BOOK REVIEW - FAITH IN THE NORTH!
In these trying times as Cumbria and Northumbria struggle to recover from the effects of foot and mouth disease, two retired university lecturers, Peter Donaghy and John Laidler, have literally demonstrated faith in the northern countryside by writing not one but two delightful books. The first of these, Lakeland Church Walks, has recently been published by Sigma Leisure, Cheshire; the second, companion volume, Northumbria Church Walks, is due to be published in the Spring of 2002.
These books will appeal to armchair walkers and seasoned ramblers alike. The authors have hit on the idea of combining visits to interesting churches with circular walks in the locality, using the church as the starting and finishing point in each case. Lakeland Church Walks includes photographs and detailed descriptions of over 50 churches in Cumbria, together with easy to follow instructions and cross-referenced maps guiding the reader on 30 walks ranging from 2 miles to 13 miles with alternative shorter options where appropriate.
It is evident that the authors have thoroughly researched their subject. The lively and eminently readable text explores the nooks and crannies of a diverse collection of mainly ancient buildings (but also of some which are not so ancient) and uncovers more than one skeleton within their walls and grounds. There are fascinating insights into the religious, social and artistic heritage which they encompass and plenty of tails of saints such as Bega and Kentigern, and of other notable figures of the past such as Wordsworth, Ruskin and even Tarzan! The guidance notes are fully detailed and are accompanied by simple but totally adequate maps with grid and Ordnance Survey references quoted.
The authors are to be commended for their excellent little book. It should be popular not only with walkers but all those who love the Lake District, our ancient churches, the countryside generally and the nation’s heritage. All will find Lakeland Church Walks both charming and informative. It is available in major bookshops now, price £8.95 – real value for money. A generous discount is available from Sigma (Tel. No. 01625 531035) for bulk purchases by churches.
The companion volume, Northumbria Church Walks, is certain to be of the same high standard. Watch out for it appearing in bookshops in the Spring.
Russell Kernahan.
Since we last wrote in October our meetings have continued, with "Soup and Bun" in November, Xmas Party in December and our Members' Night in January. Our Drama Group entertained us at both of these last two events with W.I. versions of Cinderella, Aladdin, and The Three Little Pigs. Their enthusiasm, humour and fantastic costumes made for 2 great evenings.
Twelve of us attended the County Carol Service in Alnwick in December, which made a good start to the Christmas season.
Tuesday Teas continued until early December and will start again in February. On February 9th we will be tossing pancakes at 11-30am. On March 9th we will be serving soup and bun at 11-30am. Watch the village notice boards for times and dates.
Our February meeting, on the 4th, is a cookery demonstration by Mr. J. Roughley. In March we celebrate our 85th Birthday, when Beryl Amos and Robert Laws will entertain us. Why not come along as a visitor to our next meeting?
Happy New Year from Joyce Laws and Aileen Rand
The Ad Murum Singers are grateful to all those who supported them by attending the Christmas Concert in the Knott Hall in December. We enjoyed performing and hope that you enjoyed listening! The proceeds from the concert will help to swell the funds of The Knott Hall and the Choir. The sad part was having to say farewell to our conductor Dr. Douglas Hunter.
It's not all hard work! Members and friends enjoyed a post Christmas meal at The Swan in early January.
The 2002 season for the choir commenced on Tuesday 15th January, with our first rehearsal. We are pleased to have Sheila
Nicholson as our conductor for the first few sessions, before she returns to warmer climes! Do not hesitate to come along if you have an urge to join our enthusiastic group.
Seasons greetings to all our fans,
Chris Rand
HISTORY - CLOSE HOUSE MANSION by Rachael Bell
The house was built in 1779 for the private use of the Bewicke family. However, its history dates back to the early thirteenth century.
During the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries there is evidence of a Monastic House at this site being owned, at that time, by the Read family. The property remained in the hands of the Read family for several generations until George Read eventually sold the site to Robert Bewicke in 1626
Robert Bewicke was a merchant adventurer and was made Sheriff of Newcastle in 1615 and Mayor in 1628 and 1637. He began the long association of the Bewicke family with Close House. In 1779 it was decided that a new building was required and the present Close House Mansion was built, hence the logo showing the date of 1779, tied in with the University of Newcastle’s lion. The old Monastic House was pulled down to make way for the new building and the large bay window in the Bewicke Room marks the site of where it stood all those years ago.
