The Village of Wark

Archive for November, 2010

With it being the end of November it’s not surprising that there is a distinctly Christmassy feel to these notes this week: all topics this week go under the Christmas banner in one way or another.  We start with the Christmas Fayre which took place at the school last Thursday.  I understand that trade was ‘steady’ rather than overwhelming, but there was a very nice feeling to the whole affair.  There were lots of opportunities to taste and try things, some great gift ideas and even a cafe to have a sit down with a cuppa.  The event raised nearly £700 for the Friends of Wark First School and special thanks go to Libby, Carole and Sharon for organising the event.

Also in school news, the children will be having their school Christmas dinner on Monday 13 December 2010 and each child may invite one grandparent.  If a grandparent isn’t available, they can bring another relative and the most recent school newsletter includes a response slip.  The newsletter made me smile when it said that they ‘have members of the village available to act as a grandparent/relative if needed’.

You will remember from the notes last week that there was to be no Christmas Dinner for Senior Citizens this year as the present committee members had stood down.  I am now pleased to be able to report that this might not be the last word on it.  Anne James is working on getting together a new committee and if you’re interested in joining you can contact her on 01434 230246.  It may not be possible to have the dinner before Christmas, but to have one in January would be a result too, and might actually be something to brighten up that month.

This coming Tuesday, 30 November 2010, the Annual Christmas Bingo will be held in the Town Hall.  Bingo prizes are still very welcome.  The Bingo starts at 7.30 p.m.

And finally a word about the annual St Michael’s Christmas Bazaar, which this year takes place on Saturday 4 December in the Town Hall, starting at 2 p.m.  There will be an opportunity to buy your Christmas wreath, a chance to buy some fabulous cakes (although you’d have to be there early) or some useful Christmas gifts.   There will also be a tombola and a great raffle.  Of course there will be tea and biscuits .  Entry is just 50p and the proceeds go to support St Michael’s Church.

Just over 40 people gathered at our War Memorial at noon last Sunday to mark Remembrance Day.  The gathering never fails to move me: familiar words, usually a grey cold feel to the weather, and people of today remembering the names of men who fought in two world wars and many conflicts since.  With British soldiers still engaged in conflicts across the globe, carrying out the difficult jobs they’ve been asked to do, it is only right that we continue to support them and their families. 

You might have picked up that the Cenotaph in London was 90 years old this year and that made me wonder when our memorial was built.  I discovered (but I’m sure many of you knew that anyway) that our memorial was erected in 1921 which means it will be 90 years old next year.  It is described as a Latin sandstone cross with both the architect and the sponsor unknown.  It was listed in 2006.

On a completely unrelated matter, I have been notified that there will be no Christmas Dinner for Senior Citizens this year due to a shortage of helpers.  All members of the present committee have now retired.  However, if anyone wishes to take on this mantle and carry on with organising this event, please get in touch with one of the retired committee members.

You may have noticed that further work is going on at the Town Hall. Having finished refurbishing upstairs, the Committee have now decided to do the downstairs room, to the left of the front entrance.  The room and the adjoining kitchen are being damp-proofed and will replastered.  The hallway should also be redone.  Once those areas and the stairwell have been painted the only remaining refurbishment work is the other downstairs room on the right-hand side of the entrance.

With this past weekend being the first weekend in November, it was time for the Tyne Tour, the annual canoe jamboree which brings canoeists from all over the country to our area.  I always like seeing them come through the village, first with canoes strapped to the cars and later paddling down the river.  It looks good fun, although rather cold, and coming down the North Tyne by canoe must be a great way to see our autumn countryside.

There is no doubt that you will be aware that Remembrance Day is upon us and that people are wearing their poppies.  Remembrance Sunday is this weekend, on the 14^th of November and the Service this year will be held at St Mungo’s in Simonburn at 10.45 a.m. The Act of Remembrance and wreath laying at the War Memorial in Wark will be at 12 noon.  Everyone is of course very welcome to attend.

I’ve been told that we have had are very own invasions of waxwings in the village last weekend.  Waxwings are brilliant migrant birds which come down from northern Europe in search of food.  The RSPB website tells me these periodic invasions are called ‘irruptions’.  They principally after berries, so if you’ve got some trees or bushes that have lots of berries, it’s worth keeping an eye open for these beautiful birds.

And finally a note about the  Christmas Fayre that will be held at Wark School on Thursday 18 November  2010, between 3.30 and 8.30 p.m.  The list of stalls is truly epic and the best I can do is to give you a flavour of what to expect. They range from top quality foods, to wines, and from clothes and toys to jewellery and face painting. Of course the best thing you can do is to come and have a look for yourself and do some or even all of your Christmas shopping while you’re there.  You’ll even be able to have a sit down with a cuppa at the special Christmas café.

Having reported on the state of the Chestnut tree on the Green over the past few weeks I can now let you know that the Parish Council has taken some very prompt action and taken off the limb which needed the attention.  Last Saturday morning Hughie Milburn from Birtley removed it and when I came past on Saturday afternoon I had difficulty spotting which of the branches had gone.  In fact it was a fairly low branch more or less pointing towards Wark Farm, but all in all its removal doesn’t seem to have changed the shape of the tree too much.  I’ve been asked specifically to thank Hughie for the work, which he did free of charge. 

 Eleanor Mole has let me know about the recent dance in Simonburn, which was the 22^nd time it had been held.  The dance and the numbers draw raised a total of £152 for Tynedale Hospice at Home Care and the winner of the draw was Ida Stanners.  Over the 22 years this dance has raised the fantastic sum of £6,658 for a range of local charities.  Sadly the dance has been quite poorly attended in the past couple of years and Eleanor has asked me to let you know that this year has been the last one.  Of course we’re very grateful to all the people who have supported the dance over the years and special thanks go to Eleanor for organizing it.

With November just round the corner, you should be expecting a couple of Bingos coming your way.  The North Tyne Hunt is having its Bingo in Wark Town Hall on Tuesday 2^nd November starting at 7.30 p.m.  Then, at the end of the month, on Tuesday 30^th, there will be the annual Christmas Bingo.  More details to follow in due course.

And if you’re really quick you might still be able to get a ticket for the Northumbrian Evening with Ernie Coe and Friends in aid of the Hexham Rowing Club, also in the Town Hall.  The Northumbrian Night takes place on Friday 30^th October and tickets are £6 which includes supper.  You’ll need to bring your own bottle.  Tickets are available from Fiona Charlton on 01434 681272/