talk of the town, february 2013

1

EDITION 140 CIRCULATION 4,700 February 2013

SALTBURN’S FREE MONTHLY MAGAZINE PDF Created with deskPDF PDF Writer - Trial :: http://www.docudesk.com

http://www.docudesk.com

2 2

PDF Created with deskPDF PDF Writer - Trial :: http://www.docudesk.com

3

January has been a difficult month and I’m glad that it’s over! February is the anniversary of me starting to be the editor of this magazine. It has been eleven years now. As is so often the case these days there’s little space for me to say anything. The parking controversy continues and I hope that the council will be sensible and maintain Saltburn’s goodwill. Love, Ian.

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: Saltburn World by Stuart Mathers. http://chuxsta.deviantart.com/gallery/

Barbara Spanner

WI Report: Ladies of Saltburn WI met on January 10th for the first meeting of the new year. The speaker for the evening was Janet Smith, who runs the first franchise shop for Sadie the Bra Lady. The shop is in Chaloner Street, Guisborough and opened 2 years ago. Janet told us about the problems a wrong fitting bra can cause, many of which club members could identify with. Amazingly, 80% of women are wearing the wrong sized bra which equates to £700 million being squandered on underwear which is poorly fitted and uncomfortable. Janet stated her ambition was to have 90% of local women wearing the right sized bra. She stocks bras for all ages, sizes and in every colour imaginable. Bras are also available for nursing mothers, mastectomy clients, sports wear, weddings and other formal occasions. Members were told about the appointment consultation and bra fitting services on offer. A thoroughly enjoyable and informative evening. Members enjoyed a post Christmas lunch at Rapp’s Cafe on the 24th January. On the 22nd January the first of a monthly series of Let’s Cook Sessions is being offered by the WI for members of the Carers Together Group at the De-Brus School Campus at Skelton. This offers the opportunity for individuals to prepare and cook a simple two course lunch. Next month is our AGM followed by a pooled supper on the 14th February. We have a full calendar of events, activities and trips planned for 2013 and always welcome new members. If you would like to join us we meet on the 2nd Thursday of each month (apart from August) in the Methodist Church Hall, Milton Street, Saltburn at 7.30 pm.

Barbara Spanner

Letter from the Editor

Saltburn Christmas Celebrations: Thank you to all the volunteers and helpers. Without your support we would not have Christmas lights in Saltburn. Thank you to Trevor and Jean Welburn, Joy Simpson, David Morris, Harry Lineker, Mike Johnson, Geoff Walker, John Etchells, Chris Smith, Tom Taplin and Son, Mark Blinkhorn, Peter Sturdy, Hazel Taplin for collecting the Christmas letters, Joan Guy for Christmas requests for funding, Phil Walton for letters, Alan Gent and team for all their help, Mick Stuckley of DW Webster EDL and John and Tim for the hoist, the Methodist Church for allowing us to use the hall, and Paul Humble for electrical services. Does anyone have a green box or spare 12 volt lights in your shops? We are missing two sets of 12 volt lights. If anyone finds them please contact 624046. Saltburn 500 Club: Subscriptions may be left in the library jar or paid at Jackie’s Saverstore. A cheque for £12 has been received from someone with the surname ‘Green’. Please could you get in touch because you might win a prize? To join the 500 Club contact 624046 or collect a form from Jackie’s Saverstore. Thank you everyone for your support. See also page 51.

Funds raised: an Xmas Fayre coffee morning at Emmanuel Church Hall on Saturday, 27th October last year run by Sue and Pat Halcrow, family and friends, has raised £1957. This will be increased to £2100 so that three charities will each benefit by £700. The three charities are Cancer Research UK, Children with Cancer and the Great North Air Ambulance. Sue and her mum Pat would like to thank everyone who supported the event in October and in previous years and for their generosity in difficult financial times.

Saltburn Beachwatch: Thanks to the 31 volunteers who attended our winter Beachwatch event on a cold and bracing Saturday morning. 14 bags of litter were collected and nearly 1700 items classified. These details are collated and sent off to the Marine Conservation Society as part of our ongoing monitoring of litter on our beach. The next Beachwatch event will be in spring and will be announced in Talk of the Town. See another article on page 35. Chris Terry 01287 622966

Fair Trade ‘Shop’ on Saturday, 9th February, 10am-2pm Jubilee Room ECHO Emmanuel Church Hall. End of season sale. For more details contact Annette Adams 01287 624674.

School Reunion: On the evening of Saturday 27th April there will be a reunion at The Marine for Saltburn/Marske (and local areas) school-leaving kids of 1969-'71. For more details contact: [email protected] and watch out for the ad in April’s Talk of the Town.

Emmanuel Church Hall Table Top and Collectors’ Sale: We have our next sales on February 2nd and 16th, from 10am till 4pm. FREE ENTRANCE and a warm welcome to everyone. 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. Thank you everyone for your support this last year. We wish you a very happy and healthy new year to you all. For more information contact Denise Marshall on 07929 589538.

Send letters, adverts and contributions for the next issue (by Friday, 15th February 2013) 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 now has a website: www.tottsaltburn.co.uk and the Friends of Talk of the Town can be found on Facebook.

Creative Movement: with Movement Therapist Jo Drew on Tuesdays 12noon – 1.30pm at MIND, Diamond St, Saltburn. Creative movement is great fun, good exercise, eases tension whilst relaxing the body and the mind. Move in your own way, exploring movement and dance with a friendly welcoming group. It’s FREE. The course is run by the WEA in partnership with Redcar and Cleveland MIND. Further information: ring Jo on 07551 361593 or MIND on 622118.


4 4

150 years ago On 4th February 1863, Ash Wednesday, the first Church of England service was held in the new stable block of the under construction Zetland Hotel. The Vicar of Marske the Rev Lane led the service. 4 months later services were held in the 1st class waiting room at the newly constructed railway station. An act of Parliament was passed on 13th July 1863 allowing the NER to take over the Stockton and Darlington Railway Company. On 27th July 1863 the Zetland Hotel was officially opened by Lord Zetland. Meanwhile Mr Bell was building Rushpool Hall. On Friday 13th November Saltburn was lit by Gas Light, gas being supplied from the Gas Works East of Marske. On Sunday 22nd November the first Anglican Church in the town was opened for worship. The following appeared in the Leeds Intelligencer on Saturday 28th November 1863: “SALTBURN NEW CHURCH - The temporary church (Ruby Street) erected at this new watering-place at the sole expense of Mr William Thompson, sharebroker, was opened for divine service on Sunday last. The Rev. J.T. Grey, curate of Saltburn, preached the sermon in the afternoon, and the Rev T. Robson of Kirkleatham, in the evening. The congregations were large. Miss Lane of Marske presided at the harmonium, and there was an effective choir. The church will seat 300 people, is built in red brick and comprises one large room, seated with open benches, porch, chancel and two vestries. This church is remarkable as being the first place of worship in the new rising town of Saltburn-by-the-Sea.” The future of this building which has been used for

a great deal of purposes over the years, most recently as a social club, is at present very much in doubt. If it is demolished it will be sad to see yet another early link with our past disappear. Inter na t iona l ly Henry Ford and Henry Royce were born; both men who were to influence our modern lives in a way that could not be imagined in 1863.

100 Years ago. In 1913 the Rev B Irvin, the first Vicar of Saltburn-by-the-Sea,

who had served the Parish for 40 years preached his last sermon before retiring to Bournemouth. Hob Hill mine finally closed. On Friday, 20th June 1913 there was a formal reopening of the Brine Baths following the purchase by Saltburn Urban District Council, a well known world amateur swimming champion Jack Hatfield gave an exhibition of his prowess. Copies of our book Saltburn Revisited are available again following a recent reprint. If anyone would like a copy please contact us on 01287 622519.

Saltburn Dates of Significance in 2013

Sunday School outing ready for departure outside the Ruby Street temporary church.

Cath and Tony Lynn


5

3 Dundas Street West, Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Cleveland TS12 1BL

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

COLLEDGE CABS Saltburn

FOR ALL YOUR TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Local runs / Longer Distance Spacious Estate Car

Lady Driver For a reliable, friendly service at

competitive prices call

01287 622800

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.

Carousel Hairdressers

Tel: 01287 622154 PDF Created with deskPDF PDF Writer - Trial :: http://www.docudesk.com

6 6

Hello from Friends of Talk of the Town! February already; where does the time go? If you’re like many folks you’ll probably be glad to see the primary month pass unless of course you have a birthday or some other kind of celebration! If you’re like me you’ll be in the minority because I for one don’t mind January. Having said that, I can’t abide snow and all the disruption it brings to everyday life and we’ve certainly had enough of that! January heralds a new beginning full of hope and optimism once you’ve managed to recover from the blur that was Christmas and the New Year. Have you noticed how quickly those times pass? Yes, I thought so too. To me and my fellow contributors, and advertisers, our monthly panic usually happens around deadline day which is nearly always the third Friday of the month. Our beloved editor sends out his reminders to all to enable him to start feverishly panicking over compiling and producing the magazine you are reading! February is something of a quirky month isn’t it? One when you have to remember whether there’s twenty-eight or twenty-nine days or indeed just how many Valentine’s cards you’re expecting to receive? All of these little foibles (of mine, perhaps) tell me that we can be sure that spring cannot be far away. I kid you not; I’ve seen the Sky at Night, Countryfile and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, so I know it’s true. The beginning of a new year is a crucial time for Talk of the Town with many of our advertisers arranging their annual requirements which help tremendously with budget and planning the magazine layouts. Many of our advertisers like also to have their favourite positions in the publication and Ian does his best to meet their needs. As you are aware, I am sure by now, that magazine survival depends almost entirely on advertising, your donations and support. It’s inevitable that we would ask you again to continue doing just that. At the risk of repetition we feel that you, our readers and supporters, should be aware that we are not in a position to decline advertising revenue as it is the lifeblood of Talk of the Town. There is so much ‘advertising media’ available these days we just don’t have that luxury and that is why we firmly believe that we have the best balance between editorial and commercial advertising. For those of you who have very kindly ‘signed-up’ to our Standing Order Mandate, we thank you kindly for this year’s donation. For those who have not yet done that, naturally we would love you to consider doing that and remind you that such a gesture would be most appreciated and that the appropriate form can be downloaded from our website www.tottsaltburn.co.uk. For the many who regularly donate through our collection boxes around town and surrounding areas, we thank you most sincerely. So just what does this year have in store for you? Like me, you’ve probably reneged on those New Year

resolutions you made through a drunken haze a few weeks ago? Yes, I have – but then again it was easy for me as I didn’t say them aloud! What I am determined to do this year (other than lose weight, drink much less, get fit and decorate the house) is to continue to work together with my fellow ‘officers’ of the ‘Friends’ being Paul Chappell and James Haddow. We had a really productive meeting recently with our editor Ian Tyas where we outlined some of our realistic aims for the magazine this year. We were promised cake but we didn’t get it! See, ‘cutbacks’ just keep on cropping up, don’t they! We reviewed what we thought worked well for us in the year just passed and naturally, top of the list was the wonderful support of the community and especially those committed to helping us directly through merchandise and magazine distribution. To hear Ian say that he believed we’d made a difference was very satisfying, but we did nothing without you. We felt also that the mugs have been very successful for us and we are currently considering other ‘branded’ items we will announce in due course. We have agreed to produce a Talk of the Town Official Calendar for 2014 which will also support a nominated charity and be on sale in good time for Christmas! It will be a quality production printed locally by Thurston Printers and possibly sponsored by advertisers. We’ve not finalised details of that as yet; however, we would very much like to receive your images of Saltburn (or our surrounding area) for consideration for inclusion. We’ve already decided on January thanks to a very special town resident, but I’m telling you no more other than it’s a bit special! Please forward images to me at [email protected]. Please email me as many as you wish at the highest quality you can send, bearing in mind we will assume we have your permission to use these images throughout our media, i.e. the magazine, our website and Facebook page. All chosen images will be credited to their owners wherever used and definitely in print on the calendar. We do have an archive of photographs from the last eleven years of Talk of the Town; however, we want to feature suitable new images from this great community of ours! On the subject of community, we must acknowledge the sterling efforts of John Lambert, our Parish Councillors and many others who are ‘conducting’ the opposition to the introduction of parking charges in Saltburn. There are it would seem many facets to this particular situation and hopefully common sense will prevail and we can only wish for an amicable outcome. I am sure there are many around the community who believe currently that is very unlikely. If the project is indeed yet another income generating measure, then surely it would not be unreasonable to assume the local authority will re-invest that income back into Saltburn? Surely they would, wouldn’t they?

Friends of Talk of the Town

Richard Dales-Coupland Secretary, Friends of Talk of the Town


7

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

Safe in the water should be one good maxim. Saltburn failed the sea bathing water standards in 2012. Whilst the debate over sea bathing water quality continues with the need to ensure that the tourist season sea bathing water meets European standards, have we forgotten about the rest of the water users, particularly during the ‘out of season’ periods? Water pollution is coming primarily from land based water courses. Skelton Beck is a particular contributor. This brings effluent from run offs from land along the beck and also sewage storm drain overflow from housing estates in Guisborough. Is enough capital investment being made in the infra structure for housing developments safeguarding against future pollution? Hazelgrove is also suspect as a water polluter. The natural tidal flow is West to East along the shore bringing any pollution from that outfall to the formal sampling area west of the pier. Water sampling in Hazelgrove and Skelton Beck in addition to sea water sampling has been requested. This might ensure that children playing in these water courses are not exposed to polluted water. Fishermen also use the beck. Surfers who are in the sea the whole year round should also be given protection. Good news for a sea of a different nature. Sea View Nursing home is scheduled for reopening, bringing this residential care home facility back into use. Unfortunately the oldest care home in the town, built in 1872 by Henry Pease, is scheduled for closure. Now known as Saltburn House, this CIU building will cease to operate under current arrangements. Attempts are being made to retain the

building for commercial use. Work on the Cliff Lift has been delayed with the planning application being withdrawn pending further information being provided by heritage sages. Car parking restriction is still an issue. After some rational debate a motion to withdraw radical parking proposals was rejected at a full Council meeting. The town now awaits the deliberations over the hundreds of emails and hundreds of individual letters submitted to the Council. The formal Traffic Control Order anticipated last summer, last December, this January, this month, may not appear until the March hare is off running. One positive outcome of the Council debate is that any proposals will now go through the Cabinet and Executive Management Team. Decisions will then be subject to the Scrutiny system. This would change the normal route where delegated powers are given under the TCO system to the Portfolio holder for Highways, and where the judicial system was the only fall back in the event of failure to agree. The next Saltburn Neighbourhood Action Partnership meeting is at the Library on Wednesday, 20th February at 6pm. Welfare Reform will be one of the topics on the agenda this year starting with Council Tax support and Housing Benefit changes. Councillors will be in the Library on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month from 11am until noon. All residents are welcome to attend. An appointment is not required.

Councillors’ Column

Philip Thomson

Real Meals caters for every kind of do: Real Meals caters for every kind of do: Real Meals caters for every kind of do: Real Meals caters for every kind of do: Quiches for your Buffet, Burgers for your Barbie... Quiches for your Buffet, Burgers for your Barbie... Quiches for your Buffet, Burgers for your Barbie... Quiches for your Buffet, Burgers for your Barbie...

And a special Meal for Valentine’s DayAnd a special Meal for Valentine’s DayAnd a special Meal for Valentine’s DayAnd a special Meal for Valentine’s Day————please contact us for details. please contact us for details. please contact us for details. please contact us for details.

(And don’t forget Jennie Finch’s (And don’t forget Jennie Finch’s (And don’t forget Jennie Finch’s (And don’t forget Jennie Finch’s Book Signing on Sunday, 17th February)Book Signing on Sunday, 17th February)Book Signing on Sunday, 17th February)Book Signing on Sunday, 17th February)


8 8


9

This catalogue of events does not pretend to be fully comprehensive but if you would like something to be included next month then email Richard, the compiler, on [email protected] before Friday, 15th February.

