The modern way we mark the Ridings

A modern West Riding sign at Eastoft village.

On the other side Lindsey which historically was also divided into three Ridings.

Similar North Riding signs on the boundary roads maintained by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council were paid for by the Yorkshire Ridings Society.

Signs which stand the test of time

Continuing the historic road sign theme started by Jonathan Calder over at Liberal England, here is another Lincolnshire road sign photographed at Winterton this morning, originally erected by the former Lindsey County Council.

Having read Jonathan's reports of his tour of historic Lincolnshire this week we decided to have a day out around the marshland and villages of north Lincolnshire, along the south bank of the River Humber.

It is amazing the number of original road signs that have survived. As far as we know the yellow bellies do not have an equivalent to the Yorkshire Ridings Society, who have in the past spent much time repairing and restoring these traditional road signs, particularly in the West Riding, around Otley and Ilkley.

Lincolnshire is divided into three parts - Holland, Kesteven and Lindsey. Lindsey was divided into a North Riding, a South Riding and a West Riding. Holland and Kesteven were not.

GET READY TO SET SAIL ON COATHAM BOATING LAKE

At long last Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is relaunching one of Redcar's most popular attractions - the Coatham Boating Lake following an extensive refurbishment programme which has seen the restoration of the historic footbridge and the introduction of new wildlife habitats.

New inflatable battery-operated boats for children will be available to hire for the Bank Holiday weekend, with plans to run the attraction until the end of September, and model boat enthusiasts have also been able to return to the waters for regular sessions.

Work has included the introduction of a new feature promenade wall, which offers shelter and protection from the sea and sea breezes, new footpaths around the lake, seating and an extensive planting scheme to provide year-round landscaping and colour.

The £850,000 refurbishment programme has overcome a number of challenges to ensure the safe completion of the works, such as the removal of old and unusable electricity cables, the diversion of water pipes and prolonged periods of bad weather which have impacted on the programme schedule.

Having overcome these challenges, residents and visitors can now enjoy full access to the area, which also includes a number of information panels which provide details of the 'My Place' world class youth centre due to be constructed next to the lake using £4.94million of funding provided by the Big Lottery. Work on the ‘My Place’ centre is due to start next year.

Work to restore the area continues with plans to review the use of the Boathouse and options for its long-term maintenance. The Council also wants to reintroduce public toilets as part of the propsed new leisure centre.

Model boat enthusiasts are delighted to be back. Mark Allison, chairman of the Redcar Model Boat Club, said: "We are very pleased the lake is open to the public again.

"Now we hope to see a return to the grand old days when Coatham Boating Lake is much-loved as a real gem by the seaside and enjoyed again with great pride."

Anyone interested in joining the Redcar Model Boat Club, who have four weekly sessions at the lake on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, from 6pm-8pm and weekends from 2pm-4pm, can contact club secretary John Atkinson on 01642 510890.

Elected Mayor or strong Leader?

Redcar and Cleveland Council's Democracy Commission has begun to discuss how it will consult the public about implementing the Executive arrangements in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2008.

The Act requires any Council in England to operate one of the following models:

Option 1 Mayor and Cabinet Executive

A Mayor directly elected by the people in a stand alone election separate to that of Council.

The mayor would ask a small number of councillors to join her or him to share in the leadership of the authority (cabinet).

Option 2: Council Leader and Cabinet

Leader chosen by fellow Councillors.

All councillors would be elected by the public and together would form the Council. The council leader would have the power to choose their cabinet.

The form the public consultation will take is currently under discussion by the Democracy Commission and will be looked at by the Scrutiny Board in Septemebr. A final decision has to be taken by 31st December 2010 and implemented three days after the May 2011 Council elections.

Pictures of Luciano Becchio's goal as Leeds thrash Tranmere at Elland Road

Five in fight for South Bank

Our eldest lad Steven has been nominated as the Liberal Democrat candidate for the South Bank By Election on 17th September.

There are five candidates contesting the vacancy caused by the sad death of Labour Councillor Marilyn Bramley, herself a By-Election victor last October.

Steven Abbott - Lib Dem
Joan Bolton - Con
Martin Gordon Bulmer - UKIP
Sue Jeffrey - Lab
Vincent Smith - Ind

The result last time
By-Election 16th October 2008
The result.

Marilyn Bramley (Labour).... 652 (49.9; -0.6)
Toni Meir (Liberal Democrat) 288 (22.1; +12.3)
Bernard Collinson (BNP)..... 206 (15.8; +1.4)
Oz Sadiq (Independent..... 101 (7.7; -7.3)
Joan Bolton (Conservative 59 (4.5; -5.8)

Turn out 27.6%
Majority 364
Lab hold
Swing 6.45% Lab to LD

Road works at Coatham roundabout

Redcar and Cleveland Council's highways partner Carillion begins work on a £50,000 road improvement programme on the Coatham Road roundabout, Redcar on Tuesday 25th August.

The carriageway resurfacing works are expected to last four days, and have been timed for the school holidays and between 9am-4pm to minimise disruption. Temporary traffic lights will be in operation and, a partial road closure with signed diversion. Access to Warrenby will be maintained at all times.

Tower blocks fall in Middlesbrough

Two 1960's tower blocks fell today in Netherfields, Middlesbrough and this blog was there to see it. Unfortunately it happened so fast we were not quick enough to get a picture of them coming down.

The two 16 storey blocks, Fulbeck House and Glentworth House, were demolished with plastic explosive at 12 noon and we took our 5 years old grandson, Daniel, to watch. Chris, who has in the past done electrical work in both blocks, was poised to take a picture of them falling and expected to hear a siren before they fell but it happened all of a sudden and was over in a second or two.

