Pannal Lit up

 I am not a fan of gold and white lights so when the fir trees on the green were beautifully decorated in coloured lights that for me is magic. Pannal Green certainly beats Harrogate for lights. They have gold and white lights and the trees on the Stray are the same. I loved it when every boundary tree was a different colour especially on Montpellier Hill.

People will notice I have a red car on my drive. Yes it is mine as people are coming to the door and saying "are you alright"? which is very kind of them but yes I am but I had a nasty scare with my lovely blue car. I have had it 26 years and I loved it (but my children had told me repeatedly to get another car) It was fine and I was taking it to Starbeck for is MOT. I went down by Morrisons and was just approaching the railway crossing which was open. Good job I never put my foot down a bit as My car suddenly stopped very near the crossing and then the barrier went down. To say I was shaken was an understatement as I could have been on the crossing. Anyway I had a near miss. I rang my garage and spoke to lovely Dave ( whom I have been with since before I had my blue car) who came out and the car was towed to his garage. Dave rang later and said it was a write off. Everything had failed. I had just got a full tank of diesel too. Looking for another car I had a very unfortunate experience the other side of Knaresborough when someone whom I thought was genuine selling me a car was not. Found out in time. So put it all down to experience. So hope my red car is as lovely as my blue one was. 

I had a bath with a shower over it and my children said I should have it removed and a shower in its place as it would be safer than me climbing in and out of the bath. I said I have been doing that for a very long time and I am fine but gave in then because the bath had sprung a leak behind the shower so I have have a new shower and told my children don't you dare suggest a seat thing in there and they said we were not going too. I had all the doors shut but the dust has got everywhere. Wondered if I could call it fairy dust because it is Christmas but no I would not get away with that.  Tigs of course was fed up with the whole operation. Also wonder why my lovely blue car gave up the ghost and the shower over the bath did likewise. Spooky eh?

Well as I said coming up towards Christmas I wish you all a Happy Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year for us all. 

Pannal dark

I went round to see a friend in Westminster Drive Burn Bridge last weekend. My friend loves cakes so I take her cake or cakes. I supply the goods she supplies the tea or coffee. Well we nattered on and I did not realize how dark it was getting. Very dark by the time I left. At the corner of Westminster Drive walking round to Rosedale no street light ,pitch black, piles of leaves on the pavement really quite scary. Anyone else come across this - not good. Talking of leaves I have cleared the patio garden by St Roberts. Looked good for about five minutes then more leaves came down so I shall have to trundle down there again and clear new fallen leaves but not in the rain. When I was there visitors were reading the Interpretation Board for which I did all the writing and provided the photographs. I have been clearing leaves and also did the little garden there fifteen years ago. Strange all those years ago people stopped and spoke whether you knew them or not but now no one speaks just all walk past sometimes I speak to them but just normally get a grunt in reply. Why are people like this? Oh I do miss friendly old Pannal. 

Have you noticed the new Notice Board that has been put up at the entrance to Sandy Bank Quarry on the left hand side as one goes in. Danger do not enter sign. What is that all about? I remember many years ago two boys went up the hill on the left hand side before the gate entrance and got stuck and the fire brigade had to rescue them but that was years go. I used to go that way and walk along the top of the quarry now I walk along the bottom. P&BBPC are/were putting a notice there asking dog walkers to pick up after their dogs which I totally agree with. As some people seem to think there is a Poo Fairy who will do it for them. 

A couple of weeks ago I was walking up to the Post Office and there was an elderly lady in front of me> I caught up with her just outside the Dentists and good job I did as she staggered over towards the dentists grass incline I ran grabbed her right arm and steadied her. She could have had a nasty tumble down and I never realized that one could do that. Have a look as you pass. 

I am having my bath removed. It has a shower over it but my children ganged up on me and said you need a proper shower. I said I have been getting in and out of the bath for nearly sixty years I am perfectly fine. No I did not win that argument so I have agreed and it will be done net week. Plus new sink, splash walls etc. Then my car gave up the ghost. I was taking it for its MOT and just this side of the railway crossing it suddenly stopped never to go again. Thank goodness it was not on the actual crossing - a near thing. Fortunately lovely Dave from the garage rescued me. Been using Dave for many years and he has always been kind. Also fridge, washing machine and cooker all broke down and I have had to buy replacements. Still got the vac as that was new this year. Christmas coming and I have had to pay to replace. Not done the car as yet. All unbelievable. 

