RHS Harlow Carr – Corporate or Charity?

Posted on December 3, 2020 by Hortoris

The Northern Horticultural Society based in Harrogate was in a bit of state in 2001 when it was subsumed by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). The grounds at Harlow Carr could have benefited from more investment but what garden couldn’t? Still the RHS had the muscle to boss the ‘merger’ and take the lead in changing Harlow Carr.

I volunteered for a few years but progressively became less impressed with the political nature of the RHS. To a volunteer it appeared to be run very much as a business but with some of the waste and excesses of poor organisation. On my Gardeners Tips website during 2017 I posted the following comments:

‘Negatives or ‘What The RHS is not Good For’

  • As a charity benefiting from the tax breaks and ‘public’ support is it fulfilling all the requirements to enjoy this support.
  • The society has £96 million held in cash and investments which is well in excess of the annual income of £73m. Even bearing in mind the new garden in Salford this seems excessively conservative.
  • On one level the RHS is a glee club for the county and wanabee set. Evidenced by all the luvvies at Chelsea where social climbers out number horticultural climbers and scramblers.
  • There is an appearance of commercial and personal vested interests & cliquishness.
  • The Chatsworth flower show could be renamed a clothes show with flowers.
  • My experience as a volunteer at the RHS was frustrating due to the corporate ethos and management of the time (2005-2009).’

Humble Pie New Thoughts

  • Compared to other charities and public organisations RHS have avoided negative publicity. They have not fallen into ‘woke’ and culture issues that detract from the core purpose unlike the National Trust, Oxfam or Education establishments.
  • The Harlow Carr grounds continue to improve every year and are a gem in the Yorkshire gardening tradition.
  • In 20 years much has been achieved with buildings and extensions to the facilities. If that was at a cost to old traditionalists then so be it, we await the next decade with more anticipation.
  • During the 2020 Covid crisis members have had as many opportunities as could have safely been made available.
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Electricity Power Politics

Posted on December 3, 2020 by Hortoris

The old Yorkshire Electricity Board (YEB, 1948-1990) is long gone as is its initial successor Yorkshire Electricity Group. It now resides under the sobriquet npower. The YEB was formed from an amalgamation of local and municipal power companies shortly after WW ll. It succumbed to privatisation in 1990 along with the rest of the electricity generation and distribution industry.

Shocking news for customers of Yorkshire Energy a very young company has just been published on their website:   ‘After 2 and a half years in operation we sadly have begun proceedings to cease trading….’ Ofgem, the energy regulator,will appoint a new supplier for customers, which will be announced on Saturday 5th December.

Yorkshire Energy was also known as Daisy Energy and as one bright spark said it is now pushing them up.,

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Dales Cyclists and Cycling

Posted on December 3, 2020 by Hortoris

For the novice cyclist the climb from Silsden to Embsay Moor is quite steep and the bends can be sharp. It’s not  a good descent for experts as these dual signings warning of ‘slow’ and ‘max speed of 15mph’ for the sharp switchback show.

Expert cyclists born in Yorkshire will have ridden more miles in the dales than you can imagine. It is a sport that requires extensive training and that means getting miles under your belt. There are numerous young talented cyclists from Yorkshire pedaling towards success. Congratulations to Harry Tanfield who will join Qhubeka Assos at the world tour level next season. Good luck to Burley-in-Wharfedale cyclist Scott Thwaites with his team, NetApp Endura.

Below you can see some of the best  Yorkshire cyclists according to other sites and be sure there is an ever increasing list.

Cycling Legends
Yorkshire top 10
48 Yorkshire Cyclists from Wikipedia

It is not only the hills where the dales offer a challenge the weather can also be a bit wet!

 

cycling

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Sea Shanties from Halifax?

Posted on December 2, 2020 by Hortoris

Kimber’s Men are called by some a ‘Musical group’ but that depends on what you think about sea shanties and songs of the sea. Well in Halifax where this group of singers originated that probably says a lot.

Performing around Europe and for the BBC takes second fiddle to the concerts such AS those at Shepley festival  with ‘the incredibly talented and lovely Skelmanthorpe Brass Band.’

Imagine a quartet of 5 blokes using close harmonies, acapella and  several instrumental guitars,whistles, harmonium and bodhran  to visualise the type of performance to expect. However the photo on their website, with one finger in the ear may make you consider putting yours in both ears.

Some Capital Songs on Talking Elephant and Shanties & Songs of the Sea

BLOOD RED ROSES, SHALLOW BROWN, DONKEY RIDING,  BULLY IN ALLEY, SHENANDOAH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, FIRE MARENGO, OLD MAUI AND BLOOD RED ROSES,

NOTES

  1. Any negative views expressed are those of my wife and family who do not always appreciate the folk club trips and visits to Whitby festivals. Not to mention the collection of cd’s played early in the morning at at high volume.
  2. Halifax-by-the-sea is a mere fifty miles from the coast (if you call Southport the coast) but is 75 miles from Bridlington or Hull an occasional home of the sea shanty and maritime festival.
  3. The editor recommends getting press ganged into hearing and seeing Kimber’s Men during 2021.

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Alphabet in Yorkshire For a Young Tyke

Posted on December 2, 2020 by Hortoris

Amongst many words written and spoken about Yorkshire folk I have singled out these ‘There’s only two kind of people them that are born in Yorkshire and them that wish they were!’

So my 4 year old grandson is learning what it means to be a Tyke.  At his first school he is spelling out his letters and I am trying to help.

T’ greatest county
Y orkshire where else
K ilnsey, Kettelwell, Kingston upon Hull, Keld, Kirby, Kippax and Keighley
E eby gum its a great place lad thas as lucky as chips!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available via Etsy

 

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Trollybus Or Trackless

Posted on December 2, 2020 by Hortoris

What is in a name? Do you call his a trolley bus, as I do, a trackless as my grandfather did or some more esoteric name. It probably matters little in the scheme of things except when it comes to providing this blog theme.

