Frank Family Butchers have not long been in Thirsk but have certainly made their mark, and not just because the doorway ‘dangles’ makes one feel that you  simply should make an entrance as though about to do a ‘turn’ on stage. The dangles are actually, to keep out flies and all flying beasts. Frankly, a very good idea, Mr Frank.

So sorry for the simply awful joke,  but, you see, I have tested one of their pork pies, which Simon Frank kindly pressed on me to try: crisp melt in the mouth pastry and simply stuffed with locally sourced pork, which has put me in a very good mood. They have a huge range of pies, indeed, a delicatessen of pies, a cornucopia even.

I also oven baked the  tempting Mozzella,Pickle and Beef Truffle. Had I been cooking for someone other than Dick, who I can’t hoodwink, I would have said I’d been slaving for hours in the kitchen, and I did hope he enjoyed it. Dick did enjoy it, knowing full well it was from Frank’s  range of prepared foods. At Christmas we had a rib of beef which  had the flavour that one remembers from long ago; well kept, high quality. The sausages… Well, go and have a look.

So who are Frank Family Butchers and where have they been all this time when they could have been in Thirsk for heavens sake? Seven generations ago John Mallory Frank decided to open a butcher’s shop that placed sustainability and animal welfare at the forefront of the business. With farming in the family this was something they could control. Soon the family were running 2 successful shops in Harrogate.

Steadily the succeeding generations continued the thread until thankfully Simon Frank set up in Thirsk. He runs the shop with his business partner Anna, and apprentice Tom. There is a huge choice in pies, sourced from a local baker, the usual cuts one expects at a butcher, but also prepared dishes, which one only needs to cook and pretend they are our own work. Dishes can also be prepared to order if a customer is having a ‘do’ or just wants a meal without effort. The quality of everything is superb, with all  produce obtained locally, including from Anna’s family farm.

Simon’s young sons are already helping in the background where they can, and loving it,  so Thirsk can be assured of a long running relationship. Frankly, (sorry again Simon) aren’t we lucky.

Frankfamilybutchers@outlook.com

Now Frost Magazine’s  Spotlight picks out A M Gardening

Long ago I had the pleasure of meeting a civil engineer whose work entailed designing roads. He maintained that the beauty of a road lies in its curves.  This of course, can be applied to quite a few things, but for me, as a passionate gardener it certainly transfers to flower beds. So I had great plans to extend my flower beds into curves, plant more cottage  garden plants, and Old English Roses, my passion. (Dick’s preserve is in the vegetable garden, which, he declared firmly, gives him more than enough to do with spring well into its stride, and ground to prepare). So, understanding that a nod’s as good as a wink,  I knew I had to remove the turf and then dig the bed extensions myself which was a step too far. What to do, what to do?

I always share my problems willy-nilly, and everyone I inflicted myself on suggested I try A M Gardening, a newbie on the block in Thirsk, but reasonably priced, pleasant and efficient. So along came Adam Maloney to suss out my needs. Apparently none of it was a problem. I explained that it was spring, and I needed it yesterday if I was to be able to get plants in, whinge, whinge, and lots of hand wringing.

Adam Maloney gave up his Bank Holiday Monday. First the turfs were removed, poste haste…  How can people do that back breaking work so quickly?  I just poke the spade at it, and feel my back is breaking, and have to go in for a rest. All turfs were off within 4 hours and taken to the tip, the pavement and paths swept.  Then the digging began, and oh, the roots …  for there had been old old hedges along my straight beds originally. So those had to be dealt with. Not a whinge or complaint from Adam.

Within another four hours it was finished.  Just like that, as Tommy Cooper used to say. All done, all cleaned up, ready for my part – the planting. The bill? Extraordinarily reasonable. For a newbie on the block you can’t beat A M Gardening, really you can’t.

Adam Maloney: 07470 363741

Polly, Margaret and Dick Graham’s Cavachon, was operated on recently by the wonderful Thirsk Veterinary Centre. She has a heart murmur and Margaret was tizzying because she just knew there was something else amiss with Polly. Lovely vet Isabella de Berardinis saw her and agreed.

