Recycled Ride to TJ S Cafe at Hutton Cranswick on Friday, 11Th August 2017

Recycled Ride to TJ’s Cafe at Hutton Cranswick on Friday, 11th August 2017

Cyclists: Dave Big Wheel Williamson (Leader) , Alan Beecroft, Martin Bell, Nick Hart, George Sweeting & Steve Superman Watts

Outward journey: Molescroft Roundabout, Cherry Burton, Etton, South Dalton, Holme on the Wolds, Lockington, Wilfholme Pumping Station, Watton, Hutton Cranswick (TJ’s Cafe)

Homeward journey: Kilnwick, Lockington, South Dalton, Etton, Cherry Burton & finally home to Beverley.

Mileage: 35 miles

Weather conditions: Sunny morning but clouding up in the afternoon – blustery wind which was difficult to evade.

On rounding the bend in the lane, I imagined the others also giving a startled gasp of surprise, coupled with a little bit of apprehension when seeing some ladders stretching up one side of the church tower and then continuing up the steeple like a corkscrew to the weather vane 208 feet at the very top. It’s not usual to see this sight at St Mary’s Church, South Dalton: there must be some restoration work going on. Good to have my feet firmly on the ground, I reflect, and I find it something of an effort to force my gaze upwards on those ladder rungs which seemed to go up and up endlessly. Do you remember those television programmes about Britain’s favourite steeplejack the eccentric and incorrigible Fred Dibnah from Bolton? Facing the cameras with a fag end in the side of his mouth and with eyes twinkling mischievously behind his large spectacles, he’d somehow exude confidence about the chimney to be climbed. Then, wearing little more than a greasy cap, heavy boots, old fashioned waistcoat complete with watch chains hanging loosely under some baggy overalls, Fred would make it to the top of chimneys with ease up a near vertical ladder after describing each scary stage quite calmly in his rasping Lancashire dialect. When he started to walk around at the top of the chimney with its gaping black aperture close by, it was time to look away from the TV screen. With moistening palms, I’ve watched Fred “laddering” a chimney – securing ladder sections to metal pins “dogs” which he’d hammered in and then lashed together with ropes. What was nerve- racking was watching him straddling the top of a ladder section he’d just secured while placing the next bit of ladder in place which had been pulled up jerkily on ropes. This procedure would be repeated, ladder section by ladder section, right to the top of an enormous chimney. “One mistake and it’s half a day job for the undertaker,” he’d say, smiling grimly as he made a difficult climb over a protruding chimney overhang. Fearless Fred was a truly amazing character – don’t you think? Today, I imagine Steve Superman Watts making it to the top of the spire where

1 he’d probably do a balancing trick with glasses of water and tray which he’s planning to do at the Male Voice Choir Social this evening! (When only sixteen my dad was made to climb the infamous dry land training mast at HMS Gangers in Suffolk which at the top button where one entrant would stand was 155 feet high and only 50 feet or so shorter than St Mary’s spire. I regret now that I never discussed this experience with him.) Back to St Mary’s and I wonder how the work of a steeplejack now is different from Fred Dibnah’s day? Today, there’s not much to see apart from some ladders and a few dangling ropes – closer inspection might reveal more but this is as close as I want to be!

Earlier in the morning, with that ever-present wind behind us for a short while, we’d made a short diversion as we often do to the Pumping Station and landing jetty at Wilfholme. Today at high water the River Hull is brimming, rippling and glinting in the sunlight. Nearer Hull and Beverley, in its lower course, the river is straight like a canal, but at Wilfholme it has bends and meanders freely on its way. In the near distance, there’s an unexpected splash of white movement when some swans occasionally open their long wings. All is very comforting and calming as we stand in our little group on the high river bank with eyes scanning the scene. Without words or eye contact, a solitary fisherman loaded up with his belongings passes by. When we get the chance it’s good to chat to people we meet on our travels, but not today.

3 When I see an upturned body on a roadside verge in Lockington revealing lower torso and legs, I thought for a moment it might be Helen Kitson hunting for beetles or bugs on one of her U3A Wild Things expeditions. Placed next to the dummy was a sign: “Mole Catcher for Hire.” It’s an imaginative way of advertising – don’t you think? It’s estimated that there are between 35/40 million moles in the UK and it is the only mammal to live solely underground and they achieve this because they have a greater proportion of red blood cells than other mammals. This helps them to live in an environment where oxygen levels are low, typically less than 7%. Moles are phenomenal diggers and can shift 540 times their own body weight of earth and tunnel up to 200 metres a day. Do this in 4 hour shifts: 4 hours working and 4 hours sleeping in a 24 hour cycle. Moles do considerable damage to turf, lawns, gardens, fairways, greens and sports grounds with their constant digging. Earthworms are their favourite food source and eat 20 worms a day – 80 per cent of their diet.

We eat outside at TJ’s under a solid structure of heavy timbers which apart from the roof provides little side shelter from the elements – it’s suddenly turned very blustery and overcast. (I notice my tea in its cup has turned cold very quickly.) Pea and mint soup is the main choice and we can’t leave without having some of TJ’s freshly- made scones, particularly the almond and fruit ones. The wind blows Big Wheel’s scone on the floor and he has to scrape it up. “Don’t know why we are out here,” he mutters. After a phone call, Big Martin announces that a grandson to be born at the end of the

5 year will be called Ragnor. That’s a name to wrap your tongue around and one that you’d never guess.

On the way back, on a broad strip at the edge of field, there’s hundreds of sunflowers which appear to be facing the same way.

Finally, near the end of the ride like Compo, Clegg and Foggy we find ourselves on the village seat at Etton and not in the pub across the road. Steve Superman Watts, Nick Hart and Big Wheel are all at the Beverley Male Voice Choir this evening so that may be the reason. A final word from Fred Dibnah on reaching the flat bit at the top of a chimney nearly 300 feet high: “You could ride your bike around here.” That would be a U3A cycle ride with a difference!

George Sweeting

15th August 2017