Hillam News Oct Nov 2009

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The voice of hillam village, North Yorkshire. Delivered free to all residents. Volume 21, Issue 6. oct-nov 2009

weekend to try and find them all and then judge to decide which scarecrow was best.

By Amy Purdy, aged 10 What a fantastic weekend we had in Monk Fryston and Hillam on 12th and 13th September 2009!

The festival raises money for the Community Association. Just as importantly, the festival gets all of the community together and it’s great fun.

We had our Scarecrow Festival. Whilst you were walking round looking at scarecrows, you would have seen some outside the school. So whose were they? They were made by each class at Monk Fryston school.

One visitor to the festival said, ‘I think it’s great how everyone gets involved.’ The weather was lovely and everyone seemed to be having a super time. All the scarecrows were fantastic but my favourite was Neil Armstraw’s hamster.

Why did we enter? Because my school is fun and we all like getting sticky and stuffing newspaper into someone’s old tights!

By Charles Pearson-Sinclair, aged 10

Where did we put all our scarecrows? We put them outside our houses and the school gates for everyone to see.

Who did what? Well, reception class made a school pupil. What a great start to their first week at school! Year 1 made Jack and the Beanstalk. Year 2 made a wizard. Year 3 made Little Red Riding Hood. Year 4 made Robin Hood. Year 5 made the highwayman and Year 6 made Batman (that’s my class so I hope you voted for us!).

How did this happen? Because of the community coming together and having fun.

We were active by walking and cycling around the villages. We met lots of people and the weather was great!

What I want to know is when is the next community event because I can’t wait!

This year, like last, we have had a Scarecrow Festival. This fun, but equally competitive event features around the Monk Fryston and Hillam area. The event is really popular with around 60 to 70 entries.

By Holly Newton, aged 10 On Saturday and Sunday the 12th and 13th of September, the second annual Scarecrow Festival was held in the villages of Hillam and Monk Fryston.

There were over 70 scarecrows made by the villagers. There were many different types of scarecrows such as the Simpsons, SpongeBob and the Three Little Pigs.

The characters ranged from Homer Simpson to Harry Potter. The co-operative event (family and the school) brings the community together.

All the entries were stunning but my favourite was the Simpson Family by the Murkins.

I cannot wait for the next year’s because I know there will be a vast array of contenders.

All the scarecrow pictures, last year and this, are available to view on the dedicated Hundreds of people visited the festival over the website at www.scarecrows.me.uk

Editor for this issue - Rob Preston HILLAM NEWS is financed solely by advertising revenue and the generosity of contributors, photocopiers and distributors. The Editor is solely responsible for the paper’s contents. If you have a view you would like published, or if you wish to advertise, phone David Atkinson on 684577 or email at dsa99uk@yahoo.co.uk.

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OBITUARY Memories of Chris On 6th August 2009, Hillam lost one of its great characters, many of us lost a great friend and, hardest of all, Peter lost a great partner. If you said Chris Escreet, at first people may say “Chris who?” because I am sure most people thought his surname was “Andpeter”.

We would rarely mention one without the other. Now, sadly and far too soon, Chris has passed on but I am sure he will be remembered by us all for many years to come.

Chris faced his illness with tremendous dignity, suffering considerable discomfort but without self-pity or complaint. Indeed, there were occasions when I would be whingeing to him about some irrelevance causing me problems and he would listen patiently, though he would have been fully justified in telling me to shut up moaning and be thankful that I didn’t have what he had.

Chris was 56 but it doesn’t really matter however few or many years we live; it is how we live those years that count. I am sure we would all like to be remembered as being honest, reliable, trustworthy, caring, loving, considerate, humorous, popular, talented, professional and as someone who would do anything for anyone without expecting anything in return. Well, Chris achieved just that.

few flashes of “new colours” in there but I may be wrong. The essence of this story is that Chris was so pleased with his new image that he proclaimed with a big beam on his face and that mischievous glint in his eye, “Let’s face it, I’m ****ing gorgeous me, aren’t I? I am, aren’t I?” Chris was a perfectionist and his home decorating programme was like painting the Forth Road Bridge. Cobwebs were the ultimate sin and he loved nothing more than a perfectly laid dinner table with best crystal and bone china and everything exactly in position. His upholstery talents verged on the legendary and there will be many locals who can bear witness to the precision of his work, the matching of patterns and fabrics and the symmetry of the studs. We shall miss the sound of his compressor and staple gun and the whirr of the sewing machine.

He once produced an unusual piece of work when he proudly presented me with a “Tommy House”. Chris didn’t much like cats but he did like my ginger cat Tom, to the extent that Thomas would live exceedingly well off scraps from Chris and Peter’s table, and I even came home one night and could see through the conservatory window that Thomas had a place laid at their table and was sitting on a chair eating diced sirloin steak from a plate. But if Tom went near anything Chris had just upholstered that was a different story so, to tempt him away from such furniture, Chris built him a “Tommy House”. This was no ordinary structure; it was the size of a kennel, beautifully finished on the outside with a padded faux leather roof, and it had a customised padded interior covered with all the finest fabrics. This took pride of place by our back door but Thomas was not impressed and preferred to spend his days in Chris and Peter’s conservatory.

the church was full, and thanks must go to John for a lovely service and the opportunity to send Chris on his way in the manner he would have approved by checking the church for cobwebs, and with a bottle of gin on his coffin. The funeral also sparked off something quite unusual. Instead of opting for a pub or hotel or home for the wake, many villagers wanted to help and the wake became a garden party and a real community event. So many people helped and made a huge effort to set up the marquee, produce service sheets, provide beer, wine, food and wash up, serve, fetch and carry, organise flowers and Chris’s table.

I know Peter finds it hard to describe how much he appreciates the kindness of Alex, Chris, Graham, Ben, Kath, Pauline, Cynthia, Ian, Wendy, Pauline, Susan, I don’t think Chris would want to be Mandy, Matthew and the ones I have painted as a saint and he had his inevitably forgotten, so he would like to shortcomings too, as we all do. He would take this opportunity to give thanks for always be 100% straight and honest and everybody’s sympathy, support and As a friend and neighbour for over 20 tell you exactly what he thought, even years I can honestly say that I can think of practical help. when he would have been better keeping no one who would make better quiet. When it was your turn to give your neighbours than Chris and Peter. Chris Chris’s brothers Peter and Billy, who both opinion, he might well interject and tell live some distance away, were both even overcame the initial horror of the you what that was as well! But you touched by the amount of friends Chris day when we moved in to this peaceful always knew where you stood with him. had and how highly they thought of him, corner of village life when, curtains and were comforted to know that Peter twitching, he saw four young children On one occasion a couple of years ago we tumble out of the car and move in next would be in good hands in the difficult were into late night sampling of Bombay door. He resisted the initial urge to put months ahead.

Sapphire and Glenmorangie, Peter had Breakfast Cottage straight back on the gone to bed and Chris started talking So as sad as it is for someone to be taken market, and many years later, when about his teeth and how he was having from us a few years too soon, Chris’s helping one of those four children (now whitening treatment. Money was a bit grown up), said, “Ee, Jonathan, we’re like spirit will live on with us, as it would be tight at the time and I was sworn to impossible to have known him without b****y mothers to you lot.” secrecy, especially not to let Peter know him having made a lasting contribution to the cost of the treatment. He also got Chris’s popularity and the high regard so all our lives. some new glasses at the time with very many people had for him were never Robert Kingsbury expensive looking frames, and a slightly more apparent than at his funeral, when different hairstyle. I thought I detected a

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LOCAL NEWS Phil Laycock is the new Community Association chairman

Secure play area The patio and a similar area of grass will shortly be enclosed by a fence to provide a secure play area, which could be ideal for children’s parties and for those attending the very popular Coffee Break.

This has now transferred to Friday afternoons in order to accommodate the new After-School Club, which opened in September.

The Community Association AGM has elected a new chairman, Phil Laycock, who succeeds Ray Newton. Carla Candler will be vice chair. Phil, from Lumby Hill, used to run Hillam junior cricket and supports York City. He and Jeanette have lived in the villages for many years. He is keen to build on the resurgence of support for the Community Grants turned down Association and continue to develop the The committee also reported: Centre’s facilities and its socially unfortunately we have been turned down inclusive groups. by two more organisations which provide grants for community improvement Scarecrow Festival—a success! projects. The latest refusal rated Monk Fryston and Hillam as being low on The September meeting heard that the “community needs” in comparison with Scarecrow Festival had been a great success, with many residents taking part. other applicants. Nevertheless, our project to radically improve the The committee thanked Sue Newton for Community Centre playground, under organising the event, which raised over Becky Gatenby, continues. £1,900 for the general fund. This had been depleted recently by unbudgeted We currently have funding of £23,000 expenditure of £750 for safety work to trees, and £1,500 for a new sewage pump. secured for the £41,000 project. This will provide a safety fence separating the

playground and grassed areas from the car park, which gets congested at school times. Bids have been submitted to other organisations but we will not know until February 2010 if we have been successful.

The next major fun and fundraising event is the Community Association bonfire due on Thursday 5th November, 6 pm onwards. As usual it’s free to all, and we will be providing good traditional bonfire fare along with a bar, fireworks and fun for family and friends.

