June 2008

'GIVE US BACK OUR VILLAGE GREEN'

Scunthorpe Telegraph Thursday 26th June 2008

Dancing around the Maypole could once again become an annual ritual in one village if residents win a planning appeal.

For North Lincolnshire Council has been asked to give Winteringham back its village green.

The open space, at the corner of Back Lane and Cliff Road, is now owned by the region's biggest housing association, North Lincolnshire Homes (NLH).

Christine Hammond, the clerk of Winteringham Parish Council, said: "For many years we have always thought the green belonged to the people of the village.

"So we were shocked to discover ownership of the land had been transferred to North Lincolnshire Council and then last year to the housing association.

"We have made an application to designate the area as a village green to stop any potential plans to build homes on the site."

Mrs Hammond, who has held her post for 20 years, said the open area had two seats where elderly residents met and was used as a playground by the village children.

Also, on the corner green - once the site of medieval alms houses - is the village pump which was installed in 1910 to commemorate the coronation of George V.

Mrs Hammond said: "The parish council paid to have the pump renovated in 1977 to celebrate the Queen's Silver Jubilee, but sadly it no longer works."

The parish council is basing its case on the fact the residents have used the green for more than 20 years.

A spokesman for North Lincolnshire Council confirmed the application had been made and objectors had been given until August 1 to make their views known in writing.

He said no date had yet been fixed for the planning hearing.

A spokeswoman for NLH said: "In August 2007 we were informed of the application for the registration of a village green in Winteringham.

"The land concerned is owned by North Lincolnshire Homes and forms the front garden area of two occupied bungalows.

"According to local plans, the land is already designated as an area of amenity importance.

"We have received no further correspondence. However we will consider an application and in particular the impact it will have on our tenants, before making appropriate representations to the local authority."

STUDENTS 'CAN COOK, WILL COOK'

Scunthorpe Telegraph Monday 23rd June 2008

Culinary skills were put to the test at North Lindsey College, as students turned-up the heat in the kitchen as part of a Can't Cook, Won't Cook-themed competition.

First diploma hospitality students were given the challenge of whipping up an appetising delight using only three chosen ingredients costing no more than £6.And although students could get their added touches from the college storeroom to add to their dishes, including herbs, dairy items and sauces, the students rose to the challenge with their limited ingredients and showed they 'can cook and will cook!'

Three hours' cooking time was given to the 12 students who were competing to win a bundle of cookery-related goodies.

David Williamson, curriculum area manager for hospitality, leisure and tourism, said: "What a fantastic way for the learners to end the year.

"This is a great opportunity for the first diploma hospitality budding chefs to show off the culinary skills they have developed during the course.

"The challenge motivated the learners to impress not only their peers but also their tutors."

The students created a range of mouthwatering dishes, including a fresh mushroom tagliatelle meal using home-made pasta, pavlova with home-made lemon curd and tuna and chive fish cakes.

Becky Growler (20), who was even offered a job at the prestigious Winteringham Fields restaurant, said she enjoyed the task.

"I had a lot of fun as normally we have to follow recipes given to us, but this time we had a chance to experiment," she said.

"I'm looking forward to trying the meals other students have made."

Vicky Beacock (21), won the event with her Kurdish lamb okra and pasta dish, inspired by a recent work experience stint at Scunthorpe's San Pietro.

"It's the first time I've made fresh pasta, but I'm finding it interesting and a good challenge."

Vicky received Gordon Ramsay's Healthy Appetite cookbook, a trophy and a professional knife as her prizes.


NEW SUNDAY SCHOOL QUEEN CROWNED AT WINTERINGHAM METHODIST CHURCH JUNE 15TH

Scunthorpe Telegraph Saturday 21st June 2008

Tara Sulliven the retiring Sunday School Queen crowned Zoe Scott the new Sunday School Queen on June the 15th in the evening service. Tara Sulliven retired after two years of being the Sunday School Queen and wished the new Sunday School Queen a happy time in her role as Sunday School Queen

pictures are available
 

'BURGLAR' TARGETS UNLOCKED HOMES

Scunthorpe Telegraph Wednesday 18th June 2008

A Burglar prowling in the garden is usually cause for concern, but when Billy the Burglar targeted unlocked homes yesterday he was there to help.

