Wednesday 17 December 2014

Pannal and festive season

Hey anyone remember Herman Munster/ Well that is who my poor husband looks like. He has two rows of stitches across his forehead. Two black eyes, stitches on his neck and a cauliflower ear. I am out and about he is not. Hopefully he will be ok for Christmas when everyone comes up. All fifteen of us here. Be a tight squeeze but great fun.
I met Howard West today. He writes the column on Pannal for the Harrogate Advertiser. Only clubs and societies mind as that is all that is required now. My great friend Malcolm Neesam does not write for the paper anymore as his articles very much appreciated by the newspaper buying public but not by the newspaper decided he was being too restricted in what he was being told to say so has left exactly as I did. Shame. Wonder if through this policy there will be a newspaper in a few years time. Now back to Howard. I had not met him before so invited him round for coffee. Made a cake and he brought some lovely biscuits so we were set up for a long chat which we did. Can't say we set the world (Pannal) to rights but we tried.
Carols around the tree on Pannal Green on Monday. I hope to be there and hopefully Bas too. A nice start to Christmas. I will take this opportunity to wish everyone in the village a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Health (I don't do prosperous) New Year. Enjoy the relative peace as in 2016 building will start on the old Dunlopillo site and Pannal will never be the same again. On a happier note Fifty years we have lived here. My parents lived at Oatlands so there is not much I do not know about the history of the area and all the changes that have taken place. Looking back what am I proud of apart from my lovely husband and four lovely children and our grandchildren. It was being Chairman of The Harrogate Society and also Chairman of the Friends of the Valley Gardens in 1984 when there was every danger of the Sun Pavilion and the Colonnades being knocked down to provide a car park. Yes this is true. So I gathered together Geoffrey Smith, James Herriot (Alf White) and David Bellamy all personalities I knew a fantastic treasurer and right hand man Stephen Barnes and we did it. We saved the buildings. Nearer home Spacey Houses farm and outbuildings. English Heritage listed them for me as they said they were one of the most complete set of ancient (1600s) buildings they had seen. I am now trying my best with the old Police Training site which was Pannal Ash College and before that Southern College built in 1840. I have everything to do with the old school, trophies, school magazines, photographs, paintings and even school blazers and caps. I am also in touch with the headmasters daughter who lives in Eastbourne and is in her eighties. Unfortunately I could not save Ancient Spacey Houses Hotel and we went on holiday to South Africa and they demolished it in my absence. Such a dreadful shame.
See you all in the New Year. Be good!!!!!!

Wednesday 10 December 2014

New shop in Pannal

The Co-op open its shop at Pannal Station last week. It replaces The Harwood public house. Is this a good thing or not? The Harwood was very hit and miss. When it opened at the old Station house (railway ticket office and house built about 1848) in 1980 as Platform One it was a success then a duff landlord and it was taken over and renamed The Harwood. Was used by the village under Clive the landlord and they had a golf team and a darts team. Clive then left and it was never much good after that, so inevitably it was sold but not as another pub the co-op purchased it. Pannal now after over 100 years (Spacey Houses Hotel demolished) is publess. Burn Bridge has The Black Swan and long may that continue. We, as a family, will use the co-op as it is open from 7am to 11pm but still continue to use Steve at Crimple Fresh in the Post Office as his fruit and veg very good and he sells produce the coop does not.
Heavy vehicles still coming through Pannal. Completely ignoring the weight restrictions and probably following their satnavs. These are the ones that use us as a short cut then there are others that miss Pannal Business Park and turn at Rosedale and go up the village again.
Now it is not only the children that love school holidays we in Main Street love them as well. Gone is the school traffic, gone are the pushy parents that park across drives and when tackled say I am taking my child to school.
Hey ho Christmas is coming, Santa too. We have our lights up, lit trees at all the windows and I shall open a window on Christmas morning and send the little lad that is passing to get the biggest turkey for Tiny Tim. There will be 15 of us staying here. A tight squeeze but great fun. So I will take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2015.

