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Children in Need award will meanHenry’s legacy spreads nationally

Morpeth links to award-winning railway attraction

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2 inside Morpeth

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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

FRONT COVER: Author Bridget Gubbins photographed by Trevor Walker

Morpeth has had an illustrious history for more than 1,000 years and there is still plenty of evidence of that around the town centre these days. The Chantry building, the Clock Tower, the Town Hall – even the weekly markets which were first started when King John first granted Morpeth it’s charter to stage them as long ago as 1199, all build up a picture of a town as colourful as anywhere else in England.

Over the years much has been written about Morpeth’s long gone days providing invaluable documented evidence of the town’s past, but few writers have delved quite so deeply into aspects of its history than Bridget Gubbins.

Painstaking research and a determination to dig out facts and figures perhaps not previously chronicled, have enabled Bridget to compile a fascinating series of books about different aspects of life in Morpeth since those early days when the Norman conquerors who arrived in England with King William to defeat Harold at the Battle of Hastings, first set foot in the town.

Over the past seven years Bridget has been splendidly encouraged and supported in her work by Greater Morpeth Development Trust which became her publishers, to produce seven books about different aspects of the town’s past.

Now – as we report in this issue of Inside Morpeth – Bridget has decided it is time to call a halt to her writing career which she leaves with the hope that someone else will step forward to take her place and dig out more stories about the town’s past. Any volunteers?

Editor of Inside Morpeth

Ian Leech

Editor: Ian Leech, Tel: 07968 102 547 Email: ian-leech@sky.com Advertising: John Matthews Distribution: Katherine Brodie (TYD) 07540 804 069

THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS

SANDERSON ARCADEManager Joel Plumley’s column

MORPETH TOWN COUNCILMore news from the Town Cryer

GARDENING TIPSFrom Heighley Gate’s Nigel Lawton

TO PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS IN THE NEXT ISSUE CALL US ON 07968 102 547

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AMANDA’S CHARITY CHALLENGE 35

LOCAL EVENTS GUIDE20

HERITAGE RAILWAY LINKS12

HENRY’S ENDURING LEGACY4

HISTORICAL FUNDING BID32

BRIDGET’S LAST CHAPTER10

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Henry Dancer

Henry Dancer was just 12 years old when his life was cut so tragically short, yet news has just broken which means that his name will live on long right across the country as a result of a charity set up in his memory by his mum Jane Nattrass being given one of the biggest single donations ever made in the North East by the BBC’s ‘Children in Need’ appeal.

Henry Dancer Days has been awarded £166,662 to roll out story telling sessions the likes

of which Henry so loved when he was hospitalised for so many long days at the Great North Children’s Hospital at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. The money will be used to pay for storytelling therapy sessions over the next three years in Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and Sheffield.

It is, said Jane – a former Deputy Head Girl at KEVI and the daughter of well-known

Morpeth couple Gillian and Ken Irvine – ‘fantastic news.’ As she told me: “Your readers may not quite believe this but I went into shock when I opened the email to discover we had been awarded the money byChildren in Need.”

The money, Jane says, will fund weekly storytelling sessions in six hospitals that will be delivered by professional storytellers who are brilliant at bringing stories to life. It is now six years since Jane set up Henry Dancer Days because she wanted to help families facing the same heartbreak she had gone through when Henry was first diagnosed with his illness.

Her aim was to assist families dealing with financial hardship because of their need to take time off work or to pay for significant hospital transport costs because of their child’s illness.

Later she added what she calls the ‘distraction’ storytelling sessions because she knew how much Henry loved his regular visits from a film-maker called Tom which took his mind off his illness and invasive treatment he was having to endure.

Since then the charity has raised £350,000 – add on the Children in Need grant and the sum jumps to well over £500,000 – which has benefited 350 families (in total more than 1,400 people) via the general hardship element and another 4,000 children, parents and siblings through the storytelling sessions.

At the moment storytelling takes place in Newcastle and the University College Hospital in London and Jane acknowledges that it going to be a huge step forward to expand the sessions across the country. “I’m just beginning to realise how much we have taken on as a charity

Henry’s legacy lives onFor almost as long as we have been publishing Inside Morpeth we have been telling readers the story of a remarkable little boy with so many local connections, who just over seven years ago lost his battle against the aggressive form of childhood cancer Osteosarcoma writes editor Ian Leech.

Henry and his Mum Jane who has made sure his legacy lives on for the benefit of others

4 inside Morpeth

inside Morpeth 5

Henry Dancer

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because I am also determined to continue with our main work of giving grants to families with a child diagnosed with primary bone cancer, to support them at times of general hardship and especially during palliative care,” she said.

The Children in Need grant will fund the cost of a freelance co-ordinator to assist Jane to run the project and to appoint story tellers in each location with the help of arts’ colleagues and the George Ewart Evans National Storytelling Centre. Although she now lives in County Durham, Jane has been given huge support to run Henry Dancer Days by friends, people, groups and organisations in Morpeth. “The people of Morpeth and surrounding towns have been incredible,” she told me.

“Without their support I would not have been able to develop Henry Dancer Days in the way I have. It is thanks to the people of the North East that we are where we are and, as a result, the Great North Children’s Hospital will always receive more projects than any other including a

pottery project. Our potter goes in to create masterpieces at children’s bedsides, takes them away to fire them and then returns them on her next visit as a memento the children love to keep.”

I first met Jane when she launched her book ‘348 Days’ which movingly tells the story of the exact number of days from when Henry was diagnosed with Osteoscarcoma until he died and

later we talked again when she set up the charity in her son’s name. “I can’t quite believe how far we have come since then,” she told me.

“What would Henry make of it all? I’d hope he would be as proud as punch. However, I suspect he would be telling me to do something involving technology which he loved but sadly I am not that savvy although we do help children

with tablets and computer games.

“Henry was an incredible young man and I see this very much as his legacy. The fact that his names arches over all our activities is a wonderful thing for me. Initially I thought it would be too much to hope that we would be able to give grants throughout the UK, so to see where we are now is all rather humbling.”

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Storyteller Shelley O’Brien with five year old patient Isla Williams

6 inside Morpeth

Sanderson Arcade

Spring is well and truly in the air here at Sanderson Arcade and we’re looking forward to some lovely weather – which, of course, means we’ll be working on our fabulous new floral displays and our shoppers can once again enjoy some alfresco dining.

The outdoor dining area at The Morpeth Larder is open now for the spring and summer months and you can also enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail in the sunshine at Barluga Morpeth which as well as a beautiful outdoor seating area and restaurant has a stunning function room which is perfect for your special events.

Our spring fashions are in store and looking fabulous now with something for all your special occasions over the summer months – whether you’re planning a wedding, summer ball, race day or garden party.

We’re also preparing for our first ever Sanderson Arcade Wedding Fayre which will be held at Barluga here on Sunday May 6th with everything to help you get ready for your big day – stores involved in this lovely event include Whittakers, The Jewellers Guild, Hobbs, Monsoon, Laura Ashley, Mint Velvet and Paperchase.

And speaking of special occasions and of course weddings, we’ll be celebrating the

Royal Wedding on Saturday May 19th when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle get married at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

You can get into the spirit of the occasion at the Arcade where we will have Union Flag bunting and a special themed gallery display. We’re also planning a special red, white and blue themed competition for the best dressed store window and the best dressed staff so we’re really looking forward to all the stores at the Arcade getting into the spirit for the Royal Wedding.

If you’re a food and drink lover don’t forget to put the date of this year’s Morpeth Food and Drink Festival in your diary – the two day event runs on October 6th and 7th this year and promises to be a fantastic weekend of foodie fun and entertainment. We’ll be announcing more about the event over the next few weeks so keep a look out for lots of exciting updates about this year’s festival.

But you don’t have to wait for October if you want to sample some delicious local produce, our weekly Wednesday market has a fantastic line up of traders as well as our monthly Farmers’ Market – there’s also a great line up of entertainment planned for the Farmers’ Market which falls on the first Saturday of every month.

To keep up to date with news and events at Sanderson Arcade visit www.sandersonarcade.co.uk or like our facebook page and follow us on twitter.

Spring into summer at Sanderson Arcade

DIARY DATES

Saturday May 5th Morpeth Farmers’ Market

Sunday May 6th Wedding Fayre at Barluga

Saturday May 19th Royal Wedding event at Sanderson Arcade

Writes Joel Plumley in his Inside Morpeth column

inside Morpeth 7

LOCKDALESSPECIALIST VALUATION DAY EVENT

WEDNESDAY 18TH APRIL 10am - 2pm

Coins (GB & World, Sovereigns, Krugerands, Royal MInt, Proof Sets) Jewellery, Watches, Silver, Gold, Vintage Toys, Clocks, Books, Maps, Pens, British & World Stamps, & Covers, English & Foreign Banknotes, Early Postcards,

Cigarette Cards, Decorative Art, Pre-1970’s Comics, Vintage Trading Cards, Medals & Militaria, Swords, Bayonets, De-activated & Antique Firearms or Pre-1960 Sporting Programmes & Tickets.

