Nunnington News January 2021 Free NEWS For all the People of Nunnington, Ness &

Parish News | Event Calendar | Church News | January 2021

What a year It seems that the parish too is needing help please call… even different. There is a new if you just want a chat. Chatting This time last year, dear Margaret closeness. We have welcomed always welcome, especially from put in a request to pass the and met new residents, now those alone at home. Newsletter on to ‘someone who know our neighbours, have It will all be all right in the end; would enjoy it’. helped each other, swopped and if it is not alright, it is not the plants, books and advice. We end! Soon it will be. With a surge of enthusiasm, I have partied outdoors and thought, ‘I could do that’. Then I prayed together when we could. Clang realised that I couldn’t. So I suggested to Tracey that we For all our enforced ‘social could do it together and it would distancing’, there seems a ‘social Contents be fun…. closening’ and our little world is Parish news 2 - 5 better for it. Albert Rutson (son of Countryside matters 6 - 9 And then we realised that we William who bought Nunnington Pastoral 10 couldn’t… and so Jeremy got Hall in 1839) wrote : ‘asked to help’. Pandemic update 11 “No place in the world has so Newsletter update 11 This time last year, we had never much the feeling of being ’out of Short story 12 - 13 heard of words like Covid, the world’ as Nunnington. Let us Historic Nunnington 14 - 20 Corona or lockdown and we hope that changing times will not 2020 in pictures 21 walked happily into 2020. affect Nunnington too drastically”. Creative page 22 Noticeboard 23 Everything was different. Meanwhile, please keep looking Diary 24 Everything is different. after each other - anyone � Nunnington Village website Page 1 � Nunnington Facebook Group Nunnington News January 2021 Free

Parish News 1 - People

Four pages of hatches, matches, dispatches, arrivals, departures, events happened or about to happen - and a few photos.

Marian Rutter Now, after a long hard-working Arriving soon life, she is at rest. John and Hayley Blakemore A bright star in the sky.’ and their dog Meg are moving into the old Methodist Chapel at John, Clive, Jane, Lucy & Henry the end of January. We wish Rutter them all a very warm welcome. Arrived December Arriving in July A big welcome to Digby Edward Many congratulations as well to Smith, who arrived safely on 8th Jenny and Dom Sugars, who are December. He is now at home on expecting their frst baby in July. Rectory Lane, living with Mum Best wishes for a safe pregnancy Poppy and Dad Ben - their frst from us all. MARIAN RUTTER child. Margaret Timbrell The family send thanks to As you are probably aware, News from Scarborough! You everyone for their wishes, cards Marian Rutter died in the frst may have heard that Margaret and presents. week of January. Marian had Timbrell has been a bit under been ill for some time. However, the weather recently after a brush she was always so cheerful , with the Corona virus. interested and concerned for others, and our thoughts and She has been convalescing at St. prayers are with the family. Cecilia’s. However, we hear from Sue Binks she is back at Marian’s funeral is on Thursday Dulverton with a care package, 14th January at 13:30, limited to daily help and her books, 30 mourners. It is hoped the pictures and sea view where she cortege will drive through the is hopefully regaining her village on the way to the church strength and enthusiasm for life. to allow us to pay our respects. Our thoughts and prayers remain In the meantime, Marian’s family with you, Margaret. have written this tribute to all who cared for Marian. DIGBY SMITH

‘We would like to thank everyone The best Christmas present! in the village who has given us their support through this diffcult Dan and Esme Bulmer at West time. Barn received the best Christmas present they have ever had. Baby The surgery has Maisie was born safely and all is been wonderful in their support well. Maisie is a new sister for and all the carers, especially Tabitha and Betsy. Caroline, who has been a tremendous help to us and Many congratulations to both staying with Mum in her fnal families, and our hopes for a hours. long, happy and healthy life. MARGARET TIMBRELL

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Parish News 2 - Events

Food bank donations of left-over fabric. Nice, but not A huge thank you to all who enough to make anything useful, donated to the food bank before until she thought of masks. Christmas. Donations this year ‘Oh, the excitement of coloured were incredibly generous. elastic arriving in the post! And Deborah Digby took a car full of then the new fabric when I had food up to the Brambles Estate in used all my ‘bits’! Sad, really.’ Middlesborough the Monday writes Clang. after the Christmas carols and ‘I have lost count of how many delivered them to Jane Emson masks I have made, but making for distribution around the estate. them made me feel vaguely Jane sends her heartfelt thanks useful and raised £170 in and says that our donations have donations to Dog coast, the wild helped to make a real difference Rescue and the Dogs’ Trust. landscapes of the south to the many, many families with Pennines, and the dramatic whom she works. mountains of the lake District. The Turkey Auction The book was completed in After the sad cancellation of the Nunnington, the perfect setting over-65s Christmas lunch, our for the fnal edits before going to unused turkey decided to fnd a press. home for itself for Christmas. Our website It generously put itself up for Many, many thanks to Mary auction, raising £60 in the Thew for her hard work setting process for a grand parish post- up the parish website. Mary has virus bun-fght. now handed over the day-to-day running of the site to Fran Many thanks to Dave Wilson for Osborne and Tracey Phillips. the turkey, to Tracey Phillips and Fran is frst port of call for any Fran Osborne for organising the website suggestions or queries. auction, and all who placed bids. Thanks to everyone who bought one - I hesitate to say that I hope Table-top sale you enjoy wearing them, but I can say that I hope we can burn We are planning a table-top sale, them all in a few months time!’ when permitted, to raise funds for the village. if you are having a Dramatic Landscapes spring clean please hold on to Congratulations to artist Robert anything that might sell. Dutton from Rectory Lane, whose playground book Drawing Dramatic Landscapes will be published by Tory Harris asks for our support New Search Press on 3 February. in an appeal to raise funds for the playground in Hovingham. This is The book is the culmination of a wonderful facility for children Masks for the dogs nearly three years of painting and from both villages. Please When the last lockdown began drawing the wild landscapes of support if you can. Contact Tory Clang found a drawer full of bits the North Moors, the through our Facebook group.

