man cycling with piano · 2020-08-03 · his facebook page where you can listen to him playing the...
TRANSCRIPT
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Man Cycling with Piano By Shirley Brown
You have to be slightly mad to cycle round England towing a full-size piano, don’t you? I think James Tofalli would agree that it’s a touch crazy, but it’s something he’s been wanting to do for a while, so setting out from Bidolph in North Staffordshire a few days after his 28th birthday on 4th June seemed a good idea.
He landed in Bentham on July 1st having spent the previous night in Settle and was en route to Lancaster. He camped in the skateboard park, and the police and community safety officer were quickly on the scene to check out if this was an illegal activity. It seems that it isn’t as this was a ‘charity event’. So, while Bentham people chatted to him, little children played round him, and curious passers-by asked why he was here while others brought him chocolate cake and a towel so he could go and have a shower, he played the piano beautifully and live streamed it on Facebook.
Photo by Jon Brook of Bentham Imaging
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I chatted with James and he told me he’d had quite a complicated upbringing and some mental health issues. His dad, who he didn’t know very well, died when he was a teenager. He has a mum and an older brother. His brother has Asperger’s syndrome and James has ADHD and is also on the autistic spectrum. He has done a variety of jobs and trainings since leaving school and has various outdoor pursuits qualifications, experience in marketing and sales, he’s a qualified chef and is highly proficient on keyboard and piano, skills he honed during busking sessions in London
His dream is to set up music workshops for children with autism, as that is a way of connecting with youngsters who are often hard to reach by more orthodox teaching methods. Money he raises on this mammoth year-long ride, up the west coast to John O’Groats then back down the east coast to Lands’ End, will go towards this goal.
By his next birthday on 4th June 2021 he hopes to be in Lands’ End with supporters and friends having a massive party and barbecue. Anyone wanting to follow his progress can do so on Facebook, - ‘Tofalli music on tour piano around London’. It’s worth looking at his Facebook page where you can listen to him playing the piano, as he has a rare and wonderful ability to bring the piano alive.
Good luck James – he hopes to change to an electric bike at some point – sooner rather than later would be my advice!
The people of Bentham came out to
support 72 years of the NHS.
These photos and fire engine right
by Sue Best.
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“It’s Not Just About Kicking Down Doors and Squirting Water”
By Richard Blackwell, Watch Manager, Bentham Station, Tel: 015242-61228 Day-time direct number: 015242-64207 and mobile: 07769-952828
Bentham Fire Station has had yet another busy month with a further 10 incidents attended by our crew. We have attended tractors, sheds, buildings, fires on the moor and a few automatic fire alarms.
On 9th July we were called at 2:15am to relieve crews at the Old Swan Inn, Gargrave, and were there until we were relieved at 11am by Grassington and Harrogate. We have now attended nearly as many calls this year as we did in the whole of 2019. And we have also assisted with the welfare of the public, showing that being a fire fighter is not only about kicking down doors and squirting water. Compassion and understanding are some of the best things you can bring to this job.
Clap for the NHS:
I'm really sorry we were only able to give short notice for the drive-by from the Fire Service, CRO, Police and Ambulance, but it was only requested a few days prior. Despite this, we were overwhelmed by the wonderful groups of clappers that we encountered along the way. We started in Ingleton doing a loop of the centre, then headed out to Clapham and Austwick, then proceeded to High and Low Bentham, finally finishing our journey in Burton. Thank you all so much for your fantastic efforts joining us on the 72nd anniversary and thank you to Paul for arranging this.
Young Fire Fighters:
As mentioned in the July Bentham News, we are advertising for the 2020 starting group. If anyone is interested in joining us, please contact me on:-
Fire Service:
Some of you may have seen that NYFRS advertised in June for their second Whole Time (full time) fire fighter in 10 years. If you have applied, we wish you good luck and hope to be working alongside you soon. Working full time obviously isn't the only way you can do everything the fire service do. Being an on-call fire fighter gives you the ability to do everything they do and also carry out your normal day to day activities. More information can be found at https://oncallfire.uk/
Clothing bank:
I cannot thank you enough for the amount of donations we're receiving. The bin is currently full, and we're starting to pile the bags up in the back room of the fire station. If you do bring a bag and find the bin is full, there's a good chance it's been reported and a request made for it to be emptied, but if you could ring the number on the container to report it too, that would be a really big help.
With all that, I wish you all well.
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People of Bentham - Mandy Booth
We suspended the People of Bentham interviews during lockdown, but have been able to start again … hooray! These interviews, with portraits by Jon Brook of Bentham Imaging, have been running in BN for 3 years, and Mandy Booth is our 33rd Bentham person to be featured. Mandy is a well known personality in Bentham. She was the landlady of the Black Bull for years, runs a local catering business, contributes generously in all sorts of ways to the community and still has time for singing, a serious amount of exercise, adventurous travelling…she’s impressive and a real force of nature.
How long have you lived in Bentham and what brought you here?
I was born and brought up here. When I was twenty I went travelling around Australia for nine months and wanted to see how I felt then about coming back to live here for good. It was my first ever flight abroad. I stayed in cities in eastern Australia for a while and found city life was not for me. I just love our countryside here. When I came back, I walked straight into a job at the Byres, but foot and mouth came along and there just wasn’t enough trade. I then worked in the Spar and the Black Bull simultaneously for a while, then just the Bull, where I took over as manager for 18 months and then as licensee at the age of twenty-five and stayed there for ten years and a day! I loved it. I knew everyone. Being a local gave me some advantages and I knew what people wanted from the pub. I was committed to creating a good atmosphere, giving good value and serving good food. I learnt so much. It was great experience and set me on the course I'm on now.
Tell us something about yourself people wouldn't normally know.
I love weight lifting at my PT sessions in Ingleton and have been doing that for about 5 years (until lockdown). I also love to sing and was with Back from Beyond with my brother Ocker for years, until life got too busy. Nowadays I do a bit now and then with an occasional band called Al Fresco. We did a ‘Beautiful South’ tribute evening to raise money for MIND charity last year which was fantastic. Since leaving the pub I run Simply Delicious from home and work up at the Golf Club two days a week, so life is pretty full, and it doesn't leave much spare time for singing.
If you could travel anywhere where would you go?
I love to travel. We couldn't do much when we were running the pub but since then we have been to Thailand, Vietnam, Mexico, Latvia and North America. Malki (the fiancé) and I were supposed to be going to Canada in October to do a road trip for 3 weeks for my 40th but it looks like that's not going to happen until next year now. That's top of my list at the moment. I’d like to go to Iceland for the Northern lights and also return to Australia, but this time visiting New Zealand as well. I like to explore and be adventurous when I travel. I don’t go for sitting by a pool reading a book. I want to do all the stuff I couldn't afford to do when I was young.
What does a perfect day look like to you?
At the moment a day off would be amazing. I haven't had one in 5 months because of the different work I've been doing during lockdown. Walking in the Lakes with my dogs would be perfect. A day off with friends would be a wonderful thing too.
