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SETTLEBECK HIGH SCHOOL
French Trip - November 2005
Very, very early on Tuesday 8th November 65 Year 9 students and 6 staff set off for Le Touquet on the Opal Coast in France. They returned late on Saturday 12th November after 5 memorable days. Here are some of the students reactions:
The best parts of my trip was going up the Eiffel Tower (only half way up) and going to the Sea Life Centre but there were a lot of other good bits.
Robin Littlewood
The French Trip was really good. I had a great time and so did everyone else even though the bus journey was very long! My favourite part was going up the Eiffel Tower where there were great views. I did like the chocolate factory though! I also enjoyed going swimming, the bakery and boat trip.
Freddie Evans-Jeanrenaud
In France I think I most enjoyed talking to some French students on Wednesday whilst we were looking for things around the town.
Megan Davies Ingham
The trip was ace! We had done lots of different things and had packed lots of trips into one day. I loved swimming and going up the Eiffel Tower and I would come to France any day.
Annwen Wilkinson
The chocolaterie was brilliant and the chocolate was great. The bakery was brilliant as well and the traditional bread cooker was amazing.
William Richardson
On our journey I was so excited. We got there and I thought the hotel was good. The first day was brill. The second day we went to Paris. That was fantastic. Friday we went to bowling, that was good.
Bryan Beagan-Taylor
I liked bowling but I lost. It was good in Paris because I saw good buildings. I liked the Sea Life Centre because I looked at fish.
Kurt Ball
On this trip I have enjoyed going up the Eiffel Tower because it shows you exactly how big Paris really is. I have also enjoyed walking in the towns and talking to French students. The food was mostly nice except for breakfast time where you only got a croissant to eat.
David Goad
On this trip I have enjoyed the bowling and the shopping. On the first night I didn't like the food much but as the trip progressed I found that the food got nicer. I was dreading eating snails but when I actually tried them, I liked them! We went to Montreuil on Thursday and we talked to some French students.
James Woof
This trip was the best. I loved all the places we visited, especially the bread factory and the bowling alley. I wasn't so keen on the snails we tried, I had one but that was all. Kim McCarthy
The French Trip was cool. The most thing that I really liked was going to Paris and going on the boat and going to the second floor in the Eiffel Tower.
Lauren Mackereth
I have really enjoyed the France Trip. The best part was we had to answer questions and then first walk about in the town called Montreuil. There were some French kids started talking to us. Overall, the trip was good.
Jonathon Harper
SEDBERGH TOWN BAND
Annual Christmas Concert
The People's Hall was again the venue for the band's Annual Christmas Concert. As in previous years the emphasis was on an evening of traditional Christmas music holding an appeal for all the family.
Some two hundred and thirty supporters of the band gathered on Tuesday 6th December in the hall that had been tastefully arranged in a manner appropriate for the season. Prominent was a fine, decorated tree generously donated by Martin Powell who was also responsible for the much appreciated loan of a number of chairs.
Both halves of the programme followed a similar pattern - that is a combination of popular Christmas numbers (including 'Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer', 'Let it Snow and the ever popular compilation 'Christmas Swingalong) and groups of familiar carols. The audience participated in the carols with gusto with certain verses being allocated to specific groups (ladies, gentlemen, children, over 50's etc.) who vied with each other to produce the most melodious rendition. Gratifyingly considerable applause greeted the band's singing of a verse from 'Silent Night'.
The conclusion of the final number of the first half signalled the arrival of Father Christmas who distributed gifts to the children from his capacious sack. We are again indebted to him for taking time off at this most busy time of the year to be with us.
Whilst Father Christmas was thus occupied members of the band (who had now donned festive hats) circulated amongst the audience dispensing mince pies and mulled wine, a particularly delicious brew conjured up by Sandra Waters to whom our congratulations are extended. Tea and coffee was available as an alternative and out thanks go to J. J. Martins for the loan of their water boiler. Adding to the excitement and bonhomie of the interval was the calling out of the many winning numbers in the raffle.
The second half concluded with 'The Christmas Song' as an encore but before the National Anthem was played to bring the evening to a close a presentation was made to Director of Music, conductor and compere for the evening Alan Lewis. Hilary Hodge, secretary, spoke on behalf of the band, recording its humble beginnings a mere six years ago, stressing that the majority of members had no previous knowledge or experience of music in general and brass playing in particular. She pointed out that the existence of the band, the numbers playing and the impressive standards achieved were all thanks to the enthusiasm, vision and dedication of Alan Lewis. She concluded by reminding any member of the audience who had an ambition to play a brass instrument that group tuition was available on Monday evenings at 6.15 in the beginners class to which all interested were most welcome.
Finally a presentation of framed photographs recalling the band's memorable tour to Zrece was made to Alan in recognition of the band's indebtedness to his endeavours.
Alan thanked Hilary and then invited the audience to join him in The Dalesman where he intended slaking his thirst after the labours of the evening.
It is appropriate at this point to express the thanks of the band to the many people who were responsible for enabling this and other equally enjoyable events over the year to take place. Many of the premises in the town kindly allowed us to exhibit posters advertising the event - an appreciated and valued gesture that precedes all concerts. We extend our thanks to Nisa, the Information Centre and Our Gallery for acting as sales outlets for the tickets - a task cheerfully undertaken in spite of the many and varied demands upon their time.
