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S U M M E R 2 0 1 0
OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIESSHOW THEIR SOLIDARITY
Seas
cale
Village Magazine
Phot
o ©
Mel
anie
Cla
pham
Phot
o ©
Gar
eth
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riso
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Cumbrian Lodge58 Gosforth Road, Seascale CA20 1JG
Come and enjoy a warmwelcome
and the coolsophistication ofCumbrian Lodge
The restaurant has beenawarded a coveted AARed Rosette, ranking thecuisine among the finest
in West Cumbria
To ensure that the foodwe serve continues to
delight our customers weuse the freshest ofingredients from thefinest suppliers
Restaurant Opening Hours:Dinner: Monday to Saturday, 6.30pm until 9.30pm
Reservations: 019467 27309
3
Sadly I have to start this newsletterremembering the devastating day
Wednesday 2 June. It is not one we will everforget. Special thoughts go to the victims’families and our community.
I would like to thank Nev. Ramsden, our localhistorian, for all the articles he has provided forthe newsletter over the last ten years. They wereso informative and enjoyable. Sadly he hasdecided that there will be no more.
We were pleased to at last have the Quality CoastAward flag back. We thank our cubs and theirhelpers for doing a beach clean on 8 May.
Once again I have to mention our selfish dogowners who do not clean up after their dogs. TheParish Council has had two letters fromholidaymakers visiting our village, saying what alovely place it is and a beautiful beach, spoilt bydog dirt.
Next year it will be the Parish Elections. We havethree vacancies at the moment. It is voluntary butis rewarding if you want to make a difference.When I started 31 years ago we hadn’t a sportshall, bowling green, three play areas, a castle, ajetty a BMX site, swings, benches, picnic table,Christmas lights. All these things were achieved byParish Councillors and volunteer villagers. TheDell was completely redone. This was the projectof another councillor, with the help of others.Every councillor over the last 25/26 years has beeninvolved in some scheme or another and we arevery grateful. So, if you think you can spare sometime and commitment, why not give it a try?
On another problem, parking on some of ourroads has become silly. On Scawfell Crescent lay-bys were provided as the road is too narrow foron-road parking. Please use them. Santon Way isanother example, where the other day cars wereparked practically opposite each other making
driving through a hazard. The fire and ambulanceservices tell me it’s impossible to negotiate safelywhen this happens. It can put lives at risk. Pleasepark safely.
Once again we owe a debt of gratitude to DavidMorgan for all the volunteer work he does for uson the beach and around the village. He has aflag for every occasion. I am sure you will havenoticed that they were flying at half mast for usover the sad days in early June. Thank you David.
Eileen EastwoodChairwoman. Seascale Parish Council.
SEASCALEPAR I SHNEWS
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Parish CouncillorsEileen Eastwood 28653Elaine Dickinson 27288Rodney Kimber 28723Ken Mawson 28278John McElroy 28443David Moore 27674Steve Pritt 07792 109658Clive Willoughby 07741 007495Andrew Woolass 28218
ClerkJudith Kirkham 28449
Copeland District CouncillorsEileen Eastwood 28653David Moore 27674
County CouncillorSue Brown 01229 774666
Other Useful NumbersCumbria Highways Hotline 0845 609 6609Copeland Direct 0845 054 8600
Seascale Parish Council receiving the chequefrom Sue Brown, our County Councillor,for work on the Sports Hall windows.
A SEAT FOR THE VILLAGEBetterware, in recognition of Jane Robinson’scontribution to the company and the village,are donating a seat for the village. Theinscription will read: “In memory of JaneRobinson, remembered with love by her family,friends and Betterware customers”
I would like to thank the people of Seascale fortheir massive help and support following theshootings on 2 June. There are various reasonswhy there was a 90-minute delay in getting anambulance to the scene, and forgive me if Ileave this issue aside, as the point of this letteris to acknowledge the wonderful supportshown to both myself and my wife while I wasin agony. It is not everyday that this sort ofincident takes place, and as a result no amountof training can be had for it, but with the helpof the doctors at the Surgery and the localcommunity I was cared for in a very “drilled”manner. I would also like to apologise for therather indifferent language that was used byme during the ordeal.
My condolences go to all the families who havenot been as fortunate as ours, and my bestwishes and huge thanks go to all the unsung
heroes who have suffered just as much as theinjured, but have not had the good fortune tobe looked after with the care and dedicationthat I have; and especially to the many thathelped directly after the shooting – you knowwho you are, and I only apologise that I do notknow you personally to say thank you.
With many many thanks,
Harry Berger, Woolpack Inn, Boot, Eskdale
A THANK YOU FROM HARRY BERGER
5
FROM SCOUTING HQThree messages from Scouting HQ received byGraham Worsnop:
To all members of our Scout family inCumbria, I just want to reach out and offer youmy love and prayers in these difficult times. Iknow that each of you has been affected insuch a painful way by the recent catastrophesbut please know that you are part of our Scoutfamily and greatly loved and valued by many.We are here for you if you need any help inwhatever capacity. Our thoughts and prayersare with you.
Bear Grylls, Chief Scout
You will not know me but I am the chairmanof Trustees of TSA.
for 40 years I have been a paediatrician inNewcastle looking after children with cancerand leukaemia.
The young people of west Cumbria have beenclose to my heart as have their families.
Last week’s shocking events have left us allfeeling numb and bemused. We want to dosomething but all we can do is think and prayfor you at this difficult time.
I know that the annual meeting of the SecondSeascale is this week and perhaps you mightlike to read out bits of this short note.
Alan Croft, Chair of the Trustees of the ScoutAssociation
Very many thanks for taking the trouble inthese difficult times to let us know how youare coping – I for one cannot begin tounderstand the devastation that individuals,families and the whole community must befeeling as you try to come to terms withevents. Our thoughts and prayers are with youall, as with our support as you try to rebuildthe community.
Wayne BulpittUK Chief Commissioner
FROM FORMERHEADTEACHER, SEASCALEPRIMARY SCHOOLTo Eileen Eastwood:
My heartfelt sympathy to the families leftbehind after these terrible events. I read yourtribute in the Whitehaven News and know youare right that in time things will be alrightbecause people pull together. The 4½ years Iworked with the community taught me toappreciate everything.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
God bless.
Brenda Holden
This letter from Northern Rail was received by theCumbria Rail Users’ Group.
WE ARE THINKING OF YOUJust a short line to say that we at Northern Railare thinking of you; I know West Cumbria reallywell and always enjoy my visits over there.
The flooding of last winter, followed by theterrible bus crash of last month were shocking,but the events of yesterday really knocked us allsideways.
Small communities like yours thrive on knowingeveryone and everyone knowing you, soundoubtedly this will have affected almosteveryone in the area.
Please don’t worry about your reports during thistime. If anything this teaches us that there are farmore important things.
From Angela and me we send you our bestwishes and hope that you and the communitiesin West Cumbria can find a way through thisawful period and once again enjoy thewonderful life that your beautiful area can offeryou.
Peter T. MyersHead of Service Quality
6
THE HOBBY& PET SHOP
GOSFORTH
019467 25702
YOUR LOCAL PET SHOP
OPENMONDAY-FRIDAY 9.30AM – 4.45PM
SATURDAY 10AM – 1PM
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CHARITY EVENINGEgremont Conservative Club
Friday 16 July 7.30 pmLIVE MUSIC from LOCAL ARTISTS
including:
JAZZHAVENSMOOTH
JUDITH JONES BANDMMR2
Entry by ticket £3available on door or
Call: 07886 345989Help for Heroes (H4H)
Event ID: 20100524-6558-3302
SEASCALE PRIMARYSCHOOLEco Schools Green FlagAssessmentWe are delighted to inform you that we havereceived the Eco Schools ‘Green Flag’ award thisweek. Thank you to all who worked really hardtowards the assessment. We have been asked ifour school can be used as an ‘exemplar school’ toother establishments who are to undertake thesame assessment. We are very proud of this. Welldone!
Let’s CelebrateFriday 9 July 2010We will be holding our Let’s Celebrate event onFriday 9 July 2010. Members from within thecommunity are welcome to attend if they so wish.A BBQ lunch will be served; all orders for the BBQneed to be placed with school by Thursday 1 July2010. Unfortunately we will be unable to takeorders after 1 July as we need to place our foodrequirements with the catering companies on thisdate. Please telephone 28403 to place your order.
