OPEN GARDENS AND CHURCH FLOWER FESTIVAL WEEKEND
SATURDAY 4th AND SUNDAY 5th JULY
The leaders of the Working Groups met in February and are well on with their
plans for this busy weekend. WE NOW NEED YOUR HELP as VOLUNTEERS
to offer just a few hours of your time over the Weekend. The more people we
have the shorter shifts we can give you! We need help - with serving
refreshments in the Village Hall; as Stewards to assist with parking and selling
tickets, high vis jackets supplied!; to welcome visitors into the Church; and to
supervise activities in Barnacre garden. PLEASE just e-mail or pick up the
phone NOW and offer an hour or two saying which day you would prefer and if you need a sitting
down job!
We would also love to hear from you if you have any ideas, suggestions or good contacts you feel
the Weekend could benefit from. Don’t be shy, this is a real community event (and the largest
we hold) and everyone has something to offer. When you are sorting out your borders this spring
please pot up any surplus plants and bring them along to Barnacre for the plant stall.
There will be another Open Meeting in the Village Hall on FRIDAY 12TH JUNE at 7pm for
everyone involved over the weekend. At this meeting the publicity, rotas and general information
will be available and we can together plan the immediate run up to the Weekend. See you there!
CHURCH FLOWER FESTIVAL
We are delighted that Marion Hinchley who is a National Demonstrator with the National
Association of Flower Arrangement Societies has agreed to help and support us with designing
the flower arrangements for the Festival which will illustrate ‘Stories from the Bible’. Marion is
going to lead a Workshop on Saturday 11th April between 10am and 2pm in the Village Hall to
share with us some of her inspirational ideas. If you would like to be included please let me know
as soon as possible.
We are also looking for donations and sponsorship to provide the flowers for the Festival in July.
Please let us know if you would like to help, perhaps sponsor an arrangement in memory of a family
member or make a donation.
Jill Elphick (y) and Linda Rudd (i)
TABLE TOP SALE
.
There will be a table top sale in the Colliery Recreational Hall on Saturday 9th May from 11am.
Tables (which are provided and can be set up from 9am) are £5. Entry £1, to include tea/coffee
and biscuit.
Please contact Bill Climson (x) to book a table.
Norah Dryden
PAGE 1
PARISH COUNCIL REPORT
.
Notes from the meeting held on 12th March.
The meeting started with an Open Forum where concerns were voiced
about the way vehicles were parked on the north side of the main road
through the Village. Nearly all of the vehicles are parked partially on
the pavement to ensure that vehicles passing through the Village are
impeded as little as possible by the parked cars. It was said, however,
that some cars park so far onto the pavement that it is either very difficult or impossible for
pedestrians to use the pavement. On occasions pedestrians have been forced to use the road to
go past a car. This is dangerous on such a busy road so the PC would ask that if parking on the
north side residents ensure there is enough room left for a pedestrian to pass the vehicle
easily while staying on the pavement.
It has to be pointed out that the PC is not suggesting you park on the pavement at all as it is
illegal to do so, but car owners who are prepared to take the risk of parking partially on the
pavement please consider the pedestrians who use it.
A history of the North East Grains dryer has been submitted to NCC who propose to hold it in
abeyance at the present. Our County Cllr, Alan Sambrook, was told that this was simply not
acceptable. The Clerk reported an incident when an elderly pedestrian on the road from
Longhirst to Longhirst Station (C125) was forced to push himself into the hedge because two
huge wagons could not pass each other without one of them mounting the pavement. This PC has
drawn this problem to the attention of NCC for several years now and nothing has been done to
alleviate the situation. The question was asked “Does someone have to be killed before NCC does
something?” Alan is to bring the matter to the attention of NCC again and he is trying to arrange
a meeting with NE Grains.
The Clerk attended a meeting in relation to an NCC Core Strategy document where the Planning
Dept. have to look 10 years ahead in relation to where housing development will take place.
Longhirst Parish is mostly surrounded by land designated as ‘green belt’. It was agreed that the
PC recommend to NCC that the green belt should ‘wash over’ the Village so that the Village
itself is designated as green belt.
The PC opposed a recommendation to NCC that PC’s should lose the ‘automatic trigger’ which
sees a planning application go to the Northern Area Planning Committee if a PC objects to it.
