Prudhoe

Ian Warburton

PRUDHOE U3A is holding its next meeting in the parish hall on Monday, January 27, commencing at 10am. Eric Robertson will give a talk on Robert Burns — Curator of the Scots Musical Museum.

The U3A has also asked me to mention that it hosts a social/coffee morning at 10am on the second Tuesday of the month in the Spetchells Centre THE Prudhoe Branch of the Royal British Legion and Women’s Section will be holding their first meeting of 2020 at the United Services Club (the Legion) on Monday, January 27, commencing at 7pm.

A PRAYER gathering will be held at the Gate Church, Swalwell Close, on Friday, January 31, commencing at 8pm. All are welcome to attend. For more details, visit the website, thegatechurch.org.uk THERE will be another session of Bonkers Bingo in the United Services Club on Saturday, February 1.

Doors open at 7pm, eyes down at 8pm. Admission by ticket only, which can be purchased online on www.mrbonkersbingo.eventbrite.co.uk All proceeds will go to the Prudhoe Fireworks Display Fund.

Newbrough

Rob Tindall

THE “Wooly Wanderers” are a group of hand spinners from Northumberland and Durham who meet monthly at different venues throughout both counties. They are involved in spinning, weaving and other fibre related crafts and will be meeting in Newbrough Town Hall on Saturday, February 1, from 10am-4pm. Anyone is welcome to pop in to see what they do.

A SUPPORT act has now been added to The Stax Brothers concert, in the town hall on Friday, January 31 at 7.30pm. They are “Chewing the Fat” and they play a mix of Blues and Soul, Motown, James Taylor, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Big Country, Maroon 5 and Neil Young. Tickets are available from the garage.

THE next meeting of the Local History Group will take place in the Town Hall on Monday, February 3 at 7.30pm. On the agenda is an input on ‘Crimes and Misdemeanours in the Parish’.

NEWBROUGH bowls club recently welcomed Slaggyford and Riding Mill and both found the hosts in good form. Newbrough won both contests by generous margins. The club would be delighted to involve interested members of the public on their Wednesday practice nights in the town hall.

THE senior citizens’ lunch was a great success with fantastic food (thanks to Christine, Michelle and Andy), keenly contested bingo, a magnificent raffle and vintage rocking to the Alements.

THE Climate Action Group had a very fruitful meeting and an impressive action plan has been formed with individual members set tasks and responsibilities.

Ovingham and Ovington

Malcolm Cairns

THE Chat Club are meeting today at the later time of 11.15am as it is “soup and pud day”. The next meeting is on Thursday, January 30 at the regular time of 10.15am, for exercise, tea and coffee in the Reading Room.

NEW play equipment for the children’s area of the playing field is to soon be installed.

This has been made possible by a generous grant from Northumberland County Council IMAGINE if the Beatles never existed, Danny Boyle depicts this intriguing scenario in his film “Yesterday”, due to be screened by the Film Club on Friday, January 31 in the Reading Room.

Starring Himesh Patel and among others Ed Sheeran, doors open 7pm licensed bar and refreshments.

OVINGHAM Community Orchard hosted their Wassailing event last Sunday which was well attended.

Mulled wine and cider kept the guests warm as blessings were bestowed upon the trees to ensure a good crop this year.

ON Saturday, January 25, its quiz night at Ovington Social Club. Starting at 8pm, with teams of a maximum of six members who will pit their wits against each other. A raffle is planned and there will be a plated supper.

Corbridge

David Walton

THERE was a large turnout at the Northumberland Library consultation event last Friday in Corbridge.

Residents have until mid March to fill in the consultation forms which are available from the library during opening hours, or online on the Northumberland County Council website.

NORTHERN Gas Networks are pleased with the way works are going with the new gas main in Front Street and as yet have had no problems.

DROP-IN coffee mornings continue at Corbridge Methodist Church every Tuesday morning between 10am until 11.30am.

EVERY so often I have mentioned the problem of dog fouling in Corbridge.

Sadly in recent weeks there has been an increase. It’s a great shame that some people don’t pick up after their dogs have left a message yet the dedicated dog owners do this is an issue Northumberland County Council could help with by issuing fines to those owners who allow their dogs to foul the village.

FUTURE items for your diary there is a Bingo Night at the Corstopitum Social Club on Saturday evening, February 1, starting at 8pm in aid of Corbridge British Legion.

CORBRIDGE United Juniors hold a Quiz Night at Tynedale Rugby Club on Saturday, February 1 between 7.30pm and 11pm.

A CONCERT takes place in St Andrew’s Church on Saturday, February 8 where Durham University Gospel Choir will entertain. Tickets are available at St Andrews Church or Forum Books for an event that starts at 7.30pm.

