A number of red plastic stacking chairs have appeared in the People's Hall which do not belong to the hall.
  Would the owner please contact Steve Longlands or any other PH Committee Member to arrange return.

  On Sunday 28th May a team of fifty three lads and 15 lasses pulled a 9 ton Leyland Daf truck fifteen miles from Kirkby Stephen to Sedbergh in a time of 4 hours, 18 minutes, 53 seconds.  The £50 Guess the Time winner was David Cope of Sedbergh with 4 hours, 18 minutes, 38 seconds.  The feat was only accomplished by a big hardworking team of 68 pullers and 53 back up squad of marshals, water carriers, bucket collectors, drivers, barbecue team, disco team etc.  Altogether the team was 121 people, which was brilliant.
  Thanks also to Johnny and Tommy Brooks, Steve, Allison, Deano and Chez at the Bull Hotel, Bomber, Dales and lakes water, MK builders, Lyon Equipment, Johnny Souter, Kath Parkin, John Richardson, Ann Benville and JMP Foods, Catterick Garrison.  Very special thanks to John Metcalfe (Braithwaites Coaches) Cliff and Barbara Baines, Tett Graveson, Allison Dandy, Mike, Jules and Spinner.  We raised approximately £3,500.  Added to last years JCB pull total we have raised £8,000 for Breast Cancer, Cystic Fibrosis, Playgroup, Zebras, Barracudas and Sedbergh Parents Support Group.
  Because of the popularity of this charity event we have now formed our own Truck Pull Committee and will now make this an annual event, with national and local charities/groups benefiting from all proceeds raised.
  We have received some very good ideas to make this event bigger and they have been put forward.  Our first back up event will be a three team football tournament make up of footballers who have been involved in the two latest pulls, where Tebay v Sedbergh v Cumbria/Lancs XI will compete.
  The event takes place at Tebay in August with a bar, barbecue and children's activities.  Next years pull will be a Bryan Hoggarth sponsored 9 ton tractor event from Kendal to Sedbergh, with a different venue, activities and evening activities being planned, if we get up Roan edge!
  Once again thanks to our team, everyone who supported us in whatever way.                                                                                                         Caspa

  The old clock on the mantle-shelf was tired, it started to slow
down, tick-tock -- tick -- tock, it wanted a change, counting how many tick-tocks it did in a day, a month, a year! Oh dear! It decided to stop, it just could not do them all, too tired, too many. The old china Dog sat to the left of the clock inquired as to what was wrong and on hearing about the situation suggested the old clock just concentrated on one "tick" at a time, "That way" said the old Dog "It will not seem so hard". Soon the clock was ticking away happily again. Keep on going, just one step, one task at a time!                                                                                                            LD

  Work is progressing well with the Accessible Toilet and the new access at the side of the "schoolroom", it will all look a bit different inside but will mean we have disability access into both the schoolroom and the chapel, the kitchen will remain as it is except the door will be in a different place.
  The Prayer Room is completed and open daily, we hope to produce a small directory of all the services which take place weekly in the dale and the locality along with a potted history of the chapel.
  On Sat Aug 5th it is our annual tea party 3-5pm in "Rhumes" garden if the weather is lovely or in the chapel if it isn't, we do warmly invite you to come along and join in.
  The planned monthly Bible Studies here in Dentdale will begin on Thur Sept 21st at 7.45 at the schoolroom and the theme for this one is "How to attract Gods direction towards your plans". All welcome.
  We are very grateful to those who are making personal donations towards the cost of the Accessible Toilet and to the Parish Council for their generous support.
  It is hoped to hold something different once a quarter and suggestions can
be made to the stewards, (Geoff Allen or John Woof) or written down and put in the box on the coal bunker in the chapel.
  On Sunday August 20th at 2pm at Dent Foot Chapel one of our previous Ministers, Rev C D Harbach will lead the Anniversary service to commemorate the re-design and re-opening of the chapel 50 years ago.
  A good time will be shared, do not miss it!

