The Village of Wark

Visitors to St Michael’s Church were treated to a whole series of settings of Martin Luther’s “Christ lag in Todesbanden” in the first half of the Spring Concert of the North Tyne and Redewater Choral Society last Saturday.  They ranged from an instrumental version by Pachelbel to a setting by the four soloists.  The first half of the concert was rounded off by Bach’s Cantata No. 4 for the whole choir, orchestra and soloists.  We’re well accustomed to having the choir come to Wark and they are always wonderful to listen to, but this concert was extra special because of the four young soloists.  All four study or have studied music at the University of York. Andrew Passmore, the organist on the evening also studies at York and you can see a bit of a pattern emerging.  The second half of the evening was filled with the performance of Haydn’s Missa Cellensis Mariazellermesse, again featuring the choir, soloists and orchestra, ably conducted by John Roper.  All in all an excellent evening.  I understand from the programme that the choir will be back in Wark just before Christmas.  If you fancy singing yourself, you’d be made very welcome at the choir practices in Bellingham starting again in September.  You can contact Cherry Money on (01434) 240061 for more details.

You’ll remember that this weekend sees the Big Book Sale at St Michael’s Church on Saturday, Sunday and Monday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.,  There will be lots of books on offer as well as refreshments and some home produce.  You’d be very welcome to come and have a browse. 

Next weekend, Saturday 8^th of May, is the VE Day Celebrations, with lots of activities on Saturday afternoon.  Members of the Local History Group have been gathering local people’s war-time stories which you’ll be able to see and read about in the Town Hall.  There will be a tug-of-war (have you got a team yet?), a Victory tea on the Green and children’s games and songs.  There’s a competition for the Best Dressed 40’s Family and a special VE Day dance in the Town Hall in the evening.  Tickets for the dance are just £3 if you buy them in advance, and £3.50 on the door.  Tickets are available from the Post Office or from Fransje on (01434) 230605. 

Something most peculiar is going on with the numbers draw of the Leek Club.  As many of you will be aware, the Leek Club runs a weekly numbers draw which helps raise funds for the club.  All members have their numbers and quite a few non-members have too.  Usually you wouldn’t expect to win, but very now and again your numbers will come up.  It may be hard to believe but Peter Samsom has been on a completely random winning streak for the past few weeks, having won four times in 6 weeks.  He’d now quite embarrassed about this run of luck but is contemplating whether he should perhaps use some of the same numbers for a Lotto ticket this week!

I had a chance to watch a large flock of sand martins getting re-acquainted with their nest site in the sandy bank along the river near Blindburn.  It was a very busy coming and going with at least two different areas being explored by the birds.  In previous years I have wondered whether the bank would eventually become to overgrown for it to be a suitable site, but this year there seem to be plenty of nice sandy cliffs to have their nest holes in.

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