Glendale Live Jan-Feb 2019

Contents 

P1 Editor’s notes 

P2 New charity planned 

P3 Factory to bring more jobs 

P5 Remembering the heroes 

P9` Making music Formby-style 

P13 Big plans for Chatton store 

P15 Skiing in Glendale 

P17 Wooler Drop-In 

P19 Raising the roof with song 

P20 - 25 

What’s On 

P27 Wooler panto group 

says ‘We’ll be back’ 

P29 Mental Health Forum 

P31 Country Kitchen - recipe 

P33 Round the parishes 

P35 Favourite Walks 

P37 Dark skies campaign 

P39 Pete Loam 

Many thanks to Rachel Sinton for this 

month’s cover picture. 

Rachel is definitely an early bird who 

captures lovely images on her walks in 

the wild. You can see some of them on 

cards at the Cheviot Centre in Wooler. 

If you have a photograph you think 

would look good on the cover, send it to 

editor.glendalelive@gmail.com

Spring is round the 

corner... 

...as this super photograph 

by Rowan Harris-Jones 

shows. Rowan, 14 years 

old, is a keen photographer 

from Chatton who is raising 

funds for a conservation 

trip to the Galapagos Islands 

by selling his photos 

on cards at Lowick Village 

Shop. We look forward to 

seeing more of his work in 

future issues of G.L 

Onwards and upwards 

Well, Glendale Live has made it to a 

second edition. We’ve even had to 

increase the number of pages to include 

all the articles and advertisements 

that have arrived in the GL 

email box. That can’t be bad. 

The team has really been encouraged 

by the kind comments we’ve 

had and we’re determined to make 

each edition better than the last. 

Glendale and human interest 

stories. 

Why not email us with an idea and 

we’ll help you get it together, or 

write it up for you. 

This time we’re starting a parish 

round-up. Hopefully our Parish 

Councils will tell us what’s afoot for 

the next issue. 

It’s a steep learning curve and the 

first thing we’ve taken on board is 

that we need your help to make our 

coverage truly Glendale-wide. 

We need you to use GL to publicise 

your community events and we need 

you to tell us what’s going on in 

your village or neck of the woods. 

We’d love to have GL “reporters” 

scattered across the region sending 

us news and photographs. 

We’re looking for future or ongoing 

issues, things that reflect life in 

1 

Lesson number two is getting deadlines 

right. We leave three weeks for 

layout, printing and distribution, but 

we need prior warning of longer articles, 

400 words or more. 

So, for the March edition of GL you 

can send ‘what’s on’ information to 

whatson.glendalelive@gmail.com 

until February 5. 

Send articles and photographs to 

editor.glendalelive@gmail.com 

until January 31 

The editor

Charity plan for Children’s 

Countryside Day 

The Charity Commission has been 

asked to approve the setting up of a 

new charitable body to support the 

popular Children’s Countryside Day 

held every year in Glendale. 

“The Glendale Agricultural Society 

Educational Trust will help the 

Glendale Agricultural Society continue 

to deliver the Children’s 

Countryside Day, which is held each 

June by kind permission of Lilburn 

Estate and attended by some 1500 

schoolchildren and teachers from 

Northumberland and North Tyneside,” 

says Lord Joicey 

of Ford and Etal Estates, initial 

chair of the Trust. 

“The application has been acknowledged 

but in view of high volumes 

of work the Charity Commission has 

not yet been able to assess it. 

“It is unfortunate that the 

Charity Commission has not given 

us its decision yet but the idea behind 

the Trust has had the full support 

of the Society’s membership 

and should help to secure funds for 

the event that the Society cannot 

access. 

“The Children’s Countryside Day 

has been an important day in 

the school calendar across Northumberland 

for fifteen years now.” 

2

Farming for a better 

future 

Work has been 

going on to 

transform the 

land opposite 

Turvelaws Farm 

on the Wooler 

to Berwick Road. 

Judy Kirby 

explains the plan 

A Wooler farmer is currently 

making plans to futureproof 

his business for generations to 

come. 

Mark Robson is the concerned 

shopper's farmer. He worries about 

air miles, plastic waste and effluent 

discharge. His main crop is potatoes 

– but not just any old potatoes – 

they are Particularly Good Potatoes. 

And they have a bright future. 

