1. art and entertainment
2. theatre

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TOWN
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Pages 1
1-14
FORTY
YEARS
IN THE
SWIM
!
Planning the future
of Morpeth together
SAMARITANS MARK AN ANNIVERSARY MILESTONE
2 inside Morpeth
Chances to help shape the future of the
community in which you live and work
really ought not to be missed and there are
two on offer in Morpeth right now.
The team pulling together the Morpeth Neighbourhood
Plan (MNP) that is effectively a blueprint for the future
of the town and surrounding communities, their
amenities and services over the next decade, has issued
a consultation document seeking responses to months
and months of work behind its preparation.
8
25
16
MORPETH
inside
4
WORKING TOGETHER TO
PLAN MORPETH’S FUTURE
OVER THE NEXT DECADE
10
Your chance to comment
on proposals in Morpeth
Neighbourhood Plan
7
BREAKFAST IN MORPETH
THEN BE IN NEW YORK
JUST IN TIME FOR LUNCH
Basically what they are asking is have they got it right
before they publish the final document and seek public
approval of it. Everyone’s view counts and it is vitally
important for local people to share their opinions with
the MNP team.
Over the past three years another Morpeth Town
Team has also been working towards marketing and
promoting the town so that it retains its place as the
top place to visit and shop. Now it has drawn up a five
year funded strategy to continue that work that it wants
to share in a public meeting with local traders and
businesses as we report in this issue. Again all views
and comments are important to the partnership.
Two opportunities to help shape the Morpeth of the
future both of which ought to be grasped.
Ian Leech
Editor and Publisher of Inside Morpeth
ANNIVERSARY MILESTONE
FOR THE CRISIS MOMENT
VOLUNTEERING SERVICE
20
Forty years on Samaritans
are still there 24/7 listening
to their telephone callers
15
Find our how with news
about a new airline service
from Newcastle International
BUSINESS INVITATION TO
PROMOTE AND MARKET
BRAND MORPETH TOWN
YOUR VERY BEST GUIDE
TO WHAT’S ON, WHERE
AND WHEN IN MORPETH
Two pages packed full of
forthcoming events over
the next few busy weeks
24
Have you some bright ideas
to share to keep Morpeth as
county’s top market town?
THEY’VE BEEN TAKING
THE PLUNGE IN MORPETH
FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS
An Inside Morpeth special
report on town’s successful
Amateur Swimming Club
THIS ISSUES OUR CONTRIBUTORS
Morpeth Town Council
All the latest news in
the current edition of
Morpeth’s Town Cryer
FRONT COVER:
Sanderson Arcade
Manager Medi Parry
reports on all the
latest happenings
Patrick Eyres
Some top tips from
our bin21 owner and
resident wine expert
Chantry Chatter
More news from the
businesses in town’s
busy Creative Quarter
Morpeth’s champion swimmers Lauren Cummings, Alice Hudson, Daniel Dixon, Hannah Seymour and Erin Atchison.
Photograph by Trevor Walker
Editor: Ian Leech, Tel: 07968 102 547 Email: [email protected]
Advertising: John Matthews
Distribution: Katherine Brodie (TYD) 07540 804 069
Inside Morpeth is a community magazine published by Ian Leech Publicity Services. All rights reserved. Every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of material published in
Inside Morpeth. All information is accurate at time of going to press. The publisher does not endorse any advertising material published in INSIDE Morpeth. No parts of the
publication can be reproduced without the prior written permission of the publisher. INSIDE Morpeth c/o The Lodge, Carlisle Park, Morpeth NE61 1YD
inside Morpeth 3
Planning our future...together
An article drafted by Councillor Nic Best on behalf of the Morpeth
Neighbourhood Plan team of volunteers and local residents
In mid January, all residents in Morpeth,
Pegswood, Hebron, Hepscott and Mitford
will have received a 12-page summary
booklet about the draft Morpeth
Neighbourhood Plan (MNP). Additional
copies are available from the Town Hall if
you missed out.
The MNP is our plan for land use in our
area. It has been prepared by volunteers
and local residents, not planners, having
regard to the feedback expressed through
the Issues and Options consultation
carried out in Autumn 2013 - and the need
to be consistent with national planning
guidance and the strategic planning
framework. This consultation is your
opportunity to let us know if we have got
it right.
It contains both Planning Policies (PP)
which planners will use to determine
planning application once the Plan is
adopted, and Community Actions (CA)
which will not concern the planners but
will steer the Town and parish councils,
and other relevant organisations to
take the actions and make the decisions
needed to realise the vision of the Plan.
www.themorpethneighb ourhoodplan.org.uk
The draft Plan sets out to manage
and direct the growth of Morpeth so
that it keeps its distinctive character,
sense of community and vibrant town
centre rather than dwindle into a mere
commuter settlement. It sets out a specific
aim for Pegswood to become more selfreliant and sustainable, and it spells out
ways to ensure that the surrounding
villages keep their separate identities.
The big talking point is housing. The draft
MNP is working to 1700 extra houses in
the Plan area based on figures in earlier
drafts of the Northumberland Core
Strategy, though the current draft Core
Strategy proposes 2100 extra houses for
the MNP area.
ambitious but realistic, whilst allowing for
choice in the local housing market.
With no further major housing sites
required in the Plan period, proposed
settlement boundaries for Morpeth and
the outlying villages remain tight, whilst
for Pegswood, the boundary has been
extended to include land for a further
200 houses.
The Morp eth
Neigh bourh ood Plan
Our Community
Our Future
Our Plan
MORPETH | HEBRON | HEPSCOTT | MITFORD | PEGSWOOD
Consultation Draft Summary and Questionnaire
Your views are important in helping plan our future together, please
return the
questionnaire to us:
Online (preferred): www.themorpethneighbourhoodplan.org.uk
or post to: The Morpeth Neighbourhood Plan Team, Town Hall, Morpeth
NE61 1LZ
or drop off to a collection point including Morpeth Town Hall and
Parish Councils or see local press.
Please complete and send back to us by 25th February 2015
www.themorpet
hneighbourhood
www.themorpethneighb
plan.org.uk
ourhoodplan.org.uk
1
The boundaries really need to be looked
at in conjunction with the proposals
in the draft Core Strategy for the inner
boundary of the new Morpeth Green
Belt. The Core Strategy also proposes
‘safeguarded land’ status for several sites,
meaning that they should be retained
for possible development after the Plan
period (i.e. after 2031) if needed.
The draft MNP identifies a need for
employment land to provide more local
jobs alongside the extra housing. As well
as Coopies Lane and Pegswood Industrial
Estate, it designates the County Hall site to
remain allocated for employment.
As at the end of December 2014, planning
permission already exists for 1,136 in the
Plan area. Both the draft Core Strategy
and the draft MNP agree that further
housing in the Plan period (through to
2031) should be north of the river, on the
old St George’s Hospital site.
Opportunities for co-ordinated economic
development in the town centre are
identified, a primary shopping zone is
designated and the ongoing need for
one or more hotels in the Plan area is
highlighted.
The MNP plans positively for housing
growth and believes that making
provision for at least 1700 dwellings is
The draft Plan recognises the need for
a replacement Leisure Centre within
the Plan period and aspirations for an
Arts & Heritage Hub – and it sets out
planning criteria for such community
developments.
Existing Local Wildlife Sites are endorsed
and wildlife corridors are identified.
Landscape corridors are defined and
Local Green Spaces are designated.
Policies to safeguard heritage assets and
to require new development to recognise
local historic character are proposed.
Radical proposals in the Issues &
Options consultation for town centre
pedestrianisation or a one-way system
received support, but not sufficient to take
forward in the draft Plan.
Instead, there are more general planning
policies and community actions looking
to address town centre congestion,
increased scope for walking and cycling,
and improving public transport. Much of
this depends on the impact of the Morpeth
Northern Bypass. The draft Plan also
proposes to protect land to allow possible
future construction of the StobhillLoansdean Link Road and a four-way
junction onto the A1 at either Clifton or
Whalton.
Robust planning policies are included
addressing the risk of flooding from
burns and surface water, and developer
responsibilities in relation to flood risk
and also the capacity of the sewerage
system arising from new development.
There is little that a Neighbourhood Plan
can do to directly address education
issues, however the draft MNP does
include a Community Action addressing
the provision of school places, and also
planning policies setting out criteria
for the expansion of schools and the
siting and construction of new schools if
required.
Please do take a look at the draft Plan on
the website or ask at the Town Hall, and
do let us know what you think. There is
a survey in the summary booklet and
on-line on the website, but we are also
keen to receive more detailed or specific
comments. The better response we get
from this consultation, the better the final
Neighbourhood Plan will be.
See the website at www.themorpethneighbourhoodplan.org.uk
4 inside Morpeth
Café des Amis owner Wendy Smith(right) and her staff Deanna, Lynn, Clare and Gemma
Café collects Good Food award
Customers at
Newgate Street’s
Café des Amis have
known it for a long
time….but now owner
Wendy Smith has the
certificate to prove
that ‘Good Food’ is
served there!
Wendy was pleasantly
surprised recently when a
Good Food Award turned up
in the post completely out-ofthe-blue.
“We didn’t apply for it and
didn’t even know we were
being considered for the award
that goes to restaurants, pubs,
cafes and coffee shops,” said
Wendy. “We aren’t even sure
who nominated us or whether
we were visited by a ‘mystery
shopper’ examiner.
many now telephone ahead to
book their table in the garden.
“Either way we are delighted
because it is a real featherin-our-cap to be given such a
prestigious award recognising
the quality of food we serve as
well as the service and valuefor-money we give.”
“We pride ourselves on
everything we serve is
home-made and baked on
the premises and made from
scratch in full view of our
Wendy took over Café des
Amis four years ago and two
years later moved the business
further down Newgate Street to
its present location, completely
renovating and newly fitting
out the premises she took over.
Shortly afterwards she
innovatively converted the
unused outside space at the
back of the café to a covered
outdoor seating garden which
has proved a huge success with
customers. So much so that
F.H HARDY
THE MORPETH FLORIST
VALENTINE’S DAY & MOTHER’S DAY
ORDER EARLY FOR ALL OCCASIONS
Get in touch with us on 01670 512939
54 Newgate Street, Morpeth
customers,” said Wendy.
“We also like to think that we
offer everyone coming into
our café the sort of friendly,
informal service that has made
many of our customers our
friends now.”
Pop into our award-winning
café for a home-made treat
Snacks, light lunches, cakes, scones and soups all
made on the premises just for you to enjoy
52 Newgate Street, Morpeth NE61 1BE
Mobile: 07585 614 156
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Valen
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Feb h
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Mot
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inside Morpeth 5
Inspiration for your home
Beautiful flooring can transform a house into your home.
It can add warmth, style and texture to any room.
At Castle Carpets we are passionate about flooring and are
committed to providing exceptional service to each and every
one of our customers from our showroom in Morpeth.
For total peace of mind, we pride ourselves on aftercare, that’s
why all of our fitting is guaranteed for life.
At Castle Carpets we have a stunning studio showcasing
premier flooring brands, including Karndean flooring, offering
a huge range of designs and options to create a stunning look.
the home of flooring
Book your free measure, advice and quotation service or simply request an appointment now.
visit www.castlecarpets.co.uk or call 01670 517881
6 inside Morpeth
Image above shows
Karndean flooring
Stannington Park your
destination of choice
If you’re looking for peace and tranquility, but still want good access to
Newcastle and beyond, then Stannington Park in Northumberland needs to
be on your radar. Formerly the site and grounds of St Mary’s Hospital it is now
being sympathetically developed by Bellway into a new village community.
