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The Aln and Breamish Local History Society held its AGM on 8 June. Three new members were elected to the Committee - Mike Bridges, Richard Freeman and Richard Sharp. Existing President and Vice President Tony Henfrey and John Rutherford were re-elected as well as committee members John Burn, Doreen Carruthers, Michelle Macaulay, Neil Mackichan and George and Bridget Winstanley.
The next event organised by the Society combines a visit to Biddlestone Chapel and Callaly Castle grounds, guided by Tony Henfrey, with a social gathering at Callaly Castle. Meet at Biddlestone Chapel at 3.30 or at 5.30 at Callaly Castle - on 16 July. This is a members only event (although we will be happy to accept your membership on the day!) The Society will provide a glass of wine - please bring your own snacks etc. to share with other members. Please contact Bridget Winstanley on 01665 574353 for directions to Biddlestone, or for car sharing arrangements.
Subscriptions are now due. They are £12 for joint and £8 for single membership. For this you get at least six lectures a year and outings such as the one described above, as well as two issues per year of a newsletter. The latest one is now available from the Secretary, Bridget Winstanley.
The annual village meeting was held on Wednesday 25th March 2005. There were 15 people attending the meeting.
Mrs Collingwood-Cameron gave the annual report from the Council. We co-opted Mr George Dodds on to the Council during this year bringing up our full compliment to 10 Councillors.
Our community has been represented on many county-wide initiatives because members of the council give up their own time to serve on many other committees.
Robert Johnston and Stephanie Aston have volunteered to be contacts for NEDL during major power disruptions that may occur and will pass information on to the community.
Thanks were given to our County Council representative, Sue Bolam, for arranging and funding the movement of the 30 mph signs, new street lighting and a substantial donation to Hall refurbishment funds. Thanks were also expressed to John Rutherford, our District Council representative, for help in many areas during the year.
Glynis Armstrong was thanked for donating a bag of daffodil bulbs which Joe Easton and Pam Bridges planted around the stone seat. Thanks again to Joe for fixing the notice board. Again we were grateful for John Swanson for organising the Chrismas Tree which, this year, was kindly donated by Bob Young from Whittingham.The United Reformed Church again generously allowed the used of electricity for the lights. The whole village was praised for the effort put in to the clean sweep.
Mrs Collingwood-Cameron finished by thanking all those councillors, past and present for the support she has received over the 18 years she has been Chairman of the Council, she also thanked Linda Lazenby for the vital role she plays as Parish Clerk. It was pointed out that Norman and Susan will be remaining on the Council as part of the team, working for the community here in Glanton.
A vote of thanks was give to Susan and Norman on their retirement as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Parish Council.
Mr Easton reported that work was still going on to complete the kitchen and toilets, the electricity switching has been simplified with some rewiring, the disabled toilet and ramp are now in place and will be decorated. The hall committee wished to thank all who supported the events that raised funds to complete this work. Joe also thanked Sue Bolam for the funding she organised for the Hall. The next aim is the replacement and repair of the windows. Joe pointed out that the gardens at Glanton Pyke will be opened to the public on 12th June to raise funds for the Hall. (Afternote: Thank you to everyone who supported the event especially Mr. & Mrs. Swanson and Mrs Collingwood-Cameron. A staggering £1054.11 was raised.)
Mrs Cameron reported that she had written to Mr Peter Steel concerning his late mother's field regarding the possibility that it might be used as a play area. He was not able to give a positive response at this time because there are a number of considerations that must be taken in to account but he said he will take our request into consideration when the family are in a better position to make decisions about the estate.
The need for the village to have a Parish Plan was discussed again this year and again we looked for volunteers to take the process forward. We were please that David Girdwood and Mike Bridges volunteered to undertake work on our behalf.
Information had been received about celebrations planed all over the country to mark Trafalgar. As Glanton has a direct link in to the Collingwood family, through Susan Collingwood-Cameron, the meeting agreed it would be appropriate to mark the day in some way.
It was agreed to set up a village archive in the Memorial Hall. If you have anything you wish to contribute to the archive please let a member of the Parish Council know.
John Swanson (Chairman), Stephanie Aston (Vice-Chairman), David Girdwood (Vice-Chairman Elect), John Guiry, Norman Dunn, Susan Collingwood-Cameron, John Dodds, Robert Johnston, Joe Easton, Chris Livesy and Linda Lazenby (Parish Clerk). Our District Councillor is John Rutherford, 01665 574639, and our County Councillor is Sue Bolam, 01669 650360.
An evening of remembrance to commemorate the 60th anniversary of VE and VJ day is to take place in Alnwick on Wednesday July 6, and the district council is extending an invitation for residents to attend.
The commemoration will be marked by a parade through the town commencing at 6.20pm from Greenwell Road car park and will march along Bondgate Within, Narrowgate and enter Alnwick Castle through the Barbican where ex-service personnel will be waiting to join the parade.
Following the parade a commemorative service will be held in St Michael's Church in the town and this will commence at approximately 7 pm.
Alnwick District Council is inviting ex-service personnel wishing to join the parade to please contact Anne Harper on 01665 511201 or email:aharper@alnwick.gov.uk for further details. Also, anyone wishing to attend the Church Service, is also asked to contact Anne so that adequate seating arrangements can be made.
There has been lots of activity in our Church during the past month. We had a visit from members of Heaton United Reformed Church who came to have tea here after visiting Alnwick. Profit from this was sent to our Commitment for Life project in Bangladesh. Edward, our Minister, has attended a course at the National Agricultural Centre at Stoneleigh where he met with other Ministers from around the Country as they were helped to understand issues that affect people in rural areas. Together with members from St. Mary's and St. Bartholomew's Churches we held three gatherings and a picnic. Attendance at all meetings exceeded expectations and we all learned much about the how and why of our different forms of worship. We had Nancy's Night to Remember - the Stanley Forum Men's Gospel Choir was Excellent and the Church was packed. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the Concert and from the Collection and donations over £800 have been sent to the Air Ambulance Service.
Forthcoming events:
Sat 13th Aug - 82nd Glanton Village Show.
Thu 6th Oct 7.30 - Change of Date: NTC'S. Great Expectations By Charles Dickens, adapted by Stewart Hoswon
No, we're not introducing a colony of brown furry creatures to the River Aln, this is much more exciting! This is the start of 1st Whittingham Scout Group - a fun way for the children of the village to make new friends, enjoy life in the outdoors and be kind and helpful members of the community.
Beavers will meet in the Whittingham Memorial Hall on a Thursday between 5.30 and 6.30pm. The programme will include tracking, shelter building, international evenings, campfires, emergency nights, night hikes, crafts, and a community Christmas Party. There will be lots of badges to earn, and District and County events to join in with.
Boys AND girls can start Beavers 3 months before their 6th Birthday, and move onto Cubs at 8. Grown-ups can join from 18 to 118, and would be very welcome!!!
We are putting together a start-up fund to buy essential equipment for the Group. Any ideas for funding, or indeed donations, would be much appreciated!
Please give Ninette Edwards a call on 574733, Ninette@AlnsideAssociates.co.uk.
http://groups.msn.com/1stWhittinghamScoutGroup
Contributions for the next newsletter: If you have anything to include in the next newsletter please pass the information to Gail Johnson, Dale View, Playwell Road. 01665 578716. gail@admin-solutions.co.uk.