WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

[Stanley]

Light snow at 03:30.....
Tiz and Ian, I heard a 'futurist' saying the other day that apart from middle class redundancy heavy vehicle drivers will be ousted by automatic systems. I don't fancy the prospect of having driverless 40 ton wagons.....

[Stanley]

I've popped back in to report I had a funny turn this morning.



I was ready to go for my shopping and then into the shed and suddenly got the urge to empty this cupboard, wash all the contents, scrub the interior out (it was filthy!) and throw some things away that I haven't used for 15 years.... Totally out of character, I hope I'm not sickening for something!

[Bodger]

( I don't fancy the prospect of having driverless 40 ton wagons)
Did you see where drivers of 40 t. lorries are getting lost when following sat nav and are finishing up down country lanes unable to turn round ?.....

[Tizer]

Bodge, don't get me going on that one! We've had massive artics down our little single-track, bendy lane, squeezing past everything, knocking over old stone walls and bridge parapets. Imagine one of those coming down the lane towards you when you're on foot and there are no verges, no pavements, a water-filled ditch on one side and a dense thorny hedge on the other. One of them was a DFDS artic and I reported it to the company but they didn't want to know, tried to tell me they can't tell where very one of their lorries goes. There are `Not suitable for HGV' signs at the ends of the lanes here but the drivers ignore them and blindly follow the satnav. But it looks like the councils are going to be given extra powers to stop them. How they'll police it I don't know.

[Thomo]

I am definitely with you on this one, satnav has a lot answer for. I live near to the entrance to Bracewell Lane, this connects the Town to the A59, it was upgraded to a "B" road in WW2 to allow access from the A59 to the Towns aerospace factories, it is still nevertheless a country lane. In the 8 years that we have been here, the volume and weight of traffic has increased by 90%, emergency vehicles passing here is now an hourly occurrence. This property was built in 1936, 2 years ago, if you opened a door, it would remain open, not any more, there is a fault that runs through under the building from North to South, in effect the buildings footings and foundations have had their back broken, and a good nights sleep is a thing of the past. If I were still at sea, satnav would be useful,, and takes a lot of work out of navigation, on land, if you do not know where you are going, then work it out using maps, or stay at home! Remember that there is always a possibility that some day your fancy gadget may not work.

[Moh]

I get funny turns like that Stanley - feels good when they are all clean & tidy and junk gone.

[Stanley]

Moh, glad to hear I am not alone. However I suspect you don't leave yours fallow for 15 years! It really was disgusting.....
My attention was grabbed yesterday by the arrival of the cylinder castings just as I was running out of weft in the shed. Looking forward to today, I love making steam engine cylinders!

[David Whipp]

The Pride of Barnoldswick Awards yesterday evening.

The awards are presented to people and organisations who've made an outstanding contribution to Barnoldswick. Award recipients this year are:

John Barrett

For his volunteer work with Barnoldswick Beach, Centre Screen Cinema and other local events and activities.

Stephen Whipp

For his magnificent fundraising at Bands On The Square 2015

Mark Williams

Nominated for his efforts in rescuing a trapped cat and reuniting it with its family after six weeks.

Maureen Blackwell

Nominated for her volunteering work and being a dedicated litter picker.

Aiden Wellock

For his fabulous photography work portraying Barnoldswick in the best possible light.

Shirley Oldfield

For her work with the Pop In Group.

Dave Harries

For organising a splendid display of classic bikes for the Tour of Britain and Heritage Weekend.

David Steele

For his dedicated work with Barnoldswick History Society and for being our Santa every year.

Ilse Eden & Lesley Gilbert

For their work within schools through Barnoldswick in Bloom.

Jilly Lawson

Loyal service to girl guiding overseeing rainbows, brownies & guides at 7th Barnoldswick Independant Methodists.

Barry Matthews, Iris Beckwith, Eddie Peel, Jean Allan & Christine Clegg

All from Garden Gate for all the work they do to put on the workshops for the school children.

The Barnoldswick Town Junior Committee

For their excellent work in growing the club.

The flood fighting Heroes of Boxing Day

For spending Boxing Day helping to prevent flood water devastating homes in Barnoldswick. (Any flood fighters not present at the event who wish to receive an award are asked to contact the town council.)

In the Chairman's report to the meeting, I stressed the value of volunteers in helping to make our town a better place.