What’s On in Saltburn during February

Date Event Venue

Friday 1st U3A Coffee Morning Community Hall

Friday 1st 8pm £15.00

Live Music at The Spa Dodgy with Chris Helme

The Spa

Friday 1st 7.30pm

The Victoria presents The Sound of Silence

The Victoria

Saturday2nd Saltburn Flea Market Community Theatre

Saturday 2nd Brass Neck Comedy Club Community Theatre

Saturday 2nd 1—4 pm

Roots in the Reading Room The Reading Room

Saturday 2nd Green Door Music Club The Cons Club

Thursday 7th 6.30 pm screening 7.00pm

Film Club presents The Bourne Legacy

Community Theatre

Friday 8th 6.30pm start 7.30pm

Saltburn Jazz Club presents Guitar Extravaganza

Community Hall

Saturday 9th Open 2pm start 2.30pm

Saltburn Arts present The Worm that Squirmed

Community Theatre

Saturday 9th Green Door Music Club The Cons Club

Sunday 10th Open 10am close 3pm

For the Love of Vintage Fair Community Hall

Saturday 16th Open 6.45 start 7.30pm

Saltburn Arts present Counterfeit Sixties

Community Theatre

Saturday 16th Green Door Music Club The Cons Club

Thursday 21st 6.30pm screening 7pm

Film Club presents Ruby Sparks

Community Theatre

Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th Contact church for details

Creative Art Retreat Emmanuel Church

Saturday 23rd Charity Table Top Community Hall

Saturday 23rd Green Door Music Club The Cons Club

Sunday 24th Open 7pm start 7.30pm

Saltburn Arts present Bandfest Under 21s

Community Theatre


10 10

The winners of this month’s Pride of Saltburn Award are Christina and Steve Bates. They were nominated by their friend and neighbour Brenda Desborough, who said about them “I would like to nominate my good friends Christina and Steve Bates (Stevie Baby) to be The Pride of Saltburn for the amount of pleasure they give to everybody in Saltburn each Christmas with their wonderful tree and garden decorations. It takes an enormous amount of work and patience to do these and I know people drive especially down Hilda Place just to see them. A token of thanks from everybody would be lovely. Not only for the pleasure they give in the Christmas decorations I could also add that they have both been through extremely difficult times over the past five years: Steve suffering a cardiac arrest and being in intensive care and all that followed from that. As if that was not enough he had a very bad accident a few years later ending up in intensive care again in Leeds. Once again they were both under pressure with Christina spending every day, both times, in hospital as long as Steve was there. Perseverance coupled with Christina’s determination to do her absolute best to get Steve back to health is another reason why she deserves flowers together with the pleasure so many people do get from their wonderful Christmas decorations.” Thank you Steve and Christina, 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

Don’t Forget Valentine’s Day: Thursday, 14th February


11

Saltburn’s Open Acoustic Platform is held in Saltburn’s Cons Club every Friday night. It has been running for about four years and has been going from strength to strength. Last year the room in which SOAP is held received a complete refit with a new custom built stage. Everyone is welcome to the Cons Club on SOAP nights, not just club members. SOAP starts at about 8:30pm and is on until 11:00pm. In his recent book The Uke of Wallington: one man and his ukulele around Britain, Mark Wallington writes about his musical adventures when he visited Open Mic Nights around Great Britain during a 42 day period. Mark travelled the wrong way (into the wind) along the Cleveland Way via Whitby, Staithes, Loftus and Skinningrove before finally arriving in Saltburn, where Mark took his ukulele along to SOAP. Mark received an enthusiastic welcome at SOAP and was charmed by the generosity of spirit in our town. He was impressed by the mixture of ages of the acts and audience and the positive effect it had. He wondered if regular open mic nights like SOAP’s would contribute towards world harmony. Mark obviously had a wonderful night at SOAP and wrote in his book “Everyone involved with SOAP was doing it for the love of it, and you feel the positive effect it

had. Coming into a town on a coast path in minstrel mode I knew I had a romanticised view of things, but in Saltburn I began to wonder whether a regular open mic night session might just be able to contribute to world peace and harmony. Disaffected youths the world over might behave differently if they had an open mic in their neighbourhood. Inner city strive cured overnight. Doctors would prescribe an open mic to people with depression. Lottery funded grants would be awarded for equipment. Westminster could have one every Wednesday night, so as not to clash with the one on a Tuesday at the UN. The message would be clear: don’t bottle up that stress; don’t take an automatic weapon into your supermarket to release tension; get yourself down Open Mic. Tonight!” Teesside Steve always films the performers at SOAP, so you can catch Mark’s performance at SOAP for yourself on YouTube. Martin Nesbitt has kept in touch with the author after his visit and Mark said that Saltburn’s SOAP night was the best Open mic night in the North East. “Mark Wallington is a kind of Egon Ronay of the open mic world” said Martin Nesbitt. Mark’s book was published in 2012 by the AA and costs £8.99.

Heather Lofthouse

Cons Club SOAP Night gets great mention in new book

Sue Ryder news

On Saturday, 22nd December our Town Crier made a spectacular job of pulling the winning ticket out of the bag for the luxury Marks & Spencer Hamper that we were raffling in the Shop, which was worth £60. A total of 250 tickets had been sold all to local people and the lucky winner was Cindy Kurlew of Saltburn. Whilst Sharon (the Town Crier) was still in the shop a phone call was made to Cindy and her husband came down to collect the prize and have a photo taken receiving the hamper. Thank you to everybody that bought a ticket and supported our ongoing fund raising efforts and also to our customers and donors that supply our shop with much needed donations. We are short of clothing at the moment if anybody has any to spare...... Thank you, Carol.

THE SPA HOTEL PRESENTS

A GRAND CHARITY EVENING

On Saturday, 9th February 2013 In aid of the Holistic Cancer Care Centre at

The James Cook University hospital Registered charity number 1056061

A great Disco night presented by DELS DISCO

60s music up to present date. Pick your era and

dress like you did back then. Prizes for Best dressed. Raffle and tombola

Tickets on sale from Saltburn Health food shop and the Spa Hotel

Price £10.00 each to include a pie and pea supper

Doors open 7 00 pm

Please purchase tickets early to avoid disappointment. If you are unable to attend on the night but would

like to support this event donations can be made at the ticket venues or sent direct to the

Holistic Cancer Care Centre


12 12

Saltburn in Bloom Project Update 2013 Saltburn in Bloom volunteers are nearing completion of the latest project of creating interpretation boards for significant parts of the town and environs. Booklets giving further information will be ready soon. The booklets will be

available from the library and an announcement will be made as soon as they are in. There will be a display of books of local interest and information on

Saltburn when the booklet is launched. If you require further information on Saltburn in Bloom activities,

please see our notice board in the library, it was specially designed for us by Eddie Guy of SignArt.

Our AGM will be held in the library on Thursday, 14th February at 5pm. If you are interested in joining our committee or gardening team,

please contact 624169 or email [email protected]

Saltburn’s top-hatted founder Henry Pease is now having his story told thanks to an interpretation board, which has been put up near his controversial steel statue off Marine Parade. The board, which has been funded through a grant paid to Saltburn in Bloom, was unveiled by Redcar and Cleveland Mayor Councillor Denise Bunn on 17th December. It is the first of eight similar panels to be put up by the committee to tell locals and visitors about features of the resort. They include the railway line opened to the town in 1861 and marked in 2011 by the 150th ‘birthday’ celebrations. Other boards will be about features including flora at the top of the cliff-lift. Councillor Stuart Smith, of Saltburn, thanked members of a Saltburn in Bloom working party, which has organised the funding and wording of the panels. The EU’s Leader small-scale enhancement project is paying for the panels. Working-party members thanked were Sue Featherstone, of Saltburn Allotment Association, who coordinated the grant, Miranda Kelly, Vicky Haire, of Groundwork UK, Tony Lynn, local historian, and Jennie Finch. A second panel, which has been erected near the Pease board, is about the CIU convalescent home known as Saltburn House, across the road from the rose arbour garden where the first two boards are sited. Among snippets of information given are the fact that the convalescent home building had a tower above the clock feature until the 1960s when a gale blew it off. Councillor Smith, who is vice chairman of Saltburn in

Bloom, said the 10ft steel statue of Henry Pease was a “fine piece of art.” It was recalled that when it was originally put up by the Saltburn Improvement Company, through the Government scheme Rural Challenge about 10 years ago, it was the subject of controversy in Saltburn. Built at a cost of £10,000, one parish councillor suggested it should be dumped miles out in the North Sea. The late Brian Kennedy called it ‘execrable’ but over the years many people have grown fond of it. “It has an eccentric Saltburn charm about it,” said one person.

Board tells visitors of Saltburn’s founder

Councillor Denise Bunn, Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland, with locals after she unveiled an interpretation board about

Henry Pease, near his £10,000 steel statue off Marine Parade.


13

James Arthur calendar Roy Myers of The Vic, Saltburn has pulled out all the stops to produce a calendar marking the unique event when James Arthur retuned to Saltburn a few days before winning the X Factor. All proceeds are going to local charity The Doorways Youth Project offering non judgmental support and development to young people throughout East Cleveland. Roy joined forces with local commercial print specialists Thurston Printers and local freelance photographer Kirstie Handley who wanted to use her exclusive images from inside the Vic to assist The Doorways Youth Project. The X Factor Saltburn Calendar will be available to buy in The Vic Saltburn and The Doorways Youth Project - while stocks last.

Saltburn Community Hall, Albion Terrace Tuesdays at 7.00pm. Telephone Stevie on

01642 474920

Call Estelle on 07887525234 or visit...

Get a slice of the Ballroom magic with this partner free

Latin and Ballroom dance fitness class

Spirals

Ditch the workout & join the party! with this high energy

dance fitness class

A low impact Yoga, Pilates & Ballet inspired fitness class

A crazy cool Zumba® dance fitness club for

kids aged 5-16

Shake up your routine and groove at your own pace with this low impact, easy to follow version of the

Zumba® Fitness Class


14 14

Well, the Christmas gig has been and gone and a merry time was had by all thanks to two great bands in Doc Brown and The Groovecats supported by Skinny Blues. A real party atmosphere ensued. Thanks also go to the Spa Hotel for a fine buffet provided by the Club for the audience, very tasty too! During January we have had two gigs, the first being a fundraising/charity gig with 9 acts playing for no fee and a week later a regular gig with the return of The Emma Wilson Band and Tom Attah, reviews in the next issue of Talk of the Town. On Friday, 15th February we welcome the top Blues trio Ramon Goose, “Cream of the UK’s emerging blues stars” says BBC Radio Suffolk. Guitar playing at its best! The support is Gary Grainger voted independent Blues Broadcaster of the Year 2012 with his Blues Show on Bishop FM (Sunday 6pm to 8pm). Well worth listening to. Gary is a gifted blues musician as well. Tickets £10 from Whistlestop Wines and wegottickets.com. BREAKING NEWS: 2013 has got off to an excellent start for the Club thanks to Glenn Evans of Saltburn Car Centre who has agreed to be the Club’s major sponsor. We look forward to a long and mutually rewarding relationship. I am very honoured that a local business is doing its bit to keep R and B music alive in our wonderful musical town! Don’t forget you can find us on Facebook and at www.saltburnbluesclub.co.uk.

SALTBURN BLUES CLUB

Harry


15

Also, Joinery

Work Undertaken

Call Liz on: 01287 281148 Mobile: 07834 022289

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.liziesdecorating.co.uk

SALTBURN CRICKET CLUB Marske Mill Lane, Tel 01287-622761

Saturday 23rd February

We are pleased to welcome

“THE FALLEN” TICKETS £4

WEDS 6th & 20th February

BINGO—all welcome

Saturday 9th March

...playing your faves from the 60s, 70s, & 80s...

“H-3-O” (Postponed from snowy January)

TICKETS £4

Club available for your functions – Contact us for available dates

Contact Club for details & tickets

Facebook saltburncricketbowlsandtennis socialclub

www.communigate.co.uk/ne/saltburncbtc

Need a website for your Club, Society or Need a website for your Club, Society or Need a website for your Club, Society or Need a website for your Club, Society or

Business?Business?Business?Business?

Small or Large, Brochure or eSmall or Large, Brochure or eSmall or Large, Brochure or eSmall or Large, Brochure or e----commercecommercecommercecommerce

All your web design needs catered for:All your web design needs catered for:All your web design needs catered for:All your web design needs catered for:

Database design also catered for:Database design also catered for:Database design also catered for:Database design also catered for:

Then contact Anne Henderson Then contact Anne Henderson Then contact Anne Henderson Then contact Anne Henderson

for an informal chat on for an informal chat on for an informal chat on for an informal chat on 07835 08571907835 08571907835 08571907835 085719 or or or or email [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Website: www.annescomputingdesigns.co.ukWebsite: www.annescomputingdesigns.co.ukWebsite: www.annescomputingdesigns.co.ukWebsite: www.annescomputingdesigns.co.uk

Award winning web designerAward winning web designerAward winning web designerAward winning web designer

bringing the world to you!bringing the world to you!bringing the world to you!bringing the world to you!

13


16 16


17

Although it seems Christmas is now just a distant memory, for many people the expense of Christmas can impact well into the New Year and beyond. Here at Redcar & Cleveland Citizens Advice Bureau we are seeing a worrying increase in the number of serious debt cases relating to payday loans. The Citizens Advice service nationally has seen a ten-fold increase in clients with payday loan debt in the last four years and Redcar & Cleveland CAB is no exception. For too many people payday loans are a fast but dangerous way to borrow money. Quick cash payouts can have damaging long-term consequences. Our Bureau has seen problems relating to payday loans rise and we’re worried that this will only increase as more people feel the squeeze. We strongly urge anyone experiencing difficulties with a payday loan or any other debt to visit the Bureau and get advice. We can advise you on which debts to prioritise and your right to stop payday lenders taking money straight out of your bank account, as well as helping negotiate an affordable repayment plan with the lender on your behalf. We can also advise you on all options available for dealing with your debts and refer you to one of our Debt Specialists if applicable. We would also advise anyone experiencing difficulties with illegal money lending (loan sharks) to contact the Illegal Money Lending Team on 0300 555 2222 – you do not need to give any details and all information is

confidential.

Anyone seeking advice can call into one of our advice sessions 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

Saltburn’s comedy fans are in for a treat, when Brass Neck Comedy Club’s brand new season gets off to a barnstorming start with Rhod Gilbert’s TV sidekick Lloyd Langford & Comedy Store headliner Jeff Innocent leading the way at Saltburn Community Theatre on Saturday, 2nd February. Carmel Ramsay of Saltburn-based promoters All or Nothing said: “We’ve only gone and bagged another cracking Saturday night line-up for our brand new season here! “You’ll know Welsh wonder Lloyd Langford from top telly including Ask Rhod Gilbert and Russell Howard’s Good News. “And don’t miss wonderful cockney geezer and circuit legend Jeff Innocent. Jeff’s a favourite headliner at the legendary Comedy Store and every other top comedy club up and down the land, so we’re chuffed to bits to bring him to Saltburn. “We reckon that people agree that live comedy is ten times better than watching it on telly, especially in a gorgeous venue like Saltburn Theatre. And, with top support from Fern Brady and the brilliant Danny McLoughlin as MC, we’re looking forward to another great night here.”

Brass Neck Comedy Club at Saltburn Community Theatre on Saturday, 2nd February stars Lloyd Langford, Jeff Innocent, Fern Brady & Danny McLoughlin as MC. Tickets: £8 early bird, or £12 in the week leading up to the show. Available from Saltburn Health Foods and www.saltburnarts.co.uk. Tickets are also selling fast for Brass Neck on Saturday, 2nd March.

For more info, visit www.tenfeettall.co.uk/comedy.