Thanks and acknowledgement are due to those members of the band who are instrumental in setting up the hall, collecting and arranging sufficient seating and constructing stage extensions. Particular thanks go to the ladies, Jean, Sandra, Faye, Alison, Sarah, Shirley, Viv, Elspeth, Sheila, Denise and others who man the doors, sell the raffle tickets, make the tea and coffee, mulled wine and mince pies. Steve Longland's production of an excellent lighting system was much appreciated by band and audience alike. Our grateful thanks go to Michael Garnett and his staff at The Dalesman for so generously laying on a splendid buffet for the band following the concert - this was much appreciated.
Finally a thank you to Dennis and Jacky Whicker for regularly publishing our reports and news in this magnificent publication the Lookaround.
G.. B.
CHARITY SALE
A Christmas Charity Sale was held in the United Reform Church on Saturday 26th November. It was agreed that profits from the sale would be distributed between Derian House Children's Hospice and ACT (Against Childhood Tumours).
Thanks to an overwhelming response to the request for books, toys, bric-a-brac, cakes and jams, an enormous quantity and range of goods was available for purchase. Sales together with takings from the raffle, soup and rolls, together with coffee and tea, and rent from table spaces, led to a magnificent profit of £460 that was divided between the two causes, thus enabling each to benefit to the tune of £230.
Subsequently, in a wonderfully magnanimous gesture, the entire takings from her stall was donated to Derian House by Mrs. Betty Dark. Rounded up by her it meant that a further cheque for £200 was sent to Derian House.
In the two or three days following the sale further donations for Derian House were received from well-wishers and a third cheque, this time for £50 was sent. Thus in total following the sale it has been possible to send contributions to the value of £480 to Derian House bringing the grand total raised on this charity's behalf since Sandra Longlands was first sponsored to freeze her knees in February 2001 to £4,175.
The sincere thanks of the organisers go to all those who have so generously supported Derian House both on Saturday 26th November and throughout the last four years. A great debt is owed to those who have donated goods, run stalls and raffles, provided and prepared refreshments, baked cakes, made jam etc. Above all a great thank you to those who attend the events and spend so freely and generously, and as always to Lookaround for its wonderful financial contributions as well as the invaluable publicity it affords such events.
On top of this there have been two further donations to the Derian cause. Readers who attended the Late Night Festive Shopping in Sedbergh in December 2005 cannot fail to recall the superb entertainment provided by Alistair Rae, the star of 'Bad Lads Army'. Rather than accept a fee for his appearance he has donated what was his due to Derian House: an act of generosity that receives our sincerest thanks.
The final word rests with Sandra Mason of the Derian House Appeals Administration who in writing to acknowledge receipt of the above donations expressed a sincere thanks for the generosity and support shown by Sedbergh. She said that it was a tremendous amount to receive and gave assurance that the donations would be used effectively to further their work at the Hospice.
She went on to say that Derian House was now in its twelfth year and needed to raise almost £1.4 million per year to continue its care. Although open 365 days a year it receives statutory funding for only 5 days. This means that they remain almost totally reliant on voluntary funding and this is why the Sedbergh contribution is important to them, much appreciated and guaranteed to make a difference.
To provide the icing on an already delightful and substantial cake, the organisers of the Festive Shopping Evening have donated £55 to the Derian House Fund. We thank them most sincerely for their generosity and congratulate them on organising such a successful event that has enabled them to make this donation. G. B.
FAMILY MUSINGS
Having our dog is like having a small child again, waking us up as early as Sam some mornings wanting attention, at least she doesn't come into our bed and then kick us out like one of our children used to do! The result of that was usually one of us going into another bed for the remainder of the night. Cleo wants to be outside, then in, then out and so on, to be fair she usually wakes us about 5-5.30 and as I leave for work 2hrs later that's not too bad, but recently it was Sam, so I took her to work and walked her along Arnside coast path in my lunch hour and another walk later but she still woke us at 4am, anyone any solutions because much as we love her, er I love her, my brother loves dogs but will not love being woken by her racket in the early hours.
I became well acquainted with National Express Coaches last Nov and Dec using them to reach Bristol and come home again, except when we got an urgent call to get there and hubby and younger daughter took me by car and then they came back after about an hour during which they were able to see Bruce. That night I stayed in a relatives room deep down in the hospital not sure if I would have my brother in the morning and was greatly encouraged by the text messages and prayers and thoughts of so many people. Then followed a rather grim couple of weeks but he was well enough to be moved to Preston hosp for Christmas and then a bit nearer to Kendal. I am certain God brought about a miracle, the Consultant went from much uncertainty to telling him he had turned the comer for the better in a matter of a few days and when I left the hospital that day I danced outside in the street with pure happiness!
Hubby's Auntie Annie has had a little book published about growing up in Grisedale through to her and hubby celebrating their Diamond Anniversary and this is spurring me on to get one of my books completed! I have left various committees and am therefore left with more free time.. now, where is it? I am grateful for peoples understanding and as folk ask after my brother its lovely when they ask after me too, 2005 was a hard year at times, so many bereavements and changes, we have survived ready to face whatever this year may bring, Bruce moving in with us back in his childhood home, our Silver Wedding Anniversary, younger daughters 21st birthday and in July our elder daughter and D's Wedding and not forgetting the plans for my half-century next year plus anything else that will arise.
Someone gave me a coaster with the words "At your age people expect you to be mature, wise and sensible. Disillusion them." I plan to.
Twice in a week I was asked for my Senior Citizens Card, was it just my grey hair or was I looking old as well? Probably both, but there's life in this old dog yet, just not at Sam please!
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