The Season’s Greetings to you All!
The people named below would like to wish all their local friends & neighbours
A Joyous Christmas and A Happy New Year!
John and Helen Dickinson
Gill and Pete Steele
John, Cathy & Helen at Great Ayton Library thank their customers for their support & send best wishes for Christmas & 2007.
Donations have been made to the Community Care Association. Received with thanks.
Thompson’s Christmas Grotto
Sunday 19th November
10.30am – 12.00 & 12.30pm – 2.00pm
Father Christmas will be coming!
When Father Christmas came last year he raised
£200 for Yorkshire Cancer Research again.
He is looking forward to coming back this year
and proceeds will again go to Yorkshire Cancer Research.
If you would like to collect a colouring Christmas picture/letter from Thompson’s Hardware you could bring it along as you visit Father Christmas on
Sunday 19th November.
Thank you for your valued support
Richard Thompson
Message from the new CCA Chair, David Sills
As reported last time, Kath Murray retired as Chairman at our AGM, causing a series of changes on the Executive Committee. I was appointed Chairman with Dorothy Blakey as Vice Chairman; David Dale is now Treasurer and Don Brown Secretary. We also said farewell to Irene McDonald and John Ramsdale who retired as Executive Members although John continues to look after the transport side of things. We thank them all for their commitment and support over many years. We appointed Alan Herd and John Leeman to the Executive Committee. In the office Ann Winney left to work elsewhere and Ann Maddison was appointed as a new secretary to work 14 hours per week. One of our great strengths is that we are able to staff the office and be available on the telephone from 9am to 5pm five days a week. We are confident that the new appointments will enable us to continue to offer this service. We are also pleased that Elizabeth Robinson has agreed to contiue with her work inputting data into our computer system and acting as Minutes Secretary for both the Executive Committee and the Advisory Committee.
We recently succeeded in obtaining a grant from Awards for All, part of the lottery funding, to enable us to update our computer system, with new terminals networked, & broadband access to the Internet. Our thanks are due to Don Brown who gave much time & expertise to ensure that it was up & running with few snags. It has enabled us to move forward by paying staff & volunteers by BACS payments and keeping records in ways which are required by our funding partners.
We have placed an order for another new minibus which is now being prepared with delivery expected by the end of October. We are conscious that our minibuses need replacing every 5 years because they get so much use, so fund raising will be on-going. If you, or an organisation you are involved with, would like to assist us in fund raising please make contact! A new minibus costs £30,000 and, although groups and public bodies help us and people are very generous, we must continue fund raising ourselves.
To enable us to respond to all the requests for help we receive, we need an army of volunteers, people who use their own cars to take clients to appointments, minibus drivers, carers and befrienders. If you feel that you have a little spare time and could offer help, please contact Helen Murfin who will be only too pleased to chat to you about where you might fit in. None of us can be certain when we will require the support of volunteers, so why not become one while you are fit and have time to offer?
We have maintained nearly all our activities this year: Luncheon Club, Chairobics, a weekly dance and the Friday afternoon ‘Take a Break’ refreshments in the Town Hall, gentle exercise in the Methodist Church Hall and Carers Support, Pop-in at the Centre and Listening Service in the Community Care Centre in Town Close. One of our activities, a regular Saturday evening dance in the Methodist Church Hall, had to cease with the retirement of its organisers, Lilian & Norman Cuthbert, who had faithfully & generously organised this activity for many years. It is people like these who we are trying desparately to replace. If you would like further information on any of these activities or, better still, to offer to assist with them, please contact Helen Murfin (710 085).
Please Help to Save our Tourist Information Centre!
As reported in the last issue of The Stream, closure of the Tourist Information Centre was averted FOR THIS PAST SUMMER by generous funding from the PARISH COUNCIL.
However, the closure threat remains.
Strenuous efforts are being made to obtain funding from various sources.
CLOSURE of the Tourist Information Centre would be a considerable loss to both the local community and to the many visitors from all over this country and around the world, especially Australia and New Zealand, who rely on and appreciate the service we provide.
WE NEED EVIDENCE AND TESTIMONY OF LOCAL SUPPORT
TO INCLUDE AS SUPPORTIVE EVIDENCE TO OUR APPLICATION FOR FUNDING.
PLEASE WRITE LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR US:
We would be very grateful for any letters of support from residents and businesses in Great Ayton, pointing out the importance of a Tourist Information Centre in a village publicised as the Boyhood Home of Captain Cook, with its Museum, statue and obelisk, close to Captain Cook’s Monument, the North York Moors National Park and a natural gateway to National Trust land including Roseberry Topping. Residents also use the Centre to find details of other local events and visitor attractions, and the accommodation service is used by visitors and by residents needing extra placements for family occasions. The village shops, cafés, hotels and B & Bs are promoted by the Tourist Centre and all benefit from the tourists attracted here. Obviously, if there is no Information Centre here the tourists may go elsewhere for their Information and therefore their services, so the village could lose business and the tourists could miss out on a thriving village well able and happy to welcome them and meet their needs.
Visitors are already being invited to sign a petition in support of our continued operation, but one letter is said to represent at least 10 signatures, and carry even more weight. Additionally, any financial contribution, however small, towards interim operating costs would be very much appreciated. The Management Committee
Please address any correspondence on this subject to our Secretary:
Miss Peggy Friend, 57 Marwood Drive, Great Ayton, TS9 6PD.
Fair Trade in Stokesley and Great Ayton?
Stokesley and Great Ayton Fairtrade Committee are now in a position to ask
their Parish Councils for support in applying for fair-trade status for the town & village.
A wine tasting session for local business people & Parish Councillors was held in Stokesley Town Hall. The Chair of the Rotary Club & the Chairman of Stokesley Parish Council attended. Informal discussion of fair trade issues continued all the evening & Karen Loftus of Guisborough Fairtrade steering group gave a short talk on how they had obtained Fairtrade status for their town. This was followed by an exchange of ideas on fair trade in the broadest sense including looking at fair trade for local producers & farmers. The problems of the Ghanaian farmer getting a fair price for his cocoa beans were contrasted with the problems facing Yorkshire sugar beet farmers, now that Terry’s of York are moving the production of chocolate away from Yorkshire to factories abroad.
Fairtrade red wine, white wine, fruit juices & snacks were available & there was a Traidcraft stall selling a wide range of cards, foods & fancy goods.
The Fairtrade committee will now put a detailed resolution to their P.C.s for consideration. The committee would be very pleased to hear from any businesses that are already offering Fairtrade tea, coffee or other products, or any businesses who would like to offer these goods.
More details of the campaign & how to get involved are available by contacting
Barbara Hawkins 01642 723 160 or Denise Henderson 01642 711 227
Skottowe in Africa !!
In June, during the World Cup, I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to help people with cerebral palsy.
The trek was organised by the national charity, SCOPE, & my sponsorship was split between SCOPE & the Teesside Ability Support Centre on Acklam Road. I met 37 other trekkers for an overnight flight to Nairobi & straight onto a 9 hour bus ride to Tanzania. The customs post between Kenya & Tanzania was very Michael Palin! Clouds cleared in the distance & we got our first view of snow covered Kilimanjaro 40 miles away.
A last night of relative luxury in a hotel then, on day 1, joined by 104 porters, guides & cooks, we were off on a gentle introduction as we climbed through the rainforest. Cold mist gave way to very pleasant sunshine & 25°C.
