Pip’s Patch

ARC News Service report -  The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority ( YDNPA ) has stood firm on its decision to include small sites for affordable housing at Aysgarth, Thornton Rust and Low Row. The planning inspector who assessed the Dales Housing Development Plan rejected those sites. After the full Authority meeting on Tuesday, February 14, the chairman, Carl Lis, state: “We have asked the inspector as nicely as we can to reconsider his decision. We appreciate the work he has done but we would like him to look at these again.”

What particularly concerned the YDNPA members was that part of Wensleydale would be left without affordable housing sites.It was likely that four houses could be constructed on the site behind the village institute at Aysgarth and two more at the east end of Thornton Rust. Only one site had been proposed at Muker (for up to two houses). It was also expected that two houses could have been built on the Low Row site rejected by the inspector. The YDNPA had put forward a second site (for about two houses) at Low Row.

The objective of the Dales Housing Development Plan is to provide affordable housing for local people. The planning inspector also asked the Authority to clarify what it would do if an allocated site would not be viable to be developed with 50% affordable housing. It has been proposed that, in order to encourage landowners to submit sites 50% would be affordable housing and the rest would be restricted by legal agreement to “local housing” so that the house could not become second or holiday homes and the price would be reduced thus making them more accessible to households within the Park. The onus will be on the developer to prove why an allocated site could not be developed at 50% affordability. It was agreed on Tuesday that: “If viability at 50% affordable housing is not possible then the Authority may negotiate an increase in the proportion of local market housing compared to affordable housing.” The consultation period on all the changes being proposed by the YDNPA should run from the week of February 20 until April 10.

The Three Peaks Challenge and parking in Horton-in-Ribblesdale: A decision on the application to extend the amount of time that a field by the New Inn Bridge could be used for visitor parking was deferred by the planning committee until its  March meeting. This may allow time for the preparation of a traffic management plan for the village but the committee  agreed that the decision should not be delayed any longer. The owners have applied to use the field for parking for 70 days between April and October each year. The planning officer recommended that it could be used for parking for only 57 days from April to September, and that it could not be used for overnight accommodation by those with tents or caravans.

Horton in Ribblesdale parish council asked the committee to refuse the application. It stated: “It is essential that the wider issue of the impact on the village and the surrounding area of the increasing number of sponsored walks be addressed before there can be a sensible consideration of what provision should be made to accommodate visitors and their vehicles.”

The North Yorkshire branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England ( CPRE) wrote to the YDNPA to express its concern about mass walks. It stated: “It is necessary now to protect the countryside against the damage done by too many feet in one place. The CPRE considers damage can be caused not only to the ecostructure but also to villages in or adjacent to the Parks which become swamped by excessive numbers of visitors. We consider that every effort must be made to spread visitor numbers to places throughout the Parks.” And added: “Perhaps alternate routes could be worked out to give the Three Peaks a rest.”

The YDNPA’s recreation and tourism manager, however, felt that the Three Peaks walks were of such national significance that it would be difficult to persuade people to go elsewhere. The only alternative is to manage the numbers visiting the area.  Some charity events attract between 400 to 1000 participants. (See Pen-y-ghent cafe )

Grassington – The owner of some old council garages in Grassington asked for and received a Valentines Day present from the YDNPA planning committee on Tuesday, February 14, when her plans for a one-bedroom bungalow on that site were approved. Mrs Mary Wilkinson told the committee that she wanted to have a retirement home within walking distance of the town centre. She had agreed to set the building back by a metre but a neighbour told the committee that the front porch would still impede access to her garage. Another neighbour said that the bungalow would affect their privacy and greatly reduce the amount of parking space in the area.

Grassington parish council was not prepared to support the application as it felt the neighbours concerns had not been properly addressed. The committee, however, accepted the recommendation of the planning officer that although the bungalow would be close to these two adjoining properties it would not have a negative impact upon the amenity of the neighbours or cause access problems. The YDNPA legal officer advised that it was a civil matter if any scaffolding during the construction of the bungalow caused access problems.

Hawkswick – The committee approved the planning officer’s recommendation for the construction of a replacement dwelling at The Bungalow in Hawkswick even though one member described it as a “half-breed house” and another commented “It looks like a pavilion to me.” Hawkswick parish meeting had stated: “We feel the design needs to be more sympathetic to its surroundings in Littondale with more use being made of stone than wood panelling and glazing.” The head of development management, Richard Graham, said: “It’s an unfussy design and it’s robust. The timber can be stained a dark colour or left to weather naturally.”

Starbottom – Many  members agreed with the chairman of the planning committee that the need for housing for local people outweighed the arguments against approving the construction of a two-bedroomed house on land designated by the YDNPA as important open space within a village. The majority therefore voted against the planning officer’s recommendation that the application should be refused. This decision will, therefore, have to be ratified at the March meeting.

Craven Dt Coun John Roberts pointed out that the application didn’t meet eight of the YDNPA’s policies. The officer explained that it would be harmful to the village because: it would introduce domestic clutter to an otherwise wild and unspoilt area; it would increase the visual prominence of a presently unobtrusive vehicular access; it would reduce the visual quality of the green space along the beck; and it would introduce a dwelling that paid little regard to its setting in terms of detailing, siting and orientation.

Kettlewell-with-Starbottom parish council said it supported the need for local occupancy housing but questioned if the YDNPA should allow a house to be built on land designated as special open space.

Linton – Linton Parish Council was very concerned that a precedent would be set for the future development of the village if permission was given for a house to be built outside of the development boundary. After a lengthy debate the committee agreed with the planning officer that permission could not be granted for a house to be built in the field next to Tarn Laithe. The owner explained that it was for members of his own family and so constituted local need. The officer stated that as the site was outside the village housing boundary it would not fulfill the criteria for local needs housing under the present Local Plan nor the new Dales Housing Development Plan when it comes into force. Committee member Peter  Charlesworth believed the application would fulfill a local need for housing and pointed out that prior to a wall being built the development boundary would have extended through the proposed site to the edge of the conservation area.

Reeth – Committee members voted overwhelmingly in favour of allowing a new house to be built at Mill Hill. This, however, was against the planning officer’s recommendation who said it should be refused as the amended plans did not go far enough to solve the problems of over-dominating and affecting the privacy of the house below it. The Swaledale members of the committee felt there would be minimal loss of privacy and amenity and that the proposed building was in keeping with the terraced nature of many houses in Reeth. Another committee member asked if the house could be set back by a metre from the footpath. It was agreed that the planning officer could ratify this decision if the applicant could make that adjustment to the plans.

Keld – Approval was given for the number of tents at Park House campsite, Keld, to be increased from six to 12 and for the opening period to be extended. No caravans or tents will be allowed on the site between October 31 and March 1 each year, and none can be there for more than 28 days during the camping season. The application originally proposed increasing the number of caravans from three to six but the planning officers were concerned about the impact upon such a remote and exposed landscape.

Ribblehead – An enforcement notice will be issued for the removal of the residential caravan beside the Station Inn at Ribblehead, but the compliance period will be set at six months instead of two. N Yorks County Coun John Blackie explained that the owner was preparing to apply for an extension to the Inn so as to provide alternative staff accommodation.

Most people come to Aysgarth because they want to visit those famous falls. The village, a bit further west of Aysgarth Falls doesn’t look at first as if it has much to offer the tourist – even if it does have some excellent accommodation and food available.

It does now have a beautifully maintained Edwardian rock garden at the west end. When I first came to the village it was almost impossible to move around in the rock garden as it was so full of brambles and nettles. Thankfully Peter and Angela Jauneika found sufficient funding to be able to restore it and it was opened to the public in April 2003. Below: The exterior of the rock garden in early 2002 and how it looked after restoration.  And inside the garden before and after.

From the gateway to the rock garden it is possible to look out across Wensleydale and down what is known locally as Jammy Hill. I have always been fascinated by the painting of James Thompson which hangs in the institute. It shows him at work as a cobbler and clog maker. His home overlooked the hill that now is remembered by his name. In 1891 there were two shoemakers in Aysgarth as well as a butcher, two grocery shops and a postmaster.

The village could still boast a general store with post office and a cheese and wine shop at the end of the 1990s. But then we had what I called the “cheese and wine war” when the owner of the general store decided to go into competition with the shop next door.  Not surprisingly that didn’t help either shop and within a few years both had closed. One has been replaced with an excellent teashop. Below – our cheese and wine wars in the summer of 1998.

James Thompson lived next door to Frank Graham, the illegitimate son of a housekeeper, who had finally come into his inheritance from the Aysgarth landowner who had fathered him. It was Frank Sayer Graham who had the rock garden built as well as his Arts and Crafts inspired house opposite (Heather House). From Jammy Hill one drumlin (a hill created when the glaziers receded at the end of the Ice Age) stands out. The old Douglas Firs on top of it gave Lady Hill at very distinctive shape for many years. It will take time for the young Douglas Firs to be so misshapen. When Frank Graham owned Lady Hill it was an enclosed warren where he bred silver-grey rabbits. In the early 20th century he was still exporting the black furs from the young rabbits to Russia.

He became a major benefactor of St Andrew’s church at Aysgarth in the first decades of the 20th century.  The Anglican church had remained a central feature of village life even though the Dale had witnessed the great spiritual revivals of the 17th Century when the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) opened its first meeting houses and the 18th Century when many responded to John Wesley’s preaching and became Methodists.  There are still two Quaker houses west of the rock garden and the Society of Friend’s burial yard behind them. As there are only a few gravestones at the south end the Wensleydale and Swaledale Monthly Meeting Trusts gave permission for the children of the village to play football in the burial yard.

Opposite the village green and what remains of the village stocks is Hamilton’s Tea Room which offers homemade food each day except on Tuesdays. Or you can walk a bit further east to the George and Dragon.  (All photographs are copyright Pip Land)

House sale in Aysgarth !

It’s been a wonderful home for over 20 years – and when the daffodils are in bloom i Spring and the evening sun highlights the rich features of Wensleydale it is hard to think of selling The Warren in Aysgarth.

Each morning we breakfast in the conservatory surrounded by the panoramic view and cushioned from the sound of traffic on the A684. But the time has come, for family reasons, to think of moving. And so The Warren is up for sale – in the Price Region of £340,000.

So what does it offer for that price – besides the fantastic location in a quiet cul de sac in a quiet village in the heart of Wensleydale? Downstairs I have a sitting room, dining room, a WC, integral garage – and that conservatory. Upstairs there are three double bedrooms and a single bedroom with a magnificent view. I have turned one of the double bedrooms (also with that view) into my office. Once upon a time it was my son’s bedroom and it still has a built in bunk bed and a glass-fronted cabinet which used to be a vivarium. There is a family bathroom and more storage space up in the attic.

Over the years I have had added UPVC double glazed windows and porch door which have helped considerably in conserving heat during the winter. There is also a pond beside the sun trap outside the sitting room window – a great place to eat at lunchtime! There are more details about the house on RightMove and at www.stephensons4property.co.uk – but please note there is no mains gas supply in this part of Wensleydale. Below: The Warren.

When the River Ure is in full spate I can hear the roar of the water over Aysgarth Falls from my home. But it is not easy to get a good photograph of the water storming over the Upper Falls for often it is still raining hard or there is not enough daylight. I struck lucky during the first week in January even if I almost got blown away as I took photographs from the bridge. The rain held off and the sun broke through for a few minutes and I snapped away until my fingers were too cold. I then headed for home only to find, at the top of Church Bank, that there had been a hailstorm and the A684 had a treacherous icy mantle.

I certainly would not have dared to try and take any photographs from under that bridge – as I had done in the summer of 1995. There were even flowers growing among the rocks in the river bed during the drought that year.

There was just a sad trickle of water flowing over the Lower Falls that year – as compared with four years later. I particularly love visiting the Lower Falls when there is a gentle cascade of water rippling over the limestone shelving as in May 2011.

Craven District Coun Carl Lis chose Aysgarth and District as the first parish council to visit as chairman of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) and – as he expected – the main area of conflict was planning.

The councillors listed several issues which the Authority had not responded to quickly enough and  Coun Jane Huntington told him: “We do protest, we do bring things up at an early stage in the planning process but it still doesn’t happen.”  One of these was the way two new houses had been constructed in Thornton Rust and for which an enforcement notice has now been issued. It was pointed out that nothing had yet been done to comply with that notice and Coun Lis commented: “We will keep pushing – it is now very high profile.”

Coun Robert Walker wondered if sometimes problems occurred due to insufficient training. This, he believed, had led to a house in Thoralby being constructed which was totally out of place in a Dales village, especially as it was within the curtilage of a listed building.

Coun Huntington asked why the Authority did not follow up properly when it gave planning permissions to ensure that all conditions were met. “The houses should be inspected and signed off on,” added Coun Brian McGregor.

The issue of inconsistencies in planning permission especially with regard to the colour of window frames and the use of uPVc was raised by Coun Walker. He felt that uPVc double glazing should be allowed in new buildings. Coun Lis said he was aware that on occasions there were inconsistencies but the Authority was trying to overcome this by ensuring that the teams of planning officers covering the northern and southern sections of the Park regularly met to discuss issues.

He then raised his own concerns about the plight of those living in listed buildings. He wondered how they could encourage manufacturers to produce double glazed units that would be accepted in such buildings. “You are condemning those in listed buildings to be cold,” he said.  Coun McGregor replied that manufacturers would make such windows if they knew they would be used. Coun Lis commented that now (after the November meeting of the YDNPA planning committee) it was no longer a matter of the thickness of the double glazing but the reflections from the windows. He added that this was, however, a matter for the Secretary of State.

The parish councillors were also concerned about any changes in the interpretation of the YDNPA’s housing policy.  Coun Huntington said that any proposed changes should be put out for public consultation first.

Coun Lis assured the councillors that the YDNPA did take the views of parish councils seriously. Although the majority of planning decisions were now being made by officers under delegated powers an application would be referred to the planning committee if a parish council disagreed with an officer’s recommendation. The other way that applications can be called in was at the request of a planning committee member. Coun Lis added that in Wensleydale the local communities had an extremely powerful voice in County Coun John Blackie.

Coun Lis told the councillors that the Authority wanted to improve communications with parish councils. But with the cuts in staff following the reduction in the Authority’s grants members like himself had agreed that they would visit parish councils.

He assured Aysgarth and District parish council that he would follow up on the planning issues that had been raised and report back.

He was asked if the YDNPA will receive more funds from the government if its boundaries are extended. He replied that they expected to get an additional £750,000 a year of which about 70 per cent would be used to employ more staff. He commented that it was interesting that the total grants to all the National Parks in England was about £48 million compared to the £40 million given to the National Theatre.

ARC News Service - a report by the monitoring team of the Association of Rural Communities after the August meeting of the YDNPA planning committee.

Dry Rigg Quarry, Helwith Bridge – Even though many objectors attended the meeting Lafarge was given permission to continue extracting “gritstone” (dark grey siltstones) from Dry Rigg Quarry for another ten years – as long as it signs a legal agreement to halve the amount it sends out  by road by the end of 2013 and carries out an extensive restoration scheme.  Extraction work will be carried out by deepening the present quarry site.

In his report to the YDNPA planning committee the planning officer, David Parish, stated that although the quarry supplied a high performance aggregate used for road surfacing this was not considered to constitute a “national need”. Such extraction  work is not allowed in National Parks except in exceptional circumstances and the Campaign to Protect Rural England stated: “Quarrying within this National Park seriously comprises the Authority’s remit to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the countryside and its wildlife.” At a site meeting in July Lafarge stated that there were only three sites in the Yorkshire Dales and two in Cumbria which supplied rock to such a high specification.

Natural England supports the restoration scheme and those at the site meeting were able to see the pilot project which had produced an alkaline fen with the characteristics of the local SSSI and where 26 different species of breeding birds had been seen. This, Lafarge argued, showed that the whole quarry area could be restored. The company must undertake and fully fund the monitoring work, after-care and management of the land for 20 years after the site has been restored.

