c :


O u t lo o k :


C h a r i o t s o n s n o w


D A N C E R , Prancer , Donner and Blitzen eat


Trynka, Nimara, Malchic, Kalteg, Knick, Nicolai and Neeko? And that’s only their pet


your heart out. How about Oki, Ku,


■ ^ ^ , . ••* \ • ' : : S i j j ; r


- " • • ' • . ■..■


• - • ' • SA MICHELE with some of the huskies. Photo: Anthony Braithwaite. & " ' " - V . f P ;4,t , A , ^ - C N . * V


names! The exotic titles above


joy . . .and transport! For Graham Brereton,


grace the lively team of huskies which are the Brereton family’s pride and


his wife Joyce and daughter Michele, who live in Earby, are enthusiastic husky racers, and spend their


T h e y h a d t h e p o w e r !


AT a time when electric­ ity is in the process of p r iv a t i s a t i o n ,


i t is


interesting to look back in time to when Nelson Corporation generated


its own power, using a g e n e r a t i n g


p l a n t


installed at the gasworks off Leeds Road where the new Community


around 1889 and was more than likely to have been ancillary to the gas depart­ ment in the development of lighting. There are no records in existence of how the project developed between that date and 1902, but around 1900 the plant’s output was found to be insufficient to supply the growing demands on its 100 kilowatt capacity. The corporation decided


hospital now stands. The project was started


A L B E R T M O R R I S l o o k s b a c k a t t h e t i m e w h e n l o c a l c o u n c i l s g e n e r a t e d e l e c t r i c i t y a n d h o w N e l s o n C o r p o r a t i o n w a s a t


t h e f o r e f r o n t o f d e v e l o p m e n t s .


to build a new generating station in Charles/Fleet Street, the site being cho­ sen with a view to using steam from the then func­ tioning refuse destructor plant to power the genera­ tors. The new works were opened in 1902. Most of the plant was


housed underground on


three levels, with windows high in the roof and just below ground level in the walls. Various parts were reached by metal ladders and walking along metal catwalks, reminding one of the inside of a submarine, while deeper still in a cellar were hundreds of batteries some two feet square, three feet deep, made of thick glass which were linked together to provide an emergency supply in case of power failure, so that the trams could be brought off the main roads and back to the depot. In the 1930’s, steam coal


was delivered several times a day and the writer, then around the age of eight and living in nearby Elisabeth Street, would watch it being brought in high-sided carts, drawn by horses when if would be tipped onto a metal grille to slide down a chute" from where it was carried to the boiler fur­


erators, or dynamos as they were then known, with a capacity of 200 kilowatts each. About 12 months later, another one putting out 400 kilowatts was added and no further additions were made until 1922. From the end of the First


naces by Archimede’s screws. Installed were three gen­


generate alternating cur­ rent, which with the addi­ tion in 1926 of a further 6,000 kilowatt generator, brought the total capacity of the s ta t ion to 13,000 kilowatts.


Nelson Corporation began to supply electricity in bulk to Colne, Earby and Bar- noldswick. In all areas, the number of consumers con­ nected to the supply rose, from 3,319 in 1925 to 8,925 ten years later. On April 1st, 1948, the


Between 1922 and 1926,


World War until 1922, the supply of electricity was maintained with great diffi­ culty and could not keep pace with demands. Even­ tually, after negotiations with Government depart­ ments, permission was given for the installation of two 3,000 kilowatt turbo­ generators with water tube boilers. Unlike the previous gen­


S U E P A R I S H m e e t s a f a m i l y w h o b r e e d a n d r a c e S i b e r i a n h u s k i e s .


weekends careering around forest areas in wheeled carts or traditional sleds pulled by their pedigree Siberian dogs.


like appearance, the dogs are friendly and amiable creatures, says Mr Brere­ ton. Even when they have a litter of pups with them, they will happily let chil­ dren into the pen to play with the adorable fluffy off-spring.