Day 2 was very different, climbing through giant heather to 12,500 feet. It was cold, with sideways fine rain, the type that gets through any waterproof clothing. High altitude causes the body to dump large quantities of water. Even on day 2 this was evident in the number of individual diversions off the trek into the nearest available cover! Imagine 10 guys at night in close confinement in bunk beds in a small room taking it in turn to don head torches & disappear briefly into the night. Sleep did not happen.
The much more serious effects are water on the lungs or water on the brain. Either can be fatal but at the least, most climbers suffer headaches & nausea. On day 3 I felt wretched. General exhaustion, or altitude sickness or other causes (let’s just say Immodium was the major part of my diet) maybe, but if it had been any other day than the acclimatisation day where we stayed at the same altitude, I would have been left behind.
Day 4: along the “Saddle”, a high altitude desert between the twin peaks of Kilimanjaro to the last huts at 15,500 feet. To bed at 7:30 before setting off at midnight for the final climb - a single file, torchlight procession on a zigzag path up the cone of the volcano. It took 6 hours to reach the crater rim, by which time several walkers had had to go back, one guy had passed out & one poor girl had been sick 5 times. 18 of us managed the last 2 hours along the top of the crater, past a glacier to the top of the mountain, Uhuru Peak. After 1 hour of sleep the further 6 hours’ walking that day were not easy! However - I raised well over £5,000 net & it was a fantastic experience!
Thanks again to everyone who supported me!
Alan Pearson 6 SKOTTOWE DRIVE, GREAT AYTON
Fun in the Sun?
Picture the scene … a wide, flattish expanse of ground enclosed by 8 feet high fences. Tents of various size & elderliness haphazardly arranged in clusters of ‘family-groups’. There is no water. There is dust everywhere, clinging to sweaty bodies as the work of pitching camp continues, the sun beating down relentlessly onto naïve, unhatted heads, unprotected necks & arms. Picture the scene, not in some far-flung sun-beaten clime, but here in the North East. It is the end of July & the Methodist Young People & friends are in Herrington Country Park under Penshaw Monument.
NE1 was a huge youth mission to the North East. Over 1500 young people from our region, the rest of the country, & from Texas, gathered together for a week of worship, teaching & service. The week was launched with a huge service including Friday who provided rocking accompani-ment to worship, a word from Jon Burns & a prayer & commissioning from the Bishop of Durham, Revd Tom Wright. All were impressed how, when the PA amplification failed, he made himself heard naturally to the 2500 people present!
After a night of little sleep & a very early morning, the 1500 young delegates made their way back to the marquee for a very noisy time of worship & teaching. A DJ got things started & the place was soon jumping. After this, we were divided into teams, allocated buses & dispersed to various places across the length & breadth of the region. Part of our group went to Whitley Bay to refurbish a children’s playground; the rest of us went to Birtley, under the shadow of the Angel.
Here, we were greeted by a local church, taking on a dilapidated Assemblies of God building, redundant for 10 years, in order to start a new church in the heart of a difficult area. Our task was to help them to get to know the community & show that God loves them in very practical ways. Half the team were sent to organise sports activities on the playing field, whilst the rest of us went to tidy some long-neglected gardens. It was hot work, but worthwhile as we tidied up gardens for elderly people. The sport was a success, drawing children together without fights breaking out & achieving results through football coaching, with the hope of a youth team being formed by the local church this Autumn. The biggest impact was made on a young couple, recently moved into a house whose garden was filled with layers of rubbish, & disheartened after clearing away & burning over 20 full sacks. Their neighbours suggested that we gave them a hand. Boots, toys windows, net curtains, bottles, iron-work & all manner of debris had been dumped there & was buried under layers of soil & rubble. It took 2 afternoons of exhausting labour to clear & dig their garden. The excitement in their faces was brilliant when they saw the clear ground, & the man told us of his plans for a ‘fort’ that he would build in the top corner so their children would have somewhere to bring their friends to play, away from the often volatile playing-field.
We took part in a community BBQ, enjoyed good food, & welcomed showers in the homes of our new Pentecostal friends & co-workers. Back at camp each evening, we swapped stories about our day’s adventures, enjoyed late-night cabaret performances from bands & other artists, drank hot chocolate & built relationships with peers from across the camp.
The week ended with a huge Youth Event, filling the giant marquee with the many local young people whom we had met during the week out in the communities. Loud music, football skill demos, DJ, speaker & worship rounded off a week of hard work. Exhausted, & looking forward to flush toilets, we struck camp to return home for sleep & to send text messages to new friends in many places. Catherine Hutton, Methodist Minister
Great Ayton Bridge Club
The Bridge Club meets each Friday evening at 7.00 pm in the Roman Catholic Church Hall, Race Terrace. We welcome players of all standards who enjoy playing duplicate bridge. We normally play about 24 hands in a pleasant and friendly atmosphere, breaking for coffee and a chat halfway through the proceedings.
Occasionally we enjoy a more competitive evening when we play for one of the Club’s trophies. At Christmas we have a party with an excellent supper and an evening of social bridge. If you are interested in joining us we would very much like to hear from you.
Please telephone either:
Margaret Lunn – 01642 723 671 or myself, Barbara Bigland – 01287 633 773
The Indomitable Gesture of Organ Sunday
On Sunday 17th September the evening service at the Methodist Church was a celebration, marking 75 years since the organ was officially opened on 11th September 1931. The Opening must have been regarded as a rather prestigious occasion because attendance was by ticket only. A guest organist gave a recital and we can only imagine the singing in a full church led by the church organist, Mr Tingle.
The inspiration for the building of the present Methodist Church was of course the movement of mining families into the village. That was in 1913, and Sunday School was considered to be a very important part of the Church’s link with the local community. The musical tradition has always been strong and throughout those early years the Church had a Choir. There was also a well-supported Male Voice Choir in the village.
My mind drifted back to those early 30s years and the kind of people who formed the congregation at the time of the installation of this same organ. The ones I can remember almost all worked with their hands. They were artisans. Mr Tingle, the organist, lived in a cottage opposite the old Post Office. He sold books from the front room of his house and he would do small-scale book binding. Hilda and Percy Petch had taken a butcher’s shop on the High Green. Ernie Ingram was a boot and shoe maker and repairer. He worked in a wooden hut just through the archway in the High Street. The fumes from his coke stove made him wheeze continually in the winter time. Tom Robson was a tailor in a house just beyond Harbottle’s old shop. George Robson was a builder and Sunday School Superintendent. Then of course there were the local farming families, some of which are still around.
These occasions always trigger some reflection and I was left wondering what would drive the relatively small congregation to install a Nelsons of Durham organ, costing £450 - £500 at a time of “soul-destroying depression” affecting the whole community. By this time the last of the local mines had closed and 2 years later, when I started at the British School (now the Library) it was impossible not to be aware of the poverty which was all around. David Petch
1ST Great Ayton Scout Group
Once again Scouts and Cubs have enjoyed an active and interesting Summer period.
Membership of the Scout group has grown as a result of forming our second Scout group which opened in the Summer term & which is now thriving. Total membership of the group now stands at 114 young people. Waiting lists still exist for Beaver and Scout sections.
During Spring and Summer, annual camps were attended by Scouts; Cubs and Beavers held a sleep over. Some of our Scouts attended an International Scout camp in Cheshire in August which was attended by Scouts from as far afield as Siberia and the USA. Some Cubs attended an activity day in Sheffield to celebrate 90 years of Cub Scouting this year and this event was attended by Cubs from all over the North East Region. The birthday celebration year for 20 years of Beaver Scouting is coming to an end with further celebration activities planned before the end of the year.
The Scout group is looking forward to 2007, which is the Centenary year of the Scout movement founded by Baden Powell in 1907. Scouting has 28 million members worldwide with half a million members in the UK. In August 2007 a Sunrise Ceremony is being held which Scouts from across the world will join in.