‘Teeth’, was the verdict. Margaret secretly felt indignant because she diligently cleans Polly’s teeth, and also ashamed to have obviously failed in the brush brush brushetty brush procedure. But the plain fact was that there was at least one loose one at the front. Vet Anne Norton came into the consultation room to check Polly’s heart murmur. The two vets decided to take bloods on the day to check that she had the best chance possible. Gulp.

The day arrived. Polly was left with the team of vets and nurses, who were by now Margaret’s best friends, or so she felt. Polly was accompanied by Margaret’s sock, which goes with her if she has to separate from her pal, Rosie, and the grown ups, Margaret and Dick. Glory be, all went well but Polly lost more than one tooth, in fact rather a lot of the little rascals had to come out but in herself was fine.

Poor Isabella had been so worried – these vets and their team care, you see; their empathy, and committment is obvious and comforting, and we also have continuity of care; our pets see the same vets and nurses which is not always the case in other veterinary clinics. The receptionists are also ever helpful, especially Cathy who sorts out the insurance claims.

Off we toddled home, with Polly and her sock. Within days she was her old self, and tucking into her food, seemingly managing beautifully with fewer teeth. So much so,  and I whisper it in case she hears, I fear she must go on a diet.

But hang on, yet more exciting  news  just in from Thirsk Veterinary Centre:

Matt Smith, the vet, is joining Thirsk Veterinary Centre. Matt features on The Yorkshire Vet alongside Julian Norton – whose latest book  Adventures with a Yorkshire Vet: Lambing Time and Other Animal Tales  is delighting children everywhere – these are the winter tales. The summer tales are out soon, and Frost will report on this.

Matt seems to exude energy and has the same empathy that is inherent in ‘our’ vets (we animal parents are very possessive ) so everyone is absolutely delighted and excited.

Matt  will bring a wide experience and knowledge to the team, along with a passion for exotics. Steady, steady… not that sort of exotic, I mean exotic animals, birds and so on. It also seems Matt, and this is extremely important news, has another passion alongside  helping  our pets; he  LOVES custard creams everyone – just saying.

They will now be brought in by the sackful.

Lucky lucky Thirsk and surroundings. We so love our Thirsk Veterinary Centre and all the wonderful team.

Incidentally, Frost Magazine will be shining the Spotlight on another newbie to Thirsk in a day or two.

For more information:   Thirsk Veterinary Centre

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Joffe’s book of the week is a cracker, a  brand-new crime thriller from bestselling author David Hodges — WATCHER ON THE LEVELS, the latest thriller featuring detective Kate Hamblin, which is out now for the special launch price of just £0.99 | $0.99*.

Sunbathing on the beach in Mexico, detective Kate Hamblin receives a disturbing text message. Is someone watching her? Kate is relieved to escape the unwelcome attention and return home. But back in Somerset, she reaches into her coat pocket and finds a scrawled message: See You Soon, Kate.  Has her stalker followed her home . . . ? Now we chew our nails, get ready to turn the pages, quickly.

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Detective Matt Ballard FENLAND MYSTERIES books 1-3 by Joy Ellis

A GREAT-VALUE BOX SET OF BESTSELLING CRIME FICTION. Discover the author who’s sold over three million books globally. Nominated for Crime and Thriller Book of the Year at the British Book Awards.

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Detective Jack Dawes by Frances Lloyd

A FANTASTIC-VALUE BOX SET OF FIVE GIRPPING MYSTERIES.   Detective Inspector Jack Dawes, tall and handsome, looks like the fuzz even when he’s off-duty.

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The Rose Bowl by Judy Gardiner JUST £0.99 | $0.99 

A SPELLBINDING HISTORICAL SAGA FROM A BELOVED AUTHOR. 

Set among the willows and water meadows of Suffolk, this historical tale tells the story of perseverance and finding the courage to love unreservedly.

Fans of Lucinda Riley, Rhys Bowen, Tania Crosse and Chrissie Walsh will be captivated.

NEWS

Don’t know about you, but I’d like to learn more about David Hodges …

So, let’s see if he can describe his novel in just three words. 

Game of death.

Which author would you most like to have dinner with?

Lee Child (for his Jack Reacher novels) or my old friend, the late Colin Dexter.

