Index

Haydon News

March 1998

email the editor

Editorial

Sorry no editorial this month - not enough space

It was pleasing to see all 11 Parish Councillors present and even County Councillor Purdue turned up.

Neither of the reporters from the Hexham Courant or the Haydon News bothered to turn up and only me and one other chap were on the public seats. There being no public participation the meeting started promptly at 7:30, sadly it was one big yawn until it ended at 8:30 and I certainly wished that I’d stayed at home like reporters Peter and PAT. The boring meeting was not the fault of any Councillor ‘twas just that there was nothing of substance worth talking about. The notes I did jot were:

Parish Council will again write to Northumbrian Water with regard to frequent and long supply failures which are having a serious effect on both businesses and households.

Car parking outside Shaftoe Trust School and Cemetry causing problems- layby needed as well as speed limit signs - to be pursued at both County and District level.

All residents of Land Ends Road have been visited by a Parish Councillor and agreement reached on where to place street lamp - this new location will save hundreds of pounds.

Confusion about proposed new house(s) at the top of North Bank - the Parish Council are unsure about present proposals - to be investigated further by our TDC Councillor.

The Northumberland County Council Care Plan will be placed in both the Library and Health Centre - public comments to your local councillor.

Bowling Green - An outdoor bowls committee has now been established and are putting together a plan for funding a Green at the High School.

Village Appraisal - Still sorting out land ownership issues - no progress possible until this is done.

Community Centre - See page 12 and Hexham Courant dated 27th February

British Rail Car Park - PC to write as their is much concern in the village April PC Meeting - It was agreed that this meeting will be held in Langley Village Hall.

SBM

Index

Members turned out on a windy wet night when Mrs. P. Patrick from Bardon Mill told how she’d attended the Home Economic Courses on ‘Flowers in the Home’ and ‘Flowers for Special Occasions’ which involved a lot more than just doing the flowers. Members were shown the Illustrated Thesis for both courses, showing the depth of work involved - everyone was involved in making paper flowers and all went home with colourful arrangements.

Competition for brooch won by Mrs. Stewart, Mrs. Ord, and Mrs. Ohlson.

Next meeting on 2nd Monday in month at 7 pm - our 74th Birthday. Competition - A Birthday Card.

B. Clark
Millbrook
Acomb

Index

There was an Arctic flavour to the Langley WI meeting in February, when Sue Self gave an interesting talk on her part in an expedition to the North Pole.The first all women teams to venture into the Arctic with normally not a penguin in sight. The sponsors McVitties did send boxes and boxes of chocolate biscuits.

Women from all walks of life trained long and hard to qualify to take part and such names as Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta and Echo were given to the teams.Sue was with Penguin Charlie relay team and based at Resolute Bay. One of five reserves she had hoped she would get the chance to take part if someone dropped out.

The expeditions take place March to May and the further north, the colder it gets. Minus 30 degrees will make the hairs up your nose freeze and eyelashes ice over. Brown bear fur is worn around the face and plastic bags are used inside special boots to stop the linings getting wet and freezing. Most women on the expedition were very fit and there were no reported cases on frostbite.

All equipment used is recycled for the next team and it takes one hour to ski one mile, and up to ten hours can pass in blizzard conditions. The women are told to put on weight and drink two litres of water a day. Pitching a tent in extreme conditions can be a hard task, but once up they are amazingly warn with four stoves inside.

Everyone on the team is allotted a place in the tent, with cook positioned in the entrance it took three hours every morning to prepare food. When the stoves are turned off at night each member goes to bed in their sleeping bag. The temperature in the tent drops rapidly once the stoves go out and ice and wind noises crack and bang underneath all night. A half an hour slot on the Radio keeps the team in contact with base camp.

Sue was disappointed she didn’t get a chance to take part in the relay team, but just being in the Arctic held magic only dreamed about. Her ambition is to do it all over again.

Different colours twinkle and glitter in the ice and snow, and walking is like crunching in broken glass. They say the spirits speak from within the frozen ice, are they perhaps saying, “We’ll meet again some day”.

Sylvia Mitchell
Tel: 684035

Index

---

Letters to the Editor & Readers Viewpoints

Waterproof the LOTMA?
I was pleased to receive a short note from our first Letter of The Month Award winner - A Langley reader and neighbour of Parish Cllr Geoffrey Jackson - it reads:

Dear Mitch

I’m glad you took my comments in the spirit intended. [December 1997 Haydon News]

I am proud to be the recipient of the first LOTMA. I shall wear it (pinned to my liberty bodice) always.
May I suggest that future awards are waterproofed? There are those who would wish all the world to see their LOTMA.

