Seafest thanks everyone.

Dear editor,

I would sincerely thank the steering group team (Rowena Marsden, Janet Deacon, Jamie Wallis, Bob Webster, Chris Burrows, Dawn Nisbet), together with the tombola group, performers, exhibitors, stewards, harbour staff, the RNLI, the Coastival team under Wendy Holroyd, Welcome to Yorkshire, the council’s tourism bureau, civic amenities staff, etc, and Scarborough Review for their coverage.

This year’s 19th Seafest festival was staged within the harbour and included seafood cooking, maritime exhibitions, music, real ale, etc. It brought together sea cadets, the RNLI, coastguards, fishing organisations and trusts.

Whilst bearing in mind commercially that we try not to clash with other traders, we as a group have to be self-funding and totally rely on sponsorship and continue to link with the sea, both past and present.

Ryan Heath, our music co-ordinator, once again brought together some excellent music over the three days. The Seafood Theatre under the supervision of Irene Myers and the leading chefs of our region gave of their time to provide continuous captivating sea-food demonstrations over the two-day period. Sincere thanks to you all.

Thanks to the Maritime Heritage Group for their excellent exhibition, Coble and Keelboat Society, Jubilee Sailing Trust, Great Yorkshire Brewery and other exhibitors.   And thanks to Rev Tina Minett Stevens and organist Graham Brownridge from St Mary’s Church for coordinating the Sunday blessing of the boats service, complemented by the RNLI, sea cadets and representations of the royal and merchant navy. Thanks to HMS Puncher and Trumpeter, not forgetting HMS Pickle who made a welcome surprise visit.

Our sincere thanks to our many sponsors, including Keepmoat Homes, Scarborough Hospitality Association, the Arts Council, the traders of the south bay and town, the Chamber of Trade and residents for once again helping me with the sponsorship of our spectacular south bay firework display by Phoenix Fireworks. 

We now look forward to our 2018 festival, the 20th, and would welcome new sponsors, exhibitors and volunteers. 

— Janet Jefferson - Chairperson - Seafest Steering Group

Civic welcome for
researchers from down under

Dear editor,

Your Time Travel article in the May edition of Scarborough Review, entitled Fighting for education in the 19th century, by Dave Barry, was much appreciated by the civic office at the town hall, the principal of Gladstone Road School and my fellow researchers in Scarborough.

Our visit was very successful with a warm welcome by the mayor and mayoress who showed us the town hall, provided tea and scones and showed us some old documents.

The mayor organised a successful search for the Ascough headstone in the mayors’ alley in Manor Road cemetery which had been missed before.

We were shown round the school by the principal and the head girl and boy. We have promised to assist with the funding of the archive project that the school has to protect and digitise its original 19th century records which refer to my great grandfather, grandmother and grandfather.

We were shown the Masonic Hall where William Ascough, clerk to the school board, and George Dippie, clerk to the borough council, met in the clubroom after work.

We are still searching for any private papers of William Ascough and are putting out requests for any leads in that area.

We hope the old Scarborough newspapers held on microfiche in the library and the records of Scarborough Council held in the archives at Northallerton can be made available online in the near future.

I will be updating my history of William Ascough later in the year.

— David Moore - Longueville, NSW, Australia

Dear Editor,

Thank you very much for your interesting and informative Review paper.

I enjoy reading all about the various groups and their activities. It is good to keep up to date with all that is happening in our area.

Please keep up your good work.

I look forward to reading next month’s Review.

— Lois Staveley - Newby

Filey festival was a success

Dear editor

Can I take this opportunity to thank you for publishing details of our 11th annual Filey Festival of Music at Filey Methodist Church in your May edition.

We had a successful festival which gave pleasure not only to Filey residents but also those who visit the township.

A big thank you to all the performers, those who attended the festival and those who assisted us in any way.

Newspapers like yours serve the community well, not only in reporting what is happening, but also bringing local events to notice.

The Scarborough Review is always a good read.

Thank you once again and keep up the good work.

— Gerald Ingham - Chair, Filey Festival of Music

Leave your comfort zone

Dear editor,

In January 2015, I collapsed at school. I’d had a stroke. I was 14.

I was left with a brain injury and could no longer move my right side, talk or walk.

After time in hospital, I moved to the Children’s Trust, a specialist rehabilitation centre in Surrey, where I relearnt some of the skills I had lost, through intensive therapy. 

It took a lot of willpower. I had to be brave and work hard. My biggest achievement was learning to walk again.

I’m sharing my story because the charity that helped me, the Children’s Trust, is asking us all to go outside our comfort zone and help raise money for children with brain injuries.

Every year, more than 40,000 children are left with a brain injury as a result of an accident or illness. 

As I have found, specialist rehabilitation is their best chance of recovery. 

But it’s not possible without your help. 

Visit www.mybrave.co.uk for inspiration.

— Stacey Daniells - The Children's Trust, Tadworth, Surrey