Saltburn’s Saturday Night Giggles! Brass Neck returns for brand new comedy season


18 18


19

Brian Hudson Decorator

Interior and Exterior 30 years experience

Free estimates

01287 624011

Brief News Mortuary: An unnamed businessman has bought the council’s former mortuary opposite the Ship Inn. His plans are unknown, but he is reported to have said he wants to work with the community group which has been trying to buy it for community use. Windsor’s Bar: This has reopened after about a year out of use. It is not known who is behind the business. Donkey Field: A council bulldozer dug us an area for use as a volley-ball pitch, but work was stopped when the Friends of the Valley heard of the action and complained.

Godfather of soul Geno

Washington Live in Saltburn!

Music legend Geno Washington will be bringing the house down this Easter Saturday when he plays a very special one off gig at The Spa Hotel in Saltburn. Enjoying legendary status on the Soul, Blues, R&B and Northern Soul scenes today due to his unsurpassable reputation as a live performer, he will be playing with his band the Yo Yo’s. A contemporary of Alexis Corner, The Small Faces, Georgie Fame and Jimi Hendrix – all of whom supported him back in the day - he is as electrifying on stage today as he ever was, his magnetic stage presence and his love of performance making him an inspiration and a joy to behold. A member of the American Air Force stationed here in the 60s, he went on to have two of the biggest selling U.K. albums of the decade with his famous Ram Jam Band. Amazingly both of these were live albums. ‘Hand Clappin’ Foot Stompin’ Funky Butt Live’ (recently re-recorded as ‘It’s Geno Time!’) was in the U.K. album charts for 48 out of 52 weeks in 1966. Incredibly, only ‘The Sound of Music’ and ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ sold more copies in the UK that year… a fact that is a clear testament to Geno’s awesome ability as a live performer who connects with his audience. Tickets for the show on Saturday 30 March are on sale now priced £16.50 from the Spa Hotel on 01287 622 544 or from Saltburn Health Foods.


20 20

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 February for babies

and newcomers to the town

“Full life” for Phyllis Taylor, 98

A 98-year-old member of the Saltburn community has died after a full life. That was a comment made by the Rev Bill Middlemiss, of Guisborough, a retired Methodist minister, while conducting the funeral service for Phyllis at Teesside Crematorium on 16th January. Friends gathered to remember a lovely, interested lady who attended Saturday morning coffee mornings at Saltburn’s Methodist Hall until a few weeks ago. She had lived at Cloneen residential care home, Albion Terrace, for the past three years after living at the same house in Victoria Road, Saltburn, all her life. Phyllis’s father built the house, which was bombed during the 1939-45 war (no member of the family was in it at the time). Born in Middlesbrough, she was educated at the Towers School in the town centre and worked as a secretary at ICI’s Wilton chemical complex. She was active socially and in sporting circles in Saltburn, being a keen member of Saltburn Golf Club. Phyllis’s husband Stanley Taylor, an engineer, predeceased her.

Valley Players The Valley Players have now been in existence for two years and given theatrical experience to over thirty young people in Saltburn and East Cleveland. We are currently in rehearsal for both an adult and a youth entry for Richmond one act play festival and, weather permitting, will be performing the two plays in Richmond on February 7th - all support welcome for what promises to be an exciting evening in the lovely Georgian theatre. Those of you unwilling to brave the snow and ice (and who can blame you!) will be able to see both plays during the Saltburn drama festival in March. I am, as always, astonished and humbled by the commitment of our young people and by the support we have been given by the local community.

Djenane

What do the Yarnstormers

plan this year?

A national journalist has visited Saltburn to try to uncover who are the mystery knitters, who call themselves the ‘yarnstormers.’ Kathryn Knight wrote in the Mail on Sunday’s YOU magazine in January a detailed account of the knitters’ work over the past 18 months. But she didn’t uncover who they are. The four-page spread included interesting photographs of the Olympic sports figures on the pier, Prince Harry at the top of the cliff-lift, plus a woolly Christmas cook under the Windsor Road tree. “Whatever, one wonders, can the Yarnstormers have planned for 2013? Tony Lynn, the Saltburn historian, doesn’t know, but it amuses him to think of them plotting in secret,” concluded Kathryn Knight. “I like to think of a group of ladies, knitting away somewhere and giggling like mad,” said Tony. Tony’s remark could be echoed by many people in Saltburn.


21

The Rotary Club of Saltburn have been very busy keeping the people of Saltburn entertained and well fed in the run up to Christmas. On Sunday, 16th December, the club’s annual carol service around Saltburn Town Christmas Tree took place led by the excellent Marske Silver Band. Although the frost was bitter, some fifty well wrapped citizens came and sang with warm gusto. Passing pedestrians and a police patrol joined in to swell the chorus and the enchanted spirit of Christmas. After the band left, President David Tabner led the thirsty singers to a nearby family community club where he had provided a splendid buffet. On Tuesday, 18th December, the Rotary Club held their Christmas Charity Dinner Dance at Saltburn Golf Club. One hundred of the club’s members, family and friends enjoyed a superb carvery festive dinner and afterwards danced the night away to Teesside Show Band. The very versatile band of fourteen musicians and singers gave wonderful entertainment with music from the fifties through to modern times. One of the many highlights of the band, was a look alike Amy Winehouse tribute singer, who won huge appreciation. A raffle was held which raised £177. In total, after expenses, more than £650 was raised for the club’s many local charitable causes. The Rotary Club’s thanks go to all involved, especially The Teesside Show Band and Saltburn Golf Club and staff. The Rotary Club of Saltburn are happy to meet anyone who is interested in learning more about their organization and activities or keen to join them. The Club is open to men and women of all cultures and occupations. The Saltburn Club’s area is from Marske to Loftus. There are also Rotary Clubs in Redcar, Guisborough and Whitby. If anyone reading this would like know about Saltburn Club or Rotary in general, please email the writer at [email protected] or write a note c/o Saltburn Golf Club, where the club usually meet every Wednesday night. At their last open meeting in January the Rotary Club of Saltburn agreed to give Emmanuel Church £439 towards their Shelter Box Appeal. The church was reported to have so far raised a magnificent £1,331 and closed the appeal, being £439 short of raising sufficient funds to pay for three shelter boxes. The club discussed this and agreed to make up the difference to enable the church to pay for an extra box. Each large, green Shelter Box is tailored to a disaster but typically contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, groundsheets, water storage and filtration equipment, cooking utensils, a basic tool kit, a children’s activity pack and other vital items. Shelter Box is a charity partnered by Rotary International, so the club were happy to help this very worthwhile appeal by the church. The three boxes paid for by the church appeal will be stored in one of the many strategic holding locations around the world, ready to be dispatched at a moment’s notice to any disaster hit area, providing instant much needed practical help for

those in need. Saltburn can be proud of giving this aid so generously. At the same Rotary meeting it was also agreed to pay Emmanuel Church a final contribution of £300, of the

club’s pledge of £1,000, to the church’s ECHO appeal, which was set up a few years ago to pay for the construction of the new church hall. This donation may be timely to help with the sad recent vandalism inflicted on the new hall. A Donation of £200 was also paid to Saltburn Community and Arts Association towards the running costs of the ‘Saltburn School’ community project. Other business agreed was to name the charities to benefit from this year’s ‘Grand Ol’ Oprey’, the Easter week festival of music produced by Rotary Club of Saltburn. North Air Ambulance, Dr Barnardos, Saltburn Friends of the Valley and Saltburn Community and Arts Association will each be given the receipts of one night of the festival, which could be over £1,000 each depending on tickets sold. The Grand Ol’ Oprey will this year start on Sunday, 31st March and the final night will be Gene Jarrard’s Big Band on Thursday, 4th April. Tickets will be available from Saltburn Theatre Box office and Saltburn Arts website at £8. If you think you have something to contribute to the aims and objects of Rotary why not call our Secretary on 07838 757525.

Mike Sellars

Fun, Food and Fundraising by Saltburn Rotary Club and

donations to Church Appeals for Shelter Box and ECHO

PGF Plumbing & Heating Paul Briggs

• Gas Safe registered • All Plumbing Work undertaken • Boiler Servicing and Boiler Upgrades • Free Estimates • Over 11 Years Experience • 24 Hour Callout

Tel: 07981 026706 Saltburn-by-the-Sea


22 22

Wednesday 6th February David Tarn a well known professional photographer shows us his approach to traditional and creative landscape photography. Wednesday 13th February the Moore Trophy competition is held, 10 minute AV presentations by members. Wednesday 20th February Peter Leeming a professional mountaineer and photographer talks about his approach to photography in the mountains including the Andes and Karakoram. Wednesday 27th February The results of the NY&SDPA inter-club competition will be shown.

A practical evening on portraiture will be held on Monday 18th February, this meeting is being held in a professional studio locally with paid models and there will be a small charge, booking is essential details available from the contacts below. Meetings are held in the upstairs hall, Saltburn Milton Street Methodist Church at 7.30 pm. Visitors are welcome to any of our meetings, there will be a small charge. For mor e i n f o r ma t i on v i s i t ou r web s i t e www.saltburnphotographicsociety.co.uk or contact Tom Ridley 01287 624076 or Tony Lynn 01287 622519.

Saltburn Photographic Society

Saltburn author Jennie Finch has just published the second book in her series of “Alex Hastings” novels. The new thriller, entitled “The Drowners” takes up the story six weeks after the end of the first book, “Death of the Elver Man”. Set in the beautiful but sinister Somerset Levels, “The Drowners” follow Alex and her friends as they try to untangle a series of deaths out on the Avalon Marsh, murders accompanied by flickering lights and eerie music. “The Drowners” is available to order from all bookshops and on-line at Amazon and costs £6.99. An e-book will be released in the next few weeks, in all

available formats. To celebrate the release, Jennie will be at a special event, hosted by Real Meals on Milton Street, on Sunday, 17th February. As well as signing copies of her books, both Jennie and Tim Beswick will read from their novels. Jennie will also have copies of both books available to purchase for those reluctant to use Amazon at the present time! The signing will last from 2 – 4pm and there will be a “Real Meals” welcome for all, with hot and cold drinks, cakes and their special edition dark chocolate and plum muffins – a truly grown-up and delicious treat.

Jennie Finch’s new novel at Real Meals

What does 2013 hold for James Arthur? And will he be able to cope with his new found fame? Yes, he most definitely will be able to cope especially as he has already managed admirably over the last few months. I’ll also be extremely surprised if James does not soon become an international star. Headlines from the Official Charts Company said James Arthur was on course for Number 1 with the fastest-selling single of 2012, and they were right. Now I can see him ‘conquering’ America, Europe and the world. I hope I’ll be writing a review of just what he has achieved at the end of 2013 because it will be fantastic. My prediction is that he will have worked with a great number of the biggest names in the business and he will be up there with them. When I first heard James sing in 2008 my reaction was to immediately offer him a gig which is when he sang

at Pinchinthorpe Hall. The videos from that gig are on Youtube. I checked out his Myspace page (he went under the name of Cue The Drama then) and there was a recording of a Radio DJ saying...“Look out for this guy, he is going to be a big name!” Well, he was certainly right. One thing that you could not help but notice is how all the top artists when asked who they thought should win X Factor did not hesitate to say James. I’m sure James will not forgot his musician friends like John McGough, Jamie Graham, Jez Taylor, Josh Brown and many more. Chances are that as James becomes more and more established in the music world he will be able to open

doors for these other local musicians and so hopefully, they too will hit the big time.

Rosie Potter See the James Arthur Calendar on sale at The Victoria advertised on page 13.

What might 2013 hold for James Arthur?


23

Writing is not only something you do, it’s what you create

that matters most

Learn more about writing a novel BOOK EARLY and join us for the Northern Writers’ Workshop in York City Centre at the York Marriott Hotel on Friday, 22nd – 24th March 2013. With best selling authors Editor Jay Dixon, Jane Lovering, Jean Fullerton, Liz Harris, Sarah Mallory and many more. Get your brochure and booking form from [email protected] or from the website www.itslinhere.wordpress.com. This promises to be a great weekend – don’t miss it!

Retired men sing

Opera singer Jeanette Wainwright, at right, leads members of Saltburn and District Retired Men’s Forum, in a song.

Speaker Barbara Webster, of Redcar and Cleveland’s enterprise team, is at left.

Singing as well as talking was on the ‘double’ programme at Saltburn and District Retired Men’s Forum meeting on Monday, 21st January when Saltburn-based opera singer and teacher Jeanette Wainwright staged a mini recruiting exercise. After Barbara Webster, of Redcar and Cleveland Council’s enterprise team had spoken of their work, Jeanette led the 15 members present in a song called ‘The Wild Mountain Thyme’. Most joined in and the singer appealed to any interested to join her new weekly class of harmony singing. “This is being held at lunchtimes on Mondays at Saltburn’s community hall, Windsor Road, and costs £6 for the one-hour session. We need a few more men and I’m hoping some forum members will come along after their weekly meeting,” said Jeanette. She can be contacted on 01287-624946. How talented were the men she heard? “I believe everyone can sing if they try. I was pleased at the response to my trial song,” said Jeanette, who leads the popular singalong One Hundred Voices at Saltburn’s Emmanuel Church every December.

Time and Tide on Saltburn Beach Prehistory ****

A rugged cliff with iron stone seams frowned o’er a sullen sea. Red in tooth and claw, a dinosaur, trod fronds of giant ferns, sinking in soil to become a coal-black seam. Devils toenails bobbed about in ancient shallow seas, sealed in soft sediments as solid fossils Grunting savages drove beasts off cliffs, and feasted on the beach. Flint arrow heads a’midst a midden of cracked-open bones.

History **** A shivering soldier scanned the seas for invaders’ tiered triremes; he dropped a coin, a shard of pot, a single leather sandal. Uncompromising waves washed his brief fort far, far away; no-one can say where his bones lay, silently, for eternity. Later, longboats grated ashore with bearded, menacing men bequeathing blond genes, and strange Norse names to places. Bede brought glad tidings: Gospel scripts unto a savage race. Monks multi-coloured manuscripts preserved their patient art. Spanish wooing waned in vain; alas hurricanes and hidden reefs submerged his battered crafts. Smugglers clutching rum and tea eluded excise men. Black jet symbolised of a widow’s regal grief. The sucking tongue of sea swell licked the sheer cliffs exposing fossil forms of giant lizards’ claws and lodestones sandwiched in the strata. With local coal and railways ‘Ironopolis’ was born.

Time Present **** Gulls and gannets soar and swoop from narrow lofty ledges; Lopsided crabs shuffle past strange pentapointed fish. Growling breakers grind jagged rocks to polished marbled eggs. Waves slap and lap, stone-skimming children shriek, whilst slippery seals bestride the frothing breakers Lofty dragons and clowns billow on thin taut strings. In softly rippling silicon letters promise ‘I love you forever’ Mighty moated castles prepare to thwart the ripping tide, but Neptune’s waves destroy, conceal, and then reveal time’s secrets, revealing iron and coal, saural bone, and coins of Mighty Caesar.

Time Future **** All messages erased; all pebbles graded; all valiant castles razed, scouring seatides overcome man’s puny efforts. Pulsating Gaia! You offer glimpses of ancient days. Our too-briefly conscious minds share the mysteries of time and tide.

William Kelly, January 8th 2013n

email: [email protected] mobile: 07563 215342

We are available to walk your dog any weekday (Monday-Friday) from 4pm-8:00pm. And for weekends 11:00am and onwards. Times, prices and any other concerns will be discussed when you contact us through the phone or email.

We are both year ten students of Huntcliff school. We’re very experienced with taking care of dogs .

We are comfortable and confident with all dogs that are friendly and well behaved, or ones that are very hard to handle.


24 24

Saltburn Skatepark

We’ve started the year as we mean to go on and the first grant application has been submitted! Fingers crossed that we are successful. The date of our next meeting is Tuesday, 5th February at Saltburn learning campus at 6.00pm. Also if you are aged 18 and under and want to have your say on a skatepark facility in Saltburn or events and have any fundraising ideas, get in touch as we are going to start up a youth membership scheme. This would mean you have meetings separately and someone reports back to the group and we will try to put in place what you’ve asked for. A lot of support has come from the youth of the town so we want your involvement! Get in touch ASAP and we’ll get this group up and running. Email [email protected]. We want more of you (over 18s) to attend the meetings so we’re asking what time and day is best for you to be able to attend? Again email us and let us know. The banner is under way and hopefully will be unveiled at the first event of the year! Roll on spring. Also some of you have asked if minutes etc are available. Well, from January yes, they are. Saltburn library has a folder and you can access this; just ask the staff.

