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They Came Back to Say Goodbye 💘
🌟 The Scarborough Rundown - Events, Activities, Live Music & Good News! 😊
Sue W
January 29, 2026
Hi all,
There is a real mix of emotion and energy in Scarborough this week. At the heart of it is the moving story of Ernest and Jean, whose family travelled from across North America to carry out their final wish. They returned to the sea where the couple first met, closing a love story that began during wartime and ended back where it all started.
Locally, decisions about Christmas lights spending are causing a stir. Community grants have been slashed while festive displays are protected, and many residents are weighing up what that balance should look like for the town.
Our beaches are also back in focus. Ongoing concerns about poor bathing water quality mean more questions are being asked about pollution and what needs to change to protect our coastline.
Looking ahead, there is some major entertainment news to lift spirits. Tom Jones is bringing his famous stage presence back to the Scarborough Open Air Theatre, setting the scene for a big night by the sea.
There is plenty more packed into this issue, so have a scroll and check out the full event lineup below.
If you are looking to escape the daily routine, the Salus Spa at Aldwark Manor is an excellent spot for a local getaway. Located between York and Harrogate, it is easy to reach but feels isolated enough to actually unwind.
The spa facilities include thermal experiences and a range of treatments that focus on recovery. It works well if you prefer high-end modern facilities within a traditional countryside setting.
The on-site dining at the Brasserie means you don't have to worry about travel once you have arrived, allowing you to spend the whole weekend relaxing on-site.
📰 Scarborough Life
💔 A Canadian family has fulfilled a final wish by returning home to Scarborough. The children and grandchildren of Ernest and Jean Chaplin travelled from across North America to scatter the couple's ashes in the sea where they first met. Ernest, a veteran of the six-year Burma Campaign, fell for Jean while she was his nurse following wartime surgery.
💸 Scarborough Town Council slashes community grants to fund Christmas lights. A newly approved budget cuts local group support by 62% while protecting a £70,000 festive display. Critics slam the "arithmetically true" 1% precept drop as misleading, while reserves swell to £192,000.
🏖️ Scarborough’s "poor" bathing water quality is back in the spotlight. A special public meeting on 23 March will investigate why South Bay remains a no-swim zone, and North Bay is only "adequate". Durham University’s Professor Darren Gröcke will present findings from 3,000 seaweed samples, which link the pollution to animal manure and human sewage likely carried south from Scalby Beck.
🎤 Sir Tom Jones is bringing his "magnetic" stage presence back to the coast. The 85-year-old legend will play the Scarborough Open Air Theatre on Sunday,y 26 July 2026. Soul collective Stone Foundation will join the knighted hitmaker for a night of timeless classics like Delilah and It’s Not Unusual.
🏨 Coastal leaders are sounding the alarm over a potential "tourism tax". Scarborough councillors are demanding that a proposed levy on overnight stays be legally ring-fenced to ensure the estimated £8 million raised locally isn't siphoned off to other parts of North Yorkshire.
🚜 Rough harvest for North Yorkshire as farm profits dry up. A bleak report reveals half our local farms aren’t making a penny. Mayor David Skaith is launching a rescue programme to keep our rural backbone from snapping.
🚌 North Yorkshire’s school bus row is heading for a showdown. Scrutiny chief Barbara Brodigan is fast-tracking a February meeting to probe "systemic errors" in mapping free transport routes. Families claim calculated distances are flawed, using unsafe paths and missing school gates.
💪 Sweat equity just got simpler with a new countywide leisure deal. North Yorkshire Council is binning complex contracts for a "fairer" pay-as-you-go system. While some legacy prices might climb, a £40 million upgrade will revamp hubs in Whitby and Pickering to keep us moving.
⚓ Scarborough Seafest is moving to a new home for 2026! After years on the West Pier, the iconic maritime celebration is dropping anchor at Scarborough Spa from 17-19 July. Expect the usual mix of live music, seafood, and heritage at this new cliffside location.
🚲 Whitby is gearing up for a greener town centre. Councillors have backed a new fund to co-finance active-travel projects like e-bike chargers and cycle repair stations. The £4,500 investment aims to support pedestrianisation and tackle the "massive problems" residents face when navigating the town on foot.