If you could witness any event of the past, present or future, what would it be?
I don’t think much about the past or the future. I feel that I live very much in the present and deal with whatever is going on in front of me.
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Perhaps you could explain what you’ve been doing during lockdown. Tell us a bit about that.
When the lockdown came I wanted to help. Within two days I organised a meals on wheels service which I've done two days a week through the surgery, five days a week for people who've ordered them direct from me, the free school meals for six weeks and a Sunday lunch service which ran until the pubs opened again plus the occasional afternoon tea. I've made the MOW service as cheap as I could (£2.75) because I feel so strongly that it is important that people in our community who haven't been able to get out and about should have access to good nourishing food at this time. I have to say, I've felt really appreciated and am proud of what I’ve done.
Are there any world events that you remember particularly from when you were growing up?
I remember waking up on the sofa, where I must have fallen asleep, and the TV being on and hearing that Princess Diana had died. I wasn't sure at the time if I had dreamt it. Also, later on, I remember watching the Twin Towers come down on 9/11 on the telly in the pub. I couldn't believe what I was watching.
Is there anyone (e.g. a teacher) who has had the most influence on your life?
My work ethic definitely comes from my mum. I’m sure those who know us would agree. We were never rich and hard work was always put in to have what we had. I have always believed that if you want something then you have to work for it and I always appreciate things more when I’ve worked hard for them. Miss Guy at Middle School encouraged me to have the confidence to sing which I didn’t do much until I was older, but that has always stayed with me.
…………………/Continued overleaf
Photo by Jon Brook of Bentham Imaging
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If you had an unlimited budget what investment would you make in Bentham?
I've been involved with ‘We are Bentham’ from the start. I do their books for them and feel it would be good to do something to help the Main Street flourish, I’m not sure what. Also, I would invest in the playing field and the Social Club building down there and get all the sports going again, I would also love to see a community swimming pool. Also I'd invest in community events. I'd resurrect the Lantern Procession, it’s so missed and I’d also support the Carnival. I think those events are really important to everyone and they bring us all together.
What's the worst job you've ever done?
Apple picking in Australia without a doubt. It was so hot and the pesticides combined with my sun cream to cause such a reaction that I almost passed out and had to be laid under a tree to recover. Quite out of character for me. It was awful.
What's your most treasured possession?
My two dogs without a doubt. Malki doesn't even come close! He he! I have an old dog Ellie who's twelve and one year old Pepper who's given the older one a new lease of life.
How do you relax?
I find it quite hard to relax. Walking the dogs is one way. Probably the best is a long, hot, steamy bath with bubbles, a bath pillow, candles and music.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
A fashion designer. I'm quite arty and was always drawing and doodling as a child. I did Art and Design and Design & Technology in the Sixth Form but got distracted, as you do at that age, and didn't give it my all. I had started working at the pub by then and liked earning money. I was a quick learner so started on what became my career. I use my creativity in cooking. Presentation is important and that uses my artistic skills. Also I'm good with computers and I can use my design skills there as well. I don't regret any of my choices along the way because it has all led me to what I'm doing now, which I love, even though it's not what I originally intended.
Is there a book, film or live event which you've particularly enjoyed recently?
I love going to concerts and particularly love the Foo Fighters. I went to see them last year. Their music makes my hair stand on end every time and makes me forget everything else.
Joy Morgan: 12th May 1930 – 22nd March 2020
By Caroline Morgan
Joy and Teddy Morgan moved to Bentham in 1982. Teddy was still working full time in London, but in their early fifties they were keen to spend more time hillwalking and getting away from the crowds. They bought 4-5 Cheapside (Burton Road), Low Bentham, with Joy’s inheritance from her parents. With the help of local builders, Brown & Whittaker, they brought it up to date and moved in. They were made very welcome by the neighbours – especially warm-hearted Bill and Wilma Fleming.
In 1988 they moved to Links Drive, High Bentham, marking the occasion with a date stone on the house. Joy’s father had been a keen golfer and she hoped she might pick up the game again, so it seemed fitting to name the house Ashurst – her maiden name. They had a beautiful view of Ingleborough, and planted Mountain Ash trees to match the name.
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In many ways, the next dozen years were the happiest of their lives. Freed of the responsibilities of family and jobs, fit and active, they were able to enjoy their hobbies together and join the thriving local community. In particular they enjoyed: gardening, cooking (using local produce), hill walking, some golf and local history. Joy had done a diploma in local history and was particularly interested in recording older locals’ reminiscences. She and Ted tape-recorded and made painstaking notes, which have now been passed on, via David Johnson, to The Folly in Settle. They loved Bentham’s beautiful carved date stones, from the 1600s and 1700s. The WI was a very big part of Joy’s life and she wrote a piece for the WI Centenary celebrating her own 50+ years in the WI which notes that she was a member of Tatham Fells from 1988-1990, then High Bentham, 1990-1999. The family thinks she was instrumental in setting up the High Bentham WI; but perhaps Bentham News readers will know!
Teddy was a regular volunteer for the Citizens Advice Bureau in Skipton and a member of Bentham Development Trust, while Joy volunteered in the Tourist Information Centre in Bentham, which, if memories are right, opened in Bentham Town Hall each summer. They were also involved with Bentham News.
As they reached their seventies, a couple of health scares and the distance from their family, made them rethink their home base and they moved from Bentham to Hampshire in 2000. Teddy died in 2002; several friends from Bentham made the journey to a memorial service in Oxford. Joy continued to visit Bentham for holidays, often staying at Fourstones and catching up with old friends. She last made the long drive in 2011; no mean feat for an 81-year-old.
Joy lived independently in her own home until 2019, when she became frail, needing more help from her children and ultimately from professional carers. She died on Sunday 22nd March after a brief illness. This was just before the Covid-19 lockdown, so her three children and five grandchildren were able to be with her. She loved her connections with the North West, still describing herself as a North Country woman; any of the nursing staff with Lancashire or Yorkshire connections got a particularly big smile.
It’s now nearly 20 years since the Morgans left Bentham, so there may not be many readers who remember them. For those who don’t, perhaps this will instead give you a glimpse of why a couple from Surrey fell for Bentham, and a snippet of local history, and the story behind the house name and date stone at the end of Links Drive.
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Pop-Up Pantry Does Home Deliveries
By Rev Anne and PuP team
As you can see from the photograph, the Pop-Up Pantry operating out of the Youth Cafe in Main Street is well stocked with essential groceries and household items. We operate on a ‘give what you can, take what you need’ policy, so anyone can come along whether you need a few groceries, or have something to donate, or even if you just fancy a chat. With school off we also have craft items to help keep the children and adults entertained.
We can also offer a home delivery service. Just give us a call (015242-61752) anytime between 10am and 12noon on Monday, Wednesday or Friday and let us know what you need, and we will deliver what we can to your door the same day.
