Stillington News

Welcome to the August edition of Stillington News.Copy deadline for September issue: Thursday 20th August. Contributions by email to (copy to both, please):

Howard Williams: howardw1151@btinternet.com

Hazel Ratcliffe: ratcliffe528@btinternet.comOr hand in your contribution to put in the ʻStillo Newsʼ envelope behind the counter at the shop (please leave a contact name). Photos by email, please, preferably B&W.

Issue 247 Website: www.stillingtonvillage.org August 2015

Proposed mobile phone mast — height trialThis photograph (taken using a telephoto lens from the top of the Village Green) shows the ‘red flag’ trial on 22 July to indicate the height of the proposed mast. The mast appears just to the right of the chimney stack in the picture.See Parish Council Minutes inside for more information.

PRIMETIMEIt could be for You

This is a new idea for gentle exercise for those who are not as fit as they used to be.It takes place sitting on a chair and involves rolling or throwing a softish ball at various targets. This is called "Boccia." There are any number of varieties of the game and it can become quite competitive. Another game is "Kurling." This is played with special Kurling "stones" just like the curling we have all seen in the Winter Olympics but without ice! There is no energetic sweeping to encourage the stones to move along but little ball bearings underneath the stones which are propelled along the floor towards a special target.It's fun and the five people who have played so far laughed their way through a semi-competitive afternoon. It would be good to welcome more players. We meet at 1.30pm on Monday afternoons at the Sports and Social Club. It costs £2 per person which includes a cup of tea and a nibble.If you would like more information please contact Brenda Milburn on 810519.

STILLINGTON GARDENING CLUB

37th ANNUAL SHOW SUNDAY 9th AUGUST 2015

2.30pm in the VILLAGE HALLCalling all parents and children of Stillington:

Section 5: Children’s Section (under 11 years)Class 47: 3 Radishes

Class 48: A miniature gardenClass 49: 1 decorated biscuit

Bring along your entries to the Village Hall between 9.30 and 11am on the day.All entries to be child’s own work. Free Entry

CHRISTMAS CRAFT DAY At Stillington Village Hall

On Thursday September 17th

From 9.30am to 3.30pm Course run by Sylvia Fawcett

Tickets £20 Lunch & materials includedAvailable from Margaret Tomlinson

Tel. 811443Limited numbers so please book early

Profits for Village HallCraft items will be available for purchase

(proceeds for Prostate Cancer Fund)

Emergency First Aid at WorkA free one-day course

Stillington Community Association is proposing to hold an Emergency First Aid at Work training course on Saturday 26th September. There are a few places

available on this course, free of charge, for interested parties. Places will be allocated initially to various community-minded associations and sports clubs. If

places remain it will be opened to all. If you are interested in participating, please contact Tim Drew, tim5drew@gmail.com, tel 01347 811572.

Weather Report Rainfall

Little rain fell in the second half of June so that the monthly total, 29.5 mm, was less than half the average figure. It was the driest June since 2006.In the first 16 days of July we have had 48.5 mm, two-thirds of the way to the usual monthly total.

TemperatureWe had a little heat wave at the end of June and into July, so that the highest June temperature was 30.9⁰C on the 30th of the month, and the highest so far in July was 33.1⁰C on the 1st of the month.The lowest night-time temperature in June was 5.1⁰C on the 8th/9th and the lowest in July so far was 9.8⁰C on the 15th/16th. In fact the night-time temperature did not fall below 10⁰C between the 24th of June and the 15th of July.For sunshine, June was back up to the (record breaking) April figure, slightly bettering May’s figure. MT

Stillington WanderersLocal walks last month were Nunnington Hall to West Ness following the River Rye starting and finishing at Caulkleys Bank; a circular route starting at Slingsby taking in Fryton; and a Boroughbridge walk along the River Ure and canal taking in the multi solar panel field array at Kirby Hill, crossing the A1(M) and river side path through Langthorpe. Next walks are 3rd and 17th August. Meet outside the White Bear at 09.30.

