At Driffield School we have an active Executive Students’ Council whose role involves gathering ideas from the student body, to bring about positive outcomes for the school.

Throughout a typical year, the Executive Students’ Council work on various different projects linked with the life of the school, ranging from charity fund raisers to community clean ups.

One of the first jobs for the Executive Council this year was to hit the streets of Driffield to carry out a community litter pick.

The Executive Council’s presence was praised by both members of the public as well as teachers and other students from the school. The students were certainly visible in their luminous yellow attire!

Four members of the Executive Council: Josh Kingswell, Adam Dennis, Tom Baker and Sophie Watson, were lucky enough to be involved in the Big Deb8 in December. Secondary schools from across the East Riding had the opportunity to attend the Council chambers in Beverley and participate in a Youth Budget Conference, as well as debating some of the key issues facing young people across our region. After a hard fought battle it was a confident delivery from Josh Kingswell that eventually won his part of the debate for Driffield School.

This year the Executive Council organised and ran our first book exchange in the Learning Resource Centre, with students being given the chance to donate old books or swap books they have already read.

More than 150 books were donated and the event was a great success with money raised going back into the centre and new books chosen by the Executive Council.

So far this year our non-uniform days have raised £606 which was donated to Ward 77 of the Manchester Children’s Hospital in memory of Jamie Knott and £565 which is being donated to the Red Cross Syria Crisis Appeal.

Students at Driffield School have recently been taking part in a challenge to design a menu to link in with chosen themes of Yorkshire, America and Italy.

The Executive Council will judge these entries with the winning menus being served in the school canteens before the end of term.

The Executive Council hope to finish the school year on a high note, with members of the council hosting ‘I’m a teacher get me out of here’. Without giving too much away to the unsuspecting teachers, the even will be a charity fund raiser, which sees teachers going head to head on a variety of different food challenges.

For obvious reasons we are not able to involve live creatures, but we hope Mr Barnard’s infamous home grown chillies may make a guest appearance!

Geography lessons are so much more fun when you can get out of the classroom and, as our Y8 students recently discovered, the East Yorkshire coastline is the perfect place for a field trip.

From caves, stacks and arches to bolder clay, groynes and coastal erosion the opportunities to learn about physical geography along our coastline are extensive.

During their day trip to Flamborough Head and Bridlington North and South beaches Y8s had the opportunity to see at first-hand how the North Sea shapes the coastline and the impact this has on homes and businesses.

Head of Geography Mrs Tuohy said: “These field trips are so good for our students, they really bring the subject to life in a way that isn’t possible to recreate in the classroom.

“We’re really lucky to live so close to this amazing stretch of coastline, which boasts some of the most stunning geological features in the UK.

“Our students are always impressed by the sights we see and get a real feel for the subject as a result.”

A children’s author visited Garton-on-the-Wolds Primary School to spend a day teaching youngsters about story writing.

Christina Butler, who has written stories including One Snowy Night, led workshops with students.

Ms Butler, who was born in Scarborough, draws on her love of nature in her work, and school pupils got into the spirit of her writings by donning animal masks.

A passion for illustration pervades her work, and students enjoyed getting to grips with the art of writing and drawing for children.

Almost £30,000 has been donated to a playing field project in Leconfield.

The Leconfield Playing Field Association (PFA) has secured £27,177 in funding from the Armed Forces Community Covenant Grant scheme.

A further £16,523 in funding was secured from the East Riding of Yorkshire Council Sport, Play and Arts Community Development Fund and the playground is now completed.

Mike Wray, chairman of the PFA, said: “We only set the PFA up two years ago with a target of about £70,000 to refurbish the whole playground.

“We thought it would take 10 years, but thanks to my hard working committee arranging many fund raising events, the generosity of our parish council and several grant awarding bodies such as the MODs Community Covenant, the Big Lottery and East Riding of Yorkshire Council, we have completed the job.”

Staff from the Defence School of Transport, Leconfield, also played a part in assisting the submission for the community grant.

Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Grove will be visiting Driffield today, Thursday May 9, to visit the local policing team and tour the area to see the work going on to reduce crime.

The visit is part of Mr Grove’s Neighbourhood Tour, and he plans to visit every Neighbourhood Policing Team in the Humberside Police area this year. Already, he has addressed Driffield town council.

