Market Town Newsletter
New articles by PETER THOMPSON
Quick Stalls
New high tech get up and down quick stalls could take over the scene at the Thursday market in Brigg. The so called fast frame stalls take two minutes to erect and taking a look in the wind and rain at last weeks market was Town Mayor Maureen Glossop:
"I stood and watched and it went up very quickly,"she declared.
Also taking a look was North Lincolnshire Councillor Nigel Sherwood and Peter Wharman who represents Brigg market on the North Lincs Market Traders Association.He too gave a big thumbs up to the new stalls.
From the left at the high tech display stall are Coun Glossop, Coun.Sherwood and Mr Wharman.
Tin Tabernacle refuge
Brigg Town Council are to restore the Tin Tabernacle refuge in East Park near the war memorial.
In December the Beacon Town Forum was advised that Yorkshire Foward was making £10,000 available to Brigg if it came up with a capital realm project that could be completed before the end of March 2007. The grant has to be matched pound for pound in cash! The Civic Society officers were contacted to see what involvement they wanted but told Councillors that they had decided after a site meeting that that the short timescale involved in completing the restoration was putting them off! Now Town Clerk Janette Woollard has confirmed that the Town Council are going ahead and that North Lincolnshire Council are also to consider granting £5000 through its Aid to Communities Fund. Applications will also need to be submitted for planning permission and conservation area consent.The Town Council's Policy committee decided at their January meeting to back the project and to go ahead with the necessary applications. The Tin tab has attracted vandals in the past but the ageing of the historic structure, much of it wood, has also not helped its appearance. It is particularly popular with the elderley as a refuge for chit chat. Fears have been that it could be knocked down but it now appears to be set for a second coming-and before the Spring is out!
Brigg County Primary School
Tears were shed as pupils of Brigg County Primary School walked out the gates of the Glebe Road School for the last time.
For Head Teacher Steve Pearce and his staff it was a case of the end one era and the beginning of a new one. Pupils had an extra two day holiday before the new £5 million school was set to open. Before Glebe Road was vacated each class in turn walked to the new site on Appleton Way to see the finishing touches being added to a building that has taken just ten months to build.
We are leaving behind a lot of happy memories. Nostalgia for Glebe Road was such that over three hundred visitors, many of them old pupils came for our open afternoon. But that building was past its sell by date and short of what is required for the 21st century, Mr Pearce declared.
Mr Pearce leant a hand as classroom equipment and books were all moved in at the new site and children were wide eyed and open mouthed with awe as they saw what had been made for them. In one room there were over thirty computers one for each child and state of the art whiteboards.
For Mr Pearce it was full crdit to the contractors that they had completed the work in ten months:
The building has been completed as per contract. The construction crew got the extras finished on time ñ absolutely fantastic,î added Mr Pearce.
ìExcited anticipationî ñ and not about the extra two days holiday- was how Mr Pearce described the atmosphere at Glebe Road as it ended its lifespan that had begun in 1926. For everyone from governors and parents to the 450 pupils it was a dream come true!
The new Brigg Primary School on Atherton Way
Brigg Millenium Green
The Brigg Millenium Green committee has held its Annual General Meeting.
Mavis Parratt was in the chair and she reported on work over the past year.
The year had been a period of maintaining 'the status quo'.The organisers of the Brigg Fair celebrations in August again requested the use of the Green for the Annual Pet Show.There were some unwelcome visitors during the summer who 'dossed down' in the shrubbery causing a considerable amount of damage. The Police were informed twice and eventually the culprits moved on.
In recent weeks a lot of graffiti has appeared on the benches and boardwalk and sadly, one of the seats given by the late H.W Forman and Mrs Eileen Forman has been damaged. Thanks went to Drapers of Brigg for repairing the Landing Stage after vandals had broken a section of timber.
On the whole however despite these incidents the Green continues to be well used and appreciated by most of the local community.
The committee thanked Chris Dodsworth who has carried out most of the
maintenance work apart from some grass cutting done by a local contractor early in the season.It has been necessary to register The Green with 'The Land Registry'.This has proved to be complicated. However, the legal issues around the registration of The Green with 'The Official Custodian' are now almost complete. It is essential that some additional members be recruited to the committee to help to maintain this valuable community resource for the future.
The committee remains indebted to North Lincolnshire Council, particularly the legal department,and Brigg Town Council for their suport ,and also the management at The Nelthorpe Arms for providing the committee with a meeting place. The treasurers report showed that a balance of £4,005.75 is in the Green account. An election of officers followed the reports.
Mavis Parratt stepped down as Chairperson.She was thanked for her considerable services and Chris Dodsworth was elected to replace her.Mike Birkitt was re-elected as Treasurer and Secretary.
Business followed the formal part of the AGM. The Grafiti will be dealt with in Spring when the timbers are dry and tree seedlings will be planted to replace the ones that have died.A sign has been made to hang on the double gates requesting motorists not to park in front of them as access is needed. The Council are to be asked to give the Green a short grass cut all over,in Spring to make it easier to maintain.