The YDNPA received 52 responses when it advertised Lafarge’s application and the majority of these pointed out the adverse impact that the heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) had on Ribblesdale and Settle. It was felt that this and the quarrying did undermine tourism and other industries in the area. Some local residents could now see parts of the quarry as the screening bunds had sunk into the bog. Mr Parrish stated that the scar created by the quarrying of the hillside below Moughton Nab was visible to walkers over a wide area.

Lafarge was keen to use rail haulage but it was proving difficult to put a rail head at the site without affecting an SSSI. It would require the assistance of the YDNPA and Network Rail to get a rail link in place. The YDNPA planning committee insisted on the amount being brought out by HGVs being cut by late 2013 to encourage Lafarge to create a rail link.

Barth Bridge, Gawthrop, Dent – A majority of the YDNPA planning committee members accepted the advice of the enforcement officer that the platform which had been constructed in a field west of Barth Bridge by Dr J Ashton  must be removed. On occasions since September 2010 a yurt (a large, light coloured circular tent) had been positioned on this platform. In June 2011 two tents, portable toilets and other equipment had been seen in the field. The enforcement officer informed the committee that the unauthorised use of the land as a recreational campsite had this year exceeded the 28 days allowed under permitted development rights. The enforcement notice includes the cessation of the use of the land as a recreational campsite, the removal of the tents and toilets, and the restoration of the site to a green field. Dr Ashton’s retrospective application for planning permission for the new field track in that field was approved subject to conditions.

The Old Slaughter House, Horton-in-Ribblesdale – The need for affordable housing in the Dales was one of the main reasons why the planning committee accepted the officer’s recommendation to grant permission for three dwellings to be built at The Old Slaughter House. This will be subject to a S106 agreement restricting the occupancy of the dwellings to persons meeting the YDNPA’s local needs criteria and conditions. Horton-in-Ribblesdale parish council had opposed the application as it was felt that the two three-bedroomed houses and one two-bedroomed house would be an over-development of the constricted site and added: “The development is unsympathetic and detrimental to this sensitive site and the adjoining listed buildings.” The parish councillors were also concerned that there would be inadequate parking provision and had grave concerns about potential flooding and pollution of the beck. There were no objections from the  Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water Services Ltd or United Utilities.

Reeth – It was agreed to hold a site meeting on September 23 on the land at the rear of Metcalfe’s Farm in Reeth. The planning officer has recommended that the application to build one three-bedroomed house there should be refused. The application will be discussed at the October meeting of the planning committee.

Bruntacres Trading Estate, Hawes – As GTEC Training Ltd had refused to change the colour of the reconstituted stone that it planned to clad its training centre on Bruntacres Trading Estate the YDNPA planning committee refused permission for such stone to be used. In the original planning permission it was stated that natural stone should be used but the company had pointed out that this would be very expensive. At the July meeting the committee saw a photograph of the sample panel of the proposed reconstituted stone and agreed with the parish council and residents that this would be too stark and too bright, particularly on a large building which overlooked nearby housing.

The parish council was very concerned that a planning officer had without consultation allowed GTEC Training Ltd to enlarge the building by three feet in width and by one feet and three inches in height from that approved by the planning committee last September. The parish council and some residents had made it very clear that they were concerned about the scale and massing of the building. The YDNPA had advised the parish council that the planning officer had granted this “minor amendment” a matter of days before she had left the employment of the Authority

A memorial service was held at St Andrew’s church, Aysgarth church on May 15 for Eileen Shuttleworth  because so many were unable to get to her funeral in December due to the very bad weather conditions. (Photo: Bill and Eileen celebrating their golden wedding anniversary.)

At the funeral service in December the Rev Penny Yeadon told those who did get there that the core of Mrs  Shuttleworth’s life had been her faith in Jesus. This has been evident in her calling to be a nurse in inner city hospitals, in the way she assisted at her husband’s medical practice, the communities she lived in, and as a homemaker.

She was born at Whitley Bay in Tyneside in 1917 but, as her son Keith explained, the family moved to Rothbury in Northumberland while she was still young because her father had to take early retirement from the ship yards due to ill health. She enjoyed the open countryside as well as taking part in sports and the Guiding movement.

During the war, after qualifying as a nurse, she transferred to the Liverpool Royal Hospital where she met Dr Bill Shuttleworth. He was born in Coventry and grew up in Wales.  “The romance soon blossomed completely contrary to hospital regulations which would not countenance such a scandal,” said Mr Shuttleworth. They were married at Rothbury in 1943 and not long after that Dr Shuttleworth joined the RAMC.

While he was away his wife moved back to Rothbury to live near her parents. On his return in 1947 he joined a medical practice at in the large mining village of Witton Park, Bishop Auckland. Mr Shuttleworth told those at the funeral:”With the establishment of the NHS in 1948 the practice grew as did the size of the twice daily surgeries. Mother helped to relieve the pressure by acting as receptionist, dispensing medicines and performing nursing tasks.”

By 1954 she also had four sons to care for but all that did not stop her having her own interests. She joined the Women’s Institute and the St John’s Ambulance as well as helping with Meals on Wheels. But her main interest was the church at which she was a Sunday school teacher and a member of the Mothers’ Union and the choir. She also occasionally played the organ.

Dr Shuttleworth’s annual two weeks leave gave them the opportunity to take caravan holidays in Scotland, Ireland and Scandinavia – and also in Walden near Leyburn. This led to their buying a house in West Burton in the 1960s and to which they retired in 1975. They joined Aysgarth church and became choir members. Mrs Shuttleworth was the choir leader for 16 years and especially encouraged the junior members. She was the church organist for a few years after Madge Blades retired.

Retirement provided them with an opportunity to expand their love of classical music by learning to play the violin and cello and they joined the Wensleydale Philarmonic Orchestra. They sang with Aysgarth Choral Society for many years and were instrumental in the formation of a local recorded music club. Her continuing love of sport led to her becoming a lady member of the Yorkshire County Cricket Club, and to buying a wide-screen plasma TV recently so she could enjoy watching cricket, tennis and snooker matches.

Mr Shuttleworth thanked all the neighbours and friends who had helped his parents in the past few years, and had supported his mother after Dr Shuttleworth died in 2009. He also thanked those who had cleared the driveway to the church on the day of the funeral.

EXCERPTS FROM THE REV SUE WHITEHOUSE’S ADDRESS ON MAY 15:  She began by reading the pilgrim journey of the Church as described in a prayer by George Appleton, one time Bishop of Jerusalem.

“For over 90 years the church’s (pilgrim) journey was also Eileen’s, and for a good part of that time within the fellowship of St Andrew’s church.

“The early Christians devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayers. Eileen’s own spirituality was sustained by receiving communion and by her daily prayers and Bible reading. Gathering together for worship was important to her – she was faithful in her attendance at Sunday and weekday services. There was a steely determination about Eileen. It was because of Eileen that the midnight Christmas communion service about 12 years ago actually took place. It was a night of dreadful storms. She and Bill had had to negotiate a fallen tree on their way out of West Burton. They arrived to find no electricity at church. Eileen made her way in the pitch black to the vestry to find some candles. When I arrived from Redmire the church was in candlelight and ready for what was to be a memorable service.

“Hospitality – reflecting God’s welcome to each of us – has always been a hallmark of Christianity. Eileen and Bill’s home was a place of welcome. Meals with friends; larger gatherings to celebrate important birthdays or anniversaries; choir parties – especially enjoyed by the younger members with their good old-fashioned party games; and shared meals for Christmas and Easter. It was generous and sensitive hospitality.

“And there were the glad hearts in the early church – and I think that above all Eileen’s life showed such a gladness and gratitude to God for all his faithfulness and his gifts to her. She rejoiced in her family – Bill, their four sons, their daughters-in-law, grandchildren and great grandchildren. ”

She said that Eileen accepted the gift of life from God and lived it to the full – enjoying the opportunities presented to her and sharing with others her gifts and interests. And continued:

“When someone dies we look back over past years with mixed emotions – gratitude, grief, regret, laughter, nostalgia – thoughts too deep for words. But then (we remember) we are a pilgrim people – a pilgrim church. Eileen, in her earthly life, showed how following the good shepherd led to growth and development in her relationship with God and in her understanding of Him. Jesus’ promise is now fulfilled in her: that He came to live, to die and rise again, that we might have life and have it abundantly. As we as individuals and as His church continue on our earthly journey we pray that we may hear the Good Shepherd call us, by name, and be ready to follow him wherever he leads that we too may grow and develop as people and as His church.”

The memorial service  provided an opportunity to remember both Eileen and Bill Shuttleworth (Left: at their diamond wedding celebration) The following is from my report about the Shuttleworth’s  Golden wedding celebrations in September 2003:

Dr Shuttleworth told all those who attended the celebration at West Burton village hall that so much in his life, including his 25 years as a GP in Barnard Castle, would not have been possible without Eileen. Along with raising their four sons (Keith, Hugh, Philip and Paul) she had been the general practice nurse, receptionist and dispenser at that surgery. She was also the nursing officer with the local St John’s Ambulance Brigade for many years.

It was when she was working as a probationer nurse at a hospital in Liverpool that they met. Their eyes twinkled mischievously as they spoke of their clandestine romance. “The nurses weren’t supposed to fraternise with the doctors. We were very discreet but we did get teased,” she said. They spent their honeymoon in Scotland “feasting on the fat of the land” as Dr Shuttleworth recalled. “We ate grouse, venison and salmon and then had to go back to strict rationing.”

In 1945 he joined the Royal Army Medical Corp for two years seeing his wife only occasionally in her small cottage near Rothbury. “There was no electricity. There were oil lamps and an outside toilet,” she recalled. Her father sent in a snow plough to get her out during the winter of 1947, just two weeks before her second son was born. So she was very pleased when Captain Shuttleworth was demobbed.

It was in 1965 that they bought a holiday home in West Burton and began singing with Aysgarth church choir. By the time they retired and moved to West Burton they had been singing with the church choir in Witton Park for 25 years. They said their love of classical music and working together had kept them close. “It has been a very satisfying and happy marriage,” commented Mrs Shuttleworth.  Her husband added: “We just hit it off together and we helped one another. We needed each other.” Both had a deep Christian faith but in all their years of attending church services they  rarely sat together because of their choir duties. They notched up another 25 years of choir singing with Aysgarth church choir!

Its been all hands on deck at Carperby’s new sports pavilion this past week as members of the football team and over 90 residents and friends worked together to make sure it was ready for the completion date today (January 7) set by the confectionary company, Mars. For more photos see Pip’s Gallery.

“The community has been brilliant – fantastic,” said Scott Stephenson, one of the builders. He added that the cold weather had, on many occasions, been unbearable. When the icy weather became a problem in late November Mars provided a 15m x 30m tent which completely enveloped the building site. This enabled the team of local builders (Scott with Steve Harrison and Chris Peacock, along with Trevor Gilham, Jonathon Wood, Stuart Hunter, Tim Peacock and his father, Alan) to carry on working. Even then they had problems with the cement freezing before they could use it.

“The construction would have ground to a halt without the tent and we are indebted to Mars for all their help and support with the project,” said Nick Oliver, who is a member of the sports pavilion project team. This week the tent was removed to reveal the 11m x 21m pavilion.

The village of  223 residents has raised £40,000 by holding various events and by obtaining grants since the project was launched in 2004. The pavilion team, which consists of three members each from Carperby Playing Fields Association, Carperby Football Team and Carperby cum Thoresby parish council, thought it might take another five years to complete.

But then Mars FA Adult Football Partner worked with the FA to identify this great opportunity where the community really needed the pavilion and had made so much effort. Mars promised the funds to complete the project so long as the construction of the pavilion could be filmed and make a real difference to getting more people playing football.

“Many in the village have been invited to take part in the filming, which has been great fun for all those connected with the project,” added Mr Oliver. The film crew will be back at the pavilion and sports area tomorrow (January and once that is over the village is planning to hold a party.

To be ready for that filming session the villagers also wanted to make sure that children’s play area and the dugouts beside the football pitch were also spick and span. This meant that scrubbing, painting and treating woodwork in freezing conditions.  Below: The water was freezing in the brushes when Janice and Debbie were scrubbing out a dugout. And it wasn’t much warmer when Hazel and Janice were working there the next day.

All those who braved the snowy conditions  to attend the Christingle service at Aysgarth church on Sunday, December 5 thoroughly enjoyed themselves as the Rev Penny Yeadon made it a very family orientated event. There  certainly was a good display of wellington boots!

And afterwards the Bishop’s chair was brought out so that some of the youngsters (and a few adults) could prepare for the confirmation service at the church on Sunday, December 12.

Mrs Yeadon also led the Christingle service at West Witton church that Sunday.

There is a Carol Service with Christingles at Wensley church at 6pm on Friday, December 17. And on Boxing Day (December 26) there is a Christingle service at Preston under Scar church at 4pm. For information about Carol and Christmas services in Penhill Benefice see Penhill Benefice.

(Above- children enjoying the Christingle service at Aysgarth church in 2007.)

As the Rev Sue Whitehead needed to be with her family it was not possible to hold a cafe church at Aysgarth for the Christingle service. Below: It certainly smelt good at St Andrew’s during the September cafe church when the children enjoyed baking bread with the help of church members like Val Gladman. Photographs by Keith Richmond and Peter Williams.

ARC News Service – a short report by the Association of Rural Communities concerning the appeal decision by Planning Inspector Graham Snowdon following the refusal by the YDNPA to grant planning permission for an extension and other work at  Cote Bottom in Bishopdale.

The inspector said that the main issue was the effect of the proposed extensions on the character and appearance of the existing farmhouse and wider landscape. Cote Bottom, he explained, was a typical linear, stone built Dales farmhouse. Some of it dates back to the 1650s but there have been many alterations over the years. “Nevertheless, it retains much character and interest in the local vernacular context,” he said.

He has granted the applicants, Mr and Mrs Arthur Black, permission to construct a kitchen with bedrooms above it. He did not accept that the argument put forward by the YDNPA that this extension would dominate the original building.

The Blacks also wanted to rebuild the barn attached to the farmhouse. The inspector said he had no objection to the form or height proposed and that this did not seem to be an issue with the YDNPA. He did uphold the view of the YDNPA that the proposed windows in the barn were not in accord with the Design Guide but did see the operational need of the roof lights in what would be a workshop so long as they were as small as practicable. He said: “The Design Guide suggests that with conversions of former agricultural buildings, such as barns, the contrast in character with the original residential building should be maintained.”

The inspector added he had taken into consideration the need to improve the accommodation to secure the long-term occupancy of the property – a factor which had been emphasised by Aysgarth and District Council. He added: “I have also had regard to the arguments advanced on behalf of the appellants regarding equitable and consistent decision-making in the area. However, each case has to be considered on its merits, and the other developments in the area, which have been cited – particularly that at Forelands – are insufficiently comparable in form or arrangement to carry much weight as a determining factor at the present appeal.”

See also YDNPA – Planning inconsistencies?

ARC News Service – a report by the Association of Rural Communities’ monitoring team which attended the November meeting of the YDNPA planning committee. For discussion about the conversion of the bothy at Coleshouse at Askrigg, the barn at Austwick, and the hard standing at Little Ings in Gayle also see YDNPA – planning decisions October 2010.

Austwick – Seven members voted to accept the planning officer’s recommendation that the application to convert a barn which was outside the development boundary  should be refused. Six voted to approve the application and there were two abstentions.  It had been explained to the members that there had to be exceptional circumstances to go against planning policy. The applicant, Mr Taylor who lives at Airton,  had argued that the conversion would be in accord with those policies which permitted local needs affordable housing and the provision of suitable accommodation for the disabled. The ground floor would have been made suitable for him and his wife (who has Alzheimers) and the first floor would have provided accommodation for his son and grand daughter. The conversion would also have saved the barn from becoming derelict. The parish council opposed the application mainly because the barn was outside the village development boundary. The parish council chairman, Mr Smith, told members that some affordable housing that was suitable for the disabled would soon be available in the village. Several members said that in time permission would be given for the barn to be converted.