Set within 136 acres of the magnificent
Northumberland landscape and
surrounded by mature trees and green
open spaces Stannington Park has become
one of the most sought after locations in
the North East.
my new home and feel so lucky to be
living here. Though I work in the Team
Valley commuting is not a problem, with
Stannington Park being so close to the A1
and after a hard day in the office I really
appreciate the countryside setting.”
To ensure the complete village appeal
and providing a communal focal point
a new gastro pub, St Mary’s Inn opened
just before Christmas. St Mary’s Inn offers
residents and visitors a cosy location to
eat, drink and relax. In addition to St
Mary’s, Bellway also has plans for a new
community centre, cricket pitch and office
complex which are due to open as the
development matures.
Visitors to Stannington Park can view
Bellway’s Haydock Plus show home which
offers 2,649 sq ft of living space. The
ground floor comprises a large entrance
hall leading to a breakfasting kitchen,
lounge, separate dining room and a
cinema room. The first floor provides five
bedrooms, bedrooms 1 and 2 benefit from
ensuite facilities, the remaining bedrooms
are spacious and comfortable and
bedroom 5 could easily act as a separate
study if required.
Rob Armstrong, Sales Director at Bellway,
said: “Stannington Park is in a unique
setting and it is very rare to get the
opportunity to build in such a special
location. To protect the ambience of the
development we have been particularly
careful in designing the layout of the
development to create a warm and
friendly environment with a range of
house types that will match the needs
of a variety of family combinations in
considerable comfort.”
Resident Claire Burrow (pictured above),
said: “I have lived in Morpeth with my
parents for the last 15 years so I know
the area very well. I absolutely love
Buyers at Stannington Park are able to
select from a range of 4 and 5 bedroom
house styles that start in price from
£279,995 for a 4 bedroom 3 storey
Bedlington home measuring 1,771 sq ft,
the ground floor features a large kitchen
diner and a further room that could
be used as an office, snug or bedroom.
The first floor comprises bedroom 3,
a bathroom and large lounge with an
adjoining out door terrace. The second
floor comprises two bedrooms both with
ensuite facilities. The master bedroom
measures 18’ 2” x 11’ 8” and bedroom 2
measures 11’ x 10’ 9”.
Buyers can select from a range of
purchasing options, existing home owners
can take advantage of Bellway’s free of
charge Express Mover service, where
Bellway will agree with you a price for
your old home and sell it on your behalf
leaving you free to move into your brand
new home.
Alternatively, buyers can take advantage
of the Help to Buy scheme and benefit
from a five year 20% interest free
Government loan and so reduce their
mortgage payments during the first five
years of occupation.
Situated three miles from the attractive
village of Stannington on the A1 and
Stannington Park is only 13 miles from
Newcastle city centre and 5 miles from the
market town of Morpeth which provides
a range of education facilities including
the well regarded King Edward V1 senior
school and Chantry and Newminster
middle schools.
For more information, visit
www.bellway.co.uk or call the sales
centre Tel 01670 789572
Monday: 12noon - 8pm TuesdayWednesday: 11-5.30pm Thursday 11am
- 8pm Friday 11am - 5.30pm Saturday/
Sunday 11am-5.30pm
inside Morpeth 7
Just a short hop to the
Big Apple and beyond!
Have breakfast in Morpeth, then lunch in New York, with the
new United Airlines service from Newcastle International to
New York’s Newark Airport.
Flying five times weekly (daily except
Wednesday/Thursday) between Saturday,
23 May and Monday, 7 September 2015
westbound, it’s never been easier to
explore New York, the USA and beyond.
‘The City That Never Sleeps’ almost needs
no introduction. New York is a truly
unique destination with so much to see
and do, we can guarantee you will return
home wishing you went for just that
little bit longer!
If you are a first time visitor, we
recommend taking the ferry from Battery
Park and then climbing the Statue of
Liberty, go shopping on Fifth Avenue, take
a stroll in Central Park, enjoy lunch at one
of the city’s world famous delis, then take
in a Broadway show. Finally, you
could view the city from the top of the
Empire State Building. With so much
to offer you will probably want to go
back, again and again.
Of course, your journey does
not have to end once you land in
New York. United Airlines boast an
extensive connecting network
which means an easy transfer to
reach onward destinations
across America.
How about a trip to the theme parks of
sunny Florida or you could head to New
Orleans for all that jazz? Chicago and
amazing views of Lake Michigan are just
a short flight away. Or perhaps you fancy
your luck in the casinos of Las Vegas?
Do not forget San Diego, Los Angeles and
San Francisco on the California coast
8 inside Morpeth
for a beach holiday with a difference.
And then there is Seattle, home of
Starbucks and the world famous Pike
Place market. Alternatively, how about
a visit to Boston, Miami, Philadelphia,
Washington, Phoenix and Dallas? Travel
directly onwards to all of these great
American cities, or combine them with a
trip to The Big Apple with United Airlines
from Newcastle Airport.
If you are looking further afield, United’s
network gives you access to Canada,
Central and South America. It does not
matter whether you want to relax on the
Caribbean or Pacific beaches of Mexico, go
trekking in the rainforests of Costa Rica or
explore the natural beauty of Canada, you
can do it all with United Airlines.
When you do have to return to the UK,
you can take some comfort in the fact that
the return flight arrives in Newcastle at
7:30am. That means no lengthy wait for
a connecting flight to Newcastle, no long
drive back to the North East from a far
distant airport.
Don’t delay – flights are already filling
up fast so if you want a slice of the USA
this summer visit www.united.com and
book now. Remember, flights operate
westbound daily except Wednesday/
Thursday and eastbound daily except
Tuesday/Wednesday. If you want to treat
yourself, look out for United’s Premium
Economy and Business First products.
Premium Economy offers extra legroom
whilst Business First gives you a lie-flat
bed and Business Class service. See you
on board!
SM
© 2015 United Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved. Flights operate 23 May – 07 September 2015.
Includes destinations served by United Airlines, Inc. and United Express.
land
in more
places
friendly
This summer, connect to over
300 destinations across the Americas
with five weekly nonstop flights from
Newcastle to New York/Newark.
inside Morpeth 9
Samaritans mark an anniversary milestone
The charity which for more than half a century has been providing telephone support services
for callers experiencing a crisis moment in their lives, recently marked an anniversary milestone
in Northumberland writes Ian Leech.
It is 40 years ago since a Northumbria
branch of the Samaritans was set up in
an office in Ashington’s Central Hall and
during that time successive volunteers
running the service have quite literally
answered thousands of calls from people
of all ages seeking their support as they
try to cope with personal challenges
such as bereavements, unemployment,
financial hardships, health problems
or loneliness.
Quite often people who make a call to the
Samaritans are so desperate that they are
contemplating suicide.
As an organisation the Samaritans were
formed by London vicar Chad Varah in
1953 and took their first call for help in
the November of that year.
Forty volunteers man the Northumbria
telephones travelling from across the
county to their current base in Ashington
– from Wooler and Chatton in the north
to the Tyne Valley in the west – each
working at least 16 hours a month in
shifts that always include overnight duties
for everyone.
been manning the telephones for more
than 30 years, and recently at a special
milestone event three founder members
of the branch were present who can only
be identified as Jean, Ted and Isobel.
MP Ian Lavery and Morpeth Mayor Nic Best help
branch director Sue Towers and volunteer Sheena
cut a celebratory cake
Nationally a Samaritan answers a phone
call every 60 seconds. Former branch
director Alan Fowler says Northumbria
volunteers take around 4,000 calls a year
as well as in this modern day-and-age,
replying to around 1,000 emails. Locally –
like their colleagues all over the country –
what the Ashington volunteers give callers
is the time and space to confidentially
talk through and perhaps find a way
through, whatever personal difficulties
are besetting them in their own lives.
Many of the Ashington volunteers have
Wansbeck MP Ian Lavery was invited
to unveil a commemorative plaque at
the event which was also attended by
Councillor Nic Best, Mayor of Morpeth,
who is dedicating his mayoral year
fund-raising activities to the
Northumbria Samaritans.
“Samaritans do a fantastic job here in
Northumberland as they do across the
rest of the country and as a nation we owe
them an enormous debt of gratitude,”
said Mr Lavery.
The Samaritans are always on the look
out for new volunteers who will be
carefully trained before answering their
first calls. Anyone interested in becoming
a volunteer can contact the Samaritan’s
recruitment hotline on 077 474 864441
or email [email protected] and
an information pack will be posted out
to them.
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10 inside Morpeth
Morpeth Town Council
Town
Cryer!
Keeping you informed with the latest News from Morpeth Town Council
Pride in Morpeth
shines through
Morpeth is blessed with a whole
host of people and organisations
who love and work for the good
of the town, and as Mayor this
year, I’m getting a chance to
meet just some of them from the
Music Society, the Pantomime
Society, through the RAFA Club,
the RVS – to the Lions, the
Rotarians to the Wansbeck
Food Bank.
Who will you nominate and vote for
to get the annual Morpeth Community
Award for “an organisation which
has worked towards the benefit of
the community”?
When it comes to budget setting in a time
of austerity, there is a big temptation for
us as a Town Council, for our big brothers
up at County Hall and for Government
to rely on charities and volunteers to
run key services and functions. We are
resisting that in our budget process and
are trying to maintain the level of grants
and subsidies available to our local
organisations.
The images in the ‘Morpeth Matters’
photographic exhibition just before
Christmas shone with the love people
have for the town.
The Mayor’s
Charity Ball
The Mayor of Morpeth
Councillor Nic Best
invites you to:
MORPETH TOWN HALL
Saturday 21st March 2015
7.00pm - Midnight
Tickets: £30.00 per person
Drink on arrival
The Neighbourhood Plan – dry as it
might seem – is trying to identify and
protect what we love about Morpeth (and
the surrounding parishes) so that we are
able to ‘keep Morpeth special’ despite a
big increase in housing numbers and (we
hope) local employment opportunities.
Have a look at what it says, and let us
know what you think!
My Mayor’s Charity – the Samaritans
of Northumbria – celebrated their
40th anniversary in January. They are
doing tremendous work but need more
volunteers as well as funds. I have a few
more charity events coming up – look
out for: the Mayor’s Ceilidh on February
7th, the Civic Ball on March 21st and the
Mayor’s Charity Golf Day (at Morpeth
Golf Club) on May 8th.
3 course meal
Live Music - Performed by
Local Singer Tom Wyllie
Disco till late
Dress code:
Black Tie / Cocktail Dress or
Evening Gown
All proceeds to the Mayor’s
Chosen Charity:
Samaritans of Northumbria
Tickets available from:
Morpeth Town Hall, Market
Place, MorpethNE61 1LZ
Or call
01670 514314
Councillor Nic Best
Mayor of Morpeth
Morpeth Town Council, Morpeth Town Hall, Market Place, Morpeth NE61 1LZ
Call 01670 514314 email [email protected] or [email protected] or visit www.morpeth-tc.gov.uk
inside Morpeth 11
Lights’ switch-on
great success
Photos courtesy of Trevor Walker
Morpeth was full of
festive cheer on Saturday
November 22nd as
hundreds of people
packed into Morpeth
Town Centre for the
traditional switch-on of
the Christmas lights.