And finally, a big thank you to all our wonderful supporters! Please keep the donations coming in.
Reflections of a Pop-Up Volunteer By Maggie Bruno
It’s Wednesday morning and I’m on the rota in the Pop-Up Pantry (PUP) as one of the team of volunteers who help there. It is an early start for me in these days of coronavirus, when there is little to get up for and days merge endlessly, but my PUP day is different, so I am already awake before the alarm goes off. This is because for me the PUP is something special – it has community, love, and sharing at its heart.
Kitted out behind mask, gloves and apron, I sanitise the gifts so generously donated, check ‘use by’ dates, and fill to bursting the food parcels I will later deliver, knowing that these are lifelines for those who receive them. But that’s not all - chatting with those who pop in is another way of sharing and supporting each other through difficult times. This is how we build community, when we put others before ourselves, helping to make the world a better place, and where we find God’s transforming love at its centre.
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If You’re a Cow, leaving ‘Bleak Bank’ is a Bit Like Escaping the Workhouse By John Dawson (farmer)
Like many farms in our area, ‘Bleak Bank’ is a traditionally managed stock rearing farm, which means we put a lot of effort into helping our cows and sheep have babies so that we have animals for sale to the more specialist farms in more productive parts of the country. For instance, our gimmer (girl) lambs born in April will be sold in September to farms as far apart as Devon, Kent or Cumbria where we hope they will have long and productive lives producing lambs for the table. It’s the same for the cows. We rear dairy cows for our own small herd and any that are surplus, we are able to sell to dairy farms where they can better themselves. If you’re a cow, leaving ‘Bleak Bank’ is a bit like escaping the workhouse.
Bentham Auction Mart: The common factor in all this is the auction mart, in our case the one at Bentham. Wednesday is often referred to as market day around our breakfast table. We try to find something to sell as often as possible in order to keep the wolf from the door, although in our case the wolf is in the kitchen and we are all on the furniture. From August onwards we hope to have some lambs for sale that are heavy enough and well fleshed or ‘prime’. We treat lambs like diamonds, we dribble them onto the market in order to keep the price up, but it never works. In theory the auction mart is a typical capitalist system, up to 15 lamb buyers bid against each other to buy prime lambs on a Wednesday night but in practice they tend to share them out, “I’ll have these you have the next” sort of style. Our job is to produce good lambs of between 42 to 44kg, the auctioneer’s job is to get the best price. He is, hopefully, incentivised as the mart’s income is commission. He can sell lambs to a buyer who never even bid simply by knowing what that buyer normally buys, often it involves verbal jousting as the buyer denies even being there let alone bidding. Of course, all this helps the auctioneer justify the commission and his inflated salary. When the hammer goes down the peasant farmer leaves the ring sobbing gently.
This year like many other aspects of life things are slightly different. Normally I reverse up “t’docks” (unloading bays) and stumble from the Landrover to help the unloading and penning process. Next I wash out the trailer before proceeding in a leisurely manner to the office to hand in the movement licence, where I might pass the time of day with other farmers and discuss how bad the weather has been and how expensive everything is. Usually it is pointed out by the staff that I haven’t filled in the paperwork properly. I remember a neighbour being asked by staff to put his phone number on the form as required, his response was he didn’t know what it was, but he thought it had a seven in it “somewhere.”
Next is a trip to the auction café for a well-earned brew and sometimes supper. We have been known to go just for supper even with nothing to sell, as you can see romance isn’t dead at our house, although it can get very ill sometimes. The café is the beating heart of the auction, like going to give blood or a visit to the dentist you are never quite sure who you will see. Here is where agricultural disasters of all types are shared and, believe me, they are many and varied. The hay that got rained on, the terrible weather or that right good tup that died of “shear bloody awkwardness”. It’s here that farming talk rules the day; the price of lambs, the shortage of grass, the list is endless. It must be remembered that many farmers spend much time working alone, so the mart and the café are places to unwind in a funny sort of way with like-minded people who know
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how it feels when the one tonne bull stands on your foot because it’s happened to them. Incidentally, there is never any leftover food sent back to the kitchen, every plate is clean, brilliant.
At the moment things are rather different at the mart and they have a strict “drop ’n’ go” policy, which is similar to “wash ’n’ go” but with less water and shampoo, although some farmers could do with more of both. The “drop ’n’ go” means exactly that; the yard staff unload the trailer; the paperwork is done through the window and off you go home. Later an email will arrive with the weights, prices and the astronomical commission which is deducted at source. The current restrictions do mean that the mart can function which is very important to the farming community as it means they can sell animals and they will get paid. Hopefully before the sheep breeding sales in the autumn I will be able to go into the sale ring to sell our lambs and witness the poor trade first-hand, I have even heard rumours of the café doing takeaways, how romantic is that?
British Wool asks Farmers to Stay Tight-Knit with them By Carol Moffat, Project Manager and Coordinator for the Farmer
Network Ltd (015396-21602 or 07917- 666514)
The Farmer Network continued its series of online events, focusing on an update from British Wool regarding the current market situation. Gareth Jones, Producer Marketing Manager from British Wool, explains the detrimental effect that Covid-19 has had on the wool market.
The global cross-bred wool market slowed significantly in February 2020, shutting completely at the beginning of March and slowly starting to operate now as lockdown measures are relaxed. February to May is usually the busiest selling period of the year and the market closure has resulted in approximately 7 million kgs (26%) of the 2019 clip not being sold.
25% of the annual wool clip is sold to China and the wool trade saw the effects of Covid-19 well before lockdown as China stopped buying. Although China has now been out of lockdown for a couple of months, the market remains quiet and many companies have changed their operating practices and are now making PPE equipment, rather than their usual goods. Taking that into account along with the type of products British Wool goes into, mainly carpets both domestic and commercial for airports and hotels, and it’s not hard to see why the price has dropped while the economy has been at a standstill. British Wool have been operating remote auctions to try and keep the market moving as much as they can.
Large wool producing nations such as Australia and New Zealand are experiencing the same problems. The average British wool price for the 2019 clip is 32p/kg, the price farmers receive will vary dependent on the type of wool they produce. Gareth told the group that although the prices are disappointing, British Wool are still accepting all types of wool and urged farmers to send their wool as normal rather than disposing of it in other ways.
British Wool continue to work on marketing the product, Gareth explained that they are working very closely with the Chinese market and opened an office there in 2018. The demand for a premium market has risen in demand and they have recently launched a premium bedding range with a brand called ‘Lovo’. The demand for clothing has risen in recent years and British Wool are working with two universities exploring options for new clothing ranges as well as face masks. These are the consumers of the future, working with environmentally sustainable products.
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News from the Fells – Lockdown Easing
By Helen Wilkinson
After a rather wet month, the Hyndburn is suddenly full again and the moorland is dotted with bright spears of purple foxgloves. Some of the sheep have been looking a bit bedraggled, trailing streamers of wool behind them, but an increasing number are freshly clipped and marked. The swallows nesting in our shed eventually raised four chicks and we have had a lot of young blackbirds, sparrows and thrushes. The sparrows in particular had a lovely time eating all the grass seed intended to turn a patch of moss into a lovely grass lawn!
