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Barwick-in-Elmet Historical Society 

Today's News (Tomorrow's History)

Part 6. 2009 - 2010

 
This information is provided by the Barwick in Elmet Historical Society. 



March 2010


The month has started with an improvement in the weather. There was an overnight fall of snow on 1st March but a warming sun quickly cleared most of it. This has been a long cold winter. The snowdrops are the only spring flowers to have come out yet (4th).

February 2010


The poor weather continued into February. At least we have seen the sun on a few days and there has only been the occasional snow shower which didn't settle long. However there have been no warm breaks to relieve the cold weather. The winter drags on.

The historical society has started to examine the Attic Abode in more detail than in the past in conjunction with Leeds Museum Service which is experimenting with an electronic display table. It has had access to material held by the family of the late Denis Mason Jones, the son of one of the active members of "The Attic Abode".


January 2010

The new decade has started with more snow. It is the heaviest accumulation for many years. By the 6th January some 16 cms. (6 ins.) was on the ground. The snow has been accompanied by low temperatures so little of the fall has melted. The snow has caused local schools to close (5th and 6th). Fortunately the 15th/16th of the month brought drizzle and then heavy rain which washed away the snow and raised the temperature above zero. The lingering snow and low temperatures brought to mind the long bad winter of 1963.

Photo: Peter Styles
Barwick in the grip of winter



December 2009

The month started with the illumination of both Barwick and Scholes with lighting for Christmas.

Two important services (postal services and newspaper delivery) to the people of Scholes stopped abruptly this month. The village's Post Office ceased trading without notice. The village was suddenly faced with having to go to post offices in Barwick, Crossgates or Seacroft. It is not known yet if the post office service will be transferred to another shop in Scholes or not. Fortunately, newspapers are available from Satnam's. The history of the post office in Scholes and the local village store have been published by the society.

The start of the month saw the re-opening of All Saints Church in Barwick following maintenance and minor works. During the two or so months when the work was being carried out, the Church of England and the Roman Catholic services which were normally held in the church were held in the Methodist Church in Barwick. It is not many years since such a display of ecumenism would have been unheard of.

The clearing up following the alterations.


As a result of the alterations it is now possible to see the church's west window from the nave. The work involved:

The first snow of the winter arrived on 17th December. It melt a little but there was still sufficient snow around on the 25th to claim it was a white Christmas. In the last few days of December there were further small falls of snow.

On the evening of Monday 14th, there was an armed stand-off in Carrfield Road, Barwick. Police were called and the event ended at 1.20 a.m. when a 31 year old man was arrested. The Police said that the man was carrying a carving knife. He had locked a 37 year old woman out of her property and was threatening to harm two children aged 10 and 5.

A coffee morning organised by Barwick in Bloom was held on 12th in aid of the Cumbria Flood Victims' Relief Fund and raised £925. As a result of another Coffee Morning held on November 28th by Scholes Methodists, the church's social committee was able to raise £510 for the Salvation Army's work in making Christmas a little more special for people in need.

November 2009


As the month comes to an end there is hope that the problems of the bus service through Scholes may be settled - by getting the approval of residents on two other roads to accept buses passing their properties. The end of the refuse collection strike has been announced but there is no sign of collections getting back to normal. The paths are still strewn with uncollected bins.

All houses in Barwick received a copy of the portfolio compiled for the judges of the villages successful entry in Britain in Bloom. The project was financed by a legacy received following the death of Ivy Ream who emigrated to Pennsylvania from Barwick in the 1960's. Ivy had attended meetings of the Historical Society on several occasions when she returned to Barwick. On one memorable visit she told us about her experience of going through Immigration on Ellis Island when she first went to the U.S.A.

There seemed to be greater awareness of Armistace Day Commemoration this year due to losses of life and limb being suffered by the troops in Afghanistan.

John Tinker, who is the Chairman of Barwick-in-Bloom as well as a long standing member of the Parish Council, received the M.B.E. at a ceremony at Buckingham palace this month.

October 2009


The month has been marked by industrial action taken by the refuse collectors. Bins of non-recyclable refuse have been collected every two weeks and there has been no collection of recyclable (green bin) or compost (brown bin) material. Because of uncertainty many householders have taken to leaving their black and green bins out on the pavements all the time.

