Saltburn by the Sea

Aurora over Saltburn Pier

2012-01-24T17:58:00.001Z

The Aurora Borealis - or Northern Lights - occur when solar particles collide with the earth’s magnetic field, lighting the sky, and thanks to a solar storm parts of the UK skies have been brilliantly illuminated over the last two nights.

The lights are one of nature's most spectacular displays, usually seen in the Arctic Circle. However, on Sunday night the first dazzling displays were seen in Scotland, in the north-east of England, Northern Ireland and Ireland. The stunning Northern Lights were also visible across the Teesside coastline.

This picture of the natural light phenomena was captured by Teesside friends and amateur photographers, Richard Glover and Michelle Bennett, on Saltburn seafront on Sunday at 8pm. Both took numerous shots on Michelle’s camera and the picture above was one of the results.

The solar activity is predicted to occur again tonight.

The Works @ Marske Mill Lane

2011-10-27T18:11:00.001+01:00

Over the past year Saltburn Community and Arts Association (SCAA) has organised three public meetings to consider what should happen to the buildings and grounds formerly occupied by the Junior School which moved to the new campus in the summer of 2009.
In the spring of this year Redcar and Cleveland Council announced that along with a number of other assets the former school was to be disposed of. SCAA were aware that redundant assets of the council could be secured for community benefit by Community Asset Transfer (CAT).

Saltburn's old Junior School Marske Mill Base

For three months this summer a group of volunteers co-ordinated by SCAA has been working on a proposal for a CAT covering the school buildings and grounds. The group has been contacted by almost forty groups and individuals who wish to use the former school as part community or business activities.

From this work a big idea has emerged, to build on the impressive levels of creative activity which already exists in Saltburn and the surrounding area under the title of The Works @ Marske Mill. Provision will include:

· Studio and exhibition space along with specialist resources to support a wide range of art and creative activity.
· Space for drama and music rehearsal and performance.
· Provision of an accessible local archive.
· Space for sport and outdoor activities including junior football and a skatepark.
· An enhancement of tourism through the establishment of a holiday hostel and campsite and support to environmentally friendly transport.

As this document is being prepared we are looking forward to the next public meeting. This is to be held at 6.00pm on Friday, 28th October in the Community Hall at SCAA Albion Terrace, Saltburn.

To learn more about these exiting proposals please visit the website at http://www.saltburnarts.co.uk/the-works-marske-mill/ or contact SCAA on 01287 624997.

Pageant of Light, ‘Back to Basics’

2011-10-17T15:45:00.000+01:00

The ‘Pageant of Light’ has become a firm fixture in Saltburn’s annual calendar, drawing crowds of up to two thousand people and has a warm, local, family atmosphere. It takes place on the day that British Summer Time ends and seems to strike a real chord with everyone. We celebrate the passing of the seasons and prepare to enter the dark days of winter in a blaze of fire and light.

The Pageant of Light

Last year’s pageant ‘Peter Pan’ was possibly the most ambitious yet and with the biggest budget. As most people know, this past year has been very difficult for the Woodland Centre and for the ‘Friends of the Valley’ who create the pageant. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has had to make huge budget cuts in every department. We have expended a lot of energy in campaigning to keep the centre open and keeping going with our core activities of conservation and maintenance. People have been asking us what is happening about the pageant this year. Normally by now we are well on track with obtaining funding and with our planning. We are reluctant to let our pageant go completely but this year there is no way we can put on a real ‘spectacle’ with a fire sculpture, an image on the train and all the trimmings.
Hopefully next year we may be able to do it in real style once again. Meanwhile...

The Wings of Delight – Your Pageant of Light! Sunday 30th October from 5.30pm
This year the Pageant of Light is YOU! We need the people of Saltburn to make the Procession of Light their own, by creating, making, carrying their own illuminations. They can be torches, glow sticks, lanterns, fairy lights, costumes, wings and decorations on a theme of Bees and Butterflies…
The theme is to highlight the work that has been carried out by the Friends of the Valley who have planted a Butterfly Banquet and Bumble Bee Bistro near the Woodland Centre.
So if you feel inspired or you are wondering what you could do, get yourselves down to the Woodland Centre during half term week - 24th to 29th October (details will be posted outside the Woodland Centre). It will be a hive of activity with ideas for costume, lanterns, and musical instruments for the procession.
Bee there or be a butterfly!
You can contact us by email or through the website: friendsofthevalleysaltburn@gmail.com
http://sites.google.com/site/friendsofthevalley

It's 'Play Bach' Time

2011-10-17T15:14:00.000+01:00

When I was aged 47 I set myself the unusual challenge of being able to play Bach’s famous ‘48’ in one day before I became 49. I’m no concert pianist so the challenge meant ‘to be familiar enough or fluent enough’ to be able to play through them all in one day, not necessarily to be able to perform them to any concert standard. This month I’m 56, but since I achieved that eight years ago, I have played very little else. I still try to play every day but sometimes the demands of editing, financing, organizing, distributing and heart-aching over Talk of the Town interferes with that. Producing the magazine is a very great burden for one person to carry and it takes its toll not just on my physical and mental health but on my finances. Playing the piano helps to keep me sane but doesn’t pay the bills.