Mini Bus
Our mini bus is now nearing the end of its useful life and we have a fund in place to replace it in the near future. Over the next months as well as raising money for our mini bus appeal we will be holding local events to raise funds to support our Scout group. These include a Casino night, a quiz night, the annual duck race and further events in the planning.
My thanks to all Leaders and members of the Executive Committee who devote a lot of their time to organising Scout and Cub activities and meetings. As always, if you think you would like to join us and help run one of our sections or be involved in the movement, you would be most welcome.
If so, please contact one of the Leaders or myself:
Philip Walker: 711 503, Chairman, Group Executive Committee
Beaver Colony Boys aged 6 – 8 yrs Meet Fridays
Cubs Endeavour Pack Boys aged 8 – 10 ½ yrs Meet Mondays
New Scout Troop Boys aged 10 ½ yrs – 14 yrs Meet Tuesdays
Cubs Monument Pack Boys aged 8 – 10 ½ yrs Meet Wednesdays
Scout Troop Boys aged 10 ½ yrs – 14 yrs Meet Thursdays
Explorer Scout Unit Boys aged 14 – 18 yrs Meet Thursdays
Guiding in Great Ayton continues to thrive
In this year’s census we paid 130 subscriptions!
Rainbows
Our 2 Rainbow units continue to do well; both full, with the usual waiting lists! Rainbows have again been to Guisborough Walkway making bird feeders & bat boxes. They also enjoyed lots of craft & food activities, were recycling recently, & made boats which they sailed down the river.
Brownies 1st Brownies have enjoyed trips to Guisborough Walkway, making bird boxes and, more recently, pond dipping. At Easter they had fun decorating eggs and rolling them at Gribdale. They have worked on their Cook’s badge – cooking a 3 course meal for the Leaders. 2nd Brownies recently held a coffee evening to raise much needed funds, for which the Brownies gained their Hostess and Entertainer badges. It has been a difficult time for 3rd Brownies due to the ongoing uncertainty regarding their use of Roseberry School. As a voluntary organization, we have not been able to fund the cost of the facilities there & the outcome has been that after 33 years 3rd Great Ayton Brownies will no longer meet at Roseberry School. From September both the Brownie and Rainbow units based there will move to the W.I. Hall which I think will be beneficial to all concerned and I thank the WI for their support. Despite these concerns, the Brownies have still managed a Pack Holiday and various badges.
Guides Guide numbers are also relatively good considering we have 2 units in the village, but the girls are happy to come so we must be doing something right! 1st Guides have enjoyed a night out at Burger King then Bowling, lots of craft and walks up Roseberry Topping and Captain Cook’s Monument. They have gained their Chocolate Lover’s badge & I understand that choc-olate tasting was the best bit! All the girls are looking forward to their holiday weekend planned for October at Holme House. 2nd Guides have had an overnight camp at a local farm, which was aimed at giving young Guides some camping experience. 3 girls were enrolled after a dawn walk. The girls have had a Chinese evening cooking oriental food & a Yorkshire Pudding competition, the winner being crowned ‘Miss Yorkshire Pudding’. They have worked on their Performing Arts badge, & their Agility badge which involved a 5km bike ride through woods at Ingleby Greenhow.
Guiding in Great Ayton is very healthy. We have some fantastic Guiders who give their time freely for what sometimes feels like little reward, and for this I thank them. As a District we look forward to another successful year. We hope to get all our girls to Beamish for the County Fun day next July and have already planned Christmas fundraisers to assist financially.
Anita Huntsman, District Commissioner 01642 710909
1st Guides 1st Brownies 2nd Rainbows
10 & over 2nd Brownies 7-1 0 years 5-6 years
2nd Guides 3rd Brownies 3rd Rainbows
Venues & Times of Meetings can be obtained from the District Commissioner (above).
Five Things You Probably Didn’t Know About…Hambleton Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
1. Who runs the Citizens Advice Bureau?
Hambleton CAB is a charity, run by local people. It gives advice on everything from benefits, employment issues and consumer rights to housing, immigration and debt advice. Most of the advisers are volunteers, trained to high professional standards.
2. Why is Hambleton CAB so busy and why can I never get through on the telephone?
Because we give free, independent & confidential advice & the demand for the service is great. We always need more volunteers, to help even more people. We can’t always see people as quickly as we would like, but always see everyone who needs our advice as soon as possible.
3. Can you really help with anything?
Yes, we can and do! Our main areas of enquiry are debt, benefits and tax credits, housing and employment. But we can deal with any question.
4. Could I volunteer?
Yes, we are always looking for people to join our team. As well as training advisers, we also want people with other skills, like fundraising, admin, IT, & languages. We also need people to be members for our trustee board. You don’t need formal qualifications & many volunteers find that CAB experience provides a route into paid work. We want volunteers from the whole community, regardless of age, race, gender, sexuality or educational background.
5. Who pays for the CAB?
We are a charity & we need money to continue our work. Most of our funding comes from our County & District Councils, but also from Big Lottery Fund, Hambleton & Richmondshire PCT,
as well as donations from local companies, organisations & individuals.
Hambleton Citizens Advice Bureau
Advice Sessions (in person) by appointment only
Appointments available: 10am – 3pm Telephone Advice available: 10am – 4pm
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday.
To Make Appointments: To Ask Advice:
Appointment line: 01609 776 551 Advice line: 0845 122 8689
Appointment Fax: 01609 773 365 Advice Fax: 01609 773 365
Appointment Email: Advice Email: ku.gro.bacnotelbmah|ecivda#ku.gro.bacnotelbmah|ecivda
ku.gro.bacnotelbmah|nimda#ku.gro.bacnotelbmah|nimda Advice Online: www.hambletoncab.org.uk
Address: Hambleton Citizens Advice Bureau, 27 High St, Northallerton, N. Yorks. DL7 8DW
A Local Quaker in Lebanon 1948 – ’57 & 1963 – ’66
None of us are able to choose the family into which we are to be born, or know the pattern of life we will follow in the years ahead, but we are all influenced in our early years by family, school and friends. I was fortunate to be born in this village of Ayton, near beautiful countryside: Roseberry Topping, Captain Cook’s Monument & the Cleveland Hills. Walks, in all the seasons, a delight. An introduction to the natural world, learning its secrets – to be with the Spirit & mystery of Creation.
My father, Herbert Dobbing, was a teacher at Ayton Friends’ School from 1920 – ’48. In 1939 he was given long leave from Ayton to go to Germany to visit isolated Friends & help with relief work with the Jews and others who had been persecuted in the Concentration Camps. On his return he was asked, by Friends, if he would consider being Principal of Brummana, a Quaker boarding and day school in the Lebanon. In 1948 he and my mother left Ayton to do Quaker Service Overseas.
In that year the state of Israel was founded. The Jews had never had their own homeland and it seemed the time was right to form one in part of Palestine. An area of South Lebanon was annexed to form part of Israel and Arab farmers, who had tilled that land for generations were expelled from their farms. Many of the refugee families settled in Brummana Village and their children were educated at the Quaker School. The absence of ritual in the Quaker way of Worship enabled Moslems and Christians to sit down together in common worship.
In 1965 my brother’s family and ours camped and caravanned overland to visit Brummana. Lebanon is a very small country, about the size of Wales, and the school is situated on a mountain ridge 2,300 feet up and giving a spectacular view of Beirut and the Mediterranean below. The political tensions were evident even then. We visited Sidon & Tyre, on the coast road south of Beirut. We were stopped at a checkpoint between the 2 towns and had our passports taken from us, to be returned when we came back. This was to prevent us from going into Israel.