The Rococo Room, aptly named after the style in which it was decorated, was in the days of private ownership, the music room and musical motifs can be seen on some of the ceiling panels. It is said that the work in this room was created by Italian craftsmen.
The grant fireplace in this room bears the initials of Calverly Bewicke, thought to be the great, great grandson of Robert Bewicke. It is unsure to what extent he changed the Mansion House but obviously changes were made for a fireplace of this size to be installed.
The Bewicke family remained at Close House for many generations. However, wealth was dwindling and by the early part of the 20th Century the property was mortgaged. The finances of the Bewicke family never regained their original strength so, inevitably, much of the surrounding property was sold off between 1945 and 1953. This included Stevenson’s Cottage, High Close House and Heddon Quay.
Finally, the Mansion and Estates were sold at auction in 1953 and bought by James Rutherford and Sons for the sum of £13,190. In 1960 he approached King’s College, Newcastle, with the possibility of purchasing Close House. The asking price was now £20,000! A sale price was agreed at £19,500 and the sale proceeded. At this point in time, King’s College was part of Durham University but became the Independent University of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1963.
In 1994 Close House Mansion was extensively refurbished at a cost of just under £1,000,000 and today is a very successful Day Conference and Banqueting Centre offering a wide range of facilities from Summer Barbecues to Christmas Party Nights, Civil Marriages and Wedding Receptions to Corporate meetings and Social Event.
The family would like to congratulate Norman and Ella Dixon of Calvus Drive on their Diamond Wedding Anniversary on 31st January, 2002. Best wishes and lots of love.
Our first meeting of 2002 on 20th February will be our Annual General Meeting when we shall be looking back over the past year and making plans for the coming year.
Most of us will have put away our paints over the Winter break but on 6th March we shall be holding our first class, hopefully, with our Tutor who usually recommends that we begin with some drawing practice. This would be a good opportunity for anyone to come and join in – it is all very informal and there is no pressure if you would prefer to do your own work. Why not give it a try. We welcome all comers from beginners to the more experienced.
Mary White (Hon. Sec)
A new 12 week Alpha Course started on Thursday evenings at 7pm at the Chapel on 24th January. This popular video based course is designed for anyone who is seeking to understand the Christian faith. The course requires no previous knowledge about the church or Jesus or God. It is not too late to start coming! For further details contact Myrna Luff (01661 852659), Jenny & Russell Kernahan (01661 853403) or Robin Brooks (0191 2746057).
The two churches in Heddon have a long tradition of holding Ecumenical Lent Meetings together and this year is no exception. A member of St, Andrew’s, Derek Cruickshank, is to lead five weekly studies which will be held in the Methodist Church on Wednesdays at 7.30pm. The first meeting is on 20th February. Everyone is welcome whether regular church worshippers or not
Our weekly 7.30pm Thursday evening Bible Study continues as usual. Everyone is welcome to join in this informal meeting to study our faith in Christ and the Bible.
On the first and third Monday morning of the month between 10am and noon, the Chapel is open for anyone to drop in for a Coffee & Chat (or a Tea and Chat!) Why not come along? February and March dates are in the events diary.
The Mums and Toddlers Group meets every Wednesday between 1.30 and 3pm during school term time and loves to welcome new mums, grandmas or carers with their toddlers.
The Pathfinders Walking Group walks on the last Wednesday of the month have been spasmodic of late due to the Foot and Mouth situation but are now back to normal. For up to date information on the next walk please contact John Banks (01661 852317), dates are in the diary above. Anyone who enjoys an easy walk with good company is very welcome. Don’t forget to bring a packed lunch.
FLOWER FESTIVAL 2002. - CHANGED FROM GLORY INTO GLORY - A CELEBRATION IN FLOWERS
Following the great success of the Flower Festival held in Heddon on the Wall in 1999, we are presenting another Festival this year.
Once again we are delighted that Mrs. Anne Codd has agreed to oversee the flower arranging in both Churches in conjunction with a group of very talented flower arrangers.
The theme of the Festival "CHANGED FROM GLORY INTO GLORY", will be depicted in flowers in St. Andrew’s Church, the Methodist Church and the Knott Memorial Hall.
We liaise with St. Cuthbert’s R.C. Church in Throckley and have a representative from the Catholic Church on our Committee.
Local organisations will be asked to present some displays for the Knott Memorial Hall and refreshments will be served both in this hall and in the Methodist Church Hall for the duration of the Festival.