The friendly felon set out with police and Neighbourhood Watch members to find houses which would be an easy target for real-life offenders.

Billy sought out homes with windows wide open and doors left unsecured, then knocked on the door and explained to the residents exactly how a burglar could break in.

The homeowners were then given advice on how to prevent themselves falling victim to sneak thieves.

The aim of the exercise was to highlight the danger of leaving homes unlocked, and was organised as part of National Neighbourhood Watch week.

Ken Bates, Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator for the area, said while Billy was a bit of fun, he had a serious message.

"Sneak-in burglaries account for 30 per cent of burglaries in North Lincolnshire, so the message is it could be a real thief who spots a way into your home," he said.

Mr Bates said one of the best ways to protect against a break-in was to join a Neighbourhood Watch group.

"Statistically, an area without a group has a one in 35 chance of being broken into, in an area which has a group the chance is one in 344, so it really does work," he said.

"Groups tend to be formed for different reasons, so they all have different characters and different objectives, and some of the local groups have achieved so much. They've done everything from funding CCTV cameras, to forming football teams for local youths."

Mr Bates said an added bonus of the groups was turning neighbours into friends.

"Not only do people keep an eye on each others' houses, they organise days out, they build a whole social network from it."

Ken Ashton, chairman of Winteringham Neighbourhood Watch, said: "We aim to improve security for the local area and if we have an incident of crime we are in contact with the local policing team.

"Winteringham is lacking activities for young people - idle hands create crime problems and we have had some problems with youths drinking alcohol in their shelter but PCSOs are keeping an eye on it.

"Our Neighbourhood Watch membership is not strong but we have 10-12 who regularly attend meetings."

GROUPS DELIGHTED AT ACHIEVEMENTS

Scunthorpe Telegraph Wednesday 18th June 2008

Neighbourhood Watch Groups around the region have made a number of achievements.

The Queensway West group was set up after coping stones along the slipway were broken.Co-ordinator David Foster (69) said: "There are 35 houses on this stretch but 34 are members and we still put newsletters through the 35th's door hoping to coax her out. We report every little thing to the police so they know what is going on.

"Some things may seem minor but it helps build a bigger picture so they can pinpoint a problem."

The Winteringham group has raised cash to fund a youth worker for the village, and a group is now run to give teenagers something to do in the hope it will keep them from drinking and anti-social behaviour

Westcliff Neighbourhood Watch organises activities for teenagers on the estate, and group manager Peter Woodcock now runs a popular football team.

Groups in the Crosby area, and across North Lincolnshire, have been instrumental in the distribution of Smartwater, an invisible property marking liquid with an individual DNA code, which can be seen under ultra violet light.

Alkborough's group bought its own CCTV camera, which can be lent out to members.

A group in Barton-Upon- Humber attended graffiti removal training sessions, and then took to the streets of the town to rid walls of unsightly daubings.

North Scunthorpe, covering 265 houses in Portman Road, Reginald Road and Foxhills Road headed a clean-up of a vandalised football pitch and returned it to the community.
 

HOMES HIT BY FLOOD FEARS

Scunthorpe Telegraph Saturday 14th June 2008

The risk of flooding in North Lincolnshire is leading to a block on housing plans.

Developers in flood risk zones are now struggling to get schemes through as planners tighten up the rules.Just this week South Yorkshire Housing Association had a 15-home affordable housing plan for land off Windsor Road, in Crowle, rejected because it is in the high risk Flood Zone 3a.

And a second plan at Barton Pasture House Fisheries Ltd, on Pasture Road North, Barton-Upon-Humber was also refused.

