Travellers Rest IN response to David Wilkinson (no relation to my husband Dave Wilkinson) and his letter “Pub dreams” (D&S Times letters, Mar 26). I was saddened to read the views of Mr Wilkinson regarding the anticipated reopening of the much missed Travellers Rest in Skeeby. Unlike him I do not consider Skeeby as my village, more our village and as such am hoping that Skeeby Community Pub Society (SCPS) are able to successfully negotiate a mutually acceptable deal with the current owner and bring back a valuable community asset which will offer the residents of Skeeby and its visitors a place in which to “sample local food and drink enjoy a feeling of relaxation, companionship and community togetherness” and potentially so much more.
A WOMAN who was a tireless fundraiser, resolute in her political beliefs and a former member of staff at the wartime code breaking centre has died. Sheilah Maureen Pitman (nee Westropp) was born into a military family; her father was Major-Gen Victor John Eric Westropp CB CBE, while her mother Elenita Augusta died when she was a teenager. During the Second World War she enlisted in the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRENs) and worked at Bletchley Park, where the country’s top brains successfully cracked the German enigma codes, credited as greatly shortening the conflict. For years she and the other staff from the code breaking HQ were forbidden from discussing anything of their part in the highly-secret crypto-war until years later.
A GROUP of friends who bonded over the shared love of their allotments have been growing produce to support a hospice charity in memory of a friend. Led by founding member Jon Stephenson, ‘The Allotmenteers’ from Northallerton have been growing vegetables in memory of their friend Paul Brennan – known as Bren. Bren was cared for in the last days of his life in November 2019 by Herriot Hospice Homecare carers. The group is donating the proceeds from the vegetables they grow and sell to support Herriot Hospice Homecare s care and support across Hambleton and Richmondshire. Mr Stephenson said: “Following the death of our dear friend Bren in November 2019, we decided to set up a memorial fund in his name to say thank you to Herriot Hospice Homecare for all the support and comfort they provided to him and his family.