Women’s InstituteOur July meeting started with a Very Important Puppy. Chilli was introduced to us all and we were not disappointed. He was a beautiful Cockerpoo.The charity 'Hearing Dogs for the Deaf' used to use stray dogs but now they have a breeding pool. The charity was the idea of Bruce Fogle, a vet (Bens Dad). It was launched in 1982 at Crufts with a dog called 'Favour'. Our speakers are volunteers for the charity and they are the socialisers. They take the young puppies and introduce them to all sounds they are likely to encounter. This covers traffic noise to aircraft to fireworks and general everyday noises. When the pups have done this for approx. 6-8 months they leave their socialisers and go into training. Their training is done on a bed and breakfast system as the dogs didn't like to go into kennels each evening. This means that the charity has volunteers who have the dogs overnight and bring them to training each morning and collect them each evening. Once they pass the training they are matched to the hearing impaired persons specific needs. Assistance Dogs have rights such as they are allowed to go into hospitals, churches, funerals shops etc. Our speaker was thanked by our president for such an excellent evening. Refreshments were served by Betty and Jillian.As our celebration for 100 years of the WI we are having a Garden Party in August. It will be based on the Buckingham Palace Garden Party.I have now been in touch with our local Forget-me-not club and we have arranged to make a number of twiddle-muffs. This is Stillington & Farlington’s WI project for this year. If anyone has donations of double knit or chunky wool for us, could you please contact Shirley 810614 for collection, Thank you.Lastly, Congratulations to our ladies who entered the quiz and came second! Well Done.

Easingwold Food BankIs now operating again and has requested gifts of food. These can be left in the

collecting box at the back of Stillington Parish Church.They would particularly welcome any of the following

UHT Milk Tins of Potatoes & Vegetables Pasta Sauces Tins of Meat Balls, Stew, Curry, Chilli Tinned meat Pies

Spam, Corned Beef etc. Dried Ready Meals in sauce (packets)Rice Pudding Tins of Fruit Biscuits Jam

Anyone in need can contact the Food Bank by phoning the message line on 0772 44 44 750, leaving their contact details and a brief message of their situation. Normally they will receive a reply the same day.

Are you interested in joining a new Stillington Camera Club?

As an enthusiastic/amateur photographer I have been asked to set up a Camera Club within the village. It is envisaged that this will be a self-help group, in the first instance meeting on a quarterly basis. The aim is to help you realise the most from your camera and we will be looking at all aspects of photography. If interested contact Tim Drew; email:

tim5drew@gmail.com, tel: 01347 811572 for further information.

VILLAGE LUNCHWhite Bear Inn

Tuesday 18 August From 12.15pm

£6.50 2 courses / £7.50 3 courses.Enjoy a good meal and good company

TENNIS CLUBStillington Junior Tennis has seen some transformed playing in the 2015 junior sessions. It was the first bat and ball experience for some and it was success at serving for others.Winners of the different groups in the tournament on 11th July were Phoenix Smith, Arthur Good, Daniel Fowler, Owen Dodson, Freddie Lupton and Jack Fowler.Thank you to the parents who helped; also Coach, Rob Hodge and club members: Michael Wragg, Katy Fowler, Toby Conyers-Kelly and Lee Brayford. 1st & 2nd Mixed teams in the York & District league both need more wins to stay in their respective Divs 3 and 7. 1st team have played 11; won 3 & lost 8: 2nd team have played 11; won 3; drawn 1 & lost 7.

Annual Cleaning of the Village bench seats...it’s time for another clean.

... and maintaining the Village Play AreaWe’re advised to give the new bark surface a regular rake-over to prevent any weeds settling in. Any volunteer help for either of the above will be gratefully received.Please contact Christine Cookman on 810047.

80 bacon/sausage rolls +lots of cake and savouries +3 litres of ice cream +all given awayStillington PO & Stores Local Food Day proved another hit amongst customers.Thanks to all the shop volunteers who helped make this annual event such a success.

