Last updated 09:51, Friday, 22 August 2008

A CHANCE meeting in Ikea between the Rev. Marion Penfold and Betty Hird, of Ferryhill in County Durham, led to a most happy reunion on Otterburn on Monday, August 11.

Mrs Hird, a member of the DIDO club, an acronym for ‘days in days out’, visited Otterburn along with 30 of her fellow members.
The highlight of their afternoon was a cream tea served at Otterburn Memorial Hall. Ten Otterburn villagers turned out to welcome the visitors and serve tea.
The vicar arranged for Dr Ian Roberts to speak to the DIDO members about the history of Redesdale, and Ian kept them spell-bound with an excellent presentation.
And, the Memorial Hall looked magnificent too, with its smart new chairs and its recently restored and beautifully polished floor. Special thanks are due to Mick Maughan, Harry Scott and Huw Anderson for restoring the floor.

I HAVE received some fascinating follow-ups to the item in these notes last week about the Battle of Otterburn commemorations in 1988.
One is a scrapbook compiled by Laura Corbett, passed on to me by her mother, Carol Lewins. The scrapbook preserves much of the history of the event in the form of programmes, newspaper cuttings, photographs and an order of service for a commemoration in the ruins of the old Souden Kirk, near Chesters on the Hawick road from Carter Bar, where the Earl of Douglas assembled his leaders before the battle.
Mary White also brought me her commemorative bone china mug, complete with its Percy Cross design, and her own scrapbook of the battle commemorations.
I spent a happy hour last weekend looking at all the old photographs and identifying younger versions of Rede Valley people I know today.
I was also delighted to see Laura Corbett’s copy of a commemorative book produced by the Redesdale Society, and Evelyn Heslop of Bellingham sent recent photographs of one of the special first day covers and an unopened bottle of the special brew.
Remarkably, Peter Blacklock, M. Collis and Douglas Robinson, who overlooks the battle site from his Greenchesters home, all have unopened bottles of the brew too.

THE dance at Rochester village hall last Friday raised £130 in aid of the neurology department at Newcastle General Hospital.
Ella Shaw tells me that there was a small turnout but that everyone had a great night. It is hoped to arrange another dance in the near future.

BYRNESS arts and crafts group has been working recently with local artist Carolle Morpeth at her studio in Elsdon where they have been creating textiles and producing works of mixed media and batik.
On August 29, 30 and 31 there will be an exhibition and a sale of the group’s work in the room above the coffee shop at Otterburn Mill. Mill opening times apply and entry is free.

THERE will be a beetle drive at Rochester village hall on Wednesday, August 27, starting at 6pm. Light refreshments will be served and there will be a small entrance fee.