Tigs loved the snow. She was skipping about making funny little noises. I like snow and there was enough to build a snowman then the rains came so I could not. Tigs decided she had had enough and has spent the rest of the day in the arm chair. She is not daft!!

Pannal not quiet

 We are having all the pot holes filled in on Main Street and Station Road. We have had to pick our time to go out and then get back. A few years ago we lost The Harwood Pub which we all felt was sad. Although latterly it was not worth going to as it was being run down. Then came the Coop on the site and whilst the workmen are here I am using more frequently it and it is at times a God send. I always walk there and back as it is only "up the road". I was sorry to see Spacey Houses go. Tried to save it but not able to do a lot when the roof was taken off during the night when it was raining by its owners. Think we have the disruption until November but the road looks good and we are not having to avoid the holes.

Unfortunately I have had to go to a few funerals one of them I sat beside this lady and when the relatives came in she said to me is that the son and I said no the son-in-law. Then she said is that the daughter and whose children are they? At the end of the Service I whispered to her do you know them and she said no I look in the Harrogate Advertiser to see if there are any funerals near me as you always get a good spread. On this occasion she was most annoyed as there was no "spread"

As I was walking up to the Post Office in front of me was an elderly lady and we were just passing the dentists where she sort of staggered left. I ran and caught her right arm and pulled her back as she nearly fell down the embankment in front and to the side of the building. Hopefully no one else will take a tumble down it. 

Have had my Injections Covid in the right arm and Fu in the left. Can't say I had a good nights sleep that night.

In my rear garden I have a large apple tree and have had hundreds of apples again this year. I stew and freeze them and it is lovely to have apple pies etc over the winter months.. We all enjoy the pie but I am not that saintly as there are so many I have to peel and core that I do get quite fed up. I also have some large quince bushes and one year I made quince jelly and another year gin. That was it never again I just tell people if you want any quince I shall leave a bag or bags at the top of the drive. They are always taken.

Tigs still spending time outside the house as the weather is good but soon she will spend more time inside than out. Tigs is a very affectionate little cat and follows me everythere. I kid myself she love me but really it is for more food. 

Pannal and he Gas Man Goeth

 At last all is peace again. No barriers or cones.  Holes in road filled in and holes in gardens filled in too. One thing I have noticed is that the cars are back rat running and my goodness they have certainly speeded up. Quite scary sometimes the speed they go. Main Street is a 20mph zone as we have a school and we are a village not a race track. 

In my last blog I was under the impression that the Harrogate Civic Society were running the Heritage Open Days events. No Heritage Open Days is a nation wide event taking place all over the Country. The Harrogate Civil Society just included Harrogate's events in their Newsletter. I did my bit doing a Walk round Pannal. We had a warm sunny day and competed with the gas men for road space. Could not go as far up Church Lane or Woodcock Hill as I normally do as the roads were partially closed and far too busy to take a group of twenty along but it was enjoyable non the less. We went up and along Dam Side (Mill Lane)  round St Robert's Churchyard and into St Robert's Church and I told them about their history. We had the pleasure of welcoming two ladies from Leeds with baby in pram and one lady brought her nice little dog. Enjoying the walk was Judith Wilson Pat and Tom Lamb's daughter. Tom was like me a historian and we loved nothing better than spreading maps out and chatting about Pannal our village. We were also accompanied by Geoff. Geoff and his wife Stella organise all the local HOD Walks and Talks. 

Unfortunately a friend of mine died, Ron Colquitt from Burn Bridge and I did his Eulogy at St Roberts for his Service. John Smith our lovely Vicar came to talk to me before the Service and everyone from Lancashire read the Service Celebrating Ron's Life and saw Rev John Smith and Eulogy Anne Smith and all assumed I was his wife. Obviously I disillusioned them. 