7
SCREES INNNether Wasdale
019467 26262
Caroline, Steve & Joe would like to welcome you to theScrees Inn
X WE HAVE A COMPLETELY NEW MENU X
EVERY WEDNESDAY IS STEAK NIGHT
AND THERE’S A THEMED MENU EVERYLAST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH
Please call us for details or see our website
www.thescrees.co.uk
8
Support us through the winter months. To suit the season we are now servinghome-made soup, bacon rolls, home-made cakes and good quality freshlyground coffee along with our delicious ice cream produced on our farm inSeascale. New ice cream flavours appear all the time. Do come in and see what’sseasonal and new at the moment.
Opening hours: 7 days a week 10am-5pm.
Bailey GroundCoffee Shop&Ice CreamParlour
Bailey Ground HotelSeascale
CA20 1NG019467 29786
baileygroundhotel.co.uk
Ice Cream Parlour019467 29918
Dairy019467 28278
Milk deliveries are made throughout Seascale – phone 019467 28278 for yours
9
è Overhead projectorè Surround soundèWireless internetconnection
è Conference phoneè Photocopyingè Tea & Coffee facilitiesè Homemade shortbread biscuitsè Chilled waterè Variety of homemade buffets tosuit individual needs
è Dining room with sea viewsè Real dairy ice creamè Sea front location and viewsè Ample free car parkingè Self-contained buildingè 28 en-suite rooms
All functions catered for
Bailey GroundHotel &
ConferenceCentre
è Long term rooms availableè All en-suite roomsè Friendly barè Sky Sportsè Home cooked food mainly usingproduce from our own farm
www.mawsonsofbaileyground.co.uk
è BAILEY GROUND BISTROopen 6-9pm Fridays and Saturdays.Home cooked food. Fantastic sea views.
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LARGE, WELL-EQUIPED FUNCTION ROOM AVAILABLE FOR HIRE AT NO COST!
PERFECT FOR EVERY OCCASION BIRTHDAYS WEDDINGS
CHRISTENING ANNIVERSARIES
…AND MUCH MORE
CATERING AND ENTERTAINMENT CAN BE PROVIDED AT AN EXTRA COST.
FOR MORE DETAILS PLEASE
CONTACT ANNETTE OR LOUISE ON 019467 28468 or
Unit 4D Sneckyeat Ind. Est. · Hensingham · Whitehaven · Cumbria · CA28 8PFTel: 01946 692183 · Fax: 01946 64913 · Mobile: 07702 036927
WE CAN SUPPLY ALL TYPES OF GLASS AND GLAZING MATERIALSWe specialise in Mirrors, Table Tops, Shelves and Glass Balustrades
Free EstimatesShop Fronts
Factory and Industrial Premises24-hour call-out service
Facilities on site to cut, drill and polish edges
Proud to have served Cumbria for over 25 years
www.alwelglass.co.uk
11
West Coast Support GroupThe West Coast Support Group meets for six indoor and three outdoor meetingseach year. The final summer meeting this year on 7 Wednesday July will bean annual visit to Clints Quarry Nature Reserve with Rosemary Hutt. Meet atthe entrance at 6.30pm. Children accompanied by a responsible adult arewelcome. Wear suitable clothing and footwear. No dogs.
******Autumn Indoor Meetings 2010
Wednesday 15 September. 7.30pm at Gosforth Methodist Room.“Mountain Flowers”
An illustrated talk by the Director of Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Peter Bullard
Wednesday 13 October. 7.30pm at Seascale Methodist Church Hall.An illustrated talk on a wildlife topic; speaker to be announced.
Wednesday 17 November. 7.30pm at Gosforth Methodist Room“The Watchtree Nature Reserve”
An illustrated talk by Reserves Manager, Tim Lawrence on the creation of thisReserve following the foot and mouth outbreak
*****Spring Indoor Meetings 2011
9 February at Seascale9 March at Gosforth6 April at Seascale
Fiona Galloway, Hon. Secretary, West Coast Support Group01946 841313
Further information about the work of Cumbria Wildlife Trust, including opportunities forvolunteering may be obtained from
Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Head Office: Plumgarths, Crook Road, Kendal, Cumbria LA8 8LXTelephone 01539 816300
E: [email protected]: www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.ukRegistered Charity No.218711
12
HOLMROOK READINGROOM PIZZA DAYAs always we plan to relax and have a fineafternoon together on 10 July while we eat pizzaand drink wine. Good weather or bad we willhave a great time. All monies raised will gotowards maintaining our building and thegarden/meadow which surrounds it. We hopethat you will come and spend time in our ‘littlegarden heaven’ and see where your money goes!
Festivities start around 12 noon. Tickets are £5 foradults and £3.50 for children.
If you would like to come call Val on 01946724105 or 07974 418325
All that JazzCalder House Hotel hosts a Jazz Jam
Session, led by local stars Val and Colin,every third Friday of the month,
commencing at 8.30pm. It’s an informalnight of music with local musicians.
All are welcome to come and listen(or play!). Admission free.
Lazy MusicSunday
Gosforth Hall Inn has a live music afternoonon the last Sunday of every month – on the
patio when weather permits.
On 28 June the magnificent duo No FixedAbode will play from 4pm. Hopefully the
weather will permit an outdoorperformance. Check out their music at
www.myspace.com/musicnfa
019467 25322 Admission free
The second open art exhibition of the Gosforth &District Art Society is scheduled for August BankHoliday – 28-30 August, in Gosforth Village Hall.
The group was formed over 25 years ago and hasbeen meeting throughout that time; some of theoriginal people are still with us today. There arevarying types of ability within the group fromlearners to very accomplished artists. Manydifferent mediums are used – oil, watercolour,pastel, graphite and acrylic paints. Some paint inmore than one medium and they help and coacheach other as and when needed.
The group is quite well known locally and has theprivilege of exhibiting all year round at MuncasterCastle and Lakeland Habit.
This year’s exhibition in Gosforth is free entry.
There’s a raffle with many fabulous prizesincluding original paintings. Refreshments include
home-made produce for all three days. Hundredsof original paintings by over 40 Cumbrian artistscan be seen, with demonstrations and interactiveart work for visitors. A catalogue will be availabledetailing all exhibiting artists and profiles.
For more information contact Jakki Barratt(secretary): Tel: 019467 25838. Mob: 07719 781448.Email: [email protected]
AUTUMN/WINTERMAGAZINE
To be published by weekend22 October 2010
Please submit articles, items ofgeneral interest and event dates
[email protected] by 1 October
3-DAY EXHIBITION OF ORIGINAL ARTWORK
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26-28 June – Friday to Sunday. WhitehavenMaritime Festival.
28 June – Sunday. Gosforth Hall’s Lazy MusicSunday with ‘No Fixed Abode’: Singer Unaand guitarist Tony. 4pm onwards.
3 July – Saturday. Cumbrian Coast Explorerhauled by 71000 ‘Duke of Gloucester’passes through Seascale en route toCarlisle. See p41
3 July – Saturday. Drigg Charity Hog Roast.5.30pm. Details [email protected]
7 July – Wednesday. Visit to Clints Quarry NatureReserve. See p11
9 July – Friday. Seascale Primary School “Let’sCelebrate” Event. See p14
10 July – Saturday. Calder House’s 10-yearanniversary celebrations. Bookable.
10 July – Saturday. Holmrook Reading RoomPizza Day, 12 noon. See p12
16 July – Friday. ‘Help the Heroes’ CharityEvening, Egremont. 7.30pm Live music forall the family. See p14
17 July – Saturday. The Lakelander steam trainpasses through Seascale.
1 August – Saturday. NGS Open Garden ‘HallSenna’ (Chris and Helen Steele) 10.30am -5pm. Details on NGS website or tel:019467 25436, or [email protected].
7 August – Saturday. The Lakelander steam trainpasses through Seascale.
21 August – Saturday. Gosforth AgriculturalShow.
28-30 August – bank holiday weekend.Medieval Muncaster. The Red WyvernSociety Medieval re-enactment group willbe camped in the gardens with displaysof life in medieval times, includingarmory, cooking and battles!