Kerry Paterson and Karl Frampton, Saltburn Skate Park Group

EASY PC & MUSIC

NEW & USED COMPUTERS, LAPTOPS GUITARS & ACCESSORIES

REPAIRS AND UPGRADES FROM £25.00

HOME VISITS OR BRING YOUR PC TO THE SHOP GUITAR STANDS, STRINGS, PLECS, TUNERS,

MICROPHONES, MIC STANDS, LEADS ETC.

2 DUNDAS STREET WEST, SALTBURN Shop Tel: 01287 626997

Rosie (Music) Mob: 07734 871055 Di (Computers) Mob: 07930 387044

We pay cash for broken laptops

less than 5 years old

1st Saltburn Scout Group Happy New Year from 1st Saltburn Scout Group. New Year –New Things – especially at 1st Saltburn. We have a new Group Scout Leader – John G. Hannah – who comes to us in our hour of need. We have had some problems and John has kindly agreed to be our Leader for the immediate future. Simon Bishop is our Beaver Scout Leader, ably supported by enthusiastic Kerry Paterson, with active help from Karen Higgins and an Explorer Scout Young Leader. At this moment we do not have a Cub Scout Leader but John, ably assisted by Gavin Davis, Andrew Dales and the Explorer Scout Young Leaders is keeping our young people enthused. Adrian Hodgson is our encouraging Assistant Scout Leader, but he needs help for their activities to run effectively and safely. We are about to start a recruitment strategy to attract Leaders for the Group as well as welcoming parents to become involved in ensuring our sections are exciting and interesting for our young people. We are also hoping to attract young people, particularly aged 10 to 14 years to ensure our Scout Section continues to thrive. The Group Executive keenly lead by Nash Fraser has plans to improve our building (inside and out); as well as the facilities we provide. We will let you know how we progress matters. If you can offer assistance or are interested John would welcome your enquiries.

John G. Hannah – 07811801627 or [email protected]


25

Burton’s Bangers take on apprentice A brief bit of positive news: thanks in particular to the local support we have received, Burton’s Bangers & Bacon of Brotton, regulars at Saltburn Farmers’ Market as well as offering local deliveries, has been able to take on a new apprentice from 4th January. Many thanks to both Talk of the Town for mentioning us and to all of our customers.

Dave, Burton’s Bangers

Letter to the Editor I read with interest the various comments made in the January Talk of the Town and I think that the Council response is somewhat disingenuous and that the Council are back peddling furiously following the level of response from Saltburn residents against these ill-conceived proposals. Those of us who wrote to the Council Engineering department received a standard response which said “Your email has been received and will be reviewed in accordance with the statutory procedure. If you have requested a detailed response to your email please note due to the high levels of emails received a response will be sent at a later date.” This is hardly the response to a pre-consultation; the proposals put forward were detailed and extensive and the Council should not attempt to suggest otherwise. As the response stated, this was part of a statutory procedure, not a ‘test the water exercise’. In this context, no further steps should be taken by the Council to progress this, until each and every email submitted ‘in accordance with the statutory procedure’ has been replied to and those residents who have asked questions have received full and proper answers. Never mind “the next round of consultation”, let’s get the first one properly concluded so that the Council doesn’t expose itself to legal challenge. Irrespective of the detail, our Councillors should be able to explain in simple terms the policy reasons why these changes are considered necessary. Does someone think that there is a problem in our town and if so, what research is that based on? Did the policy take into account economic consequences of the proposed changes in the town or is this simply a traffic engineer’s fantasy? In conversations with Council Officers over the last three or more years I was told more than once that an extensive review of parking in Saltburn was taking place. If money has been spent on this for so long, what was the overriding policy objective? This should be such a simple question for our representatives to confirm in these pages, so that everyone understands the underlying goal here. Or is it just a way to try to increase Council revenue? I think that we should be told.

Jon Garvey

Mob: 07739 713474 Tel: 01287 209808

Website: www.homefixcomputers.com

Available Daytime, Evenings and Weekends - Same Price Anytime!

(No Callout Charge - Set Fee Per Job)

Virus/Spyware Removal • Internet Problems Software Diagnostics • Initial Setup

Upgrades • System Crashes • Data Recovery Wireless Networks • New Computer Systems

Mobile In-Home Computer Repair Specialist

STEVE WALKER

BUILDING SERVICES BUILDING ON 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

EXTENSIONS

LOFT CONVERSIONS

PLANS TO COMPLETION

BRICKWORK

PLASTERING

JOINERY WORK

FITTED KITCHENS

uPVC WINDOWS, DOORS AND FASCIAS

BLOCK PAVED DRIVES

ALL BUILDING WORK

HOME 01287 625540

MOBILE 07919 121895

www.stevewalker.org


26 26


27

Live Music at The Spa

~ Sunday 30 March ~

Geno Washington & the Yo Yo’s Still the number 1

60s sole man

Tickets £16.50

______________________________________________

Saltburn Blues Club ~ Friday 15 February ~

Ramon Goose Plus support: Gary Grainger

Doors open 1930.

Tickets £10.00 Contact Harry 07960 935 263

The ‘NEW’ Spa Hotel If you are looking to book a Function in 2013 we have newly refurbished

rooms to suit all occasions.

Our conservatory has just been given a complete make over and

has stunning sea views in a relaxed atmosphere. For something more formal, our dining room seats 50

and is perfect for a private meal or function. If you are looking for a

larger party venue, our main function room has just been fitted

with a purpose built stage and brand new disco lighting. Perfect for

birthday parties, discos, weddings, charity nights and concerts.

Call Jonathan on 07834 601 098 for further information.

Restaurant News.....

Full English Breakfast (available to non-residents)

Daily 07.30 - 09.30

New All Day Menu Monday to Saturday 11.00 - 21.00

Traditional Carvery Every Sunday 12.00 - 16.00

Adult - £6.95 and Child - £3.95 ____________________________________

Wedding Fayre ~ Saturday 16 February ~

If you are planning your big day then our wedding fayre is a must. Come and meet us and some of the best local wedding suppliers

for your 2013/2014 wedding.

The Spa Hotel

More information on Facebook, Twitter and our BRAND NEW website at www.thespahotelsaltburn.co.uk

Ted Mulgrew, formerly of Leven Street Saltburn, sadly passed away in Ireland on the 21st December 2012. He had been ill for sometime. He was well known locally as been one of the founding members of the Saltburn Victorian Footballers, that regularly played on the playing fields that are now occupied by Huntcliff School, and is still very much alive and running to this day. In 2010, despite being wheelchair bound, and having only one and a half legs, he made the long journey from his home in Donegal, North West Ireland, to be with fellow Victorian Footballers for the 25th Anniversary of their founding. He was welcomed by all there, and some of them were surprised by his determination to be at the event of something that was close to his heart. Rugby too was a passion of Ted’s, and he played a large part in the mid 1980s to early 1990s, at both Redcar Rugby Club, and also Acklam, helping to develop youth teams at several age levels that had his determination, and showed no fear on the Rugby field, inspired by the belief that Ted gave them, that they could win. This belief and determination, he also passed on to local teams in parts of Ireland, where he was a coach too. To all that knew him, they will remember a man that was always determined, always a joker, and would lighten a room with some Whitty comment. He was not alone in his passing, but was accompanied by his oldest son Eddie, and his wife Hazel. To all his family and friends he will be sorely missed.

Ted Mulgrew


28 28


29

4 People not Profit

Move your money event 4 People not Profit start 2013 with a very special event as part of their Move your Money week. After the ‘Open your mind’ film night with The Four Horsemen on 21st February the following day they present an event supporting the Move your Money campaign. The event will be on Friday, 22nd of February in the main room of the Marine in Saltburn starting at 8.00pm till late. The event is free entry as ever. The Move your Money campaign sets out with the simple premise that the banks have failed us and something needs to change. The banks won’t change of their own accord and politicians and regulators are too narrowly focused on maintaining the status quo, so we ordinary people must be the agents of change. It is simple: make a positive decision about where to put your money. Banks rely on the deposits of ordinary savers. So when you choose which bank to be where you keep your money, you are choosing between supporting business as usual or taking a simple but powerful step towards a better banking system and a better future. By moving your money you can directly support an ethical and socially useful bank, and send a message about the sort of society and economy you want to see. And one you’d rather not. The campaign follows a highly successful movement in the US which has led to over 10 million people moving their money into local financial institutions - in a single day over 40,000 people moved their accounts. It’s not the first consumer boycott in the UK either. In the 1980s a student led campaign successfully resulted in Barclays pulling out of apartheid South Africa. At this event we have a stellar line up of fantastic talent. Headlining we have Serinette, a stunning group led by the beautiful vocal talents of Louise Radford, who combine indie pop sensibilities to create truly organic original music. In support will be Saltburn Didgeridoo legend Kev Howard bringing some serious didgeridoo beat driven madness of his own stunning exceptional standard. Combined with this will be our resident DJ Marc Fox with his usual mix of funk, soul, breaks and beats and joining him behind the decks will be Brother Bear after his debut set at the last event ripping up the dance floor with his unique mix of electro swing. And there will be VJ wizardry from Da Pigg. This will be a storming event and one not to be missed. So tell all your friends and family and come down and be part of a movement to Move your Money away from the greedy banks which have caused the financial crisis we are all still dealing with now! And most of all bring your dancing shoes and get ready to boogie at Saltburn’s first big party of 2013!

More info www.4peoplenotprofit.co.uk or the facebook group page

www.moveyourmoney.org.uk. See also the article on page 35.

Saltburn-by-the-Sea Garden Flat available for holiday lets.

Less than five minutes walk from the sea and from the train station, shops and local restaurants etc. The property consists of a fully fitted and equipped kitchen, spacious and well furnished

lounge overlooking the garden (which is for your personal use), and a double bed with en-suite bathroom.

WiFi access Prices - £35.00 per night (minimum of two nights)

Contact Mr & Mrs Smith on 01287 623740 (home) Or 07988 838956 (Mr Smith mobile) Or 07877 384977 (Mrs Smith mobile)

Shane Slater Plumbing & Heating

All aspects of domestic plumbing

Tel: 01287 625657 Mobile: 07812 391418

Bathrooms Fires/Fireplaces Showers Boilers Tiling Heating Systems Underfloor Heating Systems


30 30

I was born at the edge. The sea. A beach. A cliff. Woods. The wind. Always the wind. Being small, I kept to the edge. Of the playground. Of the crowd. Watching. Wary. My mother said: ‘Stop staring.’ I didn’t. I found a job which required me to stare. To watch other people. To become them in stories together, sometimes for others. To try to understand. To ask questions. Always questions. Children. Teenagers. Adults. Older folk. Curious people. Sad people. Exhilarating people. I continue to stare . . . and listen. Stories arrive most mornings. Often fully formed. Characters chatter away. Rewind. Say it again – differently. Editing is making it sound better – more authentic. Stories twist and turn. I write like I read. Why the detective? The detective is the ultimate interrogator. The curious dog. There is no cure for curiosity. Mick Fletcher is the outsider. The off-cumdun. Traveller. Rootless – yet he has a sense of place, sense of time. Why the murderer? Over the edge. The ultimate Rubicon. We who haven’t been there can only imagine. I’ve been reading, writing, telling stories to myself, with others and for others for as long as I can remember. I grew up with myths and legends and have never really grown out of them, so it’s not surprising my current writing reflects that. As a drama teacher for nearly thirty years, I have been inventing and developing stories, to explore ideas and events and sometimes to present them through performance, adapting and staging theatre pieces and eventually writing plays with and for young people. Now I’m writing for myself. I’m still curious about the edge of things – those things still unexplained or disturbing. Questions which remain not completely answered – the power a sense of place has over people – how history affects our lives, often without us being aware of it. I was born and brought up in Saltburn. My mother’s family, the Kemballs, owned the bakery at 15 Milton Street. The business was sold in 1975 and my aunt and mother moved to Upleatham Street. I left Saltburn in 1966 to go to University and rarely came back. I worked in lots of different places, before moving to France in 2006. Two years ago I started writing and have had two detective thrillers published: ‘Daughter of the Rose’ set in the Lake District, and ‘A Ripple of Lies’ set in Barrow-in-Furness. The next book for publication in October this year is ‘Some Dance to Forget’, a third Mick Fletcher thriller set in Saltburn and Whitby in the early 80s.

Excerpt from ‘Some Dance to Forget’ They went in two cars. Colin hadn’t focussed on the map which would have warned him where they were going. It didn’t dawn on him until the cars pulled up outside what used to be the children’s home when he was a kid and DI Lazenby set off down the path into the woods. He stood still

at the top. The others turned to see what was holding him up. ‘It’s Fairy Glen isn’t it?’ he said. Lazenby looked at Fletcher before nodding at Colin. ‘Yeh, that’s what the old lady called it.’ Colin walked down towards them. ‘What old lady?’ ‘A Miss Frobisher,’ said Lazenby. Colin remembered the conversation he’d overheard last night. ‘You mean the Miss Frobisher, primary school teacher?’ ‘I believe so.’ ‘Good God. Does she know who the . . .?’ ‘No, she only saw a knee,’ said Lazenby. ‘Thank God for that. She would have recognised her. She taught us all. How is she?’ ‘Fine. Tough old girl. Beautiful handwriting. Insisted on writing the statement herself. Immaculate. Proper sentences and a picture perfect description of everything she saw and did.’ ‘That would be her.’ They continued on down the path. ‘We were all terrified of her,’ he added to no-one in particular. Like the gardens he and Janet had walked in yesterday, the woods this end looked old and weary. They’d shed most of their leaves and looked like ancient grey warriors ready to drop after one last charge. Fairy Glen was smaller than he remembered it. In fact it looked like any other clearing in the woods. Except of course it was cordoned off with blue and white tapes hanging limply in the still cold air. The long couch grass wet their shoes and trouser legs as they made their way to the spot where Brenda’s body had been found. As they stood in silence gazing at the gaping hole, they could hear the faint trickling and bubbling of the stream a few yards away. Colin had been here lots of times as a young boy, hunting and hiding with his friends, playing at outlaws or imagining themselves in the jungles of Malaya. He’d never brought a girl friend down here, but he knew it had been a place where young lovers met. ‘I suppose we’re too early for fairies?’ said Fletcher. ‘You’d never see them anyway,’ growled Irene. ‘You mean too small?’ ‘Nah, too mystical,’ she added. He gave her a sarcastic look.

For more information see www.rick-lee.co.uk. I have also recently started to research and write a semi-autobiographical book about my childhood in Saltburn interwoven with a brief history of my family. My great grandfather arrived at Darlington station, aged 8, in1848, with a label round his neck, which said he was to be picked up by a Mr Taylor and taken to Kirkleatham. I can trace him through the census records as he makes his way from being a servant at Kirkleatham Hall to become a master baker in Saltburn in 1911. I’d appreciate any help from local people with this research or contact with anyone who remembers me or my family. Please email me at [email protected] and I look forward to hearing from you. My books are available from publishers - www.2qt.co.uk, Amazon & Kindle.