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Parish News 3 - Community

Police Community Support Team

Annie Simpson, previously the Police Community Support Offcer (PCSO) for the Pickering area, has taken up a new appointment at Police as a Digital PCSO.

She is part of a team using social media platforms and forums to engage with and build rapport with local communities online, including welfare checks, real time conversations and safety awareness advice.

Digital PCSOs offer the same OUR BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS CAROLS IN THE WIND AND RAIN physical services and support people receive on the street. Christmas carols umbrella soon had ‘Panda eyes’ from mascara running down her Please support Annie and don’t hesitate to ask her for help via On Saturday, 19th December at cheeks!) the North Yorkshire Police 6.00 pm, we held our very Sue took the service, Adam website, Facebook page, Twitter original and unique Carol Collier played his portable account or by email. Service, outdoors and socially organ. We all sang! distanced, in the churchyard. Free virtual business The seven lessons were read by The church wardens hung Paul Jackson, Christine Foxton, coffee morning twinkling lights all around, Anya Clive, Adam Collier, Jo erected a gazebo tent for the Pickard, Richard Murray-Wells Lesley Barlow, an experienced Readers and Sue Binks, and the and Alastair Stewart. sales and marketing consultant is Village Hall committee provided hosting a FREE Zoom Sales and a large urn of much appreciated It was really wonderful. Heartfelt Marketing Insights coffee mulled wine. We had heaters and thanks to one and all who worked morning, on Thursday 28 Jan, a wood fre to keep us warm. so hard to create such a very 10.00am. special service. It was quite beautiful. It’s an opportunity to share Clang business development thoughts, At exactly 5.55pm, it started to questions and ideas, to support rain and blow, but nothing those that feel they would beneft daunted, a great many of us from help in these diffcult times. made our way to the churchyard and sang lustily, gripping our If this session might help you, service sheets in the teeth of the send an email to Lesley at strong wind and heavy rain, [email protected] and which somehow made it all the she’ll send you a Zoom invitation more memorable. (A certain lady to join the session. who had neglected to bring her

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Parish News 4 - The Arts & Crafts Festival

We overcame challenges from the virus and the weather and made the frst Nunnington Arts Fair a great success

With gratitude creating a piece of his art for the whole weekend. He moved to I’d like to offer my heartfelt Nunnington in early 2020 and it thanks to everyone who came felt really wonderful to see him and made the frst Nunnington introduce himself and his work to Arts and Crafts Festival such an the people of North Yorkshire. amazing success in December. We live in such a special and We had no idea quite how creative area. Artists seem popular it might be because the naturally drawn here, and I hope second lockdown had only just that we can have more successful ended, and we also had a festivals in the future to help forecast of quite poor weather for celebrate them. the whole weekend. Either could Mike MacBain have scuppered things.

Thankfully that wasn’t the case and we all had an amazing response to the work of the hand picked local artists and artisans.

I think I speak for everyone who was involved that a warm glow was felt across the whole village because we were able to be with such a lovely selection of people from across Ryedale and beyond. It was a real delight, and hopefully a taste of how life can be again soon.

One of the real highlights for me was seeing Robert Dutton

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Countryside Matters 1 - Lodge Farm

Kingfisher myths 'VICTORY AT ALL COSTS, VICTORY IN SPITE OF ALL TERROR, VICTORY HOWEVER LONG AND Nellie wrote in November of her HARD THE HARD MAY BE; meeting with a kingfsher, FOR WITHOUT VICTORY THERE IS NO SURVIVAL.’ describing how the birds have adapted to their environment WINSTON CHURCHILL with aerodynamic effciency and design.

There is, however, another side We are now out of quarantine Spuds are Us to the kingfsher. It appears in and back to the farm washing myth and legend and is often spuds in the beautiful snow and Well the festive period and New linked to wealth and health, so grateful that we all made it Year didn’t play out the way we bumping into a kingfsher can through a scary time and getting thought. Instead, the dreaded be regarded as luck. virus came to play at Lodge Farm, back to a new normal. picked up from a visit to York to The one thing that made such a see the lights. big difference was the kindness Sadly I started showing symptoms of family and friends, We were so on Christmas Day afternoon, grateful for people reaching out. meaning Jo and our family that Anya and Vicky dropped off we haven’t seen enough of this essentials and my step-daughter year have also contracted Covid! saved the day with a cream bun!

It is not something that any of you If anyone in the village ever want to catch, although we were needs anything please reach The bird was credited by the ill and are slowly getting back to out because if we can help, we ancient Greeks with the power normal it knocked us for six! will. to calm the seas and the skies. Alcyone, daughter of Aeolus, But we were lucky. I would urge To prove our sense of humour is the ruler of the winds, married you to get tested if you have any still alive and well, here is a Ceyx, the king of Thessaly. Ceyx type of cough as mine started as classic old Tommy Cooper gag: was drowned at sea and, in a ft the normal winter cough, "I said to the gym teacher: 'Can of grief, Alcyone threw herself certainly not continuous. you teach me to do the splits?’ into the waves where she was Also something that is not transformed into a bird - the He said: 'How fexible are you?’ documented widely: everyone halcyon or kingfsher - and has experienced a terrible eye I said: 'I can't make Tuesdays.” carried to her husband by the headache so watch out for this wind. Steven Rooke too. Alcyone was believed to make a foating nest in the Aegean Sea at the winter solstice and calm the waves for the last two weeks of December while brooding her eggs. Today we know this period, and other periods of calm and bounty as 'Halcyon Days’. May they return soon.