Developers had wanted permission for four timber holiday chalets and a lagoon but the flood risk assessment did not demonstrate the plans would be safe or not increase risk elsewhere.

North Lincolnshire Council head of planning Mike Welton said: "Pressure is being exerted from the Government to the Environment Agency to refuse applications where they are on land deemed to be high risk.

"We are being pushed into refusing such applications particularly if there's land at less risk in the same settlement."

Last year's June and July floods and climate change mean councils are having to tighten up on planning policy for these areas and this will be discussed at the council's planning meeting on Wednesday.

Mr Welton said: "People don't like it. It's getting tighter and tighter and certainly in a general sense we should not be encouraging building on land at high risk full stop unless there is good reason."

In March, the Telegraph revealed how the Environment Agency could only protect 99 per cent of homes in flood risk areas.

Homes at risk in North Lincolnshire included ones at Barrow Haven, East Halton, Whitton, Winteringham, Barton Cliff, Barton Haven and Flixborough Grange.

Residents who voiced their objections to the Crowle development fearing it would worsen drainage in an area already prone to flooding were pleased with the decisions.

Objector Coun Jim Rhodes said: "I'm delighted North Lincolnshire Council is listening to local parish councils who recognised the area is a flood risk from previous experiences.

"We would like to have subsidised housing anyway but maybe in an area that's not going to be flooded. That would give everybody in that area problems when it rains.

"More houses means more people using this archaic and already overloaded system."

The council's planning committee will discuss working with the EA and the community to achieve acceptable flood defence solutions around the Humber Estuary.

The Environment Agency and South Yorkshire Housing Association were unavailable for comment.
 

POST OFFICE UP FOR SALE

Scunthorpe Telegraph Friday 13th June 2008

A Village shop and post office is up for sale after its owner decided to devote more time to other business interests.

Winteringham Post Office owner, Colin McGurran (31), is also in charge of the village's award-winning Winteringham Fields restaurant.

And he said, as the restaurant continued to gain in popularity, he could not keep juggling the commitments.

Mr McGurran said: "The restaurant is so busy and we've just had our busiest May ever.

"I can't afford the time to have the post office as well."

This is the second post office to go up for sale in the past few months.

As previously reported, the branch on New Trent Street, Ealand, will close in September if no buyer is found.

Mr McGurran and his wife Bex, who bought the post office, on High Burnage, two years ago, have spent more than £50,000 on refurbishing their concern.

It is also a shop and off licence and sells newspapers and general groceries and is on the market for £399,995.

Mr McGurran said it was important to Winteringham as the nearest shop was four miles away.

"It's the only village shop and I care very much about it," he said.

"The villagers need their post office open."

Three post offices closed earlier this year in North Lincolnshire - Burringham Road, Scunthorpe; East Ashby; and Fleetgate, Barton-Upon-Humber.

And three more were replaced with 'outreach' counters at Eastoft, West Butterwick and Wroot.

Teething problems have plagued the outreach centres, leaving people with a substandard service.

Nick Nunn, of Christie and Co, the sale agents, said: "This is a superb opportunity for a couple or family to move to a beautiful village to run a profitable lifestyle business."

HUSBAND HITS BULLSEYE WITH CHARITY EVENT

Scunthorpe Telegraph Friday 13th June 2008

A Special charity summer darts tournament is being introduced to the local pub games scene in a bid to raise money for Lindsey Lodge Hospice and honour the memory of a Barton-Upon-Humber woman.

For more than 30 years Jean Jickells (pictured left) was a well-known domino player throughout the region but sadly she lost her battle against breast cancer last year aged 59.Now her husband, Brian, of Yarborough Court, Barton, and Jean's daughter Caroline Holstein have come up with the idea of an annual summer darts and domino league to honour her memory.

"We had been married for 31 years and were both into darts and dominoes and played locally. We were sometimes out four times a week. Our whole world was darts and dominoes they were our social activities," said Brian.