Kevin Lancaster commented that the Authority’s policy regarding barn conversions was one of the most unpopular. He added: “I don’t think this is a good policy and I don’t think it will be in existence in five years.” Chris Armitage said that the YDNPA was trying to protect areas that were outside the development boundaries. The head of planning, Peter Watson, added that the Authority’s policy was in line with national policy regarding providing new housing in open countryside and barn conversions. He said that on the occasions the YDNPA had given permission for new houses to accommodate those who were disabled the applicants had family living locally.

Linton – Last month the majority of members voted against the officer’s recommendation to approve full planning permission to convert a barn to provide five extra en-suite bedrooms for The Fountaine Inn. It was debated again at the November meeting under the reference back system. Craven Coun John Roberts said it would not be possible to park cars beside the converted barn and so these would, after being unloaded, have to be parked around the village green. He told the meeting: “Linton is a conservation area – not a car parking area.”

The parish council had objected to the application because of the lack of parking facilities. It also argued that there was a lack of commercial need for more overnight accommodation at The Fountaine, but this was strongly contradicted by the owners of the inn. William Weston argued in favour of granting permission as it was necessary to protect this type of business in the Dales. He added that something should be done to provide a long term solution to the parking problem in Linton. Eight of the members, however, voted again to refuse this application on the basis that the development would result in an unacceptable level of on-street parking within the village, exacerbating parking problems already existing there and displacing existing residents’ parking resulting in inconvenience and nuisance to local residents and so harming residential amenity.

Crina Bottom near Ingleton -  The members were unanimous in accepting the officer’s recommendation that an application for a new domestic wind turbine at the farm at Crina Bottom. Some members said this was the first time that the YDNPA had given permission for a wind turbine to be erected within a triple SSI. There was an old, bladeless turbine at the farm and one of the conditions of the planning permission was that this should be removed. The new turbine will be sited a little lower so that it is less visible. The application was approved partly  because one wind turbine was a better option than power lines snaking across the countryside to provide the farm with mains electricity. The members were keen that the farm should have a more dependable source of power supply which was in line with the YDNPA‘s renewable energy policy.

Kettlewell -  The members were also unanimous in approving planning permission for the creation of a parking space in the garden at Renar Cottage in Kettlewell.

Langcliffe – Just one member voted against giving full planning permission for new outbuildings and the construction of a car port at The Farmhouse, Upper Winskill, Langcliffe. The parish council had argued that this would change the character of one of the oldest buildings in Langcliffe.  Roger Bingham said that the out buildings to be demolished were a good example of traditional farmyard buildings which had now mainly disappeared. The planning officer stated that due to the modest scale, appearance and materials of the proposed buildings they would not detract from the character and appearance of the traditional houses around them.

Askrigg – The majority of the members again voted to refuse planning permission for the conversion of the bothy at Coleshouse at Askrigg. The planning application included a bedroom extension. They therefore confirmed their decision last month not to accept the officer’s recommendation that it should be approved. The reasons given were: the impact of the proposal on the Askrigg Conservation Area including the loss of a section of wall, and the detrimental impact upon public views into and out of the village. The proposed design was also considered to be inappropriate. Mr Bingham used the phrase “alien intrusion” to explain why he saw the design, materials, fenestration, and the range of gables as not being in keeping with the Askrigg conservation area. He said he was disappointed that the it was not possible to take into consideration the historical association with the artist and writing team of Marie Hartley, Ella Pontefract and Joan Ingleby especially as they had done so much for the area. Several residents including artist Piers Browne spoke against the application at the October meeting.

Gayle – A majority of members voted to allow Christine Cloughton to create a hard standing for her car at her home in Little Ings. This was debated at the October meeting when the majority of members voted against the officer’s recommendation to refuse the application on the grounds of highway safety. At the November meeting planning committee member Chris Armitage warned that it would be reckless to approve this application when there was so little visibility when backing out onto the road.

Low Row – The majority of members accepted that the proposed scheme in the new application for the conversion of Low Barn was considerably better in design terms than that approved by the Authority in 1977. It was also accepted that there were several problems with converting the barn into a dwelling. The county council’s highways department had recommended refusal because of the limited visibility and because the parking bays were not wholly sited on land within the applicant’s control so their future presence could not be guaranteed. Now that the application has been approved the highways department will want to impose some conditions.

Alan Thorogood told members that Melbecks  parish council was very concerned about the road safety issues. The parking bays were used by school buses bringing children to Hazel Brow Farm and lorries unloading agricultural supplies. Although there had been no accidents involving people, there had been several incidents in the last three years. Sheep had been killed and last year a sheep dog was killed close to the barn.

The main problem for the planning committee was that as a Certificate of Lawfulness had been issued in 2006 the 1977 permission still stood, which included that the barn, once converted, could be sold on the open market. Coun John Blackie backed the request from the parish council that the property should be subject to a local occupancy restriction as this was a new planning application. Other members felt that, in view of the prior planning permission, this would be difficult to impose. As members were equally divided on this the chairman used his casting vote against adding a local occupancy restriction. A majority of members did vote for the owner to be asked to rescind the 1977 permission in favour of that granted at the November meeting.

ARC News Service:

The YDNPA planning committee has voted unanimously in favour of an enforcement notice to secure the demolition of the semi-detached buildings in the Outgang at Thornton Rust.

At the planning committee meeting at Bainbridge on Tuesday, November 9, Richard Graham, the principal planning officer, explained that the owner, Peter Bowers, had submitted a retrospective planning application to the June meeting which had included reducing the height of the buildings by 1.2m. The committee had then agreed to grant permission for the buildings so long as Mr Bowers signed agreements that the remedial works would be completed before February 27 2011 and the occupancy would be restricted to those who met the Authority’s “local need” criteria. Since then Mr Bower’s legal advisor has asked the Authority to accept the buildings as they are.

At Tuesday’s meeting County Coun John Blackie pointed out that there were over 20 breaches of planning conditions, 11 of them being major ones. These included the incorrect orientation of the buildings and the height and angle of the roof allowing for an additional storey. Like the rest of the committee County Coun John Blackie was very concerned that if nothing was done by early 2011 these unauthorised building works would be immune from enforcement action as it would be over four years since the dwellings were substantially completed.

“If you don’t recommend demolition then some applicants will feel they can play the delay game. I am extremely disappointed with what has happened,” he said. He added that they needed to provide an example to those who tried to drive a coach and horses around planning permissions.

Craven District Coun John Roberts told the meeting he had planned in June to vote for the demolition of the houses because of the number of breaches of planning conditions. “It is perhaps the worst I have seen. The authority of the Yorkshire Dales National Park planning committee is being questioned and we ought to respond in the clearest terms,” he said.He added that in June he was quite happy to accept the compromise of having the roofs lowered  because of the people living in the houses.

In June members of the planning committee had agreed that the existing buildings and site to be extremely harmful to the character and appearance of the immediate area and the village, and to the amenities of the neighbours. At the November meeting the members were again reminded about the need to consider the Human Rights Act in relationship to those now living in the houses. Mr Graham said: “Those rights are qualified however and must be balanced against the public interest and the Authority’s duty to carry out its planning function.”

Aysgarth and District Parish Council had complained to the YDNPA when the buildings were at foundation level and, in June 2007 after the houses had been built, informed the Authority, that the houses did not comply with approved plans. In May this year the parish councillors had asked Peter Watson, the head of planning, why the Authority had taken so long to take action. See YDNPA – Planning issues in Wensleydale.

In a report to the planning committee last month Mr Watson explained why enforcement action had not been taken since then and noted: “We should be less accommodating to ‘offenders’ and report slow moving enforcement cases to the planning committee at an early stage.”

ARC News Service – a report by the monitoring team of the Association of Rural Communities after the October meeting of the YDNPA planning committee.

Enforcement notice for Wood Nook Caravan Site near Threshfield –

The non-compliance with planning conditions imposed in October 1977  was so blatant at Wood Nook Caravan site near Threshfield that, during a site meeting, a member of the committee had seen a plot with the number 40 on it even though permission had been given for only 30 caravans at any one time. This had led to a large volume of traffic along two narrow lanes at Skirethorns. The members agreed that the YDNPA’s solicitor should serve an enforcement notice and if the number of caravans was not reduced to 30 at any one time within the next two months legal action would be taken. The agents for the owners of the site had pointed out that there was evidence dating back to the 1980s that there had been over 30 caravans on the site and they were therefore applying for a certificate of lawfulness.

Thornton Rust Hall, Thornton Rust –

County Coun John Blackie said that the two new dwellings in the Outgang at Thornton Rust as part of the Thornton Rust Hall estate had become a “cause celebre” locally. He thanked Aysgarth and District Parish Council for pursuing the issue. There was a lengthy report from Peter Watson, head of planning, about how the YDNPA’s enforcement team had handled this case. The parish council had complained in July 2007 that the semi-detached houses had not been built in accordance with approved plans – and it was found that this complaint was justified. Mr Watson explained that reduced staff levels from May 2007 to August 2008 had led to a backlog. He added: “While staff turnover is unavoidable, the transition from one case officer to another can be smoother when each officer makes a point of recording clear case notes…. The practice had slipped as a result of workload pressures when the enforcement team was under staff. The re-structuring of the planning department in July 2009 has seen a major improvement in the way we operate.”  For the full report see: http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/oct_thornton_rust_hall.pdf. The YDNPA planning committee agreed earlier this year that the height of the two houses should be reduced. One member commented: “I was for total demolition.” This was because so many conditions had been broken when the houses were built. Now the members wanted to make sure that  by February 2011 the conditions of the retrospective planning permission granted this year were being complied with.

Coleshouse, Askrigg –

The artist, Piers Browne, was one of those who objected to a new dwelling being built in the garden of Coles House in Askrigg, owned until 2006 by the author Marie Hartley. He  with Dr Christine Hallas and the chairman of the local parish council, Allen Kirkbride, said that the conversion of the bovey and especially the construction of an extension would destroy the iconic and quintessential Wensleydale view from Moor Lane. Dr Hallas told the planning committee she accepted that the applicant, Mrs Bernie Kershaw, intended to try and maintain that view but added:  “The problem is – there should be no house on this site”. Mrs Kershaw said she had sought to retain and safeguard the building so that it could be viewed by many in years to come. The proposed dwelling was described as unusual by the planning officer in that there would be a sedum roofed link between the converted bothy and the two-storey bedroom extension. Part of the bedroom extension would be incorporated into the hillside.

Local residents were also concerned about the proposal to remove part of the dry stone wall so as to provide access for two cars. The planning officer had recommended approving Mrs Kershaw’s application but the majority of members voted for refusal. Under the referral back system this application will be discussed again at the November meeting.

Car park for YHA at Hawes –

Some members commented that the planning officer had been put in a very difficult position regarding the application to provide access for the youth hostel at Turfey Hill in Hawes. The majority felt she had little choice but to recommend that planning permission should be granted even though the applicant was not connected with the YHA and the parish council had strongly objected.  The latter told the planning committee: “The Parish Council finds it bizarre and overtly suspicious that the YHA has not applied for the planning approval the application seeks as it appears the use for which the new access will be put is for the sole benefit of its Youth Hostel. Approval for this application will facilitate planning creep towards a housing application on a site already opposed by the Parish Concil and the YDNPA housing working group.” County Coun John Blackie, who is chairman of Hawes and High Abbotside parish council, told the planning committee that he had taken no part in the discussion or decision at the parish council.

At the planning committee he proposed that the planning application should be refused but the majority of members voted against doing that. Instead it was agreed that there should be a Section 106 agreement regarding the new car park so that it could only be used by visitors and tradesmen to the YHA. The applicant, Mr Watson, told the planning committee that this was a collaborative application by him and the YHA to improve the parking for the youth hostel. His land will be used for the new access and part of the new car park.

Hard standing for a car in garden along Little Ings, Gayle –

Christine Cloughton told the planning committee that many residents along Little Ings had created hard standings for their cars in their gardens along with openings onto the highway. If she was able to park her car in her garden buses would be able to stop alongside the kerb and so use the low floor facility for those with pushchairs or using wheelchairs. Currently buses stop in the middle of the road. The planning officer recommended refusal mainly because the county council’s highways department had found there wasn’t sufficient visibility onto the highway. County Coun John Blackie proposed that the committee should approve her application and this was upheld by eight votes to five with one abstention. As this was against the planning officer’s recommendation this will need to be ratified at next month’s meeting. Members did ask for a more detailed examination of the visibility issue.

Low Barn, Low Row, Swaledale –

It was decided to hold a site meeting at Low Barn. The members agreed that this was a complex situation especially as in 1977 full planning permission had been given for the barn to be converted into an open market  four-bedroom house. That permission is still valid as a certificate of lawfulness was granted in 2006. The planning officer said she had worked with the applicant to prepare a more sympathetic and appropriate design for the present application. She told the committee that the owner could always revert to that approved in 1977.

Arncliffe school -

Members were very concerned to hear that Arncliffe CP School might be closed. At present it has only nine students. It was pointed out that the school would fail an Ofsted examination if it could not provide an all-weather outdoor play area. Members therefore agreed with the planning officer that permission should be given for the erection of a wooden canopy covering a play area. This will replace a pergola and fence to the north side of the school.

Gamekeeper’s accommodation, Hawkswick -

The reasons given by the parish meeting for opposing  the conversion of a barn just outside of Hawkswick into accommodation for a gamekeeper included: that the tight curtilage would be difficult to maintain and would be insufficient for the needs of the gamekeeper; and that the lane up to the barn was parish land.

The YDNPA had paid for an independent report by Mouchel. This concluded there was a clearly established need for a full time gamekeeper to be living on the edge of the grouse moor. The agent for the applicant explained that the grouse moor had been neglected for a period of time and the present owner wanted to return it to its  former glory. The majority of members voted to accept the planning officer’s recommendation that planning permission should be granted subject to a Section 106 agreement to tie the barn to the moorland within the applicant’s ownership, control future works and maintenance of the access and secure a tree planting scheme.

Llama farm, Kirkby Malham –
The temporary consent for an extension of two years for agricultural worker to live in a caravan at Tullochvenus Farm was agreed. The owners are trying to develop a business based on the sale of wool from llamas raised there.

Town Head, Austwick –

The committee deferred making a decision about the conversion of a barn outside of the housing development boundary at Austwick as they wanted more information including its proximity to other buildings in the village.  The applicant, Mr Taylor, wishes to restore the barn and to convert the ground floor into accommodation suitable for his wife as she becomes more physically limited due to suffering from Alzheimers disease. The first floor would become a self contained dwelling for his son and grand daughter.

A news update from the Association of Rural Communities. At the YDNPA meeting on Tuesday, September 14 the following decisions were made regarding applications involving the following villages,: Hawes, Reeth, Kettlewell, Ribblehead/Horton in Ribblesdale, Linton, Hebden and a new bridleway bridge near Conistone.

GTEC Training did get permission for a large training centre at Bruntacres Trading Estate in Hawes even though there was a lot of opposition from local residents and Hawes and High Abbotside parish council. The chairman of the planning committee, Graham Dalton summed up the views of the majority of members when he stated: “I think there is a good chance this will become a centre of excellence. It may become of national significance.”The company applied for full planning permission to erect a two-storey building to house a renewable technology centre, business start up units, a training centre with residential facilities and office space. The building would provide a base to research multi-technology integration and control systems as it would be purpose built to include solar and ground source heating,  a rain harvesting system, a wood pellet boiler and ridgeblades (wind turbines) It had informed the Authority that the provision of supervised accommodation on the site for six to eight-day courses  was an important and integral part of its training programme without which the project could not go ahead. Stephen Plant of National Electrotechnical Training (NET) stated: “This facility will not just provide a ‘state of the art’ training centre in Electrotechnical Engineering but will also champion renewable technologies which are essential to the UK for meeting our climate change targets and providing a reliable and sustainable energy supply.”