But despite their wolf­


because instead of the dogs being vetted, the Breretons got vetted first. Joyce explains: “We


first introduced to England in the 1970’s and the Brere- tons got the bug about seven years ago — because Graham was so embar­ rassed taking their dainty pet Shitzhu out for a walk, and wanted something a lit­ tle more impressive! But it wa sn ’t ea sy ,


Siberian huskies were


output of Nelson Corpora­ tion Electricity was handed over to Norweb, the output being connected to the National Grid under the Electricity Act. The gen­ erating station was closed down in the late ’sixties and the whole of the generating plant was dismantled for scrap. Thus ended an era of


dogs, but is chief builder and handyman, constructing the wheel rigs to which the dogs are harnessed.


thought about getting a husky and got in touch with a breeder in Leeds. We had to wait for 18 months before they let us have a dog, and during that time we fol­ lowed all the rallies during the season.” Graham does not race the


erators, which put out direct current, these pro­ duced alternating current, a more modern and more use­ ful form of electricity, so the older plant was converted to


municipal enterprise and although boroughs country­ wide generated their own power, Nelson Corporation entered into its enterprise at a very early date and had letters made especially in brick for the top-frontage of its powerhouse, which can still be seen to this day. □


A d v e n t u r e s o f N i c k O ’ P e n d l e


dogs seemed smaller and more lightly built than I had e x p e c t e d , but J o y c e explained: “The dogs we have are bred for speed rather than stamina.” In fact, the Breretons have bred their own pups,


I was curious that the


all registered under the kennel name Natuk, which is Canadian Indian for “My Shadow”. All huskies have a kennel name which goes before the dog’s individual title.


just love to run,’’ says Michele. “The instinct is born in them. Once the pups have seen the older dogs run they soon get the idea of it. On occasions we have taken them to dog shows, but it doesn’t work very well, because as far as the dogs are concerned going to a large gathering means they will get the chance to run — and they get quite frustrated if you make them stay put!” Traditionally, of course,


animals are about four months old, but there is no coercion involved. “They


Training starts when the


1 1


the dogs pulled a sled over snow, but of course British weather conditions don’t make that terribly practical, so the alternative is the wheel rig, an ingenious sort of cross between a Roman racing chariot and a modern tricycle. However, it is illegal to


work a dog in harness on the highway, so the Brere­ tons have to practise their skills on private land and often travel to the Forest of Gisbum with the dogs and rigs packed into their van. They have raced all over


the country at the various rallies which are organised, at Keilder Forest, Radnor, Thetford Forest and Avie- more in Scotland, which, weather permitting, may be a snow race. Continued on next page


6oz large pasta shapes. 14oz tin of tomatoes in


T a s t y r e c i p e s Vegetable Pasta Bake


juice. 6oz assorted vegetables, finely chopped (leek, carrot, cabbage, turnip etc.). 4oz grated cheddar cheese. Mixed herbs, salt and pepper. 1 clove of garlic, crushed. Vi jiint water. Large oven proof dish.


on to boil. When it is boil­ ing, add the pasta and ’/ j tsp salt. Turn down heat and cook for 10 mins until tender. Strain, rinse in cold water.


Put a large pan of water


dish, add vegatables, sea­ soning, garlic and tomatoes.


Place pasta in base of


until golden brown. Tuna Delight


6oz tin of tuna in brine. 4oz tin corn niblets with peppers (cook, drain and allow to go cold). 2 large firm tomatoes,


diced. V-2 medium cucumber, diced. Mayonaise, seasoning. Drain tuna 'flakes. Com­


bine tuna flakes with the cold corn, diced cucumber and tomatoes. Season lightly, st ir in enough mayonaise to form a soft mixture. Use in salads, sandwiches or as a filling for baked


potatoes. JEAN WEAVER, Nelson


Stir in the ‘/i pint of water. Cover with grated cheese. Cook in a medium oven


I


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