Stan of Dalton

An amazing man - an amazing project.

Possibly the only one of its kind in the UK:

An organisation that grew out of one man's vision and has been doggedly pursued for the last 35 years by Stan and his group of volunteers. One that is thriving with a turn over of over £1,000 per day in these financially difficult times.

In 1976

"My wife nearly knocked me off my chair and said, " you ought to volunteer" "

Volunteer he did, back then - and he's been working hard ever since - and is still going strong.

Watch both these videos if you want to learn from someone who takes on a vision and not only achieves it but takes on more and more visions into what is possible.

If the vision was to dig a tunnel under the atlantic to New York - Stan would be the one to have in charge if he were persuaded it was a good idea ( may I correct that if Stan's wife had thought it was a good idea and was able to persuade him). I suspect Stan's wife is an equally impressive person - I wonder how much of him she has seen over the years.


I sought out this impressive man over a week ago - one of the people behind the community Baths-Leisure Centre- Cafe´- and now playground project in Dalton. He agreed to be interviewed.

I've now allowed the week for censure to pass and am now making the interview public.

It comes in two halves. Here's the first:

And here's the second.

Here is a view of the park Stan was talking about with the Leisure Centre and Swimming Pool /Cafe´in the distance.

Having a bit of fun with the youngsters

Keeps you young - What else is there in life other to have fun?

Well to be truthful - quite a lot. I suppose we can get our fun in different ways - even trying to get thirty year olds, local people generally, officials, politicians and myself to think and question their/our beliefs.

None-the-less we all benefit from letting our hair down for a few hours a week.

We all would do this in different ways  but this is just one of mine:

I didn't know the two boys in this video but we soon became mates and got up to quite a lot of jaunts in this wonderful place.

Here's to everyone who lives life to the full and encourages criticism even of themselves - come on enjoy yourself - I can take it (in small doses) - now that I've adjusted to the idea that basically we're all very selfish people - often with deep emotional hurt buried deep inside.

Something for everyone - Dalton Leisure Centre

The people of Dalton have, for a long time, been working together to achieve facillites for their town.

At this location they funded the building of the swimming pool - one of the best in the area - it has two old advantage and two new ones.

First - the pool is warm

Second - Dawn runs a great Café with good food and drink

Third - the pool now has a great spash zone.

Lastly - they have a fantastic playground outside that caters for all ages.

The only down side that I'm aware of is that the water is chlorinated resulting in sore eyes if pee gets into the water - Ulverston is better though a bit colder and more suited for those who take their swimming seriously.

Here's a quick view of the new playground:

Croftlands Playing Field

It's incredible what a mess the SLDC officers have made of this project by being so manipulative in trying avoid having an honest consultation . Is this because of lack of funds? Why isn't Bishop-Rowe more involved in steering this through?

At the same time the influence of a small group of some five older, frightened, very vocal women is amazing.

They call themselves the Croftlands Community Safety Association and their influence can be very negative; for example to stop kids playing in the playing field.

Sadly they live on the edge of this field and do all they can to prevent it being used for what it's intended. They clearly have a vested interest because of their proximity to what they imagine as potential trouble - teenagers up to no good in amongst the equipment which includes having sex under the slides. They have been encouraged over a period of a few years because one of them has learnt how much noise one can make by repeated attendence at Town Council Meetings so that Councillors are wary of them and District officials are afraid to meet them head on. Bishop-Rowe I understand attends their meetings.

When I was running for County Councillor I visited every house that was adjacent to the playing field - some one hundred houses and 95% of the people wanted the kids to have good playing facilities on the field , yet these women have managed to express their views with strength and stopped things going forward.

As a result the organised few with extreme views have a disproportionate influence.

The actions of this miserable group have managed to delay the provision of various facilities starting with the MUGA for over two years now. My emails with the South Lakes officials indicate the delays and behind the scenes inactivity trying to find a way round this small group.

What is needed is an open meeting with all the interested parties showing up and sorting this once and for all. Trouble is, will the silent majority stand up and say their piece and tell the frightened ladies to shut up and stop working themselves into a tiz as to what terrible things will happen if young people get together and enjoy themselves.

While I agree there is a potential problem this is not dealt with by avoiding it.

What I believe is needed is more adult participation in what happens in this area so that adults have a calming influence. Trouble is the majority are apathetic and want to bury their heads under the covers. Ideally a cafe could be opened on the parade or as an extension of the existing Community Centre which would attract even more adults to the area.