Mayor Nic Best switches on the lights with Victoria Smyth and Mayoress Joan Howard
The festive programme started earlier in
the day with the Mistletoe Fair in Morpeth
Town Hall providing a range of gifts and
crafts. Many enjoyed the free mulled
wine which was provided by Morpethnet,
whilst the children enjoyed the free
kiddies’ roundabout on the Market Place.
As darkness fell, many people gathered
on the Market Place to sing along to
traditional Christmas carols, accompanied
by Ellington Colliery Band and the
‘Five Tenors’.
At 5pm, the Mayor of Morpeth, joined by
Victoria Smyth, winner of the Mayor’s
Christmas card competition, switched on
the Christmas Lights.
Gillian Turner, Clerk to Morpeth Town
Council, said: “This event is getting bigger
and better each year. It was brilliant to
see and hear everyone, young and old,
singing and joining in with the festivities.”
Ellington Colliery Band lead the carol singing
12 inside Morpeth
Barratts wins appeal to build 396
homes next to Stobhill roundabout
By Councillor Alison Byard
Morpeth Town Council,
together with many residents,
were disappointed to hear last
December that the Secretary
of State agreed with the
recommendation of Planning
Inspector Pete Drew to grant
the appeal to Barratt Homes.
They now have planning
permission to build 396 homes
next to Stobhill roundabout,
which they plan to start
building this summer.
To summarise his decision, the Secretary
of State felt that the shortfall of houses
in Morpeth over the five years from
2011 was a crucial factor, along with
the provision of 119 affordable homes.
While he agreed that there would be
some damage to the green approach to
Morpeth, he felt that this was restricted to
a limited area only.
He also agreed with the County Council’s
assessment that there is no shortage of
school places in Morpeth and hence no
need for any financial contribution by
the developer towards education. He
considered there would be no increase
to flood risk if planning conditions were
in place.
Significantly, he did not agree that the
impact on traffic would be severe. This
is because the County Council’s traffic
consultant calculated a travel time from
Stobhill roundabout to the Telford Bridge
at peak AM time of 221 seconds, a time
which many residents would agree
does not accurately reflect our daily
Councillor Alison Byard at the Stobhill site where nearly 400 houses are to be built
experience! However, we are now left
to live with this and the threat of other
housing developments proposed along
the A192.
What can we do to prevent further
One or two people have suggested to me
that the appeal was a foregone conclusion,
the implication being that we wasted
our time in fighting it. I don’t agree. The
overwhelming public support we received
at the appeal shows the strength of
community spirit in Morpeth - something
developers will think twice about before
taking on! I can also assure you that your
Town Council will continue to fight for the
benefit of the people of Morpeth.
Neighbourhood Plan consultation,
unwelcome development in our town?
We can participate in the current Core
Strategy consultation, and the current
which may sound rather dry but they
include proposals for the green belt and
development in our area up to 2031,
which, once they take effect, makes
them our best protection against further
unwelcome development.
I urge all those who care about Morpeth
to ensure their views are heard by
participating in the consultations.
Easter Monday tradition...
…but what do oranges have to do with Easter?
Morpeth Town Council continues the aged tradition of
handing out Easter Oranges on Easter Monday April
6th in Carlisle Park next to the Play Area.
The tradition goes back to when the fruit was considered to be a real
luxury and was given as an Easter gift to the children as a treat. The
Mayor and helpers will be handing out Easter Oranges at 11:00am next
to the paddling pool in Carlisle Park.
inside Morpeth 13
Morpeth Town Council
Still time to nominate
2015 Civic Award winners
Do you know someone, a business or an organisation that
deserves recognition for their work in the community?
Nominations are now open for the Community Award of the annual Morpeth
Civic Awards which is sponsored by Heighley Gate Garden Centre.
The Morpeth Civic Awards recognises the achievements of individuals,
businesses and local groups who live, work or provide services to the town.
Nominations will be considered by the Civic Awards Panel, chaired by the
Mayor of Morpeth, with finalists being invited to attend the presentation event
which will take place at the Annual Assembly and Reception on Wednesday
May 6th in Morpeth Town Hall.
Nomination forms are available at www.morpeth-tc.gov.uk, from Morpeth
Town Hall Reception, calling 01670 514314 or by making a request through
email to [email protected]
Closing date for nominations is Friday March 13th 2015.
MORPETH TOWN COUNCILLORS
Morpeth North Ward:
DR NIC BEST
T. 01670 517915
M.07878 896 292
[email protected]
LES CASSIE
T. 01670 516424
M.07739 259 254
[email protected]
DAVID CLARK
T. 01670 503033
M.07971 451 906
[email protected]
RON FORSTER
T. 01670 517431 M.07840 871 882
[email protected]
BOB ROBERTSON
T. 01670 516399
M.07885 297 556
[email protected]
Morpeth Kirkhill Ward:
KEN BROWN
T. 01670 515760
M.07935 214 569
[email protected]
DAVID PARKER
T. 01670 516218
[email protected]
ADRIAN SLASSOR
T. 01670 517678
M.07795 592 224
[email protected]
ANDREW TEBBUTT
T. 01670 511631
M.07767 338 509
E. [email protected]
JOAN TEBBUTT
T. 01670 511631
[email protected]
Morpeth Stobhill Ward:
ALISON BYARD
T. 01670 515391
M.07963 306 549
[email protected]
MARK HORTON
T. 01670 513758
M.07803 078 438
[email protected]
STUART LISHMAN
M.07840 800 805
[email protected]
RACHEL MOORE
M. 07950 815 031
[email protected]
DAVE POPE
T. 01670 515806
M.07714 143 640
[email protected]
Home addresses are available from the Town Council Offices or website
14 inside Morpeth
Council Meeting Timetable
- See noticeboards and website.
Meeting Timetable for the period February
2015 – 31st March 2015. All meetings will
be held in the Council Chamber of the
Town Hall. Committee meetings commence
at 6:30 pm and Full Council at 7:00 pm,
unless otherwise stated on the posters or
website.
Full Council
25th March 2014
Planning and Transport Committee
18th February 2015
4th March 2015
18th March
Finance and General
Purposes Committee
11th February 2015
11th March 2015
Property and Asset
Management Committee
25th February 2015
Businesses invited
to crucial meeting
on Morpeth’s future
H A IR | B E AU T Y | H E A LT H
Local retailers and businesses are being
invited to a meeting to hear about their
Town Team’s 2015 plans for promoting
and marketing Morpeth as the premier
market town in Northumberland.
The meeting is being held
for approximately an hour
on Tuesday February 24th in
the Town Hall to encourage
traders and business owners
to attend immediately
following their day at their
shop or office.
At the meeting representatives
of core members of the Town
Team including Morpeth
Chamber of Trade, Morpeth
Town Council, Greater
Morpeth Development
Trust, Sanderson Arcade
and our own Inside Morpeth
magazine, will outline how
they have been working
together since being formed
in the wake of Morpeth’s
bid for funding through the
Government’s Mary Portas
high streets’ revival initiative.
Recently they have prepared
a document setting out a
five-year Town Team strategic
plan as well as agreeing to
contribute funds from their
own resources to provide an
on-going budget financing
their aims and proposals.
At the meeting businesses will
also be able to hear about the
possibility of introducing a
local loyalty reward card to
encourage people to shop in
the town and use Morpeth’s
amenities such as restaurants,
cafes and coffee shops.
“Three years ago Morpeth was
awarded £10,000 of Portas
funding and we have tried to
use that money wisely and
effectively for the good of the
town,” said David Lodge,
Chief Executive of Greater
Morpeth Development and
Town Team chairman.
O PE N ING T IME S
TU ESDAY 9 A M-5PM
WEDNESDAY 9 A M-5 PM
TH U R SDAY 9 A M-7PM
FR IDAY 9 A M-6 P M
SATU R DAY 9 A M-4PM
✁
MORPETH TOWN TEAM
“Now we are at the stage
where we have taken a major
step forward by agreeing
a funded five-year plan to
continue to develop that work
and it is important that we
present the details to the local
retail and business sectors
as well as inviting their own
views on what more needs
to be done to promote
Morpeth as a great place to
visit and shop.
“They are at the ‘coalface’ as
it were day in and day out,
and can provide the perfect
insight into how the town is
performing as a shopping
and business centre as well as
what more needs to be done
to maintain and increase the
footfall in Morpeth.
“Morpeth has so much to offer
not just to local residents but
to visitors and the meeting
will be a great opportunity
for more people to become
involved in the Town Team
partnership. The key players
making up the Town Team
are working together in a way
they have not done before, but
it is vital that we draw more
people, shop and business
owners into a partnership that
can do so much for the good of
Morpeth.”
Anyone is welcome to attend
the Town Team meeting on
February 24th that starts at
6pm. Refreshments will be
available from 5.30pm
20% OFF BECKY & JILL APPOINTMENTS
01670 516113
1A NEWGAT E ST REET, MORP ET H (ABOVE BARNAD O ’S)
YOUR FIRST CHOICE FOR A
MORPETH
SOLICITOR
DAVID AULD & Co
22A NEWGATE STREET, MORPETH
NORTHUMBERLAND, NE61 1BA
T. 01670 505844
www.david-auld.co.uk
inside Morpeth 15
Focus is on the best
quality eye care
Two years on from a move across town business at Morpeth’s longest
established optometrist is going from strength to strength.
Robert Green & Partners re-located from
Newgate Street into newly refurbished
premises prominently located at the end
of Bridge Street directly opposite the
Telford Bridge entrance into Morpeth.
Coupled with the move came increased
investment in state-of-the-art technology,
equipment and facilities along with
the recruitment of a number of new
members of staff, to continue to provide
patients with the best possible eye care
just as the practice has done since it was
first established in the town in 1933 by
optician David Rae.
The practice is staffed by optometrists
Kevin Gray along with associate Zosia
Brownsword, and a team of well trained
and motivated support staff led by
practice manager Kate Lloyd.
Together they have the range of skills,
expertise and experience to provide a
most comprehensive eye care service and
to dispense from an extensive range of
quality and fashionable frames as well as
fitting most types of contact lenses.
The practice has gained an outstanding
reputation locally with general
practitioners and ophthalmologists in
managing patients with eye problems
and recently Zosia Brownsword
successfully completed a diploma in
ocular therapeutics qualifying her as one
of a small number of such optometrists in
the country able to independently treat
a wide range of eye disorders thereby
offering an alternative source of advices
to GPs and eye casualty. The optometrists
are also able to offer advice on how
nutrition and lifestyle can influence the
health of an eye.
The well equipped practice enables
the optometrists to examine patients’
eyes in phenomenal detail facilitating
early diagnosis of problems such as
‘wet’ age-related macula degeneration,
chronic glaucoma, cataracts or potentially
16 inside Morpeth
Kevin Gray with (L to R) Nichola Kristiansen, Kate Lloyd, Kylie Temperley, Wendy Appleby and Zosia Brownsword
sight-threatening aspects of diabetic eye
disease. There is a rapid access referral
service, for example, for patients with
suspected ‘wet’ age-related macula
degeneration, into the retinal clinics
in hospital.
For those patients at risk of glaucoma the
practice can offer a tailor-made service
that exceeds the level of many hospital
eye department nurse-led clinics, and
the practice is now engaged in a hospitalled referral refinement service for
appropriate glaucoma suspects.
Consultations always begin with a
comprehensive eye examination that also
includes details about a patient’s family
history, their general health, occupation
and lifestyle.