The Robson family have farmed at 

Turvelaws just outside Wooler for 

40 years. Mark and his wife Sarah 

moved into the farmhouse 25 years 

ago, continuing to build upon the 

hard work of his parents, expanding 

and putting his knowledge into 

practice. 

Recently, he has been researching 

ways of adding value to his crop and 

securing the future of the family 

business and its local workforce. In 

April, he will launch a business 

which will manufacture a new product 

for the area – pre-prepared 

chips for Northumbrian restaurants 

and chip shops. 

It is incredible to learn that UK potato 

seed is sent to Spain for growing, 

with the potatoes brought back 

to chip shops here. Plus around one 

million more tonnes of potatoes are 

imported into the UK every year. 

Local 

The Robson team 

These facts motivated Mark to seek 

a saner way of doing business, in 

which quality potatoes, grown and 

pre-prepared locally, could be 

speedily delivered to local restaurants 

and chip shops. With the Brexit 

uncertainty, the Robsons are keen to 

ensure that produce and employment 

are kept as local as possible. 

Mark's Operations Manager Barbara 

Morris travelled across north 

Northumberland talking to restaur- 

3

anteurs. Whilst most cut their own 

chips, a significant number were 

ready to consider a quality, local 

pre-packed product - this was the 

green light for the Robson project. 

After much brainstorming to give 

the product a memorable name, the 

Northumbrian landscape came to 

the rescue. Turvelaws is from Turve 

(turf) Laws – the hills where the 

grass is particularly good and this 

has translated into 'Particularly 

Good Potatoes.' 

Customers of the Turvelaws’ product 

won't need to peel and wash out 

starch from potatoes themselves. 

The new factory will include a 

starch extractor which will compact 

the starch and peelings, removing 

problems of effluent discharge. 

The waste will then be given to, 

amongst others, cattle at Doddington 

Dairy, providing local livestock 

with local feed. 

There is also a strict policy of recycling 

all plastic used at the plant. 

'Plastic is actually a very good material' 

says Mark 'but it needs to be 

used again and again and again, instead 

of being sent to landfill.' 

The Robson boys - Will, 23 and 

Alastair, 21 - are committed to the 

success of the project, and, being a 

family business, the option is there 

for their sister Kitty, currently 

studying in Edinburgh, to join the 

ranks, should she choose. 

For this farmer the next generation's 

future is looking bright for 

both family and locals alike, with 

Wooler gaining new jobs – and some 

particularly good chips! 

4

HRH The Duke of Gloucester with representatives from the 

air forces of Germany, USA, New Zealand and Canada 

Thousands of people from all over 

the world have visited the College 

Valley in the last 20 years and paid 

tribute to the airmen who crashed 

in the Cheviots during WW2. 

But the slate memorial erected beside 

the Cuddystone Hall in 1995 

had begun to look weather worn so 

a team from the Royal Air Forces’ 

Association led by Group Captain 

Tim Willbond, who had been instru- 

Chrys Murphy 

reports on the 

re-dedication of 

the renovated 

College Valley 

memorial to the 

airmen who 

crashed and died 

in the Cheviot 

Hills 

Remembering the heroes 

of the skies and the hills 

mental in creating the original 

memorial when commanding RAF 

Boulmer, rose to the challenge of 

creating a durable replacement. 

The new memorial is hewn from a 

single two ton block of granite into 

the top of which is set a bronze 

plaque showing the 19 crash sites. 

One new feature is a magnificent 

Roll of Honour, the work of local 

5

craftsman Robbie Birkett, listing the 

names of those who perished and 

showing the aircraft types in which 

they died. 

It includes the names of crewmembers 

of two German aircraft 

which crashed in the area, a decision 

welcomed at the re-dedication 

ceremony. 

A further addition within the stone 

stell, a traditional enclosure for 

sheep, is a pair of wooden benches. 

One is dedicated to the memory of 

the shepherds who led rescue 

missions and ‘to a sheepdog called 

Sheila’, a reference to John Dagg’s 

collie who was awarded the Dickin 

Medal, the ‘animal VC’. 

Both her owner and Frank Moscrop, 

another shepherd, were awarded 

the British Empire Medal in recognition 

of their bravery in locating 

and rescuing crashed pilots.. 

Against that bench rests a steel 

shepherd’s crook, fashioned to commemorate 

all those involved. 