In the CountrysideToday is the day 19th July when two grandchildren are very excited because the spikey black caterpillars that they have been feeding on stinging nettles for a couple of weeks before pupating a fortnight ago, have started to emerge and now have released four or five beautiful Peacock butterflies into the sunshine. I have also found another brood of caterpillars on a nettle bed so some have been gathered and hopefully will in due time emerge as either small Tortoiseshell or Peacock butterflies. Both species are similar in colour and habitat, living in nettle beds beneath a silken web that they have woven. As they grow they will move on to other nettles, colonise a whole bed and then separate into smaller groups. The ones today have not been hatched too long, are only about half an inch in length and are in a compact bunch. It would appear that this year is proving to be a good butterfly year. There are a lot of Meadow Browns taking nectar from thistles in the grass fields. In the garden we were fortunate to have a Marbled White. These butterflies are at their most northerly edge, being more common in southern England. Global warming is moving butterflies more northerly so watch out for new invaders. Commas, Speckled Wood and Brimstone have all appeared locally over the last thirty years in increasing numbers. We also had a large Skipper who would not open its wings to help in identification. Skippers rest with their wings folded like many moths. So keep your eyes open for a new invader in your garden. This is the time of year when birds are not so visible as their cover has grown and many will be changing their feathers or busily feeding their

young quietly so as not to attract the attention of predators. The swallows seem to have bred well so far. Our pair of Spotted Flycatchers have I am sure nested though I haven’t found the nest so hopefully no one else has, with ulterior motives.Now the hedges and roadside grass have grown and the small flowers of

spring are past, the taller colourful Willow herbs are in flower with their long pink plumes. The Meadowsweet creamy coloured flowers are shedding their fragrance, while the blue Cranesbill gives colourful patches and there are numerous umbelliferous flowers, each of which you could spend some time identifying. However I like the little bell shaped flowers with their candy striped pink and white colouring. These are of course Bindweed that hugs the edge of the road along with Lady’s Finger, Vetch, Cinquefoil and Trefoil and others that cling to dry places.Travelling along the road recently, the smell of some big Lime trees in full flower was good and I would think a positive delight to busy bees. I like the wonderful shiny bright green leaves of the Lime or Linden tree. The wood of the Lime is fine grained and good to carve into fine detail. The bark was used for ropes making once upon a time and the small leaved Lime was one of Britain’s earliest trees – just a bit more useless information.

We have a wasp nest on the side of a bale of hay in the barn whose size amazingly keeps increasing, what a work of art! The nest is constructed of chewed wood and the resulting paper has lines of different colours according to where wood was sourced and its individual colour. The nest being increased from the inside make expansion almost incomprehensible. The one queen will produce 10,000 workers and young queens and drones. All will die before the winter comes except the young queens who will hibernate. The wasp is a gardener’s friend for they eat vast numbers of insect pests and really deserve the odd plum or pear.Enjoy your summer holiday with your eyes open! R & MJ

Parish Council Notes(A full set of the minutes can be seen at the Post Office)

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 1st JULY 2015 IN STILLINGTON VILLAGE HALL

Development in South Back LaneThe Developer is still awaiting for NYCC Highways to approve the plans for road widening of South Back Lane. However the target date is still August 2015.NYCC are still considering the proposal to introduce a one-way traffic system from South Back Lane to Main Street (South to North). NYCC have been asked to introduce this prior to any work commencing on the Main Site. St Nicholas Church Concern has been expressed that some of gravestones and memorials in the Churchyard were in an unsafe condition. M Rowe and P Swiers have conducted a survey and it was found that some needed attention. It was agreed to arrange a meeting with the PPC to agree a way forward. Easingwold LibraryEasingwold Town Council have set up a Steering Group to consider the implications of the changes NYCC are making to the funding of Libruary Services in our Area. The first meeting is to be held on 13 July and M Turvey agreed to represent the Council on this Group.Mobile Telephone MastArqiva/Harlequin Group are proposing to apply for planning permission to develop a shared electronic communications base station to improve the mobile phone coverage in the area. The proposed location for this tower is Home Farm Offices Mill Lane. A public consultation meeting will be held: date and time to be confirmed. Stone Wall, Main Street Dennis Law has kindly donated the stone for the capping. Action is now in hand to complete the repair of the wall.