At the Edge by Richard Lee


31

Hands On Therapy Clinic Hands On Therapy Clinic Hands On Therapy Clinic 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

PDM

QUALITY PAINTING

AND DECORATING

Specialist in Interior and Exterior work All aspects of the trade Established 1983 • HIGH QUALITY AT

AFFORDABLE PRICES • FRIENDLY SERVICE WITH FREE ESTIMATES • SUPPLY & FIT ALL COVING • GUTTER CLEANING SERVICE

WITH CHERRY PICKER

TEL: 01287 280767 MOB: 01916 450203


32 32

Following a wave of complaints and protests from local residents, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council extended their “pre-consultation” period over proposed parking charges and regulations for Saltburn. The deadline for comments was moved from 2nd January to the 18th and two further opportunities for public consultation were added. The first was on Saturday, 12th January, when the council’s public display caravan was parked in Station Square for six hours and a large number of residents and business people took the opportunity to ask questions and register their views. Local film-maker Craig Hornby attempted to shoot some footage for a documentary he is planning and initially was ordered to stop by council staff who called the police for “back-up”. On arrival, the police officers confirmed Mr Hornby was within his rights as he was peacefully filming public servants in a public area. Once they left, Mr Hornby tried to ask some questions but staff refused to speak to him. It is estimated a further 250 people left responses over the day. The final meeting was arranged for Wednesday, 15th January, 5pm – 7pm in Saltburn library. Once again this was a drop-in style of venue with council staff on hand to answer questions. Local residents had hoped the relevant and responsible councillors might attend this meeting as they have not once been to the town to explain the rationale behind the controversial plans. This was not to be, however. One resident asked staff at the Saturday drop-in why there had been no chance to meet the councillors (not Saltburn’s) and in particular why they had not attended the meeting last Tuesday. He was told they did not want to face a “disrespectful audience”. At the final consultation meeting, Neighbourhood Services Officer Kellie Hopkins demanded Craig Hornby stop filming the event. This was challenged by several members of the public who asked what the difference was between having a press reporter take photographs and Craig filming. Despite protests from the public who asked him to stay, Mr Hornby was accompanied outside the building by two of the four police officers present at the time and was told he could return but not use the camera. He elected to stay outside and interviewed residents leaving the building,

with a very visible police presence at his side. Whilst attempting to report both that incident and the consultation in general, Jennie Finch, a reporter for the Darlington and Stockton Times was informed she would not be permitted to take any photographs inside the building. Ms Hopkins said this was because of “council protocol” that required permission in advance from the Council. “I’ve been covering events for over two years now and this is the first time I’ve ever heard of a ‘protocol’, she said. “I will be following this up with my ward councillors.” The atmosphere at the meeting was very subdued with residents feeling they were receiving formulaic answers from most of the officers present. Several of the Redcar and Cleveland staff repeatedly broke off conversations with residents to attend to something else, making it difficult to sustain any sort of coherent conversation and the feeling in the event was they were more concerned over controlling the process than actually listening and consulting with the public. A number of residents at the meeting also complained they were not being permitted to take notes of answers given to their questions and no recording or responses were allowed. “Some of what they are saying is very technical,” one said. “It’s very hard to remember everything and make sense of it all.” Once all views have been considered the council will then decide whether to abandon the scheme or move forward to a statutory consultation, a move likely to be stoutly resisted by local people.

Saltburn Parking ‘consultation’

Farmer George Michael Blair - known as Michael or Mike - died at Corngrave Farm, Guisborough Road, Saltburn, on Christmas Day, aged 71. It was the farm on which he was born and where he had lived all his life. Michael was educated at Barlborough and Mount St Mary’s schools and took over the family farm aged 19 when his father died suddenly. He was at Leeds university at the time, but immediately left to run the farm. He took over his father’s pedigree Northern dairy shorthorn herd slowing evolving it into Friesians. He married Ann in 1971 and 18 months later their first son Peter was born. He was followed two years and 364 days later by David. Michael enjoyed many pursuits including shooting, hunting and sea-fishing, plus trips to the Smithfield and Royal shows. Family holidays were trips to the Royal

Highland Show with a caravan towed by a well-used Volvo. His middle years followed the mantra of work hard, play harder, regardless of having to do the milking the following morning. He was especially keen on family events including going to point-to-points followed by social gatherings. Michael gave up day-to-day working a few years ago for health reasons and his two sons ran the farm. Michael took care of the paperwork and found contentment in his garden, particularly his greenhouse where copious quantities of tomatoes were grown. He was a parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes, Saltburn, where the packed funeral Mass was held on Tuesday, 8th January. Monsignor Ricardo Morgan celebrated the Mass.

Saltburn farmer dies aged 71


33

Question: What do you get if you cross an amazing charity, with a team of incredible staff and volunteers and plans to make a difference in the lives of hundreds of people in Redcar and Cleveland? Answer: An opportunity for you to make 2013 count! Carers Together was established in 2004 as a carer-led organisation, providing information and support to carers in Redcar and Cleveland, now employing 14 staff, supported by volunteers. As a registered charity and limited company, Carers Together has a Board of Trustees, who are also the charity’s Directors. They are the governing body of the charity and are responsible for ensuring the organisation is well managed, our aims and objectives are met and, above all, that we use the organisation’s assets for the benefits of carers.

As a growing organisation we have an exciting opportunity now available. We are set to expand our Board of Trustees and we hope to bring in people with a range of new skills and experiences to help the organisation continue to move forward. We welcome people from all backgrounds. This is an excellent way for you to share your skills, meet new people and make a real difference to the community of Redcar and Cleveland through this carer-led organisation. If you would like to find out more about being a trustee at Carers Together, please contact the Chief Executive, Julia Bracknall, at [email protected] or on 01642 488977 to come in for an initial informal discussion. There is a recruitment process for trustees, with an application form and an interview. We also take up references and carry out CRB checks for all trustees. We are really looking forward to hearing from you.

Carers Together

A SALTBURN scuba diving club - Cleveland Divers BSAC branch 978 - has been awarded a £10,000 grant from Sports England lottery funds. The funding will be used to buy new equipment to enable the club to keep pace with the increasing number of people from across the region looking to take up the sport. It will also help it extend its current training programme to provide more sophisticated and technical diving and boat handling skills. Cleveland Divers work closely with Redcar and Cleveland sports development team and local youth organisations offering six-week introductory courses throughout the year, with the purpose of promoting the sport to the young and the not so young. It currently has a membership of 35 divers at all levels of qualifications and ages range from 16 to 74. The club supports local school events and charity fundraising events such as Saltburn farmers’ market and the Jim Maiden Boxing Day Dip Memorial Fund, in aid of the RNLI and The Great North Air Ambulance. Members also carry out local and regional marine surveys in collaboration with North East Seasearch and the Marine Conservation Zone programme, helping monitor the quality of the marine life and underwater conditions. Cleveland Divers have also conducted marine archaeological surveys on local wrecks such as the Dimitirs. The club has an active social side which includes non-diving members. After each Monday night pool session, members meet in Saltburn Cricket Club for a chat, refreshments and to

organise the next sea-diving event, such as group holidays within the UK and abroad, and social events such as their popular summer curry night. Club secretary June Coomber said: “The club and its members are delighted with the award. Our members work hard to encourage and support people taking up the sport and the money will help us to reach more people interested in scuba diving. All the club’s instructors are volunteers. Their good work is now being recognised on a national scale.” Cleveland Divers thanked Cleveland Sports Development Team and the British Sub-Aqua Association for their support. If you want to give scuba diving a try, contact the club secretary via Saltburn Leisure Centre. Cleveland Divers would like to show their appreciation by offering a great big ‘Thank You,’ to all those who supported their recent funding raising efforts. A total of £620 was raised from a successful tombola at Saltburn’s Christmas Farmers’ Market and our brave boxing day dippers June and John. The funds have been donated to the ‘Jim Maidens’ Fund,’ who support Redcar R.N.L.I. and ‘The Great North Air Ambulance.

June Coomber, Club secretary

Cleveland Diving Club


34 34

“What I’d really welcome is offers from readers to join our rota of crossword compilers,” says Editor Ian Tyas; some recent retirements have reduced the number of regular contributors. “I can provide guidance and help with the clues, if someone draws up a completed grid.” As readers may remember, Ian took over the editorship of Talk of the Town for its tenth edition, but the very first issue had a crossword. He has always enjoyed the creativity of working with them and decided to volunteer his services as a regular compiler to Editor Corinne Egerton. This was welcomed, in the hope that it would encourage others to step up too. Crossword compilers have a nom de plume and for the last twelve years, Ian has worked under the name of ‘Dinosaur’, chosen because of his long-term interest in them. After nine or ten issues, his friend the late Sarah Williams joined the team as ‘Starfish’. Ian aims to have an even standard of crosswords, but once the feature was incredibly hard and there were only two entries. Both contained a mistake, so no-one won that month. “To avoid this, I do edit the clues where I judge they are too obscure,” explains Ian. “Afficionados like a challenge, but they don’t like to feel their time is being wasted.” His judgments seem to be sound, going by the more usual number of entries. The record was sixty for ‘Dinosaur’ and then sixty-five for ‘Warlock’. Many more people enjoy doing the crossword, but don’t submit it, too. Ian opens all the entries himself on Deadline Day and cuts round on the dotted line, so each has an equal chance of winning. Once, there was a heart-warming note attached to an entry: ‘I’ve had so much fun with this crossword!’ He folds each into neat squares and at the weekend, takes them into ‘Real Meals’ for a random shopper to select one. The request has always been positively received. Ian no longer has time to phone the winner personally, so he or she gets a surprise on opening the next magazine and can claim a £10 voucher from Real Meals in his or her own time. On occasions, the winner has come from Durham, Sunderland and Buckinghamshire, so a local friend has picked up the prize. Some people have won twice: a reward for dedicated effort. Compiling a crossword for ‘Talk of the Town’ means following Ian’s guidelines. There must be some Saltburn answers in the grid, such as road names or names of shops or magazine contributors, so that it can be called the Saltburn Crossword. It needs to be drawn up as fifteen by fifteen squares (seventeen squares for a New Year edition) and the pattern must be symmetrical, so that opposite corners are mirror images of each other. “The artistry in construction is important,” says Ian. “Three-letter words are thought to be poor style in crossword circles - filling in for the sake of it, but they do occur.”

Ian has a computer programme ‘Crossword Compiler’, which enables him to make a grid, but it’s not essential. An existing ‘Talk of the Town’ grid can be used, before it’s written in or it can be done in Microsoft Word. “But how do you get started when you’ve got the grid?” I ask and Ian explains that the whole frame must be filled in with answers before the clues are begun (although ideas may begin to form on the way). Filling in the grid is more time-consuming than creating clues, as it’s often necessary to unpick one’s work when letters don’t fit. The cryptic clues follow conventions: there are anagrams - ‘confused’ or ‘jumbled’ means that an anagram of the answer is in the clue; there are hidden answers, for example, the city Oslo is to be found in Czechoslovakia - ‘of’ means found in and ‘backwards’ or ‘about’ mean in reverse. “The clue must direct the crossword solver,” says Ian. If he can’t think of words to fit in the spaces, Ian uses a crossword dictionary. “But I know there are Internet programmes for solving crossword puzzles,” he adds. The aim should always be to keep the answers simple, as if obscure words only known to the compiler are used, the solver won’t enjoy it and will become annoyed by the answer. Ian believes that the aim should be to provide entertainment, not upset everyone. “It’s not an opportunity for the compiler to show how clever he or she is,” he confirms. Accuracy is very important to Ian, but mistakes do slip through occasionally. There have been occasions when solvers have been confused by American or old-fashioned spellings. Having spent some hours trying to fill a grid in the last couple of days, I can confirm how tempting it is to find any old obscure word to fit, but this isn’t keeping the solver’s needs in mind! Do give it a try if you are inclined, but in the meantime, please join me in thanking ‘Dinosaur’, ‘Erinyes’, ‘Eldritch’, ‘Eurybatus’, ‘Warlock’, ‘Portia’, ‘Lowlander’, ‘Pierrot’, and the late ‘Starfish’ and ‘Bewitched’, and the new compiler ‘Saxton’ for all their hours of work in entertaining us; you have certainly succeeded.

Rosemary Nicholls

Compiling the Saltburn Crossword


35

Saltburn Line User Group

Next Meeting: Tuesday, 5th February

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: 07737 222035

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LINE

RITSON Tree Care QUALIFIED ARBORISTS

• Sympathetic Tree Pruning

• Sectional Dismantling

• Hedge Trimming

• Storm Damage

• Tree Planting

• Tree Inspection

• Woodchipping

• Stump Grinding

• All Aspects of Tree Surgery undertaken

• All Debris Removed

• All Areas Covered

ALL WORK TO BS3998 STANDARD. N.P.T.C. Certified & Fully Insured

Environmentally Friendly

Member International Society of Arboriculture

(01287) 625457

MEMBER

Local Authority Approved

Postal

Subscription to Talk of the Town

If you enjoy reading Talk of the Town, why not subscribe to the postal service? You can have the magazine delivered to your door, anywhere in the UK for as little as £33.50 per year. Simply send a cheque payable to “Gbiz IT” for £33.50 to TotT Subscriptions, 9 The Wynd, Marske, Cleveland, TS11 7LD. Don't forget to enclose your name and address. Alternatively, you can call us on 01642 477200 if you wish to pay by credit or debit card.

4 People Not Profit present

'The Four Horsemen' As part of 4 People Not Profit’s Move your money week, ‘Open your mind’ film night presents The Four Horsemen, a film which reveals the fundamental flaws in the economic system which have brought our civilization to the brink of disaster. The film will be screened as usual upstairs in The Marine, Saltburn and will be on Thursday, 21st February, 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. The film pulls no punches looking at the current financial crisis and the banks and the economic ideology which caused it, while describing the consequences of continued inaction – but its message is one of hope. If more people can equip themselves with a better understanding of how the world really works, then the systems and structures that condemn billions to poverty or chronic insecurity can at last be overturned. Solutions to the multiple crises facing humanity have never been more urgent, but equally, the conditions for change have never been more favourable. “Four Horsemen is an important film because it presents a sober picture of what is wrong in a non-hysterical way and will ignite a debate about what can be done to create a fairer, less dysfunctional world.” - Marcus Chown, New Scientist. “Director Ross Ashcroft uncovers the systemic, legalised corruption of governments and the banking system enabling the rich to get richer while the majority of the world lives in abject poverty – waiting for the magic of ‘trickle down’ economics to take effect.” - Rachel Surgeoner, Little White Lies. See also page 29.

Redcar and Cleveland

Philatelic Society Redcar and Cleveland Philatelic Society meet on Wednesdays 7:00 for 7:15pm at East Cleveland Community Centre, Durham Road, Redcar. Our February programme begins on 6th February with Competitions Night (8 or 16 pages) and continues on 20th February with Professor David Stirrups, Gibraltar (NEPA President’s display). Contacts: Secretary G. Reynolds 01642 478229 or President D. D. Turner 01287 624736.

Saltburn Beachwatch The recent issue of This is Redcar and Cleveland the Council magazine featured a photograph of volunteers at a Beachwatch event last year. This has lead to some confusion, with several people asking us if Saltburn Beachwatch are now helping to keep the beach clean in an era of cutbacks. To clarify our position, Saltburn Beachwatch is a campaigning organisation linked to the Marine Conservation Society. Our aim is clean beaches and clean seas and our way of campaigning is to do regular litter picks, and identify the types of litter we find and its source. A happy by-product of this is that the beach is clearer of litter. By building up records over the years (Saltburn Beachwatch was started in 1999) we have credibility and we talk to statutory authorities regularly about local problems. Redcar and Cleveland Council own the beach and our litter picks are with their permission, they help us with the provision of plastic bags etc and take away the rubbish at the end of an event. We enjoy a cordial relationship with Council staff and local Councillors. Nonetheless Saltburn Beachwatch’s role will remain as a campaigning organisation. See also page 3.

Chris Terry


36 36

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


37

Scaffolding down at the Theatre

The refurbished weather-vane above the community theatre can be seen (in the dusk gloom) as Mike Sellars and Wilma Gardiner

-Gill check it out after scaffolding was taken down.