N Yorks County Coun John Blackie, who is chairman of Hawes and High Abbotside Parish Council, said that although he would like to support GTEC, he could not do so because of the provision of accommodation on the site. Local residents had objected because they had been promised in the past that there would be no living accommodation on the trading estate. They pointed out that if accommodation was not provided there would be no need to construct a building that was so much higher than any of the other units at Bruntacres. A resident had carried out a survey to show that there was sufficient accommodation in the town plus facilities for laundering clothes and all the meals the trainees would require. Over 20 residents signed this survey which stated that the height and mass of the new building “would have a very overbearing appearance.”

Swale View Caravan Park near Reeth was given permission to change the use of a section of the site beside the river from stationing touring caravans to the siting of up to seven “static caravans” instead. These “static caravans” will, in fact, be lodges. The owners propose to locate all touring caravans (up to 30) near to the A6108. The full planning permission included that more trees and shrubs should be planted to reduce the environmental impact of this large caravan park.

The proposed transformation of the old public toilets at Kettlewell by Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream into a kiosk selling ice creams and light refreshments was opposed by many local residents because they feared it could lead to the closure of the village shop. On the basis that the planning authority could not become involved in issues of commercial competition the majority of the members agreed with the planning officer that full planning permission should be given.

Even though the planning officer had recommended refusal members decided that consent should be given for the Stationmaster’s House at Ribblehead to become a residence once more. The Settle and Carlisle Trust wants to return the house externally to its original Midland Railway style and then use it as accommodation for the caretaker of the station building. There will be a S106 agreement so if the Trust should find it necessary to sell the house it would submit a scheme to the Authority detailing how the money would be spent. The Trust had offered a S106 agreement that would restrict the use of net proceeds from such a sale on the open market to the work and objectives of the Trust.

N Yorks County Coun Richard Welch very strongly recommended that any decision about the retrospective change of use of three bedrooms at  The Willows at Horton in Ribblesdale from residential to bed and breakfast should be deferred until it was possible to submit a planning application for a new driveway. At present The Willows shares a driveway with neighbours. The neighbours felt that the increase in the number of cars passing their front windows was detracting from their privacy. Horton in Ribblesdale parish council felt that the application should be approved only if separate access to The Willows was created and that planning officers adequately addressed the concerns of neighbours. The majority of the members, however, voted to approve the application. The owners of The Willows have two bedrooms there for their own use.

The application by Manchester Anglers Association for a 30m long and 2m wide parking area in Newhouse Lane, Horton in Ribblesdale, was refused on the basis that such an overly urbanised feature was unjustified as it would alter the simple rural character of that road.

A decision was deferred regarding the change of use of a barn to create hotel bedrooms for the Fountaine Inn at Linton.  One of the main reasons that local people had objected to this was the lack of parking facilities. Craven Dt Coun John Roberts pointed out that Linton is an important conservation area and added: “Parking in this area is a major consideration. If a conservation village is full of cars it takes away the beauty of the area.” The owners of the inn had reported that an off-road parking area was being investigated and for this reason it was agreed to defer the decision. At the August meeting the majority of members had voted against the planning officer’s recommendation that the application should be approved subject to a S106 agreement which would tie the barn to The Fountaine Inn and restrict the use of the accommodation to ancillary bedrooms with en-suites only. They then needed to confirm that decision at the September meeting.

Although the committee gave approval for the present buildings at The Old Lodge in Mill Lane, Hebden, to be demolished the majority did not approve of a three-bedroom residence with two stables being built there. Members were told that the Old Lodge had been built as a temporary holiday camp about 100 years ago. A planning officer noted that the existing U shaped timber building, which had no architectural merit,  was in a poor or derelict state and beyond saving. The officer was against replacing this single storey building with a two storey house. Ann Brooks said that the application for a residence should be refused because this was one of the few employment sites within the national park. “I am very concerned that this has not been marketed as an employment site,” she said. She added that the committee would consider an application for residential use if it could be proved there was no interest in it as an employment site.

The YDNPA Ranger service had asked permission to construct a bridleway bridge to provide a new river crossing at Mossdale, Conistone. Although this was approved some members requested that it would be constructed in such a way that it fitted in with the surrounding landscape.

AUGUST 2010

The YDNPA planning committee on August 10 took until almost 5pm to discuss 11 items and the members disagreed with the officers’ recommendations five times. Another application was deferred for further information and two (both involving The Old Lodge in Mill Lane, Hebden) were deferred so that a site meeting could be held.

Those applications where the members disagreed with the officers will be discussed again at the meeting on September 7. This includes the application by Swale View Caravan Park on Reeth Road, Richmond, for full planning permission to place seven static “caravans” on a site near the river which at present is used for touring caravans. The members were not impressed when they saw a photo of the lodges that may be put on that site. The two members from Swaledale complemented the present owner of Swale View Caravan park on the improvements that had been made since he took over. They felt that permission should be granted but other  members were concerned that steps were not being taken to alleviate the impact upon the landscape of such a large site and the provision for touring caravans, motorhomes and tents. One member asked if the YDNPA had taken any steps to check if the government could re-define the definition of static caravans that has made it possible for them to be replaced with lodges.

Defining what is a caravan – This question was also raised by the Association of Rural Communities (ARC). In a statement to the committee prior to the discussion about the Westholme site at Aysgarth, ARC’s president, Tom Knowles, asked: “Has the YDNPA taken any action to query the “notoriously wide” definition of caravans which has made it possible for the owners of the Westholme site to replace static caravans with much larger luxury chalets?”

The members did approve an application from Westholme Estate to make it possible for that site to be open for holiday purposes only for 12 months each year. The head of planning, Peter Watson, pointed out that as the appeal inspector had approved all-year opening for Hawkswick Cote Caravan site in accordance with the government’s Good Practice Guide on Planning for Tourism 2006  it would be difficult to refuse a similar application.

Mr Knowles said: “It is sad that the government has made it possible for site operators to extend the open season for static caravan sites. This could be the thin edge of the wedge to making it possible that luxury chalets like those at Westholme will become the main residences of those who have spent over £200,000 to buy one.

Planning permission was granted for the Pinfold Leisure Park at Garsdale to extend its existing holiday season. It will now be closed from January 5 to February 5 each year.

The other applications which will be discussed again in September are: The change of use of Ribblehead Stationmasters house back into a residential dwelling; the change of use of a barn to create hotel bedrooms ancillary to The Fountains Inn, Linton; the proposed conversion of Widdale chapel and signage for the Old Dairy Farm in Widdale.

Hawes Trading Estate – A planning officer had recommended (with conditions) approving the application from GTEC Training Ltd to build a two storey renewable technology centre with training and residential facilities at the Bruntacres Trading Estate at Hawes. There was concern about the residential element (to house trainees attending courses at the centre) and also the height of the building. The members agreed to defer the decision until September and to ask for more details of the business plan.

Just how the Yorkshire Dales National Park (YDNPA) will survive in this period of budget cuts was discussed in detail at the Authority’s meeting on Tuesday, July 27. There were warnings that the Authority may face radical surgery and that the proposed extension of the YDNPA should be seriously questioned.

It was agreed to set up a task force  to consider how the YDNPA should respond to the government’s call to reduce the national deficit. It’s first step has been to drain its Opportunities Fund which would have supported environmental projects such as renewable energy schemes. This will meet the government’s demand for a five per cent cut this year in what is already a very limited budget. But the Authority’s Chief Executive, David Butterworth, has warned that the Authority could face a £2m budget cut – a worst case scenario which he described as “catastrophic”.

At the meeting the members asked him  to try and obtain  further clarification about the government’s plans. Several members agreed with Mr Butterworth that the government had not provided sufficient or clear information about the cuts required. “There are mixed messages. There is no overall plan but it is being developed as (they) go along. We need good  information so as not to be filled with a doom scenario,” said Mr Butterworth.

He said he had already met with Unison to discuss how the cuts may impact upon the staff and added: “I don’t think local communities have any idea what they are going to be facing.” He called for the members to decide what were the fundamental issues at the heart of the National Park.

Secretary of State appointee Chris Armitage said:  “All of the projects we do are essential – that is the problem. But we are going to have to think the unthinkable… and may be operating with a skeleton staff.

N Yorks County Coun Stuart Parsons commented: “We don’t know what is going to happen… but the world has changed fundamentally. Do we want National Parks? I believe we do and this is the battle we have to fight.”

Mr Butterworth said that although the government did recognise the value and popularity of National Parks it  seemed to be uncomfortable with their hybrid nature and there was an “interesting lack of understanding” about how the authority was already intertwined with other local authorities.”

Local authorities are already discussing with the YDNPA how to share the responsibility for various services so as to cut costs. The members were, however, very concerned about how to maintain the tourist information and Ranger services. “We don’t want a derelict park,” said N Yorks County Coun John Blackie and reminded members how quickly the footpaths had become overgrown during the foot and mouth epidemic when the Rangers could not maintain them.

Some suggested that the YDNPA should consider more income generation A request by Coun  Blackie to discuss the Defra “Draft Structural Reform Plan” was accepted even though it was not on the agenda. Coun Blackie pointed out that the review was to run from July until December, and yet the YDNPA had not heard about it until around July 20. It includes a review of the governance arrangements of the National Parks, with the suggestion that each Authority should only have 12 members, of which seven would be directly elected. “I think a 12 member body determining planning applications would be totally inappropriate,” said South Lakeland Dt Coun Kevin Lancaster.

Coun Blackie said: “We have got to get across that steam rollering would lead to far poorer services in villages” and that they needed more time to find the best way forward. “There is a danger we will throw the baby out with the bath water.”

Mr Butterworth said that if decisions were made on the basis of funding rather than size and the membership of each authority was reduced to 12 there would be  considerable disparities in the democratic representation within the various National Parks given the great differences in populations.

That situation would be further aggravated if the proposal to extend the boundaries of the YDNPA went ahead. “From a personal point of view… I would be shocked and stunned if the Secretary of State accepted the recommendation (to extend) bearing in mind the financial situation that we are in at the moment,” said Mr Butterworth.

It was accepted that many aspects of the National Park’s work would need to be questioned with Mr Lancaster even arguing that it should not be a planning authority.  Craven Dt Coun Carl Lis, who was elected as chairman, pointed out that the original remit of a National Park would not have included the provision of affordable housing. Craven Dt Coun John Roberts had said earlier: “If we do not get some affordable housing into these villages very soon their sustainability is going to deteriorate.”

The members did vote unanimously against attending the Association of National Park Authorities  agm in 2011. As the level of sponsorship for that conference had fallen the cost per person would be £800. They also accepted that as part of the cost cutting exercise the Authority must later in the year look very critically at the number of other organisations with which it was in partnership. Mr Butterworth said the YDNPA should only be in partnership with those which were delivering something or may do so.

He added that the YDNPA had already done a considerable amount in the past few years to cut costs. Coun Lis commented: “These are going to be extremely difficult times and we need to face them with vigour and enthusiasm. We have to provide the leadership and act as one to ensure the best interests of the Authority and local communities, to ensure they are protected wherever possible against the worst ravages of the government’s cuts ”
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Aysgarth church is the first in Richmondshire to start re-erecting gravestones. Richmondshire District Council regularly sends its topple testers to check on gravestones in churchyards and cemeteries to ensure they are safe and won’t topple over and maybe kill children. But in 2009 Carperby farmer Alastair Dinsdale  asked Aysgarth Parochial Church Council (PCC) to consider re-erecting some of those which had been laid flat.

When, in early 2010, the PCC contacted the district council’s head of open spaces, Gary Hudson, he happily came along with David Lodge, the ground maintenance supervisor, to explain how it could be done. Alastair  then  raised the gravestone of one of his ancestors to test the suggested method (see below).

To his surprise he found fragments of an 18th century gravestone had been used as a foundation for that erected about a century later.  Beside another toppled gravestone the carved sides of a casket grave were found. As there are few 18th century stones remaining in the churchyard it is possible that many were recycled in the 1800s. (Photographs below)

For those researching their family history the churchyard (one of the largest in the country) is a useful source of information about those buried there since the 19th century. Alastair is particularly keen to raise gravestones so that the inscriptions can be protected from water and ice.

Even some of the upright stones have deteriorated since Evelyn Abraham and Marian Kirby listed them in 1992. Without that list it would not have been possible to locate the grave of John and Margaret Fawcett  “of Cote near West Burton”. He died in 1836 and his wife in 1846. Dianne Powell in Australia had asked if we could send photographs of the gravestone which we did.

Some of those who attended the Gravestone Coffee Morning on June 26 had also been researching their family history. Relatives of one family had come from New Zealand a few years ago and had been saddened to find that the gravestone of their great grandparents (Edward and Elizabeth Graham) had been toppled. This was one of the gravestones re-erected during the community work day in September.  Nine gravestones were successfully raised that day including those of Thomas and Emily Shannon of Carperby  which has a a memorial to  their son John who was killed in action in France during the First World War.

Aysgarth Parochial Church Council (PCC) decided to publicise details of these so that the families would know about the work day. This led to descendants of the Shannon family making contact (one from Inverness) and those of Jane Hammond, including one who lives in Bowness in Windermere.  An Aysgarth family has also asked for that of Catherine Wood to be added to the list. She died during the Spanish flu epidemic in 1918.

If anyone wants information about gravestones in Aysgarth churchyard they can leave a comment on this post.

Left: A shop window from the past at Milners of Leyburn? This photograph was taken during the Second World War Re-enactment weekend in Leyburn July 17-18 2010. Those who visited the shop after the recent repeat of The Department Store  on BBC TV quickly became aware of how much the shop has been transformed in the past year since David Milner retired.

Come January even the decor of this famous small departmental store will have been altered. But it is  already hardly recognisable compared with the way it looked when it was filmed in 2008 for the BBC’s documentary series, The Department Store. “We are thinking of updating the colours – so watch this space,” said Leonie Garrard, David Milner’s daughter.

She and her husband Keith now run the store and have brought in their very own “Mary Queen of Shops”. Sarah Harbour has worked in the fashion retail business for over 20 years and is helping the Garrard’s revamp Milners of Leyburn. One of their big successes this year is buying in organic cotton clothes by Seasalt. “We have sold out twice since we started bringing in Seasalt – it’s gone fantastically well,” said Leonie.

This autumn they will introduce clothes by another organic cotton company Jackpot. “We are going down the line that people are thinking more of what they are wearing rather just wanting cheap and cheerful. They are thinking is it good for them and is it good for the environment. So we have found these two products which have really nice vibrant colours.  We are definitely appealing to a wider age range. It’s not like in The Department Store – a shop for 60 to 70-year-olds. We are getting a lot younger people coming through the door now, whether it is because we are getting the product right or dressing the window differently.”

Sarah has been involved with changing things around in the shop and bringing in new ideas.  The lingerie and underwear have been moved to the basement from the lower ground floor to make room for an extended range of accessories. Soon the nightwear will also be re-located to the basement. All the bed linen and towels are now on the first floor where the Garrards made new shelving to accommodate it. They have de-cluttered that floor to make the most of their best selling carpets  and have built two mock beds so that bed linen can be better displayed.

This autumn they will move the children’s clothing section into the lower ground floor, replacing it with the accessories, and then introduce “smellavision”. “We are buying into smellies,” explained Leonie. “We have been to other places which have done that. There are a lot of shops likes ours which have a bit of fashion but have the smellies as well. You come in through the door and you can smell it. If a shop smells nice it’s inviting.”

This year Leonie has also been busy raising funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London which helped them when their daughter Eleanor was ill. “I cycled the coast to coast route from Workington to Tynemouth last month and raised nearly £2,000 for Great Ormond Street. It was an amazing experience. And we did a fashion show at the store in April and made about £900 for the hospital.”

But when her parents take advantage of their retired status and go off on a two-month touring holiday in France with their caravan she does miss them. “I am finding it a struggle at the moment because with Mum and Dad away I am having to collect the kids from school every day. It makes the day very disjointed. When both Eleanor and Annabel are here (in the store) it is a riot!” 

