Community news round-up

Wark
Peter Samsom
One benefit of this quieter world will be that we’ll be able to hear the dawn chorus better and I’ve received reports of a couple of sand martins arriving back last week, I heard a chiffchaff singing away. Spring continues to march on, whatever happens in our human world.
Hopefully you’ve spotted that the Broadsheet included a sheet with contact numbers, should you find yourself unable to go out. There is a group of people who have volunteered to help with shopping etc. There is a PDF copy of the information on the Wark Facebook page, but if you still need a copy I can email it to you, if you contact me on peternsam@gmail.com. Our local shops have also pulled out all the stops to keep the village supplied with food and the pubs and hotels are doing take-out meals on some, if not all evenings. 
As you are already aware, the Charity Lunch, originally planned for May, has been postponed. Tickets already booked will be held for the next time the Charity Lunch is being held. With all social events now cancelled, village news will also slow down, and I’m not sure there will always be enough to write about. However, if there is anything you’d like us to mention, please contact me on the email about or ring me on 230605, and we’ll fit it in.

Hexhamshire
Lynda White
As we enter a new month the increasing risks posed by coronavirus are still very much here. Could we ask the public to refrain from walking across fields and footpaths in the Shire as they are opening gates and using stiles which have to be cleaned and disinfected time and time again? These are also worrying times for farmers who are trying to go about their business in this difficult situation with lambing in full swing they do not have the time to follow people around cleaning after them. There are many pregnant ewes and lambs in the fields at this of year so dogs should not be taken into fields containing these animals. The only people we should see in the Shire are farmers, key workers going to and from work, delivery drivers and people who are shopping for themselves and others.

Newbrough
Rob Tindall
Being restricted does highlight the little pleasures one takes for granted, chief of which is the caring communities around us. A lady in Sidgate is baking cakes and other goodies for her neighbours who are slightly older than she is; no-one asked her to do it. John, in Warden who is a computer expert, is offering to help those who are struggling with technology and run into difficulty – at a distance of course but without charge. There are probably scores of similar acts of generosity of which I am unaware.
Sidgate and Broadway are lined with well-polished vehicles and front gardens are starting to look immaculate. If the virus relents this may be a great year to revive the open gardens’ event. 
Unfortunately, Warden Parish Council’s litter-pick has been postponed but you could do a personal pick while you exercise and keep the villages tidy. A note from Rev. Jeremy informs us that he has had to lock our three churches. He reckons that it is the first time in over 1,000 years that we haven’t been at liberty to worship in them.

Prudhoe
Ian Warburton
Radio Prudhoe is back on air. The group of volunteers has agreed to get the Prudhoe local radio station running earlier than planned, owing to these difficult times. It is different from previous runs, as they are doing this from their own homes. There is music from across the decades with crucial coronavirus-related information about what is happening in Prudhoe and the immediate area to support everyone. The radio broadcasts over the internet from www.radioprudhoe.co.uk and will run 24/7 for an indefinite period. They need to hear from you about anything that is going on – this might include food deliveries, takeaway details, help, information etc. Please email anything for inclusion on studio@radioprudhoe.co.uk
There is now a Facebook group set up - Prudhoe COVID 19 Mutual Aid UK - with lots of help and advice
Red Brick Care Home staff are asking if anyone would like to act as a pen friend to residents who are lonely or missing family members. If you’d like to offer to take this up, please email redbrick.activity@akaricare.co.uk
Prudhoe Community Arts Festival and Art Trail 2020, which were scheduled to take place between July 11 and July 26, have been postponed until July 2021. 

Horsley
Maurice Holliday
Human beings are capable of such resilience in times of crisis. It is so reassuring and heart warming to see how people in Horsley have come together to support one another at this difficult time. Church leaders, a community volunteer Whatsapp group and the Hearth cafe have been working hard to support everyone in need of help. Information leaflets have been sent to all householders in the village, Horsley Barns and Horsley Wood Cottages outlining the support available.
Nancy Youngman, a long time resident of Horsley has sadly passed away after being ill over recent months. She was a regular member of the village church, WI and organised many social activities at the Crown and Anchor and village hall.
Village notes are sent several days before publishing. The current medical emergency and government advice changes daily. Please check Horsley Parish Council and Hearth cafe websites for up to date information or you may wish to connect to our local volunteer Whatsapp group.

