Accents help create a strong identity for any locale. But in one gorgeous UK village in the heart of North Yorkshire, the local lilt is a bit of an anomaly – as it gets its influence from all around the world.
Catterick Garrison is the largest garrison in Europe and home to the British Army’s biggest training establishment. It spans more than 20,000 acres and has a population of 13,000.
Its namesake village is nearby Catterick, and many of its 3,000 residents are military personnel, ex-forces, or family members of army staff. As one local explains, this is why the area’s accent is a bit jumbled.
Jules McSherry, the landlady of The Bay Horse pub, notes that the locale is populated with many individuals brandishing distinct accents due to their army backgrounds.
As a child with parents in the forces, they often experience a nomadic lifestyle, moving frequently during their upbringing, reports Yorkshire Live.
Jules, 58, is herself a child of someone from the forces and says that this constant movement tends to lead to a unique, non-specific British accent. Although Jules spent much of her childhood in Germany, she doesn’t carry a German accent.
She said: “You don’t actually get to grips with an accent because you travel around so much. I went to 14 different schools!.”
Jules notes that many individuals who have travelled extensively during their military careers eventually settle in the village after being stationed in Catterick. She adds that the village is also home to many young families of soldiers. Jules also finds that having an army base nearby makes villagers feel safer.
She said: “There’s a safety aspect. You know what the village stands for. If I needed it help, I would probably call the RMPs (Royal Military Police) at the barracks. They would probably come quicker than the police would, and I mean that in the best possible way. I know them as well. I have to, because of my role here. I know that I could call on them if I had to.”
The pretty village, through which the Brough Beck River flows, has “everything you need,” according to its inhabitants, including a school, shop, pub, health centre, barbershop and regular bus services.
Chantelle John, 18, who works at the local pub, The Bay Horse, comes from a military background and agrees it feels very secure.
She said: “It’s honestly a lot more secure. Everyone knows each other, and you’re never alone in this village. If you’re in trouble, you can easily go to someone. It’s a lot more secure because we’ve got the base. It’s a very respectful place around here.”
Ship, 44, from Richmond, who has spent the past four years in the area, said: “You don’t say you’re from Catterick village; you say you’re from ‘the village’. It’s just how it’s been known, from when I was in school. I don’t know why. It’s a big village, isn’t it? It’s got more than one bus. There’s everything you want.”
“Everyone knows each other and you’re never alone in this village. If you’re in trouble, you can easily go to someone. It’s a lot more secure because we’ve got the base. It’s a very respectful place around here.”
Ex-Sergeant Tony Whittingham, 59, also loves where he lives.
He said: “It’s peaceful in the village. There’s a few who have settled in here. There’s none of that argy-bargy that you would have had before. With them being here with civilians, it’s really nice here.”