Tynedale community round-up (part two)

Newbrough

Rob Tindall

Some really good news! Mary Pedley the chair of governors at Newbrough School appealed for any old laptops which might have to lend, or donate to support those pupils learning at home who do not have access to such equipment. The school knew of one multi-child home where the only access was through a single mobile phone. The appeal was seen by local author Louise Ross who immediately responded by donating seven brand new laptops. The school is astounded and extremely grateful for Louise’s very generous donation. Newbrough now has sufficient laptops for its needs, but suggests that anyone reading this who has a surplus laptop contacts their local school to see if they could use it.

In the Town Hall 200+ January Draw the winners were 1st: T. Law, 2nd: R. Kennedy, and 3rd: K. Clark. I can’t help noticing that exactly 50 per cent of the winners in the last two months live in Frankham. It must be something in the water.

Someone who is concerned about the effect of lockdown on the very young in our community is Abi who is setting up a very local group to share bits and bobs. This could not only keep the youngsters occupied by giving access to new toys and books but incidentally provide the harassed parent with a free 10 minutes to make a cup of tea. Participation through WhatsApp with doorstep pick up and collection is envisaged to comply with Covid-19 guidelines. Text Abi on 07512 082483 for more info.

Riding Mill

Carole Craig-Gilby

Welcome to my very first village column. I am a member of Riding Mill Drama Club/Ladies who sing and I am a trustee of the village halls.

The parish and millennium halls are now not operating the same way (boy do we all miss it). However, the main parish hall is still producing a daily outdoor “market table” to sell fresh eggs, jams, chutneys, books, vegetables etc

Riding Mill Drama Club (as every club and group is finding) can no longer meet in person and have recommenced monthly Zoom play readings – is still a chance to become a member of the drama club, to act or listen – please email me at ridingmillnews@gmail.com

If you need shopping or a prescription collecting, please just let us know, we have many volunteers available in Riding Mill.

Winter weather/vaccination appointments. Many of you will be attending your vaccination appointment soon. If you need a lift, please call Village Assistance on 07935 271922.

Church worship and community payer is even more important now and services from St James Church in Riding Mill are available via Zoom by contacting David McKenzie on mckenzie.d@btinternet.com. Zoom morning prayer is at 9.30am each Wednesday and Sunday worship and a Zoom coffee afterwards (put your own kettle on).

Virginia Steer is still making meals freshly cooked (£4.50) per meal for village residents (delivery available upon request) each week. This is being organised directly with her on 07774 172499.

Greenhead

Wendy Bond

Last week one of the oldest and most talented members of our community sadly died in hospital, Rose Bracher, aged 90. Rose was born and raised amid very different scenery, on her father’s farm in Lincolnshire, which meant that her schooldays were accompanied by the sounds and stories of the many aerodromes hastily constructed there to accommodate the planes of the Second World War. She trained as a teacher and later combined teaching with becoming herself a farmer’s wife, eventually living at Tindal Fell which couldn’t have been more different from the plains of the east. For more than 30 years she lived alone here in Byron Terrace, often with her grandchildren staying, creating and tending her garden. She became, quietly and with grace as she did in everything, the life and inspiration of the art and crafts group that meets in the village hall and contributor to all our exhibitions and projects, always keeping us entertained with her stories as she worked. Rose painted in water colours and made exquisite embroidery, always choosing to depict our wildlife, especially the birds which along with the red squirrels are also residents of the terrace. One of her masterpieces was the centre piece for the set of altar rail kneelers that we made, based on the life of St Cuthbert, the Cuthbert Cross which she researched and executed. She was a generous friend and neighbour and will be remembered with great affection.

By coincidence, another one-time resident of the same terrace, Paul Hardcastle, also an artist but of a totally different build and style, has also died in the last week, in his converted chapel in Hallbankgate. While living in Greenhead he created the scenery for the Theatre Royal’s production of Aladdin, in my byre, and worked in a wide variety of materials, especially pottery, while also being well known as a chess player and teacher, and for his peregrinations every New Year’s Eve bringing good cheer - his hallmark.

Horsley

Maurice Holliday

Garden and book clubs in the village are exploring ways in which to engage members during the current restrictions. Each of the Garden Club members have already been treated to a floral plant to bring a little cheer at a difficult time.

The name Horsley derives from the Anglo/Saxon “ley” which means a clearing in the wood. In this case the clearing was for the grazing of horses. There is plenty of archaeological evidence to show that the wood in Horsley has changed its size and form through time. The university of Newcastle have made a detailed study of the wood as well as the township at Welton in the north of the parish. The work is recorded in a book called “ Landscape archaeology in Tynedale by Christopher Tolan Smith. The book makes interesting reading for book club members and others.

The Hearth cafe will be closed every Monday until further notice.

A new fence has been erected along the length of the Whittle burn from Spital to the conservation site at the top of the Whittle gorge. The public right of way has an access gap in the fence. I am uncertain whether the gap will be filled with a gate or the fence crossed by a stile.

Horsley Parish Council met last Monday by way of the internet. This was the regular bi-monthly meeting of the council.

Work started last week to improve access to the village church. At the same time repairs are being made to the roof and guttering at the rear of the building.

Unfortunately lockdown has not improved the amount of fast food wrappings and empty cans and bottles that contained alcohol being thrown from vehicles at either of the village approaches. Thank you to the volunteer litter pickers who have the unenviable task of picking it up. Please motorists take your waste home or use one of the village bins provided at some expense by the parish council. The countryside and its wildlife can be seriously harmed by throw away glass, metal and plastic.

