Last updated 16:32, Thursday, 20 November 2008

THE year is suddenly hurtling towards its conclusion and soon the season of Christmas parties and frantic preparations for family get-togethers will begin.THE results from the last whist drive are as follows: ladies – Peggy Morris, Jean Milburn and Dorothy Bowerbank; gents – Doreen Little, Peter Robson and Doris Liddle. Consolation prizes went to Pam Nisbit and Gladys Henderson.

Meanwhile, the year at the village hall will be evaluated in some calm at the annual general meeting on Monday, November 24, at 7pm. The committee, which does so much work throughout the year on our behalf, would be delighted to see as many people as possible at the meeting to find out from the community how well it has done, and what ideas there are for the year to come.

ACTIVITIES in the hall continue: the gardening club meets on Tuesday at 7.30pm for a talk by Geoff Lines on Alien Plants – Friend or Foe. New members very welcome; the Calico Hinnies Quilting Group meets on Thursday (1pm-4pm); there will be an open computers session on Friday afternoon for anyone who needs to master a new technique or sort out a problem at any level; the dance club takes to the floor there, too, on Sunday evening; and the regular weekly activities of Twinkletots on Monday morning, keep fit on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and youth club on Wednesday evening, all continue as usual.

THE schoolchildren have been busy raising money on behalf of other people in the last few weeks – starting with a good contribution to the British Legion Poppy Appeal. 
For Children in Need they raised £77 by covering an enormous Pudsey Bear with pennies, holding a non-uniform day and the cookery club baked and sold Pudsey Bear biscuits. The pupils and their parents have also sent off more than 30 Christmas shoeboxes full of presents for disadvantaged children – well done!

THERE are some wonderful prizes in the South Tyne Youth Initiative Grand Christmas Raffle and only a couple of weeks left to buy tickets and contribute to this scheme to support our young people.  Any youth club member will be able to supply you with a ticket!