Acomb

Julie Foster

THERE are an assortment of Christmas delights being planned this year in the village! Let’s see off 2020 with colour and sparkle even if we cannot get together. Acomb WI, Action4Acomb, Acomb First School, Little Oaks Nursery and the Methodist Chapel have come together to help bring some Christmas cheer. Adorn your house with a Christmas wreath and/or light up your windows. If you would like to add your creation to the Christmas trail map, then send your name and address to action4acomb@gmail.com or phone (01434) 609567. Trail maps will be available at the Post Office from December 1, donations welcome, proceeds towards lights for future Christmas events. You can help to decorate the Christmas tree at the Pant by placing your decoration throughout December. Look out for something magical randomly appearing on Main Street each day, starting at the Little Oaks Nursery on December 1 until Christmas Eve at the Methodist Chapel.

ACOMB Local is now live! This is our internet portal, a central hub for all things Acomb. It is still evolving but is intended to be a gateway for all community groups, businesses and village activities. Log onto acomblocal.co.uk and take a look.

AN ELECTRONIC (Zoom) meeting of Acomb parish council will be held at 7pm on Wednesday, December 2. Residents wishing to attend should contact the parish clerk at griggbill@gmail.com or (01434) 634397 for login details. Any questions from residents should be submitted to the parish clerk at least 48 hours before the meeting.

Humshaugh

Herbie Newell

WITH Christmas approaching, the village shop now has stocks of festive postage stamps for sale.

HUMSHUGH reached the other side of the world when a copy of Humshaugh, A History was requested by a lady from New Zealand who has links to our community. The book is still for sale in the Village Shop and at £5 will make an excellent stocking-filler. Many thanks again to Humshaugh Community Ventures Ltd and Humshaugh Publications, who supported production of the book.

IN addition to the wonderful knitted poppies displayed on our war memorial, beautifully decorated stones commemorating those who have suffered and fallen in conflict have been placed around the village. Many thanks to those responsible.

THIS week recorded another excellent 100 per cent attendance at our first school – well done everyone. Unfortunately, Covid restrictions will prevent the community attending live Christmas shows this year. However, performances of Lights, Camel, Action 2 and A Wriggly Nativity are planned, which will hopefully be available to families on DVD.

SADLY, the 2020 Humshaugh Harvest Show was a Covid casualty after two very successful years. As a reminder of times gone by, Brian Jewitt has found a catalogue from the 1925 Humshaugh Horticultural and Industrial Society Show, with entries in 135 categories for adults and 34 for children.

ST PETER’S remains open for private prayer, and all are welcome to Zoom services at 10am each Sunday – please contact rogerlangford37@outlook.com for the link.

Bellingham

Birtley Nail

WITH Northumberland County Council reporting five positive Covid-19 tests in John Riddle’s Bellingham ward last week, villagers remain aghast that tourists from down the Tyne continue to flock to the village. The Foundry Yard was again packed to the gunwales with cars at the weekend as people from many miles away opted to take their exercise at Hareshaw Linn.

WHILE putting up Christmas decorations in November is usually frowned upon, there are already some displays around the village in response to the parish council’s plea to brighten up this annus horribilis with a defiant show of Christmas colour. The Fountain Cafe display is particularly spectacular.

THE community speed gun is back in operation, and some 40 people were clocked at excess speed heading for the Catholic Corner, one travelling in excess of 50mph in the 30 limit.

ALTHOUGH we no longer have a full-time rector, St Cuthbert’s Church remains open in daylight hours and is currently the local drop-off point for donations to the West Northumberland Food Bank, which is under heavy pressure. Donations of non-perishable food and toiletries would be particularly welcome.

QUEUEING to get into the Co-op has become a fact of life over the past nine months or so and it is generally carried out in a very orderly fashion. However, the temporary cones and rope barrier to separate shoppers from cars which has been used since the early days of the pandemic seems to be coming to the end of the road. The parish council has requested that the cones are replaced with more substantial barriers.