Produced by Sedgefield Development Partnership: Company No: 4312745 Charity No: 1100906 Sedgefield News Insert logo By the villagers for the villagers of Sedgefield, Bradbury & Mordon March 2005 Serving the stirrup cup Thanks to Ian Hunter for his pictures (left, and many more on www.sedgefieldweb) and to Mr & Mrs Harvey for theirs (above and below) Wherever you stand on the issue of hunt- ing with dogs, these pictures (February 16th) mark part of our history - the South Durham Hunt has been held since 1872. Master of the Hunt Mark Shotton has vowed that the sport would go on, but that the dogs would no longer chase foxes. They will chase false scent trails. The Interna- tional Fund for Animal Welfare has wel- comed this attitude to the ban. A spokes- woman said “There is no ban on riding and using false trails is a good alternative.” 2 ‘BREAK A LEG!’ But the show must go on.. Just before Christmas, Sedgefield Players were delighted to receive good wishes from the writer of their panto, Alan P. Frayn, who sent them a Cinderella Christmas card containing the verse printed below. Norma Neal (Sedgefield Players’ Chairman) writes.. The Sedgefield Panto is bound to impress, I`m sure that those of you who came along to see the From the moment you start to perform, panto will agree that it was an excellent show and So now may I wish you the greatest success, everybody did have a ball. However, we had to contend Go take County Durham by storm! with one or two mishaps beforehand, including an Thanks to all your hard work now you`ll reap the rewards, accident to one of our members. Dorothy Tate had a fall For your show`s full of fun and variety, down the back stairs of the Parish Hall, ironically So be sure to enjoy, as you`re treading those boards, enough when she was helping set up the bar for the `Cos you can`t beat a happy Society! panto - and she hadn`t touched a drop! Sadly, she ended up with a very painful broken shoulder and broken I`m sure it will be the best panto of all, bones in one leg, so her planned appearance as the And those Sisters will have them in stitches, Good Fairy was not to be and, at very short notice, two So I hope that, like Cinders, you all have a Ball, And your show will turn rags into riches! other good fairies stepped in to the breach. But the and the players’ response... show went on, giving capacity audiences the traditional Sedgefield Players panto which has become such a vital Many thanks for your greetings so kindly sent part of a happy family Christmas. After all that, we felt And your words of encouragement sincerely meant. we had to reply to our Cinderella writer in like vein. He We had a great panto in our Parish Hall was delighted to receive it and we thought you might Sedgefield audiences loved it - one and all. like to read it, too. Sedgefield Players perform a The sisters were gruesome, they got booed every night thriller by Richard Harris this month. See p.11 But Cinders was lovely, a sparkling delight Our Prince and Dandini should both take a prize A bright new start for Spring! For their singing and dancing and slapping those thighs. Are YOU thinking about starting or changing your Bodget and Leggett got plastered each night career? learning a new skill? getting to grips with com- And their closing number was a memorable sight puters? starting a new hobby? Buttons, that`s Thomas, was everyone`s friend Contact Maggie, Katie or Zoe and ask how we can And we hope that he also finds love in the end. help YOU! Call 077 642 692 51 or call at His Nanna Annette, was a fearsome Hattie. 58 Front Street on Thursday morning, 9.30 - 12noon From her clutches no man in the audience was free Sedgefield Learning Borough As poor Baron Hardup, David lived in such fear He`s leaving for Africa in the New Year! Sedgefield Town Council Election Let`s not forget Dorothy, our Fairy so kind Following the death of Cllr. Vaughan Lonie, there is Who had to drop out, though she`d learned all the lines one seat vacant on Sedgefield Town Council. Now we know in the theatre for praise we don`t beg The election will take place on Thursday 10th March And it`s bad luck to say anything but “Break a leg !” The candidates are: David Ralph Brown, Conservative Taking this literally, Dorothy came to some harm & Gale Platts, Labour Down the backstairs she tumbled, broke a leg - and an arm Please vote at your usual polling station, Parish Hall or But the show must go on and with one week to go Jean and