REETH AND DISTRICT GAZETTE LTD ISSUE NO. 239 APRIL 2016 Your local news magazine for the Two Dales. FREE YET PRICELESS REETH AND DISTRICT GAZETTE LTD First Thoughts . Langthwaite - Arkengarthdale RED LION INN April 1st. You know what that means Free House don’t you? Exactly two months to go Real Ales — Bar Snacks before Bruce Springsteen’s The River Books & Maps Tour flows into Hampden Park, Glasgow. Tel. 01748 884218 In case you are wondering, yes, we will be there. I don’t expect Bruce will have the other half will say ‘No’ and we still time to give an interview for The won’t have a clue. But, let us have your Gazette, but you never know. thoughts on the question - preferably Neither do I expect that he will keeping them brief - and we’ll see if we play a musical tribute to Johnny can get a balance of opinions. ’Fingers’ Malone, as he did for both Here’s a thought though: If you live David Bowie and Glen Frey when they with someone and they are intending to passed away. Indeed, amongst all the vote ‘No’ while your intention is to vote media attention given to musicians who ‘Yes’, is there any point in you going out have gone to that great gig in the sky to vote as your votes will just cancel recently, scant attention has been each other out? given to the passing away of Johnny Just throwing a pebble into the Malone. By his name, you might think pond. Johnny was a gangster, but in fact he MAC was one of the most sought after session pianists of the 60s and 70s - and he hails from Arkengarthdale. You can read more about him on page 21. Anyway, let’s get political. Which way are you going to vote on June 23rd? The question is simple: "Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?" And it requires a simple yes or no answer. But actually deciding on the best answer is anything but simple. In the coming weeks, no doubt we will be bombarded with facts - or should that be political opinions masquerading as facts? - as spokespeople from both sides will try to persuade us on the best course of action. So, does anyone out there have the answer? Stupid question really because probably half of you will say ‘Yes’ and 2 REETH AND DISTRICT GAZETTE LTD GAZETTE MANAGEMENT TEAM Published by The Reeth & District Gazette Ltd. Chairman: James Alderson Company Number: 06541854 Greenways, Grinton, Richmond c/o The Company Secretary DL11 6HJ Andrew Bedford, Glory Be, Blades Tel: 01748 884312 E-mail: [email protected] Richmond, North Yorkshire DL11 6PS Secretary: Sue Alderson Tel./Fax: 01748 886974 Holme View, Low Row, Richmond, E-mail: [email protected] DL11 6PE No material may be reproduced in Tel: 01748 886292 whole or in part without permission. E-mail: [email protected] Editor: Martin Cluderay Whilst every care is taken for Reeth Post Office, Reeth, Richmond accuracy, the publishers cannot be DL11 6SE held legally responsible for any errors Tel: 01748 884201 or opinions in articles, listings or E-mail: [email protected] advertisements. Treasurer: Andrew Bedford ADVERTISING Glory Be, Blades, Richmond, DL11 6PS For information on advertising and Tel: 01748 886974 prices, please contact the treasurer. E-mail: [email protected] For advertising copy, please contact Subscriptions: Elsie Whitehead the editor. Tel: 01748 884132 The editor reserves the right not to E-mail: publish any advert or article [email protected] considered to be inaccurate or Distribution: Trevor Brown misleading The Cottage, Healaugh, Richmond, DL11 6UA All articles or items for inclusion Tel: 01748 884111 should be sent to the editor Team Member: David Trusson (E-mail: [email protected]) Email: [email protected] or left at Reeth Post Office. Posting The Gazette Gazette Deadlines The deadlines for the next two If you are posting a copy of this months are: Gazette to a friend or relative, please May issue: April 10th note that it is Large Letter size and June issue: May 10th will cost £1.20 second class, or PLEASE NOTE: We cannot guarantee £1.27 first class. (Two standard that items submitted close to the first class stamps = £1.28) deadline date will be included. If . COVER PICTURE it’s not fair to be punished for something you haven’t done, why was I Snapped by Sandra: Grown by Nature told off for not doing my homework? www.sandracockaynephotography.co.uk 3 REETH AND DISTRICT GAZETTE LTD Letter To The Editor around Reeth carrying an offensive weapon. Grumpy Sounds like a job for the police - it’s More and more things seem to bring not the first time this has happened. out my inner Victor Meldrew: Hands up if you think they will do anything about