The September issue of 'Lookaround' caused me pleasure and sadness in equal amounts.
  I was delighted to read of the Diamond Wedding celebrations by Dereen and Joe Elvey and I hope they will allow me to add my congratulations.
  I was fortunate enough to visit Dereen and Joe a couple of years ago.  Until I left Sedbergh at the age of eleven in 1958, my family lived next door to the Elveys on Thornsbank.  Despite not having seen them for some forty six years, they welcomed myself and my partner, as if the intervening years did not exist!  It was good to talk of times past.
  Shortly after our visit, Dereen sent me a photograph of myself with their son Michael and Ralph Horne, dressed in our best uniforms before starting our first day at Q.E.S. Kirkby Lonsdale.  This is now a prized possession.
  A memory I shared with Joe was of attending the British School. 
  Sadly for me, having left the village at the age of twelve, contact with any of my friends at the school belongs almost to history.
  I was highly delighted, therefore, to see the photograph that was published in the August 'Lookaround' of a class of children at the British School.  There I sat in all my early fifties glory, almost smiling!  I had waited a long time to see further evidence that I had actually lived in Sedbergh!  I scanned the faces many times but, whilst I could remember names and faces, more than fifty years time lapse prevented me from matching as many as I would have wished.
  I anxiously awaited the arrival of the September magazine only to find that, sadly, I was the only person who had contacted Shirley Tebay with any information on the little group of bygone children.
  Perhaps none of my peers remain in Sedbergh.  After all I am sixty, so many changes will have occurred during the passing years. 
  However, if anyone can identify any of the children in the photograph or has any information about them, I would be delighted to hear from them.
Brian Hutchings
British School  1951 - 1957
Q.E.S, Kirkby 1957 - 1958
Tel. 01462 896831

  'The Pulse Community Gym' is almost ready. What's needed now is a small management committee to help with the preparations for the opening. The gym, which is at Baliol School is housed in what was the schools art room. At the time of writing the gym is being painted so … I think I can safely say that it should be open for business by the end of October if not before. Keep listening to Fresh Radio or watch for posters at the TIC and Library for the date of the official opening when you can come along and have a look round.
  There are male and female showers plus disabled facilities. A grant has been obtained by the school which has enabled it to purchase of a cross trainer for the gym. This along with all the other equipment for improving fitness makes the Pulse Gym a great asset to the community. A big note of thanks is owed to Baliol school staff and Head for all the work they have put in to make the gym a reality.
  Gary Holmes has been taken on by the school as gym and sports instructor. He will be available for inductions and to answer your questions relating to exercise and use of the gym. Gary has helped immensely getting things organised, he has even designed the logo for the gym. Membership costs will be kept to a minimum and is likely to be in the region of £20 per month, cheaper for yearly membership. The aim of the project was always to offer an affordable community resource open to everyone.
  Entry to the gym will be by switch card and membership can be purchased from Baliol school offices 9 am to 5 PM week days. Enquiries please call 015396 21808/20232.

  Unfortunately we had to cancel the centenary celebrations at Queens Gardens, due to torrential rain the previous day.
  The gardens are our very own 'Lost Gardens' ,as I have been returning some shape to the overgrown shrubs, a picture emerges of how the gardens used to be. If anyone has any photographs of how the gardens were, which they don't mind being copied I'd be very pleased to see them and perhaps use them in a booklet.
  For any fans of 'The trees that made Britain' or Autumn watch tree seed collecting or even those with Celtic interests there really is an excellent collection of mature trees in the gardens, just waiting to be hugged.                                                                                                                                 Percy the Park Keeper  Tel: 20118

  A Memorial Service for Raymond and Ninette Cooper was held in Sedbergh Parish Church on Wednesday, 30th August 2006.
  Raymond's association with Sedbergh began when he joined the staff of Sedbergh School in 1938. He is remembered from those days, when he lived in Sedgwick House, as a formidable player of both rugby and cricket and as one deeply attached to the fells of the Lake District and round Sedbergh. At the onset of the war he was commissioned in the School OTC and in 1940 was posted to the Ninth Battalion of the Border Regiment, with whom from 1942 he served overseas for two years. His war service took him to Burma from where he returned to England after being seriously wounded and where he received the MC.
  In hospital he met and was nursed by Ninette, who was to become his wife. Raymond returned to the staff at Sedbergh and in 1947 became Housemaster of Powell House. Although they left Sedbergh in 1954 and Raymond spent the rest of his teaching career as headmaster of The Hall School in Hampstead, their attachment to Sedbergh remained constant. It was their wish that their ashes should be interred at Sedbergh, where two sons who had died, one in infancy and the other at a young age, are buried.
  The service planned by son John and daughters Gillian and Norn, and involving other members of the family, was taken by the Reverend Canon Alan Fell. Andrew Gilliatt, formerly in Powell House, played the organ.
  In the congregation were past members of staff, many ex-members of Powell House and other Old Sedberghians, and representatives of the King's Own Royal Border Regiment, the British Legion and Sedbergh School. That so many attended, some coming from a considerable distance and after so many years, is a mark of the esteem in which Raymond and Ninette were held.
  John Cooper and the family wish to express their appreciation for the support they received on this occasion.

