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February.
UNEMPLOYED IGNORED -- COUNCIL NEPOTISM ALLEGED ?
Letters to the Gazette.
Sir, - Your correspondent, 'One Who Did Not Apply' asks why a single man in good steady employment was appointed by the Skelton and Brotton UDC to the post of Collector and why the Council's shortlist
of candidates contained no names of unemployed.
The answer is simple and is a lesson to all unemployed.
The Socialist majority on the Council are responsible.
The Socialists pay a lot of lip service to the unemployed and trade upon their unfortunate position in the hopes of getting their votes, but when it comes to giving such a man a job there is nothing
doing and the position probably goes to a relation or prespective relation of one of the Councillors.
An appropriate slogan for the Socialists would be - 'The unemployed want work, but we always give the job to our friends.'
The Skelton and Brotton voters should remember this at the next Council elections.
Yours,
Fairplay.
Sir - I would like to correct your two correspondents, on one statement they both made regarding the position of General Collector on the Skelton and Brotton UDC.
They appear to have been misinformed when they state that the 'Council's short list of candidates contained no names of unemployed'.
Although 5 out of 6 men on the short list were in steady employment, the other was a young man, who although possessing a Secondary education and a very good matriculation certificate, has been unable
to secure a suitable post since he left schoool 3 years ago.
Although he is still entirely dependent on his father, who has been a local ratepayer for the past 20 years, the Council, which is supposed to hold Socialistic ideals, prefer to give a post to one of
their less qualified friends than to a truly deserving unemployed man.
Yours,
A Ratepayer.
SKELTON COUNCIL HAS NO HOME.
Though it has been in existence for 40 years or more, the Skelton and Brotton UDC is still without a permanent home.
It has offices in Skelton, which in front look like a small shop, at the rear like stables, and inside with their twisting and turn stairs and passages resemble a rabbit warren.
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But it has no Council Chamber and its members must meet in borrowed halls to carry out their business.
A result is that it is a peripatetic body.
Sometimes it meets at Skelton and sometimes at North Skelton.
Whenever a meeting is held the officials must perforce pack into suitcases and bags the books and papers required for the transaction of the business and look like men hard-pressed with duties,
who are off on holiday, but afraid to leave their work behind.
Every other Council in neighbouring areas have Municipal Offices with Council Chambers of pleasing aspect and furnished with befitting dignity.
In comparison Skelton and Brotton's arrangements are makeshift and shabby.
It is understood that at one time they had a large, good looking, and eminently suitable building offered to them on very favourable terms, but the Council had not the courage to spend the money.
6th May -
JUBILEE OF GEORGE V.
Street parties and celebrations were held all over Britain.
In Skelton locals performed a Pageant celebrating British History in the grounds of the Castle.
The Church organ in Skelton All Saints was rebuilt at a cost of £385 to commemorate the Jubilee.
7th June -
PM RAMSAY MACDONALD RESIGNED. and Stanley Baldwin headed the National Coalition with a strong Conservative element.
MacDonald retired in 1937 and died later the same year.
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Pageant at Skelton Castle possibly to celebrate the Jubilee.
Photograph kindly contributed by Owen Rooks, who believes it is connected to his mother's Methodist persuasions at New Skelton.
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September - AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS.
Prime Minister, Baldwin, published a circular entitled Air Raid Precautions.
The Government clearly sensed a threat ahead, but at this stage local authorities were only asked to consider plans to protect their people in event of a war.
September - REDUCED RATES - GRATIFYING NEWS.
Skelton and Brotton UDC were able to lower the general rate for the second half of the financial year.
Skelton 5s 7d, Stanghow 5s 5d, Brotton 5s 7d, Kilton 5s 6d, Moorsholm 5s 8d.
A decrease of one penny and Moorsholm twopence.
19th October -
HOLLYBUSH, SKELTON COULD BECOME A 'GARDEN CITY' ??
Local Gazette:-
Skelton and Brotton UDC are certainly not allowing the grass to grow under their feet on the question of over-crowding in the area, a matter which, as I have said before demands attention.
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Immediately following the receipt of a report from the Medical Officer of Health a layout plan of a proposed housing site, with provision for the erection of 55 houses is submitted to the local
Authority by the Surveyor [Mr Arthur R Cranmer].
The site chosen adjoins Station Lane and might easily develop into a miniature garden city and be a considerable asset to the development of the District.
The idea that Skelton is an admirable district for development as a residential centre has long been held by the local Ratepayers' Association and was stressed last April by Mr William Frankland,
at a quarterly meeting of that body, when he said:-
"There is not a better district than Skelton, which needs development."
Mr Frankland contended that not being far from Saltburn, the village might easily become as fashionable as that resort and builders ought to be encouraged to come into the District.
I quite agree.
