Saltburn has maintained much of its original charm as a Victorian seaside resort including its pier, the colourful Italian gardens and walks through Riftswood. Whatever you need to know about Saltburn by the Sea this is the place to start. Read the local news and add your own comments and views!
Sculptor Ray Lonsdale's latest work now stands outside of Saltburn's ArtsBank. An original large scale sculpture of a fisherman, with his reel and mornings catch, was specially commissioned by the gallery and can be viewed by all who pass by.
A steel fabricator from Durham, sculpture has always been Ray’s passion. Following the achievement of winning The People’s Award within the Hanging Jury Competition 2003 in Newcastle, Ray is now receiving increasing acclaim and attention for his highly distinctive and thought provoking work.
Lonsdale's collections to date show the sculptor's fascination with the human form. Built from steel, his work conveys incredible sensitivity and emotion, often providing deep moments of reflection. His figures are made even more intriguing by the ‘secret meaning' contained within the head of his sculptures, created in a 3D mosaic profile each head usually contains a different object which provides a greater meaning to each piece.
Five town criers from all over the North-East descended on Saltburn on Saturday, 19th March to support the choosing of the resort’s new crier.
"What a treat to have other criers with me," said Sharon Wilson, the only applicant for the voluntary job.
Onlookers gathered round the station portico, attracted by the bell-ringing and shouts of the five criers. Dressed in a top hat and frock-coat, Philip Thomson, chairman of the group of volunteers coordinating events during this year to mark the 150th anniversary of Saltburn’s birth, thanked the visitors for coming to support the event.
All were dressed in their colourful regalia and each performed a “oyez, oyez!” message proclaiming the attractions of their home town. These ranged from Alnwick to Batley via Darlington and Richmond.
Barry Heap, North-east representative of the Loyal Company of Town Criers, was asked for tips on the work by Sharon, who performed the role in Saltburn in the 1980s and 90s. “Shout slow and low,” he said.
Sharon tried out her piece. "This is a competitive event. The decibel levels are a factor, but personality may be a determining point," she shouted before telling the crowd about the 150th celebrations. She called on everyone in the town to take part. "God save the Queen!" she concluded.
Mr Thomson invited the crowd to show if they approved Sharon’s appointment. A shout of approval rang out.
He also invited the visitors to return on Wednesday, 17th August, the main celebration day.
Thai steel company SSI have presented Saltburn with an engraved bell for the town crier. It was one of the ways in which the firm marked the formal signing of a contract to take over the Redcar-Lackenby steelworks. Michael Morrissey
Towards the end of winter a lot goes on in secret under the ground and when Spring finally arrives, flowers burst into a welcome blaze of colour –or not, if they haven’t made it through the long hard winter. I am happy to report that the Valley is looking beautiful!
That’s all I want to say on the recent politics of the Woodland Centre and R.C.B.C cost cutting exercises!
The Woodland Centre remains open! Friends of the Valley, busy little moles that we have been, can now to be spotted in bright green sweatshirts sporting a new logo. We have much work ahead of us if the centre is to remain open in the long term. We need to attract considerably more funding and find ways of generating income. We need a higher public profile - the new high visibility sweatshirts are a start!
We warmly invite and welcome new members. We had an amazing response to our petition which was circulated around the town and it is clear that the Woodland Centre is a valued asset to the community but it needs real commitment to maintain it.
To end positively, we have won an award of £4,700 from Northern Gas Networks for the restoration of the wild flower meadow near the viaduct and for the creation of bee and butterfly gardens.
This is the beginning of a new era.
Lorna Moone F.O.V.
A new-style cafe, concentrating on tea rather than the usual coffee, opened in Saltburn on Saturday, March 12th during the farmers’ market.
Photographic gallery Profile has moved from its Ruby Street premises to the station precinct and opened The Sitting Room in the former tourist office.
"We serve Old English and vintage teas and cakes as well as coffee," said Bob Mitchell, who has spent the last four months renovating the shop. He and associates, his wife Becky and fellow-photographers Mark and Nel
Hickson, open a gallery next door on April 9th. They hope they have solved the pigeon problem above the outer area adjoining their premises. Mark
Hickson said they had persuaded the landlord to install four inch long steel lengths along the ledge above the alcove where pigeons used to perch.
"We couldn’t have pigeons above while people were sitting at tables outside. The new deterrent seems to have done the trick," he said.