28-30 August – bank holiday weekend.Gosforth & District Art Society exhibition.Gosforth Village Hall. See p12
29 August – Sunday. Eskdale Fete, OutwardBound Centre.
30 August – bank holiday Monday. BlackCombe Country Fair, Bootle.
3 September – Friday. Muncaster Castle FolkNight from 7.30pm in aid of the WorldOwl Trust. Tickets available in advance butlimited to 120. £12.50 each.
15 September – Wednesday. Talk on MountainFlowers, Gosforth Methodist Room.7.30pm. See p11
18 September – Saturday. Egremont Crab Fair.
24 September – Friday. Concert: The BerkeleyEnsemble. Westlakes Academy. 8pm. Seep18
25 September – Saturday. Eskdale Show.
2-3 October – weekend. Day out with Thomas.Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway.
13 October – Talk on Wildlife. Seascale MethodistChurch Hall. 7.30pm. See p11
15 October – Friday. Concert: The NorthernChamber Orchestra. Westlakes Academy.8pm. See p18
24-31 October – Sunday to Sunday. HalloweenWeek at Muncaster Castle. Ghost toursand Darkest Muncaster illuminations witha themed sound and light show at night.Daily children’s activities.
12 November – Friday. Concert: Prince BishopBrass Quintet. Westlakes Academy. 8pm.See p18
17 November – Wednesday. Talk on theWatchtree Nature Reserve. GosforthMethodist Room. 7.30pm. See p11
21 November + December + additional dates27-29 December – Sundays. Christmasat Muncaster Castle: elegantly decorated.Darkest Muncaster illuminations andsound and light show.
27-28 November – weekend. UlverstonDickensian Christmas Festival.
December – Sundays (except 26th) plus 27-29December. Muncaster Castle Victoriantours, guided by servants in periodcostume. Pre-booking essential.
12 December – Sunday. Christmas LightsSwitch-on in Seascale.
EVENTS CALENDAR in and aroundSeascale
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With a new government formed we now havea lady Minister of Agriculture; first
impressions are very favourable. In her first speechshe stated that ways must be found for thiscountry to produce more food to meet theincreased future demand and make us less relianton imports. One of the actions she should takemust be to stop the proposed shutdown ofproposed pumping stations which empty thedrainage ditches of hundreds of very fertile acresof farmland on the Solway Plain in Cumbria. Thisland was reclaimed after the last war to help solvethe severe food shortage at the time. If thepumping stations are shut down as proposed thisland would rapidly return to boggy wastelandwhich would be a serious loss.
Another controversial scheme for increasingproduction which is taking place at the momentis the testing of GM (Genetically Modified) crops.This method involves introducing different plantgenes to make crops more resistant to differentdiseases, and also vastly increasing their yields.The benefits are a massive reduction in the use ofsprays, pesticides and fungicides. The argumentagainst is the future effect GM crops might haveon humans and also stopping the crosspollination of ordinary crops growing nearby.Present tests are being carried out on potato andgrain crops in this country and GM produce isnow in common use in many countries includingthe USA where so far no problems have beenfound.
On a more positive note new rules on foodlabelling are being introduced. Currently, foodproduced anywhere in the world can be importedinto this country, processed and packaged andthen sold as British. New EEC rules about to beintroduced mean that meat, fruit, vegetables anddairy products must carry a label showing thecountry of origin. This will stop all foreign producebeing fobbed off as British. Farmers havecampaigned for this for many years.
Wildlife And NatureA very rare sight in the village recently was anotter playing in the sea around the jetty. It musthave come along the beach from one of the rivers
near Sellafield or Ravenglass, or possibly down thelittle stream in front of the hotel. I have never everheard of one being seen in the village before.
The horrific attack on the two small children intheir beds by a fox in London has set alarm bellsringing. If their mother had not heard them cryingwhat might the outcome have been? There arethousands of urban foxes living in towns andcities and people have always thought it cute tohave them in their gardens, but they arenevertheless wild animals. At this time of yearthey will have young families to feed andsometimes they have been known to kill cats andsmall dogs for food, but never before attackhumans. One night several years ago I was goingdown the yard to fasten the hens in when a foxcame round the corner chasing one of thechickens. It was paying so much attention to itsprey that it never saw me. I ran across to make itrelease the hen when it turned round, snarled andshowed its teeth at me. None of the hunting menI know had ever heard of this happening before.Anything is possible.
What a brilliant display of flowers and blossomthere has been this spring. Does this mean wemust prepare for a hard winter or is this just an oldwives’ tale? The best sight of all was the show ofprimroses on the banking in the Dell thanks toCopeland grass cutters leaving the area uncutuntil flowering had finished. Daffodils andsnowdrops mark the end of winter but primrosesmark the arrival of spring.
Deepest sympathy to those who have had lovedones cruelly taken away from them in the recentgun horror. To those who were injured orwitnessed the horrific scenes, wishes for a speedyrecovery. To all those who came close to beinginvolved the old saying “there but for the grace ofGod go I” must apply to many.
Ken Mawson
FARMING
If you have a date for an event after theweekend of 22 October please email [email protected] for publication in the
next Seascale Magazine.
15
I simply could not believe it when we wereawarded the whole amount that we needed forthe project. At the time I could see local birdsfighting for nesting space and hedgehogs dyingfor lack of a warm place to sleep, and suddenlywe were given the means to make a difference.Everyone on the Holmrook Reading Roomcommittee had been anxious to use the land forthe benefit of local wildlife and suddenly we were
West Cumbria is not going to be left out of theefforts to ‘make a difference’ for wildlife and inHolmrook a precious area is being worked upon,with the specific aim of making it a 5* hotel for allflora and fauna. The top of the food chain in thisecosystem are our wonderful birds who we hopewill be inspecting properties from this summer. Itwill be as close to heaven as we can make it andthe hope is that our children will be able todevelop a passion for nature in the space that weprovide!
The venue is the meadow behind the HolmrookReading Room. Work began back in 2008 whengrant funding was first sought. It took until 2009for the funds to be attained and CWMET (CumbriaWaste Management Environment Trust) were theones who eventually came to our rescue. CumbriaAggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (CALSF) is aDefra funded scheme, administered by CWMETon behalf of Cumbria County Council.
MAKING SPACE FORWILDLIFE ON YOURDOORSTEP Holmrook takes part in the
International Year of Biodiversity
During the dyke build,with our'construction star' called Butt.
The starting point – Ground Zero!
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for a whole ecosystem including plant life andinsects. An entire food chain is being created inthis precious space and it may take years toestablish itself, but the first faltering steps havebeen taken.
Eventually there will be bird boxes tailored foralmost every species with food and a safeenvironment for all.
The Meadow will be brimming with nativeEnglish wild flowers and will hopefully be apicture, even to us humans being right alongsidethe River Irt. It’s a wonderful spot that we wantyou to visit and enjoy (provided you rememberthat in that little space, the animals and plantscome first – it’s their world!). There are seats andtables so that you can picnic there. Just take careto look where you tread, be very quiet and stilland you never know what you will see. We alsohave a field and a play park, so you can have lotsof fun and be noisy there!
We are happy to share our ecosystem with youanytime, but if you want to be a part of theproject, you can join the Reading Room GardenClub for just £9 per year. There is no betterinvestment we can make in our future and that ofour children. If you want to join, please [email protected] or call him on 01946724317. We have many wonderful events a yearthat you can join in with. If you would like tomake a donation to help us improve, please emailme [email protected] or phone me on 01946724105.
in business! It was like a dream that had cometrue.
The land concerned has always been open to thepublic to view and is a lovely, quiet spot in thecentre of the village, but the value to wildlife haddeclined in recent years as biodiversity was lost.When this grant was awarded, the race was on tomake all the improvements to the space, whichincluded the creation of a diverse selection ofhabitats, planting native wild flowers and bushesto provide food and providing nesting/restingspace for everything from solitary bees tohedgehogs. As CWMET had said, it is no good justproviding nesting space – there has to be space
The Reading Room Buildingon the A595 in Holmrook.
Crowning glory –the first nest boxes!
17
Be part of something wonderful – come and seeButt’s Dyke!
Valerie de Gasperi (Secretary of the HolmrookReading Room) Biodiversity Project Manager.
Val refers you to the following extract from abiodiversity web site:
http://www.birdlife.org/international_year_biodiversity.
