STRANGE EXPERIENCES RECOUNTED BY GUEST

Scunthorpe Telegraph Saturday 28th May 2005

President Jackie Bateman welcomed 22 members and one guest to a recent meeting of Winteringham Women's Institute, which was held in the village hall.

The president introduced Sheila Heseltine, who spoke about several strange experiences in her life. She told members of the time she was on a North Sea ferry which had engine trouble and the passengers had been forced to take to the lifeboats.

Sheila also recounted her experiences with a fortune teller at a very different sort of fundraising event, and the time she was asked to sit for a sculpture to be made of her head and shoulders.

Chris Hammond gave a vote of thanks on behalf of the members.

Matters arising from previous minutes were discussed.

At the previous meeting, members had all enjoyed making cards under the guidance of June Drury.

Winteringham WI had organised the raffle at the village event in early May, which had raised £194.

Members wishing to enter an example of their craftwork in the WI Federation craft exhibition at Normanby Hall had taken them along to the meeting, and the secretary was to deliver them to the federation office.

Members were told the visit to the 'Pink Pig' farm and restaurant at Holme would now take place on June 9. Final names were taken for the outing and transport arranged.

Correspondence received, including the federation newsletter, was read through and items of interest noted.

The Trent Group Quiz Evening was on May 4. Winteringham had entered two teams and although neither of the teams had won, the ladies had enjoyed the evening.

Members had been collecting 20ps in Smartie tubes for the federation appeal. These were gathered in and the treasurer was to bank the 20ps and send a cheque to the federation office.

The resolutions for the annual general meeting were discussed at length.

Members wished to record a 'for' vote on both resolutions.

The hostesses for the evening were Nancy Corney, Barbara Button and Josie Ogg.

The mystery parcels given by Barbara and Josie were won by Marjorie Bratton and Mrs Heseltine.

The competition was for 'A Black Cat'. There was a large number of entries of various sizes, and these were judged by Mrs Heseltine. First was Marjorie Bratton, Enid Carter was second and third place went to Janet Campbell.

The Christmas shopping trip will be to York on November 19. This will be advertised in the village later in the year.

WI members were all invited to look at the magazine exchange table. Members had taken along unwanted magazines to exchange them for something new to read.

 

CLASSICS IN CONVOY - VEHICLES OF YESTERYEAR

Scunthorpe Telegraph Monday 16th May 2005

Engines roared into action this weekend, as more than 70 cars dating back from 1928 rolled out of their garages and paraded through the streets of North Lincolnshire.

Classic cars were on show at a special event in North Lincolnshire, while the region's biggest tractor convoy made it a weekend to remember for transport enthusiasts. Car owners washed and polished up their paintwork, ready for the admiration of enthusiasts as part of a special classic car rally.

Motorists parked their cars in Brigg's Market Place yesterday and then at 10am set off at one-minute intervals through the streets to Woodhall Spa and then Sleaford, where they tucked into a barbecue.

Organiser of the annual event, John Savage, said he never had any problems booking cars for the event because it was 'very popular'.

He said: "We have cars coming not only from North Lincolnshire, but York, Sheffield, Doncaster and many more besides.

"It is getting more and more popular, so we don't have to try and fill it - but we have had to put a limit of 75 cars so we do not get over-run with them."

Mr Savage said the rally had been running for 11 years.

Cars at the event included a Lea-Francis car, which was one of the oldest vehicles on show, having been built in 1928.

The most expensive car to attend the rally is believed to be a Riley Sprite, which was estimated to be worth about £70,000.

This event was just one of many organised for the weekend.

The largest convoy of tractors ever seen in the region paraded along the country roads of North Lincolnshire as farmers and other enthusiasts paid tribute to the famous vehicle. The second annual road run by the North Lincolnshire Group of the Friends of Ferguson Heritage also took place yesterday.

The convoy of tractors, some of them 50-years-old, passed through 17 towns and villages and made a lunchtime stop at The Hope and Anchor in South Ferriby.

The vehicles travelled at an average speed of 15mph on their 36-mile round trip from Coleby.

Proceeds from roadside collections and sponsorship will be donated to the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance.

North Lincolnshire Group committee member Malcolm Gray said he and his fellow enthusiasts were aiming to better last year's tally of £1,500.

He said: "All tractors and drivers were invited to join - whatever their make and age and they had the chance to take in some of the best scenery in North Lincolnshire."

The convoy travelled via Thealby, Winterton, Appleby, Broughton, Wressle, Elsham, Worlaby, Bonby, Saxby, Horkstow, South Ferriby, Winteringham, Whitton, West Halton, Alkborough and Walcot.


MANY CENTURIES OF HUMBER RIVER CROSSINGS

Scunthorpe Telegraph Monday 16th May 2005

Vessels have transported North Lincolnshire folk across the River Humber for generations.

The regular ferry service across the river finished more than 20 years ago. The ferry service, which sailed for 178 years, used to cross the river from New Holland to Hull, but the service ended in summer 1981, when the Humber Bridge opened.

But even before the old ferry crossings from New Holland, people relied on river transport to move around the region.