I do not know when I started looking and planting the patio beside St Robert's Church with the Information Board that I also did. Well the writing and photos not the actual Board as that was a gentleman from Spofforth. Saturday I went down to sweep up the leaves forgetting that the well attended Beer Festival was on. So there was I feeling like Cinderella whilst everyone was drinking wine and beer. Then the wind got up and I was chasing leaves all over. Did what I could then went into the churchyard and clipped all round the War grave of Arthur Knowles son of Thomas and Sarah Knowles of Mill Lane who died of his wounds at Birmingham Hospital in 1916. He is buried under a tree but his grave is now to be seen. There are three War Graves in the churchyard. 

It is now wet and cold and Tigs is now in wet and cold. So a dry off and a sleep on a chair. Order of the day!! 

Pannal and the Gas Man Cometh

 Just as Pannal Primary School broke up for the summer holidays the gas men cometh. In Main Street we all suffered varies degrees of nuisance as new pipes were being laid. Part of my drive was dug up looking for the gas pipe to connect to and a large barrier put there which meant for a few days I was not able to get my car out. Good job I like walking and thank goodness for the Co-op. It was a life saver. Only one bit of a nasty incident coming back from shopping a jogger passed me near the old farm and came very close I had my shopping bag in my right hand and it hit the wall and hit my leg causing it to bleed which is always a danger for me. as I bleed terribly. Fortunately I was not far from home so got there with a very bloody leg. Sorted and no ill effects but next time I will stop and let them pass. Think the workmen are from Tyneside area and are a cheery bunch. I have had the pipe connected and the large hole filled in but my neighbours going up the hill have not been so lucky as they still have large holes on their premises. If you pass my drive and see B and A 1966 on a flat stone it is Bas and Anne 1966 the year we came from Kirkby Overblow to live in Pannal. The workmen did that for me as it was on another stone that had to be broken up. As I type workmen still here. Road has been closed off - no going up Church Lane from Main Street. Cars have to turn down Rosedale as no access to Woodcock Hill either. One car stopped and asked my daughter "can I get through". She said pointing at the large sign saying Road Closed "no the road is closed." So they went through the road closed sign half on the pavement found it so and had to back all the way down down. Susan said "what part of my sentence did they not understand". Then yesterday a car drove up and a lady got out and moved all the bollards etc and they drove up half on the pavement. Some drivers get so cross we can hear them revving loudly. It is providing endless amusement for us. 

This Friday morning meeting at St Robert's Church car park at 11 o'clock I am taking a group on a walk round Pannal. This is for Heritage Week run by The Harrogate Civic Society. Stella and Geoff members of the Society are kindly organising the events which have been taking place all this week. A big task so I hope they are enjoying it. 

Just come back from the Isle of Wight with family and it was warm some sun and dodging the rain. It is cold now. Hope we get more summer weather if not it will be  long winter. Nights are drawing in and I hate it. So does Tigs. She looked at me this morning as if to say "what is it with this cold weather?"

Enjoyable talk and what is happening in Pannal

The sun shone and it was calm and warm as I did my talk on Pannal as I have known it for sixty years. I was a humorous talk and the Chapter House at St Robert's Church was full and everyone enjoyed it. I gave the talk to members of Harrogate Civic Society. Some of whom had never been to our lovely village. I enjoy these slide show talks and thanks to Kevin Hale who put my slides on USB and also enhanced some of these, and sorted out the Chapter House seating and refreshments there were no problems and it all went off well. I am doing a walk round Pannal on Friday September 13 starting at 11am for Heritage Week. Everyone can come just turn up at 11am and off we will go.  Must keep the flag flying for Pannal and tell people what we have and how much I love living here. A different Pannal to what it was sixty years ago. We were all young with young families and our children all went to Pannal Primary School. I think we still hold the record for all four children starting there when they were nearly five and continuing there until they left to attend Harrogate Grammar School. I remember someone in the Education Department correcting me when I said Harrogate Grammar School and saying you mean Otley Road Comprehensive and I said don't think that name will ever stick just you wait and see and I was proved correct HGS it is. Now what has happened is nearly all our children have left the village to make their life in different parts of the country and we have all stayed in the same houses. It was so lovely they all played together and all met up after breakfast in the rec saying what time back for lunch Mum? Back they came then off for the afternoon to their dens, the quarry or back to the rec for unfinished business. Some went fishing in the River Crimple or riding their bikes. A lovely happy time and I think they must have been the last children to have the freedom they had wandering the village in the summer and sledging at All Saints in the winter. As everyone says Oh Happy Days.