The second bench pays tribute to 

those who lost their lives, and both 

now allow visitors to relax, reflect 

and enjoy the wonderful Cheviot 

views by the new memorial. 

The re-dedication of the Cheviot 

Memorial in September was attended 

by HRH The Duke of Gloucester, 

who was also at the 

dedication of the original memorial 

in 1995. He was accompanied by 

the Duchess of Northumberland, 

Lord-Lieutenant of the County. 

Donations 

Among the many invited guests 

were representatives of local communities 

and organisations in Glendale 

and nearby villages, many of 

whom had been responsible for 

generous donations towards the 

cost of the project which 

approached £30,000. 

Helen Dinsdale, Secrtary of the Aln 

& Breamish Local History Society, 

one of the donor organisations, 

spoke for many: 

The Duchess of 

Northumberland 

and Coun Anthony 

Murray 

“I am very pleased that we 

again have a fitting 

memorial to commemorate 

the happenings in our 

lonely hills between 1939 

and 1945. Time passes and 

memories fade but we now 

have a lasting reminder of 

the part played by local 

people in times of great 

danger in our beautiful but 

bleak Northumbrian hills.” 

Councillor Anthony Murray 

6

“The memorial will 

attract many 

visitors, both local 

and from further 

afield. They will be 

able to appreciate 

the bravery and 

sacrifice of those 

whose lives were 

lost and those who 

survived, thanks to 

the courage and 

doggedness of a 

few local men.” 

Helen Dinsdale 

“The dedication ceremony was very 

moving and had all the hallmarks of 

the remembrance service with 

which we are all familiar – the Last 

Post, two minutes’ silence and 

wreath laying. 

“It was so appropriate and inclusive 

to see uniformed officers from Commonwealth 

countries, the United 

States and Germany stand side by 

side in salute.” 

John Dagg Jnr, who remembered the 

events from his childhood said: ”It 

was great to see so many representatives, 

including Lieutenant Colonel 

Stefan Kirschner of the 

Luftwaffe who told me how honoured 

he was to have been invited. 

“The event brought back many 

memories of my boyhood days. The 

newly refurbished memorial, the 

Roll of Honour and the magnificent 

benches celebrate the bravery of 

the shepherds of the valley, including 

my father and Frank Moscrop.” 

Photographs by Chrys Murphy 

“The Memorial is now a 

firm part of the history 

of the College Valley and 

will be there for many a 

year, as a reminder of 

the sacrifices of war and 

of the heroism of our 

forebears.” 

Stephen Crees, Manager 

College Valley Estates. 

7

8

Angel Delights following 

in Formby’s footsteps 

If grey skies make you blue 

just direct your feet to the 

Angel pub in Wooler High 

Street on a Wednesday night. 

There you’ll meet the Angel Delights 

who have a way of dissolving 

the blues. 

The Delights are a group of people 

who play the ukelele. They’ve been 

at their Wednesday night venue 

since Lynne Pringle pleaded with 

the Sage concert hall in Newcastle: 

‘’We have long, dark winter nights 

here in Wooler. Can you help?’ 

Lynne and husband Malcolm had 

driven to Harrogate to hear the 

Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain 

in 2012. 

Solution 

They had been looking for a musical 

solution to fill a gap in Wooler, 

something for those who couldn’t 

read music. After listening to the 

orchestra their solution was found. 

9

‘The orchestra had a high profile,’ 

recalls Lynne, ‘and we thought they 

were great. The ukelele fulfilled our 

demand for a cheap and accessible 

instrument.’ 

The Sage responded with a tutor 

and 30 ukeleles for six months, and 

so the Angel Delights were born. 

Now they are a 16 strong group, 

Comedian and singer 

George Formby 

brought the 

“uke” into the 

public eye but it 

has many fans, 

including Beatle George 

Harrison who collected 

them. You can hear him 

playing the ukelele in 

the Formby style at the 

end of ‘Free as a bird’ 

their oldest member 92, with all 

levels of ability, playing a wide 

range of musical styles 

No longer the instrument solely associated 

with George Formby, the 

Delights can rustle up a Beatles’ 

song, a trad jazz number, or country 

and western classics. Old music hall 

numbers get new treatment. 

‘We belt them a bit’ one of the 

players admits. 

The group has taught schoolchildren 

in Wooler to play. ‘They are 

naturally competitive’ says Lynne 

‘and they brought their music to us.’ 