This opposition is shared by the vast majority of Parish and Town Councils in Northumberland
along with many outside bodies. All of these voices have been ignored and the relevant NCC
Committee have recommended to the full council that the recommendations be adopted.
The Football Field has again been rented by local farmer Mr David Jordon.
Several planning applications were considered and the PC did not object to any of them.
The planning application to build six houses at the western end of Micklewood Close has been
withdrawn.
Grant applications for £845 to partially fund the building of a bird hide in the Millennium Wood
and for £300 towards the cost of this year’s Open Gardens Weekend were authorised, as was a
donation of £40 for the Church raffle.
The next meeting of the PC is the AGM and will be held on Thursday 14th May at 7pm in the
Village Hall. All Parishioners are welcome to attend.
Bob Jackson
PAGE 2
LONGHIRST PARISH BROADBAND WORKING GROUP
.
The Working Group was delighted with the turnout for the Parish
photograph at the war memorial on 1st March and are most
grateful to the 70 or so residents and business representatives
who made the effort to come along. Our County Councillor, Alan
Sambrook, also joined us together with our MP, Ian Lavery, who
arrived just in time to take part in the photo which subsequently
appeared in The Journal.
Our Plan A is to ensure high speed broadband is installed in as much of the Parish as possible. We
know this will be difficult as we are served by 4 different exchanges and we are at the furthest
extremity of them all.
Plan B is to make a local WiFi broadband network available to homes and businesses and we are
working together with Widdrington Village, Hebron and Tritlington and West Chevington Parish
Councils to make this happen. We have already been awarded grants from NCC and UK coal and
further applications are underway.
Negotiations have been held with a number of potential suppliers and detailed discussions with a
selected company, Briskona, are now being held.
Further news will be circulated in an “E Parish Boadband News” shortly. For further information
The Parish Broadband Working Party
please contact Peter Coates (l).
VILLAGE HALL NEWS
.
The Board of Trustees intends to arrange for the spreading of a top
covering of sharp grey gravel over the whole of the front car park within
the next month or so. They have also put in hand the laying of a strong
plastic mesh on the rear car park which will provide a more stable
surface for cars while allowing the grass to grow through.
The disconcerting noise which attends the use of one of the lady’s toilets has now been repaired.
There are still a couple of vacancies on the Board of Trustees which need to be filled by
appointments from the Garden Association and the Badminton Club.
The Longhirst Parish Association Trustees
THE LONGHIRST HUNDRED CLUB
The winners of the last two ‘Hundred Club’ draws are:
Month
February
March
1st Prize (£60)
Ticket No. 218
June Lumsden
Ticket No. 004
Mike Elphick for Lauren
2nd Prize (£40)
Ticket No. 201
Glen Richardson
Ticket No. 153
Barbara Dales
3rd Prize (£20)
Ticket No. 112
Ian Thompson
Ticket No. 026
Margaret Jordon
The full list of prize winners for the year 2014/15 is now displayed in the Village Hall. Apart
from those Hundred Club members who have signed a standing order, you should all have received
a communication from me inviting you to join or re-join the Club. If by some oversight I have
missed you out, please draw my attention to this inexcusable omission!!
The Hundred Club is about to move into its thirteenth year and has just passed the significant
Mike Elphick
milestone of having raise £10K each for the Church and the Village Hall.
PAGE 3
Carol Robson invites you to a WILDLIFE WATCH DAY in aid of St. John’s Church
at
ROSE COTTAGE, ULGHAM LANE
on
SATURDAY 25th APRIL
10.00am – 12.00noon
2.00pm – 4.00pm
6.30pm – 9.30pm
Coffee/tea and scones
Tea/coffee and cake
Coffee/tea and snacks
£4 per session, includes refreshments
Raffle and Bottle Tombola
Come with your friends to enjoy a peaceful haven and watch the wildlife.
Tickets from
Carol Robson (0777 373 8442), Sibell Pigg (j) and Dorothy McMillan (s).
Parking is limited so please car share if possible.
FOUND
.
Somehow I have acquired a red spectacles case + spectacles similar to mine. Could the owner
please telephone Linda Mowbray on 791627 to claim them.
There are also two pairs of spectacles that have been left at the Village Hall. Please contact
Jill Elphick (y) if you think they might be yours.