Heddon
John Stewart
Lets remain positive...I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who were able to last Thursday evening in an emotional ‘Clap for Carers’ in a tribute saluting the NHS, care workers and key workers who are working through the coronavirus pandemic. The volume of applause throughout the village was fantastic and a true blessing. 
It is truly amazing the reaction that this coronavirus has had on our community with many families spending times creating pictures of rainbows appearing across many windows within Heddon. If you are exercising around the parish, try to spot them as everyday another one seems to appear!
Despite the uncertain future that we face, one thing that has appeared from this pandemic is togetherness, new friendships and more engagement to one another ensuring that we are all with one another and no one is alone. So I would keep encouraging everyone through this difficult time is for everyone to be strong, because things will get better. It may be stormy now, but it never rains forever! Keep smiling, stay positive, stay safe and stay active! We are all in this together and we can get through this with the power of this strong community!

Haltwhistle
Chris Jameson
The Dementia Support at Haltwhistle wants to let people know that the carers group and memory cafe will be cancelled until further notice due to the coronavirus issues. If anybody wants any support or information, contact Chris on 07816 532269 or visit www. dementiasupportat haltwhistle.co.uk

Corbridge
David Walton
Corbridge began its second week in lockdown on Monday with residents trying to get used to a different way of life, only essential shops being open: the Co-op, Boots the chemist, Bishops Spar Shop and Petrol Station and Post Office/Paper Shop. Others are taking orders by phone and they will deliver or you can pick them up from the shops themselves. Any events planned for the next week have been postponed and events in the future also cancelled including the Tynedale Beer Festival and the South Tyne Traction Engine Rally. All daily updates can be obtained from Corbridge Community, the social media Facebook page.
News reached Corbridge last week of the death of one of the villages past sporting heroes National Hunt Jockey George Milburn who died at Ashington Grange Care Centre aged 87. Mr Milburn was born in Corbridge in and had studied agriculture at Newcastle University and later found a job with Major Calverly Bewick as assistant farm manage and was also promised a few rides in local racing. He won his first race at Hexham in May 1953 on Hugill Lad. The following year he was advised by the stewards to turn professional. In the 1956 Grand National, George was given the ride on Gentle Moya. Gentle Moya and Milburn were runners up to ESB.
In 1957 Mr Milburn rode Kirstin to second place in te Cheltenham Fesival. Further rides in the Grand National were disappointing,apart 1959 when George rode Green Drill to third place. By 1966 George Milburn was riding for Ken Oliver’s stable and at the Cheltenham Festival and won the Cotswold Chase.

Slaley
Helen Savage
Slaley Community Shop, staffed by our amazing team of volunteers, is open every day, but with restricted opening times of 9am to 12pm.
Slaley Pyramid of Care is running well. If you are self-isolating, need shopping or other urgent supplies, please just contact the person named on the card (your area rep) delivered with Slaley News.
If anyone in Slaley and district needs to collect a prescription from Corbridge Medical Centre please phone the medical centre any Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon after 2pm, ask to speak to the dispensary and tell them that you wish to be part of the Slaley Prescription Scheme. Please do this even if you have placed an order online. Your prescription will them be collected on the Friday and delivered to you by one of the volunteers. Please also contact your Pyramid of Care area rep just to let them know that wish to be part of the scheme.
Our churches are, of course, shut, but worship is streamed every Sunday at 10.30am on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/moorlandgroup/. There are also short video messages through the week.

Wylam
Robin Piette
A great deal of clapping and banging tin lids went on on Thursday for the NHS. And how about the bin men and the delivery people and our wonderful shops and pharmacy?
 

Riding Mill
Pam Pryor
As we will sadly not be treated to the Choral Society’s Easter concert, I hope you will join me in singing these famous “Accentuate the Positive” lyrics around the house which will help to cheer us all.‘You’ve got to spread joy up to the maximum, Bring gloom down to the minimum, Have faith or pandemonium’s Liable to walk upon the scene.’
In a letter on the Village Hall Trust website, chairman, Janet Padgett, has kindly said that although it is not possible to access our halls at this time, villagers are welcome to use the Parish Hall gardens whilst keeping an appropriate social distance. The village hall’s Facebook page also shows a friendly film by osteopath, Robbie Heslop, who gives useful tips for people struggling with self isolation.
Please note that the Parish News Editors have decided not to issue an April edition of the magazine to protect Ian, the printer, and the distributors.
A reminder of the dedicated number to call for assistance 07935 271 922.

