Vicars wife is a Tough Mudder

On Saturday 2nd August, Estelle Reed will be taking on a 10 - 12 mile long obstacle course designed by the Special Forces, and showing that being a Vicar’s wife isn’t about baking and arranging flowers.

Estelle, wife of the Vicar of Saltburn, the Revd Adam Reed, will be taking part in Tough Mudder Yorkshire, at Broughton Hall Estate, Skipton. Tough Mudder is an endurance event in which participants attempt a military-style obstacle course, designed and created by British Special Forces to test mental as well as physical strength. The course has obstacles to strike fear into the heart involving fire, water, electricity and heights, as well as plenty of Yorkshire mud.

Estelle said, “I run DanceFit, a dance and fitness business in Saltburn. Last year I challenged some of my customers – male and female – to do some cabaret dancing in high heels to raise money for breast cancer care. The guys who did it said it was the most terrifying thing they’d ever done, and challenged me to do something equally terrifying to raise money for a good cause. So I decided to have a go at Tough Mudder!

“In church, Adam was encouraging people to help raise money for our community. He used Jesus’ parable of the talents, and gave everyone in the congregation £10 to use as seed money to raise even more funds for our church. Our family decided to use our £10 notes towards the entry fees for Tough Mudder – it’s a real family effort. Adam and our children Ella and Aidan are helping with publicity, but I’m the one who’s got to complete the course! Even our curate, the Revd Adam Young, has been helping me train for the course.

“I’m really scared about the course! I wasn’t outdoorsy as a child – I trained in ballet from a young age. Dance keeps you fit and gives you stamina, but I think I’ll need an extra edge for the Tough Mudder course. There’s a group of us from DanceFit, customers and their husbands, taking part and it’s been an amazing bonding experience. We’re all going to work together to get round the course – I love the Tough Mudder ethos that it’s not all about winning, but working together to overcome the obstacles.”

The Revd Adam Reed, Estelle’s husband and Vicar of Emmanuel Church Saltburn, said, “I know Estelle and the team are going to defeat the Tough Mudder course and raise loads of money for their chosen charities. Estelle is really tough – you have to be as a mother, dance instructor and a vicar’s wife! Sadly, I won’t be there to cheer her on, as I’m leading a pilgrimage of young people to Taizé in France, but we’ll all be praying for her and the team.”

The other people taking part in the Saltburn team are Cath Mason, who is raising money for the CUP Foundation (Cancer of Unknown Primary); Vic Tosh who is supporting Diabetes UK; Brian Cole who is fundraising for Down Syndrome North East; Adam Reamswood who is raising money for Parkinsons UK; and Richard Yaldren, who is supporting WaterAid.

To sponsor Estelle and help raise money for Emmanuel Church, Saltburn, visit http://www.justgiving.com/Estelle-DanceFit-Saltburn








Pictured: the Saltburn Tough Mudder team, with Estelle pictured centre.

Valley Adventures wins Steel Investment

From survival courses, archery and castaway days to gorge walking, stand up paddle surfing and abseiling - children and adults are grabbing the opportunity for adventure at a new outdoor activities centre in Saltburn with both hands.




Valley Adventures, an ambitious new business set up by Dan Fawkes and Simon Palmer, has been backed by a £3000 investment from UK Steel Enterprise’s Regeneration Fund and is expecting around 200 people a week to enjoy activities during the summer.

The Centre is the realisation of a long-held dream for the outdoor and fitness instructors who have an impressive range of qualifications, skills and expertise built up here and abroad.

Dan Fawkes is a swimmer, triathlete, rock climber and served more than 12 years in the RAF as a development coach and outdoor instructor. Simon Palmer is a stand up paddle instructor and a veteran of outdoor challenges around the world including South Africa, Vietnam and Australia with a law degree and Diploma in Work Psychology.

They are backed by a team of highly qualified and experienced instructors, including Kieran Rankin, a seasoned outdoor instructor and youth worker; Alex Frood, a talented outdoor photographer and mountaineer and Callum Anderson, their technical advisor.

It means the Centre can provide a massive range of activities for individuals and groups of all ages and abilities that also include coasteering, bush-craft, map reading, navigation, orienteering and team building.

“This is something we have talked about doing for years,” said Dan Fawkes. “We have started it whilst we are still both working because the site became available and it was too good an opportunity to miss. We love this area and it is a perfect location for us."

“It has been a big commitment so the money from UK Steel Enterprise has been a massive help to buy equipment such as helmets, ropes and wet suits. We all love outdoor activities and are totally committed to helping others experience them because we believe they are so valuable."

“Seeing children and adults rise to challenges, learn new skills, solve problems, work in a team and become leaders is inspiring. They also have a huge amount of fun enjoying the natural environment and escaping from the everyday hustle and bustle."