Last look at the doomed towers.

The crowd waits in anticipation.

In a second they are gone.

TRANSPORT LAUNCHED BETWEEN LEISURE CENTRES

Due to heavy flooding last month causing damage to the swimming pool at Eston Sports Academy, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has organised a shuttle bus service between Eston Sports Academy and both Saltburn and Loftus Leisure Centres.

The free bus service will allow children to continue to access free swimming throughout the Summer holidays whilst work is carried out on the pool at Eston.

The shuttle service will be in operation Monday to Friday, it is important to note that because of the limited capacity of the bus, booking is essential and can be made at the Eston Sports Academy reception.

Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult on the bus and normal pool rules apply for Under 8's and Non swimmers.

For booking and enquiries please contact Eston Sports Academy on 01642 452488.

Finley's boost white rose sales at Eston

An extra £44.50p is going to Redcar Lifeboat from the sale of white roses in Finlay's newsagents at Eston, bringing the total raised this Yorkshire Day to £414.50.

£370 raised for Redcar Lifeboat on Yorkshire Day

The Yorkshire Ridings Society and Redcar Ladies Lifeboat Guild raised £370.00 for Redcar lifeboat from the sales of white roses on Yorkshire Day in Redcar and Saltburn.

Sunday's Yorkshire Day celebrations in Saddleworth

At 11.34am on Sunday 2nd August Mr Gilbert Symes of Delph reads the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity at the Ammon Wrigley statue.

Chris speaks on behalf of the Yorkshire Ridings Society

Glynis carries the banner through Uppermill High Street,
in the Yorkshire Day Parade, with help from
grandchildren Charlotte and Daniel.

The Yorkshire Day Parade

The Yorkshire Day Country Fair at the
King George V Playing Field, Uppermill.

Cold and wet but still flying the Yorkshire flag in Thornaby on Tees

Rain affected Yorkshire Day in Thornaby this year. The Thornaby Yorkshire Day Society had a stall at the Yorkshire Day Celebrations, organised by Thornaby Town Council at Linear Park. The Mayor of Thornaby, Councillor Geoff Green and his wife is Celia, attended the event and read the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity. The Town Council has put £2,000 aside for the event for the last 2 years.

Beryl Robinson

Jim Lince Chairman of the
Yorkshire Ridings Society North Riding Group

Ruth Lince

Yorkshire Day in Saltburn Photographs

The Duck Race gets underway with Ian Swales commentating
and Chris Abbott shepherding

The British Legion stall. Dave Blissett (left) and Councillor Eric Howden

Secretary of Yorkshire Ridings Society Nancy Hudson

Glynis Abbott on the YRS Products stall

The Saltburn Miniature Railway always flies the
Yorkshire flag on Yorkshire Day

BBC Tees snubs Yorkshire Day

Posted by Chris:

As if the rain wasn't enough! To add insult to injury BBC Tees refused to report that today was Yorkshire Day and totally snubbed the big events that were taking place in Saltburn, Redcar, Thornaby and Whitby.

Clearly the powers that be in the Tees Valley quangos have been whispering again in the Wig and Pen about promoting that nonsense area instead of our real County. It is time they realised Tees Valley is NOT a county and never will be. It is a name made up by unelected quangocrats for an organisation of five unitary authorities on either side of the Tees, covering parts of the North Riding and Durham. The campaign starts now to bring back Stewart McFarlane, Mark Turnbull and Alan Wright who always gave Yorkshire Day fair coverage.

Our Daniel wins the North Riding Duck Race

Posted by Chris:

You wait years for Yorkshire Day (1st August) to fall on a Saturday, organise a bigger event than usual event and it rains!

The miserable weather kept the crowds away from our Summer Fayre and Duck Race and even some of the stall holders stayed at home.

Prospective Lib Dem MP for Redcar, Ian Swales and Councillor Eric Howden started the day off in Redcar High Street where Eric promoted the sale of white roses by the ladies of Redcar Ladies Lifeboat Guild, in aid of Redcar lifeboat and Ian read the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity.

In Marske Yorkshire flags were flying from several properties in the High Street and another flew proudly from the pole outside the Saltburn Conservative Club.

The North Riding Duck Race in Saltburn Valley Gardens was combined this year with a Summer Fayre, expertly organised by Councillor Irene Curr on behalf of the Yorkshire Ridings Society. The miserable weather kept the crowds away in spite of the fact that we were able to give hundreds of free packs of Yorkshire Tea away courtesy of the Yorkshire Tea Company of Harrogate.

The weather also severely hit our duck race entries with an all time low of only 88. It was such a pity because for the first time in the ten or so years we have held the event the conditions in Saltburn Beck were perfect. The wind was blowing the correct way and there was enough water flowing to move the race along quickly.

Ian Swales commentated on the race whilst I donned my waders (which I bought a few years ago for fishing and have only ever used for the Duck Race) to rescue all the snagged ducks. The result of the race probably reflected those who had sponsored the most ducks with such a small number of entries.

Our five years old Grandson Daniel's duck, Divito, was the first to reach the weir. He is pictured above with the Colin Holt Cup and £15 worth of book tokens.

The result of the 2009 Duck Race was as follows:

First Place - Duck No 51 'Divito,' Daniel Abbott, Redcar
Second Place - Duck No 37 'Breast of Luck,' Anne-Marie Swales, Thornaby
Third Place - Duck No 77 'Kookie,' Councillor Irene Curr, Redcar

The winner of the Best Named Duck was Alf Muir of Middlesbrough with "Cor Luv a Duck," chosen by Eric Howden and Dave Blissett of the British Legion.

The raffle prize, of a basket of Yorkshire grocery products, was won by Emma Morgan of Redcar.