David and Linda do occasionally help out at the shop when they are not on holiday. “They have both stepped back from the business,” said Leonie. David has been doing a lot of gardening and painting. “He cleared out the loft in their house, rewired it all and made himself a little painting studio – that’s his little hidey hole,” she added. Early in 2010 David was also able to take part in a charity trip to the Gambia to deliver equipment to the only school for the blind in that country. See  the Journey Blog  and Memories – a Gallery on the Friends of Govi website.

With the way that the Garrard’s are moving forward with the store and the television coverage Milners of Leyburn seems to be riding out the recession and so won’t become one of those forgotten Department Stores. “The Department Store has helped to put us back on the map,” said Leonie.

Below:  A transformed Milners of Leyburn: beds and bed linen; the accessories section; and the de-cluttered carpet department.

At the Quaker memorial meeting for John ‘Peter’ Leyland at Bainbridge on June 22 there was very little silence  as  so many wanted to share their happy and very special memories of him.

“This is a celebration of his life and everyone is encouraged to share their memories about Peter. I feel extremely blessed and privileged to have known him,” said Quaker elder, Judith Bromley.

When he was born in Bainbridge in January 1920 his parents dutifully gave him the family name of John but then always called him Peter. He was proud of the fact that all his grandparents were from mid Wensleydale but, after he was articled as an accountant to a London firm when he was 16-years-old he did not return to live in the dale until he retired as finance director of the Scott Bader Commonwealth in 1982.

“He was a gentleman and a gentle man,” wrote one friend. Throughout his life he was renowned for his integrity, honesty and probity, as well as his quiet bravery. Several at the memorial meeting spoke of his time with the “China Convoy” for the Friends Ambulance Unit (FAU) during the Second World War. (Oral history recordings are at the Dales Countryside Museum at Hawes.)

His widow, the artist Janet Rawlins (Parfitt) read an email from Godric Bader who commented: “His concern for the truth of a situation was deep and clarifyingly perceptive, often salutary, but always expressed helpfully… the same qualities… undoubtedly were behind his clearly heroic work in the Friends Ambulance Unit in China  – or possibly they were nurtured there in those tough and exposed days in the inhospitable mountain fastnesses.”

Another friend had written: “He was one of those exceptional people on earth who sought always to do the best for others and to create peace where there was lack of harmony. He was a man who stood by his principles and his deep Christian faith shone through him.” At the memorial meeting one said that Peter had shown how being guided by the Spirit did produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self control (Gal:5.22-23).

Janet commented: “He was a quiet man but he was a wonderful character. And he was fun.”  They married in 1982 and became very involved in the local and Quaker communities as well as restoring what had been his mother’s family home in Askrigg. Later they were able to buy back the house his wife had had built in Bainbridge.

For many years he was treasurer of the Askrigg Foundation, Askrigg Millennium Fund, Friends of the Dales Countryside Museum, the Bainbridge (Quaker) Meeting, and Bainside Arts as well as of the Laurie Baker Society and Ackworth School. He attended Ackworth School from the age of 10 to 16.  Peter was one of the first to buy shares in the River Bain Hydro project this year investing the £1,415 that his mother had received as compensation from the National Grid in 1953 when it took over Bainbridge’s electricity company that his grandfather had co-founded.

His close family at the memorial meeting included: Janet Rawlins (wife); Sarah and Stephen Morgan (daughter and son-in-law) with Nat and Jonas and representing Noah; Joanna and Patrick Morris (daughter and son-in-law) with Rebecca and Victoria; James and Samantha Parfitt (step son and daughter-in-law) with Jake and Alex; Dennis Leyland, Wendy and John Doig, and Dennis and Margaret Mudd (cousins). The collection at the memorial meeting amounted to £400 and was donated to the Friends of Friary Hospital, Richmond, where he was cared for so well during the last week or his life. His widow has also donated one of her collages to the Friary. The photograph above was taken by Peter’s grandson, Noah Morgan.  (See also the obituary I wrote which was published in the Yorkshire Post )

……………

At the annual meeting of the Friends of the Dales Countryside Museum in October 2007 Peter told the remarkable story of his family’s involvement in providing a shop and the electricity supply for Bainbridge  until the mid 20th century. He explained how his great great grandfather, Alexander Tiplady, had returned from the battle of Waterloo and opened the first shop in Bainbridge. Alexander’s grand daughter married John Leyland who gave up being a travelling salesman and joined her in running the family business.

It was he who with Richard Cockbone in 1912 set up Bainbridge Electric Lighting Company based on a water mill on the River Bain. The turbines were installed by William Handley Burton of Askrigg. His great grandson, William Burton of Maxwells Electrical in Northallerton, was invited to the annual meeting and enjoyed discussing the various historical documents with Peter. (Right: Peter on right with William Burton.) During his talk Peter described how his mother had carried on with the shop and running the electricity supply in Bainbridge, Wensleydale, even after her husband died in 1942.

At that time John ‘Peter’ Leyland was still in China with the Friends Ambulance Unit.  As a Quaker he had chosen to serve others that way rather than be conscripted into the armed forces during the Second World War. See also Memories of War Time China.

This is a fuller report of the annual meeting of Aysgarth and District parish council on May 19, 2010,  which was attended by Peter Watson, chief of planning for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA), County Coun John Blackie and Dt Coun Yvonne Peacock (chairman of Richmondshire District Council).

Coun Alison Sayer:   “I just want to say that we are trying to work with you (the YDNPA). We need to see plans and we need to see what is going on. Lot’s of the older generation looked after this area before it became a National Park – we want our beautiful area to stay as it is”.

Coun Peter Windle: “We are just concerned that nobody is taking any notice of us. We had a genuine complaint about various aspects of planning where the plans aren’t complied with. We want you to explain in general terms what should happen  and what we can expect from the planning department in the future so we can avoid a repetition of these problems we have been having.”

As an illustration he referred to the two cottages that have been built in the Outgang at Thornton Rust. A retrospective planning application for those will be discussed at the Authority’s planning committee meeting on Tuesday, June 8.  As new amended plans were expected the parish council clerk asked if they would have time to comment on these should they be delivered to the Authority just before the meeting. Mr Watson said the parish council would see them as soon as the National Park did. He and County Coun John Blackie said that the planning committee was determined to make a decision on June 8 and that would be made on the latest plans received. “There will be no further extensions,” said Coun Blackie.

Coun Brian McGregor: “If you don’t take a stand on this one you are just wasting your time – your time and our time”.

Coun Peter Windle:  “We actually complained to the authority about it when it was at foundation level – and nothing was done. We did have a meeting with whoever from the planning department (who said) that it was in the wrong place. It is the process that we are complaining about – or wish to rectify”.

Coun McGregor: “Once the authority had been informed that the foundations were in the wrong place, shouldn’t (it) be sorted immediately? ”

Mr Watson: “Ordinarily yes – we do get enforcement officers to get out and look at sites  but there has been disruption recently because of staff turnover but ordinarily someone should get out there fairly early. There are targets for dealing with these things… although in this case it has taken quite a while. The way it should work is that (a parish council or an individual) makes a complaint. The case is logged and an enforcement officer goes and inspects it. If they find that the works are proceeding in a way that isn’t in accord with the plans … then a series of steps start being pursued. That leads ultimately to a decision being taken that it needs enforcement action or that although it may not be in accordance with planning its not so serious as to justify enforcement action. One thing that isn’t always understood is that enforcement is not an automatic reaction to an unauthorised development. It is a discretionary process – you first have to assess whether you would have approved it any way. But those cases where there is real harm, or something is completely unauthorised and needs regularising it does follow from there that the person is asked to submit a retrospective application or asked to carry out various remedial works. If they don’t do that and it is serious enough it ends up with an enforcement notice being served.”

Coun John Blackie described the swift action taken recently when an illegal access route was made across Thornton Rust village green to a construction site. “There was a very swift reaction to your concerns and complaint and the officer came out the same day and eventually we got a very satisfactory solution. I think that is how the Authority would like the new enforcement regime to work. The old one didn’t do the job. Good enforcement does rely on people acting quickly before the damage is done, before there are entrenched positions on either side.” He added that there were those, however, who knew all the tricks of the trade and were determined to drive coach and horses in and around planning regulations.

Coun Windle: “I have a view (that) once an application has been approved, and all the plans have been submitted, then someone in the planning department would see it through every stage (from foundations) until it was finished. And once it was finished visit it again to ensure that everything that is required has been completed. There are numerous cases in the Dales where that never happens.”

Coun McGregor mentioned a situation where someone had been told the put in screening but hadn’t done so. After several years the Authority had decided it was not expedient to pursue enforcement.

Mr Watson:  “We haven’t got the resources to go and visit every site at a series of stages. We are partly reliant on people complaining about things – and partly on our officers making site visits. We probably rely partly on building control regulators  who do check on the building as it goes up and do alert us if things are going badly wrong.” He and Coun Blackie said that the new enforcement system included a computerised database so that it would be easier to check if conditions on specific planning permissions had been met within a certain time scale.

The parish councillors asked about seeing amended plans.

Mr Watson: “If you said you were completely happy with (a planning application)  but we subsequently negotiated an improvement we probably wouldn’t re-consult you because you hadn’t expressed a concern about some aspect of it. We re-consult on things that interested you or caused you to comment the first time round. I am talking about a situation where we start with a particular thing and we try and negotiate to make it better, to make it smaller or to improve the design or something.”

Coun Blackie suggested that if there are particularly good features in a planning application a parish council should list them in its response. Then if a planning officer suggested altering the fenestration the parish council would be consulted. He added that if a planning officer was in doubt he or she should re-consult. Mr Watson agreed that rather than stating “no objection” to a planning application it would be better to provide more detail so that a planning officer would check with the parish council again if any changes were suggested.

Coun Robert Walker: “There are some plans which have been changed and got through planning that we knew nothing about.”

As an illustration Coun McGregor and Coun Jane Huntington described the situation with South View in Thoralby. Coun Huntington distributed photographs of South View. For that the parish council had recommended that random stone should be used; that there should be a parking area behind the two houses on the site; that the two dwellings should have a shared driveway and that the hedge should be retained.

Mr Watson: “I think in that case there was an amended plan which was approved to replace the hedge with a wall.”

Coun McGregor: “Why weren’t we told that? We wanted to keep the hedge. ”

Coun Windle: “Generally speaking if we receive some plans we go and speak to the neighbours to see if they have any objection to them. You go through the plans with the neighbours and if they are happy with them then you get a response with no objections or that we support the application. We get it in the neck then when it doesn’t happen.”

Coun McGregor: “We told them that (the hedge) was going to be retained. The original plans that we agreed to was for a shared drive. Now we have solicitors fighting about rights of way between the two houses. It could have been sorted out right at the start.”

Coun Huntington – “Our village street is very narrow and if people can’t park at the back of the houses then they park on the road, and then a cattle wagon for example – we have a farm just up the road – cant get through. And we were told by the planning officer when we had a site meeting that he didn’t want parking at the back because one of the features of Thoralby was that the fields came right down to the back doors. This wanting to keep that landscape feature has actually created a real practical every day dilemma. The verge (is being ruined)  which makes the village scape very unattractive.”

Coun Walker: “If farm vehicles cant get through when cars are parked outside the houses, then fire engines cant get through. Mr Watson:  I don’t know much about the detail of that development.”

Coun McGregor argued that the parish council should be consulted when sample panels of bricks are prepared. “We should accept what they have in Thoralby not what the planning officer wants.” He agreed that the stone had come from a local quarry but pointed out that it was not like the stone generally used in the National Park. It was, he said, sandstone that had been cut into regular bricks.

Coun Blackie said that in Hawes the parish council had been consulted when sample panels of bricks had been prepared for the affordable housing site there. The councillors understood that originally it was planned to build South View with random stone.

Coun McGregor said: “It is built next door to one of the oldest houses in Thoralby and we were going to have it in keeping to match that. They built a nice stone wall where the hedge was – and built that out of really good random stone. They put yards and yards of wall all the way round – there is enough stone wall around that house to have built the house in random stone.” He added that they had wanted surface water from the site to run into a drain, not through drainage holes in the wall. Mr Watson said that the drainage holes were above ground level.

Coun Huntington said they would take photographs when water poured through those holes and caused flooding along the street. The parish council had been informed that the enforcement officer who had visited the site had reported that the treatment of foul water and surface water at South View complied with the approved plans; and that the agreed landscaping plans did not have a condition to replace the hedge.

There was discussion about the apparent inconsistency in planning decisions for Forelands and Cote Bottom in Bishopdale. The parish councillors also asked about the induction period for new planning officers so that they were familiar with the situation in the National Park;  the changing policies regarding renewable energy sources such as solar panels and wind turbines; and how and when decisions were delegated to officers.

Under Wensleydale Councils there is a parish council report for this meeting.

Eco-friendly transformation

Eco-friendly living with geothermal heating can be fun as Rosi Keatinge found when she helped to transform a small barn in Wensleydale into a dwelling with the smallest carbon footprint possible. The barn at Garriston near Leyburn with its panoramic views of Lower Wensleydale was almost derelict when she had her husband, Dr Dyno Keatinge, decided to turn it into a two-bedroom home. Above: As the barn is  now with its French doors facing south to collect heat from the sun. Below: Mary Farnell’s painting of part of the barn when it was derelict.

Before transformation!

The most eco-friendly feature about the barn conversion is the geothermal under-floor heating installed by IceEnergy of Whitney. With a considerable amount of insulation the temperature inside was 22 degrees C throughout the winter, without ever using the multi fuel stove. “This place is so warm- I cant believe it,” commented Rosi.“My late father, a civil engineer, was convinced that geothermal energy was the way forward and particularly for things as we have done at the barn, for under floor heating and hot water production. You have got to get your heat from renewable sources. We are running out of oil, gas and coal.”

Dr Keatinge is the director general of the World Vegetable Centre in Taiwan and spends a lot of his time trying to convince people throughout the world of the importance of growing their own vegetables and having a balanced diet. So Rosi had the job of searching for local products for the barn conversion when not teaching music. They have named the dwelling Rufus Barn after a golden retriever who was a much loved family pet.

She is delighted that most of the oak used for the bespoke kitchen and the roof trusses travelled only a few miles from where the tree was felled via Wensley saw mill and Calvert’s  workshop in Leyburn. To make the best use of natural light there are French windows in the kitchen, sitting room and main bedroom, and  glass has been inserted between the traditional roof trusses.

The sitting room as seen from the storage space above the second bedroom.

“The trusses are so wonderful. There is a bolt through the middle and that’s it. Then there are pegs and so every year or so you will knock the pegs in a bit more. Oh – and a few makers marks,” said Rosi.

Calvert’s craftsmen also produced the kitchen counter tops made from the fossil-filled stone from Leyburn’s Shawl Quarry. And, before Rufus Barn was let to a tenant, Rosi loved standing in the kitchen and looking across Wensleydale to Jervaulx where the stone for the floor was quarried. “It’s the same stone as was used to build Jervaulx Abbey,” she explained.

She is especially pleased with  the tiles handmade by Caroline Hudson. Rosi spotted those at an arts and crafts fair at The Station in Richmond (North Yorkshire) and has integrated them into the design of the bathroom, toilet and kitchen.

She was very careful to make sure that the bath and toilet were just right! “I sat in many baths and on many lavatories to make sure that they were comfortable,” she said with a laugh. In the end she chose an ideal standard bath at Homebase.

Some of the walls have not been plastered so that original features can be seen. These include the original outer wall now in the kitchen complete with lichens, and the clamp bricks in the sitting room. These would have been baked in small kilns in the late 19th and early 20th century and were used to make the animal stalls. “There’s a patina to those bricks which is very attractive,” she said.

