Rebekah Brooks Rap - Leveson Remix

Barton-based spoken word artist Ruth E Dixon imagines the Leveson Inquiry from Rebekah's unique perspective. An hilarious and timely response to recent events
www.ruthedixon.co.uk

The Barton Blog is back! Watch this space for information on events, general info and things of intrigue and interest. We are grateful to Rhian White, former resident for setting up this great community resource and now it's over to you good people of Barton to take the lead. My name is Annabel McCourt and I'm a local artist/filmmaker/photographer and newly appointed Town Councillor. This blog will be an independent online publication and will not represent the views of Barton Town Council, but it will provide an opportunity to aid communication and platform our town.

Please do get in touch with your stories, events and photographs.

Yours faithfully,

Annabel McCourt

annabel.mccourt@mac.com

Remembrance Sunday 2012

Click here for full Remembrance gallery

The Army Cadet Force – Barton-Upon-Humber Branch

The Army Cadet Force – Barton-Upon-Humber Branch

The Army Cadet Force (ACF) is a British youth organisation that offers military-themed training whilst at the same time as promoting achievement, discipline, and good citizenship, to boys and girls aged 12 to 18.9 years.  The Barton branch meet on Monday and Wednesday evenings, 7-9pm, at the Cadet Hut on Clapsons Lane (opposite Tesco.)  There are currently 35 young people who regularly attend, most of whom are from Barton, but others who travel from neighbouring towns and villages. 

If your son or daughter is interested in joining the ACF, they must be a minimum of 12 years of age and in year 8 at school.  The maximum age that a cadet can stay to is 18 years and 9 months.  Initially, they can attend a parade night on Monday or Wednesday as a guest, to determine whether or not the ACF is for them.  If they like it, they will be given a form to fill in and return with their £20 enrolment fee – this covers the cost of insurance and other administrational costs.  The uniform is loaned free of charge, but must be returned when your child leaves the ACF.  You will have to purchase a pair of boots as these are not provided – advice on where to get them from can be provided by the detachment staff. 

If you would like to join the ACF as an adult instructor, no prior military experience is required.  You must be able to commit to one or two evenings per week and four weekend camps per year, along with a longer annual camp in the summer.  Initially you will be given the rank of ‘potential instructor’ whilst you receive your training - you will parade one night a week at Barton and one night at the Company headquarters in Scunthorpe.  Once you have passed your initial training you will be given the rank of Sergeant.  Please note all potential instructors will be subject to an enhanced CRB checked before being allowed to join the ACF.  If you are interested please visit Barton detachment on a Monday or Wednesday evening and ask to speak to one of the adults. 

Frequently asked Questions:

Q.  What subjects will my child be taught?

A.  The Army Proficiency Certificate Syllabus contains the following subjects: Military Knowledge, Drill and Turnout, Fieldcraft, Expedition Training, Physical Activity, Skill at Arms, Shooting, First Aid, Map and Compass and Cadet in the Community.  We also enrol our cadets on the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, a BTEC qualification, advanced First Aid courses, adventurous training courses and many more, depending on what your child enjoys.

Q. Will my child be encouraged to join the Army?

A. No.  The ACF is a youth organisation that gets some of it’s funding from the Army.  Whilst it provides an excellent insight into military training for young people who are considering joining the forces, the ACF is not a recruitment tool for the Army. 

 

Q. Do adult instructors get paid?

A. All the adult instructors are volunteers and do not get paid for parade nights.  However, a daily rate applies to camps attended, and transportation costs can be reclaimed.

For more information please visit the county website -  www.hsyacf.org.uk

Proms to Poppies

Following their success of making it to the National Championship Finals at the Royal Albert Hall in October, Barton Town Band are back and playing in the town. Get yourselves along to the 'Proms to Poppies' Concert on Saturday 10th November, St Mary's Church, Barton 7.30pm. Tickets £8. Available from Lindsey Relay, Local Link and Ropewalk. Children under 16 free with accompanying adult.

Barton Blog closed

You will have noticed that there have not been any recent posts on this blog; this is because I no longer live in the area.