Town Meeting Annual Report 2016

Barnoldswick has been busy and bustling and bursting with pride over the past year! This is summary of activity from the town council’s point of view.

Twelve months ago, the town celebrated winning the Great British High Street Award with a February Feast, a mini food festival, where the World Pie Championship was held and intriguing activities, such as a vegetable orchestra took place. (This year, an expanded Food Festival is taking place on St George’s Day – 23rd April.)

Meanwhile, the town’s volunteer litter picking initiative (celebrated at last year’s Pride Awards), was gaining momentum with the equipment provided by the town council. During one Community Action event, 100 people took part in litter picking and mass planting activities. It’s now a regular activity for dozens of volunteers, with Community Action events held throughout the year; the next one being this coming Saturday, 5th March.

The town council saw the successful completion of the wheelchair walk alongside Stocks Beck, with support from the Lancashire Environment Fund and Pendle Council. Ginnels at Kirkstall Drive and Priory Way were also surfaced last spring.

In April, the popular St George’s Day event was busier than ever and enjoyed yet another period of good weather (long may it continue!).

Elsewhere in town, the bloom group were getting to grips with planting at the Memorial Gardens, where thousands of plants were being put in the new beds created at the refurbished gardens in readiness for the commenoration of the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

The town council once again supported the Valley Garden’s Fair, an enjoyable family event showcasing this lovely park tended by volunteers. The volunteer group has received grant funding from the town council.

Also in May, the fourth Visit Barnoldswick Bands On The Square event was help during the Spring Bank holiday weekend. The event is an opportunity for young talent to develop, as well as folk having a good time. In 2015, not counting all the performers – who play for free – there were 68 volunteers helping to stage the event.
Getting into the summer, the town council held the annual Beating the Bounds walk and geared up for Barnoldswick Beach, another volunteer run event attracting thousands of people throughout August. For the first time, thanks to the Barnoldswick in Bloom team, a Sea Wall graced the rear of the town square marquee, attracting considerable interest.

The interest included two sets of judging for the Britain in Bloom initiative, where for the first time our town was amongst the national finalists. Barnoldswick went on to win a prestigous RHS Gold Medal at the national awards and once again secured a Gold Medal in the regional event. Barnoldswick also won the trophy for the best new landscaping for the Memorial Gardens.

In September, the town held its own Barnoldswick in Bloom Awards, saying ‘thank you’ to people who help make our town more colourful. This was held together with the Allotment Awards. This was quickly followed by our Heritage Weekend, which highlighted the impact of the Second World War on Barnoldswick, with the arrival of Rolls-Royce.

Even quicker to arrive was the Tour of Britain, where Barnoldswick hosted a sprint during the second stage of the national cycling tour.

In November, the town council made full use of the Civic Hall for Switch On Saturday. The town council has taken on the venue from Pendle Council (following on from the public toilets last year). Under town council management, bookings at the hall have doubled. The town council is now planning substantial improvements for the building.

The town council has also taken on the responsibility for all the Christmas Lights from Pendle Council, and had to bite the bullet when the aging festoon on Newtown was damaged in high winds. Other items which the town council has agreed to take on are roadside benches, some games and play areas, bus shelters and the public CCTV system. The town council has also supported town centre improvement projects with funding.

In partnership with the Town Centre Action Group, the town council held a series of weekday festive markets following the Christmas Lights’ switch on. The facilities were also used by Bosom Friends’ Santa Fun Run. The town council also ran the Christmas Windows event, where shoppers chose their favourite festive windows.

The town council has also been busy in 101 different ways helping to improve our town throughout the year. Grants have been made to two football clubs, the Majestic Jobs Club, to the Rainhall Centre for the Food Festival and Valley Gardens as well as Amy Gornall. And the town council has supported the publication of the latest Barnoldswick Walks book, which was launched last week.

Finally, at the end of the year, when everyone was looking forward to putting their feet up on Boxing Day, Barnoldswick was hit by flooding. A magnificent community effort was able to prevent homes at Ghyll Meadows from being inundated, with the town council picking up the tab for materials and pumping.

I hope we can look forward to an equally successful year to come, though perhaps not quite so challenging!