More interaction comes from the 

Delights’ collaboration with other 

ukelele groups, from Newbiggin to 

the south and Coldingham to the 

north. 

Malcolm Bennett, a well known 

local musician who moved to Cold- 

10

ingham, brings his group to singalongs 

at the Angel when up to 50 

players pack the back room for a 

jam session. 

According to the smiles on the faces 

of ukelele players, the Pringles have 

brought delight to the village. 

‘There’s an appetite in Wooler for 

something new,’ says Lynne. 

. Judy Kirby 

The ukelele 

is a four 

stringed 

instrument 

popular in Hawiian 

music. It was 

developed from the 

“machete de braga” 

also called the 

“cavaquinho“, 

which was brought 

to the islands by 

Portugese sailors 

from Madeira. 

11

Need help with online banking... 

Losing our rural banks is a blow and some of us might feel this is the 

time to tackle the new digital age with online banking but how do you 

go about it? 

Barclays Bank are running a series of ‘Tea and Teach’ advice and help 

sessions to get you started. 

The sessions are being run at the Cheviot Centre in Wooler and will 

only continue if they are well used. The Barclays Bank team won’t be 

offering banking services at the sessions but they will show you how to 

get online and manage your account. 

The sessions run from 10am-2pm on the following dates 

Thursday 10th January 

Tuesday 22nd January 

Thursday 7th February 

Tuesday 19th February 

Thursday 7th March 

Tuesday 19th March 

Thursday 4th April 

Tuesday 16th April 

12

Keeping 

the 

village 

heart 

beating 

Everyone aims for a 'work-life balance' but in Chatton 

two women are making it happen. Judy Kirby reports 

When the 'for sale' notice went 

up over the Chatton village 

store, Ally Prytherch and Shi 

Shi Ord knew it was decision 

time. 

They had often talked about running 

their local store at the same time as 

starting their families. Now the opportunity 

arrived to do just that! 

With babies under two and another 

on the way, Ally and Shi Shi bought 

the business from retiring storekeeper 

Jeff Smith. After training 

they took on the Post Office side of 

the business as well. 

It's a way, say the new storekeepers, 

of being with their families as the 

children grow and having an income. 

'We can have a better life 

with our children' says Ally. 

13 

Villagers soon noted a new style in 

their store. A coffee machine arrived 

and shoppers could enjoy a 

cappuccino while picking up groceries. 

But that was just a start. 

The two entrepreneurs have the 

working population in sight – 

farmers and travelling tradespeople 

needing packed lunches. Then 

there are the cyclists, walkers and 

holidaymakers looking for a bite to 

eat. 

During autumn a kitchen refit made 

hot food possible and extended the 

lunch menu. Bacon rolls, sausages 

and pies. ‘We use local produce 

where possible' says Shi Shi. 

The store they have taken over has 

a rich history. It was built in 1913 

for a bespoke tailor, J. Colville &

Sons, who tailored for the Duke and 

Duchess of Northumberland. Twelve 

tailors worked in the upstairs rooms 

and a general hardware store occupied 

downstairs. 

Expanding 

Later the store sold mainly hardware. 

A fire in 1961 damaged the 

building but business continued. 

One unfortunate family owner suffered 

three robberies – thieves abseiled 

through the roof to the shop 

below. 

Chatton, with a population of 

around 200 people, is expanding although 

many new houses are holiday 

homes. 

'The school shut 10 years ago but 

there are more kids here now' says 

Ally. 

A new playground is scheduled to 

open behind the village hall next 

summer. Next year will also see Ally 

and Shi Shi's dream project come 

on stream – a village cafe. 

A small yard behind the store can 

be an interim place where customers 

can drink coffee, but when 

complete the store will be expanded 

for diners. 

Both women have brought differing 

skills to their enterprise. Shi Shi 

was a district nurse and Ally's background 

is in retail, with expertise in 

photography. 

‘'We've had tremendous support, 

from the village and our husbands' 

says Ally 'and we support each 

other.' 

This may be a new model for sustaining 

village businesses – and also 

family life. 

14

Why Glendale 

went off-piste 

Former chairman of the Cheviot Ski Cl ub, Mike Alport recalls 

the days when Glendale was the place to be when the 

white stuff fell. 

So, is global warming having 

an effect on life in Wooler? 