Peacock butterfly

BOWLING CLUBWe are now well into the second half of the season and of the 4 leagues we play in, 3 are in the lower half of their leagues but the Veterans are midway with only a few points separating the top teams.Stillington hosted the Andre Davis Memorial Cup competition over the weekend of July

11th/12th when the weather conditions were perfect for the 17 pairs who competed. Some excellent bowls was played and some wonderful food served on both days – quite a marathon for the helpers in the kitchen, but they coped admirably and a good weekend was had by all. The winners were Alec Young and John Warriner from Kirkbymoorside and the runners up David Raines and Ian Strangeway from Malton. The next big event will be on August 9th – The Easingwold Challenge Cup. This annual charity challenge against our neighbours, Easingwold, is played over 2 legs: the first leg, played at Easingwold, saw them take a 22 point lead into this second leg. The important aim of the event is to make a donation to the home club's nominated charity. GB.

Stillington Ladies DIYAfternoon Tea on Tuesday 18th August 2pm to 4pmAt Muriel Law’sHeathcoteMain StreetTelephone: 810484

A BIG THANK YOUTo everyone for their enquiries and concern whilst I have been in hospital for three months. I am glad to say I’m now home being looked after by Alan. I’m not very mobile yet but sure it will all be ok in the near future.Hilda

What to do with the Old Bus Shelter?Any ideas of how best to use this building? The old shelter was built in the early 1950s when the road junction was widened with demolition of the Primitive Chapel and two cottages.The new shelter was built in 2002/03 for total cost £7169.

VILLAGE DIARY:

(VH = EVENTS AT THE VILLAGE HALL) AUGUST 1 Cricket: I v Pickering (away), II v Rowntrees 2 3 Stillington Wanderers 9.30am W Bear Primetime 1.30-3.30pm, Dominoes 8.30pm 4 5 Pool: A v Castle, B v Mended Drum (away) 6 Martial Arts 5.15 - 8.15pm VH Cricket: Shepherds v TSB 7 8 Cricket: I v Woodhouse (away), II Bye

9 Gardening Club Show 2.30pm VH10 Primetime 1.30-3.30pm, Dominoes 8.30pm11 12 Pool: A v Horseshoe, B v Castle (away)13 Happy Hour 2pm VH Martial Arts 5.15 - 8.15pm VH Cricket: Shepherds v Retreat14 15 Cricket: I v Huby, II v Huby (away)16 17 Stillington Wanderers 9.30am W Bear Primetime 1.30-3.30pm, Dominoes 8.30pm18 Monthly meeting19 Pool competition20 Martial Arts 5.15 - 8.15pm VH

21 22 Cricket I v Sheriff Hutton (away), II v Dringhouses23 24 Primetime 1.30-3.30pm Dominoes 8.30pm25 26 Pool: A v Mended Drum, B v Horseshoe (away)27 Happy Hour 2pm VH Martial Arts 5.15 - 8.15pm VH2829 Cricket: I v Malton, II v Duncombe Park (away)30 31 Cricket: I v Copmanthorpe (away) II v Copmanthorpe

CHURCH SERVICES

METHODIST CHAPELMinister: Rev. Elizabeth Cushion 821460Stewards: Robin Jackson 810250 Bob Brown 810543 Sally Gall 810374 Yvonne Murphy 811544Services & PreachersAug 2 Bible Study - Mr Robin Jackson 10.30am Circuit Service at Clifton Methodist Church 6.30pmAug 9 Evening Service ~ Mr Brian Latto 6.30pmAug 16 Cafe Service ~ Rev Gill Newton 3.00pm No service at StillingtonAug 23 Evening Service with Communion Rev Elizabeth Cushion 6.30pmAug 30 Songs of Praise on the Green 10.30am Followed by a BBQ

ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST RC EASINGWOLDPriest: Fr. Leo Chamberlain 821295Sunday Mass: 8.30am & 10.30amVigil Mass: 5.45pm SaturdayConfessions: 5.00—5.30pm SaturdayWebsite: www.stjohneasingwold.ampleforth.org.uk