Redesdale
Emma Anderson
Local businesses continue to offer support during the lockdown, offering delivery of groceries and fruit and veg to the elderly and those in at-risk groups. West Woodburn Shop and Post Office is open on Mondays and Thursdays between 8am and 2pm (post office between 8am and 1pm). Delivery orders will be taken by telephone on (01434) 270062 or by email at westwoodburnshop@gmail.com. Please order vegetables and bread in advance, to ensure stock is available. George Jennings Fruit and Vegetables at Bellingham (telephone George on 07398 123603) offers a delivery service in Redesdale, Corsenside and Kirkwhelpington. The Border Reiver at Otterburn, telephone (01830) 520682, is  doing a splendid job delivering to upper Redesdale and are happy to deliver to Corsenside too. 
I am maintaining details of services available in the valley and surrounds and am happy to share this with readers. Please email me at redesdale.village.notes@gmail.com.   

Ovingham & Ovington
Malcolm Cairns
The support groups which have been set up in our villages are continuing their good work. However, more volunteers would be welcome. Contact Ovington Community Group or Ovingham Parish Council if you feel you could help in any way.
St Mary’s Church is now closed until further notice, at the moment the churchyard is open. Although the playing field remains open, parents and children are asked not to use the play equipment.
On behalf of our residents we would like to express our thanks to those who are striving to keep our community going through these difficult times.

Allen Valleys
Robert Philipson 
The one common theme throughout everything we are experiencing is the community spirit shining through this darkness. All the businesses are going that extra mile to help everyone out, particularly the vulnerable people caught up in all this. The behind the scenes work in the co-op will be never ending together with the delivery service to individual households by staff and volunteers. 
The chemist too, despite all the extra work entailed has been upping its service in delivering medication and prescriptions to people in our area not able to come to the shop.
Jo Dixon must have a special mention as she, her staff from the post office/ market shop and volunteers deliver the papers to households local to the shop. The aim is to also deliver the papers up the valley to either individual households or central pick up points in the porch of Sparty Lea chapel or the bench seat at the entrance to Allenheads Heritage Centre. If there are any special requirements please phone (01434) 683201. 
There are a number of community volunteers throughout the valleys. Message Allendale Area Notices on Facebook or contact me and I will confidentially contact a volunteer with your details and requests. Please send any contributions for these notes to robert.philipson@btconnect.com or telephone (01434) 685266. The deadline is Sunday 6pm. 

Humshaugh
Herbie Newell
Very many thanks to everyone in our community for their responsible and caring actions at this difficult time. Particular thanks to all our shop volunteers, who are keeping this lifeline open and well-stocked, and to everyone looking out for neighbours; particularly those living alone.
Our Humshaugh COVID-19 Response helpline - 07469 796103 - is working well with deliveries being made to a number of residents. Please don’t hesitate to call – we can help.
In line with Government advice, the Crown Inn has had to stop providing takeaway meals, but our village shop has a wide range of locally-produced at-cost ready-meals which can be delivered if needed – please call the helpline.
Whilst our School is closed for normal teaching, staff are still coming in every day to provide care for the children of key workers. As important, all pupils now have home learning packs to keep their education on track. 
The Humshaugh Harvest Show will be on Saturday September 12 (hopefully!) – please save the date.
Following national guidance, St Peter’s is sadly now closed.  Fortunately, services are available on TV and online. Further details, plus our local church messages, prayers and news are on the St Peter’s Facebook page @HumshaughChurch or website  https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/16162/.

Bellingham
Birtley Nail
HATS off to the Dickson-Greens, Coun. Martin and parish clerk Ben, who have been leading Bellingham Parish Council’s fight to help slow the spread of coronavirus. They put a flier through every door in the parish offering shopping, posting and a ring around service. They are paying for the goods themselves, and using a card reader on a long stick to get payment back from the residents as we go around. 
They are also helping Shammi from the chemists with prescription deliveries to the village which frees up his usual delivery driver to handle the increased demand from the wider North Tyne and Redesdale areas. They have also established a free tea or coffee service for any of the emergency support services at the bakery with the support of Neale and Bridget Arnup.
THE response to the call for a round of applause for care workers and the NHS on Thursday night was magnificently observed, bringing a lump to the throat of all who heard it. There has also been much deserved praise for all the shops in the village, where business owners and staff have gone above and beyond ever since the crisis started, in exceptionally tough circumstances. Well done to everyone.
AS if the dangers of Covid 19 were not enough for villagers with respiratory problems, a rubbish fire burning for several days behind St Cuthberts Terrace added to their woes. Choking fumes from the fire were so thick they triggered smoke alarms in a number of properties meaning residents were obliged to close their windows, unable to take advantage of the balmy early spring sunshine. The county council has been informed of the nuisance.

