Although my tenure of being the Area 22 Rep was drawing to a close in late 2025 there was still a couple of events left in the “old boy”! We had been to Wales, Yorkshire Scotland, France, Belgium so why not back to my hometown of Whitby. With a plan in mind for May 2026, I headed north in November to visit Sneaton Castle which since I lived there had morphed from the home of the Sisters of the Holy Paraclete and private girls’ school to a luxury hotel. One look convinced me that this is where Area 22 should spend a few days. We were not disappointed!
Captain Cook in 1746 went to Whitby; 280 years later on Monday 18 May 2026 twelve Astons sailed into Whitby. Some had left the day before; our new friends John and Linda had begun their voyage from Northumberland. For the main party, a garden centre in Lincoln was the perfect venue for lunch during which the rain was torrential! However, crossing into god’s country the sun came out, and we pressed on through York, over the Moors and the “captain” was in home territory. The Castle turned out to be everything that we could have wanted; even Jeremy Clarkson’s draught cider was on sale in the bar, if you like it that is! Dinner was superb and the “family” bonded as usual.
Tuesday dawned wet and windy: this was Whitby! Undeterred we headed out in convoy through the narrow streets of the town and I bored the troops with my endless reminiscences of being a boy in the town in the late 1950’s. A visit to the Abbey was essential and we stood and grinned at the camera as the black clouds swept overhead. It was time for the Moors. Along the south side of the Esk valley and up onto the bleak Wheeldale Moor where we drove 15 miles on a single-track road and met not a car. We pressed on through a river crossing, thankfully with no red warning lights, finally climbing up through the clouds to Rosedale Moor and Blakey Ridge for lunch at the Lion Inn. Visibility was down to a few car lengths, and we almost drove past without seeing it! In true Yorkshire fashion an excellent lunch was served exactly 120 seconds later than I had planned six months before!! It was then down one of the Top Gear roads to Hutton-le-Hole, round the north edge of the Moors and back to Whitby via the scenic coast road. It was “taxis at 1830” and we all headed off to Whitby town to savour the local offerings. Fish and Chips, of course, was the main choice, many of us ending the evening in a “pub” (I use the term loosely!). A few nightcaps and off to bed but not before a personal panic. I had left £600 of tickets for the next day at home…a phone call including the words “well, that’s a ***** up” gave me hope.
Wednesday, we had to get our socks on early, the Yorkshire Belle was sailing from Bridlington at 1200. On the way the convoy got separated, of course, but we all made the Park and Ride at Bridlington on time or so we thought. Finding the car park tickets had been printed incorrectly (which bit do you leave in the windscreen?) and the bus driver saying “take no notice of the timetable” as he departed 11 minutes early leaving several of the 22 Team gasping for air in the back. The Yorkshire Belle was waiting at the North Pier; “is that our little boat” being the comment as she lay on the low tide 20 feet below us! With five minutes to sailing the crew appeared, pushed a gangway out into space and we all boarded safely. There followed four hours of sailing to Filey Bay via Flamborough Head and the famous Bempton Cliffs. Here under towering cliffs thousands of sea birds breeding on the cliffs called to us. A spectacular sight made even better by a display from a pod of bottlenosed dolphins alongside the ship. Back ashore and legs steadied, we headed back to the Castle for the last night revelries. Dinner was excellent and the wine flowed, for some of us, until Thursday morning. My guest for the evening was Sue, my friend of 75 years, and with whom I used to catch the bus to primary school in Whitby.
And so, it was Thursday, the last day of the Whitby Endeavour. It was wet and windy again, but we parked the cars on the immaculate grass of the Castle front lawn and Sue’s son, a professional photographer took the obligatory “final picture”. By 1030 we had all left, scattered to the four winds heading home. I believe everyone made it safely, a possible speeding ticket and cracked windscreen spiced it up!!!
Sandra joins me in thanking the” family” for making the event so successful and for the generous gifts and comments.
For those going… the Salop Gallop is now on the horizon.
Photos of the event are on the website as a photo album under Members Area/Photo Albums