On Thursday, 5th November, Saturday afternoon from 1.00 to 6.00pm in Saltburn’s Community Theatre I shall be performing Bach’s ‘48’ in public. To play through the whole collection would take me eight hours so I intend to play the whole of Book 1 followed by highlights of Book 2. I’d better explain what Bach’s ‘48’ is. It is a collection of 48 preludes and fugues (96 pieces overall) and is also known as ‘The Well Tempered Clavier’. This refers not to it being in a good mood, but the fact that it is written for a keyboard which has been tuned in the modern way as opposed to the traditional or natural way. If you look at the black and white keys of a piano you can see that the black keys are in between the white keys. The ‘white’ notes C and D for example have a ‘black’ note in between them and this is either C sharp or D flat, but they are of the same pitch in the modern or ’well tempered’ tuning. C sharp and D flat are equal. They are the same note, and exactly half way between C and D, but traditionally C sharp was higher than D flat. When the new tuning was first used around four centuries ago it was revolutionary and initially sounded a little out of tune but the human ear soon got used to it for it had one enormous advantage over the original tunings: it meant the music could freely change to any key without the need to retune the entire instrument! It allowed composers to create truly expressive, rich harmonies that changed the history of music forever.

In 1722 Bach composed a book of 24 preludes and fugues in every single major and minor key and twenty years later he composed another. Together these form the two books of his famous ‘48’, a landmark in the development of Western music which I would describe as the most important collection of keyboard pieces of all time. A prelude, as its name implies, is a piece which is followed by something else and a fugue is a complex piece of many voices which begin one at a time and then ‘fly away’ from each other, though not always at high speed, and certainly not the way I play them. As I say, I am no concert pianist and I lack the skill and the brain to play at breakneck speed so I play slowly and try to be accurate and expressive, but I certainly make mistakes. In any case, Bach’s exquisite melodies are too indulgent to be shortened by playing quickly!

So why am I doing this? Well, inspired by Philip Thomson’s recent heroic sponsored assent of Ben Nevis on behalf of financing the new town mosaics I wondered what I could do to help the magazine. Yes, Talk of the Town has financial difficulties. It always has! I’ve made no secret of the fact that these last nine years have been a constant struggle to make ends meet. I talk to anybody who will listen about this and it becomes obvious what they are thinking: ‘Oh Ian’s just having a whinge but he always gets the job done so why should we care?’ Well, I might not be able to get the job done much longer and it’s time to alert the people of Saltburn to the unpleasant reality that they might lose their unique magazine unless something is done to help. Unfortunately, the only help I need is financial and that’s the only help that’s in short supply at the moment.

Every good idea to help save the magazine seems to have some real or imaginary negative aspect to it. A fundamental problem is that the magazine is a private business and not a registered charity. It’s not even one of those ‘community enterprises’ but it should be. People offer to help me convert the magazine into one, but nothing then happens. It’s an intolerable burden for one person to carry on behalf of the whole of Saltburn, but that’s the way it is. In many ways, the magazine only exists because I have kept it alive and nurtured it when a committee would probably have folded it and walked away years ago. Another good idea was to set up a group called ‘Friends of Talk of the Town’ where members would pay me £1 a month, basically to buy their copy which they had been getting for free. That could make a difference but nothing ever happens. It was suggested last year that I could put an envelope in the magazine asking for donations. This was an excellent idea but it was killed off by one negative voice saying I would be criticized for asking for donations when I’m not a registered charity. This is nonsense! There is no law in this country that forbids the raising of funds for a worthwhile project that isn’t a charity. It is an excuse for mean-spiritedness and a refusal to help. In any case the criticism I might get would not have been as bad as the blame I’d receive if ever the magazine ceased to exist.

So it’s down to me to make it work or fail. Nobody is going to save the magazine except me, no matter how much the people of Saltburn love it. So what can I do? I can play the piano. On November 5th I shall be busking, begging if you like (there’s no dignity in being the editor of Talk of the Town!), for funds to save the magazine. If you like trendy language you can call it a ‘sponsored pianothon’ and sponsorship forms will be available in participating shops this month. All money raised will be paid into the magazine’s bank account and become part of the general, accountable finances of the magazine. Please support me and drop in to the theatre to listen to some Bach, have a cup of coffee and make a donation to help this much loved magazine continue to serve the Saltburn community, in its current style and format.

Ian Tyas

SaltburnbySea.com is supporting 'Talk of the Town'

The Hunt is on for Saltburn's Mystery Guerrilla Knitter.

2011-10-16T15:48:00.001+01:00

A mystery knitter has been pulling the wool over the eyes of both residents and visitors to Saltburn who are baffled by the appearance of a number of intricately knitted scarves which have been attached to various parts of the town centre including lamp-posts, railings and buildings.

The appearance of these novel pieces of public art may be connected to Saltburn’s 150th anniversary as many of them, including the latest 6ft long scarf left outside the library, had a note attached to that effect.

It was signed the “Yarn Junkie” but leaves no clue as to the identity of the knitter.

Other knitted pieces with different designs have appeared in Station Street and outside the local supermarket.

Three knitted teddy bears have also been seen regularly enjoying a tea party at a table on the Marine Parade picnic area.

The scarf outside the library is an impressive work of art. Staff locked up as usual one evening, but overnight the long woollen scarf appeared on the railing outside the library door. A tantalising feature of Saltburn’s latest scarf is the play on words in the titles of the books knitted on to it. A local resident commented, "Instead of The Secret Garden one is called The Secret Cardigan. Another is called A Ribbing Yarn instead of A Ripping Yarn."