Matfen
Jean Conteh
There has been a fabulous response to Rev Rachel’s project to put those who can offer help in touch with those who need it. Rachel now has a list of over 60 volunteers and is still keen to have more. If you wish to add your name, contact Rachel on 01661 886853. And if you need help in any form, that’s the number to call.
I cycled past the community allotment, behind the shop, on Saturday and it was very cheering to see how well ordered it all is. If you’re feeling energetic and would like to do some digging or weeding  contact Danny Myers on allotmentdanny@gmail.com. There’s a sign at the allotment entrance with details.
You may have noticed that the footpath, at the west of the village, leading to the Great Whittington road is looking a lot neater and is safer to walk on. It took three villagers three days to do this as their daily exercise, keeping two metres apart. You may notice other jobs like this that could be done. Just check with parish councillor Keith Mavin on keith.mavin@btinternet.com before you start.
On Thursday night, Matfen community came together when lots of people came out to clap and thank the NHS, other carers, and all the frontline staff in food shops, including our own village shop.

Greenhead
Wendy Bond
The Farmers’ Market will not be taking place this coming Sunday after all, even though it would be so good to have it. This is only the second time the market has not run in its 15 years serving the area. But, like so many of the good things that happen in our lives here, it is run and manned by the over-seventies. But we can continue our singing as the Hadrian Singers are receiving all we need online for what is now a digital choir! What a wonderful community!

Acomb
Julie Foster
Wishing you all very well and safe. Acomb’s Community Volunteer Group is now in place. There has been a phenomenal response within our community with over 50 volunteers. We are linking with the new NHS Volunteers Scheme in Tyne Valley which will start to share who the most vulnerable residents are within Acomb and help with overcoming difficulties in payment for shopping through a Northumberland County Council initiative. Access your volunteer, name and contact number on leaflet that came through your door, if you are one of those who meets the criteria as listed on the leaflet and need to be shielded from the coronavirus. Not know who your volunteer is? Contact Lorna on 07711 334521.
A Government scheme is now in place - Get coronavirus support as an extremely vulnerable person. Register if you have a medical condition that makes you extremely vulnerable. Link with https://www.gov.uk/Coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable or ring 0800 028 8327. A food package will be provided if you are extremely vulnerable.
Please ensure your youngsters are not congregating on the playing fields. They will be reported on 101. We all need to be self isolating to keep the spread of coronavirus numbers down. Acknowledging the NHS by clapping them is not enough! Follow Government guidance, stay at home unless you have good reason otherwise. Keep our community safe and well.

Upper North Tyne
Sarah Hallberg
There is a lot going on in the way of online community activity in the area and various community groups have been set up to try and help lessen the impact of self-isolation and social distancing. In our area, Otterburn (Otterburn Covid-19 Mutual Aid) and the North Tyne (Covid-19 Corona Virus Support Group - North Tyne) have each set up facebook groups.
There are also various online meetings and social activities, and you can even go to church virtually. The church has put in place a cascade of phone calls to those unable to leave their homes and if you would like to be included in the cascade for our area, contact the clergy (rector Susan on 220019; Elaine Ryder on 01830 520212) or the churchwardens (Caroline Waitt 240210 and Jill Swaile 240168).
Huge thanks must go to all those who are still working to make sure our local businesses and services are running under challenging circumstances. Particular thanks must go to the Co-Op and the Bellingham Practice and the various people who are running vital services for us: Gary Cant (milkman – still delivering), Bellingham Pharmacy (delivering prescriptions), Boe Rigg (hot food delivered), Phillip Troop (fresh veg deliveries), Falstone Tea Rooms (local shop and delivery service) and Jennings Fruit & Veg, which also offers a delivery service.