After nearly a year, scaffolding has been removed from the tower above Saltburn’s community hall and theatre at the corner of Albion Terrace and Windsor Road. On display now is the revamped weather-vane which has been refurbished. Its gold leaf gleams in the winter sun. Also netting is visible - to stop pigeons from getting into the tower. Mike Sellars, treasurer of Saltburn Community and Arts Association, said specialist repairs had been done to the tower in addition to painting the weather-vane and installing netting. The cost is expected to be over £10,000. Scaffolding was provided by local firm Construction Scaffolding Ltd., run by Paul Barnfather. The work was subject to delays mainly because of the time taken to find specialists to undertake the work. A report on the work, written by Peter Neal, of the community association, appeared in the November Talk of the Town.

SALTBURN TAXIS

Friendly and reliable service

Est. 29 years

Proprietors Ged and Sue

01287 623567

G Hodgson Joinery

For Domestic & Commercial

Property maintenance, Repairs and Improvements

Including

For quality workmanship guaranteed by time served tradesmen at a

sensible price call for Free Estimate

01287 623099 07900 492439

Kitchens

Bathrooms Bedrooms Doors

Windows Flooring Skirting

UPVC Doors & Windows

Tiling Glazing Plumbing

Electrics PVC Wall & Ceiling Board Decking

The adverse weather has again impacted on the football programme so there is not a lot to report in this edition.

Under 11s The Under 11s have played just the one game since the New Year which resulted in a 5-3 win against Dyke House Juniors in Hartlepool. Goals were scored by Jack Charlton, Sam Pajak, Haiden Cushley with two from new signing Jamie Kerr. The team hope to have a run of consistent performances, over the next few weeks, so consolidating their position in the league.

Chris Watson, Manager Saltburn Athletic FC are looking to enter two new age groups in to the TJFA League which commences in September. The age groups will be Under 7 (currently primary year one ) and Under 8 (currently primary year two). The Under 7s will be playing five a side and the Under 8s seven a side. Training will be every Saturday from 10am at the rear of Huntcliff

School (entry via the car park opposite Saltburn Golf Club), subject of course to the weather. The current Under 8s are looking for new players. If your child is interested please contact Andy Croll Tel : 07779 648877 for more information.

Andy Croll, Coach Club News

The Annual SAFC Sponsored ‘Dip’ took place on 30th December at Saltburn. The weather was relatively mild in comparison with previous years; nevertheless when entering the water you can’t help asking yourself why you are doing it! Our thanks go to all the Players, Committee Members/Parents who participated. All proceeds go to Club funds. Thanks also go to Dave and Ann Sadler who provided the hot soup in the Cricket Club afterwards. The RNLI crew from Redcar were in attendance to ensure the safety of the ‘Dippers’ and the Club has made a donation to RNLI Funds to thank them for their support.

Derek Whiley

Saltburn Athletic (Junior) FC


38 38

J.M.E. PLUMBING BATHROOMS |TILING|

REPAIRS 07530 818880 07817 789754

[email protected]

DAVID MEE B.A. (Hons.) English P.G.C.E., P.G.D.E.

Specialist Tutorial Services

TEL: 01287 626308 Mob: 07852 854866

E-mail: [email protected]

ONE-TO-ONE

ENGLISH TUITION Proof-reading Service Available


39

Saltburn House a hidden gem

We are writing this on honeymoon in the Lakes after the best wedding day possible held at Emmanuel Church Saltburn, and afterwards at Saltburn House on 4th January. Considering its size, it is difficult to understand how such a wonderful building stands so unnoticed. Of course much of the use of Saltburn House is for CIU members only but we really hope that can change to subsidise its running. I was born in Saltburn and lived here most my life, but until Al and I were looking for a wedding venue in January last year, I had never set foot in Saltburn House. Other guests at our wedding, who have lived here decades were also astounded at the beautiful building and facilities that stand on their doorstep. What a gem! Saltburn House has a lovely big function room with a small stage at one end (equipped with projector that we were able to use for evening karaoke) and a bar at the other; a beautiful 2-storey-high ceilinged dining room, overlooked, through a big arched window by an upstairs landing. The other downstairs rooms, including a library room, lounge, smoking room and snooker room, were perfect for a little afternoon treasure hunt for the youngsters and a few games of snooker for the lads. In true CIU style, it feels like home from home: exactly what we wanted for a lovely yet relaxed day in comfortable and cozy surroundings: no stiff formality or overpriced bar. The staff couldn’t be more helpful, “We’ll do whatever you like” was their mantra and they did. The food was really, really tasty. For our ‘wedding breakfast’ we had corned beef pie, lasagne, vegetable moussaka, chicken satays, vegetable kebabs, jacket potatoes, a joint each of beef and ham on platters with bread buns, salad and dressings. All home made, all went down a storm. For our evening party we chose cheese and tomato pizza, chicken curry, honey and mustard chicken, rice and crinkle-cut chips. At 10 O’clock-ish a big cheese board came out with olives, grapes, crackers and chutney. All this at more than reasonable cost. The staff worked tirelessly with good humour, and just the right amount of airs and graces. There was no ‘we can only do what’s on the menu,’ or large corkage fees. Everyone told us what a brilliant day they’d had. A few of us stayed the night in the comfortable and affordable rooms available, so we were there to enjoy the delicious buffet-style breakfast of sausages, bacon, eggs, hash browns, fried bread, black pudding, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, as well as all the cereals, juices, dates and grapefruit, toast, tea and coffee. If you like your food, you’ll love it at Saltburn House. We can’t recommend Saltburn House enough. Thank you so much to all the staff for helping make our wedding such a wonderful, personalised and memorable day.

Alastair and Heather Paterson

Saltburn House

closes Saltburn House, the former Workingmen’s Clubs’ Convalescent Home on Marine Parade, closes on Thursday 31st January. The 14 staff were told the shock news by CIU Club and Institute Union officials in London in mid-January after what one described as a “nightmare month” following the first news of the proposal. CIU office manager Stephen Goulding told Talk of the Town: “Our national executive voted that the union could not go on subsidising it after incurring substantial losses for a number of years. Occupancy has consistently been below 50 per cent caused by members’ needs changing. This situation has occurred despite the best efforts of the staff, who are excellent.” Asked about the future of the building, he said Councillor Philip Thomson and Matthew O’Neill, of Redcar and Cleveland Council, had both helped to look at options. “Also we have had a team of people looking at the building. “Ideally we would have liked to have kept it going under a different management (ownership). It is a splendid building and Saltburn is a lovely place. “I’m to visit it before it shuts and will see Councillor Thomson and Mr O’Neill. I’ll also be meeting the staff, who are a really good team headed by Maxine Howes. “Ideally, we would like to sell it to someone. It is the CIU’s last remaining convalescent home out of five we had in the past. The number of clubs has also dropped to under 2,000 though membership and visitors total about two million. But it is difficult to get people to use the Saltburn facilities despite charges being extremely modest.” It is understood staff offered to cut their wages in a bid to keep the ‘stately home,’ a 26-bedroomed building near the corner with Milton Street, open. One of the staff said: “We’ve worked our socks off. Manager Maxine Howes has put in up to 70-hours a week. We are now telling groups, who have bookings, that we are closing on 31st January.” All eyes will be on the future of the building, which has been owned by the Workingmen’s Club movement for over 100 years. Tom Archbold, who was born in Oxford Street, Saltburn, has been waging a campaign to “save Saltburn House” and is being backed by parish Councillor John Lambert, of Saltburn, who is coordinating the campaign. Tom has put in an application for listing the building with English Heritage. This means that it could not be demolished without special permission. Tom is appealing for help with efforts to preserve a satisfactory future for the building, which was built by the Pease family. He can be contacted by email on [email protected]. Petitions both through Facebook and in Saltburn pubs, cafes and library raised 1,000 signatures. Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council is to discuss the issue at its February meeting. Local MP Tom Blenkinsop is also involved in the campaign.


40 40

O’Gradys Hotel 18-20 Queen Street, Redcar TS10 1AE

February Gigs: Fri 1st - Beer Pigs

Sat 2nd - Striking Back Fri 8th - Funk Collective

Sat 9th - Paul Tilley Fri 15th - Soul Rebels Sat 16th - Last Anthem Fri 22nd - The Fallen

Sat 23rd - TBC Sun 24th - Modern Quarry

Quiz night every Thursday

February GIG LIST Possibly the best February ever!

Sunday 3/2/13 – Outrageous Wallpaper

Thursday 7/2/13 – Squeeler

Sunday 10/2/13 – Last Anthem

Thursday 14/2/13 – The Fallen

Sunday 17/2/13 – Oasis Jam

Thursday 21/2/13 – Flatback 4

Sunday 24/2/13 – Rough Justice

Thursday 28/2/13 – Alpha Place

Tel: 01287 626131 The Victoria Quiz Night

Every Wednesday £30 First Prize, £10 Second Prize.

Last Wednesday of the Month: £150 Prize Fund 27th February

THE VICTORIA

*Interiors and Exteriors *Free Estimates

*All Aspects of Decorating Undertaken

*Realistic Prices *Reliable Service Assured

37 Years Experience

Mobile 07757 912575

Time Served Telephone

01287 624016

G . Bishop - Decorator

PARK NEWSAGENCY

Home News Delivery Specialists

� Cards & Gifts

� Magazines & Books � Blue Nose Friends � Toys & Games � Confectionery, Drinks, Ice Creams � Stationery

� Lottery

Stockists of Talk of the Town 102-104 High Street, Marske. Tel: 01642 484371

Home Visit Eyecare Ltd.

Tel: 01287 626687

*Free Eye Test for anyone 60 & over who struggles to leave their home

John Prouse - Your Local Mobile Optician

FREE* Eye Tests In Your Home

Our Service Includes:

• Fully Qualified Optician • Free* NHS Home Eye Tests • Free Delivery & Fitting of Glasses • Fantastic Selection of Glasses from Budget to Designer

Roy, Jan, Helen and all the staff at The Victoria wish all the best

to their customers The Vic Real Ales: with Deuchars IPA being our resident ale, and our ever

changing guest ales, there’s no excuse to go elsewhere.

See James Arthur on pages 13 and 22.


41

We are having a slight change of format. From now on there will be contributions from Friends of the Valley, Valley Adventures and from the Woodland Centre Group all contained in one article but with different contributors. It makes it easier for me for a start as it clarifies on whose behalf I am speaking! The Woodland Centre was open for visitors on December 15th and 16th. The Christmas Grotto was just a two day event but it was really enjoyable and we were made to feel very welcome by lots of old friends who said it was good to see us back again and the centre open. We even made £100.00 profit but the main purpose of the day was to say “We are here” and we had a steady stream of visitors both days and I hope, satisfied children. Rudolph was completely stuffed with carrots – and the odd mince pie. Thank you to two versions of Father Christmas; Stuart Smith and David Hamilton. And a big ‘Thank you’ to Mark and Maria from Building Bridges for decorating the grotto at what was a difficult time for them. Thank you to cake makers and various other ‘Santa’s Little Helpers’. In next month’s talk of the Town, we will be giving more details of a photography competition. No prizes but the honour of having your photo to illustrate a month in a Valley Gardens calendar for 2014. So get out and get snapping and looking through your photo collections. There has been a change in our ‘line up’ on the board. Cathie Sprague was one of the founder members of Friends of the Valley. Cathie and Dave Williams organised the first Pageant of Light. The pageant has been a major focus of her interest over the years as an organiser and performer (fire juggling). She was also very instrumental in getting the lottery grant for the bungalow site – work on that starts soon. She stepped down as chair of FOV to be on the board of the Woodland Centre Company and worked hard to get us where we are now. Due to work priorities she has decided to step down altogether now and hand the baton to someone new. I have worked with Cathie for a long time and will miss her input. We wish her all the best with her work. Cathie gave us one of her paper cut designs when she left.

So for us for now it’s heads down and doing funding applications and lots of planning. Something to be done staying warm indoors anyway!

Lorna Moone

Happy New Year from the Friday Friends of the Valley volunteer group. The first task day back this year was a busy one. The Friends were instructed by Keith Ferry in the craft of laying hedges around the meadow and orchard areas. By creating a hedge around the meadow and orchard areas we hope to achieve protection for both areas. A hedge will also provide shelter and food for the local wildlife. Hedge laying is a country skill and is believed to have been started in the Bronze Age. However, the first documented evidence of hedge laying in the United Kingdom was by the Romans. Hedges were used as a livestock proof barrier and to protect crops from the elements. Hedge laying fell out of favour after World War II due to the availability of labour, the invention of machines to cut hedges and of course, the ease of barbed wire fences. The aim of laying hedges is to reduce the thickness of upright stems of hedgerow trees. This is achieved by cutting down the stem, allowing it to be laid down and eventually producing a line of hedge.

Hedge laying can only be performed in the winter months so the volunteers will work hard to achieve what they can at the start of the year. The rest will be finished towards the end of the year and will be a work in progress.

Katie Metcalfe

Valley Adventures is looking forward to an exciting year in which we will offer a range of outdoor activities to schools, day visitors and corporate clients. Please look at our website to see what activities we offer - www.valley-adventures.com. Apart from providing activity programmes for our school & youth group clients we will offer archery, boot fitness camps, stand up paddling and bush craft courses to the general public in the half terms and school holidays. We also are accredited to offer National Navigation awards (NNAS) which is proving popular to walkers who wish to learn or improve navigation skills. Our next Bronze navigation course is 23rd and 24th March. If you want to learn more about us then please contact 07837 065118 or email [email protected].

Simon Palmer

News and Views from the Valley


42 42

SERVICING ENGINE TUNING MOT PREPARATION REPAIR WORK-WELDING For a fast friendly local service contact: PETER MOORE:

01287 625587 or 622912 Bath St Garage, Bath St, Saltburn TS12 1BJ

THE TOTAL MOTORING PACKAGE

BATH STREET GARAGE

Diamond Guest House Diamond House 9 Diamond Street Saltburn-by-the-Sea Cleveland TS12 1EB Tel: 01287 203912 or 07715 621077 email: [email protected] www.diamondhousesaltburn.co.uk


43

.

‘Go to church, say your prayers and remember God always.’

I heard these words in a recording of a lecture on Praying with Icons. ‘Go to church, say your prayers and remember God always.’ Succinct, clear and difficult to do! Three apparently simple things to fit into your weekly and daily life, with each one helping the other two, rather like a three-legged stool upon which to sit. Take one leg away, and sitting on the stool becomes increasingly more difficult to do and a much less rewarding experience. You will notice that two of the three are directed at the individual, ‘say your prayers and remember God always’, which gives you a wonderful freedom to pray as you personally choose. But the other, ‘Go to church’, asks you to join a community for prayer. And being a community it will be a challenge for you to be a part of, because, very simply, it is full of other people. Unlike in your personal prayers, you will not be able to do as you please, but you will discover the value of letting go, of giving, of receiving, of joining a diverse body of people trying to do their best together before God; the sort of community that transforms you. So, I invite you to take your place within the church, to say your prayers and remember God always. And if I can help you to do this please let me know. Every blessing, Rev’d Adam Reed (Vicar)

Emmanuel Church: Tel: 01287 622251 / Email: [email protected] / www.saltburnparishchurch.co.uk

EMMANUEL Saltburn Parish Church Services

SUNDAYS

9.00am Holy Communion

10.10am Refreshments in the Hall

10.45am All Age Worship with Children’s Groups

TUESDAYS

9.30am Holy Communion

10.15am Refreshments in the Hall

EVERYBODY WELCOME

ECHO Fire On behalf of the church community I would

like to pass on my thanks to the Saltburn Fire Service who attended the fire at the Church Hall on the night of Friday 21st

December. Without their swift response the damage would have been much worse. It is

just one of many instances when local services are to be greatly valued.

Thank you, Rev’d Adam Reed

COME AND HAVE LUNCH THIS LENT...

Come and enjoy a delicious soup and roll lunch in the company of others from our town and church

communities. Donations gratefully received in support of local charities.

Before the lunch is served a 5 minute thought for the day will be shared.

The lunches will take place at the Methodist Church

Hall, Milton Street at 12.30pm on Tuesdays 19th, 29th Feb, 5th, 12th & 19th March.