it. People who insist on calling hens "chickens" or who say "two times" The Phantom Dambuster instead of twice. Quite often when I walk down to the Cyclists. Swing Bridge, I find that someone has Walkers who cannot follow diverted a small trickle of water from footpaths and wander about on its natural course into a field, so that farmland as though they have some it runs down the footpath towards the god given right. river. And when did shoelaces become twice This has the effect of making the as long as they need to be and made of footpath very muddy after heavy the slippiest material that will not stay rainfall. Worse still, in a cold spell the fastened? water freezes and the footpath But worst of all, the Reeth Gazette becomes very treacherous indeed. spelling my surname incorrectly. Whenever I find that the water has Martin SuNDerland been diverted down the path, I dam it [It could have been worse: He might up so that it reverts to its natural have been called Newcastle.] course; and I have spoken to other PS walkers who do likewise. But before On a more serious note, I was very long, I find that The Phantom saddened to find that the Poppy Appeal Dambuster has been at work and that notice on the Reeth Notice board had the footpath is wet and muddy once been vandalised by what appears to be more. a stanley knife or similar. Why this It is a mystery to me, and others, particular notice was singled out I have as to why this person is compelled to no idea but I know that this is not the make sure the water runs down the first time that similar damage has been footpath, but whoever you are, please caused to items on the notice board, stop this anti-social behaviour. Use which indicates that the culprit is a your time more purposefully and join local resident and, perhaps more the National Park Volunteers. worryingly, that someone is wandering Name & Address Supplied PATRICIA TREVOR J. HIRD DAIRY COTTAGE, LOW ROW Experienced in both men’s and ladies’ ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR sewing alterations. No job too small FREE estimates Most sewing tasks undertaken PAT Testing Specialist ‘Will come to you’ 01748 886905 Telephone 01748 832238 4 REETH AND DISTRICT GAZETTE LTD Twenty Years Ago NYCC Highways to provide for the path in its budgets would take too long the Extracts from the local Parish Council has decided to April 1996 Gazette contribute towards the work, as they do not wish to wait for someone to be As a visitor and walker to your area for injured before action is taken. many years I would like to point out that many areas would be deserted were it not for the many tourists and NORMAN F. BROWN walkers who arrive every year and so CHARTERED SURVEYORS & every effort should be made to ESTATE AGENTS welcome and provide for us SALES - LETTINGS - MANAGEMENT The damage done to farmland is far greater by the farmers themselves FREE ‘NO OBLIGATION’ than by the walkers. Fields and lanes MARKET APPRAISAL are churned up by tractors leaving mud AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST and manure on the roads which they rarely think to clean up; they may not 14 Queens Road, Richmond, leave litter but they do leave many North Yorkshire, DL10 4AG eyesores strewn about the countryside. Tel: (01748) 822473/822967 A Walker www.normanfbrown.co.uk Swaledale Cub Scout Steven Allison came away with second place and a trophy from the North Yorkshire Cross Country Championships at Thirsk recently. The Farmers Arms, The lack of early morning gritting by Muker, Upper Swaledale the highway authority of the roads in The heart of spectacular walking country the Dale, particularly the hills during * the past winter was brought to the Serving good pub food everyday attention of Arkengarthdale Parish Council. This has caused problems for 12pm - 2:30pm and 6pm - 8:30pm early morning school buses and people Well-kept local real ales going out of the Dale. * Dog & muddy boot friendly Residents in Langthwaite are hoping to Open fire & stone flagged floor receive backing for a plan to create a Holiday apartment (sleeps 2) new footpath on the High Green for Tel: 01748 886297 the safety of children attending the local school. Because waiting for the www.farmersarmsmuker.co.uk 5 REETH AND DISTRICT GAZETTE LTD Have You Thought Of Kearton Country Playing Quoits This Summer? Hotel, Thwaite Did you know that in the Swaledale & Arkengarthdale Quoits League we play the northern version of quoits? This conforms to a set of rules set out in April 1881 in The Field magazine and has remained largely unchanged to this day.