But it is not just the clinical aspects of eye
care that Green & Partners excel in. Just
as in its clinical approach to its work, the
practice makes no compromises on the
quality of the products its stock. Green’s
has a wide range of frames available for
patients to choose from, including top
name designer and rimless brands such
as Lindberg and Silhouette..
The practice only uses genuine lenses,
not those branded for sale under licence,
thereby ensuring it stocks high quality,
market leading products to increase
customer satisfaction.
“As a practice we have
been looking after the
eyesight of our patients
in Morpeth for more
than 80 years,”
said Kevin Gray.
“Of course, huge strides forward have
been taken in the provision of eye care in
that time and our current team has kept
pace with those advances to ensure that
we continue to provide our patients with
the best possible service.”
TAKING CARE OF
MORPETH’S
EYES
SINCE 1933
Our experts use the
latest technology to
provide spectacles and
contact lens for you as
well as examining your
eyes for the early signs
of vision problems
or concerns.
Just like our attitude to your
clinical care we make no
compromises on quality when
it comes to the products we
stock with frames to suit all
budgets including top
designer brands.
Seeing is believing
Your eyesight is precious and priceless
so only the best personal eye care will do for you.
R GREEN & PARTNERS
OPTICIANS
To book your next eye appointment call us on 01670 513175
or visit www.greenopticians.co.uk for more information.
62 Bridge Street, Morpeth, NE61 1PQ
inside Morpeth 17
Lots to look forward
to in a new year
By Medi Parry – Sanderson Arcade Manager
It’s a brand New Year which means new
achievements, new opportunities, new
events, and a new charity that we’re
supporting this year - there is definitely an
exciting and busy 2015 ahead!
Last year saw the introduction of
free parking in Morpeth, the markets
developing and becoming stronger
and the best Christmas yet here at
the Arcade! And it doesn’t stop there
- the start of a New Year is a great
opportunity to analyse, plan, improve
and work on what’s coming up in
the next 12 months. It’s a good job
Santa bought us a pair of creative hats
for Christmas!
To mark the New Year with style, our
gallery display has been changed with
a “New Year, New You” campaign.
The display also includes the popular
Morpeth Markets which takes place
weekly on a Wednesday and monthly
on the first Saturday of every month.
In early December BID Services opened
their doors in Austin House here at
The Arcade providing assessment,
rehabilitation and support services
to adults with a visual impairment
in Northumberland - and just before
Christmas it was announced that the
fantastic Pudding Parlour will be
opening their new shop here in the
Piazza at the end of February. This ties
in nicely with the New Year, New You
campaign –and by the end of February
we will definitely be ready to try out
some fantastic American style desserts
– what a treat we have in store!
After reaching an amazing £10,000 for
The Sick Children’s Trust in Newcastle
last year, we are delighted to be
working with the Barnabas Safe and
Sound team on a new project in the
Community Centre at Stobhill.
We believe this is a great opportunity
to really “make a difference on our
doorstep.” Over the next 12 months
fundraising activities will take place to
create a multi-media and technology
area at the community centre. Exactly
what the staff here at the Arcade will
be up to is yet to be confirmed but
we’re already working on some fun and
whacky events to raise as much money
as possible!
It is of course Valentine’s Day on
Saturday the 14th of February. Barluga
will be offering a delicious candlelit
menu – so don’t forget to book early.
And if you’re looking for a bespoke
piece of jewellery to wow that special
person then visit The Jewellers Guild
for a really special gift with an added
personal touch!
To keep up to date with events and
offers at Sanderson Arcade visit
www.sandersonarcade.co.ukor follow
us on Twitter @sandersonarcade and
if you’re on Facebook please give
us a like.
DIARY DATES
February 7th
Morpeth Farmers’ Market
February 14th
Valentine’s Day
February 17th
Pancake Day
First for Music... in Morpeth! Wide range of musical instruments and accessories now in
stock, from guitars to trumpets, violins to clarinets!
If we don’t have what you are looking for we’ll do our best to order for you
SPECIAL OFFERS
Beginners Guitar packs (including case, pitch pipes and a spare set of strings) from £65
Basic Care Guitar package, includes a clean and polish to your guitar, lemon oil treated and
new strings fitted, only £5. (price of strings not included in quoted price.)
Visit us in Manchester Street, Morpeth
CALL US ON 01670 512721
18 inside Morpeth
follow us Twitter or like us on Facebook
@firstformusic1
/firstformusic
More in...
market
10 great reasons to shop at Morpeth Markets
Weekly Wednesday Market
& Monthly Farmers’ Market
2
1
Regular family events and
entertainment throughout the year.
3
6
5
4
Easy to get to – located in the heart
of the town it can’t be missed!
7
Plays host to the annual
Morpeth Food Festival in October.
8
An extensive range of local
fresh produce every week.
Lots of spaces to park in the
surrounding area – free disk parking!
Very competitive prices.
Great location – surrounded by
lots of things to do, including
the beautiful Carlisle Park.
Farmers’ Market every first
Saturday of the month.
9
10
Weekly market every
Wednesday.
A friendly warm atmosphere
with experienced traders
all from the surrounding area.
Morpeth
Town
Council
@moreinmorpeth
/moreinmorpeth
#morpethmarkets
www.moreinmorpeth.co.uk
inside Morpeth 19
More events Inside ...
Details of events can be emailed to [email protected]
FEBRUARY
MORPETH’S FARMERS’ MARKET
Local produce on sale from local
producers
Dates: Saturday 7 February
Saturday 7 March
Saturday 4 April
Time: 9am to 3pm
Venue: Morpeth Market Place
Contact: For stalls call 0790 005 2446
Place:
Cost:
St George’s URC Morpeth
Tickets by donation –
minimum £2.50
WORLD WAR I TALK
A community talk provided under the
Heritage Lottery Funded project of
Morpeth Antiquarian Society and KEVI by
Dave Barras (Western Front Association)
on ‘Life in the Trenches’.
COUNTRY DANCE CLUB
Date:
Friday 20 February
Time:7.30pm
Place: St James’ Hall, Wellway
Cost:
Free admission
Joint ceilidh with The Samaritans in
aid of Mayor’s charity. Take your own
refreshments. All dances called.
MORPETH GARDENING CLUB
Date:
Saturday 7 February
Time:7.30pm
Place: St George’s URC Morpeth
Cost:
£1.50 minimum donation
LUNCHTIME CONCERT
Annual concert by senior young
musicians from KEVI.
Date:
Time:
Place:
Cost:
Wednesday 11 February
12.30pm to 1.30pm
St George’s URC Morpeth
£3.00 at door
MORPETH MUSIC SOCIETY
Featuring the Busch Piano Trio playing
works by Brahms: Piano Trio No. 3 in C
minor Op. 101; Clara Schumann: Piano
Trio in G minor Op. 17; and Robert
Schumann: Piano Trio in D minor Op. 63
Date:
Thursday 12 February
Time:7.30pm
Place: Morpeth Methodist Church
Howard Road
Cost:
Adults £14;
children free with adult
Contact: For tickets – Chantry TIC,
Morpeth Methodist Church or
www.morpeth-musoc.org.uk
TEA TIME TALK
Jared Johnson talks on ‘1066 – And Then
What?’ Anglo-French relations during
the Angevin Plantagenet and Lancastrian
Dynasties
Date:
Thursday 19 February
Time:2.30pm
20 inside Morpeth
‘Getting it Together’ talk with Heather
Russell
Date:
Thursday 26 February
Time:7.30pm
Place: St James’ Centre Wellway
Cost:
£4 for friends and visitors
MORPETH ANTIQUARIAN
SOCIETY
Talk by Christopher Hudson on ‘The
Renwicks of Springhill’
Time: Mondays and Wednesdays
6.30pm; Fridays 6pm
Places: Mondays – All Saints School,
Morpeth; Wednesdays – Storey
Park, Morpeth; Fridays –
Pegswood Welfare Centre
Contact: Bethan on 07503 212 469
MARCH
MORPETH MUSIC SOCIETY
Classical concert with pianist Anna
Fedorova playing music by Scriabin:
Sinate-Fantasia No 2 Op.19; Rachmaninov;
Etudes-tableaux Op. 39 No. 2; Medtner:
Primavera Op. 39 No 3; Medtner: Danza
rustica Op. 38 No.5; Medtner: Fairy Tales
Op.20 Nos 1 & 2; Mussorgsky: Pictures at
an Exhibition
Date:
Thursday 5 March
Time:7.30pm
Place: Morpeth Methodist Church
Howard Terrace
Cost: Adults £14; children free
with adult
Contact: Tickets from Chantry TIC and
Morpeth Methodist Church or
www.morpeth-musoc.org.uk
Date:
Friday 27 February
Place: St James’ Hall, Wellway
Time:7.15pm
Cost:
Members £1; visitors £2
NORTHUMBERLAND
THEATRE COMPANY
Present ‘4 Thoughts: Myth, Music,
Mayhem & Mirth’. Four short, very
different plays showcasing the best of
Northern theatre writing talent
Date:
Saturday 28 February
Time:7.30pm
Place: Morpeth Town Hall
Cost:£8
Contact: For tickets – GMDT (503866),
Chantry TIC (623455) or at the door
MORPETH COMMUNITY
CINEMA
Screens ‘Captain Phillips’, the true story of
the 2009 hi-jacking of the US-flagged MS
Maersk Alabama, the first American ship
to be hi-jacked in 200 years. Stars Tom
Hanks
New fitness class created in LA fusing
music with movement using Ripstix
(weighted drum sticks) alternating every
six weeks with Zumba fitness
Date: Time: Place: Cost: Contact:
Friday 6 March
7pm
Morpeth Town Hall
6pm
For tickets GMDT (503866);
Chantry TIC (623455)
Dates:
Morpeth Town Hall (514314)
POUND ROCKOUT WORKOUT
Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays
COUNTRY DANCE CLUB
MAYOR’S CHARITY BALL
All welcome. Take your own
refreshments. All dances ‘called’.
Three course meal and live music with
Date:
Saturday 7 March
Time:7.30pm
Place: St George’s URC Morpeth
Cost: £1.50 minimum donation
Samaritans.
INTERNATIONAL
WOMEN’S DAY
Join Civic dignitaries for a church service
followed by wreath laying at the grave of
Emily Wilding Davison.
Date:
Monday 9 March
Time: 12 Noon
Place: St Mary’s Church Morpeth
Cost:Free
proceeds to Mayor’s Charity in aid of The
Date:
Saturday 21 March
Time:
7pm – Midnight
Place:
Morpeth Town Hall
Cost:
Tickets £30 per person
Contact: Morpeth Town Council
for tickets (514314)
ST GEORGE’S PLAYERS
Presents ‘A Murder Booked’ – a three act
thriller by Eileen Clark. Successful crime
A return visit of the Virtuoso Jazz Trio
– George Macdonald (Clarinet), James
Birkett (Guitar) and Tony Abell (Double
Bass)
Date:
Time:
Place:
Cost:
Wednesday 11 March
12.30pm – 1.30pm
St George’s URC Morpeth
Tickets £3 at the door
NORTHUMBRIAN CONCERT
Fund raising event in aid of 2015 Morpeth
Gathering with Alistair Anderson, Stewart
Hardy, Border Directors, Anita James
& Ernie Gordon, Mary & Peter Hollins,
Raymond Reed and Alex Swailes.