Best Wishes
Rag Tamer (Name and address supplied)

Thank you for your note - I am a bit hesitant in agreeing to your suggestion because before you know it we’ll have people complaining about proud bearers of the award running amok through the rain swept fields exposing their swinging LOTMAS for all and sundry to see. I can also visualise the situation when the Haydon Hunt is out doing its work and the hounds suddenly spot such a crazed LOTMA bearer - the consequences could be disastrous. Mind you I could be persuaded otherwise if . . . . . . . . . .

Perhaps at the same time should I make them both fire and flak proof ? I have taken the liberty (pun) to include a duplicate medal for you to cut out - before you use it gently rub it with bees wax, this is best done in front of an open fire. If you don’t have any bees wax try using a bit of Vick vapour rub which has the added advantage of keeping your tubes clear whilst wearing the medal - I can imagine it may also keep the hounds well away. Please let me know if this works.

An urbane and erudite man
(What’s a Liberty Bodice?)

Index

Mrs. Daisy Thompson writes:

It is important to point out the scale and nature of the rights of way, which are still open to debate. When the football pitch was constructed it was made plain that it was only to be used for access by Martin’s Close, Temple Houses Lane was to be no access, and there is provision to this effect. Thus it would be wrong for visitors to the Football Field, to use Temple Lane in the circumstances.

The finding of a public right of way down Temple Lane revisits this old problem by finding that there was a public right of way down Temple Lane (in dubious circumstances). The Inspector has created a serious problem, which contradicts and flies in the face of the agreement with the Football Club, that visitors should use Martin’s Close. This problem becomes unenforceable by the finding of a public right of way down Temple Lane. This has been pointed out to the Inspector, firstly even if there was a public right of way, for say the odd person walking a dog, or for a stroll to the waterside.

In these circumstances, means that the original right of way (if any existed) is extended unreasonably, and before the Inspector found such right of way he should have considered the point that there should be some way of defining and limiting this right of way to make it consistent with the right of way that existed in the first place (if any did). It is simply no good saying, there was a right of way without defining the same. If he is asked to define the right of way, in terms of ten people or so were entitled to use the lane then how is it that now with the present circumstances, of increased population of the Village, with the completion of the Football Field, now enforceable ? The answer is that it is unenforceable, impractical and not properly thought through - he has been asked to review his decision, because the consequences are not practical.

Also - It seems Mr Thomas Bates, previous Parish Council Chairman, is concerned about private money.
I think he should concern himself with the thousands of pounds of public money being spent on a dangerous and needless act.

Mrs. D. Thompson
Temple Houses Lane

Index

Meaning of Haydon
According to Stan Beckinsall (and others) Haydon is an old English word (Hayden 1236 a.d.). It means hay valley. Sources - Northumberland place names Stan Beckinsall Butler Publishing

N Burton
6th Feb.

A couple of e-mails from Australia

Mitch
Thanks for the News another very enjoyable read.

Sorry to hear about Dr High, even more tragic the way in which it happened, he had been a great benefit for the Village for a long time. My Grandmother used to have a picture of him being presented to the Queen on her side board, some recognition for the great job he did for the area.

I take it the weather has been very mild (by the gardening section) it has been very indifferent here, more like tropical Queensland than Melbourne. We are the butt of a heap of jokes around Australia due to having three/four different changes in one day, now we seem to be having hot then thunder storms. No real rain just lots of noise and lightening, looks like water restrictions will be introduced before long.

Whoever OWLD TAWNY is they have a very readable and enjoyable pen, my kids ask very different questions after reading this section.

Will stop pestering you, hope you had a good Christmas and even better New Year.
Keep up the writing.

Regards
David Humble
7th Feb

Index

To: Editor of The Haydon News
From: Ulla Skidén, Stockholm, Sweden

Hello,
With this letter I hope to catch your interest in the Global Bangemann Challenge. It is the world´s most extensive Awards Program for information technolgy projects, that focus on people and society and we have studied your fine project and your site as you are a semi finalist in the GII Awards.The Global Bangemann Challenge opened in May 1997 and runs until June 1999.
We are inviting projects from all over the world to enter their projects in the contest. You can choose from eleven different categories, all concerning the prosperity and well being of people and comunities.

The Awards ceremony will take place in the Nobel Hall in Stockholm, Sweden just like last year when the Challenge was European. The King of Sweden handed out the throphies to 17 winners and a number of runners up. The Challenge is searching for projects that provide the most benefit for citizens through easy to use applications of information technology. The goal is to create a worldwide network of information technology activists and promote the sharing of experiences and knowledge in as many countries as possible.

So far we have close to 200 entries from all over the world.

Kind Regards,
Ulla Skidén
Information Manager
The Global Bangemann Challenge
ulla.skiden@challenge.stockholm.se

Being something of a sceptic I sent an e-mail to the City Hall of Stockholm appended to it was the above e-mail.

