve for the coming year. Our meetings were an opportunity to thank all who have helped keep the church functioning through a most difficult and challenging year due to the pandemic.

• The church bells of St. Giles continue to be rung. The current restrictions mean that we can only ring three of the bells and each ringer has to ring the same bell. We are limited in time by how long we can ring. However it is satisfying to know that we are making the bells heard. Last month we rang Carter Singles, so named after a famous and very clever ringer of the last century.• A friend came over to the Vicarage armed with a metal detector! No Saxon hoard was found unfortunately but the machine did come up with a few things: odd bits of lead, a key, a nail and a button with ‘15 years’ inscribed on it. Any idea what this might refer to?• Vicar’s Nature Notes: all very quiet in the Vicarage garden but I have noticed that the squirrels have been very active squirreling around, squirreling things away, I suspect!

James Croft ( 01629 640257

jamescroft80@gmail.com

Please NoteUnder current social distancing restrictions, no more than 33 people are allowed in the church.

10

November in the Garden

teve Walton Electrical

Local Domestic Electricianbased in Hathersage

• All work Fully guaranteed• No job too small • Efficient and Reliable• PAT tests

07766 557691 stevewaltonelectrical@gmail.com

l

Local MilkYoghurt

Free Range Eggs

The Dairy, Church Lane Farm, Church Lane, Great Longstone

Pasteurised on the farmUnhomogenised

Executive Car HireLongstone Taxis

Airports, Stations, Hospitals,Long Distance Travel

4 seater taxiReliable service

Tel: 01433 631905 Richard 07388 824822

St. Giles Great Longstone& Church of the Good Shepherd, WardlowServices in November

1st November - All Saints Day11.00am Morning Service (St. Giles)

Wednesday 4th November 6.00pm Said Service of Light

8th NovemberRemembrance Sunday

9.00am Said Remembrance Service (Wardlow)10.45am Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial11.15am Said Remembrance Service (St. Giles)15th November - 2nd before Advent

9.00am Morning Service (Wardlow)11.00am Said Eucharist (St. Giles)

22nd November - Christ the King11.00am Said Eucharist (St. Giles)

29th November - Advent Sunday11.00am Said Eucharist (St. Giles)

Bakewell Pet Supplies

Wide range of pet productsFree local delivery

8 Water Street, BakewellTel: 01629 814264

Lawns: Continue aeration, make final cut and apply autumn fertiliser. Bring in mowing machines for overhaul before storing for winter.Roses: Plant out new roses using planting mixture of bone meal and peat or other humus forming material. Stake standard roses with a stout stake and secure near the head of the rose.Herbaceous plants: Clean up established borders, plant tops can be composted if reduced. New plants may still be planted in mild weather. Finish digging new borders and beds for winter weathering.Dahlias: Examine stored tubers, cut away portions of tubers that have rotted and dust cuts with sulphur.Gladioli: Clean lifted corms and store for winter.Trees and shrubs: Continue planting deciduous trees and shrubs in fine weather.Bulbs: Complete planting tulips and hyacinths. Examine pots and bowls of bulbs and move any with shoots inside, placing them in cool conditions not exceeding 10°C (50°F). Give sufficient water. Paper White and Soleil d’Or narcissi can be taken straight into warmer conditions.Fruit: Start winter pruning of established trees, but do not prune plums, cherries, damsons, peaches and nectarines. Check that ties are not cutting into bark. Cut out cankers and control woolly aphis with insecticide. Inspect stored fruit and ripen pears at room temperature.Vegetables: Continue digging vacant patches for winter weathering.General tasks: Lift Begonias, Geraniums and Fuchsias and bring inside. Dig vacant ground and leave it rough for frost to break it down. Dress heavy ground with lime, clean up fallen leaves to stack for leaf mould.