However, if you would like to follow the photographic work of myself, Rhian Lonergan-White please take a look at the following links:

www.facebook.com/daretoknowltd

www.flickr.com/photos/daretoknow

www.daretoknow.biz

www.photoboxgallery.com/daretoknow

And my new Dog Photography business:

www.brightondogphotography.co.uk

www.flickr.com/photos/brightondogphotography

www.facebook.com/brightondogphotography

Thanks for reading!

Is this Amy Winehouse in Barton???

You'll have to help me out here because I'm not a fan of Amy Winehouse but the other day as I was walking back to town from the park this woman walked past me on the other side of the road by the George, who looked distinctly like the famous singer!!! What's going on i thought to myself?!! Good job I always have my camera with me (I had been looking for flowers in the park) and was just about to head home when there she was! So I chased her down for some snaps.

She went past The George - I'm sure she was smoking something funny...

After going past The George she stopped into Crisp n Fresh!! I couldn't see very clearly from afar but she had a good look at the deli and bought what looked like a couple of Courgettes!! Then, something bizarre happened!

She had a good look at the job board at the job centre! I was thinking she won't find much on there...

She then headed down past the Doctor's surgery and turned right. Where was she going??

I tried to catch up with her and take a close up, but she didn't seem keen.

Unbelieveable!! She went in to St. Mary's Church and a few minutes later reappeared with this toy. She then promptly sat in the graveyard and lit up another roll-up!! I later found out that there had been a baby fair in the Church!

After she had finished her 'cigarette' she headed up Whitecross Street and into The Bluebell, at which point I got bored of chasing her and went home myself. But still, what is going on??? Why is Amy Winehouse in Barton?????

Get Involved at Baysgarth House Museum

Barton on Humber’s Community, Heritage, Arts and Media Project (CHAMP) has been awarded a £50,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The grant will enable CHAMP to facilitate Get Involved! , an exciting new volunteering project at Baysgarth House Museum. Working in partnership with North Lincolnshire Museums Service, Voluntary Action North Lincolnshire, Jobcentre Plus and John Leggott College this unique project will encourage local people to become involved in museum volunteering.

‘We are delighted to have received this grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund’ said Neil Turner (CHAMP Chair) ‘Volunteering is a fantastic way to meet new people and learn new skills. Through the Get Involved! Project we hope to encourage people to join our volunteering team and become more involved in their local heritage.

The Get Involved! Project offers volunteers the chance to participate in a variety of museum based activities from collections care and research to greeting and guiding visitors through the museum. The project also offers training and support to help volunteers develop skills in range of different areas.

‘This is a fantastic new volunteering opportunity for North Lincolnshire, said Jacky Birkett of Voluntary Action North Lincolnshire. The Volunteer Centre and vinvolved team look forward to supporting the project by referring potential volunteers of all age groups, and offering additional support and guidance on volunteering matters to the CHAMP team

The project also seeks to encourage younger volunteers looking for experience to help them further their careers.

John Leggott College Careers Adviser Allison Peters said: “We’re delighted to be working with Baysgarth House Museum. The project will provide a great opportunity for our students to gain experience in museum activities and receive training in all areas of volunteering.”

‘The great thing about Get Involved! is that anyone can participate, said Louise Walker Volunteer Coordinator for the project. ‘If you are looking to meet new people, learn new skills or improve your career prospects we would love to hear from you. We welcome anyone no matter what your interests, time commitments or level of experience. You just need to be enthusiastic and willing to learn’

For more information email contact Baysgarth House Museum on 01652 637568 or visit our website at www.champltd.org

Barton Band triumph at Brass Band Championships!

I had the pleasure of accompanying the Barton Town Band to the North of England Championships in Darlington yesterday. The weather might not have been up to much, but that didn't dampen the spirits of the players who confidently stepped out on to the stage to delight the crowd with a staggering performance. I made a 2-minute film of the day, which is posted on the new Barton Blog YouTube page.