Date: Mon, 23 Feb 1998 19:03:30 +0000
To: webbredaktionen@stadshuset.stockholm.se
From: Editor <haynews@haydonbridge.demon.co.uk>

Subject: Bannermann
Can you please advise if the following e-mail is genuine

Thank you

Two days later back came the reply
Yes, it is a genuine letter. You'll find more information about the Global Bangemann Challenge at http://www.challenge.stockholm.se

Regards,
Asa Nilsson, web editor City of Stockholm

Eds note:
The rules of the scheme state that a submission can only be made with the support of a city, do the readers of the Haydon News think that the Friends of Haydon Bridge should respond to the challenge? If we are to make a credible submission a lot of work will need to be done which will require volunteer support, especially from local ITC experts and project co-ordinators. Similarly some finance may be required.

Please let me know your views and if you are prepared to help either technically or financially. It is just too much work for Brian Harrison and me to do alone.

Thank You Mitch

Index

It’s not because aa’ve clipped hor
yen across the chops,
or bowt drink, wi the money
that was meant for doon the shops.

It’s just she cannot work it oot,
why noo she has te share
the time we used ta spend together,
with my new love affair.

She cannot tek the pressure
of hor man in sek a state,
as aa wrestle wi a problem,
that keeps us up se late.

The worried lines upon me brow,
as words aa try te find,
aa sorch the dictionary,
torn things ower in me mind.

It doesn’t help when Philida says:
“Mine’s in long ago!”
and Ray McVay gives me a look that says:
“Ye mean that ye don’t know!”

Or Rene says: “Oh I’ve finished mine,
and Mary has as well!”
And Neil says:
“Aave solved that ******* clue at last.”
In words that only Neil can tell.

When Edna R. and David C.
always seem te de the best,
and in the library, when aa meet Miss Shout,
she plays hor cards close tiv hor chest.

But a flash of inspiration,
is sometimes aal it takes.
Wor lass? - well she’s much happier noo
wi a smile back on hor face.

‘cos aave said aal tek up chess or draughts,
or some less stressful game.
Instead of doing crosswords set . . . .
by Mitch from Heugh Hoose Lane !

‘D’

Sending letters to Mitch in rhyme
Really is a waste of time
Even though it’s very funny
Gone are YOUR chances of winning money

ARTHRITIS RESEARCH CAMPAIGN

This is the new name for the Arthritis & Rheumatism Council for Research. I’m sure all will agree this is much easier to say and to spell!

In the past year, this Branch has raised £750-00 for this charity. Our efforts are paying dividends, arthritis is becoming much better understood and therefore curable in time.

To this end, Mr John Wardle is kindly going to give a talk, illustrated by slides, on his recent trip through the mountains of Morocco. This will be in the Church Hall on Friday, 20th March at 7pm. Entry is £1-50 and tea, including the local speciality, mint tea, will be served in the interval.

All are Welcome

Hilary Rutherford

Index

A wonderfully mild winter has stimulated premature growth and flowering in the spring garden. We've had afternoon temperatures of 58 - 60 F in January and February combined with reasonable rainfall and the plants loved it. Passing the Health Centre in mid Feb I enjoyed, flowering profusely, mauve and white heathers, primroses, Christmas rose, a rosy-mauve shrub called Daphne mezureum, winter jasmine, snowdrops, crocus, chionadoxa and daffodils. A forsythia was about to flower. In my own garden Rhododendron praecox has been magnificent, the foliage disappearing under a mass of mauve flowers. Always one of the first to flower, this is a reliable rhododendron for oven a small garden. In a cold spring it flowers later. It Is usually offered for sale in garden centres in full flower about this time. Add peat to the soil when planting or plant in a tub with an oricaceous compost. The first daffodil to flower for me was February Gold, a dwarf narcissi which is always early but 1 have never actually had it flower in February until this year.

Dwarf narcissi bloom March/April in the north. They tolerate most types of soil, are very hardy and once planted should bloom well year after year. Choose vigorous varieties such as February Gold and Tete a Tete for growing in the border. Haware has tiny nodding pale yellow flowers. It requires a gritty, free-draining soil so is best planted on the rock" or in a pot outside. Narcissus butbocodium has thin grass-like leaves which make it a good choice for naturalising in grass. Of course you have to wait until the foliage has died down before cutting the grass.

This month

Roses - to prune or not to prune? Correct timing is important because pruning too early can lead to buds being damaged by frost and roses pruned very late lose a tot of sap and are weakened. The warm weather has resulted in abundant new growth which is going to be lost but as we can still have heavy frosts I'm going to wait until the and of the month before 1 prune.

If you haven't looked at the mower since last year, check it now. Use a high blade setting and mow lawns on a dry day.

Prune winter jasmine as soon as flowers fade. Remove a third of the oldest wood and all thin and spindly stems

Snowdrops and winter aconites can be lifted and divided.