Slaley

Helen Savage

THIS is National Village Halls Week. Fittingly, the big event in Slaley this weekend is an open day at the commemoration hall on Sunday between midday and 4.40pm. Not only is it a golden opportunity to examine the plans for the hall, but over lunch (home-made soup) there’ll be the launch of a new Green Group to discuss local initiatives to combat global warming. Slaley School have already pitched into the debate with their own plans which will be on display too. And then, there’ll be plenty of time for a bit of fun with table tennis, whist and chess – and lots more refreshments to help you put back all the weight you’ve lost since Christmas. Last but not least, you can learn how the (really very good) new, on-line hall booking system works.

POP a note in the diary, please, for a couple of events coming soon: Saturday, February 1 from 10.30am to midday, St Mary’s first popular coffee morning of the year (in church), then the following week why not go and Feed the Birds at Ladycross Nature Reserve on Sunday, February 9? Please meet at 1pm at the quarry gates.

Humshaugh Herbie Newell FILM Night last Friday and the sumptuous interval desserts were much appreciated. The next Film Night on February 14 is the iconic Leonard Bernstein musical West Side Story.

THE parish council has now provided an additional bin for the disposal of dog faeces, situated by the old telephone box just along from the shop.

With the existing bin at the village hall, there are now adequate facilities in the village for disposing of dog waste. Dog owners are reminded that under no circumstances should waste be placed in general litter bins, including those at the bus shelter and outside the shop. Furthermore, a reminder that it is an offence not to pick up after dogs in publicly accessible places.

REDECORATION of the village hall is now complete. Very many thanks to Diana Linnett and the village hall committee for raising the funds and overseeing all the ongoing renovations.

TICKETS for the Crown Players murder mystery evening “The Major’s Last Ride” or “Murder on Air”, at 7.30pm on Friday, February 7, are now available in the village shop.

INSTEAD of the usual Easter service, this year the first school will present a mini-production of “A Tale of Three Trees”.

Children in Reception to Year 4 will be involved and there will be two performances on Tuesday, March 31 at 9.15am and 2.30pm. The service at St Peter’s this Sunday, January 26 is Holy Communion at 9.30am, and not an evening service.

Bellingham

Birtley Nail

HEXHAM Abbey was packed to its ancient rafters on Thursday as the North Tyne and Redewater said a final goodbye to one of its favourite sons. The memorial service for Dr Iain Mungall was an unforgettable occasion, as family, ex patients, colleagues, neighbours and friends paid tribute to the retired GP, who died a couple of days before Christmas at the age of 74.

The moving and often hilarious eulogy was delivered by Iain’s son Alistair, and it thoroughly deserved the spontaneous applause which rang through the Abbey.

Memories of the medic abounded in the Abbey’s Great Halls afterwards, my favourite being his plea to staff to acquire as much Sudocrem as possible as a matter of urgency. It turned out there was not a major outbreak of nappy rash - he had discovered that the ointment was the perfect thing to stop barnacles accumulating on the bottom of his yacht!

THE village is also mourning the loss of another of its stalwarts in Dot Saint, who died last week at the age of 78. The former Snack Bar and fish and chip shop operator had been in poor health for some time, but will still be sadly missed. Dot’s funeral takes place at St Cuthbert’s Church on Friday at 1.30pm.

THE jumble sale season is upon us, with the Methodist United Reformed Church getting the ball rolling on Saturday with their event in the church hall, as well as jumble, there will be a cake stall, bric a brac, raffle and refreshments.

THERE is a vacancy on Bellingham Parish Council following the resignation for personal reasons of Coun. Peter Scott, from Briar Hill.

Riding Mill

Pam Pryor

THERE’S not a lot to report this week, except to remind you that the Burns Night Supper and Ceilidh will take place in the Parish Hall on Saturday, January 25 – 7pm for a 7.30pm start – and not 7pm until 7.30pm as incorrectly printed in last week’s village notes. That wouldn’t be much of a party!

TICKETS are available from Jenny Mathers on (01434) 682486 or Penny Macloughlin on (01434) 682578, which include a two course meal lovingly prepared by Linda Shepherd and her Dotty Cooks. Please bring your own drink and glasses and remember to take your empty bottles home to recycle.

DANCING will be to the music of village resident Joey Oliver and his Hedgehog’s Skin Ceilidh Band and any profit from the evening will be donated to St James’ Church, whose committee is organising the event.

IF you have information to share in our village notes, please email me pampryor@ btinternet.com or ring (01434) 682927.

