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Tributes Paid To Bob Black

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Tributes Paid To Bob Black: Tributes have been paid to a community stalwart who supported football clubs in his area for more than 40 years.

Bob Black, of Evenwood, was a passionate fan of Evenwood Town Football Club and became well known for helping out with everything from fixing stands to painting on the white lines.

Mr Black, a factory worker, was established as the voluntary groundsman and never missed a game or training session if he could help it.

When the club disbanded in the early noughties, he offered his skills to Spennymoor Town Football Club before settling at Bishop Auckland Football Club at their Heritage Park site where his grandson Harry plays for the St Mary’s team.

Mr Black met his wife Anne in 1972 and the couple were married in 1974.

They had two children, Michael and Andrea as well as five grandchildren and a happy marriage which often involved trips to the football.

Mr Black retired in August 2016 before being told he had lung cancer in February 2017.

He underwent an operation to remove the cancer and was back to his positive self before being told it had returned about six weeks ago.

“The worst part of him being ill was not being able to go to the football – he was in hospital with a chest infection but was always planning on coming back out,” Mrs Black said.

“He was always so positive and did not give in to it.”

Mrs Black added: “He was easy going and nothing was a trouble. He would help anybody and would not see anybody troubling anyone.”

The couple celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary in hospital this year before Mr Black’s death.

However, the family say they have been overwhelmed by the support and good wishes from not just family and friends but football supporters from all over the country who encountered Mr Black at games.

Mr Black was previously named Supporter of the Year at the club.

Mrs Black said: “We are just amazed at the amount of support we have had from everyone.

“We have had messages from those in North Shields, Spennymoor and Darlington and lots of away teams have messaged us on Facebook saying what a lovely man he was.

“We also had cards and flowers from the St Mary’s team.”

A statement on the Bishop Auckland Football Club’s Facebook page also paid tribute to their “programme seller, groundsman, steward, odd job man and very good friend to all of us”.

A spokesman said: “I have personally known Bob for over 40 years from my Evenwood Town FC playing days where he did everything up there and I enjoyed many an hour with him at football games, at St Marys Juniors – for which his grandson plays – and he liked nothing more than chatting about the ex players, showing me photos, sitting with the players after a match and me sneaking a chocolate roll out to him after half time refreshments.”

The club added: “Rest in peace Bob you were, are and always will be a top top man and gentleman to all.”

Mr Black, who was also a keen gardener and stamp collector, died on Saturday, April 20, aged 67.

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How To Choose A Waterer

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How To Choose A Waterer: Plants and trees can be expensive to replace, and keeping them healthy is the passion and expertise of SCH Supplies. As manufacturers of waterers, no one understands the importance of adequate hydration better.

SCH manufacture essential plant saving watering units, with capacities from 50 to 2000 litres. These watering units are typically towed behind a ride on lawnmower or a small tractor, but some can be pulled along by hand.

How To Choose A Waterer

An unpowered waterer is typically used to refill watering cans. They are also suitable for flood watering as the valve can be opened and left until the vegetation is sufficiently hydrated. If the waterer is fitted with a water bowl and float valve, it is ideal for livestock that are far from a fixed water source. However, if you need to get your watering done without delay, a powered waterer is for you. A powered waterer lets you spray huge quantities over vast distances, and flood watering can be done in a fraction of the time.

How To Choose A Waterer

The next decision to be made is between a petrol engine and electric motor. There are many different sizes of both, however petrol will typically outperform an electric motor of similar size when it comes to flow rate. A petrol engine is best suited for the groundsman that needs to go all day; as long as you keep a container of fuel with you, the waterer can be used with continuously, whereas a battery powered waterer will need recharging. With some waterers, it is possible to attach your electric motor straight to your towing vehicles battery, and if your vehicles alternator is sufficient, it can power your electric motor for a significant time. The benefits of an electric motor include its low noise output, which is essential for those that enjoy peace and quiet.