Will you help?

Since the success of the Scarecrow Festival the Community Association has received many requests to “do it again”, which is great – but it requires lots of organisation and assistance.

If anyone would like to help us organise the festival, help at the event or at any other event, then please contact Phil (682715 or phil.laycock@talktalk.net) or any other committee member.

Hillam prowler

Gipsy cobs

There is now a sign advertising gipsy cobs.

On a recent Monday evening at about 11.30, a lady who lives on Main Street, Hillam, went to the front of her house in response to the barking of her dogs and was confronted by a young man leaning on her gate and who seemed to be very drunk.

Stop Notice Issued Selby Planning has issued a Stop Notice to the occupiers of caravans in a field opposite Hillam Feeds. An Enforcement Notice requiring their removal within 28 days will follow. The caravans are in a field which until recently contained a TNT container.

Lowfield Lane wrangle Residents had been relieved that, after a long wrangle, caravans had been removed from Lowfield Lane near the football field. Parish and district Councils will now turn their attention to this new settlement.

Nothing too untoward with that, you might think, except that the man was completely naked apart from his underpants which he was wearing on his head.

Spectacle The lady, who was somewhat taken aback by the spectacle, demanded to know what the man was doing. All he said before disappearing up the street was, "Does the Vicar live near here?"

As the lady knew that the Rector and his family were on holiday and that the Rectory was unoccupied, she rang the police. They responded but no one was found.

Anyone who has any information relating to the incident, please let the police know on the 0845 6060247 number.

Remember, remember the 5th of November!

Monk Fryston Community Association will be staging the village bonfire in its old format back at the Community Centre – and on the correct day, Thursday November 5th.

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LOCAL NEWS CONTINUED… A thank-you from Hillam Parish Council

on board this responsibility. Their continuing efforts, particularly through the summer months, contribute so much to the beautiful village in which we all live.

A few years ago now, Hillam Parish Council decided to help minimise spending and more judiciously manage our precept Whilst recently discussing our Parish Council budget and budget – the extra village tax you pay alongside your council tax responsibilities, it occurred to us that this quiet, unpublicised – by asking residents in the centre of the village to maintain the contribution to village life, made so consistently by so many public verges outside their properties. residents in such an unobtrusive, matter of fact way, should not go unrecognised. So here’s a big thank-you, one and all, from Keen to maintain the attractive look of the village, all the your Parish Council: your efforts are much appreciated by your residents who had small grass verges outside their property took fellow villagers.

group for young members of our village communities. They enjoy the usual mix of music, games nights, bowling and visits to the cinema.

Malawi... That’s an awful long way Last January, as part of an initiative from Hillam and Monk Fryston and backed by the Church of England to the surrounding villages. But in the celebrate the 30th anniversary of the villages out in the African countryside United Nations Year of the Child, the we can draw some similarities to ours. group was set a challenge. This was to They enjoy magnificent open views, come up with a way of making a surprisingly green by African stanchild’s life better. The group has been dards, a good community spirit and involved in events in the local lots of children. That’s about where community and helped with the similarity ends, as most don’t fundraising, but this gave members enjoy the luxury of running water, the chance to be bold and electricity, cheap readily available adventurous, and they have done just food or, importantly, a school. that.

Youth Fellowship Malawi project

That’s about to change for one community, as St Mary’s and St Wilfrid’s Youth Fellowship has embarked on a project to build and equip schoolrooms in Chikwa, a village in the north of Malawi, and to run a programme to provide children with education and a daily balanced meal.

St Mary’s and St Wilfrid’s Youth Fellowship has around 40 members aged 8 to 17. It is a Christian-based

It was soon decided that they wanted to raise funds to build and equip a school in Africa. After a sharp intake of breath, the wheels were set in motion to bring the plan to reality.

Bun baking, ticket selling, guessing this and that have gone on in the last few months. Members have thrown themselves into local events, including Hillam and Monk Fryston Village Fayre, helping to spread the word about the project, all the time sporting their magnificent project

t-shirts designed by themselves.

That’s not quite the whole story.

In July 2010 six of our members, accompanied by leaders, will visit the village in Malawi. Much of the time will be spent living and working in Chikwa, decorating, forming relationships we want to last for many years to come, and eventually officially handing over the school to the village. A little bit of our own villages, out there in Africa. The project so far is a true credit to Youth Fellowship members living in the area that surrounds us. They are well on their way to achieving their goal and have worked hard to raise funds in excess of £5,000. Much more is needed, but I am sure with their continued enthusiasm and the support of the community they will do it.

More background information can be found on the church website, www.stwilfridandstmary.org.uk, or if you feel you can help in any way please get in touch.

Alison Holmes St Mary’s and St Wilfrid’s Youth Fellowship

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COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Ray Newton, please take a bow

volunteers is now left to finance and provide the two villages with a hall and playground. Elsewhere these are provided and run by parish councils.

He has not given up hope that the cuts will These were just a few of the achievements be reversed. made possible when the two parish councils agreed to take on Community Grant secured Association core expenses (running costs, Looking forward, a grant of £18,000.00 insurance and upkeep). Unfortunately this has been secured from Eggborough Power £3,000.00 annual support, which was Station towards facilities in the approximately £5.00 per household on the Community Centre grounds, and another parish precept, has now been withdrawn. application is with the Landfill Fryston now has its own Time Team, and the Association staged the Rotary Bonfire which grossed £7,000.00 for village organisations.

Ray – Mr Community Association – Newton has completed his innings as chairman with another sensational Scarecrow Show. His final report to members demonstrates the village group in robust health. During the last three years he has overseen the relaunch of Women with Interests (now the Ladies’ Group). The Association has launched the Over-Seventies’ Luncheon Group, a Rainbow pack and a weekly Coffee Break While thanking the parish councils, Ray rightly points out that a small group of for parents, carers and children. Monk

Trees Remember the Community Centre is available to hire for private gatherings and parties (contact Becky on 689230).

If it’s chairs, tables, marquees, gazebos or even crockery you want to borrow, give Kath Ratcliffe a call on 683590.

Recycling at the Community Centre Income from the recycling bins at the Community Centre over the last financial year was £688. This is a valuable source of income for Community Association funds.

A big thank-you to all who bring their recyclable items to the banks.

All the ash trees along the southern boundary of the Community Centre site have been felled, following the sudden collapse of a large branch onto the car park. Fortunately no one was around at the time, but it was felt that because of the age of the trees they constituted a danger and should be cut down. Whilst the Community Association regrets having to take down mature trees in the centre of Monk Fryston, the plus side is that, being ash trees, they will regenerate from the remaining sections of trunk in a relatively short time. Also their removal has opened up more space for Association events.

Good news!

The return this year of the Osgoldcross Rotary Club bonfire to South Milford means that the Community Association

Communities Fund WREN.

can return to having the "free" village bonfire on November 5th as in previous years.

After-School Club

September 8th saw the start of the AfterSchool Club run in the Community Centre

by Hambleton Play Safe. To make the Centre meet Ofsted requirements, a portion of the site adjacent to the southern boundary of the Centre has been fenced off and the paved area doubled in size.

This has the added benefit of providing a secure area for young children when the Centre is hired out for children's parties.

November 28th sees the return of the popular Quiz Night in the Community Centre.

Tony Hudson

Events calendar 2009 November

5th Village Bonfire

December

5th 2:00 pm (Provisional): Kids’ Christmas Crafts

28th Social Evening: Quiz Night

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Précis of PC Minutes for the Meeting in July 2009 To read the minutes in full, see the village notice board or visit www.hillam-village.co.uk Guests: Sarah Smith, SDC Environmental Services Officer Geoffrey Woodall, resident Cllr Mike Stevenson, MFPC Matters arising: The chair welcomed guests and newly appointed cllr Ian Robertson.

Sarah Smith explained the waste service arrangements which will be effective from 1 Oct. In summary, alternate bin collection to be operated – normal bin collection one week, recycling waste the other.

Kerbside collection scheme will remain for paper and tins and be extended to include some plastics.

Cllr Tuddenham’s actions re signs for Dunce Mire Rd and bank mandate are still outstanding.

Finances: Current a/c £391.77 High interest a/c £2,755.74 Cheques drawn H&MF Cricket Club £25.00 - match ball SG Parkin £385.00 - grass cutting S Craven £80.00 - seat maintenance npower £764.73 - electricity supply Transfer of £1,500 required.

Annual audit in process.

Correspondence in: Barclays - request for bank mandate.

NYCC - re street signing for Stocking Lane; re ownership of verge outside 1 Lilac Oval; update re alleged unauthorised static caravan on land off Roe Lane - enforcement orders to be served.

Revd J Hetherington - re upkeep of land at corner of Main St and Hillside Close.

Mr Royle - re ownership of grassed verge outside 1 Lilac Oval.

Cllr C Mackman - re new waste collection arrangements.

SDC - notification permitting felling of elderberry tree at Kendal Cottage; re planning enforcement issues at Honey Pot Field; Electoral Services Officer - co-option of replacement parish cllr.

Correspondence out: NYCC. Highways - re ownership of grassed verge outside 1 Lilac Oval. Requesting street name sign for Stocking Lane. Requesting fixing of signs for pathway and bridleway on Dunce Mire Lane.

