Matfen
Jean Conteh

Local food co-operative GO Local are inviting you to join them for for coffee/tea in Matfen Village Hall on Saturday 25th September from 10.30-12.30. There’ll also be A Tate of Go Local - seasonal veg and much more! You can pop in and refill your washing up liquid and shampoo containers, and also indulge in some fab Spanish produce, buy some locally made chutney, honey, cheese and bread … and find out more about how to join the co-operative.

There’s a quiz in the village hall on Saturday, October 9, organised by Matfen Church, the Cool Box NE mobile bar and others in the village. There’ll be teams of six – you can book as a group or come solo and join a team. Entry is £10 per person which includes a buffet supper catered by the church. There’ll be a pay bar and prizes donated by the Black Bull and the new Cafe Aroma at the Vallum. Doors are open from 5.30pm and you can book your tickets via matfenvillage@gmail.com or at the GO Local Pop-up on Saturday 25.

Upper North Tyne
Sarah Hallberg

Churches Together in Falstone will be holding their Harvest Service at St Peter’s Church on Sunday, September 26. The service starts at 11am and will be held outside, weather permitting. There will be collections taken of non-perishable goods for the West Northumberland Food Bank and also of clothes for the refugees from Afghanistan, so please feel free to bring items with you – donations will be gratefully received.

Humshaugh
Herbie Newell

The community came together last Saturday to celebrate the life of Reverend Steve Wilkinson in a wonderful and moving service.  Steve was a remarkable man who engendered respect and affection in everyone he met.  He will never be forgotten and always be missed.

The Service of Thanksgiving for the life of our good friend Lucy Davison is 12 noon today at St Peter’s, all are very welcome.

The next fortnightly Village Hall coffee morning will be 10am-12noon this Saturday, September 25 when coffee, soft drinks and delicious homemade cakes will be served.  Best of all will be the chance to meet friends and neighbours……… see you there!

The first Pub Quiz of the year is next Tuesday, September 28 starting at 8.30pm.
Humshaugh Art Group meets at the Village Hall on Wednesdays 2-4pm, starting September 29.  No experience is necessary, and all are invited to try a session.  For more information email olive.m.ford@gmail.com.

The first Film Night of the year is Friday, October 8 (not 15), featuring the inspirational true-life story “Pride”.

Residents are encouraged to admire the wonderful new Humshaugh School gates, kindly funded by the Diocese.

2022 Humshaugh Calendars featuring stunning local views are now available in the Village Shop, price £5.

The next Holy Communion at St Peter’s will be 6pm this Sunday, September 26. The Late@8 contemporary worship services at St Peter’s Humshaugh will resume on Sunday, October 3, 7.30pm for refreshments.  The theme this month is ‘Sing a new song’!  All are very welcome.

Chollerton
Hugh Denholm

Barrasford village hall is now up and running (with Covid measures still in place). Anyone can hire the hall for any event with great hourly rates. Weekly events in the hall include Scouts, Cubs and beavers, China restoration, carpet bowls and supastrikers. Monthly events include baby and toddler group, Chollerton WI and Dunkers coffee morning as well as regular quiz nights (the next one is Friday, October 8). We also have a table tennis table that all budding players can ask to be set up in the supper room. For more information or to hire the hall, please email michellenixon25@aol.com

There will be a coffee morning at Barrasford village hall in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support on Saturday, September 25, starting at 10.30am. Cakes, books, jigsaws, and raffle and coffee.

Bellingham
Brian Tilley

The long disused ambulance station in the Foundry Yard could be in line for a frothy future - as a brewery. Bellingham Parish Council heard at its September meeting that plans were afoot by the Elsdon based First and Last Brewery to convert the building into a brewery, shop and event space. Councillors  warmly welcomed the project, subject to planning consent.

If you like doing your bit for charity and enjoying yourself at the same time, get along to the Methodist United Reformed Church Hall  tomorrow (Friday) for a MacMillan coffee morning. The kettle goes on at 10.30am.

Rehearsals have started for Bellingham and District Dramatic Society’s first production in a couple of years - Compton MacKenzie’s classic tale of shipwrecks and recycling, Whisky Galore. I am led to believe the set at the town hall will be an elaborate one, involving boats and a quay,  but I am not sure the society will be laying on the 50,000 cases of stolen  whisky the story is based on. Watch this space for details of tickets and performance dates.

After almost half a century, Bellingham Fire Station has lost its place as the hot seat of local democracy. Bellingham Parish Council has staged its monthly meetings in the community room at the fire station since the early 1970s, but covid has meant that the room is now being made available only to our local retained firemen. All future meetings of the parish council will take place in the town hall.

An unexpected benefit of the plans  to build 60 new houses on the mart field could be a resolution of the problem of broken drains on the Fairstead. The developers plan to discharge surface water from the new estate into the drain that crosses the Fairstead, which in fact has been out of commission for many months, causing flooding. No-one is admitting ownership of the  faulty pipework, so it is hoped that the developers’ intentions may flush out whoever is responsible. 

Redesdale
Emma Anderson

A new block of six, one-hour Tai Chi training sessions begins at the Rede, Tyne and Coquet Sports & Leisure Centre, Otterburn, this Wednesday, September 22, at 11am.  The activity, for those aged 18 and over, is suitable for all, no matter their skill.  Beginners are particularly welcome. Please register your interest by email at activities@rtcsports.co.uk or cristina.mircescu@cooptel.net. 

You are invited to celebrate the Feast of St Francis at the annual Blessing of the Animals service at St. Francis’, Byrness, this Sunday, September 26, starting at 3pm.  You are welcome to take along your pet or its photograph.  Light refreshments will be served at the church after the service.  Everyone is welcome.

Adapt (North-East) began a Wednesday bus service from Byrness to Morpeth in mid-July.  The service is proving popular.  The bus leaves Byrness at 10am, arriving in Morpeth during the late morning, allowing two hours to shop.   It’s not possible to provide pick-up times en route because passenger numbers vary each week.  Membership of Adapt is required to use the service; an individual membership costs just £4 per year.  Please telephone Adapt on (01434) 600599 when a member of staff will complete your membership form during the call.  You can sign the form when making your first journey and pay your membership fee to the driver.   You must book the service each time you wish to use it.  Adapt members will travel free of charge during the twelve-month trial funded by The Ray Wind Funds via Vattenfall UK.