Joseph Magrath OBE Award
Winner of the Joseph J Magrath OBE Award for Public Voluntary Service to the Community of Brigg in 2007 is Derek Burman of 31 York Road. The award is given to Mr Burman in recognition for his work as a driver with the Voluntary Car Service, a role he has fulfilled for the last 12 years and which has seen him give thousands of hours of his time to help other people attend for hospital appointments.
Mr. Burman was nominated by the Voluntary Car Service and the Town Council was advised that Mr Burman uses his own car to provide a safe, reliable and affordable transport service for hundreds of people living in Brigg and the surrounding area, helping them to overcome genuine transport difficulties, and that between 1 April and 30 November 2006 Mr Burman undertook 74 journeys on behalf of the organisation, driving over 900 miles, and giving up 85 hours of is time to do so.
Mr Burman gives his time freely, and only receives a small mileage allowance to cover the cost of the fuel he uses. The people he helps do not have access to private transport and, even if public transport is available, they often have health problems which prevent them from using it. Many of the people who use the service are elderly or frail and sometimes disabled, and therefore need a great deal of help and support, both getting from their homes and into his car, and also at their destinations. Pushing wheelchairs, carrying shopping, escorting people who are sometimes vulnerable and frightened, are all part of Mr Burmanís volunteering role; and from the feedback that the Voluntary Car Service has received, it is clear that Mr Burman is a popular driver, who provides a high level of care and service to all his passengers. His calm, cheerful and friendly nature, combined with his reliability and careful driving, helps to put passengers at ease and takes a great deal of the worry out
of what can often be a stressful situation for them.
The award will be presented at the Town Mayorís Civic Charity Banquet on Thursday 8 March at the Kar Restaurant, Brigg.
Derek Burman and his car!
Remembrance Day
Brigg has remembered its war dead from every generation last weekend. Remembrance began last Friday with the childrenís service at the Cenotaph at 2 pm when the town's primary school children will bring their poems and prose based on their research of the sacrifices made by men from the town who gave their lives on foreign shores. The service was attended by Town Mayor Coun Maureen Glossop and led by the Town Mayor's Chaplain Father Owain Mitchell. Last Sunday both will again preside at the 10.50 am Service of Remembrance in St John's Church. Prior to the service the parade will assemble in Station Road and after the service will march down Wrawby Street for the laying of wreaths at the war memorial.
Parade Marshall this year will be Flt Lt Kevin McLoughlan of Brigg Air Training Corps. The ATC Band will lead the parade. After the wreath laying the parade will march back to Station Road before dispersal.
All are welcome at both services.
Brigg Operatic Society
Packed houses a feature not enjoyed for many years, were drawn to Brigg Operatic Society's Calamity Jane staged at the Value of Ancholme Technology College. A hard drinking woman who wore men's clothing, was handy with a gun and had a penchant for exaggerating the truth, was the main character of the production. Calamity Jane is best friends with Deadwood's fearsome gunslinger Wild Bill Hickok.
The plot begins when Calamity comes to the aid of the Golden Garter saloon keeper when he disappoints his patrons who expected a female singer from New York and instead get Francis Fryer in drag. Calamity puts her reputation on the line when she promises to bring the patronsí favourite showgirl, Adelaide Adams, to perform in Deadwood but brings back Adelaideís maid Katie Brown who yearns for a showbiz career and doesnít let on to Calamity her real identity when they meet backstage in the Windy City.
In the end Calamity has a schoolgirl crush on handsome cavalry Lt Danny Gilmartin, but he falls for Katie and she for him. Wild Bill picks up the slack when he notices she doesnít look like a man anymore and the rest of the tale is sorting out the right match-ups for the foursome, as Calamity discovers she always loved Wild Bill.
The all singing,all dancing score included classic songs such as Secret Love, Windy City, The Deadwood Stage and The Black Hills of Dakota.
Helena Garner made an energetic and fun Calamity while Dan Busby (Wild Bill) and Andrew Dawson (Lt Gilmartin) looked perfect for their roles. Trudi Jacksonís Katie Brown and David Arrandís Francis Fryer were also convincing characters. This was a committed cast with good performances from all. Particular mention has to be made of the powerful harmonies of the male chorus and the inclusion of young children who fitted in well with the rest of the cast. The talented orchestra and artful choreography must also be commended.