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& TUESDAY 17TH APRIL 10am - 2pm

Delves Lane Village Hall, Delves Lane, Consett, County Durham DH8 7BH

A special antiques and collectables valuation event will be taking place soon in Morpeth. The experts of Lockdales Auctioneers will be providing free valuations to the public on Wednesday 18th April, 10am to 2pm at Morpeth Golf Club, Loansdean, Morpeth (free car parking on-site subject to availability).

There will be experts providing valuations on the following types of collectables: Coins (including British and World, sovereigns, Krugerrands, Royal Mint commemoratives and proof sets), stamps, banknotes, medals & militaria, antiques, clocks, watches, jewellery, gold, silver, pre-1900 documents/books and maps, cigarette-cards, postcards, pre-1960 sporting programmes and tickets, pens, vintage toys, vintage comics, scientific instruments, swords, bayonets, de-activated and antique firearms. No appointment is necessary at this event, simply turn up with your items and the valuers will be happy to see you.

Members of the public will have the option, if they wish, to consign their goods to auction (subject to terms and conditions). Cash purchase offers are also available. Valuations will be provided free of charge, with no obligation.

High quality illustrated catalogues from previous auctions will be given away on a complimentary basis in order for the public to get a better idea of the services available.

Lockdales recently broke the British record for a Rolex Submariner watch sold at auction. On 11th October 2017 they sold an example made c.1964 with orange numerals for nearly £280,000 including premium. This achievement was reported in the national media. The owner consigned the watch to auction at one of their valuation events in the east of England. Many other star items have turned up at their events.

If you have any questions feel free to contact Lockdales’ Martlesham offices: 01473 627110, sales@lockdales.com. For further information see our website www.lockdales.com

Antique road-trippers in town

Lockdales

8 inside Morpeth

Dere Street Homes

Spring is definitely in the air at Dere Street Homes’ prestigious Longhirst Hall development, with the surrounding grounds transformed into a riot of colour as the daffodils, bluebells and crocuses burst through, whilst sales of the spacious three bedroom townhouses and detached homes are hotting up too!

Surrounded by mature woodlands and the landscaped lawns of the original Hall, the development offers residents the perfect location to enjoy the rural lifestyle. Located off the B1337 road, just a few minutes away from the beautiful Northumberland coastline and the new Morpeth Bypass, Longhirst is close enough to links to the new road to allow easy commuting to Tyneside and beyond, whilst being far enough away to retain its truly rural setting.

The original Hall dates back to 1828 when the Lawson family commissioned John Dobson to build their country residence – the same architect who designed Newcastle’s famous Grey Street and some of the region’s most elegant buildings - and has been described as his finest classical design.

The two storey townhouses offer extremely spacious and luxurious three bedroom homes which have to be seen to appreciate the true scale of the properties. An open plan family living area features superb floor-to ceiling Bi-fold doors opening fully onto the individual rear gardens which allow the indoor and outdoor areas to be truly combined. A separate family room, utility room and WC complete the ground floor with stairs leading to the first floor landing. The spacious master bedroom comes with full en-suite facilities and superb views over the rear gardens, whilst the front-facing bedrooms two and three share the large family bathroom.

Dere Street Homes’ Development Sales Manager, Joan O’Connor, commented: “We’ve had a great deal of interest in all the

homes at Longhirst with the townhouses proving particularly popular. The quality of the kitchen fittings, with Bosch and Zanussi appliances coming as standard, together with the generous proportions of the bedrooms – the master bedroom is 7.5m x 5.8m – and the stunning location amidst the parkland and mature woods of the Hall are certainly giving our visitors the WOW factor!”

Longhirst also offers five, five bedroom new built detached homes and a unique two bedroom detached home which has been completely refurbished from the Hall’s original Coach House. In addition, the latest of the luxurious conversions of the main Hall, The Manor House offers an amazing home of incredible proportions, that will be open to view in early April.

Prices for the remaining three bedroom townhouses start from £399,950. Full details are available from Joan O’Connor, Development Sales Manager, Thursday to Monday 10.00am to 5.00pm on 01670 791825 or www.derestreethomes.co.uk

Move into Longhirst this Spring!

inside Morpeth 9

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10 inside Morpeth

Bridget Gubbins

Bridget’s last great Morpeth story

It’s probably fair to say that Bridget knows more about Morpeth’s last thousand years than anyone else particularly the early years of the town’s history dating back to the days of the Norman conquests and the first baron William de Merlay who built his castle overlooking the River Wansbeck in about 1085.

Over those past seven years she has spent incalculable hours at her desk, in libraries and museums poring over records and documents from the past to painstakingly research her books and paint an invaluable picture of Morpeth’s colourful past.

She has told the tale of Morpeth’s unique alleyways and yards and how they were not just pathways criss-crossing the town centre but were ‘home’ to so many local people living there in what were far from salubrious conditions. For her book about the drovers who brought their cattle so many miles to market in Morpeth, she trekked in their footsteps to the town from the Scottish Borders to authentically report on what those arduous journeys must have been like for them.

Bridget has written about the workhouse which was such a grim and foreboding place in Morpeth in the 19th Century; about Newminster Abbey modelled on Yorkshire’s Fountains Abbey which although now a ruin was once an important northern Cistercian centre; before stepping right back in time to the days of the Norman barons with her story of the marriage of Ranulph de Merlay and Juliana Gospatric.

With the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund the latter formed the basis of a book to help children understand more about the history of their home town.

Fittingly, she says, her final book is about the de Merlays who first arrived in the town a decade or so after the Norman conquests and went on to dominate Morpeth for more than 200 years.

One after one of William’s descendants enter Bridget’s story – the barons who went to war with their knights and which ones they fought in because as tenants of the kings they owed their allegiance to them. Of equal importance to her story, however, were the wives of the de Merlay men – little-known young ladies Juliana, Alice, Ada and Isobel who married into the family. Virtually nothing has been known of them until now.

While the men owed their allegiance through military service to the kings, the role of the de Merlay women was to give birth to sons to ensure the future of the dynasty! If they were only the mothers of girls that was their great misfortune because the future of the dynasty depended on them.

As Bridget told me: “When we first came to Morpeth in 1976 I knew little if anything about the de Merlays. Like most people I learned of them from local place names but knew little else other than that they were Norman barons.

“Now I know so much more about them having filled in the

gaps in my personal knowledge and – through my book – their story is out there for anyone who wants to find out about it.”

Much of what can be found in the book is revealed for the very first time including a coloured

reproduction of the 1199 market charter granted to Morpeth by King John which Bridget was able to use with the kind permission of the Howard family at Castle Howard in Yorkshire.

Bridget began her journey

After seven books in seven years prolific Morpeth author Bridget Gubbins has put down her pen in a manner of speaking for the last time and in the latest in our ‘Big Interview’ series she tells Ian Leech why she has called time on a writing career which has unearthed so many secrets of the town’s illustrious if also perhaps at times somewhat murky past!

Seven books in seven years from author Bridget Gubbins

inside Morpeth 11

Bridget Gubbins

‘de Merlay Dynasty – The family who ruled Morpeth 1085 – 1265’ by Bridget Gubbins published by Greater Morpeth Development Trust in full colour throughout, is now available in local book shops priced £11.99. The book is published as a limited edition of 250 copies, each one personally signed by the author. Readers of Inside Morpeth are encouraged to get their copy before they sell out.

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through Morpeth’s past when she attended a local history class in Newcastle where the lecturer helped the class to understand that the town was originally developed along the lines of ancient ploughed furrows. “I found it fascinating that there were relics of Morpeth’s history going right back to the earliest agricultural times through the layout of the town – physical records in the plan of the town that date back to the days of the pre-Norman conquests,” she said.

As we talk about Bridget’s last book – and she promises there will be no Frank Sinatra-style comeback – she tells me it has been the hardest of all to write because there were so many details of the story to get right. “I gave myself two years to research and write it and it has taken up a great deal of my energy and time. There were hundreds if not thousands of details to get right, all of which needed to be organised and referenced.

“When I started out writing the Curious Yards and Alleyways of Morpeth (the first book) I was very innocent. I did not plan to write more. But it sold well and I was encouraged to continue.

One thing leads to another and I think I have revealed facts about Morpeth’s history that were not widely known before.”

Bridget’s series of books about Morpeth have all been published by Greater Morpeth Development Trust and she paid tribute to the sterling support and encouragement the Trust has given her over the past seven years. “Without the Trust there would simply not be all these books about Morpeth’s history which is as colourful as that of any place in England,” she said.

Over the past seven years here at Inside Morpeth we have brought readers news of Bridget’s latest literary works and I personally know from our chats that her work has been a true labour of love. Together, however, her eminently readable books will stand the test of time as enduring social records of life in the town and while Bridget may have decided to write no more she is the first to acknowledge that there are many more stories to tell about Morpeth.

“Morpeth has its full share of medieval history – a royal market charter, the kings’ wars, child birth at the castle, a plot to kill a hated king, the illegal hunting and killing of deer in the king’s forest, a wicked sheriff and a child marriage. It all happened here,” said Bridget.

And she is signing off her writing career with a challenge to someone else to follow in her footsteps. “Now I have ‘done my bit’ for Morpeth and reached the point where enough is enough. It is time for someone else to pick up the baton and run with it,” she said.

