Upper Coquet Resource Group COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER JULY & AUGUST 2020

Supported by

*************************************************************************************** COVID-19: Due to the on-going situation, this combined double July & August newsletter is in electronic form only. Perhaps by September things may have improved to allow us to print and distribute again. Released slightly later than planned (sorry) but this has allowed any trickles of good news and additions to filter through…..which is much easier to include in electronic form. Please continue to share this newsletter and send to friends by email. This approach should allow our community to still share news and potentially allow authorities to distribute information, although we are very much aware that many of our neighbours will miss the paper copy and are without access to the internet. If you know of someone in this position carefully think how you can help to keep them up to date.

If you have an item for the September newsletter, then please forward it in electronic form to Susan Rogerson by Wednesday 19th August via [email protected]

Planned 2020 dates: deadlines are (very occasionally these need to be altered slightly to fit with volunteer availability but reminders will always appear in the above section): Issue Deadline (items to Susan by) “Print” date September 19.08.20 21.08.20 Oct 16.09.20 18.09.20 Nov 14.10.20 16.10.20 Dec & Jan 2021 18.11.20 20.11.20

If you would like to advertise your business for an extremely competitive price and reach over 380 households each month, then please contact Susan Rogerson: [email protected] All funds raised, plus extra donations and money provided via fund raising events, help The Upper Coquet Resource Group (UCRG) to keep this voluntary community publication going.

The UCRG has been established over 20 years as a registered charity. We promote the benefit of the inhabitants of the Upper Coquetdale area, consisting of the parishes of Netherton & Biddlestone, Harbottle, Hepple & Alwinton. The charity provides facilities in the interest of social welfare for recreation and other leisure time occupations. If you know of a group that may benefit from some funding and they meet the above criteria, then please contact us via [email protected]

Vintage tea party items for hire Everything you need to host the perfect tea party! Donations for any hire will be given to the UCRG. For further information contact Alison Bolton on: 01669 630252 or email: [email protected]

Don’t forget our monthly UCRG quiz. If you are unable to get a copy at the moment, the please contact Margaret Ward on 01669 650317 and she will ensure you get one. This has been a fantastic steady way to boost our funds over the years and we are grateful to all those who participate.

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NETHERTON VILLAGE: NETHERTON DOMINO DRIVES: Friday 17th July. Entry is £3, with a raffle and supper, starting at 7.30pm (Corona-virus advice permitting).

HARBOTTLE VILLAGE: School Community Group: if you enjoy a bit of gardening in your spare time and would like to join us to look after the school gardens, then please contact Margaret Ward for more information (01669 650317).

Across the country sales have sky rocketed. As many may already know we have collected and sold donated new and used jigsaws at local fairs for many years now to raise funds for the group’s work. Should anyone wish to purchase any please get in touch and we will try to work a COVID safe way to undertake the process. Also, if you have any complete jigsaw puzzles, including children’s jigsaws and any boxed games that you no longer want and would like to donate to the group then please contact Tracey Boldy, Jackie Bickmore, Ann Hennessy or Margaret Ward.

CANINE PARTNERS Please continue to save your used postage stamps for the charity, Canine Partners, in order to help towards the cost of training even more puppies to develop into helping dogs for disabled and injured people. Mr & Mrs Wilkinson have kindly agreed to keep the collection bag at The Star Inn, Harbottle. The charity is very grateful for all your hard work. It has helped so much. https://caninepartners.org.uk/get-involved/fundraising/recycle-used-postage-stamps/

ALWINTON VILLAGE: Rose & Thistle Inn Sunday lunch take-aways are available by pre-ordering via 01669 650226 by Saturday night. Full roast, dessert and beer available to take away. Fab!

Message regarding Alwinton Border Shepherds’ Show 10/10/2020 It is with heavy heart I confirm that Alwinton Show 2020 is to be cancelled. We have come to the conclusion that government guidelines, especially in respect of mass gatherings, and social distancing make the running of such an event incredibly uncertain and a risk we cannot take. The health and safety of everyone involved including the public, exhibitors, stewards, members and contactors as a whole remain our priority. Thank you in advance for your support and we look forward to welcoming everyone to next year’s Alwinton Show on Saturday 9th October 2021. Keep well and safe. Bessie

Clennell Hall Hotel & Bar https://www.facebook.com/Clennell-Hall-Hotel-Bar-251743698267745/ Take away service available. Please pre-order the day before on 01669 650377. On Thursdays enjoy a main meal for up to £10, fish/scampi on Friday, curry on Saturday and roast on Sunday. Full menu on Facebook. 2

The Star Inn, Harbottle We welcome walkers, cyclists, tourists, bikers, local residents and their families, friends and dogs!