Wylam

Robin Piette

ON Sunday, January 26 there will be a a working session for Wylam Community Orchard from 1pm-3pm, with apple trees needing pruning.

FROM Thursday, January 30 to Friday, February 7 Wylam Winter Tales is back with a wonderful mix of events, from music to drama to meet the author to learning to play the spoons! Programme and tickets from the Spar.

FRIENDS of Wylam enjoyed a belated Christmas lunch at The White Swan Ovingham on Tuesday, January 7, with crackers, hats and decorations no less, thanks to John and his staff who, despite their recent setback, gave us as always a delicious four course meal.

THE Wellbeing Day at St Oswin’s was fascinating and very informative.

Allen Valleys

Robert Philipson

THANK you to Glynn for his commitments to the Allen Valleys in producing these notes for the last few years, but he has now decided to hang up his quill & pass the role over to me.

THERE will be a coffee morning this Saturday in St. Cuthbert’s Church Hall, Allendale starting at 10am till 11.30am. As well as a raffle, there will be home baking and a second hand book stall on offer.

THE film the Green Book (12) is the next presentation from the Film Club in Allendale Village Hall on Monday, January 27 from 7:45pm with refreshments available from 7.15pm. Winner of three Academy Awards and a BAFTA and inspired by the two month concert tour of a black pianist and his white chauffeur, the film is set in America’s Deep South in the 1960s. It stars Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali as the mismatched pair who develop a deep friendship.

LATER that week on Friday, January 31 bingo is back at Sinderhope Community Centre from 7.30pm.

PLEASE send any contributions to these notes for next week to robert.philipson@ btconnect.com or telephone (01434) 685266.

The deadline is Sunday 6pm.

Haydon Bridge

Karen Lumsden

BY now most of you should have received a parish council housing needs survey through your door. Please return these as soon as possible. If you haven’t had one delivered then please contact ‘The Bridge’ Library. If you have been good enough to volunteer to deliver the survey and have any spares would you please return them to the library ASAP. Thank you.

TONIGHT – Thursday, January 23 – the Nature Club meet at the Methodist Church. Kelly Hollings as the guest speaker will be talking about Restoring Ratty from 7.25pm. Members get to listen for free. There is a charge for visitors. Refreshments served.

ON Saturday morning, January 25, why not go get yourself along to the community centre coffee morning? Members of the bowls club will be serving refreshments from 10am.

FEEL in need of a night out?

How about a free night of live music at the Haydonian Social Club. Shaun Fenwick will be performing live from 9pm.

ON Sunday there will be a service for Christian Unity at St. John’s from 6pm.

Please note that there will not be an evening service at the Methodist Church on Sunday.

Acomb

Julie Foster

REMINDER: this Friday is fourth Friday film showing of The Girl on the Train.

Doors open at 7pm with the film starting at 7.30pm.

Refreshments available though you are welcome to bring your own food and drinks.

CELEBRATE annual Village Halls Week with an exhibition of old photos of Acomb at the village hall this Saturday between 10.30am and 12.30pm. All are welcome to view Acomb’s rich history.

Have you any old Acomb photos? Then bring them along too. All will be returned. Donations towards the history society are welcome.

LET’S Sing Again is on this Tuesday, refreshments at 10.15am, join in the singing at 10.45am.

Contact Julie on (01434) 607490 musicalmemories17@ gmail.com THE Community Buildings Working Group have a meeting on Tuesday, January 28 at 7pm at the village hall with the architect in attendance bringing revised plans for the refurbishment of the village hall and pavilion. All are welcome to attend and contribute.

DUE to the path across the Playing Fields being constructed between the new development and Main Street, there is restricted access onto the field for safety reasons.

Haltwhistle

Hilary Nichol

WHY not shake away the winter weather with a new exercise class at Haltwhistle Swimming and Leisure Centre? There are lots of new activities and classes for the New Year for the youngest members of the family, including Tiny Tumbles and regular soft play sessions. School aged children are also invited to come along to After School Kids’ Club each Tuesday.

Please telephone (01434) 320727 for more details and to book your child’s place.

HALTWHISTLE Art Club meets each Friday morning at 10.30am in the Methodist Church Hall. New members are always welcome. Please pop into any session to find out more.

SATURDAY’S coffee morning in the Methodist Church Hall is raising funds for Featherstone Village Hall. Come along to enjoy tasty home-baked treats and refreshments whilst meeting friends and family and helping support a lovely rural resource.

The usual stalls will be there, everyone is welcome.

IS knitting or nattering your thing? Why not do both and come along to Haltwhistle Library’s Knit, Natter, Crochet and Craft Club each Wednesday afternoon between 1.30pm and 4.30pm.