We are delighted that Bishop Martin and his wife have accepted our invitation to open the Festival at the Preview Evening on Wednesday 31st July, 2002 at 7.30pm.
The Festival will run from Thursday 1st August until Sunday 4th August, 2002, inclusive. The opening times are as follows:
Thursday, Friday and Saturday - 10am - 6pm
Sunday - 11am - 5pm
Entry to all venues hosing the Festival will be by programme, the cost will be:
Adults - £4
Concessions - £3
Children under 12 years - Free
The proceeds will be given to the St. Oswald’s Jigsaw Appeal and Local Charities.
We have a variety of fund raising activities taking place this year and would like to invite you to come to as many of them as you would like to. Here is a list of Dates for your Diary.
Thursday, 21st March at 7.30pm
Fashion and Flowers
This event will be held at Dissington Hall with fashions from ‘Partners’ at Gosforth. Anne Codd will make some flower arrangements which will be raffled afterwards and refreshments will be served. More details re ticket prices will be available nearer the time.
Friday, 26th April at 7.30pm
Flower Demonstration
This will be in the W.I. Hall and Anne Codd will demonstrate flower arranging. The arrangements will be raffled afterwards. Refreshments will be served.
The Flower Festival is a wonderful event for the village of Heddon as it brings together the three Churches, all the village organisations and the residents of Heddon.
The money raised will benefit many charities and in the course of our fund raising we will provide many enjoyable social occasions when everyone will have the opportunity to make new friends and meet up with old ones.
We do hope you will come and support us and help to make this Flower Festival the best ever!! Thank You.
If you would like to know more details or would be available to help in any way (there are many and varied jobs to be done<, please do not hesitate to contact either –
Esme Tingate - 01661 833525
Lynda Henderson - 0191 2290088
Jenny Kernahan - 01661 853403
Hazel Thompson - 01661 853684
Lynda Henderson, Secretary.
The Football Club continues to be very popular so much so that training in now in two separate periods on Saturday mornings because of the number of players - continued Good Luck
ATTENTION!!!! . ATTENTION!!!.ATTENTION!!!
St.Andrew’s Football Club, Heddon on the Wall
A member of the Churches together (North East) Football League
St. Andrew’s FC in association with the Knott Hall are proud to present a great evening of entertainment to MAKE YOUR EASTER WEEKEND!
On Saturday 30th March a fantastic performance of BLUES & SOUL MUSIC by a top north east band SOULSTREET - will take place in the Knott Hall and, to keep the feet tapping, a chance to dance the night away to a selection of DISCO MUSIC FROM THE RECENT DECADES.
To compliment the entertainment the ever popular PIE and PEAS SUPPER will be provided -.. all for only £6!!!
There will be a full bar service - see adverts around the village or on the Heddon Website.
Tickets available from the Football Club, Knott Hall Committee or by telephoning 01661 853803. Number of tickets is limited so HURRY -any profits will be divided between the Club and the Hall.
THERE IS AN EMPTY CHAIR AT THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS
At the December 2001 Parish Council meeting Mr Richard Waugh tendered his resignation. Mr Waugh had been in bad health for some time and with great reluctance his resignation was accepted by the Chairman, Dr Selman.
Mr Waugh had been a staunch supporter of the Parish Council for a number of years and had served with distinction both as Vice Chairman and as Councillor.
This means of course that Mr Waugh’s chair at the Parish Council meetings needs to be filled. The legally required notices offering the electors of Ward 1 the opportunity to hold an election have already been posted and will time expire shortly. If the electors of Ward 1 do not take the opportunity to hold an election then the Parish Council can fill the vacancy by co-option and this is where YOU come in, by putting your name forward as a potential Parish Councillor.
A Parish Councillor’s job is very important in any village community. It is the Parish Council which tries to ensure that the community is better served by the larger Authorities and that the services within the village run as smoothly as possible. It must be admitted that it is not always successful but life could be much worse without the Parish Council
Notices requesting applications for the post of Parish Councillor will be appearing soon so why not apply? The only qualifications required are common sense and a sense of commitment to get the best for Heddon on the Wall.