There has been speculation of a pre-Roman crossing from South Ferriby to North Ferriby and a later crossing from Winteringham to Brough.

But the Humber really grew in importance at the time of the Vikings.

The Humber - and the region's other major rivers, the Trent and the Ouse - were effectively motorways for the visitors making progress inland.

In the reign of King Canute, around 1030 AD, a ferry from South Ferriby to North Ferriby was established.

The main ferry to Hessle switched from South Ferriby to Barton-upon-Humber during the reign of William the Conqueror.

In ancient times, ferry tolls were not always exacted in monetary terms but were often paid for in goods, like fish or corn.

Edward II granted the right for a ferry to operate from Hull and land at Barton-upon-Humber.

Moving forward to more recent history, one of the Humber's best loved paddle steamers, the Tattershall Castle, was retired in 1971 and moved to London, where it was used as a floating restaurant on the Thames. Around £400,000 was spent on repairs, to enable the engine rooms to be opened to the public.

The Farringford, a vessel which had worked around the Isle of Wight, was the last vessel used on the Humber service, a diesel-electric vessel capable of carrying 35 cars and 500 passengers.

Mystery surrounds what happened to the Farringford after she finished working on the Humber.

DANCED IN STREETS TO CELEBRATE

Scunthorpe Telegraph Saturday 14th May 2005

Dancing in the streets and raising a celebratory glass to toast the long-awaited Victory in Europe is an abiding memory of how the news was welcomed by Elizabeth Bell of Winteringham.

But the mother of two young children, Elizabeth had to wait until 10pm on May 8, 1945, before she could join in the victory celebrations. Babysitters were definitely at a premium on that day because everyone was jumping on the victory bandwagon, so when husband Harry came home after working the 2pm-10pm shift on the Normanby Park steelworks, Elizabeth left him 'holding the babies', so she could join her friends for a drink in the local pub.

Elizabeth, who celebrated her 85th birthday this week, said Harry was happy to look after his two little daughters, who were already tucked up in bed asleep, while she joined her friends in the village pub.

"And I had left his supper for him," she quipped.

But the celebrations didn't end there because Elizabeth and her co-VE night revellers took their party on to Scunthorpe where the High Street was packed with joyous flag-waving folks.

"Somehow we got over to Scunthorpe and they were dancing in the street until 1am or 2am.

"There were flags and all sorts going off and I don't quite know where the music was coming from; it seemed to be coming from all directions and everyone was dancing. I had an uncle who lived in Porter Street and we went along there to knock him up. How we got home I really don't know."

Elizabeth took time out to reflect on how she felt when the news reached her earlier that day.

"It was a marvellous feeling, but then you would stop and think about all those people who had been killed. Night after night Hull was bombed and we could hear it from the village. And if you were outside you could see the planes chasing each other in the sky.

"So when the news came through you felt as though a big load had been lifted off your back and you could stop worrying."

Now Elizabeth lives a more sedate life in the village close to her family, which now also includes three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

VINTAGE DAY FOR VICTORY FESTIVAL

Scunthorpe Telegraph Tuesday 3rd May 2005

The shrill sound of an air-raid siren echoed in the air as a Hurricane and Spitfire flew overhead to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe.

Hundreds of visitors, many dressed in traditional uniform, formed a 'V' on the playing fields in Winteringham yesterday as the aircraft roared past. And as the older members of the audience reminisced on the day Prime Minister Winston Churchill officially announced the end of the war, youngsters lined up to take part in activities and look at tables full of original gas masks and other memorabilia.

It was a double celebration for one of the guests of honour, Ken Sills (83), because he and his wife Marion celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary on April 21.

Mr Sills, who was stationed near Winteringham during the war, raised a hand to the veteran aircraft as they roared over the V-shaped crowd, and the youngsters waved their Union flags.

Mrs Sills said yesterday's flypast reminded her of the real event 60 years ago.

"It was lovely, and then they gave us a little wiggle as they went past the third time," she said.

"We had a good VE Day. There was a dance and everything," she recalled.

"I don't know where the years have gone. It's just flashed by."

Jean Jacobs (60), said although she was not old enough to remember the event 60 years ago, the planes brought a tear to her eye as they roared overhead.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, which saw huge crowds gathering to cheer as the news was broadcast across the country.

The VE day anniversary is on May 8, when men and women across the country will remember those who gave their lives.

Ralph Welch, who was one of a number to take part in the celebrations in Winteringham yesterday, remembered how he had been a pupil at Winterton school during the war.

Mr Welch (78), said he remembered the pupils digging vegetables in the school fields for the canteen.

"We did Dig For Victory - we dug the playing fields up for vegetables for the school canteen and on VE Day we had a street party in Appleby," he said.

Yesterday's event, which included children's sports, tug-of-war, skittles, bingo and various stalls, was in aid of the Winteringham Village Hall renovation fund.

Committee member Christine Woods explained the hall needed to be renovated and members of the committee thought the VE Day event would be a suitable way to raise funds and celebrate an important occasion at the same time.