WOODRUFF WOOD GUIDED TOUR – SATURDAY 23rd MAY at 2pm
.
Following on from our introduction in the last Longhirst Leader, we would
like to invite all residents of Longhirst to a special free of charge
behind the scenes guided tour of Woodruff Wood on Saturday 23rd May
at 2pm.
This will be an opportunity to look at the wildlife and biodiversity within the wood (when hopefully
the spring flowers should be at their best) whilst learning about the importance of woodland
habitat and how we hope to best manage it for present and future generations.
Please note: everyone is welcome but the ground is uneven and may be wet and muddy in places
(there are no hardstanding paths). Suitable footwear is essential! Also, there are no toilets on
site. As disturbance is kept to a minimum for the benefit of wildlife (which in May includes
ground nesting birds), unfortunately no dogs are allowed.
If you are interested in joining us, please arrive for a 2pm start (no need to book). The tour will
last for approximately two hours. We will meet under the old coal haul road bridge on Ulgham
Lane (just south of Ulgham Animal Sanctuary). For satnav users, the postcode of the nearest
dwellings is NE61 3NQ.
For further information, please contact us at [email protected] or tel. 07525 841361.
We hope to see you soon!
Julia Meldrum and Chris Tomlinson
PAGE 4
LONGHIRST GARDEN ASSOCIATION
.
Village Flower and Vegetable Show – Saturday 5th September
2015 sees the one hundredth anniversary of the first Flower Show to
be held in Longhirst. Longhirst Garden Association, who now organises the Show, intends to have
a special section dedicated to this anniversary as well as its usual full range of classes.
The Flower Show is separated into four basic sections:- Vegetables and Flowers; Cookery;
Photographs and Crafts. In the next three Longhirst Leaders I will give a flavour of each section
and hope that this will encourage those eligible to enter to do so. The number of people in the
Parish has increased greatly with the development of Micklewood Close and we hope to tempt
some of our newer residents to join us at the Show as entrants, spectators or both.
Those eligible to show are residents, their children or grandchildren, those who have a business
in the Parish or who work in the Parish.
The Vegetable and Flower sections form the main areas of the show. Under the Schedule heading
of ‘Vegetables’ there are 35 classes for vegetables, 1 for a herb/s and 3 for fruit.
Many of these plants require a vegetable patch but some can be grown using tubs or bags such as
potatoes, runner beans, parsnips, carrots, peppers (shown in the pot), tomatoes and herbs (shown
in the pot). It may surprise some when I talk of growing runner beans in a tub but I have a fairly
small vegetable patch and grow only five beans up a wigwam shaped set of 8 foot canes. The same
can be done in a wide tub. I fill a small trench about 18” x 18” (a tub equivalent) with alternate
layers of soil and well rotted compost. Sow the beans on their edge under each cane at least 6”
apart and 1” deep. Mulch and water well. Harvest the beans about 14 weeks after planting which
for our Show would mean planting in the latter half of May.
To show the six beans required they should be about 15” long and of a uniform length. You may
have to pick them over several days to get the same length. Keep the earlier ones in the fridge.
The beans should be free of dirt, rust and blemishes. Display with your beans evenly spaced and
the tail facing the judge. There are 5 classes in ‘Large Vegetables’, one being the Longest Bean.
Under the heading ‘Flowers’ there are 22 classes for cut flowers and 6 classes for plants in a pot
or tub. Again many of these can be and are grown in pots and tubs. I certainly grow my dahlias,
gladioli, carnations and asters in tubs because I simply don’t have room to do anything else.
There is a ‘Special Class’ every year where we, the Garden Association, hand out the plants to be
grown and ask that the finished product is brought along to the Show. This year we are offering
begonia corms as these are easy to grow in a pot. It is simply a matter of placing the corm
slightly under the surface of good organic matter and then watching these beautiful flowers
develop. Water and feed as the plant develops. Keep your plant after the Show for many years of
beautiful blooms. These corms are now available and can be obtained from Bob Jackson (p) at
Sydney Cottage, Longhirst Colliery. If you can't get down to collect your corm(s) then give
him a ring on 813851 and he will try and get the corm(s) to you.
We hope each entrant will be able to show 1 vegetable and 1 flower in our Anniversary Section.