Dear Sir,
  We meet on the 2nd Monday of the month in the Town Library at 3 pm.  This month we are reading Northern Lights by Philip Pullman to discuss on October 9th.
  Next months book is The English by Jeremy Paxman, then Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire by a. Foreman in November. Janet Dodds

Recycling News
  There have been articles in the national news recently about the amount of waste caused by packaging. There are a wide range of materials used in packaging, from paper bags to cardboard boxes, polythene, foil trays, polystyrene and plastic bags. This can make it difficult for the consumer to work out how best to dispose of the packaging that has been used whilst minimising any damage to the environment.
  Many people are now familiar with the phrase 'Reduce Re-use Recycle' and that is an effective way of thinking about dealing with packaging.
  Firstly we would suggest choosing products that are not over-packaged, so reducing the amount of waste that has to be dealt with. Secondly we would encourage consumers to re-use carrier bags wherever possible. This could be by taking your bags back to the store to use again, using them as bin liners for example, or taking them to one of the plastic banks for recycling.
  Due to the wide range of materials used it is best to check the packaging for disposal and recycling guidance. This kind of information is becoming more commonplace, but it can be difficult to tell the difference between a food tray made out of plastic, which could be recycled, one made out of polystyrene, which cannot, and a tray made out of potato starch, which could go in your home compost bin.
  More information about packaging is available at www.recycle-more.co.uk
  If you have any questions about recycling please contact us either through the Customer Contact Centre on 0845 050 4434 or by emailing us at recycling@southlakeland.gov.uk
  Thank you for recycling.

  Dentdale WI were back in the Memorial Hall for the start of the autumn session and had a chance to look at the refurbishments which have taken place during the summer holidays. In the business meeting, members were thanked for their contributions to the Dent Gala teas which had made approximately £380 for the hall funds. Members were asked to vote on the suggested venues for the Christmas meal, (yes we are thinking that far ahead) and it will be held at Stone Close during the evening of December 13^th.
  On Monday 6^th November there will be another chance to participate in the ever popular WI regional pub quiz taking place in the Bull, Sedbergh and it was hoped that we might be able to enter a couple of teams as before.
  Sarah Ioannou gave a talk about her life in Ghana where she spent six months   doing voluntary work. She had helped to set up a little business tie dying silk and arrived at the meeting looking quite stunning wearing a long dress and head scarf in greens and gold made out of the material. Sarah lived in a concrete hut, washed in cold water and felt the isolation from civilisation when she contracted glandular fever and had to travel long distances over pot holed roads for treatment. Money for education did not get through to the village and sometimes the teachers did not turn up, or indeed the pupils, if the claims of farm work were pressing.
  Many of the land owners had accepted money for their land by a firm prospecting for gold but lack of a means of banking meant that as with the tie dying project, the financial side of life was fraught with difficulties.
  Sarah had prepared a typical soup of peanut butter and tomatoes for members to taste. Just as well it wasn't the rat stew she was given when invited for a meal by friendly villagers! She was thanked by Kate Cairns for her interesting and lively portrayal of Ghanaian rural life.
  Freda Meakin won the competition of handmade craft with some flowers made from decoupage and Jenny Pilgrim won the raffle prize.
  Next meeting will be on 11^th October when Sally Arnell will inform us about "Issues surrounding Strokes"

  There were quite a few apologies at the September meeting which was presided over by Marjorie Fishwick, vice-President.
  There was less business than usual to discuss this month, but members were interested in some of the Federation events.  We will be represented at the Cheese and Chutney Day at Endmoor on October 24th and four members offered to form a team for the Federation Quiz at the Bull Hotel on November 6th.  Denise Thomson will submit a photo for the 2008 W.I. Calendar.
  Nominations for Committee will be needed in October and members were encouraged to stand.
  Gary Wilson of the Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service came to explain its function which has changed very much since he joined 23 years ago.  The aim now is to educate people how to keep safe in their homes.  Gary gave us many safety hints and useful advice on how to avoid accidents and check on bogus callers.
  It was staggering to learn that each fire with a fatality or very badly injured person costs £1 million.  The CF and RS will provide a free house check and fit a free smoke detector.  Gary was thanked for his very practical and informative talk.
  Denise Thomson won the raffle prize and Marjorie Fishwick was the competition winner for 'An Unusual Matchbox'.
  Please note that the next meeting on October 11th will be held in the Methodist Church Hall due to the double booking of the People's Hall.  Tony Hannam will give an illustrated talk about his Coast to Coast walk.  Visitors always welcome.                                                                                M. F.