Community Newsletter July and August 2019

If you have an item for the September 2019 newsletter, then please forward it in electronic form to Susan Rogerson by Wednesday 21st August via [email protected] (print date: Friday 23rd August).

If you would like to advertise your business for an extremely competitive price and reach over 425 households each month, then please contact Susan Rogerson: [email protected] All funds raised, plus extra donations and money raised via fund raising events, help The Upper Coquet Resource Group to keep this voluntary community publication going.

The Upper Coquet Resource Group 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]

The Upper Coquet Resource Group has organised another first aid course on Saturday 6th July from 9.00am – 3.00pm in Harbottle School. The Emergency first aid at work course is intended to give a basic understanding of first aid and introduce the participant to the fundamental, theoretical and practical aspects of first aid management. This certification is valid for three years, suitable for low risk working environments and small business needs. Certification meets the requirements of the Health and Safety Executive Regulations. The training will be delivered by Northern Training Partnership Limited. The course is FREE and if you would like to attend then please contact Susan Rogerson on 650390 or by email: [email protected] to book a place. NETHERTON VILLAGE Star Inn Netherton Quiz Evening: Wednesdays 3rd July & 7th August from 8.00pm. All welcome.

Netherton Garden Club:  Thursday 4th July visiting Rothley House, Cambo meet 2.00pm.  Wednesday 10th July visiting Longwitton Hall meet 2.00pm.  Monday 15th July trip to Harlow Carr contact Pat Younger 620216 for details.  Wednesday 24th July visiting Eachwick Hall, Ponteland meet 2.00pm.  Wednesday 7th August Plant sale & afternoon tea at Elilaw commencing 2.00pm, to which everyone is very welcome to attend. Netherton Craft Group: meet in The Reading Room, Netherton Memorial Hall on the third Thursday of the month from 2pm to 4pm. Bring your own work along and spend a couple of hours with a friendly group of ladies. We also knit hats, blankets and little cardigans for premature babies. Cost is £2.50 per session which includes tea and biscuits.

UCRG Community & Parish of UC Newsletter July & August 2019

Domino drives: will be held on Friday 12th July and Friday 16th August in Netherton Village Hall, 7.30pm start. Admission is £3, which includes supper, prizes, a raffle and a story from John!

Family Barbecue: with games and a raffle is being held on Saturday 10th August 2019 from 4pm onwards at the Netherton Community Area. Cost is £6 per adult, £2.50 under 10’s and under 5’s are free. Everyone is welcome. To put your name on the list and to notify us of any dietary requirements please contact: Judith Barton - 01669 631189, Julia Stott - 01669 630241 or Joan Blakey - 07810 772967. Bring a chair or rug. Keep an eye on the Netherton noticeboards in case of cancellation due to wet weather. Wednesday 20th March 2019 HEPPLE VILLAGE Table Tennis: (self-programming) in Hepple Village Hall every Tuesday evening from 7.00 until Charlotte Lobb—Needlefelting 8.30pm. For more information contact Chris on 640012.

Basketry Group: meets monthly on third Wednesday of the month 10-3.30pm. Contact Gill Philipson beforehand or drop in on the day.

HARBOTTLE VILLAGE Star Inn, Harbottle: quiz nights in aid of Alwinton & Holystone Churches on Mondays in August (5th, 12th, 19th & 26th). All 8.30pm start.

Iyengar Yoga Sessions: in Harbottle Village Hall every Tuesday evening 7.00 to 8.30pm. For further information please contact Margaret Ranken on 650281.

Judali Yoga hatha yoga class: at Harbottle Village Hall on Thursday evenings 7.00 to 8.30pm. All welcome. No previous experience necessary. Suitable for both beginners and those with more experience. For more information contact Judie: 01669 650357.

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). 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.

Advance Notices….Save the date:  Netherton Domino Club: will meet on Friday 20th September & Friday 25th October 7.30pm start.  Star Inn Netherton Quiz nights for 2019: Wednesday evenings with 8.00pm start on: 4th September, 2nd October, 6th November, 4th December.  Scotty’s Clennell Country Festival: on September 20th, 21st & 22nd to include live music, line dancing, disco, raffles, bingo, fully licensed bar serving food and drinks, camping facilities.  MacMillan Coffee Morning: Friday 27th September, 10.00 until mid-day in Netherton Village Hall. More details in the September newsletter!