Pub Update We are continuing to follow the Government's Coronavirus updates and are hoping to be able to at least partially re-open in July, even if this is only in our courtyard. In the meantime, we are open for take-away drinks as an off-licence, including cans and bottles from the cellar.

Shop Update Our shop continues to offer an extended service including farm-fresh fruit and vegetables, home cooked tray bake cakes and fresh meats and pies from Green’s and Greenbrae’s. We are continuing our free delivery service within Harbottle and the surrounding villages for elderly or vulnerable customers, or for those who are self-isolating. We also offer an ‘order and collect’ service for customers who would like to email or phone in an order and collect from us later, including specific meat orders from Green's – please phone us on 01669 650221 or email [email protected]. If you have internet access, please visit www.thestarinnharbottle.co.uk for up to date information on what we typically stock in our shop.

Refurbishment Update We have been working hard on Phase 2 of our refurbishment plan, which includes the customer areas of the bar, our flat above the pub and our new wood fired pizza kitchen Pizzeria La Stella. We are on track to complete this work by the end of June so that we can move into our flat and get tidied up in the pub and outside areas so that we are ready to open if we are able to.

** NEW ** Pizzeria La Stella The Italian translation of 'The Star' is 'La Stella' so this seemed a good name for our new wood fired pizza kitchen! We have employed a chef, Alex, on a part-time basis who joins us in late June and we are on target to open on Friday 3rd July. This weekend will be our launch weekend and we will be offering a 10% discount off all food menu items during the opening hours: Friday: 5pm until 9pm Saturday: 12 noon until 9pm Sunday: 12 noon until 4pm

All food will be served as takeaway although we are hoping the Government will relax the rules by then and customers will be able to eat in the courtyard/pub with a drink from the bar - watch this space! We are currently working on the menu for the launch weekend and will share this once it is available. In the meantime, follow us on social media or via our website for all of the latest updates: http://www.thestarinnharbottle.co.uk

We'd like to take the opportunity to thank every customer who has continued to support us during these difficult times, it is hugely appreciated. We wish everyone the very best of wishes - stay safe.

Kind regards Karen and Phil ************************************************************************************** Message from ED Team: We are sure many in the local area have found the outstanding service provided by Karen and Phil over the lockdown period to have been absolutely invaluable and no doubt helped to keep many a household going (in spinach and Galaxy, or was that just me?!). Thank you. We wish them all the best in their new venture. 3

News from the Valley

A. ROTHBURY EDUCATIONAL TRUST

The Trustees of the above Trust have a yearly amount available to provide a certain number of bursaries. Grants will be considered for:

 Students entering the first year of a recognised University degree course  Students commencing an accredited apprenticeship including those involving courses at Colleges of Further Education  Students must be under 25 years of age on 1st September 2020  Students will be granted one payment only

Potential beneficiaries must reside within the Parishes of Cartington, Hepple, Hesleyhurst, Rothbury, Snitter, Thropton, Harbottle, Alwinton and Tosson and the parts of the Parishes of Brinkburn, Hollinghill and Netherton that lie within the Ancient Parish of Rothbury.

There will be a limited number of payments and applicants will be required to complete a short form outlining why they feel they should be considered for the bursary. Forms will be available from their Clerk, Susan Rogerson via email: [email protected] or by sending a stamped addressed envelope to: 1 Gallow Law, Alwinton, Morpeth, Northumberland NE65 7BQ.

Only applications by email will be acknowledged. Deadline for submission of forms is 1st September 2020. Please note that students will not be notified until mid-October as to whether their application has been successful or not.

B. Coquetdale Volunteers: For anyone in the Rothbury and Coquetdale area who needs support during the coronavirus crisis

A new group, Coquetdale Volunteers are helping and co-ordinating support for valley residents who are isolated, self-isolating, vulnerable etc. Do you need food or prescriptions picking up? Do you need help now or possibly in the near future due to age*/transport/health vulnerabilities*? They can help set up a computer to allow a conference call appointment with a Rothbury GP. They can also phone for a chat. They already have more than 100 volunteers but are calling for more, younger ones in particular, to help our valley get through the coming months. Be reassured that they are taking every precaution possible and doing it in a calm and low key manner.

For help with shopping or prescriptions, advice or to volunteer please call 07500 784 372.

C. Rothbury Food Truck is back EVERY TUESDAY

Location Tuesday Time Sharperton: by the telephone box 4.45-5.15pm Harbottle: outside The Star 5.25-6.30pm

Check them out on Facebook for reminders and menu.