The cafe also has a working record player and customers are welcome to bring their favourite vinyl along to listen to whilst enjoying their cup of tea.
Many will be aware that steel has been in the news quite frequently since last year when Teesside Blast Furnace was mothballed. Now SSI Steel Corporation of Thailand have stepped in to save the day and brought steel making back to Teesside.
Similarly Tom Leonard, before he died, had a dream of keeping alive the memory of Ironstone Mining in East Cleveland. Throughout his lifetime he collected numerous mining artefacts and memorabilia, a legacy which eventually formed the core exhibits of the Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum, now a thriving charity and museum which opened after Tom Leonard passed away.
Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum and Cleveland Model Railway Club have joined forces in a joint venture project to capture the memory of the Loftus Mine and the now famous Zig Zag railway which was used to haul the ironstone up steep gradients to the main Whitby to Middlesbrough railway line for the onward journey to the steel works.
This joint venture will be officially launched by the Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland Council, Councillor Ray Goddard at 11:00 am on Monday 28th March 2011. All are welcome to attend this free exhibition launch, especially anyone with memories of the area who would be willing to talk to the team and bring along photographs and any other memorabilia to show or loan the project, which will be held at Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum in Skinningrove, East Cleveland.
A second audition day will be held for budding young actors and actresses who want to perform in a Victorian-time outdoor production at Saltburn.
Joint directors Djenane Watkins and Eileen Duffield will audition youngsters, ideally aged 14 and 15, at the Community Theatre on Sunday May 8th at 6pm.
Eight children were committed following the first audition for the 50-minute production of Vicky and Victoria, which is about a girl who spends a day back in Victorian times.
The production will be staged on the tearoom lawn, near the Italian gardens, in August as part of the town's 150th anniversary celebrations.
It is hoped that there will be a lot of audience participation with people sitting round picnic-style rather than sitting on chairs. The set has been designed by an art teacher at Upsall Hall.
Nearly 40 people enjoyed a variety of home-made soups on 15th March at the first of a series of Tuesday Lent lunches at Saltburn Methodist hall. There is no charge, but collections are being made for the South Bank-based KARA project, which helps needy families in Teesside and East Cleveland.
The meals, which include a hot drink, but no sweet, continue on 5th and 12th April.
Saltburn Churches Together is running the series of lunches. It will also hold the usual outdoor inter-denominational service on Good Friday 22nd April at 11am opposite Sainsbury's. Half an hour of Bible readings, prayers and hymns. A hot drink and hot-cross bun at the Methodist hall afterwards. All welcome.
A large-scale party is planned for Saltburn to mark the royal wedding on bank holiday Friday April 29.
Volunteers attending a meeting (Feb 23) of the Saltburn 150 group, who are coordinating events to mark the town's 150th birthday, gave a unanimous vote for the idea.
Mum-of-one Kerry Patterson, 33, undertook to investigate the idea, which she got because of three events - the April wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, Saltburn's 150th anniversary and this year being the centenary of the 1st Saltburn Scouts.
"I vividly remember in 1981 when I was four the fun at street parties held to celebrate the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana," she said.
"I'm sure Saltburn people - from children to pensioners - would love to have something similar. It would lift the economic gloom."
The venue has been fixed for Saltburn Cricket Club, Marske Mill Lane, on April 29 from 11am to 2pm. Attractions booked so far include a bouncy castle and face-painting.
Kerry, who is leader of Saltburn Beavers, a group of 25 boys and girls aged six to eight, said: "I'm encouraged by the support from other groups at the 150 meeting and over the past few days."
Councillor Philip Thomson, who chairs the every-three-weeks150 group meetings, said he and other community leaders were keen to help to progress the party idea. It has been given the title 150 Reasons to Party.
Kerry can be contacted on 07505-112714.
Other 150 events planned include a pier photo exhibition from March 11 to April 25, a race night at Saltburn Cricket Club on March 19, an illustrated "heritage" lecture at the community theatre on the history of Saltburn on April 12 and an Easter bonnet competition on April 23.
A town crier is being recruited with auditions on Saturday March 19 at 12 noon at the station portico, Salturn.
A flurry of activities is planned for July and August. They include a vintage car rally and air show, a town photograph and model railway exhibition. Several theatre and film events are also to be held.
The group coordinating events will meet at the community hall on Wedneday March 16 at 7pm. All welcome.
Further information: 01287-624997.