We were all delivered a letter last week telling us that Main Street was going to have Footway Slurry Seal Works done starting 29th July and what we should do with our cars!! It was from North Yorkshire Council 1 April 2023. Now was this a joke? Then the barriers, cones and traffic lights were delivered and roads closed off. I rang the number they said to ring on the letter and give three words Customer Service Centre I did so and ended up talking to a poor bloke in Skipton who did not know what it was all about. I told him about the letter and he said ring this number and speak to Highways. I did and they verified it was all real even 1st April 2023 and yes they were coming on Monday. I said you do know the Gas Company is coming later on and is going to dig up the footpaths to get at the gas pipe and she said we know. Then later on the same day the men came back put the barriers, road signs, cones and lights on trucks and drove off. So your guess is as good as mine about what is going to happen on Monday 29th. Presume 1st April 2023 was the date North Yorkshire Council took over from Harrogate Borough Council but what a stupid thing to put on their letter. 

Tigs still following me around. Did you know Tigs is short for Tiger. I did not know that, as that was her name when we rescued her. one of my grandchildren had a book called Tigs the Cat so that is how I found out. 

a very quiet Pannal

 Sunday England v Spain and Wimbledon final. Good job the weather is not very good. Sorry rubbish cool with rain. I cannot do any gardening nor a long walk so I feel ok to put tv on and watch. Apart from the tennis I hope The Princess of Wales does present the prizes for the men's finals. She has had a terrible time but I hope the future does look a lot brighter for them both.

I am hoping to golf next week. First time this year. Honestly pay all that money and never golfed. Sciatica struck then eye op. Incidentally my eye not right as yet but better. I can drive and I can hopefully golf. Well I will be able to re eyesight but literally can I play golf. We shall see if it does not rain. Better weather supposed to be on the horizon.

School breaks up on Friday but it will not be quiet on Main Street as we have had notification of gas pipes going to be renewed. They do need it and it will hopefully stop the annual dig up the road, put up traffic lights circus. Talking of roads I was nearly wiped out on the corner by Sandy Bank Quarry by a car coming down Church Lane really fast. Obviously the poor soul could not read the SLOW signs. I have asked Pannal and Burn Bridge Parish Council to ask "the powers that be" to repaint the slow signs. Also asked them to have the overhanging branches of the trees that are now over the little patio by St Robert's Church cut back. I have always planted and kept the patio tidy and when I was down last week I was tiding up with branches on my head. 

I am looking forward to give a talk for the Harrogate Civic Society on our lovely village on Wednesday 24th July starting with a walk round the churchyard then a slide show and refreshments after in the Chapter House of St Robert's Church. Having lived here, next year, sixty years I feel privileged. It is so lovely when one has been to town or anywhere coming down the hill to our village. It has changed. We have lost a number of shops had a number of houses built but it is still lovely. I am still pressing forward with the Crimple Valley being a Country Park but the wheels are grinding exceedingly slowly. 

When we had the very heavy rain last Tuesday poor Tigs got absolutely soaked so I wrapped her up in a towel, put the heating on ( which has not been on since May) and she snuggled under the radiator. Well you have got to look after your pets. 

I have been writing a Blog for many years and people read my ramblings for which I am grateful and sometimes they comment saying nice things about what I have typed. So I am grateful and enjoy writing it. Do comment if you want to ask anything about Pannal. I have so many records of here and have written three books on Pannal and one on Pannal Golf Course. Glad I have done so as my first book on Pannal A History of Pannal was the first book ever written on Pannal. Yeh!!

Summer in Pannal but for how long

 Has been a glorious week. I remember years ago when we had a couple of weeks of hot sunny weather an elderly lady in front of me complained and said "it is too hot for me" and the Postmistress said "well take off your bloody vest".

When I put - for how long - I meant when school breaks up are we going to have a lovely peaceful summer? I wonder? Could be that the pavements will be dug up and new gas pipes laid taking the opportunity of there being no school traffic. We certainly do need new pipes as most years we have the workmen here for weeks on end. Hopefully it will put a stop to that but then as soon as night follows day the water company will come and dig up the roads again. 