“Birds and biodiversity is our business, ourpassion, our mission”, said Dr Marco Lambertini –BirdLife’s Chief Executive. “We’re working to builda future where people and nature can live inharmony”.
2010 has been declared the International Year ofBiodiversity by the United Nations – the year thatcelebrates the diversity of life on Earth, includingevery plant, animal and micro-organism.
The global campaign is being run by theConvention on Biological Diversity (CBD)Secretariat which was set up after the Rio deJaneiro Earth Summit in 1992 to ensure theconservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
Nearly 200countries havenow signed up tothe Convention.In 2002, thesecountriespromised toachieve asignificantreduction of therate ofbiodiversity lossat the global,regional andnational level by2010.
BirdLife Partners throughout the world havehelped their governments to compile nationalbiodiversity inventories, and to develop theirbiodiversity action plans.
“We ignore the decline of birds and otherbiodiversity at our own risk – they are thefoundations of the functioning of the ecosystems”,added Dr Lambertini.
After construction of theCumbrian Dyke.
&
Lonning End, Ponsonby, Calderbridge, Seascale, Cumbria CA20 1BU
Tel: 019467 25238Fax: 019467 25238
E-mail:[email protected]
Website:www.ponsonbyfurniture.co.uk
PonsonbyF u r n i t u r e J o i n e r y
Makers of Quality Furniture& Architectural Joinery
18
The Scottish Country Dancing evenings have nowfinished for the summer months but will startagain in September.
Once again we have had an enjoyable seasonboth at our own weekly dances and in other partsof the county. We have particularly enjoyed thetwo party dances organised by our own club atChristmas and in April. In addition, variousmembers have been to dancing holidays indifferent parts of the country where they havemet up with old and new friends.
Scottish Country Dancing takes place in the MainHall of the Windscale Club every Wednesdayevening from 8 to 10.00pm throughout thewinter months. The new season will start onWednesday 8 September 2010.
Over recent years the membership has decreased,and if the club is to have a future it is important toredress this situation. Have you ever thought oflearning to do Scottish Dancing? It is a good wayof taking gentle (or sometimes not so gentle!)
SASRA Music at the Academy57th Season 2010-2011
24 September 2010 The Berkeley Ensemble (Septet) Richard Strauss, Berwald, Beethoven
15 October 2010 The Northern Chamber Orchestra Haydn (Clock Symphony), with Martin Roscoe (piano) Beethoven (Emperor Concerto)(Orchestras Live, Cumbria Concert Mozart (Overture: Don Giovanni)Series)
12 November 2010 Prince Bishop’s Brass Quintet Purcell, Gershwin, Bach, Ewald
7 January 2011 Sam Haywood (Piano), Arisa Programme includes Brahms’ Horn Fujita (Violin), Richard Bayliss (Horn) Trio and music by Schumann
11 February 2011 Chetham’s School Soloists and Programme to be announced Ensemble
18 March 2011 The Atrium String Quartet Haydn, Beethoven and Shostakovich
All concerts at Westlakes Academy (formerly Wyndham School), Egremont, on Fridays at 8pm.
Single tickets £12.50, accompanied children free, students £1. Season tickets available. For details and tickets: 01946 692178, 019467 28724
exercise, in company with others, all at very lowcost. And with no expensive gear or clothing tobuy. We give a very warm welcome to anyonewho wishes to come along to any of the clubnights to see what it is all about, whether or notyou have any previous experience. There is noneed to come with a partner. It is customary forthe regulars to dance with the less experiencedand change partners for each dance. You will begiven lots of help and encouragement so don't beput off coming if you are tempted.
The facilities at the Windscale Club are first-rate.There is an excellent dance floor, comfortableseating and the music, the activity and thefriendly atmosphere make for a very pleasanttime. Refreshments are available at the bar eitherbefore or during the interval (at about 9.00pm).
Scottish Country Dancing is done in flat-soledpumps, but trainers or other non-slip low heeledshoes are fine to start off with.
Please come along. Looking forward to seeing you.
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING IN SEASCALE
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Town End Garage · Seascale · Cumbria · CA20 1PSTel: 019467 28920 · Fax: 019467 21140 · Mobile: 07831 385274
Service and repairs to all makes of vehicles – diesel and petrol.Full workshop for fault-finding with latest diagnostic scanner code reader.
Air-bags · ECU, lights · welding · cam belts · clutches · brakes4-wheel laser wheel alignment · discount tyres, batteries, exhausts.
Cumbria’s only jet-ski centre and boat repairs and service.
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SEASCALE PHARMACYGosforth Road Tel: 28323
20
GOSFORTH SHOW
Saturday 21st August
Rural History Exhibition Made in Cumbria
Westlakes Rural Crafts Children’s Sports, Terrier Racing
Open from 8.30am
Admission: Adult £5 OAPs £4 Children £1 Showground Cars £5 Free Parking available
Further details from: Mrs Julia Watson, Hawthorn Cottage Main Street, Ravenglass, Cumbria CA18 1SD
Tel: 01229 717215
Cattle, Sheep, Horses, Ponies, Side-saddle, Working Hunters, Heavy Horses, Showjumping,
Mounted Fancy Dress, Poultry, Dog Show, Vintage Machinery, Wrestling,
Horticulture, Handicrafts & Produce, Rural Crafts, Trade Stands, Beer Tent.
21
This year we celebrate ourtenth year as the proudowners of Calder HouseHotel. As a child growing upin the suburbs ofBirmingham I alwaysdreamed of living by the seaand forty seven years laterthat dream became a reality.
It was Christmas 1999 whenmy partner AndrewGainford invited me to joinin the family celebration inhis birthplace, the village ofSeascale. On a walk alongthe seafront on Christmas Day a family friendmentioned that the hotel was up for sale. I wasimpressed by the sheer size of the hotel comparedwith the small bed and breakfast I ran in the heart ofBirmingham and knowing Andrew had recently leftemployment and was looking for new challengeswe arranged a viewing two weeks later.
The rest is history, as the saying goes. On 4 July 2000we took up residence as the new owners of CalderHouse Hotel. We set about the task of refurbishmentand obtained a full bar licence, opening it up to thegeneral public for the first time.
I must admit it has been a rollercoaster ride of highsand lows during the last decade. The terrible stormin January 2005 did a considerable amount ofdamage to the hotel and the terrorist attack of 9/11had almost disastrous consequences as Sellafieldwent on top security alert and decimated ourbusiness for almost three months. Add to that two
fires – one accidental andone deliberate – it did notseem the recipe for success.
Our goal had always beento be part of thecommunity, offering aservice beyond just runningour hotel.
Reviving the Seascale FunDay became a highlight forus. For five years we raisedmany thousands of poundsfor our chosen charity,Hospice at Home West
Cumbria. Many local groups and associations haveused our function room facilities, including morerecently the regular Jazz Jam Session every thirdFriday of each month (free admission of course).
To mark our 10th-year celebrations we have aspectacular line-up of entertainment booked forour party night on Saturday 10 July.
The last decade has seen us grow stronger and thisyear is no exception.
Our expansion programme continues with theopening of No. 3 Caldersyde – The Guest House –towards the end of June, offering additionalluxurious boutique-style accommodation oppositeCalder House.
On behalf of Andrew and myself a big thank you toeveryone who has supported us in the past and inthe present.
Ten years on ... Living the Dream!
10 YEARSIN THE MAKING
CalderHouse Hotel
STEVE AINLEY REFLECTS...
