Humshaugh
Herbie Newell

ST Peter’s marked the 100th birthday of Rene Baillie with 100 chimes of the church bell - congratulations Rene!

HUMSHAUGH Children’s Playing Field Trust washed 30 cars last Saturday; thanks to all who helped and all who came along.

THE Crown Inn Leek Show winner for two leeks and most improved grower was Ian Birleson. Best single leek, Steve Scholes, biggest onion, Alex Chylak and best flowers, Sara Warren. Get well soon wishes to judge Bob Cram. For leek club information, contact graemesara@hotmail.com.

THE Humshaugh Parish Council meeting is tonight at 7pm in the village hall.

THE 2021 Humshaugh Harvest Show opens noon this Saturday. CASH ONLY.

THERE will be a picnic to celebrate the life of Jodi Walsham in The Orchard this Saturday at 3pm, with fundraising for the Vietnam cat sanctuary where Jodi worked. All are very welcome, please bring a picnic and camping chairs.

THE first village hall computer café is Tuesday, September 14, 10am-noon. 

NORTH Tyne Voices is reconvening on Tuesday, September 14 at 14.00 in the village hall.

THE Humshaugh WI meeting is Thursday, September 16 in the village hall at 7pm; the AGM will be followed by a talk about fingerprints. Ladies who have moved to the village during lockdown are particularly welcome.

THE next service at St Peter’s Church is Holy Communion at 10am this Sunday.

Matfen
Jean Conteh

THE Big Barn up at Rose’s Bower above Great Whittington, a great new, local venue, is hosting another event on Saturday, September 25 and it sounds as if it will be very special. Friends of Great Whittington is holding the first Unmasked Ball there from 7.30 pm. Once again, Paul Campbell is donating the barn free of charge and there will be live music from Barely Human, a delicious, two-course buffet and an open bar selling a great selection of beers, wines and spirits. There are also prizes to be won in a balloon raffle on the night. The dress code is smart casual and tickets are just £35 per person – there’s a booking form on https://gwfriends.org/unmaskedball.

NORTHUMBERLAND County Council is announcing the return of the the popular free tree giveaway. Residents, schools, community groups and town and parish councils can claim a free tree from the council to plant on their land and this year they are linking up with the Queen’s Green Canopy campaign to encourage everyone to plant a tree for the Jubilee. Claim your free tree today and help make Northumberland a cleaner and greener county for all: https://nland.uk/freetrees

Upper North Tyne
Sarah Halberg

THE Tarset & District Leek Show took place in the village hall on September 4 and despite this year’s heat and lack of rain making for a difficult growing season, there were plenty of flowers and vegetables to admire. Thanks must go to the ukulele band and to all the volunteers at the village hall for the efforts they put into making the day a success. John Davies, from Bellingham, won the cups for both the most points in the floral section and for the Best Floral Exhibit, although he faced keen competition from the other section winners (David Thirlwell, Robin Banks, Norma Blackith, Michael Dickinson, Sharon Walton, Caroline Waitt, Jill Swaile and Jenny Swaile). There were also some magnificent floral baskets, with Jenny Swaile winning the section. The industrial section also produced some very tasty-looking entries, with Sheila Brodie, Jenny Swaile and Jill Swaile being the main winners, while in the gents’ baking section, David Lucas took bragging rights, with Alan Swaile and Philip Spottiswood also producing some impressive cakes. The winner of the leek show was Raymond Reay, who also won Best Leek in Show, narrowly beating John Herron and Roy Bell, while Amanda Lucas was the worthy winner of the Best Ladies’ Leek. The main winners of the vegetable classes were Clive Hymers, Kelly Coulson, John Herron, Margaret Bird, Robin Banks and Jeff Mills. Additional thanks must go to the auctioneer (who managed to extract much-needed funds from a generous crowd) and to all who attended.

Chollerton
Hugh Denholm

ON Saturday, September 11, between 10.30-13.00, there will be a charity collection at Barrasford village hall in aid of the Great North Air Ambulance Service. Please bring any unwanted clothing, bedding, shoes, bags, blankets, towels etc. (no duvets, pillows or bric-a-brac please). Mobile phones and books are also welcome.

THERE will be a coffee morning at Barrasford village hall in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support on Saturday, September 25, starting at 1030 am.
Cakes, books, jigsaws, raffle and, of course, coffee!

Redesdale
Emma Anderson

GIRSONFIELD Stud and Racing will open its doors to the public this Sunday, September 12, between 11am and 4pm. Please call Susan Corbett on 07713 651215 to book a place. 

CORSENSIDE Parish Show takes place on Saturday, September 18, on the village green at West Woodburn, starting at 1pm. Entries for the fruit and vegetable and industrial classes are open to all. Programmes are available from Maureen Johnson, secretary, on (01434) 270238. 

A PRIZE bingo evening, in aid of St John’s, Otterburn, will be held at Otterburn Memorial Hall on Thursday, September 30, starting at 7.30pm. The £2 entry fee includes tea, coffee and biscuits. Margie Duffy and Liz Maughan will happily receive donated prizes. The prizes donated for the cancelled 2020 bingo have been kept safely; those who gave them need not repeat their generosity.

Bellingham
Birtley Nail

THIS week saw the start of a seven-week total closure of the road from Redesmouth into Bellingham to allow for repairs and refurbishment of the white bridge over the River Rede. The normal two-mile journey from Redesmouth into Bellingham has been  increased to almost 12 as the official detour will take traffic through Ridsdale and West Woodburn to the North Tyne capital. Work is due to finish on October 17, but another lengthy closure is planned for early January for painting. 

THE second Saturday in September means it’s leek show time again, when the town hall will be awash with some of the finest leeks in the land, not to mention onions, other vegetables and flowers. Doors open to the public at 2pm. Leekaholics may care to note that the Cheviot stages its own leek and onion show on Sunday.
Corsenside Parish Show will take place on Saturday, September 18  on the village green at West Woodburn - the fun starts at 1pm. Programmes are available from Maureen Johnson (01434) 270238. 

JUST a reminder for gourmets that the Carriages Tea Room is putting on special Northern fare this weekend to mark the open days event at the Heritage Centre.  Admission to the centre is free on both Saturday and Sunday. The usual family attractions are available plus special ‘Tea Time’ displays where foodies can top up their culinary knowledge with a special ‘wrinkles & remedies’ display and two books specially printed for the occasion. Bedlington terriers and their owners are in for an extra special welcome!