Trim heathers when they have finished flowering Lilies can be planted in pots or in the garden. They must have a free-draining soil in full sun. Plant on a layer of grit to improve drainage. Cut back dead stems and foliage from perennials as new growth starts to emerge. Sprinkle a general fertiliser around the plants.

James Thin

Index

---

“Like trying to find a Northumbrian Netty”

The rain kept up a steady pattern on the window panes, increasing to a crescendo from sudden squalls that gusted around the corner of the building. I was warm and dry as I sat enjoying a Brown Ale that kept its head all the way down the glass as the door off the street opened causing a flurry of puffs of smoke from the open fire increasing the dancing shadows from ceiling to walls. I looked up to see old Jerry Attric standing there soaking wet, with a Co-op plastic shopping bag in hand and dripping water from his recent purchase.

“What’ll yer hav Saa?” shouted Geoff from behind the bar as old Jerry pulled a chair up to my table where he put down his bag of shopping before sitting down close to the fire side of the table he then produced a rather grubby looking handkerchief and proceeded to wipe the rain from a head that once contained a glowing thatch of wiry ginger hair. “A pint of McEwans best”, replied Jerry to Geoff’s request while attempting to to straighten out permanently baggy trousers so that the warmth from the fire would dry them out somewhat.

“Wot’s thuw been up tiv on a neet like this?” said I to old Jerry who was attempting to light a Woodbine, with half of a beer mat, from the open fire - warming his gnarled old hands at the same time. He replied “Wey aav jist cam ower fra the store an am fair annoyed, aa diven knaa where tiv find owt, they keep changing things aroond - things are nivvor in the same place twice. Howts man, they hev me and the staff fair frustrated, it’s like trying ti find a Northumbrian Netty in the desert let alone find what you want in the store.”

As he raised his glass to his thin blue lips he continued:

“Can thuw mind wey had that shop afore the War hinny? When us bairns wad stand on the pavement and gaze fair flabbergasted at the gadgy tornin the big handle, and as the wheel went roond it went - shirwish-shirwish-shirwish-shirwish, as the sharp round blade did it’s deadly work, then John Spark would deftly place the thin rashers in grease proof paper, wrapping them in a most presentable manner before passing them on to his daughter Marjorie to complete the vicar’s, the Rev. Salisbury’s, order.”

As Jerry rambled on I myself recalled these long gone days. Mr Dick of Belmont Gardens would exclaim in that cultured and educated voice of his “My what wonderment, what technology, what Scientific Development”, as he stood amongst a group of men and women gazing in amazement at the unusual thing in the shop window of which Haydon Bridge had never seen the likes before.

The Bacon Slicing Machine had arrived and the village would never be the same again!

But what nostalgic memories came flooding back with the passing of time. I can see John Spark as if it were only yesterday - serving a housemaid from one of the big houses up the bank as she stood immaculate in her blue and white starched attire (she is as bonny now as she was then). John would be wearing his clean white apron reaching down to his ankles, his little white dog sat out on the warm pavement watching the comings and goings of customers.

Smells which linger within the mind come drifting back over the years from days of the grocers shops of the 1930’s, Danish butter packed in wooden barrels mingled with cheese, bacon, fresh ground coffee, soaps, sherbet, Cumberland sausage and Twist tobacco - the latter being popular with Hal Henderson and his farmer friends and Wallace Milligan and countrymen like him all these things produced a unique and unforgettable aroma that one cannot find in present day grocers shops.

The village shops of yester-year stocked every type of domestic necessity. A great variety of tobaccos and cigarettes of long forgotten names could be had in most grocers shops (NOT BUTCHERS) ‘Black Cat’, ‘De Reszyke’, ‘Gold Flake’, ‘Craven A, Robin’, ‘Turf’, ‘Weights’, ‘Woodbine’, ‘Players’, ‘Capstan’. They all made colourful displays advertised on enamel signs attached to the shop frontage.

“Don’t forget the Vicar’s cigarettes and two packets of Mazawattee tea”, said John to his daughter Marjorie as she weighed out the grocery orders for the week - such things as sugar, dried fruits, butter, lard and cheese going into bigger and stronger white bags. “And his favourite sweets!” John would add, as Marjorie reached up to the shelves amongst jars which contained sweets of every description. There were tins displaying the dapper, monocled and bowler hatted ‘Mr SHARP’ who’s toffees the reverend gentleman delighted in, as also the tin with the soaring blue bird as a Trademark. But his favourites were Nuttals Mintoes as every good parishioner could detect upon entering the church on a Sunday morning for the 11am service, but a little more so did his breath smell stronger of Mintoes when his booming voice was pontificating on the evils of drink.

