Community news round-up

Riding Mill
Pam Pryor
THE ladies of the WI meet tonight, Thursday, March 5, in the parish hall at 7.30pm. The guest speaker will be That History Bloke, Richard Stevenson, who will be talking about The Great Fire of Gateshead.
A ‘Holding Cross Prayer Day’ will take place in St James’s Church between 9am and 6pm on Saturday, March 7. For more details contact David McKenzie on (01434) 682771.
Everyone knows the Riding Mill residents’ reputation for caring and sharing in the form of friendship and good food so the next few events will tickle the taste buds.
The ever popular monthly Pot Luck Lunch will take place in the parish hall on Tuesday, March 10 at midday. Please contact Anne Lawrence on (01434) 682351 if you wish to attend, advising whether you will be bringing a main course or dessert to share, or you simply wish to pay for your meal.
The next Lent soup lunch will be held in the Millennium Hall on Wednesday, March 11 between midday and 1.30pm when you have the opportunity to choose from more delicious homemade recipes.
Also on Wednesday, March 11, the fish and chip van will be parked at the railway station between 4.30pm and 7pm, with accompanying drinks available at The Station Coffee House.

Heddon
John Stewart
AN invitation to the older people of the village, especially those who have difficulty getting out and about and who have felt lonely during the winter months. Why not go along to a daffodil tea to celebrate the coming of spring? The party will be held in the WI Hall on Thursday, March 5 from 3pm to 5pm. It is promised that you will receive a warm welcome and a lovely homemade tea. Heddon Primary School Choir will be entertaining attendees and will soon have everyone smiling and feet tapping. This is certainly a date for your diary.
I’M delighted to announce I have accepted the role of community engagement officer of Heddon Juniors FC. I will be responsible for overseeing the good relationships Heddon Juniors have forged with the local community as well as developing new ones. Heddon Juniors FC would like to thank all members and supporters for their suggestions for the naming of the new home ground -they had some wonderful suggestions! I can confirm that the new ground will be named Victrix Park after the Roman legion tree carving in the village.
The garden room in the Methodist Chapel is open every Thursday morning from 10am until 11.30am for friendship, conversation and a cuppa. Everyone is welcome to attend.
The Methodist Chapel is hosting its next men’s fellowship on Saturday, March 7 with guest speaker Matthew Barrick. The fellowship will commence at 10am.

Wark
Peter Samsom
THIS Friday, March 6, is the World Day of Prayer, a tradition which started in the UK as long back as 1930. The world Day for Prayer 2020 was prepared by churches in Zimbabwe with the theme ‘Rise! Take your mat and walk.’ In the North Tyne Valley, the service to mark the day will be at Barrasford Methodist Chapel, starting at 7pm, and everyone is very welcome to join.
The next curry and quiz night in the town hall is now only a few days away. With it being on St Patrick’s Day on March 17, the quiz will have a bit of an Irish flavour. If you want to enjoy a curry (or anything else on offer from the take-out) you need to place your order with Indus Valley in Hexham by March 15. There is a menu in the Post Office. Food should be delivered at about 7pm and the quiz starts at 8pm. Quizzing about the food is fine too. And if you want to hone your quizzing skills, you can try your luck in Birtley Village Hall on Friday, March 13. Start there is 7.30pm for 8pm.
I’VE decided to stand down from writing these notes at the end of the month. If anyone wishes to take on the mantle, please contact Gemma Brown at the Hexham Courant on (01434) 602351.

Prudhoe
Ian Warburton
A CHARITY night in memory of Bev Watson Barker will take place at Prudhoe Social Club on Saturday, March 7, commencing at 7pm. The event will open with live music from Hot Gossip and this will be followed by a disco and karaoke night, with a raffle. Most proceeds will be donated to Children with Cancer, with the remainder going to Breast Cancer Awareness.
The next planning, contract and works meeting of Prudhoe Town Council will be held in the Spetchells Centre, Prudhoe, on Wednesday, March 11, commencing at 7pm. Members of the public are welcome to attend, subject to any exclusions relating to the conduct of confidential business.
Prudhoe Gate Church is hosting the Watoto Children’s Choir as it performs at the United Services Club (the Legion  on Sunday, March 15 from 6.30pm to 7.45pm (doors open 6pm). From sunny Uganda, a presentation of joy and faith in true African style. Free entry but donations welcome. Please book on watotouk.eventbrite.com.
Prudhoe U3A will be holding its annual open afternoon in the parish hall on Tuesday, March 10, between 2pm and 4pm. All are welcome to come and see what is on offer. Refreshments will be available. For further information, please phone (01661) 832020 or (01661) 831473.