Cast:
Calamity Jane - Helena Garner
Wild Bill Hickock - Dan Busby
Lt Danny Gilmartin - Andrew Dawson
Katie Brown - Trudi Jackson
Henry Miller - Felice Malaspina
Susan - Beverley Evans
Francis Fryer - David Arrand
Adelaide Adams - Jo Hageman
Rattlesnake - Peter Barnes
Doc Pierce - Andrew Jackson
Joe - Norman Todd
Hank - Ashley Bateson
Pete - Christopher Evans
Colonel of Fort Scully - Ashley Bateson
Chorus: Sylvia Barber, Emily Bradbury, Maggie Brader, Janice Burnitt, Alison Cox, Kelly Gibbons, Dani Holt, Terri-ann Heseltine, Elizabeth Hornby Sophie Robinson, Sally Rodgers, Sue Wilson, Ken Ayres, Peter Barnes, Ashley Bateson, Christopher Evans, Steve Rodgers, Ben Stork,
Children: Emily Britcliffe, Lucy Gibbons, Maddie Jackson, Hannah Marshall, Lauren Marshall, Leanne Twidale, Oliver Wood
Dancers: Rebecca Darke, Stacey Darke, Rebecca Laynes, Laura MacDonald, Beverley Scott, Tanya White
Costumes: Jackie Cheetham
Props: Pauline Wheat, Jackie Cheetham
Prompter: Joan Yates
Stage crew: Nigel Evans, Sean Britcliffe, Pete Chafer, Laneen Cowling, Chris Rodgers, Steve Rodgers
Front of house: Janet Ayres, Sarah Busby, Mick Burnitt, Jackie Cheetham, Maurice Cheetham, Jane Gibbons, Brian Marshall, Clare Marshall, Ena Todd
Lighting: Rick Marshall
Sound: Guy Hageman
Scenery Design: Maggie Brader
Scenery Painting: Maggie Brader, Janice Burnitt, Trudi Jackson, Thomas
and Maddie Jackson, Sally Rodgers, Lynsey Stamp
Orchestra
Guest Conductor - Caroline Robinson
Leader - Brian Hardy
Violins - Edward Tune Helen Hardy
Viola - Adrian Mager
Cello - Elizabeth Brissenden
Bass - Neville Chapman
Clarinet - Clare Wheat
Flute - Michaela Burr
Trumpet - Andrew Bontoft
Trombone - Stuart Clark
Percussion - Bryn Marwood
Piano - Mary Knaggs
Musical Director - Simon Percy
Choreographer - Clare Wheat
Director - Peter Barnes
The children in the show Calamity Jane who received high praise for their part in the Brigg production.Pictured are-Emily Britcliffe Lucy Gibbons Maddie Jackson Hannah Marshall Lauren Marshall Leanne Twidale Oliver Wood.
Brigg's Amateur Social Historians
You cannot keep a good ghost down! More than eighty locals turned up for a trip down memory lane with a difference when Brigg Amateur Social Historians held their Halloweentide spooky ramble. The journey began and ended at The Vines Restaurant in Wrawby Street. When it did Bed and Breakfast a customer once reported the top half of a man in an apparition behind the bar. The most haunted establishment in town is however not the Vines, but the Exchange Coach House.
BASH Chair Josie Webb told the tale:
There are many ghosts here. A monk has been seen on the ground floor. Then there is a girl called Lucy who is believed to have fallen off the roof when the building served as a school in the early 1900's. There are reports of a white lady on the upper floor and a male haunting the stables. He is believed to have burned himself.
True or false? The tales came thick and fast round the spooky old town.
BASH Committee members ready to lead their tours round haunted Brigg.
From the left are: Pat Parkinson, Brian Denison, James Martin, Josie Webb, Caroline Steeper and Denise Torpey.
BASH Chair Josie Webb with her party at the haunted White Horse on the Halloween night tour of spooky Brigg.
Brigg's Best Kept Gardens
Everyting in the garden is rosy for Peter and Ruth Altoft of Highfield Grove as they have proved once and for all they have the best kept garden in Brigg.It was congratulations all round for them and the town as a whole when Brigg Town Council held its Annual Garden and Allotment Awards Evening. Peter and Ruth received the L T Jarratt Memorial Rose Bowl,a Certificate and £50 in vouchers for Brigg Garden Centre for their efforts.They were not the only winners on a night when Brigg residents showed they had not lost their green fingered touch.
Special guest was Radio Humbersideís gardening expert Doug Steward. He had joined forces to make the judging with Rod Austin and Glenys Hughes of Brigg Garden Centre earlier in the summer.
In third place in the Best Kept Garden section was Mrs A Pearson of 39 Springbank, who received a Certificate and £20 in vouchers from Brigg Garden Centre and second were Dennis and Anne Eardley of 30 Almond Grove who received a Certificate and £30 in vouchers. Certificates of Merit were awarded to:
Highly Commended - Mr and Mrs D P Flynn, ëBracken Houseí, Lyng Place, Cadney Road
Highly Commended - Mr Tom Booth, 39 Grammar School Road
Commended- for his superb display of lavender ñ Peter Bell, 1 Ashdown Close.
The Altofts were not the only former winners to pick up a title again for Tony Sykes of the Black Bull Inn on Wrawby Street received the ëMarkham Memorial Shieldí for winner of the Best Buisness in Bloom for his splendid display of hanging baskets. He also received a certificate and £50 in vouchers from Brigg Garden Centre.
Certificates of Merit went to Kettles Funeral Parlour on Elwes Street and E and M Carpets on Bridge Street.
The entries in the Best Business Section however were disappointing and Doug Stewart said that unless there is evidence that more businesses are willing to compete for the award, this will be the final years it is presented.
Before the Prize Allotment Awar,d Judge Alistair Stothard commented on how well allotment holders had done in a difficult season with a cold spring and dry Summer.
Certificate of Merits were given to Karen Neall, Plot 7, Redcombe Lane, Mervyn Green, Plot 12 Grammar School Road, and Dave Hammond, Plot 11 Grammar School Road. The runner up was Mal Tuplin who works Plots 6 and 7 Grammar School Road. This years winner and recipient of the Mary Robins Memorial Rose Bowl, Certificate and £50 in vouchers from Brigg Garden Centre was Dave Hammond of Plot 9 Grammar School Road.