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Countryside Matters 2 - Jubilee Farm

Blessing the plough ridge in the centre. This was features. During a wet year, the known as Rigged and Furrow or crop growing on top of the ridge In the garden of Jubilee Farm Rig and Furrow. was likely to survive, whilst in drier weather, a good crop could there is a beautiful old horse- Ridge and furrow drawn plough used by David’s be harvested out of the furrow. father and grandfather for over a In times gone by, most of the The ridges also provided better hundred years. Each year, usually British landscape was covered in drainage, much needed in our in late January or early February a this corduroy pattern produced lower felds along the river banks. by ridge and furrow ploughing. 'Blessing of the Plough' service is Smallholdings held at the church and this old It created natural divisions used plough is central to the service. as boundaries when tenants Pre-war, we would have seen Due to the present lockdown drew lots for a small strip of land several smallholdings in our restrictions, we may sadly have to within their village. parish with many cottagers keeping pigs, chickens, and even postpone this. We can still see evidence of this a cow or two with most landscape here in Nunnington The plough would have been cultivating their allotments or today along Canada Lane, the pulled by two horses, starting on 'Canadas' to feed and support track toward over Low the left-hand side of the strip. themselves and the community. One horse is on the ridge and Street Bridge. The cattle and the other one in the furrow. As sheep from Jubilee Farm now Today these felds are where the plough turned the soil over, it graze in these felds, known as Jubilee Farm cattle and sheep moved it to the right. Green Hills, Canada Grass, Bobs graze, and the 'S' shape format of Shed and Low Side Grasses. the land produces up to a third On reaching the end of the strip, more pasture. When you are next But aside from the fancy patterns the plough was taken back down walking along the track or which added interest to the the other side, causing the soil to alongside the riverbank, see if landscape, the ridge and furrow build up in the strip's centre. Year you can make them out. after year, this slowly created a had several important practical

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Countryside Matters 3 - Nellies blog

Mud, glorious mud

Like many we celebrated a simpler kind of Christmas this year, somehow making it more memorable. Santa brought me my very own turkey! Karaoke was our entertainment; Turkey and I performed a duet on Christmas day! Watch my performance at https://youtu.be/WPcFNWNd3-A

Mum is still desperately awaiting the snow, but instead, we have had more rain! Over the past week or so the River Rye has been on food warning twice!

Whilst walking we could see the Muddy Paws river diverted across the felds in a Through the back door and onto the foors wet short-cut. We found a group Past the tall clock and into the hall of sheep stranded on a bit of Through to the lounge and onto the chair higher ground. They were not went the sloshiest slushiest sticky black paws primarily concerned, but I could see the danger and alerted the humans. We herded them across Seeing the trail of paw prints in shock the fow whilst I sat and watched Mum chased me and stretched out while I left the block from high ground. She tried to catch me, but I was too fast I ficked my tail, and the slabber was cast And with the rain comes the mud, We have had quite enough of it thank you very much. We dogs As Dad’s slushiest wellies slipped onto the rug have struggled with muddy paws. I noticed he’d laid a mud trail like a slug I have had more baths this month I leapt down and ran through the kitchen door than I can count. And off to my place where I slumber and snore

The Oxford English dictionary has other words that mean ‘Mud’ such I heard her cursing the wellie prints trail as slobber, slabber, slutch, As she grabbed a large mop and a full soapy pail lutulence, sloshiness and So I went to lie low and let owners clear up slushiness. I thought that slobber I know they’ll calm down, cos I’m only a pup! meant drooling saliva - that’s something us dogs are good at.

And as for the Great Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter mentioned last month. Sadly, with the night sky full of rain cloud, it was nowhere to be seen!

Nellie (helped by Mum & Dad)

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Countryside Matters 4 - Nunnington’s got talent

We had 11cm (4.5 inches) of rain in December, and frost in January. Some of our non-human talent relished the challenge, whilst others managed to stay aloof of the mud and wet.

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Parish Pastoral

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians) Valentine Reflections I was, of course, bitterly The Cult of Self disappointed that it was from Mum, as well as secretly The Cult of Self smothers self- comforted by what I knew – that awareness by labelling us as she loved me. But at that age, it’s individually special and unique. the romance of being loved from The Rule of St Benedict, written in afar that is exciting; it’s the thrill the sixth Century, sets out twelve of being a distant object of steps to humility. These remain longing – that’s what matters relevant in our secular world and when you’re thirteen and it’s can enhance our self awareness Valentine’s Day. in the face of the Cult of Self.

Then you fall in love. And then 1. Don’t cast yourself, your job, fall out of love. And you get older title or boss as god. Its your I am delighted that we have three and, maybe, fall in love in a legacy and the difference you young couples with 2021 different way and fnd the person make to others that counts. weddings booked to be you want to be with. And that’s solemnised and celebrated in the when, it seems to me, love 2. Adversity is pervasive. Don’t village church. All of them have becomes much more interesting, fght it; roll with it and grow. had to change their dates and as time goes by. It’s like a slim, 3. There is always a ‘higher think creatively about their smooth tree that grows thicker authority’. You don’t have full services in these Covid times. and tougher through the years, control so be prepared to accept beaten by rain and wind. It gets I rejoice when a couple invites direction from others bent and broken in places, all God into their wedding gnarled and lumpy. It’s messy 4. Life is full of things that are preparations and their married and beautiful, bare and ugly in hard, so be patient and give the life together, and have been so winter, and then green and ideas of others a chance impressed by the couples’ glorious when the light returns. cheerful resolve and adaptability 5. Don’t pretend to be something and am so grateful for the hope St Paul’s words above have been you are not. Open up, talk to with which they bless the regular recited in a million marriage others and share your problems worshipping community – from ceremonies, and they have 6. Be content with what you have the bottom of my heart, I wish lasted. them a Happy Valentine’s Day. 7. You are not as special as the For all their poetry, they are Cult would have you believe, so When we were young my mother about the reality of how hard it accept criticism and embrace used to send us each a can be to love, and what growth and new possibilities Valentine’s card – at the age when demands it makes on us. Not in a it mattered deeply if you didn’t depressing, joyless way – but in a 8. Learn from the wisdom of get one from a mysterious kind of magnifcent, extravagant those who have gone before admirer – in a red envelope, with act of faith that, whatever 9. Don’t spend your life telling the letters S.W.L.K. written on the happens in life, somehow love others how to run theirs. If you back. I remember she sent me ‘bears all things, believes all tell, they will simply rebel, so ask, and my sisters one each for a things, hopes all things, endures listen and provide a relationship couple of years maybe, with a all things. others can use for their growth. cheerful ‘love from Mum’ and a Rev’d Sue Binks row of kisses inside. Jeremy Deedes

