HEDDON ON THE WALL WI

We, at the WI, recently celebrated our 83rd Birthday which means we were formed in 1917 when such a lot was happening for women. Heddon on the Wall was the first WI in Northumberland.

An item in the Annual Report of 1919 stated " All our energies are directed towards entertainments to raise funds to purchase a hut"

Before the WI acquired a hut the meetings were held either in the vicarage (Mrs. Pringle the Vicar’s wife was the Secretary) or at Heddon Hall the home of Mrs. Wise the President.

However, on 14th October, 1922, the new Hall was opened. It was built by Mr. Tulip the local village joiner and undertaker on a piece of land donated by Sir James Knott. An old village photograph shows a hen house on that piece of land. In those days hens would have no problems with cars and buses!

Mr. Tulip allowed the members to pay for the Hall as and when they collected funds.

The Hall had no lining inside the walls and the ceiling was the roof. You can imagine it was very cold especially when icy blasts blew through the cracks in the wall timbers.

With many money making efforts we were able to have the walls insulated and the ceiling lowered. The stage was extended by the Throckley Drama Group and new windows were put in. The latest improvements, thanks to a Lottery Grant, have been a new kitchen and a new floor in the main hall.

Like the 1919 report we are still directing our energies to money making efforts in order to keep the Hall in good condition. These events are becoming social occasions for the village. The latest was a Pancake Day. Look out for our next ones which could possibly be a Strawberry Meal in the Summer and a Ploughman’s Lunch in the Autumn.

Meanwhile we hold our monthly meetings on the first Monday of each month at 7 o’clock. The next meeting will be on Monday, 3rd April when we will be having a talk with slides entitled "St. Abbs Head to Tynemouth". The May meeting will be our Annual Meeting.

Why not come along as a visitor one evening? We can assure you of a good welcome in friendly company, indeed we hope it will encourage you to become a member.

Joyce Laws. Hon. Secretary

THANKS, MR. HANBY

I am sure you will soon begin to notice a distinct improvement in the borders of the Memorial Park. The village now has a Gardener. He is Mr. Hanby. He has recently moved into Heddon and when he heard that the Parish Council was desperately in need of a knowledgeable person to look after and care for the borders he offered his services of a couple of hours a week as his contribution to the village. He has worked in horticulture all his life and knows what he is doing.

VILLAGE CHOIR ON SONG!

The Ad Murum Singers, our own village choir is now rehearsing with enthusiasm for its next Charity Concert in the Knott Memorial Hall.

We are all enjoying our second term under our Musical Director, Dr. J. Douglas Hunter, and can promise you an interesting and varied programme ....... so make a note of the date.......... SATURDAY, 10th JUNE, 2000.

We have not yet decided which charity or charities to support so if you have any suggestions, please make them known to any choir member. Look forward to seeing you on the 10th. Stan Hall

HEDDON SOCCER SCHOOL

I no longer intend to coach Football in Heddon. I am very disappointed to learn that some people are questioning my integrity in respect of the accounts for Heddon Soccer School. I am more disappointed that the doubters are not bold enough to approach me. They make comment behind my back.

Currently, the Soccer School has a balance of £212 (which is in a bank account named Heddon Soccer School). This, along with accounts, is being passed to the Parish Council. I am very disillusioned that no one approached me directly to discuss the issue.

I trained hard to gain my coaching badge prior to starting the school and keep up to date with F.A. policies and changes. I pay an annual insurance - FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN - as well as subscriptions to the Football Association.

It has been said that I am onto ‘a good little earner’ from the subs paid by my students. For the first session I gratefully accepted donations from Patrons of the Three Tuns. All money since has also been put to good use, balls, bibs (including laundry costs) marker discs, cones, refreshments, trophies and certificated, etc., all have to be paid for.