Judges and Prize Winners join with Town Mayor Maureen Glossop after the Garden Awards Presentations Evening in the Angel Suite.
Principal Award Winners Peter and Ruth Alltoft receive their Best Kept Garden Award from Town Mayor Maureen Glossop. Right is Tony Sykes of the Black Bull, Best Kept Business Award.
Left are judges Glenys Hughes and Rod Austin of Brigg Garden Centre and Doug Stewart of Radio Humberside.
Brigg County Primary School
Five months after laying the foundation stone pupils of Brigg County Primary School can see their new building progressing well. Head Teacher Steve Pearce has confirmed that everything is on time and hopes remain that the school will open its doors to pupils in January.
"The roof will be completed in the next two to three weeks. Inside fixtures are being put in place and some walls have already been plastered. Outside pathways have already been tarmaced. Everyone concerned with the school is delighted at the quality of workmanship that is taking place."
BASH
BASH -Brigg Amateur Social Historians- have announced their future meeting programme. Meetings are held at the Ancholme Inn, Grammar School Road, Brigg on the first Tuesday of each month at 8 pm.
September 5: Treasure Hunt-an hour stroll round Brigg searching out answers to clues. (7.30 pm onwards). If wet the walk will be replaced with a Quiz Night at the Ancholme Inn.
September 19: AGM at the Yarborough Hunt, Bridge Street. 7.30 pm start.
October 3: The Life and Loves of Nelson. An illustrated talk by Marilyn Roberts.
November 7: TV Nostalgia from the 50s, 60s and 70s, by Terry Richards.
December 6: The Old Inns and Alehouses of Brigg. A talk by Sandra Firth.
Brigg Ghost Walks are to be held on Halloween night Tuesday October 31, and on Sundays November 26th and January 28th 2007.
Crucifixion Drama
A meeting convened at Scawby Vicarage by Canon Chris Lilley confirmed that a major Crucifixion Drama will take place in the town centre on Good Friday next year. So far no-one has been chosen to play the part of Christ but Canon Lilley has stressed that anyone fulfilling the role will need to feel a conviction and sincerity for the Christian faith, not simply do it as a piece of acting. Arrangements have already been made for a local carpenter to make the cross. An application is being made to use the Angel Courtyard for the money changers' scene and also the trial before Pilate. The Millennium Green could act as the Garden of Gethsemane and the final crucifixion will take place where the Christmas tree fixtures are outside the National Westminster Bank. Although the play will take place in the pedestrianised zone there will be need for restricted access through the morning and applications for closure and a major street function are being made to North Lincolnshire Council. Plans are for the opening scene on Palm Sunday to be staged with Christ on a donkey coming from Bridge Street over the County Bridge. It is hoped that local schools will play a part, particularly in this scene. Music will enhance the setting and the atmosphere and all who watch the event will be urged to join in with the hymns.
Brigg's historic county bridge
The scheme to restore Brigg's historic county bridge is set to be revived - according to Chairman of the Friends of the Bridge Association Tom Glossop. The group was formed five years ago but progress stalled over some aspects of the bid for funding from the Heritage Lottery.
"A new group met to 'get things moving' and we had some representatives from the Civic Society at our recent meeting," said Mr Glossop.
"We have re-established contact with the lottery and with English Heritage. An educational aspect needs to be incorporated and North Lincolnshire have promised to work with us on this aspect. There has been a change of officer dealing with this type of project but I have spoken with the recently appointed officer dealing with our type of scheme," he added.
Discussions so far have been all positive and the local committee are updating costings in order for the bid to be submitted before the end of the year. The present bridge dates from the start of the last century although there has long been a crossing of the river at this point. The scheme could include reinforcing of the parapets, a cobbled appearance for the road surface, improved stonework and floodlighting.
Tom Glossop Chairman of the Friends of the County Bridge pictured on the bridge.
Brigg's first 'Bomber Quadrathlon'
Brigg's first 'Bomber Quadrathlon' was a huge success. Ironmen from all over the country took part in the swimming, cycling, canoeing, running marathon for the super fit. Winner was Andrew Byatt from Perranporth in Cornwall the British champion who was delighted that Brigg has become part of the quadrathlon calendar:
"People have been very friendly on the route, there was some lovely scenery on the bike ride and it was well organised."
Second was Matt Thomas also from Perranporth and third was Keith Longley from Cumbria.
Local competitors included Dan Broughton from Barnetby and Giles Bywater of Hibaldstow.
Padraig Herliky Chairman of the British Quadrathlon Association was equally delighted by the success of the event:
"Ken Collier is a great organiser for these events and has put together plenty of volunteers. All the courses were excellent, the only problem being weeds for the canoeists in the river. We are grateful to the Environment Agency for letting us use Toft Newton Reservoir tthough. One particularly pleasing aspect was the way drivers took care around the cyclists on the road. We are grateful to the town council for their support too."
First three home in the Bomber Quadrathlon. From the left Matt Thomas (2nd) Andrew Byatt (1st) and Keith Longley of Cumbria pictured with Town Mayor Maureen Glossop.