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Pandemic and Newsletter Updates

Lockdown 3 rules • Accompany someone to a Newsletter update medical appointment We re-entered lockdown on 5th • Get your pet to the vet. We are all overwhelmed by the January. Happy New year! Education support, cash and pledges we received over the Christmas However, the ZOE chart of cases Colleges, primary and secondary period. We are now able to in Ryedale echoes the situation schools will remain open only for ensure the minimum print run of across the country and explains vulnerable children and the 25 for every edition this year, why this lockdown is even children of critical workers. All which will cover all those who harsher than before. Here is a other children will learn remotely requested a printed copy brief summary of the new rules. until February half term. 08/01/2021, 09:49 Thank you for your support! Early years settings remain open. We are, however, still in the Higher Education provision will process of establishing a Just remain online until mid February Giving page in collaboration with for all except future critical the Village Hall. This involves worker courses. submitting an application to Worship and life events HMRC for Gift Aid authorisation. Subject to local decisions, you If you have pledged to support can visit a church for communal us please be patient whilst John worship, to attend a funeral, visit Elphinstone gets this set up so a burial ground, or to attend a we can claim valuable Gift Aid. wedding ceremony. You should A reminder that we will not be follow the guidance on the safe publishing in February. We hope about:blankZOE DATA AS AT 7 JAN 21Page 1 of 2 use of places of worship and this bumper edition will entertain abide by the number limits. Stay at home to protect the NHS and inform you until the March. The above is a summary only. and save lives. You cannot meet Please refer to the Government Lost parcels socially with anyone you do not website for full details. live with or are not in a support Judging by the pages on the bubble with. This is the law. Need help? Parish Facebook page, a number Exceptions Remember that there are many in of parcels are going astray on You may only leave home to: the village happy to help if you delivery. Sue Elphinstone offers are in diffculty. Get in touch with this advice: • Shop for basic necessities us in the frst instance. And many • Go to work (incl volunteering) if of the shops we listed in the April you cannot do so from home newsletter are still delivering. Do • Exercise with one other person use them. once a day in your local area • Meet your legally permitted The ZOE app support bubble • Seek medical assistance Please download the app at • Attend education or childcare, covid.joinzoe.com and report where eligible your condition every day to • Visit someone who is dying or support the Kings College in a care home, hospice, or research project, and to receive hospital valuable pandemic updates.

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Melons in Love - É l’amore!

A delightful short story about food and vegetables from the sunshine of Italy

Two melons on a date. One melon said, “Honeydew you love me?” the other melon replied, “Yes, but we cantaloupe.”

For weeks now I have been Alfredo Alfredo’s ‘orto’ is in the bottom of exchanging produce with my Alfredo is a wonderful character the valley, and I can see it from neighbours. I’ve been sending (ex-Carabinieri!). Long strands of my terrace. To get there one has them apricots, greengages, fgs, grey and black hair fall down on to tackle the white road, which is and pears from my orchard. In a mischievous brown, sun- not for the fainthearted. return they have given me wrinkled face. His thick black The vegetable garden peaches, tomatoes, courgettes, eyebrows shadow those huge We arrive in the heat of the and those amazing bright yellow brown eyes, which look right afternoon. His land is fenced in courgette fowers. through you and suddenly, and ‘guarded’ by an old German twinkle with a hint of laughter. His I’ve cooked them, frozen them, Shepherd dog. It barked in a kind wonderful ‘baff’ would enhance made jams, bottled tomatoes of friendly way (I think) when we any bicycle! His smile is only and eaten far too much. So when entered the feld. Alfredo crooked because of a cigarette Alfredo, my gardener offered to positioned himself in front of the constantly attached to the corner take me down to pick some dog and said frmly ‘attenzione’! of his mouth. vegetables from his allotment I All of a sudden we were could hardly say ‘no’. Now I think about it, I’ve never surrounded by a variety of I would have deeply offended seen him without one. He’s tall, strange looking chickens, guinea him, and in any case I wasn’t and walks slowly and calmly with fowl and turkeys - pecking their quick enough to think of a a sense of purpose. In a pair of way around us and in and out of reason. ‘Just a little then’, I khaki trousers, a crumpled white the dog’s legs! Some ferocious replied, trying to sound cotton shirt and desert boots he’s animal that! enthusiastic! in control and has all the time in the world.

