Saltburn Billboard Art

Whenever I read phrases such as ‘urban art-scape’ or ‘guerilla advertising’ I instantly switch off, feeling that I’m being sold on the reflection of an idea rather than an actual concept, a tangible work of art that I can identify with. But recently I was somewhat inspired by the story of an Irish gentleman who, faced with unemployment, spent his savings on a giant billboard advertising that he was available to work. With the headline ‘Save me from emigration’ he stood out from all other potential candidates, received over 20 job interviews and even a couple of job offers. Now as bold as this man was in selling himself, this got me thinking what if billboards weren’t used solely for advertising. What if they were used for works of art? A sketch at a bus stop, a collage on a roundabout or even photography on a rubbish bin there’s so much advertising nowadays how could we, if not subvert, just change the dynamic of our local spaces? So, maybe after a little too much wine, I found a site where I subsequently booked the billboard on Marske Road train bridge. Now the first person I though of was local Saltburn artist Andy Broderick, his fantastic naturalistic work an excellent antidote to the stream of comparison websites and bargain airlines most of us trudge by every other week. With a very tight deadline Andy has made a beautiful work of art which will be up on the site from the 10th-24th of August. I hope you can take the time to enjoy it.

Luke

Andy Brodericks 'Nettle'

Local Author Spins Salty Yarn of Fighting Ships

Latest e-book title for Chris

On July 8th, 2011, Boson Books of Raleigh, North Carolina released the worldwide ebook Scarborough Fair by Saltburn author Chris Scott Wilson. Better known for his local history work and his gritty westerns, Scarborough Fair shows that when Wilson forsakes the land for the sea, he is still very much at home spinning yarns to make even salty sailors smile. In Scarborough Fair he tells the story of how John Paul Jones became America’s first great naval hero.

With the onset of the War of Independence in 1775, England found herself fighting to maintain a grip on her colonies in America. Meanwhile, the fledgling US Congress was desperate to break the mother country’s domination of the seas and cripple her trade routes. King Louis XVI of France, knowing any such disruption could only benefit French trade, was eager to help. In 1778 when John Paul Jones was ordered to Paris, Louis promised to furnish and arm a ship for him, and also grant free access to all French ports.

John Paul Jones, originally from Scotland, had served his apprenticeship on the high seas, working his way up to captain. His ambition was to own plantations in Virginia, but when war was declared against England, Paul Jones had immediately volunteered to serve his adopted nation. Three years later, he was ordered to France where the American founding father, Benjamin Franklin, became his greatest ally. Offering constant reassurance, Franklin guided Jones though the murky political waters of the French Marine Ministry in his quest to secure a ship to fight the English. When the task appeared hopeless, he eventually devised a plot to force the purchase of a suitable vessel.

In recognition of Franklin’s efforts, Jones renamed his new command Bonhomme Richard, Franklin’s pen name. Promoted to commodore, John Paul Jones began to harry the English in their own territorial waters while battling the treachery of insubordinate French officers who commanded the other ships in his small flotilla. A year later, just south of Scarborough, he tackled a brand new English frigate, HMS Serapis. They fought within sight of the very shores of England, the nation whose proud boast was its invincible navy. It was at that Battle of Flamborough Head in 1779, that John Paul Jones became a legend.

Saltburn author, Chris Scott Wilson, comments, “I was researching another novel when I discovered that Paul Jones’s ship had been sighted off Whitby and the local militia turned out to man the canon on the seafront battery. Although I didn’t use that incident in the story, I later found out Jones had captured a fishing boat called Speedwell just off Whitby when he was looking for a pilot who knew the waters near Scarborough. That gave me the link to use both Scarborough and Whitby as settings in the book. It was no hardship, I’ve always loved both towns – some years ago I wrote A Flavour of Whitby to give visitors a taste of the port’s rich seafaring history.”

The author continues, “Jones was an extraordinary man whose famous cry was, ‘Surrender? I have not yet begun to fight.’ And he never gave up. It seems astounding these days to think he was only 31 years old when he fought that great battle. Although the English press called him a pirate or lampooned him as a comic figure, the pen in this case wasn’t mightier than the sword. Paul Jones’s courage, grit and determination moulded him into a hero.”

The best-selling author Clive Cussler, himself fascinated in Paul Jones to the point of financing several expeditions to search the North Sea for the wreckage of Bonhomme Richard, wrote to Chris: “Scarborough Fair is a terrific story. Of course, you English always had a better command of the language than we colonists. The Serapis and Bonhomme Richard battle was always a great adventure tale and you did it proud.”

Scarborough Fair by Chris Scott Wilson is now available in ebook format from all leading online retailers. For a sample read and purchasing details, visit http://www.cmonline.com/boson/ and follow Fiction> Historical fiction, or visit the author’s website http://www.chrisscottwilson.co.uk/. where Chris would be pleased to welcome you.

Read the opening chapter here.

Saltburn Cliff Hoist Plaque unveiled.

A plaque to mark Saltburn's original cliff-hoist, forerunner of the now world-famous cliff-lift, was unveiled by Councillor Vera Rider, chairman of Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council today. (Thurs July 28).