Dan Broughton of Barnetby comes over the County Bridge.
Newly elected Brigg Town Councillor
Newly elected Brigg Town Councillor Natalie Bolton took her seat in the chamber for the monthly meeting and was promptly elected to fill a vacancy on the Property Committee. Miss Bolton (22) is a former student of the Vale of Ancholme Technology College. She attended the University of Sheffield and is now an assistant manager at Arties Mill.
"Brigg is my life, I belong to Brigg Music Club and hope to bring some youthful thoughts to the Town Council," she declared.
Natalie Bolton newly elected member of Brigg Town Council.
Brigg bloom
Green fingered members of the public can play a part in making Brigg bloom with pride this summer. The Town Council are to enter the Calor Best Kept Village and Town Competition, a competition Caistor Town Council declined to enter because of excessive form filling. Councillors in Brigg however agreed to spend the £10 entry fee. The council is again to run its own competition with prizes on offer for Best Kept Garden, Best Business in Bloom, and Best Allotment. Judging is to be done initially by Town Councillors who will draw up a short list of the best gardens etc and then the final judgements will be made by Doug Stewart of Radio Humberside and staff at Brigg Garden Centre for the Best Garden and Best Business, and by Alistair Stothard of Barnetby for Best Allotment.
The first round of judging will be done in mid July. Awards are to be presented at a ceremony following the September Town Council meeting with refreshments provided for finalists afterwards. There will be no entry forms and Councillors will merely take note of the best exhibits on their walkabout. Local businesses have been urged to be more pro-active this year with their floral displays.
Macmillan Cancer Relief Group
Brigg Macmillan Cancer Relief Group have announced that they raised a fantastic £10,400 in the year ending on December 31st 2005. The news was given by treasurer Jean Rutland at the group's Spring Coffee Morning held at the Sutton Arms in Scawby. Mrs Rutland also provided the encouraging information that £3,500 has been raised in the year 2006, effectively in the first quarter which means the group are well on course to top last year's total by the end of this year. The Coffee Morning marked the 10th Anniversary of Chair Ann Nightingale's election to the committee and she was warmly congratulated on the vigour, energy and leadership she had shown with the group.
Briggs' youth make their voice heard
Brigg's young people were delighted with the reception they received at the Angel Suite at the first meeting to establish a dialogue between the town's youngsters, the council and youth groups. The Town Council had initiated a meeting with them to explore what they wanted from the town and to hear their ideas and concerns. Thirty people attended the inaugural meeting last week and a second get together was scheduled for Monday evening this week. For many of the youngsters attending it was the first time they had darkened the doors of the Angel Suite. Brigg Music Club had provided instruments for taster sessions on what they had top offer, organised by James Truepanny, also a Town Councillor. Both the local Air Training Corps and Brigg Scouts were represented. Many of the young people felt there was just a need for a base in which they could 'hang out' and socialise. The evening was arranged by Brigg Town Council who are keen to establish a dialogue with the town's youth and also to reduce anti social behaviour that results from a feeling of boredom. They worked in conjunction with North Lincolnshire Council's 'Safe Neighbourhoods' team and with PC Steve Wash the Community Beat Officer in Brigg for Humberside Police.
Town Clerk Jeanette Woollard said:
"The council have agreed to continue the process of talking with the young people. We are delighted at the response shown at the first meeting. The council members meeting at the Policy Committee meeting congratulated the young people who had turned up in such numbers and been so positive in their responses, and come up with such good ideas."
Local organisations given a cash boost
Brigg Town councilllors were in a generous mood at their monthly meeting, dishing out several grants to local organisations.
They heard that Brigg's recently reformed St John's Ambulance Group is thriving and up to its membership capacity with a waiting list in its cadet section. Councillors voted through a £250 donation to the group formed last Autumn. Town Mayor Penny Smith praised the initiative in getting the group going with 25 young people regularly attending as cadets. The Mayor told Councillors that their financial backing would be valued by the group as they received no financial support from the government.
Two other local organisations which received a financial boost in the form of a council grant were Brigg Scouts and the North Lincolnshire Music and Drama Festival. Each received £250. Council have also increased their financial support for the Brigg Community Newsletter, now retitled Brigg Matters. Council agreed to pay the increased fee of £825 per annum, an increase of £75. Council however decided against financial backing to the Ancholme and District Community Fund towards the cost of purchasing a balancemaster.
Brigg's old gas lamp needs new home
One of the Brigg's old gas lamps, lovingly looked after by a former Brigg postman is in need of a new home. Frank Batchelor obtained the lamp (pictured) and put it in the front garden of his bungalow on Kings Avenue, where it remained until Mr Batchelor died. His nephew Bill Batchelor of Glebe Road has been keen on finding it a new home preferably where it can be seen and serve as a reminder of the town's heritage.
"My uncle had an electric light fitted and it lit up every night.It probably came from the market place in the 1950's when the old gas lights were replaced by electric ones. So he put this one in his garden.The Town Council took a look at it and wanted at first to put it in the Angel courtyard but it appears it will be too expensive to restore and resite.We are making contact with the Civic Society to see if they could get any grants to restore it."