Some years ago the Knott Hall was the church hall. The hall, after 50 years, was in a poor state of repair and the church was unable to raise the money required. The Parish Council therefore purchased the hall on behalf of the whole village and the Charity Commissioners created a charity "The Knott Hall Committee" with the duty of running the hall and raising the necessary funds to do this. However, this committee as a "charitable unincorporated association" cannot hold land and therefore the Parish Council holds the deeds as Custodial Trustees on behalf of the Knott Hall Committee. The Parish Council do not as such own the hall but have the statutory right to give the hall committee grants when required.
When the Knott Hall Committee was set up it was intended that it would be run mainly by a combination of representatives of the user organisations and members elected by the village at the Annual General Meeting.
Unfortunately, the number of new members coming forward has been too small to share out the necessary jobs so that each member had a small manageable job to do. Previous appeals have not produced a single volunteer, yet just four new volunteers able to give 2 or 3 hours per week to help run the Knott would transform the situation.
What is required are ‘workers’ more than ‘committee members’ though the two inevitably go together.
The Parish Council is not allowed to run the Knott though the Parish Council will do everything within its powers to support the Knott.
Without a small number of new volunteers the doors of the Knott may well close, probably for good, and that would be a tragedy for the village.
We cannot and should not let this happen ……..volunteers of all age groups, young and old are needed.
YOUR VILLAGE NEEDS YOU! so please come forward, don’t be shy, and telephone The Chairman of the Knott Hall Committee – Robert Young on 01661 825208….
Brian Selman, Chairman, Heddon on the Wall Parish Council
That’s how we felt about the demand for tickets for the Youth Group’s first Ceilidh on 19 January. It was a sell-out and raised much needed funds to help pay for activities for the young people. Our Youth Workers, Dave Cooksey and Martin Gibbon are hoping to keep the ball rolling by taking the Youth Group bowling at the Metro Centre once they have received signed parental consent forms. Speaking of balls and the like, February sees Jestez Mobile Disco back in Heddon for Junior and Teen discos on the 2nd of the month. If the success of these discos continues there is a serious danger that they could become a regular event. See you there!
Janet Incecik
SCARED OF PLAYGROUP - AGE 33 AND A BIT!!
I’m sure a large number of readers will be able to identify with this experience
As the day approached I became more and more nervous, busying myself with silly things and wondering where the time had gone - a milestone was approaching - was he really two and a half years old and starting Playgroup already?
The fateful day dawned and after hardly any sleep I awoke with a sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach: this was it. As usual Daniel was his happy, exhuberant self - "going to playgroup today, Mam?" "Yes", I replied, "and it will be great."
We left the house in plenty of time, Daniel excited and me at my wits end (but hiding it well, of course!). At last we arrived. He ran excitedly from sand to paint to playdough and back again, his face beaming - until he realised I was going home without him whereupon he howled the place down.
Principals aside, I promised lemonade and Happy Meals - anything to stop the tears. On the advice of the teachers, I said goodbye quickly and left him crying at the door.
I got into the car feeling like Hitler and Bin Laden rolled into one - what a terrible person I must be. After two long hours of trying not to cry, cleaning things which didn’t need cleaning and checking the ‘phones a hundred times I returned to collect him. "He’s been great" they said, " - stopped crying the minute you left." Daniel ran over with a big hug and some pictures, "Happy Meal now?"
Needless to say he now loves playgroup and my worries have all gone - until September, of course, when I will be "Scared of Nursery - age 34!"
Louise Lockey
The days are getting longer, the bulbs are pushing their first shoots through the earth, and Heddon in Bloom has had its first meeting of the new year.
Another well attended get-together confirmed this years entry in the Northumbria in Bloom competition. As a bonus this year we have also entered a competition for the best voluntary effort, i.e. other than solely local authority entrants. With so much good will, help and involvement across the village we should be able to give a creditable account of the village.
If you're not already involved and would like to add that little bit extra, please get in touch with David Chambers, Tom and Terry Glenton or any other members of HiB. Look out for working parties in the Memorial Park and elsewhere, offer a word of encouragement or lend a hand.
We wish all of Heddon a happy and colourful 1992.
A 21 TON BUTTERFLY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
As all our regular volunteers will be aware we have not seen as much of the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers team on the Heddon project as we did when Nick Vagg as their team leader.
