Welcome to . . .
Martin Howe who joins the Wykeham Mature Plants sales team and will be based at the Bothy in the Walled Garden where the whole team have recently moved.

Welcome to . . .
Nick Bulmer who starts work as a beat keeper in February. He will assist Matthew Steadman in developing the Abbey Shoot now the Bedale beat has been brought in house.




Sad farewell . . .
Ivan Brett died on 13 December 2006. Ivan was previously the Resident Agent at Wykeham between 1978 and 1993. A tribute appears in this newsletter.

Wykeham Business Centre Welcomes Royalty

HRH The Princess Royal visited the Dawnay Estates last Autumn to open the new corporate regional training facility of St John Ambulance, in Langley House at the Wykeham Business Centre. The Princess Royal, who is Commandant in Chief of the Ambulance and Nursing Cadets, spent an hour talking to the volunteers and their guests; before unveiling a plaque to commemorate her visit and signing the visitors book as the first official guest. In her speech Princess Anne praised St John Ambulance for its initiative and the Estate for the attractively designed conversion scheme. She went on to say the development reflected the modern image of St John Ambulance, yet it had been tastefully created in a delightful rural setting. What impressed many of the guests was the Princess Royal’s detailed knowledge of St John’s business as well as her well known morale boosting qualities. Princess Anne was the second Royal visitor to Wykeham Business Centre in as many years, as HRH The Duke of Kent opened the development in Autumn 2004. The Wykeham Business Centre appears to be collecting Royal Plaques like postage stamps!

Activities on the Estates

Royal Game Records

The National Park have recently started an impressive redevelopment of the Moors Centre (Danby Lodge). To illustrate the history of the Lodge the National Park asked if the Estate had any game books or other documentation that could be used to illustrate how life was when it was used as a shooting lodge.
Giving some indication of what previous generations found important, a number of huge beautifully completed game books were found, recording all the birds and other wildlife that had the pleasure or otherwise of becoming acquainted with Lord Downe’s ancestors.
The 9th Viscount, who was a famous shot, shared record bags on the grouse moors such as Bolton Abbey, Abbeystead and Langholm; bags of up to 539 brace of grouse were shot at Bolton Abbey and Abbeystead, King George V shooting 1,073 birds over 6 days followed by the 9th Viscount shooting 765 birds over the same period in August 1927. There is another entry in 1924 by way of a telegram from the King to say that 558½ brace of partridge had been shot at Sandringham – “so we have beaten Holkham and Westacre” signed George RI (this appears to be the Royal equivalent of sending a text message gloating when Chelsea lose 2-0 at home!)

Abbey Shoot – High flying pheasants…. and keeper!

The shooting at Wykeham seems to have taken on a new energy since the arrival of Matthew, his trusty Mule (- mechanical), and an under keeper, Nick Bulmer.
Flying is perhaps the apt description; Matthew flying about the Estate at all hours feeding, dogging-in, keeping vermin under control, and thinking about new drives; and as a result a whole new thinning and felling policy for the woods!
Some spectacular shooting is being developed on the Bedale and Yedmandale beats – this time high flying. Next year the final section of the jigsaw – Ruston beat – falls in hand and a variety of shooting will be on offer for the 2007 season. This will include 150 and 200 bird days with a mixture of high birds in Bedale and Yedmandale, the Abbey beat and a combination of the two over the undulating country immediately north and south of Ruston, Wykeham and Hutton Buscel Villages.
The Countryside Stewardship scheme has been a real bonus in ensuring that there is plenty of nesting and feeding habitat and the Entry Level Scheme has also contributed to the development of an excellent partridge shoot.
The number and variety of days will be extended next year and it is hoped that a full programme will be in place by March. Bookings are being taken already and to do so contact Robert Sword

Wykeham Business Centre – Fully Let

Christmas came early for Business Centre Manager, Carolyn Jackson, when the final office, No 3 Langley House was let to Jacobs UK Ltd.
When she first met representatives of Jacobs UK, Carolyn knew that all the buildings and facilities would come under the closest scrutiny by their property team. So she was delighted when the Wykeham Business Centre was chosen as their main Yorkshire office. Jacobs UK also have support offices in Harrogate and Northallerton after securing a £9 million contract for the next ten years. Jacobs UK will act as Consultants for North Yorkshire County Council, managing their professional services looking after the County’s Highways and Property. A spokesman for Jacobs UK, Bill Schlegel, Director of Operations said “We are delighted to be occupying an office at Wykeham Business Centre. It is an ideal location for our staff and allows us to keep in close contact with our valued clients in the Scarborough area and right across North Yorkshire.”
Wykeham Business Centre, which is only 7 miles from Scarborough, is a fine example of how local, regional and international companies manage and develop business in a rural setting but also stay in touch with the rest of the world due to the IT capability at Wykeham.