STRAWBERRY TEAS WITH OPEN GARDEN In aid of Save the Children Centenary On SUNDAY 14TH JULY, 2 – 5pm At Ilderton Glebe (3 miles south of Wooler) Entry by donation. Includes plant stall. All welcome. UCRG Community & Parish of UC Newsletter July & August 2019

Invitation: As many of you will now know Rev’d Sue Joyner is retiring from her post as Headteacher of Harbottle C of E (Aided) First School at the end of the summer term. Sue has been our Headeacher for eighteen years and will be greatly missed by all who know her. Sue will continue in her present role in serving the Church and the community and has additional personal plans for her future. We plan to hold an open afternoon in Harbottle School on Friday 19th July from 1.30pm to which you are cordially welcome to pop in to see Sue on her final school day. Refreshments will of course be served! We are having a collection to which you are invited to contribute. Donations can be left in Harbottle School Office, please address the envelope for my attention. Many thanks. Susan Rogerson. *************************************************************************************** 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 will be granted one payment only

Potential beneficiaries must reside within the Parishes of Cartington, Hepple, Hesleyhurst, Rothbury, Snitter, Thropton, Alwinton, Harbottle 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: [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 application forms is 1st September, 2019. Please note that students will not be notified until mid-October as to whether their application has been successful or not. *************************************************************************************** Vintage tea party items for hire Everything you need to host the perfect tea party! For further information contact Alison Bolton on: 01669 630252 or email: [email protected] Donations for any hire will be given to the Upper Coquet Resource Group *************************************************************************************** Upper Coquetdale Community Transport: Rothbury Shoppers Route

Collect and drop off at your door. £4 per return trip. Picking up from:

 Harbottle  Netherton  Biddlestone  Alwinton  Sharperton  Holystone This service is for the elderly or mobility- impaired. The pickup/drop off points are from home, which means times will be different per person and dependant on how many people are on the bus each week. We start the pickups from 10.30am and start our return from Rothbury at 1pm. To use the service people need to contact Lesley Leeson, Transport Manager, both to book and initially to register with some basic personal information (address, telephone number etc.). Contact Lesley: 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! UCRG Community & Parish of UC Newsletter July & August 2019

Netherton News Update A great deal has happened since the Netherton and Biddlestone Parish Council called an Open Meeting last May 2018, when Peter Stott agreed that despite the school closure the school field should continue as a community area if possible.

As you know the school has been on the market for a little while. We have no idea how long it will take to sell or what may become of it. The kerb has been dropped in readiness for access from the road along the edge of the school yard to the Community Area. We are waiting for a licence to be issued before a lease can be applied for. This is proving a very slow process. We currently have access from the school gate to the Community Area and once we have the lease we will be able to get the stone wall built as the boundary. Harden Quarry has been extremely generous in donating the stone and assisting with the building cost.

A working party of 14 parishioners met at the beginning of April who generally tidied up the area. A big thank you goes to them for their time and effort. The grass is now cut on a regular basis and the perimeter is strimmed and kept tidy. The raised beds will soon have flowers blooming now that the oystercatcher has hatched her brood. The shelter has been moved to a better position and the three Prunus trees, which were in the boxes at the front of the school, have been planted along the field edge. The two little tables and the shelter could do with some preservative/paint. Has anyone some time they could give please?

The play equipment is checked over on a regular basis and it is due for its annual inspection by RoSPA this June. Children can be heard playing, people picnic and friends meet. It would be great if we had a football goal. This would have to be moveable for mowing, and netball net on a heavy base. If anyone has either of these items they no longer use would you be willing to donate them? Please contact Judith Barton on 01669 631189 if you can help.