How To Choose A Waterer

The style of wheel is very important on a waterer. Large low ground pressure flotation wheels help reduce track marks in the grass, and give the trailer stability and cushioning when on rough unfriendly ground. Two sets of wheels are required on some of the larger bowsers which allow them to stay upright and stable when detached from the towing vehicle. Fast tow wheels, paired with a road legal chassis is required when the tank is to be taken on the road. A baffled tank is essential for on road use, as it prevents the water from causing dangerous imbalances during turning and acceleration.

Skid mounted waterers are perfect if you already own a trailer or have a vehicle with a flat bed. These waterers can be easily stored when not in use, and most can be maneuvered on and off the vehicle unassisted.

Many powered waterers are designed to be used with a telescopic lance which can reach up to 6 meters. These are ideal to water hanging baskets. These are available in any combination of the above styles, and are popular with zoos, stadiums and leisure parks.

How To Choose A Waterer

Contact SCH for a free brochure featuring over 200 British products on 01473 328272, email sales@schsupplies.co.uk, or visit their website to find out more www.schsupplies.co.uk

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Blue Plaque To Honour Innovator

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Blue Plaque To Honour Innovator: The engineer, visionary and founder of Hayter Ltd., Douglas Hayter, is being awarded a blue plaque in recognition of his contributions to the local area through his lawnmower manufacturing business, founded in Bishop’s Stortford in 1946.  

The official unveiling of the plaque will take place at Hayter’s former residence at Granary Cottage, 30 Mulberry Green, Old Harlow, on Friday 05 April, at 14.00 by Harlow MP Robert Halfon. Family and friends will be in attendance to witness the achievement bestowed by the Harlow Civic Society and its head, former Labour MP Stan Newens. 

Blue Plaque To Honour Innovator

“We are immensely proud to be a part of the unveiling of the blue plaque in honour of Douglas Hayter’s achievements. He was a great visionary and business man who contributed a lot to the local community in and around Old Harlow and Bishop’s Stortford,” said Raghu Das, Managing Director EMEA, at Hayter. 

Susan Hayter had this to say around her husband’s award: “I am thrilled that even now, 19 years after Douglas’ death, the Harlow Civic Society has decided to honour Douglas’ achievements with this plaque. It is fantastic to see that his accomplishments as an inventor and pioneer are being recognised. He was a very creative man and his dyslexia fuelled his lateral thinking. I would sometimes find drawings of his latest ideas on the most random things.” 

Douglas Hayter was born in Bishop’s Stortford in 1914 where he lived before starting his working career. After working a few different jobs, he eventually moved into the building trade and set up his own business in 1937. During the war years, he was employed helping the war effort through repairing and constructing farm buildings, as well as maintaining and servicing farm machinery. He was also working on ministry projects.  

His venture into grass cutting machinery began in the 1940s when he was cutting grass around his drying timber stacks. Douglas borrowed a cutter bar mower from a friend, but found the process frustrating and slow. To make the experience easier, he combined the functionality of the historical horse-drawn rotary mower with the power of a two-stroke engine – the birth of the first Hayter Motor Scythe. The invention quickly gained admiration and Douglas started receiving requests for more machines. In 1946, the Motor Scythe went into full production and Hayter became incorporated as a limited company.  

In the years that followed, the business developed several professional and domestic mowers such as the Hayterette and the Hayter Harrier rear-roller striping mower, today synonymous with the Hayter brand. In 1960, Hayter’s company received the Royal Warrant for the supply of machinery to HM Queen Elizabeth II – an honour still retained to this day. It was around this time that Mr. Hayter and his wife took up residence in Old Harlow, whilst working hard to sell the company’s products internationally. At one stage, Mr. Hayter was selling his products in 110 countries.  

During his career, Mr. Hayter also developed several successful machines and devices outside of grounds care, one of which was a range of portable welders known as the Mighty Midgets. Many of these were supplied to the Ministry of Defence, as well as internationally. 