My father spoke and wrote Arabic, which was very useful when we visited the Holy Land. We went to Damascus in Syria and to Hebron, the Dead Sea, Jerusalem and Bethlehem in the West Bank of Jordan. An amazing and unforgettable experience.
The problems of Middle East conflict are not ones to be tackled in The Stream. Sufficient to say that Jesus lived under Roman occupation and, historically, this area has been full of difficulties for a long, long time. Meanwhile, we must believe that with courage, faith and hope the way forward will be found for a lasting peace. Joyce Spinks, Society of Friends
Oh brother man, fold to thy heart thy brother.
Where pity dwells, the peace of God is there.
To worship rightly is to love each other, From a hymn by G Whittier
Each smile a hymn, each kindly deed a prayer. 1807 – 1892
Recipes kindly selected for us from the famous W.I. COOKBOOK
TURKEY DIVAN (serves 6)
Ingredients
450g (1 lb) Frozen Broccoli 25g (1 oz) Butter
700g (1½ lb) Potatoes, cooked & mashed 1 can Condensed Chicken Soup
350g (12 oz) Cooked Turkey Slices 2 tablesp. Dry Sherry/Dry White Wine
50g (2 oz) Cheddar Cheese, finely grated
Method
1. Cook broccoli in boiling salted water. Meanwhile, pipe a bed of mashed potato into centre of
warmed, flat, fireproof dish. Dot with butter.
2. Place sliced turkey on top of potato and arrange cooked broccoli around potato.
3. Heat undiluted soup in a pan. Add sherry/wine. Pour over turkey, leaving broccoli uncovered.
4. Sprinkle with cheese. Reheat and brown under a hot grill.
SAVOURY PANCAKE GATEAU (serves 6)
Fillings
1. 4 hard-boiled eggs, chopped and bound with 6 teasp. soured cream/thick yogurt. Salt & pepper.
2. 3 large firm tomatoes, thinly sliced, sprinkled with chopped fresh/dried basil. Salt & pepper.
3. 5 tablesp. Low fat curd cheese mixed with ¼ finely chopped green pepper. Salt & pepper.
Topping
4 tablespoons of soured cream/ whisked whole-milk yogurt.
Method
1. Make six 15cm (6 in.) pancakes. Heat oven to 160°C (325°F/Gas 3).
2. Mix the 3 fillings in separate bowls.
3. Lay one pancake on a heatproof flat serving plate. Cover evenly with ½ of filling 1.
4. Lay 2nd pancake on top & cover with ½ of filling 2. Add 3rd pancake & spread with all of filling 3.
5. Repeat layers using fillings 2 then 1. Top with the last pancake.
6. Cover with greased foil. Reheat for about 15 minutes.
7. Warm soured cream/yogurt slightly then spoon on top of pancakes.
8. Sprinkle with parsley to serve. Cut in wedges at table.
BLACKBERRY BETTY (serves 4 – 6)
Ingredients
4 Cooking Apples 100g (4 oz) Fresh White Breadcrumbs
175g (6 oz) Blackberries 50g (2 oz) Light Soft Brown Sugar
50g (2 oz) Sugar 50g (2 oz) Butter, melted.
Method
1. Peel, core & slice apples. Poach in very little water with blackberries & sugar until tender. Cool.
2. Using individual glasses, layer the fruit, breadcrumbs, a little brown sugar & a teasp. of melted
butter, continuing until you have used all the fruit.
4. Finish with a layer of Breadcrumbs, sugar and butter. Top with cream if liked.
BANANA TURNOVERS (makes 4)
Ingredients
175g (6 oz) Puff Pastry 2 tablesp. Jam 4 Bananas 1 Lemon
50g (2 oz) Soft Brown Sugar 1 egg to glaze 25g (1 oz) Flaked Almonds
Method
1. Heat oven to 220-230°C (425-450°F/Gas 7-8).
2. Roll out pastry then cut 4 circles about 15cm (6 in.) across. Relax pastry for 20 mins.
3. Brush each circle with Jam to within 1cm (1/2 in.) of edge. Mash banana with grated rind & juice
of lemon & sugar. Spoon into centre of pastry circles. Brush ½ edge of circles with beaten egg.
4. Fold circles over, press together and flute edges. Put on baking sheet & brush with beaten egg.
5. Cook for 15-20 mins. until starting to brown. Sprinkle with flaked almonds and return to oven
for a further 5 mins. Serve hot or cold. * Variation: Rum can be added to mashed banana!
Work from Roseberry Community Primary School
Luigi was swimming off the coast of Italy with his brother Mario. Suddenly Luigi spotted a fin on the horizon coming rapidly towards them. Mario swam to the beach but - where was Luigi?
Charles K and Megan S
John was sleeping. In the night, BANG! He was awoken. He screamed a girly scream. AHHHHHHHHHHH! He crept out of his bed, scared and shivering as he crept down stairs. Then all so suddenly he saw an ugly green light outside. He looked outside the window and AHHHHHHHH! A big, green, ugly spaceship outside the window.
Kaitlin Enderwick and Iain Fraser
"Get there Bob tackle him!"
'Get it up the line Bob!"
"Cross it Bob!"
'On your head Tom!"
"Shoot Matty!"
"In off the post GET IN!!!!"
"GOALLLLLL!!!"
"Like watching Brazil lads"
"Well done Teesside"
Joseph Marsay and
Jonathan Boal
My Pig Can …..
My pig can ride a bike
My pig can go to school
My pig can tell the time
My pig is really cool!
My pig can count to ten
My pig can climb a wall
My pig can build a house
My pig can’t oink at all!
Phoebe, 7,
Jamie, 6, Tomos, 6
My Shark can ….
My shark can play a game
My shark can go to the park
My shark can build a tower
My shark can see in the dark!
My shark can watch TV
My shark can jump off a wall
My shark can ride a bike
My shark can’t bite at all!
Jack, 6.
My Rabbit can ….
My rabbit can do the shopping
My rabbit can build a house
My rabbit can write a note
My rabbit can catch a mouse!
My rabbit can swat a fly
My rabbit can make a call
My rabbit can do PE But
My rabbit can’t hop at all!
Holly and Katie, 6.
PLAYTIME
Roseberry school has lots of play equipment. Indoor or outdoors. We dash around at playtime having a great time! We have a playing course with chains and swings. We also have balls, bats, hoops. We love it! It’s very good! We use the play equipment nearly every day! We also use it in PE and gym clubs. The equipment we have makes play time very exciting! We have so much fun! It’s great!
Eleanor McGough, Yr 4
COOL CLUBS
Teachers from Roseberry School give up their time after School to do Clubs. The clubs are: football, Art, choir, dance, puppets, basketball and gym. The teachers make after school more fun. All of these clubs appreciate what the teachers are doing. These clubs also help improve on the subject it is based on.
Kayleigh Coates, Yr 4
BEAUTIFUL GARDEN
At Roseberry School we have been digging 100s of potatoes! We have also been picking loads of tomatoes! They have been Beautiful sun flowers growing as well. This is all because of Mrs Wills and the children and the hard work they have been putting into the sensory garden.
Daniel Houldsworth, Yr 3
Jubilee Church? So Who Are We????