Each should be a variety which was in existence about 100 years ago. Old varieties are readily
available with a little research. Two ‘old’ runner beans, for instance, are ‘Painted Lady’ and ‘Wisely
Magic’. To ensure the judge knows what variety he is looking at we ask that a small tag be placed
with the exhibit giving its name and, if known, the date of its first appearance.
To see a Show schedule please contact Gill Featonby (h) or for any advice contact Gill or Bob
Bob Jackson
Jackson (p).
PAGE 5
VILLAGE COFFEE MORNING
.
On the second Saturday of every month we hold a Fair Trade Coffee Morning in
the Village Hall between 10.15 and noon. Do come along and join us, we charge just
£1.50 for as much coffee/tea as you can drink and there are usually home baked
goodies as well. This is an ideal opportunity to catch up with all the Village gossip
and get to know other parishioners. See the Diary on page 7 for the April and May
dates – you might also like to help with Litter Picking on the same day, please
contact Chris Lediard (r) for information about this valuable voluntary
service.
Margaret Lediard
CHURCH NOTICE BOARD
.
As the spring/summer months approach we are reverting to our joint Holy
Communion Services back at St John’s Church. We have arranged to clean and
dress the Church on Saturday 4th April at 9.30am (help would be appreciated)
in preparation of our first service which will be our ‘Easter Celebrations’ on
Sunday 5th April at 9.30am. Following on from this our joint services will be
held in St. John’s Church on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month and 2nd and
4th Sundays at St. Andrews’ Church Bothal at the usual time of 9.30am.
FORTH COMING EVENTS
Saturday 25th April, Carol Robson’s ‘Wild Life Watch Day’ (see page4).
Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th July, Flower Festival and Open Gardens Weekend where the
winning tickets from our Grand Raffle will be drawn. For more information see page 1.
Many thanks to Steve and Lin Liddle and all who supported their very successful Musical Evening.
which raised £420 for our heating fund. Well done! We are delighted to be able to share with
you that we have agreement to put in hand the basic re-instatement of the heating system which
should be done over the summer months.
Dorothy McMillan
RECOMMENDED TRADESMEN
.
Neil Gilchrist Roofing Contractor –for all your roofing needs, 790591 or [email protected].
Neil lives in Longhirst and has done a number of repairs in the Parish, including the Church roof.
Jill and Mike Elphick
THE U3A CEILIDH
The Mid Northumberland U3A are planning to hold a Ceilidh at Longhirst
Village Hall on Friday 24th April, 7.30-10.30pm, to which Village residents
will be most welcome. The music on the night will be provided by the ‘Castle
Ceilidh Band’ which plays traditional Northumbrian music.
Tickets cost £17 including a Pie & Pea Supper (including vegetarian if requested) and can be
obtained from Judy Smith, 10 Hartford Court, Bedlington, NE22 6LP. Cheques made payable to
Mid Northumberland U3A (stating whether you need vegetarian), by 17th April if possible please.
Bring your own drinks. For further information contact Judy on [email protected]. or 01670
825283.