They have been careful to retain the integrity of the barn and its rural charm. “It’s an amazing part of the world – we have got everything. The sunrises are beautiful and there are wonderful trees, the wild flowers are super, and there are resident hedgehogs, stoats, little voles and many birds.”    Her tenants won’t be allowed to keep cats because she is so keen to protect the small birds that flock to her garden next door to Rufus Barn. Below: Rosi just making sure that the bath still feels right!

Rosi and Dyno may consider retiring to the eco-friendly barn they have created, with its geothermal under-floor heating, and its great views across Wensleydale.

Keywords: eco-friendly, geothermal heating, low carbon footprint, Wensleydale

What a treat it was to visit Wensleydale’s ancient coppice wood near Carperby in late May and to find that the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) had cleared away many of the Genguards and brambles. When I was researching the article I wrote about Freeholders Wood for the January issue of the Dalesman I was shocked to see that many Genguards (mesh guards) had been left around coppice plots for so long that the hazel was growing through them along with a lot of brambles and thistles.  Below left: an overgrown Genguard. On the right – after the Genguards were removed.

The Genguards are placed around the newly coppiced plots to protect the young shoots from rabbits and deer. But even though in 2009 the YDNPA was publicising its reintroduction of dormice to the wood a large swathe looked a very sorry sight.

The wood got its name from the Freeholders of Carperby who, for centuries,  “put up a smoke” in the village and so had the right to collect fallen wood (estover) and cut sticks and poles. Hazel has been coppiced in this semi-natural area of woodland for about 400 years.

After the YDNPA bought the wood in 1982 it instituted a long term coppicing cycle similar to that in many other parts of the country and which was approved by English Nature and then Natural England.  This cycle takes 14 to 16 years with about a hectare of hazel plots or coupes being cut each year. The wood is now a local nature reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. But older Freeholders have been far from impressed by the way the wood has been managed by the YDNPA. Late last year one commented:  “It’s horrible now.”

By the 1960s there were few exercising their rights to collect pea sticks but those who did never cut a whole hazel plot. “They would take different parts of a particular hazel root and tree in different years – at different stages,” said Mr Roger Dinsdale. The first to be taken was the pea sticks, then the poles for hurdles and fence panels, and later the heavier wood for fuel. They also left some areas open for grazing animals.

“A lot of us felt (in 1982) that the wood really did want some serious management,” explained Mr Dinsdale.  He thought the YDNPA would start by cleaning out the invasive black thorn, brambles, bracken and thistles. He and other Freeholders are saddened that the YDNPA has not conferred that much with them. They feel they have become peripheral to the management of this ancient woodland and that their rights have been whittled away.

The YDNPA’s senior wildlife conservation officer, Tim Thom, assured me that they would seek to rectify that this year. At least this year the wood does look far more attractive and there is no better time to visit than May when the spring flowers are in bloom. By late May the bluebells, wood sorrel, wood anemones, violets, marsh marigolds, primroses, cowslips, and early purple orchids were all in flower. Even more surprising was the big patch of toothwort near the lower falls – probably late due to the cold weather earlier in Spring.

Many visitors enjoy visiting the upper falls and use the excellent path through the wood created by the YDNPA to provide access to the middle and lower falls. But few take time to explore Freeholders Wood. Parking is available at the YDNPA’s visitors’ centre on the north side of the river, and at The Falls on the south side.  There are cafes and restaurants at the visitors’ centre, by the bridge over the river and at The Falls, as well as the Palmer Flatt inn and an excellent gift shop. And while you are in the area why not visit St Andrew’s church.

Below: left – primroses and early purple orchids; right – a box for dormice among the bluebells.

“She was such a big character in such a small package,” commented one friend about Sami. Just a few days before she died and even though she was not well she still enjoyed a good run across the fields. When younger she even won that rosette for being the fastest in a race for small dogs at the Wensleydale Agricultural Show in Leyburn. I am in no hurry to replace her because Sami was such a special little Yorkshire Terrier, with a big heart, large expressive eyes, and a great companion.

The first Yorkshire Terrier we had was Tommy (left) way back in 1987. The idea was that he would be a good companion for my son, Eddie, as we travelled the world with the UN agency that his dad, Tony, worked for. So Tommy travelled with us to Quetta in Pakistan to become part of the expatriate community there. When we moved to Peshawer Eddie and I had the fun of travelling on the “milk run flight” which stopped at such old British outposts as Fort Sandeman. Tommy, however, was not so impressed and howled every time the turbo prop Fokker F27 Friendship came into land and took off. But at least the crew let us take him out of the luggage area at the back of the cabin so that he could have a walk (and a pee) at each of those small airfields overlooked by the Hindu Kush.

Sadly Eddie and I had to leave Tommy behind when we settled in Wensleydale in 1990. A few years later when Tony and Tommy were in Geneva Eddie and I collected the little dog and went on a fascinating train tour of Switzerland which included visiting Jungfraujoch . And, of course, Tommy, left his blessing…. Yes, he had a pee at the highest point he could reach.

Back in England Eddie felt lost without a dog so we went to the National Canine Defence League in Leeds and fell in love with a cross bred dog called Zac (left). And then in 1997 Tony decided he wanted another Yorkshire Terrier. He asked Eddie and I to find him a bitch and to house train her for him. So that’s when Sami came into our lives. She was called Sami because the elderly lady that had her thought she was a boy – so we just added an ‘i’ to Sam. What surprised us was how quickly Sami became top dog and very much part of our family. So Tony gave her to Eddie as a birthday present and went looking for another puppy. This time we made sure that the new dog, Tina, went to Switzerland as quickly as possible – and I thought that was that. A few years later, however, United Nations High Commission for Refugees sent Tony to places like Sarajevo and Kosovo and he couldn’t take Tina. Rather than see her left in kennels for months on end Eddie begged me to let her come and join us in Wensleydale. Having three dogs was fine all the time we could walk through the fields but it became a nightmare when that was not possible during the foot and mouth epidemic. If anyone had made a video of me tangled up in dog leads they could have sold the film to You’ve Been Framed.

Below left: Sammy as a puppy.  Bottom left: Tiny Tina at seven weeks.

But one by one our dogs died. Zac went first with acute haemophilia. Tina developed mammalian tumours but with good care she continued enjoying life until she died in 2006. Below: Tina (left) and Sami.

Doreen Mason (left) and Pat Hesketh organised a magnificent festival of flowers and art at Aysgarth church over the Bank Holiday weekend (May 1-3 2010). There was no theme which meant that the flower arrangers could take inspiration from the church and its stained glass windows, as well as the great display of art by local artists.

Among the professional artists who had art on display were Piers Browne, Winifred Hodge and Bill Oakey. But all who visited the festival expressed their delight and amazement at the high quality of work on show throughout the exhibition. “It makes you realise how much talent there is in the Dales,” commented one man after viewing both the art and the excellent flower arrangements (see Pip’s Gallery)

Throughout the weekend a team of volunteers helped to run the tea room in the Lady Chapel and many provided homemade scones, biscuits and soup. All the funds from that and the admission fees went in the kitty towards maintaining this beautiful church.

On Sunday morning there was a christening during which the children helped the Rev Sue Whitehouse tell a story. In the evening there was an inspirational Songs of Praise with some of the amateur artists and one of the flower arrangers explaining why they enjoyed these hobbies.

Afterwards Doreen and Pat thanked all those who helped to make the event such a success. And they are grateful that others have offered to organise the next flower festival which will be in 2012.

Above left: Jose Hopper heating soup. Above right: John Suggitt, one of the churchwardens, was ready (like many others) to help anywhere, even in the kitchen. Below: There was even a surprise addition to the choir!

Bishop James of Knaresborough congratulating the Rev Penny Yeadon after she was licensed as an associate priest in Penhill Benefice at St Andrew’s, Aysgarth, on Sunday, April 11. It was a memorable service not only thanks to the way the Bishop exuded the love, peace  and joy of being indwelt by Jesus Christ but also for the musical contributions of Penny’s children, James and Hannah. James provided a trumpet accompaniment as Richard Wilkinson played the organ for the first hymn. He also conducted a benefice choir as it sang an anthem he had composed. Hannah was one of the two soloists.  Below: Some views of Penny being licensed including the fun that ensued when she tried to open the present given to her at the end of the service on behalf of the benefice by Canon Sue Whitehouse.

Below: Stawa Shaibu, head of geography at Kamazu Academy in Malawi, with Penny (left) and the Bishop after the service.

The service was followed by an excellent bring and share meal – as was the farewell Songs of Praise at Holy Trinity, Wensley, on Sunday, April 4, for the Rev Judith Walker. She was leaving Penhill Benefice to become Rector of Holy Trinity church at Haddington, East Lothian and she and her husband, David, will be greatly missed in Wensleydale.  Both the Songs of Praise and the Easter morning service at Aysgarth were very well attended. Judith found it especially uplifting and encouraging that so many children and young people attended the service at Aysgarth with most of them coming forward for a blessing during holy communion. The children had great fun during the service painting hard boiled eggs ready to participate in egg rolling outside the church afterwards.

Below: Views of Judith’s farewells at Wensley Church.

Above left: Judith with Penny Seckerson. Right: Judith and David with, on right,  Lady and Lord Bolton (Pip and Harry)
Do share your memories and thoughts about these services and those who have encouraged you in your faith by making a comment.

The different ways that two planning applications for farmhouses in Bishopdale have been dealt with by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority have been brought to the attention of the Association of Rural Communities (ARC). Both date from the 17th century and overlook the B6160: Forelands from the south side and Cote Bottom from the north.

Forelands: Permission was granted by a planning officer under delegated powers for a new building  on the north side of the farmhouse with four windows on the first floor and larger ones below them overlooking several footpaths and the road in Bishopdale. This means that the new build will dominate the traditional farmhouse when viewed from Bishopdale. There will be a glazed link between the two buildings which surely will be visible at close range from a footpath to the south west.

Cote Bottom: The planning officer recommended refusal of the planning application for a rebuilt cowhouse and a rear extension on the basis that it would have a harmful effect on the appearance of a venerable building. He would have preferred that the extension looked more like a barn (site meeting, January 22, 2010). He also stated that the house occupied a prominent position and the extension could be viewed at close range from a footpath. The extensions would be on the north side and would not affect the view of the farmhouse from the B6160 and footpaths to the south in Bishopdale.

The parish councillors for Thoralby supported the application as they considered the rebuilding of the barn and the addition of a two storey extension to be appropriate in scale to the site and the existing house. The recommendation of the officer was, however, accepted by just one vote at the March 2010 planning committee meeting.

One local resident asked how the same planning officer could make such widely different decisions regarding these two farmhouses. Both of the photographs were taken from the B6160. Once the new build at Forelands is complete the view above of that 17th farmhouse will not be visible. This view of Cote Bottom (below) would not be affected by the proposed extension:

There was some feedback after I posted my article about Lampeter College but those trapped in the complaints system of any university in this country are very wary of being identified! That is not surprising for the system is so biased against the students. Debbie sent the following comment:

“I read about your experience with Lampeter College with a sense of relief that at last I had found someone who has also been through it. Yet I know there are hundreds of students out there, who have made totally justified complaints, and who have been ignored, menaced, harassed and pressurized until the complaint is dropped. My complaint has been with the OIA since July 2009 and I am still waiting for a response, but my research on that organisation gives me little hope that they will reach a fair or just conclusion. I complained about the behaviour of a teacher in May 2007. The union told me I was wasting my time as the university would never admit any fault. They refused to help me. So I have been fighting this on my own for nearly three years. I have nothing to gain from pursuing this complaint, and never have had, but I hate bullies and injustice. I was three months away from finishing my final project and a borderline first when the university forced me to choose between my degree and my complaint. If there is anyone out there who has been, or is going, through a similar experience please get in touch.”

You can do that via pipspatch.

Today (January 3) – even though it was snowing -  the latest Dales team left for the overland journey to the Gambia. The two vehicles are well stocked with equipment and toys for the only school for the blind in that country. To follow their journey to the Gambia see the blog on the Friends of Govi website.

At Aysgarth we had to carry David Pointon’s luggage up the hill to the van. As Ken Nicholas said – he could have driven down the hill but it was unlikely he could have got it back up again. By mid and late afternoon the hills of Wensleydale looked magnificent in their white mantles (see below). For more photographs of snow covered dales see Pip’s Gallery.

Wishing  you all the best for the new year – and hoping that within about three weeks the Dales team will have safely arrived in the Gambia.

Left: County Coun John Blackie (middle) with Tom Knowles (left) and Jim Cunnington of the Association of Rural Communities.

There must be sufficient touring caravan and tent pitches available in the Yorkshire Dales to allow people with limited incomes to enjoy the national park – and that need must become enshrined in the policies of the YDNPA.

This was the unanimous decision of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s planning committee on Tuesday, December 8. That was made exactly one year after Tom Knowles’ letter to the YDNPA in which he asked: “What will the Authority do to safeguard the right of young people and those on lower incomes to have access to the national park by ensuring that existing sites for touring caravans and tents are retained and, therefore, that the Yorkshire Dales are not turned into a rich man’s playground?”

Tom, who is the founder president of the Association of Rural Communities (ARC), owned the Westholme caravan park at Aysgarth for many years. He and his wife, Margaret, had welcomed a wide range of people and there were even two caravans owned by Sheffield Social Services to provide holiday accommodation for needy families. He began writing to YDNPA planning officers in 2008 to try and find out what was going on at Westholme. But, as was highlighted again at ARC’s agm in November, it would seem that YDNPA officers don’t always reply to correspondence.

When ARC began researching the situation at Westholme it found that an officer had decided that tents and touring caravans had a negative visual impact upon the landscape – and so had agreed with the owner at that time that they could be banned from the site. Neither the YDNPA members nor Burton cum Walden parish council were told about the amended plans (see below). And so the next owner was free to develop a luxury lodge site there. At the December planning meeting County Coun John Blackie pointed out that some of the lodges on that site are being sold for £240,000. Those lodges were installed thanks to what he described as the government’s incredibly loose definition of static caravans.

The YDNPA members did not learn about what had happened at Westholme until Hawes and High Abbotside parish council objected to touring 18 touring caravan pitches being replaced with 14 static pitches at Honeycott Caravan Site near Hawes, and ARC began requesting information. This led to the planning committee rejecting the Honeycott application. The reasons for refusal included that it would result in a detrimental change in the balance of provision of touring caravans and tents in the National Park and so would mean that less people would have an opportunity to understand and enjoy the special qualities of the Yorkshire Dales.

In her reasons for dismissing the appeal against this decision the planning inspector noted that approximately 200 touring caravan pitches had been lost in the Upper Wensleydale area in recent years, and of the 191 which remained 110 were only available to members of The Caravan Club. She upheld the opinion of the YDNPA  that this reduction would result in a lack of affordable accommodation and that people on lower incomes would have less opportunity to visit, stay overnight in and enjoy the National Park – and, therefore, detrimental to one of its statutory purposes. “The inspector was amazing. It is a ground breaking decision,” said Coun Blackie. He added that although this decision set a precedent it was not quite a policy precedent. He was concerned that it could take two to three years for the Authority to incorporate this into its policies.

He told  ARC committee members who attended the planning meeting that the Authority had instructed officers to send details of any amendments to planning applications to parish councils before any decision was made.

At the ARC agm there was concern about how many decisions were being made by officers under delegated powers and the instances of poor communications between them and those affected by those decisions. The chairman, Alastair Dinsdale, said that the Authority should follow its own code of conduct regarding responding to phone calls, emails and letters from residents and parish councils.

The other issues discussed at the agm included : the YDNPA’s efforts to find sites for affordable housing in the Yorkshire Dales; concerns about the impact upon the footpaths across the Three Peaks as the YDNPA was now encouraging large charity events to held there; the unfair competition that resulted for local businessmen when the Authority became involved in business ventures; and the lack of continuity in decision making when there  were frequent changes in staff at the YDNPA.

The Christmas celebrations began with a great family event on November 22 when about 30 children with their parents and other adults took part in the joyful Christingle service led by the Rev Penny Yeadon. The service included the christening of Iris Sylvia Gauld from West Burton.