Jubilee Church is a vibrant, growing community of around 350 members based in Teesside. We meet every Sunday at McMillan College, Stockton Rd, Middlesbrough, TS5 4YU @ 10.30 am. We also have mid-week smaller gatherings in different places across Teesside (including The Friends Meeting House, High Street, Great Ayton). We have been established now for 7 years & are part of the ‘Newfrontiers’ family of churches www.newfrontiers.xtn.org
Our church is made up of people of all ages (youth, students, children, adults) & different cultures. Our vision is to build a large Teesside based church, relevant to the needs of its population. Presently we are involved in the following different areas serving Teesside:
The Alpha Course. Thought-provoking & fun 10 week course designed to explore Christian faith
Open Door. Our social action arm helping underprivileged people across Teesside
Big Groups & Small Groups. More intimate settings to make & meet friends & share ideas
The Marriage Course. A 7 week course aimed at ALL married/co-habiting couples discovering together key principles that promote strong, long lasting marriages
Entertainment. Great evenings of music, sport, live shows, & much much more!
A great opportunity to meet new people!
Youth & Student & Children’s groups. Encouraging & supporting guys & girls across Teesside
For more information please contact: Jubilee Church website: www.teesside.org
Raj & Charlotte Saha: gro.edisseet|jar#gro.edisseet|jar or 01642 725 076
or Jeremy & Ann Simpkins: gro.edisseet|ymerej#gro.edisseet|ymerej or 01642 722 622.
Office: Jubilee Church Teesside, Hope House, 1 Grange Road, Middlesbrough TS15BA .
Yatton House Society
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the local community
for their on-going support and interest in Yatton House.
Yatton House continues to offer valuable support to adults with Learning Difficulties to participate in new and rewarding activities, enabling them to gain essential skills in both recrea -tional and educational activities. Yatton House has opened its doors to the wider community, enabling new people to have the same access to what is on offer, thus adhering to the Govern-ment’s White Paper: ‘Valuing People’, offering choice, inclusion, well-being and independence.
Yatton House already has a successful Pantry every Wednesday and as part of the modernising Day Care Programme, the dining area will be having some much needed refurbish -ments, including an extension to give an air of comfort and relaxation, while enjoying the home cooking from Lynda and one of our service users, Clare, who at this present time has completed her food hygiene training.
Yatton House has sought funding to improve and extend the printing service by installing a state-of-the-art printing machine, which will be run with the help of another of our service users.
It is hoped that this will be part of the supported employment scheme.
If anyone is looking for a room or building to hire, then why not contact Brenda,
Yatton House Secretary, to find out about our competitive rates?
Judy Lindo, Manager
The Great Ayton Community Archaeology Project
After some 2 years of work we have just published our book on Roseberry Topping.
This has been a massive undertaking. We hope that everyone who knows and loves Roseberry will be pleased with the results. The book has been produced through a partnership between our group and Joe Cornish, our local photographer. We have researched and written the text, and Joe has provided some wonderful photographs. All aspects of the mountain are covered, including its name, geology & geography, farming & fox hunting, beacons & bonfires, witches & wildlife, mines & maps, accidents & rescues, and Roseberry’s appearances in art & literature. We have been amazed at the amount of fascinating history associated with Roseberry, much of it not published previously. Indeed, we have struggled to keep the book down to 208 pages.
A few snippets about the Topping:
*19th century illustrations of the Bronze Age axes and other tools, found on the Topping in 1826,
cast doubt on the authenticity of some of the ‘Roseberry hoard’ displayed in a Sheffield museum.
*The earliest map of Yorkshire, from 1577, shows what may be a beacon fire at the summit. This
would have been before the beacons set up in Elizabethan times to warn of the Spanish Armada
Incidentally, this map also shows Bilsdale covered in trees, which were later all cut down to feed
the Rievaulx Abbey iron-making business.
- In one of Sir Walter Scott’s lesser-known novels, The Pirate, there is a character who was born
at the foot of Roseberry Topping. How did Scott know about our mountain?
- The famous Roseberry Well, with its reputation for curing sore eyes, can still be seen near the summit. This is the place where legend has it that Prince Oswy was drowned, though it is difficult to imagine this happening today as the well has been reduced to a mere damp patch of ground.
- There is a Roseberry Topping in Wales, and there are Rosebery apples and potatoes.
As with all our researches, there is always more to do. We would like to find if there is any basis for the Roseberry Well curing sore eyes, why the large scoops were cut out around the upper slopes, and exactly how the first Lord Rosebery came to take his title from the Topping. Above all, the origins of the summerhouse remain a complete mystery. We hope that the publication of the book will bring forth more information and pictures, and perhaps lead to some answers to these and other questions. Do join in: new members are always welcome. Ian Pearce
If you would like to join us: we meet every Wednesday, 9:30 am in the Friends’ Meeting House. Do come, or ring: Dan O’Sullivan: 723 358 or David W Taylor: 722 748 or Ian Pearce: 722 964
If you would like a copy of the book:
please contact Ken Taylor: 722 400 or Hazel O’Sullivan: 723 358. It is £27.50 and would make an excellent Christmas present! We will deliver free within a 5-mile radius of Great Ayton.
Don Pickering
St Margaret Clitherow Roman Catholic Church at Gt Ayton was packed for the funeral and Mass of Celebration for the life of Don Pickering, the well-known and much-loved organist, who died suddenly on April 13th, his 70th birthday. The celebrants were Mgr Ray Charlton, Parish Priest, Mgr Seamus Kilbane, an old friend of the family, and Fr Anthony Storey, former Parish Priest.
Mgr Charlton said that he counted Don as a close and personal friend for many years. He was a dedicated member of the parish and had played the organ for more then 30 years, starting long before the present church was built, playing a donated pedal harmonium in St Margaret’s Hall. Mgr Charlton concluded: “He was a truly delightful person, with a generous, pleasant disposition, always smiling, a gentleman in the true sense of the word, and was God’s gift to us.” Don joined his wife in preparing the Ayton church for Mass on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings.
An only child, Don was born in Teesville. On leaving school, wishing to pursue a career in electronics, he enlisted in the RAF and did a training course in that subject. He was posted to Kenya, where he completed his short-term service contract before returning to live in Teesville. He then obtained a job with the TV rental firm, Rentaset, covering a large rural area from Stokesley to Egton. He met his future wife, Anne, in 1958. They married in 1961 and settled in Ayton, where they bought the bungalow in which they have lived ever since. They have always said that moving to Ayton was the best thing they had ever done. Don was next employed by Shell at Teesport, but his department closed in 1985 & he was offered work in Saudi Arabia. It was a big wrench to go there, but he remained in the job for 15 years, enjoying his home leaves.
Don took a keen interest in the education of their daughter, Catherine, and was elected a Governor of the school. He also supported her interest in Connemara ponies, travelling with her to shows all over the country. He was delighted when Catherine’s pony, Marwood’s Doon Caedmon, won the Pony of the Year title at Olympia in 1995.
He was a keen photographer and enjoyed reading. He liked to participate in village activities and organised many quizzes for charity. In general, he loved life and approached all activities calmly, but with enthusiasm.
Don’s grand-daughter, Frances, was born in 1999 and she quickly formed an affinity with him. They loved each other’s company and Don had started to teach her to play the organ. Don was a keen organist. He played the organ at the 10.30 Mass at Great Ayton and also, on a rota basis, at the 9 am Mass at Stokesley. Years ago he played at all four weekend services in both churches. He loved a wide selection of music, in particular classical church music, organ music and especially the music of J S Bach. A performance in the church by The Angrove Singers of Music for Good Friday, the day after Don’s death, was dedicated to his memory.
He will be sadly missed. Paul Pearson, son-in-law.