🏥 Eastfield’s new £10m diagnostics centre is officially a go. Despite building first and asking later, the NHS hub has secured retrospective planning permission to open next month. From April, the Eastfield Business Park site will offer MRI and CT scans 12 hours a day, seven days a week.
🚢 Whitby’s maritime heritage is set for a massive 2028 homecoming. A delegation from Sydney will visit this March to discuss returning the HM Bark Endeavour replica for Captain Cook’s 300th anniversary. Australian authorities are already prepping the ship with new masts and sails for the epic voyage.
⛽ Protests are mounting as Scarborough faces a major gas drilling decision. Planning officers have recommended approval for a 38m rig at Burniston, despite 1,500 local objections. Campaigners claim "democracy is being undermined" as a high-stakes meeting is set for Friday at the Town Hall.
⭐ Readers’ Choice: Top Posts From Last Issue
🚌 Huge new bus depot coming to Scarborough. Developer Good REIT Ltd has secured a £4.1m loan to build a 139,000 sq ft bus depot.
🏨 Hands off our visitor tax cash! Scarborough Town Council is demanding that an estimated £8m raised from a proposed overnight visitor levy stays in the town.
🏰 Treat yourself to a spa weekend. Experience a thermal suite built into the original stone walls of Hazlewood Castle. Book now for a relaxing castle stay.
When the weather turns cold and outdoor plans are hit and miss, Sea Life Scarborough is a great option for families. Walk through the Ocean Tunnel, visit the Turtle Rescue Centre, and explore the interactive rockpool. With regular talks and feeding times, it is easy to dip in and out at your own pace.
🎸Events, Activities & Live Music
We keep it short here - head to our EVENTS PAGE for links and future events.
Friday, January 30
09:45 🎯 Social Bowls - Alexandra Community Centre, Scarborough
10:00 📚 Community Gathering & Book Swap - Crossgates Community Centre
18:00 💃 Line Dancing - Alexandra Community Centre, Scarborough
19:00 🎯 Social Bowls - Alexandra Community Centre, Scarborough
19:30 🎭 Beauty & The Beast- Adult Panto - Scarborough Spa
19:30 🎶 Hebble: Live Folk Music - Old Parcels Office, Scarborough
20:30 🎤 Open Mic Night - Crescent Lounge, Scarborough
21:00 🎶 Live Music Night - The Merchant Irish Bar, Scarborough
21:00 🎶 Callum Marshall: Live - The Mayfield, Scarborough
Saturday, January 31
10:00 🛠️ Repair Cafe - Scarborough Library
11:30 🧘 Yogalates - Alexandra Community Centre, Scarborough
19:30 🎶 Magic of Motown - Scarborough Spa
19:30 🎭 January Sale - Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
19:30 🎶 Live Music: Emily & Stu - Macy Brown's Cocktail Bar & Kitchen, Whitby
20:00 🎶 Beth Pilling: Live - The Scarborough Arms, Scarborough
21:00 🎶 Live Music Night - The Merchant Irish Bar, Scarborough
21:00 🎸 Project 13: Live Punk Band - The Imperial, Filey
21:30 🎶 Kate Burnett Duo: Live - Duke Of York, Whitby
Sunday, February 1
10:00 🏄 Scarborough Aquapaddle - Wykeham Lakes, Scarborough
10:00 🛍️ Table Top Sales - Crossgates Community Centre
18:00 🎶 Jesse Caine: Live - Crescent Lounge, Scarborough
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📮 Community Classifieds
🎶 The Drifters Live - Rock & Roll Hall of Fame legends perform at Spa Theatre, Scarborough on 24th May. 1626 Suite upgrades available. Book now
🍽️ Winter Season Special at Nine Eighty Bistro + Bar - Enjoy a 2-course meal for £22. Available Wednesday, Thursday & Friday. View deal
🍎 Teechers by John Godber - Classic comedy about life at Whitewall Academy. Running 9-12 February at The Round, SJT. Tickets from £10. Book now
🍽️ Sunday lunch is served at the Grand Hotel Scarborough, with classic roasts in the Premier Restaurant. Adults £10.95, children £5.95, Sundays 12:30-3 pm.
🍸 90s-themed party night at Xanders, Scarborough, Friday 6 February from 7 pm. Bottomless drinks, cocktails and throwback music. More info
👋 That’s All For Now 🎬 From town to coast, there's always something happening in Scarborough. Sue | Editor | The Scarborough Rundown |  |
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