Saltburn librarian Lynne Mackenzie said: “It is very clever and colourful and must have taken a while to knit. It’s a mystery, but a very attractive one. Staff find most library users appreciate the fun item. But rumours are rife about the identity of Saltburn’s Yarn Junkie."

The scarves could be a local version of a worldwide campaign by knitting enthusiasts to place knitted garments in public places. The pieces placed nationally are also anonymous.

Who is Saltburn's mystery knitter and why have they decided to wind everyone up? Can you identify the culprit(s)? Perhaps all will be revealed very soon...

Saltburn Gill iron ore pollution to be cleaned up.

2011-09-24T08:19:00.001+01:00

The orange iron ore pollution flooding into Saltburn Gill beck is finally going to be cleaned up using a share of £9.3m awarded to the UK Coal Authority with remedial work due to start imminently.

Saltburn Gill is a 52 acre woodland nature reserve nestling in the shadow of Saltburn by the Sea, where drifts of Wild Garlic and Bluebells herald the arrival of Spring and where sightings of Roe deer are always a possibility. A designated Site of Special Scientific Interest it has a wealth of wildlife, including kingfishers and otters. However the nature reserve has been plagued for years by unsightly coloured water from a disused iron ore mine. In 1999 it's colour went bright orange - 35 years after a nearby mine closed.

There was no legal responsibility for the landowners or former operators to tackle the problem due to a loophole in the law as the mine was abandoned before January 1, 2000.

But in a breakthrough, Environment Agency improvements for the EU Water Framework Directive in England 2015 now includes all stretches including rivers, coasts, estuaries, lakes, man-made structures and groundwater.
John Delaney, from the UK Coal Authority, confirmed it is receiving an award of £9.3m for clean-up work at long-abandoned mine sites, including old metal ore mines.

He has praised progress at Saltburn 'thanks to the influence of the Saltburn Gill Action Group (SGAG) in obtaining early money for an initial investigation.'

SGAG chairman Jim Wingham said: 'Saltburn's share of the aid is £700,000.
'This will be spent this financial year drilling a large diameter additional bore hole.
"The idea is that water will be pumped out to lower the head of water near the source of the pollution, and by that time the Department for Food and Rural Affairs will be putting out to tender a water treatment facility which should filter the water and solve the problem.'

Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Tom Blenkinsop has hailed the news as a 'breakthrough.'
He said: 'We need to thank Saltburn Gill Action Group, Parish Councillor Jim Wingham, who led the battle and who originally asked me to become involved, and all the other local Saltburn councillors as well.
'We have come a long way - now we face the battle to complete the scheme, and bequeath clean water for local watercourses for future generations to come.'

Dog walker attacked at Hazelgrove allotments.

2011-09-23T09:56:00.001+01:00

A 40-year-old man was attacked whilst walking his dog along a path by Hazelgrove allotments in Saltburn on Monday evening,

As he bent down to remove his dog's lead, close to the children's wildlife garden area and the railway line, he was struck on the head with what is believed to be a large stick. He received three blows and was knocked to the ground.

It’s believed his attacker was with others. They rifled through his pockets as he lay on the ground and took his mobile phone. However, they discarded the phone on the ground before making off.

His attacker is described as male, 6ft 4ins to 6ft 5ins tall, thin build, wearing a dark coloured hooded top with the hood up and with the word 'Nike' across the chest, a baseball cap underneath the hood, dark adidas tracksuit bottoms tucked into his socks and white Nike Airmax trainers.

Police are appealing for information about the attempted robbery that took place at about 9.30pm on Monday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Andrew Simpson of Saltburn Police Station on 01642 302626 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Phantom of the Opera at Saltburn Community Arts

2011-09-22T19:47:00.001+01:00

Saltburn Community and Arts Centre is staging a thrilling vintage film screening on Friday 30 September at 7.30pm.
The 1925 silent film version of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, directed by Rupert Julian, is a classic adaptation of the novel by Gaston Leroux. It stars Lon Chaney in the title role as the masked and facially disfigured ‘Phantom’. It is a masterpiece of horror that shocked cinema for decades.
The film is most famous for Lon Chaney’s intentionally horrific, self-applied make-up, which was kept a studio secret until the film’s premiere. The impressive sets of the Paris Opera House, the catacombs, the colour footage, and the lavish costuming, all add to the atmosphere of the film. This was truly the masterpiece of Chaney’s career and ranks as one of the greatest tour-de-force performances of the silent era. The grand atmospheric melodrama with its balance of terror and tragedy provides a perfect vehicle for the dark ambient jazz soundscapes of Cipher who provide the live score to the film.

Tickets cost £6.00 and are available from Saltburn Health Foods or by calling 01287 624622.

Steam journey keeps Saltburn celebrations on track.

2011-09-22T18:05:00.001+01:00

Railway enthusiasts are being offered a unique opportunity to step back in time to the glory days of steam travel - when a long-forgotten passenger line is re-opened for one day only.

On Sunday October 2, a steam train will run from the city of York to Boulby, on the edge of the North York Moors, and make a special stop at Saltburn to mark the coastal town's 150th anniversary celebrations.

The one-off 'Saltburn 150' journey is designed to showcase some of the Redcar & Cleveland borough's most stunning scenery and give rail aficiandos the chance to travel on tracks which may never be opened to passengers again.

As a result of the 1963 Beeching review of the rail network, all passenger traffic past Saltburn was subsequently stopped, with only a service line to the steelworks at Skinningrove remaining in the area.

However, the discovery of potash - and the start of production at Boulby Mine in 1973 - led to a line servicing the facility being rebuilt.

