PICKERING'S Civic Society seemed to have had an excellent meeting on many topics. According to the other week's headlines, the main item of general concern was the unresolved plans of Safeway over the development of a new store, which appears to have been hanging over the heads of local folk like a guillotine waiting to fall. As this decision affects the future of, not only Pickering, but also Malton and Whitby, and everyone who believes that the revival of the railway would help bring more prosperity to Ryedale and the north, such indecision's by a purely commercial firm should not be allowed to affect the well-being of the public at large. Having failed to make its mind up about what to do, the public should be allowed to now have precedence so that the future well-being of the whole communications network between the coast and the inland towns is no longer left in doubt.

With an excellent large superstore already in existence, and another one only eight miles away at Malton, the proposals for another store seem quite unnecessary in what is a comparatively sparsely-inhabited rural area, and the profits of commercial trading should not take precedence over the future of the whole area. Its inhabitants come first, surely.

Lower down the page of the Gazette & Herald is a further chapter in farmer Geoff Bean's war with officialdom. You can see the frustration on his face as he tries to reason with the two, hands-in-pockets environment people, who are making it difficult for him. Salton Lodge Farm has its own problems, I should think, being flat low-lying land, and sitting on both sides of a narrow road, which, I have no doubt, is the reason that Geoff purchased this hard-core to try and effect some improvement. He no doubt has plenty of problems of his own and, after reading the two reports on this, surely it would be sensible to leave him to get on with the job he has in hand, without being harassed.

Steve Jaques, manager of Eden Camp, tells me he is opening a lavender and herb farm at Wintringham. In fact it will have been in operation since June 1, when you read this. Called Wold Way Lavender, it will be around 16 miles away from another similar farm at Terrington, so I can't see any conflict in that respect, and the plans for the future make it sound like a place not to be missed. Lavender oil will be distilled on the spot and, ultimately, there will be 12 acres of plants and wildlife to enjoy. I still recall my mum who would put lavender into little sachets for putting in clothes drawers, wardrobes etc, even the hankie drawer had its own lavender bag. I still have a couple of lacy sachets in a wardrobe, left over from days gone by - no doubt I'll soon be able to have their delightful aroma rejuvenated. The last few words on Steve's brochure give an open invitation of a welcome to walkers and cyclists, which I know will be most appreciated.

Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington, the home of many things exciting, will have just hosted the Harley Davidson Club on Saturday, when over 300 Harleys were expected, and members from all over the world were gathering to talk bikes. At the time of writing, I can only dream of what this day will bring. I'm looking forward to listening to the thunder of those wonderful machines - so different to the scream of the high-revving Japanese bikes.

The museum's collection increases as time goes by, and the only flying replica of the Wright Flyer in the world has finally arrived there which, along with the one of George Cayley's, which also flew in the film, gives Yorkshire Air Museum the edge on most others, especially as it has the only complete Halifax, and many other notable aircraft in the 40 or so on show. Most have a history of their own. Anyone from 16 years upwards, with a hankering to work on aircraft, be they metal or wood, would be welcomed to join the several teams currently restoring various planes, from Vampire to SE5 or Avro Anson to DH Moth. Restoration work of all kinds is undertaken and, of course, there's plenty of variation for anyone to give a hand, be it gardening, joinery, painting, or go with an open mind, there's always something to do. Just drop in any day.

Which reminds me, someone asked me to get some details of two aircraft crashes locally, but I can't remember who it was. However, I checked in the museum archives last week and found that the only enemy aircraft crashing around East Moor in 40-41 was a He III which was en-route to bomb Belfast, on April 16, 1941. It was from 3/KG53 at Lille and came down on a bridleway between Plainville and Huby at 02.00hrs. The four crew were taken as POWs. (MR574 614)

The other, a 'mid-air north of Gilling' seems to be two Jet Provosts which collided, actually north of Helmsley, on June 6, 1986. Both were from Church Fenton No 7 Flying Training School, aircraft numbers XW411 and XW407. Both pilots ejected. I hope the person who asked me recognises the answers to his questions.

More ecclesiastical humour from church news-letters: "Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered."

Updated: 14:50 Wednesday, June 04, 2003