As you can see there have been achievements in the first twelve months and I think you will agree that it looks very welcoming. Obviously there have been some expenses on the way. A group of supporters have decided to hold a Family Barbecue with Games and a Raffle open to everyone, to help cover these costs. The barbecue will be held on the 10th August at 4pm onwards on the Community Area. There may be footie, rounders, shuttlecock or bring a game of your own to share. The price will be: £6 per adult, £2.50 under 10 years and under 5 years are free. Please bring your own chair or rug. To assist with the catering can you let Judith Barton 01669 631189, Julia Stott 01669 630241 or Joan Blakey 07810772967 know how many people there are in your party, if there are any dietary requirements or if you would like to donate a salad ingredient, by Friday 2nd August.

There will be a meeting prior to the barbecue to finalise details at The Old Coach House, Netherton on 29th July at 8pm. Please come if you can help in any way. Keep an eye on the Netherton noticeboards in case of cancellation due to wet weather. Thank you

Judith Barton Chairman of Netherton and Biddlestone Parish Council

UCRG Community & Parish of UC Newsletter July & August 2019

PARISH OF UPPER COQUETDALE COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER

Church Order of Services for The Parish of Upper Coquetdale during July 2019

Rothbury Holy Communion at 10.15am, every Sunday Evensong at 6.30pm on 7 & 21 July Compline by Candlelight at 6.30pm on 14 July

Hepple Traditional Prayer book communion at 9am on 7 July Holy Communion at 9am on 21 July

Thropton Traditional Prayer book communion 9am on 14 July Holy Communion at 9am on 21 July

Alnham Holy Communion at 11.30am on 7 July

Alwinton Holy Communion at 10.15am on 14 & ,28 July UCCT service at Alwinton at 6.30pm on 28 July

Holystone Holy Communion at 10.15am on 21 July

July Mid-week Services

Rothbury Morning Prayer daily except Sunday & Monday 9.00am Holy Communion every Wednesday at 9.30am

Church Order of Services for The Parish of Upper Coquetdale during August 2019 Rothbury Holy Communion at 10.15am, every Sunday Evensong at 6.30pm on 4, 11 & 18 August

Hepple Traditional Prayer book communion at 9am on 4 August Holy Communion at 9am on 18 August

Thropton Traditional Prayer book communion 9am on 11 August Holy Communion at 9am on25 August

Alnham Holy Communion at 11.30am on 4 August

Alwinton Holy Communion at 10.15am on 11 & 25 August

Holystone Holy Communion at 10.15am on 18 August

August Mid-week Services

Rothbury Morning Prayer daily except Sunday & Monday at 9.00am Holy Communion every Wednesday at 9.30am

UCRG Community & Parish of UC Newsletter July & August 2019

From the register:

Funerals

14 May John Stewart, Rothbury

5 June Eileen Sheales, Rothbury

May they rest in peace

Valley Happenings

My computer skills, being what they are, failed to put my letter into print last month, consequently you missed all the “plugs” on important activities in the valley! The main one was Sue’s coffee morning for Christian Aid, but in fact it didn’t need a plug at all as she had a full house at Woodbine Cottage and a marvellous morning raising about £1,200 - well done to both Sue and Bob.

Also, apologies that the Alwinton church door was locked for much of the Bank Holiday weekend but there was a concert on Saturday evening and we had a very super-dooper concert piano in situ. For insurance purposes it had to be kept locked whilst not in use.

The week after Easter scaffold was erected to repair the church bell rope that you have heard so much about! It has now all been securely attached and we are indebted to everyone who spontaneously came forward and supported this project making it possible. Also thanks to Simon and Sharon for dealing with it all. Some of you will have noticed that the church gates at Alwinton have been missing for a few weeks but they are now back and in very fine condition and looking very smart!

It was very unfortunate that the Harbottle School Car Boot Sale had to be cancelled on Saturday 8th June, but due to torrential rain they had little choice thinking most of the car booters would do a runner if they had even arrived! Hope they manage to sort some other fund raiser as there is always so much work that goes into organising these events.

On Sunday, 21st July from 12.30pm John and Marion Farndale are kindly hosting our annual Pimms party. There will be loads of canapes so don’t worry about your lunch. It is a great afternoon with live music, so don’t miss it!

Also Gail is organising two Sunday’s at Alwinton for light lunch /afternoon tea for anyone who wishes a tootle out in the car, a walk, a run, a peddle or just a drop-in! It will be open from 1.00pm on July 28th and August 4th and we look forward to seeing you.