Log Cabin arrives in Wykeham

“Wow, that looks smart” is the favourite expression of the visitors to the reception at St Helens in the Park. I thought at first they were referring to Jane’s car, but no, it’s the new “Log Cabin” which appeared overnight.
For some years now, the wardens at the park have lived in a succession of static caravans opposite the reception. Even though each van has been a slight improvement on the previous, the rain has still drummed on the flat roof and the inside temperature has often followed the outside temperature too closely for comfort.

Now all is new! Two lorries appeared from Milton Keynes, each with a 10ft by 20ft section of a house on board. A flurry of activity involving plumbers, electricians and painters soon joined the two halves together, and, within 48 hours, the log cabin was up and running, complete with beds, tables and chairs, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and all the mod cons. It has an insulated pitched roof, triple glazed windows and a covered terrace for line dancing classes and barbecues.
All in all, though technically a mobile home, it is a pleasure both to look at and to live in. It has greatly enhanced the entrance to the park and given a good home to the wardens. The straw skirt is a temporary arrangement to keep out the frost until the brickies can come to the site and make a more permanent arrangement. In essence a great improvement to the park. Chris Tedman

Ivan Brett

Ivan Brett, who was the Resident Agent at the Dawnay Estates from 1978 to 1993, died just before Christmas last year.
Ivan first really got to know the Estate when, as surveyor at the Scarborough Corporation, he was consulted over the design of St Helens Caravan Park. In 1978 Ivan took over as Resident Agent and was instrumental in growing the new businesses at St Helens, Wykeham Trees and the Downe Arms.
His real monument is the development of the mineral extraction. He modestly told the story that it was all down to George Malcolm (Head Forester), who one day popped his head around Ivan’s door asking if he could borrow a JCB for a couple of days.Gravel was found and 26 years later Hanson Aggregates are still working the site. This short summary does not do justice to Ivan’s work at the lakes and in particular his determination that they should be well landscaped for future generations. Visitors will know how successful his efforts were and understand they are a fitting memorial to Ivan’s fifteen years at Wykeham.
Ivan was a keen Countryman and took part in and developed many country pursuits such as the River Derwent Angling Club, Derwent Point to Point Secretary and the shooting at Wykeham and on the Danby Moors. In his earlier years he was a keen jockey.
Robert Sword, his successor, recalls his continuing interest and help in the well being of the Estate, but also his respect for the need to keep a distance following his retirement nearby in Snainton.

The Archbishop visits . . .

The pupils and teachers of Wykeham School were delighted to welcome Archbishop Sentamu as a visitor recently as part of his tour of the Pickering Deanery.
He toured the local Church of England aided primary school and spent time talking to the pupils and discussing their work with them. He then opened their new playground.

The Village Hall Ball 2006

The theme was “Moulin Rouge” and that’s exactly what met guests as they arrived at this year’s Village Hall Ball held at the Downe Arms in Wykeham. Matthew Noble had created the real windmill using bits and pieces liberated from around the Estate and covered with red fairy lights. Inside, the Kings Jewel had been transformed into a Parisian nightclub from around the turn of the century – the place was filled with flowers! Bishop Burton final year floristry students had been at work and their work was simply superb. ‘Merveilleux!” the people cried as they entered the venue for an evening of French fun.
Showgirls in magnificent costumes, be-decked with ostrich feathers, served up the pre-dinner drinks and passed around canapés (French for little nibbles). The scene was set!
The evening went by all too soon, with music provided by the “Supatones”. They were tight and very together, and kept the dance floor full to capacity all night long. Altogether, the evening raised an amazing £2,800 for the Village Hall Fund and everyone had a great time doing it! Well done to everyone who put in so much effort to make the event a success.
Justin Terry

Caravaners ring in the New Year

Residents may not be aware that the bells in Wykeham Church rang in the New Year, for the first time for many years. What they certainly won’t know, is that the ringing team came from one family, staying in their caravan on St Helens Caravan Park. The Young family, from Hovingham, are renowned, throughout North Yorkshire, as being one of the most proficient bell ringing families. Mum, Dad and a handful of children of various ages, all ring for York Minster, Tadcaster and other high profile towers.
However, on New Year’s Eve they graced the tower in Wykeham, along with Peter from the home team. By 11.30 one of the family was slightly the worse for wear, and not quite up to ringing. No problem, Dad just rang two bells, one with each hand!! Anybody who has rung church bells will know that ringing one bell is more than enough. The thought of ringing two is quite beyond comprehension!
I just hope it was appreciated, even as it was blowing a gale.
Chris Tedman

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