Hive of activity in a buzzing community (From Gazette & Herald)

Hive of activity in a buzzing community

Reporter CLAIRE METCALFE visited Stockton-on-the-Forest, which despite its close proximity to York, has not fallen into the communter trap. With its school, pub, village hall, shop and post office, strong farming community and countless thriving village clubs and groups, Stockton-on-the-Forest has something for all the family....

WEAVING through the long main road at the heart of Stockton-on-the-Forest, you come across every central feature of village life.

To your right, the village school, left - the pub, right, a scout hut, left again for the village shop.

It's busy, with cars and bikes coming and going - to school, work, the pub - but if you stand still for a moment, notice the sprinkling of straw on the road and hear the gentle sound of mooing in the distance, it is easy to imagine what life was like here in days gone by.

Despite its proximity to York, Stockton has not succumbed to the perils of commuter blandness.

The village still has five working farms. Chairman of the NFU Rosie Dunn is among Stockton's farming fraternity. "We've got a lot other villages have lost," she said. "We're well served with facilities, and as farmers we're well-positioned here - for the livestock centre in York or to nip to the market in Malton."

And several life-long residents, from generations of 'stocktonites' still live in the village. One of them, Fred Sellers, remembers growing up there in the 1920s, when there was no running water or electricity. "You made your own entertainment, you didn't watch television," said Fred.

Dances and singing nights were held at the school. Swan's garage was originally Swan's blacksmith's. "The first bus I remember was run by a farmer by the name of Wilson," said Fred. "He took a cart to York every Saturday morning with his produce on and you could go with him for a penny."

There is a regular bus service running every half hour these days, but the bright lights of the city don't distract attention from a lively social scene in Stockton.

The Stockton Foresters is a well-established drama group with a loyal following. Originally an off-shoot of the women's institute, it became a fully-fledged village drama group around 30 years ago.

"We put on two plays a year as well as other concerts and pieces of entertainment," said secretary Pat Jennings. In November they staged When We Are Married by JB Priestly to packed houses.

"We have built up a real following both in and outside the village," said Pat. "We have a wonderful stage in the village hall, and we traditionally put them on in a cabaret style, so instead of rows of chairs we have tables with candles, and a wine bar - perhaps that's why we're so popular!"

Pat is also chairman of the village's flourishing gardening club. "We've been going for two years and it has proved really popular, both with villagers and people further a field - from Huntington or Gate Helmsley," said Pat.

It seems the village provides a focus for several surrounding communities. "Things start off in the village and then other people hear about them and become involved," said Pat.

Not least because of its superb village hall, which was built in the 70s and attracts all sorts of groups and classes.

"We have two dance classes there, I think because it is such a wonderful floor surface to dance on," explained Pat.

The busy pub is home to a highly successful petanque league - that's our version of French boules for anyone (like me) who didn't know.

"You find that every society, group and committee meets in the pub," said new landlord Robert Murray, who arrived with his girlfriend Nicola Haigh in November.

The pub is a busy one, again with people from the village but also from elsewhere in Ryedale and York, and even further a field using it as a 'destination pub'. "It's surprising how many people from the east coast have friends in places near Leeds, and use it as a meeting point for dinner a couple of times a year," said Robert.

He says it is more of a food pub these days than a drinking pub. "We don't have a pool table or dart board, and there is only quiet background music. It's where people come to meet up and have a chat really."

Tom Loose and his family run the local shop and post office, much valued by locals and tourists alike. "People do come back year after year for their holidays in the village," said Tom, "You get to recognise faces and some of them even send us Christmas cards."

A well-stocked newsagent, Tom distributes the parish's newsletter, brimming with news about the many activities going on.

In there you will find the latest projects of the flourishing Women's Institute, senior Citizen's Club, early years partnership, as well as all the church's activities, which culminate each summer in a lively carnival.

Even the highly successful school, which has twice been awarded the government's Quality Skills Mark, appears to have caught to the entertainments bug, with the Parent Teachers Association organising a summer ball to raise money for victims of the Asian tsunami.

All in all Stockton-on-the-Forest is a veritable hive of activity.

With so much going on, it seems that even in the 21st century, the residents have not lost the knack of making their own entertainment.

Updated: 13:00 Wednesday, January 26, 2005