Who would you pick to play the main characters from your novels?

Rose Leslie (from Game of Thrones) as Kate Hamblin/Lewis and Brendan Gleeson (from Banshees of Inisherin) as Hayden Lewis.

I first watched Rose Leslie in Game of Thrones and immediately saw her as my key character, Kate, in the way she played the dynamic, sexy and forceful wilding, Ygritte. As such, she is the perfect fit for Kate.

Brendan Gleeson for the way he looked in Banshees of Inisherin — his untidy appearance and his moody, brooding nature — was Hayden to a T. The only slight issue would be his Irish accent, as Hayden is a posh, articulate character like Boris Johnson (on whom I originally based him).

What’s the most interesting thing you’ve had to research for a book?

Research into poisonous spiders (which I hate) for the novel Venom On The Levels. In particular, the Brazilian Wandering Spider was certainly interesting!

What are you currently reading and watching?

Reading = Agatha Christie’s Dead Man’s Folly.

Watching = Poirot on ITV3.

Of course there are many more wonderful novels available from Joffe Books. Find out more HERE

A short week at the CCA but a busy one, so let’s get started. Grinders removed the concrete from the external wall ready for the repointing.   At eight on the dot the lads arrived to re-point the wall. It’s a big one, so it wasn’t to be a quick job, but David and Chris set too as though “The Great Wall of Brady Square” was nothing. Then came the rain, so out came the plastic sheeting which needed to be held down with sandbags.

Dyno-Rod arrived to put the cameras down the drains, for a full survey, and all was well. They just need a good clean out. So the CCA are waiting for … another quote. So what’s new. 

JLA came to assess the electrical work which is yet to be completed, Richard, the CCA’s lovely surveyor met Gary from ACT, who popped in to tell CCA that the scaffolding is due to come down Monday next week. Marion is delighted, because now the windows can be cleaned, inside and out.

Blinds are being fitted Thursday of the coming week; and it really does seem as though everything is all starting to come together.Tthough, as with all such projects, there is still a little more to do. Wonderfully,  another delivery of hats for the Sea-farers arrived and the team is still in awe of the kindness of the  community.

Brian Mason, has been steadily working on the CCA’s new signage though it’s not quite ready, but the team is enormously grateful for the push, pull signs Brian has made and which are placed on the swing doors. In fact, Marion insisted to Margaret that Brian is a star. Heavens, high praise indeed. 

Cultural Creatives are starting their courses this week: ten weeks every Wednesday and an eight-week course every Thursday. The girls were amazed when they came in and saw how much progress had been made since their last visit.

Aimee and her dancers are taking the opportunity to get some extra practice in while on school holidays, and before Aimee jets off to Benidorm for a Hen Party. Benidorm, yes Benidorm. Margaret wonders if we should warn Benidorm. Marion told her not to be a party pooper. 

Phil and Dean are here to plaster the internal side of the door that was blocked up. It will be painted  when dry and then the CCA will have a  computer room up and running.

Marion and the team have quite a photographic gallery along the walls: framed photos of the many who have been involved in the project, with people strolling down the corridor to see who is up, and looking for themselves. As Marion said, ”Let’s hope we don’t offend anyone, it is not intentional, we are working through a multitude of pictures that bring happy memories of our journey together.’ 

Friday is the CCA’s free coffee morning with prize bingo, pies, cakes, cream scones and much more. ‘The chit chat is amazing,’ says Marion. ‘It is always a reminiscence session which we love, takes us back to childhood days in good old Brady Square, a bit of nostalgia, hide and seek until dark, conkers, penny sweets and picnics with jam butties and a bottle of water to share among us all. Happy days.’

Margaret and Dick turned up to join in the chat on Friday. Margaret had some photos of her mum, Annie Newsome, and her Uncle Stan and Auntie Isobel. One of which was of Uncle Stan in his arab headress. It was taken, Margaret thought, in the war when Stan was stationed in North Africa. ‘Mum always said she thought Stan imagined he looked like Peter O’Toole in Lawrence of Arabia! It always made her giggle. 