If you are too young or new to the concept of an electric bus like the Bradford version shown then here are some pointers. The electricity is supplied from two wire normally  suspended from tall roadside posts. The connection to the trolley bus is via two trolley poles that make a complete electric circuit for the direct current.

Leeds was the first British city to put trolleybuses into service in  1911 along with Bradford where they ran until 1972.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Trolley Buses

  • On the plus side they are quiet, none polluting and generally eco friendly.
  • Steep hills similar to those around Bradford were negotiated with ease and economy.
  • Investment in infrastructure and maintenance costs were high
  • Trolleys came off the wires at inopportune moments and had to be relocated by the conductor using a long pole located under the chassis.
  • Buses could only go where the supported wires were available and couldn’t easily overtake.
  • It is hard to say what the impact  of fuel costs and the allocation between public bodies caused in the buses demise.
  • Around Europe, America and Russia Trolley bus systems are still common.

 

 

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Yorkshire TV Broadcasting

Posted on December 1, 2020 by Hortoris

Yorkshire TV studios were opened in 1968 at  Kirkstall Road Leeds broadcasting in black & white. By the end of 1969 ITV programmes started to be broadcast in colour. Yorkshire Television Limited ceased to trade on 1 January 2007 when it was taken over by ITV. It is currently named ITV Yorkshire.

Emley Moor is our transmitting station and broadcasting mast at Emley mid-way between between Huddersfield and Wakefield. The original very high tower collapsed in March 1969 due to high wind and a build-up of ice but was rebuilt as a concrete structure opened in 1971. In addition to ITV Yorkshire other stations including BBC Yorkshire and BBC 2 are transmitted from Emley.

Bilsdale transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facility, located at Bilsdale West Moor above Bilsdale, close to Helmsley, North Yorkshire. It also broadcasts to Tyne Tees

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Yorkshire Premiership Soccer Limelight

Posted on November 30, 2020 by Hortoris

What do Sheffield United, Hull FC, Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley FC, Middlesbrough Huddersfield Town, Bradford City and Leeds United all have in common? Loyal fans, tenacity and club spirit undoubtedly but also  records of promotion and relegation to and from the premiership.

Why the Yo-YO Effect

  • Well unfortunately not every club has yet Yo-Yoed but we live in hope.
  • The glory days often last just one season then the clubs are sussed out, opposition tactics target the off-cumdens and relegation too quickly follows.
  • Inconsistency within club ownership such as incompetence, financial mismanagement and ‘pride coming before a fall’ feature high in any list of causes.
  • Is there a level playing field? Yes there are 11 men on the pitch through each game of the season but there are no level bank balances.
  • TV rights and sponsorship go hand in glove with success and a north south divide means our clubs are not as desirable to those making the money decisions in those areas. We are often short of brass.
  • I don’t want to blame gate receipts, squad sizes, transfer fees, international competitions, worldwide recognition or any other causes.
  • It is what it is.

For more detailed analysis of Yorkshire teams time in the premiership you could do worse than look at this website.

Every Yorkshire Club In Premier League History – RANKED

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Ampleforth the Scandal Continues

Posted on November 30, 2020 by Hortoris

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse the long running investigation into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children in residential schools still continues through November 2020.

An earlier report by (IICSA) said the school at Ampleforth was ‘secretive, evasive and suspicious’.  By the same token  ‘the perpetrators did not hide their sexual interests’ in a culture of blatant acceptance of abusive behaviour. Powerful Abbots and church officials seemed more interested in protecting the Catholic Church’s reputation than safeguarding children.

Latest Government Banning Order

Now, and belatedly some may think, the Department of Education (DfE) has issued a banning instruction to the school to ‘cease to admit’ anymore pupils as part of it’s policy of safeguarding the education and well-being of children.’ Apparently efforts to improve safeguarding in the wake of the child sex abuse scandal have been slow and insufficient according to the Education secretary. Without strict separation between the school and the abbey there are still conflicting priorities.

The DfE intervention may seem a lot too late but necessary never the less. However it will surprise no one that the school says it will appeal rather than spend efforts in putting things right.

From Charity Chit Chat 6th April 2018 Post

’12 months and 12 years on and Ampleforth Abbey and St Laurence Education Trust are still in the news over sexual abuse allegations. The charity commission has this month stripped both charities of responsibility for pupil welfare after last years inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. The independent inquiry, set up by Teressa May, heard allegations  against 40 monks and teachers. An interim manager has been appointed to both charities.

In 2006 Fr Piers Grant-Ferris a Benedictine monk  and teacher at Ampleforth was jailed when he admitted 20 indecent assaults on young boys. Another former Ampleforth teacher, Gregory Carroll, was imprisoned in 2005 for the abuse of pupils but was ‘forgiven by the Ampleforth authorities’.’

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Cut to the Quick Scissors

Posted on November 30, 2020 by Hortoris

I am always on the lookout for Yorkshire stories and there was a snippet in our paper about a scissor company in Sheffield. So I cut it out out of shear vandalism.

The thrust of the article was about the quality of Sheffield steel and it’s long use in the scissor and cutting implement industry. William Whiteley and Sons was established in 1760 and benefited from the invention of stainless steel and the development of craftsmen in Sheffield.

Nurturing the company successfully for 260 year through wars, pandemics and economic travails this family run company  is in good spirits. This year there has been a  5 fold rise in demand for scissors generated by lockdown crafting, mask making front line scrub cutting and new pandemic scissoring needs. The firm is still a family concern with a commercial appreciation demonstrated by it’s Christmas present range.

Old Garden Cutting Implements

 

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