Bardon Mill
Anne Brunton
ON Friday, March 13 at 7.30pm in Bardon Mill Village Hall, Haydon Bridge Mothers’ Union will host a concert by the Shaftoe Singers, to celebrate the pilgrimage walk of Camino de Compostela by Gill Valentine, church warden, St Cuthbert’s, Haydon Bridge. Anyone who watched the TV series last year of the Camino de Compostela by Debbie McGee, Greg Rutherford and Kate Botley will know the challenges they faced. Proceeds from this concert will help support mental health provision for young people. For more information, please contact Anne on (01434) 344557.
Anyone interested in writing a regular village notes column for Bardon Mill should contact Gemma Brown on (01434) 602351. 

Chollerton
Kelly Adshead
BARRASFORD Methodist Chapel is holding a World Day of Prayer Service on Friday, March 6 at 7pm. The worship has been created by Christians in Zimbabwe.
Lent Discussion Group is meeting on five consecutive Thursdays in Lent beginning on March 5. The group will be held at the Vicarage in Chollerton, starting at 7.30pm. For further information, please contact the Rev. Sarah Lynn on (01434) 681721 or sarahlunn63@gmail.com.
Birtley Coffee Morning is on Thursday, March 5 at 10.30am in the village hall. All welcome to come along for a catch-up.
Birtley & District Gardening Group next meet on March 10. AGM at 7pm, followed by ‘Permaculture in the Garden’ with guest speaker Mark Shipperlee.

Horsley
Maurice Holliday
THE Hearth arts centre holds its next music concert on Friday, March 13 at 7.30pm. Tim Dalling, performer, song writer and accordionist, is heading the bill.
Horsley Parish Council, with the help of local volunteers, has employed a contractor to clear the footpath at the west end of the village as far as the bridge at Horsley Barns. At least one third of the path has been reclaimed from encroaching vegetation.
On March 8, the 11am service at Horsley Village Church will be led by the Rev. Pat Brooks, a retired Methodist minister.
Horsley Gardening Club begins meeting again on Monday, March 9. The meeting takes place in The Lion and Lamb pub at 7.30pm. New members and visitors welcome. Anyone wishing to enjoy a meal at 6pm, please ring the pub directly to book a place on the gardening club table.

Allen Valleys
Robert Philipson
Allendale Methodist Church is holding a coffee morning this Saturday, March 7 from 10am to 11.30am. There will be a cake produce stall and all are welcome.
The next Catton WI meeting will take place on Monday, March 9 at 7.15pm in Catton Village Hall. This month’s speaker is Jenny Mathers on the subject of Monet’s garden and Matisse’s chapel.
The Allen Valleys Oil Buying Cooperative order for a March delivery is noon on Tuesday, March 10. Not a member? Then telephone (01434) 683334 or email oilorderfawside@gmail.com.
Hopefully this month’s meeting of The Allen Valleys Wildlife Group will avoid the snowstorm which forced last month’s meeting to be cancelled. The return of the otter to our northern rivers is the subject of a talk, on Tuesday, March 10 at 7pm at the High Forest Community Centre, Sinderhope. Vivien Kent, from the Otter Network, will describe these beautiful animals, what signs to look for and the conservation work being done to help their return to the North-East. As usual, admission is free but bring some money for the famous raffle.
The Allen Valleys and King’s Head Leek Club coffee morning is on Saturday, March 14 in Allendale Church Hall from 10am to midday. There will be coffee, cakes, a tombola and raffle.
Finally, have you remembered to check the Allendale Co-op’s website to see if you are the first winner of the monthly £25 shopping voucher?

Redesdale
Emma Anderson
THE World Day of Prayer (formerly the Women’s World Day of Prayer) takes place at St. Peter’s, Otterburn, tomorrow, starting at 6.30pm. The service this year is written by the women of Zimbabwe; the theme is Take up Your Mat and Walk. Everyone is welcome. Worshippers are welcome to stay for refreshments afterwards.
THERE is a table top sale and coffee morning at Elsdon Village Hall on Saturday, March 14, between 10.30am and 12.30pm. Coffee and cake will be provided by The Tea Set. Whether you are a baker or crafter, are decluttering your home or someone who enjoys looking for interesting treasure or pre-loved items for a new home, this is the event for you. Sellers need only arrive on the day; the doors open at 10am for setting up tables. There are reasonable charges for tables of different sizes. The small entrance charge includes a raffle ticket. Everyone is welcome.
THE Rothbury Food Truck begins fortnightly visits to Elsdon on Wednesday, March 18, between 5pm and 7pm. Future visits are scheduled as follows: April 1,15 & 29 and May 13 & 27, all at the same times.