Margaret chatted to Geoff Millington, who initiated the original mural painted by the children of the then Biddick Primary School in 1983. Geoff (shown with the CCA print, hanging in the Brady Square Room) has promised to write the story of the mural in more detail and the CCA cannot wait. While chatting to Margaret, Geoff realised that sitting nearby was the mother of one of the children, so off the pair of them went, recapturing memories. Frost Magazine was thrilled to see the magic of the the Columbia Community Association in action. How hard the team have worked to reawaken the centre to provide a central meeting place. Applause please. 

Everyone clearly had a great time at the coffee morning, including Margaret and Dick who were thrilled to be back, and to be guzzling lemon drizzle cake. Such a shame they had to nip off before the bingo, with its fabulous boxes of Thorntons for the winners. Why? They had to snatch some fish n chips then dash home or two small dogs would sulk for eternity, as they would accuse ‘the grown ups’  of being away ‘forever’. Margaret and Dick will be back in a few weeks, to listen to memories of Brady Square, and try to gather them together to be kept at the CCA for all to read, and maybe others will add their own. How great that would be. 

Information: Columbia Community Association  Columbia uk Community Forum

Memories of Brady Square

‘Ere we go, off the starting block with MBC children’s ceramics. The children were soon busy creating  ceramic egg cups, which are very suitable for painted hard boiled eggs. ‘Do you remember how kids like us, says Margaret, ‘painted hard boiled eggs, then popped them into egg cups?’  All the egg cups were wonderful, so the children deserved the boxes of lunch sandwiches dropped off by Andrew Leach.

ACT came and decorated, and also fitted the sky light. Apparently it’s a lot lighter in the corridor with the new sky light in place, while the ever cheerful  Davey assessed preparations for the Loft ladder due to be fitted any minute now. Oh, by the way, Red Shoes Bob reckons he can hide up there. ‘No way,’ came the cry from Marion. ‘There’s no hiding place for you, Matey.’ Be afraid Bob, very afraid.

Marion advertised for photo frames and low and behold the CCA have had an amazing donation from the lovely Lorna to get them started on their mission. These were followed by Harry, Jeane and Gillians’ donations. What would we do without social media on these cocasions?

Aimee and her wonderful dancers did amazingly well at the weekend, when they attended the Karen Llewellyn Comp and once again came away with an array of prizes in all categories. Everyone is so very proud of you all.

Arthur, the decorator’s wife sent a handmade gift, which the team thought was, ‘Lovely and thoughtful of her, people are so kind,‘ said Marion.

Clean and Green are in the area doing a wonderful job and were welcome to use the CCA’s  facilities, on the basis that ‘It’s all about community lending a hand and working as a team. Our very own Dianne lent a hand, for the photo shoot anyway,‘ said Marion.

Brickies arrived, to brick up an external door to the computer room, leaving internal access only. Everyone is very security conscious at the CCA, safety first every time. Next week the grinder will be here removing concrete from the outside wall, ‘Out with the old and in with the new.’ says Marion, briskly, a glint in her eye. Perhaps you should hide in the loft after all, Red Shoes Bob!?

JLA are scheduled for the coming  week, assessing what electrical work is left  – heavens – that should be it for the electrics.  Then the CCA had a visit from their  surveyor Richard. Everyone was so pleased to see he had recovered from a broken foot and what’s more, he was over the moon with the progress and left a happy man.

Yvonne called in with a huge bag of Seahouses shells for a display that has been created in the toilet, which  looks fab. The team have run some pictures off Sponge Bob Square pants for the little people’s loo, they even have their own reachable hand towel dispenser which the kiddie winkles think it’s great.

The Forever Young ladies had an Easter Buffet with  goodies galore, and although the CCA is closed for business on Good Friday, the team have decided that this will be an excellent opportunity to hang some pictures in the newly decorated Cross Streets room. The team are determined to re-create the journey they have travelled, however, there is still a way to go and if your picture is not yet printed don’t panic, the team are sure it will appear through time.

Talking of time, here we all are in the midst of Easter, which is Margaret Graham’s  favourite time,  and she and Frost Magazine join everyone of her friends  at Columbia Community Association in sending warmest wishes for a peaceful EASTER and may the next few days be filled with joy, happiness and sunshine.