� Nunnington Village website Page 12 � Nunnington Facebook Group Nunnington News January 2021 Free ‘Andiamo’ he beckoned Ripe melons? Courgette fowers: dusted with sauntering in to the feld. I was ‘Let’s see which ones are ready’, four, dipped in egg and lightly just about to say how pretty the he mumbled through his fried (in olive oil). wild fowers were, but then I cigarette, which bounced up and Tomatoes: more sugo (always realised they were Italian weeds! down on his bottom lip as he useful) or maybe sliced and Alfredo bent down and started spoke. He rummaged around, neatly arranged with 'bufala’ picking the aubergines. After feeling the melons. ‘No, no, mozzarella cheese and basil and about six I tried to stop him, ancora no …’ (another puff of again lots of olive oil (‘Caprese’). ‘Basta, basta. ‘Just a couple of smoke) ‘no, not this one’. I asked Potatoes: diced and roasted with round ones’, he continued and him how he could tell when they rosemary, sea salt and (yet again) then started gathering tomatoes, were ready, as I wasn’t sure what olive oil. cucumbers and a few potatoes. his technique was. Was he feeling ‘Zucchini? How about a few for ripeness, smelling them or More courgettes! Oh, I’ll just courgette fowers?’ he was it size, or colour? grate them and fry them with suggested, but didn’t wait for my ‘Guarda!’ (look!) He pointed to onions, garlic and (of course) answer of ‘Perché no’. No point the small stem attached to the olive oil! But what to do with the refusing those lovely little melon. ‘If the leaves have melon … ? fowers. shrivelled up, then the melons are ready. Semplice! Here, take I put it in the cellar and forgot Melons in love this one.’ He handed me a huge about it for a few days. Then I ‘Cocomeri, meloni! ‘Adesso i ‘cocomero’. I guessed it weighed needed something healthy for meloni’ (Now for the melons)!’ he about 3kg. ‘You’ll know if it’s breakfast. I remembered the announced with pride. We been in love or not’, he teased. melon. It should be big enough moved closer to the middle of for six of us! I sent James down the feld, and I looked down at to ‘la cantina’ to retrieve the the many different melons, big fat melon. ‘Alfredo said it’s probably green ones, small yellow ones, … been in love’, I smiled. There all hiding under the weeds!. ‘Si were strange looks from the innamorano lo sai’ (they fall in family as I took the largest knife love you know), he smiled. from the rack and started to cut into the melon. It seemed to fall I looked on, puzzled. Perhaps my apart on it’s own, and there Italian wasn’t as good as I before us were two bright yellow thought. Did he say ‘fall in love’? I halves of the greenest ‘red’ know Italy has a romantic melon I have ever seen! We reputation as a country of lovers, looked in disbelief, and in chorus but I’d never associated it with sang, ‘this melon’s fallen in love!’ melons before. ‘Yes’, he puffed It was delicious. through his cigarette … ‘when I plant them close together they E allora? É l’amore! The vegetable challenge often fall in love.’ ‘Mmmmm’, I PS In my gardening guide and I sighed uncomfortably. At home, I struggled through the found the Latin name for the It was a hot August afternoon, kitchen door, shouting for help. watermelon is citrullus lanatus, and there was no shade in the The aubergines – that’s easy: and for the cantaloupe: cucumis feld. My mind was buzzing with thinly sliced, grilled and then melo. More interestingly, some vegetables, what to do with smothered with my wonderful varieties listed were: Black Sugar them, where to store them and Tuscan olive oil, pressed from my Baby, and Dixie Queen for the how to do it all while still fresh. 100 olive trees, maybe a touch of watermelon, and Romeo, Oh why in my recent move from balsamic. Sweetheart and Venus for the France, did I decide to leave the cantaloupe. big freezer behind! Jill Greetham � Nunnington Village website Page 13 � Nunnington Facebook Group Nunnington News January 2021 Free

The strange tale of the Nunnington Ghost

Rumours of the Nunnington Ghost have been circulating for years. Here is the ‘true story’ as told by two visitors to Nunnington in 1894!

FROM ‘YORKSHIRE TALES BY THOMAS MACQUOID, REPRINTED IN 2017 BY FORGOTTEN BOOKS

Next day we drove to the village tower—sheltered by a screen of skirts rastlin,” and hurried away as of Nunnington, so called from an tall fr-trees. These old thin if he had committed a crime. ancient nunnery which is said to scraggy trees, set north and west, From the church the road goes have stood on the site of the old within a loosely-piled stone fence down so steeply through the Hall. Leaving the river, we drove around the churchyard, give a village that we left our carriage up under the shady and splendid weird, haunted look to the place. and walked down the avenue of sycamores to the top "Ah knaws nowt…” picturesque, straggling street. of the Caulkley Hills. There is a The quaint houses are perched grand view across the moors as We asked the old man who on a high grassed bank on either far as Cleveland, while to the east showed us the church if he could side ; some of them have we could see across the Vale of tell us the legend of the ghost at gardens in front ended by a stiff Pickering almost to the coast. the old Hall, but the question seemed to trouble him. "Ah box hedge clipped into a formal On the top of this ridge, some knaws nowt aboot 'em," he said. I arch over the gate, from which a hundreds of feet above the fight of steps leads down into repeated my inquiry ; and then, valley, is Nunnington Church—old looking over his shoulder, he the roadway. On the left stands and grey, with a low crenellated whispered: "There's t' rastlin, t' another farm with a huge walnut-