I came to Heddon nearly three years ago and saw the need for activities for OUR children. Having put the Soccer School into action I was proud it was recommended for an award and received £250 from the High Sheriff of Northumberland on behalf of the Soccer School. THAT WAS NOT FOR ME - IT WAS FOR THE CHILDREN. I recently learned we are to be recognised again this year. I will accept this award in writing on behalf of the village and it will be handed directly to the Parish Council along with the balance of the accounts and all remaining equipment.

I might also mention that not all parents pay for their children’s coaching sessions yet they attend week after week and enjoy the presentations and awards - there is no discrimination!

Please give my apologies to your children. I am very sorry that people feel the need to condemn, criticise and even accuse. Once again the children will lose out. Obviously, my comments only apply to the minority but, again, the majority suffer.

The Parish Council supports David Newman and feels it is a wicked shame that the village is losing his voluntary services through the ignorant carping of a small minority.

Brian Selman, Chairman of Heddon on the Wall Parish Council.

HIGH SHERIFF OF NORTHUMBERLAND

On Thursday, 16th March, Brian Selman, Gail & John Stewart attended the Presentation Evening at Hexham and John accepted the award made to David Newman, Heddon Soccer School, for his services to Youth Against Crime in the form of his setting up and running Heddon Soccer School. The award was an illuminated plaque and £400 to Heddon Soccer School. Congratulation, this is a well earned award.

HEDDON WEBSITE - HEDDON ON LINE

"The Newcastle to Carlisle railway line which runs along the south side of the river Tyne was opened throughout its full route in 1839. At that time residents of Heddon had to walk down Station bank to the river to catch the ferry across the Tyne before joining the train at Ryton station.

This long and precarious trip took its toll. On 26th March, 1877 three residents of Heddon, including a 17 year old girl, lost their lives in a ferry accident while crossing the river.

In July, 1885, a new branch line on the north side of the river was opened. It ran from Scotswood via Heddon Station to Wylam. It followed part of the route of the old Wylam Waggon Way which had been built around 1748 and used to haul coal from Wylam to Lemington for shipment down the Tyne until the closure of Wylam Colliery in 1868.

"The ‘Northern" line included a spur which ran into the year of the Margaret Pit and the Heddon Brick Works in the bottom of the valley.

With the closure of the Margaret Pit and the brick works at the end of the 1930’s and the growing popularity of cars and buses, the use of the railway declined and Heddon Station was closed in 1958 and demolished in 1959.

The ‘Northern’ railway line was closed in 1966 and the tracks removed in 1972. Part of the route was turned into a public bridleway which is still in use today. "

This historical extract was taken from the Heddon Web Site (www.heddon.co.uk). If you have any interesting memories or memorabilia of the Railway in Heddon please let us know that that we can document them for the future. Information can be given to me (852355), handed to Ann Lockey or left for collection in the Library.

TREKKING FOR CHARITY

SHARE A CAPITAL CHRISTMAS is a charity that encourages businesses and individuals to help provide food and toys for some of London’s less fortunate families, children and older people. Last year an estimated total value of goods in excess of £500,000 was distributed to over 65,000 people in eed. There are many fundraising activities organised by the charity, one of which was a trek in Ecuador to climb Mount Cotopaxi.

Ecuador is located on the north west of South America bordering Colombia, Bolivia and Peru. The Capital city, Quito, is one of the highest in the worked at over 3000m above sea level. The trek was to take us from Quito to the climbing refuge just below the snow line on Mount Cotopaxi (4800m above sea level) which is visible from Quito. Mount Cotopaxi is actually the world’s highest active volcano although it hasn’t erupted for many years.

Our trip began with a gruelling eleven-hour flight to Bogota in Coumbia and then a one and a half hour flight to Quito in Ecuador. We finally arrived in Quito at about 12am local time on Friday. The effect of the altitude was quite dramatic. Every step was like taking 10 and people were quickly getting out of breath. Our first night was spent in a hotel in the city. This would be the last time that we were to sleep in a bed and have the use of a shower for the next seven days. I spent many of the next 6 days on the trek dreaming of getting back to the hotel.