Mr Shirtliff - letter of thanks.

Castleford and Dist Soc of Anglers - re use of bad language at fishing pond.

Mr J Royle - requesting the clearing up of tree cuttings and debris from verge outside the property.

No planning matters.

Environment: Cllr Lorriman reported quantities of building material deposited at Honey Pot Field. Clerk to follow up initial email concerns already expressed to SDC Planning.

Chair reported that occupiers of

bungalow on Austfield Lane have requested access via Dunce Mire Rd. Permission denied. Cllr C Mackman notified.

Reports: Burial Committee. Concerns expressed re detrimental effect of plant overgrowth on burial ground walls. Cllr Tuddenham will investigate and report.

Community Association. Village Fair judged a success at all levels. Patio to be extended during the summer.

Before- and After-School Club to recommence shortly.

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Précis of PC Minutes for the Meeting in August 2009 Matters arising: Clerk advised NYCC archivist has prepared schedules of the documents they were to retain and those they did not want. It was agreed that unretained documents be returned to the parish.

Inappropriate parking and motor vehicle access to Dunce Mire Lane under investigation and monitoring.

Signs at entrances to Dunce Mire Lane for horse riders and pedestrians to be erected by Cllr Tuddenham.

Finances: Current a/c £442.76 High interest a/c £2,756.28 Cheques drawn Avis Thomas £63.00 - audit fee MF&H Comm Assoc £54.00 - hall hire Correspondence in: Cllr C Mackman - Public Rights of Way Office investigating vehicular access across Dunce Mire Lane to Cherry Tree Farm.

S Sadler, H&MF Cricket Club - re support from Hillam PC. NYCC. Highways - informing PC that the grass verge fronting 1 Lilac Oval is part of the highway and not owned by the occupier of the property; clerk to write to occupier advising him of ownership and asking that motor

vehicles are not parked on the grassed area and that the stones on the front of the verge be removed. Highways offering potentially competitive street lighting contract; clerk to action.

Archivist - advising of outcome of assessment of PC archive materials.

Transportation strategy - clerk to request restoration of footpath from Meadowside to Hazeldene, identified in the document.

Footpaths Officer - Dunce Mire signs to be installed towards end of August.

SDC. Parish directory update.

Chairman’s appeal - declined. Planning confirmation that prior planning approval is not required for the construction of general purpose agricultural building on land off Pighill Nook Rd. Anonymous letter re property under construction at Meadow Farm. It is PC policy not to act on anonymous communications.

Correspondence out: SDC. Electoral Registration Officer appointment of co-option Ian Robertson.

Planning enforcement - advising building material delivered to Honey Pot Field.

Request that fly-tipped material on Hillam Lane be removed.

Cllr C Mackman - re newly erected gates onto Dunce Mire Lane from Cherry Tree Farm.

Planning matters: Applications Mr D Jones - to vary condition of Planning Inspectorate appeal decision at Fletton House, The Square. Objection.

Prowind - erection of 14 wind turbines.

Objection.

Decision Mr and Mrs Gilbert - retrospective application for change of use of games room above garage to office at Amarna, Hillam Common Lane. Refused.

Mr and Mrs Milnes - conversion of upper floor offices to one-bedroomed flat at Bowers House Farm. Refused.

Mrs and Mrs P Little - outline application for erection of detached dwelling and associated access. Refused.

Environment: Wind farm planning application was discussed and formal planning objection agreed. Clerk to lodge with SDC. Reports: Community Association. Village Fair was very well supported and realised a healthy profit. The monies were distributed to the various groups involved in its organisation. Further upgrading work at the Centre to start soon. Strong programme of events and regular activities over next few months.

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COMMUNITY ACTION Bayford’s filling station The chief executive of Bayford recently attended a Monk Fryston Parish Council meeting to discuss the various options open to the company and local residents for the old petrol station the company owns in the village.

The company is as keen as the PC and other residents to see something done with the site, though whatever is decided upon needs to be commercially viable. A lengthy discussion took place about various options ranging from the reopening of the petrol station to local facilities such as a veterinary surgery.

The company also owns the field at the back of the petrol

Happy 1000th birthday!

Well done to the circuit training team at Monk Fryston School.

Originally set up by Neil Lineham, circuit training will have completed its one thousandth session in November.

Many villagers have puffed and panted their way around the school hall each week, and they have raised over £15,000.

station, and some suggestions were made about leisure use, such as tennis courts, children’s playground, sports fields or a bowling green.

The PC agreed to work with Bayford, help coordinate ideas and ultimately support the development of the site into something that would be a worthwhile development for all.

The PC is keen to gain feedback from the village. Any views, ideas and suggestions will be passed on to Bayford.

Please contact the clerk at mfclerk@btinternet.com or Parish Clerk, 2 Church Lane, Monk Fryston, LS25.

ANNUAL BONFIRE & FIREWORK DISPLAY 2009 Organised under the Rotary Club’s stewardship AT SOUTH MILFORD to be held on FIELDS BEHIND THE SWAN off Common Lane on SATURDAY 7th NOVEMBER 2009 TICKETS £5.00, or £7.50 ON THE GATE Children under 4 FREE TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE MID-OCTOBER FROM LUMBY GARDEN CENTRE, THE CROSS KEYS HILLAM, THE CROWN AND THE BLUE BELL MONK FRYSTON, MONK FRYSTON POST OFFICE THERE WILL BE A RETURN BUS SHUTTLE SERVICE RUNNING FROM HILLAM VIA MONK FRYSTON AND SHERBURN TO SOUTH MILFORD, DETAILS TO BE MADE AVAILABLE AT THE TICKET OUTLETS

Fancy coming along? We meet in the school hall on Mondays and Thursdays between 8 pm and 9 pm. Circuit training is suitable for all ages and abilities. £1.50 for adults, kids go free.

Proceeds to Monk Fryston School.

REMEMBER, REMEMBER PROCEEDS FROM THIS EVENT ARE RETURNED TO YOUR VILLAGE, SO SUPPORT THE BIGGEST EVENT OF ITS TYPE IN THE AREA JOHN (683620) and ANDY (685004)

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NEIGHBOURHOOD In aid of the Malawi Project Youth Fellowship Present

A Night at the Races Soak up the atmosphere, have a flutter and enjoy the thrill of the chase.

Special preparations have been taking place over the summer: extra swill, deep mud baths and extra thick bedding, and at last they are ready.

They’re pink, they’re fat and for one night only they are coming to a village near you.

That’s right, it’s PIGS. No ordinary race night for us remember this is Youth Fellowship, so please come along and join in the fun.

Saturday 10th October 2009 Turnstiles open 7.00 pm, first race 7.30 pm Monk Fryston School Hall Enjoy the live racing and hot pork sandwiches in the interval £5.00 adult, £2.50 child For details and tickets contact Alison Holmes 01977 682450 or alison_holmes@hotmail.co.uk

Burton Salmon Methodists A date for your diary, we will be holding our Harvest Festival on Sunday 4 October 2009 at 11.15.

Hillam Lights 100 Club The winners of the July draw are: 1st (£20) - Brian Varley (no 31) 2nd (£10) - Brian Hudson (no 67) 3rd (£5) - The Lonsdale family (no 53)

Help the Aged One of our members was not convinced that the person collecting Help the Aged bags recently was from the charity, as the vehicle being used was old and had no charity markings. The driver, when questioned, didn't have any ID but claimed that he was from the charity.

It seems that the practice of thieves going round and collecting charity bags in advance of the genuine collections is not uncommon, so it is a good idea for us all to question the authenticity of anyone driving an unmarked vehicle and collecting goods we have put out for charities.

If you are not satisfied with the answers, make a note of the vehicle registration number and let the police know on 0845 6060247.

Tony Hudson Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator

Keep Hillam beautiful Thanks to the generosity of the Hillam Lights Committee in sponsoring the planting of the flower troughs in the Square and at the boundary signs, we have had glorious displays in both spring and summer.

There is no longer any commercial involvement, and thus no ongoing maintenance contract. The troughs were planted up by parish councillors, and without continuing care, displays can quickly become choked by weeds or flowering can be limited.

Keeping the displays looking good is now down to us all.

So, if you’re waiting for a bus or walking through the Square and you see weeds growing, pull them out. If a few dead heads need removing, do it. The waste bin is to hand.

It may be a cliché that many hands make light work, but it’s also a fact.

Please, don’t just admire the flowers in the troughs; help maintain them as well.

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FUND FOR ALL GROUP Those of you who have been out and about at the various village events this summer may have noticed a couple of village consultations which have flowed from the key priorities of the Hillam and Monk Fryston Parish Plan.

The following is a summary of those consultations and responses.

planning applications since that time, it remains unused and unsightly. To complicate matters further, the site has a commercial value from its previous use but is constrained by the fact that it is located beyond the village boundary and within the Green Belt - a major constraint on additional development.

the character of the village.

If you have not had the chance to put your point of view regarding the filling station, please send any comments to mfclerk@btinternet.com.

Skatepark facility petition In September 2009, community members received a petition from 40 or so younger During the Scarecrow Festival, Monk persons requesting a skatepark facility.