When the next newsletter comes out we will have new publicans at The Star Inn. We all wish Anne a very happy retirement. We will miss her enormously, but huge thanks for leaving the pub in such good order and hopefully it will go from strength to strength. We wish her all the very best and look forward to seeing her very relaxed at Harbottle Show!

This is Sue’s last term as Headteacher of Harbottle School and she will be a huge miss, but we wish her a very happy retirement and lots of travel to Italy. We also wish the new Headteacher, Nikki Buckley all the success and happiness in the new role.

Alwinton and Holystone congregations wish the very best of luck to children moving to the middle school/high school/university/college/new jobs and with their exam results - we hope all goes well for everyone.

Julia Stott

UCRG Community & Parish of UC Newsletter July & August 2019

200 Club July Ticket Winners 200 Club August Ticket Winners £20: Maisie Metcalf (c/o Julia Stott) £20: Marjorie Common, Harbottle £15: Unsold £15: John Grey, Netherton £10: Cath King, Harbottle £10: Arthur Ward, Alwinton

*************************************************************************************** Christian Aid in the Upper Valley

Sierra Leone is the most dangerous place in the world to become a mum. 10 women die every day in childbirth. In the Upper Valley we recently raised £1842.60. The Coffee Morning and extra selling of plants and bric a brac raised £1425.26 and the rest was from generous giving in the envelopes. Thank You for your support and generosity. This will go towards building village health centres in Sierra Leone and make that country a safer place to give birth. A huge thank you on behalf of the mothers of Sierra Leone. *************************************************************************************** PIMM’S PARTY Sunday 21st July, 12.30pm

Glebe House, Holystone By kind permission of John & Marion Farndale

Tickets £10 Includes glass of Pimm’s and canapés Tickets from Julia Stott, Marion Farndale, Helen Holmes, Sharon Graham & Gail Johnston

Please come along and have some fun with live music and an auction to support our lovely churches *************************************************************************************** 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

UCRG Community & Parish of UC Newsletter July & August 2019

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]

TUTOR AVAILABLE Martin Wealleans Tutoring in English Literature, History, Classical Painter & Decorator Civilisation (Students up to A level) and French (up to GCSE). Tel 01669 621327 Rates negotiable. Please contact: [email protected] Good luck for another academic year! DRAKESTONE BUILDING SERVICES Sweeties Joinery, General Building, Tiling Bridge Street, Rothbury & Decorating Work Sweets * Treats * Gifts Pick & Mix* Slushies*Hot & Cold Drinks Billy Gibson Traditional sweet shop stocking a large variety of sweets & chocolates. We can Tel: 01669 650206 OR 07979042499 special order anything we don’t have in Email: [email protected] stock. Now stocking Coquet Chocolate. Beautiful handmade chocolates & truffles, made in Rothbury. DEFIBRILLATOR LOCATIONS K$ Book Keeping Services Defibrillators are sited in the following - Invoicing, Supplier Payments, local villages: Receipts, Bank Reconciliation Hepple: on the village hall wall - VAT Returns Netherton: on the village hall wall - Employee Payroll Thropton: on the school wall - All types of businesses – farming, retail, Alwinton: car park on the toilet block wall building, hospitality Alnham: on the wall of the Kings Priory I offer a friendly, flexible and confidential service for School Field Centre your business. ______No obligation introductory meeting with references available. Collins Fish Van Katherine Singer Visits the area on a Thursday at the following times: Tel: 07766 747 382 or 01669 650 436 Hepple Post Office: 8.00am E-mail: [email protected] Sharperton (on the hill): 8.30am *********************************************** Alwinton Village Green: 9.00am Don’t forget…..to report those pot holes! It is Harbottle (Chapel end): 9.30am very easy to do via the council website: Holystone Post Office: 9.40am www.northumberland.gov.uk , scroll down to TOP Netherton Village: 12.00–12.15pm TASKS and click on Report a Pothole. Alternatively phone them on 0345 600 6400.

UCRG Community & Parish of UC Newsletter July & August 2019