170g margarine170g caster sugar125g self-raising flour70g ground almonds3 eggs1 tbsp coffee essence80g icing sugarcoffee essence for icing

1 tbsp coffee essence can be replaced by 1 tsp instant coffee dissolved in 1 tbsp boiling water

Cream the margarine and sugar together, then mix in the beaten eggs and coffee essence before beating in the flour and almonds a little at a time. Bake in a moderate oven (180°C) for 30 minutes. Test with a skewer and if it doesn’t come out clean, bake for five more minutes and test again. Cool slightly and remove from tin onto a metal rack. Sift the icing sugar and add coffee essence to get the right consistency before decorating the cake: too runny and it will run down the side. This cake freezes well.

Angela Thornhill’s Coffee Almond CakeOne of the many deprivations we’ve had to suffer underthis pandemic has been the lack of events in the VillageHall, where the delicious teas make a most importantcontribution to the enjoyment of the occasion!

Nothing flies faster off the plates than AngelaThornhill’s coffee almond and lemon drizzlecakes, and you need to be an early bird if youwant to indulge yourself before they’re all gone!

Angela was given these recipes 57 years agoby Christine Household, whose father was inthe same regiment as John (‘Jack’) Thornhill(father of Angela’s husband Peter). Here’s the onefor the deliciously moist coffee almond cake:

11

Estimates and advice given free

Cox ContractorsProperty Services

Est. 1987• Property and Building maintenance• Garden Maintenance • Landscaping• Walls, Paths, Paving, Fencing• High Pressure Jet Washing• Drainage Work• Digger & Crusher Hire• Top Soil & Type one Supplied

01629 640340

07743 199853

Plumbing andHeating Services LtdTel: 01298 872278

Mobile: 07831 242826

apwheatingltd@gmail.com

A.WILLIAMS

No. 39143

J. W. & J. METTAMLIMITED

Independent FamilyFuneral Directors since 1899

Ambrose House, Granby Croft,

Bakewell DE45 1ET

Tel: (01629 812114)

J.M. Rowland Decorating

& Joinery

Tel: 01629 640021 Mob: 07976 967798

Bakewell Medical Centrewww.bakewellmedicalcentre.co.uk

Telephone: 01629 816636Normal Surgery Opening Times: Mon Thurs Fri 8am - 6.30pm Tues 8am - 8.00pm Wed 7am - 6.30pm

We do not close for lunchClosed: Bank Holidays from1.30pmWhitworth Hospital Opening Times: A&E (Minor Injuries Unit): 8am - 10pmX-Ray: Mon 9am - 5pm Tue-Fri 9am - 12.30pm

For medical advice when the surgery is closed, phone 111

‘Patient Access’: If you have access to a computer you can register to use ‘Patient Access’ to book GP appointments and order repeat medications on-line. Please ask at reception for registration details.IF YOU ARE ALREADY REGISTERED YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE APP TO USE FROM YOUR SMARTPHONE OR TABLET DEVICE.Credit/Debit Cards: We accept payments via cards as well as cash.

Baslow Health Centre www.baslowhealthcentre.co.uk

Book your flu vaccination now!Cl inic ians are st i l l avai lable for consultations and medical advice. Please contact the surgery and a GP or Nurse will call you back to discuss your concerns and if necessary arrange to see you in person. Many problems can be dealt with over the telephone.Please collect prescriptions (allow three working days) and leave samples at the side window near the back door, between 8am and 5pm.Normal Surgery Opening Times: Mon- Fri 8am - 6.30pmClosed: Bank Holidays, Wed from 1pm, 4th NovemberPhones: Mon-Fri 8am – 6.30pmTelephone Numbers: Reception 01246 582216 District Nursing Team 01332 564900 Health Visitor 01629 816633 Surgery Fax 01246 583867Please ring for test results after 2.30pm as we do not get results until lunchtime.

For Urgent Calls when the surgery is closed, phone 111

MATHEMATICSTUITION

PGCE Qualified,Registered Teacher with

years of experience.Year 2 to 11 any level and adults

Social Distancing andHygiene Measures

strictly in placePhone 07803 127337

Email: lindacmason@hotmail.com

9am–12noon Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9am–3pm Monday & Wednesday

We are a small, friendly and independent pre-school for children from 2 to school age.

Our focus is on learning through play in a stimulating and safe environment.