D. Over the Bridges is available online This local magazine is now available online at: http://overthebridges.org/readfile.php/OTB-2020-06- 1.pdf?FILE=OTB-2020-06-2-MidJune.pdf&ID=FB&fbclid=IwAR0y33Y089tp- jA2V3yTlId1iywYsaHjzCDafB9KI9BpyoZwLEsa-9MBjos 4

Outreach Post Office Services

Day Location Time Monday Hepple Post Office 9.00 am - 10.00 am Netherton Village Hall 11.00 am - 12.00 noon Holystone Church 12.30 pm – 2.30pm Hepple Post Office 3.00 pm - 5.30 pm Tuesday Thropton Village Hall 10.00 am - 12.00 noon Hepple Post Office 2.00 pm - 5.30 pm Wednesday Hepple Post Office 9.00 am - 10.00 am Netherton Village Hall 11.00 am - 12.00 noon Thursday Rochester Camian Café 9.30 am - 11.30 am Otterburn Village Hall 12.00 noon - 2.00 pm Hepple Post Office 2.30 pm - 5.30 pm Friday Hepple Post Office 9.00 am - 1.00 pm Hepple Post Office 2.00 pm - 5.30 pm Saturday Hepple Post Office 9.00 am - 12.30 pm

Coquetdale Community Transport

A. UCCT Services 16a and 16b run Tuesdays and Thursdays Tuesday Service Thursday Service 16a 16a 16b 16b X14 arrives Rothbury* 09:38 13:38 07:28 13:38 Rothbury, Queens Head 10:30 14:00 08:30 14:30 Thropton, Cross Keys 10:36 14:06 08:36 14:36 Snitter, The Cottage 10:40 14:10 08:40 14:40 Netherton, Old Coach House 10:50 14:20 08:50 14:50 Alwinton, Phone Box 11:04 14:34 09:04 15:04 Harbottle, First School 11:10 14:40 09:10 15:10 Holystone, Mill 11:17 14:47 09:17 15:17 Hepple, Post Office 11:29 14:59 09:29 15:29 Thropton, Three Wheat Heads 11:38 15:08 09:38 15:38 Rothbury, Queens Head 11:45 15:15 09:45 15:45 X14 Arriva bus leaves Rothbury* - - 10:00 17:10

B. Rothbury Shoppers Route: cancelled for the time being due to COVID-19: This service has needed to be cancelled but alternative points of help are being put into place to ensure the elderly or mobility- impaired are not left without help. For help, a starting point is to contact Lesley Leeson, Transport Manager: 01669 622264 Monday to Friday 12.00pm to 3.00pm or email: [email protected] . Web page http://ucct.btck.co.uk Find us on Facebook too!

C. Upper Coquetdale Community Transport Visiting Rothbury Hospital or a local surgery? Having trouble getting there? Need a lift? Upper Coquetdale Community Transport offers a friendly and cost effective service to help those with no transport to get to their appointments. £2 for journeys under 5 miles and £4 for journeys 5 miles and over. Call Lesley Leeson on 01669 622264 Mon-Fri 12-3pm.

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PARISH OF UPPER COQUETDALE COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER

A message from The Rector

God in the Ordinariness

When I was vicar of Newburn Parish, the parish church of St Michael and All Angels caught fire. It burned for over 30 hours. It took 2 years and nearly £2,000,000 to get the grade 1 listed building back into service. The congregation and the people of the community were devastated, not to be able to worship or visit the beautiful building. It sounds very like our present situation, except then we could worship in one of our other churches.

One of the things that kept me going was praying each morning in what was mostly a building site. I wore a hard hat and a Hi-Viz jacket, but that didn’t matter. Construction workers would try and be quiet while I was there, but eventually they got the message that I didn’t mind the noise. In fact I thought there was something special about praying in the ordinariness of building site life.

I often consider the Temple in the time of Jesus and imagine it to be a place of hustle and bustle, noise and ordinariness, as well as the sacred and the special. Imagine the commotion on the day Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers and chased people with a whip.

It is a far cry from the gentle Jesus meek and mild. I love the fact that during July and most of August we will be having readings each Sunday from Matthew’s Gospel. What I like is the fact that Matthew is full of Parables. Stories Jesus told to teach his followers important things. The parables don’t deflect us from real life, but they deliberately probe into the lives we actually live. Jesus uses them to make us think again about how we see things and how we behave. They help us think again about attitudes and behaviour in our community or society. Jesus uses the ordinary things to show us theology in a new way. When we read about the sower and his seed, the parable of the mustard seed, the hidden treasure in a field, Matthew is helping us see that our salvation is worked out in the ordinariness of life.