Stocksfield
Clare Daltry
Now that March is here, the spring flowers are pushing up everywhere in the village. If you enjoy seeing an abundance of snowdrops, there’s nowhere better, I think, than the churchyard at St Peter’s Bywell.
The “Friendly Friday Drop-In” at the Quaker Meeting House on the corner of New Ridley Road is every Friday, 10am to midday. Drop in for a cup of tea, meet new people or catch up with friends. Everyone is welcome. More details from Melna (01661) 844040 and Edna (01661) 843081.
The Tuesday Club meets every Tuesday at the community centre from 10am to 2pm for an informal get-together. Come along for a range of activities, or just come for a chat. A hot, freshly cooked lunch is served at a cost of £5. For more information, or to book a meal (preferably by the day before) contact Melna (01661) 844040 or Christine (01661) 844863.
There’s a ‘Drop-in Coffee Morning’ at Stocksfield Methodist Church Hall in Mount View Terrace on Monday, March 9, 10.30am to 12pm. This weekly event is dementia friendly and open to all.
The Stocksfield Local History Society meets on Wednesday, March 11 at 7.30pm in the Methodist Church in Mount View Terrace. George Nairn will present “The Great North Road from Scotch Corner to the Border”. New members are always welcome.

Matfen
Jean Conteh
Matfen Village Hall’s committee is setting up a regular parish newsletter. You can add your name to the growing list of residents who wish to receive it by emailing jeanconteh@waitrose.com. All personal details will be held according to data protection guidelines. Also, the committee is holding its AGM on Tuesday, March 10 from 7pm in Matfen Village Hall. Residents of the parish are welcome to attend.
The next Upper Pont Dining Club dinner is on Wednesday, March 18 from 6.45pm in the usual venue, Keeper’s Lodge at Matfen Hall. Tickets include a two-course meal. The guest speaker is Kevin May, who is responsible for a huge area of forest and wildlife and recreation trails as North of England management director for Forestry England. Kevin’s topic sounds very informative, ‘Forestry England in the North of England: People, Nature, Economy - Celebrating 100 Years’. You can get tickets through the usual contacts, Peter Lombard on (01661) 886331 and Struan Wilson on (01661) 886592.
Pompom making is taking off in Matfen and Stamfordham. The aim is to have a pompom to represent every person in the local parishes. The Swinburne Arms in Stamfordham is running a session on March 17 from 7.30pm. Contact Sally for more information on (01661) 886442 or sally.hutt64@gmail.com.
Matfen Hall Cricket Club are looking for women and girls to join in with softball cricket or maybe join a new hardball team in the Northumberland league. Check out their Facebook.

Acomb
Julie Foster
Everyone’s welcome to come along to Acomb Methodist Church for the coffee morning on Saturday from 10am to 11.30am. There are Fairtrade and bring and buy stalls. Join us for fellowship.
On Monday, Acomb History Society meets at 7.30pm at the Methodist chapel for a talk by Val Scully, entitled ‘Land of Oak and Iron. The Story of the Derwent Valley from Sword making to Stoney Bowes’. It surely covers everything from industrial history to high society scandal, so should prove a fascinating evening.
Let’s Sing Again is on this Tuesday in the village hall. Refreshments at 10.15am followed by singing favourite songs at 10.45am. Contact Julie on (01434) 607490.

Corbridge
David Walton
IT’S  World Day of Prayer at Corbridge Methodist Church tomorrow, Friday, March 6 starting at 2pm when Churches Together in Corbridge pray for Zimbabwe.
Messy Church takes place at St Andrew’s Church on Sunday afternoon, March 8, between 3pm and 5pm with this month’s event entitled ‘Testing Times’.
The Wheatsheaf corner will be closed to all traffic as from Monday, March 9 until early April to ensure Northern Gas Networks can continue new pipe line work. Alternative routes are St Helen’s Lane and St Helen’s Street.
Carpet bowls continues every Tuesday in the parish hall between 2pm and 4pm, and 7pm and 9pm.
Lent Lunches continue in St Andrew’s Church Cottage every Wednesday between 12.15pm and 1pm.
Just when you thought winter would not arrive, a fall of snow fell last Monday. However, it vanished as quickly as it came only to be replaced with high winds which seem to have been with us for months now.
Notice of a March fete which will take place in St Andrew’s Church on Saturday, March 14 with assorted stalls of many kinds, including a tombola and prize raffle.