David Whipp, Chairman, Barnoldswick Town Council
2nd March 2016

[Stanley]

I have consistently advocated local control, pointing out the historical roots of this and the present day manifestation of volunteers accepting responsibility and improving the town. That's a good report David and further evidence of the fact that Barlick is a good town to live in. Thanks for all your efforts. I hope people remember whenever we have an election to appoint our councillors!
My attention was grabbed by the arrival of my cylinder castings and the way the weather was shaping up.... Looks like a blast of winter!

[Tizer]

Because our old house is an odd shape and bounded at the side by farm track we have a triangular shaped garage. It's a double garage width at the front, tapering to single at the back. Now I've found just the thing to put in the apex of that triangle at the back where it can be plugged in to the mains. More fun than a lawn mower and it doesn't pollute the environment! LINK

[PanBiker]

Nice one Tiz, would be a head turner.

My attention was grabbed by the fact hat I have finished my invigilation sessions for the year 11 mock exams, last one this morning. Off timetable now until the GCSE exams which start in May. It will be the same cohort of course. We have tried to make the mocks as near to the live exams as possible, in the main it has gone OK and the kids should know fully what is expected of them when they sit their exams for real.

I have put my time sheet in for the fortnight and now just have to wait for the next rota to be sorted and sent out.

[plaques]

we have a triangular shaped garage

Not quite pollution free. My neighbours car. Says he's never had has much fun driving for years. At 130 mph it would frighten me to death.

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[Stanley]

I can remember the first Morgan 3 wheeler I saw in 1945, a big JAP V Twin on the front. It wouldn't do 130mph though! See THIS LINK for a good Wiki article on J A Prestwich and the firm.

[Tizer]

I like the RAF roundel on the tail of the car in Plaques' photo! We used to go to club meets and see them racing - fantastic! Another impressive motor was the old style TVR, a small, low-slung, fibre-glass body mated to a 3-litre engine. We drove one and it felt like your bum was an inch from the ground. There was no proper seat, you practically sat on the floor!

[Stanley]

What grabbed me was the news that my old friend Billy Parsons died yesterday aged 93. (See Obituaries) Many of you will have read about the Wild Bunch on Letcliffe and our adventures. Nearest thing to last of the summer wine I have ever seen. That means I have to write an obituary this morning.....

[Stanley]

The fact that there are hardly any responses on the site this morning. Was it down yesterday?

[Wendyf]

No, the site wasn't down Stanley.
A phone call from a friend in Scotland last night to let me know about the death of an another old friend & neighbour from our 20 years up there. Although we have been away for 16 years I suddenly realised that I was still a part of that community and needed to be there for the funeral on Thursday. Colin can look after everything for a couple of days, I've got a train journey booked.

[Moh]

People were busy with Mother's day.

[David Whipp]

(On Saturday)... sparks flying out of the consumer unit of our electric supply and the casing melting.

We're on our third day without a proper electric supply and waiting for a leccy... have used some temporary distro to draw some power from our relatives next door and provide power for key equipment (which now extends to my PC).

[PanBiker]

Happy Birthday Stephen (Pluggy) , just seen it at the bottom of the home page.

[Wendyf]

Happy birthday Pluggy!

[plaques]

Slightly behind the curve on this one but for those who didn't know here it is. Lancashire libraries have cancelled the little perk that the over 65s had in returning overdue books. They will now pay the universal charge of 3/- (15p) per book per day.

Quote. Currently there are a number of exemptions to fines for the late return of books which include library members who are aged 65 and over, have long-term health conditions or have a disability. These people will not be exempt when these new arrangements are introduced.

Not a big charge and probably worth it to keep the libraries going. But watch out if you have a touch of the old timers.

[chinatyke]

(On Saturday)... sparks flying out of the consumer unit of our electric supply and the casing melting.

We're on our third day without a proper electric supply and waiting for a leccy... have used some temporary distro to draw some power from our relatives next door and provide power for key equipment (which now extends to my PC).

Oh dear. Commiserations. Hope you get it sorted out soon.

[Stanley]

Many happy returns Pluggy!
David, you are practising for when the power cuts hit next winter.... Let us know what caused it, could have been a huge fire risk!

[Marilyn]

International Women's Day today!
didn't discover this until I heard it on the News as I was cooking dinner. Darn! If I had of known that this morning I would have had a housework free day and takeaway for dinner to celebrate.
Maybe a glass of red later. Have a happy day Ladies! Cheers!