Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Saltburn '150' Makes Mosaics




Childen and parents have started to make mosaic panels showing aspects of Saltburn, which will be placed on the walkway wall alongside Sainsbury's as part of Saltburn's 150th anniversary celebrations. The first - showing a seagull - was started by children during a two-day exercise on the lower promenade during the Easter school holidays (Apr 13-14).
"We love working on this project, which will be a permanent legacy of the 150 year. It should be fantastic when finished," said Mrs Christine Fowler, of Saltburn.
Children Caitlin, nine, and Chloe, six, with friend Maisie Anderson Smith, nine, spent half an hour helping artists Helen Jane Gaunt and Derek Mosey, to prepare the first of five mosaic panels.

In an allied project in the upstairs community room opposite the pier, more than 200 children, aged four to 16, enjoyed painting in water colours and graffiti with Club Creative, an interface between artists and schools. Neil Walker, who was tutoring them, said: "It has been fun for both children and parents. It's a nice link with Saltburn. We'll do it again if Redcar and Cleveland Council find funding."

The mosaics will be a permanent feature of the celebrations. But organisers are seeking more help with plans. More input would be welcome at the next monthly meeting at the community hall on Wednesday 4th May at 7pm.
This help is particularly needed because a bid for a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund has been turned down. The newly-revived Saltburn Business Association is putting `150' on its agenda at monthly meetings.

Local films will feature in the annual film festival to be held in the community theatre from Wednesday-Saturday May 11th-14th with the Silverwood Brass Band kicking off with an evening of music from the movies.
Mayor Ray Goddard will officially open the festival on Thursday with Saltburn Shorts plus the End of the Pier C4 documentary being screened.
Other films to be shown during the festival are the End of an Era about the North Skelton mine closing, The Gate of Eden, a dramatic film set in Saltburn with some of the original cast due to attend, and God on the Rocks, another film set in the town.


May starts with an illustrated lecture about the history of Saltburn staged by Teesside University lecturer Geoff Watkins on Tuesday 3rd May. This was due to have been given on 12th April but was postponed.
Mr Watkins, who lives in Saltburn, promises "a fascinating picture of a previous age" and his talk starts a series of heritage lectures to be held monthly in the theatre.

Events coming up in June include a Songs of Praise evening at the Methodist church featuring members of several local choirs among the crowd, an open day at the fire station, and a flower festival at Emmanuel church.

Midsummer activities include a vintage car rally on the lower promenade, a sailing trip from Whitby to Saltburn, rail tours between Saltburn and Boulby, and an extended Victorian Week including a town photo.

Other plans include:

*A new real ale brew for Saltburn is being prepared for a special beer festival.

*A massed brass band event will take place on the site of the old bandstand in the valley gardens, which was bombed during WW2. Work is progressing to make a permanent amphitheatre as another legacy of the 150 celebrations.

*Saltburn primary school is preparing a history of education in Saltburn. A lady travelled from the West Country to the last 150 meeting to bring education memorabilia.
This is being stored at Saltburn Community and Arts Association office, off Albion Terrace (Tel. 624997).

Saltburn Victorian Footballers and Friends has presented the 150 Group with £600 raised from a race night held at Saltburn cricket club in March. This is mainly being spent on producing a brochure about the year, including a list of activities.

Details of events can be found on Saltburn150 and on other websites including Facebook and Twitter.
Mike Morrisey

No comments: