Goodbye Resolution

One of Cook's ships represented on the plinth of his statue overlooking Whitby harbour. My resolution has failed, and this may be the last entry on this photo blog. It looks very much as though we will be settling in York (see JorvikDailyPhoto) and won't get to Whitby often enough to be able to maintain this blog. Thanks for your visits and comments. If any Whitby reader would like to take this over, please let me know!

Functional English

Bygone days! An important feature of Whitby for many years was Functional English, a language school founded by John and Jill Karlik, occupying for most of its life the now-demolished former convent on Chubb Hill. 

Students came from all over the world to learn English, sometimes for professional purposes, and in many cases, to enable them to serve as Christian missionaries abroad. Many of them went on to learn another language through the medium of English before taking up this latter career. Marcus, Stefan and Andy, all Swiss German, are pictured in Pannet Park, just opposite the school,  posing with symbols of their career or interests (folk-rock music, IT and brass band). 

The school closed only last year bringing to an end a period which had enriched the life of the town and particularly of the churches of Whitby which many students attended and served in regularly during their stay. 

Upgang Lane wedding carriage

A lovely horse-drawn carriage prepared for a wedding. Scanned and grainy, the photograph nevertheless captures a precious moment:  the carriage stops outside of Peregrine House, a retirement home in  Upgang Lane, probably to greet an elderly relative unable to attend the ceremony. 

This is on the Whitby to Sandsend Road, a few hundred yards from Pannett Park (to the left) and from the west cliff (straight ahead).

Whitby lobster pots

An old scanned photo from the 1990s giving a classic view from the west side of the inner harbour. 

Rooftops and abbey

The abbey again, but Whitby is a small town dominated by the east cliff monuments, so they will feature quite often. 

Cosy corner, Whitby

I've always liked this quiet corner of Whitby; it's on the west side, a steep flight of steps above Cliff Street and just round the corner from a gym. If one of these comes up for sale at the right price …

Eagle Turnery, Whitby

Go to Brigantia or here for pictures and information on his tiny shop in Hunter Street, where Nik Harty creations are for sale. There is something for every pocket and commissions are undertaken for special events.