The churchyard has at least one orchid in the wildlife area and some fabulous fungi (see photo right) growing on the trees. As planned the church was cleaned and the doors opened on June 15th so that this tranquil space could once again be used for quiet prayer. Today the first service of Holy Communion was led by Rev Mark Cannon.
Tatham Fells School has been open for three days per week so all the children will have had the opportunity to be in school before the end of the summer term on Wednesday. Online lessons have continued for the children at home. Plans have been approved to build an outdoor classroom in the key stage 1 area and this will happen during the summer holidays.
Some members of the WI committee met, and plans were made to have a summer picnic instead of the usual trip. Becky Dobson has been busy in the sensory garden at Lower Houses but as yet has no plans to re-open the gardens. As lockdown eases the roads are busier but people are able to meet with friends and family and we are enjoying the community events that can now take place whilst adhering to social distancing guidelines.
Go Wild Week (Week Beginning Monday 10th August) By Doris Rohr (on behalf of BEST Climate Action group)
Many of us have been getting to know the countryside around Bentham better during lockdown. We’re arranging some events in August to give you a chance to explore local wildlife along the Wenning a bit more deeply.
Tuesday 11th August 2pm: Family Friendly Sketch Walk:
Doris Rohr will guide an outdoor sketching walk along the Wenning up to Staggarth Farm. Meeting at the cattle grid below St Margaret's church at 2pm, we will cross the bridge and turn into Lane Foot Road for a leisurely amble along the upper Wenning.
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Please bring your own drawing materials, from wax crayons or felt tip pens to biro, a sketchpad or exercise book, preferably unruled! Family groups are welcome. Please register with me on [email protected] stating how many participants from one household will join.
Wednesday 12th August 2pm: Wildflower Walk:
Sue Halsall will lead a walk along the same route as Doris's, to look at wildflowers. Meet at the cattle grid below St Margaret's church at 2pm and bring a camera and flower identification book if you have one. Please contact Sue to book a place at [email protected], stating how many participants will be from one household.
Setting a Moth Trap Date: t.b.c. weather dependent
Did you know that we have over 2,500 different types of moths in the UK? Some are more colourful than butterflies, others look like they've come straight out of a Lord of the Rings film! In August, Anne Thwaites will be setting up a moth trap and inviting locals of all ages to explore what we've caught the night before. No moths will be harmed of course. We will need a warm dry night so date and location to be confirmed. If you'd like to join us please email Anne by 7th August [email protected] letting her know how many participants will be from one household.
Accompanied children are welcome at all these events. We will be keeping physical distance and will limit numbers, so you do need to register with the organiser. Please bring some hand sanitiser with you, and wearing gloves and masks is optional. We will be out of doors all the time, so dress for whatever weather is going on and for following footpaths of varied quality.
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Police News Your Safer Neighbourhood Team covering the Bentham, Ingleton and Settle area are PS1006 Paul Evans, PC274 Andy McClurg, PC188 Jane Carpenter, PC830 Barbara Parsons, PCSO5561 Jayne Grace, PCSO3572 Helen Stringer and PCSO3649 Amanda Preston, who will be keeping you updated on recent crimes and incidents in Bentham and the surrounding area.
Reports have included - Fraud incident, civil disputes, abandoned call, pony and cows on road, vehicle blocking entrance, sudden death, Covid-19, lost property, damage to road
sign, mental health concern for safety, anti-social behaviour and a neighbour dispute.
50 incidents were reported between 10th June and 11th July 2020. There were 9 incidents relating to young person’s homes and school.
10th June - chainsaw stolen
10th June - burglary
10th June - motorbikes stolen
10th June - a crime involving violence
13th June - anti-social behaviour concerning licensing
18th June - road-related offence concerning a quad bike
21st June - vehicle stolen from Mewith Lane
24th and 28th June - criminal damage
28th June - suspect circumstances on Springfield
30th June - a crime involving violence
2nd July - tent on playing fields, checked all in order – a charity event (see pages 1 and 2)
4th July - anti-social behaviour by youths with fireworks on Grasmere Drive
5th July - suspect vehicle on industrial estate
5th July - attempted quad bike theft from outbuilding
6th and 11th July - domestic incident
9th July - a crime involving violence
10th July - a domestic crime
11th July - a road-related offence with criminal damage
Other Areas:
Between 12th and 22nd June there were 5 burglaries in the Ingleton area when trial
bikes, mountain bikes, power tools and garden tools were stolen.
Please report incidents at the time on 101 or 999 if urgent.
If anyone would like to sign up to Craven Community messaging, then please visit –
www.northyorkshirecommunitymessaging.org
Contact Information:
1 Ring 999 in an emergency or to report a crime in progress
2 Ring 101 to report incidents or provide information
3 Ring Crime Stoppers on 0800-555-111 to remain anonymous
4 E-mail [email protected]
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Fruit and Vegetables in your August Garden
By Joyce Knapp
Wow it's August already, how time has flown this year as we may have been able to focus a little extra time on nature in general, and gardening in particular. As I write this in mid-July, it is worth noting that the weather has settled into a rather better rhythm for us gardeners, with a few dry days interspersed with a few wet ones. This is very helpful as it keeps the plants growing strongly without too much intervention from us with a watering can.
If we are fortunate enough to have either a vegetable garden, or better still an allotment, we will no doubt be busy gathering in the crops from our plot this month. We may already have lifted alternate carrots and beetroot to use whilst still at the 'baby veg' stage, thereby allowing more room for the rest to grow on to a much bigger size. Now is the time to start selecting summer cabbages and cauliflowers to lift, taking time to remove any large weeds growing in between the remainder. Along with ordinary peas, I am trying out a variety of sugar-snap peas for the first time this year and these are already producing juicy young pods, ready to be picked and lightly cooked. The other peas never reach the pot because they are really good eaten fresh from the pod. If we are growing Brussel sprout plants they will definitely need staking now, to help them stay upright through the buffeting gales of winter. Also, the ground around the base of each plant needs to be very firm, otherwise each little sprout will start to open up instead of being the firm little ball we either love or loathe with our Christmas dinner.
If we are lucky enough to get a warm, dry spell this month, we can lay the leaves of onions on the ground in order to help them ripen, before lifting to store once the leaves have turned a nice golden brown. If the weather doesn't oblige, we may have to resort to drying them on racks in a shed, or a shady area of a
greenhouse.
In the fruit garden, we can do the apple trees a favour now by removing any whip-like upright growth, known as 'water shoots', cutting them back to within about three leaves of their base. This will encourage fruiting spurs to develop ready for next season and stop all the goodness going into the new shoots that we have removed. This year many of us have little or no fruit on apple and pear trees and this can be attributed to the adverse spring weather when we had both a late hard frost and some cruelly cold east winds; who knows, maybe next year they will crop even better having had a rest.