Just around the past the ‘Railway’ was Harry Harding’s shop. Harry, a genial and popular resident of the village who died in March 1943 at the age of 58 years - he was newsagent, stationer and tobacconist. To a small boy the interest that the shop held was the selection of ‘comics’. I remember how they were stacked, along with the daily papers, in a wire rack beside the Wrigleys Chewing Gum machine by the shop door. ‘The Rover’, ‘Hotspur’, ‘Beano’, and ‘Dandy’, containing the exploits of ‘Key-hole Kate’ and ‘Korka The Cat’ ‘Comic Cuts’, ‘Tiger Tim’s weekly’, ‘Rainbow’ all ephemeral reading matter, multi-coloured at 2p a copy apart from maybe the Hotspur and the Rover. There wasn’t much money around in the 1930’s so most of the village kids had to get their laughs from those available for 1p . ‘Chips one such comic was printed on pink paper and contained the mischievous exploits of two tramps - Weary Willy and Tired Tim, also Ivor Clue the detective who always got his man, and the adventures of Captain Kerrigan and his tramp steamer on the high seas.

But many of the comics we knew like the grocer shops with their own aromatic smells and atmosphere have vanished forever, try and find one if you can and sample the experience - BUT as Old Jerry Attric said:

YES - we had the best days.

One morning in October 1962 I was sitting having a coffee at Hardriding Farm, Bardon Mill, when the farm manger, Scott Nichol came rushing in and said: “Postie will you give us a hand in the large byre - " come quickly” I ran after him to the byre where there were three men pulling a rope attached to two hooves which were protruding from just under the tail of a cow.. I was told that it was a breach birth and unless it was born straight away it would drown in it’s own fluid.

I grabbed the rope and pulled as hard as I could with the other three, by this time the poor cow was on the byre floor and we were actually dragging it. The moans, groans and moos from that poor animal told us the pain it was suffering. All of a sudden the four of us were on our backsides as the calf was released.

They cut the umbilical cord, cleared it’s mouth and exercised it’s legs - the result was a fine healthy bull calf breathing normally. Scott came in and thanked me for my help, but I told him that it was me that should be thanking him for letting me share such a wonderful experience.

Some weeks later came the ‘63 storm when the roads were blocked, in some places for up to four weeks, between the A69 and north of the Military Road. The poor postmen at Bardon Mill were walking more than 20 mile a day on the outby rounds, working alternate weeks starting. Thorngrafton - Crindledykes -Bradley-Hotbank and all farms and houses as far west to the Whinshields then over the Roman Wall to Gibb’s Hill., Gallowshields Rigg and then Bonnyrigg Hall.

We never got round Greenlea Loch for fourteen weeks. The drifts in some places were forty and fifty foot high, we walked over walls and end fences nee bother and sometimes over telephone wires!

The people outby were very good, they offered us food and drink at nearly every house but we hadn’t time to take up their offers because, like Wells Fargo, the mail had to get through. We in return carried out yeast (so they could make bread), fish-fingers, butter, sugar - all sorts - because we were the only ones getting through.

May I thank on behalf of the postmen at that time, Annie Davidson at Bradley - who gave us our breakfast, and Charlotte Mole at Gallowshield Rigg where we had our dinners every day summer and winter in my time in that area. If they wern’t in the meals were left hidden somewhere.

Midway through the long winter, it came to light that a young housewife at Bonnyrigg Hall was ‘with child’ and well on the way. In those days nearly every house outby got a newspaper by post and we just walked in like a friend of the family with their mail. This poor lass was getting bigger and bigger and although arrangements had been made to fly her in with a helicopter, with the roads being blocked I could see she was getting more and more concerned. So one day I thought I would put her mind at rest so I said: “Beryl if you ever need my help just let me know because I’ve helped to calve a cow and it will be much the same - all I need is a bit of rope!

As I walked into Bardon Mill that day, late in the afternoon, over the Peel end past the Once Brewed Youth Hostel, there was a red frosty sky in the west and a bitter wind blowing down from Kielder Forest, but I didn’t feel the cold for I had a lovely deep warm glow of happiness inside of me. Because I knew by the look on her face, that I’d given that young mother-to-be a great deal of comfort. I still remember that look she gave me.

PTMN 2058

P.S.
Beryl went ten months and after the roads were cleared produced a lovely baby girl who weighed over ten pounds . She will be celebrating her 35th birthday any time now - Isn’t nature wonderful?

Index

INDOOR BOWLS - Haydon Bridge v Alston

Consistency is all that the club lacks this season, but the ability is definitely there. That was proved in my report last month when Haydon Bridge beat Allendale.

Alston were made very welcome by everyone at the Community Centre on Tuesday 12th February 1998, we were all aware that the visitors were a very good opposition - but that did not stop us giving 100%. Here are the teams:

When the two teams met in the first game the home team let a good lead slip and lost 6-3. Alston played very well, and won many games - some by high scores. This may had had something to do with their Teddy-bear lucky mascot. I was told by one of their players that when they first got it they threatened to hang it if they were beaten. If Haydon Bridge had a similar mascot it would have a very long neck by now !

