Last updated 10:19, Friday, 15 August 2008

A FAX I received this week provided details of a memorable event in Otterburn exactly 20 years ago.

The writer, who asked me particularly not to give his name but let us say he is called ‘Percy Wood’, described the celebrations commemorating the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Otterburn as follows:
“We are reminded of the special battle day celebrations on Saturday, August 14, 1988, which commemorated the Battle of Otterburn, reputed to have taken place around this date in 1388, in which the Percys fought the Douglases.
“A large number of local people will no doubt remember the various enactments which were presented portraying elements of the battle. Amongst the memorabilia were a special first day cover letter, mugs and plates, all produced by the late Mr and Mrs Bryce Watson who ran Otterburn post office at the time. Examples of these will likely still be found in people’s china cabinets and on their walls.
“However, what will be more difficult to find will be unopened bottles of the special brew made by Newcastle Breweries, labelled with its own distinctive label and released through a very restricted sales outlet. It is known, however, that one bottle went to France and another to America.”
I would be interested to hear other recollections of this special day, particularly if you took part in the re-enactments, have one of the special plates or mugs or, better still, one of the bottles of special brew. And, I would like to thank ‘Percy’ for reminding us about this fascinating piece of village history.

ELIZABETH Goodfellow has given me details of the forthcoming ladies to lunch events at Otterburn Tower. The series of seven lunches starts on September 17, at 12pm for 12.30pm, when Geoff and Brenda Heslop will provide the entertainment.
Twenty per cent of the ticket price is to be donated to charity. For the first lunch, the recipient will be St Cuthbert’s Church, Elsdon.
Other lunches will be in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society, St John’s Church in Otterburn, Diabetes UK, St Oswald’s Hospice, Home in the Community and MacMillan Nurses.
Look out for details in these notes during the coming months. If you wish to book a place at any of the lunches, please telephone Otterburn Tower on (01830) 520620.

THERE will be services on Sunday at St Francis’s, Byrness, at 9am, at St John’s, Otterburn, at 10.45am, and at All Saints, West Woodburn, at 11am.

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