Community news round-up for the Tyne Valley

Matfen

Jean Conteh

DUE to all the current uncertainties surrounding having groups of people together and having given it a lot of thought, Matfen Village Hall Committee decided not to go ahead with the fund-raising coffee morning for Macmillan Cancer Support on Saturday, September 26. It wasn’t an easy decision, as the need for the work that the charity does in supporting patients and their families through their cancer treatments is so much more important at the current time. We’d still like to make a contribution to Macmillan’s work on behalf of the village, so there are donation boxes in the shop and at the Black Bull – please try to give something in this way.

Meanwhile, regular activities are continuing in the village hall for now, though we are closely monitoring the changes in the regulations and guidance, and trying to keep the hall as Covid-safe as possible.

Ovingham and Ovington

Malcolm Cairns

I have had the pleasure of being your correspondent for the last four years. Reporting on the activities, events etc on a weekly basis. To some they might have been uninteresting or even rather mundane, but to others important and informative. Jumble sales, coffee mornings, various group and club meetings and of course the Goose Fair. These are all part of village life past but unfortunatley not present. I am looking forward to once again announcing fund-raising activites from our clubs and societies, outings to the coast and garden centres, AGMs and meetings in the pub. But alas present times do not allow normal everyday life. However there is a saying, repeated and respected by many, that ‘nothing lasts for ever’.

IF we believe this, and there is no reason why we should not, because it does not, then once again our village notes will be filled with news on everyday village life.

Upper North Tyne

Sarah Hallberg

IT is clear that the latest restrictions are likely to keep changing as the Covid-19 situation develops and as a result, Tarset Village Hall committee has made some changes to its proposed programme of events. Assuming our local restrictions remain as they are, First Thursday Films’ new season will start on Thursday, October 1, with the Tom Hanks film, ‘Big’. Places are strictly limited, so you will need to book in advance, and the week of October 4-10 will see the Lockdown Art, Craft and Photograph Exhibition. The Hall is classed as COVID-19 secure, has undertaken a comprehensive risk assessment and has put extensive mitigating measures in place. The current level of uncertainty, however, makes planning for larger events very challenging and the committee has therefore decided to postpone the return of Pointless, originally scheduled for early October, and to cancel the Tarset Christmas party on December 12. While this may be disappointing news, it is unlikely to come as a surprise. Events will be re-scheduled as soon as it is safe to do so and in the meantime, the committee will keep you informed of any further changes as and when they occur.

Redesdale

Emma Anderson

ELSDON Parish Council has decided to cancel this year’s bonfire and fireworks event on Elsdon Village Green. The decision comes after concerns about the health and safety of residents in light of an increasing level of coronavirus cases and following the most recent government social distancing instructions. The event, held on the village green for many years, has been popular with many from the neighbouring communities.

OTTERBURN Parish Council is aware of increased dog fouling in the village, and that dog fouling bags are being discarded inappropriately. To address the problem, the parish council has secured nearly four thousand free, biodegradable bags for the dispensers at the Rede, Tyne and Coquet Sports Centre, at Bridge End and the bottom of the lane to Girsonfield. The dog warden will also be paying unannounced visits to the area, to tackle the problem and issue fines to offenders. Please pick up after your dog and deposit bags in the bins provided or in your green rubbish bin at home.

Humshaugh

Herbie Newell

THOSE who have recently attended the village hall will have seen the improvements that have taken place during the last few months. A kitchenette will be finished this week, which, together with new vinyl flooring, will complete improvements to the supper room. The hall, which is a Covid-secure venue, remains open for activities that are still permitted under the latest government regulations and local ‘lockdown’ rules. For further information please email humvillhall@gmail.com.

THE Crown Inn is also following the latest Government regulations. These include bringing last orders forward to ensure that all customers have vacated the premises by 10pm, as now required.

AFTER a gorgeous sing outside last week, our community choir North Tyne Voices has again been forced by the new Covid restrictions to move back online. Many thanks to choir leader Kathryn Davidson for keeping our choir singing and our spirits up.

MANY thanks to Anthony Maughan and Hanson at Keepershield for supplying new gravel for our war memorial, and to councillors Geoff Elliot and Rupert Gibson for laying and levelling this.

THE first apple pressing session is this Saturday from 10am to 4pm at the village hall. Due to Covid restrictions, only apples from Humshaugh parish and Wall village can be accepted. Please observe social distancing at all times.

