May 2009

Your letters

Time at the crown

Two articles in the February issue were of particular interest to me. The first one was Martin Handley’s article on Boston Spa and especially the photographs of the Crown Hotel, as I have a strong family connection. My great grandfather, John William Allison, was landlord there for many years. He was certainly there from at least 1891 (per census) to 1909 when my late father Raymond Allison Atkinson was born there. I recall my father calling at the Crown in the 1960s, and asking in the bar if anyone remembered his grandfather. An elderly regular did in fact remember his period as landlord.

John William was a well known local character and enjoyed a long reign at the Crown. I should appreciate hearing from anyone who could provide me with any information regarding him or the hotel.
Peter Braithwaite’s article, ‘Watching the skies’, regarding RAF Patrington, brought back many happy memories of my own national service with the RAF. I also completed my service during the period 1954-56, starting at Cardington. After training as a fighter plotter at RAF Middle Wallop, I served at Patrington from early 1955 until 1956.
I agree Patrington was a very comfortable site and a happy camp. I am sure there must be many others who remember some riotous demob parties at the Spread Eagle in Withernsea. I recall one occasion when the glass in the front door of the pub was damaged at a party. The subject was raised the next morning at our flight parade by our Flight Officer. The immediate response was that the repair cost would be met by a ‘whip-round’ amongst the boys.

One point which Peter mentioned puzzles me – the reference to RAF Holmpton. In our time surely the radar site at Holmpton was simply an integral part of RAF Patrington.

Barry Atkinson

Mouseman memories

As a long time reader of Dalesman, may I say how delighted I was to read the article ‘Mousemania’ (March).

In 1933, when the library was new, I was also new at Leeds Girls’ High School. I gained a very prestigious scholarship from Burley Town School in Leeds.

As I came from a very poor background, I found the school and especially the new library particularly awe inspiring. I remember how I used to stroke the lovely surface of the tables!

I am rather sad though that the lovely library was not moved in its entirety, having been broken up and auctioned instead.

Ms V Johnson, Holmfirth

Conflict in Ripley

I was interested to see the photograph of the weeping cross in Ripley churchyard (Feb). The hole in the top was to receive the shaft of a wooden crucifix, now very appropriately filled with flowers.
In medieval times a public penance was required by the Church for serious sins, and the penitent would be publicly humiliated as the congregation passed into church.

Another feature of interest in the churchyard are the scars caused by bullets on the end wall of the church itself.

The Ingilbys were staunch Royalists with Catholic sympathies. Indeed, one ancestor, Francis Ingilby, had been executed at York for secretly practising his Catholic priesthood in Yorkshire some years before. After the Battle of Marston Moor, Cromwell compelled the Ingilbys to accommodate him in the castle and as a mark of his contempt used the interior of the church to stable his horses.

My information is that some of the young men from the estate who had fought on the Royalist side during the Battle were shot there.

Andrew Bebb, Liverpool

Digging deep

Regarding ‘Whatever happened to winter?’ (Feb) I have vivid memories of both the 1947 and 1963 winters.

I was in the army doing my training at Catterick camp and for a number of weeks in early 1947 we were engaged in digging out villages and farms around Stalling Busk, Marske, Reeth and Bainbridge.

Some days we dug in blizzard conditions which almost filled the trenches as fast as we dug them out. Other days the sun shone out of a clear blue sky and we would be working in our shirt sleeves. Lunch was usually a couple of cheese and sardine sandwiches and a can of tea which was taken sitting in the snow, and if we were lucky, at the hall in Bainbridge.

After a couple of weeks of this a detachment of about eight of us were sent to some disused army huts above Bellerby to dissuade squatters from taking over the accommodation – though how they were going to move in with their belongings with the snow and drifts feet deep, I don’t know. However, it was a good number for us lads so we didn’t mind.

One good thing to come out of this was that it opened my eyes to the beauty of the Dales and majesty of the fells. Later, my wife and I were to spend many happy days walking and cycling through the Dales and Lake District.