� Nunnington Village website Page 14 � Nunnington Facebook Group Nunnington News January 2021 Free tree overshadowing the road, wanted to have all the land and Her just desserts? and before us at the foot of the money for him, and for that At last one evening he leaned descent is the Rye with its bridge reason she hated her stepson. . . . too far out of the window to see if and the far-off line of hills. Every one knew this, and pitied his brother was coming, and he the poor eldest son, but they is beside the fell out, and his poor little head dared not help him, or speak river, and we crossed the bridge was dashed to pieces on the kindly to him, for they all feared so as to get a better view of it. gravel walk. After that the Proud the Proud Lady. She kept a strict We wished to see the interior, as Lady was never happy again. She watch over every one. we had heard of a certain room would sit still for hours talking in hung with painted leather and The kind step-brother a low voice to herself, and every now and then she used to jump supposed to be haunted ; but The sound of her step was never up and hurry up the oak staircase the person we asked about it heard as she moved about, she as if she were looking for shook his head. "In Sir trod so lightly, only the rustle of something, and go into the Bellingham Graham's time," he her silk gown ; for she always painted room, and look out of said, "'twas different — ah, he was dressed in silks and satins while the window on to the place a foine man — he used to drive up her stepson had scarcely food to where her son was killed; then to London four-in-hand — but eat or warm clothes to wear. The she would sigh deeply and walk these fooaks is away fra t' Hall." only one who dared to comfort slowly back, and fve minutes the poor lad was his little brother, Nunnington Hall after she would do all this again. and he loved him very dearly. The old house looks weird and Whenever he could get away Finally she died too, and quite dreary, a heavy gray building with from his mother he used to steal different people came to live in two wings projecting towards the up to the painted leather room, the house. And often even now at river ; in front a neglected lawn, the room in which the eldest boy night the rustle of the Proud swept in the centre by the was shut up by himself, and take Lady's dress is heard as she drooping branches of a cedar, him cakes and playthings. One hurries up the stair, and she has and at the sides by large trees day when he went up the painted been seen to open the door of which partly hide the house itself. room was empty—the brother was the leather room, and look out of To-day there is no sign of life, not gone—no one knows how he got the broken window, and then a even smoke rising from the away or where he went. It is faint rustling of silk is heard as chimneys; the lonely old house thought he must have run away she goes slowly away… seems a ftting haunt for the spirit to the coast, and got on board a of the "Proud Lady.” Thomas & Katharine Macquoid ship and drowned. At all events, The story is best told by Annie he was never heard of afterwards. Keary in her delightful child's The Proud Lady was glad, but book, Mia and Charlie, the scene the little boy was very sorry; no of which is laid at Nunnington. one could comfort him. They Years ago a lord of Nunnington used to tell him how he was a was left a widower with an only great lord now, and had money son, and he married a fair young and lands; but he always said he wife; but she was as proud as she did not care for that; he wanted was beautiful, and she hated her nothing but his brother. He never stepson. When her baby was would believe that his brother born she hated the stepson still had really gone away. He used to more, and she wished for his go up and down the oak stairs a death. Her husband died, and great many times every day, and then she was very cruel to the walk round and round the leather boy. She (the Proud Lady) loved room, and call for his brother out the little boy very much, and of the window.

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The Last Train to Nunnington

The last ticket to Nunnington was issued on January 31st 1953, nearly seventy years ago. Time, possibly, for a little reminiscence and to welcome the new owners of the old station.

NUNNINGTON STATION LOOKING NORTH IN 1965 The article in the Gazette & Herald from the farm to the station to (kindly provided by John catch the early train to Marshall) tells how ‘the railway with eggs which she sold at the fell victim to the axe and the last market. passengers travelled the route in She also tells how 'we all used the 1953 and all traffc fnally stopped train' and that 'on special in 1964', having opened in 1871. Saturdays we went to York for 1s The photo in the article shows the 6d return’. last ticket to be issued (number With thanks to Tom and Karina 0250). 'I know it is the last ticket, Mulligan for the photos. See also because I was the person who these videos: issued it', confrms Norman Reece, who had moved to York https://youtu.be/8iHeDVM8ydM by the time the article was written. https://youtu.be/1p9h651nh4U THE LAST TRAIN HEADING SOUTH TO The article tells how Reece spent six years in the ticket offce before fnishing his railway career in York.

He was evidently upset by the closure and is quoted as saying 'If the passenger trains were still running today, I believe most of the railwaymen who worked on this line would want to be here. We were part of the community.'

Mary Cundall, who lived at Low Woods Farm, recollects walking THE BRIDGE CROSSING ON THE STONEGRAVE ROAD

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ALL PHOTOS, WE BELIEVE, WERE TAKEN BY PW HOWAT. APOLOGIES FOR ANY MIS-ATTRIBUTION AND CORRECTIONS WELCOME

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Wartime school in Nunnington

Over the next three pages we publish some of the follow-ups we received to our November stories of war time Nunnington In November, to mark account of the dense patches of snap but fear it will be mainly Remembrance Sunday, we fog at intervals along the road. As horses’ noses. published a few articles on it was freezing hard all the time Nunnington during the Second we had rather an icy journey. Just World War. These produced a before Brandsby the fog had furry of additional stories from lifted and we had the most readers as far afeld as Australia, glorious views of rime covered and it is a privilege to publish trees outlined against a brilliant these in this edition of the news. blue sky and Nunnington greeted us with […] sunshine.. A teacher’s view January 23rd 1940 Mererid has been a volunteer Poor Peter, the rabbit, and day-leader and researcher at Tweedledee and Tweedledum Nunnington Hall since 2009. She the guinea pigs are also having a kindly sent us a copy of Cynthia thin time of it because of the Harvey’s diary. scarcity of green food. Apple peelings and turnip chips in the According to the National Trust, morning and cabbage at night eleven pupils and three teachers, with plenty of bran and water are including Cynthia, were their daily portion at present. On Saturday last Col Fife told us evacuated from St Agnes School that the water wheel supplying in Leeds to Nunnington Hall on I manage to scrape up a few bits electric light for the house had 31st August 1939. Simon and of hedge-parsley in the partial frozen up. There was a prospect Jonathan Chalton were two of thaw but further snow storms of existing with only lamps and the pupils. They have a copy of a have covered it again. There was candles, and only a few of these diary written by Miss Cynthia another blizzard this afternoon, to be had in this house. Harvey, the sister of Miss Maud so unpleasantly thick that I was Harvey who owned the school. glad to turn home and get in. However he spent all Sunday morning with a gang of men Cynthia Harvey’s diary The village snow plough was thawing it with salt and warm hard at work - a lovely team of 4 It has not been possible to trace water, and by evening it was free horses, the frst ridden by one of Cynthia or her representatives, once more. We went to see it and the workers. I managed to get a and the possibility of copyright found the arched doorway subsisting is acknowledged by curtained with huge icicles like the Trust, even though there is no the entrance to a fairy grotto. indication Cynthia wished the diary to remain private. A With thanks to the National trust transcript can be seen at the Hall, for making this gem available and here are a few extracts: and we hope we can publish more extracts in due course. January 24th 1940 School photo! The second term and the ffth week of the Great Frost. We Hugh Mulligan expressed his arrived on the 11th in Mrs X's car, gratitude for helping him in his having driven most of the way quest for information regarding with the windscreen open on the evacuees who came to live in