Upper North Tyne
Sarah Hallberg
THE First Thursday Film for March is the black comedy thriller ‘In Bruges’, written and directed by Martin McDonough. After a botched job, guilt-stricken hitman Ray (Colin Farrell) and his partner (Brendan Gleeson) are sent to Bruges to hide out and await orders from their ruthless and very unhappy boss (Ralph Fiennes). 7.30pm on Thursday, March 5 – doors and bar open at 7pm.
St Aidan’s, Thorneyburn, hosted another successful Soup and Pudding Social on February 27, with over £420 being collected for church funds. More than 50 people came along to enjoy home-cooked soups and delightful puddings, having ventured, blinking, into the light after all the revolting weather! Huge thanks must go to all who attended and to all who made and served soups and puds.
The future of Northumberland’s rural churches is under the spotlight. St Aidan’s (Thorneyburn) along with St Peters (Falstone) and St Cuthbert’s (Bellingham) are three of just 42 churches across the county selected by the diocese to be part of a new project called ‘Rural Churches for Everyone’. Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the aim of the project is to help churches work together to ensure a sustainable future for their buildings, communities and heritage. Your views are vital to the success of the project. If you would like to know more, contact Caroline, churchwarden at St. Aidan’s, on (01434) 240210.

Ovingham and Ovington
Malcolm Cairns
Ovingham Reading Room committee will soon be discussing the possibility of holding the Goose Fair again this year. If you think that you could help or offer your support in any way,then the more the merrier. The commitee meets on the last Monday of each month in the Blackett Room (inside the Reading Room) at 7.30pm and would welcome any ideas or thoughts from residents of our villages.
All are invited to celebrate the World Day of Prayer and attend the service to be held in St Mary’s Church on Friday, March 6 at 2pm.
The Mothers’ Union will meet on March 25 at St Mary’s Church at 1.30pm. The guest speaker will be the vice-president, Sylvia Hickey. All are welcome to attend and refreshments are served afterwards.
The Chat Club’s re-scheduled “fish and chip outing” to South Shields is on March 12. Check with Hazel for details and place availability. Please note that there is no meeting today, March 5.
The film club’s movie this month is the biographical drama ‘Judy’. Set in the swinging sixties, the storyline is about Judy Garland’s tour to London, starring Renee Zellweger in the title role. Licensed bar and refreshments, doors open 7pm on March 27.
The interactive speed signs in Ovingham have been inspected and repaired and all are now in working order. Please then, keep to the 30mph limit while driving through the village. Remember it’s 30 for a reason.

Hexhamshire
Lynda White
IF you know of any Second World War veterans from Hexhamshire who would like to attend the 75th anniversary celebrations of the end of the war in London, please contact the parish council chairman, Alistair Stevens, on oakfieldhexham@hotmail.co.uk as there is funding available.
AS mentioned last week, the quiz held in the hall last month was a great success, raising £1,200 for the hall decoration. The winners of the quiz were ‘Rogers Ruffians’ a Rutherford, Nixon and Eals family combination. Well done to them and many thanks to organisers Dan, Claire and Lewis.
The ‘Shire walk takes place tomorrow at 9.30am. Soup and refreshments will be available in the hall from 11.20am until 1pm.

Newbrough
Rob Tindall
The death of John Blunt is a sad loss to the villages. John was a familiar figure at village events – kind, sociable, totally unassuming and always willing to help whenever he could. He was a man of talent – mathematician, computer expert, accomplished cook, magician and furniture maker. A personal memory is of his combining the latter two skills to devise a mechanism for one of the village pantomimes whereby an archer standing stage left realistically shot an apple from the head of an actor standing stage right. People are going to miss John and we pass on our commiserations to Christine and family.
The church social with karaoke in the Red Lion was a great success. It was good to have so many attending from St John Lee as well as our own parish. If the hidden purpose was to use it as auditions for choir membership, it was perhaps less successful; but then the brave participants might be better suited to singing ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’ than ‘Harper Valley PTA’! Well done to Katrina and her merry band of helpers for the organisation of what was a most enjoyable evening.
Remember that the Climate Action Group meets next Thursday, March 12 at 7.30pm to hear a talk on ‘Woodlands and Climate Change’. All are welcome as they will be at the Chapel’s ‘Big Brew’ at 10am on March 27. The Chapel coffee neatly anticipates the gin tasting evening at the Boatside on the same night at 6.30pm.