High staff:child ratios Ofsted rating: Good( 01629 640842

www.greatlongstonepreschool.org.uk

DefibrillatorsGreat Longstone

Main Street, in phone box by bus shelter opposite Longstone School. Recreation ground, on Cricket Club tea hut.

Little LongstoneMain Street, in telephone box opposite the Packhorse Inn.

Longstone Business ParkAt entrance, next to barrier, on Tilly Studios building.

What’s On23rd November - Little Longstone Parish meeting (Online)9th December - Great Longstone Parish Council meeting (Online)Contact Sarah Stokes for further details of these meetings:

( 01629 640851 or email parishcouncil@greatlongstone.orgMessy Church has been suspended until further notice.

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, all events and regular meetings previously advertised in UTE have been cancelled

12

A Note From The EditorThank you to everyone who submits material for publication and especially our regular contributors. Enquiries and submissions should be sent to:editor@undertheedge.net

Please include your name and contact details. The copy deadline for the next issue is 5pm on:Thursday 19th November

Photos should preferably be at least 1MB (1500x1500 pixels) and in colour.Printed photos should be scanned at 300 or 600 dpi. We can scan material if you do not have access to a scanner.The editors and management committee do not necessarily endorse opinions expressed in articles and adverts.Subscriptions are available - contact subscriptions@undertheedge.netCorrespondence address for those without access to email:

c/o The Vicarage, Church Lane, Great Longstone, Bakewell,

Derbyshire, DE45 1TBAll back issues available on our website

www.undertheedge.net

The InnrispinC

Main Street, Great Longstone DE45 1TZ

Traditional Family OwnedCountry Inn

Quality Home Cooked Food(Local produce & suppliers)

Takeaway availableAward winning Cask Ales

Extensive Wine ListTwo dining rooms available for

parties & business meetingsBeer garden & outdoor seating

Children, dogs & muddy boots welcome5 star hygiene rating

Supporting thecommunity since 2005

(01629 640237www.thecrispingreatlongstone.co.uk

Photography Competition goes VirtualAs the Village Hall is still closed, there will be a monthly photographic challenge online on the Great Longstone Community website, starting in January with the subject Family Portrait. Full details of how to submit your images will be in next month’s UTE. The winning images will be featured in UTE.

Jane Littlefield

Packhorse now doing Takeaways!You can now order any menu item from the Packhorse Inn in Little Longstone to take away, as well as enjoying your favourite cask ales at home, either as individual pints or in four pint flagons. Currently open Mon-Thu 4-10pm, Fri-Sun 12noon-10pm. Limited bookings for 2 people are also now being taken. ( 01629 640471

November Garden NotesI have taken down my runner beans and taken out the canes, cleaned them down and put them into storage for next season. Also I have dug up courgettes, sweet peas etc. and generally tidied up the plot. I will continue digging over bare ground so the frost can break down the soil, and will also incorporate manure or compost to improve the soil condition. I have stored my potatoes in cardboard boxes in the garage (cool and dry) but will take the opportunity to check for any rotten tubers as one rotten potato can quickly affect all the others. It is probably a good idea to note where you grew what crops this year and remember to rotate them for next year as pests and disease can affect crops continually grown in the same position. Overall I think it has been a very productive year and I am looking forward to getting my seed catalogue so I can do it all again next year.

The last of the autumn bulbs can be planted out both in the garden and in pots. I have been tidying up the flower borders and cutting out dead growth but leaving plants that have an architectural value. I grow quite a few grasses (see photo) which are easy to grow and come in all kinds of colours and sizes from one to eight foot high and provide interest all year round. The only maintenance required is to cut them down in the spring just before the new growth arrives. When the leaves fall off my shrubs I will be giving some of them a good trim so that they don’t take over the borders. I will continue to mulch with organic material which improves the soil and suppresses the weeds. There is still

a good show of autumn flowers but I don’t expect these to last much longer. The autumn colours never cease to amaze me, especially the acers, dogwood and liquidambar. I will be pruning my roses and find that you can be quite brutal with this and they will send out lots of new growth next year. Andy Hanna