For my part I hope to bring a pottery interest to the railings around the area in the Spring of 2011 through a project at Croftlands Junior school this could become an interest shared by people of all ages as has happened in Gill Banks with the pottery on the railings and the provision of picnic tables nearby.

A good mix of people is ideal.

Get yourself down to Lightburn Park

The kids are happy but now is the time, right at the beginning, to get them behaving well to all ages.

I was able to talk to the few rogues there and persuade them not to ride their bikes on the grass.

There are enough sensible kids around for an adult to have a lot of influence in guiding their behaviour in a way that is sympathetic and considerate to everyone.

Ignore this scene and the yobos will take over and we're in for a lot more trouble than if we got stuck in now.

Most of the kids are arriving by bike and hence kids from all over are attracted here.

It's a great chance for older ones to have a lot of influence by simply showing an interest and even a bit of admiration for the skills that some of them have.

Playgrounds

Richard Foster of SLDC take note.

We in Ulverston are fed up with your "play it safe" attitude.

We want to be allowed to have more "dangerous" play areas like the one being explored on BBC Breakfast this morning at the Tate Modern this week end. Here "Health and Safety has been brought down to earth with some "dangerous" play equipment.

Somewhere to go and have a bit of challenging fun - I'd love the chance!

At last we get a skateboarding park in Lightburn Park - fifteen years too late - during this time our young people have become increasingly restless.

Now concentrate on the playing field at Croftlands and improve the area in the Honeypot so that the Auction Mart and Abattoir loses it appeal to youngsters.

Norman Bishop-Row, it's time for you to be more proactive and put Ulverston on the map. You with all the other SLDC Councillors outside of Kendal are in the majority.

How come Kendal appears to get all the goodies?

Young people first

For a change.

What is the hold up with the facilities for young people?

Two things have been promised:

• A Skateboarding Park in Lightburn Park.

• A Multiple Use Games Area for Croftlands Playing Field

Neither are happening.

Two months ago the foundation for the Skateboarding Park was promised to start "in three weeks time". Still nothing.

Last September the MUGA for Croftlands was promised for the Spring.

So what is happening Councillor Norman Bishop-Rowe. This is your patch.

Are the promised funds in SLDC being diverted elsewhere?

Young people because they are less able to express themselves in a rational persuasive manner often fail to get things done for them. Yet we are all to quick to jump on them when they misbehave .

Is it the adults that are misbehaving here?

"Take you skateboards somewhere else" is often the cry.

"Where" they reply.

"Anywhere but here" is the answer.

Who's being childish?

Do we want to raise responsible young adults with initiative?

The brand new MUGA in the Honeypot

Looks good - sturdy, well made but where are the facilities for playing tennis and the like?

At the meeting in October we were promised that net games could be included - all conveniently forgotten.

Next; how about something for the skateboarders. This isn't the best location but something is needed locally for young children who should not be expected to travel unattended all the way to Lightburn Park.

Next obstacle to deal with is the provision of lighting so that the MUGA can be used in the evenings and the provision of some youth workers to encourage its use.

Let's keep the pressure on Simon Hughes and the SLDC to keep supporting and extending this facility, perhaps with something more central to the area.

This is an opportunity for Mark Wilson , the new and keen SLDC councillor to show us what he can do!

Croftlands people have a good look - this is what is planned for the Playing field on Central Drive !

Kids scaling the heights

Which they will, with a little encouragement!

Enjoy a little insubordination on the way to the top!

Health and Safety my arse !

Mrs Smith, ex Head of Croftlands would agree, I believe.

She had her pupils climbing to the top of the Playdale pillars and standing on the very top and didn't bat an eyelid.

She found their academic performance matched their outrageous behaviour.

Vive La France where this was taken last year!

What do we have here - no leapfrogs or conker contests - they're DANGEROUS

Oh by the way, I'm told that the condition for the grant for the climbing wall at Victoria High School is that it's open to the whole community ! (?)


Hurray - no ropes !

Any seventy year olds fancy a bit of excitement (or is that insulting the ninety year olds).

Come now don't all shout at once!

How about one of these at the Croftlands Community Centre and then the ladies of the Croftlands Community Safety Association could have some fun .

Geoff, behave yourself!