Congratulations to the band!!

http://www.youtube.com/BartonBlog

Found out more on the Barton Band facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Barton-Town-Band/292848025937?ref=ts

Star-studded trip to Sunderland for Baysgarth teacher and pupils

Thanks to Baysgarth school Year 11 student Sophie Elizabeth Bartup for these words and Patrick Sprakes, Head of IT at Baysgarth, for the images in this report.

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Trip to Sunderland

I had been asked if I would like to go to Sunderland with two other pupils from Baysgarth, by Mr Sprakes. When he told me I would get the chance to meet Darren Bent, a Premiership and England striker, I was very excited. Mr Sprakes was going to Sunderland for an expert master class on finishing by the Sunderland striker at the Academy of Light. Mr O'Mara, who plays for Baysgarth Old Boys, along with Mr Sprakes, had entered a competition with Lucozade for his team mate.

Outside the Stadium of Light, home of the Premiership football club Sunderland.

We arrived in Sunderland with time to spare, so we decided to visit the Stadium of Light, making the best out of our trip. We took some photographs and had a quick look inside. Then we headed to the Academy of Light. By this time, we could tell Mr Sprakes was getting nervous, after all he was going to be training with a Premiership striker.

We arrived at the Academy and waited in the conference room, Mr Sprakes feeling the nerves. When the time came, all the strikers from the competition went to get ready. We got the cameras ready to take photographs to show Mr O'Mara and then headed to the training pitches to watch our teacher and a Premiership striker.

As the action began, Darren Bent coached the strikers on finishing technique; all the players got to show what they were made of when coming one on one with England under 18 and 16 keepers; Mr Sprakes scored some top class strikes, which I'm sure even Bent would be proud of. When the master class finished, we asked Darren if he could sign the Baysgarth Old Boys shirt with the message 'To all at Baysgarth School'. Bent kindly spent time with us for pictures and signed his message to Baysgarth School.

Sophie and friends from Baysgarth with Sunderland and England striker, Darren Bent.

I enjoyed my day in Sunderland and visiting the Stadium and Academy was a great experience.

Sophie Elizabeth Bartup

Year 11

Baysgarth School

Pints and Paintings

It's not every day you get to unleash your artistic creativity in the back room of a pub and get served your favourite beverage at the same time. Well now there's a band of like-minded folk who head down to the Queen's pub every Wednesday evening to do just that, and with them they bring paint pots, brushes, canvasses and even a lab coat for potential Scotch-related accidents.

These are a relaxed group of friends who want to welcome others who are drawing or painting at home and feel like being a bit more social while enjoying their hobby.

Lizi Jones

Lizi Jones said, "We just like to have a random paint amongst like-minded people. There's no pressure. We have been coming here for a couple of months now and really would like some more people to come along".

Lizi's finished piece.

Eric Babbington said, "There's no teaching or anything like that. We just think there must be plenty of people stuck at home, young or old, painting on their own and we welcome anybody to join us and enjoy a relaxed and informal meeting place".

For more information call Eric on 07540 226987

Or email lizi_jonesy@hotmail.co.uk

The Woolly Workers of Far Ings

When you hear the term ‘conservation worker’ do you immediately think of earnest young people wearing hard hats, stout boots and wielding scrub cutters? Well, think again! Over at Far Ings you can see workers of a very different type who live out on the old meadows day and night whatever the weather. They make a fine sight clad in smart woolly coats with most sporting at least one natty pair of horns. No need for scrub cutters with this intrepid bunch, the only tools they use for tackling encroaching scrub are their very effective sets of teeth.

Lounging in the sunshine, until....

These Far Ings workers are, of course, Hebridean sheep - a small, hardy and long lived breed thought to be descended from sheep brought over by the Vikings when they settled the Western Isles and Highland regions of Scotland more than 1,000 years ago.

... the Shepherdess shook a bag of food and the group came thundering over at great speed!

An unusual characteristic of the breed is that many have multi horns maybe four but sometimes more and it was this attractive feature that probably saved them from extinction.

