The Village of Wark

Archive for August, 2011

Those of you who regular travel along the road between Chipchase Castle and Nighfold Ridge might be wondering  what’s going on with roads closures.  The County Council has recently put up statutory notices about closure of the C215 saying that the road will be closed for three months starting in August to be able to lay power cables leading to more diversions for those of you living on the Birtley side of the valley.   Well, you might be pleased to know that I have now been informed that this work has been postponed until December 2011 at the very earliest, which will come as a bit of a relief I’m sure.  It will the bridge to be reopened at least.

Talking about the bridge, progress seems to be very slow, but I’ll admit to not being a bridge engineer and for all I know there is good reason for going at this pace.  I did notice that a ‘sheeted area’ has appeared in the work compound at the sawmill, very much like the one in the engineering works at Barrasford.  Perhaps we’ll see some more dramatic action in the not too distant future.

The jumble Sale at the Town Hall last Saturday drew people from wide and far with people turning up from as far away as Carlisle and Gateshead.  Although I can understand that you can find some useful stuff at jumble sales, I find it difficult to understand what draws people from that far afield. Perhaps we’re undercharging and giving people an opportunity to make a bit of profit by selling on the things that they’ve bought.  Whatever the reason, the event raised £359 for Town Hall funds which is not to be sniffed at.  There’s always a bit left over and this time is no different, so if you happen to know someone looking for a set of left handed golf clubs, encourage them to contact a Town Hall Committee member,  no reasonable offer will be refused.  All the clothes that are left will go into the clothing bank at the school, which raises a bit of money for them too.  Of course none of these events can happen without the help of a bunch of committed volunteers.  Thanks go to them all.

News has reached me that the Wark and District branch of the British Legion celebrates its 90^th anniversary this year, as does the legion nationally.  Our Legion will celebrate with a family barbeque at the sports club on Saturday 3 September between 1 and 6 p.m.  There will be no change to get in but you’ll be charged for the food.  The bar at the club will be open, there will be a raffle and a tombola and the organizers hope to get some entertainment too.  You’ll all be welcome to attend.

With hay and silage making being a bit late and harvest starting slightly early this year, farmers and contractors in the area were out in force last weekend.  Let’s hope that the weather holds and that they’ll be able to get on with it and complete the job for this year without too many mishaps.  After all with inputs like fertilizer and diesel being as expensive as they are, it’s really important that the harvest pays for those costs.

I hope you’ve all remembered that there will be a coffee morning in aid of the Wark MURC church, in the Westacres Community Room this Saturday,  6 August .  In addition to coffee, cakes and biscuits you’ll find a range of stalls.  Like with all these village get-togethers, you’ll  be made very welcome.  The coffee morning starts at 10 a.m.

Next weekend, Saturday 13 August, there will be a jumble sale in the Town Hall.  It’s not too late to give your attic or garage a bit of a clear out and most of us have at least some clothes we’re never going to wear again.  You can contact Judith Weir on (01434) 230250 to arrange to drop it off at the Hall.  The jumble sale itself starts at 1 p.m. and if previous years are anything to go by, there will be people queuing to get in.

I’ve been asked to let you know about a coffee morning in aid of the Wark MURC church, which will take place at the Westacres Community Room n Saturday 6 August .  In addition to coffee, cakes and biscuits you’ll find a range of stalls.  You’ll all be welcome to come in for a cuppa and a bit crack.  The coffee morning starts at 10 a.m.

On the following weekend, Saturday 13 August, Wark Town Hall will be holding its annual summer jumble sale.  This jumble sale has ended up being rather a draw for people from far and wide, so if you are looking for a new home for stuff that you no longer have space for, or don’t fit any longer, you can contact Judith Weir on (01434) 230250 to arrange to drop it off at the Hall.  The jumble sale itself starts at 1 p.m. and if previous years are anything to go by, there will be people queuing to get in.

The work on the bridge continues to be a source of wonder, if nothing else.  I’ve been amazed to see the amount of work done over recent days on the new ‘bridge heads’. Last week the sides of the bridge at the village end were taken off, leaving old sections stuck in the middle. I understand that these sides will be replaced like-for-like, so it will be interesting to see how good a copy they manage to produce.

It’s perhaps still a bit early to think about to autumn season, but I have now heard what Highlights events will be coming to the Hall between September and December.  We’re lucky enough to get two of the gigs, one with the New Budapest Café Orchestra and a second with the Hut People.  Both involve music but from very different traditions, as you might expect.  Whatever the tradition, you can be sure to have a good night, so keep and eye out for the dates later in the year.