Moving over to the ornamental garden, there should be very little to do this month other than watering in dry spells, dead-heading annuals and some shrubs and maybe tying in any stray plants that are becoming a little unruly.
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Bentham Taxis
Ian Whitaker Eight Seater
Tel: 015242 62462 Mob: 07768 571407
“If in doubt give Mr Whits a shout”
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Tentative First Group Walks Since Lockdown
By Kate Rowe
By the time this is published we may have tried out our first Footpath Walk since early March, by walking locally in groups of up to six, setting off at different times and booking a place on the walk in advance, as suggested by the Ramblers Association. It will have been a tester for future plans. Although the chance of catching Covid-19 outside is much less than inside, we still all need to be taking care and respecting social distancing, which is still 2 metres where possible. I'm lucky to have been able to walk with several different people each week, at varying distances and speeds, but with only one person at a time. It has felt very safe and it has been easy to keep 2 metres apart. Hopefully it will feel as safe walking in a larger group.
I've been looking out for caterpillars on nettles on my walks and, although not seeing very many, I was pleased to see three large groups, probably small tortoiseshells, on nettles on the green lane above Thornton Force. We also saw what appeared to be High Brown Fritillaries which are known for being Britain's most threatened butterfly. That's the fun of walking, you never know what you are going to see! On the moors above Hawes, there was an enormous toad. We were told there were red squirrels in woods along Hardraw Beck, but didn't see any, although when repeating the walk the next day, my friend saw one. After the recent rain, the river was still full, making the waterfalls quite spectacular. Lunch was enjoyed by the River Ure, watching the sand martins swooping up and down. My garden is rarely visited by ladybirds, but walking up to Victoria Cave above Settle, there were lots of them to be seen. Luckily on all of these
walks there has been very little litter, but countrywide and locally the amount of litter dropped, and lack of respect for the countryside, has been appalling, a situation which needs to be addressed. There are many people who have voluntarily picked up litter, and their efforts are very much
appreciated. We are probably going to postpone to next year our Annual Meal which is due to take place in September, and a decision about the AGM in November has yet to be made.
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Notice
TAYLOR
Anne and family would like to thank everyone for the cards, flowers and messages of support after the sad loss of Ronald.
Also a special thank-you to all the doctors and staff at the Bentham medical centre and the staff at Spinal Home Care, The Old Vicarage Nursing Home and Jimmy Macdonald and staff at Brown & Whitaker funerals for their professionalism.
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Settle Chimney Sweep Services Providing a Clean & Professional Chimney Sweeping Service.
Pots, Bird Guards, Cowls, Carbon Monoxide Detectors Supplied & Fitted. National Association of Chimney Sweeps
(NACS) Qualified.
Tel. 01729 823683 Mob. 07815 285321
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Busy Buzzy Bees in Bentham
By Sandra Silk -Email: [email protected]
Thousands of newcomers to Bentham are settling in nicely, thanks to a £750 Champion Bowland grant plus £250 from Riverside Caravan Park and a £175 donation from an Ilkley resident. The new arrivals are black bees brought to Bentham by Mat Young of Enable Disability who has set up Bentham Buzzy Bees.
They and their queen bee are living in woodland and already exploring the area. Local people have raised money by buying packs of wildflower seeds for planting to attract bees that fly three to six miles for pollen. Mat, along with volunteers, is learning beekeeping skills to be shared with community and disabled groups. The plan is to build up to 29 hives. Mat said’ “We have so much appreciated Champion Bowland’s support in getting our project started.” Champion Bowland grants support community-based projects that benefit the environment, local communities and visitors in the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. For more information about grants, visit www.championbowland.org.uk
Bentham News Advertising Rates:
One eighth page £18 local—£25 non local One eighth page colour £23 local—£30 non local One quarter page £35 local—£48 non local One quarter page colour £46 local—£56 non local One half page £80 local—£105 non local One half page colour £105 local—£125 non local Flyers £150 commercial Flyers £75 charity Pages 2 & 3 Spotlight Double Page Spread—advertising feature—£150 People Thanks etc. 10p per word For sale/let/commercial 20p per word
10% discount on 3 or more ads booked in advance Send to [email protected] (or call 07770 801591)
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Low Bentham and District WI By Kathryn Brownsord
At last we have some restrictions lifted and we have to now ‘Stay Safe’ and use our common sense in all situations. We still cannot have our monthly meetings, or even our committee meetings, but the Federation will inform us when they expect us to be able to meet again.
However, some of our ladies travelled independently to Clapham and walked, socially distancing, up past Clapham lake to the cave and then on to Trowgill, and thoroughly enjoyed themselves, so maybe another walk will be organised soon.
I still miss our monthly ‘Craft and Chat’ meetings with lunch served at one of our member’s homes. I have been busy and have crocheted a strappy sun top as part of my granddaughter’s 16th birthday present, which thankfully fitted her as I haven’t seen her since February.
In the spirit of the WI, we have been picking all our fruit: strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries and black- currants, and batch-baked lots of fruit pies together with making jam. The garden has given us lots to do while we have been in lockdown.
Please still keep in touch with one another and above all, stay safe.
Where’s my copy of July Bentham News? By BN editorial committee
That was what could be heard from a lot of Bentham people on 1st July. We have to hold up our hands and admit it was our mistake – still in lockdown with some shops and other outlets still closed, and unsure how many of our deliverers would be happy to deliver BNs door-to-door, we cutdown the normal print run of 2,200 to 1,500. BIG mistake. All our deliverers were
amazing and volunteered to do their delivery rounds (BIG thanks to them). But that meant we hadn’t got enough printed copies for everyone.
1,500 of you were lucky enough to get a copy of the July Bentham News, which we were very proud of as it was colourful, and full of interesting articles and advertisements. If you’ve finished with yours and want to pass it on to someone who didn’t get one, please do, but also you can read it, or even have it read to you on line at our website, www.thebenthamnews.co.uk ……. (just tap ‘Audio’ at the top of the page).
We have learned our lesson, and have printed the usual 2,200 copies of this August BN, so just sit back and enjoy it.
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Mandy’s Food Blog This month was my first chance in a long time to have a meal cooked by someone else. My friend Ange has given me permission to pinch it for this month’s blog as it was really, really tasty. So, this is her take on 'Bunny Chow', which she made with lamb, but don't worry, no bunnies were involved. Served in a bowl made from a loaf, this South African-inspired curry dish is quirky and delicious.
Slow-Cooked Lamb Bunny Chow
Recipe and photo by my friend Angela Chapman, who says you can also use chicken or beef. Traditionally in South Africa this is cooked in a cast iron potjiekos pot, but I make do with a slow cooker. I like my curry hot, but my advice is to start with a little curry powder and keep tasting. This can be served with tomato salad.