Sunday 7 December 2014

Away from Pannal then bck

Now this will teach me. I was in Otley passing Lloyds Chemists and saw in their window come in and have your blood pressure checked. So in I went had it taken and dispenser said it is a bit high I should go and see your doctor. I had an appointment re the stitches out from face so mentioned it. Yep a bit high one reading ok the other. Just to make sure doctor said we shall fit you with a blood pressure monitor nurse will ring you when one is available. Nurse rings 7am to go in I said I am not up at 6am to come in so no. She said we come in at 7am. I said you are paid to do so I am not. Anyway compromise 9am. So fighting with the school traffic, and having to defrost the car, I went (still a bit early if I am honest these winter mornings). Fitted up. Home for coffee. The band on my arm tightened every ten minutes. aaaggghhh. I rang and said is this right. Told relax your arm. Did not work. Take it off at bed time. It was such a nuisance I nearly went to bed at 3.30pm. Anyway persevered took it back next morning again fighting school traffic and defrosting the car once more. Week later heard nothing, phoned and was told nurse will ring you. Nothing then comes the letter your test results have been lost or was the wording mislaid?  I am making arrangements for you to have the test over again. Now I have to go through that once (I hope) more. Told them it was a shambles. So now awaiting call from nurses or maybe a policeman for my remark. I lesson to be learnt here but perhaps it is all for the best. Also notice I have not named and shamed.

Tuesday 11 November 2014

Pannal and a query on The Black Swan

Hello Richard Greatorex. This is indeed a strange cottage. The bit the two little girls are standing outside looks older than the other bit. I have a photo dated 1901 (George Dibbs was the landlord) where the roof has been taken off the building and an oast house is either built as part of it or just behind it. So I think your photo predates mine. There was an Abraham Thackray of Burn Bridge who died in 1879. In 1901 the oast house is intact in my later (by a few years) photos it is part demolished (a fire). Your photo must be the latter half of the 1800s. In 1838 the Black Swan was owned by Jane Jackson. Hope this is of some help.

Now I must tell you of the rose bush in our garden. I am a very keen gardener and was weeding and stood up. Forgetting the rose one of many that we have had for 40 odd years was there and it caught me across my face. I wiped the blood off and carried on. Then a few weeks later I noticed I had an ulcer thing on my face. I was visiting the doctor for my vertigo just as I was leaving I said what is this on my face. Next thing I knew a letter to go down to HDH. I arrived handed in my letter sat waiting for what seemed like a fortnight. Everyone called in before me. I said to one of the nurses excuse me where am I on the waiting list. He said you are not on it, did you hand in a letter. Yes. Who to. I don't know. Ok wait there. I waited got fed up went to find someone when senior nurse came down said are you Anne Smith. Yes. Well your appointment has been cancelled. You should have received a letter but I know for a fact it was not sent out. Me stood there gobsmacked. Ok I said I am here now I am not leaving. Eventually seen. Told yes we will just take the top off and to come back next week. Did so, doctor looked at it said of no we shall have to go deeper. One hour later having asked the nurse to let my husband know I was going to be longer and I was going to appear with a face dressed for Halloween. My lots of stiches come out on Friday. I have gone up in my grandson's estimations as he said will I have a scar like Action Man? Cool. Another comment from the family was I could audition for Phantom of the Opera. I have been in hiding, no golf but had to have a quick visit to the super market today. Dark glasses etc. as I have a lovely black eye to accompany the stitches. So beware of rose thorns they can be lethal.

Our cats Marble and Tigs two docile little souls have a cat flap and so come in and out. Hell of a racked in the middle of last night fighting, spitting meowing I got up and the utility room was in a mess. Two cats had shot through the cat flap knocked over their beds and were cowering with big fat tails. What had attacked them? Hope it was not a fox.  

Sunday 19 October 2014

Not half term and quiet in Pannal

What has happened this weekend. Not many cars going up and down Main Street. We have been working in the front garden and for once peace. No cars going zoom zoom up and down. As I sit here now nothing either. Wonder if it is the windy weather that has discouraged people from going out. Still not complaining as it is lovely to have it quiet.
On the proposal for a Parish Council leaflet that was delivered to us all there is a figure on the front and guess what it is Bas. Quite unbelievable. Bas eyesight is really bad (after the mugging and op - I am driver etc) so I post all the letters as he has difficulty with pavements. Anyway this particular day he went down to the post box on his own and on the way back was "caught on camera".
What will be my next job when the wind dies down to clear all the leaves that our garden attracts from Rosedale. I watch them blowing down the road and into our garden. After that go down and clear the patio bit by the church car park. I look after that as no one else will and I have put a little garden there which Pannal Village Society kindly gave me some money to do.
Hoping to golf next week but I am in one of my visitations from vertigo. I have had it 22 years and it comes back, without warning, every so often and I can tell you it plays havoc with my putting.
Can I have a moan about the traffic lights on Leeds Road/Hookstone Road junction. The arrows on the road from Hookstone Road across to Leadhall Lane used to be (quite sensibly) on the left. It was turn left and straight ahead. Now some numpty in their wisdom has changed it to left only and straight ahead and right. I and dozens of others have been stuck waiting for the cars in front of us to turn right towards Harrogate only to find that we are stuck as the traffic on the A61 has started moving towards town. Help. The other day I was on the right going across to Leadhall Lane when this car on my left came with me just missing the side of my car. Apparently both these problems are happening as I spoke to the traffic warden who was there. I have reported it to NYCC and HBC only to be told there is nothing they can do and they will look at it in the new year. How kind!!