� Nunnington Village website Page 18 � Nunnington Facebook Group Nunnington News January 2021 Free the village of Nunnington in 1939 Feasey and a lad called Leonard wheeled tipping carts in which and stayed for four years. One of were billeted in the Rectory, the mangel wurzel harvest and these children was the 10-year- home of the Rev’d Gill and his other crops were brought in. old Mabel Cope, his late Mother- wife. The two boys had never Feasey did his best to catch up, in-law. seen a house of such size and volunteering for tasks involving magnifcence. They were Hugh has provided us with an old farm machinery and the horses astounded by the Gill’s car (they copy of the annual school photo that provided most of the power. had never been in a car before). taken in 1940. Mabel is the child fourth from left in the front row; However, they were apparently a Robin Hood at Rose she would have been 10. The little put out at being told it was Cottage! picture shows all the evacuee common practice to touch the children from forelock to the lord of the manor Not a lot of people know that sent to Nunnington. should they meet him - which Rose Cottage on Low Street once they never did. played ‘host’ to Richard Green, the famous actor who starred in the title role of the BBC's early series of Robin Hood tales.

Ken Metcalf tells how, whilst renovating the cottage some years ago, a man called and asked if he could have a look around the cottage as he had been evacuated here during the war at the age of 5 years old.

One day whilst he was stood looking out of the window, a tank misjudged the corner and crashed into the front of the cottage. The driver was Richard Greene the actor who played MIDDLESBOROUGH SCHOOL AT NUNNINGTON, SUMMER 1940 Robin Hood.

An evacuee’s view The two ftted into school with little problem. They felt We also came across an extract themselves to be a little superior from Geoff Feasey’s book, A Very to the local children who they Ordinary Offcer. regarded as ‘gentle creatures’ by comparison. Feasey tells how he In the early part of the book, and Leonard were ‘undoubtedly Feasey describes his 1939 ahead of the villagers, schol- evacuation from Hull to astically. We tended to dominate Nunnington. He tells of his the class. And win the fghts!’ journey (by train, of course) to the distribution centre in However, the local lads took their Helmsley, from where he and a revenge!. They were in their own dozen or so others were sent to farming environment. [They] Nunnington. Feasey writes that knew about horses, harnesses, Nunnington is ‘is where the carts and crops, they were enduring memories of things allowed to drive the monstrous RICHARD GREENE AS ROBIN different began.’ beasts that hauled the heavy two- HOOD, C 1955 � Nunnington Village website Page 19 � Nunnington Facebook Group Nunnington News January 2021 Free

Miscellaneous parish history

Alf and Hilda Walker

Hilda Walker was Angela Shannon’s mother’s cousin and lived in Rosedene, Church Street, which Angela and her husband Dave revisited in 2020.

ROSEDENE NUNNINGTON PRIMARY SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM 1966/67

BACK: JOHN WARDLE, TIM ROOKE, ANDREW THOMPSON Angela frst visited Alf and Hilda (DEC’D), ANDREW WALKER, ALAN RICHARDSON, IAN (SAM) in 1971, when cooking was on a ROBINSON, REV DAVID G JONES. black leaded stove, there was one cold tap in the scullery, and FRONT: PETER SLEIGHTHOLME, DAVID WILSON, ANDREW an outside Elsan lavatory. PEACOCK, ANDREW SMITH, IAN WARDLE. Angela and Dave always had a lovely welcome: Yorkshire lunch chapel, nine working farms, bus Nunnington School with homegrown vegetables, service, blacksmith’s shop and Football Team 1966/67 followed by afternoon tea. church choir.’ Angela still makes raspberry Andrew Peacock has written The photo is of Nunnington vinegar, to Hilda’s recipe, every from Australia (though usually Primary School football team, year from her homegrown fruit. ) to reminisce about his 1966/67, which was started by Hilda received an award from the childhood in Nunnington. the Rev David G. Jones. He came British Legion for 50 years of Andrew grew up in what became to the school one afternoon a poppy selling – she was always a the Royal Oak before moving to week to take cricket and football. help and comfort to other Glebe House on Low Street. He also started a Ryedale Junior neighbours in the village. Alf Football League. The village team He attended Nunnington Primary died in 1975, and Hilda in 1991. was known as Nunnington All School, and also sang in the Saints FC! church choir, played for the cricket team, and generally did As David Wilson once said to what young boys do, including Andrew a few years ago, ‘We had climbing the copper beech tree an idyllic upbringing!’ - which at the front of Diamond Farm. they evidently did. Nunnington was a great place to grow up. Andrew describes Nunnington then as ‘a thriving village with two Happy days! shops, a post offce, school, ANGELA & DAVE SHANNON