Community Cohesion Officers are spreading the word that Humberside Police will not tolerate Hate Crime - and nor should anyone else.

A short film by Polish production company Astor Productions, has been commissioned by Humberside Police and partner agencies, to educate people in diverse communities about what Hate Crime is; what to look out for; where to report it and who can help.

The film, which is three and a half minutes long, follows the journey of a woman (Coronation Street actress Amy Forest) who witnesses three incidents, where a man has verbally abused three different types of minority groups.

The lead character contemplates whether to call the police and report the incident. She questions what constitutes Hate Crime, who to turn to for support, and how she can report the inexcusable behaviour she has seen.

The DVD was commissioned by the Police to complement a presentation which is delivered to Hull based diverse communities, including: Black and Ethnic Minority, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transexual (LGBT), faith and religious groups, youth groups, the elderly, people with immigration status and disabled people.

If successful, the scheme will be rolled out across the force area.

Funding for the project has come from Humberside Police, Neighbourhood Network, Tribune Trust and Hull City Council.

Hate Crime can be reported to Humberside Police on 101 in a non-emergency, or 999 for an incident in progress.

Alternatively people can call the 24 hour Hate Crime Reporting Line, on 0300 123 4283.

Customer Service Centre staff at Hull City Council have been trained to help anyone who wishes to report a crime, and they be contacted on 01482 300 300, or in any centre across Hull.

PC Sharon Houfe, Community Cohesion Officer for Hull, is hopeful the video will help people to realise that Hate Crime can come in all different forms. She said: “Hate Crime tends to be unreported in our area, possibly due to people not knowing what Hate Crime is and how the Police can help.

“Hate Crime is a hidden problem, as people seemingly don’t report the low level crime, such as verbal abuse.

“We want people to get in touch with us before any situation escalates, so we can intervene, and carry out an investigation which is victim led, to resolve any issues, before they get out of hand.”

Geoff Ogden, Director of the High Sheriffs’ and Humberside Police Tribune Trust. added: “The trustees of the Tribune Trust had no hesitation in supporting and funding the filming and production of this excellent DVD.

“Hate crime causes misery and fear for the victim and their families. It can lead to real community tension and worse.

“History is littered with examples of bias motivated criminal offences being ignored leading to appalling crimes against humanity and we want to see this stamped out at the earliest opportunity.”

Louise Yates, Arts Development Officer at Hull City Council, is pleased to be involved in the project and in particular to support Kris as a Film maker. She said: “This project has given us the opportunity to work with a talented film maker from the Polish community.

“We hope that this relationship grows and we can continue to support other artists from this community.

“City Arts Unit can offer support to artists who want to develop their ideas, whether it’s advice about funding or help with marketing we can help artist to make their project happen.”

A bonfire got out of control and spread to bushes in Driffield on Bank Holiday Monday.

A call was received by the emergency services at 10.11pm and the fire officers from Driffield Fire Station were on the scene, in Bridge Street, by 10.15pm.

One hose reel was used to extinguish the flames from the bonfire.

There was no damage to property as a result of the fire.

Traditional May Day festivities were kept alive this year at North Frodingham’s annual springtime celebration.

The school’s 64 pupils turned out to enjoy the sunshine and May pole dancing on Wednesday 1 May.

Laura Merrison, 11, received the May Queen crown as the oldest girl in the school. Callum Watson, the eldest boy at the school, placed the May Queen crown on Laura’s head in the time honoured fashion.

She was escorted by her grandfather, William Hill, and pupils danced around the May pole in her honour.

Tansy Donaldson, class teacher at the school, said: “It was spectacular, it was one of our best ever events.

“It is a tradition upheld in North Frodingham for at least the past 100-years. We are one of the few schools which has a proper outdoor pole and we do it every year.”

Staff across the school help organise the May Day celebration, with dance rehearsals beginning three weeks before the big day.

Fund raising also took place with a bake sale, fair trade stall and raffle, with proceeds to be invested in the school.

A talk will take place about the importance of Border Collies at the Robert Fuller Gallery in Thixendale.

Staff, including Nap the dog, from the York based Border Collie Rescue, will attend the meeting which will also raise funds for the centre.