Information: Columbia Community Association  Columbia uk Community Forum

Memories of Brady Square

The Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) marks its 70^th Jubilee year in 2023 with a series of events, including an exhibition of memorabilia from its archives.

Official archivist of the CWA, Martin Edwards, said the anniversary is a, “cause for celebration, not just among its members, but among crime genre fans everywhere.”

The exhibition will be part of the Alibis in the Archives crime writing weekend which runs 9—11 June at Gladstone’s Library in Wales, as well as other special events linked to National Crime Reading Month in June. There will also be a special Jubilee reception at the Mansion House, York, as part of the CWA’s conference.

One of the UK’s most prominent writers’ societies, the CWA was founded by the prolific author John Creasey, who wrote over 600 books under various pseudonyms.

The first CWA meeting was on 5 November 1953 at the National Liberal Club in Whitehall.  The invite from Creasey for the very first meeting, read: ‘The threatened meeting of mystery writers planned for the afternoon of Thursday, November 5^th, has been arranged to take place at the  NATIONAL LIBERAL CLUB, WHITEHALL PLACE, LONDON, S.W.1 …at 2.45 for 3 p.m. (It cannot go on much longer than about 5.15 p.m. as the room is needed for politics) On arrival at the Club ask for (a) Creasey and if you get a blank stare, (b) the Oak Room…IF YOU DON’T WANT AFTERNOON TEA, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I SHOULD HATE TO ORDER IT AND SEE IT WASTED.’

Its founding aims were to provide a social network as well as help crime writers with business matters. In Creasey’s words: ‘to give reasonable hope that both the prestige and the fortunes of crime writers generally should be improved.’

In 1956, it hosted its first awards ceremony for the best crime book of the year, which went to Winston Graham, best known for Poldark. Agatha Christie was the principal guest. The oldest awards in the genre, the CWA Daggers feature the highest honour in crime writing – the CWA Diamond Dagger – which recognises careers marked by sustained excellence. Recipients over the years include PD James, Ruth Rendell, Colin Dexter, John Le Carré, Lee Child, Ann Cleeves, Ian Rankin, Martina Cole, Val McDermid, and Walter Mosley.

Today, the CWA’s determination to promote the genre remains central to its mission, seen by the success of more recent initiatives including, starting in 1999, the Debut Dagger, a competition for uncontracted writers, and National Crime Reading Month (held annually in June), both of which help to connect crime writers and readers, as well as supporting libraries and bookshops.

Maxim Jakubowski, CWA Chair, said: “As my two-year term as Chair of the CWA winds down to an end, I feel I can’t leave the scene of the crime on a better occasion than the celebration of an impressive 70 years of so many activities indefatigably supporting the crime writing community and promoting our beloved genre. We have achieved so much and it makes me very proud that we are toasting such a jubilee in 2023. I raise the tip of my fictional fedora to another brilliant 70 years, which I’m sure my successors will make as memorable.”

Vaseem Khan, Vice-Chair of the CWA, said: “Longevity in any organisation is a sign that something is going right. The CWA’s star has shone over British crime writing for seven decades, never more brightly than now. Over the years, the CWA has welcomed, championed, and recognised the greatest writers of the genre, whilst nurturing future stars. Today, the CWA continues to evolve, just as the genre has evolved to become the most popular and most inclusive in publishing. Next stop…the CWA centenary!”

About the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA)

The aim of the CWA is to support, promote and celebrate this most durable, adaptable, and successful of genres, both fiction and non-fiction, and the authors who write within it. It supports author members, plus literary agents, publishers, bloggers and editors with a monthly magazine; a digital monthly newsletter from sister organisation the Crime Readers’ Association, showcasing CWA authors’ books and events that goes to circa 12,000 subscribers; and Case Files, a bimonthly ezine highlighting new books by CWA members. www.thecra.co.uk  The CWA supports as yet unpublished writers with a bespoke group, The Debuts, many of whom enter the Debut Dagger competition and the Margery Allingham Short Mystery competition.

