WELL done to the children of Sutton-in-Craven CoE Primary School who marked their last days at primary school with a sterling performance of ‘Daniel - A Hard Act to Swallow’ (pictured). Years five and six were supported by the year fours in two performances of the musical which took place in front of staff, parents and friends at St Thomas’s Church, Sutton. A school spokesperson said: “They stole the show with their acting, singing and camaraderie proving to be a hit with the audience.” That is something indeed to take with them to secondary school.

ONE can only imagine the surprise of the two Dutch holidaymakers who were asked to join in Yorkshire Day celebrations in Langcliffe (pictured). By the look of it, there was an excellent turn-out by villagers for the party for the celebrations on August 1.

ON the subject of Dutch visitors, one of my colleagues was telling me how she had an interesting encounter while visiting Manchester Art Gallery recently. An elderly woman came up to her and told her how she had been asked by a Dutch man if she would agree to have her picture taken next to a large Victorian painting of several naked and chubby nymphs. The Dutch man told the woman she was very typically English looking, and he thought it would be amusing to contrast her next to the massive painting of naked flesh. Surprisingly, the lady agreed to the photograph.

FOLLOWING a lengthy debate by Craven councillors on the subject of compulsory training for members in the intricacies of planning and licensing, one councillor stood up to thank he who had been responsible for such a long debate. Cllr David Ireton said it had indeed been refreshing to come along to a meeting where debate had taken place, instead, as has been the norm for some time, where most things on the agenda had been ‘nodded through’. Cllr Andy Brown, the only Green Party member on Craven District Council, had put forward three amendments to a recommendation seeking changes to the current system of training for those members who sat on the council’s Planning and Licensing committees. None of the three amendments were adopted, although, one, to extend training to all members was incorporated, on a voluntary basis. It was indeed, an interesting debate.

THAT said, debate was curtailed somewhat on another matter when Settle councillor, Richard Welch, stood up to expand on his proposed motion (no pun intended) - to look at bringing in a local by-law requiring dog owners to be stocked up with poo-bags at all times. It is an interesting topic; no one likes to see dog mess, let alone step in it, and most owners are responsible, but a few are not, and will blithely allow their pets to go wherever, and not clean up after them. But to bring in a law requiring people to carry bags with them when out with their dogs does raise the issue of enforcement - will people be stopped and searched? Anyway, Cllr Welch was warming to his theme when he was stopped in his tracks by the chairman, Cllr Wendy Hull, who reminded him he was there solely to put forward the motion to have it discussed at another committee at some time in the future, and not to debate it there and then. Cllr John Dawson, who seconded the motion, commented he too had been prepared with some words, but following the chairman’s remarks, would say nowt.

ON the subject of dogs, my walking colleague tells me all the recent hot weather has meant walks with her English Pointer have been somewhat limited, he being not the best dog to walk in the heat. When they have gone out, she has made sure routes have taken in the canal or rivers. He has also made a bee line to water troughs in fields (pictured) - much to the great interest of many of the young cattle that are about at the moment.

THE makers of television’s Tattoo Fixers have invited Craven victims of disastrous tattoos to get in touch. The programme, which goes out on E4, is currently taking applications for a brand new series which is due to start filming in the autumn. Those picked to appear on the show will get the chance to have their disaster ‘inks’ transformed into something far more attractive by four top tattoo artists in the country. Anyone interested in taking part in the show should apply via the Tattoo Fixers take part page at: studiolambert.com/take-part-tattoo-fixers.html.

AN interesting article on the subject of speaking to women’s organisations appeared in the Craven Herald 50 years ago, in 1968. ‘Talking to the ladies’ wrote John Chenhall was something he enjoyed, because women were ‘good listeners’. He was used to frank and probing questions from women, including one while at a talk on newspaper production to the Airedale Women’s Luncheon Club. A ‘forbidding’ female rose to her feet and commented: “I think the speaker works for a rotten paper, it won’t burn.” On another occasion, he had been found so wanting in not being able to answer questions on the training of young journalists that he had spent the next day searching out all the missing statistics, had them all typed up and arranged with the headmaster to have the information distributed to the mothers.