“... I have revealed facts about

Morpeth’s history that were not widely known

before.”

12 inside Morpeth

Aln Valley Railway

New shift for old colliery locoA ‘re-made in Morpeth’ former colliery locomotive has just been delivered to enthusiasts restoring an historic railway line, so that it can start a new shift at what is set to become a major tourist attraction in Northumberland.

The Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST locomotive No. 60 has spent the last few months being overhauled and made ready for steam again at the Hepscott works of Ian Storey… but its Morpeth connections do not end there because it is actually owned by Stephen Wood, the son of former Morpeth car and motor cycle dealer Harry Wood who many people in the town will still remember from his dealerships in Oldgate and Wellway.

Stephen bought the loco in 1976 and has based it until recently at the Strathspey Railway in the Scottish Highlands along with another ‘sister’ locomotive he owns. That Hunslet Austerity No. 48 will also very shortly be arriving at the Aln Valley Railway’s Lionheart Station on the outskirts of Alnwick.

Built in 1948 loco No. 60 was one of more than 400 engines that were made to be the workhorses of pits all around the country. Some were also used by the Army and were sent to work in France during the Second World War.

It worked at coal mines around County Durham while the older engine which was built five years earlier for the War Department, later worked at pits in Northumberland including Backworth, Eccles and at the NCB Workshops in Ashington.

Stephen, who now lives in Carrbridge near Aviemore, said when he visited Alnwick he liked what he saw was being developed by enthusiasts at the Aln Valley Railway, so he decided to transfer both his locomotives to be based there.

“It is more than 20 years since the engine was last in service but after what Ian has done at his works it is almost as good as new now,” he said. “I can’t wait to see both engines operating at Lionheart,” he said.

“What is pleasing is that they will be working not far from Morpeth where I have so many memories through my father running his motor businesses there for many years.”

The engines will be pulling coaches for passenger rides along more than half a mile of track which has already been laid from the new Lionheart Station towards the eventual destination of Alnmouth and the east Coast Main Line. Aln Valley, Northumberland’s only standard gauge heritage railway, has one other operational steam engine as well as three diesel locomotives and a number

of fully restored carriages which are used for passenger rides throughout the summer months.

Enthusiasts first began work on the railway attraction six years ago and last year it received a Gold Award from Northumberland Tourism in its small venue category. Their plan is to eventually extend the track - which at the moment is around half a mile long - and run passenger trip trains right down to Alnmouth.

As well as building a new Lionheart Station the Aln Valley volunteers have also been busy restoring passenger coaches, the latest being a luxury coach used by the directors of the old North Eastern Railway to travel in some style around the north of England from York to the Scottish Borders and across to Cumbria, at the back end of the 19th Century. The coach is owned by Graeme Binns but is currently being restored to its former glory at Lionheart.

One of those working on the restoration is Chris Lediard of Longhirst while well known Morpeth businessman Les English is refurbishing chairs and settees used by the directors during their travels. The coach also had a kitchen, bathroom and travelling boardroom, Chris says their aim is to have the coach full restored by the end of this year and eventually hire it out for parties and perhaps even weddings, as well as running it along the Lionheart track.

For details of Aln Valley Railway opening hours from April to October including special steam weekends visit: www.alnvalleyrailway.co.uk First trip on the track for the newly arrived loco

Stephen Wood (right) and Ian Storey on the footplate of the cab

inside Morpeth 13

www.ravenkitchendesign.co.uk T: 01670 785722 E: info@ravenkitchendesign.co.ukSHOWROOM: New Kennels, Blagdon Estate, Northumberland NE13 6DB

Blagdon Kitchens_Inside Morpeth_Advert_Spring 17_AW.indd 1 30/01/2017 15:36

Earlier this month The NEC Birmingham hosted the KBB exhibition, the UK’s biggest event showcasing new and upcoming trends in the world of kitchens. All aspects of kitchen design are on show, including appliances, worksurfaces, extraction systems, storage solutions, lighting and, of course, the latest kitchen furniture designs.

It’s a lot to take in over one day, especially as many of our suppliers were represented and it is difficult to walk too far without a friendly face inviting you onto their stand for a coffee and a chat. Well it would be rude not to accept.

My first port of call was the impressive collection of kitchen displays from Dutch manufacturer Keller. As we have recently been appointed as Keller’s sole partner in the North East it was a perfect opportunity for me to sit down and discuss the design of the new display we will be fitting soon in our Blagdon showroom. It was difficult to know where to start because of the huge range of styles and finishes Keller have to offer, but we think we have come up with something really special and we can’t wait to show clients our new offering.

Worktops are an important part of any successful kitchen design. We are designated Elite Partners of Silestone and Dekton manufacturers Consentino, so my next stop was to visit their vast stand where they had dozens of full slabs of some stunning new designs. Some of the patterns are very difficult to demonstrate with small showroom samples and these full slabs show the designs in all their glory. Luckily we are quite close to one of Consentino’s main depots and we often suggest our clients visit the Darlington facility to see the full slabs for themselves.

One thing which was particularly noticeable as I walked round was how many appliance manufactures have launched their version of

the all-in-one induction hob with integrated downdraft extraction. Followers of Raven Kitchen Design will be aware that we are main dealers of Bora, the Austrian company which was the first manufacturer to launch this concept a few years ago.

Whilst many well-known manufactures have made a decent effort at copying the Bora system, like many things in life we believe the original is still the best and we are pleased to confirm our commitment to Bora going forward. Clearly we are not the only people to think this because the Bora stand was easily the busiest at the show with a constant stream of people queuing up to see the new Professional 2 system in action.

Having said that the downdraft system is not appropriate in every situation, so I spent quite a while with Italian extraction specialists Airuno looking at their excellent range of flush ceiling and integrated extractors. One model in particular which caught my eye was the fully integrated extractor which is virtually invisible when housed within wall units.

Next stop was Blanco, our favourite sink and tap specialist. Some of the new Silgranite composite sinks have some ingenious extra design twists. I can’t help wanting to borrow from Rowan Atkinson in Love Actually when describing the Blanco range – it is so much more than a sink!

Brilliant storage solutions from Kessebohmer, exciting new unit lighting systems from Sensio, beautiful examples of Corian fabrication and superb quality range cookers from Steel Cuisine were all on show and are all part of the Raven Kitchen Design stable.

Tired but inspired I headed back up the M1 with my head full of new ideas to incorporate into our complete new showroom refurbishment which we are undertaking over the coming weeks. We have some cracking deals on ex. display kitchens and appliances so if this is something which may be of interest please get in touch.

For further information please call either myself or Hannah on 01670 785722.

Showcasing the very latest kitchen trends and designsBy Tony Raven of Raven Kitchen Design

The Professional 2 down draft extraction system from Bora

The new Silgranite composite sinks have some ingenious extra design twists like this glass chopping board and integrated food drainer

Some of the fantastic new work top designs from Dekton

The Bora team demonstrating the new Professional 2 system

14 inside Morpeth

inside Morpeth 15

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16 inside Morpeth

Rutherfords

Whether you embrace bold brights or more modern muted tones we all need some colour in our lives and Rutherfords of Morpeth has ideas and inspirations to decorate your home in a shade to suit your style.

Accessories in cheerful, uplifting colours bursting with Spring energy bring a room back to life after the dark days of winter.

Winter is all about dark cosy colours while Spring offers the chance to indulge in your favourite colour whether that’s a nature-inspired green or purple and red shades that echo those of springtime flowers.

If you prefer neutral tones in your home you can still opt for a splash of colour through accessories, wall art and artificial flowers.

Wow your visitors with these metal wall art sunflowers and pineapple. With prices starting at £26.99 they make an eye-catching addition to any home.

Cushions or throws add instant life and energy to a room while artificial flowers like tulips priced at just £3.75 each bring the outdoors inside to remind us that Spring is indeed here. Being daring with bold patterns and colours can provide a room with an instant make-over.

At Rutherfords we have bedspreads, throws and cushions that can add a pop of colour to

any bedroom. The bedspread in yellow and grey priced at £139 is a stunning addition to any bedroom.

Colour crockery, accessories and electrical appliances will give your kitchen a lift without having to splash out on new units or getting out the paintbrush!

Nature-inspired botanical accessories are a home décor trend that will continue throughout 2018. Sea blues and leafy greens can be combined with earthy colours and rugged textures found in nature to bring the outdoors indoors in the most beautiful way.

Whatever your palette Rutherfords of Morpeth can help make your home bright and beautiful this Spring.

All things bright and beautiful!

inside Morpeth 17

18 inside Morpeth

Vets4Pets

Healthy pets are happy pets!

There’s a well-worn saying that ‘a dog – or indeed a cat – is for life not Christmas’ and that is very much the maxim of Frances and her colleagues who run their practice from within the Pets At Home store in the town centre of Morpeth.

Between them Frances and her team believe that a well-looked-after and cared for pet is very much part of the family circle and deserves to be treated as such. Which is why they are so keen to offer owners advice and assistance from the time they welcome a puppy, kitten or another small animal into their homes through to a pet’s on-going care and treatment during its lifetime.