The mighty conifer hedge has gone from near me. The pavement is now passable and it certainly looks so much nicer. I now have the view from my window looking down Main Street to Lydia Cottage. A view I have not seen since the 1980s. Next year I will have been sixty years in my bungalow. So pleased I am the Pannal historian and able to note down all the changes. On Wednesday July 24th at 2.30pm I am giving a talk with slides in the Chapter House at St Robert's Church Pannal after a walk round the churchyard where I will be talking of a very special exciting occasion a few years ago that I was involved in. Plus tea/coffee and biscuits before or after my talk I do not know when as yet. I do enjoy talking about Pannal as so many people who come to my talks say they have never been. They have seen it many a time passing on the bus or car but did not know what was down here. 

Hopefully this will be my last visit to HDH as my cataract op was not as brilliant a I had hoped it would be. Well as everyone said it would be. Very disappointing and the next person that says to me "well I could see immediately and it was wonderful so clear etc" I will punch them. I spoke to my optician and he said "I have been an optician for over thirty years and it is not always like that. Everyone is different and with some it takes time". So I am being positive and perhaps will not punch people. 

Tigs is so happy so have me around. Funny she never got on with Marble. Marble was a strange little cat I was told she was feral so she was her own person but she was quite affectionate (sometimes) with me but I think Tigs does miss her. Tigs and me this weather suits us both. 

A very busy Pannal

A very busy Pannal to some and a very quiet Pannal to others. The quietness was the relaying of pipes at the top of Station Road not a lot of cars coming into Pannal but by using Leadhall Lane and Church Lane Main Street was busy. I was trying to cross the road to speak to a friend on the other side and I could not and had to wait until fifteen cars passed. Later on it will allart up again when there will be more road works and pot hole filling. Oh joy!

Remember I lost all my photographs by accidently deleting them well Bass and Bligh managed to retrieve them and they are now on a USB stick. Well done to them. Amazing what can be done. I was pleased as all the neighbours who knew Mary Barr were invited to the Old Swan by David her husband for a lovely lunch in her memory and I had taken photographs and they were saved. That will teach me to watch what I am doing and not just delete with gay abandon but it is brilliant to know that they can be retrieved by clever people. 

I had a cataract op last week and contrary to what everyone said about how marvellous it is with clear vision the first day. I am contrary to that as I am still struggling with red eye and blurred vision. I have been back to the hospital and the op was successsful so I am told and in time I should be ok. It is very disappointing not to be. 

As well as being Pannal's historian I am also historian at Pannal Golf Club and Pannal and Burn Bridge Parish Council. With reference to Pannal Golf Club who have always been saddened by the fact that it was thought that the the great golf club architect Dr Alister Mackenzie had never been involved with the design and laying out of holes at Pannal GC. This is where I come in as I found out by reading the past minutes when I wrote my book Minute by Minute a Centenary History o Pannal Golf Club oh yes he was involved. I contacted The Alister Mackenzie Society and Pannal has been accepted as one of the great Alister Mackenzie courses. A great honour indeed. We have now formed a group of members to take this further Captain David Everington, Jon Clayton. Bruce Allison and myself to further the Mackenzie Legend and hopefully have a Mackenzie Room with all his maps and papers that have been found. 

A great honour was to be asked to light the Beacon in rememberance of D Day eighty years ago. I lit the beacon with Arthur a pupil from Pannal Primary School. We held hands and nearly had to be lifted up to light it. On tip toes and with help we manage it. I good evening with a number of people there. This was followed on the Sunday by D Day Celebrations on Pannal Green. Both occasions organised by Pannal and Burn Bridge Parish Council. 

I have not asked Tigs what she thinks of the summer weather so far as it might be too rude to print. 

Pannal summer arrived?

In the last blog I said Pannal is so quiet. It was then but recently with the traffic lights still up at the top of Pannal Bank the motorists have found that if they come down Leadhall Lane and turn into Church Lane and through Pannal they won't have to queue on Leeds Road. Obviously better queuing on Pannal Bank they think. 