Douglas focused on building up the Hayter business in the local area, where he remained a significant influence until his passing in 2000.  

Hayter Ltd. Has been designing and manufacturing mowers in its factory in Bishop’s Stortford until this day. 

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Groundsman’s Expertise At Aintree

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Groundsman’s Expertise At Aintree: The head groundsman from Cartmel Racecourse headed to Aintree over the weekend to play a crucial role in the 2019 Grand National.

Gary Sharp, 40, has worked at the south Cumbria course since 2002, ensuring the track is in peak condition for each of its nine race days every year.

But tomorrow he will join eight fellow head groundsmen from across the country to take charge of fences in Liverpool as 40 runners and riders line up to contest ‘the most famous horse race in the world’.

While there, Gary will use his years of experience to quickly decide whether his assigned Grand National fences are safe to jump, need to be replaced or should be left out altogether on the second pass.

Gary said: “I’ve done this role at Aintree for 17 years now. It’s a big responsibility but it’s always exciting to play a part in such an important race.

“We’re stationed by the fence so we’re first on the scene.

“It’s my job to assess whether it’s safe to jump after the first lap or whether it should be bypassed if someone has fallen.

“I’m always guided by the medics on site. Safety is absolutely the priority.

“If the fence is damaged, it can also mean replacing the hurdle altogether before the horses come round again.

“You have to be quick, but there’s enough time to do it between laps,” he added.

The Grand National is run over four miles and 514 yards. It includes 30 fences, many of which are made from spruce from the Lake District.

Gary will arrive for the start of the three day festival on Thursday with three other members of Cartmel Racecourse’s grounds team; Brad Thompson, Tony Hadwin and Ceri Eccles.

Gary, who won the Groundstaff of the Year title at the Racecourse Association Showcase and Awards in 2016, said: “This is a great experience for everyone to be involved in.

“Going to the Grand National also marks a turning point in the calendar for my team because it means our first race at Cartmel is getting closer.

“A lot of work goes on here over the winter to look after the ground, build fences and prepare the course for the racing season.

“Now we’re all looking forward to seeing the horses and crowds arrive back on track on May 25.”

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Rigby Taylor To Distribute Bionema Solutions

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Rigby Taylor To Distribute Bionema Solutions: Rigby Taylor has been appointed as the exclusive distributor in the UK turf and amenity sector for Bionema’s NemaTrident nematode solutions for the control of chafer grubs and leatherjackets larvae.

NemaTrident is a tri-component solution incorporating a range of highly virulent insect-parasitic nematodes within the Heterorhabditis and Steinernema genera. The nematodes attack and destroy the larvae of the insect pests thus preventing future pests from developing.

Rigby Taylor To Distribute Bionema Solutions

The product is safe, non-toxic to users and consumers, decomposes rapidly and can be targeted at specific pests to avoid harming beneficial insects – providing 70-100% success rates in combating the pests.

Environmental consultancy ADAS recently calculated that the economic cost of chafer grubs alone is up to £85 million a year for UK golf courses from lost income and damage repair. It also highlighted that, on the 40% of racecourses affected by the pest’s damage, lost income could amount to up to £605,000 per course.

Dr Minshad Ansari, Bionema CEO, said: “In a market with significant potential, there is a clear opportunity for Rigby Taylor to continue helping greenkeepers, sports club groundsmen, racecourse managers and landscapers in the control of chafer grubs and leatherjackets larvae, when chemicals such as Chlorpyrifos (also known by the trademark Dursban, Equity) and Imidacloprid (Merit Turf) are banned across Europe.”

Rigby Taylor’s Peter Corbett added: “Our role at Rigby Taylor is to combine all the potential solutions for our customers throughout the UK. Our staff have all been briefed on the most effective way to use the NemaTrident range of nematodes as part of an integrated pest management programme.”

For more information, visit: www.rigbytaylor.com

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