Although Vets4Pets Morpeth has the support of Pets at Home group the practice is run very much as a family business with continuity of care and clinical freedom being provided by a compact qualified team including Frances, her veterinary surgeon colleague Gayle MacDonald, registered veterinary nurses Angela Storey, Charlotte Johnson and Nicola Oliver, receptionist Julie Fletcher and Sarah Bott from Client Care. Simon Allan, Frances’ husband is the practice manager.

Frances qualified as a vet at Edinburgh University where Gayle also studied, and her first job was very much in the James Herriott ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ mould at a practice in Penrith including gaining plenty of experience in lambing and calving. These are fond memories and gave Frances a fantastic perspective on life as a vet but the cold nights on call and vast area she had to cover whilst managing a family pushed her in to the small world.

After Cumbria Frances moved to the PDSA clinic on the outskirts of Newcastle. Living in Longhorsley at the time and bringing up her daughter Natasha, Frances took the decision to be a local vet within the Morpeth area and working for another local practice Frances built up a fantastic, trusted client base and a strong reliable reputation within veterinary circles.

Frances was then head hunted by the Vets4Pets brand and offered the opportunity to open a Vets4Pets North Tyneside. Through

hard work, determination and that all important compassion, caring and love for animals North Tyneside is thriving.

In 2016 Frances was asked to provide the same principles and apply them to Vets4Pets Morpeth. Frances and the team have embedded themselves in the community bringing the same vision and values to this all important town. The Vets4Pets Morpeth practice is upstairs within the Pets At Home store.

“What is so good about our location in Morpeth is that we are right in the very centre of town making it easy for owners to bring their pets to us and there is plenty of free car parking right outside the store,” said Frances.

The state-of-the-art Morpeth practice is well equipped to deal with the routine day-to-day care of pets but also has its own operating theatre, digital x-ray unit,

ultrasound, endoscopy, pharmacy and in-house laboratory for animals needing more specialist treatment.

The practice also has an Orthopaedic surgeon who is supporting the team fully and offers that all important expertise for more demanding cases.

Frances and her team are also more than happy to meet and talk with pet owners seeking advice in looking after their animals including guidance on diets and they can offer a range of healthcare plans aimed at making essential routine treatment more affordable perhaps through monthly payment schemes.

Catch Frances and the team at this year’s Morpeth fair day they will be offering advice, support and special offers along with an attractive goody bag.

By way of a preview of our new regular column on pet care and advice Frances Gray who owns and runs Vets4Pets introduces her Morpeth veterinary practice to our readers.

The Vets4Pets team in Morpeth will now be contributing regular articles on pet care and advice in Inside Morpeth magazine.

inside Morpeth 19

Emily Wilding Davison

vets4pets adDid you know Vets4Pets Morpeth is owned & run by local resident Frances Gray?

Veterinary Surgeon Frances Gray BVM&S MRCVS lives locally with her family and expanding menagerie of ponies, dogs, cat, chickens and ducks!

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Morpeth Vac4Life leaflet A5 dog.indd 1 27/03/2018 12:10

20 inside Morpeth

More events Inside ...What’s on

APRIL

LONGHIRST SPRING FAYRECraft stalls and lots more including home made cakes, jams, bacon butties, tea, coffee and raffle. Proceeds in aid of St John’s Church Hall

Date: Saturday 21 April Time: 10am – 2pm Place: Longhirst Village Hall Cost: Free entry

21 SINGING YEARSThe New Voices Community Choir formed 21 years ago as 20,000 Voices celebrates an anniversary with 21 Songs for 21 Years

Date: Saturday 12 April Time: 10.30am Place: Morpeth Town Hall Cost: Tickets £5 – Under 16s free Contact: Tickets from Rutherfords of Morpeth

or choir members

A MUSICAL SOIREE

Morpeth’s own Alex Banfield (Tenor) with

Wallis Giunta (Mezzo Soprano) from Belgium

and Canadian Sarah Foubert (Soprano)

present an evening of solos and duets

accompanied by pianist Eward Gilford. A

varied concert featuring arias and duets from

Opera – including songs by Mozart, Bizet,

Dvorak, Massenet, Offenbach, Britten and

Bernstein and songs and duets by Schubert,

Vaughan Williams, and Eric Boswell. A

musical feast - something for everyone!

Former KEVI student Alex is donating his

expenses to the Henry Dance Days charity.

Date: Saturday 21 April

Time: 7pm

Place: St George’s Church Morpeth

Cost: Tickets £10 from Gillian Irvine

(01670 515870 or gai@irvines.or.uk);

The Chantry TIC (cash sales only)

MORPETH FLOWER CLUBOpen evening with national demonstrator Derek Armstrong under the title ‘With a Little Imagination.’

Date: Wednesday 25 April Time: 7.30pm Place: KEVI School Morpeth Cost: Tickets £9 for guests Contact: For tickets call Christine on (01670) 513625 or Marjorie on (01670) 513336

CHARITY FASHION SHOWOrganised by Morpeth Lions in aid of Cleasewell Hill School’s hydrotherapy pool appeal. Nibbles, cabaret and beauty demonstrations

Date: Thursday 26 April Time: 7pm Place: Riverside Lodge Morpeth Cost: Tickets £15 Contact: For tickets call Simon Pringle (01670) 513169; Boutique Ravello or My Pet HQ Oldgate, Morpeth

ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY AGMAnnual meeting of Morpeth Antiquarian Society

Date: Friday 27 April Time: 7.15pm Place: St James’ Church Centre Wellway Morpeth Cost: £3 for guests Contact: Val Cowan on 07887 594161

CHARITY GOLF DAYIn aid of Friends of Morpeth Floral Clock.

Date: Sunday 29 April Time: From 9am start Place: Morpeth Golf Club Cost: £25 per player or £100 team of fourContact: Louise Greenhaugh 07732 907 040

GIRLS FOOTBALL WEEKMorpeth Town Juniors take part in a FA Girls’ Football Week of events as part of a national campaign to get more girls playing the game. Sessions for girls aged over 5 and those at primary schools. No previous football experience required. Newcastle United Women’s FC players will attend and the week will finish with a series of football finals at Craik Park. The Club runs five girls teams and the U14s are currently top of their league.

Dates: Monday 23 to Saturday 28 April

Times: Monday 23 5pm - 7pm Morpeth Common for girls in Year 5 and above

Tuesday 24 6pm - 7pm Morpeth Common for girls at primary school up to Year 4

Wednesday - bring a friend and join in a training session

Thursday 26 6pm - 7pm Soccercise for mums and daughters. Football based exercise - no soccer skills required - at Riverside Leisure Centre

Saturday 28 Girls Cup Final at Craik Park - details to be finalised

Places: Craik Park, Morpeth Common and Riverside Leisure Centre Contact: For more details call Paula Cromar 07709 807551

inside Morpeth 21

MAY

MORPETH COMMUNITY CINEMA‘The Finest’ tells the story of Catrin Cole who

was recruited by the British Ministry of

Information to write for propaganda films

during World War II. Stars Gemma Atherton

and Bill Nighy

Date: Friday 4 May

Time: 7pm

Place: Morpeth Town Hall

Cost: Tickets £6

Contact: Contact GMDT (01670) 503866 ,

The Chantry TIC or at the door

KIRKLEY HALL TALKFriends of Kirkley Hall invite Peter Middleton,

his very talkative raven and a Barn Owl, to

demonstrate how important a huge variety of

wild birds are to the successful running of his

organic farm through many hours of work

and the planting of a mile of hedging and

many trees

Date: Wednesday 9 May

Time: 7pm

Place: Kirkley Hall near Ponteland

Cost: Members £4; non-members £5

Contact: friendsofkirkleyhall@gmail.com

MID NORTHUMBERLAND CHORUS

Music in May concert featuring a performance of Vivaldi’s Gloria and a choral selection by Gilbert and Sullivan. Concert in aid of Morpeth Mayor Nic Best’s fund raising charity for the Wansbeck Valley Food Bank

Date: Saturday 12 May Time: 7.30pm Place: Morpeth Methodist Church Howard Road Cost: Tickets £7.50 Contact: For tickets call (01670) 788869 or at the door

BERWICK ORCHESTRA CONCERTProgramme of three works by Mendelssohn, Mozart and Brahms perhaps never before heard live in Morpeth or the region. They include Mozart’s ‘The Fair Melusine’, and the first of Brahms’ two Serenades written for a full orchestra. Concert – conducted by Dave Thomas – will be in aid of the Wansbeck Valley Food Bank which annually provides some 30,000 meals for people in real need

Date: Sunday 13 May Time: 7.30pm Place: New Life Christian Centre, Dacre Street Morpeth Cost: Tickets £8 (students £5) from Chantry TIC and at the door

LUNCHTIME CONCERTRecital by The Da Vinci String Quartet from the Royal Northern Sinfonia. Tea, coffee and biscuits available

Date: Wednesday 16 May Time: 12.30pm – 1.30pm (Doors Open at Noon) Place: St George’s URC Morpeth Cost: Tickets £3 at the door

MAMMOTH PLANT SALE

Annual event combined with a coffee morning

Date: Saturday 26 May Time: 10am – 1pm Place: St George’s URC Morpeth Cost: Entry free.