Left: Children enjoying a Christingle service at Aysgarth church a few years ago.

The Christingle service at Holy Trinity, Wensley, was on Friday, December 18.

The children of Aysgarth presented a captivating nativity at the Methodist chapel on Sunday, December 13.Their singing was especially good this year.

The Christmas concert by the Swale Singers at Aysgarth church on December 19 was postponed due to the dangerously icy conditions around the church.

Several services at St Andrew’s have been cancelled since December 20 due to the icy, dangerous conditions.

The Station at Richmond, North Yorkshire, is always a great place to visit, but even more so while Nancy Murgatroyd’s exhibition is on display. Entitled Somewhere over the Rainbow it is a kaleidoscope of abstracts and floral studies. The exhibition continues until November 14 with The Station being open from 9am to 11pm each day.

The other attractions at The Station include it’s highly praised restaurant cum cafe, the micro brewery and craft bakery, and the chance to see cheese and ice cream makers at work. There are also two cinemas, plus the chance to enjoy a walk around Richmond.

Aysgarth church echoed with the melody of children’s laughter on the last day of October thanks to the Light Party organised by the Rev Penny Yeadon. The gamemaster, however, was her daughter, Hannah.

The children who attended the party thoroughly enjoyed painting, making masks, playing parachute games and listening to a special pumpkin prayer! The party ended with doughnuts and soft drinks. Several members of the church were there to help.

Below: Painting the Jesus is Light banner; there’s something odd in the church!; playing a parachute game; and that pumpkin after prayer time.

About 450 people filled Aysgarth church on Thursday, September 24, to remember an unforgettable friend and character: 68-years-old Reg Harrison of Thornton Rust.  As Canon Sue Whitehouse said at the memorial service:

“For all of us there was sense of shock and disbelief at the suddenness of Reg’s death – but we comfort ourselves that he died as he wishes, with his boots on, on the moors when going to tend his sheep that he loved so much.

Right: “Turbo Reg” David Pointon’s prize-winning photograph of Reg driving through Thornton Rust, sporting one of his Panama hats.

Reg died on Thursday, September 17, in his own field (Gibson’s Lotment) above the Outgang at Thornton Rust. Those who attended the memorial service came not only from the Dales and throughout Yorkshire but also from Cumbria, Lancaster, Kent, Bedfordshire and Scotland. He was especially well known at the various auction marts for, as Vicar Sue explained:

“He was in his element wheeling and dealing at markets – and his cheerful banter and smiling presence will be missed in many places.” She said he seemed to naturally and unwittingly transfer his qualities as a shepherd to the way he related to people. He did enjoy being with people, treated everyone equally, and especially had time for the children in the village.

“Thornton Rust will not be the same without his cheery smiling face, his taking time to stop and talk,” she added.

Left: An unfillable pair of boots.

Reg was born in Coverdale into a farming family. He worked on the Bolton Estate, at Howe Hills in Wensley, and on the Clifton Castle estate until he retired in early September.

He and his wife, Julia, his constant companion and friend for 42 years, had then gone on holiday to Italy, where, as usual he had been the life and soul of the party.

He adored his grandchildren (Michael, Lee, Chloe and Charlotte) and was proud that his grandsons were following in his footsteps by working on the Bolton Estate.  Julia said he would also have been very proud of Annabel and James (his great niece and nephew) who read their own tributes to him during the memorial service.

At the service the donations amounted to £1,440 which will be shared between Thornton Rust Institute, of which he was a trustee, and Aysgarth church.

Close family, friends and neighbours had attended the service at Darlington crematorium before the memorial service. His ashes will be scattered among the trees he planted at Gibson’s Lotment.

Below: Reg – the life and soul of the party. Almost every household in Thornton Rust was represented at his memorial service as all knew how much they would miss him.

Left: The chancel after the service with the children’s artwork and the pots planted with bulbs.

The children at the harvest festival service at St Andrew’s on Sunday, September 27, had a fun time thanks to the Rev Penny Yeadon who organised it. Those who regularly attend the All Stars club in Carperby had made some great pictures to display at the service. And everyone enjoyed the story time with Angela Moore. Many of the children then helped Penny plant spring bulbs.

Back in July over 200 local school children visited the church during its heritage event. Those who led the guided question and answer tours of the church and graveyard learnt a lot from the children. For instance, when asked “Why do we have stained glass windows in church?” two young boys responded “That’s so the light of God can shine through Jesus to us.” Several from West Burton CofE School enjoyed explaining, when touring the churchyard, how to pick nettles without being stung and how to make nettle soup.

Right: School children from West Burton CofE school trying to work out what is upside down on the church wall. It may have been part of an old coffin which was in the church before St Andrew’s had its Victorian makeover in 1866. It was possibly the coffin of a Verderer – one of the men who took care of the forest which covered most of Wensleydale in medieval times. The shape of a hunting horn has been engraved onto the lid but when it was inserted into the rebuilt wall it was probably put in upside down.

Ecologist, Graham Clayton-Hodge joined the team for the weekend and took the children on very interesting nature trails in the churchyard. Several on the team didn’t have the time to join either his tours or those led by Barry Thornton around the memorial stones. So several of us gathered, on a very wet Saturday morning in August, to learn more about what is one of the largest churchyards in Britain.

The next family service at St Andrew’s is on Sunday, October 25. As it is Bible Sunday Penny has called this one Fascinating Facts. The stained glass windows in the church will be used to tell favourite Bible stories, and there will also be a quiz with a prize. All are welcome to come and join in the fun.

Left: This window, of Jesus raising the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-15), is known locally as the “doctor’s window”. It was paid for by the patients of Dr Matthew Willis who, in 1860, became the first doctor to practise in Aysgarth but who died of tuberculosis in 1871. His father owned a shop in the village. Dr Willis was especially remembered for his kindness to the poor of the parish who often could not afford to pay medical fees.

Beside the window now are plaques in remembrance of other doctors who have served the local community, including Dr Will Pickles who became famous after the publication in 1939 of his book ‘Epidemiology in a Country Practice”. That country practice was based in Aysgarth.

We have just had two glorious weeks on the Norfolk Broads based, as usual, at Thurne. Its always great to see the young people enjoying the sailing club facilities there – and this time we had a chance to help them out. We had moored at Ludham Bridge because David and Jim wanted to watch the Formula 1 race. Sue and I took the dogs for a walk and missed the moment when the Wayfarer dingy that Angus, Dan and Eve were sailing capsized. This photo story starts from the time when, with friends, they had managed to free the mast from the mud and right it.

Dan wonders what to do with all that water!

David and Jim join the team and

Up she comes – but there was too much water on board to pull her out completely.

So in went the bailing team – Tilly (on the left) and Eve.

Job done – and ready to get the boat ready to sail again.

Back in she goes

Angus enjoying the tow back to Thurne

Eve, Dan and Angus back at Thurne.

My neighbour, James Yeadon, teaching children at Amala how to keep a regular pulse beat.

Wensleydale’s first massed band concert has made it possible to buy over 50 tambourines and drums for Amala school in Tamil Nadu, South India. When James Yeadon, the teenager who organised the concert at Aysgarth church in May went with his friends from the Wensleydale School in Leyburn to Amala in July, he carried £900 in a money bag around his waist. Others in the group also had money with them that they had raised prior to the trip.

James was keen to go shopping as soon as they reached Chennai even though it was so hot and he had never seen so much poverty before. Accompanied by Alex Bosch, a former teacher at the Wensleydale School, who is now working in Singapore, he travelled in one of the small “tuk tuks” (scooter taxis) to find a music shop. “It was brilliant – I was buzzing and I thought it was fascinating,” he commented. On that trip they managed to buy 10 tambourines, 10 double-sided drums and eight bigger drums.

But then they had to carry them in two large boxes to the train station the next day. The group had also brought equipment such as games, books and balls from England so what with their own luggage they were well laden. Two fainted in the heat at Chennai station. Several hours later, however, they were enjoying a warm welcome at Amala school and children’s home.

Vanda Hurn, who again had organised the trip, was very impressed at how the 22 students from Wensleydale helped with various lessons and led sports activities. James was surprised that there were so many children in each class and that most of them at first  had difficulty keeping a regular pulse beat. One of the teachers, J Jayanthi, was very keen to learn and he tutored her so that she could carry on after he left. At the concert on their last night there the Wensleydale group saw how much the children had already improved in their music making.

From the money he raised James also bought more drums and tambourines as well as  a CD player and sound system. The latter will be particularly used for dance classes at the school. “They are amazing dancers,” James said. He was also able to buy some cricket bats and balls, and some full sized goal posts. One of the goal posts will soon have a plaque on it stating: “Donated by James Yeadon and the Dales Massed Band.”

Left: Visitors enjoying a meal at the George and Dragon.

The George and Dragon in Aysgarth is a great local pub – and a great place to stay and enjoy Wensleydale. All that is thanks to Collette and John Wormwell who have transformed it into a cosy, homely inn.

Last year it joined the select few restaurants in Wensleydale to be awarded a rosette by the AA for its food. “We are delighted,” said Collette. “After three years of hard work of serving wonderful food it is great to see our chefs appreciated by being awarded this rosette. We have always brought in excellent chefs so as to maintain the standard and consistency of the food.”

Last year John and Collette also upgraded the seven en-suite bedrooms so that these match the high standards set in the restaurant. This means that their guests can stay in centuries old rooms but enjoy the best of modern amenities.  For more about the George and Dragon see their website.

Left: Part of the restaurant at Stone House

THERE is nothing like sinking into a comfortable sofa beside a log fire after a superb meal and being served with coffee and chocolates.

The warm, homely atmosphere of Stone House Hotel near Hawes, created by its local and helpful staff,  is one of its big attractions. I and my friends are grateful that it does open its restaurant to non-residents.

Initially one of my friends was shocked at the thought of eating a five-course meal and at the price: £27.95 per person. But as she enjoyed her coffee she agreed it had been worth every penny and that she felt comfortably replete. It is so popular that it is best to book a table in advance.

The menu changes every evening but there is always sufficient choice for each diner to fine tune the meal to their own requirements.The chefs are willing to prepare meals to accommodate any allergy or food intolerance. “They are very versatile. There’s nothing they can’t do,” said Peter Westwood who runs the hotel with Chris Taplin. They prefer to have a smaller choice of dishes which can be freshly prepared from locally sourced ingredients, accompanied by a good selection of wines. That, plus the top class quality and service, is why we and many others often return to Stone House.

Even on a Thursday night the restaurant was very busy but the service could never be faulted. Theresa Metcalfe who took good care of us when we visited with friends said she had worked at Stone House for 22 years. “All our staff are local and many have worked here for many years,” said Mr Taplin, whose parents bought Stone House in 1980.

A year later they turned what must be one of the most attractive buildings in Wensleydale into a small guest house. In the next ten years they developed it as a hotel and their son and Mr Westwood (their son-in-law) have increased the number of rooms to 23 since they took over in 1991. The majority of their residents regularly return to this Edwardian house which overlooks the River Ure and Hawes.

In the cosy lounge where we enjoyed freshly brewed Sumatra coffee and chocolates some of the residents told us how they loved the atmosphere and good value for money at Stone House, while others just kicked off their shoes and relaxed. (November 2007)

In April the NE Mercedes-Benz club made a very successful return visit to Wensleydale and the Palmer Flatt Hotel at Aysgarth.Below are photos of some of the cars which took part in the Dales Run which was organised by David Pointon with Paul Jobling.

To order photos – or to provide captions – just post a comment

The Mercedes club at Palmer Flatt Hotel

DALES’ Rotarian, Bob Hughes (left), walked about 70 miles of the Coast to Coast route the week before Easter and raised almost £1,000 for a charity which seeks to help blind and visually impaired children in the Gambia.

Mr Hughes from Healaugh in Swaledale, has joined two fellow members of the Rotary Club of Wensleydale, David Milner and David Pointon, in supporting the British registered charity, the Friends of Govi. He explained: “This charity helps blind children to become independent and not just finish up as beggars on the streets,” And, after walking about 70 miles in four days, he added: “I found out that long distance walking has more to do with mental attitude than it has to do with your legs!”

In January he and his wife, Janet, and David and Linda Milner, are taking part in a long distance drive to the Gambia to deliver equipment to the only school for the blind there, run by the Gambian Organisation of the Visually Impaired. The team will include Mr Pointon and Wensleydale ambulance technician Ken Nicholas who were members of the Dales’ team which drove two minibuses to the school in late 2006.

This time Mr Pointon, who is a trustee of the charity, hopes not only to assist the school and make sure that the feeding programme there is sufficiently funded, but also to set up a system to train and support teachers in rural schools with assessing and teaching visually impaired and blind children.

On Easter Monday Mr Hughes and other team members (and me) had a charity stall at the car boot sale at Wensley and raised a further £124.

The Friends of Govi also want to thank those Wensleydale groups which in March gave gifts to the charity following talks by David Pointon and Pip Land. These were the Methodist Bright Hour in Hawes; Gayle Methodist Fellowship; and the Upper Wensleydale Ladies’ Luncheon Club.

The next major fund raising event in Wensleydale is a concert by Leyburn Band at Aysgarth church at 7.30pm on Saturday, June 27. For tickets post a comment on this website.

 The team members at the car boot sale: from left: Ken Nicholas, David Milner, David Pointon, and Janet and Bob Hughes.

A £14million eco lodge development at Westholme, Aysgarth, which could set a precedent for losing touring caravan and camping sites in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, has gone ahead without the members of the planning authority knowing what was happening.

At the agm of the Association of Rural Communities, Tom Knowles, who developed Westholme in the 1970s into a site to accommodate  44 static caravans, 46 touring caravans and 23 tents, asked how the lodges could be described as “mobile homes”. He was also worried about the loss of sites for touring caravans and tents.

Hawes and High Abbotside parish council was so concerned this year that it  strongly objected to the proposed loss of  touring caravan pitches at Honeycott near Hawes, and so ensured that the application was discussed by members of the National Park Authority.

At the October planning meeting the members turned down the Honeycott application as they didn’t want to create an undesirable precedent and felt that the loss of touring caravan sites would result in a detrimental change in the balance of cheap holiday accommodation in the national park contrary to the policy of encouraging people to come and enjoy the area.

But this week, after seeing the Authority’s  file on Westholme County Coun John Blackie said: “We are the guardians …. but we have shut the stable door after the horse has bolted.”

He disagreed with the senior planning officer, Andrew McCullagh, that the members had been told about the loss of touring caravan and tent pitches at Westholme.

When the owners of Westholme sought the advice of officers in 2005 about remodelling the caravan park they made it clear that they wanted to replace touring caravans with static caravans.

In response the Authority’s strategic planning officer said that for any such scheme to be approved it had to deliver a significant environment improvement and was concerned about the possible loss of touring caravan pitches.

When Burton cum Walden parish councillors carefully examined the first application in March 2006 they saw nothing to object to and so it was dealt with under delegated powers by planning officers.

A planning officer then asked the owners, Quintain Estates, for an area set aside for touring caravans and tents to be included in the application.

He added: “If it is still to be used for camping or for touring caravans, the improvement in visual and landscape terms from some additional tree planting on the application site would hardly be ‘significant’ – there will still be brightly coloured tents.” He agreed that the area should be turned into a managed meadow.
Full planning permission for 74 statics was granted in March 2007. The site was then bought by Darinian Ltd which stated this week that it plans to turn it into an exclusive five-star luxury lodge park of quality holiday accommodation which should provide employment for 20 full and part time staff.

Some of the 68 lodges, priced between £195,000 and £245,000, will be let by Hoseasons with a four-bedroom lodge costing £630 per week in August 2009. The lodges are being advertised as having panoramic patio doors and windows and private terraces, some with outdoor hot tubs.

Mr McCullagh stated: “The lodges…. fall within the legal definition of “caravans”, a definition which is remarkably and notoriously wide.”