U 12's Cricket 7-a-side Tournament at Netherfield C.C 
  Settlebeck was represented by Joseph Clare, Xav Baines, Harry Porter, Lee Raw, Alistair Bainbridge, Luke Cragg, Philip Baines, Daniel Cressey, Luke Ingham, Harry Calvert and Robert Scully.
  SHS played Queen Katherine School in the 1^st match, QKS batted 1^st and reached a total of 92. Luke Cragg was the most accurate bowler and his efforts were rewarded with a wicket, but the fielding was untidy and too many runs were conceded. SHS batted in the 2^nd innings and made a total of 70 with Lee Raw  and Xav Baines the pick of the batsmen.
  In the 2^nd match  SHS played Queen Elizabeth School. SHS batted 1^st and reached a total of 42, Robert Scully was the highest scorer. QES reached the total easily, but they were stunned by Daniel Cressey who bowled out their best batsman with a "Yorker".
  SHS lost the two games but the standard of cricket is improving. Sedbergh CC now have two junior teams, made up of Settlebeck students, which is helping to raise standards.

  I welcome this opportunity to write a little about my work as your elected representative.  It is ten years this month since I was first appointed to the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and nine years since I was elected to South Lakeland District Council.  The last ten years have been a period of great improvements to YDNPA.  I was not surprised when at the end of last year it was recognised as one of the three best performing NPAs in England.  What a change over ten years !
  There have also been major changes on South Lakeland.  The introduction of a cabinet was not popular with all members but it has produced a focus and I was proud to serve as a member of cabinet until the elections last May.  South Lakeland's problems all stem from its very limited funding from central government.  The former joint administration always ran a very tight ship and I am already concerned that new spending commitments from the new regime will lead to difficulties balancing the budget next February.
  The biggest change over the years on YDNPA has been over housing policy.  For three years I was chairman of the Planning Committee and during that time, against the odds, we managed to push through a new Local Plan with housing provision for local people at its core.  I am particularly pleased with the policy for the re-occupation of former houses, much of which I drafted myself.  It is good to see applications coming through and being recommended for approval.
  It will come as no surprise that the recent Housing Needs Survey states that "properties across South Lakeland are particularly sought after, resulting from the District having good access, rail and road and fantastic scenery: it is a place people want to move to.  Prices are therefore high, restricting choice amongst first-time buyers and lower income households severely".
  Moving to our own area, "The Dales area is accessible and there is a strong commuter/relocation market.  Prices are relatively high and second home ownership an issue".  Although our problems are less severe than the central Lakes we still have a great need for local and affordable housing.
  The biggest local issue recently has
been the future of the Auction Mart in Sedbergh.  Since the meeting in May John Handley, myself and several others have been trying to put together a workable way forward.  We have had to be fairly quiet about what we are doing - we can't negotiate in public.  We would like to thank everyone for their support and offers of help.  Whatever the outcome Sedbergh needs the auction.  I thought that before the market was closed and now I believe it all the more.  There will be more to say about this next month.
  Other Matters. 
  It is good to see the repairs at last to the A684 in Garsdale albeit twelve months too late.  It is strange to see people jumping up and down who had no interest when they were first told about it last September.
  I have talked with Rowland Pittard, a national leader of the Youth Hostels Association about the future of the Dent hostel.  I was surprised as to how well informed he was about it.  However, it will be sold.
  As Deputy Leader of the Opposition on South Lakeland I have been appointed to shadow "Improving South Lakeland" and Local Government Association matters.
  I attended a meeting at Buxton where David Blunkett and the new Minister for Rural Affairs, Barry Gardiner were key speakers.  David Blunkett was very impressive, Barry Gardiner less so.
  I was delighted to meet the new head of Dent Primary School.  I am very concerned about proposed changes to the transport for pupils at the school.

Kevin Lancaster