JUNE

MORPETH COMMUNITY CINEMAPresents ‘Lion’ starting Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman and Rooney Mara which tells the story of 5 year old Indian Boy who is trapped on a train and taken 1,500 miles from his home. He becomes a street child before being adopted by a prosperous family but he is plagued by memories of his lost family

Date: Friday 1 June Time: 7pm Place: Morpeth Town Hall Cost: Tickets £6 Contact: GMDT (503866), The Chantry

TIC or at the door

SUMMER GARDEN FETEAt the Millennium Green in the Old Bakehouse Yard off Newgate Street, Morpeth. Stalls, tombola, children’s games – fun for all the family

Date: Saturday 2 June Time: 11am – 2pm Place: Millennium Green, Old Bakehouse Yard Cost: Admission is free

MORPETH THEATRE EVENINGThe first ‘live’ screening of a West End play ‘The Audience’ via a digital download to Morpeth by GMDT with the support of CINEGI. The play which starred Helen Mirren as the Queen, will shortly re-open with Kirsten Scott Thomas in the lead role, and tells how Her Majesty has met 12 Prime Ministers during her reign for weekly talks. The play breaks the rule of a contract of silence surrounding the meetings, by imagining what takes place. GMDT – which runs the monthly community cinemas – hopes in the future to screen more live opera, ballet and other theatre productions

Date: Friday 12 May Time: 6.30pm Place: Morpeth Town Hall Cost: Tickets are £10 Contact: For tickets – GMDT (01670 503866), Chantry TIC, Town Hall or – if available – at the door

What’s on

22 inside Morpeth

YOUR LOCAL

FLOORINGEXPERTS

FREE ESTIMATES

EXCELLENT CUSTOMER CARE

COMPETITIVE PRICES

For a no obligation free estimate call us on 01670 516815

Come and visit our showroom at Unit 2a Pegswood Industrial Estate, Morpeth NE61 6HZOPEN: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 9am - 5pm. Thursday 9am - 7pm. Saturday 10am - 4pm

inside Morpeth 23

YOUR LOCAL

FLOORINGEXPERTS

FREE ESTIMATES

EXCELLENT CUSTOMER CARE

COMPETITIVE PRICES

For a no obligation free estimate call us on 01670 516815

Come and visit our showroom at Unit 2a Pegswood Industrial Estate, Morpeth NE61 6HZOPEN: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 9am - 5pm. Thursday 9am - 7pm. Saturday 10am - 4pm

Town Cryer

Morpeth Town Council, Morpeth Town Hall, Market Place, Morpeth NE61 1LZ Call 01670 514314 email dee.smith@morpeth-tc.gov.uk or mayor@morpeth-tc.gov.uk or visit www.morpeth-tc.gov.uk

The latest News from Morpeth Town Council

TOWN CRYER!

The Civic Year ends in May and a new Mayor will be taking office, so – although as I write this, I still have two months to serve as Mayor – I’m going to make this something of a retrospective. Incidentally, the Town Council will be reporting to the public and answering questions at the Annual Assembly on April 18th in Morpeth Town Hall. The Annual Report of the Town Council will be available, so come along and see what your Town Council has done for you in the past 12 months.

Within the Council the year has been one of transition and learning given the significant number of new councillors getting elected last May and as Mayor I have rather found myself in the role of mentor, not to say, “elder statesman”, managing and directing the enthusiasm and ideas of a young and energetic council.

The Council has continued to work in partnership with a range of organisations though this has involved a sharp learning curve for some of our new councillors. In particular, our working relationship with the County Council has blossomed through the Morpeth Forum – and I hope this will soon

bear fruit through the Morpeth Masterplan.

The response to my Mayor’s Charity Appeal for Wansbeck Valley Food Bank this year is going well. As I said when I chose them, this is not just about fundraising – though I’m hoping the cheque I hand over to them on May 16th will be fairly substantial – but also about awareness raising, volunteer recruitment and increasing donations of food and other living essentials.

On that last point, the Donation Point in the Town Hall is being really well used and I am hoping it will stay in place after I step down as Mayor. Oh - and there are two more fundraising events to come - on May 10th I’ll be counting the copper collection that The Cube café has been running and on May 12th there’s a special concert by the Mid-Northumberland Chorus. This has been arranged through my Mayoress Joan Howard

who is a member of the Chorus and will be singing with them. Look out for tickets on sale soon!

Despite the snow – I’ve had a fair bit of “mayoring” to do since Christmas with visits to the Town Hall from 3rd Morpeth Brownies, St Aidan’s Cuppa Club, MAPS and Newminster Middle School amongst others; and two lots of tree planting – firstly in Carlisle Park in memory of Emma Evans and then along the access road to St George’s replacing the lime trees maliciously poisoned two years ago.

0f course there was the Suffragette Edwardian Tea Room in the Town Hall, where I seized the opportunity to don a top hat and frock coat. The event also included a ballot on ideas “to improve life in Morpeth” mainly from Chantry Middle School, with proper voting booths and ballot boxes. I’m hoping that action can be taken on some of these ideas – I really don’t want these young people to get the impression that “voting doesn’t really change things!”

Now – rather late in the day – I’ve been given a batch of “I’ve met the Mayor of Morpeth” badges. I wonder if I can give them all away before I hand over to the new Mayor in mid-May?

Councillor Nic Best Mayor of Morpeth

Looking back on a busy Mayoral year

24 inside Morpeth

Town Cryer

Morpeth Town Council Budget 2018/19

Total Expenditure

£752,791

EXPENDITURE

£ Management & Support

265,713

Recreation & Leisure Services 164,298

Environmental Services 69,208

Cemeteries 0

Tourism, Grants & Subsidies 62,809

Other Services 33,263

Projects 157,500

Total Gross Expenditure 752,791

Total Income

£752,791

INCOME

£ Fees and Charges

-56,614

Council Tax -582,328

From Balances -113,849

Total Income -752,791

inside Morpeth 25

Town Cryer

The paddling pool, play areas and parks of Morpeth are enjoyed by many residents and visitors to the town.

The paddling pool and adjacent play areas, along with the skate park, located within Carlisle Park, are free facilities provided by Morpeth Town Council.

Play areas also maintained by the Town Council can be found at Stobhillgate, Stobhill Manor, Church Walk, Boundary Drive and Montrose Gardens. There is also a BMX track located on Morpeth Common.

We want to ensure that all children have fun and be safe as they play. Maintenance is currently being carried out on the paddling pool, to meet all Health and Safety requirements, in preparation for it opening. This year, the paddling pool will open on Saturday May 26th and will close on Sunday September 2nd.

All our play areas, parks and the paddling pool are well looked after, safe and accessible and inspected on a regular basis.

As part of our ongoing refurbishment of our play areas, this year, we are updating Carlisle Park toddler and junior

areas and the top area of Church Walk play area. This will include equipment of high and limitless play value with a dynamic, active and inclusive scheme that is

stimulating and exciting for both younger and older children.

Check out the Town Council website and Facebook page for regular updates.

Paddling pool opening for summer

Follow us on Facebook!Morpeth Town Council has become even more social with the launch of its new corporate Facebook page which will add another aspect of community engagement to our already strong connections with the Morpeth community.

Our aim is to give local residents regular updates on matters relating to the town, events taking place and information on the workings of the Town Council and its committees.

A separate Morpeth in Bloom Facebook page has also been launched with the latest news and events involving the Morpeth in Bloom campaign.

To “Like” and “Follow” us, just search Morpeth Town Council and Morpeth in Bloom on Facebook.

Invitation to Mayoral ceremonyThe customary Mayor Making Ceremony will take place on Wednesday May 16th at 6.30pm in the Ballroom of Morpeth Town Hall as part of the Annual Meeting of Morpeth Town Council.

Part of the meeting’s traditions involves passing around between Councillors a silver snuffbox and an ‘Emily’s Dish’ filled with chocolates and a speech by the outgoing Mayor, including their fund-raising activities.

Members of the public are welcome to attend.

Designs fit for local heroesAs part of its preparations for the 2018 In Bloom contest Morpeth Town Council has launched a competition to find some new designs for the floral planters in the Market Place.

For the past six years the planters have carried designs produced to mark the London Olympics but the Council has decided to replace them with images of some of Morpeth’s most renowned ‘local heroes.’

So an open art competition is being run in conjunction with the Lateral Art shop in Chantry Place - and would-be designers have until Friday May 18th (2018) to get their entries in.

Although there may be some obvious candidates to be chosen as a local hero in Morpeth, organisers will be looking for a wide range of individuals or organisations who have contributed to the town and enhanced its reputation in one way or another.

Pictures – which can be in any medium and of any size – need not be in the form of portraits and can reflect events and other matters

bringing to mind a ‘hero’ or their activities.

The requirement is for up to 40 images which could be on show for many years to come. All entries will form part of a display in the Town Hall with the best three images being used on postcards to be sold for charity throughout the Council’s facilities. Three prizes will also be awarded.

The competition is being managed and run by Lateral Art at 1 Chantry Place, and entries can be submitted there either in person or electronically to stephen@lateralart.co.uk. Any queries should also be addressed to Lateral Art (01670) 515559.