At 7.30pm on Sunday 12 May the evening’s event will take place, and tickets are £9.50. For more information visit www.robertefuller.com

Selby RUFC were given a heroes welcome after returning home from Twickenham with a trophy win.

Over 1,000 Selebians travelled down to the capital for the crucial clash with Drybrook and they were not disappointed as Richard Nicholson’s side ran in 29-25 winners.

24 hours after their famous win, the Swans then returned to base to be greeted by huge applause and an old-fashioned knees-up.

Wives, girlfriends and children all joined together with the returning staff at the club’s Sandhill Lane ground for a celebratory bash.

For a full match report, pictures and extensive reaction see this week’s Selby Times (Out Wednesday May 8).

A World War Two veteran who served in the 466 Squadron of the RAF based in Driffield has written about his memories of his time in service.

Ronald Last, 91, served in the squadron from October 1943 until he was shot down on an operation to bomb Berlin on January 28 1944.

After leaving the air base in Driffield the Halifax HX345 was attacked by a German Night Fighter over Berlin. Only four men survived of a crew of seven.

Mr Last has shared his experiences of baling out of the aircraft over a burning Berlin:

“On the order to ‘bale out’ I attached my parachute pack to my harness and went to the escape hatch, but on leaving the aircraft I got caught on the side of the hatch and I yelled ‘push me’ and someone did. The next thing I remembered is floating down and seeing all the fires directly below me.

“On nearing the ground I noticed what appeared to be tram wires in a roadway so I deflected my chute and dropped to the ground.

I was picked up immediately by a German soldier with a rifle and fixed bayonet and when I attempted to press my chute release button, he pushed the bayonet extremely close to me. So I put my hands up.

“Apparently, as a prisoner, I was of some value to him. I was taken first to a civilian hospital but was refused attention.

“I was taken to a military post, searched and questioned. Name, number and rank.

Mr Last was treated in hospital and was later taken to a prisoner of war camp called Stalagluft 3 at Zagan, Poland at the beginning of March 1944. This was the camp of the famous Great Escape on March 24 1944.

This year on ANZAC Day, Mr Last visited Driffield from his home in Bournemouth, to pay his respects to the fallen.

Celebrations were held at Tuesday night’s East Riding Chairman’s Awards for the winners, including one from Driffield

David Pinder, who manages Driffield Junior Football Club, took an award for individual service to the community at the awards ceremony at The Spa Bridlington.

He said he was very pleased to receive the award, which he said is also for all the people who help with junior football.

“It is absolutely lovely – it is nice to get an award for something you really enjoy doing,” David said.

During his time managing the club, which began as a one-year stretch and has now lasted over six years, he has not only acted as a team manager but has qualified as a FA coach.

Dave works with 20 nine and 10 year old boys attending training once a week. Over the last three years he has built a very successful football team in the Driffield Jaguars, and the new team the Tigers is establishing itself well.

The awards ceremony was one of the last official events to be hosted by Councillor Chad Chadwick in his capacity as Chairman.

Other individuals, companies and community groups were recognised for being the best in the East Riding across a range of categories.

Coun Chadwick said: “It became very apparent from reading the many nominations received that there are many individuals, groups, businesses and organisations that create opportunities.

“They are not people ‘simply doing their jobs’ they are people with vision who go the extra mile and apply their sense of creativity and commitment to make a difference.”

A fund raiser for Christian Aid will be held at St Nicholas’ Church Gardens.

On Saturday 11 May, from 10.30am until 4pm, the tea and coffee event will take place at the gardens in Holme Church Lane, Beverley.

There will be homemade cakes, plants and jewellery on sale and all are welcome.

As part of his campaign to improve the Emergency Ambulance Response Times in Beverley and Holderness, Graham Stuart MP will be hosting a drop-in event at Withernsea’s Meridian Centre this Saturday.

Named ‘Influence, Educate and Have a Go’, the event is open from 10am to 1pm for anybody to call in and find out how they can help in an emergency situation by having a go a Hands Only CPR and using a defibrillator.

Mr Stuart said: “This will be an exciting and interactive session where people can learn how to help in an emergency situation. St. John Ambulance will show you how to apply bandages, the Pre Hospital Care Programme will teach you how to put somebody in the recovery position and The British Heart Foundation will show you how you can improve somebody’s chance of survival if they have suffered a cardiac arrest.