He went on to say organising a summer league to honour her memory seemed like a natural thing to do and at the same time it would raise money for the Lindsey Lodge Hospice in Scunthorpe where, at one point during her illness, Jean had been cared for.

"I would also like to thank the staff on ward 18 at Scunthorpe General Hospital for all the care they also gave her," said Brian.

The new memorial league has already started and will continue in selected local area pubs each Thursday evening until Thursday, August 14.

Teams taking part will be from the Barton venues of The Coach and Horses, The Carnival, The Red Lion, The George Hotel, The Queen's Club and Barton Town Football Club.

These are in addition to The Nelthorpe Arms at South Ferriby, The Lincoln Castle at New Holland, The Ferry Boat at Winteringham, The Cross Keys at Winterton, Winterton Working Men's Club and Brigg Town Football Club.

"There will be a darts and domino match on in all of these pubs each Thursday in the charity summer league between now and August 14," said Brian, who added the teams have already been selected.

"Everyone who wants to support the teams will be made very welcome and if anyone would like play it will only cost them 50p a game," he said.

Brian also revealed there will be a special presentation evening in The Carnival at Barton on Thursday, August 28, when the winner will receive the Jean Jickells Memorial Trophy.

Anyone who would like more detailed information about the charity summer league is invited to contact Brian on (01652) 634082.

ECO SCHOOLGIRLS SEE LITTER-PICK PROJECT PRAISED

Scunthorpe Telegraph Thursday 12th June 2008

Two schoolgirls met their eco-friendly hero David Bellamy when they made it to the final of Lincolnshire's Young Environmentalist Awards.

Melissa Holmes (9) and Lydia Czabaniuk, both pupils at Winteringham Primary School, teamed up on a litter-picking project to prove their green credentials to Lincolnshire's Wildlife Trust. The idea for their project 'Nature not Pollution' came as the girls were walking home from school and noticed litter on the pavements.

The pair did not win the final but scooped a Highly Commended certificate

Melissa said entering the awards had been the 'opportunity of a lifetime'.

"It was amazing to take part in the awards and meet David Bellamy," she said.

"It was really, really exciting and I was pretty nervous.

"But David made me feel less nervous because he was really jolly."

Lydia said she was proud of being highly commended and had enjoyed watching everybody get their awards.

"We got certificates," she said.

"And it felt really good to meet David Bellamy because he is famous and just like Santa Claus."

Lydia's mum Sally said Dr Bellamy, the renowned TV botanist had loved the girls' enthusiasm.

"He said he thought the girls should be running the country because of their enthusiasm," she said.

"I thought it was really sweet of him to single them out like that.

"They were up against five schools and they did this all on their own."

They held a sponsored litter-pick and collected seven bin bags of rubbish around Winteringham.

Sponsorship raised £44, which was given to their school's caretaker to spend on plants and seeds, plant pots, soil and both the girls' favourite flowers, lilies.

The girls used their litter-pick to draw up a list of the cleanest streets in Winteringham and Waterside came top.

CHANCE TO BOLDLY GO TO NEW FRONTIERS WITH ENTERPRISE

Scunthorpe Telegraph Monday 9th June 2008

One of Britain's biggest pub operators has taken the unusual step of canvassing door-to-door to find new licensees for eight of its outlets in North Lincolnshire.

Three of the pubs are in the Scunthorpe town centre and would-be publicans have been told they can take over for a minimum payment of £7,000 for the first year. The company is also looking to find 12 licensees in the Grimsby, Hull and Goole areas.As well as the targeted mail-shots, Enterprise Inns has also launched a recruitment roadshow which stops off at The Mallard, Scunthorpe, on Tuesday, June 17, between 4pm and 7pm.

Duncan Marsden, divisional director, said the company was offering people a one-off opportunity to become their own boss.

The venues with leases available in Scunthorpe are Cre8, Harry Charlesworth, Wild Coyote and The Comet in East Common Lane.

