LIKE a number of other articles and letters you have published of late, Dr Somasundram’s letter (D&S Times, July 7) gave the misleading impression that fundraising for the MRI scanner appeal at the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, is over.
The scanner is indeed installed and fully operational and the Friends of the Friarage Hospital may have moved on to another project but my understanding is that the appeal still needs more than £300,000.
The Northallerton Clocks exhibition held three years ago at the Garden Rooms, Tennants, Leyburn, raised more than £5,300 for the scanner appeal. The Vales and Dales Clocks exhibition to be held at the same venue from July 20 to August 16 this year will again raise funds for the scanner.
We would not want visitors to the exhibition to think that the scanner project is done and dusted and contributions are no longer required.
The exhibition, supported by Northallerton sponsors Archers Removals and Barkers department store, will feature clocks, and a few watches and barometers, made or sold in the Vales of York and Mowbray and Swaledale and Wensleydale. Thirty-six collectors and individual owners have generously supported the scanner appeal by agreeing to lend fifty-two local clocks and ten unusual clocks made elsewhere in Yorkshire, including no less than fifty long-case (grandfather) clocks, the oldest of which were made in the 1720s. The clocks on display will include examples made or sold in York , Easingwold, Ripon, Bedale, Masham, Thirsk, Northallerton, Leyburn, Middleham , Askrigg, Hawes, Gayle, Richmond and Reeth.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to see the rare “engine”
used to cut the wheels (cogs) of his clock movements by William Terry, the Bedale clockmaker, which he made for himself when he was only 24-years-old, the engine being signed William Terry Fecit 1774 (fecit being the Latin for made it).
Kirklees Museums and Galleries have kindly lent the engine for the exhibition.
More than 2,500 visitors enjoyed the Northallerton Clocks exhibition and we look forward to similar numbers or even more enjoying this next exhibition. Clock enthusiasts will find much to excite them and visitors who know nothing about clocks will no doubt be pleasantly surprised as they were at the last exhibition. Admission is free but visitors will be invited to make donations to the scanner appeal which still needs contributions.
Dr David Severs, Northallerton
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