In the early 1980’s Bill Ferguson, 

then deputy head for further education 

at Glendale School, persuaded 

a few of us that a ski club in Wooler 

would be a good idea. 

Foolishly, if that is the right word, 

some agreed and set about finding 

funding to purchase a ski tow as we 

realised that downhill skiers don’t 

like walking up hills. 

This first tow gave us an uphill drag 

of 80 metres and was used at our inaugural 

day on the 

fields above Commonburn 

Farm. It was a 

great success, but the 

slope was not adventurous 

enough for the 

more experienced 

skiers. 

So, we moved - with the kind permission 

of the landowners - to a 

field at the top of Cheviot Street 

which slopes down to the river. 

We purchased two more tows and 

now had the capacity, if we wished, 

to stretch the ski run the full length 

of the High Street. However, the 

field we were in gave us the opportunity 

to provide a number of ski 

runs tailored to the skier’s ability. 

We could almost guarantee sufficient 

snow for a fortnight just after 

Christmas and this attracted lots of 

skiers to the field. 

Our increase in day visitors may 

have been the result of traffic on its 

way north up the A697 to 

ski in Scotland seeing the 

activity on the field from 

the road. 

I doubt we would ever have 

been able to compete with 

the major resorts, but we 

did have a participant from 

France once - a French exchange 

student - who was persuaded 

to join us. 

15

Sadly, we couldn’t 

track down any 

actual photographs 

of skiers...perhaps 

they’re tucked away 

in someone’s cupboard? 

Mike and 

Cyril Guthrie 

checking out 

Cheviot as a 

ski slope 

He put on skis at the top 

of the hill and was last 

seen going over the brow 

yelling the words “How do 

I stop?” 

The club peaked at over 300 

members and on a good day attracted 

more than half that number 

on the field. 

The demand was so high that we 

even installed a lamppost to facilitate 

night skiing. 

The attractive thing about it was 

that it became a family day out and 

many young people were introduced 

to the sport. 

Cheviot, because of its height, collects 

the first snow fall and I would 

often get phone calls from late November 

asking if there was skiing in 

Wooler as people from south of Morpeth 

could see the hill. 

Unlike the ski club in Allendale we 

stuck to portable tows to allow us to 

move them where there was snow. 

We tried several venues but the logistics 

of moving the equipment 

around never seemed to give the 

same experience 

Cheviot. 

We even drove the club’s Argo Cat 

to the top of Cheviot to see how 

feasible it would be. 

Our final resting place was the 

north facing field adjacent to Common 

Road but by this time skiing 

has been reduced to 2 or 3 days if 

we had snowfall that year. 

16 

Two years ago, we called an AGM in 

December and reluctantly decided 

to close the club. Nearly 40 years of 

downhill skiing came to an end. 

Was it due to the weather? 

Mike Alport

Wooler Drop In - the 

place to hang out 

If you're a teenager and just want to 

hang out with your friends, where 

do you go? The nights are dark and 

cold and anyway, groups of young 

people aren't generally welcomed 

on street corners. 

Fortunately, in Wooler they have 

somewhere to call their own – the 

Drop-In on Wooler High Street. 

For the last 20 years, the old Mechanics 

Institute has been used as a 

base for young people aged from 13 

to 25. It opens three nights a week – 

Monday, Wednesday and Thursday – 

from 7-9.30pm. 

“When the institute closed, they 

asked the people of Wooler what 

they would like it to be used for and 

people said something for young 

people,” said Joyce Robinson, the 

lead youth worker. “The town centre 

position is perfect because they just 

wouldn't come if it was tucked away 

somewhere. They like being in the 

town.” 

Relaxed 

“It's very relaxed,” she adds. 

“There's no 'structure' – they wouldn't 

come if there was. They would 

think it's too much like school. 

“They come and they might stay all 

night or they might go after ten 

17

minutes and then come back later.” 

But while they're there they've got 

somewhere warm where they can 

chat to friends, play pool and table 

tennis or chat – sometimes about 

problems they have - to one of the 

five part time youth workers. 

There are craft activities and occasional 

talks – but all on an informal 

basis. 

Michael, one of the youth workers, 

says one of the favourite activities is 

using the club's laptop in the music 

room where they can try their hand 

at the mixing desk to see if they can 

cut it as a DJ. 