October has been a mild month until rain arrived on 20th of the month. That was the day when the Feast was dismantled and departed leaving Jack Heap's Field barely scarred instead of the more normal muddy patch.

The bus problem at Scholes is still not resolved. One or two residents of Milton Drive are still blocking their road and impeding buses. There is now a routine to each blockage. The bus driver phones his supervisor to report a blockage. The supervisor rings the police and, after five minutes or so the person causing the blockage, hangs around, giving and receiving abuse from passengers and keeping an eye out for the police to arrive. At about the time the police are expected, the person causing the blockage moves one of his two vehicles.

September 2009


For the last year or so, the parish, in common with the rest of the country, has been hit by a recession. There have been few cases of estate agent boards saying anything but "For Sale" or "To Let". However in the last month there have been "Sold" signs reappearing.

September arrived with a welcome spell of sunshine and warm weather. It enabled the harvest to be completed after a worrying few weeks. On the 12th & 13th of the month, the society held its fourth Heritage Open Days event. 135 people, mostly from outside the two villages, attended during the two days. It is likely that our original aim, to make sure that local inhabitants know about the earthworks, has been achieved. The church in Barwick also was open to the public for the Heritage weekend as it has been for a number of years. As part of the weekend the church had an art exhibition of the local art club and that of Thorner. The church is to close later this month for a number of building maintenance to be undertaken. At the same time the church's boundary wall on the Aberford Road side is to be re-built as it is in danger of collapsing. While the church is closed, C of E services will be held in the Methodist Church.

Residents of Scholes expressed their concerns at a public meeting about the planning application from developers to extend the the built up area of Leeds in the Seacroft/Grimesdyke area towards Scholes. The proposal will be the start of a process which will eliminate the valued strip of countryside which separates the village from the built-up area to the west.

The highlight of the month has been the announcement of the Britain in Bloom Result affecting Barwick and the Yorkshire in Bloom result for Scholes.

Britain in Bloom
Barwick-in-Elmet
Large Village Category
Outright Winner Broughshane (Ulster) - Gold Award
Barwick in Elmet - Gold Award

Only two villages were awarded gold

Britain in Bloom Community Champion Awards

Frank Noble, Barwick-in-Elmet




Yorkshire in Bloom
Scholes
Large Village Category
Spring and Summer - Scholes Silver Gilt Rose Award
Judges Comments
 Introduction (introductory remarks from the judges):
Scholes is a very clean and tidy entry and the Bloom group obviously
has a great deal of support and involvement from the community.  The 
plans for the future development of the school garden are very 
promising.  Perhaps some slightly more ambitious planting in some of 
the beds would add to the floral impression.

SECTION A - Horticultural Achievement
Areas of Achievement:
The Sports Club car park area has been well designed, especially 
given the constraints of only using donated plants. Weed control this
time was excellent.  Some flowerbeds have been improved by taller
planting in the centre.  The residential gardens were very good and 
the judges were impressed by the enthusiasm of the leaders at the 
school, and their plans for the future.
Areas for Improvement:
Perhaps in future considers a little more variety in the planting of 
each of the beds, including plants of differing heights, to give a 
little more interest. Grasses or tall Verbena, for example, could 
give height and movement, without blocking sightlines on the roads.

SECTION B - Environmental Responsibility
Areas of Achievement:
Scholes was very clean and litter-free. The Sports Club car park
borders have been planted using donated plants, and a bug box has been
installed.  Plants from previous bedding schemes have been 
redistributed to residents for their own use, along with instructions
on how to cultivate them. The circular seat at the Edward VII 
coronation beds had been rebuilt.
Areas for Improvement:
Continue to develop the Sports Club car park borders, but otherwise,
keep up the good work.

SECTION C - Community Participation
Areas of Achievement:
Regular work parties are held each Monday.  The open gardens scheme
has been very successful and also raised a good amount of money. The 
Scarecrow festival has been very successful in involving many people
of all ages.  Many of the beds have been sponsored by individuals and 
local businesses.  There is a good relationship with the school and 
the school garden club.
Areas for Improvement:
Carry on the good work, including the plans for the improvement to
the children's play area.