New members are very welcome; expert advice and loan of equipment and patterns are also available to help you develop your skills.

SPORTING superstars, Haltwhistle Jubilee Football Club, consolidated their place at the top of the league with a 4-1 away win over opponents Gateshead Redheugh 1957. This week, the team travel away again to compete against AFC New Fordley for a place in the quarter final of the Reeves Independent George Dobbins League Cup.

Upper North Tyne

Sarah Hallberg

IF you want to develop your painting skills, Sam Douglas, the current artist in residence at VARC, will be offering two relaxed, informal painting workshops at Tarset Village Hall at 7pm on Friday, February 21 and 7pm on Friday, February 28 respectively. There is no need to book, just turn up with your current painting project, reference materials and paints. Sam is a superb artist, so this is an opportunity not to be missed.

FOLLOWING the success of her needle felting workshops last year, Margaret Bird is offering three new workshops at Tarset Village Hall on Saturday, March 7, Wednesday, March 11 and Saturday, March 14. For more information and prices, and to book your place, contact Margaret Bird on (01434) 240691 or email her at employment.advice@gmail.com. Places are strictly limited so please book early.

Matfen

Jean Conteh

THE next Upper Pont Dining Club event will take place on Wednesday, February 12 at 6.45pm at Keeper’s Lodge, Matfen Hall. There will be the usual delicious two course meal with plenty of choice, and the entertainment will be with professional singer Pete Brown, returning by popular choice. Tickets are £22.50. Please contact Peter Lombard on (01661) 886331 or Struan Wilson on (01661) 886592 for further details.

WHERE would we without Wikipedia? It tells us that Sir Thomas Widdrington, of Cheeseburn Grange, lived from about 1600 to 1664 and became speaker of the House of Commons in 1656. He founded a school in Stamfordham, and the trust that bears his name continues the work of supporting education through offering grants for young people from Stamfordham, Capheaton, Belsay and Matfen parishes to help them achieve their aims in education and sports.

The trust has a vacancy for a trustee. If you are interested in getting involved, please apply to Linda Boylan on lillyann53@outlook.com.

GREAT Whittington and Matfen WI hold its monthly meetings for the first half of the year in Great Whittington and the second half in Matfen. The first meeting of 2020 will be in Great Whittington on Tuesday, February 4 beginning at 7.30pm. The speaker will be Jenny Elliott, volunteer co-ordinator of the Tyne Rivers Trust, and visitors and new members are always very welcome.

Wark

Peter Samsom

WHEN I passed the town hall last Wednesday, it was filled with people waiting to be served their festive meal and I could hear the buzz of anticipation and chat. The senior citizens’ festive meal is another of those amazing village institutions which make it such a lovely place to live.

Thanks go to all the people involved in making it happen: fund-raisers, organisers, providers of the food and all the helpers on the day.

THIS weekend, January 25 to 27 is the Big Garden Birdwatch, co-ordinated by the RSPB. Anyone with a patch of garden is encouraged to identify and count the birds that land in their garden at any one time for an hour, record the numbers and report them to the RSPB. It is a fun activity to do and collated over the country and done over many years, the survey gives a really good idea of what is happening with our garden birds. You can find more information and log your numbers on the RSPB website.

FINALLY, a date for your diary for February, Jason Arnup with be back in the town hall on Saturday, February 29. Further details to follow nearer the time, so get those dancing shoes polished!

Redesdale

Emma Anderson

LAST Wednesday’s quiz night, in aid of Otterburn Memorial Hall, raised £368 for the hall’s funds. The committee would like to thank all those who supported the event, especially those who donated prizes for the raffle. Special thanks are due to quizmaster, Brian Corbett.

A CEILIDH, in aid of and organised by St Francis’, Byrness, and Holy Trinity, Horsley, is being held at Byrness Village Hall this Saturday, January 25, starting at 7.30pm. Dancing will be to the music of the Tarset Ceilidh Band. There will be a raffle and a shared supper.

THE Phoenix Sixty-plus Social Club holds its AGM at Otterburn Memorial Hall on Thursday, January 30, starting at 1pm. Tea and biscuits will be served.

AN evening of animal songs and poems, in aid of St.John’s, Otterburn, will be held at Otterburn Memorial Hall on Friday, February 7, starting at 7pm. The performers are Peter Ryder and Robert Taylor. There will be a raffle. Entry includes tea or coffee and biscuits.

CORSENSIDE Parish Hall is open every Wednesday between 2.30pm and 3.30pm. You can buy a cuppa, have a chat and look through the collection of books. You can also drop off any unwanted books or suitable DVDs.