The CWA run an annual conference and hold chapter meetings throughout the UK, so members can access face-to-face networking and socialising.  It also runs National Crime Reading Month in June: www.crimereading.com  The CWA supports libraries and booksellers, with three Library Champions and a Booksellers Champion. It has links with various festivals and other writers’ organisations such as the Society of Authors.

CWA website, Facebook, Twitter #CWADaggers and YouTube.

Joffe’s book of the week is a psychological thriller from bestselling author McGarvey Black — THE FIRST HUSBAND is out now for just £0.99 | $0.99*.Kat Sullivan finally has the perfect life. A great job. A handsome, devoted husband. A beautiful New York home. A baby on the way. But her first husband wants to destroy it all. The secret that she thought she’d buried forever puts Kat, and everyone close to her, in danger . . . It’s a humdinger of a page turner. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FIRST HUSBAND BY MCGARVEY BLACK FOR £0.99 | $0.99.

This special launch price is available for a limited time only. Please check this price offer is live and available in your location before purchasing.

Constable Nick (box set 1-10) by Nicholas Rhea –  OUT NOW — JUST £0.99 | $0.99

GET TEN UTTERLY CHARMING MYSTERIES IN ONE MASSIVE-VALUE BOX SET.
Meet Britain’s best-loved village policeman in the books that inspired TV’s Heartbeat.  ‘It’s original, it’s funny . . . one of life’s little pleasures.’ Yorkshire Post.   ‘Recommended if it’s laughter you’re after’ Bolton Evening News

The Complete Detective Jim Ashworth Box set. Books 1-8   £0.99/$0.99

GET EIGHT GRIPPING BRITISH CRIME MYSTERIES ALL IN ONE BOX SET.
Meet Detective Jim Ashworth, a 30-year veteran policeman with a fierce pride in his job.  ‘Battison, a dab hand with a satisfyingly tricky plot.’ Wall Street Journal.’ ‘What a great offer for all SAGA lovers.

The Sinclair Family Saga – all 5

Each at £0.99/$0.99

Moorland Mist by Gwen Mirkwood The first of the Sinclair Family Saga

Scottish Highlands, 1895. On the eve of Emma’s birthday, she is sent to work on the edge of the moors under the critical eye of the Sinclair family matriarch.  Love begins to blossom between Emma and their youngest son, William. But when William is swiftly sent away, the two must find a way back to each other — and their newborn son. Find out how the story evolves over the next four books.

Get all five at £0.99/$0.99 each.

NEW FROM CHOC LIT  OUT NOW —  £2.99 | $4.04

Masquerade on the Riviera by Evonne Wareham   

EMBARK ON A GLAMOROUS AND THRILLING RIDE TO THE RIVIERA.
Renowned Egyptologist Dr Elliott Elwood’s weekend away to Torquay for a bizarre bidding war ends up involving far more than afternoon tea and historical chit chat.
Cunning thievery and clever games culminate in a glitzy but perilous masked ball

This week Joffe Books has announced that CEO Jasper Joffe has acquired Choc Lit from previous owner Lyn Vernham.

Jasper Joffe, chief executive officer of independent publisher Joffe Books, has acquired Choc Lit from previous owner Lyn Vernham.
Founded in 2009, Choc Lit is an independent publisher of romance and women’s fiction. Joffe will be taking over Choc Lit’s list of around 250 titles, and relaunching the books specifically for the digital market, with a focus on marketing and design.

Joffe said: “We love Choc Lit and are delighted to acquire the company from Lyn Vernham. Lyn has built one of the most outstanding publishers of women’s fiction and romance in the UK. It’s an honour to take forward this brilliant publisher with its unique tasting panel of readers who help select the books to publish.

“We aim to build on the list’s exceptional quality and to find new opportunities to reach even more readers. It’s a great fit for our future as an all-genres commercial publisher.”

Vernham added: “I’m delighted to see my baby go to such a good home in Joffe Books. It has been almost 14 years of absolute fun and an honour to help so many authors. We set out to create a romance brand that would support debut and lesser known authors on the road to publication.

“We have launched over 60 authors, two-thirds of which were debuts. Some have gone on to be very successful in our genre. I’m very proud of them all and what the team has achieved. I wish Jasper every success as they continue to develop the brand.”