Is it summer? Well a couple of days ago I would have said yes but back to normal today. Funny all the rain we have had and yesterday the ground was getting dry. Plants are growing and so are the weeds. I weed the borders and next day there is a weed there about six foot high. How have I missed that?  Sadly this is not a one off occurrence. Hope we are going to get a summer.

On Saturday I wanted to send some photos. I use a camera. Put them on the computer to send and my latest ones were on the camera but not on the computer. So a cup of tea called for and a think. Ah ha perhaps if I delete some the last lot will appear. Yes I checked and that was correct. So I sat there happily deleting more to be able to get my latest ones on the computer to send. I am afraid I was too happily deleting and I pressed the wrong button and I deleted every single one of them. Aaaagh! I rang up Bass and Bligh and said is there anything that can be done? They said there is a very slight chance. So that is were camera and disc are. Fingers crossed.

I am doing a talk with slides for the Harrogate Civic Society on Wednesday 24th July at St Robert's Church Chapter House in the afternoon. Shall be taking people round the Church first. Think it is about 2 o'clock. Details later. I make my talks fun and I enjoy doing them. Tea and biscuits afterwards or before I do not know I just do the talk. I do so love living here. Nearly sixty years and I want everyone to know how lovely Pannal Village is and also how old we are. Long before upstart Harrogate. 

Can I just say in my opinion North Yorkshire Council do not seem to care about Harrogate. They do not know it and think it is a good place for development and are asking anyone with land that they want to "sell" to let them know. So more development on the cards. It is really strange but in my book Postcards from Pannal printed nearly thirty years ago the children from Pannal Primary School agreed the fact that they thought Pannal in years to come would be a "City." One little girl said "When I tell people it used to be a village they will think I am from a lunatic asylum." Out of the mouths of babes...........

I am having my cataracts done end of this month. One first and then other one later. So that has stuffed my summer. No golf and horror of horrors no gardening. We shall see about that one but if my garden is like Miss Haversham's come and find me I am in there somewhere. 

This is the point where those who do not like cats look away. Tigs is a lovely friendly cat who follows me around always wanting to be picked up and I said to my kids she will have me over one day and they said always take your mobile with you when you are in the garden. Good idea I thought so I did only to find when I came back into the house I had the remote control instead of..

Just Pannal

Lovely. Pannal is so quiet. It is because of the temporary traffic lights at the top of the road on the A61.  Have been told "they" will be coming back to Main Street but do not, as yet, know when. Not quiet between 7.30am and 8.15am as great heavy builders vehicles are coming down Station Road and Main Street and going up Church Lane. Why and where are they going? No wonder our roads are so bad with pot holes. I was at a meeting the other weekend someone said Arn't Pannal's roads awful. Agree.

Have had a flurry of people wanting my latest book Pannal and Burn Bridge Their Stories. Only have a very few left if anyone wants one. As when they are gone they are gone. I will not be reprinting. My email address is annesmith.pannal@yahoo.co.uk - business email address. 

We had a lovely lady called Mary Barr who died and David her husband and family have invited a number of us to celebrate the life of Mary. 

Also Joe Buckley Head Greenkeeper at Harrogate Golf Club and Ace golfer has died . He was just a young man and son-in-law of my neighbours. His funeral was on Tuesday. He was well known to Pannal people.

Now do we all think my next blog will contain the news that it is a lot warmer, the sun is shining, we are gardening and golfing and walking in the countryside and our feet are dry and not covered in mud? I hope so as it is cold and rainy and the other day we had hailstones. I have lived in Pannal next year it will be sixty years and in Kirkby Overblow before that. My Mum and Dad lived in Hookstone, Harrogate. In all these years I have never known as much rain to fall. In winter I have seen lots of snow and the Mill Pond freezing over with thick ice. People used to skate on it by candlelight. Last skated on end of 50s beginning of 60s. In those days we expected a harsh winter and I remember a villager saying to me we could do without February as it is always a rotten month. Yes we had snow, frozen ground, ice but not this near constant rain. We will now look on the bright side and hope for a lovely summer and perhaps a warmer spring. 

Don't think it is worth repeating what Tigs thinks of all this. 

Well done to the litter pickers on Saturday who collected a large number of bags of rubbish from Pannal areas. 

