IT’S the start of the festive season in Heddon tomorrow as St Andrew’s Church holds its Christmas fair in the Knott Memorial Hall from 1.30pm until 4pm.

Stalls include cakes, bric-a-brac, £1 stall, grand tombola, bottle draw, toys and games, home-made refreshments, plants, Heddon Guides’ Santa’s grotto, Heddon Brownies’ Christmas crafts and Heddon Rainbows’ chocolate tombola.

I AM sure you will join me in thanking school secretary Mrs Henderson for all the fantastic work she has done at Heddon First School over the years as she celebrates 30 years of when she was first appointed.

We all sincerely hope she remains with our school for many more years.

ONCE again the school has had a marvellous response to the Bags to School collection. There were lots of bags brought into school almost covering the stage.

The children in Key Stage 2 enjoyed helping load the bags on to the van that came to collect them. Once it is known how much has been raised we will let you know.

WE are delighted to announce that Friends of Heddon School have arranged for a very special visitor to come to the village on the evening of Thursday, December 10.

Santa Claus will travel around the village to try to meet all the good boys and girls. As his reindeers are resting and building up their strength for the very special night, Santa has enlisted the help of a motorised sleigh.

Santa will be driven around the village by his friends from the Mid Tyne Lions Club, while Santa’s helpers will be giving people the opportunity to make a donation in a bucket as he passes by.

The proceeds will be divided between the great causes the Lions Club supports and the Friends of Heddon School.