Oatens Bank is badly potholed as you approach Harlow Hill. Recent frosts and ice have made matters worse. Motorists should also be aware that sheep have been loose in the same lane near Horsley Barns. There is a hole in the hedge giving access.

Allen Valleys

Robert Philipson

As the more vulnerable in our communities receive their vaccinations there is a hope that some sort of normality can return this summer. Sadly we have lost two of our well known local residents up the valley, both in their 90s. Dorothy Batey from Spartylea and Willie Gibson from Meadow Cottage Farm, Allenheads. Willie was well known for his expertise with hefted hill sheep and sheepdogs. While farming at Sinderhope Lodge every evening he would push the sheep up onto the high ground with his dogs. Unfortunately as we did our evening pony trek with Dukehouse Wood Centre schoolchildren up onto the same hill a young lad at the back of the trek was reduced to tears not realising that Willie’s booming voice shouting “ Get away bye, Get away bye” was directed at the dogs working the sheep and not at those on the ponies.

While writing these notes, winter has relented somewhat but by the time these are being read we could be back to snow and ice. The frequency of heavy snow showers make it difficult for the gritters to keep the roads black but they have been doing a valiant job. Although it was controversial the salt barn in Allendale has resulted in the salt remaining dry during storage and there is a more uniform spread resulting in the gritters being able to travel quicker. Hopefully gone are the days when the driver had to get out with a shovel to unblock the chute when a wet lump had blocked it.

Care is still needed. On the road by Tedham Farm, Spartylea the road floods in heavy rain. Highways has discovered a semi blocked drain under the road which prevents water draining quickly. Also at Broad Gate Farm, Sinderhope there is constant water on the road resulting in ice and a number of potholes. The water, a significant amount at times, used to run under the road and through a pipe under the yard adjacent to the road but we have opened the pipe up and it is clear. Again Highways has investigated a number of times and it appears that the stone cundy drain under the road itself may have collapsed and the water is seeping up through the surface. These cundies will be 150 years old so they have lasted well to date but take care till a temporary repair can be done.

Bellingham

Birtley Nail

After several days at below five, the number of Covid-19 cases in the North Tyne and Redesdale has gone back up to eight, according to figures released by Northumberland County Council on Sunday. The increase in the Bellingham ward came as the big freeze which has gripped the twin valleys since Christmas eased - and large numbers of tourists once again ignored lockdown rules and returned to the area. The Hareshaw Linn car park was full at the weekend, with an overspill into the Foundry Yard as groups from outside the area went walking, to the dismay of locals, including Covid victim Jamie Baty, who spent four and a half days in a coma after being stricken by the virus last year. Speaking on social media, he said: “There’s no damned reason why any of them should be here” while others bemoaned the lack of a police presence.

Gardening may seem a long way off in these cold and icy days, but it’s never too soon to become involved with a new local group which is already proving popular on social media. Plant Swap Bellingham is a forum where gardeners can exchange seeds and cuttings acclimatised to the North Tyne for free - no buying or selling is allowed. Just search Plant Swap Bellingham on Facebook.

Plans have been submitted to convert a disused workshop in Bellingham’s Burnside into a house, with a holiday let alongside. The stone built workshop, formerly used by Nixons the plumbers, is intended for conversion to a two-bedroomed house, with two bedroomed holiday accommodation attached. If permission is granted, the applicants, who already live in Bellingham, will move to the new property, and operate the holiday let themselves. Three car parking spaces will also be provided.

Heddon

John Stewart

A huge thank you to all the teachers and support staff at Heddon Primary School and in schools across the county who are continuing to support children and young adults in education through these difficult circumstances both in the classroom for the vulnerable, critical key workers children and for online and home learning. The health and wellbeing of every child is vitally important and I know from experience and evidence the incredible hard work that every staff member have carried out in recent weeks ensuring that every child’s education is continued and maintained to be delivered in these very challenging times. So a massive huge thank you from me!

We certainly got a treat last Thursday as our section of Hadrian’s Wall in Heddon was featured on Robson Green’s new ITV series Walking Coast to Coast as he has challenged himself walking the length of Wall from Wallsend to Bowness on Solway. The programme featured Robson discussing the section of the wall in Heddon with tour guide Alex with some very interesting fascinating information. It’s not the first time Robson Green has visited us in Heddon as he played Harry Crawford in the 2010 Drama Joe Maddison’s War which was partly filmed in the Sir James Knott Memorial Hall.

Usually at this time of year, some residents attend Bassenfell but this year it will be done virtually via conferencing network Zoom. Bassenfell is a place of Christian retreat where God is with us in a relaxed atmosphere. Whilst it will be very different from the reality this year, it is hoped that you will be able to join in the spirit led sessions for as little or as much as you wish, and find some comfort and shelter from all the storms of coronavirus beating around our world during this pandemic. The action packed weekend will start on Friday, January 29 to Sunday, January 31 and will be conducted by the Newcastle West Methodist Circuit. For more information about this event and for the Zoom details, please contact me on heddonnews@yahoo.co.uk

Finally let’s continue to work together to combat this virus, stay safe, remain positive and stay healthy! And however you tend to spend it I hope you have a very enjoyable and peaceful Burns Night! Take care.