“The event is open to people of all ages so please drop-in at any time during the morning to hear from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service about the work of our Community First Responder Teams and how you can support or join your local team.

“Cardiac arrest is something that can affect any of us at any time and we are all capable of making a difference to somebody’s chance of survival.”

Police recorded a man driving at speeds of 80 miles an hour along the A166, magistrates heard.

Ashley George Nicholas Beasley, 24, of Eastgate South, Driffield admitted before Bridlington magistrates to driving a goods vehicle above the legal speed limit. He also admitted to driving in a public place without due care and attention.

Both offences took place on the A166 between Wetwang and Driffield on Sunday 24 February.

Prosecuting in court on Wednesday 1 May, Chris Rafferty said: “At about half past four in the afternoon he was travelling from the direction of Bainton, the speed limit on that road being 30 miles per hour. The police followed this van for a short period of time. They noticed the speed of the vehicle driven by the defendant was 50mph.”

He said police continued to follow Beasley through a village where the speed limit was again 30mph, and he was found to be driving at 55 to 60mph. He continued to say while pursuing Beasley police had noticed their speedometer was recording speeds of over 80mph.

“The vehicle overtook some vehicles and the police also did to keep up with the van. The van then slowed to 70mph,” said Mr Rafferty.

Beasley, in mitigation for himself, said: “I am very sorry. It was a silly thing to do. I did not realised what speed I was going as I was rushing.

“I have learned by my mistakes and I am very, very sorry. I have been driving for about eight years, and I have three points on my licence for speeding matters.”

Presiding magistrate Mr Scott imposed six penalty points for the offence of speeding and a fine of £160.

Beasley had his licence endorsed as punishment for driving without due care and attention, along with a fine of £50.

He was also ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a victim surcharge of £20.

A parish council are set to take over the running of a well-loved recreation centre.

At the annual parish meeting of Nafferton Parish Council, on Wednesday 1 May, a crowd of around 50 people gathered and heard the plan for the council to manage the Rec Club.

The club, in Eastlands, Nafferton, is currently operated as a charity which was established in 1962. The parish council would take over the running as a trustee of the charity.

Councillor Mike Jackson, deputy chair of Nafferton Parish Council, chaired the meeting.

He said: “We put aside £10,000. We are not expecting to spend £10,000 on this project it is just to have it there if we need it.

“It is a fantastic facility and the quality of what is on offer is very good.

“We will be looking for volunteers to help run the Rec Club.”

An officer from East Riding of Yorkshire Council attended the meeting, to voice support of the club’s revival.

She said: “I am very positive about the development of the recreation club.

“I think there is real potential there.

“You have got one of the best facilities that I have seen so it would be a real shame if it just sat there.”

Beverley Minster welcomes two special guests this Sunday to commemorate a truly remarkable man.

The Bishop of Beverley and the Dean of York will be preaching at services to celebrate the life of the 8th century saint who founded the church, the oldest state school in the country and the town itself.

Sunday May 12 is when the church will formally commemorate the death of its founder, St John of Beverley.

To mark the occasion the newly-ordained Bishop of Beverley, the Right Reverend Glyn Webster, will be preaching at the 10.30 am Communion service.

The Bishop of Beverley is the Provincial Episcopal Visitor, or ‘flying bishop’, for the north of England and ministers to parishes that do not accept the ordination of women.

Despite his title the Bishop of Beverley has no formal role at Beverley Minster. At the 5.30pm service attended by Civic leaders from the East Riding the preacher will be the new Dean of York, the Very Rev Vivienne Faull, one of the leading female clergy in the country.

Vicar of the Minster, the Revd Jeremy Fletcher said “I am delighted that Glyn and Viv have accepted an invitation to preach this Sunday.”

Driffield Town Council has agreed to ringfence up to £15,000 to help bankroll a series of projects aimed at injecting new life into the town centre.

The authority earmarked £10,000 for town centre projects in the financial year 2012/13. And a further £5,000 has been set aside for this financial year.

The East Riding of Yorkshire Council previously commissioned a consultancy firm to produce recommendations as to how the town centre could be revitalised and, from that, a Town Centre Group started to put together proposals for the funding.