In Bloom design entries to Stephen Greenway at LateralArt

26 inside Morpeth

Full Council18th April 2018 (Annual Assembly) 16th May 2018 (Mayor Making)

Planning & Transport Committee11th April 2018 9th May 2018

Finance & General Purposes Committee2nd May 2018

Council Meeting Timetable - See noticeboards and website.

Meeting Timetable for the period 9th April 2018 – 31st May 2018. All meetings will be held in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall. All Committee meetings commence at 6:30pm, unless otherwise stated on the posters or website.

MORPETH TOWN COUNCILLORSMORPETH NORTH WARD

COUNCILLOR NIC BEST T. 01670 517915 M. 07878 896 292 E. nic.best@morpeth-tc.gov.uk

COUNCILLOR LES CASSIE T. 01670 516424 M. 07739 259 254 E. les.cassie@morpeth-tc.gov.uk

COUNCILLOR DAVID BAWN M. 07947 248 220 E. david.bawn@morpeth-tc.gov.uk

COUNCILLOR RACHAEL HOGG M. 07738 001 173 E. rachael.hogg@morpeth-tc.gov.uk

COUNCILLOR RICHARD THOMPSON T. 01670 510287 E. richard.thompson@morpeth-tc.gov.uk

MORPETH KIRKHILL WARD

COUNCILLOR JACK GEBHARD M. 07375 646 734 E. jack.gebhard@morpeth-tc.gov.uk

COUNCILLOR KATE HOLMES M. 07757 978 518 E. kate.holmes@morpeth-tc.gov.uk

COUNCILLOR ANDREW TEBBUTT T. 01670 511631 M. 07767 338 509 E. andrew.tebbutt@morpeth-tc.gov.uk

COUNCILLOR JOAN TEBBUTT T. 01670 511631 E. joan.tebbutt@morpeth-tc.gov.uk

COUNCILLOR RICHARD WEARMOUTH M. 07808 804 345 E. richard.wearmouth@morpeth-tc.gov.uk

MORPETH STOBHILL WARD

COUNCILLOR ALISON BYARD T. 01670 515391 M. 07963 306 549 E. alison.byard@morpeth-tc.gov.uk

COUNCILLOR JOHNNY WEARMOUTH M. 07956 429 942 E. johnny.wearmouth@morpeth-tc.gov.uk

COUNCILLOR NICOLA BAWN M. 07950 580 204 E. nicola.bawn@morpeth-tc.gov.uk

COUNCILLOR DAVE HERNE M. 07980 599 471 E. dave.herne@morpeth-tc.gov.uk

COUNCILLOR JOAO PARREIRA M. 07930 211 121 E. jp@morpeth-tc.gov.uk

Home addresses are available from the Town Council Offices or website

Town Cryer

How proud are you of your garden?If you are why not enter it in a new competition being inaugurated this year in conjunction with Morpeth’s In Bloom campaign.This year Morpeth will be representing Northumberland, Cleveland and Durham in the national Britain In Bloom competition and the Town Council in association with its

Bloom partners MSRRF and Heighley Gate, wants to give local private gardeners the chance to show how proud they are not just of their own plots but of Morpeth being such a beautiful floral town.

So all you have to do to enter the Morpeth in Bloom 2018 Private Garden Competition is to take up to three photographs of your own garden between now and July 31st then enter them via the Morpeth Town Council website,

adding a few words about why you love your garden so much and what inspires you to get out there and keep it neat and tidy and looking fabulous!

Entries can only be accepted electronically. Those submitted will be judged from the photographs and two lucky winners will receive a small gardening-themed prize that will be presented to them by the Mayor of Morpeth.

Heighley Gate Garden Centre

Strawberries are not just for Wimbledon - they’re for your garden too...... says Nigel Lawton of Heighley Gate

Spring judging for this year’s Northumbria in Bloom competition will take place on April 25th and with this in mind the team at Heighley Gate will be out and about ensuring that the floral displays are looking their very best. Despite being the coldest (and longest!) winter for a number of years the resilience of Spring bedding plants never ceases to amaze and a little Spring sun and warmth is usually enough to trigger a riot of colour.

Meanwhile back at the centre our thoughts turn to summer... Wimbledon, Pimm’s, pavlovas and puddings - and the British summer would be nothing without the sweet taste of ripe strawberries.The good news is, strawberries are really easy to grow and here are a few tips.

Choosing your strawberry

Depending on when you want to harvest your strawberries there are a number of summer-fruiting varieties available. Alternatively you could choose perpetuals (sometimes called everbearers) which carry on producing smaller fruit until early autumn. Plant a mixture of both and you’ll be picking beautiful berries from July to September.

Top tips for success

Strawberries are incredibly versatile so are happy in beds, containers, grow bags or even hanging baskets, provided they get lots of sunshine.

Before you plant your strawberries, clear the ground of weeds and dig a trench 45cm wide and 25cm deep. To give your berries a boost, mix in a layer of compost or well-rotted manure with the topsoil.

Once your strawberries are growing, you’ll need to keep the fruit off the soil. Traditionally this was done by putting straw under the leaves of the plants (hence the name ‘strawberry’). Alternatively you can cover the soil with a membrane once you’ve prepared it, and cut holes in it when you come to plant.

Before planting, soak the pot then gently knock the root ball out. Carefully tease out and separate the roots then place the plants about 35cm apart. If your strawberry patch has several rows, leave 75cm between them.

Make sure that the crown of the plant is just level with the surface of the soil and add a good glug of water after planting to help everything settle.

Feeding and mulching

Give strawberries a boost in early spring with a general fertiliser, then a liquid potash treat (tomato feed works well) during fruiting.

If you haven’t planted your strawberries through matting or polythene, then once the fruits start to appear, pack strips of matting under the fruits to support them and keep them off the soil.

Pests and diseases

It’s not just us humans who love a good strawberry. They’re a real favourite with birds and bugs, so as soon as the first fruit appears cover your plants with a fruit cage or fine-gauge bird netting to keep the beasties at bay.

Grey mould can be caused by excess moisture on or around strawberry plants. If you spot grey fuzz developing on leaves, buds or flowers, remove them immediately.

Harvest

If you’ve planted strawberry plants from pots, they should produce a crop in their first year. Don’t worry if it’s not particularly heavy, you’ll get a lot more fruit in the second year.

Pick as soon as the strawberries start to reach their full size and turn from green to red. Check back every day, as they’ll ripen fast.

Best Wishes & Happy Gardening

inside Morpeth 27

28 inside Morpeth

At a motor dealership where 100 per cent of customers polled say they would recommend it to their family and friends it should perhaps come as no surprise to learn that would-be owners have quite literally travelled from the opposite ends of the country to buy a new car from Vertu Honda Morpeth!

Opened only 18 months ago Morpeth is ranked in the top three of the company’s 148 dealerships for sales and the top six for servicing with customers giving it a 9.5 rating out of 10 on social media sites for overall satisfaction.

Recently – because of the reputation the dealership has built up in the time it has been open - one customer travelled down to Morpeth from the Outer Hebrides to buy a car while another motored up north from Portsmouth to make their purchase…and they plan to bring the cars back to Northumberland to have them serviced!

Of course, most motorists don’t travel that far and there are plenty of owners from in and around Morpeth who have posted favourable comments on social media sites about how satisfied they are with the time and trouble managers and staff at the site take to make sure they not only get the right car they are looking for but that the after-sales service they receive is second to none.

Billy Taylor who is General Manager for the three Vertu Honda sites in the North East including Morpeth, says: “Whether a customer is looking for a £6,000 car or a £36,000 one we treat them all the same. We are part of a major nationwide motor company but here at Morpeth we operate just like a small family business where everyone is important to us.”

Mark Spring has been Sales Manager at Vertu Honda Morpeth for the past 12 months. “Our showroom has space to display five or six cars but we can easily supply customers with the car of their choice from the full Honda range,” he said. “On site we always have up to 30 quality approved pre-owned cars but again we have access to between four and five thousand Vertu vehicles any of which can

be brought to Morpeth if that is the vehicle a customer wants to purchase from us.

“Being offered the sales manager’s position at Morpeth was a ‘perfect storm’ for me because it is a great dealership to work at and Honda cars rank among the very best in the business,” added Mark who has worked for Vertu for more than 12 years.

The three-strong team of sales’ executives can also point to having many years of experience in the business behind them. Take Andy Davis, for example. Andy has been selling cars for more than 40 years at some of the top dealerships in the region but switched his allegiance to Vertu Honda some 10 years ago. “We get customers coming to Morpeth from all over Northumberland and Tyneside, some because they have dealt with us in the past but many because the town is such a convenient place to get to,” he said.

His colleague Steve Huntbach has been in the motor business for more than 30 years, a decade of which was spent working in the United States. “When I was there on holiday I went into a dealership out of professional curiosity, got talking to the owner and eventually was offered a job which I decided to take,” he said.

Six years ago Steve returned home to the UK to join Vertu Honda. “Morpeth is a great place to work because we have some loyal customers, many of whom often just pop

in for a chat and a cup of coffee. One of the things we think they like about dealing with us is that we all try to treat customers like we would want our family and friends to be looked after.”