Under the 1968 Act twin units are subject to maximum dimensions and only have to be capable of being transported by road when fully assembled whether lawfully or not. Darinian claim that their lodges fall within that definition.

 The producer of The Department Store, Richard Macer (sitting on the floor) enjoying a joke during filming with David Milner (beside him) and customers at a fashion show at Milners of Leyburn.

On Monday, November 17, at 9pm on BBC 4 there is the first chance to see Leyburn’s very own family department store on TV. The programme is also being shown on BBC 4 at 00.10am  and 3.20 am on November 18; at 10pm on November 20 and at 1.55am on November 21. 

THE dynamics of a family-run shop in Leyburn have been turned into a humourous and very entertaining TV programme being shown on BBC 4 at 9pm on Monday.

There were film crews at Milners of Leyburn for six months until April this year and they caught every aspect of life there for this first programme in a series entitled The Department Store.

“I think this is one of the most entertaining films I have made partly because they were so open and honest in front of the camera,” said Richard Macer, the producer. He added:

“They are a remarkable family in many ways. I was also attracted by the family dynamic which was so interesting. And so the film is more about a family. They have all got strong personalities and a good sense of humour and we show some of the funny situations they got into.”

Central to the film is David Milner and his struggle to accept retirement and hand over to his daughter and son-in-law, Leonie and Keith Garrard. Mr Garrard believes that this makes the film one that many can relate to. He commented:

“It is difficult when you are so used to being busy and when you know that things are changing as others are coming in with different ideas. That makes the film very interesting.”

He agreed that the film was very funny because it did portray him and his wife, and David and Linda Milner as they are.

“The film crews really came to understand our characters and portrayed them very well. And we didn’t hold back.”

That period at the store was a watershed for the family. Although Mr Milner has now retired he does support Mr and Mrs Garrard. But he has time now to be more active in the community, particularly through the Rotary Club of Wensleydale and Leyburn Methodist church.

FIVE GENERATIONS

David Milner is proud of the fact that Leyburn in Wensleydale has one of those now rare British institutions – the independent family-run department store.  Five generations have now kept it going since the business was started by David’s great grandfather, Christopher.

Christopher’s father, George, settled in Wensleydale in the 1840s, where, as a master stonemason, he worked on the construction of the railway, supervising the Irish navvies and overseeing the building of the bridge and railway stations.

But Christopher, the sixth of his eight children, decided on a different trade. At 14-years-old, he was apprenticed to James Wheldon and Sons in Northallerton. During his seven years at the large mercers and drapers store he had to promise not to “commit fornication or contract matrimony” or to “haunt taverns or playhouses or absent himself from his master’s service day or night unlawfully.”

It was probably a relief to reach the grand age of 21 and go back to his parents in Bainbridge.  He started to go round all the villages with a handcart and a backpack, calling on people to show them clothing and fabrics and seeking orders.

“Manufacturing wasn’t that big in those days and so he had people who made things for him like working trousers,” explained David.

Then, 10 years later, in May 1882, Christopher settled his business in Bridge Street, Hawes, as a general drapers and milliners. He did, however, continue to visit his customers, as well as travelling regularly to Leeds or Manchester by train to buy supplies, thus setting a pattern which his descendants would follow for many years.

His sons carried on the tradition in the 20th century with Percy in charge of the Hawes shop while Cyril opened Milners stores in Leyburn, Appleby and Bentham. Harry took on the shop in Kirkby Stephen. Between them they covered the dales from Barnard Castle to Skipton and Kirkby Lonsdale.

Percy’s sons, Raymond and Carl, later joined him in Hawes, with the latter being in charge of the ironmongers. David’s father, Raymond, returned to the family business after being demobbed from the RAF after World War II.

He shared his knowledge of electrical and mechanical engineering with David. So when David left school at 16 and was offered the choice of selling ladies’ clothing alongside his father and grandfather, or working with his uncle Carl he chose the ironmongery. 

In the late 1950s David went to Darlington to serve a five-year apprenticeship and then worked as a Hoover engineer. Just as he was contemplating emigrating to Canada his father offered him a partnership which he accepted.

They decided to leave Uncle Carl in charge at Hawes and bought a business which had shops in Leyburn and Middleham. The original Milners’ shop in Leyburn had closed in 1945 and that premises is now owned by the Co-op.

David learned his trade in the stores for about six months before his father introduced him to the suitcases – ten in total, each bound in leather, double-sided and very heavy as they contained clothes and household goods for all.

It was David’s job to travel around the dales with those suitcases. He chuckled at the memories of the number of times he had opened them in lonely farmsteads and had all the children peering in asking: “What’s in here Mr Milner?”  “If it was a big family sometimes the kids’ cases came out first and the parents would not bother about themselves,” he commented.

Even so he carried a wide selection of clothing for women, including corsets, and the essentials for men like corduroy trousers and working clothes.

In some villages it could take him several days to go door to door before finally returning to the shop with his order book full. He remembers: “In the sixties people didn’t go out as much as they do now so they were pleased to see you. It was a nice way to do business.

“They were all locals, mostly farmers, farmers’ wives or farm workers. Sometimes I would take sandwiches but if I was going to a particular house I knew that there would be a dinner arranged.”

When he delivered the goods a week later he would usually receive payment, unlike in earlier years when the store gave its customers six months credit.

In time the shop attracted more customers and so David packed away his suitcases for good. He did not remain in the shop for long however. Leaving his father in charge, he toured the area measuring floors and fitting carpets.

As more dales folk bought cars change was inevitable. “The locals are getting older and the young ones are moving away and they don’t deal in the same way at all. It’s a complete change from my early days,” David commented.

In the 1990s, as the only descendant of the founding member who wished to continue with the Milners’ family business and with most of the other shops closed, he chose to extend the store in Leyburn and sell that in Middleham. 

David has diversified into fitting blinds and providing soft furnishings and said: “I am still offering a service – I am still going out to see customers but only on request now.”

Their wares have changed considerably since Christopher’s day. Gone are the flannels (in scarlet, white and grey), the corsets, the tweed dress material, the all-wool shirting and cloth hearth rugs.
But Milners still have a reputation for fulfilling special orders whether for men’s long johns or providing a woman in Australia with the same patterned carpet as was used on the Titanic.

David did consider selling the business a year or two ago but thankfully his daughter, Leonie, and her husband, Keith, decided to take it on. Now David can look forward to retirement in April and know that Milners is in the capable hands of the fifth generation.

It has not been easy handing over to Leonie and Keith, however, and some of that trauma has been captured by the TV crews. As Milners is small compared with the other two department stores being filmed the crews didn’t miss anything in Leyburn.

Luckily though, the problems are always resolved because, as Keith said, the family shares the same principals.  “Family values are important to Milners and we want to maintain its good reputation. We enjoy serving the community.”

A bird’s nest has inspired 43 artists, a poet and a writer to create work for an exciting and probably unique exhibition entitled A Brush with the Media now on show in the magnificent circular gallery at the Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes. Its uniqueness comes from each artist being asked to give their own interpretation of just one subject: a bird’s nest in a besom (broom). One artist commented: “It is phenomenal. Although there is one subject no two exhibits are the same. The interpretations are as wide and as varied as the materials used.”

(Left) Deborah Lowe’s stained glass panel behind a silhouette of Michael Kusz’s metal sculpture.

It all started when some friends were cleaning out a shed at the Friend’s Meeting House in Bainbridge, Wensleydale. Angela le Grice wondered why the besom wasn’t very effective as a broom until John Warren pointed out that it had a bird’s nest attached to it. The bird had used a short length of unravelled binder twine with a fat knot in one end to wind around the nest as a lining. Among the artists who saw it was Janet Rawlins. She did a chalk drawing of the nest, a fabric collage and a woollen hooky rug. She then had the idea that as she had a number of artist friends in the area working in different media it would be interesting to challenge them to freely interpret the same subject. While she went on to create a collage from shredded Sunday supplements the circle of artists expanded well beyond Wensleydale.

(Above) Janet Rawlins with the bird’s nest in a besom.

The exhibition, which runs until October 1 and is open from 10am to 5pm each day, is an imaginative and fascinating mix of photographs, etchings, collages, paintings, handmade jewellery, engraved glass, ceramics and textiles, plus Michael Kusz’s fun metal sculpture made from welded recycled copper, barbed wire and other recycled materials. He commented: “This is such an enjoyable exhibition and the atmosphere is great.”

(Left) Detail of Michael Kusz’s sculpture. Behind it, on the left, is Michael studying one of the other exhibits.

Richard Crookes created the magnificent banner of the theme of the exhibition: “To make out of the ordinary something out of the ordinary.”  Janet heard this during a television lecture by Sir Patrick Nuttgens about 30 years ago and thought it was a good thing to aim for.

(Right) Janet, on the right, with Angela le Grice and John Warren.

Angela le Grice studying some of the exhibits. Those taking part in the exhibition are: Emma Amsden (photography), Whitfield Benson (photograph), Derek Bowskill (writing), Judith Bromley (painting), Piers Browne (etching), Brenda Cheese (mixed media), Carolyn Corfield (sculpture), Hester Cox (printmaking), Richard Crookes (calligraphy), Laurence Cutting (collage), Caroline Dunn (textile), Lee Fitton (felting), Andrea Fothergill (textil), Ian Fothergill (mixed media), Andrew Hague (ceramics), Joan Harrison (drawing), Jan Hicks (textile), Winifred Hodge (mixed media), Mike Hoyle (photograph), Roy Hubbard (mixed media), Angela Keeble (painting), Terry Kirkbride (watercolour), Michael Kusz (metalwork), Linda Lee Loudon (poem), Anthea Linacre (patchwork), Deborah Lowe (stained glass), Glenys Marriott (photography), Moira Metcalfe (silk painting), Stephen Morgan (wood turning), Sarah Nichols (sculpture), Shirley Nichols (sculpture), Tony Parker (painting), David Pointon (glass engraving), Janet Rawlins (collage), Heather Ritchie (rugging), Helen Roddie (print making), Peter Sarginson (watercolour), Carol Tyler (mixed media), Sarah van Niekerk (engraving), Roma Vincent (jewellery), John Warren (painting), Brian Waters (gouache), Margot Waters (textile) and Kitty Weedon (embroidery).

At the preview the artists made sure that Janet was thanked. She is especially grateful to Fiona Rosher and Debbie Allen at the Dales Countryside Museum; to Robin Battersby of Arts in Richmondshire; and especially to the Arts Council for the grant towards the costs.

For those who want to see the exhibition and who are using SatNav the Dales Countryside Museum is in Station Yard at Hawes, postcode: DL8 3NT. For further information telephone 01969 666210.

As David and another contributor, Heather Ritchie, are very much involved in helping the blind in the Gambia, Janet has decided to give her hooky rug/ wall hanging Nest in Besom to support Heather’s Rug-Aid fund. Offers are invited.

(Left) David Pointon’s Nestling.

See Friends of Govi (of which David is a trustee) and Heather’s Rug-Aid. Also see Memories of War Time China.

Janet’s Nest in Besom

(photograph by Whitfield Benson).

Judith Bromley studying Andrew Hague’s ceramic Cheeky Chicks

(a limited hatching of eight)

There is a besom making demonstration at the exhibition from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, September 20.

And children’s workshops from 10am to noon on September 13th and 27th.

All are free.

All the other photographs are by Pip Land

EACH year the residents of Thornton Rust in Wensleydale stage a thoroughly enjoyable country show even if the village is one of the smallest in Yorkshire. In fact it may be the smallest country show in Yorkshire, or even England.

There are always memorable floral arrangements (especially the miniatures); fascinating entries in the children’s and crafts sections; a mouth- watering display of baked cakes, flans, breads and preserves; and the produce from various gardens.

The show was started 26 years ago by the late Ron Jones and his wife, Chris. They got the idea from Rufforth where they lived before moving to Thornton Rust and Ron saw the show as a way of drawing the community together.

(Above) Chris Jones studying the arts and crafts exhibits at this year’s show.

(Below) Sue Freer delivering one of her floral arrangements to the institute on the morning of the show.

That was very obvious on Saturday, August 16, as residents delivered their exhibits and worked together to make the show a success.

The fun for some had started two days beforehand with the spud raising ceremony. The show chairman, Mike Thomson with his wife Janet, and David Pointon, visited all the gardens where the show’s seed potatoes had been planted. They carefully checked the size of each potato rejecting those which were too small. Each contestant’s bag of potatoes were then weighed on the show day. This year it was Nicola McCreadie who had produced the heaviest bag of potatoes and so won the Silver Dibber.

There were also competitions for the longest stalk of rhubarb, the tallest sunflower and the biggest onion.

(Left) Susan Freer’s prize winning miniature floral arrangement. Last year, at the jubilee of the show, Chris Jones awarded a new trophy for the highest total in the floral classes because, she said, the standard was always so high and there were so many beautiful arrangements and displays of flowers.

This year Susan Freer and Julia Harrison were the joint winners of the Ron and Chris Jones Silver Jubilee Cup.

(Right)  Not surprisingly this novelty cake for a children’s party was a winner. “Sleeping Beauty” was created by Jane Mudd.

The prize money hasn’t changed since the show started in 1983: 20p for coming first in a class; 15p for being second; and the princely sum of 10p for coming third. But most people don’t collect their prize money. Instead it was left in the kitty and this year the proceeds of the show, about £500, have gone towards the cost of replacing the roof of the village institute. There are trophies, however, for those gaining the highest number of points in various categories.

This year the trophies were presented by Eleanor Scarr who also opened the show. She enthralled everyone with her stories of growing up in Thornton Rust in the late 1940s and 1950s. In those days it would not have been possible to hold a country show in the summer as the majority of the residents were then involved in farming and would have been too busy. There were 12 farming families in the parish then. She said:

“It meant that any village activities were more winter time because we were all farming orientated – lambing, haytiming or clipping sheep. And I don’t have to tell you have different it was then. If rain threatened (during haytime) we made cocks or jockies, then strew them out when it faired up. If hay was a bit green, we made it into pikes and then they were to snig to the barn and fork in. That mean a man to snig and a man to fork and a man to mew which left us little urchins to trample the hay down in the mew to get more in. No big balers whizzing into the field at the threat of rain, no contractors spiriting everything into a silo in a matter of hours. Just days of hard graft. If we could get finished by the third week of August we could go to the Leyburn Show….. but haytime often went into September. We’ve had rain untold this year, but it did rain in the 50s as well which meant often dusty hay, which in its turn led to farmer’s lung. Thankfully that, I hope, is a thing of the past.”

“In summer the highlight was a Sunday afternoon when father would dam up the beck in the moor bottom … and we went with a dingy for all to have a go. Just big enough for ducks but we thought it was ok.”

Those were the days when the village had its own shop and Post Office. Any extras were bought at Bainbridge or at the markets in Hawes on Tuesdays or Leyburn on Fridays. There were certainly no big supermarkets nearby.

(Left) Eleanor Scarr studying the floral arrangements with her sister, Margaret (right) and Julia Harrison.

(Right) Some of the residents had fun making these draught excluders.

Mike Thomson and Fred Thwaite (in front) preparing for the show.

Tea time provided an opportunity for residents and visitors to sit and chat. All the cakes were homemade, of course.

(Left) Local farmer, Alwyn Spence, auctioning items at the end of the show.

Some winning entries

(Below) John Raine’s photograph “Lighting”

(Below) Rosie Charlton’s winner in the drawing class

Rest of the results:

Fred Thwaites Cup (most points by a resident): Jackie Cook and Jean Day

President’s Cup (Runner-up – resident): Michael Thomson

Robin Hudson Chairman’s Platter (most points by a non-resident): Isabelle Coates

Julia Harrison Cup (most points by a non-resident child): Isabelle Coates

Cooper Shield (most points by a child aged 10 to 15): Isabelle Coates

Barbara Greenslade Tray (most points for cookery): Jackie Cook

Golden onion award: Colin Day

Paddy Charlton sunflower: Mike Thomson