The volunteers and their organisers from both villages have worked hard to achieve thses excellent standards. Special mention must be made of the award to Frank Noble, a Historical Society member, whose work over a number of years has made remarkable improvements to The Boyle and Rakehill area.

What a year it has been for John Tinker whose dedication has brought him an M.B.E. and a successful result to years of organising Barwick in Bloom.

August 2009


In its long term forecast, the Met. Office had said that the weather in August was likely to be warm and sunny. At the end of July it amended its forecast to say that more rain was likely. The first day of August has started very wet.
The weather for the rest of August was disappointing. While it was generally dry, it was mostly cloudy. The month ended with the staging of the Carling Festival at Bramham Park. New traffic arrangements, introduced following problems in previous years, worked well with only slight inconvenience to villagers. The peak arrivals were coped with by making the A64 one-way westbound from Bramham crossroads. Once more the Coastliner bus service from Leeds to York and beyond came through the two villages.

July 2009


The planned bus service alterations were altered once more following an outcry in Scholes and the intervention of the passenger transport authority. With effect from 20th July, the 64 service from Aberford will be diverted once an hour via Scholes and, off-peak there will be a 5a service extended from Seacroft to Scholes, Pendas Fields and Cross Gates. The bus company emphasised that the service was on a "use it or lose it" basis.

On 12th July, Scholes has a well attended and successful Open Gardens day. Both villages are now preparing for judgement visits for the Britain in Bloom Competition (in the case of Barwick) and Yorkshire in Bloom for Scholes.
After two weeks in operation, the new bus schedules are still creating confusion and irritability in Scholes both by the users and, according to the local press, the inhabitants of Milton Drive now on the bus route, whose parked cars impede the progress of the buses.
The month started with fine weather but nearly every day since the first week has been spoiled by showers or nearly incessant rain. The showers in the middle of the month were short enough for the harvest to begin at the end of the week ending 18th July.

June 2009


Last month we reported on what we thought were planned changes to the local bus services. It appears that the reported plans are not those announced by the bus company. See the announcement from the bus company, First Bus. An extract of the services affecting Scholes and Barwick in this announcement is below:

64: Gildersome - Leeds - Barwick - Aberford

This service will be extended from City Square to Gildersome via service 46 route, except that it will operate on Corporation Street in Morley. Service 64 will not operate on Wynyard Drive.
The 2310 Friday and Saturday journey from Aberford is retimed to depart at 2345.

68/68A: Leeds - Seacroft - Scholes

These services will be withdrawn. Service 5A will operate hourly Monday-Saturday daytime between Leeds and Seacroft.
The section of route from Seacroft to Coronation Tree via Scholes village will no longer be served Monday-Saturday daytime, but will be served by service 5 evenings and Sundays.

A highlight of the month must be the award of the MBE to John Tinker who has lived in the parish for some forty years and has served the community well in that time. Since his retirement, John has been responsible above all others in setting up Barwick-in-Bloom, which has been a very successful venture in winning awards at county and national level. Along with Scholes in Bloom which was set up in following years, the two schemes have transformed the appearance of the two villages and made them even more desirable places in which to live. John's drive which has done so much for the In Bloom movement, has not been confined just to that topic. He has served on the Parish Council for many years and has been chairman of the council for several separate periods.

The month ended with a successful Open Gardens day in Barwick on Sunday, 28th .

May 2009


May has brought the 130th anniversary of the founding of the Methodist Church in Scholes. There were services and celebrations to mark the occasion during the weekend of 16th and 17th.

There is concern at the state of the roads in the parish. Following a colder winter than recent winters, the cold has caused a deterioration in the state of the roads which now have many potholes. Long Lane, Barwick and Potterton's roads are among the worst affected. The state of Long Lane has not stopped some speeding which road counting equipment has recorded. There have been three recordings of vehicles exceeding 80 m.p.h. while entering Barwick at Long Lane.

Plans have been announced to change the bus services operating through Barwick and Scholes. The 64 half-hourly service from Leeds to Aberford via Barwick will run once an hour via Scholes, giving northern Scholes a direct link to Crossgates and Barwick. This will be at a cost however. The service from Scholes to Seacroft Green will be closed.