By the time we got to the hotel and checked in it was well after 2am and we were meeting for breakfast at 7.30am. After breakfast we were briefed on what to expect over the next seven days and given an itinerary. We were basically going to spend five days walking around Cotopaxi National Park staying in various different camp sites at different altitudes to acclimatise and then on the sixth day we would make the accent from our base camp at 3800m to the refuge at 4800m. The highest mountain in England is only a little over 1000m.

On the first day our party of about 60 people was driven from Quito to Cotopaxi National Park. We departed the coaches and were split into three groups. The walk that day was the easiest that we encountered on the trek and only took about three hours to reach the camp. All our supplies were transported each day on a series of support vehicles and all we were asked to carry was our day sacks.

The weather in Ecuador is very strange. We were there in January which is just before the wet season. The temperature does not change much throughout the year and the average daytime temperature is about 15 deg. Celsius. The days generally began very cold and on some days we had snow covered tents. As the mornings progressed the temperature usually increased and became very warm and most people would put on their shorts. This was usually short lived as the weather changed very quickly and very heavy rain would ensue for several hours.

We generally walked for about nine hours a day leaving at about 8.30 each morning. Some days were harder than others because of the altitude and the distances that we walked. We walked an average of 20km per day and covered approximately 120km over the duration of the trek.

The landscape at the lower altitude was very similar to the Lake District or Scotland and it was hard to imagine that we were actually in South America. As we climbed higher the surroundings became more barren and as we approached the base camp on the final day the landscape began to resemble a lunar landscape. There were great flat expanses that had been carved many millenniums before during the volcano’s more active period.

Nights were filled with the routine of setting up the tent and tending the many blisters accumulated during the day’s walk. We all gathered in the evenings to eat and talk about life on the trek and what had brought us to Ecuador.

Although I had trained for the trek I don’t think I could have imagined how hard the final ascent to the refuge turned out to be. We left as usual and began the final climb from base camp at 3800m to the refuge at 4800m. After only a short time I was quickly out of breath and beginning to think I wouldn’t make it and would have to call the support truck. It took a further four hours to make it to the refuge and every step was like climbing a small mountain. It was the hardest thing I have ever done physically and I have never felt such relief as when I reached the refuge.

The descent only took about two hours. When we got back to base camp spirits were extremely high and everyone was very happy. That night we all celebrated. The next morning the party returned to the hotel in Quito. I never thought I would be so glad to see a hotel room! It was the first time we had slept in a bed or been able to have a shower for almost seven days. It also gave us a chance to call our loved ones to let them know we were safe and well.

We spent the day looking around the capital and all met for a party that evening to celebrate our achievement and to re-count tales from our previous week in the wilderness.

We left the following morning which we later found was the last flight to leave Ecuador that day. The country’s President who had sacked all his Government the week before we arrived was overthrown in a military coup. One of the Ministers sacked the previous week was now President.

The trek was hard work but extremely enjoyable and I would encourage anyone who has the opportunity to visit the beautiful country of Ecuador to seize it immediately. I raised over £2,000c for the charity and would like to thank everyone who sponsored me.

HEDDON CARPET BOWLS

At the present time, Carpet Bowls have a good regular attendance. The Club had an away match in February. It was our first visit to their newly refurbished hall which has been very much improved.

It was a good match and Heddon did well in the first half, it was neck and neck all the way but, after a lovely supper Heddon went downhill and the score at the end was Stamfordham 71 - Heddon 50. It was an enjoyable night in good company but that lovely supper has a lot to answer for!

The Club meets each Monday (during term time) in Heddon First School at 7pm. Why not come along, you will be given a warm welcome.