Coun John Kitwood went to look at the light and met with Mr. Batchelor but declared that the project to restore it had hit the buffers so far as the council were concerned. Town Mayor Penny Smith has now confirmed that the council has declined to take over ownership of the lamp.
"We have talked with the Civic Society.Restoration work for us to do would have cost thousands of pounds and would be far too expensive. We did our best to find someone to take it over and move it but we could not justify spending that sort of money on it."
Chairman of Brigg Civic Society Ian Smith said the Society was 'on the case.'
"It does seem rather expensive to restore it.We could look at putting it back in the market place where we believe it originally came from, but whether it would fit there and not be subject to vandalism I am not so sure.We are going to see what we can do."
The lamp is believed to date from the 1870s.
The old Brigg gas lamp which is in need of a new home.
Pedestrian Safety
Improvements to pedestrian safety around Tesco's store and Riverside Surgary are set to take place following a site meeting between Town Councillors, Tesco's manager, and the practice manager at Riverside Surgery. Concerns have been espressed to the Town Council for some time that the locality is an accident waiting to happen with the aged and infirm going to the surgary as well as shoppers loaded with bags leaving Tescos being especially vulnerable in the heavy traffic.The existing crossing point from the petrol station side will remain and the footpaths opposite will be extended along the waste ground area up to the vehicular entrance to the surgery. Keep Clear notices will also be painted on the road at that entrance to prevent congestion.
Brigg Town Council's Planning and Environment Committee want to ban long pole fishing on the river bank stretch from County Bridge to Castlethorpe Bridge. Councillors have objected to the blocking of the public footpath on the riverside by these poles and favour only traditional rod and line activity. A meeting is now to take place between the Town Council, North Lincolnshire Council, the footpath warden Tony Parker and the Anglers Association to discuss the way forward.Pedestrians have complained that because of the long rods the path is no longer passable as a public right of way.
Town Councillors have backed the principal of subsidising the cost of the weekly Winterton to Brigg Market Day bus service. Councillors are to pay 50% of the subsidy required with Winterton Town Council paying the rest. If the service attracts more passengers and breaks even the subsidies will be reduced or removed accordingly.
The Town Council's Youth Initiative Scheme saw almost one hundred youngsters supporting an alcohol free dance at the Angel Suite. The Town Council's Policy Committee heard that the youngsters' behaviour was exemplary. The next major event will be a football tournament at Ancholme Leisure Centre this Saturday. Two teams from Hawthorn Avenue will compete against teams from Barton and Hibaldstow. Coun Jenny Bell has provided a trophy for the winners and the event is being organised by PC Steve Wash.
Civic Banquet
Brigg Town Council's Civic Banquet proved a huge success, the event at the Kar Restaurant raising around £1700 for the charities of Town Mayor Coun. Penny Smith. Brigg Breast Cancer Support Group and Brigg McMillan Cancer Relief Group will benefit from the money raised. The raffle draw alone produced £370 while an auction conducted by Brigg M.P. Ian Cawsey added a further £1000.The function was attended by civic guests from neighbouring authorities led by Mayor of North Lincolshire Coun.William Eckhardt and the Mayoress Mrs Jenny Eckhardt. Both the Mayors charity organisations were represented. During the evening Pam Braithwaite received the Joseph J Magrath award for community service with clerk Jeanette Woollard reading the citation of service. Mrs Braithwaite was praised for her work at St John's Church in the twelve months the church had been without a vicar prior to the appointment of Father Owen Mitchell at Christmas. Father Mitchell was at the function as was the Mayor's Chaplain Keith Simpson and Mrs Maria Simpson. The loyal toast was proposed by Coun.Smith and the Mayor's Consort Mike Hills delivered a short speech thanking those who served the town during the year.
Pam Braithwaite after receiving the Joseph J Magrath Award for community Service.She is pictured with Town Mayor Penny Smith consort Mike Hills, fellow church warden at St John's Mike Birkitt,Father Owen Mitchell and Mr Ken Braithwaite.
Brigg Fiddle Festival
Details have been announced for next month's Brigg Fiddle Festival, always one of the highlights of the town's Spring calendar. The event takes place on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th May and a feast of violin music is in store. Organisers Wootton Fiddle Club have attracted some big names to the Angel stage. Saturday evenings final concert features the relatively local band Zagos who have recently returned from an international tour and play Eastern European music with a touch of gypsy. The climax is provided by Scottish septet Session A9 who have built themselves a very formidable reputation over the last couple of years. One of their number, guitarist Kris Drewer will be playing with Lan on Friday evening. Wootton Fiddle Club will start the concerts off on Friday evening and as always the fringe activities will prove a major attraction. Workshops for beginners and more advanced players will include sessions on Scottish Style and Middle Eastern Fiddling. There will also be the usual sessions at the Nelthorpe Arms and at the Lord Nelson. The festival has a terrific reputation for the warmth of its welcome and there is no more popular part of it than the Fiddle Busking Competition on the town's streets on Saturday. Full details are available on leaflets from the Tourist Information Centre or from Corner Cottage, South Elkington, Louth, Lincs. LN11 0RZ. Busking details are available from Ivy Farmhouse, Churchside, Goxhill, North Lincs. DN19 7HY.