“Interest and demand is rising fast with corporate bookings and school groups proving to be real growth areas and we expect up to 200 people a week to use the Centre this summer,” he added.

Peter Taylor, Area Manager for UK Steel Enterprise, the Tata Steel business-support subsidiary said: “This is exactly the sort of start-up project our Regeneration Fund was set up to help. Valley Adventures is providing invaluable experiences and skills for young people and adults and we have every confidence that the business will prove a big success.”

Details of UK Steel Enterprise’ support for businesses is available on 01642 777 777 and at www.uksteelenterprise.co.uk. Valley Adventures is on www.valley-adventures.com



Children from Ormesby Primary School get to grips with fire-lighting at Valley Adventures in Saltburn with (from left) Simon Palmer, Peter Taylor of investor UK Steel Enterprise and Dan Fawkes.

Saltburn Food Festival Programme of Events.

· Over sixty of the best independent food producers from the North East and North Yorkshire – all coming from within a fifty-mile radius of the town.




· A tasty mix of stalls includes a wide range of locally produced meat & game, fresh fruit & veg, wild & garden herbs, artisan bread, handmade cheese, English wines, micro brewery beers, chocolate, cakes & biscuits, gingerbread, gourmet scotch eggs, a gluten free stall, chilli plants & chilli sauces, hog roast, butchers’ bbq, PLUS local arts & crafts stalls too.

· Expect a real Festival village atmosphere, with outdoor dining areas, world streetfood, live music and much more besides.

Live Cookery Theatre, outside Real Meals on Milton Street.

10.30am: Sarah Muir. Owner of Arches Cookery School and travelling chef for Elton John, Madness, The Prodigy, George Michael, The Spice Girls, Bob Dylan, Bon Jovi, Travis, Manic Street Preachers, Chemical Brothers, Oasis, Van Morrison and Robbie Williams to name just a few. Also a personal chef to Radiohead for six world tours.

11.30am: Sean Wilson. TV chef and author of The Great Northern Cookbook, also business partner of Saddleworth Cheese Company and passionate local food advocate.

1.30pm: Sean Wilson. The second spot of the day for the former Corrie star turned TV chef.

3pm: Atindra Naskar: A spicy session with the excellent executive chef of Teza, Saltburn’s popular contemporary Indian Restaurant.

Festival Workshops :

The following workshops cost £20 per place, and can be booked in advance by emailing lorna.foodfirst@gmail.com or texting 07504 126 233. Please include your name and the name of the workshop you would like to go on. Places are limited to 12 people per workshop.

11.15am: Organic Raw Food Workshop. At TOCH Buildings Albion Terrace, Saltburn. Join Infinite Glow for an hour-long introduction to the benefits of organic raw food. Three quick and easy recipes that you can easily replicate at home and share with your loved ones.

11.30am: Sausage Making & Butchery Skills. Join master butcher Mike Gosnay of Gosnays in Saltburn in his Milton Street shop to have a go at making some great sausages of your own.

12.30pm: Soft Cheese Making. At TOCH Buildings, Albion Terrace, Saltburn. Join our special guest chef Sarah Muir of Arches Cookery School to have a go at making Ricotta and soft Goats Cheeses.

2pm: Bread Making, at TOCH Buildings, Albion Terrace, Saltburn.
Join Ed The Chef from Brick Yard Bakery in Brotton and have a go at Artisan Bread Making. Take home a starter and a recipe for sour dough and join Ed's sour dough community

Festival Fringe:

· Live music, performance poetry and a film tent in Saltburn Square.

· Book Signings. Special book signings at the Book Corner, Saltburn’s brand new independent bookshop on Station Square. Includes special guest chef Sean Wilson signing copies of the Great Northern Cookbook (12.30pm), and Saltburn based crime novelist Jennie Finch (2.30pm).

· A Woodland picnic for all the family, down in the gorgeous Valley Gardens throughout the day.

Tickle your Tastebuds

Food lovers are in for a treat next month when the Saltburn Food Festival takes over the seaside town.

Former Coronation Street star turned TV chef Sean Wilson and Radiohead’s personal chef Sarah Muir will both be cooking up a treat on a day packed full of fun and great aromas.



The event on Sunday, August 3 includes a street market featuring more than 60 of the North-East and North Yorkshire’s best independent food producers.

And it will be something of a homecoming for the leading music industry chef. After growing up on the family farm at Grinkle and training at Scarborough Catering College, she spent more than 20 years touring the world before returning to her roots.

Miss Muir has been Radiohead’s personal chef on six world tours, and has also cooked for Elton John, Madness, Bob Dylan, Bon Jovi, George Michael, The Spice Girls, Oasis and Robbie Williams amongst others.