Date:
Friday 13 March
Time:7.30pm
Place: Morpeth Town Hall ballroom
Cost:
Adult £10, OAPs £9, child £8
Contact: For Tickets Chantry TIC 623455
murder, blackmail and dastardly deeds.
But when these things enter into his
wife, his friends and neighbours or even
Stephen himself?
Dates:
Thursday to Saturday 26 to
28 March
Time:7.30pm
Place:
St George’s URC Morpeth
Cost:
Tickets £6 and £5 (concessions)
Contact: Tickets on sale from 17 February
at Chantry TIC (623455)
EASTER ORANGES’ TRADITION
The Mayor hands out oranges to children
on Easter Monday morning
Date:
Monday 6 April
Time:10.30am
Place: Morpeth’s Carlisle Park
Cost:Free
MORPETH NORTHUMBRIAN
GATHERING
Neil Huntley (Hartside Nursery) on ‘The
Dates:
World of Alpines’.
Full programme details in next Inside
Morpeth edition
Date:
Thursday 26 March
Friday 10 to Sunday 12 April
Time:7.30pm
Place:
St James’ Centre Wellway
Cost:
Friends and Visitors £4
MORPETH ANTIQUARIAN
SOCIETY
Coals’
In the church hall followed by tea and
cream scones
Date:
Friday 27 March
Time:7.15pm
Place:
St James’ Centre Wellway
Cost:
£1 for members; £2 for visitors
LONGHIRST EASTER BAZAAR
Table top sale, cakes, crafts, gifts,
preserves, local artists, jewellery and
The Navy’s role in the war is examined
by Tony Barrow as part of the Morpeth
Antiquarian Society and KEVI project.
home-made refreshments
Date:
Friday 20 March
Time:7.30pm
Place: St James’ Centre Wellway
Cost:
Free admission
Date:
Friday 3 April
Time:7pm
Venue: New Life Christian Centre
Cost:£6
Tickets: From GMDT (503866), Chantry
TIC (623455) and at the door
MORPETH GARDENING CLUB
TEA TIME TALK
WORLD WAR I TALK
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
chronicles the remarkable life journey of
Nelson Mandela from rural childhood to
his election as President of South Africa.
Stars Idris Elba and Naomi Harris
Three days of music, drama, exhibitions
and talks celebrating Northumbria’s
heritage.
Mr W L Walton talks about ‘Winning the
Date:
Thursday 19 March
Time:2.30pm
Place: St George’s URC
Cost:
Donations – minimum £2.50
MORPETH COMMUNITY
CENTRE
writer Stephen Graham writes about
real life who is to blame? Might it be his
LUNCHTIME CONCERT
APRIL
Date:
Saturday 28 March
Time:
10am – 2pm
Place:
Longhirst Village Hall
Cost:
Free entry
Contact: To book a table contact
Jill Elphick (01670 790764)
BIG BAND SOUNDS
KEVI Community Jazz Band combines
with Tyne Valley Community Youth and
Senior Jazz Bands for what promises to
be an entertaining concert. The Morpeth
band started 19 years ago as a school
band before eight years ago taking in
community members playing music
ranging from Glen Miller’s Big Band
sound to contemporary chart songs and
classics, R & B, Funk and Soul. Over the
years the band has played fund raising
concerts for the flood appeal, Morpeth
Lions and the Wansbeck Valley Food
Bank. Every two years the band tours
Europe and last November was also
the opening act at a major concert in
Gateshead’s Sage venue.
Date:
Friday 17 April
Place: KEVI Lower School Hall
Cost:
Tickets £5 each (Under 12s free)
with refreshments from the VIP
Brewery Alnwick
Contact: Tickets from KEVI reception, any
band members or at the door.
inside Morpeth 21
Get fit with Fitness-tech!
A new year usually sees lots of resolutions to improve health and fitness as we
try to shake off the extra Christmas pounds after all those festive indulgences.
Fitness bands have been in the news a lot
recently and O2 has the best of wearable
tech products on offer. These electronic
wristbands can track your normal
everyday activity such as the number of
steps you take, the time you have taken
to exercise and calories burned etc.
It’s hard to keep up the motivation
to exercise and so there are lots of
innovative apps to help you track your
levels of activity and to keep you up to
date with your fitness goals.
Samsung, Sony, Moto and Pebble
wearable devices team up with an app on
your smartphone to track every aspect of
your life from monitoring your sleep cycle
to working out how much time you spend
sitting and travelling.
It’s easy to sync your device to your phone
and once you are paired, it’s very simple
to get clear sense of your overall habits
and health and if you are trying to lose
weight, it can even track your calories
burned. You can use the apps to make
exercise feel more like a game by setting
goals for you to achieve.
It can notify you of an incoming call or
message and you can even use it to control
your music. So, when you are pounding
the pavement or working up a sweat in
the gym, you can be in command of your
tunes without your phone ever having to
leave your pocket.
The O2 Guru can help you to master any
smart tech. If you want to understand
a bit more or would like help setting up
your device, talk to an O2 Guru.
At the O2 store in Sanderson Arcade,
Morpeth, you’ll find your very own O2
Guru, Alan Featherstone. Alan is on hand
to offer expert advice, inspiration and
education to everyone. He can help you to
get to grips with phones, tablets, laptops
and wearable devices.
Booking an appointment with Alan
is easy. You can either book online at
www.o2.co.uk/guru and pick a time to
suit you or pop in the shop to book your
appointment and meet the team.
You’ll find the shop in the Sanderson
Arcade, Morpeth. They’re open Monday to
Saturday 9am to 5.30pm and Sunday from
10am to 4pm.
Cinema secures equipment grant
Morpeth Community
Cinema is launching
its 2015 season on a
high with the news
that it has been
awarded a £5,000
grant to purchase
its own screen
equipment.
The monthly Friday night
cinema that is now in its
fourth year since being
launched by Greater Morpeth
Development Trust as a brand
new amenity in the town, has
been awarded the grant by the
British Film Institute (BFM) to
purchase a projector, a large
screen, Blu-Ray player and a
sound system.
22 inside Morpeth
That – says GMDT Arts &
Culture Director Frank
Rescigno who leads the
cinema project – will not only
allow them to show more
films as well as looking at
staging screenings in other
smaller community venues
close to Morpeth, but could
open up the opportunity
for volunteers, especially
younger people, to learn new
skills through operating and
setting up the equipment that
could perhaps enhance their
employment prospects.
Frank paid tribute to the
Doorstep Cinema project
that has provided equipment
and invaluable help to the
Morpeth venture since it
was launched.
Regular screenings take place
on the first Friday evening of
the month in Morpeth Town
Hall although the February
screening will take place
in the St James Community
Centre while it is closed to
work to be carried out. The
April film will also probably
have to be screened in the
New Life Christian Centre.
“We have an exciting
programme lined up for
2015 starting with the highly
acclaimed BAFTA nominated
film The Grand Budapest
Hotel,” said Frank. The March
film will be Captain Phillips,
while the April offer will be
Mandela – the Long Walk
to Freedom story of Nelson
Mandela’s captivity and
eventual freedom.
“The cinema continues to
go from strength to strength
and has become a popular
amenity in the town,” added
Frank. “We have built up our
steady following of cinemagoers who appreciate being
able to see major releases
without having to travel to
Tyneside to one of the big
multiplex cinemas.
“However, we still rely heavily
on volunteers to help us
run the cinema and anyone
is welcome to join us in
providing Morpeth with what
has become a truly valued
amenity.” Anyone interested
in volunteering with GMDT
can contact the Trust on
(01670) 503866.
inside Morpeth 23
In the swim – youngsters from the Morpeth club
Pool of talent!
Morpeth boasts a number of successful sporting clubs covering rugby, cricket, football,
running, golf and swimming. In this edition of Inside Morpeth Derek Thompson writes
exclusively about the 46 year history of the town’s Amateur Swimming Club which continues to
develop swimmers capable of competing at local, regional and national championship levels.
It all began in 1969 when Morpeth
Amateur Swimming Club ( MASC) as we
know it today, was formed by a group
of enthusiasts who initially encouraged
Morpeth Town Council to build the
Riverside pool.
A six-lane pool was recommended but
for costs reasons that was reduced to four
lanes with a one-metre springboard.
However, the swimming club was not the
first in the town to cater for swimming.
In the 1920s swimmers swam in the
River Wansbeck at Mitford Road just
opposite the entrance to the rugby club.
There was a wooden hut for changing
that was donated by land owner Sir
George Renwick.
The object of the new club was to
promote, provide and develop swimming
and water polo for local boys and
girls and by May 1969 no fewer than
421 juniors and 212 adults had been
encouraged to become members. Over 16
24 inside Morpeth
year olds paid an annual 10 shillings (50p)
fee and youngsters five shillings (25p).
Not surprisingly fund raising events were
critically important for the club.
For three years from 1981 swimming
meetings were organised and sponsored
by local companies including William
Leech the builders, Presto supermarket
and David Price Frozen Foods. The club
would hire Blyth Swimming Pool for the
day and invite along top international
swimmers including Sharron Davies, to
take part.
Initially, the Morpeth swim squad
competed in all Northumberland and
Durham and North East Counties events
with a great deal of success in the
Tyneside Junior League as well as interclub galas with Portobello, Blyth, Blaydon
and Gosforth.
Today the club continues to have a
talented pool of youngsters competing at
galas against the best regional competitors
enabling Morpeth swimmers to achieve
personal best times and medals, as well
as gaining Northumberland and Durham
and North East Regional times. A number
have competed at events at Sunderland
Aquatic Centre and Sheffield’s Ponds Ford
in regional galas.
2014 ended on a high note with longstanding club records being broken at
the annual swimming gala in November,
while the new year has also started well
for the Morpeth club.
Hannah Seymour aged 13 broke two
records while 14 year old Lauren Howe
took the other – both great achievements
as all three had stood for a number of
years. Both swimmers are from KEVI and
have competed at regional level for the
Morpeth club.
The weekend after the gala the club’s
annual awards’ evening was held at
Morpeth Rugby Club when club captains
Jane Booth and John Kelly presented
Club stalwarts Derek Thompson and Peter Rushworth with some of the club’s young swimmer
successful swimmers with their trophies
and medals.
Swimmers of the year were AA/BB
squad Erin Atchison; A Squad Daniel
Dixon; B Squad James Wells and Lauren
Cummings; Development Alice Hudson
and Overall Hannah Seymour.
This year the club has already attended
galas organised by Derwentside
Swimming Club and Newcastle Swim
team, with more than 300 young
swimmers attending each day. The
next event for the club will be the
Northumberland & Durham Gala at
Sunderland when more young swimmers
will compete against the region’s best.
2015 should be a busy year for MASC
because as well as competitive swimming
the club has chosen to run a number
of fund-raising events for the Teenage
Cancer Trust charity which has particular
relevance as one of Morpeth’s young
swimmers is undergoing continuous
hospital treatment and he and his
family have been well supported by the
charity during a difficult time for them.
Everyone at the club will be involved in
events hoping to raise as much money
as possible.
In 2001 MASC took the decision to
appoint professional head coach Paul
Hogg and his assistant Craig Nicholson
to develop Morpeth to become a more
highly-motivated competitive club. Since
then local swimmers have qualified
every year for county and regional
championships; eight have gone on to
swim at the ASA Group or Youth National
Championships; two have swum in the
British Championships, and two have
been selected for the England Has
Talent programme.
