Pannal news and events

First of all thank you Mrs Brown? of Harlow Hill for the great big bundle of stamps. Yes, I am still collecting them for my friend.  Over the summer I have had a number of people knocking on my door to ask if I know about their relatives who used to live in Pannal. Fortunately I have been able to help them all. This is what happens when you have lived in a place nearly all your life and are nosey. I think that goes with the territory of being a journalist. I have always been a "nice" one by that I mean when I interview people I do not write anything that would upset them. One lady who purchased one of my books because the relative she had come to see my about was featured in it emailed me to say she had the surprise of her live when looked through the book she found a photo of the Johnson Family Band who were also related to her and did I have anymore photographs. I did and sent them to her. When I write this blog I do not know who reads it and I would love to have comments from you. Go on please reply to me and tell me anything otherwise I sit here typing away not knowing if I am writing rubbish or is it enjoyed. Second thought some of it is rubbish. I am doing three talks this month on Pannal and its people and places. 2nd Starbeck Methodist Church, 16th Woodlands Methodist Church and 21st Gracious Street Methodist Church 7.30pm, 8pm and I think 7.30pm waiting for this one to confirm time. I am still meeting people that say "Oh I do miss your column". Which is lovely. I miss it in a way but I do have so much extra time now and I will write this blog. Sadly a number of my readers do not have a computer.  My vertigo is still rubbish so I am off to try Epley (think spelt correctly) treatment as prescribed by my doctor. If anyone has heard of this or had it let me know please as this is unknown territory. The big news of the week is of course Dunlopillo who have received outline planning for 120 houses. I would have liked a Business Park there as if we want a tin of paint etc  the car has to come out. One good thing is the horrible Dunlopillo building will come down. I remember the railway cottages that were where the car park is now. The Art Deco building (where Bintex started) the façade is being kept. I am very lucky to have amongst my many, many papers photographs and brochures of both Bintex and Dunlop Latex Foam. In a few years time Pannal will have changed can we cope? When one looks around the surrounding villages they still are villages with very little new buildings whereas Pannal!!!!! It is such a pity that the Councillors do not like Pannal and also such a shame that our local Councillors Matt Hill and Sharon Bentley did not attend the planning meeting. One of the most important in Pannal's history.

What is happening

What is happening in Pannal re the Dunlopillo site. A plan has been put forward for 120 houses and office accommodation. My bet is that the plan will go through as from experience gained since 1968 with Harrogate Borough Council numerous Councillors both local and North Yorkshire. Pannal is a dirty word and the feeling the more housing there the better. Also I have heard that the Ward Bros always get what they want. Now what do they want? They would like the whole site to be housing and I would hazard a guess and say that is what will come about. the small Business Park they envisage will fail because the rent/price will be too high. HBC will be told that there is no call for business/offices there and a plan will go in (in a few years) for more housing. The road that is being investigated at the present time is the A59 - A1 and who do you think has land there just right for a Business Park - yes the Ward Bros. So Dunlopillo will be all housing and the other piece of land will be a Business Park. Neat eh?  Pannal as we know it will be no more. Now away from that sad subject to the exploits of our son Michael. We are tremendously proud of him as he has run the toughest race in the world for charity. It is the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc. 168 kilometres Running up and down, in all, It is a mountain race with 12 mountains to run up most of them 2,500 metres. He started at 3.30pm on Friday and the finishing time was 2.30pm on the Sunday. Super Michael finished at 10am. I needless to say went to bed on Friday night at 2am and up at 6am and Saturday 3am and up at 6am, We could follow his progress on the computer.  It was very exciting and worrying too. Helen his wife was travelling by bus from France to Switzerland and Italy. He said the crowds were fantastic and there were little kids on the route during the night shouting them on. The crowd had programmes and the runners nearly 3.000 of them had their numbers on their vests and names in the programme so there were shouts of come on Michael from the English and the same in Italian, Swiss and French. He was very, very tired and suffered from a bit of altitude sickness but he made it. Mad fool that he is.