Cliff Lifts new engineer

Saltburn Cliff Lift's newly-appointed engineer Paul Wakeford is delighted to be at the controls of the Victorian masterpiece - and is even ready to offer on-board entertainment during wet weather. Paul, who reckons he now has his "dream job" after enjoying several summer seasons of part-time work on the Cliff Lift, will also bring his musical talents to the job, with a spot of banjo playing on rainy days. Paul, 57, explained: "I love the Cliff Lift and this is my dream job. It's a tourist attraction, part of Saltburn's heritage and being here makes me feel part of the town. I intend to be here until I'm at least 65, even longer if I'm fit and able."
Middlesbrough-born Paul has lived in Saltburn since 1993 and has had three spells since then working on the lift as a seasonal brake person in between a varied working life after deciding to call time on 18 years as a motor mechanic. He has fond early childhood memories of the Cliff Lift, but admits: "I think it was two pence up and one penny down and my dad would say, 'I'll see you at the bottom, you walk down!' So as a kid, I don't think I ever used it!"His first journey didn't come until he joined the workforce in 1994 - then he got a shock. "I expected the lift to be driven from the bottom - I thought the top was just a ticket office. I didn't realise it was driven from there, didn't know how it worked. And the banjo playing? A self-employed busker at one time, he brought the banjo along when he worked the summer "and played it when the weather was rotten!" said Paul who is currently busy on winter maintenance before the Lift reopens on Good Friday, April 10.

Deeply Dippy

Scores of swimmers took the plunge at the regular annual New Years day dip in Saltburn. As the chill winds swept in from the sea they stripped off - or paraded dressed in fantastic costumes before taking to the waters.
At Saltburn the main support was for the the Saltburn Animal Rescue Association (SARA), which has acquired a new site for its work with strays and abandoned pets.
Association chairwoman, Ann Prosser, said a string of dogs and cats had been taken in over the Christmas period.
"We hope to raise between £500-£600 from the dip," she said.
"We are grateful for all those who turned up to take part plus the volunteers and all those who help - dog walkers, kennel cleaners, everyone."

Halcyon Days

The Halcyon Singers were formed in 2003 under the leadership of outgoing conductor Rose Bottomley, pictured above. Now the gran-of-three is determined to find a replacement so that she can return to the ranks as a soprano. Rose, who teaches piano and singing, said: "I really don't want to see the Singers fold, but I can't carry on running it. I want to spend more time with my family and on my other hobbies, like painting and travelling."

The successful candidate will have to have exemplary organisational skills, and naturally, an interest in music and singing. They will be responsible for organising rehearsals, choosing the programme and arranging performances. And the new conductor should be willing to accommodate the occasional big name from the world of music. In 2006, the Halcyon Singers performed with Guisborough lass and international opera star Sarah Sweeting.

The 30 members perform concerts singing a variety of popular hits from the musicals and, as well as a new conductor, they are looking for more members to join their ranks.
Rose said: "We'd really like some more younger members to come and join us, with lots of energy and ideas."

Brenda Marquis is in charge of publicity for the Singers, and was first in a long line to pay tribute to the director. She said: "Rose started this group with just eight people, and now we have more than 30 members. She has made an enjoyable hobby popular for so many people, and it will be great to still have her around."

If anyone is interested in leading the Halcyon singers, or joining as a singer, they can contact Rose on 01287 209123.

Tea time all year round.

The newly refurbished Valley gardens tea-rooms opened for business this summer, and now, for the first time, thanks to the building being fully insulated, the Tea Rooms can offer year-round opening. The café will open remain open from 10am - 3pm offering teas, coffees, delicious scones and cakes.
You will receive a warm welcome from the staff, some of whom are currently attending Redcar and Cleveland Council's Learning Disability Day Service. Their voluntary work will not only
provide them with additional training but also enable them to be supported into paid employment in the catering field in future.

The rise and fall of a Cliff Lift engineer.

After eleven years of working as an engineer carrying the responsibility of ensuring that more than a million visitors were transported safely between the lower and upper promenades Alan Ismay drove Saltburn's Victorian Cliff lift for the last time this Sunday.

The trip marked the last summertime run for the lift and Alan's retirement. This season a total of 99,904 passengers have experienced the 55 second journey on the cliff lift's rare water powered system which dates from 1884.

A former customs and excise officer, Mr Ismay commented that many of his passengers did not understand why they sometimes had to sit and wait for the lift's water balanced mechanism to work and were baffled by the system.

Alan will be staying on to welcome his successor as Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council will be interviewing applicants later this month and he will be helping the annual winter maintenance programme. Its attraction is also strong enough to make Alan think twice when reopening time comes round on Good Friday, April 9. "I might be back to do a bit of relief work," he admitted.

Pageant of Light 2008 - a breeze.

Sunday. Celebrating the passing of British summertime this year saw the Valley Gardens lit up once again with a procession of music and light following Mr Toad and his friends from The Wind in the Willows. Refreshments were available from the Tea Rooms courtesy of the Saltburn WI.

In times past the Pleasure Grounds were illuminated with lights and concerts were performed at the garden bandstand with the NER providing special late night trains for the occasion.

Fireworks! A license to thrill...

Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council has invested in a licence to thrill for its spectacular Fireworks Night display on The Stray at Redcar on Wednesday, November 5.
The display, featuring 15,000 aerial fireworks, will be fired off in a secure area on The Stray car park, starting at 7.30pm, against a background of eight James Bond film music scores.
Organiser Steve Illidge, director of Highlight Pyrotechnics, explained: "In the opening sequence, we've got several litres of petrol ejected into the air on fire, creating large rolling balls of flame fired in time to the 007 theme. When we play From Russia With Love, there will be huge red hearts appearing in the sky whilst thousands of pink comets are fired over 30 metres into the night sky it fits beautifully with the tempo of the track. The final flourish is Live and Let Die one of the best tracks for fireworks - and the final salvo is made up from hundreds of brocade shells which will turn the entire sky to silver!"
Other featured soundtracks in the 25-minute display are On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Thunderball, Diamonds Are Forever, Goldfinger, Casino Royale and the latest Bond, Quantum of Solace.
A stretch of the Coast Road will be closed to traffic from 5pm, reopening at approximately 9pm. The Council is organising a free park and ride bus service from the Majuba Road car park, with four 26-seater minibuses starting a shuttle service from 6pm.
This years Skinningrove Bonfire will celebrate the Mining Museums 25th anniversary, the mines closure 50 years ago and its opening 125 years ago. Organisers plan to build a bonfire that depicts a pony coming out of the mine, pulling trucks. And there are plans for a brass band and a folk group, singing traditional mining songs. The celebrations will start at 6.30pm on Wednesday, November 5. The Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism Councillor Sheelagh Clarke said: "Every year the Fireworks Display on The Stray at Redcar gets better and more and more people choose to enjoy this spectacular event rather than have their own bonfire parties. Skinningrove's Bonfire in the Mining Museums 25th anniversary year will be very special, providing family entertainment alongside the firework celebrations. Parents appreciate this is the safest way to enjoy Guy Fawkes night and this year promises to be the best ever for both events."
Saltburn Cricket Club holds it's own event on the cricket club grounds.