Coun Vera Rider, of Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council, chats to retired
cliff-lift engineer Ken Fellows after officially unveiling a plaque to mark the cliff hoist's
life 1870-83. This was succeeded by the water-powered lift, which now carries over
 100,000 passengers a year up and down to the beach.

She told a crowd of councillors and onlookers that it was the third of four plaques to pinpoint historical areas of the parish.

The next one to be unveiled will be to remember car and motor-cycle speed records on Saltburn's sands in the early 20th century. This ceremony will take place at the top of the cliff lift on Saturday September 17th at 10.30am. Members of the public will be welcome.

Among the crowd - at the pier end of the cliff-lift - was Ken Fellows, 71, of Guisborough, who retired as lift engineer after 20 years in 2005. "The plaque is wonderful. I'm glad the hoist and lift are being recognised," he said.

The four plaques commissioned so far have cost a total of £1,000.

The other two plaques are at the town's bandstand - marking the site of the Halfpenny Bridge - and at Winkie's Castle museum, Marske.

Two others are planned for St Germain's church tower, Marske, and the site of the former water tower in Upleatham Street, Saltburn. Both are to be put up in 2012.

The four made so far were designed and made by Eddie Guy, of SignArt, Saltburn.

The plaque, sited on the wall of the cliff lift.

Croquet anyone?

Croquet players Saltburn's Geoff Watkins, Brockley Hall visitors Chris Kirkbride,
Nick Haigh and  Paul Prewett, pause during their practice game at Saltburn.

The game of croquet is being revived at Saltburn to mark the town's 150th birthday celebrations.
The game was first played in Saltburn's Pleasure Grounds (on the lawn in front of where the tea rooms are today) in the 1860s when the Zetland Hotel was opened, but in recent years its popularity has declined.

Visitors to Brockley Hall holiday centre have been virtually the only people in Saltburn to have played since the 1960s, but a match is to be held on Wednesday August 17th as part of the birthday celebrations.

A practice game was held on Sunday July 24th when a Brockley Hall team beat a Saltburn squad.

Geoff Watkins, of Saltburn, who is to play at the celebration match, said: "I thoroughly enjoyed playing again after a lapse of many years and am looking forward to the match."

Organiser Mike Morrissey, of Saltburn, said he would like to hear from any more potential Saltburn players. The match will take place on Marine Parade from 10.30am to 12 noon. Please phone 01287-622493 for details.

Building collapse on the Corner of Milton and Pearl Street



A structural problem in the brickwork above Trendz Hair and Beauty Salon on the corner of Milton and Pearl Street has resulted in the collapse of part ot the building just below the roofline.

Bricks close to a top-story window had fallen from the property smashing a glass covering and landing on the pavement below. Visible cracks in the walls could also be seen. Fortunately no-one was injured by the falling debris as the incident occurred late at night.

Richard Willis, who lives opposite the building and also owns Heatwave Solarium, one of the businesses affected, said: “I heard a noise at about 10.30pm. It was absolutely horrendous. The lads in the next street thought it was an explosion.”

Fire crews were immediately called out to the property to make the building safe. Occupants of the adjacent flats on the upper floor of the building were evacuated and affected business premises below were cordoned off to allow a council structural engineer to assess the building today. Water getting behind the brickwork has been muted as the probable cause of the damage.

It is understood that residents have been allowed to return to their flats but business premises have remained closed.

Sinfonia Chorus to sing in Saltburn

The 50-strong Northern Sinfonia Chorus is to stage a free hour-long concert at Emmanuel Church, off Windsor Road, at 6pm.

Organiser Peter Davison, of the Saltburn150 group, which is coordinating events to mark the town's 150th birthday, said: "This first visit of the chorus to Saltburn is generating a lot of excitement not only in the town, but within a 30-mile radius.

Organiser Peter Davison shows a poster of the Northern Sinfonia Chorus, which is making
 its first visit to Saltburn on Sunday. A one-hour concert, including early Church anthems
and folk songs, will be free of charge.

"Scores of people are interested in coming after learning of the concert, which will have a lot of variety in it. The church is an excellent venue with good acoustics. It can seat 500, including people on chairs at the back, " said Mr Davison, a teacher, of Guisborough.

"The programme will be a mix of choral music from across the centuries and across the world, from early church anthems by Tallis to arrangements of folk songs by Holst."

More information can be had from Mr Davison, who will introduce the programme, on 01287-635316.

Mike Morrisey

Members of the Northern Sinfonia Chorus rehearsing.
Picture by Dan Brady

Time for Tea at ArtsBank

Cafe au lait

Today saw the official launch of ArtsBank's cafe. Having had the pleasure of attending the opening we can confidently recommend Artsbank not only as a place to wander amongst a variety of works celebrating the talents of local artists but also as a perfect meeting place. The cafe will serve a choice selection of teas and coffees alongside a delicious range of light meals and snacks. As well as sandwiches and light lunches the menu also includes a selection of freshly made cakes and scones all baked on the premises by their own chef. During lunch, if you wish, you can relax over a glass of wine and afternoon teas are also on the menu.