The remaining four are The Beckwood at Bottesford, the George at Winterton, the Ferryboat at Winteringham and the White Swan at Barton-Upon-Humber. Only the Comet is currently shut.

Mr Marsden said: "We are looking for good people, with or without experience, to take a new look at the pub business and develop their own business."

PLAIN SAILING FOR PARADE ORGANISERS

Scunthorpe Telegraph Monday 9th June 2008

A Flotilla of yachts painted a pretty picture on the River Humber on Saturday with a parade of sail to mark the 125th anniversary of the Winteringham and Brough-based Humber Yawl Club.

About half the club members' 130 vessels took to the water to salute this year's club captain Philomena Smith of South Ferriby, the Admiral of the Humber Coun Elaine Garland (who is also Lord Mayor of Hull), the Humber harbourmaster Capt Phil Cowing and past captains of the club.The 63 vessels which set sail from both Winteringham and Brough, gathered in the Broomfleet channel before sailing past the dignitaries who took the salute, off Brough.

"It has been absolutely brilliant, I could not have asked for a better turnout and it is well worth just over a year's preparation," said Capt Smith.

"What has been really enjoyable is that it is not very often both banks join together in one event other than racing. It was nice to see yachts of all designs taking part."

Admiral Garland, in her first official duty in the honorary position, said: "I am pleased I was asked to come and be here at these celebrations. This is my first duty with the ensign flying and I feel quite humble.

"People have been passing by and I have taken the salute. I feel quite proud - it is quite emotional. It is part of history and shows the seafaring skills of the people who live in the Humber area both on the north bank and on the south bank."

Harbourmaster Capt Cowing said: "It is an honour to be invited to receive the salute.

"I am particularly pleased to do it as one of our primary responsibilities is to ensure the whole of the harbour is maintained in a fit state for all who use it, and that also applies to recreational users.

"The skill and professionalism of the local recreational sailors is noticeably high.

"We respect their opinions and we try and get them involved in developments on the river."

The Parade of Sail included a number of Bermudan-style yachts, a catamaran, dinghies and an historic Humber Yawl, Leona, built in 1906.

Individual vessels displayed national ensigns and the crews of many on passing the dignitaries gave three cheers for the captain.

A Champagne lunch at the Brough clubhouse followed the parade at which 125th anniversary ceremonial flags were presented to the admiral and harbourmaster, along with a captain's flag and officer's flag respectively.

In the evening the club's summer ball was held at the Village Hotel, Hessle.

Wind in their sails as yacht club celebrates 125 years

Yorkshire Post 9th June 2008, by Alexandra Wood

THE Humber looked more like Cowes at the weekend when 70 boats turned out to celebrate a milestone in the history of one of Yorkshire's oldest sailing clubs.

In the largest turnout of sail in decades, modern yachts jostled with old-timers off Brough to mark the 125th anniversary of the Humber Yawl Club.

With only a light breeze filling her burgundy sails, the 1906 Leona was at the head of an impressive line-up, including the showstopping Ierne, whose revolutionary sail design caused controversy when she clinched Olympic gold at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics.

She is once again making waves in sailing circles after a lengthy and expensive restoration.

Admiral of the Humber and Lord Mayor of Kingston upon Hull, councillor Elaine Garland, took a salute from each vessel aboard the flag-strewn Phyllis, a Humber sloop dating from 1907.

The Humber yawls were developed in the 1880s by club members to cope with the fast-running Humber Estuary, which has the second-biggest tides in the world after the Bay of Fundy, in Canada, and perilous sandbanks.

The early members, who often ran their own businesses and had the money to fund and build their own creations, travelled widely using mailboats to ship the light but strong boats to the continent.

Members like Albert Strange, the Scarborough yacht designer and artist, are still revered in yachting circles, and Robin Balfour, later Lord Riversdale, could lay claim to inspiring a twin-keeled design now commonplace throughout the world.