HEDDON BROWNIES

Heddon Brownies have had a busy few weeks. Our Pack attended the Thinking Say Service at St. Mary’s Church, Ponteland, on 20th February. Packs from all over the District attended, along with the Rainbow and Guide Packs from the district. It was an impressive sight seeing all the girls walk from the church hall to the Church behind their flags. We sang songs and listened to readings on the theme of Peace.

We celebrated Shrove Tuesday by making pancakes - a few ended up on the floor as the girls practised tossing them!!

During the next few weeks we will be practising a play based on the Brownie story which will be performed in front of parents and friends.

We are hoping that some of the Brownies will take their ‘Jesters’ badge so we are looking forward to songs and music from the girls on that night too.

If anyone has a skill they would be willing to share with the Brownies at one of our Wednesday evening meetings in the Knott Hall we would love to hear from you.

Wendy Ryan and Jan Liddle.

HEDDON ART GROUP

Sitter needed - Heddon Art Group would like to hold a class in Portrait Painting later this year but we need a sitter - young or old, male or female. The only requirement is that you can sit comfortably in 15-20 minute spells. £5 is offered for the evening’s session.... but don’t expect a masterpiece at the end of the evening.

If anyone can spare a couple of hours to come to the WI Hall on a Wednesday evening (on a date to be arranged) please ring me, Mary White on 852749, or Ann Lockey on 852832.

For anyone wishing to come to the Art Group we meet on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month in the WI Hall from 7-9pm. We have tuition at least once a month on a wide selection of subjects in various mediums. You will be made very welcome.

HEDDON IN BLOOM - SPRINGING INTO ACTION

I’m sure you will agree, it is really nice to walk around the village at this time of year to see gardens coming to life and the daffodils colouring the grass verges ....... So it is time for Heddon in Bloom to gear up for the busy Spring period.

The inaugural Regional Meeting of the Northumbria in Bloom Competition was held in Newbiggin by the Sea on 13th March.

Judges will visit Heddon on the Wall on Wednesday 5th April to conduct their Spring judging in advance of the main inspection in July.

The keenly contested Best Front Garden and Business Premises Competitions will also be held in the Summer - watch out for entry forms.

As usual, a major effort will be made to keep the village clean and tidy prior to the two main judging days. The first TIDY UP DAY will be on Saturday 1st April at 10am at the Knott Hall. ALL HELPERS, YOUNG AND OLD WILL BE WELCOME. Bring your own gloves ... rubbish bags will be provided. There will be treats for all children who help. If previous years are anything to go by, everybody will enjoy themselves in the fresh air of a nice Spring morning.

You will have noticed that the flower tubs have been planted with the assistance of Halls of Heddon and have already prompted many complimentary remarks. Thanks again for the generous donations from the two village Leek Clubs who made this possible.

Thanks also to the new helpers who came forward last year to assist in the various activities of Heddon in Bloom. Their contributions have already made a difference.

If you would like to get involved, whether growing plants for village displays, maintaining the displays, working on special projects or otherwise please contact any members of the Group ... David Chambers on 852740; Alison Laker, Audrey Harrison, Gordon Stewart or June Neale.

Similarly, if you have any suggestions, e.g. new tubs or planting areas or any areas which you feel needy tidying up, please let us know.

WITH YOUR HELP Heddon will continue to be that little bit brighter and more colourful, rightly deserving of its local and regional recognition as a nice place in which to live, work or visit.

HEDDON BUTTERFLY HAVEN

The Heddon Butterfly Haven is nearing completion. A Community Day was held on Saturday 25th March. The whole enterprise is a great credit to everyone who has willingly given their time and effort over the last few months and it has transformed what was a problem corner on the Common from a piece of land good at growing rosebay willowherb and very little else, into what will be an excellent all round wildlife area and a pleasant place for people to walk or just sit and enjoy the view.

Because it has been such a successful project and one which has cost the village ABSOLUTELY NOTHING it is disappointing, not to say annoying to hear second-hand that some people believe it is a complete waste of money and think the money should have been spent elsewhere in the village.

