The Village of Wark

Archive for November, 2008

Tom McConvile’s gig was a real treat. It is only thanks to the Highlights programme that musicians of this quality and reputation are accessible to rural locations like Wark and the Town Hall has benefited from some great evenings over the past few years. Performing with award winning fellow musicians, Claire Mann and Aaron Jones, Tom played a beautiful range of tunes and songs. We have very extensive repertoire of melodies and songs in Northumberland and thankfully it continues to grow, but it was very nice to hear music that isn’t performed here quite so regularly. All in all a very good night out and again, keep an eye open for other Highlights events in 2009.

I’ve been asked to give you advance warning of the traditional St Michael’s Christmas Bazaar which this year will take place on Saturday 6 December. There will be stalls with locally-made Christmas decorations, cakes, bric-a-brac, tombola and a raffle. Admission is just 50p and the whole thing starts at 2 p.m. And even if you have done all your Christmas shopping, got all the decorations sorted and the baking done, you could call in for a cuppa and some fabulous home made biscuits. Of course the Christmas Bazaar is in aid of St Michael’s Church.

And if you’re looking for some great entertainment after the Christmas Bazaar you have the Christmas Extravaganza to go to on the same day, Saturday 6th December. The Christmas Extravaganza, in aid of ‘Lifespan’, will give you a night of music, dancing and comedy for all the family. Tickets are £5 on the door and there will be a bar. It whole thing starts at 7.30 p.m.

This weekend Jimmy Nichol will celebrate his 99th birthday. Originally from Kirkwhelpington, Jimmy came to the Park End with his family as a teenager and worked there for many, many years. He and his late wife Ella, came to the village when he turned 65 but he continued to work part-time at Park End until he was 75! Happy Birthday, Jimmy!

Just to keep you busy we’ll have the Annual Christmas Bingo at the Town Hall on Tuesday evening. Prizes are still very welcome and for the bingo itself, just turn up at 7.30 on the night.

Finally a bit of advance warning for the Wark Christmas Extravaganza in the Town Hall on Saturday 6th December. This is another charity ‘do’, this time in aid of Lifespan, a Tynedale based charity which offers support, councelling and other services to improve the quality of life to people facing life threatening or terminal illnesses. The Christmas Extravaganza is a fair of fun and frolics with some serious bits too. Music dancing and comedy for all the family. Tickets are £5 on the door and there will be a bar.

About 60 people gathered at the war memorial on the Green just after midday last Sunday to commemorate British service men and women who died in the two world wars and all conflicts since. Even 90 years after the guns finally fell silent across northern France and southern Belgium, we continue to mark the occasion. It is touching to see on television the last few men who fought in the First World War but the turn out on Sunday shows, to my mind at least, that we’re still very much aware of the debt we owe to all those people who go out to fight when ordered so to do.

News has reached us that Francis de Vivenot of Middleburn had a nasty accident last week. He ended up in the General Hospital in Newcastle. We wish him a speedy recovery.

I am pleased to be able to report that my call a week or two back for someone to take on the publicity for the Town Hall was successful. Terry Osborne has agreed to take on the management of the Wark website and have a go at pulling other elements of the publicity together. This is excellent news and it should mean that over the next few weeks you should find a marked improvement to http://www.wark.org.uk/. Do check it out.

Finally, there are still a few tickets available for the concert by Tom McConville and friends. Tom McConville has been playing the fiddle for many years and his live performances include fast, rhythmic dance tunes, through beautiful slow airs and of course, great singing – all presented with a greatsense of humour and style. Joining him are Claire Mann and Aaron Jones. Tickets are available from Judith Weir on 014340 230250. If folk music isn’t your kettle of fish, you can of course also have a great night out at the Sports Club Charity Auction on the same night. No excuse of a quiet night in then!