What’s Happening

Middleton and Aislaby Newsletter No.114 June 2024

Coffee Morning
Wednesday June 19th

It is 1899, in France and Camille

Jenatzy, driving ‘La jamais
Contente’ is disqualified from
the Courgette 24 Hour Race. His
car is battery operated and the
Sunday June 23rd 2024
chassis clearly contravenes the
begins 2.30pm construction rules.

www.middletonandaislabyvillagehall.weebly.com
 MIDDLETON,AISLABY AND WRELTON WI CELEBRATE 100 YEARS

1924-2024
CELEBRATION Helen Strickson, Sarah McFarlane
and Carole Kaufman with cake
Historic connections to the founders
of the WI movement can be linked
to Middleton. Bessie Stobart (nee
Brydges -1874-1946), wife of Henry
Gervais Stobart was the mother of
Jean Stobart. Jean married Richard
Stancliffe who lived at Middleton
House. A stained-glass window in
Bessie Stobart (nee Brydges)
St. Andrew’s Church is dedicated to
the memory of the Stancliffe family.
Dick and Jean moved to Middleton from Sutherland Lodge.

Bessie, a Canadian, married to a Durham

mine owner was a great friend of fellow
countrywoman Margaret Robertson
Watt (1868-1948), a writer, editor and
activist. England was at war in 1915
when Margaret arrived in England to
attend a conference on agricultural and
industrial co-operation, providing the
catalyst for the movement to grow here. Sarah McFarlane (NE Federation) Carole Kaufman (President ) Revd Kate Bottley
She took time out of her nationwide
publicity campaign to visit her friend Bessie in Witton-le-Wear.
Margaret’s campaigning zeal so impressed the women from the
village and surrounding communities, that the Witton-le-Wear
branch was formed with
Bessie appointed as
Chair. Growth was rapid
and soon the County’s
first seven branches
formed the Durham
Federation and Bessie
was appointed the first
treasurer of the National
Movement. Bessie lived
in Thornton Dale, Bedale
and Witton-le-Wear and
died in Scarborough.

Refer to pages 79-81 in

Bygone Reflections
 POND UPDATE June 2024

POND SUPPORT GROUP

The Pond Support Group are busy putting
together a schedule for the maintenance and
development of the Village Pond. They are A recent enquiry regarding the name of the village pond
hoping to organise a day per month when prompted a little research. A look at old maps show that
from 1845 to date the pond has been identified as
they can call upon volunteers to contribute to
‘Town End Pond’
the various jobs that need to be undertaken.

The first day will be on the

morning of Sunday 23rd June
starting 10am
BREAKING NEWS 18/05/2024
Speculation is rife. The arrival in the
pond of a 4-5inch goldfish has been
confirmed. Might we ask any other
RAFFLE & TOMBOLA
Prizes wanted
kind donors to recognise that the pond
is only capable of sustaining just one
medium size dolphin and a couple of
crocodiles. To: David and Pam Swain,
Delfim, Back Lane South

Thank you

LITTLE OWL MASSAGE AND YOGA MAVH DATA PROTECTION

(Infant Massage and Baby Yoga)
10.30 to 11.30am
Mondays June 10th, 17th and 24th
and July 1st 2024
Middleton and Aislaby Village Hall
Middleton and Aislaby Village Hall (MAVH) is committed to a
policy of protecting the rights and privacy of individuals. We
collect and use certain types of Data in order to carry on our
work of managing our hall. This personal information is
collected and handled securely. The full Data Protection Policy
and Procedures for Middleton and Aislaby Village Hall can be
viewed on our web site:

Contact: Aimee 07587 086033 https://middletonandaislabyvillagehall.weebly.com/

mavh-governance.html
Dear Editor,
This is tricky. I am known to many and from my descriptive
prose you may well be able to identify the other party but I feel
I have to share my concerns. I returned home from a very busy
day at the office to be greeted by my wife offering me a glass of
wine, something which is usually kept for special occasions. It
being Tuesday the table was set for our usual ham and potato Tuesdays 7.30 to 9pm
casserole. She said very sternly, ‘’We need to talk’’ This always
sets alarm bells ringing particularly when she poured herself a

07790 294160
second glass of wine. She explained that she had been thinking
about whether or not we should
The plaque in situ
stay married or that we might
consider a friendly divorce to
give us the opportunity to seek
a new, different and more
interesting partner. She was
sure that we ought to
experience more than one job in
a lifetime. She explained she
had been reading a book
‘Finding a Fulfilling Second
Marriage’.

Ben Taylor
I am not known for my outward displays of romantic gestures
but when the opportunity arises I tidy the bedroom and lean in
a casual yet manly sort of way against the door frame with a
thumb behind the left strap of my substantially elasticated
braces. She has just turned 60, completed a four week burnt
toast and yoghurt diet and has dyed her hair back to the colour
it was before the colour it was before that and I have to confess
that she does look well. Her friends think she is having an affair,
and them thinking that to be the case is good enough for her at Table Tennis got off to a fabulous start this week at
the moment. I did not respond at the time but the news of this Middleton and Aislaby Village Hall (7.30 to 9pm).
consideration had hit me like a bolt of thunder and I am in a bit Thanks to those who popped down; we had two
of a crisis. Change is not good for me. She is currently reading
tables set up, tea and biscuits galore and plenty of
the penultimate chapter of the book and I feel I need to make a
pre-emptive strike. Can anyone able to help? We will be coming
seats set to enjoy the latter after playing the former.
to the coffee morning next Wednesday and are happy to chat. The task now is to spread the word to neighbours
She will have completed reading the book so it will be available and friends, young and old, experienced or novice to
should anyone else wish to borrow it. Should I sign up to ‘Cupid- build this beautiful little community week by week.
On-Line’ or organise an extended beach holiday in Bogna?
Oh , did I mention it is free?!
Contact us: 07813 688243 - www.middleton and aislabyvillagehall.weebly.com

A different view of Middleton