Friday 27 January 2023

WHEN A massive earthquake and tsunami triggered a nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan in 2011, Beverley teacher Philip Jellyman and his Hull colleague, Anthony Ballard, were taking part in a teacher exchange programme in a nearby town. And when the entire population of the town had to be evacuated, Philip and Anthony stayed on to continue teaching and help families rebuild their lives. 

Now, 12 years on, the two men have returned, together with representatives from the town of Futaba-machi, including the Mayor and Superintendent of Education, who were undertaking a civic delegation to Beverley and Hull to express their gratitude, to look at teaching methods here and to cement a bond of friendship. As of today, the Mayor explained, only around 60 people out of the town’s population of 11,000 have been able to move back into the area.

They were greeted by Beverley Mayor Linda Johnson, who told Beverley FM: “This visit gave representatives from Futaba-machi the chance to meet the families of both men, see their home towns and visit the wider UK to help build links.  It was an honour to meet Anthony and Philip, who have done so much for the people of Futaba-machi and are wonderful ambassadors for Beverley and Hull.”  

During their stay the delegation enjoyed a traditional pint in one the town’s most historic pubs, The Monks Walk, and gifts were exchanged. The Mayor told us: “It is hoped that more official links will be established between Beverley and Futaba-machi in the future, to create stronger bonds between the people of the UK and Japan.” 

RAIL SERVICES from Beverley will be hit again on Wednesday and Friday next week as a result of industrial action by ASLEF and the RMT unions. Northern say they will be unable to run any services on those days.