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2020 in Pictures

A pictorial look back on an eventful 2020

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Creative Corner

A ‘new’ quiz for New The News Team Year Editors

We are going to give the There’s a ‘new’ in every answer. Clang, Tracey Phillips Good luck, and thanks to Claire Cabbage Patch stall on Low Street Design, subbing, production a good clear out and put it under for her continuing contributions. cover until Spring.. Cold, wet Answers on the website. Jeremy Deedes winter is not the time for 1. The big apple (3,4) Printing swopping seeds and magazines! 2. Refurbishes (2,4,2,3) Instantprint, Rotherham 3. Fresh felds (8,3) Shortbread recipe Proof reading 4. The garden state (3,6) 5. Crusties (3,3,10) Maggie Dickinson, Rosie Jack We hope you enjoyed our little 6. American boy band (3,4,2,3,5) Christmas gift of shortbread, Digital distribution 7. Nouveau riche (3,5) designed to reassure that no-one 8. By Aldous Huxley (5,3,5) Tracey Phillips was forgotten over Christmas. 9. Franklin's reform (3,4) Paper distribution And if you didn’t get a piece, be 10. Sitcom 1987-1994 (3,3,9) Roisin Clive, Jean Cooke, Maggie assured you were not forgotten! 11. Peter Seller's movie (5,3,8) Dickinson, Rosie Jack, Alan We simply found ourselves 12. George H W Bush 1988 Richardson, Jane Rutter. logistically challenged before (4,2,4,2,3,5) Christmas, so if you want to try it 13. James Brown song Nunnington online yourself, here is the recipe: (5,3,1,5,3,3) Fran Osborne, Tracey Phillips 14. Gets rid of the old (1,3,5,6,5) Ingredients 15. Star Wars episode (1,3,4) Contributors 12 oz plain four • Claire Bulmer Susan Binks, Claire Bulmer, Clang, 6 oz butter at room temperature • Jeremy Deedes, Jill Greetham, 4 oz caster sugar (either white • Village history Mike MacBain, Thomas and or I prefer golden) Katherine Macquoid (dec’d), 1⅕ oz cocoa powder • Alastair Stewart is summarising Mererid, Ken Metcalf, Hugh Pinch of salt • extracts from Erik Manning’s Mulligan, Andrew Peacock, Tracey village history to include in the Method Phillips (and Nellie), Stephen Outlook magazine. Alastair plans Rooke, Angela Shannon, Alastair Sift four, sugar and cocoa powder to reproduce all his copy in one Stewart and salt, rub in the butter. paper to distribute to every household to keep. The digital edition Flatten by hand in a rectangular Over a hundred people around tin to a bit less than half an inch We have therefore decided not to the world get the News online. thick. Run a knife criss-cross to continue serialising Erik’s history Residents, business owners, form 2x4 inches pieces. in the Newsletter. You can always employees and visitors should read this in Outlook each month Bake in oven (170C /325F) for email Tracey to subscribe for free. or wait for the completed version about 20-25 minutes. Allow to at the end of Alastair’s project. cool in the tin and then sift more [email protected] caster sugar on top. Remove from New year primes tin and enjoy! Leave out the cocoa for plain short bread, or Box of chocs to the frst person to add two tablespoons of fnely tell us the two prime numbers chopped fresh rosemary leaves. which when multiplied give 2021.

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Notice Board

WANTED: LOCK-UP TO RENT

We are moving into the village late January, and are looking to rent an outbuilding, barn or garage etc. This is to store excess household items, and if big enough to park a car. (It does not have to be available straight away)

If anyone can help please contact Hayley on 07876 704896

Photos in this News by Tracey Phillips can be purchased at ryedalephotography.com

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Nunnington Diary and Services

Church Services arrangements remain in place Recycling collections before attending. Recycling and household rubbish A live streamed mass is is collected on alternative Fridays. celebrated every day at 08:45 and Leave bins out by 6 am. on Sunday at 10:00. Details at Wombleton Recycling is open https://www.ampleforth.org.uk/ from 8:30 to 16:00 except abbey/service-times Wednesdays. Garden rubbish See the Abbey website for Covid collections recommence 9 Mar. Nunnington Church arrangements and details of Vicar Sue Binks reports that, after celebrations, home prayers and Fri 8 Jan: Recycling discussion with Church Wardens retreats. Fri 15 Jan: Household and Bishop Paul, and in light of Fri 22 Jan: Recycling the rising Covid Infection rate, our Our Weather Fri 29 Jan: Household Church will be closed until the Fri 5 Feb: Recycling Nunnington’s weather station ID is offcial end of lockdown, along Fri 12 Feb: Household IUNITEDK315 and provides a ten with all others in the Benefce. Fri 19 Feb: Recycling day forecast, today’s weather and Fri 26 Feb: Household During this time of closure Sue years of historic data. Fri 5 Mar: Recycling will offer a Sunday Service from Tue 9 Mar: Garden one of the Benefce Churches. You can attend online via the March News Kirkdale Benefce Website: www.kirkdalechurches.org.uk The next news will be published on 28th February. News, stories The service will be supported by and photos all welcome. Please the online weekly Pew Sheet keep news items to under 100 News / Pastoral Letter. words and articles to between Once more we care for each other 150 and 300 words. Send living in ‘love of our neighbour’. contributions by email with Mobile Post Office photos attached. Ampleforth Abbey Copy date is 25th February The mobile Post Offce visits twice a week. Helen or Jill will be in Low Tracey Street at the following times 01439 748404 Tuesday, 3:15 to 4:15 pm [email protected] Thursday, 8:30 to 9:30 am Clang All Post Offce business is 01439 748385 Byeee! [email protected] At the time of writing, Mass is still transacted and the Post Offce is celebrated for 26 worshippers an agent for most banks. every Wednesday and Sunday at Village Hall 11:30. Booking is essential on 01439 766 815 or The Village Hall remains closed [email protected]. during lockdown. Speak to In the light of the changing Covid Donna on 01439 748 310 for situation, please check that these bookings beyond lockdown.

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