Thursday 9 October 2014

Pannal in the news

We have been in the news recently with the Dunlopillo site and The Harwood. I do find the "change of mind" annoying. At the Public Enquiry the Inspector said no housing but as Harrogate had so many firms crying out for space it would make sense for it to be a Business Park on the lines of Hornbeam Park. I had no problem with that but HBC changed its mind or the Ward Bros changed HBC mind and we now have housing. Mark you if we do not have housing there you can bet your bottom dollar we would have it somewhere as Pannal Councillors have a tough time defending Pannal. Unfortunately we are not liked by other Councillors or the local paper. This has gone on for years and I used to be involved in these matters. The late Fred Willis said he had "quite a time" defending Pannal. Bryan and Liz Bowden from Spacey View I hope will succeed in maintaining the right to the piece of land that is theirs and is being disputed by the owners of the Dunlopillo site. Mr and Mrs Bowden have proof their piece of land is registered to them in the Land Register.
Now, not only am I locked in the toilet on the Stray but on a recent visit to the Lakes I dropped my mobile phone down the toilet. I had only had it a year. Utterly destroyed so had to buy a new one. Costly mistake that was.
We have lost Dr Richard Hall from our lives. He has retired to garden and paint. He was an old fashioned doctor who listened to you. Had time for you and did not have his finger on the button for the next patient or his pen on a prescription form. We shall miss him.
The Harwood will be listed which will help maintain its looks and not let the Co-op destroy it. I am also in the process of having the Memorial Library on the site of the Police Training College which used to be Pannal Ash College and before that in 1840 Southern College. I am lucky to have all papers, books, sketches, photographs, magazines, cups and even blazer and caps from the boys of the old Pannal Ash College. The Memorial Library is dedicated to the boys of that college who gave their lives in the First World War. Lord Harewood opened it in 1920.
The Dennistoun Conservation Society of Glasgow are looking at a copy of my book with a view to telling their members about it. Which will be very nice.
Ok rain has stopped there is a bit of sun so I shall go and do a bit more gardening that is if my vertigo lets me. I have had it 22 years and every so often it lays me low and lasts for weeks. Not at all nice.

Thursday 25 September 2014

A great summer in Pannal but sadness too

The weather is still great and I am still in shorts or a skirt. Have not worn trousers since March.  Golf has been good ( I have won a few things) apart from today where I was complete rubbish. Now the sad part. My lovely friend Rita Corbridge from Burn Bridge died in June. She taught at Pannal Primary School both the old school and the new one. She taught only one of our four children. Michael and he still kept in touch every Christmas. Rita was always the same kind and would do anything for anyone. We went to her 90th Birthday Party and it was lovely and she was surrounded by all her many friends. I had a chat with Derek her husband today about the First World War and I shall pop round and see him to hear more.
The second sad occasion is our next door neighbour Mary suffered the tragic loss of her son-in-law through drowning. David and Jane live in Sheffield but they have a cottage on a little and I mean little island called Hestan in Dumfries and Galloway. It is joined to the mainland by a causeway. What happened was David saw a log floating in the sea and obviously decided that it would do for his cottage so swum out to it and unfortunately got caught in the current and got into difficulties. Jane called the coastguard who reached David and pulled him onto his boat. Tried CPR and it did not work so summonsed an ambulance which met them at Kippford. Tried again in the ambulance then took him to hospital where he sadly died. He was a nice cheerful man and everytime he came to see Mary (my neighbour) he would call for a chat. Where he drowned was the Solway Firth and we know that area very well having spent a few holidays there. I went swimming the last time we were there and got into difficulties and very nearly drowned. I had swum into an enormous patch of seaweed which very nearly did for me but my Guardian Angel was on duty and I survived. Had a very nasty scare and have now decided my swimming in the sea days are over.