Tel: 019467 28538. email: [email protected]: www.calderhouse.co.uk
HOURS OF OPENINGBAR OPEN
Monday ~ Saturday12 noon ~ 2pm5.30pm ~ lateSunday
12 noon ~ 3pm6pm ~ 11pm
FOOD SERVEDMonday ~ Saturday
12 noon ~ 2pm6pm ~ 8.45pmSundayCarvery
12 noon ~ 2pmEvening Meals6pm ~ 8.45pm
NOEverything in Life
UNT
Seascale’s SSocial
of 2Calder Ho Steve and Andy Ce
serving our Saturday
A Star-Studded Nigh Black & Whit
For further infomation and ticke
10 YEA CELEB
CalderHoA TOUCH OF
CLASSCelebrate in Style
For that Special Occasion
Chamberlain’sVictorian BanquetChoose from a selection of
5-course menusA glass of superb wine, dessert wineor port to accompany each course
All served on fine china andbeautiful cut glassInclusive Price£50 per person
Minimum 6 diners. Maximum 16diners. Booking essential
22
23
OT is Black and White
TIL
Spectacular Event
010 ouse Hotel
elebrate 10 years community
y 10 July ht of Entertainment
te Dress Code t reservations Tel: 019467 28538
EARS BRATION!
ouse Hotel BAR ANDRESTAURANT
MEALSServed daily Lunchtime and Evenings
Monday NightAll main course blackboard specials
only £6
Curry Nightevery Wednesday
Steak Nightevery Thursday
Sunday Lunchtimeenjoy our deliciousSunday Carvery
NO. 3CALDERSYDEThe Next Chapter
Opening July 2010
No. 3 Caldersyde is a new additionto the Calder House Hotel
Six beautifully-appointed En-Suiterooms situated in our new
boutique-inspired Guest Houseoffering the ultimate luxurious
accommodation.
The perfect choice for visitorslooking for peace and tranquilitywith all the benefits our hotel
has to offer.
24
ODETO
CALDER HOUSE!There’s a little place in Cumbria, just off the 595,
The coastal village, Seascale, where the lights of disco thrive!Along The Banks, on the left hand side, there stands a Hotel grand
Where Steve and Andy, hosts sublime, survey their merry band!
’Twas back in the year 2000 when said hotel was bought.It has hosted celebrations, consolations, and who’d have thoughtIn the summer of the Millennium when a party great was thrown,
From that ‘do’, unknown to us then, a tiny seed had been sown!
So way back in the Wild, Wild West (July two thousand and three)Such fun was had, that was revived the Seascale Fun Day Committee!
From the weekly class of line dancing – still going to this day,To the events run by Hospice at Home – fund raising all the way!
The Fiesta night of two thousand and four – our hosts resplendent in feathers!With sumptuous banquets and cocktail bars they entertained us all together.
Two thousand and five saw us going back to the war years and the forties,From the Fun Day to the party – ’twas a proper Seascale sortie!
Two thousand and six saw glamour as Las Vegas hit the town,With music acts and dancing girls – our hosts didn’t let us down!
The hotel has hosted weddings – happy couples full of bliss!And Ladies Nights (if you’re up this way) you really shouldn’t miss!
From movies shown upon the screen, with popcorn thrown in free!The sing-a-longs, the fancy dress – so many memories!
The late nights in the Racquets bar with friends sat all around;The dancing in the Tivoli – our hosts have done us proud.
The Jazz Jam nights, the disco lights, with the boys behind the bar,If you want a celebration thrown, there’s no need to go far!
So here we are, some near, some far, but Calder House still handy!For the ten great years since you appeared – THANK YOU, Steve and Andy!
Hilary Davis-Ballard
25
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26
Gosforth village is becoming recognised as
‘Britain’s Favourite Pie Village’ through itsoffering of ‘Lunch Time’ and ‘Supper Pies’!
The Gosforth pies were first introduced by GillUnsworth some 30 years ago. Gill, who owns andoperates Gosforth Bakery, offers a well respectedpie during the day and provides a range of fillingsthat entice locals, holiday makers and workersfrom the nearby Sellafield site. On many a day youwill see people gather outside the Bakery waitingto get their hands on one of Gill’s pies.
Then came the offering from Gosforth Hall Inn – a‘Supper Pie’ which was first put on the menu backin January 2008 and has since gained a followingfrom pie lovers across the country.
Rod Davies, who owns and runs Gosforth Hall Inn,first made the ‘Supper Pie’ with the help ofAustralian Chef Jamie Shepley. The first home-made pie served at the Inn was the wellrenowned Steak, Bacon and Mushroom, filled tothe brim with large diced Lakeland steak andslow-cooked for at least four hours.
Rod has experimented with many fillings andnow offers a changing repertoire of pies,including Pulled Pork & Sweet Thai Chili,Moroccan Lamb, Wild Game with Plum & Port,Venison and Haggis and Wild Boar with Apple &Wholegrain Mustard, along with Chicken & Leekand Chicken & Ham to example a few.
Owing to the interest received in the ‘Supper Pie’,Rod keeps a pie-chart in the Bar and at the timeof writing this the Gosforth Hall Inn has served inexcess of 6,000 pies since the launch of theSupper Pie.
To complement the pies a selection of four realales, usually sourced within Cumbria, are availablefrom this Inn that was voted runner-up CumbriaCAMRA Pub of the Year in 2008.
Those of you living in Seascale, Drigg andHolmrook who find it difficult to get over and visitthe Hall may like to take advantage of theirCourtesy Bus service, which operates free ofcharge and is bookable by phoning Rod orBarbara on 019467 25322.
GOSFORTH – A PIE HAVEN!
27
‘Up Hills, Down DalesRod’s Pies & Real Ales’‘Up Hills, Down DalesRod’s Pies & Real Ales’
019467 25322019467 25322
Gosforth Hall InnGosforth Hall Inn
28
Haven Beauty
8 south ParadeSeascale
for appointments please call: 019467 27387
MINX your nailsIntroducing the latest fashion to hit nails – follow LadyGaga, Rihanna and Katy Perry. With colours such as goldand silver lightening, Hippy chick and an array of animalprints, MINX those nails. Suitable for fingers & toes.See our full range of treatments on www.havenbeauty.com
Seascale Parish Council is happy to acceptdonations for advertisements placed in the
Seascale Newsletter.
The expected rate is £10 for ablack & white quarter-page, £20 for half page
and £40 for a full page.A colour full page is £60, and £30 for half-page
Contact:Eileen Eastwood on 28653or Trevor Preece on 28449
This year's Horticultural Show will take place on Saturday 7August at Seascale School.
There will be classes for vegetables, flowers, pot plants, produce,art and crafts, photography and many classes for children. Thereare novice classes for those who have not entered before. Therewere very few entries in the novice classes last year and thereare trophies for the taking – SO COME AND HAVE A GO!
The show is open to the public from 2pm when refreshmentswill be available. The prizegiving at 3.30pm will be followed by araffle draw and auction of exhibits.
Show schedules are available from Beach Stores, SeascalePharmacy, Post Office and Library. Or ring Graham Anderson on29525.
It takes a lot of preparation to put on this annual show, and wehave an ageing and diminishing committee! If you feel youwould like to join our committee, or just lend a hand to set upthe show, we really would like to hear from you.
Please ring: Graham Anderson 29525, Rick Harrop 27151 or TomPorter 25389. It will help to ensure that the show, which has along history, will continue in future years.
SEASCALE AND DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY SHOW
29
2ND SEASCALEMETHODISTBROWNIESThe Brownie year is almost over, but we still havelots to fit into our busy programme.
We recently returned from out annual PackHoliday. This year we stayed at The HopeMemorial Camp just outside Keswick – a fantasticbuilding set in a wonderful location. As alwayseveryone had a brilliant time. The weather waskind to us and after the first morning rain the sunshone although it was very cold. We did a varietyof craft activities: map reading, laying trails and ofcourse we had to visit Keswick Spa for a refreshingswim. It was a great fun weekend for us all.
On our return we held a coffee evening with aslide show of the Pack Holiday. This proved moretechnical that I had thought but thanks to SarahHuddleston and David Davis’s IT wizardry it turnedout ’alright on the night’!
Since our return we have been working on ourPet Lover Badge. We held a ‘Pet Show’ (soft toysonly) one evening, followed by a very anotherenjoyable evening when Joan Singleton ofFairview Boarding Kennels came along in hercapacity of RSPCA volunteer, together with herhelper Linda, and a selection of rescue animals.Joan told of terrible stories of unbelievable crueltythat some of the animals she has in her care havesuffered. But also gave us a very informative talkon looking after domestic pets.
Our 100 years of Guiding celebration will soon bedrawing to a close and we will be back in ourregulation navy and white leader’s uniform againafter a year of bright pink. However at 20.10pmon 20 October 2010 (2010 – get it?!) we, alongwith the WHOLE country, will be remaking ourpromise in a well co-ordinated and synchronisedceremony. So watch this space for more details.
Summer break next but will be back inSeptember with lots of ideas for the coming year.