North Lincolnshire Music and Drama Festival
The annual North Lincolnshire Music and Drama Festival provided plenty of highlights with adjudicator Stuart Smith liberally praising young and old alike. The American musician proved quite a star himself with boundless energy, packing his adjudications with humour and encouragement for the participants. To both Caistor Primary School and St Mary's Roman Catholic Brigg Primary he declared to a packed St John's Church:
"Never has a class of choirs of your ages shown such impeccable discipline. I have never heard that standard before. Your wonderful teachers fill you with the utmost enthusiasm, you should all feel very proud of yourselves, this was quality stuff."
Caistor just edged it to 1st place over St Mary's with Lynton Primary from Scunthorpe in 3rd place.
St Mary's Primary School Wrawby also impressed in the village schools section in their first appearance on the platform. Market Rasen's Da Capo Folk Group edged the folk group section over 'The Crow Sisters' from Barrow while Brigg Singers and Brigg St John's Church Choir, performing on their own pitch, also impressed. The Caldwell sisters, Lucy and Sally from Wrawby showed their versatility with performances on the piano and in a vocal duet that produced marks in the high eighties. Society Chairman Tom Glossop lost his Folk Song singing title to Emma Wells from Barnetby.Sally Caldwell shared second place in the class.Highest Mark of the week went to strings player Hannah Priestly from Louth with 91 marks.
"She is a real talent,"sad Nr Smith when he awarded her the North Lincolnshire Shield for most promising musician.Sally Caldwell won the Brigg Lions Award of sponsorship to attend the annual European Youth Summer Festival at Haileybury College.
Summing up a week of memorable music making Mr Smith praised the army of volunteers who run the festival so smoothly.
Appropriatly Brigg Singers brought the event to a conclusion with a commendation in the adult choirs section.
New Footpath
A new footpath will definatly be built across the county border to enable people in Brigg to walk to the Brigg Garden Centre.That was the outcome of a site meeting involving all interested parties and brings to an end several years of wrangling as to whose responsibility it is to make the pedestrian approach safer.
Councillors Maureen Glossop and Julian Kidd represented the Town Council at the meeting. Work is expected to take place over the summer months that will enable Brigg residents to walk on a footpath all the way rather than on the grass verge or along the road for a distance after the path ends. Representatives from North Lincolnshire Highways, Lincolnshire Highways and the Garden Centre also attended the meeting. The agreement was reached that the two highway authorities would develop a path up to the old main entrance. This will be achieved by extending the path as far as possible on the left hand side of Bigby High Road. Pedestrians will then be required to cross over to the opposite side of the road where the Garden Centre will continue the pedestrian route inside its own boundary. Lincolnshire County Council will confirm a date within its own programme of works when the path construction will take place, but it is hoped the start date will be within the summer months.
Glanford-Gifhorn Twinning Association
Despite the demise of Glanford Borough Council a decade ago. Glanford-Gifhorn Twinning Association continues to thrive in Brigg,but the present committee have urged more local people to become involved.
In 1990 the then Glanford Borough Council established a link with the town and area of Gifhorn in Germany, a twinning agreement was signed in the Corn Exchange in Brigg and a committee was formed to foster and encourage the twinning partnership.
With the demise of Glanford Borough Council and the formation of North Lincolnshire Council however the future of the twinning committee was obviously in some doubt. However a meeting was called to consider the way forward and a group of volunteers agreed to continue the work.
The Glanford-Gifhorn Twinning Association still meets in The Buttercross in Brigg on a regular basis and carries on the work started by the Borough Council.
Its aims are to promote and foster friendship and understanding between the people of the former Glanford area and those of the area of Landkries Gifhorn, to encourage visits by individual and groups to and from the linked areas ,particularly by children and young people, and by so doing to broaden the mutual understanding of the cultural, recreational, educational and commercial activities of the linked areas, and to organise fund raising activities to foster the aims of the association and to promote local interest in the link between the area of Glanford and Landkries Gifhorn.
Over the years various links have been established between local schools, football teams, youth groups and community groups and exchanges between both areas take place on an annual basis.
The Twinning Group would welcome new members and any local groups who would like to twin with a similar group in Gifhorn or assist in fund raising or get more actively involved in twinning should contact either Jenny Eckhardt (Chairman) 01427 752159 or Mike Birkitt (Secretary) 07914 673635.
Brigg Civic Society
Brigg Civic Society have issued their Annual Report ahead of the AGM scheduled for Tuesday 14 March at the Angel Suite at 7.30 pm. Officers will be elected together with members of the committee.
The report states that the committee met ten times during the year and Vice-Chairman, Bill Brocklesby, kept all members informed of activities by the regular issue of the 'Serendipity' newsletter.
Although the Society welcomed a number of new members during the year, some former members did not renew their subscriptions and consequently there was a net reduction of 15 to 108 in the total membership. As a proportion of the population of the town, this is still way above the average for Civic Societies but members are urged to make every effort to encourage friends and colleagues to join.
Members who attended the educational visits to Alford and Normanby Hall found them to be most interesting and enjoyable. As suggested at last year's Annual General Meeting, transport was provided for these by a car sharing scheme and so the only cost to the Society was for the Guide at Alford.