2 tsp oil 2 onions 1-2 tsp hot curry powder 1 tsp garam masala 1 tsp chilli powder (optional) 1 kg diced lamb 3 cloves garlic – crushed ginger (1”-2” piece grated, or 1 tsp powder) 1 tsp hot curry paste 1 lamb stock pot 1 can chopped tomatoes ¼ can coconut milk 2 potatoes – cut into cubes 3 carrots – sliced ½ tsp sugar 1 tsp salt cornflour (if needed for thickening) 2 loaves white unsliced bread
- Turn on slow cooker to low - Heat some of the oil in a frying pan and fry onions for 5 minutes until soft - Stir in some curry powder and garam masala until pan becomes sticky, don’t burn it! - Remove onions from frying pan into slow cooker. Make sure to scrape the sticky curry powder out of the pan (may need to add a bit of water) with wooden flat spatula and add to the onions. - In the same frying pan, heat rest of oil and fry lamb, garlic and ginger and again throw some curry powder to coat and repeat the steps with the sticky pan. Once the meat is lightly browned, remove all ingredients into the slow cooker. Scrape the pan for extra tastiness. - In a jug, mix chopped tomatoes, thick and creamy coconut milk, sugar, salt and pepper, lamb stock pot and curry paste. Give it a good stir and pour into slow cooker. - Place the lid on and slow cook on low for 4-5 hours. - Taste and decide if you want it hotter and add more curry powder if needed. - Add potatoes and carrots and stir well. Turn slow cooker up to high for 3 hours or until potatoes are soft. - For the last hour take lid off to allow the sauce to thicken (or add cornflour if needed). - To make 4 bread bowls, cut your loaves in half with the crusts on all sides. You can use the centre of the bread to dip into your curry. - Put the curry and sauce into the bread bowls – and eat!
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Bake Bread
Calligraphy
Chess
Crochet
Cut Hair
DIY
Flower Arranging
Gardening
Grow Leeks
Knitting
Mahjong
Meditation
Mixology
Origami
Painting
Plaster Ceilings
Play the Piano
Speak French
Stencilling
Tic Tok
Yoga
Zooming
Puzzles in August
J S X U J P Z V N K Y V E Q X J M M K B
F C H G E S I V Q Z S F D W B R O J K B
G A T G N P A Q N Y E Z I I G T G N Y S
Z R R E N Y F G N I T T I N K S R Z M A
P W Z C T I O N R Y L N I F Y F G L L B
E Y U O A D T I R G O G H L G R W C F C
R O N M Y N A N N Z N Z D N O N F G Z C
W G M O V H M E I A A I R W L L V W R F
T T H R T C J D R A I W L D O V G T M J
P R I U D N C R F B P E K L X R Y P E Y
C P C C S E A A C H E S S P I Y Z Z D H
Z H Q M K R L G I K H K Y W M C O Q I V
D J D L E F L E S Q T M A H J O N G T J
V C D W G K I T H N Y R S B M E H E A A
O A O I M A G I R O A T A I T D H S T Q
P L A S T E R C E I L I N G S C R K I S
F E N S O P A T Z O P G K G O X A I O T
Y R O U R S P O D L Q E U R F J A N N L
M L C G T A H K N X G G C T W U R Q V H
F E D V M Y Y K P S T K G U S I N J H Y
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Easy Medium
Hard
Answers.
The answers to these, and
all previous puzzles, are
on our web pages.
Also, try out the new Quiz,
by The Man in a Van.
It’s puzzling!
Lockdown is slowly being lifted.
This month’s word search
contains a lot of the skills we have
been mastering (or not!) during
the last 4 months!
Enjoy!
Sudoku The objective is to fill a 9×9 grid with digits
so that each column, each row, and each of
the nine 3×3 subgrids that compose the grid
contain all of the digits from 1 to 9.
7 5 9 3
5 3
4 6 5
9 2 8 1 3
6 8
5 8 7 9 4
5 2 4
2 9
6 4 5 7
3 8 1 7
9 2 1 4
7 8
1 2 5
7 2 5 9 8
8 6 1
1 2
4 2 9 5
5 6 2 8
1
5 7 6 1
6 8 1 3
5 1 7 2 4 8
5
9 2 4 7 1 5
3 8 5 6
8 9 6 7
3
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Answers on page 29
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Nature Our Friend or Our Enemy? By Timothy Fox
The next edition, number 6, of our quarterly eco-magazine, Caring For God’s World, will focus on our relationship and attitudes to nature and our treatment of it. For previous issues of the 12 page booklet, see https://www.ingleboroughchurches.org.uk/aboutus/ecomagazine
For the next edition I am looking for stories which illustrate the different ways we react to the so-called environment. Is nature our enemy or our trusted friend, our rival or our ally? Somebody recently wrote a piece with the headline, Stop Romanticising Nature – Start Defying It!
Please send stories or short articles or quotable quotes by 15th August to me at 40 Lakeber Avenue, Bentham or [email protected].
Picture taken in the Looking Well garden, summer 2012.
ANSWERS TO QUIZ ON
PAGE 27:-
1. High Bentham
2. Austwick
3. Lancaster
4. Low Bentham
5. Ingleton
6. Greystonegill
7. Mewith
8. Wennington
9. Morecambe
10. Giggleswick
11. Ribblesdale
12. Penrith
13. Kendal
14. Grassington
15. Skipton
16. Preston
17. Settle
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We have lots happening via our Zoom sessions, from relaxing Mindfulness on a Monday through to Mental Health and Wellbeing Art on a Friday, and we have recently launched new cooking, singing and movement sessions. Something for everyone, see below for more details:-
Pioneer Projects is Zooming
By Lynda Graveson
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Jenny Durrant delighted attendees of our Monday Memory Loss groups by reading her poems and has continued to keep us smiling throughout lockdown. Here is another one of her creations to savour….
My Friend and Me
by Jenny Durrant
During this Lockdown a friend and I walk
Along peaceful lanes where we can talk
We’ve walked in spring, when the new buds burst
And now into summer, quite hot at first
The painted stones have brightened our day
We search for them, hidden along the way
We’ve been invited to see a garden so fair
An absolute gem we never knew was there
The wildflowers have been a picture to see
There will be berries this autumn, thanks to the bees
The beautiful homes at Riverside
We’d love to have a look inside
The river itself, so peaceful and cool
Watching the wagtails skimming the pool
Sometimes we meet acquaintances old
And stop for a jaw and a tale to be told
There is always something different to see
And it passes the time for my friend and me
Bentham Community Library New Select & Collect Service
From Wednesday 5th August we will be offering a Select & Collect and Book Bundle Service from Bentham Library. This service offers a contactless service for customers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Book bundles of up to 4 books can be made up from existing stock, for example, this could be a selection of board books for the under 5s or a selection of thrillers for adults. Customers contact the library and give details of their reading preferences and a selection of books will be put together for collection. NYCC Libraries Online Catalogue lists the books currently at Bentham Library and you can find more details by visiting https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/bentham-community-library
Customers can access the Book Bundles and Select & Collect service by telephoning 01609 534533. If there is no reply, please just leave a message on the answer machine and someone will ring you back, or you can email [email protected]
Although the library remains closed to the public, books can be collected and returned from the foyer at Pioneer Projects on Wednesdays between 10am and 2pm, and we hope to extend the hours of this service in due course. All returned books will be quarantined for 72 hours.