The breed was the mainstay of shepherds in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland prior to 1750 but gradually, after the Highland Clearances when families were forced from their homes to make way for large scale sheep farming, landowners replaced them with larger breeds such as the Blackface and Cheviot. By the mid twentieth century these Hebridean sheep only survived as ornamental animals in the parklands of a few large country estates and in 1973 they were identified by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust as a breed in danger of extinction.

However, all was not lost! Because of their hardiness and the fact that they thrive on vegetation too poor to be eaten by other breeds, Hebridean sheep are finding a new role in conservation. Their preference for grazing broadleaved vegetation such as dock makes them ideal for pasture improvement and for controlling the spread of invasive species and they can now be found on nature reserves all over Britain. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust itself has 500 of them spread all over the county with 24 currently at Far Ings in their winter quarters. These will soon be brought in and made ready to be sent out for summer grazing in other parts of Lincolnshire.

The sheep at Far Ings are used to stop scrub growing around the old clay pits as birds don’t like tall vegetation around the water bodies they use. They need a clear line of sight so that they can identify any predators. In other parts of Lincolnshire these sheep are used to restore low lying heathland and heather moorlands as, unlike other breeds, they prefer to eat the strong growing grass that smothers the heather rather than the heather itself. Over on the sand dunes and salt marshes of Spurn Point they are used to encourage a diverse plant life by preventing the regrowth of invasive sea buckthorn which would otherwise soon form a dense canopy.

Of course, you can’t have sheep without a shepherd! These sheep are cared for by Karen who has worked for the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust for 17 years based at Far Ings. As well as caring for the sheep she does general conservation work all over the county, tasks such as maintaining footpaths and bird hides and leading group visits to the nature reserves. She started as a volunteer but has now graduated to become the full time assistant warden at Far Ings.

Norbet, enjoying a hearty treat.

As shepherd, her work involves feeding and monitoring the health of the sheep, worming, foot trimming and lambing although she was quick to point out that there will be no lambing at Far Ings this year. Even so, there is a flock of Hebridean sheep there all year round for you to visit and admire!

Reeds Hotel: a Social Enterprise in our midst

When you think of the term Social Enterprise you wouldn't normally associate it with a hotel. You wouldn't be alone in thinking like this because being a hotel and a social enterprise is not a commonplace situation; in fact, The Reeds Hotel, situated just off Far Ings road, is the only hotel that is run in this way in the entire Yorkshire and Humber region. Reeds became a social enterprise nearly one year ago, in order to fund further their endeavours at The Odyssey Centre (a place where people with Cancer and their carers can receive help, advice and treatment for free), based just up the hill from the hotel. All the profits from Reeds go to help fund their important work at The Odyssey Centre.

Clearly a picture NOT taken today! Reeds from the front.

Overlooking the pond at the back.

Working very much in tandem with each other, Reeds and The Odyssey Centre are both on the cusp of exciting developments. Within the next three years they both have plans for self-sustainability; including bio-mass boilers, solar panels and Geothermal energy. Reeds are also looking to install 13 eco-friendly cabins, where people from all over the world will be welcomed for respite from suffering from illness.

Up at The Odyssey there will be an Organic food production project set up, with the food grown being sold to Reeds.

All sorts goes on in here, from weddings to conferences.

Reception and bar area.

In the restaurant.

Although Reeds already provide services for weddings and civil ceremonies, they are also looking to expand into 'Green-themed weddings', where local produce will be eaten, recycled napkins used, wedding albums covered in leaves etc. Plus the fact that the hotel will one day be self-sustaining, this will make an attractive option for those wanting to marry in a 'green' way.

They provide a full wedding and civil ceremony planning service.

Reeds also have a welcoming spa treatment area, where you can enjoy facials, massage, body wraps, Reiki, Manicures and lots more therapeutic services designed to make you feel good. Yes please!

Nature's Spa reception area.

Meditation room upstairs at the Spa.

It's a good job there was no wedding there today as the weather was utterly horrendous. Luckily I had taken some photos on a sunnier day for you to see.

I will be back at Reeds and The Odyssey Centre to follow their exciting developments in the near future.

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What is a Social enterprise? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_enterprise