Pannal having gas pipes for Easter

New we hope gas  pipes being laid Main Street Rosedale and beyond. Having had Main Street and Woodcock Hill dug up on numerous occasions when there have been gas leaks and "patches" were put on at last it has been realized that patching will not do and gas will always find a way out. So we all hope this will be the end of the smell and leaks of gas. Yesterday I weas picking my friend up in Westminster Drive and sort of slaloming my way on Rosedale when a big black 4x4 came up behind me blaring his/her horn and trying to overtake me . I turned onto Westminster Drive and they were so close I just pulled in when I could and let them pass. What is the matter with people. There are so many angry stupid people around. 

Read a write up of the best places to live in and around Harrogate and Pannal and Burn Bridge were not mentioned!! When I have said to people 4000 houses are going to be built from the Squinting Cat towards the Otley Road they have said do you mean 400. No I don't I mean 4000. It is going to be awful 4000 houses together with the ones already build will be over 9000 people if we are only saying two people per house and it will be more than that and I will not even mention the cars. No North Yorkshire Council they will not be on bikes. It is appalling what is being allowed. Why do we have Councils why not let the Developers carry on running the country. 

I organised the second Memorial Lunch for Malcolm Neesam at The Club on Victoria Avenue and it was once again a success and is now going to be repeated ever year with the help of Fiona Movley the soon to be President of The Club and I believe the first Lady President. So congratulations Fiona. Malcolm was Harrogate's Historian and a very dear friend of over fifty two years. 

Like us all Tigs is fed up with the weather if it is not raining it is cold and windy. Is there any chance of the Easter Holiday being better I hope so. I wish you all a Happy Easter whatever the weather. OH for some warmth and being able to get out in our gardens.

ps It did upset me re the news about the Princess of Wales. I do pray all will be well as she is a very lovely person and she and William deserve a long and happy life with their children. 

A Sodden Pannal

 I have never known weather like this. Have lived in Pannal sixty years next year and never ever had this amount of rain. Also crocus were always out in my garden and on the Stray usually 9th March. Would they be out on Mother's Day that was always the thought. No they won't this year as in my garden they have been beautiful but it was the 9th February. Everyone I speak to is fed up. Golf Course more closed than open. Having to keep to tarmac/gritted paths as can't walk on the grass and other ways muddy. Tigs is even fed up. She comes in very wet as she is a long haired cat and just looks at me as if to say "what is this, look at the state I am in"

Then there is the very sad thought that Pannal will be overwhelmed by cars using the village as a short cut when those 4000 houses are built. Make no mistake about it they will come through Pannal to get to the A61 and beyond. The LANE it is named Whinney LANE not Road and not fit for the amount of traffic it will be taking nor are the surrounding roads.   I do not think North Yorkshire Council care about all of Harrogate.. At least from the dealings I have had with them they don't. I have never ever had a Tree Preservation Order refused. I put on the very first TPO Pannal No 1 1969 and then others in Harrogate but I have had a TPO requested for Pannal  refused by NYC. So lets just hope nothing happens to the two trees I have ASKED TO BE PROTECTED. Villagers are keeping an eye on them for me. I remember many years ago when the Jennyfield Estate came into being Harrogate Grammar School sent pupils round the houses asking where people had come from and it was overwhelmingly Bradford. Wonder where the residents will be from in the fields all round the Squinting Cat and beyond. Also remember being in our front garden and cars would stop and say where is the Squinting Cat? It was such a lovely country pub in those far off days. It was the first pub to serve carveries at lunch time a brain wave of Mr Young the landlord. Who remembers the little train that used to run round the garden and children could have a ride on it. The train driver being the owner after Mr Young. 

Oh dear cheer up Spring will soon be here and then hopefully a great summer meanwhile what is going to happen next week when new gas pipes are being laid. We have been

 promised road closures are we going to be able to get our cars out if needed? Who knows but we do need NEW pipes as the old ones keep fracturing and Main Street is forever being dug up. Certainly for the last seven years the pavements have been dug up and we all dread the traffic lights. 

It is great I do have a lot of people who read my rubbish and I am grateful. Feel free to make comments but only nice ones please. If I can help in any way, with queries, I will and I have not been stumped for an answer as yet. 