Michael knows the set-up well. He 

started coming to the Drop-In as a 

13 year old and knows how important 

the centre is because there is 

little else for young people in the 

town. 

It also gives them an opportunity to 

go further afield with organised 

trips – ice skating, bowling, trampolining 

and visits to the cinema, 

which, says Michael, they love. 

“We've had support from Northumberland 

Children's Trust, the 

County Council, the Community 

Foundation and other local trusts.” 

“During this period the people of 

Wooler have donated in excess of 

£15,000 which is beyond our wildest 

dreams. 

“This includes £5,500 from our 

fundraising even last November, 

£5,000 through the Co-op Local 

Communities Fund and the remainder 

from various businesses, 

individuals and organisations in the 

town. 

Volunteers 

“We have enough to cover our costs 

until April 2020 so we will start preparing 

applications for funding for 

the Financial Year 2020-2021 in the 

New Year. 

“In the meantime, we would welcome 

any volunteers to help at the 

centre or join the trustees.” 

Jenny Pollock 

Membership has been steady at 

around 80 with around ten young 

people “dropping in” each night it's 

open. 

Fundraising 

But running a youth centre isn't 

cheap. 

“During the past two years, the 

trustees, staff and young people 

have worked tirelessly to put the 

Drop-In on a secure financial footing,” 

says Guy Richardson, chair of 

the trustees. 

18

Sing out 

IT has long been thought that 

singing is good for your health, 

both mentally and physically. 

range of music from local folk songs 

to African or Maori songs; from gospel 

music to Abba. 

New research has shown that singing 

strengthens the immune system, 

gives your lungs a workout and improves 

your posture. Singing also 

lowers stress levels leaving you uplifted 

and happy, improves mental 

alertness, boosts your confidence 

and can widen 

your circle of friends! So 

what are you waiting for? 

In Wooler we are fortunate 

to have two choirs 

that rehearse regularly in 

the Cheviot Centre. Glendale 

Voices is a ladies' 

choir that rehearses on 

Tuesday evenings from 

7.30-9.30pm. 

They perform a wide range of repertoire 

in 3 part harmonies and 

give several concerts every year. 

The Cheviot Singers meet on Thursday 

mornings from 10.30-12 noon to 

sing purely for fun. They sing a wide 

It’s good for 

you and it’s 

fun. Alison 

Davies tells 

us why choirs 

are 

thriving in 

Glendale 

19 

They sometimes entertain small 

groups and take part in the annual 

carol services, but they don't perform 

concerts. 

Both choirs are led by Veronica Gilbert 

who has lived in 

Wooler for over 20 years 

and used to teach music 

in Morpeth. 

Concerts 

Many members from both 

choirs have recently 

taken part in “Alnwick 

Sings” concerts in Hall 1 

at Sage Gateshead as part 

of a combined choir made 

up from choral groups 

from across North Northumberland. 

If you'd like to try singing in a choir, 

you'd be very welcome to come 

along to a rehearsal. There are no 

auditions and everyone is welcome. 

If you are interested please contact 

Veronica on 01668 281362.

What’s on What 

If you would like to publicise 

your event or club in Glendale 

Live’s What’s On section, email 

the details, together with a 

Regular weekly events 

Mondays 

Badminton at Kirknewton Hall, 

exercise and fun. 7.30pm, £1. Ring 

01890 850285 to check 

Badminton, Glendale Middle 

School, term time only. Fitness and 

fun. Cost £5 per session, 7.30/7.45 

to 9.30 pm. depending upon 

number of members, minimum four. 

Contact 01668216520 David Pulman 

to check. 

Tuesdays 

Wooler Knit and Natter Group 

1 - 3 pm in the Parish Room, St 

Mary's Church, Wooler. Contact: 

01668 283186 

contact telephone number to: 

whatson.glendalelive@gmail.com 

Listings are free to charities 

Get Fit Together ladies light hearted 

exercise followed by tea and a chat in 

Bowsden village hall. 10 a.m. Details 

ring 01289 388 543. 

Art Group, Kirknewton village hall, 

10am. Contact Steve Marriott 01668 

216 438 

North Northumberland Archers meet 

on Tuesday evenings and some Sundays. 