Now I have learnt over many years that you Can’t please all of the people all of the time and everyone is entitle to their opinion. That’s fine. I understand all of that but that begs the question of what those people would like to see money spent on in the village and what they are prepared to do about getting the money to do those things.

Many people have particular interests in their lives and mine happens to be wildlife and the countryside. When an opportunity comes along where I can help both of those interests I am happy to work hard to make sure that the opportunity is taken. In the case of the Butterfly Haven the money came from a part of the Lottery Fund which was designated for schemes such as the Butterfly and nothing else. The only way the Parish Clerk and I discovered that money for schemes like that was available was by putting time and effort into searching various sources.

Another good example of people going out and sourcing funds is the village W.I. who have recently replaced their hall floor. They needed a lot of money to do that and with a bit of hard work went out and found the right grant-aiding organisations. Almost every week the Hexham Courant contains stories of villages in the Tyne Valley who have received large grants from another part of the Lottery Fund to rebuild or upgrade their village halls. In each case it is because people in those villages put time and effort into finding the right sources of funding for their particular needs and equally

importantly presented (as we did in the case of the Butterfly) a well thought out plan of action with accurate costings.

5 April Lent Meeting - Methodist Church 7.30pm

12 April Lent Meeting - St. Andrew’s 7.30pm

15 April Saturday Coffee Morning 10am-12noon

17 April Coffee & Chat 10.30-12noon

21 April Good Friday Service 3pm

23 April Easter Sunday Communion 10.30am

26 April Pathfinders Walking Group 10am

15 May Coffee & chat 10.30-12noon

31 May Pathfinders Walking Group 10am

Please watch our Notice Board for more details.

The Ecumenical Lent Meetings run by St. Andrew’s and the Methodist Church are now underway, but everyone is still very welcome to join in. This year the theme of ‘Prayer’ has been chosen and different invited speakers are each sharing their own views and experience of this powerful topic. The remaining meetings are on Wed. 5 April at the Methodist Church and Wed. 12 April at St. Andrew’s, both start at 7.30pm

On the first and third Monday mornings of the month between 10.30am and noon the Chapel is open for anyone to drop in for a Coffee and Chat (or Tea & Chat!). If you have the ‘wash day blues’ why not come along? April and May dates are in the events diary.

The Pathfinders Walking Group continues to flourish and welcomes anyone who enjoys an easy walk with good company. Don’t forget to bring a packed lunch. Meet at the Chapel. Dates and times as above.

Don’t forget there is the Mum and Toddlers Group which meets every Wednesday between 1.30 and 3.30pm in school term time.

There is a Sunday Morning Sunday School at 10.30am for children of all ages during normal term time. Fun is guaranteed!

A new Clerk has been appointed and will take over from 1st April, 2000. It is Tom Bates who lives in Heddon and can be reached on 01661 852682.

The Hadrian’s Wall Long Distance Footpath is due to open in the foreseeable future and the lack of B&B accommodation was expressed at the recent Parish Council meeting.

Heddon Website is also getting requests for details of local accommodation.

Farmers Markets are presently being held at Hexham and Morpeth. Ponteland and possibly Heddon are being considered as future venues.

A magnificent sum of just over £1,000 was raised at the Village Coffee Morning to support the Mozambique Flood Appeal. Thanks to everyone who attended and contributed.

HEDDON LIBRARY

Heddon Library has a lot more to offer than books. Apart from adult and junior books both fiction and non-fiction, videos, tapes and story tapes are available, plus a computer service with the Internet facility.

Fiction and non-fiction books are issued for three weeks and can be renewed by telephone.

If there is a particular book you wish to read it can be requested for a fee of 80p

There is a good selection of children’s books both fiction and non-fiction.