Norma stepped in and they saved the show Hardwick Primary School between 8am - 9pm As Chamberlain, Jack announced the guests with aplomb And his ghost cleared the line-up one by one Have you got a “musical talent”? Our dancers and chorus were light on their feet Sedgefield Methodist Church is seeking a volunteer to And I`ve never seen kids eat so many sweets. share in the rota of appointments with our other two The sets were fantastic, sound and lighting a dream musicians, in providing musical accompaniment during And we must offer thanks to the brave backstage team Sunday services. We have three excellent instruments; Not to mention the bar staff and those front of house a piano, an electronic organ and a clavinova. Who dealt with the public with never a grouse. Perhaps you have given this kind of support to another Walter directed the lot with his usual flair church in the past, or maybe this is completely new to And we hope to repeat the same process next year you. Why not pay us a visit one Sunday morning, or Once we`ve recovered from the aches and the pain evening, and if you like what you see, make yourself We`d love to do another by you, Mr. Frayn! known. We will be delighted to see you. We would also like to hear from you if you play other New Cancer Research Group start-up instruments. Music makes such an important Anyone interested in the formation of a new contribution to the worship in the church, and our musicians are very much appreciated. It would be great Sedgefield branch of Cancer Research UK should to form a musical group. David Glass (steward) contact Margaret Ogden on 01740 621028 3 Featuring ‘the Lyrics’ - singing for sheer delight Friends of Hardwick AGM ‘It’s Lyrics tonight’… Someone The youth choir has given concerts At the AGM of the Friends of Hard- from another planet might think we on behalf of various causes - most wick, Tony Blair was re-elected heading for a word-smiths’ memorably ‘Yanomamo’ which was president, as was Hon. Secretary, convention, but the refrain is well performed for WWF. This month John Fitzpatrick and the three mem- understood amongst Sedgefield (see right) they take up the cause of bers of the Committee, Lesley Fitz- singers, young and old. A change of fishing communities devastated by patrick, Geoff Hughes and Alex name for the youth choir was touted the Tsunami, and the Lyric Singers Gibson. The Friends’ financial posi- once - maybe something a bit more have voted to back this up with a tion is healthy and a good start has modern and snappy, but heaven donation of £200 to Fisherfolk Aid. been made in raising funds for a new forefend. ‘Lyrics’ is where they go If you have a little time on the 12th Statue of Neptune. Lee White, a on Fridays and ‘Lyrics’ it remains - or 13th March to give your support, it Durham County Council Archaeolo- cast in stone! will be much appreciated. gist, gave an interesting talk on the The Lyric Singers, born in 1974, Do you secretly love singing, but Time Teams final report of the Ro- still going strong, retaining a lack confidence in your voice or man dig in East Park. It had signifi- surprising number of founder worry about reading music? Both cant importance in archaeology as it members and attracting new faces as choirs would say don’t worry - give was the first definitive proof that others move on or retire. From time your voice a try. Most people can Cade’s Road existed and that settle- to time, smaller groups have sing in tune and that’s all it takes, ments existed in County Durham. emerged from within the choir, because regular practice does the More of this next month when notably a Barber Shop quartet which rest. Aside from those whose voices Sedge field News will have a absolutely buzzed with personality, soar with the large choral societies, big feature on the renaissance and the delightfully tuneful Ringer many others would enjoy a weekly of Hardwick Park. Singers; musical directors come and vocal workout, as well as the kind of go and the music changes too. The friendship and support that comes Lyric Singers welcome it all and from being one of the ‘Lyrics’. they are definitely here to stay. Check it out! Fridays in Ceddesfeld The most lasting spin off has been Hall; 6pm in term time if you’re still Sedgefield Lyrics Youth Choir school age; 7.30pm if you’re not. (slyc for short - say it ‘slick’!) which Contacts: for the Lyric Singers, first emerged as the Junior Lyrics in Judith Edgoose, 620244 and for 1985.