A week in the life with Keith Tordoff

The last week has certainly been cold - typical bank holiday weather! There was even snow on Easter Monday.
From left: Alex Tordoff, Shane Skaife, Neil Gillies, Darren Crockford, Andy Milner, Stuart HarrisonFrom left: Alex Tordoff, Shane Skaife, Neil Gillies, Darren Crockford, Andy Milner, Stuart Harrison
From left: Alex Tordoff, Shane Skaife, Neil Gillies, Darren Crockford, Andy Milner, Stuart Harrison

Not the best of conditions for people to visit Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale whether they were coming for a day out or a few days away.

One lady from Scarborough told me she had been coming to the Riverside Caravan Park for the last 20 years and told me she was staying in her touring caravan for the next month.

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A couple from Leeds told me they had come to stay in their static caravan on the Heathfield caravan park and no amount of bad weather would have stopped them.

They both said they love to get away from Leeds! I thought I best not to ask them why but you can understand them wanting to come to Pateley.

Talking of Leeds, last week I was involved in filming for ‘Made in Leeds’ which is a live 24-hour TV channel. I was being filmed on the program to talk about Pateley Bridge and why it is such a good place to come and visit at Easter (or for that matter at any time of the year).

Kerry the programmes presenter was wearing a flat cap and informed me that it was National Hat Day. I took that as my cue to put on my purple top hat! Kerry is personality plus and I thoroughly enjoyed the interview and we had a real good laugh - not just at me in my topper!

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On Saturday, I was just about to close our shop when two couples walked in wearing layers of outdoor clothing and carrying rucksacks. I got into conversation with the group and they told me they were walking the Nidderdale Way over a few days staying at different accommodation each evening.

None of the group had been to the area before and they had decided to visit after listening to the broadcast on BBC Radio Four Ramblings by Clare Balding OBE when she walked the route last year.

Since Clare Balding walked the Nidderdale Way, I have spoken to many walkers who have come to complete the walk or part of it after hearing Clare enthusing about it on the programme. I have also spoken with many happy accommodation providers and businesses who describe the legacy of the program as the ‘Clare Balding effect’ still benefitting their businesses.

Even if the weather is not so good, there are still plenty of things to do in and around Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale. I chatted with a group of visitors who were renting a property for the holiday in Pateley Bridge.

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Between them, they had a large number of children so were grateful to be able to spend a cold wet afternoon in the Nidderdale Museum. On Saturday I bumped into Sue Welch the Museums Chairman.

Sue asked me to let people know there will be open days at the Museum from noon on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 April when people can go along to find out about the role and how to become a volunteer at the award-winning Museum.

There can be nothing more worthwhile than giving something back to your community which involves saving lives or preventing the damage and destruction of property.

Young or old, male or female - so long as you are fit - why not look at becoming a retained firefighter working out of Summerbridge Fire Station. This is a fantastic opportunity to be trained to become a professional firefighter learning lots of new skills which will stand you in good stead in everyday life.

I am proud to say that my son Alex is a retained firefighter and part of a great team at Summerbridge Fire Station - more are needed to join the team and you get to wear some amazing kit!