Haydon Bridge showed their determination and, after a lovely supper, the A team won 9-0. The B team won their final game as well, these results were just consolations as Alston won the match 84-53.

On the 22nd November 1997, Jean Oliver and Gladys Henderson qualified for the second round of the Blanchland pairs competition. A week later, Michael Rumney and Joseph Tulip did the same - this was a great achievement for the club. Unfortunately, both were knocked out at the next stage. Joseph Tulip came runner-up in the Tyne-Tees Rosebud Junior Singles Competition at Ashington Leisure Centre on Saturday 30th November 1997.

On Thursday January 29th 1998 the Muriel Makepeace Roseball Trophy was won by Winnie Golightly and Doreen Spark, the runners-up were Gladys Henderson and Edna Rumney.

I only report on one match each month but will round up any other news like I have done here and I can tell you that Haydon Bridge were beaten by Whitfield - but I won’t tell you the rather embarrassing scoreline !

White Jack

Index

A meeting of those interested in establishing a Bowling Green in the village was held on Tuesday 17th February 1998. Unfortunately the Haydon News wrongly advertised the date for the meeting as 19th February - this resulted in a number of people not turning up. Apologies for this mistake.

Sufficient people were there to form a committee - this was done by the election of the following:

Chairman - Mr. J.D. Donaldson
Vice-Chair - Mr. R. Lockhart
Secretary - Mr. W. Howard
Treasurer - Mr. S.B. Mitchell

Committee Members
Mr. R. Turnbull
Mr T. Fletcher
Mrs. I. Cunningham
Mrs. E. Garrow

A draft plan and time-scales were discussed which showed an optimistic completion date of summer 1999.
To this end a formal meeting with the High School and Tynedale to discuss land issues has been arranged for Tuesday 10th March.

A formal lease between Haydon Bridge High School and the Club will need to be drawn up.

It was agreed that initially some funding was urgently required and it was agreed to write to the Secretary of the Shaftoe Trust Charitable Foundation.

A business plan will need to be drawn up as well as finding out what is required in the form of planning application.

The next meeting of the Committee will take place on Tuesday 17th March in the back room of the Community Centre, commencing at 7pm.

All prospective members of the Outdoor Bowls Club are invited to attend the meeting. This project can only succeed with the help and support of a large number of people

As we can all now see, our new Chapel is up and is being fitted and furnished, so that by Easter Day we shall be able to return to our home. We are very grateful indeed to the members of the United Reformed Church who have welcomed us so warmly into their building and allowed us full use of its facilities. We were much saddened when they ceased to meet as a Church in December last year, but it is a sign of the degree of their kindness to us that they have allowed us to continue to use their premises until our building was ready for occupation.

About five years ago, we were given a vision for Community Outreach, based on a new building. Despite the inevitable difficulties, the first phase is now almost complete We say ‘first phase’ because however wonderful the building may be (and it is!) it is only a building. The next phase is the really important one, which is how the Church - building and people - meets the needs of our Community and others.

In the beginning we had a vision of a building centred on Worship and Prayer, with specific access for the older people in our community and for the young people of the village. It was also to provide an office for community use with fax, phone, photocopier and perhaps computers. The building has been designed with all these in mind and with total access for the disabled. It will also be able to provide food for groups of up to 100, including our traditional coach parties. In addition there is a shower facility, counselling room and a coffee lounge, where Christian material will be on sale - tapes, CD’s, books and stationery. From the start of the project, we have been concerned that none of our activities should take existing business away from other village organisations, and we will continue to adhere to that line.

So it has turned out as the Vision; God centred, community oriented. We now have a really thrilling building which we hope you will come to see. It is completely flexible, capable of providing for groups from 2 to 150.

It is wired for computers, has a sound system including a Loop system (for the hard of hearing). There are no pews , there are comfortable chairs and carpets throughout. Outside there is a small enclosed garden. It is a building full of exciting possibilities.

We shall want to settle in first and then meet the needs identified earlier, only then will we wish to explore the future with the whole Christian community of Haydon Bridge.

The building will be opened for Worship on Easter Sunday April 12th by Mr. & Mrs. R.R. Todd and will be dedicated on Sunday 6th September at the beginning of the Methodist Year by the Rev. Robin Hutt, Chairman of the Newcastle Methodist District.

We do very much want to share the building with you and we invite you to our Easter Day services and to the events that follow (see page 12) which hopefully will give everybody the chance to come and look and ask questions and perhaps comment on what the future might hold.

Do come - we would be delighted to welcome you.

The Members and Friends of
Haydon Bridge Methodist Church

Index

Programme of events to celebrate the opening of the new Methodist Church building.