Fryston PC (assisted by the Parish Plan team) undertook a straw poll of residents We have checked that the petitioners are from our villages and we have held a on the possible future uses for this site. meeting with James, one of the The feedback form provided at the Community Centre invited comments on petitioners, at the Community Centre. a range of uses. The following responses It would appear that the request is a Community sports facility reasonable demand based upon local need were produced.

The Parish Plan identified shortage of and in line with the Parish Plan sporting facilities and we consulted on the A Do nothing (0%) requirements, and that our youth are possibility of improving sports-related B Return to filling station with small shop travelling long distances to use a simple facilities at the Community Association facility that could be provided here with (22%) through the addition of a multi-sports their assistance. The Parish Plan group is C Return to filling station with large games area. The consultation presented now liaising with James and his mates to shop, eg Tesco / BP (8%) three options; the results of the survey bring about this project.

D Commercial use - van hire, offices, were as follows. sales, car wash (12%) Regards E Residential [1, 2 or 3 houses] (24%) A Do nothing: 1 endorsement (2%) F Fast food (0%) B Open-air multi-use games area: 9 Mark Johnson G Other (34%) endorsements (18%) Chair of Fund for All Group C Enclosed sports barn appended to the The "Other" category was added to Community Centre: 40 endorsements the survey sheet to invite alternative (80%) suggestions. While it would appear “allotments” or “youth facilities” were Since it would appear there the chosen favourites of some, it is is local support for a sports barn, further unlikely the owners will favour these work will now be undertaken on cost, approaches, given the site has a much funding and management. higher existing use value. Tea room / farmer’s shop appeared in a number of Monk Fryston filling station "Other" suggestions. All comments future use will be passed on to the owners.

Bayfords (current owners of the former filling station) have approached Monk A number of those responding to the Fryston Parish Council recently to discuss survey chose not to focus upon use potential uses for this commercial site on types but more upon design. the A63, on the eastern edge of the Whatever the use, the design of this village. The filling station closed in late village gateway site needed to reflect 2002 and while being the subject of two

Garden tools Trees and shrubs Grow your own vegetables Fertilisers and pest control

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A VIEW FROM THE BOUNDARY The club played the final matches of the season in glorious weather. What a season it has been, one of the best for many a year!

Our 1st XI are Division 5 Champions, our 2nd XI finished a very creditable 6th and of course, as previously reported, our U-15s shared the Junior title.

Our 1st XI also broke the second wicket partnership record of 230 (2000) for the 5th Division. Rob Edwards 137 not out and Nick McMahon 120 not out put on 252 runs for the second wicket.

The club was also visited by Chris Horbury, Chairman of the League’s The club has been fortunate to have signed Ground Association, and Keith Boyce, up new cricketers who have played at a President and Consultant (ex Head higher level, which has been a factor in Groundsman at Headingley). They were the success of the club. We have also both very impressed with the ground and some very good junior players who have gave the club some good advice on the regularly turned out for the senior sides autumn ground preparation schedule.

FINAL LEAGUE TABLES Wetherby Cricket League Division 5 1st XI P 22 W 20 L 1 NR 1 Pts 122 Champions

Wetherby Junior Cricket League Junior U-15s P 13 W 11 L 2 Pts 33 Joint Champions

Well, yes and no. He (and the scorebook) confirmed he was here to see his son open the batting for Spofforth Seconds, who lost by 187 runs to Hillam Firsts.

Elmet Evening League P 14 W 7 L 6 D 1 Pts 22 3rd Position For all match facts and stats please go to our website, where you will shortly also be able to see all batting and bowling averages.

Architect

Talent spotting for cricketers in Hillam Yorkshire cricket’s first team has been doing about as badly as Hillam’s two sides did last season.

Thankfully Hillam has improved. But surely not by so much as to bring Yorkshire’s Director of Cricket, Martyn Moxon, to one of Hillam’s Saturday home games. Was he really here in search of talent, a player who could get some runs for Yorkshire?

Division 6 2nd XI P 22 W 10 L 9 NR 3 Pts 71 6th Position

David (Dai) Jones

and also the Evening League. Eliot Lowe resurrected the Evening League side with much success.

Dip. Arch. RIBA Fletton House The Square HILLAM North Yorkshire LS25 5HE

Phone 01977 685534 Consultation Welcome – Initial Discussion Free

Shortly afterwards, as reported above, the man behind Headingley’s Ashes test wicket, Keith Boyce, dropped in to offer advice and was seriously impressed by the state of wicket and outfield.

12

GROUPS the way the branch will be expected to set up and develop. It will be emphasised From Lorna Pope, whose aim is to set up that it is a self-help concept – we may a branch of U3A for Sherburn and the have some people joining who have particular skills or knowledge and be surrounding villages: prepared to share these. If not, the groups find their own resources using the I was involved in village U3As when I lived in Lincolnshire, and on moving here libraries, the Internet or some of the material available from the Third Age decided to try and start up a new local Trust, which is the umbrella body for all branch. The philosophy is lifelong the branches throughout the UK. Those learning, tuned to the social and leisure attending the meeting will be asked if aspect of village life and based on the they want to proceed with forming a new formation of common interest groups.

Membership is open to people no longer U3A branch, and if they give approval in full-time employment, and there is no the date of the next meeting, expected to be 15 October, will be confirmed. lower age limit.

University of the Third Age

The second meeting will be for people to At present we do not know what complete their membership application activities will be undertaken. It will depend on the interests of the people who forms, pay their annual membership fee, which will probably be £10 (of which make up the membership. However, from talking to potential members I think £2.50 goes to the Third Age Trust), and it is likely to include a walking group, an start to form the groups which will be the lifeblood of the branch. Subsequently art group, some language groups and there will be a monthly meeting, probably photography and computer groups.

There are many more possibilities, from on the afternoon of the third Thursday, with a speaker and an opportunity to gardening to theatre, wine tasting to socialise and find out what is going on in music appreciation. Some may want to the groups. concentrate on the social aspect and perhaps start a luncheon group, and I If you would like further information know one who would dearly like to find about U3A, just Google it and visit the others who share her interest in Third Age Trust website. conversational Greek.

The first meeting on 24 September will be to gauge the likely support for this new branch, and to ensure that everyone understands the philosophy of U3A and

If in the meantime you would like an update, Lorna can be contacted on 683514 or lorna@alex-svenson.co.uk.

Monk Fryston and South Milford Church Walking Group The group welcomes any member of the community to join in the walks.

The walks themselves are relatively easy, using defined public footpaths, with limited hill climbs and stiles to surmount. We always walk on the fourth Saturday in the month, and meet at 10.15 am for a 10.30 am start.

We aim to finish the walks at around 2.30 pm. The walk locations are always within a one-hour drive from Monk Fryston and are circular.

Always wear suitable footwear and clothing. Please also bring a drink and a snack.

Walks this autumn: Walk One, Saturday 24th October.

Meet at the lay-by on the B1217, near the Crooked Billet between Lotherton Hall and Saxton. This is a 6.5 mile walk to Aberford, following Cock Beck, with a visit to Lead Church on the return.

Please contact Lawrence on 682049.

Walk Two, Saturday 28th November, Green Hammerton. Meet on the main street, the original A59. This is a 6.5 mile walk to Thorpe Underwood, passing Pool Spring on the way back.

Please contact Stuart Twidale on 684180.

13

ST WILFRID’S CHURCH RECTORY REFLECTIONS Apparently parents who carry the breast cancer gene could be passing a five times higher risk of developing cancer to their children, according to the Daily Mail earlier this year. But never mind, at least the NHS has almost got the vaccine ready to enable us to wage war on ‘swine flu’. A cure has also been discovered for hay fever, and within three years you’ll be able to go through an inoculation programme to immunise yourself against it – but then again it mightn’t be hay fever after all.

It might, according to the Daily Telegraph, be pesticide poisoning. And according to the Mirror – if your prostate is playing up there’s no need for surgery; you can simply have the problem dissolved away with new technology. Coffee is good for you, and chocolate relieves stress. But if you’re a football player, don’t lead a promiscuous life as it could lead to serious knee injuries. Light bulbs could be causing breast cancer, but don’t worry because there’s new hope from the medical world who’ve at last been able to create that very disease in laboratory conditions – apparently that’s a breakthrough. And would you believe it? Shopping trolleys are bad for your back, according to a leading physiotherapist.

1st Sunday of each month 8am Holy Communion at St Wilfrid’s, Monk Fryston 9.30am Parish Communion at St Mary’s, South Milford 11am Family Communion at St Wilfrid’s, Monk Fryston 2nd Sunday of each month

Well, all that – and more – was in the papers during just one week earlier in the summer. Is it surprising that we’re turning into a nation of neurotics? We’ve more things to worry about than at any other time in our history. Not only health, but money, housing, family, war, the environment, deployments, schooling, redundancy – the list goes on and on and on.

9.30am Family Communion at St Mary’s, South Milford 11am Parish Communion at St Wilfrid’s, Monk Fryston 11am Sunday Club in St Wiflrid’s Church Hall (Ages 2-8) 6.00pm Evensong at St Mary’s, South Milford

And if we’re among the lucky ones who’ve simply got nothing to worry about, then we worry – simply because we’ve got nothing to worry about!