Lynn Pattison, Brownie Leader
TOURIST BROCHURE FORSEASCALE
The Millennium brochure, now out of print.
Even before our recent tragic events, we wereconsidering production of a new Seascale DL-sizefoldout tourist brochure./leaflet. Seascaleproduced one for the Millennium, but that’s nowout of print, and attractions/facilities havechanged.
The Parish Council would love to receive yoursuggestions for the content of a new one. Anyideas – please email [email protected]. Or jotdown some notes and drop them through EileenEastwood’s letterbox at 4 Santon Way, Seascale.
30
The natterjack toad is the UK’s rarest amphibian.There are only about 50 sites where they occurthroughout the country and here in Cumbriawe’re lucky enough to have half of these, makingthe county a real stronghold for them. They arescattered all along the coastal fringe from Barrowup to the Solway.
They are also Britain’s noisiest amphibian! Onwarm spring nights the males gather roundsuitable pools and emit a loud rasping call toentice the females. This can be heard up to twokilometres away. The Cumbrian nightingale somefolk call them!
This is the best time of year to see them as theyhide away during the day. They are a lovelylooking animal with bright yellow eyes and ayellow stripe that runs right down the back oftheir greenish body. Common toads by contrasthave brown bodies and orange eyes.
In the Seascale area there is a good population ofnatterjacks. At the moment the two keypopulations are at Drigg and on a small naturereserve at Sellafield.
At Drigg the natterjacks live on the dunes andsaltmarsh where they breed in shallow pools that,ideally, dry up after the tadpoles havemetamorphosised and the toadlets have safelyleft the pools.
Natterjacks are, in ecological terms, a ‘pioneerspecies’. They can quickly take advantage ofchanging conditions then move elsewhere whenconditions become too stable. On the dunes atDrigg cattle play an important role in breaking upthe ground, so allowing the sand to be blownaround and new pools to be formed.
The Reserve at Sellafield is a nine-acre site leasedfrom the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority bythe Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust(ARCT), and managed specifically for natterjacks.The water levels in the two breeding pools can becontrolled and the dune grassland is kept short,ideally by sheep, but sometimes by mowing. Thisis important as natterjacks can’t hop! They need to
NATTERJACKSAROUND SEASCALE
31
be able to see theirinvertebrate prey,which they thenrun after to catch.
A key element inthe efforts toconservenatterjacks is to tryto link existingpopulations somaintaining a healthy gene swapping pool.
The limiting factor is the availability of breedingpools so to fill the gap between Drigg andSellafield the ARCT, together with Natural England(the Government’s conservation agency), areworking together with farmers and Seascale GolfCourse. The farmers can enter a Stewardshipscheme whereby they get paid to createnatterjack-friendly conditions.
The Golf Course staff are a great, wildlife-friendlybunch and have been really enthusiastic aboutgetting involved in helping natterjacks. Thefairways and greens provide ideal feeding areasand to improve things three new pools have beencreated on the site over the last year. So far frogsare breeding in them, but it shouldn’t be longbefore the natterjacks find these perfect familyhomes! One has been seen in Seascale car park sothey’re on the way!!
Have you seen or heard a natterjack in the area? Ifyou have, or want some more information, pleaseget in touch with either Bill Shaw or LesRobertson.
Also, next winter (09/02/2011!), Bill is giving a talkto the local Cumbria Wildlife Trust SupportersGroup in Seascale. Details will be advertisedlocally nearer the time.
Bill Shaw, Cumbria Conservation OfficerAmphibian and Reptile Conservation TrustTel: (01229) [email protected]
Les RobertsonSellafield Reserve Honorary [email protected]
Photos – Les Robertson, Pete Minting, Bill Shaw,Scottish Natural Heritage.
For all yourfloral requirements
Weddings, BirthsBirthdays, Anniversaries
Funeral Tributes
as well as planters andhanging baskets
to your specification
We have a wide range ofbedding plants andperennials now too.
Why not phone us todiscuss your requirements?
019467 25473
Or call in at18 Whitecroft, Gosforth
CA20 1AY
PerfectlyPlanted
Hanging Baskets,Planters, Bedding Plants,Garden Maintenance,
Grass Cutting, Landscapingand Fresh Flowers
32
July1 Check clematis for signs of clematis wilt.2 Place conservatory plants outside now that it is warm.3 Water tubs and new plants if dry, but be water-wise.4 Deadhead bedding plants and repeat-flowering perennials, to ensure continuous
flowering.5 Pick courgettes before they become marrows.6 Treat apple scab.7 Clear algae, blanket weeds and debris from ponds, and keep them topped up.8 Order catalogues for next year’s spring-flowering bulbs.9 Give the lawn a quick-acting summer feed, especially if a spring feed was not done.10 Give woodwork a lick of paint or preserver, while the weather is dry.August1 Prune Wisteria.2 Don’t delay summer pruning restricted fruits.3 Deadhead flowering plants regularly.4 Watering! Particularly containers, and new plants – preferably with grey recycled water
or stored rainwater.5 Collect seed from favourite plants.6 Harvest sweetcorn and other vegetables as they become ready.7 Continue cutting out old fruited canes on raspberries.8 Lift and pot up rooted strawberry runners.9 Keep ponds and water features topped up.10 Feed the soil with green manures.September1 Divide herbaceous perennials.2 Pick autumn raspberries.3 Collect and sow seed from perennials and hardy annuals.4 Dig up remaining potatoes before slug damage spoils them.5 Net ponds before leaf fall gets underway.6 Keep up with watering of new plants, using rain or grey water if possible.7 Start to reduce the frequency of houseplant watering.8 Clean out cold frames and greenhouses so that they are ready for use in the autumn.9 Cover leafy vegetable crops with bird-proof netting.10 Give evergreen hedges a final trim.October1 Clear up fallen autumn leaves regularly.2 Cut back perennials that have died down.3 Divide herbaceous perennials and rhubarb crowns.4 Move tender plants, including aquatic ones, into the greenhouse.5 Plant out spring cabbages.6 Harvest apples, pears, grapes and nuts.7 Prune climbing roses.8 Order seeds for next year.9 Last chance to mow lawns and trim hedges in mild areas.10 Rnovate old lawns or create new grass areas by laying turf.
TOP 10 JOBS IN THE GARDEN
33
EURO &US DOLLARSTRAVELLERS CHEQUES
& CURRENCY
0% COMMISSIONSeascale Post Office 019467 28218
EGREMONT SWIMMING POOLCHILDRENS’ LESSONS
ADULT SWIM TIMES SENIOR SWIM TIMES LADIES SWIM TIME
AQUA-FIT CLASS FAMILY TIME PUBLIC SESSIONS
INFLATABLE FLOATS SLIDE
WHY NOT HOLD YOUR BIRTHDAY PARTY AT THE POOL?
OPEN MONDAY-SATURDAY
CONTACT THE POOL FOR DETAILS: 01946 821038
34
In 1837, the Whitehaven Harriers commencedoperations at the instigation of Mr Joseph Harrisof Greysouthen. This was a mounted pack,although many people attended on foot, huntingan area between Bridgefoot and Gosforth. Themastership passed through several local familiessuch as Ainsworth, Lindows, Dixon and Jeffersons,until they were finally wound up in 1901, thehounds being sold to a Lord Hastings in Norfolkafter giving many years of fine sport to the localcommunity.
The following season the Harrier’s country wastaken by the St Bees Beagles under Mr J.J.Thompson, with kennels in the shadows of St BeesHead. Other small packs of beagles had existed inthe 19th century, including Mr Hartley’s ofMoresby, Mr Ponsonby’s of Haile, Miss Parkins’s andthe Black Combe, The Cockermouth and theFurness & District, but West Cumbrians would notbe deprived of their sport for long.
In 1920, Mr Harry Boys founded the WestCumberland Beagles and extended the old St Beescountry with the help of a ‘new-fangled motor van’to Blencathra, Buttermere, Ennerdale and Eskdalefrom their kennels at Crab Head Farm, Seascale.
In 1959, Stanley Ellwood, Bruce Porter and otherkeen local beaglers got together and founded theBlack Combe Beagles. Mr T.J. Cowman of Eskdalewas Master from the first season until 1977, whenMr J. Smith of Waberthwaite took over. He wassucceeded by the present Master Mr StanleyEllwood who also hunted hounds himself.