Arrangements have been announced for coping with the traffic going to the Pop Festival at Bramham Park on the August Bank Holiday. It entails closing the A64 from Seacroft to the A1 and making a west-bound one-way route for all the festival traffic which will have to come off the A1. It looks as if we will have buses to Scarborough coming through the villages again.

April 2009


There appears to be a larger number of fields than usual in the district which have not yet been set for this summer's crop. Farmers are very busy at present setting both cereals and potatoes. It is possible that last autumn's heavy rains caused farmers to delay their planting until this spring.

What a glorious month this has turned into! The weather is warm, frost-free and mainly dry. Long may it continue for the economic news in the country is dismal. One must hope that the current predictions of years of struggle to pay off the current forecast national debt. Life in the parish continues without any current dire effects. Indeed there are worries about housing developers wanting to join Scholes to the built-up mass of Leeds. This worry has surfaced from time to time and recent research has found a declaration by Leeds City in the mid-fifties that it does not want the strip of countryside which separates Scholes from Leeds to disappear.

The month has ended with a tragic accident. It is sad to note that Harry Thorpe of Lime Tree farm in Barwick, a "not quite retired" octogenarian, lost his life in an accident at his farm. Harry was a quiet, pleasant, approachable man. He will be sadly missed. Lime Tree Farm has been the last working farm situated in the heart of the village.

March 2009



The chiff-chaff arrived by 29th March. Spring has definitely come.

Spring has just about arrived (14th March) with daffodils becoming more prominent than snowdrops. The chiff-chaff has not been heard yet. The gangs erecting the new lamp posts have finished and departed. The effect of the new lighting is good. Gone is the orange glow and loss of colour from the old lamps. The new posts are unfortunately taller than the old concrete ones, but for the period when both were erected side by side, the new ones were more pleasing to the eye.

This month has seen the introduction of a ban on dogs being exercised on Jack Heap's Field. The ban has been introduced because of a number of dog users failing to clear up after their dogs. The memorial trees in Station Road in Scholes have become the subject of a protection order.

The Wetherby News (13th March) has reported that, in conjunction with Thorner Parish, the appointment has been made of a priest in charge to the parish. The priest in charge will be Rev. Andrew John Nicholson, currently curate with the East Richmond Team Ministry in North Yorkshire. No date for the appointment was reported.

It also reported that the Parish Council was unable to arrive at a decision on a request from Ripon Diocese to contribute to the repair work on the church wall in Barwick.

The paper also reported that an initiative taken by the police to open a youth club in the village hall had been called off due to the disorder which has been experienced by disruptive, drunkenness and fighting. Volunteers have been called for to take over the task hopefully with the support of Leeds Youth Services.

The parish council has opened an informative web site which has much useful information.

February 2009



The first day of February has begun with snow flurries. The flurries developed into the heaviest snow for a number of years. It melted slowly over the next two weeks.
The Old Rectory in the snow - 2nd Feb. 2009
Photo: P. Styles


A section of the church wall on Aberford Road is in the process of being re-built. It has given the opportunity to see what lies behind the wall. As surmised, most of the ground held in by the wall is made-up soil. This supports the widely held view that much of the churchyard's height comes from a thousand years or so of burials.

January 2009



The year has started with near zero daytime temperatures and frost at night. At least it has been dry for quite a few days and it is possible to walk on the country footpaths without too much difficulty.

For the past year or so, street lamps which have needed replacement have been renewed by a new type of lighting which Leeds City are having installed throughout the city by Southern Electric through a PFI initiative. The new year has seen increased activity in Barwick in replacing the street lighting with this improved, more modern equipment. The old yellow glow from concrete lamp posts is being replaced with slightly taller metal posts emitting brighter, whiter light which is directed downwards and, when completed, should make the night sky more visible.

This month a formal announcement was made that the country has entered an economic recession. The main noticeable effect so far in the parish has been a large increase in the number of houses available for rent - presumably because owners have been unable to sell their houses and need to finance rent or purchase elsewhere. In a fairly tight-knit community, the main effect is that new (renting) inhabitants are not in a position to become part of the community. Let us hope that the situation soon ends.



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