8am Holy Communion at St Wilfrid’s, Monk Fryston 9.30am Parish Communion at St Mary’s, South Milford 9.30am Sunday Club in St Mary’s Parish Hall (Ages 2-8) 11am Family Service at St Wilfrid’s, Monk Fryston

Oh for a simple life without the things we dread – all the problems, the worries, and the concerns. We could downsize, which is becoming increasingly fashionable now, as people leave the cities for a more peaceful and relaxing way of life in the country. It seems to work – at least for a little while.

Or we could try looking at the faith issue – did you know that people who pray, that is people who have a spiritual dimension to life, are actually far better at coping with life and its problems? It’s not that God works miracles to get rid of the things they dread when they pray; the miracle is that he gets rid of the dread!

Blessings

John

3rd Sunday of each month

4th Sunday of each month 9.30am Family Service at St Mary’s, South Milford 11am Parish Communion at St Wilfrid’s, Monk Fryston 6pm Holy Communion at St Mary’s, South Milford

FOR OCTOBER, MORNING PRAYER WILL TAKE PLACE EACH DAY AT 9 AM IN ST MARY’S CHURCH, DUE TO ONGOING WORK AT ST WILFRID’S

THE ALPHA COURSE The Alpha course will be running at St Wilfrid’s Church in the autumn. It begins on 1st October and will run for ten weeks, meeting on Thursday evenings from 7.30 to 9.30 pm.

For more details give John a call at the Rectory or visit the Alpha website at www.alpha.org.

For any queries concerning baptisms, weddings, wedding blessings, renewal of marriage vows or any other matters relating to St Wilfrid’s Church, please contact John at the Rectory (tel 01977 680788)

14

HILLAM HISTORIANS www.hillam-village.co.uk

Rolls of honour In autumn last year the Historians happily undertook two pieces of research for the Rector, the eventual object being the installation of new rolls of honour in the church.

One assignment was to deliver a record of the churchwardens of the parish. Ian Metcalfe sifted through locally held information, and Shirley Sutcliffe and Paul Scholey, who roughly divided the task between them, undertook wider research. The Borthwick Institute Library was one focus. As can be imagined, the 17th century annals were a mishmash of documents of variable quality. In some the handwriting was very difficult to decipher, whilst in others the calligraphy was stunningly beautiful. Details of the identity of the churchwardens at any given time were mainly extracted from the registers of births, marriages and deaths. Some archives clearly stated the churchwarden’s name and office; others did not.

Paul directed his attention to the early years, while Shirley concentrated principally on a later period. Their investigations were progressing quite smoothly until an inadvertent overlap presented different outcomes, both validated by different Borthwick documents. A professional search by the Institute’s staff was, they decided, the way to clarify the issue. Oh, if only life were so simple! The new inquiry came up with a third option. Such is the way of research.

Ironically, it is a relatively recent span which is proving to be the most challenging. As yet we know nothing about the interval between 1867 and 1938, other than that Benjamin Hemsworth was churchwarden from 1893 to 1925. In 1895 the names Wanless and Bramley are briefly mentioned, never to reappear. Perhaps local knowledge can fill a few gaps? If you can help, please get in touch with either Shirley (682601) or Paul (672043).

The pursuit of the churchwardens continues.

The other assignment, carried out by Jenny Hoare and Paul Scholey, was to produce an accurate record of those parishioners who fell in the two World Wars. Hillam Historians had already chronicled the WWI details as they appear on the Monk Fryston war memorial, and in addition those of the one known fatal casualty of WWII. The findings were published in 2004 as a chapter of Hillam, a village remembered.

So we thought that this part of the Rector’s request was a fait accompli. We were wrong!

First, a chance glance at the Burton Salmon memorial revealed two new names. Although the Monk Fryston memorial embraces names from the three villages of the parish, it is not, after all, a complete record. Next, Stuart Twidale discovered four additional names inscribed on headstones in Monk Fryston cemetery: servicemen who might qualify for inclusion on the roll of honour.

Clearly the particulars given to the Rector were inaccurate and further checking was needed.

In establishing a full and definitive list, the files of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission were invaluable. We ascertained, through examining these files and also through contact with relatives, that two of the four servicemen were Monk Fryston parishioners and that they had died as a result of injury sustained in action.

However it was during this probing that some discrepancies between the churchyard details and those of the CWGC came to light. Although facts about an individual would tally in every other respect, dates were sometimes slightly at variance, or there might be a mismatch of a middle name. We have to accept that, particularly in the chaos of WWI and the scale of casualties, many mistakes would have been made, and indeed errors were found in both our sources. Sometimes data could be verified by means of a separate archive such as a census. In the remaining cases, the decision is about to be reached whether the new commemoration will echo the local memorial or the national listing.

We believe that all avenues of investigation have now been fully explored, and that a definitive list of the fallen has been drawn up. We look forward to seeing the original oversights corrected and due recognition being accorded to those who laid down their lives for their country.

To this end, if all goes smoothly, Revd John Hetherington hopes to have the internal roll of honour in place in St Wilfrid’s for the coming Remembrance Sunday.

You will be very welcome at the next meeting of Hillam Historians: 7.30 pm on Wednesday 25th November at 11 Bedford’s Fold. Further details from Jenny Hoare, 683332 or hoarehsandj@btinternet.com.

15

WOODLANE WIND FARM - LATEST REPORT “The application should be rejected on grounds of unacceptable proximity to homes.”

This is a two-line summary of the 110-page objection document submitted by the “stopwoodlanewindfarm” team on 21st August.

preparing our objection document we produced a map with all the wind farms proposed for this area and found that Hillam is near the centre of a cluster of wind farm proposals and within 5 km of two wind farms. The centre of the cluster is West Haddlesey; they have four proposed wind farms within 5 km, with wind turbines visible in every direction from the village.

Plans for eleven wind farms visible from Hillam

There have also been about 1000 letters of objection from local residents and a petition from visitors to Birkin Church.

Selby District Council planners are now very well aware that that we do not want the area to be taken over by wind farms. Prowind submitted their planning application in May and then took until July to submit additional information The production of the objection document was a superb requested by Selby District Council. We now know that they example of teamwork between the villages. We have been were asked to supply information about the cumulative congratulated on the quality of the presentation and the impact of their wind farm proposal along with others that content of the document. We were lucky to have a wide were being submitted by other companies. One of the maps range of skills available in the team and that is reflected in in Prowind’s application shows that there will be up to the scope of the objections which we submitted. eleven wind farms visible from Hillam. Even Prowind Additionally we used the services of Mike Barnard, the acknowledge that the villages around Woodlane will take on consultant from Cambridge who spoke at the West the dominant characteristic of the wind farm.

Haddlesey meeting. He helped write parts of the document Read the full objection document and gave us valuable guidance on where to concentrate our effort. He has now been paid for this work via donations to To see how we have presented our case against this stopwoodlanewindfarm and by a generous contribution from application you should have a look at the objection Gateforth Parish Council. document which is available on-line at the stopwoodlanewindfarm website. In addition we have a few What next? printed copies which are available on loan.

We are now waiting to hear the date and time when the When will a decision be made? application will go to the Planning Committee. We will advertise this when we know, and organise events to The target date which Selby District Council are working to publicise our objections. Further information via e-mail is 21st October. When we know more we will post the updates. information on the website. We will also send out e-mail updates. To register for e-mail updates, or if you have any Byram wind farm public meeting other questions, please send an e-mail to Meanwhile e-on have confirmed that they are working hard please@stopwoodlanewindfarm.co.uk. on their application for Byram wind farm, and expect to submit it later this year. We will be ready. To make sure you The Hillam News is a free newspaper produced by volunteers. are ready, please attend the Byram public meeting scheduled We make reasonable endeavours to ensure the accuracy of the for 29th October at the Brotherton and Byram Parish Hall. content but we do not guarantee the accuracy of nor endorse the opinions of third-party contributions including adverts. We publish our material in good faith and strive to comment fairly.

If we make a mistake we are willing to correct it when it is A wind farm within 5 km is described by landscape pointed out to us. Because the paper is free we do not permit architects as having “significant visual impact”. This means copying for gain but we are happy to grant permission for it will dominate the view in the direction of the turbines. In reproduction.

Significant visual impact!

BOARDING KENNELS AND CATTERY Common Lane, South Milford, Leeds, LS25 5BX Come and see our spacious purpose-built accommodation “YOUR PET’S HOLIDAY HOME” Phone Kathryn Beal on 01977 685404 Open 9 am - 6 pm daily

16

HILLAMITES VISIT RAF CONINGSBY When Flt Lt Ian Wright agreed to escort a party of former and residing members of Hillam around this establishment we could hardly contain our eager anticipation of what was to come.

September 3rd 7 am started dreek as we made our way down to Coningsby and reported at the guardroom in order to obtain entry to the site. On production of a photographic ID we all had our photos taken, which were then stuck to our “Escorted Pass” for the day. With H&S and Security (speed limits, use of camera, mobiles, etc) out of the way, our host, Ian, invited us to partake of morning

coffee in the Officers’ Mess.

On the walls of this building there is an impressive array of paintings and photos featuring past and present aircraft.

Of particular note are the original hand drawings from Stalag Luft III (The Great Escape Camp). These, Ian suggested, were the ones he would grab “In the Case of Fire”!