Bentham Community Library Update
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Punch Bowl Hotel 015242 98040
www.thepunchbowlhotel.co.uk
Malaysian Takeaway Restaurant & Pub
Fusion of British and Malaysian food. To eat in please book.
Camping and campervan site, Pub, Eatery and
Takeaway
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Two July Town Council Meetings: By Howard Matthew
1. On Monday 6th July 2020 Councillors in attendance on-line were: Adams, Burton, Bridgeman, Hill, Marshall, Stannard, Swales and Taylor (Chair).
County Councillor Ireton reported that Trade Waste could now be brought to Settle Recycling Centre. It was with great sadness that District Councillor Linda Brockbank reported that Angus Fire had made forty people redundant which means that only one hundred positions remain at their site in Bentham.
Two requests were made for finance to provide support for Covid-19 related activities: The request from Bentham County Primary School was approved, and that from Bentham Youth Café was considered and further details were requested before a decision could be made.
Re-opening of the Town Hall Toilets: There was some discussion about how this could be done, as there would be requirements for sanitising and signposting to be considered to prevent people from entering the main Town Hall. It was decided that the toilets should be opened between 10am and 4pm, daily excluding Sundays, and that detailed cleaning would take place at 12noon and 2pm.
Although the Tourist Information Point will remain closed, it was proposed that guides should be displayed explaining what is currently available in Bentham.
River Wenning Flood Group: Cllr Stannard reported on a meeting with representatives from Wennington. Forming a joint group from Bentham and Wennington was suggested and agreed, but it was decided to keep these discussions limited to local residents.
Donated Benches: It was agreed that as these benches were ‘donations’, the Town Council will own and replace them where necessary. When benches are replaced it was agreed that the plaques should be returned to the donors, who would be given the opportunity to donate another bench.
Other News:
The Bentham Bonfire will not take place this year.
The children’s play area will be opening shortly, but users must remember to abide by the current government guidance.
One of the Alms Houses is being refurbished.
2. On Monday 13th July 2020
Councillors in attendance on-line were: Adams, Burton, Bridgeman, Faraday, Marshall, Stannard and Taylor (chair). County Councillor Ireton and District Councillor Brockbank were also in attendance. ……………/Continued on page 35
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All joinery work
Undertaken
Including uPVC doors & windows
Call Jonny Lawson on:
Mob: 07855056263
Tel: 015242 42452
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………/Continued from page 33 New Planning Applications: The following were all approved and will be passed to Craven District for agreement:
Demolition of barn and construction of agricultural building at Bentham Hall, Low Bentham Road, LA2 7HS.
First floor bedroom extensions and single storey side extension to house and
swimming pool extension to rear of garage at Blossom Barn, Birkwith Lane, Low Bentham, LA2 7DF.
Application with a view to renaming the existing property at 14 Moons Acre, High Bentham LA2 7BL.
The Town Council also considered the offer to fund measures which would enable the high street to reopen safely during Covid-19. This has a short deadline, but the council came up with a proposal which included planters, money for signage and other costs which would be done in conjunction with local shopkeepers.
Due to the Covid-19 situation, town council meetings are presently held online. However, this does not mean that members of the public cannot observe proceedings. If you wish to attend, please email the Town Clerk at:-
[email protected] who will provide you with joining details.
Settle Photographic Group Annual Exhibition Online By Gill Pinkerton
Covid-19 is not going to stop Settle Photographic Group from holding its twelfth Annual Exhibition of members’ images this year, but it will be online only. You can see all the photographs on the SPG website from 1st-31st August. Go to www.settlephotos.org, press a link and you will be there. Enjoy over 70 photographs covering all sorts of subjects from wildlife, the countryside, trains, humour and much more.
Four examples from the exhibition overleaf….
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Aquilegia by Gill Pinkerton above. Post Industrial by Yvonne Fairclough below.
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Derwentwater by Nick Burton above. Buttermere by Nick Burton below.
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Now the Big Yellow Crane is Moving Again, What Next?
By Keith Hartley
I know that many of us in Bentham want to know how things are progressing on the building site which will become our won-derful Extra Care Facility, ‘Bowland View’. Obviously, we have all been aware that since 24th March the site has been closed, and that work only recommenced there towards the end of June.
I’ve spoken to Catherine Hay at Housing 21 and she tells me that whilst work has now resumed on the site it will, for obvious reasons, only be working at around 70% capacity. Housing 21 have agreed an extension to the contract with the builder and are now working to a completion (hand-over) date of 24th July 2021. This is actually a bit earlier than I thought it might be given the circumstances. They expect the first residents to be moving in about six weeks after the completion date.
There isn’t a waiting list as such, but if you register an interest, Housing 21 will let you know about launch dates, open days etc. Anyone wanting to express an interest in either working at or living in Bowland View, please contact:-
Catherine Hay
Extra Care Manager
Housing 21
Tricorn House
51-53 Hagley Road
Birmingham
B16 8TP
Architect’s photo of the finished site
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Bentham Older People Together (BOPT) By Liz Ryan (development worker BOPT) and Sue Bloxham
Dear fellow residents of Bentham
During June and July, we have continued to maintain contact with people who normally attend our lunch clubs, the Friday Lunch Club and The Community Link Café. This has usually been via a welfare phone call at least every week, if not more. All are saying how much they want to meet up and a few are taking their first steps back outside. A lot of the phone calls and other support has been carried out by 8 people from the Friday Lunch Club committee - all voluntary and all very much appreciated. �
Other phone calls to people normally attending the Community Link Café have been provided by the two staff employed: Andrea and Vanessa.
On 15th June we met via Zoom for our regular 6-week meeting. At that point we could not see the way forward to open during June and July however we have decided to make the best of opportunities that are out there. At present there are many organisations offering grants to support community work like ours so our chief grant application volunteer writer, Sue Bloxham, has been exceptionally busy applying for funding.
Sue Bloxham was recruited into Bentham Older People Together to help write bids for charitable grants. Sue has experience of writing similar bids in the past for Bentham Youth Theatre and for academic research funds before she was retired. It has been important to raise additional funds during the pandemic so that we can keep services to Bentham’s older people going at a time when our normal income from lunch club users and fundraising events, such as coffee mornings, has all but dried up. We have applied for six small grants to keep BOPT functioning during lockdown and for the next 8 months.
They are:
- Two Ridings Community Foundation Coronavirus Community Fund – awarded £1,000
- Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust – awarded £1,924
- Bentham Town Council Coronavirus Issues – awarded £888
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We are waiting to hear the results of our bids to The Lottery Community Fund, Independent Age and the George A Moore Foundation.