Wednesday 10 September 2014

A walk from Pannal round all of The Stray plus

Glorious weather ok lets go a walk from Pannal all round the Stray. Got to the bottom of Tewit Well Road walked towards the hospital crossed the road towards Skipton Road. I said there is a coffee shop in Devonshire Place. Bas said he wanted to go to the loo on The Stray just down from the coffee shop. I said I may as well go to. Only one toilet I shut the door and got locked in. Catch thing on the door clicked. I could not open the door. It was stuck. I shouted Bas Bas. No answer. I was there for ages slightly panicking still shouting. Bas who is deaf did not hear me and walked up to the coffee shop thinking where the hell is she? Not knowing this I am thinking surely he will come to see if I am ok as I have been in here for what felt like a fortnight. On the point of phoning police, fire brigade as I had my phone, not ambulance you will notice. Hesitating thinking God I am going to look a fool what will Bas think when police/fire engine drives up? Still bellowing Bas Bas. Eventually I heard him say "where are you" "I'm locked in". He had to kick the door to get me out. Honestly my legs were shaking. Blow the coffee where is the nearest pub. Found one sat outside and it was lovely. Continued the walk down to the Valley Gardens. Had an ice cream then walked the rest of The Stray back to Tewit Well Road.

Sunday 10 August 2014

Really is summer in Pannal

May was the last time I wrote a blog. What have I and Pannal been doing. Enjoying the fantastic summer weather. Having said that it is raining today and that is why I am here. Came back from a great holiday, last night, in The Dales. Fantastic weather also a few weeks back a fantastic holiday in The Lakes. Now these are two places that have their own weather but for once they were the same as everywhere else. Hot and sunny. Our Michael and family live in the lakes and he in his spare time is a fell runner and was pleased to find he was placed 11th best fell runner in the lakes out of about one hundred. We went to a fell race with him and if you thought the Pannal Gala was bad (and it was) it cost £10 to get in and apart from children's races and the big fell race. There was a sweet stall, a hot dog stall, a pop stall and a raffle. Michael said to me "don't you dare complain as I am paying for you and dad". I am a source of embarrassment to my family as I say things like "Excuse me how can you justify that price?" The older I get the worse I am. A mixture of Scottish and Yorkshire need I say more. Our youngest granddaughter celebrated her 2nd birthday here in Pannal and apart from going into the house to sleep we had all our meals in the garden. We all had a lovely time. Pannal is deciding to apply for Parish Council status and where was I when the meeting took place. I was on the golf course. First things first. Everyone knows that from May to September I walk, play golf and garden. I feel Pannal has suffered (and I use this word) more than most over the years. We have had so many houses built with more to come. There would not have been a recreation ground at Crimple Meadows if it had not been for John Law (late of Pannal Avenue) and me. It would have been all houses. I was also pleased to, as Chairman of the Friends of the Valley Gardens and Chairman of The Harrogate Society, have saved the Sun Pavilion and Colonnades from being demolished. Also I saved Spacey Houses farm by having it listed. We must fight to save what we have left. Sandy Bank Quarry and the Crimple Valley and green fields around. I do not need to be on committees to get things done.
I was very pleased to receive official recognition as the historian for Pannal Golf Club and as the historian for Pannal I have been entrusted with all memorabilia from Southern College later Pannal Ash College now the Police Training College on Yew Tree Lane. It has closed down on July 31 and is being sold by the Home Office. Yet again more houses. Can I save the original old school buildings. Yes I am going to give it a good try. I am still receiving comments and telephone calls from readers of my Harrogate Advertiser column saying how much they miss me which is very gratifying. Incidentally my new book is being delivered this week and will be on sale in Scotland (I hope) as it is about Glasgow. Have a good summer. Be back later but I am here if needed.