In 2019, Joffe Books acquired the Robert Hale backlist from Crowood Press, reissuing authors including Roger Silverwood, Frances Lloyd, David Hodges and Bill Kitson. The publisher went on to acquire Ostara Publishing in 2022, reissuing and rebranding crime writers as D. M. Greenwood, V. C. Clinton-Baddeley, Frank McAuliffe and Ian Morson. 

Quite a story, eh? Fantastic.

Read the announcement on the Bookseller here: www.thebookseller.com/news/joffe-acquires-choc-lit-f….

Information on all Joffe Books, including this week’s newbies. HERE

Well, Marion advertised for a pendulum walk clock and now CCA have two. ‘What next?’ she asks. Margaret hardly dares to think.  But here we go, with lots and lots…

The team have had the honour of being visited by Geoff Millington, the school teacher who initiated the original mural, painted by the children of the then Biddick Primary School in 1983. Geoff (shown with the CCA print, hanging in the Brady Square Room) has promised to write the story of the mural in more detail and the CCA cannot wait. Special thanks go to Brian Mason for without him this print would never have happened, Brian we have recreated history. Margaret had a wonderful art teacher, a Miss Richardson, who always told the class, ‘Look up, everyone, when out. See what’s above, not what’s below the feet.’ Instructions suitable for life really. She meant to study the roofs, the angles, the shadows. Again, much like life. 

Arthur is getting on with the decorating, he has a big job to tackle this week but he assures Marion he can manage, he is such a perfectionist which is fantastic. Marion had a meeting  with the Surveyor and contractor to discuss jobs outstanding and there is now  a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel, a bit dim, but there all the same. The CCA  now have Simon, site Manager from SCC, overseeing the outstanding work which is enormously helpful, and  someone with whom to liaise.

CPR/ Defibrillator training was organised for the volunteers on Tuesday with the lovely Nev. As Marion said, ‘That will be another Ology they have.’

The Council have collected the two very large planters from the front of the building, so now there are parking spaces and soon there will be some hanging baskets for the front.

The lovely Julie Milne from Equans came to do the weekly meeting and said that  Stu and Steve would be popping in for a chat. They just could not believe the progress since their last visit and as usual they asked what they could do to help. ‘Thank you, Stu, I am sure we can think of something to keep you busy. We all love Equans they are always there to lend a hand in the community,’ says Marion.

The visit by Eileen from Sharp Advice Services  went down really well and all were enlightened as to the wonderful service they provide; free confidential, independent advice and help and support on a multitude of issues.The lovely Liam  installed sockets in the corridor so  table lamps can be strategically placed in the entrance to enhance the ambience and make it welcoming.  Then Ross the joiner dropped in to box some pipes, after Mick, from Equans, delivered the materials. Such teamwork!

Julie, Community Opportunities, who has been using our centre, and feels she is now an honorary member of the “Brady Bunch” dropped off a gift. Well, you are even more a member of the ‘Brady Bunch’ now, pet. 

But heavens, the gifts kept on coming. Staff from Equans attended the last Coffee morning before Easter and they didn’t come empty handed. They brought an array of chocolate eggs for the community and flowers for Marion, so much excitement.

More gifts, this time from Brady Square’s  very own Edith Bradley, who had brought daffodils for everyone, painstakingly wrapping each bunch and tying them with gold ribbon. What a marvellous and thoughtful thing to do.

Thelma won the food hamper and was cock-a hoop, poor Jen shouted she was one number off again, maybe next time it will be her turn. Red Shoes Bob entertained  with his stand-up Bingo. The food was delicious and the Easter Chocolate cake from Di’s Diner was simply scrumptious.

The floral arranging class has been a huge succes. Clearly Tina is a wonderful teacher and the ladies were so thrilled with the floral pieces they created – just look at these springlike offerings – quite splendid. They say they are very much looking forward to the next class.

As Easter approaches, a time of hope Margaret always feels, all at Columbia Community Association would like to wish everyone a very peaceful Palm Sunday. Frost Magazine echoes this sentiment, and thanks you all for allowing them to accompany the CCA on this wonderful community journey. 

Information: Columbia Community Association  Columbia uk Community Forum

Memories of Brady Square