The Reveries of an Aged Pastor
Now that I have attained my Eightieth Year, and close on 50 in the priesthood, it seems a good time to look back over the years and reflect upon the past. Having become an octogenarian I wonder what all the fuss was about in being 80!! Apart from the fact that members of my family and close friends gave me presents, the day seemed pretty much the same as any other day. The sun rose in the morning and set in the evening, yet in some way the implications did not strike me. It is true, I had read psalm 90 in my devotions for years, where the usual term of human life is proclaimed as threescore and ten, and here I was ten overdrawn or, as one close friend reminded me, “You are well past the sell by date.” Hence it seems wise, while I have the mental faculties, to impart any lessons gleaned through the years.
Looking back, I realise how my prayer life has matured. No longer is it a long list of petitions and intentions, No longer remorse for past failings, rather a confidence in the love and mercy of my Divine Redeemer. With the passing of years there is more time for prayer and a closer familiarity with God the Father, His Divine Son, and His Blessed Mother. A time for thoughtful reflection. God in mysterious ways calls us each and every one to Himself.
It seems to me that every committed Christian has established his or her own method of prayer. For some it is almost a permanent reality, for others an occasional gift lasting perhaps but a second, but deeply moving and significant for all that. A consciousness of God’s presence in their lives: in effect, a mystical experience. For many, like myself, it is through the wonder of creation that the supernatural is first encountered and the spirit is lifted to realms that are far above the human condition, almost incapable of expression.
I can recall Cardinal Hume narrating how on one occasion he was out walking in the Cheviots. It was anything but an ideal day: there was a persistent drizzle, and mist reduced visibility to a few yards - in short, it was miserable. Quite unaccountably, the mist suddenly lifted, there was a shaft of sunlight, and in that moment a most breathtaking panorama was revealed. The distant coastline, with a turbulent sea, gulls wheeling. He said, “I just stopped in my tracks, spellbound, captivated by the scene before me – how long I do not know, maybe a second, perhaps much longer - but transfixed, and conscious of the Glory of God in His creation.”
It was during my time in the Royal Navy that I found a deep appreciation of the wonder of creation, and God’s presence in the natural order. No one, I believe, can witness the ocean in all its moods and not be moved to lift up his heart in prayer. I came to love the natural wonder of creation.
Until this experience I was little more than a nominal Christian, but the sense of the supernatural that I encountered, being at sea and seeing the vast ocean and seemingly infinite sky, developed a spiritual life that is with me still. The words of John Masefield’s “Sea Fever” come to mind: I have felt on my face the “wind like a whetted knife” and seen the “grey mist on the sea’s face and the grey dawn breaking”. The memory is with me to this day. I suspect it was such an experience that made the psalmist exclaim, ”mighty seas rage; greater above these does the Lord reign.”
I share these thoughts; they have helped me to see the face of God.
It may be that they may help others too, in life’s pilgrimage. Mgr Ray Charlton
Great Ayton Cricket & Football Club NYSD 2006 Premier Division Champions
Two years ago to the day I explained the significance of retaining our N. Yorkshire & S. Durham Premier Cricket League, Premier Division, status in our first season in the division…….
This season the Club Committee, with the aid of Cricket Team Manager, Dave Pennock, Director of Cricket, Norman Thurlow, & our talented Club Cricket Captain David Grainge, decided that to compete at the top level we needed a professional strike bowler to assist us in bowling sides out.
Thara Gunarathne, our original professional from Sri Lanka, was released (he had a successful season at Hartlepool); our England qualified pro, Darren Hickey was completing the 2nd year of a two year contract; a South African from Capetown, Rory Kleinveldt was signed, but at the last minute his Club refused, to allow him to join us (concerned about the ever increasing “Burn Out” in young cricketers). Dave Grainge then pulled off a master stroke by pursuing & eventually sign-ing his original choice, 21 year old Muhammed Riaz Afridi from Peshawar, Pakistan. “Rio” arrived after we had won our first match basically without any pro’s as Darren was nursing a “dodgy” hand, an injury that sidelined him from mid-June to the end of July. He was replaced by a 21 year old Yorkshire Academy batsman from Whitby, Chris Batchelor, who served us well.
Rio’s first match was at Marske & he was somewhat perturbed that we had to bat first as he was raring to bowl! We got off to a good start & at the fall of the 2nd wicket we were 95 for 2. We were led to believe that Rio was a “hard hitting” batsman whose forte was his bowling. He sat, with pads on, champing at the bit to get started – so David decided to elevate him to number 4! He scored 135 not out in 81 minutes with 6 fours and 14 sixes!! His 50 came off 32 balls & his 100 off 60. He peppered the streets of Marske around Windy Hill Lane with hitting that locals had never seen the like of before, & they have seen some real innings over the years. He followed up with 5 wickets for 48 & a win by 144 runs. What a start! His season contributed 97 league wickets at an average of 14.48, & 640 league runs at an average of 49.23. His full season’s figures were 114 wickets & 752 runs in 31 matches, including 9 wickets for 6 runs to clinch the championship against Darlington RA, when their 10th batsman went AWOL ! …….. Chicken !!
On Sunday 3rd September, with Leven Park brimming with spectators, we achieved our goal, the NYSD PREMIER CRICKET LEAGUE, PREMIER DIVISION, CHAMPIONSHIP, a feat akin to Darlington FC winning the FA Cup! DAVID and his team had achieved the impossible according to most of the area’s cricketing pundits. It was a tremendous achievement and a real TEAM effort with every squad member contributing at least one match winning performance. The village can be justly proud of their mainly home-grown team.
The Cricket & Football Club generally has also progressed significantly in the past 2 years, part-icularly in the encouragement of the youngsters of the village & immediate area. Our junior sides have increased to 4 cricket teams (under 11,13,15,17) & 5 junior football teams (under 10,11, 12, 14,16) in addition to 3 senior cricket sides and 2 senior football sides plus an over-35 outfit. The Club has gained ECB “Clubmark” accreditation for cricket & FA Charter Standard for football, set by the NGB, National Governing Bodies for sport & are essential in the running of sporting clubs. We have our own club Child Welfare Officer & with the training volunteers & coaches have we can ensure that your children are in “safe hands” while learning to be sports stars of the future.
The Clubhouse number is 723 723. Any budding footballers, contact: 37
Bill Hamer 725 318, whilst cricketers should contact Norman Thurlow 722 037.
If there is anyone out there interested in organising girls or ladies cricket or football PLEASE CONTACT US. Ray Speed. Hon. Sec. 722 121
Great Ayton’s Own Day Centre
We are a North Yorkshire County Council Adult & Community Services Day Centre, held in Addison Road, Gt Ayton. We can accommodate up to 10 people each day & at present all are ladies. We operate 2 days a week: Tuesdays & Fridays. The ladies are transported to & from the Day Centre by mini-bus or taxi. We have a number of volunteers who help out on a monthly rota basis, & one helper who kindly comes in every day after lunch.
We begin with morning coffee & biscuits, then a 2-course lunch & an afternoon cup of tea with extras: chocolates, sweets & sometimes ice cream. In between these we discuss the news of the day & anything of interest in the village. The ladies often like to share with their friends what they have been doing or where they have been on the previous days.
We read newspapers & magazines, enjoy poems & short stories, & do a number of activities, including playing cards, participating in gentle chair exercises, & listening to music. At the end of the day we have a general knowledge quiz which everyone has the opportunity to join in, to their great enjoyment.
We have occasional trips out for lunch – we have recently been to Grinkle Park Hotel, having a detour on the way across the moors via Castleton & Danby. We all enjoyed this very much – the heather on the moors was beautiful & the venue and lunch were superb. Earlier in the year we had lunch at the King’s Head in Newton under Roseberry, which was also delightful.