The Black Combe Beagles activities will be inaccordance with the Hunting Act 2004 and willcover an extensive area of the county, rangingfrom the heather-clad hills to the rich pastures orsand dunes. Hounds and staff no longer walk milesto meet as they did in days gone by, but robustbuild and stamina are still prized assets in bothman and hound.
Our main fund raiser is Black Combe Country Fair,this year to be held on 30 August Bank HolidayMonday at Millstones, Bootle, Cumbria. Thisusually includes Foxhound, Beagles, Terriers,Lurcher and Gundog shows; children’s pets andchildren’s sports; Terrier and Lurcher racing, plustrade stands and many other attractions.
Despite being a small pack based in a largelyfoxhound area, the future of the Black CombeBeagles as we celebrated our 50th year in 2009looks bright. We have a keen young huntsman inMichael Cummings, supported by an experiencedand well known Master in Stan Ellwood and jointMaster Stan Miles. We also have a small but hardworking committee under the leadership ofChairman Graham Dicker.
NO STEAM PACKETSAILINGS THIS YEARWe made an enquiry to the Isle of Man SteamPacket Company about sailings betweenWhitehaven and Douglas, Isle of Man, this yearbut have been told none are planned. We regardthose day trips as pleasant adventure. Shame.
Likewise, except for the Balmoral trips betweenWhitehaven and Douglas on the WhitehavenFestival weekend, Waverley Excursions know of nofurther sailings for the rest of the year.
BLACK COMBE & DISTRICTBEAGLES HISTORY IN WESTCUMBRIA
GET NOTICED!The Calder House Hotel notice board inthe covered entrance way is availableto anyone wishing to promote an
organisation, event, business and evenitems for sale, free of charge.
Just call in and pin it up.
35
BLACK COMBECOUNTRY FAIR
Bank Holiday Monday30 August at 12 noon
BOOTLE, near MILLOM, LA19 5TJ(behind Millstones Bakery Farm Shop)
TO BE OPENED BY JOSS NAYLOR
CHILDREN’S ENTERTAINMENT · SPORTS & PET SHOW · STICK SHOWYFC COMPETITIONS & OTHER ARENA EVENTS
Foxhound, Beagle, Gun Dog, Lurcher & Terrier classesLurcher & Terrier Racing
The Terrier & Lurcher Championships are Qualifying Classes for “The Cumbria & Terrier & Lurcher Championship”
at Egremont Crab Fair
Open Clay Pigeon Shoot sponsored by The Strands Inn & Brewery& Gun Dog Scurry
Fly Casting Demonstration followed by individual tuition
Two-Headed Sheep Morris Dancers. Cleator Moor Brass Band
Variety of trade stands and many other attractions
For further information contact Steve on 01946 841030
www.blackcombecountryfair.co.uk
36
SCOUTINGIt’s hard to believe that in the last newsletter wewere reporting on the Frostbite Camp – now weare getting sunburned and there are warningsabout droughts! All the sections have been outand about over the last few weeks in preparationfor the group camp in the middle of June.
Beavers this term investigated nature and theirenvironment. They have been working hard onlearning to identify leaves and birds. Eve Westdecided that rather then her telling you that theBeavers had fun they could tell you themselves :-)
Irton Forest WalkOn the Irton forest walk we made tepees and wemade them out of branches, sticks and bracken.We found loads of little tadpoles in a kind of dirtydreary swamp. We saw some different kinds ofinsects when we were walking and we saw greenlines on the trees. There were loads of big stacksof big big chunky logs and the piles looked like amountain. We all enjoyed the walk and arelooking forward to the next one. By Jamie (EskRiver Bank)
Beaver DensI really enjoyed the walk through the forest. Wesaw tadpoles in a little pool and even had a snackin the trees but the best bit was building ourBeaver Dens. We did it in our River Banks groupsso there were lots. We put big sticks up against atree all around, just leaving a gap for a door so wecould crawl inside to hide. We didn't get oursfinished so I went back with Mum, Dad and Beth
to make it better. Ours even had a washing line!By Benjamin (Calder River Bank)
Beach CleanWhen we were cleaning the beach with Beavers, Ifound lots of strange things like an Action Manhead, an old training shoe, a baby's dummy andbottle top, a supermarket receipt, a pen lid, apooper bag and lots and lots of sweetie wrappers.With Mum and Dad we found enough rubbish tofill two and a half bin bags. It was lots of fun and Iliked doing it because it was really good for theenvironment. By Jack (Esk River Bank)
The Beavers are all excited about Group SummerCamp – they are looking forward to knocking onthe Scout tents in the early hours of the morning(sshh don't tell them!). Let’s all hope for the lovelyweather we have had recently for our outings.
On a personal note, today I have spent theafternoon with our Scout Leader Neil, helpingSeascale School with their Activity Week. We did acouple of sessions of Pioneering and had aexciting afternoon making Ballisters, FrictionBridges and using the Team Pulley Game. I hopethe children enjoyed themselves too and hopethat those who are not Beavers, Cubs or Scoutsare now thinking that it might to be fun to joinour group. – Eve West (Derika Beaver ScoutLeader).
A quote from Ewan, one of our Beavers in the IrtRiver Bank: “I really like being in Beavers becausewe go for walks, build dens, play games and makethings.”
How the cub pack has grown since last year. We
Beavers on Irton Forest Walk
37
Westlakes Hotel & Restaurant, Gosforth, Seascale, Cumbria CA20 1HP
Tel: 019467 25221 • Email: [email protected] • www.westlakeshotel.co.uk
WLWLW E S T L A K E SH O T E L & R E S T A U R A N T
Our small relaxed and intimate dining room seats up to 28 guestsincluding two additional private dining areas.
Our extensive à la carte menu which changes with the seasonsis designed with a modern twist on traditional food,
using local food whenever possible.
The restaurant is open from 7pm to 8.30pm daily.
We are now serving traditional Sunday lunches between12 noon and 3pm, with prices starting at £8.95.
Please call to reserve a table to avoid disappointment.
Geoff and Debra Armstrong
38
now have 30 cubs, most of whom will be takingpart in the Group Scout Camp in June.
As our Assistant Leader has been unavailable thisterm I have been lucky to have had the supportfrom all the adults in the group who are taking itin turns to support a cub meeting. This has led tosome new and exciting things being planned; thecubs are enjoying trying new things and meetingthe other leaders...
So what have we been up to? Recently we havevisited the Lifeboat Station at St Bees where wejoined with the St Bees cubs. The St Bees cubshave laid down a challenge to us and challengedus to a game of cricket! The cubs have beenpreparing for our annual group camp by learningabout lighting fires, and how to cook simple andnutritious meals on a camp fire (and very tasty toowere the chicken casserole and bolognese –Graham). They have evenings planned to furtherdevelop their pioneering skills, and putting tentsup – all we need now is fine weather! They havebeen working towards a variety of the challengebadges, and should have completed areas forquite a few of these badges soon.
We had some cubs take part in the Annual VillageBeach Clean, which, luckily was a sunny daymaking it more enjoyable, after which the cubswere invited to the unveiling of the village’s newClean Beach award flag.
With a pack of 30 it has been quite a challengeleading the pack, I would like to say a big thankyou to everyone who has been helping out withthe pack your support has helped make themeeting enjoyable for all the cubs, and withoutyou I couldn't manage on my own.
The Scouts have done a couple of walks, includinga very muddy walk at Drigg. We have also had a
Eileen Eastwood, Chairwoman of the ParishCouncil, presenting a cheque for the beach clean.The two cubs who received the cheque wereReece Robinson (centre) & James Devine (right).
couple of joint meetings with our friends from theBeckermet troop. Recently we took part in adistrict camp-cooking competition, on open fires,where our two teams produced some deliciousmeals, which we look forward to enjoying onsummer camp.
We also ran a mountain bike orienteering eventaround the village. This was going to be for thescouts, but we threw it open to the beavers andcubs, then to the school, then to other local scoutgroups and Gosforth school. In the end we hadover 70 riders from the village and from as far afield as Whitehaven and Cockermouth. It is hopedthat some of them will be running the BBQ for the90th birthday celebration of an ex-Assistant ScoutLeader of this group.