Chairman of the Saltburn 150 group, Philip Thomson, is hoping that next month's steam journey will give passengers lucky enough to secure a seat the chance to savour the area's proud rail heritage.

The service will leave York at 10am and arrive in Boulby about 12.15pm, before heading onto Saltburn for 1.15pm.

It will be greeted by brass bands upon arrival in Saltburn, home of the Zetland building which was once one of the world's earliest purpose-built railway hotels, with first-class passengers enjoying their own private platform.

Mr Thomson said: "There have been many popular events throughout the year to commemorate this landmark anniversary of the founding of Saltburn-by-the-Sea by Henry Pease.

"But the steam train journey is one of the most eagerly-anticipated yet and offers a magnificent opportunity for both local people and railway enthusiasts from across the country to be part of an historic occasion."

Tickets cost £45 and are available in person from Saltburn Library, from the 'This is Redcar & Cleveland' tourist information office on Redcar High Street, or via telephone on 01642 471921.

Celebrating Saltburn's Speed Events

2011-09-19T16:22:00.000+01:00

The miles of flat sands at Saltburn have provided the visitor with a number of different pastimes - cricket, sand sculptures and donkey riding have all played their part. In the early 1900's the more adventurous looked upon the beach with a different perspective with the pursuit of excitement and speed as their goal.

At 10:30 on the morning of Saturday 17th September councillors and members of the public met at the top of Saltburn's Cliff Lift, near the Fossil garden, to unveil a plaque celebrating those early car and motor-cycle speed races and the records they set on Saltburn’s sands in the early 20th century.

On the following day an assortment of classic vehicles - some more than 100 years old - vintage cars and motorcycles dating from 1903 up until 1975 turned out in force to participate in the Saltburn Historic Gathering.

And those who thought their vehicles were up to the challenge went on to climb Saltburn Lane.

The event, which was organised by the Middlesbrough and District Motor Club, had been run as a speed event for 12 years but this was stopped in 2004 due to legal issues concerning the Road Traffic Act.

Currently the club, along with Tom Blenkinsop MP and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council are trying to get the law changed to allow motorsports on closed roads.

Despite the legal wranglings, the club has been determined to “retain” the event and so organised the historical gathering.

As well as a number of cars and bikes climbing the hill one by one, there were also a variety of classic vehicles on display in the car park at the bottom of Saltburn Bank.

Ernie Crust, secretary for the hill climb, said: “It’s a social gathering and it keeps our presence known in Saltburn. The support has been fantastic with 50 cars and 50 bikes taking part. It’s still very popular and we’ve been over-subscribed with entries.”

Mines' walk round East Cleveland

2011-09-02T17:46:00.000+01:00

Sea, Cliffs and Ironstone sponsored walk, Sunday Sept 11.

Redcar Rotary Club runs its 23rd annual sponsored walk on Sunday September 11 with a local history angle - and separate routes for family groups and serious trekkers.

"For the first time we'll explore the remains of local ironstone mines under the title of the Sea, Cliffs and Ironstone walk," said John Finlay, of Redcar, who has taken over from Peter Gleghorn, of Marske, as the main organiser.

John Finlay at the shaft.

"We promise an enjoyable as well as interesting day. The sites of 11 mines can be seen from one of the two routes offered, although only four have visible remains - so the walks could be called `spot the former mine' trek. One of them, Loftus mine, is now the Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum.

For the first time the walks start from Saltburn - at the Conservative Club, next to the Zetland Hotel. Walkers start between 9.30 and 11 am. We go along the Cleveland Way cliff-top path, Saltburn, round the base of Warsett Hill. We pass Huntcliff mine's Guibal Fan House.

Shortly before Skinningrove, the two walks divide with the seven-mile family walk turning inland past the Cattersty Nature Reserve to reach Brotton. It continues past Hunley Hall Golf Club, up to the top of Warsett Hill and then back to the start.

The Long Walk (14 miles) descends to Skinningrove and then via Carlin How, Lumpsey mine and North Skelton mine to Slapewath. We return to Saltburn along the Cleveland Way."

John Finlay, new organiser of Redcar Rotary Club's walks, at the site of the Lumpsey
ironstone mine, Brotton, winding house, which is just off the path of a 14-mile "long
walk" to be held on Sunday Sept 11. It will be the club's first walk to start from Saltburn.
A seven-mile family walk is also to be held.

Walkers can keep half of the sponsorship they collect to donate to their chosen charity with the other half going to the Rotary Club for the Redcar Lifeboat.

There is an entrance fee of £6 (no charge to 16 and under) and £1.50 if people want to stay for the barbeque at the Conservative Club after the walk.

Contact John Finlay (john.hilary31@tiscali.co.uk or 01642-484214) or Peter Gleghorn (peter.gleghorn@ntlworld.com or 01642-484710) to get entry and sponsorship forms.

Footnote: Laden blackberry bushes line several of the paths picked for the walks.

Ticket to make a difference for young Saltburn girl.

2011-08-18T15:02:00.000+01:00

18-year old, Katy Phenix, from Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Cleveland has been given the opportunity to make a real contribution to a community in Bradford and the Philippines as part of Global Xchange . She will join a team of 10 young people from the Philippines and the UK on a six month exchange starting in October.

Youth Xchange is a six month exchange programme for young people aged 18 to 22, run by
VSO and the British Council as part of International Citizen Service. Katy is excited about
the prospect of living and working for three months in a community in the UK and for three
months in the Philippines. She says, “I want to experience a different culture and gain work
experience and life skills and Global Xchange will give me the opportunity to do this.”