The parables invite us to make choices and make decisions about the way we hear God’s word and what we do with it, the way we treat those around us. When we are living our mundane daily life and making the choices we make each day, our salvation is being worked out. Loving God or ignoring God, loving our neighbour or thinking only of ourselves, walking with those who need a companion, offering hospitality, sharing bread or listening to someone’s story. All simple everyday things, but intricately tied up in who we are and how we respond to our creator God and His offer of salvation in Jesus Christ.

I hope we can enjoy the ordinariness of life this summer, while reflecting on Matthew’s gospel and his call on our life. Bye for now.

John

Canon John Sinclair, Rector of Upper Coquetdale. July & August 2020

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The collect for Matthew

O Almighty God, whose blessed Son called Matthew the tax collector to be an apostle and evangelist: give us grace to forsake the selfish pursuit of gain and the possessive love of riches that we may follow in the way of your Son Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

*************************************************************************************** Christian Aid 2020

GOOD NEWS! Because of our national lockdown and social distancing we were unable to hold fundraising activities this year in Christian Aid week. In Holystone plants continued to grow so we constructed a very small unmanned stall lasting all week ------take what you like and donate what you like. You have to believe in miracles ----out of very little we raised:

£1,211 for Christian Aid

I also know some of you will have donated on line - thank you so very much for that.

You have enabled Christian Aid to continue their work with some of the poorest people in the world facing the negative effects of climate change. Also this year they are able to fund their emergency work with coronavirus victims in Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Gaza and refugee camps in Bangladesh where the most vulnerable are hit so hard. In all crises the poorest people are hit hardest. Thank you for reaching out to the poor.

Don’t ever forget – if God wants a job done He will make it happen. We can see miracles worked out in Holystone! Continue to keep safe and may God bless you

Sue Burston

(ED: Well done Sue and Bob…..an outstanding effort.)

200 Club JULY Ticket Winners 200 Club AUGUST Ticket Winners £20: Philip Blakey, Netherton £20: Nick Shaw, Newton £15: Frankie Burston, Parkhouse £15: Jack Wilkinson, Netherton £10: Ian Snaith, Elilaw £10: Alan Hunter, Netherton

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THERAPEUTIC CANINE MASSAGE

HELPS YOUR DOG FEEL GOOD, FEEL FIT, FEEL BETTER SUITABLE FOR DOGS OF ALL AGES AND ACTIVITY LEVELS MO POOLE - 07590 992964 or 01669 650024 [email protected]

Sweeties DEFIBRILLATOR LOCATIONS Bridge Street, Rothbury Hepple: on the village hall wall Sweets * Treats * Gifts Netherton: on the village hall wall Pick & Mix* Slushies* Hot & Cold Drinks Thropton: on the school wall Traditional sweet shop stocking a large Alwinton: car park on the toilet block wall variety of sweets & chocolates. We can special Alnham: on the wall of the Kings Priory order anything we don’t have in stock. School Field Centre Now stocking Coquet Chocolate: Beautiful Biddlestone: outside wall of handmade chocolates & truffles, made in No1, Biddlestone Barn, NE65 7DT Rothbury. DRAKESTONE BUILDING SERVICES Collins Fish Van Joinery, General Building, Tiling Visits the area on a Thursday at the following & Decorating Work times: Hepple Post Office: 8.00am Sharperton (on the hill): 8.30am Billy Gibson Alwinton Village Green: 9.00am

Harbottle (Chapel end): 9.30am Tel: 01669 650206 OR 07979042499 Email: [email protected] Holystone Post Office: 9.40am Netherton Village: 12.00–12.15pm POT HOLES DON’T REPORT THEMSELVES! Have a go after every journey as it is very easy to do.  Beautiful Peaceful Environment www.northumberland.gov.uk , scroll down to TOP  Compassionate and Caring Service TASKS and click on Report a Pothole.  100% Guarantee Your Pets Ashes Back Alternatively phone them on 0345 600 6400.  Pick Up & Delivery Service How easy is that?  24hr Ashes Return Service NCC defines “an actionable defect” as a pothole of at Tel: 07393 481 561 least 40mm (1.5 inches) deep and a minimum of Email: [email protected] 300mm (1 foot) in diameter. However, we think that www.northumbriapetcrematorium.co.uk if you aren’t happy, then report it! NEW** Coquetdale Canines ** Dog walking in Rothbury and the surrounding area.

I have a genuine love for animals and many years of experience of walking both my own and other people’s dogs. Walks are all at least an hour long, although shorter or longer walks can be arranged depending on the dog’s needs. Walks are £10 each or 5 for £45. You can contact me through my Facebook page 'Coquetdale Canines' or Tel: 01669 621425 Email: [email protected] I look forward to hearing from you. 8