ALTHOUGH ‘real’ St Peter’s Church services are now curtailed, virtual services are continuing, details at www.achurchnearyou.com/16162 and on the St. Peter’s Facebook page @HumshaughChurch

Allen Valleys

Robert Philipson

THE Allendale Film Club is opening again this time with a socially distant and safe format. The film being shown is the Sisters Brothers (postponed from March) on Monday, September 28, at 7:45pm in the village hall. Members should receive an email setting out plans to make this a safe experience and asking people to reserve their seats in advance. If you wish to make a reservation please email Gareth at - gareth1944@icloud.com . Food will not be served but those wishing a glass of wine should bring their own glass.

A MESSAGE from Alison Peadon, library service manager. The mobile library will be stopping outside the library in the coming weeks. This is an interim measure to provide access to library books whilst they continue to work towards reopening the library itself. The time-limited browsing offer that is already in operation at some of the other libraries is labour intensive resulting in difficulty in providing a full service offer. If customers prefer to receive a doorstep delivery of library books, this can be arranged by ringing their resources centre on (01670) 622399. You may need to leave a message but your call will be returned.

AN update on the play area in Allenfields. As I write this we are requesting to remove enough of the security fencing to allow access. The transfer of this land to the parish council has not yet gone through so we need permission to go ahead.

PLEASE send any contributions for these notes to robert.philipson@btconnect.com or telephone 01434 685266 & the deadline is Sunday 6pm.

Wylam

Robin Piette

THE live concerts at St Oswin’s Church and other venues last Saturday and Sunday by Semibreve/Clara Vale Music were cancelled, though it turned out that they could have taken place under the new regulations. The girls are offering a digital concert on Thursday 24th at 8pm, and free entrance to Wylam ticket holders at their other events.

IT’s harvest time at the Wylam Community Orchard again on Sunday, September 27, from 2pm to 4pm. Harvesting the fruit, and meadow cutting. Members who have paid their subs are entitled to a share of the crop. Please remember to observe two metre social distancing and not to share tools or food. Everyone is welcome including accompanied children.

ROYAL Voluntary Service Virtual Village Hall is on Facebook, now moving over to a page instead of a group, making it easy access for all. There’s a selection of videos available and more are added each week, a range of classes including crafts, exercise and other interesting videos for you to take part in or watch. This is the direct link to the list of videos -

https://www.facebook.com/pg/VirtualVillageHall/videos/

LUCY has some important information regarding face coverings at her Feet First Dance class. Parents and students are politely asked if everyone can wear a face mask when entering and exiting the building. However, the students don’t have to wear them during class. This is so the community centres can make sure that they are adhering to the community buildings guidelines set forth by the government.

THE WI was all set to hold a socially distanced meeting in the Institute, but events overtook them, so in compensation the committee delivered delicious cup cakes and a quiz to all members.

Slaley

Stella Douglas

There is a video on the Slaley parish website showing the exciting moment when the very first SCH200Club winning ball was retrieved from the bingo wheel. It’s on the ‘About Slaley’ page. The winning ball was 37. Would you like a chance to win? To get an SCH200Club number, contact Pat on (01434) 673388..

DO you know who painted the pictures of Charles Samuel and Agnes Mona Hunting which hung in the commemoration hall? These pictures have been taken down to enable the redecoration and will be restored. Call a trustee if you have any information. Contact details are on the parish website.

There remains uncertainty about which activities can take place in the commemoration hall during the Covid-19 Northumberland restrictions. The hall trustees met last Wednesday to work out a strategy. Please call (01434) 673001 if you need to know about future bookings. Perhaps by November the commemoration hall will be able to host Cribs from Around the World. Do you have a Christmas crib from somewhere outside the UK which could be displayed? Call a member of the village hall committee if you can help.

The parish council met virtually on September 14. Two weeks ago, it looked as if it would be able to meet in the Commemoration Hall in October, but this is now unlikely. If you want to join the virtual meeting in October, please contact the clerk on (01434) 673388. For a summary of the meeting and minutes and agenda, look on the parish website.

Bellingham

Birtley Nail

BELLINGHAM Middle School is launching a charm offensive in a bid to attract more pupils to its impressive educational offering.

After staving off an attempt to shut it down by Northumberland County Council last year the school has gone from strength to strength under new head Lindsay Hamilton, and enjoyed a glowing Ofsted report.

The school has to compete for its pupils with all the North Tyne and Redesdale’s newly extended primary schools, and Haydon Bridge High School, as it has been allocated no catchment area of its own by the county council, which remains keen to revert to a two-tier education system in the two valleys.

However, many people feel the middle school still has a key role to play in catering for the needs of pupils from the age of nine to 13, as it has been doing for nearly half a century.

With that in mind the school is offering the opportunity for potential pupils and parents to look round the classrooms and other facilities over the next few weeks.