Although Global Xchange will arrange work placements, travel requirements and provide
participants with a small living allowance, Katy still needs to raise £2,000 towards her trip and is busy organising a fundraising event with local performers at the Spa Hotel in Saltburn on September 9th.

“I’ve spoken to young people who have been on Global Xchange, and they say that it is a
life-changing experience. I am interested in educational work and hope to make a real
difference to a community overseas.”

Katy hopes to apply the skills she learns on the exchange when he returns to Saltburn, “I’m
hoping to get work in the educational field when I return.”
For Katy, this will be the first time she has travelled overseas independently, “I’m really looking forward to experiencing a culture that is completely different to my own.”

For more information visit www.globalxchange.org.uk. If you’d like to help Katy by donating
towards her exchange, please visit http://www.justgiving.com/KatyPhenix

Happy Birthday Saltburn

2011-08-17T15:07:00.006+01:00

At approximately 10.49 this morning Captain Nigel Pease, the great, great, grandson of Henry Pease, arrived in Saltburn by train along with a number of political representatives from Darlington, Stockton, Middlesbrough and Redcar in recognition of the history of the development of the Stockton & Darlington railway that terminated here in Saltburn.

He was met at the station by Anthony Wharton, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of the North Yorkshire Riding, as well as Councillor Vera Rider, Chairperson of Saltburn, Markse and New Markse Parish Council and Councillor Philip Thompson Chairperson of the Saltburn 150 Committee.

Marske Band playing on the Station Square before the arrival of the guests.

August 17th marks the traditionally celebrated date for the arrival of the first paying passengers into Saltburn 150 years ago. Markse Brass Band played on the Station Square to welcome the guests as they disembarked.

Captain Pease then unveiled the third of five commemorative mosaics designed by Helen Gaunt and Derek Mosey and made in collaboration with both residents of and visitors to Saltburn.

Captain Nigel Pease, with Helen Gaunt and Derek Mosey at the unveiling of the mosaic.

All the mosaics depict parts of the town’s history, with the third mosaic representing one of the engines that hauled carriages into Saltburn in its early years and is set against the background of Alpha Place, the first residential building to be erected in the town, but now demolished.

Councillor Philip Thomson exploring the newly unveiled mosaic.

The party then proceeded to the Station Portico where it stopped for refreshments at Profile Gallery & Sitting Room - originally the old first class ladies waiting room - before visiting local charity Doorways which is now based in what was the stations original refreshment room.

Next the party walked along the old station platform past the sheltered housing - built upon the land which originally sported the old Zetland Hotel’s tennis courts - where they were welcomed by residents of the now converted hotel and escorted on to the grand terrace to take in the view of Huntcliff as guests would have done when the hotel was newly opened in 1863.

Henry Pease not only had the vision for Saltburn and drove it’s construction but also maintained a residence in Saltburn. His address was 5 Britannia Terrace, now believed to be 7 Marine Parade. The party stopped here as Captain Pease was shown round his ancestors home by current residents Carol and Graham Gaunt.

Saltburn's Funicular is the oldest water balanced cliff lift still in operation in the UK. It’s carriages were recently refurbished and re-installed in time for this year’s celebrations and the party used it to descend to the foreshore before taking a stroll along the last remaining iron pier on the North-East Coast before lunch.

After lunch the party promenaded along to Old Saltburn stopping at the Beache Cafe, one of the oldest occupied sites in Saltburn, to sample some traditional Yorkshire Ice-Cream before proceeding into the Valley Gardens, the first development of the new town Saltburn-by-the-Sea.

Since the postwar period Saltburn Miniature Railway Association, staffed by volunteers, has run their services through the Valley Gardens carrying many thousands of visitors over the years. The volunteers have spent the last five years bringing an engine back to life, their dedicated perseverance has resulted in the train being brought into active service this year. In celebration of the anniversary the train was formally named “Saltburn 150″ by Captain Pease.

After an inaugural ride through the Valley Gardens the party returned to the seafront and took the cliff lift back to the upper promenade where it processed along the seafront to the new bandstand which stands on the site of the Ha’Penny Bridge built by Anthony Wharton’s ancestors.

The tour was concluded by a visit to the Saltburn Arts Community Hall where they took tea whilst browsing the Annual Art exhibition.

Playing Croquet on Marine Parade

End of the Pier - 1980's Documentary about Saltburn

2011-08-14T14:36:00.001+01:00

NE Films in conjunction with Amber Films 1986

End of the Pier, was broadcast on Channel 4 as a documentary about the then fading Victorian seaside resort of Saltburn.

A beautiful portrait of the ‘select’ but out of season Victorian seaside resort of Saltburn-by-the-Sea on the Cleveland coast. A pet shop with its canary and its hamster, fishermen collecting lugworms on the beach and casting lines from the pier, the Saltburn Cliff Railway, the picture postcards and the wintry weather are all lovingly captured as residents, workers and the unemployed talk about the history of the town and about their lives. The film culminates in the demolition of the town’s Halfpenny Bridge.

Director: Dave Eadington
Photography: Witold Stok & Philip Trevelyan
Editor: Dave Eadington

End of the Pier Part 1

End of the Pier Part 2

A look back at ... the 'Saltburn Extravaganza'

2011-08-14T13:27:00.002+01:00

On Sunday 10th July Glenn Pearson, of Saltburn's Seaview Restaurant, launched the "Saltburn Exravaganza", a cornucopia of vintage seaside entertainment which also marked the return of the Vintage Car Rally to Saltburn.