We then proceeded to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight hangar, where we were met by Eng O BBMF Warrant Officer Dave Marshall. He gave us a full public tour plus the non-public behind the barriers stuff. It was during this part of our tour that Tony decided to go AWOL, moving from the public area to the Restricted without his host being present.

Luckily he didn’t get arrested, but did provoke some searching by the Hillamites!

We were treated to a hands-on inspection inside and out of the Avro Lancaster B1 bomber and the Douglas Dakota DC3.

Dave gave his time and expertise in that he was able not only to provide a very informed visit, but answered all of our questions too. His team of engineers must be very proud of the job they carry out, in keeping the Memorial Flight in tiptop condition – “A lasting memorial to those who went before”.

Coningsby is the base of the latest frontline fighter, the Typhoon. Three words sum up the RAF of 2009 – Agile, Adaptable, Capable – and have defined it since the day it was formed.

Ian is in charge of the engineers who look after the airframe, and he was able to guide us through the hangar containing six Eurofighter Typhoons. These are worth only £180M excluding all of the engineering gear on show, plus the engineers of course! Amazing.

I can only say that we came away feeling a very privileged “few” who can say “been in that” next time we see the BBMF Lancaster overhead!

Neal Wilson, Tony Hudson, Cyril Pickup and John Popham

17

HILLAM NEWS IS TWENTY YEARS OLD Hillam News is twenty years old in November!

Just in case you don’t recall the events of 1989, the year was marked by two momentous international occurrences: the massacre in Tian’anmen Square and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Among the less weighty happenings of two decades ago were Liverpool’s triumph at the FA Cup final, and the Wimbledon victories of Boris Becker and Steffi Graf. A couple of titles from the crop of new film releases were Dead Poets’ Society and When Harry Met Sally. The Benny Hill Show was screened for the last time, while the House of Commons was televised live for the first time. Obituaries included those of Salvador Dali, Daphne du Maurier and Sugar Ray Robinson. The price of the average house was £71,733, and petrol cost £1.68 – but that was per gallon.

So, even outside Hillam, it was a remarkable twelvemonth.

Focussing on local matters, 1989 was the year when the first Hillam Parish Council Newsletter appeared, under the editorship of Councillor Mary Little. Her intention was twofold: in her official capacity, to keep residents up to date with PC activities and, in addition, generally

informed of news, plans and events in and around our community. The venture was financed partly by the PC, partly by advertisements, and as ever with such enterprises, reliance on the willingness of the unpaid was an essential element.

Distribution was originally carried out by Claytons, the Sherburn newsagency, who delivered the Newsletter along with the Sunday papers. As now, provision was made for anyone not on the round: in those days copies could be picked up not only at the Cross Keys and Monk Fryston Post Office, but also from the Stoker brothers’ farm shop, the Texaco filling station and the purpose-built box next to the notice board in the Square.

management.

The longest-running regular contribution is the gardening column, which began in the second issue. It was originally written

by John Kilburn and Don Leary; today the tradition is continued alternately by Susan Ferguson and Susan Scott.

Slowly but surely the appearance of the cover has evolved. During 1993 the title was condensed to its present form. For the first seven years, pleasing Hillam scenes drawn by local artists were usually featured. The look of the paper had undergone a complete redesign by 1998, when the front page was given over entirely to news stories, articles or editorials.

The inaugural issue had eight pages; this number had risen by the end of the first year to eighteen. The increase was due mainly to the snowball effect of articles submitted by regular columnists, together with contributions from local groups and occasional pieces from individuals.

Over the years the Hillam News has kept on growing and has involved an ever-increasing number of enthusiasts.

Although there has been outside pressure for expansion beyond the Hillam Parish Council boundary, the paper remains exclusive to its home village. As in 1989 Issue no 1 included three trade adverts; it is delivered to residents, and also to twelve months later there were nine. The ex-resident subscribers, regular adverts of longest standing, both of which contributors and advertisers. date from issue no 2 and continue today, are those placed by Hillam Feeds and Happy birthday, Hillam News – and Monk Fryston Post Office. One of these here’s to the next twenty years! concerns is still under the same

Hillam News needs you!

As you will be aware, Hillam News is put together by a small number of volunteers and we are always on the lookout for new people to join us. Being part of the Hillam News team requires you to attend 6 meetings a year, at which we discuss the content of the next issue over a glass or two of wine.

We currently have a vacancy for another secretary. This role will consist of contacting the regular contributors, co-ordinating (not editing!) the content for 3 issues each year, and generally participating in the team effort.

If you feel you would like to be part of this team as a secretary, or to be a member of Hillam News, please contact Bev Jackson by email at bev@jack-son.com.

18

THE BIRDING COLUMN It has been quite a good summer’s birding for me. The main reason could be that I now work only two days a week, so have more available time, and can therefore plan my outings to suit the rather uncertain weather conditions of late, being not confined just to weekends.

In early August I visited Thorne Moors near Doncaster, which together with the nearby Hatfield Moors is the largest complex of raised bog in England, covering almost 8,000 acres. The vast majority of the area is recently worked or abandoned peat cutting, which provides a unique environment rich in both flora and fauna.

Marsh Harrier The first sighting, as I left my car, was of a Marsh Harrier, hunting gracefully over the sea of ripening barley on the edge of the reserve. That was a good start, but there was better to come, as I set off down the main track, a disused peat tramway.

Eventually branching off the main track I ventured into an area that I had never entered before, with marshland on either side. In the distance I spotted two tall, light grey shapes standing in the water,

their reflections almost silver in the early morning sun. I raised my binoculars and, to my astonishment, discovered that these two grey shapes were in fact Common Cranes. I quickly hid behind a bush, but it was too late, because Cranes have very keen eyesight and can see vast distances, and they took off, trumpeting their calls as they flew over my head. Fortunately, I had had the presence of mind to assemble my camera equipment before I left the car, so was able to obtain a decent photograph of the birds as they flew off noisily to another part of the reserve.

Apparently the birds have been wandering the area for the last few months, and do not breed on Thorne – but hopefully it should not be long before they do so.

see a pair of Carrion Crows mobbing a large bird that had just flown low over our house. It was too late to get my binoculars, but as the bird was so low, I could see it was a bird of prey, bigger than a buzzard, long-winged and with a long straight tail. It was all brown in colour, with no variation in plumage on its underwing, so this ruled out a buzzard species. After checking my field guides, I concluded that it was a young Marsh Harrier, migrating south to warmer climes.

Continuing along this same track, I spotted some movement in the heather: two large red shapes, obviously grazing deer species. These were the first of four Red Deer I saw that morning, the last remnant of a population previously hunted by the Tudors hundreds of years ago, when Thorne Moors linked up with Hatfield Chase.

A few minutes later, a couple of small falcons caught my eye, one passing directly overhead, when I could see its dark hood and moustaches, strongly black-streaked breast and crimson feathers at the top of its legs. These were Hobbies, darting about catching dragonflies and damselflies on the wing, holding them in their talons, eating them like a child eats an ice cream. After a little diversion to see adders, I headed back to the car. En route, I watched a young fox walking along the raised track, sniffing out rabbits, which are pretty numerous thereabouts. One was stupid enough to leave cover, and that was the end of the story, for the fox cut into the long grass in pursuit, and after a short squeal there was silence. I shall always remember that day early in August, as I had expected to see nothing, but saw so much.

Nearer to home, and whilst doing some survey work for the wind farm protest group, on private land I found a couple of Hobbies, which may have bred, along with a pair of Common Buzzards.

On 18th August at 6:45 I opened the bedroom curtains to

Peregrine Falcon

I have just returned from a spell in the Hebrides, and whilst I was there somebody brought me an injured juvenile Peregrine Falcon which had a broken wing, presumably after hitting power lines. Not knowing what to do with such a large and aggressive bird, I phoned the local RSPB warden, who advised me that he could not help, as he was about to go to a meeting. The local policeman couldn’t help either, as he had to stay in and wait for his mother-in-law! That was just great, as that was when I really needed some help. The advice I received from the RSPB man was to put the Falcon in a box and keep it in a quiet place overnight, and I duly obliged, after the policeman gave me a large box emblazoned with the logo “Strathclyde Police”. Unfortunately, this tale doesn’t have a happy ending, as the bird died overnight – hopefully not as a result of me giving it out-of-date stir-fry from the Co-op. I reluctantly buried it on the beach with full avian honours, but not before harbouring lingering thoughts about whether to bring the corpse home and get it stuffed. That would not have gone down well with Jenny – or our two old cats, so maybe it was the right decision?

Graham Todd

19

BITS AND BOBS The course has been running for twelve years at various venues across the country What an excellent night at the Crown in and for eight years at venues abroad (now th Monk Fryston on 24 September as we up to 67 countries). It is estimated that heard Sqn Ldr Taff Morgan talking about The Alpha course is an introduction to over two million people in the UK have his flying career in the RAF’s fast jet the Christian faith, and takes place in a already attended the course, and on the world, and also about his faith and the relaxing setting over a glass of wine and a 8,500 courses running way that has developed over the years. bite to eat. It meets every Thursday from September this year Taff was very positive in his comments evening at 7.30 pm in the back of St a further 250,000 will about the course, which is beginning Mary’s Church in South Milford. The experience Alpha. imminently on Thursday evenings. course is free (attendees will, however, www.alphacourse.org. need to buy a course manual at a cost of There are still a couple of places left on £3.50).