After returning to North Yorkshire she has transformed an old farm outbuilding into the Arches Cookery School at Grinkle Park Farm near Loftus.

Coronation Street fans will know Sean Wilson from 21 years playing Martin Platt in the TV soap.

Since leaving the street, he has become an award winning artisan cheese maker, devised and fronted Channel 5’s The Great Northern Cookbook, and has cooked in several Michelin-starred restaurants.

Farmers’ Market and Food Festival organiser Lorna Jackson said: “Saltburn has a great reputation for real food from real producers."

“We’re lucky that we still have a lot of fantastic independent shops – a baker, the deli, two butchers, a grocer and a chocolate shop to name just a few – so the journey from field to plate is quite short."

“However, this isn’t always the norm in many places, so I think it’s more important than ever to celebrate locally grown food and the independent businesses that help to keep our high streets alive and kicking throughout the year."

“Last year’s festival was an amazing experience. Milton Street was pretty much transformed into a village in itself, and there was a wonderful sense of community around the whole day."

“It was an incredible street party, so we’re really looking forward to another great day in August.”

Miss Muir will be cooking live outside Real Meals on Milton Street at 10.30am, and also running a cheese making workshop at 12.30pm, while Mr Wilson will be cooking live outside Real Meals at 11.30am and 1.30pm.

The festival takes place on Sunday, August 3 between 10am-4pm on Milton Street.

Iconic Saltburn Salerooms Re-Furnished

Coast & Country, one of the largest housing and regeneration companies in the North East, has taken possession of the iconic Saltburn Salerooms building, which will be the location for its latest ambitious project.




The ReFurnish scheme will not only sell affordable, good quality, new and second-hand furniture it will also become a community hub offering work experience and training opportunities.

ReFurnish will play a key role in Coast & Country’s ‘Forging Futures’ programme. ‘Forging Futures’ is a pioneering initiative that delivers bespoke training and is designed to motivate and increase self-esteem, as well as providing unemployed people with the skills to actively seek and secure learning and employment opportunities.

ReFurnish will also provide a number of volunteering opportunities for those who wish to build their skills, broaden their knowledge and give something back to the community.

A range of roles and training opportunities will be available from sourcing and transporting the furniture through to carpentry and renovation skills to ensure that all goods are in first-class condition.

Tracy O’Neill, Head of Community Investment at Coast & Country said: “ReFurnish is going to be one of our most exciting projects to date and will encompass all of the social values of Coast & Country, including tackling worklessness, up skilling and providing a facility that will have positive benefits for a whole community."

“At Refurnish, we will aim to enable people to fulfil their potential by providing a supportive and friendly working environment where confidence, skills and experience can be developed."

“In addition, we will be helping to protect the environment by cutting down the amount of waste going to landfill. Using the skills of colleagues, apprentices and trainees, we can creatively refurbish, reuse and recycle furniture and household items."

“We hope that ReFurnish will become an integral part of the community and will grow to encompass lots of different opportunities for local people.”

Award-winning performance poet brings new show to Saltburn

What could be better than sitting in the summer evening with a cocktail or a cake, listening to first-class poetry and music, reveling in a bit of café culture? On 18 July you could be doing just that at the delicious Sitting Room in the heart of Saltburn, as we get an exclusive pre-Edinburgh Festival performance of the new spoken word show by award-winner Lucy Ayrton.



The past couple of years have been stunning for Lucy. Her debut show, Lullabies to Make Your Children Cry, played the Edinburgh festival fringe in 2012 and won Best Newcomer on the PBH Spoken Word Free Fringe before touring to critical acclaim and being published as a poetry pamphlet. So naturally, she’s now about to do it all again.

Her brand-new show, The Splitting Of The Mermaid, is a darkly feminist update of the Little Mermaid fable, set in post-industrial Hull and telling the story of May, a mermaid who longs for a baby. Described as “brilliantly subversive”, the story-poetry is woven through with music and a little bit of magic.

Saltburn residents succeed in creating a place for poetry

The event is brought to you by Apples and Snakes, working together with a dedicated band of female poets from the wider Teesside area, including Saltburn residents Cathie Sprague and Carmen Thompson. The evening will feature a collective performance of poems inspired by the sea from the Tees Women Poets, and music from folk singer-songwriter Sara Dennis.

Enjoy all this plus a cocktail, mocktail or speciality tea of your choice for only £8 – tickets available via Eventbrite.



The Splitting Of The Mermaid by Lucy Ayrton

Support from Tees Women Poets, music from Sara Dennis

When: ​Friday 18 July, 7.00pm – 10.00pm

Where:​The Sitting Room, 3 Station Buildings, Saltburn TS12 1AQ

Tickets:​£8 including cocktail