Clear skies prevailed over the town as people scurried about in preparation for the start of the show at 10.00am. The bank was closed a Park and Ride scheme ran from the leisure centre to the promenade.

60 classic and vintage cars were exhibited on the lower promenade, although the famed car from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang had to be withdrawn from the programme due to being sold at auction earlier in May.

Traditional Victorian food stalls, vintage rides and seaside games along with music played by Marske Brass Band all added to the fun and sense of return to a past childhood experienced by many of the visitors.

Another highlight of the Show was provided by two airshows, with a P51-Mustang Display starting at 12:00 and the event being closed at 16:30 by a display from the Blades aerobatic display planes.

This video captures the spirit of the day... we have a strong feeling that this is one event that will continue to grow.

Celebrate with a Carnation

2011-08-10T14:40:00.001+01:00

Saltburn people are being urged to celebrate the town's 150th anniversary with a carnation. Saltburn150 Group, which is co-ordinating dozens of events to mark the birthday this year, says carnations - coloured and white - will be on sale in Saltburn's centre from Eveline Brentano Flowers, on Celebration Day, Wednesday August 17th.

Celebrate with a carnation, says Saltburn resident Mike Morrissey. He is urging townsfolk
and visitors to buy a £1 flower for the town's Celebration Day, marking its 150th birthday,
on Wednesday August 17th.

"The group hopes many people, both residents and visitors, will sport a carnation to mark the 150th anniversary of the town being founded," said long-time resident Mike Morrissey, a member of the 150 Group. Part of the profits will go towards paying for large mosaic panels depicting the town's past. The third one will be unveiled on August 17th at 11am by Nigel Pease, a descendent of Henry Pease, who brought the first train to Saltburn in August 1861."

Mr Morrissey, a retired journalist, said other events planned for the day included Tees area civic chiefs being welcomed at the railway station by Marske brass band before being given a tour of the town, a croquet match, an art exhibition, the unveiling of a miniature railway engine and a talk by author Freya North who's book Secrets was set in Saltburn.

Florist Eveline Brentano said she was pleased to suppport the "celebrate with a carnation" scheme. "It will be a colourful way for both residents and visitors to mark the 150th birthday," she said.

Philip Thomson, chairman of the 150 Group, said the visiting civic guests would each be presented with a carnation before the mosaic panel unveiling at 11am.

Preparing for this years Craft and Procuce show.

2011-08-10T14:24:00.000+01:00

Organisers of Saltburn's fifth annual craft and produce show are putting the emphasis on "keeping it simple" this year.

People wanting to enter items - from cross-stitching to courgettes - won't need to fill in forms in advance on Saturday August 20, as in previous years.

"We'll type details direct on to laptop computers as entrants bring in their exhibits. This should be quicker than processing forms by hand," said Ann Cowie, of the Women's Institute, which is jointly organising the show with Saltburn Allotment Association.

"Entries will be accepted between 8.00-9.30am from anyone interested whether resident in Saltburn or not. All are welcome and we would especially like to see more entries from children. It's a fun event. There's plenty for visitors to see and there's an element of competitiveness about it. We get several hundred entries. We've also got a simple recipe for the cake class - lemon drizzle cake, which is simple and popular to make. We find people prefer something like this than a cake with icing, which can be fattening."

Among WI members preparing entries are Maureen Potter and Nancy Eastwood, who have both knitted items. Maureen is entering a babies' hooded jacket and Nancy a ladies jacket and cross-stitching pictures. In addition Maureen's husband Stewart has made some apple and onion chutney.

Maureen Potter holds up a knitted ladies' jacket as Nancy Eastwood knits - surrounded
by cross-stitching pictures. They are preparing for Saltburn's annual produce and craft
show to be held on Saturday August 20.

Among new sections this year are ones for recycled garden ornaments for both adults and children. The scarecrow-from-recycled materials section is expected to be popular again.

A special section to help mark Saltburn's 150th anniversary will be of local memorabilia. Entry to the hall, which is open for use despite renovations going on, will be from Cambridge Street from 1.15pm.

Trophies will be presented at 2pm and produce, preserves and home-baking will be sold at 3.15pm. Proceeds will help to fund next year's show. Light refreshements will be available.

Further information can be had from Mrs Cowie 01287-622433 or Sue Featherstone 01287-624169.

Mike Morrisey

Saltburn Billboard Art

2011-07-31T16:31:00.000+01:00

Whenever I read phrases such as ‘urban art-scape’ or ‘guerilla advertising’ I instantly switch off, feeling that I’m being sold on the reflection of an idea rather than an actual concept, a tangible work of art that I can identify with. But recently I was somewhat inspired by the story of an Irish gentleman who, faced with unemployment, spent his savings on a giant billboard advertising that he was available to work. With the headline ‘Save me from emigration’ he stood out from all other potential candidates, received over 20 job interviews and even a couple of job offers. Now as bold as this man was in selling himself, this got me thinking what if billboards weren’t used solely for advertising. What if they were used for works of art? A sketch at a bus stop, a collage on a roundabout or even photography on a rubbish bin there’s so much advertising nowadays how could we, if not subvert, just change the dynamic of our local spaces? So, maybe after a little too much wine, I found a site where I subsequently booked the billboard on Marske Road train bridge. Now the first person I though of was local Saltburn artist Andy Broderick, his fantastic naturalistic work an excellent antidote to the stream of comparison websites and bargain airlines most of us trudge by every other week. With a very tight deadline Andy has made a beautiful work of art which will be up on the site from the 10th-24th of August. I hope you can take the time to enjoy it.