A near neighbour puts forward its claim to being ideally situated 'twixt moor and sea, while extensive stretches of heather lie at it very back door.
There is no need for the village to hide its light u nder a bushel and this proposal for a housing scheme to meet the District's own requirements from overcrowding might be followed by more
housing sites becoming available.
14th November -
GENERAL ELECTION - CONSERVATIVE WIN - REDUCED MAJORITY.
The National Government, now led by the Conservative, Stanley Baldwin, won with a large, but reduced, majority.
Conservative - 386. Clement Attlee's Labour - 154.
The Liberals, who were now led by ex-Cleveland MP, Herbert Samuel continued their decline with just 21 seats held.
In Cleveland the Conservative, Robert Tatton-Bower retained his seat and as this was the last election until after the Second World War he remained the MP for Cleveland until Clement Atlee's
Labour Government took over in 1945.
November -
SKELTON BLIND CORNERS.
Blind corners are always a possible source of danger and two places where roads enter on Skelton High Street are dangerous in this respect.
They have seen many accidents mostly to cyclists during the past summer, which in one case proved fatal.
Each time an accident has occureed people have said, and the opinion has been general throughout the village, that 'something must be done', about these corners.
The danger element is increased by the fact that both corners are at the foot of steep hills and enter on to a busy bus route.
But in one instance that something is to be done.
An Inspector from the Ministry of Transport, after viewing the site has recommended a 60 percent grant towards the cost of the improvement of the corner at the junction of High St and Hills Road.
And a satisfactory agreement has been reached that the remaining 40 percent of the cost should be borne equally by the local Urban Authority and the County Council.
The news will be joyfully received by the people of Skelton and District and to think that one source of danger has been eliminated is a fact for which to be thankful, even if it has needed a fatality
to bring the matter into urgent recognition.
But at the same time it does seem that precautionary measures might have been taken a step further and a grant been recommended in respect of the corner at the junction of Green Bank and the
Guisborough to Whitby road at Cross Green.
But then, I suppose, a fatality had not yet occureed there. Officialdom waits for the hand of death to bring home more clearly the danger factor.
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November.
SKELTON FIRE BRIGADE WIN THE CUP AND GET LIT UP.
Fire fighting was forgotten for an evening when the Guisborough and Skelton and Brotton Fire Brigades met for a celebration of their success in the competitions at the recent Guisborough Carnival.
In the fire brigade competitions Skelton and Brotton ran out winners and were awarded a silver cup and gold medals.
Guisborough were a good second and received silver medals.
Mr A R Cranmer, superintendent of the Skelton Brigade, presided and a very happy and convivial evening in which talk was certainly not 'shop' was enjoyed by the 30 fire-fighters.
Mr Cranmer expressed the opinion that the inhabitants of both townships had been delighted with the work carried out by the two Brigades.
The Celebration took the form of a pie supper. Contests between the 2 Brigades in Billiards and other games added to the jollity of the evening.
November.
FEVER HOSPITAL COMPLAINT.
At Skelton and Brotton UDC last night a complaint about fever hospital accommodation at Guisborough was made by Coun F M Hatfield.
He said that the position was not satisfactory by a long chalk. When they had their own little hospital there were no complaints.
He stated that a little boy had been taken away and came back in 3 weeks 'with a little spot on his nose'. After being at home 5 days his sister took scarlet fever and she was taken away for 4 weeks,
but was now back home in bed.
The boy had later been noticed by a doctor and sent back to hospital.
He considered that the boy was not fit to come out after 3 weeks and there were other cases in the District.
The Chairman, Coun J Morgan, who is a schoolmaster, explained the school point of view. They could not have a child back at School until 6 weeks had elapsed.
The Clerk suggested that a letter should be written to the Joint Hospital Committee and this course met with approval.
NEW COUNCIL ACCOMMODATION.
At the same Council meeting a sub-committee was appointed to consider the question of the provision of new meeting accommodation, new offices and other premises for all on the administrative
activities of the Council.
In the past the Council has held its meetings at various building in the District and at present use North Skelton Institute.
RECREATION GROUND QUESTION.
Negotiations for the acquisition of a Recreation Ground in Saltburn Lane were reported.
A sub-committe recommended the acceptance of a 20 year's lease from Col Wharton, but to get a National Playing Fields Association grant a 99 year's lease is being asked for.
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This photograph of Skelton High Street, taken from the top of the steps on the Hills, seems to have been taken in the 1920s/30s.
The large gable-end at the Left is the back of Skelton Literary Institute. The Halfpenny Bridge can be seen in the distance.
The Shop with the Sun shade and adverts has always been a Newsagents to my knowledge. The name on the end wall appears to be "B Robson".
If anyone has more information, please email the address on the Introduction Page.
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