Slaley
Helen Savage
THE next regular coffee morning in St Mary’s Church will be on Saturday, March 7 from 10.30am to midday. Come and join us for delicious home baking, superb coffee and great chat.
AT the same time (actually, from 10am) and until 4pm, the ‘Woolly Wanderers’, a group of hand spinners will hold an open day while working in the Commemoration Hall. Please drop in and see their amazing work.
The following day, Sunday, March 8 at 1pm, there’s the latest Ladycross Nature Reserve guided walk to celebrate the arrival of Spring (Hurrah!). Please meet at the quarry gates. It costs £5, but accompanied children under 12 come free – and please bring a magnifying glass, the earliest signs of Spring may take a bit of detective work! It may still also be necessary to feed the birds, so please don’t bring your dog.
The Slaley churches are holding a series of Lent lunches every Wednesday at midday in the Commemoration Hall until Easter. It’s a chance to enjoy a simple, tasty lunch of soup and bread together and chat, if you wish, around the tables about an issue of the day. Any profits will be divided between WaterAid and the West Northumberland Food Bank.
On Wednesday evening next week, the WI is also booked into the Commemoration Hall, but at 7.30pm for their regular monthly meeting when Jane Dixon will talk about ‘My life as a pharmacist’.

Humshaugh
Herbie Newell
The village hall AGM last Tuesday reviewed a very busy and successful year for an institution at the heart of our vibrant community. The £33,369 phase one programme of hall improvements has now been completed, and phase two is imminent. The meeting recorded its sincere gratitude to the bodies who have funded the work, and to the trustees for their hard work.
The outstanding Windborne virtuosic vocal quartet workshop and concert last Saturday in the village hall was very well attended and greatly enjoyed.
A REMINDER that The World Day of Prayer service is 7pm on Friday, March 6 at Barrasford Methodist Church with light refreshments after the service.
This year’s Annual Parochial Church meeting will be held in St Peter’s Church on Monday, March 9 at 7.30pm. Light refreshments will be available from 7pm.
The Crown Inn Folk Music Evening is 8pm on Tuesday, March 10 and all are very welcome.
The parish council meeting is next Thursday, March 12 at 7pm at the village hall to which residents are warmly invited. The agenda and papers will be available on the parish council section of the village website – https://www.humshaughparish.org.uk/.
March Film Night is Friday, March 13 featuring the Michael Caine classic ‘The Italian Job’ (PG). Doors open at 6.45pm with an introductory talk by Ian Grant at 7.15pm. Interval desserts only will be served and tickets are available from the shop.
The service at St Peter’s this Sunday is morning prayer at 9.30am.

Bellingham
Birtley Nail
IT is only a matter of time before there is a serious accident at the junction of Manchester Square and Front Street in Bellingham because of illegal and inconsiderate parking on the main road. That was the fear expressed at the latest meeting of the parish council when the difficulties facing drivers trying to leave the square and turn right were highlighted once more. Vehicles park on the main road right up to the junction, making it impossible for motorists to see any traffic approaching from that direction without pulling out into the centre of the road. There have been near misses by the score, even though it is illegal to park within 10 metres of a junction. Police routinely turn a blind eye to the situation so the parish council is once again approaching the county council in the hope that double yellow lines can be laid down at the junction.
THE newly installed electric vehicle charging points behind the town hall are proving very popular, with 40 individual charging sessions taking place during February, providing 232kWh of electricity which is roughly 928 miles driven resulting in a saving of 130kg of CO2 from the atmosphere. It would doubtless have been more but for the fact that one of the parish council sponsored chargers is being blocked by non electric cars on a regular basis.
WITH the village still reeling from the successive efforts of Storms Ciara, Dennis and Jorge, it’s comforting to think that spring and summer are not too far round the corner – and that means Bellingham Show. The show would not be so successful without the efforts of innumerable behind the scenes supporters, such as the Friends of Bellingham Show, which is holding a jumble sale in aid of the show at the town hall on March 14.

Anyone interested in writing a regular village notes columns for Haltwhistle and Haydon Bridge should contact Gemma Brown on (01434) 602351.