One Morpeth swimmer has represented
England in the home international
schools’ competition while another has
been selected to represent Great Britain in
the Open Water World Club events.
Last year John Nicholson, a teacher at
Chantry Middle School, was appointed
as head coach. In his early days of
swimming for Darlington John was
a county champion, and somewhat
ironically has followed in the footsteps of
his son Craig as a Morpeth Club coach.
The main changes to running the
club over the years have been the
diversity of other sporting activities
attracting potential swimmers into their
organisations although MASC still has a
healthy membership of just under 150.
Over the years the club has achieved what
it set out to do thanks to all the coaches,
helpers, committee members and parents
who during several closures of the
Riverside pool for various reasons have
worked tirelessly to ensure it continued to
function at other venues with the help of
other clubs.
For further information about the club
visit: morpeth-asc.org.uk
Portobello Gala
This remains one of the highlights of the club’s competitive calendar when its swimmers compete against their Edinburgh rivals
for a Rose Bowl Trophy donated by the Morpeth pool staff. Both clubs take it in turn to host the event which took place for the very
first time back in July 1969 to mark the opening of the Morpeth pool. Forty six years on this ‘international’ competition remains
as popular as ever and remarkably is still being organised by the same two people who began it all those years ago – Morpeth
President and first club coach Peter Rushworth (still an active member coaching poolside) and 90 year old Jack Snowdon OBE from
Portobello.
inside Morpeth 25
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26 inside Morpeth
BLACKSHAWS - NEW SUZUKI CELERIO
The new
Celerio arrives
at Blackshaws
The Celerio, Suzuki’s all new compact City car is now
available at Blackshaws Alnwick
and is priced at just £7,999 for
the highly equipped SZ3 model
and £8,999 for the SZ4.
Suzuki is well known as the small car
experts and Celerio offers the easy
driving of a compact car while providing
an elevated driving position, interior
space that surpasses most conventional
A-segment cars as well a class leading
luggage capacity of 254 litres.
Standard specification highlights for
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windows, front fog lamps, body coloured
door mirrors and chrome front grille.
During design, Suzuki aimed for a
resolution of the contradictory elements
of retaining interior space within a
compact body. By going back to basics
in development and reviewing the
body structure, Suzuki has succeeded
in delivering a roomy and comfortable
interior within a compact body measuring
just 3,600mm in length and a width of
1,600mm. Celerio has a turning circle of
just 9.4 metres too making it one of the
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A height of 1,540mm and a non-slanting
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Celerio also offers low CO2 emissions of
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For further information about the
all-new Celerio or to book a test drive
please contact Blackshaws Alnwick on
01665 602202.
inside Morpeth 27
THOMPSONS OF MORPETH
EXPRESS
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T Thompson & Sons Ltd are proud to announce
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located on Coopies Lane Industrial Estate in Morpeth.
SUPPLIER OF
We have been serving Morpeth and the surrounding area for over 50
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Stop by for your free vehicle healthcheck by one of our
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01670 513501
COOPIES LANE
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Official Fuel Economy Figures for the new MINI 5-door Hatch Range: Urban 36.7-64.2 mpg (7.7-4.4 l/100km). Extra Urban 58.9-88.3 mpg
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28 inside Morpeth
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inside Morpeth 29
Charity golf day
Following on from the success of an
inaugural event last year another Golf
Day is being planned at Longhirst Golf
Club to raise money for the Henry
Dancer Days charity.
Dave Elliot (third right) with his Morpeth Handelsbanken team
Saturday May 23rd is the date golfers need to pencil into their
diaries for the tournament which will be followed in the evening
by a hog roast and entertainment.
Banking on growth
It costs £240 for a team to enter and registration begins at 1pm.
The tournament carries a first prize of £300 with £200 for the
runners-up and £100 for the third placed team. The first golfer to
record a hole-in-one on the day would also collect a cool £250!
The Swedish
Handelsbanken based
in Sanderson Arcade’s
Austin House for the
past five years, has just
announced expansion
plans.
There will also be other prizes for nearest to the pin and
the longest drive ( both men and lady golfers) and a putting
competition.
Teams can enter be contacting Henry’s Mum Jane on
07947 668993 or emailing [email protected]
Jane set up the charity in memory of her son Henry who died
three years ago from an aggressive form of bone cancer. It
continues to go from strength to strength and has now raised
more than £170,000 supporting well over 100 families throughout
the country facing similar challenges with children battling
cancer, and offers support to parents and children in hospitals
across the North East.
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01670 505766
Unit 2B, Coopies Field, Coopies Lane Ind Est, Morpeth, NE61 6JT
30 inside Morpeth
The bank which has
customers from across
Northumberland, is planning
to increase its workforce later
this year from its small team
of four and has invested in
new office improvements as
well as creating additional
space to accommodate the
new staff. Morpeth branch
manager Dave Elliot says they
very much see themselves as a
local bank.
“We believe in being very
close to our customers who
can pick up the telephone and
speak to one of our Morpeth
team and they will always be
dealing with the same people,”
he said.
“Over the past five years we
have been very well received
in Morpeth and we are proud
to be part of the community
here, situated in Sanderson
Arcade which is the perfect
location for us and our
customers.
Hall’s the beating
heart of Hepscott!
The heart-and-soul of many archetypal English
villages is very often the pub, the school or the
local shop and post office. However, what becomes
the focal point of the village if you haven’t got any
of these the cornerstones of community life?
The answer in Hepscott’s case
is the village hall!
It’s not an ancient building as
it only dates from 1985 having
been constructed on the site
of the old school house. But
it has become the modern
beating heart of the village and
is used extensively during the
day for a whole host of events
and functions such as the
Bridge and Quilting clubs, Ti
chi classes, an art group, keep
fit and yoga classes, some of
which are run by villagers
and some by people from
outside Hepscott.
The committee members
also organise regular
entertainment events some of
which are booked through the
Highlights rural touring arts
scheme as well as local acts
appealing to a variety of tastes.
According to the organisers
Hepscott villagers seem to
like jazz!
As well as hiring in acts,
however, the committee
organises regular activities
such as quiz nights, coffee
mornings, art exhibitions, a
mulled wine drop-in Christmas
wreath making evening and
for the last two years the hall
has been open for villagers
to drop-by on New Year’s
Eve – which has proved very
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popular. The hall can also be
hired out for private parties
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The hall is now run by a
management committee of
eight volunteers chaired by
Katie McDonald who told
Inside Morpeth: “The reason
for organising events and
hiring out the hall is to make
some money to support its
upkeep as we simply don’t
get any financial assistance
from anyone.
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“However, as we don’t have a
shop or a pub in Hepscott the
hall has now become a real
focal point for villagers to get
together, to meet up and to get
to know our neighbours.”
As well as jazz Hepscott
villagers we are told, are
partial to an evening with local
entertainer Ernie Coe who is
organising a Northumbrian
Night in the Hall on Friday
February 13th. After reading
the last edition of Inside
Morpeth in which we ran an
article about the Henry Dancer
Days Charity, committee
members were so moved by
his story that they agreed to
donate any profits from the
event to the charity which is
helping other families in a
similar situation.
Behind Kwik Fit, Morpeth Road, Ashington
paullovattcarpets.co.uk
125 Station Road, Ashington NE63 8HQ (Next to Repro Centre)
We’re
HERE TO HELP
WITH A PLAN TO SUIT YOU
Find out more at your local meeting
St. James Community Centre
Wellway, Morpeth NE61 1BN
Saturday 9:30am
Debra Heppell 0345 677 7788
The Waterford Lodge Hotel
Castle Square,
Morpeth NE61 1YD
Wednesday 6:30pm
Lisa Leeke 07817 447 643
The Institute - Ashington
Leisure Centre
Institute Road,
Ashington NE63 8HP
Monday 9:30am, 5:00pm
Andrea Knox 07983 537 190
Briardale Community &
Training Centre
Briardale Road, Blyth NE24 5AN
Tuesday 6:30pm
Fiona Bradley 07901 785 557
The Waterloo Social Club
Meldrum House, 114 Waterloo
Road, Blyth, NE24 1DE
Wednesday 6:15pm
Saturday 9:30am
Hayley Ridley 07715 951 545
Blyth Central Methodist Church
Beaconsfield Street,
Blyth NE24 2DP
Thursday 9:45am
Mary Gurney 07739 515 026
For more local meetings visit
£10 pass
** Standard network charges apply.
✁
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday 10-5
Thursday & Friday 10-6, Saturday 10-4, Sunday 10-2
Stakeford Methodist Church
Moon Street,
Stakeford NE62 5TU
Tuesday 9:00am
Vickie Wear 07803 081 176
Trinity Church Hall
Front Street,
Bedlington NE22 5TZ
Thursday 1:00pm, 6:00pm
Andrea Knox 07983 537 190
Hirst Welfare Centre
Alexandra Road,
Ashington NE63 9HF
Sunday 10:00am
Alison Harnett 0345 677 7788
weightwatcherslocal.co.uk
0345 677 7788
text LOCAL + postcode to 62223**
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Opening times
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inside Morpeth 31
BARNABAS
New Year - new
opportunities
Gill Monaghan of Barnabas Safe & Sound
shares news of their Christmas activities
and some fantastic news regarding
support from Sanderson Arcade.
So, here we are, 2015 has arrived. We do
hope you are all refreshed and looking
forward to the New Year ahead. We
certainly are – but it’s nice to take a quick
look back on the festive season before
moving forward.
December was a busy month for the
staff team at Barnabas – the young
people in our supported accommodation
were taken ice skating which was lots
of fun, and received very generous
food/welfare donations from the ladies
at Morpeth Soroptimists to see them
over the Christmas period. We are
always humbled by the generosity
of the community at Christmas time,
for the various donations we receive
– this support is invaluable to us and
demonstrates real support from local
people. We thank you all for this.
With community support in mind, we
were delighted to be chosen as Sanderson
Arcade’s Charity of the Year for 2015.
Medi Parry, Arcade Manager has lots of
ideas for the forthcoming year in which
we hope to “make a difference on your
doorstep”. It is hoped through this
support we can introduce multimedia
technology which will benefit user
groups from across the community and
transform the building into a community
learning hub from which a wider range
of activities and short courses can be
run. Stobhill is an area of Morpeth where
this investment will make a significant
difference to the lives of local people.
On Friday 12th December we held a
Christmas Coffee Morning at the Stobhill
32 inside Morpeth
Pupils from Stobhillgate First School
Centre, with mugs of coffee, mulled
apple, and seasonal treats. We were
lucky enough to receive a visit from Year
4 pupils of Stobhillgate First School who
sang a medley of songs to raise a smile
(and much applause!) from those who
attended, including parents from the
school, local councillors, and supporters
of Barnabas. It was such a lovely morning
and very much enjoyed by all who
attended. Many of them, were seeing
the Centre for the first time and were
impressed with the space available.
On a separate note – we would love
It is with sadness that we announced the
closure of the Morpeth Bouldering Wall
in December 2014, following a review of
our facilities. In 2015 we plan to rent out
some of our buildings to generate income
to help us to deliver our activities for
young people.
01670 517721 to discuss the feasibility
to hear from anyone who might be
interested in volunteering some of
their time to run a “Pop up Café” from
the Centre on a Saturday or Sunday
morning. When we consulted with the
local community, this is something they
identified as being worthwhile, especially
for older members of the public who
might like somewhere to go to socialise
with others, or perhaps read their paper
and enjoy a freshly brewed cuppa! If you
are interested, please contact us on
of this idea.