We sometimes have coffee mornings to raise money for our outings & extras, but when we hold our next one, on October 10th, we are giving the proceeds to the “Angel of Hope Fund”, a very worthy cause. Our friends, the Scallywags nursery from Roseberry School, come to sing for us each term & everyone looks forward to that occasion - the small children singing together, & some by themselves, is a joy to see & hear. At other times a lady brings her electric organ so we all have a good sing-song. We celebrate birthdays with a present & card, & all enjoy a cake, kindly made for us by a previous attender’s daughter. There are balloons & a celebratory atmosphere all round as we sing “Happy Birthday” to the Birthday Girl.
Everyone enjoys their 2 days each week at the Day Centre, including myself. It gives the ladies an opportunity to share experiences & keep their minds active. I thoroughly enjoy assisting them to do this & the ladies want to say that they greatly appreciate all I do.
Referral for a place at the Day Centre is via Social Services. Do ask, if you have a relative who would benefit from joining us. If you would like to volunteer your help (or make a donation towards our “extras”) please call me at the Centre on Tuesdays or Fridays: 724 175. Dorothy (Dot) Ellerby
Myth Busting
At the time of writing, we are looking at Giving at Christ Church, and in the process debunking a few popular myths about the Church. Here are some of them.
The Church of England is very rich.
On paper, so are you if you are a home owner in Gt Ayton, but it is not the same as having the income to pay the bills. Most of the Church of England’s assets are in buildings to house the clergy or in churches. There are certain artefacts that are valuable, but these are part of our heritage and not easily disposed of. The Church Commissioners have investments, but have more calls upon these for clergy pensions etc. than they can cope with.
The Church of England receives Government money to pay the bills.
In the UK churches do not receive direct state help. The Gift Aid scheme allows us, like any charity, to reclaim tax on donations. Listed buildings can now reclaim VAT on repairs, but that’s it. All the rest to pay for the Church to be available for the community to use for baptisms, weddings, funerals or other occasions comes primarily from congregations. It costs around £9,000 a month to run Christ Church and do the things we want to do in helping others. This year we will have paid £54,000 towards pay for the Diocesan clergy. i.e. our own Vicar and one in a poor parish elsewhere, and as Christians we help support many causes and charities locally, nationally and abroad.
The Vicar does well with all these weddings and funerals.
Overheard in the Church drive, but sadly not the case. All C of E parish clergy are paid exactly the same, no matter how few or how many weddings and funerals they take, or how well or badly they take them. This is because some parishes have lots of such services and others none. All fees collected for the minister go straight to York to help towards stipends. If you come to Christ Church for such a service and feel it was a job well done, that is down to job satisfaction.
We are fortunate at Christ Church in having a good sized congregation, but the maintenance of three buildings – Christ Church, All Saints and the Parochial Hall – and meeting all our commitments, can be very demanding at times. If you value this, please support it so it is there for future generations.
Paul Peverell - Vicar
Work from Marwood C of E VC Infant School
The children are pretending to be Estate Agents selling a desirable (imaginary!) property …
Bourne’s (George)
7 Low Green, Great Ayton, Middlesbrough, TS10 26T
Detached house.
Inside there are 3 bedrooms and 3 floors, 1 toilet, 1 kitchen and 1 living room.
Outside there is a big garden and big piles of flowers.
A swimming pool, a bike rack and a climbing frame.
Price. £70. 94
Opening times: Mon to Fri 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Sat 10:35 AM to 4:45 PM. Sun closed.
Tel: 01642 72622849
(Elinor)
This house is a detached
Its address is 37 Marwood Drive Great Ayton
11 rooms, 1kitchen, 1lounge, 1 playroom, 1 dining room, 1 cloakroom, 3 bathrooms, and 3 bedrooms. It has 3 floors, ground floor, first floor, and second floor. It has a garden, a garage and a pond. The garden has flowers in it.
Price is £118,000.
Viewing times 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Mon to Thurs.
Finchs (Amy)
12 Easby Lane Great Ayton Semi detached
First Bedroom:
You can see some hills out of the window
and there is a cupboard with mirror doors.
Second Bedroom:
If you look out of the window you can see the garden
and the airing cupboard is in there too.
Bathroom:
There is a bath, shower, toilet and sink. There is a little cupboard.
Kitchen:
There are lots of cupboards and there is an oven.
Living room:
There is gas fire and a nice hearth.
There are really lovely cream walls and you can see the back garden.
There are really friendly neighbours and there are lovely plants and there is grass and you have a patio
Price:£3000 View on Wednesdays and Tuesdays 11.00
till 1.00 Thursdays 10:00 till 12:00.
Hutton’s Estate Agency (Joel)
The type of house is a flat.
The address is 27 Newton Street, Great Ayton.
The flat that is for sale is no. 6.
On the outside, it has a tennis court, a golf course, beautiful flowers, a football pitch and a balcony.
The price is £220,000.
The opening times are Monday to Friday at 9 o’clock in the morning.
The telephone number is 722789.
Thank you
Tierneys Estate Agents (Hamish)
A detached house, number nine Great Ayton, Roseberry Drive TH2 4GL.
The rooms are living room, kitchen, 3 bedrooms, toilet and attic.
Outside there is a side gate, hedge and flowers. Also there is a balcony, smoke alarm and woods nearby.
The price is £105.
Viewing time 1 o clock this afternoon
Tel. number 424523
Some Distinctive Characters in Ayton in the 1920/30s
Ronnie Shore, who lived in Bradley’s Row, was the local watch and clock repairer, known in the village as Clocky. Like many other business people in the village, he turned his ‘front room’ into his business premises. He was also in the long-disbanded, Great Ayton Male Voice Choir.
There was Jack The Bellman. He was a familiar sight touring the village on his push-bike, standing at the street corners telling the locals what was taking place in the village the following week – a sale of work in the chapel schoolroom one afternoon, or a whist drive and dance in the Parochial Hall (the WI Hall not being built at that time). He also kept people informed as to what was on at the movies the following week - also in the Parochial Hall - silent films, with back-ground music provided by a pianist. (Jack Readman’s Bell is now displayed in the Library.) Then there was Tom Kirby, my uncle, who was the collector of news for various local newspapers. He was also a familiar character to be seen on his bike, wearing a trilby hat, with a cigarette in his mouth.
Geordie Martin was a local window cleaner and chimney sweep – at the ‘top end’. Often his form of transport was an old handcart which he used to convey his ladders and sweeping equipment. At the ‘bottom end’ of the village was Joe Jenkins, also a chimney sweep. His form of transport was a pushbike - he used to fasten his rods and brush onto the crossbar of his bike. Joe would often be seen early morning, before the fires were lit, or in the spring or summer months in the eventide after the fires had died out. Joe often wore a black cap and smoked a pipe.
The village welcomed the pioneers of the omnibus - Alf Dunning & Ted Johnson, when their bus service linked Ayton to Teesside and outlying villages - a service created then and still running.
I believe the GPO at that time only employed ex-servicemen. We had Alf Bridges, who lived just off High Green, along with Jim Smith, another WW1 veteran, who lived up in Southfield Terrace (California); Long George Johnstone lived in Station Road - a Boer War veteran and a very prominent figure in the Remembrance Sunday Parade, which then mustered at Langbaurgh Corner and marched through the village headed by Gt Ayton Prize Silver Band, with Long George carrying the poppy wreath to lay on the Cenotaph. He also carried a chest, full of medals.