These are available for one week at a fee of £1 or £1.50 for newer videos

For a fee of 60p you can borrow a story tape for three weeks

The fees for using the Internet Service are £1.50 for 30mins. and £3 for an hour. Recently compiled Heddon Website is well worth a visit. Computer printed sheets are available at 20p per sheet.

If you have never used a computer or browsed the internet this is your chance and Diane or Janet will be pleased to help.

Do you have a hobby and would like to display your work. Heddon Library has a good display area for hire. Ask Diane or Janet for details.

2pm-7.30pm ... Tues: 2pm-7.30pm ... Fri: 10am-12noon ... Sat.

Telephone No. 852781

HEDDON FIRST SCHOOL PTA

The PTA have hade wuite a welcomed break after such a busy Christmas season but soon events will be starting up again. We had a PTA Disco on 30th March to celebrate the Ofsted Inspection.

The Easter Fair is to be held on Saturday 8th April, 10am-12 noon. The usual Tombola, Raffle, Cakes, sweets, etc., and an Egg and Bonnet Competition will be held. Please come along and support us.

All PTA efforts for the foreseeable future are to go towards new computers and IT equipment for Heddon School. As part of this effort about 12 Fathers of the children in school are planning to do the Coast to Coast Bike Ride as a sponsored event over the weekend of Thurs.29th June - Sun.2nd July to raise money for the school. For more details contact John Ryan, Tel.No. 853230. If anyone is interested in sponsoring them please contact the school. Nearer the time of the event sponser forms will be displayed in the village for your support. We wish them all Good Luck.

There will be a bus trip to South Shields on 1st May. If you would like to join us contact the school or Linda Paterson on 852432

We are still collecting Walkers Crisp Tokens, in fact, any tokens. Please send any you have collected to the school. Thank You

I have to say a VERY BIG THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed to the campaign to change our postcode. The response from local people has been magnificent. By the time this edition of the Gossip comes of the press I should have visited most streets in Heddon village with my petition calling on Royal Mail to consider changing our postal district. After that I still have to call on residents in the more outlying areas like Harlow Hill and Albemarle Barracks but I do hope to present the completed petition to Royal Mail some time in April.

Obviously, I have missed some of you when on my rounds collecting petition forms. However, I will try to get back to you to collect them. The petition will be so much more effective if it voices the concerns of the largest number of local residents possible. Please contact me if you would like me to collect completed forms from your home.

Also, I have to thank everyone who has written to Royal Mail and Alan Johnson MP, the Minister responsible for the service. This has certainly alerted Royal Mail to the fact that Heddon residents are unhappy with their present postcode arrangements. In fact, they contacted me to ask why they were getting so many letters of complaint from their Heddon customers. Here are the two relevant addressed again -

S.Greaves

Royal Mail North East
3 Forth Street
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 1AA

Alan Johnson MP
Under-Secretary for State
Department of Trade and Industry
1 Victoria Street
London
SW1 HOET.

As part of the Northern Children’s Book Festival, poet Nick Toczek visited Heddon Library and presented poetry readings, magic tricks and mask making to pupils of Heddon First School.

Heddon Library now has computer equipment giving public access to the Internet including the National Grid for Learning.

Library Automation

Heddon Library will soon benefit from the computerisation of the County Library network which will result in a greatly enhanced service of benefit to staff and customers alike.

The computerised catalogue will allow ease of access to the County’s entire stock. Users will be able to access their own borrowing record, identify items they have on loan and any requests they have made. They will also be able to renew their own loans and make their own reservations. The system will significantly improve the requests service to library users. Use of the County’s stock will be maximised and direct services to customers will be improved dramatically.

The new system will mean staff at all levels will be freed from time-consuming manual systems giving them more effective use of their time. More time will be put into stock management and customer enquiry work.

The Central Group Library Consultative Committee which advises the County Council on local libraries, including Heddon, praised the contin

uing hard work of library staff in the past year in achieving many of the new advances in the library service.

However, the following statistics do not paint a very favourable picture of the use of Heddon Library