So, here’s to 2015 – a year filled with hope
and opportunity. From All at Barnabas,
we wish you the very best and the
Happiest of New Years.
BARNABAS - WEEKLY TIMETABLE
Barnabas Stobhill Centre
Morpeth Sporting Club
The Centre is located in the heart of the community on Ninth
Avenue. If you are interested in making a booking, please
contact Chris Menzies or Gill Monaghan on 01670 517721 to
discuss your requirements. The Centre is beginning to move
forward – but in order for it to be a sustainable project in its
own right, we need to hear from the local community and get
the building in use every day. Three of our staff members are
now based within the centre, making it easier for people to
make enquiries by ringing our door bell. We’d love to hear
from you – you can call us on 01670 517721 to discuss any
requirements you may have.
6.00pm to 7.00pm - www.morpethsportingclub.com
What’s happening at the Barnabas Stobhill
Centre?
Friday
Monday
10am to 11am
Contact: [email protected]
Eat Well for Less: A free healthy eating workshop
Wednesday
Power Kickboxing Academy
Contact James Watling on 07765403779
Thursday
Bad Apples NE
Various activities available for all ages.
For further information contact Caroline Ball on 01670 528414
or visit www.badapplesne.co.uk
Zumba with Lisa O
Barnabas Stobhill Youth Club
Offered by ISOS and Real Food Works
9th February 10.30am to 12.30pm
6.00pm to 8.00pm
Contact Kerry Hope on 01670 514881
Northumberland Futsal Group
ADVANCE NOTICE: Indoor Table Top Sale – Saturday 28th
March 9.30am to 12pm (Doors open 10am). Limited number
of tables available priced at £2.50. One man’s rags is another
man’s riches – why not try your hand at turning those
unwanted items into cash.
5.30pm to 6.30pm 6-9 year olds.
6.30pm to 7.30pm 10-13 year olds
Email: [email protected]
Tuesday
Barnabas Stobhill Youth Project 13+ in
conjunction with Gallery Youth Project
In addition to the above, we are also happy to be providing the
Stobhill Centre, for use by a local school group at various times
during the day, Tuesday to Friday during term time.
4.00pm to 6.00pm. Spaces are limited for this activity.
Contact Sue Patience on 01665 605846
Barnabas Stobhill Centre, Ninth Avenue, Stobhillgate,
Morpeth, NE61 2HS. Telephone 01670 517721
TEL: 01670 512871
3 SECOND AVENUE, STOBHILL
OPENING TIMES: MON - SAT 11AM - 2PM / 4PM - 9PM
CHIPS
sml £1.30
lrg £1.60
PRIME COD (skinless & boneless)
£3.60
LINE CAUGHT HADDOCK
£3.70
CHICKEN & MUSHROOM PIE £1.60
MINCE PIE
£1.60
STEAK PIE
£1.60
1/2 CHICKEN
£3.00
SMOKIE
£1.50
JUMBO SAUSAGE
£1.30
SMALL SAUSAGE
£0.80
SPAM
FRITTER
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CHEESE
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BEEF PATTIE £1.00
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ONION RINGS (8)
OPENING TIMES: CLOSED SUNDAYS
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£2.30
£1.70
£0.80
FOLLOWING ITEMS SERVED IN A TRAY
CURRY & CHIPS
GRAVY & CHIPS
PEAS & CHIPS
BEANS & CHIPS
CHILLI SAUCE & CHIPS
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£2.40
All our kebabs include hot pitta bread,
fresh salad & chilli or garlic sauce
In a toasted bun with
salad and sauce
DONNER KEBAB (LARGE)
KABAB MEAT
CHIPS & SALADS
KEBAB MEATH WITH
CHIPS (& SAUCE)
TRAY OF KEBAB MEAT
PLAIN BURGER
£2.20 1/4LB £3.00 1/2LB
CHEESE BURGER
£2.20 1/4LB £3.00 1/2LB
CHILLI BURGER
£2.20 1/4LB £3.00 1/2LB
CHICKEN BURGER
£2.20
VEG. BURGER
£2.20
£4.50
£4.50
£3.50
£3.00
(& SAUCE)
KEBAB CHIP BUTTY
£3.50
(& SAUCE)
PITTA BREAD & SALAD
SALAD
PITTA BREAD
CHILL OR GARLIC SAUCE
KEBAB WRAPS
CHIPS OR SALAD, ANY SAUCE
£1.50
£1.50
£0.50
£1.00
£3.90
MEAL DEAL
O.A.P.
SPECIALS
Large fish & small chips
ADD £1.50 GET CHIPS
& A CAN OF POP
BATTERED
BURGER £1.20
VEGETABLE
BURGER £1.20
SAUCES
£1.00
DRINKS
FROM £0.75
£4.70
5 Cod bites, chips & peas
£3.50
Fish Bites • Nuggets (4) • Sausage
LUNCHTIME
SPECIALS
11AM-2PM
CHIP BUTTY
SAUSAGE SPECIAL
£1.50
£2.00
with a splash of sauce
with a splash of sauce
ANY PATTIE
& CHIPS
£2.50
ANY PIE
& CHIPS
£2.50
KEBAB & CHIPS
KEBAB CHIP BUTTY
KEBAB WRAP & CHIPS
£2.50
£2.50
£3.00
with a splash of sauce
with a splash of sauce
with a splash of sauce
inside Morpeth 33
Leave that ‘superbreak’
planning to us!
Rachel Williamson has some great ideas for getting away from
it all with the help of staff from the Chantry, in her first Chantry Chatter
column of 2015
Keep your eyes peeled for
more information coming
very very soon!
2015 needs no introduction.
Here we are two months in
and it has nearly blown us all
away. Hold onto your hats,
bolt your front door and nail
your garden sheds down to
the ground before we all end
up in Kansas… and trust me,
Kansas is no place to be when
there is so much going on in
Morpeth over the next few
months. Forget 2014 because
the Year of the sheep is finally
here and it’s going to be
baaa-rilliant.
If day trips and short breaks
weren’t enough to banish
those winter blues, don’t
forget that your Morpeth
Chantry is here to keep you in
the know of events happening
throughout Northumberland
as well as Morpeth.
Over the coming months:
Northumberland Theatre
Company will be back with
another ‘fantastic four’ plays
in one exciting performance:
“4 Thoughts: Myth, Music,
Mayhem and Mirth” at
Morpeth Town Hall on
Saturday 28th February at
7.30pm.
February welcomes the grand
re-launch of ‘Superbreak’ at
Morpeth Chantry. Superbreak
is a British holiday company
based in York which has
specialised in short breaks
across the UK and Europe for
over 30 years. Take the stress
away from searching for your
perfect holiday and allow us
to do it for you.
As an agent for Superbreak
we can find you the best deal
possible for your desired
trip and book it all for you at
the click of a button. You’ll
be able to find our weekly
promotional offers on the
Creative Quarter Twitter and
Facebook pages as well as on
our notice board at the Tourist
Office booking desk.
Here’s a sneak peek of some of
the Valentine’s Day and Easter
offers that will be available to
you very soon…
Jersey Boys in
Theatre + Free 24
Hour River Rover
Ticket
Friday 6th March, stay 2
nights on a B&B basis at the 3*
Days Hotel Waterloo London
including top price tickets to
see the Jersey Boys in Theatre
on Friday Evening. From
£147.50pp Don’t forget to add
34 inside Morpeth
Best Western Plus Cedar Court Hotel, Harrogate
discounted rail from your
local station!
Rail from Newcastle. From
£149pp
Valentine’s in
Harrogate
As well as Superbreak
bookings you can also book
UK and European coach
excursions with us through
Travelsure!
Friday 13th February 2015,
stay 2 nights on a B&B basis
at the 4* Best Western Plus
Cedar Court Hotel including
bathrobes & slippers, dinner
on your 1st night stay, on
the 14th February enjoy
breakfast in bed, 3 course
candlelit dinner with a bottle
of Prosecco, music playing
from ’swing time jazz’ and
chocolates. From £159pp
London Rail Break
with 4* Hotel +
River cruise
Friday 6th March 2015, stay 2
nights on a B&B basis at the 4*
Kensington Close Hotel & Spa
including return East Coast
Based in Seahouses,
Travelsure offer a wide
range of day trips and short
breaks. Their 2015 schedule is
jammed packed with trips to
destinations such as Ireland, A
Danube Cruise, Poland, Jersey
and for all those ‘Call The
Midwife’ fans there is even an
excursion planned to Chatham
Docks, the home of the 1950s
period drama.
We’re also delighted to tell
you that very soon we will
be verified booking agents
for Gardiners NMC Coach
Trips who offer an expansive
selection of luxury coach trips
across the UK and Europe.
Tickets are available from
Morpeth Chantry for only £8
and the evening promises to
be a fabulous one, showcasing
some of the best up and
coming Northern theatre
writing talent.
Tickets can also be bought
for forthcoming Morpeth
Music Society concerts and
Morpeth Community Cinema
screenings, at The Chantry.
A new year brings new artists
and stallholders to Morpeth
Chantry. We have recently
been joined by fabulous local
jewellers ‘DP Leather Design’
who are showcasing their
collection of unique leather
work jewellery with us. DP
Leather Design makes lovely
handmade leather bracelets,
purses and brooches.
Based in the North East of
England, they use quality
leather and fastenings to
create new and unusual
designs offering something
a little different…affordable
uniqueness.
Local jewellers and popular
stallholder, Natural Gems,
Jewellery from DP Leather Design now showcasing at the Chantry
have recently expanded
their wedding collection at
Morpeth Chantry, offering a
wide range of hair vines, hair
twists, crystal hair pins and
much much more! They also
offer a ‘made to order’ service,
perfect for all brides who are
busy planning their big day.
Continuing on from the theme
of romance, love will soon be
in the air at Morpeth Chantry
as we celebrate Valentine’s
Day on February 14th.
Make sure to pop by and
pick up a special gift for your
loved one choosing from our
expansive selection of locally
made ‘loveable’ goodies.
The second annual trade event
will bring together over 130
local suppliers and producers
of food, drink, arts, music and
crafts from across the whole
of Northumberland.
The event offers free
networking opportunities as
well as the chance for buyers
to add value to their business
by supporting local makers.
For more information visit
www.northumberland.gov.uk/
meet and bit.ly/maker15
Gifts for Him - Handcrafted,
high quality writing pens and
sets from Walter Hall, locally
designed whisky glasses
and tumblers from Harrison
Glass and cufflinks from
Northumberland Tartan and
Dianne Fox.
Gifts for Her - More than 20
local jewellers offering you
freshwater pearls, Czech
glass, Papier-mâché, crystal,
ceramic, sterling silver and
crocheted jewellery, beautiful
handcrafted glass from Jane
Charles as well as locally
made soya candles from Pure
Candles and Studley Cottage
soaps.
February and March also sees
the addition of new temporary
artists to our panels: Pet
Portrait Artist Ged Tebbutt,
Artist Christopher Cook, Artist
Tilly Gormely and Artist
Jane Armstrong. Don’t miss
out on catching the work of
these fabulous up and coming
artists as they display with us
for a limited time only.
And if that wasn’t enough,
Meet the Maker will be back
on Thursday 26th February at
Blyth Sports Centre!