Wednesday 28 May 2014

Pannal and the polls

Pannal remained conservative notice the small c as I am fed up with all the parties. Think most people are too with the protest vote for UKIP.
We are going to feature in a tv programme Restoration Man with George Clarke. I have been asked to help with the history of the water tower on the hill by Walton Park which is being converted to a house. I have declined the offer as I remember there was a lot of opposition to the planning application from people who live there so I do not want to become involved.
We have lost our neighbour Geoff Holberry. Poor Geoff had been ill and hospitalized since Christmas. He was a character which came out at his humanist funeral. We will miss him coming round in his shorts and saying Shirley and I are off to Sharm el Sheik can you water the tomatoes? We also used to say we are off to Bristol, Cheltenham, Wales or The Lakes (nowhere fancy) nothing to do just to let you know we are going to which we would reply "You have not asked permission". His football team and love of his football life was Huddersfield Town and when they won the Cup Shirley was out so he came round with a bottle of champagne and said "Shirley has gone out and won't be back until late and I have no one to celebrate with me" So we duly obliged. That was no hardship.
Weather rubbish. Hope it is not going to be like this all summer. Beware of newspapers saying "going to be a scorcher" Oh ha!
I have now finished my next book. Reading the proofs. It will be published in Scotland as it is about My and my lifelong friend's childhood in Glasgow and Millport, Isle of Cumbrae. On to my next one now. At least this weather is good for writing. Minute the sun shines it is down with the pencil and out. Tuesdays have been good and I have been able to golf and have been doing quite well. Course closed today. Dear me and it is summer too. 

Thursday 8 May 2014

Share of Pannal sadness

Oh dear first Joan Newby has died. Not long after Ken. They came to live in Burn Bridge after we came to Pannal so we have known them a long time. Stalwarts of St Robert's church until they were deemed too old to help. Joan was on the Pannal Village Society and was always willing to help with teas and coffees. A very nice couple apart from their fanatical devotion to the Liberal party. I am completely as they say catholic in my choice of candidate. In local elections I vote for the person whom I think will do the job properly. Having said that what is there left for in Pannal to fight for?
Our neighbour Geoff Holberry has died after a long illness. We shall miss him as he was always such a cheery soul. We look after each others houses and I always seemed to be at the sink (think I am chained to it and only let out on a long leash to garden) when he used to appear to say they were off to foreign parts and could I water the tomatoes. Knowing his dislike of cats I had to appeal to his better nature once, when my friends who came in and fed the cats were away, and ask him to do the honours and bless him he did.
I do wish May would buck up as I love the long evenings but they seem to be wet as of now. We are still walking locally (by that I mean Knaresborough, Ripon, Otley) at the moment as there are so many highways and byways to rediscover. Nearly fifty years of walking this area there are not many places we do not know. I hope you all have a good summer and I shall be writing again but I hope with cheerful news. My book on a Scottish childhood is being printed as we speak and will be published in Scotland fingers crossed.

Friday 28 March 2014

Spring, Pannal and traffic

These blogs are few and far between as I have been writing a book on a Scottish childhood. Two wee lassies me and my friend Terry. We have known each other since our mothers used to push us in our prams round Alexandra Park in Glasgow. It is at the printers now and hope it will be published soon.

Spring has sprung, the grass has rise, I wonder where the burdie is. Anyone remember that? The daffs are out on Pannal Green. I don't think quite so many as when I first planted them as Harrogate Borough Council dug a b---- great hole just where there was a number of daffs. My little garden by the notice board is doing well despite the fag ends and sweet wrappers that I clear up. Talking of sweet wrappers I rang Pannal Primary School to ask Jane (Head teacher) if she could announce at assembly for the children to put their wrappers in their pockets until they get home and not throw them in our gardens. Seems to be working as we are not clearing up so many. Do you remember when we were children saying Mum what do we do with this wrapper and Mum saying put it in your pocket until you get home. We taught our children that but God knows what they are told nowadays.

Have we seen the best of Pannal?  Answer yes. I of course remember it with no Crimple Meadows, no Rosedale, Rosedale Close or Woodcock Close. No Pannal Green or Clarke Beck Close. Farm, farmlands and fields that's what it was. I wonder if I am cursed or praised for asking the council in the 1970s when Crimple Meadows was in the planning stage to not make a through road to Burn Bridge as they had separate identities and should not be joined up.

Traffic - a great number of people are as fed up as I am with a speeding traffic and b using Pannal as a rat run. It will only get worse with houses on the Dunlop site and Police Training College and more to come on the western side.. Hence my question in the third para?