After various changes of base, from Hull to Hornsea and then to Hessle, the club finally settled at its present base in 1919, adding a base across the river at Winteringham in 1976. It now boasts 385 members, with around 130 yachts.

The club's vice captain Roger Smith said: "From 1883 until now the club had been very astutely managed and it has been allowed to develop in a very evolutionary way.

"It is one of the few yachting clubs in the country which owns its own moorings and its own property and as a private members' club it allows us to offer our members good sailing facilities for a fraction of the price you would have to pay in the marina."

Like many clubs these days, one of the main challenges is getting in youngsters, but the club hopes associations it has formed with dinghy clubs on both sides of the rivers will bring in new blood. "It is not a rich man's club. You can sail from here for as much as it would cost to follow Leeds United round the country," Mr Smith added.

Michael Fulwell, a member of the club for 25 years, said: "What is not generally known is just how dangerous this river is. You have to learn and learn the river before you can sail it all."

Watching her husband sail past from the clubhouse balcony, Vanessa Masterton said: "To see the club all together is fantastic. The captain Philomena Smith, the vice captain Roger Smith and all the members who have been involved in pulling it together have done a wonderful job."

FLOTILLA SETS SAIL TO MARK MILESTONE FOR HUMBER YAWL CLUB

Scunthorpe Telegraph Monday 2nd June 2008

A Flotilla of old and new river craft will sail out into the Humber on Saturday, to mark the 125th anniversary of the Humber Yawl Club.

Around 70 of the club's 130 vessels are to take to the river from both sides of the Humber, where the club has sites at Winteringham and Brough.They will gather upstream in the Broomfleet channel for a 'Parade of Sail' from 9.40am, which is expected to take around three-quarters of an hour.

The yachts will sail past individually and salute the New Holland-built sloop Phyllis, which will have on board past captains of the club, the Admiral of the Humber, Coun Elaine Garland, who is also Lord Mayor of Hull, and the Humber harbourmaster, Captain Phil Cowing, who has jurisdiction over the river.

After saluting, vessels will head back to Brough and Winteringham before a day of celebrations for both centres, staged in the clubhouse at Brough.

Overall club vice-captain Roger Smith said of the sail-past: "It is an expression of pride in our club. It is the premier yacht club on the Humber and we are very proud of it." Humber Yawl Club's south bank mate, Tom Baggott, of Western Green, Winteringham, said: "There will be all sorts of vessels reflecting the different ages of sailing on the Humber.

"There will be an impressive contribution from the south bank. We have a regatta every year in which boats from the south bank take part but this year is exceptional and an extra effort is being made."

Mr Baggott said vessels joining from the south bank included wooden boats dating back to the 1950s, steel boats which had been made by their owners, more modern fibre-glass sloop rigged vessels and possibly catamarans.

The Humber Yawl Club was formed in 1883 by members of the then declining branch of the Royal Canoe Club.

The traditional Bermudan-style yacht most readers are familiar with has a single mast with a mainsail and a jib at the front, but the traditional yawl had a main mast to the fore with a second mizzen mast to the rear of the boat with an additional sail.

The configuration of the sails on the traditional yawl provides greater flexibility in bad weather.

Founder members George Holmes, John Hamilton, Albert Strange and others developed the typical open Humber Yawl, the mainstay of the club through to the end of the 19th century.

By the 20th century the canoe-yawl, with cabin accommodation, became more prevalent.

The club's original base was in Hull, but Hornsea Mere and the River Hull were soon added as alternative venues with a move from Hull to Hessle Haven taking place in 1909 and finally to Brough in 1919, with Winteringham Haven joining the fold in the 1970s.

Following the move to Brough Haven in 1919, an established pattern of racing and cruising was introduced. Today members sail around Europe. A number of members have cruised across the Atlantic and in two cases members have completed circumnavigations of the world.

A feature on the Yawl Club was printed in the April edition of the Scunthorpe and District Nostalgia magazine, still available from our offices at 4-5 Park Square, Laneham Street, Scunthorpe.