In addition, on 10th July we met with Age UK Settle who also provide Lunch Club facilities, to start wading through the minefield of how we get out of lockdown. It is really reassuring to know there’s other organisations going through the same as us. As I write this on 12th July, there is new guidance with regard to shielding people who are vulnerable from 1st August. So, when you receive this copy of Bentham News, we hope we will have some type of club in place!
Do you have any spare tablets or iPads that could be loaned to us? We are exploring the possibility of using them with mobile ‘mifi’ to connect people together. Many thanks to you all.
If you still need support, please phone us on 015242-63162, and if you don’t know anyone to ask then please phone the North Yorkshire County Council hotline on 01609-780780.
Volunteers are still needed. Please apply either online via www.thebenthamnews.co.uk or to [email protected]
Being a volunteer is about what you may be able to help with. You may have a different set of skills, such as Sue Bloxham who is able to write out grant applications. We are looking for people who could assist with IT skills such as web page design, minute writing or administrative tasks.
Please do get in touch for an informal chat.
We have also rekindled friendships old and new.
This is a letter we received from Bryan only the other day.
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Bentham Shows…What It’s Made Of Join in making this unique record of life during the Covid-19
lockdown in our community. By Rev’d Anne Russell, 07528-572072
What have you been up to? Tell us about the highs and lows of lockdown as we mark what it’s like to live in the parish of Bentham during this unprecedented time. Have you taken a photograph, or painted or knitted something which reflects what it’s really been like for you? Perhaps you’ve written a poem, played music, sung a song or posted a video of yourself or your family? Entries need to be sent to Facebook The Ingleborough Team Ministry, but please look out for other ways to send things in.
Here are the ‘Best of’ Categories:
• Photograph of people or a person during lockdown • Lockdown landscape, farm or garden photographs • Painting (including pebbles) • Craft/baking/cooking/decorating • Story, song or poem about lockdown or your experience of Covid-19 • Video (under 5 minutes please) • Acts of kindness (individuals and groups welcome) • Home schooling (disasters and victories welcome) Entries will be split into the usual age categories. All entries have to be done between 23rd March and 31st August 2020 by people or places linked to the Parish of Bentham. Local groups have kindly offered to help, such as those lovely people from Bentham Moving Forward, Pioneer Projects, Bentham Older People Together and Bentham Parish Church, St John’s and others. Local experts have agreed to help judge entries.
If it works out, I hope shops and community spaces may be willing to display some of the entries which will help business. Perhaps we can even make a book from it as a permanent record of this challenging time in our community’s life.
Deadline for entries: end of August and aiming to exhibit by the usual Bentham Show date of early September.
If you’d like to sponsor or help this one-off
‘Bentham Show’
please call me.
Photo left shows a
possible entry from Hoggs and Heifers!!??
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Lune Valley Swimming Pool to re-open soon…..
By Roger Carter
LVCS is delighted to announce that the Lune Valley Community Swimming Pool in Hornby is scheduled to officially re-open with a new timetable on Monday 31st August.
In the meantime, despite being regularly maintained and monitored during lockdown, work is required to bring the pool up to the high standards necessary to provide a safe environment for all and to apply staff training updates and social distancing protocols. In view of this and subject to current legislation and official advice, we are hopeful that the pool can be opened for pre-booked public use during the last full week in August, prior to the official re-opening, running with lower numbers and/or private bookings in order to raise revenue and test operational efficiency.
Please help us get our community pool back in the swim, we’d love to see you!
For further details, bookings etc. please check:
Website: www.lunevalleypool.com; Facebook: lune valley swimming pool
Email: [email protected] Tel: (01524) 805666
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What to look for in August By Sue Halsall
If you are walking near a river or a lake, you may notice a large plant called wild angelica that at first glance looks similar to hogweed, but its flower heads are a bit pinker and not as flat as hogweed. The stems are not as hairy and where the leaves attach to the stem, it has a large green leaf sheath. There is a garden variety too and this apparently makes better candied angelica, used as a cake decoration, though I haven’t seen it on sale for a long time. I took this photo on the path to Shaky Bridge, between the river and the railway line.
Last month, it seems the paragraph about aphids (greenfly) got lost in the ether, so here it is – see the July Bentham News for the photo. Gardeners do not want aphids on their plants because there are 400 or so species in the UK, and all of them suck the sap from plants and, as a result, weaken the plant or transmit viruses. On the whole, each species feeds on only one kind of plant, by sticking a tiny tube like a hypodermic needle into the vessels of the plant that carry sugars from the leaves around the plant. That’s why you don’t see them move much – they don’t need to. They give birth to live young at this time of year, producing huge populations. Then later in the summer, winged males and females mate and lay eggs that overwinter, which is why after harsh winters when the eggs are destroyed by frosts we get fewer greenfly. Aphids produce honeydew, a sugary
solution that ants feed on and in return, the ants protect the aphids. This honeydew is what causes the sticky blobs on your car if you park underneath a sycamore tree, and black mould can grow on it if it is left long enough. It’s not all bad news though because the aphids are food for ladybirds, hoverfly larvae and many birds. If you have the right plants in your garden, you should have lots of bumblebees visiting them and the most common ones are red tailed and buff tailed. When a queen comes out of hibernation, she starts a nest in a hole in the ground previously used by mice or voles. By August, you will probably see lots of workers (females) out foraging and maybe some new queens. Colonies might have up to 500 (buff tailed) or 300 (red tailed) bees and all die in late autumn, except the newly mated queens. The last one is a tree bumble bee, a relative newcomer and these nest in holes in trees or bird nest boxes.
All photos by Sue.
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Find us on Facebook the bentham news find us on the web www.thebenthamnews.co.uk
Citizens Advice – Here to Help You
By Tim Tribe – Trustee, Citizens Advice Craven & Harrogate Districts
This valued and valuable service is a local charity that doesn’t charge, doesn’t judge and just helps. It is here for everyone, who-ever they are, whatever the problem. People turn to Citizens Advice in times of need.
We are hoping to again have an outreach office in Bentham, and this may be sited in the Town Hall. Our research shows that in a year we would expect more than 60 people to access our services from Bentham’s population of around 3,000. However, in the year March 2019-March 2020 only 27 people did. There was a definite concentration of the over 60s and a larger than usual percentage of long-term sick included in that number. Issues covered included help with complex forms and procedures to claim benefits to which you are entitled, reviewing finances and helping people find a way out of debt, understanding rights and responsibilities at work and helping people whose relationships have broken down and don’t know where to turn. We feel sure that there are more people who would benefit from our advice than currently access the service. Anything that we can do together that would make it easier for your local population to access our services would, I am sure, be of benefit to your local community.
Please contact us either online 24/7 at https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk or by email via our website at https://cachd.org.uk/email or by phone at 01423-503591.
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