Friday 28 February 2014

Pannal bits and pieces

I wrote a blog a couple of weeks ago. Got to the last line and computer packed in. I lost the lot. Not in drafts nowhere - all gone. ~~Computer would not recognise my password. I had to "phone a friend" eventually and after changing my password (a nuisance) I hope I am back on line. Life was peaceful but annoying for a week.  All those emails to answer.
I have met John Mann  who lives in Knaresborough, but within the next couple of weeks will reside in Walton Park,  who is standing in Sharon Bentley's place.  She was a dead loss why she thought she could represent Pannal and live around New Park I cannot think. I surmise people in Pannal vote for the party and not the individual in local elections. They are entirely different. One must pick the person who you think will serve Pannal best regardless of political party.  Whether he is our best person I do not know as I have not seen, apart from him, who is standing.
Havn't  we been lucky, so far, with the weather. No horrible floods like those poor people around our coast and in Somerset.
Marble still watching Call the Midwife and Mr Selfridge. Havn't told her they are nearly finishing.
I have finished my book about s Scottish childhood. Having it proof read then have to type it out again. Has kept me busy and I have enjoyed it. Celebrated by going to Fountains Abbey yesterday and Golden Acre today. We are lucky that we have so many nice places to go. Lotherton Hall used to be free but one is charged for parking now.
I still have people ringing up and often coming to the house asking about distant relatives that lived in Pannal. So far I have been able to answer all their questions.
Residents in Pannal Green not that chuffed with school traffic parking. Funny I have spoken to a number of people and when we ask an offending vehicle to please move (blocking the drive etc) we have all had a mouthful of abuse mostly and I am sorry to say from women.
I am going now in case I lose all this.

Tuesday 21 January 2014

How many characters left in Pannal apart from nutty me?

We went to Ken Newby's funeral service yesterday and as they say "he would have loved it" I saw so many people that I had now seen for years. Amanda Sharp's Mum and Dad who used to live in Burn Bridge. Greeted me with. Goodness I have not seen you for 28 years. True. I said well at least you recognised me and someone else said easy you have not changed. Now is that a compliment or does it mean 28 years ago I looked as I do now? Did not manage to go back to The Black Swan with them as I had a doctor's appointment and considering it takes weeks to get one I thought I had better not cancel.
Saturday we spent in the front garden clearing it of leaves. We do not have any trees but we get our neighbours leaves. When it is windy we watch them come bowling down Rosedale and Main Street straight into our garden. What a nuisance but nothing we can do. It was mild and in the sun and quite enjoyed it all.
I have got all my photographs and papers ready now so I shall be starting on my next book. Shall not golf until March which should give me plenty of time.  Middle of February all the family, 15 of them, are coming for the weekend. We can just about manage to fit them all in.
Other news is Tigs has at last gone back to sleeping in her bed. After numerous washings to get rid of the stray ginger cat smell she is in it obviously preferring the small of Daz to other cat. Marble now watching tv again. She gave up when Call the Midwives and Downtown finished but does like watching people kissing (strange cat) Now that Mr Selfridge has returned and Call the Midwives (she is not all that keen on the groaning that goes on so I turn down the sound which pleased me as I am not all that struck either) Bas meanwhile sitting across the other side of the room is delighted with the sound off.  Marble now quite happy sitting in front of the tv entranced.

Monday 13 January 2014

Flu

Christmas was lovely New Year saw through a hazy. Managed to stay up to wish the New Year in but what a struggle as we both came down with flu and the dreaded cough. I put on my Facebook site that I was dying and the coughing was keeping me awake at night. I was flooded with one cure from everyone. How they all knew and I had never heard of it I do not know but here it is and it works. Everyone said it did and it does. Put Vick on the soles on your feet. Yes that is right> Put on a pair of socks and you will have a cough free night guaranteed. You will cough the next day but not at night which is worth it to get some sleep. We think we might live now and stop going round saying Oh God. Went out for a walk today and it was lovely. Shaky legs but felt better by the end of the walk. Sad news is that Ken Newby died last week. Funeral is on Monday 20th, St Robert's 10.30am. He was a grand person was Ken. He was very ill towards the end but before that and for a few years when he was passing in the summer he used to come in and sit in our summer house and have a chat. I remember him saying to Bas once when we first got the wheely bins for garden rubbish do you do this Bas I get a ladder and stand on the weeds and you get more in that way. So I shall always have a picture of Ken doing just that.