Tag: sleights

Charity fundraising day in memory of a pal “always there for others”

Whitby Anchor by Emma Ryan

A Sleights family are holding a fundraising fun day and barbecue in memory of a man who died from cancer aged just 35.

Nick Gale would have turned 36 on Sunday but he passed away in January two weeks after being diagnosed with oesophageal cancer.

On Saturday, a get together for family, friends and anyone who wants to support the cause will be held at Sleights Cricket Pitch, 2pm to 8pm.

There will be a barbecue, drinks, cake stall, live music from Best Served Cold, a 5-a-side football tournament (all ages and abilities, bouncy castle, tombola and field games.

Nick’s family will be donating all funds raised to Embers – a charity established specifically to provide advice and support to people aged 18-40 who have received a diagnosis of incurable or terminal cancer.

Holly Gale, Nick’s older sister, said: “It was two and a half weeks between diagnosis and death. As a family, we were really lucky to have support financially and emotionally, but there are lots of other people in that situation who don’t have that support.

“While we have been grieving there have been several other people who have reached out to me who have lost a sibling, and this day has gone from there. We were always going to do an event for Nick’s birthday and it was going to be for charity. Embers is northern as well so it is perfect.”

She added the day will be fun, upbeat and positive to reflect Nick’s personality. Since his death, Nick’s partner Alice has given birth to their baby daughter.

Nick’s childhood friend, Jim Roberts, has started the fundraiser via JustGiving.

He said the day will be “loud, warm, a bit daft, and full of the people he cared about” – and the kind of day out Nick himself would have loved.

Jim added: “Behind the jokes, Nick was one of the most genuinely good people you could hope to meet. He measured people by whether they were kind, and he lived by the same standard. He had a knack for spotting when someone wasn’t okay and a way of making things feel lighter again. He showed up for people, again and again, often when they needed it most.”

Sleights FC will kick off new season with a senior side for first time in four years

Whitby Anchor by Emma Ryan

After a four year hiatus, Sleights FC has re-formed its adult team with a focus on bringing on young players.

Following an application process it has been confirmed that Sleights FC will go into The Beckett Division 2 with pre-season training set to get underway next month.

The adult team disbanded four years ago but the junior sides continued. It is hoped the newly reformed senior side will enable these young players to continue playing local football.

A former team shot from the Sleights FC archives. Picture: submitted.

Sleights FC will be managed by James Howard, who has been coaching Sleights juniors with Simon Boushall for the last seven years. He had previously managed the senior side for six seasons and told The Anchor he is looking forward to going back to continue the journey.

James said: “I’ve waited a long time to get back in charge of Sleights FC after spending many years coaching the youth teams. But now the time is right.

“It’s a new chapter for the club and an opportunity to compete alongside some very strong teams in The Beckett league structure. With so many local teams in the divisions it can only be good for the town and surrounding areas.

“This time around, the emphasis will certainly be on youth with some older heads guiding them through the season but it’s a great chance to get Sleights FC back amongst it and competing alongside the town’s other clubs.”

Cooking up a collaboration between Sleights cubs and Radford’s butchers

Whitby Anchor by Emma Ryan

A Sleights cubs group has been given cash boost by local butcher Andrew Radford after they visited his shop as part of a project about healthy eating and food.

Andrew, of Radford’s Butchers on Coach Road, donated £500 to Sleights Seekers Cubs pack as well cooking up a feast of sausages for the young ones to tuck into during their visit.

Andrew told the cubs about the importance of knowing where your food has come from, making some healthy food choices and why Radford’s seeks to use the best available produce.

Andrew Radford talks to the cubs about the importance of supporting local farmers and knowing where your food comes from. Picture: submitted

He said: “Radford’s Butchers are all about community, the Sleights Seekers Cubs pack has been part of many families lives in Sleights and the wider Esk Valley, teaching many generations of our young ones vital life skills and the importance of being an active and proud member of our community.

“When one of our customers, a cub’s parent, told us the cubs were recently learning about cooking and healthy food choices we wanted to get involved and also to give them a little support to ensure that pack leader Steve, and the other dedicated volunteers, can keep the pack going.”

Cub Peter enjoying his Radford’s sausage bun in the sun. Picture: submitted

Cub leader Steve McGivern added: “We’re really grateful for the support from Radford’s. We are a volunteer organisation facing ever increasing costs so this donation will go a long way to providing resources for our fantastic local cubs pack.”

Cubs James and George receive a cheque for £500 from Andrew and Sarah Radford of Radford’s Butchers in Sleights. Picture: submitted

Andrew also showed off the two Battle of the Butchers trophies, which Radford’s has won in consecutive years (2024 and 2025), at The Great Yorkshire Show.

Radford’s will be heading back to the Great Yorkshire Show this July to defend its crown.

Sleights Seekers Cubs pack meets every Wednesday from 6pm during term time at the Sleights Scout Hut.

Moors fire fund-raising champion Amy up for national award

Whitby Anchor by Emma Ryan

A funding campaign expecting to raise a few hundred pounds to cover fuel costs of farmers bravely fighting wildfires on the North York Moors last summer ended up topping £77,000 – and now the woman behind it has been nominated for a national award.

Amy Cockrem of Sleights is up for the Charity Champion category at the Local Hero Awards after setting up the Justgiving page, which surpassed all expectations, and led to an incredible response from Whitby residents and beyond.

The awards attract entries from up and down the country and winners, decided by the number of public votes they receive, will be announced at a prize-giving ceremony at the NEC in Birmingham in October. 

There are just two days left to support Ms Cockrem with lines closing on Friday (April 24).

The Charity Champion category is to recognise “an individual who has dedicated their time, energy, or skills to supporting a charitable cause through volunteering, fundraising, or advocacy.”

Ms Cockrem says she was surprised to be nominated and found out when she got an email about it.

She said: “I was surprised to be nominated, but I have said it all along and still say it now, I don’t want any credit, I set it up because that is me.

“It is the farmers and fire-fighters who deserve all the credit. I am not one for publicity and didn’t do it for that. I did get a bit of stick for it but you do I suppose.”

Money from the fund was distributed by the NFU to cover costs incurred by farmers as they worked alongside fire crews to bring the wildfire, which raged for weeks across ten square miles, under control.

This included new oil filters, servicing and repairs to damaged tractors and machinery. Farmers who worked and helped on the moors last August were presented with a Botham’s hamper at Christmas as a thankyou which was also paid for from the fund.

Any remaining funds are set to be donated to The Fire Fighters Charity.

Ms Cockrem’s father was a farmer and she used to work on a farm as a relief milker so the cause was close to her heart.

Ms Cockrem added: “I am from a farming background and it resonated, but even if I wasn’t I would still have done it.

“The impact on the farmers, they will never forget and some of the stories you hear are hell.

“They were literally terrified for their lives, they were working alongside fire-fighters, driving through flames and didn’t think they would come out – and they just did it.

“I find it emotional to think about now and that they didn’t have to do it, but did it for their communities.”

Whitby Anchor