Handcrafted glass by Jane Charles
£5 off
any perm/colour service
To be used between
February and March 2015
5 New Phoenix Yard • Morpeth
Northumberland • NE61 1PQ • T: 01670 518914
inside Morpeth 35
The perfect way to spice
up this Valentine’s Day!
Planning something special to
celebrate the most romantic day of
the year? A bouquet of red roses
for the lady in your life, a get-awayfrom-it-all surprise city break, an
expensive bottle of champagne, a
trip to the theatre or how about a
cosy romantic dinner for two?
The latest in a
regular series of
features from
the Creative
Quarter at the
Chantry corner
of Morpeth
Well if the latter is your choice you
don’t even need to think about booking
that restaurant table. Instead, simply
order one of the speciality dishes
to enjoy in the comfort of your own
home, especially prepared for you by
chef Abdul Muhit in the kitchen of his
award-winning Indian cuisine Morpeth
Tandoori take-away in Chantry Place.
Abdul has been delighting customers
with his dishes for more than 30
years….and not just local dinners
either. ‘Regulars’ travel from all over
the region to Morpeth Tandoori, from
Berwick, Wooler and Seahouses in
the north of Northumberland, down
to Tyneside, Barnard Castle and
Washington south of the River Tyne
simply because they say his food is the
best take-away they have ever tasted
and enjoyed .
But don’t just take our word for it. Log
on to Abdul’s website and read glowing
testimonials for scores of satisfied
customers who write – ‘Tried the rest,
can’t beat the best’- Terry, Guide Post’;
‘Best food ever – superb’ Eric, Morpeth;
‘‘200 per cent
better than in
India’ – Stevie;
Morpeth’ and
‘Well worth the
journey’ – Lesley,
Coldstream.
The secret of
Abdul’s success
Chef Abdul Muhit
is his range of
‘Bengol dishes’ that he prepares using
his own exclusive blend of spices to
give them a unique twist of flavours….
oh and the fact that he also uses only
the finest and freshest ingredients
including 100 per cent British chicken,
lamb, beef and dairy products sourced
wherever possible from local producers
and farmers while his seafood is
supplied from premium farms.
To accompany his dishes Abdul only
uses traditional Basmati rice that has
been ‘aged’ for over a year before being
supplied to him. The spices he uses
in his cooking are all sourced directly
from India while Tandoori dishes
are cooked in a traditional charcoal
clay oven to give them their authentic
flavours.
Morpeth Tandoori has also been
awarded a 5* hygiene rating by local
food experts.
So, if this Valentine’s Day is a special
one deserving of a wonderful
celebratory meal, then book your order
in good time at Morpeth Tandoori.
Indian Take-away Est. 1983
choice of authentic and classic Indian cuisine freshly made to your order with
our own Bengol Range – a house speciality.
10 Chantry Place, Morpeth, Northumberland NE61 1PJ
www.morpethtandoori.co.uk
Tel 01670 517180 or 01670 516144
Open Mon - Sat Noon to 2pm; 6pm to midnight. Sun 6pm to 11.30pm. Open all Bank Holidays except Christmas Day
36 inside Morpeth
Knitting’s fun
but not expensive
Our new studio is as
much for you as for us!
By Kym Hewison
Treacle Wool Shop
By Layla Welsh
French Grey Tales
Here at Treacle, we want knitting to not just
be fun, but to be as accessible to everyone.
OOOoosh... well that’s
Christmas over with
for another year. It’s
time for a good old
spring clean and a
tidy. These are the
hardest few months
between January and
the cheerful spring. It
seems to take forever.
Sometimes we hear people think Treacle is expensive,
maybe because we don’t look like a traditional wool shop,
when the opposite is actually true. Our ethos is to make
lovely yarns available to all, so we don’t stock brands who
charge excessively to make themselves ‘exclusive’ - after all,
who has £80+ to spend these days on knitting or crocheting
a sweater?
Our advice is always buy the best you can afford and the
most suitable wool for your chosen project. Using quality
products doesn’t have to mean high prices. They will make
your crafting experience more pleasurable and give your
finished item more pzazz. One of our best selling lines is the
Scandinavian DROPS Design range.
Established 1982, the DROPS philosophy is based on creating
international knitting fashion and new trends, mixing old
and new, giving inspiration and new ideas. The company is
huge internationally and Treacle is one of only a handful of
UK retailers to stock DROPS yarns and pattern books - we are
proud to bring their fabulous range to Morpeth.
DROPS yarns are available in the most gorgeous natural
fibres in a beautiful range of colours, each specifically
chosen to enhance the yarn’s unique qualities, and at the
same time enhance the feeling of quality which a DROPS
yarn provides. From pure Alpaca (£2.90/50g), 100% wool
(starting at £1.60) to fabulous sock yarns (from £2/50g), there
is something for all budgets.
Pattern books are just £1 and there are projects for felting
(where you knit your item and felt in the washing machine
– so much fun to see how it comes out), toys and items for
the home, as well as a huge range of garments for adults and
kids, suitable for beginners as well as the more experienced
knitters, those who want quick results and those who want
more of a challenge.
Next time you’re passing by the Creative Quarter, pop in and
let us inspire you – without breaking the bank!
TREACLE WORKSHOPS
At FGT we’re making the most
of the spring clean feeling
and we’ve knocked walls
down, quite literally amongst
other things! We are just
approaching the end of a very
exciting project - up our stairs
above the shop is the most
amazing creative space - our
very own FGTSTUDIO.
What’s going to be up there?
Well, whenever you come into
FGT you will always find us
painting and creating and we
want our knowledge to be a
shared thing and for you to
feel like you can come in, see
all of our chalk paint colours
in the flesh and feel confident
in going home and doing it
yourself. Our FGTSTUDIO will
be exactly the same, there
will always be someone up
there making, but it will be all
about the sewing and fabrics.
will also be open to use as a
resource for the community.
So if you fancy popping in
and using our machines and
equipment be our guest. Pop
in with a friend or just on
your own and we will always
be on hand for advice.
There is an honesty crafty
library up there where you
can read and be inspired or
take home with you to read at
your leisure plus an honesty
box in the kitchen with a
supply of freshly ground
coffee and good tea.
We will be starting a Sewing
Bee each Monday morning
all free where you can come,
make and natter and we
have lots more up our sleeves
which will be unveiled over
the weeks ahead.
So why don’t you pop in for a
mooch next time your passing
and we will show you our
new studio which is for you as
much as us.
See you soo n,
Layla
Not only will our sewing
and dressmaking workshops
be upstairs but the studio
FGT WORKSHOPS
Let’s Knit Socks - 7 February
Chalk Paint level One - Saturday 7, 21 & 28 February 10-2pm
Beginner Knitting - 8 February
Chalk Paint Level Two - 14 Feb, 10-2pm, 14 March, 10-2pm
Craft2gether - 14 February, 10am - 12.30pm
Candles - 4 Feb, 6-7:30pm, 24 March, 6-7:30pm
Crochet Granny Squares - 15 February
Lampshades - 24 Feb 6-8pm, 10 March 6-8pm
Professional Finishing - 22 February
Sewing Basics - 15 March, 12-3pm, 2 March , 12-3pm
Wet Felted Flowers - 28 February
Bunting - 1 March 12-3pm
Call 01670 504045 to book.
Sewing Level 2 - 22 March, 12-3pm
* Workshops must be pre-booked – pay a 50% deposit on booking:
balance on day
Pyjamas dress making - 28 March, 12-4pm
Camber dress making £65, 3 & 10 March 6-9pm
inside Morpeth 37
Our wine can now be ordered
online at www.bin21.com
For our resident wine
connoisseur Patrick
Eyres of bin21, January
wasn’t even ‘damp’!
‘Dry January?’
Not a bit of it!
bin 21
bin 21 is delighted to be
working in partnership
with Bichfield Tower
Northumberland’s newest
luxury wedding venue.
Wedding Showcase
28-29 March 11am - 4pm
www.bichfieldtower.co.uk
bin 21
50 Bridge Street, Morpeth
Tel: 01670 504901 Email: [email protected]
Opening hours
Tue - Sat 10am - 10pm, Sun & Mon 11am - 9pm
www.bin21.com
38 inside Morpeth
The days are getting
longer, Spring is
ahead of us, bulbs
are confused in the
garden by starting
to appear already….
go back you fools
it’s too early...and
Dry January is well
and truly behind us.
Happy Days !!
Well when I say “Dry
January” it was not dry for
me...not even damp...it was
still soaked I’m afraid.
It is classed as work for
me after all. I enjoyed
some lovely tipples over
Christmas with friends and
family and ventured deep
into new territory with a
great bottle of Hungarian
Pinot Noir (we shall be
stocking it soon) and a
fabulous selection of white
grapes such as Italian
“Grillo” and others.
In January, admittedly
I have been revisiting
some old favourites but
as vintages have changed
in many of the wines I
have tried, so have the
characteristics and indeed
the flavours.
If the wine maker is not
blessed with a good crop of
Merlot but a decent crop
of Cabernet Sauvignon for
example, he will change the
blend percentage without
changing the label so we
are none the wiser of the
looming change to flavour
about to confront us when
the glass is sipped.
Sometimes it’s a good
thing but sometimes it is
definitely not. This is why
it is so good to try different
wines and don’t be afraid
to revisit ones you may not
have got on with too well
previously as the vintage
and therefore the blend
may well have changed.
Many French, Spanish
and Italian producers
have been affected by the
adverse weather in the last
few years – too cold but
also too dry in the Spring,
then too dry and too hot in
the summer with rain too
late in the season.
It has been troubling
times for many famous
grape growing regions
and this has led to more
co-operative production
taking place which has,
in fact, led to more
consistency and indeed
better value.
Over the last few weeks we
have seen more financial
crisis looming in the
Eurozone which will have
a negative impact for
producers in these wine
producing regions as the
£ sterling has become
stronger when it comes to
buying power.
I doubt we will see prices
decrease...how good would
that be!...but it may mean
no supplier increases in the
coming months when all is
negotiated over a bottle or
two in the cellars.
So in summary...my advice
when it comes to January
next year is “Don’t go dry...
go Damp” and keep an eye
out for some consistently
good and reasonably priced
European wines in the
coming months....Cheers!
Cheers, Patrick
inside Morpeth 39
Awarded 5 stars for
customer satisfaction
Stannington Park | Off Green Lane | Stannington | NE61 6AT
Get into
gear.
We’ll buy
yours so you
can buy ours!
NOW OPEN
A brand new
community in
Northumberland
near the village of
Stannington.
PART
EXCHANGE
Available*
Stannington Park is nestling in the heart of Northumberland countryside, Stannington
Park brings beautiful executive homes to an enclave of this landmark new community.
These homes offer a highly desirable combination of modern good looks in a tranquil
rural woodland setting with local amenities in the nearby historic market town of
Morpeth, with the vibrant city of Newcastle within easy reach. Providing the perfect
combination of modern good looks in a tranquil setting, Stannington Park is a prestigious development of
2, 3, 4 & 5 bedroom homes. 4 & 5 bedroom homes from £279,995 to £499,995.
Call: 01670 789 572 Click: www.bellway.co.uk
Visit: Monday 12pm - 8.00pm, Tuesday & Wednesday 11am - 5.30pm,
Thursday 11am - 8pm, Friday - Sunday 11am - 5.30pm.
Prices correct at time of going to press. Specification on site may differ. Pictures for illustration purposes only.
*Bellway reserve the right to refuse a part exchange, terms & conditions can be found at www.bellway.co.uk