Each postman had his own patch to cover on foot, and along the route had to empty the letter-boxes and bring the outgoing mail back to the post office. If the in-coming post was late, so the boxes were late being emptied. Outgoing mail was put into strong canvas bags, locked up, then taken to Ayton Railway station on a red hand-cart. It was put on what was known as ‘the 7 train’ where it went to the GPO in Middlesbrough. The hand-cart brought the incoming mail from the 8 o’clock train in the morning, to be sorted in the post office, which is now Swan’s the Jewellers.
The roadmen were known as lengthmen - a jolly team as I recall: Brassy Johnson, a well-known character, along with Bobby King, Alf Atkinson and Bobby Bulman. Each had his own patch of the village to keep clean and tidy – familiar sights with barrow, hard brush and shovel. Often a housewife and shopkeeper kept their own patch swept clean but if the Roadmen were around they would say, “Leave that, Missus. I’ll get it as I come along.”
Dealing with the mail on foot, and being a lengthman, in all weathers, was not easy, but we always got a pleasant smile and a chat from them. The village was greatly indebted to all these stalwart supporters of village life in the days before modern transport and mechanisation, etc, arrived.
Mr W T (Bill) Kirby
In Search of a Book, Magazine, Obituary & Grave - Can You Help?
Richard Longstaff, a mariner, was my great, great, great, great grandfather; he died in Gt Ayton in 1769. His youngest son, William, also a sailor, master of the merchant vessel Good Intent, married Elizabeth Edmeston of Ayton Hall, but it was Richard’s eldest son, Thomas, a weaver, who was my great, great, great grandfather. He was the father of John Longstaff, Parish Clerk of Great Ayton for 46 years up to the time of his death in 1842. His son Joseph then took over for the next 47 years, until his death by drowning in the River Leven in 1889. During John’s period of office All Saints Church had a minstrels’ gallery and he conducted the minstrels and the congregation during the service. This is referred to in Great Ayton and Stokesley by J. Fairfax- Blakeborough, which is in the reference section of Great Ayton Library. The author of this book quotes an anecdote about John Longstaff which had featured in a Parish Magazine – this must, I think, have been pre-1901. If any are still in existence,
I would very much like to obtain copies of this book and the magazine
There are also references to the Longstaff family in Dan O’sullivan’s excellent book, of which I do have a copy. He mentions Thomas Longstaff (died 1927) as the last link with the Ayton tanning industry: information gleaned from Thomas’s obituary. Thomas seems to have left Ayton in search of other employment when the tanning industry ended, and to have been the last member of my large family to live here. I have searched in vain for both his obituary and his grave.
Any information or suggestions regarding my several quests would be most welcome.
Mrs Sybil Edwards
Portland House, 27 Ffordd Y Felin, Trefin, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire SA62 5AX.
Tel: 01348 837147 Email ku.oc.tensf.8bcmwde|libys#ku.oc.tensf.8bcmwde|libys
One Hundred Years Ago
In the early hours of the day in the autumn of 1906, teams of men and boys set out from Great Ayton to cross the fields now under the Roseberry Estate. They were joined by men from neighbouring areas relaying the tramway linking the North Eastern Railway to the Roseberry Ironstone Mine which was to open the following year. An earlier, wider gauge tramway, following the same alignment, had served the first Roseberry Mine in the 1880s. It seems likely that some of those labouring here one hundred years ago had been involved in laying the original line.
This new tramway, of one and a quarter miles, climbed a total of 350 feet and included an incline with a gradient of 1 : 5. A stationary steam engine at the mine powered the tubs on the main section, but, on reaching the incline, the weight of the full tubs descending pulled up the empty tubs. The line was abandoned in 1924, when the mine closed, and was removed in 1931.
Today, the remains of this tramway and incline are visible from rights of way from Great Ayton to Roseberry Topping. David Taylor
References:
The Mineral Tramways of Great Ayton. Pepper & Stewart. Narrow Gauge Railway Society 1994
Roseberry Ironstone Mine. Richard Pepper. Published by Peter Tuffs 1999.
The Angrove Singers
At the beginning of his 2nd full season, our new Conductor, Jeremy Harbottle, continues to grow in confidence, & the choir is acquiring a name for enjoying its rehearsing & performing, & its friendly atmosphere. We welcome new singers to any section – but especially Tenors! We sing a wide range of music - our last concert included Scarborough Fair, arranged by Chris Thompson, Rhythm of Life, Teddy Bear’s Picnic, Gaelic Blessing by John Rutter, & In these Delightful Pleasant Groves by Purcell – I hope that whets your appetite to join us! (Not forgetting the mid-rehearsal tea break & chat!) Please ring me if you’d like to join: 722 897.
Our Christmas Concert will be held in Gt Ayton Methodist Church on Saturday 9th December, followed by seasonal refreshments, of course. Our programme will include Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carols, with readings, solos and favourite carols.
We will be singing Music for Easter on Good Friday, 6th April, & our Summer Soirée & Supper will take place on Saturday 7th July. Please put the dates in your diary, & watch for details later.
Pritiva Attiken Harbottle continues as our expert Accompanist, unfortunately unable to play for the Soirée last July, but making up for it by playing for our 2 extra events in October. Jeremy & Pritiva continue to work together & with us in great harmony!! Carol Morgan, Chairman ♫
Ayton Lodge
Two of our members died recently; they will be sadly missed. We donated £25 for
each to the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) and Butterwick Hospice in their memory. Fortunately our numbers also increased by two though they will not compensate for our loss. Some of our members have undergone surgery recently – heart valve replacement, hip replacement, & our secretary has been fitted with articulated screws after spinal decompression. We expect scintillating footwork in the future, but at present it is one slow step at a time!
A charity started by our Provincial Office a few years ago (see last edition) with a target of £2M wound up in May of this year: we had achieved £2,325,736 for needy boys and girls within Yorkshire North and East Ridings – a very satisfactory result. We also donated £250 to the GNAAS from our Charity Fund. To build up our village charity fund we held a car boot sale, table top sale and barbeque, contributing £208; in addition one of our members led a team in a local golf competition and won: the beneficiary, Teesside Hospice, received £155.
Our Autumn schedule starts in October, commencing with a lecture followed by our annual quiz in November and our Christmas ladies’ evening in December. Just into the New Year is our annual trip to London.
Our best wishes to everyone.
A R Corry, on behalf of J Hillyer, Information Officer: 723 138
Great Ayton Library & Information Centre is a great place for children of all ages!
We have board books for babies – no need to worry about those teethmarks!
We have picture books for toddlers - great to snuggle up with at bedtime!
We have books for children who are just beginning to read and books for confident readers –
all your favourite stories are here!
We have books on tape and CD - to while away those long car journeys!
We have movies on DVD and video – great when friends come to call!
The Library really IS a great place for children! For further information please contact
Great Ayton Library and Information Centre: 01642 723 268.
G.A.T.A. - Great Ayton Twinning Association
This summer’s visitors from France included members of the Ouzouer sur Loire Choir, and one of the highlights of the Bank Holiday weekend was their joint performance with The Angrove Singers in Christ Church. Other events included a visit to the Bowes Museum and Barnard Castle, and a barbeque in the grounds of Roseberry School.
Next summer is the 10th anniversary of the Twinning Association, and we will be visiting Ouzouer for what promises to be a very enjoyable and memorable trip. We hold social events throughout the year, and planned activities include a wine tasting evening, a pub quiz, and a French bistro-style meal with entertainment. For those who would like to start learning or to improve their French, we hold an informal conversation evening on the first Thursday of every month at the Bridge Guest House.
New members always welcome from Ayton, Stokesley & surrounding villages, especially families.
For further information please contact Susan Crellen 724388.