In. Ihe. Image. OfIn. Ihe. Image. OfIn. Ihe. Image. OfIn. Ihe. Image. Of

Saturday 9th February 1.3o Saturday 9th February 1.3o Saturday 9th February 1.3o Saturday 9th February 1.3o –––– 4.oo pm in ECHO4.oo pm in ECHO4.oo pm in ECHO4.oo pm in ECHO

The second of four exciting art workshops leading up to

our 2013 exhibition entitled: In.The.Image.Of.

All are welcome! We will be:We will be:We will be:We will be: Using cameras to make portraits –

Using objects to make prints –

Using colours to describe personality.

In. Ihe. Image. of


44 44

Hi there, everyone! let me introduce myself: my name is Roxy and I’m a six year old German Shepherd Cross girl. I know you can’t tell from this photograph in the magazine but I’m a pretty sandy brown colour with a white flash on my chest and short easy to care for hair; a ‘wash and go’ kind of girl. You can see a colour photograph of me on SARA’s website if you like. I’ve been living here at SARA for quite some time now, and before that I was at Waterfall Kennels just outside of Guisborough, which is where I was first taken after being found as a stray on the streets; this was through no fault of my own, I hasten to add. Although everyone here at SARA is very kind, they care for me and they take me on nice walks, what I dream of and what I’d really, really love most of all is to become part of a family where I can get lots of love, care and attention. It would be fantastic to be part of a family, that’s something I really wish for as I’ve been at SARA for what seems like a long time (but that could be dog years, as I’m not sure how to tell the time by human reckoning) and I’ve seen many of my canine friends there leave and go to live with their new people in happy new homes, not that I’m jealous, as it’s something all we strays deserve to have. The nice people here tell me that as well as having a very sweet nature I’m intelligent too, but I don’t let that go to my head, even though I think it’s pretty obvious when you see my picture. I just want to make everyone happy and have a family of my own to live with; I promise that I would be a good loyal friend. I’d be okay living with a calm male dog, just in case you already have another dog in your family, and I love older children too, not just because they can take me on lovely long walks on the beach and down the woods and play games with me! I keep seeing Meg the surfing Border Collie on

local TV and want to try that for myself! If someone from Saltburn could adopt me that would be great, but honestly I don’t mind where, as long as it’s in a loving home. Please? Love from Roxy.

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.

The next monthly meeting of SARA will be held in the TocH premises, Albion Terrace, Saltburn, on Wednesday 6th February, at 7.30pm. New members are most welcome. 23rd February – Members of SARA will be holding a Bag Pack in Sainsbury’s Store, Saltburn, on Saturday, 23rd February, from 10am to 4pm. All donations will go to the

Foxrush Farm, Sanctuary and Re-homing Fund. Recent funds raised – New Year’s Day Dip Beach Collection £312.33. Middlesbrough Street Collection £231.00. Coffee Morning Marske Leisure Centre £220.00. Thank you to everyone who supported these events.

SARA fundraising events during February

Sheila Green


45

This is the first of an attempt to give an account of the history and working of the Parish Council. Now that more people know about us, after the successful public meeting the Parish Council called over the parking issue. The Parish Council was formed in 1974 at the demise of the Saltburn and Marske Urban District Council. The new parish council kept control of the allotments, Marske Playing Field and a stretch of the headland at Marske. Then, as now, it had 18 Councillors, but they were split differently, 6 for Saltburn, 7 for St Germain’s and 5 for Longbeck. After adding New Marske to its Charter, later each ward was give 6 councillors each. Unlike the Borough Council, Councillors have no powers outside of the Councillor Chamber, unless requested by the Council to act on its behalf or to represent the council in some way. Likewise, the Chairman is restricted in the same manner. To help the council in its operations there are a series of committees which are designed to operate within certain areas: Planning committee - this looks at all planning applications within the Parish and sometimes applications from outside the Parish if they impact on the Parish. At times this Committee can make delegated decisions on behalf of the full Parish Council. Leisure Committee - this deals mainly with the allotments in partnership with the three different allotment

associations, one for each community. This committee also deals with other regular events, including tourist and leisure events. Donations and General Purpose - this deals with donations and general matters. At other times other committees and working parties are raised to deal with certain matters as they arise. Around this time of the year the council turns its attention to looking at what it wants to do during the next financial year 2013/2014. This is done by raising a precept. Each committee decides its budget. If they are confirmed by full council they are then added together and that becomes our budget for the next year. In the past, we asked the borough council for that amount and it was collected for us. However, this year the Government has decided those on benefit will have to pay and this is expected to lead to a certain amount of bad debt. The government will give the Borough Council a grant to make up for this and to their credit they are to pass this on to the five Parish and Town Councils. This however, will leave a short fall of between 2-3% and we have to decide whether to cut services or ask for more money. During the period of the Parish Council we have had three clerks to the council. Jean Craig, Susan Preston and our present clerk, Tracy Meadows.

Jim Wingham

Saltburn, Marske & New Marske Parish Council

If you live with, or have caring

responsibilities for, someone who

misuses alcohol or drugs, the Helen

Project is here to support you.

We offer a weekly support meeting, a

24-hour phone support line, and can

refer people for specialist help,

counselling and complementary

therapies (based on assessment).

If you would like to know more, please

contact the Helen Project on

07846 827944, or e-mail us on

[email protected], or check our

web-site, www.helenproject.org.uk.

We support people over the age of 18

across Redcar and Cleveland.


46 46

Looking for that special gift and card?

Choose from our vast range of products incl:Choose from our vast range of products incl:Choose from our vast range of products incl:Choose from our vast range of products incl:

Woodwick scented candles, Jellycat soft toys,Woodwick scented candles, Jellycat soft toys,Woodwick scented candles, Jellycat soft toys,Woodwick scented candles, Jellycat soft toys, Thomas Kent clocks, Arran Aromatics toiletries, Thomas Kent clocks, Arran Aromatics toiletries, Thomas Kent clocks, Arran Aromatics toiletries, Thomas Kent clocks, Arran Aromatics toiletries, Emma Bridgewater pottery, Disaster ladies giftsEmma Bridgewater pottery, Disaster ladies giftsEmma Bridgewater pottery, Disaster ladies giftsEmma Bridgewater pottery, Disaster ladies gifts

&&&& much more.much more.much more.much more.

The staff at Brambles will give you all the help you need in The staff at Brambles will give you all the help you need in The staff at Brambles will give you all the help you need in The staff at Brambles will give you all the help you need in selecting that special gift.selecting that special gift.selecting that special gift.selecting that special gift.

Come and see us for a warm welcome.Come and see us for a warm welcome.Come and see us for a warm welcome.Come and see us for a warm welcome. 4, Station Street,

Saltburn by the Sea, TS12 1AE

Tel: 01287 623 368 www.facebook.com/bramblesgiftshop

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Nigel’s VIPs!

Very Important Pets!

DOG WALKING, PET CARE

& RESIDENTIAL PETSITTING Co.

Est’d. 2002

TEL: 07879 444491

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Our January meeting was well attended and our speaker was Linda Oliver from Guide Dogs. Her talk was informative, interesting and at times very amusing! Linda talked about her personal journey to becoming a guide dog owner, the process involved and sorted out a few myths around guide dogs. Are you aware that it only costs the visually impaired person 50 pence to become an owner of a fully trained dog? Linda also spoke of the campaigns being undertaken by the charity. These include electric cars and buses being a hazard to VI people as they cannot hear them coming, how street furniture and A boards can be dangerous, and how some councils are introducing ‘shared surfaces’; they may look fine but how does a long cane user know when a pavement stops and a road starts? Linda is happy to talk to anyone about these issues or any other access issues in our local area. She may be contacted via the Newcastle office on 0845 3727423.

Our next meeting on Wednesday, 13th February and will be attended by Sue from Carers Together, a local charity who help care for the carers. This topic will probably touch us in ways we do not expect. On 13th March we will welcome Lyndsey from Darlington Civic Theatre. She will discuss what they offer visually impaired customers. This includes a touch tour of the stage before the show and audio description during the performance. It is hoped that in the near future we will arrange a mini-bus trip to the theatre and experience it for ourselves. A friend/carer goes for free. If you would like to discuss any of these issues, have a social meeting on an evening, or have any ideas for speakers, please call Chris Ferguson on 01287 204170. The group meets every second Wednesday of the month, in the coffee room of the Community Centre, Albion Terrace, Saltburn at 2pm. A charge of £1 is make to cover room hire and refreshments.

Saltburn and District Group for Visually Impaired People (VIP)


47

Not one to lay in her bed all day doing nothing, Meg the Saltburn Surf Dog has been a busy girl since her appearance in last month’s Talk of the Town. Many people have recognised her and come to say hello down at the surf shop, and she has been only too happy to show off her tricks!

She has also continued practising her surfing, wowing onlookers from the pier and beach!

Also she has been doing her bit to protest against recent proposed parking charges, a subject I’m sure is close to many of our hearts!

Myself and my girlfriend (Meg’s mum) Alice Frost can’t believe how much attention Meg has got since appearing in Talk of the Town, various newspapers, websites and also on the BBC television news when she had a go at snowboarding! I f a nyone is interested, Meg is available for photo/video shoots, please contact me on: [email protected] and once again, many thanks to everyone who has helped to raise Meg’s profile!

Sam Davis

Meg, Saltburn’s surfing dog, still in the news

The Guisborough and District Branch of the Embroiderers' Guild

The Guisborough and District Branch of the Embroiderers' Guild are holding their monthly meeting on Saturday, 2nd February, 2013 at 2pm in Sunnyfield House, Westgate, Guisborough. TS14 6BA. The guest speaker is Heather Waring and her subject is ‘Bhutan 2011 or The Land of the Thunder Dragon’. In March their monthly meeting on Saturday, 2nd March, 2013 and the guest speaker is Ann Allison and her subject is ‘Lace - not just fine and frilly’. Visitors are welcome whether non-stitchers, beginners or more experienced stitchers. Car parking is free on Saturdays in Belmont House car park (behind the council offices).

Linda Danby

STEPHEN WEARS CDT CLINICAL DENTAL TECHNICIAN

TIRED OF YOUR ILL FITTING DENTURES?

“Choosing the right dentures can make the world of difference! I work with you to provide the best denture possible.”

Natural looking dentures made in the comfort of your home

Dentures Repaired or Relined No waiting list

Free consultation Also custom made Sports Mouthguards

Call 01642 482831

or 07774148775

Email [email protected]


48 48

Architectural Services &

Chartered Structural & Civil Engineers

Architectural Planning and Building Regulation Advice

Listed Building Experts House Extensions & Loft Conversions

Alterations and Refurbishments Residential New Builds Shop Layout Designs

Alcohol Licence Applications Office Warehouse Designs

Structural & Civil Engineering Structural Surveys

Beam Designs Building Restoration

Foundation & Underpinning Design Tree Surveys

General Building Works

Professional and Friendly Service

Gregory Sills BEng (Hons) CEng MIStructE FGS

t: 01287 624644 m: 07960 967865

www.scurator.co.uk [email protected]

SALTBURN EVANGELICAL CHURCH

Leven Street, Saltburn Worship Services each Sunday

10.30am & 6.30pm Ladies Fellowship

1st & 3rd Mondays @ 2.00pm Weekly prayer meeting Thursday 10.30am.

A warm welcome to AllA warm welcome to AllA warm welcome to AllA warm welcome to All An independent Evangelical Church

"Christ-centred ministry on the foundation of the Scriptures"

Corporate Business Apartments Accommodation available at

www.yorkshire-corporate-accommodation.co.uk Phone: 07969 280499

OPAL WINDOWS Supplying Quality Windows and Doors to the North East

“A” RATED WINDOWS AND DOORS AS STANDARD

LARGE RANGE OF STYLES AVAILABLE

MANUFACTURED FROM THE SUPERB DECEUNINCK 70mm RANGE

BY OUR FENSA AND BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTE ACCREDITED SUPPLIER

5 YEAR GUARANTEE ON THE GLASS 10 YEAR GUARANTEE ON THE FRAMES

For a free, no obligation quote please call Steve

Mobile 07919 121895 Phone/Fax 01287 625540

E-mail [email protected]


49

“I feel very lucky in that I’ve loved all the jobs I’ve ever done and had the satisfaction of being the Chair of Saltburn Victorians too,” says Geraldine Jordan. She has spent most of her life in the Teesside area, making her mark on everything she has come into contact with. Geraldine was born in Doncaster and grew up on the family farm. “It was like the TV series ‘The Darling Buds of May’ and it was a wonderful upbringing,“ she remembers. She was driving a tractor at four and riding shire horses early. But her grandfather, Joe Barker, developed heart problems and decided to move near to the sea. The whole family came with him to New Marske, where he already knew a couple of people. In time, he set up three fish and chip shops, including ‘Joe’s Plaice’ and a butcher’s shop in New Marske. At the time of the move, Geraldine was seven and she enrolled at a private school in Redcar, The White House. But her mother had an eye on four disused miners’ cottages, ‘Hillcroft’, between Skelton and Lingdale and persuaded Joe to buy them for conversion to a home for all the family. “She had great foresight,” says Geraldine. But the journey to Redcar was too far and she transferred to Warsett School, at Brotton. “I went on the school bus under a railway bridge, which needed demolition,” she explains, “and when it happened, Granddad suggested the sandstone could be left in our back yard rather than transported away. It was and we built wonderful fireplaces from it.” Continuing the family tradition, they looked after many animals there too, including thirteen horses, mostly Cleveland Bays. After Warsett, Geraldine went to Catering College in Scarborough. James Martin of the TV programme ‘Saturday Kitchen’ also studied there. She spent four and a half years at Scarborough, obtaining City and Guilds qualifications, under a wonderful Principal, Peter Godbold. “His son now makes wrought iron gates in Grosmont,” she adds. “My first job was at the Cleveland Tontine,” she says. “I was given the opportunity to decorate the whole of the venue and decided I really loved hotel refurbishment. In my next job, at the Station Hotel in York, I continued my interest in revamping and began to work for well-known people, such as Lady Isobel Barnett, who gave me presents of good quality perfumes.” As her husband-to-be, Frank, was Head Chef on liners going all over the world, Geraldine took up a post at the Blue Boar in Cambridge. But when her mother went into hospital, she returned to Teesside, at first to the Post House at Stainton and then to the Swallow Hotel at Stockton. At both, she was Head Housekeeper. At the Swallow, Geraldine met many famous people, including Lenny Henry, who came to perform at the Fiesta Nightclub. A step up to the Dragonara Hotel, Middlesbrough, preceded promotion to the completely new Tall Trees at Yarm, where she was introduced to Princess Alexandra and Lord Guisborough, who asked her if she would be interested in a job at Guisborough Hall. Sadly by this time, she was developing MS and couldn’t do it. Meanwhile, Geraldine’s family life was blossoming.

She married Frank and they had a son, Daniel, who is now thirty and working in London. They bought a guest house with nine bedrooms in Pearl Street and Frank ran it when she wasn’t there. In 1986, they won a Council competition for the business making the best effort for Victorian Week and soon after, the Saltburn Victorians were launched. “I was founder and Chair, Audrey Boagey was my Deputy, Hazel Barnes was the Secretary and the members were John Hall, Sue McGuire, Peggy Allan and Lena Jackson,” she recalls. “We ended up with two hundred and fifty members. We made costumes, went on outings and celebrated Victorian Week. Frank had ten top hats and Daniel wore a variety of traditional outfits until he was about twelve.” Geraldine enjoys reading Mills and Boon stories and Pat Jennings’ murder mysteries. Sitting down, she can still bake scones with the help of her personal assistant, Norma, to put them in the oven. Her favourite recipe used to be making brandy snaps. “I’ve always liked good food,” she says. Her taste in music is Motown, especially Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie and the Three Degrees. The Three Degrees came to stay in her Pearl Street guesthouse. Her mother took her to see the Beatles at the Odeon, Stockton and they got told off for sitting on the backs of their chairs! Later, she saw the Four Tops and Cliff Richards at the Fiesta. Geraldine has a budgie, Lucky, which was found in a graveyard in Brotton. Sadly, she had to have her black Labrador, Jet, put to sleep three years ago, because she was suffering from a lung tumour. As there have always been Labradors in the family, Geraldine misses their company. She was thrilled, however, by the seventy-seven visitors she had to an Open House in her flat for a recent significant birthday. “I even had a make-up artist and all the food arrived in a taxi from M & S!” she remembers with pride.