PAGE 6
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
APRIL
Wednesday 1st
Saturday 4th
Sunday 5th
Friday 10th
Saturday 11th
Sunday 12th
Wednesday 15th
Friday 17th
Tuesday 21st
Saturday 25th
11.45am Luncheon Club in the Village Hall
9.30am Clean and dress St. John’s Church for Easter
9.30am Easter Holy Communion service in St. John’s Church
Late black bin collection after Easter Bank Holiday
10am Litter Pickers meet at the Village Hall
10am Workshop to prepare for Flower Festival in the Village Hall
10.15am Fair Trade Coffee Morning in the Village Hall
Village Amble in Northumberland
11.45am Luncheon Club in the Village Hall
11am Home Communion at The Dairy
2pm Mother’s Union meets at St. Margaret’s Pegswood
Wildlife Day at Carol Robson’s. See page 4
(i)
(s) (d)
(b)
11.45am Luncheon Club in the Village Hall
Late black bin collection after Bank Holiday
Deadline for items for June/July Longhirst Leader
e-mail to [email protected]
11am Home Communion at the Dairy
10am – 3pm Selling Grand Raffle Tickets at Asda, Ashington
10am Litter Pickers meet at the Village Hall
10.15am Fair Trade Coffee Morning in the Village Hall
11am Table Top Sale in the Colliery Recreation Hall
7pm Parish Council AGM in the Village Hall
10am – 4pm Collecting for St. John’s Church at Morrisons, Morpeth
2pm Mother’s Union meets at St. Margaret’s Pegswood
11.45am Luncheon Club in the Village Hall
2pm Guided tour of Woodruff Wood. See page 4
Late blue bin collection after Bank Holiday
10.15am Combined service on 5th Sunday at St. Margaret’s Pegswood
(i)
(r)
(y)
(t)
(l)
(i)
(f)
(g)
MAY
Wednesday 6th
Friday 8th
Friday 8th
Friday 8th
Friday 8th
Saturday 9th
Saturday 9th
Thursday 14th
Friday 15th
Tuesday 19th
Wednesday 20th
Saturday 23rd
Friday 29th
Sunday 31st
Editorial
Group
(f)
(y)
(r)
(t)
(x)
(a)
(y)
(g)
(i)
(b)
REGULAR EVENTS
Everyone is welcome to………………
• Church services as detailed on page 6
• Junior Activities Club in the Village Hall 6.30 – 7.30 every Tuesday during term time
• Yoga 7.30 every Wednesday
• Mobile Library 10am in the Village/4pm in Colliery Friday 10th/24th April and 8th/22nd May
FUTURE EVENTS
Friday 12th June – 7pm, Open meeting in the Village Hall for everyone involved in Open Gardens
Weekend
th
th
Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 July – Open Gardens and Church Flower Festival
Saturday 5th September – Longhirst Village Flower and Vegetable Show
PAGE 7
CONTACT DETAILS
For more information about the various activities and events mentioned in this Newsletter contact:Parish Council Clerk - Ian Thompson 791851 / e-mail : [email protected] (a)
Vicar - Rev. John Park 510793 / e-mail: [email protected] (b)
Churchwarden - Dorothy McMillan 518375 / e-mail: [email protected] (s)
PCC Secretary – Bill Wake 790450 / e-mail: [email protected] (e)
Home Communion Contact – Linda Mowbray 791627 (f)
Mothers Union - Jean Richardson 504960 / e-mail : [email protected] (g)
Longhirst Parish Association - Gill Featonby 812447 / e-mail: [email protected] (h)
Village Hall Bookings - Mike Elphick 790764 / e-mail: [email protected] (c)
Luncheon Club – Linda Rudd 790116 / e-mail: [email protected] (i)
Bowls Club - Tom Pigg 790354 (j)
Badminton – Claire Coates 791088 / e-mail: [email protected] (k)
Junior Activities Club – Linda Mowbray 791627 (f)
Mike Elphick 790764 / e-mail: [email protected] (c)
Longhirst Amblers - Peter Coates 791088 / e-mail: [email protected] (l)
Garden Association - Bob Jackson 813851 / e-mail: [email protected] (p)
Longhirst Hundred Club - Mike Elphick 790764 / e-mail: [email protected] (c)
Open Gardens Weekend – Linda Rudd 790116 / e-mail: [email protected] (i)
- Jill Elphick 790764 / e-mail: [email protected] (y)
Parish Voluntary Litter Clearance – Chris Lediard 790268 / [email protected] (r)
Fair Trade Coffee Mornings – Margaret Lediard 790268 / [email protected] (t)
Longhirst Colliery Recreation Hall –Bill Climson 816075 / e-mail: [email protected] (x)
Village Website – www.longhirstvillage.co.uk - Alan Block 790282 / [email protected] (u)
Bjoern Backe / [email protected] (w)
Church Website
- www.longhirstchurch.btck.co.uk (b)
Longhirst Leader Editorial Group:
Jill Elphick - Howarth Cottage:790764, [email protected] (y)
Peter and Claire Coates - The Old Farmhouse, Broomhaugh: 791088, [email protected] (z)
Myra Jackson – Sydney Cottage, Longhirst Colliery: 813851, [email protected]
Carol Robson - Rose Cottage, Ulgham Lane: 07773738442 (o)
Rosemary Horsley: 30 Micklewood Close : [email protected]
This issue was sponsored by
Mandarin Bay Restaurant, Cramlington
www.kevinliu.co.uk
If you require a copy in large print please let us know.
PAGE 8