TERRINGTON villagers invited the man who had spent seven childhood years in the country mansion they have bought for use as a village hall to visit the village on Whit Monday.

He opened the new ‘hall’ for them, and they were told by him: “It is infinitely the best village hall I have ever seen.”

The man was Sir William Worsley Bt Lord Lieutenant of the North Riding, who lives at Hovingham, a few miles from Terrington; the mansion was Cliff House, former home of the late Sir Alfred Lascelles and of Sir William’s great-great uncle Capt Marcus Worsley, RN, who built it in the 1850s.

Telling nearly 500 people gathered in the grounds of Cliff House he had spent the first seven years of his life there, Sir William commented: “It has always been a happy house.

There isn’t a corner in it without childhood memories for me.”

Cliff House and its grounds were bought by villagers Mr P G A Clemenson and Mr J Robinson and the house itself offered to the village for £2,250.

• A LARGE congregation attended St Mary’s Church, Lastingham, near Kirkbymoorside, on Wednesday, to see the presentation of the Lastingham play which marks the conclusion of celebrations commemorating the 1,300th anniversary of the founding of a monastery there by St Cedd.

The play, depicting scenes from the lives of Northumbrian saints associated with Lastingham, was written by the late Miss Catherine McDougal who lived at nearby Appleton-le- Moors. The play was last produced 20 years ago.

The present production was by the author’s sister, Miss Marjorie McDougal, and taking part were amateur players from Lastingham, Appleton-le-Moors and Helmsley.

The story referred to St Aidan of Lindisfarne, Hilda and Caedmon of Whitby, St Cedd and Ct Chad and others who had associations with the district in the early days of Christianity.

• Norton Urban Council, who have frequently issued appeals to end ‘vandalism’ in the town, have now suffered at the hands of those responsible.

For 33 geranium plants from flowerbeds in front of the council buildings in Scarborough Road have been stolen.

The two other borders of geraniums were left untouched by the thieves and the stolen plants are to be replaced.

Norton Police said they were making inquiries.