The town centre group comprises the members of the Renaissance Partnership, the town council, business people and traders and a report from them to the town council on Tuesday said that due to time constraints, promotion would begin with a small summer time events programme.

During July, August and September on the third Saturday of the month, it is proposed to hold a market on Cross Hill. Local food producers, crafts people and traditional market traders would stand and initial investigation shows that there is likely to be considerable interest.

From 3pm in Market Place, the town centre group would like to see musicians playing to encourage people to stay in the town during the late afternoon and early evening.

On the first Saturday of each month, Driffield hosts a Farmers’ Market at the showground and the town centre group would like to hire an open topped shuttle bus to bring people from the showground into the town centre.

According to the report to the town council, a similar exercise was carried out recently in Market Weighton when the Kiplingcotes Derby took place and proved very successful.

On the evenings of Driffield Show and the Steam Rally parade, the town centre group hope to encourage town centre pubs and restaurants to provide special menus or events to make the most of the fact that the town is full and so enhance the evening economy.

During the Thursday street markets which are held in the summer holidays, the town centre group propose to include children’s entertainment.

The report included loose costings totalling £9,600 which included £500 on the shuttle bus, £600 to stage the Saturday market, £1500 to pay for Saturday live music and £1000 for Thursday children’s entertainment.

Branding, banners, publicity, leaflets, posters and promotion would cost around £6,000.

The town council was told that although this was the largest cost, it would only have to be produced once.

Although the market would incur costs it was envisaged that the pitch rent would counter balance that to some extent.

Mr Nigel Robinson, a graphic designer, has been asked to give some indication of cost for branding, banners, posters and leaflets in order to promotion the season and the events.

The town centre group hope to forge links with Northern Rail in order to promote the town and its events farther afield.

Mr Matt Lewer, who had previously contacted the town council with regard to social media, is setting up Facebook and Twitter accounts to promote the events on a voluntary basis.

The town council agreed a recommendation to approve the plans, with expenses coming from the already earmarked town centre projects fund. Invoices will be presented to town councillors on a regular basis so that councillors are continually aware where and how the money was being spent.

As part of a tour around the neighbourhood policing teams of Humberside, police and crime commissioner, Matthew Grove paid a visit to Driffield.

In an interview with the Times & Post Mr Grove stressed the need to crack down on rural crime, and in particular, poaching of animals.

See next week’s Times & Post, out on Thursday May 16, for a full report.

A WANTED man has been flown back to Britain to face justice after being on the run for six years for crimes in Bridlington.

An international arrest warrant was issued for Conrad Sanderson, 50, of Beverley Road, Driffield, in December 2006 after fled the UK - first to Greece and then to Bulgaria.

He was wanted to be sentenced for a case of dangerous driving around the streets of Bridlington on February 5 2006. He had pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, dangerous driving, failing to stop after an accident and assault with intent to resist arrest on Pc James Gray.

Sanderson caused mayhem at the wheel of a Citroen Xantia around St Mary’s Walk, Queensgate and St Thomas’ Road, Bridlington, in a police chase. He crashed into a fence and when Pc Gray went to arrest him, Sanderson struck out.

He was convicted by magistrates and given bail to be sentenced at Hull Crown Court. Sanderson just did not turn up on December 19 2006 and began his quest to stay away from the police.

Sanderson initially lived in Bulgaria free from detection, but has sent Christmas cards home to East Yorkshire each year for six years celebrating his liberty. It is believed Bulgaria’s recent change in EU membership has led to the tightening up of the implementation of international arrest warrants.

Police officers and barristers crowded into the public gallery at Hull Crown Court, where Sanderson made his first appearance after stepping off a plane on Friday (May 10). They wanted to take a look at Sanderson – the longest escapee known to the Hull Courts in 10 years.

Crown barrister Philip Evans said there was little court paperwork for the case and time was needed to assemble records because of the passage of time and his unexpected arrival. The original judge who signed his arrest warrant Michael Mettyear is still in post. The circumstances of Sanderson’s arrest in Bulgaria were not explained to the courts – but it was not a result of Humberside officers going over to meet him.

Judge David Tremberg agreed to adjourn for a sentencing hearing at Hull Crown Court on May 24. Sanderson was remanded in custody at Hull Prison.