David Miller, who took over from Nick, has had a great deal of other work to handle for the BTCV and has apologised for the small amount of time they have given to Heddon during the last few months. I have been given assurances that that is all about to change and, in fact, have in front of me a proposed work programme which will mean we will finish all the ‘hard’ stone work which still remains to be done. That will include stone pitching the area around the seat at the top of the meadow using various stones and cobbles, etc., which will be followed by the preparation of a stone plinth to support a large single slab of sandstone ordered from Ladycross Quarry to form a seat. This will involve the community team as well as the BTCV volunteer team so there will be plenty to do and a lot to show for it when it is finished.
I will be arranging the dates for all this activity with BTCV within the next week or so and will then send details in the usual Newsletter to everyone on the Butterfly mailing list.
In the meantime, the rest of the ‘soft’ part of the site, the meadow, the butterfly and the trees are doing fine. It must be remembered that this is primarily a wild site and not a park so the object is for it to need a low level of management to allow it to develop properly.
Ian Armstrong
I was glad to hear that many of you appreciated the notes on Feeding your Garden Birds in the last issue of the Gossip. I was also interested to hear from a few people that there were very few birds coming to the food they were putting out.
There can be a number of reasons for this, one of the strongest being that one of your neighbours is putting out a bigger and better supply of food than you are! I notice this in our garden where I have my main feeding station in our big side garden and a smaller one near our garden pond in the front garden. I get lots of birds of several different species (including Jackdaws hanging onto one of the seed dispensers) at the main feeding station but a lot fewer coming to the secondary station about 30 feet away on the other side of a hedge.
Sadly, another factor is that there are fewer garden birds around and particularly the once ubiquitous house sparrow. Their numbers have declined steeply in recent years and it is their absence from gardens which is most noticeable because they are great invaders of bird tables and did account for a very high percentage of birds seen at feeding stations every day. Just looking at house sparrows, their big stout bills tell us immediately that they are seed eaters by choice but they are also happy to take advantage of a whole variety of food put out at bird tables during the harder times of Winter and actually eat considerable quantities of insects during the Summer months.
The reasons for the decline of this and other species selcom has a simple answer but the change to more intensive farming methods from a more pastoral system has caught up with many of them.
We live in an almost year round landscape of green fields these days, with Winter wheat and other crops replacing the old stubble fields of late Autumn and early Winter.
Those fields were a rich harvest for seed eaters such as house sparrows, not only helping them to survive the hard weather but also keeping them in good condition for the impending breeding season.
While your bird tables and feeding stations will substitute to some extent they can never re-create the mass feeding that stubble fields provided for all the seed eaters.
For the bird watcher of less than thirty years ago it was still one of the great joys of a Winter’s day to come across a stubble field with hundreds of sparrows and finches garnering the seeds that had fallen during harvesting. We have to accept that time moves on and too often the changes that we, the human population, bring about are pushing many of our wild neighbours closer and closer to extinction. That day hasn’t dawned yet for the house sparrow but just the fact that a species which was once so common is now in trouble should cause us all to stop and think
Ian Armstrong
KNOW YOUR PARISH COUNCILLOR - BRYN TAILFORD
I was born in Corbridge but have lived in Heddon for 62 years. I went to schools in Heddon and Bellingham. I did my National Service in the Royal Signals for two and a half years before opting for a career as an Electrical Engineer. I am now retired from full time employment.
I am involved in a varied selection of village events, i.e.,
I have served on Heddon on the Wall Parish Council for 19 years
Been a member of the Local Football Club for 46 years and
Chairman of Heddon Village Show for 17 years.
I have also served as a member of the Knott Hall Committee
I enjoy being a ‘Heddon Rambler’ and spending time on my Allotment at West Heddon
Heddon Badminton Club was good exercise until I retired due to a knee problem!
The role of a Parish Councillor is becoming more and more hectic with the increase in Planning Applications and the extra meetings these involve
Other Parish Council duties involve Heddon Common, the Memorial Park and Allotment meetings. The monthly Parish Council meeting quite regularly stretches into three hours.
My personal concerns for Heddon are – Tight Planning Regulations – Policing of the Village, Sports Facilities and Rights of Way.
A Happy New Year to all Heddon Gossip readers whether you read it on Heddon Website or as a newspaper
Again, opportunities for you to help your village either by putting your name forward to be considered for the position of Parish Councillor: to be a member of the Knott Hall Committee (which is in desparate need of help) or to help Heddon in Bloom around the village.
Please consider whether you could give a little time each week for the betterment of your village.
The Flower Festival is certainly something to look forward to and, again, would welcome volunteer helpers.
Ann Lockey, Editor