Dan Charlton is the most recent sales’ executive to join the Morpeth dealership. He began his time in the motor trade as a spray painter and panel beater before moving into sales. He spent four years at the Vertu Honda dealership on Newcastle’s Scotswood Road before making the switch to Morpeth. Yvonne Harrison is the dealership’s accountant.

The sales’ team at Morpeth is backed up on the servicing side by Sean Coulson who is service manager for both the Newcastle and Morpeth dealerships, service advisor Jon Scott and two technicians Brian Clarke and James Armit. Sean who has worked with Honda cars for 25 years, said: “We all try to go that extra mile to make sure we look after owners even to the extent of driving them back into town from our site at Coopies Lane.”

The last word perhaps should go to two of the many satisfied customers who have gone on to social media sites to post comments about the way they have been looked after at Vertu Honda Morpeth. One wrote: “The best experience I have ever had buying a car,” while another added: “The car I bought was my first Honda but after this experience my next car will also be a Honda!”

Going that extra mile in Morpeth!

Vertu Honda

Sales Manager Mark Spring with the Vertu Honda Morpeth dealership team

inside Morpeth 29

A Test Drive ?At Vertu Honda Morpeth we just wanted you to know when you take

one of our cars for a test drive, it’s just that. A test drive.There’s no pressure to buy or sign on any dotted line.

You should think of it more as you getting to know the car, it getting to know you and seeing if you like each other. Come and enjoy a

drive at Vertu Honda Morpeth. You won’t be disappointed.

Model Shown: Jazz EX 1.3 i-VTEC Manual in White Orchid Pearl at £17,615 On The Road (OTR). HR-V SE 1.5 i-VTEC Manual in White Orchid Pearl at £21,950 On The Road (OTR). Civic Sport Plus 1.5 i-VTEC Turbo Manual in Rallye Red at £25,820 On The Road (OTR). CR-V 2.0 i-VTEC EX Manual in Passion Red at £32,815 On The Road (OTR).

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Scots Gap, Morpeth NE61 4DT • Tel: 01670 774205Opening hours are Monday to Friday 8.30am - 5.30pm,

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OPENING HOURSMONDAY...................................................................9AM – 6PM

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EARLY BIRD SATURDAYS

LATE NIGHT THURSDAYS

inside Morpeth 31

Although 50 years is a long time for one club to be in charge the two lakes at Hallington are nearer to 150 years old. They were built in the late 19th Century as part of a programme to provide a thirsty and expanding population on Tyneside with cleaner drinking water.

The water which passes through Hallington comes from two sources – the English flanks of the Cheviot Hills collected in Catcleugh Reservoir and the North Tyne – and the high quality stocked rainbow trout share the waters with wild brownies, perch and some very sizeable dace. No wonder then that the Ospreys visit Hallington every year along with otters, to dine on a varied menu!

Fishing isn’t cheap but sharing Hallington with creatures like these is a privilege few would rather do without.

When Westwater first went to Hallington the club was also fishing on other lakes and rivers but over the years it proved by far the most popular venue with members so it gradually gave up its other interests to concentrate on turning the East and West reservoirs into the top class fishery that exists today. The club has a fine fishing lodge with a comfortable members’ lounge overlooking the 125 acre lakes.

An important part of Hallington’s appeal is its peaceful atmosphere and there is no pressure to fish against the clock to get value for money out of a day’s ticket. Hallington is about enjoyment whether casting a fly or simply walking around its four miles of banks.

The club makes every effort to cater for the needs of all types of anglers and it numbers several fully qualified casting and fishing instructors among its members with coaching courses being regular and popular events.

As our chairman David Birch reflects: “Fly fishing nationwide just like golf, sailing and a multitude of other outdoor activities, is going through a difficult period. The way we live our lives continues to evolve and less time for activities like these is the norm due to work pressures and life-style changes.

“It is a challenge to maintain membership numbers and recruiting from the younger generations is difficult even though they represent the future of our sport. The demographic with the most leisure time available is generally those of 50 or over, or who have retired, and it is these groups who are most likely to provide us with new members in the future.

“Westwater Angling has seen many changes with ‘fads’ coming and going across the nation’s trout stillwaters although the vast majority have been resisted – in particular bait fishing and the huge ‘jumbo’ trout. What we have done is to preserve the original concepts of fly fishing including a stealthy approach imitating both the appearance of an insect coupled with a respect and even reverence for the quarry which are all important aspects of the ethos of our club.

“Fly fishing at Hallington is challenging, demanding but extremely fulfilling when you get it right and surely they are all aspects which can enhance our own lives!

“Trout fishing can be reduced to a typical moment. You see a trout rise and take an insect which you recognise. Reaching into your fly box you select and then tie on a fly to imitate the natural. Do I need to present it on or just under the surface? With anticipation growing you delicately cast the line, the fly lands softly close to the trout and – as if in slow motion – it rises and engulfs it.”

As the club celebrates 50 years will it still be here in another fifty. When Westwater anglers first started catching fish at Hallington The Beatles were still together, and no one had set foot on the moon! The half century that has passed has seen enormous changes in technology, social mores and leisure pursuits.

However if in 50 years time people still yearn for closer contact with nature, the challenge of trying to deceive a trout with a piece of feather and tinsel and a chance to enjoy the beauty of Northumberland then hopefully Westwater Angling will still be around to do just that.

Anyone interested in discovering more about the Westwater experience can find out what’s on offer on their doorsteps at Hallington by visiting westwaterflyfishingclub.co.uk

Casting around for an angler’s havenMorpeth artist and designer Ashley Eldridge who is also a keen angler, reports for Inside Morpeth on the 50th anniversary for one of Northumberland’s longest established angling clubs. During its anniversary year Ashley will be the ‘artist in residence’ at the Westwater Fly Fishing Club based at Hallington Reservoirs near Corbridge.

The peaceful waters of Hallington near Corbridge are the perfect place for a spot of fishing

Westwater

Hoping for a big lottery ‘win’

The Cresswell Pele Tower Charitable Incorporated Organisation that has been set up as a registered charity, is seeking £677,600 to deliver a project to safeguard the future of the 15th ancient monument and remove it from Historic England’s ‘at risk’ register. Funding support for the project has already been secured from local Northumberland County Councillor Scott Dickinson, Northumberland County Council, CELL Big Local, the Cresswell Village Hall Association and some local businesses.

The bid is now being assessed by the HLF with a decision expected in about three months time. If approval is given it is hoped repair and restoration work would start later this year in time to open the Pele Tower to the public by the summer of next year. To date the HLF has already supported to the project to the tune of £103,000 to allow the bid to be progressed to the stage where a main funding bid was ready to be submitted.

The plan is to carry out repairs to the three storey tower involving re-pointing its stonework, re-laying floors, glazing its windows, fitting a new roof, installing modern lighting and heating with spectacular views across Druridge Bay from the roof parapet.

Walls around the tower and adjoining woodland would be repaired and a Victorian bothy re-built to provide shelter and welfare facilities for volunteers engaged on work at the Pele Tower, while landscaping would be carried out in the grounds around the tower. Interpretation panels would also be designed to guide visitors around the site.

Importantly the funding would also be used to offer local people training in heritage skills as well as funding a further community archaeology project which has already been so successful in attracting scores of volunteers keen to dig into the area’s past to provide further proof that early man was living and

working in and around Cresswell some 10,000 years ago.

The plan would be to carry out more excavations around the tower and an adjoining field where two early Bronze Age burial kists were unearthed last year along with many pieces of flint, axe heads, Roman Iron Age sherds, stone tools, medieval and post-medieval ceramics.

Along with discoveries from the earlier ‘Rescued from the Sea’ dig at the Hauxley end of Druridge Bay, what has already been unearthed at Cresswell has led archaeologists to conclude that further digging in the area as part of the Pele Tower restoration project could reveal many more treasures from its past.

Cresswell Parish Council and Greater Morpeth Development Trust have worked together to prepare the bid for submission to the HLF. Parish Council chairman Michael Wright says the local community including schools is fully behind the bid to preserve and restore the Pele Tower as a link to Cresswell’s past.

“In the Middle Ages there were around 175 pele towers scattered around Northumberland as fortified homes to defend

A bid for funding to conserve and restore one of the best preserved medieval pele towers in Northumberland located in the coastal village of Cresswell, so that it can also be opened as an historic visitor attraction has been submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Pele Tower

32 inside Morpeth

inside Morpeth 33

History of Cresswell Pele Tower

The tower was built in the 15th Century by the Cresswell family to offer shelter as well as protection from raids by the notorious Border Reivers. A narrow, twisting stone staircase designed to be easily defended, led to the first floor living quarters, kitchen and garderobe (toilet) while the family would have slept on the top floor which would have been extremely cold in the winter because there were no fireplaces at this level.

In 1750 a grand mansion house was built on to the side of the Pele Tower but that was demolished in 1845. In 1818 the wife of Addison John Cresswell inherited the estate of her wealthy cousin John Baker and they used some of their inheritance to build Cresswell Hall between 1821 and 1826 that was designed by London architect John Shaw with the work being supervised locally by Benjamin Green of Newcastle who was also responsible for designing Morpeth Railway Station.

