From the Malton Gazette & Herald this week in 1981

A 20-YEAR battle to remove an island from the middle of the River Seven, which causes flooding in the village of Sinnington, near Kirkbymoorside, has ended in victory.

The parish council has been pressing the Rye Internal Drainage Board to approve its removal.

The council chairman, Reg Howe, said: “The island has been causing problems for 20 years. Houses near the river are flooded when we have heavy storms and we have now been given the backing of the North York Moors National Park Authority.”

As a result, the drainage board is supporting the removal of about 2,000 tons of silt, which has built up to form the island over 50 years.

Much of the island would be used to build up the river bank, said Mr Howe. The scheme would cost £1,500, but the park authority was helping.

“The island has gradually got larger over the years. I can remember when it did not even exist, but the silt has built up until it is now a big island.” said Mr Howe, a retired poultry farmer.

However, the parish council faces having to shelve plans to erect a new 80ft maypole on the village green because of cost.

“We are so anxious to clear the island, so we shall not have sufficient money to erect the maypole for some time. Ideally we have been looking for a sponsor for this venture because it is a traditional part of our village scene,” Mr Howe said.

Previous maypoles had been erected for £50 or less, but now the figure ran into hundreds of pounds.


From the Malton Gazette & Herald this week in 1980

EVENING classes in the Malton and Norton area are at their lowest ebb following a 40 per cent to 50 per cent increase in fees by the county council for recreational and non-vocational classes.

Allin Jenkins, head of the adult education centres for Malton and Norton, said enrolment evenings last week were the slackest he had known in 10 years of experience.

The popularity of evening classes had been falling in recent years locally because a series of increases in fees by the country council, but now it has reached an all time low.

A few years ago, both adult education centres were thriving and had about 1,500 students, but the number had been gradually dropping until this year there were likely to be only 200 to 300.

If all the classes succeeded there would be about 700 to 800 students, but it was likely that many classes would have to be cancelled due to lack of support.

“In the light of present experience one must question the future of adult education classes in this area.” Mr Jenkins commented. “It is very dispiriting and frustrating.”

Mr Jenkins said he thought the major cause of the decline this year was the increase in fees. Cost of recreational and non-vocational classes had gone up by 40 per cent to 50 per cent, although in vocational classes the increase was only about 7.5 per cent.

Recreational classes were now expected to pay their way, and cost 70p an hour or £28 for a two-hour class for 20 weeks. Recreational classes used to be the most popular, but they had declined badly.

Classes like cookery, which used to be filled within a few minutes on enrolment night, were now lacking students and might have to be cancelled.


From the Gazette & Herald this week in 1977 (pictured above)

TWO former members of Amotherby Young Farmers Club, Peter and Geoffrey Goodwill, have won the Castle Howard and Sheriff Hutton NFU branches cup for the best crop of spring barley in their first year on their own.

Peter, 30, and Geoffrey, 34, farmed in partnership with their father, Mr DP Goodwill, until his death last October.

The family have three farms – Wandale at Bulmer, Goodlands at Terrington, and Howthorpe at Hovingham – and have won prizes previously in crop competitions, but this is the first time they have won the cup.