Luke

Andy Brodericks 'Nettle'

Local Author Spins Salty Yarn of Fighting Ships

2011-07-31T16:04:00.000+01:00

Latest e-book title for Chris

On July 8th, 2011, Boson Books of Raleigh, North Carolina released the worldwide ebook Scarborough Fair by Saltburn author Chris Scott Wilson. Better known for his local history work and his gritty westerns, Scarborough Fair shows that when Wilson forsakes the land for the sea, he is still very much at home spinning yarns to make even salty sailors smile. In Scarborough Fair he tells the story of how John Paul Jones became America’s first great naval hero.

With the onset of the War of Independence in 1775, England found herself fighting to maintain a grip on her colonies in America. Meanwhile, the fledgling US Congress was desperate to break the mother country’s domination of the seas and cripple her trade routes. King Louis XVI of France, knowing any such disruption could only benefit French trade, was eager to help. In 1778 when John Paul Jones was ordered to Paris, Louis promised to furnish and arm a ship for him, and also grant free access to all French ports.

John Paul Jones, originally from Scotland, had served his apprenticeship on the high seas, working his way up to captain. His ambition was to own plantations in Virginia, but when war was declared against England, Paul Jones had immediately volunteered to serve his adopted nation. Three years later, he was ordered to France where the American founding father, Benjamin Franklin, became his greatest ally. Offering constant reassurance, Franklin guided Jones though the murky political waters of the French Marine Ministry in his quest to secure a ship to fight the English. When the task appeared hopeless, he eventually devised a plot to force the purchase of a suitable vessel.

In recognition of Franklin’s efforts, Jones renamed his new command Bonhomme Richard, Franklin’s pen name. Promoted to commodore, John Paul Jones began to harry the English in their own territorial waters while battling the treachery of insubordinate French officers who commanded the other ships in his small flotilla. A year later, just south of Scarborough, he tackled a brand new English frigate, HMS Serapis. They fought within sight of the very shores of England, the nation whose proud boast was its invincible navy. It was at that Battle of Flamborough Head in 1779, that John Paul Jones became a legend.

Saltburn author, Chris Scott Wilson, comments, “I was researching another novel when I discovered that Paul Jones’s ship had been sighted off Whitby and the local militia turned out to man the canon on the seafront battery. Although I didn’t use that incident in the story, I later found out Jones had captured a fishing boat called Speedwell just off Whitby when he was looking for a pilot who knew the waters near Scarborough. That gave me the link to use both Scarborough and Whitby as settings in the book. It was no hardship, I’ve always loved both towns – some years ago I wrote A Flavour of Whitby to give visitors a taste of the port’s rich seafaring history.”

The author continues, “Jones was an extraordinary man whose famous cry was, ‘Surrender? I have not yet begun to fight.’ And he never gave up. It seems astounding these days to think he was only 31 years old when he fought that great battle. Although the English press called him a pirate or lampooned him as a comic figure, the pen in this case wasn’t mightier than the sword. Paul Jones’s courage, grit and determination moulded him into a hero.”

The best-selling author Clive Cussler, himself fascinated in Paul Jones to the point of financing several expeditions to search the North Sea for the wreckage of Bonhomme Richard, wrote to Chris: “Scarborough Fair is a terrific story. Of course, you English always had a better command of the language than we colonists. The Serapis and Bonhomme Richard battle was always a great adventure tale and you did it proud.”

Scarborough Fair by Chris Scott Wilson is now available in ebook format from all leading online retailers. For a sample read and purchasing details, visit http://www.cmonline.com/boson/ and follow Fiction> Historical fiction, or visit the author’s website http://www.chrisscottwilson.co.uk/. where Chris would be pleased to welcome you.

Read the opening chapter here.

Saltburn Cliff Hoist Plaque unveiled.

2011-07-28T16:13:00.000+01:00

A plaque to mark Saltburn's original cliff-hoist, forerunner of the now world-famous cliff-lift, was unveiled by Councillor Vera Rider, chairman of Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council today. (Thurs July 28).

Coun Vera Rider, of Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council, chats to retired
cliff-lift engineer Ken Fellows after officially unveiling a plaque to mark the cliff hoist's
life 1870-83. This was succeeded by the water-powered lift, which now carries over
100,000 passengers a year up and down to the beach.

She told a crowd of councillors and onlookers that it was the third of four plaques to pinpoint historical areas of the parish.

The next one to be unveiled will be to remember car and motor-cycle speed records on Saltburn's sands in the early 20th century. This ceremony will take place at the top of the cliff lift on Saturday September 17th at 10.30am. Members of the public will be welcome.

Among the crowd - at the pier end of the cliff-lift - was Ken Fellows, 71, of Guisborough, who retired as lift engineer after 20 years in 2005. "The plaque is wonderful. I'm glad the hoist and lift are being recognised," he said.

The four plaques commissioned so far have cost a total of £1,000.

The other two plaques are at the town's bandstand - marking the site of the Halfpenny Bridge - and at Winkie's Castle museum, Marske.

Two others are planned for St Germain's church tower, Marske, and the site of the former water tower in Upleatham Street, Saltburn. Both are to be put up in 2012.