One parent said: “The school offers amazing facilities all in one building so the pupils can truly experience a wide and varied curriculum.”

Unfortunately, due to the newly introduced Covid restrictions the school is unable to offer its usual open evening event but would love to offer tours by appointment, with a member of staff to provide a glimpse of what’s on offer.

Tours must be prearranged either by telephone (01434) 220235 or email(middleadmin@bellinghampartnership.uk) and will take place between 3.45pm and 5pm from September 21 to 25, September 28 to October 1, or October 5 to 9.

Because of the new Covid restrictions, only one family can be accommodated at a time, and people over 11 years of age must wear a mask.

Riding Mill

Pam Pryor

HAVING worked so hard to ensure our community buildings were Covid-secure in order to welcome back clubs and their activities, it was heart-breaking to learn of the new government lockdown regulations which came into force on Friday, September 18. As a result, the Foyer Café had to be cancelled last Monday but the Village Hall Trust Committee will discuss the re-opening on a regular basis. For now, however, the safety and well-being of the café volunteers is priority. If you have any queries, please ring Suzanne, the hall’s manager, on 07587 068210.

The Parish Council, the Village Hall Trust, the church and other organisations in the village continue to work together to provide a community response to Covid-19. The weekly meal service is still available, as is the prescription collection service. There is a team of over 50 local volunteers who can assist in numerous ways from shopping to dog walking so the parish councillors remind you that the dedicated number to call for assistance, 07935 271922, is still operating although it is likely that it will go to voicemail and someone will call you back later.

IF you have information for our notes, please contact me via email pampryor@btinternet.com. Take care and stay safe.

Prudhoe

Ian Warburton

IT’S great to report that Prudhoe Golf Club’s charity event on September 11 raised a grand total of £3,137.51 for the Dystonia Society. The raffle alone raised over £1,000. There were 40 tee off slots and 160 players, including visitors from Carlisle, Bishop Auckland and Barnard Castle, plus home teams from the Tyne Valley. The weather held out, with no rain. Grateful thanks to Prudhoe Golf Club staff, greenkeepers, catering, office and pro shop personnel and of course the players, who were responsible for the sum raised for the charity. Well done to all involved.

BY the time that you read this, Prudhoe Town Council will have reopened its play areas at Highfield Park, West Mickley, Castledene and the Copse. Strict guidelines regarding their use can be found on newly installed signage at each venue and the details also appear on the Town Council’s website.

THE road which runs through the barrier gates at Prudhoe Station will be closed from 9pm on Friday to 6am on Saturday, to allow the annual barrier test.

PRUDHOE Town Council will be hosting its next ordinary meeting online via Zoom on Wednesday, September 30, commencing at 7pm. More information will appear on the town council’s website and Facebook page nearer the time.

Newbrough

Rob Tindall

THE September prize-winners in the town hall monthly draw were drawn at the AGM and are:- 1st P. Redford, 2nd E. McDonald and 3rd M. Kirkley.

THE speed sign at East Fourstones is now operational and is a cogent reminder that you are entering a restricted zone. What a pity that there are still motorists who regard our streets as racetracks and not only present a danger to children and other pedestrians but take a delight in revving their engines at all hours of the day and night. There have been complaints about a ‘carload’ scorching through Newbrough at two in the morning.

A VERY important part of school provision in these worrying times is the wrap around care on offer in the form of breakfast and after school clubs. It is pleasing to see that the after school club helpfully has a planned programme of activities, both indoor and outdoor, currently with autumn themes. The school will recommence serving hot lunches from September 28. As ever Mrs Bridges will be using the freshest of local produce, no doubt including apples, of which there seems a great surplus in the district this year. An acre was the amount of land a man could plough with his horse in a working day. His mind would be truly blown if he could see the areas which his successors are turning over in a similar time.

Horsley

Maurice Holliday

A FILM unit was working in and around the village on Sunday, September 13. The crew filmed with a vintage Rolls Royce car between Harlow Hill and the antiques centre in Horsley.

PLEASE note that the Lion and Lamb pub is open every day except Mondays and Tuesdays. The length of opening times is in keeping with current government guidelines.

HORSLEY village church is being decorated this week. The WI/village hall in Horsley is still available for hire. The hall is secure within the current Covid-19 regulations. There are two available spaces for hire.

THANK you to passers by who stopped to give aid to a lady who had fallen on the main road path in Horsley last week. Their assistance was invaluable until an ambulance arrived.

MANY congratulations to Kevin Farren from the Hearth cafe who completed the Great North Run in one hour 43m 49s. Kevin ran from Matfen to Ponteland via Stamfordham. He finished the race in position 731.