12th-18th April 1998

12th - EASTER DAY SERVICES
09.00 am Prayer Breakfast
10.00am Christ is Risen Hallelujah!
6 00pm Christians Together Service
Preacher Fr. Leo Pyle

13th - EASTER MONDAY
10am-4pm Open Day with guided tours and refreshments for all.

14th - TUESDAY
7.30pm Flower arranging demonstration with John Dalton

15th - WEDNESDAY
12 noon Holiday Luncheon Club

17th - FRIDAY
6.30 pm Junior Disco for 6-11 year olds
Evening Hike for 12+ year olds with supper at Chapel

18th - SATURDAY
Celebration Meal and Cabaret to round off the week in style

Further Dates for your Diary

Saturday - 5th April
7.30pm All Saints Praise Band

Saturday 6th June
7.30pm Concert by Salvation Army Band

Thursday - 11th June
7.30pm Al fresco evening at Ridley Hall.
A Shakespearean collage with
Newcastle College

Sat - Sun 5-6 September
A weekend of celebration and thanksgiving at the
beginning of the Methodist Year for
God’s New House

Saturday -5th September
Celebration by invitation with contributions from
Rev. Richard Firth, Rev. David Perkins and Stephen Crichton - Architect.

Sunday - 6th September
A Covenant Service at 10am led by our
District Chairman, Rev. Robin Hutt.

For further information please contact:
M. Rowarth 684207 - T. North 684757
J. Wardle 684294 - M. Hindle 684275

Index

Isobel Davison (aka Isy) is back in the area. She ran Haydon Bridge Cubs very successfully until a few years ago, when she left to take up a more senior appointment in Prudhoe District. Her experience and enthusiasm have been much missed, particularly by Ian, who took over as “stand-in” in her absence.

Now we are ready to start afresh, but, as before, we need help to run the Cubs. Regulations say every 6 Cubs need one Leader or adult to supervise them, so we are asking parents of boys who are interested to commit themselves to help as well. If need be, we will start with the first 6 boys to apply, but we hope we will get enough offers of help to be able to look after everyone.

What should I do?
By the time you are reading this, we should already have had our first meeting. However, if you missed the notices at the school, it’s not too late to join. Either telephone Ian Foster on 684527, or Isobel on 684160, or put your name on the list on Shaftoe Trust School noticeboard. Or else call in on during a pack Meeting on a Friday.

Ian Foster

Index

Haydon Bridge Community Association was awarded funding to carry out a Feasibility Study on the Community Centre. The National Lottery Charities Board for Small Grants awarded £2000 and the Northumberland Rural Development Programme gave £1000, a total of £3000.

Three Consultancy Teams were interviewed by the Community Association Committee in November 1997, and Northumberland County Council Technical Services Team was appointed.

This Feasibility Study is now completed, and account was taken of the following : the structural survey, the present and future requirements of club activities, sport and leisure activities; all activities highlighted in The Village Appraisal, including Youth Services within the community.

The Committee voted to seek funding to demolish the existing building and replace it with a New Community Centre on the same site.

A report will now be made to the two funding agencies who gave the grant for the feasibility study, then funding will be sought from the major funding agencies within the next month.

This is a big project and support from the village is needed. In support of their applications to the major funding agencies The Community Association must raise vital funds, and therefore will be holding an

Open/coffee morning on Saturday 28th March 1998 from 10am - 12pm in the Community Centre.

Coffee, Tea and soft drinks will be available, there will be a cake stall, tombola, raffle and one or two more attractions to make it an interesting morning.

There will be a small entrance charge of 60p which will include refreshments.

If anyone would like to donate items to any of the stalls or if any organisation would like to help make this event more successful please contact:-

Valerie Bell Tel. 684705.

The result of the feasibility study and the proposed plans for the New Community Centre will also be on display during the morning.

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP

The Community Association raises some of its income from individual and group membership. If you would like to help the association on an annual basis and become a member, please send your name, address and contribution to Valerie Bell, Bookings and Membership secretary, 3 Rocksprings Crescent, Haydon Bridge, NE47 6AT or tel. 684705. The minimum subscription is £1.50 paid during February / March but you can of course contribute any amount. A membership card will be forwarded.
Reminders are currently being sent out to existing members for 1998 subscriptions.

Valerie Bell
for The Community Association

Index

Applications are now requested from local deserving causes to benefit from the disposable profits from this year’s fair. Please make applications by the end of March to Eileen Charlton - 684505.
In the event of more than two applicants a vote will take place amongst participants of the fair to decide on most deserving cause.

NORTHUMBERLAND IN BLOOM

Haydon Bridge has been entered in this year’s ‘Northumberland In Bloom’ competition. It was felt that villagers are making such an effort to make our village look good they deserve to be entered in this competition.