ALPHA COURSE DINNER

the course for latecomers and if you would like to attend, give John a call at the Rectory (680788).

St Wilfrid’s Church forthcoming events

The ice rink Saturday 9 January 2010

Harvest Festival Harvest Festival will take place on Sunday 4th October at 11 am, and we would be delighted if you were able to join us for this occasion. Monk Fryston School is joining in the support of this for the week that follows the Harvest Festival so that work can be undertaken throughout the week to look at wider world issues. The School Choir will also be singing at the Harvest Festival.

Northern Comfort Barbershop The first visit to St Wilfrid’s Church by ‘Northern Comfort Barbershop Chorus’ is on Friday 30th October beginning at 7.30 pm. Entrance to the concert is free and there will be a retiring collection in aid of the St Mary’s and St Wilfrid’s Youth Fellowship Malawi Project.

‘All Souls’ Service’ The annual ‘All Souls’ Service’ is on Sunday 1st November at 11 am.

This service is held to remember the members of our families and our close friends who have died in recent years.

Confirmation 2009 In response to several requests for Confirmation, a service is to be held at St Wilfrid’s Church in Monk Fryston on Sunday 29th November at 6 pm.

This Confirmation Service will be conducted by Rt Revd Martin Wallace, Bishop of Selby, and is open to all individuals from South Milford, Monk Fryston, Hillam, Burton Salmon, Lumby and Newthorpe.

Confirmation is the adult step of taking responsibility for the promises made on our behalf at Baptism. It is also the point of recognition by the Church (through the Bishop) of entry into full membership by the individual, and subsequently makes Holy Communion available to the person.

If you feel this is a step you would like to take, please contact John at the Rectory, 680788 or hetherington556@btinternet.com, as soon as possible so that arrangements can be made.

Monk Fryston School PTA has arranged for an ice rink for the villagers of Monk Fryston and Hillam.

It will be run by a professional company who will provide staff and skates. Food and drinks will be served.

Bookings are already being taken, so to avoid disappointment please reserve your tickets by emailing Jo Evans on: jotucker1707@hotmail.com.

Prices are £5 per person, £10 for a family of 3 and £100 for exclusive bookings of up to 25 people.

Calling farmers of all ages LEAF - Linking Environment and Farming is one of our more productive QUANGOs. It is behind ‘Open Farm Sunday’, an annual event, which welcomes visitors onto farms. LEAF has produced a Virtual Farm Walk for children, which enables them to enjoy a farm visit on the home computer. Now every child can go field to field, exploring the British countryside, seeing and hearing about the way food is produced – and all without even having to go outside.

Try it at: http://www.virtualfarmwalk.org.

Agricultural Correspondent

20

SCARECROW THOUGHTS

By Imogen Stuart, aged 10

By Henry Burdekin, aged 10

By Ben Clowes, aged 10

The Monk Fryston and Hillam Scarecrow Festival was held on 13 and 14 September. The local villagers enjoyed Lots of people came to see the sunny weather whilst walking round looking at the the weird but wonderful scarecrows on show. There scarecrows. There were lots of was a wide variety of scarecrows including Stig scarecrows to look Some of them were TV and book at including (from Top Gear), the characters but all of them were amazing!

Batman, Jack and Simpsons, a beekeeper and also a very Lots of people got involved and Monk the Beanstalk, the Fryston School also did scarecrows. This cool Batman (I wonder who could have Simpsons family, done that?). was a great event for the community as Dennis the Meneveryone had lots of fun. The weather My personal favourite was the Three Little ace, Tom and also helped and the sun brought out the Jerry, 118, a Pigs because I liked the houses and the crowds. policeman, and wolf. I thought a lot of effort went into finally Neil the scarecrows and the event has grown A lot of hard work Armstraw. My top three were 118, went into the event. It since the previous year. policeman and Tom and Jerry. Me and was definitely worth it, my sister Ruby, mum and dad all enjoyed and I cannot wait until Everybody I spoke to had a wonderful the day and hope Monk Fryston and time and it was nice to see families out next year. I’m sure everyone else feels the enjoying the day. I shall look forward to Hillam will take part in it next year and it brings people together. next year’s event. same.

The will have been no crows in Monk Fryston and Hillam this weekend as there were many brilliant scarecrows around!

Everyone had an excellent time judging the scarecrows but it was very hard because they were all breathtaking.

The Scarecrow Festival kicked off very well this year.

21

SMALL ADS

Only £1.00 per issue To give it a try, please contact David Atkinson on 684577

Monk Fryston Mums and Tots Need to get out and about with your little ones?

Well, come and join us at Monk Fryston Community Centre.

Local mums, dads and childminders meet every Tuesday (term time only) between 9.00 and 11.30 am.

We offer a warm welcome to new faces, so why not drop in for a drink and a chat?

Our toddler group provides great opportunities for your children to play and learn with others whilst allowing you to meet up with other adults in an informal and relaxed setting.

So don’t be shy…

Come along and see for yourself!

For more information please contact Becky Gatenby 07894 336386 or Carla Candler 07926 379233

Contributions for the next issue are very welcome, and can be sent to any of the Hillam News team listed below.

Deadline for copy: Wednesday 11th November.

Gardener Reliable gardener available by appointment.

Already working in Hillam. £12.00 per hour. Please call 01757 638941.

22

SPORT -

IN

The football season is now underway, although we are still in the last throes of summer, with the numerous one-day matches still taking place on the cricket field between England and Australia.

Seven of these matches stretching into September tells you everything you need to know about how money dictates the needs of sport these days, but I can’t help thinking the gloss of a hard-fought win in the test series to reclaim the Ashes has now been spoilt by the terrible one-day performances. Maybe that’s just down to how poorly we seem to fare in the limited overs game, but surely three one-day matches prior to the test series fits better than the current structure.

Rugby Union has dominated both the front and back pages over recent weeks with Harlequins taking the game to new depths, given their deplorable tactics of using fake blood capsules to simulate injuries. The desire to win at all costs (again driven in the main by money and not success in itself) has resulted in the downfall of one of the sport’s all-time greats in Dean Richards.

Richards has fallen on his own sword in admitting that he asked for the fake blood to be used so that he could substitute a player, in the hope of getting a recognised kicker back onto the field in the closing stages of a European Cup game. Whilst there is simply no condoning that type of behaviour, what I find more worrying is the subsequent revelation that this has been widespread in the sport for several years. It’s probably naive in the extreme to think that this doesn’t also stretch to the very top of the game, in that international teams, including England, have also been involved in some dubious tactics. The use of a blood-stained towel on a player’s shirt to force a blood bin substitution has been one allegation made against the national team, but who knows (other than the players themselves) what other activities have taken place in the hope of gaining an advantage? What’s the answer? There’s an easy remedy to this, which is for Rugby Union to follow Rugby League in having up to 12 interchange substitutions during a game.

- NEWS

Back to the round ball game, and already the Premiership season is courting controversy. Emmanuel Adebayor’s tactics in the recent Manchester City – Arsenal game have rightly brought him into trouble with the authorities. How anyone can defend his decision to run 80 yards to celebrate in front of the Arsenal fans is beyond me. Whilst his decision at the outset can be considered ‘spur of the moment’, he then has at least 7 or 8 seconds to reconsider his antics whilst he runs down the field. To then continue that act is nothing more than provocation of the same fans he was trying to entertain a few months earlier. There is simply no defending this childish act, and for me he should be punished where it hurts most (and that is not in his pocket) – a three game ban or higher should have the desired effect of stopping this ludicrous act of incitement.

Jermaine Beckford Leeds United

Image

Finally, my usual attempt at predicting the future: PREMIERSHIP WINNERS Chelsea CHAMPIONSHIP West Bromwich 1st DIVISION Leeds United Bournemouth 2nd DIVISION CHAMPIONS’ LEAGUE Real Madrid FA CUP Manchester United Yours in sport,

Doug Hought

23

LETTERS AND FINAL THOUGHTS Dear Editor,

Dear Hillam News,

It has come to our attention that someone has thrown a conifer tree into a cornfield, which has caused between £15,000 and £30,000 damage to a combine harvester.

The Woodlane wind farm rebuttal document is lengthy, at just over 100 pages, but having read it from beginning to end I would urge everyone to at least look at it. For only then will one fully appreciate the amount of effort, time and not a little money those directly involved in its production have expended on the whole community’s behalf. Having been involved in research to a variable degree, albeit medical, all my working life, it is one of the very best papers I have had the pleasure in reading. I believe all those associated with production, be it content, layout or tone – not to mention its readability – are to be congratulated unreservedly.

The farmer has now had to employ a contractor to harvest his corn, which will put him to more expense.

Will people think before they throw their rubbish into farmers’ fields? We all have rubbish to dispose of and there are appropriate places to dispose of it.

May we remind people that this is fly-tipping, which is an offence.

Mr and Mrs G I Thompson Austfield Farm Hillam Dear Editor, In two minds about the prowler It crossed my mind as to whether the police would be asking for volunteers to “man” the necessary identity parade, and I thought that I might offer my services. On second thoughts however, I believe age would count against me, and such a spectacle would probably shock the unfortunate lady even more than the original experience.