In the winter of 1963 we built a snowman in the back garden for our daughter who was two years old at the time. Every morning she would look out to see if it was still there. It froze into a solid block of ice and he was with us until late April. Nowadays our winters over here are a little warmer, but we still remember the fun we had skating and sledging.

Thank you Dalesman for the memories.

B Morton, Australia

Rescue or ruin?

For the last four years, my wife and I have fled the capital for a week’s sojourn in the Yorkshire Dales at Settle, and have on each occasion enjoyed walking along the riverside path featured in the article ‘Revitalising the Ribble’ (March) which is now apparently threatened with ‘improvement’.

According to the article, community consultations showed that the riverside’s rural character was highly valued and should be safeguarded. The proposed ‘improvements’ would seem to demonstrate the futility of such consultations.

Inserting a ramp between the path and the school, replacing full-grown trees with saplings and removing the step-stiles can hardly be regarded as ‘sensitive, low-key interventions’ or ‘conserving the rural character of the footpath.’

The article concludes that the riverside paths are about to get ‘the appreciation of tourists and locals they deserve.’

Actually, these particular tourists, and I’m sure many locals, have always appreciated these paths just as they are.

Mr Chris Whitehouse, Tottenham, London

Treasure trees

In her article ‘Escape to adversity’ (Feb), Jean Reynolds mentions that while heading for Barden Tower she was keeping her eye open for the ‘money tree’, a fallen tree in which people had hammered coins over many centuries.

For several years I have known of only one such tree, fallen or perhaps felled, lying by a footpath alongside a stream at Studley Royal, just outside Ripon. If during walks there I have thought about the tree at all, I was at a loss to understand why folk should want to part with their coins in the manner described. Even during the Second World War a ha’penny piece would buy a number of boiled sweets from our corner shop. Until reading the latest issue of Dalesman, I simply assumed the Studley Royal ‘money tree’ to be an isolated phenomenon. Jean’s comment brings a second specimen to my notice, prompting several questions.

How many more ‘money trees’ are lurking out there, and over how many centuries have folk been hammering coins edgeways into them, a feat requiring patience and repeated heavy blows with a suitable tool? Are they a local, regional or nation-wide phenomenon? Given the famed thrifty nature of all true-born Yorkshire folk – there must have been a strong reason for this seeming profligacy. Can more knowledgeable Dalesman readers please enlighten me?

Gerald Cameron, Witterswil, Switzerland

The first to fly in

I read with great interest the letter ‘Common Crashes’ from Clarrie East in the February issue.

I am enclosing a photo of my brother’s aircrew and wonder if this was the first plane to arrive at Marston Moor?

My brother was the flight engineer and the crew I think were trained for bombing flights at Marston Moor. Luckily, after many dangerous missions, they were all safe. I have many sad and happy memories of the war.

Mrs M Dean, Leeds

A happy place

I so enjoy reading the articles in the Dalesman, and I would like to share with you my happy place in Yorkshire – the beautiful resort of Scarborough.

From when I was a child, spending holidays with my grandmother in Oak Road by Falsgrave Park, I have visited Scarborough whenever possible.

Here are just a few of my happiest memories, which will always remain in my heart: the wonderful view from the Spa Bridge across the South Bay to the harbour; standing on the Esplanade looking over to the old town nestling in the cliff; sitting in the Spa sun enclosure looking out to sea and listening to the excellent music at a concert; walking around Marine Drive hearing the sound of the sea and enjoying delicious coffee at the marvellous Harbour Bar.

Multiple Sclerosis now prevents me from making the long journey from Essex, but Scarborough still is, and always will be, my favourite place in Yorkshire.

Mrs Shirley Harrison, Brentwood, Essex

Suitable attire

Re ‘A triple helping of Whernsides’ (March), I was reminded of a time when my wife and I climbed Whernside a few years ago. We reached the summit around lunchtime and joined a large group of appropriately equipped walkers tucking into their sandwiches.
Suddenly a group of fellrunners in shorts and singlets came up, ran past and dropped down towards Chapel le Dale. One of the resting walkers commented: “Well blow me. There we all are, wearing all the right gear with all the right labels and them b*****s have run up in their underwear”. Need I say more.

B Scotson, Leeds

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