The Railway Hotel has lead the way with it’s beautiful display of flowers we all enjoy. This has been followed by more and more pots,tubs, and baskets appearing, even on Ratcliffe Road where dirt and fumes must make producing a floral display hard work. Also gardens throughout the village are a tribute to their owners.

Enid Garrow and Eileeen Charlton are co-ordinators for the competition so if you have any suggestions or are willing to help with parts of the village in ‘No Man’s Land’ please get in touch.
Tel:684-324 (EG) or 684-505 (EC)

VILLAGE SPRING CLEANING

National Spring Cleaning week has been extended this year to be the whole of April but the skip will only be on the riverside for one week - arriving 1st April. Have we some willing helpers this year or will it be left to the handful of ‘April Fools’ that turn up each year?

We all live in this village so let us work together. We could win this competition easily if:

The wisdom of the know all's united with the power of the youth

Eillen Charlton

Index

Neighbourhood Watch

What does it mean ?

Neighbourhood Watch schemes are based on the concept of the good neighbour. The principles are simple:
neighbours are encouraged to join together to keep watch on each others homes and to report to the police suspicious people and happenings in the locality. Special emphasis is placed, also, on the adoption of crime prevention measures by residents.

Basically, Neighbourhood watch schemes lead to a greater shared awareness - by the police and the public - of the problems in a particular community and to a better understanding of the practical steps that can be taken to tackle these.

The aims of Neighbourhood Watch

- to reduce crime (especially house burglaries) and the fear of crime

- to develop a community spirit among people living in Neighbourhood Watch areas

- to enhance the relationship between the police and the public by encouraging greater contact between all concerned

- to encourage residents to help themselves in the prevention and detection of crime.

and the benefits

- a better line of communications between the police and the public. Not only are residents encouraged to pass on information to the police so that officers can take the necessary steps to deal with the problems of a particular locality but the police can quickly circulate an area with crime prevention advice via people actively involved in the schemes and the VMX telephone messaging system (see below).

- Criminals may be deterred from entering an area if they know that residents are vigilant and that they have taken adequate steps to safeguard their property.

The establishment of Neighbourhood Watch schemes can be either police initiated or started following public demands in a particular area. Once ‘live’, the scheme will run itself, even establishing steering committees and generating finance, supported by the police in an advisory capacity.

Police Initiated

Northumbria Police occasionally select areas that have residents who might benefit from Neighbourhood Watch. The feasibility of introducing a scheme there would be considered.

Public Demand

Schemes started in this way should ideally have at least 20 residents who are willing to support the venture, but that number is only a guideline.
Once it has been decided to introduce Neighbourhood Watch into a particular area, a meeting is held between the local Neighbourhood Watch Liaison Officer and community representatives.

Questionnaires are then distributed to every household in the vicinity. One of the aims of the questionnaire is to ascertain the level of public support there would be for Neighbourhood Watch. Residents are asked if they would welcome a scheme in their area and if they would consider becoming a ‘contact’ person. The questionnaire also attempts to ascertain their perception of crime.

Contact person

The contact person is someone who is committed, not necessarily spending a lot of time at home, but who is able to receive information from neighbours about suspicious people or vehicles in the area. The contact person then passes the information on to the police. Contact people are responsible for information on the VMX messaging system.

People who volunteer to help in this way may also be asked to arrange the distribution of crime prevention leaflets to neighbours.

VMX is a computer-driven system for rapidly passing messages from the police over a telephone network.
People wishing to become involved must have a touch-tone telephone and supply their details and preferred message acceptance period to the local Neighbourhood Watch Liaison Officer.

Once a message has been sent out, the contact’s telephone will ring every hour over the nominated time period until successfully received. Answerphone cannot accept the call and anyone who has one should inform their liaison officer before leaving for holidays so that messages can be withheld over this period.

General Information

Neighbourhood Watch Schemes belong to the community, whether the scheme is initiate by Northumbria Police or by the residents.

With the backing of the majority of residents, Neighbourhood Watch can operate successfully in most places.

In some parts of Northumbria well-established groups are now producing newsletters and are arranging talks from outside organisations, for example on road safety, crime prevention and fire prevention.

For further information please contact one of the following persons:

PC Humble- Tel: 688-699 or HB Police House

Haltwhistle Police Station - Tel:320-204 (ask for PC Humble)

Neighbourhood Watch - Hexham Police Station 604111

Mitch here - I bet you thought I wasn’t going to be in this month’s Haydon News. Well you’ve had a bumper issue this month and I do hope you enjoyed the read - there’s something for everybody.

A special Thank You to those new contributors your efforts are appreciated. Thanks also to the new crossword entrants.

It is now 3:30 pm on Tuesday 3rd March only this page to print and this issue should be hitting the streets tomorrow. Me ? I’m now off for a game of pool.

See you next month. Bye Bye

Index