The four made so far were designed and made by Eddie Guy, of SignArt, Saltburn.

The plaque, sited on the wall of the cliff lift.

Croquet anyone?

2011-07-27T17:51:00.000+01:00

Croquet players Saltburn's Geoff Watkins, Brockley Hall visitors Chris Kirkbride,
Nick Haigh and Paul Prewett, pause during their practice game at Saltburn.

The game of croquet is being revived at Saltburn to mark the town's 150th birthday celebrations.
The game was first played in Saltburn's Pleasure Grounds (on the lawn in front of where the tea rooms are today) in the 1860s when the Zetland Hotel was opened, but in recent years its popularity has declined.

Visitors to Brockley Hall holiday centre have been virtually the only people in Saltburn to have played since the 1960s, but a match is to be held on Wednesday August 17th as part of the birthday celebrations.

A practice game was held on Sunday July 24th when a Brockley Hall team beat a Saltburn squad.

Geoff Watkins, of Saltburn, who is to play at the celebration match, said: "I thoroughly enjoyed playing again after a lapse of many years and am looking forward to the match."

Organiser Mike Morrissey, of Saltburn, said he would like to hear from any more potential Saltburn players. The match will take place on Marine Parade from 10.30am to 12 noon. Please phone 01287-622493 for details.

Building collapse on the Corner of Milton and Pearl Street

2011-07-21T15:26:00.003+01:00

A structural problem in the brickwork above Trendz Hair and Beauty Salon on the corner of Milton and Pearl Street has resulted in the collapse of part ot the building just below the roofline.

Bricks close to a top-story window had fallen from the property smashing a glass covering and landing on the pavement below. Visible cracks in the walls could also be seen. Fortunately no-one was injured by the falling debris as the incident occurred late at night.

Richard Willis, who lives opposite the building and also owns Heatwave Solarium, one of the businesses affected, said: “I heard a noise at about 10.30pm. It was absolutely horrendous. The lads in the next street thought it was an explosion.”

Fire crews were immediately called out to the property to make the building safe. Occupants of the adjacent flats on the upper floor of the building were evacuated and affected business premises below were cordoned off to allow a council structural engineer to assess the building today. Water getting behind the brickwork has been muted as the probable cause of the damage.

It is understood that residents have been allowed to return to their flats but business premises have remained closed.

Sinfonia Chorus to sing in Saltburn

2011-07-19T16:18:00.000+01:00

The 50-strong Northern Sinfonia Chorus is to stage a free hour-long concert at Emmanuel Church, off Windsor Road, at 6pm.

Organiser Peter Davison, of the Saltburn150 group, which is coordinating events to mark the town's 150th birthday, said: "This first visit of the chorus to Saltburn is generating a lot of excitement not only in the town, but within a 30-mile radius.

Organiser Peter Davison shows a poster of the Northern Sinfonia Chorus, which is making
its first visit to Saltburn on Sunday. A one-hour concert, including early Church anthems
and folk songs, will be free of charge.

"Scores of people are interested in coming after learning of the concert, which will have a lot of variety in it. The church is an excellent venue with good acoustics. It can seat 500, including people on chairs at the back, " said Mr Davison, a teacher, of Guisborough.

"The programme will be a mix of choral music from across the centuries and across the world, from early church anthems by Tallis to arrangements of folk songs by Holst."

More information can be had from Mr Davison, who will introduce the programme, on 01287-635316.

Mike Morrisey

Members of the Northern Sinfonia Chorus rehearsing.
Picture by Dan Brady

Time for Tea at ArtsBank

2011-07-18T19:20:00.000+01:00

Cafe au lait

Today saw the official launch of ArtsBank's cafe. Having had the pleasure of attending the opening we can confidently recommend Artsbank not only as a place to wander amongst a variety of works celebrating the talents of local artists but also as a perfect meeting place. The cafe will serve a choice selection of teas and coffees alongside a delicious range of light meals and snacks. As well as sandwiches and light lunches the menu also includes a selection of freshly made cakes and scones all baked on the premises by their own chef. During lunch, if you wish, you can relax over a glass of wine and afternoon teas are also on the menu.

Ben Nevis and Back

2011-07-18T19:11:00.002+01:00

Councillor Philip Thompson at the unveiling of the second mosaic.

On Saturday July 16th Saltburn Councillor Philip Thomson braved torrential rain to climb Ben Nevis to raise funding to help offset the cost of the Saltburn150 Community Mosaic Panels.

“It was probably one of the biggest challenges I have ever taken on,” said Philip, chairman of the Saltburn 150 Group. “There was really poor visibility and it was extremely challenging. It took me about seven and a half hours to climb up and down. As soon as I started it started to rain. I was soaked right through.”

Philip’s climb of the 1,344m-high mountain has so far secured around £2,000 for this year’s mosaic project. Philip added: “The object is to have something which lasts. We want to have a reminder of the celebration.”

We are sharing this photo to raise awareness of Philips' sponsored climb. If anyone would like to make a donation towards the cost of the mosaics, no matter how small, please contact the Saltburn150 organisers. (Contact details at the top of the page.)

Helen and Derek are in Huntcliff school this week starting work on panel 3 which depicts a Steam Train and Henry Pease. There are more workshops outside Sainsburys too on the 23rd July, Saturday 6th August and Tueasday 9th August at 10.00am. The third panel will be unveiled by a descendant of Henry Pease on the 17th August at 11am.