Indoor meetings were held through the winter with a range of speakers. The Society continues to have a good relationship with the Highways Directorate of North Lincolnshire Council who ensure that any damage done to the paved surfaces of the pedestrianised area by public utilities and other bodies, is quickly repaired when reported to them.
By utilising the income generated from the sale of the old street signs in 2004, the Society was able to work, in partnership with Brigg Town Council, on the provision of new black and gold street signs on the perimeter of the Conservation Area. This work is still proceeding.
The Audited Accounts for the year ended 31 January 2006 show a healthy position.
The Society thanks all those have helped it to achieve some of the objectives during the past year, including Brigg Town Council and Councillors and members of the staff of North Lincolnshire Council.
Subscriptions for the current year are now due and should be paid to the Treasurer as soon as possible. They are £3 for full members, £2.50 each for joint members, £1.50 for junior members and £10 for corporate members.
Brigg County Primary School
Peter Thompson visits the new site of Brigg County Primary School on Atheron Way and talks to an excited Steve Pearce the school's Head Teacher whose dream will hopefully be fulfilled in nine months time.Unlike Wembley Stadium I can report that construction on the country's second major building site is proceeding at pace and every indication is that the doors wilkl open to pupils in January as planned.
I cannot remember much about my first day at Brigg County Primary School school, other than that I nearly burnt my bottom on the office fire as my mother signed me in! I recall a roaring coke fire and having my Thomas the Tank Engine book rather unfairly seized by the ëFat Controllerí-or so I thought!.It is a long time ago but as I write the new town primary school that North Lincolnshire are providing is going up and the building that I remember with much fondness but which became so terribly out of date, will within eight months no longer be used.
Brigg County Primary School was a good school in my day-and it is an even better one now - an ordered, disciplined, caring, place where children go about quietly and wear their uniform with pride!A new school is now being built and will be open in January 2007 on Atherton Way.It looks like being a state of the art facility, a far cry from my own formative years at BCP.The opening will be a proud moment for the school and an occasion Head Teacher Steve Pearce has worked tirelessy for during his headship in the town extending back in Brigg almost 25 years.
A milestone is being reached this month when a foundation stone is being laid with the school council attending as representatives of the pupils. Looking over the plans Mr Pearce was purring with excitement: "There will really be four key areas.First an outside play area will be of the highest specification in design and equipment.Secondly the main hall will have a central area for creative art work with a stage backed by modern lighting and sound systems,and a design technology area alongside. There will be an Information Technology Suite with the very latest equipment and finally a courtyard area,though I am not quite sure how we will use that as yet.
The quality of build in all areas will be very good. I have met with 'Halls' the main construction contractors. Things are going to plan and all the basic foundations are in place." he declared.
There will be thirteen classrooms at the school. A key element will be a plan for the classrooms to work in pairs with back to back store rooms to reduce noise transfer. Most will be south facing with large windows. All will have suspended ceilings and interactive whiteboards.
Discussions have been ongoing with North Lincolnshire Highways about safe routes to school for pupils,so it is clear that not just the being there, but also the getting there and the leaving from the site will be properly planned as part of the major investment.Exciting times clearly lie ahead!
Brigg Summer Fair
Brigg Summer Fair on the August 5 Horse Fair date can go ahead, after the Town Council awarded £1,000 in support of an event they described as important to the community. After the award Charles Brindley Chairman of the organising committee said he was very grateful to the council
"We have tried our hand at fund raising but without much success. This has safeguarded the event and we are very grateful for the support," he declared.
Councillors found themselves 'playing around with figures' before putting the £1,000 grant to the vote. For the 2005 fair they agreed to pay out £687 for subsidising stall hire and £137 for the cost of the clean up. Councillors were mindful that the total funds in the Special Events budget for 2006-7 was £5,000 with claims already made by organisers of the Fiddle Festival and the November Fireworks Display. Councillors considered sums of £700 and £1500 before settling on £1,000.
Coun Tom Glossop urged the organisers as a new committee to apply for lottery funding for which he felt confident they would be eligible. All agreed with the sentiments of Coun Mike Campion: "We got this going last year and it was very successful. I want us to be very clear about the help we can give them," he declared.
The £1,000 proposal by Town Mayor Penny Smith was only passed on her casting vote however after councillors voted seven for and seven against the figure stated.
Brigg Fair
Secretary of the organising committee for Brigg Fair, Sarah Angell has said there are unlikely to be many changes in the way the August 5 event is organised this year.
"The street fair will continue as a separate entity which we are only involved with. The travellers will do their own thing. We feel this worked well last year. It is difficult enough to organise the fair," she declared.
Since last year's event two committee members in Veronica Tett and Nikki Crabtree had resigned. Mrs Angell urged local people to come forward to join the committee and strengthen the organising team presently standing at four strong with Mick Angell, Charles Brinley and Kevin McLoughlin as the remaining members.
Any new volunteers can contact Mrs Angell on 01652 659093. Minor changes in last year's format are planned with a fun fair likely to be in the town centre, possibly in the Old Courts Car Park.
"There might not be a parade this year but there will certainly be another pet show after its success last year," said Mrs Angell.
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