ST. NICHOLASVicar: Rev. Chris Ellis 810251Church Wardens Muriel Law 810484: Janet Martin 822981 email: jessie.jm158@gmail.comStillington and Benefice Services:Aug 6 / 13 / 20 / 27 Prayers for the Village 9.00amAug 2 Morning Worship 9.30amAug 9 Holy Communion Traditional 9.30amAug 16 Benefice Lammas Service at Farlington 10.30amAug 23 Holy Communion Common Worship 9.30amAug 30 Ecumenical Songs of Praise, Village Hall 10.30am ST. MARY MARTONServices in a Celtic TraditionChurch Sally Coomer 810891Warden: email: sally@scoomer.freeserve.co.uk Aug 2 Celtic Eucharist 6.00pmAug 16 Benefice Evening Worship 6.00pm

ST. LEONARD FARLINGTONChurch Margaret Singleton 878735Wardens Sally Downing 878745Aug 9 Shortened Matins BCP 11.15amAug 16 Benefice Lammas Service 10.30amAug 23 Holy Communion BCP 11.15am

200 Club July 2009£20 Mrs C Spencer £12 Mr J Jones£8 Mrs R BresnenDrawn by Mrs M Law

Extra copies of this issue can be found in Stillington PO & Stores

St NicholasCHURCH CLEANING

Jul 27 - Aug 8 Mrs Price & Mr TurveyAug 10 – Aug 22 Mrs Hawker & Mrs M NorthAug 24 – Sept 5 Mrs Hope & Mr & Mrs J Ratcliffe

FLOWER ROTAAug 2 Mrs C CookmanAug 9 Mrs A NorthAug 16 Miss K GibsonAug 23 Mrs M HetheringtonAug 30 Mrs M Tomlinson

HOLIDAYS - TIME TO RELAX & FIND REFRESHMENTMy Grandpa clocked in long hours in the Iron Ore mines in the Cleveland hills and my father similarly working in the Steel works on Teesside (where I worked for a year.) However, when we came home there were no faxes/emails waiting for us to answer, no mobile phones or pressing emails to interrupt our relaxation. Home was home – a place and a time for enjoying life, talking and playing with family in ways which taught us about each other and enriched relationships, a time for thinking, dreaming and thanksgiving for all the good things and times life has given us, a time for deep measured reflection on how to handle the challenges and difficulties facing us. Home was home not a pit stop for data gathering or shipping the children off to another lesson or entertainment before heading back to work. Families got to know in depth the personalities and needs of each member. Individuals were contented and at peace within themselves.Today, there is no ‘down time’, no escape from other people and requests for action. People have hands–free phones in the car, mobile phones and pagers in their pockets, people take them on holiday, or on their day off to the beach or on a walk; people switch them on as soon as they wake up to see if someone has left a text message, people even take them to the bathroom. No escape, no rest, no deep peace.An eminent psychiatrist points out “that a lot of people are working twenty-four hours a day, seven day a week, even when they are not technically at work. It’s a guaranteed formula for breakdown!” Breakdown of mind, body and spirit, family and relationships.A man tells this story.On holiday in the Western Highlands of Scotland my wife and I were talking to our Highland tour guide as we ate our lunch on a remote beach. I mentioned how unusual it was to have no television, newspapers or radio, “in fact, “I said,” it’s going to be strange to return home and find out what’s happening in the real world.” No one spoke for a few minutes. Then without taking his eyes off the horizon, our guide commented, “I assume it’s the real world you come here for!” Have a relaxing, peaceful and refreshing holiday!Best Wishes Revd. Chris Ellis

PARISH REGISTERBaptism ~ Joseph Robert Smith ~

Sunday, 12th July

St Nicholas 200 Club1st Prize £30: Mrs L Cumberlege

2nd Prize £10: Mrs S Robinson, Mr M Southeran

Runners-Up £6: Mr J Conway, Miss K Gibson, Mr & Mrs B Tomlinson, Mrs B Dobson, Mrs W Walton

Cream teas at the ChapelMonday afternoon

31 August

Further copies of this issue are available from the Village Shop Bob and Yvonne Murphy would like to

thank all friends for cards and cakes, fruit and flowers, sweets and shopping, driving and gardening, phone calls and visits over the past 6 weeks. We are both fit and well and hopefully mobile again by the time you read this. And a special big THANK YOU to the person who keeps telling me to stop saying thank you!