Pannal research plus

 I have been contacted, by his grandaughter, in regards to an A Boty who attended Pannal Ash College  in 1921 when he was fourteen.As I have all the papers and documents of this College I could give her the answer to all her queries together with a photograph of her grandfather as a young boy and also told her he had a brother who also attended the College.  Pannal Ash College founded in 1870 under the name of Southern College later becoming Pannal Ash College purchased in 1897 by Walter S Hill then in 1946 purchased by West Riding Police Authority as a Police Training School. In 1939 it was requisitioned at 24 hours notice by the Ministry of Works and occupied by the Royal Air Force until 1945. The staff and pupils had been transferred to Newburgh Priory. it was purchased by the Home Office as Police Training College. Sold in 2014 for housing and in 2014 I had the War Memorial Library which was built in 1925 and opened by the Earl of Harewood in1926 listed and good job I did as once when I was passing I saw lorries all round the Memorial Library and went up to see what was happening only to be told they were preparing to demolish it. Suffice it to say I had that stopped. Permission now January 2024 for building work to start. I am sorry to see that happening as with all the housing being built a school is desperately needed. Together of course with a hospital and more doctors surgeries. I do a number of queries re Pannal and Pannal people and I have never been stumped yet.

Another one I have had recently was of Black Wood at the end of Pannal Golf Club going towards the bypass.  Has anyone heard the tale of the mysterious Black Dog. When I was young and lived at Kirkby Overblow I heard tales of it from very old people who lived next door to us at Maltkiln Cottages. Has anyone heard of the Black Dog that is seen then vanishes? Let me know if you have as it has been seen recently and then vanished. 

Nancy Downey email me to say that the powers that be have had a change of heart and the Neighbourhood News will once again be printed in the Harrogate Advertiser. 

Thinking recently of all the people I knew in the early 1960s in Pannal. All sadly gone but Ken Walker that had Walker's Butchers I am pleased to say still with us. Pannal was really a village then and now a number of the inhabitants have all changed  but it is still the Pannal that we love. 

Pannal in Winter

 Happy New Year everyone.

I started typing this in sunshine but now getting dark only 2.45pm, so big light on. Does everyone say put big light on as I have always said it. 

I had a lovely Christmas. All the family here and Fourteen of us and two dogs sleeping here for a week. Only spaces left in the house were the top of the wardrobes. It was great fun though. Did manage to get out when it was dry. Difficult as rain hardly ever stopped. My young grandchildren love the Quarry. My children loved it too. So lucky to have it so near us. New Year I was in Cheltenham and Bristol where it was the same weather has here - rain. Flooding in places in Pannal and flood notice went up at the bottom of Church Lane and Crimple Meadows. Have noticed this morning all the pigeons attacking my cottoneaster for the berries. Does this mean a cold spell? Remember Mr Foggatt the weather man. He said that was a sign. We all remember Dr Graham Foggatt ( a relative and when I asked him if he was relate. He said raising his eyes upwards "for my sins - yes") I remember him when he first started in the practice which was in Dr Jones house in Drury Lane. We all sat round on chairs and went in "to see the Dr" in the order you were queued in the chair and heaven help anyone who tried to jump the queue. I was very friendly with Dr Anna Powell his wife. She was so lovely and took it so badly when Graham died and then Anna very sadly died later quite young. I was very upset. RIP.

I am answering questions about Pannal and surrounding areas. When we were first married we lived at Maltkiln Cottages in Kirkby Overblow so I am getting queries about there which so far I have been able to answer. It is so nice to be able to answer queries. I am Pannal's historian and also historian at Pannal Golf Club. I wrote their Centenary Book and that took me two years to research and write having to read one hundred years of men and then ladies minutes. It was well received and I am told very well used. 

I told you I lost Marble. Well Tigs has been acting very strange. I would not have thought she missed Marble as she never really got on with her and was always trying to pinch her food. It got so bad that I had to shut Tigs in one room and Marble in the other as if  I had left them together to eat their food I would have had one very fat cat and one not. Anyway Tigs follows me around now and I have to be careful I do not fall over her and she forever wants to sit on my knee. Not only if I watch tv of an evening but all day. Now have to have a cup of tea either standing up or sitting at the table.