Here is the update on our February Meeting at the Holiday Inn, Scotch Corner. We were pleased to welcome 3 prospective new members, and 3 students from Richmond School. The students are attending meetings as our guests in our Sharing Our Skills (SOS) programme this term.
History Talk
We had a fascinating talk from our speaker, Mike Wood on the history of Richmond before the arrival of the Normans. We hear a great deal about the Normans and the building of the Castle around which the town developed, but the earlier period is less commonly known. Mike is a local archaeologist and historian, and Director of the Richmondshire Museum. This is close to our hearts, as SI Richmond and Dales was instrumental in it’s being set up over 40 years ago.
He showed us a series of slides illustrating sites and artifacts found around Richmond which clearly proved that there was a varied settlement here during the Neolithic, Stone and Bronze Age periods, and during the Roman occupation. This was also the site of a major battle between Britons and Anglo-Saxon invaders which cemented Saxon control of the area in the early Medieval period. He showed us evidence of the connection between Richmond and Cataractonium – the extensive Roman fort and settlement at Catterick, became a commercial centre specialising in tanning and leather working. There is also evidence of Roman lead mining in the district, with shipment of “pigs” via Hull.
Events
As we approach the end of the year, we firmed up on some aspects of our plans for 2023-24 (which we brainstormed in January), including discussing a possible Mindful Art event. Plans are well advanced for the upcoming event at Scotch Corner in honour of International Women’s Day. Tickets are now on sale for the talk and supper with Dame Vera Baird, the former Government Victims Commissioner, on March 30th. This promises to be a very interesting event.
Re-cycling
Jenny Cathcart outlined new arrangements for some of our recycling initiatives. Spectacles can no longer be passed on for re-use, but a large bag of spectacles has been give to Specsavers, who will have them recycled for materials recovery and re-use. Some of the outlets we donated to are no longer able to collect items, but she has been able to pass on mobile phones and chargers to Oxfam, and printer cartridges are now going to Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. These may be small initiatives, but every little helps!
Bin-Twinning
She also suggested members consider a scheme reported by our Federation SIGBI recently on a personal basis, as it does not fit our usual schemes. This is called “Bin Twinning”. Individuals pay to “twin” their waste-bin with a refuse processing scheme in a poorer country (see https://www.bintwinning.org/twin-your-bin/ ). This would be a good follow up for our “Toilet Twinning” campaign completed this year.