Some very grand gardens and woodlands surrounded the Hall and it is reported that a miniature railway even ran around the grounds. In 1924 the Hall was bought at auction by Northumberland County Council before being demolished in the 1930s because of its dilapidated state.

Local legend has it that over the centuries the Pele Tower is believed to have been haunted by the ghost of a ‘White Lady’ – said to be a daughter of the Cresswell family who had fallen in love with a young prince of Denmark. When he landed at Cresswell to marry his bride-to-be legend has it that her brothers were lying in wait to stab him to death. Heartbroken the young girl died shortly afterwards and her ghost is said to have been seen standing at the top of the tower looking out to sea for her Danish prince.

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their occupants from raids by the Border Reivers,” he said. “Now, however, there are only around 80 pele tower sites left in the county most of which are unrecognisable from what they once were.

“If our lottery funding bid is successful ours will be one of only two in Northumberland that people could visit and learn about their past, and by co-incidence the other is at Preston Tower north of Alnwick which is owned by the Baker-Cresswell family who are so closely associated with our own tower.

“What excites us most about this project is that the building is a local landmark which although currently in a ruinous state, is capable of being brought back to life, preserved and conserved to give visitors a unique insight into what life was like for people living and working in and around our village some 600 years ago.

“The project has already sparked a huge amount of interest among local people from the volunteers who joined us in some appalling weather conditions just over 12 months ago to excavate around the site of the Pele Tower which

unearthed those amazing discoveries, to more than the 500 who came one afternoon to an open day in the village hall to learn all about what we hope to do here in Cresswell.”

The other good news for Cresswell is that thanks to a grant from LEADER £56,000 will be invested into the village hall to transform it into a community, heritage and education centre. The Village Hall Association has successfully applied for funding to the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development through the LEADER programme to carry out improvement work starting in May.

A grant of £900 has also been awarded by the Sir James Knott Trust for new interpretation panels to give an insight into the heritage of Cresswell and the surrounding area while Councillor Dickinson has also contributed £1,900 from his community fund.

The upgrades to the hall will include a new entrance lobby, heating and lighting systems, kitchen and toilets, the installation of a high performance multi-media system with hearing loop and WiFi and the building will also be redecorated.

Pele Tower

34 inside Morpeth

H A I R & B E A U T Y

01670 5161131A NEWGATE STREET, MORPETH

OPENING TIMES

TUE 9AM-5PM / WED 9AM-5PM / THU 9AM-7PMFRI 9AM-6PM / SAT 9AM-4PM

Laura Anderson

Banish those winter blues with a stylish new look!Writes Laura Anderson of Laura Anderson Hair & Beauty

So whatever style you choose talk it through with your stylist to make sure you look your very best as we all look forward – hopefully – to a wonderful sunny summer.

Finally the days are getting longer, the evenings are suddenly lighter and everyone’s going out and about to make the most of their spare time - which means now is the season to be looking good!

So why not splash out and get your hair done – perhaps with a new style – to make yourself look and feel so much better as we all put those winter blues behind us?

With that in mind here are a few tips we offer clients when they come into our salon.

1 Layers are coming back in a big way. Sometimes they seem tricky to style at home but really they are not. Ask your stylist to chop in some soft feather layers and when blowing dry your hair use a round brush and blow the layers back with a flick then finish with hair spray.

2 Balayage is huge at the moment with everyone wanting easy-to-maintain colour. This is a fantastic technique because it looks so natural and grows out beautifully

3 Soft rose gold is a big colour at the moment with clients who want that little twist on a blonde look. It adds colour without being harsh and fades out beautifully always keeping blonde hair toned

4 Highlights will always be around and will never be dated – they are a great way to break up a colour and add brightness to dull skin tones

1

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inside Morpeth 35

News in Brief

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On top of the world after challenging charity climb!

When it comes to raising money for charity there are few tougher challenges and obstacles to overcome than climbing the tallest mountain in Africa!

But that’s what Morpeth trainee nurse Amanda Bell and two of her colleagues from Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary have just done. Along with junior sister Sarah Ramage and nurse Nieve Devine, 26 year old Amanda scaled just over 16,000 feet to the top of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to raise £4,015 for the Alzheimer’s Society, the Stroke Association and the ward where they work at the RVI.

It was, she says, an unbelievable experience – tough but so rewarding to stand on the summit after an overnight and early morning final climb to see the sun rise spectacularly over the landscape. “The last push to the summit was more than seven hours in the dark and snow so it was freezing cold, but when the sun came up we forgot the pain and weariness and just felt on top of the world,” said Amanda who is now studying at Northumbria University for a nursing qualification.

She didn’t start training for the challenge until last September with walks along Hadrian’s Wall, some climbing in the Cheviots and Lake District and gym sessions but said: “Nothing could have prepared us for how tough it was.”

Within a day of setting off Sarah began suffering badly from altitude sickness which then affected them all. “We had terrible headaches, were feeling sick and dizzy and I didn’t eat for five days which made the climb even harder,” said Amanda. “But we all kept going and everyone

in our party got to the summit.”

“All in all it was an amazing experience – but not something I would ever do again.” However the trio have not ruled out another adventurous challenge in the future. “When you have achieved something like this you want to do something else,” she added.

Putting others first!Michael Thompson, past chairman of Burgham Golf Club just north of Morpeth, raised more than £5,226 for the British Stammering Association during his year of office with the help of family, friends and The Office – the micro-pub at the end of Telford Bridge.

Recently Michael presented a cheque to Tim Fell, won chairs the association’s board of trustees, at The Office after thanking everyone who helped him with his charity raising efforts including playing 100 holes of golf in a day.

Baptism pictures soughtPhotographs are being sought of anyone baptized in the parishes of Bothal, Pegswood and Longhirst for a Baptism Exhibition being planned for later in the year.The organisers are looking for any baptism photographs for the exhibition which will be held over the weekend of Friday and Saturday September 7th and 8th at St Andrew’s Church in Bothal.

Anyone with any photographs which they are willing to exhibit can send them to the Reverend Lee Cleminson with details of the names of anyone in the picture, the date of the baptism and – if known – the name of the vicar who conducted the service.

Pictures can be email to revleecleminson@gmail.com or photocopies of original pictures can be sent to Revd Lee Cleminson at 126 Green Lane, Morpeth NE61 2HB who can also be contacted for more details about the event on (01670) 519398.

36 inside Morpeth

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ACTUAL INSTALLATION

Lifelong Morpeth pals Simon Harley and David Bailey along with friends Angus Berwick, Gary Caisley and David Gunn are gearing up for the charity challenge of biking 130 miles coast to coast from Workington to Tynemouth in just three days.

Together they will be raising money for the MS Research and Relief Fund (MSRRF) based in Morpeth, which benefits hundreds of people in the region affected by Multiple Sclerosis.

Simon and David first met when they were fellow pupils at what is now All Saints School on Lancaster Park in 1975. Over the years they have remained friends and have taken part in numerous charity-raising efforts including a number of Great North Runs.

‘Team Harley’ members as they have been dubbed, aim to collect as much money as they can for a worthy cause as well as raising the profile of MSRRF and the excellent work it does to help people with MS.

All of the team say they have personal experience and knowledge of MS through people they know being affected by the condition and using the excellent services and facilities provided by MSRRF.

“The lads are all trying to get in some training but with work and family commitments we may just have to fly by the seat of our pants when the ride starts on May 18th,” said Simon.

“David and I even considered getting a tandem but there was too much arguing going on about who was going to be the rear end!”

News in Brief

Biking challenge

38 inside Morpeth

Skylight – Velux WindowsRepaired

For 30 years we have been serving our customers with the largest and finest choice of authentic and classic Indian cuisine, freshly made to your order with our own Bengol Range, a house speciality. Please be patient whilst waiting for your

orders as all our meals are freshly prepared

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Indian Takeaway

Established 1983

Monday - Saturday Noon until 2pm& 6pm until midnight

Sunday 6pm until 11.30pm

Open all Bank Holidays except Christmas Day

Morpeth Tandoori

Curry v Kebab. Pizza v Peking. Which cuisines rank where in the list of the country’s favourite take-aways?

Ordering a take-away was once a rare treat for Britons but now it is a regular occurrence with more and more people popping out to pick up a curry or a pizza instead of getting out the frying pan in their own kitchens.

Indian dishes are right up there among the most popular chosen by home diners as surveys show that a quarter of all people ordering a take-away do so from their local Indian.

However, fish-and-chips for so long rated top of the

fast-food list now account for just seven per cent of all take-aways bought around the UK.

For more than 30 years Abdul Muhit has been serving up tasty take-aways from his Morpeth Tanoori in Chantry Place during which time he has built up a loyal following among his customers who particularly enjoy his very own Bengol Range using his unique blend of spices and herbs.

“Everything we serve is individually freshly made to order in our own kitchen,” he said. “We only use the very best local produce we can buy as well as importing our spices direct from India to make sure we cook and serve the finest dishes we possibly can.”

Tasty take-aways are now firm favourites

inside Morpeth 39

40 inside Morpeth40 inside Morpeth

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The beautiful ly engineered Esse range cooker has to be seen to be appreciated.Visit the Morpeth showroom at:

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