Things may seem to be running fine, but wealways need more adult support, not just to runthe sections, but to help organise the group. Wedo need support for both the Scout and the Cub
sections, so if working with8 to 10½-year-olds andgetting wet and muddyinterests you, do let usknow. But we also needpeople simply to helporganise things. Morehands make light work.
Graham Worsnop, GroupScout Leader
39
Home InformationPacks
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www.brockbanks.co.uk
Brockbank Curwen Cain & HallSolicitors and Notaries
Registered Office44 Duke Street, Whitehaven, Cumbria
CA28 7NR
Telephone: 01946 692194
Also at Cockermouth, Maryport, Workington and Keswick
Brockbanks
THE BAKE HOUSE13a Gosforth Road
Seascale(and at Millom)
Monday-Friday, 8am-2pmTel: 019467 21112
A selection of pies, cakes, bread,freshly-made sandwiches and salads available
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Tuesday 11 May 2010 was the 100 yearanniversary of the Wellington Pit Disaster 1910,the worst disaster in Whitehaven coal mininghistory. 136 men and boys were lost in theexplosion.
The youngest boy was 15 years old.
Named after the Duke of Wellington, WellingtonPit stood on the south side of WhitehavenHarbour, sunk in the early 1840’s and closed in1932, it wasn’t dismantled until later on in the1950s.
Wellington pit was designed by the eminentarchitect Sidney Smirke whose other workincludes what is now Mansion House Surgery,and more significantly the circular reading roomat the British museum, The Carlton Club on PallMall, The Imperial War Museum and the Nave roofat York Minster.
Wellington Pit had 3 shafts and also used theformer Duke pit as an upcast shaft.
The shaft was 100 fathoms, or 600 feet deep andthe workings extended nearly 4 miles out underthe sea.
Wellington Pit was part of the extensive collieriesaround Whitehaven, mostly belonging to theLowther family.
It was built in the form of a castle, with a greatkeep, turrets and enormous crenellated walls
The only remaining buildings are the candlestickchimney (ventilation for the workings), theWellington Lodge which is now used as a base forthe Coastguard, and some of the retaining walls.
The explosion on Wednesday 11 May happenedat 7.40pm in the 3 north district and has beenattributed to an underground fire and explosionof firedamp propagated by coal dust.
The first indication that something was wrongwas a cloud of coal dust ascending the shaft andMr Henry the Deputy was sent for.
For 18 hours the rescue attempt persisted, withmen working in relays, only to be driven backrepeatedly by the smoke.
A last inspection of the situation at midnight onThursday 12 May convinced all the officials of theimpossibility of succeeding in any rescue attempt,and the main air intake was blocked up in theearly hours of Friday 13 May 1910.
It was not until late September 1910 that the pitwas carefully re-opened and the work ofexploration began. On 27 September the firstbodies were brought to the surface.
In the two years run up to the 100-yearanniversary a memorial committee was broughttogether to co ordinate a series of memorialevents in the town.
On Sunday 9 May at 2.30pm a memorial servicetook place at Wellington Car Park on theharbourside during which there was the unveilingof a memorial obelisk on Wellington Terraceoverlooking the harbour. The unveiling wascarried out by Mr Weighman, the last remainingsurvivor of the William Pit Disaster 1947.
Also at this service there was a dedication totwo memorial books which have beenprepared, these books name all the known coaldead in the Whitehaven district. The nameshave been hand written, and leather bound andplaced in two specially-made display cabinetsin St Nicholas Centre and Haig Colliery MiningMuseum, where they will be on permanentpublic view. There are in excess of 1,700 namesin the books.
There has also been a new mining bannerproduced, as Wellington Pit didn’t have its ownbanner, and this is currently displayed in TheBeacon, Whitehaven.
On Saturday 8 May at 1.30pm in WhitehavenCemetery there was also a short dedicationceremony and placing of a headstone on thegrave of the three previously unmarked minersfrom the disaster. This poignant ceremony wasattended by the direct descendants of the menburied in the three graves, some coming from asfar as Australia and Canada for the occasion.
Whilst not in direct living memory, many havecome forward with stories and memories handed
THE WELLINGTON PIT DISASTER
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down from generations bringing to the fore thereality of this disaster.
During the week of the memorial there was also avariety of activities and exhibitions throughoutthe town, in the Miners Colliery Mission,Whitehaven Library, Whitehaven Records Office,The Beacon, and Haig Colliery Mining Museum.
Currently the mining art exhibition by PaulSchofield can still be seen in The WellingtonBistro, Whitehaven.
On Saturday 15 May there was a “Pit PrideParade” through the town, involving childrenwho have taken part in banner makingactivities, music, song and dance. This paradebegan at Whitehaven Castle Park and finishedat the Wellington Terrace on the harbourside,stopping to perform at Whitehaven Library, TheHub on the Harbour and Wellington Pit CarPark.
The aim of the committee was to produce amemorial that everyone in the town could bepart of, commemorating the solemness of thedisaster then the following week commemoratingand celebrating the towns pride in its coal mininghistory.
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The magnificent new locomotive “Tornado”graced our shoreline with its presence onWednesday 14 April en route to Carlisle and thendown to Settle. It drew a big crowd at Seascale,and many at Drigg too, and we’re told a massiveaudience gathered in Carlisle. A DVD of its journeyis being compiled (the videos already shot are onHF Railtours website: www.hf-railtours.co.uk),although Gosforth’s Andy Orland, who wasfilming Tornado crossing Ravenglass viaductwasn’t so happy that the video crew’s helicopterhovered right over him and ruined his soundtrack! HF Railtours have held up their hands asguilty and apologised!
A locomotive also with a guilt complex – theCarnforth-based 8F 48151 – which burned partsof two Ravenglass viaducts back in May 2008,made a reappearance on Saturday 29 May thisyear as the “Lakelander”. Fortunately all went wellthis time except for the weather which alas wasdrizzly and dreary. There will be more sightings ofthe “Lakelander” on Saturdays 19 June, 17 July and7 August.
An exciting new working will be the return of theDuke of Gloucester, 71000, on 3 July. It was lastseen here in February and March 2008, andhitherto on 24 February 2007 – the day of theGrayrigg train crash, which meant DoG had toreturn south in the evening back down our westcoast line, refilling with water at Seascale stationfrom a milk tanker! We noticed a lady takingseveral pictures of that scene, but have neverbeen able to track her down. DoG will be makinga similar excursion to that of Tornado, headingnorth to Carlisle and back south through Settle.
But there’s more to come. HF Railtours have takenon board a big hint of ours that we in WestCumbria can’t easily take advantage of thesesteam-hauled excursions because we are too faraway from the starts. There’s now a plan afoot torun one south from Carlisle, down the coast, andon to Manchester. The loco almost certainly willbe the Duke of Gloucester, which will be servicedin Manchester and then return later in the day toCarlisle via Settle. We don’t have a firm date, but ifit does go ahead this year it is likely to be late
October. Full dining facilities will be available ofcourse. It will not be cheap, as there is muchorganisation involved in manoeuvring the locoand stock to run from Carlisle, and staffing thetrain. But we’re sure it will be a memorable event.
If we can muster enough support/enthusiasmfrom Seascale to fill at least one carriage, withlittle doubt we’ll be able to arrange for it to pickup at Seascale for those who don’t wish tojourney early to Carlisle in the morning. In theevening coach return transport will obviously bearranged as we don’t have that much-desiredevening rail service.
Anyone potentially interested in being on boardthis excursion (without obligation of course) maycontact HF Railtours direct viawww.hf-railtours.co.uk. Alternatively let me(Trevor) know on 019467 28449 – or preferably [email protected] – and I will build up a list andkeep you all posted with information.
STEAM THROUGH SEASCALE
John Hall
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Cumbrian Lodge58 Gosforth Road, Seascale CA20 1JG
Our five heatedthatched gardenbuildings provide adelightful location for
dining al fresco
Casual and relaxedcombined withdelicious foodand the fun ofeating outdoors
A uniquedining experience!
Restaurant Opening Hours:Dinner: Monday to Saturday, 6.30pm until 9.30pm
Reservations: 019467 27309
Production by Trevor Preece: 019467 28449 ~ Printed by Printexpress, Whitehaven: 01946 66081