Hillam resident Name and address supplied Stars at night I came through Hillam the other night about quarter past eleven, and I have never seen as many women out walking dogs. Were they out looking for shooting stars or other things that flash in the night?

Hillam resident Name and address supplied Who is the Hillam streaker?

We have a few clues. He is male and young, but calculating enough to hide his face. He was in search of the Rector (who was away) and he was drunk. Could there have been a stag party? Did the groom feel an urgent need to confirm details of his nuptials? Maybe we need to check any recent banns readings or wedding ceremonies at St Wilf’s.

If you have worked this one out, let Hillam News know; answers on a postcard please.

The whole community owes Howard Ferguson a huge debt of gratitude for not only spearheading the entire project but he has unearthed a wealth of otherwise unknown talent and in the process helped to bring the community together.

Even if planning permission is not granted in the near future and an appeal is submitted we should continue to support the team in what could be a difficult time ahead.

Yours sincerely Andrew C Broughton Hillam Dear Editor, To the dog walker who used the public footpath to walk his dog through the new football pitch, when a game was in progress: Thank you, you have made your point, but parents would be very grateful if you could stray slightly off the path and go round the edge of the pitch when a game is in progress, to stop possible injury to yourself, your dog and more importantly the 10- and 11-year-olds playing.

From the concerned mum of two of the players Name and address supplied

24

LOCAL SERVICES To amend or to add to the information below, please phone Jenny Hoare (683332) Service

Telephone

Details

Monk Fryston Post Office Post Office counter

682252

Mon - Fri 8 am - 8 pm; Sat 8.30 am - 7 pm; Sun 9 am - 7 pm Mon, Tues, Thur, Fri 9 am - 5.30 pm; Wed & Sat 9 am - 1 pm

Last postal collections

Public transport

Hillam Square Monk Fryston PO South Milford PO Pontefract, Trinity St 0113 245 7676

Mon - Fri 4.30 pm, Sat 9.30 am Mon - Fri 4.15 pm, Sat 11 am Mon - Fri 5.30 pm, Sat 11 am Mon - Fri 6.30 pm, Sat 12.30 pm

Local bus & train timetables & enquiries: www.wymetro.com

South Milford Surgery 682202 Dr A Mackenzie & Partners

Phone hours: Mon - Fri 8 am - 6 pm www.southmilfordsurgery.co.uk

Monk Fryston Surgery Dr D James & Partners

683452

Mon 4 - 8 pm; Tues & Wed 8 - 12 am; Thur 2 - 6 pm; Fri 9 - 11 am www.patient.co.uk

Selby War Memorial Hospital

01757 702664

www.sypct.com

Pontefract General Infirmary

600600

www.midyorks.nhs.uk

Visiting Scheme for the Elderly

681828

Transport, shopping, social events for the housebound, and much more www.sherburnvisitingscheme.co.uk

St Wilfrid’s Church, Monk Fryston

680788

Rector: Revd John Hetherington www.stwilfridandstmary.org.uk

Burton Salmon Methodist Church

679541

Details: Sandra Sargent

Mobile library

Sherburn Library 08450 349443

Every 3 weeks: Hillam Square Tues 11.35 - 11.50 am Maspin Grange Tues 1.20 - 1.30 pm www.northyorks.gov.uk/libraries/mobiles

Hillam Parish Council

685186

Clerk: Malcolm Walton 1st Wed of month 7.30 pm, Community Centre

Selby District Council

01757 705101

www.selby.gov.uk

Environmental Health, SDC 01757 292113

Refuse disposal: removal of bulky items

NYCC Recycling Centre, Canal Road, Selby

01609 780780

Recycling centre for household waste - cardboard, metals, textiles, masonry, bottles, green waste, batteries, TVs, monitors, oils

Wakefield MDC Recycling Centre, Ferrybridge

01609 532512 (tel) 01609 532474 (fax)

Permits necessary for NYCC residents waste.management@northyorks.gov.uk

Police (non-emergency)

0845 6060247

www.northyorkshire.police.uk

Mobile Police Station, Community Centre car park 682693

Weekly, variable days and times See village notice boards or contact Tony Hudson

Neighbourhood Watch

682693

Tony Hudson

Gas (leaks)

0800 111 999

www.transco.uk.com

Electricity (supply failure)

0800 375 675

www.npower.com

Yorkshire Water (sewerage and leaks)

0845 1242429

www.yorkshirewater.com

Citizens’ Advice Bureau

01757 293015 0845 1203718

For appointments at Sherburn Advice line www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Venue bookings

684180 689230

Church Hall: Paddy Twidale Community Centre: Becky Gatenby

Village website

www.hillam-village.co.uk

25

LOCAL SERVICES To amend or to add to the information below, please phone Jenny Hoare (683332)

Service

Telephone

Details

Monk Fryston Post Office Post Office counter

682252

Mon - Fri 8 am - 8 pm; Sat 8.30 am - 7 pm; Sun 9 am - 7 pm Mon, Tues, Thur, Fri 9 am - 5.30 pm; Wed & Sat 9 am - 1 pm

Last postal collections

Public transport

Hillam Square Monk Fryston PO South Milford PO Pontefract, Trinity St 0113 245 7676

Mon - Fri 4.30 pm, Sat 9.30 am Mon - Fri 4.15 pm, Sat 11 am Mon - Fri 5.30 pm, Sat 11 am Mon - Fri 6.30 pm, Sat 12.30 pm

Micklefield StationLink (3 weekday services am & pm) Other local bus & train timetables & enquiries: www.wymetro.com

South Milford Surgery 682202 Dr A Mackenzie & Partners

Mon - Fri 9 - 11 am & 4.30 - 6.30 pm www.southmilfordsurgery.co.uk

Monk Fryston Surgery Dr D James & Partners

683452

Mon 2.40 - 5.30 pm; Tues & Wed 8.30 - 11 am; Thur 2.40 - 5.30 pm

Selby War Memorial Hospital

01757 702664

www.sypct.com

Pontefract General Infirmary

600600

www.midyorks.nhs.uk

Visiting Scheme for the Elderly

681828

Transport, shoppng, social events for the housebound, and much more www.sherburnvisitingscheme.co.uk

St Wilfrid’s Church, Monk Fryston

680788

Rector: Revd John Hetherington www.stwilfridandstmary.org.uk

Burton Salmon Methodist Church

679541

Details: Sandra Sargent See also Methodist news page

Mobile library

Sherburn Library 08450 349443

Every 3 weeks: Hillam Square Tues 11.35 - 11.50 am Maspin Grange Tues 1.20 - 1.30 pm www.northyorks.gov.uk/libraries/mobiles

Hillam Parish Council

685186

Clerk: Malcolm Walton 1st Wed of month 7.30 pm, Community Centre

Selby District Council

01757 705101

www.selby.gov.uk

Environmental Health, SDC 01757 292113

Refuse disposal: removal of bulky items

NYCC Recycling Centre, Canal Road, Selby

01609 780780

Wakefield MDC Recycling Centre, Ferrybridge

01609 533216 (tel) 01609 532474 (fax)

Permits necessary for NYCC residents waste.management@northyorks.gov.uk

Police (non-emergency)

0845 6060247

www.northyorkshire.police.uk

Mobile Police Station, Community Centre car park 682693

Weekly, variable days and times See village notice boards or contact Tony Hudson

Neighbourhood Watch

682693

Tony Hudson

Gas (leaks)

0800 111 999

www.transco.uk.com

Electricity (supply failure)

0800 375 675

www.npower.com

Yorkshire Water (sewerage and leaks)

0845 1242429

www.yorkshirewater.com

Citizens’ Advice Bureau

Sherburn & Selby: 0845 1203718 Pont: 0870 1212044

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Venue bookings

684180 689230

Church Hall: Paddy Twidale Community Centre: Becky Gatenby

Village website

www.hillam-village.co.uk

26 The Hillam News is a free newspaper produced by volunteers.

We make reasonable endeavours to ensure the accuracy of the content but we do not guarantee the accuracy of nor endorse the opinions of third-party contributions including adverts.

We publish our material in good faith and strive to comment fairly. If we make a mistake we are willing to correct it when it is pointed out to us. Because the paper is free we do not permit copying for gain but we are happy to grant permission for reproduction.

METHODISTS

Leaving Hillam?

BURTON SALMON METHODIST CHURCH Minister: Rev J Robin E Fox (0113 2877669) Sunday Services 11.15 am Sunday Group 10.00 – 11.00 am, for children aged 3 years and over A variety of activities including games, singing, drawing Thursday Coffee Mornings 10.30 – 11.30 am Everyone is welcome to come and join in.

For further information contact Sandra Sargent (679541) or Irene Wadsworth (676188)

If you are leaving Hillam, we are sorry to see you go.

However, hillam News can help ease the pain!

Just take out a subscription for two years, and keep in touch.

Two years — twelve issues — £12.00.

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☺ MONK FRYSTON PLAYSCHOOL ☺ SHERBURN HIGH SCHOOL

Up-to-date information

For the latest news you should visit the website or register for e-mail updates by sending an e-mail to please@stopwoodlanewindfarm.co.uk Website: www.stopwoodlanewindfarm.co.uk

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