The last day of Summer Time.

The sun was in command of the skies as we set off to Bedale at 10.30am. Through the countryside route via Tholthorpe and Helperby/Brafferton, past the Crab and Lobster pub at Topcliffe, on through Baldersby St James and on to the necessary few miles along the A1 M. These were controlled at 50 MPH to negotiate the long stretch of major road works and the traffic was literally nose to tail. We left for Exelby and were almost there. All we needed to do was find a convenient parking spot near to Bedale Hall, which Sylvia could reach with the help of her 4 wheel, seated walker.

The scenery on the way was magnificent with all the strong colours and shades of early autumn, brilliantly highlighted by the full sunny sky. The long double row of established chestnuts entering Helperby and the long row of copper beach on the left hand side. The young, green shooted fields of winter wheat against the newly plowed dark brown acres and an abundance of woodland adding their glorious, multi colourful October background.

The trip had been arranged between Hazel Hyde and myself on the internet to meet at 11.30am. She travelled from Eversham with her husband Trevor to be at a local heritage event in Bedale Hall and add whatever she could to her existing records of her Husthwaite roots in the village of Brompton near Northallerton, where I was born and have written about. She had with her over 80 postcards from the 60s and 70s, all connected with my family and she was passed on to me by a cousin and friend. She found the cards in a charity shop 200 miles away and thought they should be back where they belong, her having Brompton connections. I had told her about my contributions to the Brompton Heritage web site and she found much of interest there.

Bedale was teaming with people, it being Saturday, as was the hall. The event was spread between the great hall, with it's marvelous ceiling, and an adjoining room where Brompton heritage had a stand. The local brass band played and groups were gathered around stalls of old photographs, cards and local scenes with the wonderful, healthy sound of Yorkshire chatter and laughter.

I made a quick tour asking for any information about Hazel and we were quickly united with her and Trevor. We were offered a table in the small museum across from the entrance and Sylvia's eyes went straight to an item hanging from the wall near the ceiling. "That's my dolls pram" she said and her face lit up as she gazed at it.

I had taken my laptop and showed them some of the post cards my father had collected during his trips around the world between 1915 and 1920 in the Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy. There are nearly 300 of them. They were given to my brother John by our father's sister Mabel and he passed them on to his daughter Jayne. Her brother Mark sent copies around the family by the net. These were never written on or posted. Another identical set were posted to Aunt Mabel and they were given to the children of her step sister and sold. I had been hoping that Hazel's were some of those. They weren't, but I was not disappointed.

They were mostly to grandma Agatha Ann Hoare at 18 Water End, Brompton. She was between 50 and 70 years old then, after a very busy working life in Danny's business. They were sent by family members, mainly from Scarborough, Bridlington and Whitby and across Britain. Some from further afield in Europe. One or two from the mediterranean, North Africa, Canada, and the southern hemisphere. We get a really good look at their limited holiday breaks at that time. After seeing some of Hazel's, which she kindly gave me, and having our photos taken together, we said our goodbyes and carried on to busy Northallerton market. They met up with another contact in Bedale.

We had our favourite pensioners' portions of fish and chips at the White Horse restaurant, a quick walk round of the stalls, bought a pack of perennial cyclamens and decided to make our way home via Osmotherly, over the moors to Hawnby, Old Byland, Helmsley and back by Coxwold. The wonders of North Yorkshire are so very unique.

Back home we settled down to look at all the cards and decide how we can get copies to as many of the family as possible. There is an open day for the Brompton Heritage coming up in March so I could offer to put them on display there.

A very special day and we had no idea how it would turn out.

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