The Saltburn Profile by Rosemary Nicholls

Geraldine Jordan


50 50

Regular readers may recall that last month I dealt with the thorny issue of Airport Fever – a subject brought to my mind by the fact that I was going to be doing a great deal of travelling at the start of the year. Some of that is now behind me and has prompted me to go even further into the topic of flying because of a subject that has been close to my heart ever since I climbed aboard one of those early, slightly cranky flights to Spain. I feel the time is right for a short rant on in-flight food and drink. Why it has to be quite so awful I have no idea. I’m going to deal with my journey back from Minnesota last month because this was a fairly typical long-haul flight. The aircraft was comfortable, the staff were accommodating and kind and the in-flight movies were tolerable. In fact everything was routine, until about an hour into the flight, when someone announced that dinner was to be served. It’s always fascinating trying to comprehend why specific meals are served at particular times on air journeys. I’ve had bacon and eggs at 2pm, scones and jam at 3am and curry, followed by ice cream, for breakfast. I suppose it happens because nobody in the aircraft business ever really knows what time it is. For the flight crew life must be especially difficult because on the London to New York flight it is possible to arrive at roughly the same time as one’s departure, whereas on the return flight several hours mysteriously disappear from one’s life. On this particular occasion dinner actually was dinner. There was a choice of three different options, though because I was at the rear of the plane my choice was limited to one. It was called ‘pasta in red sauce’. Prior to the meal I was offered a lukewarm, damp, smelly piece of tissue, which hovered above my head at the end of a pair of tongs, as if the flight attendant didn’t really want to touch it – and I’m not especially surprised. The odour was reminiscent of those square cubes of ‘something’ that are hurled into the bottom of men’s urinals in council toilets. Then the tray of food arrived. I was very careful about how I tackled this because half an hour earlier the crew had distributed small packets of peanuts. I had been delighted to see a black dotted line on the packet that said tear here – but of course it was merely a very bad joke on the part of the manufacturer. I didn’t really want peanuts but it soon became a matter of principle, so I tugged and pulled, bit and chewed and then finally succeeded in riving the package apart, immediately hurling all the nuts except three across the aircraft cabin. This might have been more embarrassing than it was, were it not for the fact that I ended up with at least seven nuts, because a few came flying in my direction from other frustrated pea-nutters. My main course was in a rectangular plastic tray, on top of which was stuck a foil lid. This proved to be impossible to peel back and in utter frustration I eventually attacked it with my plastic knife, which promptly broke in two and threatened to skewer the

woman sitting next to me. I wished for a moment that I had a pair of scissors in my pocket but then it occurred to me that if I had carried such a thing through security in the United States I might even now be on a very different flight - to Guantanamo Bay! Giving up on the main course for the moment I managed to wrestle my way into the see-through box containing the salad. This I wolfed down quickly – only to discover later that there was a sachet of Caesar salad dressing hiding at the bottom of the tray. This was the only sachet on the whole flight that opened easily. I was slightly miffed at having missed it, so even though the salad was gone I sucked it out of the sachet – it was absolutely awful and it took the contents of my small container of orange squash to get rid of the taste. Seeing me struggle and doubtless hearing me swearing, the polite American flight attendant took away my main course and gave me another, with one corner already peeled back – a service I got the impression she specifically offers to all ‘old folks’. I never found out what the red sauce actually was but the concoction was palatable enough. It wasn’t until I’d finished it that I realised I had both a bread roll and crackers – so was the bread roll meant to be eaten with the salad or the pasta? I also had a rectangular piece of cheese, which by the way it leered at me in its shiny plastic fastness was always going to be an intractable problem. Since I no longer had a knife, I tried to spread my butter on the bread roll and the crackers with a spoon – until I noticed that my fellow passenger was staring at me in utter disbelief. After a moment she shrugged. Since we had already had a fight over one part of a seat belt that we both claimed to own, she already knew I was British and so obviously made allowances for the fact. I was just about to do battle with the cheese when the coffee arrived. I now found myself in what I like to call the ‘Vicar’s tea party’ situation, with a buttery spoon in one hand, my cheese in the other and at the same time trying to balance a cup of hot coffee. (Don’t even try to get milk in your coffee on an American flight. They look at you as if you are utterly bereft of any sense or breeding.) The cheese proved as awkward as I suspected – in fact more so. There was absolutely no way to open the wrapping. By the time I managed to make a small hole in one end with my teeth, the cheese was a sort of flat cake, which I somehow squeezed through a tiny gap in soggy crumbs. I was aware that my fellow passenger was staring at me again but I wasn’t about to be beaten into submission by a small piece of cheddar, if that is what it was. An hour before we landed in London the performance began all over again. Since I had already used up more calories in trying to eat the first meal than I had obtained from it, and had already embarrassed myself enough in front of my fellow passenger, I pretended to be asleep and bought a Cornish pasty at the airport!

High Tea by Alan Butler


51

27 Milton Street Saltburn-by-the-Sea

Tel. (01287) 623049 (01287) 622056

For a friendly efficient service on all legal matters

CONVEYANCING (FREE WRITTEN QUOTATIONS ON REQUEST) MATRIMONIAL MATTERS CIVIL - CRIMINAL LITIGATION

MILES, HUTCHINSON & LITHGOW SOLICITORS

CHILD CARE IMMIGRATION PROBATE & WILLS INJURY & ACCIDENT CLAIMS LEGAL AID PRACTICE

TONY’S Established 1980 PROFESSIONAL VACUUM CHIMNEY SWEEP SERVICE

(using brush and vacuum)

All types of appliances swept including Gas

Flues and Smoke Updraught Testing

NACS Certificate always issued NVQ Chimney Engineering Qualified & Certificated For the full professional service

Tel: 01947 604736 ALL AREAS COVERED www.tonyschimneysweepwhitby.co.uk

Master Chimney Sweep and North East Executive of National Association

of Chimney Sweeps

Hetas approved

Neil Wilson Builder and Joiner

Your local professional builder Established 1974.

All aspects of building and joinery

work undertaken by qualified, experienced tradesmen.

For free estimate call:

01287 652124

or 07976 628783 Member of the

Federation of Master Builders

Saltburn 500 Club/Friends of Saltburn Funding for the replacement box hedging in the Italian Gardens has been obtained through Groundworks working with the council. Funding has been applied for, for the birdsmouth fencing on the grassed area at the bandstand also with two or three seats and an information board. Planning permission will hopefully have been granted at the end of January for the placing of three Victorian figures in the garden at the bandstand. Funding will be applied for to replace the metal railings along by the cemetery. If anyone has any other projects they would like to see in the town, please contact 624046.

Table Top Sales Outside the Station Portico area every Sunday 9.00am to 2.00pm 3rd March

2013 to 27th October 2013 Due to the demand for spaces they must be booked in advance. Please arrive by 8.30am and, if possible, stay until 2.00pm. The organiser will be at the Station Portico from 7.00am, please do not arrive earlier. Thank you. To book please contact J Taylor on 01287 624046. A message may be left on the answering machine. Please state your name and telephone (landline) number along with your message for a reply. Please note cars are not permitted on the Station Portico area.


52 52

I expect the weather will be much better in February than it’s been this week. I’m looking out at loads of snow. I hope to be sowing in a big way this month and don’t really want it to be this cold. I expect to sow broad beans, summer lettuces, salad leaves, early peas, summer cabbages, radishes, tomatoes, peppers and turnips. Books and magazines also often add parsnips to February’s sowings but I reckon it’s too early and March is better. I was reading about parsnips and the article said that with modern varieties of parsnip, it was possible to have a much longer harvesting period. This was for two reasons, because these varieties matured faster and because they were bred to be sweeter. (This means that it’s not so important to leave them in the ground until the first frost, which converts their starch to sugar, thus sweetening them up. Mind you, I still don’t understand why digging them up and putting them in the freezer for a while wouldn’t do the trick for the older varieties. Anyway, enough of parsnips. If you are going to sow any of the above that are hardy, in the great outdoors, they will benefit from protection from the weather, cloches or something similar. I will be starting everything above off in the polytunnel. This includes the broad beans and peas. For the broad beans I put each one in a small pot or I fill the inside of a loo roll with compost and sow one bean per roll, pushing them below the surface to their own depth. I then replant them outside in late March when the weather’s so much better, loo roll and all. This saves disturbing the roots. With peas, I’m starting to favour the guttering method. Put a plant pot over each end of the gutter (to stop the compost coming out), fill the gutter two thirds full with compost, water and then sow seeds quite thickly packed together as peas really like each other’s company. Cover with another layer of compost. When the plants look nice and healthy and about three to four inches tall, you can dig a gutter sized trench where you want the peas to grow in the garden and shuffle them out into the ground. It can be better to use short pieces of guttering as it makes the job easier. At Grow and Learn we have the luxury of a heated greenhouse and there we will be sowing tender herbs such as basil and also starting off peppers and tomatoes during February. I always remember my friend during February (not only then, of course) who sows her tomatoes on Valentine’s day, as that’s what the Romans did, considering tomatoes to be “love apples”. Lastly, if you have apple and pear trees and prune them this month, or even if you’ve already pruned, look out for branches affected by canker. They will display patches of shrunken, darker bark which often develop flaky rings. It’s a fungus and, in spring will spread to other branches if left. The best option is to prune everything infected out and get the pruning off your plot as quickly as you can. Keep warm and happy gardening, Sue.

Saltburn

Allotments Association

Try something different at Grasers

Celeriac Celeriac is not the most photogenic of vegetables but it tastes fantastic. It is actually a cultivated variety of celery and has a delicate celery-like flavour. It is sometimes called turnip-rooted celery. Although it looks like a swollen root tuber botanically it is a hypocotyl, that is the plant part between the root and the cotyledons. It originated in the Mediterranean area but is now grown throughout the world in many varieties. It is a very good source of Vitamin K and a reasonable source of trace elements calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc. It is delicious when roasted with spices but can be boiled, steamed, fried or stewed and makes a good alternative to mashed potato since it contains little starch. It is also good as the main ingredient of a soup. It does not take long to cook and is well worth trying.


53

The Muses of Jim I think it is safe to say the public meeting called by the Parish Council to share their public concern over the plans for the Borough Council to impose parking charges and restrictions within the town area of Saltburn was a huge success. I lost count of the number of people there, and I understand people were standing in the corridors and even outside at open windows listening outside to the meeting. I was very impressed in the way everyone conducted themselves. Whilst everyone was gravely concerned about the plans the meeting was carried out with a certain amount of good humour. It appeared that most people had a chance to speak. It was unfortunate that apart from our three ward councillors no other senior councillor or senior officer was present, although, several Borough Councillors were in attendance and were in fact made welcome. It was clear that what we want is to be listened to. We know and love the town. It could be said that the success of the growth of the town is mainly due to the people of Saltburn and the community groups that work so hard to promote the town. Continuing, with the Parish Council. We had a very interesting meeting on Monday, 14th January 2013, where there were three items of special interest to the Council. The Beach Valley, sorry Volley Ball Courts, created some ironic amusement, coming in the middle of a Pre- Consultation Period (this a new term, not known in Whitehall) over the parking farce. The Government broke a promise to the first tier of local Government, by changing the grant system, so that the Parish is facing a cut of 2-3%. Finally, one councillor had proposed that because some councillors that are also Borough Councillors couldn`t attend on certain Monday nights that we change the night to another. Fortunately, this was crushed. See my other article on page 45. On a more personal level I survived Christmas. Boxing Day saw me at my daughter’s in Cheshire for a couple of nights. Boxing Day night was spent at the pantomime at Manchester, Starring the HOFF, as Captain Hook in Peter Pan; he was very good as was the rest of the show. The next day was spent at Liverpool. People will remember Betty liked the city. We visited the new Museum of Liverpool. We found that it was a great place to visit and it`s free. It’s a very hands on place and very child friendly. For somebody of my age it`s very sobering, because what`s on display is very similar to what I remember as a child. As always I had brought Betty along with me and I left some of her at her favourite places on the water front. On the home front I am progressing nicely. I have made a jelly (strawberry), and a rice pudding (home made). I admit I had to ask Barbara in Sainsbury’s which was the correct type of rice. I have mastered the washing machine, but I am having a problem with the Dyson, as I have been told not to lift heavy weights. So I am saving up to buy a lighter model. Jim Wingham

Jody Condell Mobile Hairstylist

Perfect Hair, Perfect Prices, All in the Comfort of

your Own Home! Contact me for a

Friendly and Reliable Service.

Tel: 07866 074666 Email: [email protected]

You can also Add me on Facebook to check out my

Price List and Special Offers Available!


54 54

The Saltburn Crossword no 140 set by Saxton

Solution to Crossword no 139

The winner of last month’s crossword was Anne Elliott of Brookside Terrace, Sunderland.

WROUGHT IRON

SPECIALISTS Made-to-Measure SINGLE & DOUBLE GATES

RAILINGS , SECURITY BARS AND RENOVATION WORK

Call Trev on 01287 676253

Mobile : 07817 237910 Competitive Prices

Name___________________________________ Address_________________________________ ________________________________________ Telephone_______________________________

D. V. Townend & Co Country Outfitters

New Shop Premises Now 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 and 12 Dundas Street East, Saltburn TS12 1AH8 and 12 Dundas Street East, Saltburn TS12 1AH8 and 12 Dundas Street East, Saltburn TS12 1AH8 and 12 Dundas Street East, Saltburn TS12 1AH

www.dvtownend.com

AcrossAcrossAcrossAcross 1 Like some Saltburn accommodation but sled there crashed (9) 6 With a fad, editor found in and grew pale (5) 9 Spelled out again on a keyboard sort within colour (7) 10 Remove fastening from initial United Nations countries losing against saintly priests (7) 11 Saltburn road marksmen all lie about (6, 4, 4) 13 Naughty party cashed gyro (4) 14 Artificial products Pict lass arranged (8) 18 Tributary facial hair? (8) 19 Shock saint at the United Nations (4) 22 Great Royal Occasion made Joe build in confusion (7, 7) 25 Madame Shi perfume made Mo dream at sea (3, 4) 26 Moves unsteadily like a bee dancing? Horse found in Wales! (7) 27 live or reside in bricked wells (5) 28 Call in place for services not the night outskirts (3, 6)

DownDownDownDown 1 Hurting about Rose (4) 2 Sent to Coventry to arrange sent grade (9) 3 He or she would do 9 across or pity poor saint (6) 4 Helps to steer a ship back in red Durham (6) 5 She finds us in a drill (8) 6 Without a visage describes most bureaucrats (8) 7 She finds our editor in District Attorney’s office (5) 8 Sad lowering of the iron? (10) 12 Thought about at length after Saltburn Club deride shamefully (10) 15 Together conspiring or just where to grow vegetables? (2, 3, 4) 16 Out of the ordinary but a balm nor mixed answer (8) 17 English City visited by actors Pitt and Harrison (8) 20 Saltburn feature no longer used beneath method (6) 21 Unmarried just once (6) 23 Confuse brain with advert led astray (5) 24 Small island lies somewhere (4)

See the crossword article on page 34.

Note the new address for crossword entries Send your completed crossword to: Saltburn Crossword no 140, c/o Jackie’s Saverstore, 8 Station Buildings, Saltburn, TS12 1AQ by Friday, 15th February 2013. First correct solution out of the bag wins a £10 voucher kindly donated by Tim and Sheila of Real Meals.


55


56 56


talk of the town, february 2013

Documents

saltburn world

ladies of saltburn wi

bra lady

wrong fitting bra

wrong sized bra

club members

bra fitting services

right sized bra