Details from Tom Wilson 01289 

382 686 

Wooler BP Beavers and Wolf Cubs, 

(girls and boys) at Bowling 

Club,Weetwood Avenue. Beavers (5- 

8 years) at 5-6pm; Wolf Cubs (8-11) 

at 6.15-7.30pm. Contact 

07712042424. 

Wednesdays 

Tots and Toys: 1-3pm, Wooler Evangelical 

Church,Cheviot St, Wooler 

Bowsden Bowlers. Bowsden village 

hall, 7pm. Adm £2.50 per session. For 

info ring 01289 388744 

Bowsden Needlework Group, village 

hall, 1.30 p.m.. Ring 01289 388 295. 

20 

Angel Delights, ukelele group, The 

Angel, Wooler, 6.30pm. Beginners 

welcome. 

Thursdays 

Ladies Group, 10.30am, Evangelical 

Church, Cheviot St, Wooler 

Walking for health; Cheviot Centre, 

1pm

’s on What’s on 

and not-for-profit groups. We 

are happy to publish commercial 

events but ask that the 

organisers also take out an advertisement 

or make a small 

donation of £5 per listing. 

The What’s on deadline for the 

March edition is February 5. 

Wooler BP Scouts, (girls and boys) 

Bowling Club, Weetwood Ave, 

(quarry in summer), 7-9pm. Ages 

11+ Contact 07712042424. 

Fridays 

Friday Club for kids aged 5+ 

6.30pm, Evangelical Church, Cheviot 

St Wooler 

Wooler Netball Club, Glendale 

Middle School, 7-8pm. All abilities. 

DE-stress and have a laugh. Just turn 

up or contact Terri on 07917891237 

Glendale Boxing Club meets several 

times a week at Glendale 

Middle School, Brewery Lane, 

Wooler. £2.50 a session. Young 

Gloves (under 13s) meet Tuesdays 

and Thursdays at 6pm. Seniors 

(over 13s) meet Mondays, Tuesdays 

and Thursdays from 7pm. 

Contact 07444 027896. 

Events for January 

Jan 2 

Till Valley Archaeological Society 

(TillVAS), "The History of Ford 

Castle" with Paul Thompson, Crookham 

Village Hall, 7.30pm. Maureen 

Charlton TillVAS Secretary, 01668 

216091 

21 

Roddam WI, Cheviot Centre, 

Wooler, 7pm. 


Wooler Camera Club, Knock out 

competition and buffet, Glendale 

Hall, Cheviot St, 7.30pm. Cost £3. 


U3A film, Ladybird, Cheviot 

Centre, Padgepool Pl. 7.30pm. 

Donation. 


Glendale Local History Society, Deserted 

Mediaeval Villages, our locality’s 

forgotten past – Allan 

Colman. Cheviot Centre, Padgepool 

Pl, 7.30pm. £3. 


Doddington WI, Wooler Bowling 

Club, Scott’s Park, 2pm. 


Make a willow 

snowdrop workshop 

with Anna 

Turnbull. 

Breamish Hall, 

Powburn, 9- 

4pm. All materials and a light lunch 

provided. £20. Booking essential. 

Contact 01665 578 576.

22


Wooler & District Camera Club - 

Competition night, Glendale Hall, 

Cheviot St, 7.30pm. Subject: 

‘Rain/raindrops’ and ‘Street view’. 

£3. Diane Baynton 01289 388455. 

North Northumberland Rock 

Garden group (NNRGG), Lowick Village 

Hall, 2.15pm. £3. ‘A week in 

the Cape’ by Sandy Leven, Dunblane, 

Publicity Manager of SRGC 

(Scottish Rock Garden Club) 


Coffee Morning, Glendale Hall, 

Wooler, Cheviot St. 10am. £1 


Glendale Accordion and Fiddle 

Club, Glendale Hall, 7.30pm, £5 

members, £6.50 visitors, The Homelanders 

(includes buffet supper). 


Open Mic night at Black Bull, High 

St, Wooler. 8pm. Bob Snooks 01668 

454960 


Wooler and District Camera Club, 

Glendale Hall, Cheviot St, 7.30pm. 

£3. Members’ night. Diane Baynton 

01289 388455 

. 

Events in February 

Feb 1 

U3A film. (to be announced) Cheviot 

Centre, Padgepool Pl, Wooler. 

7.30pm. Donation. 


Coffee Morning, Glendale Hall, Cheviot 

St, Wooler. 10am. £1 


Till Valley Archaeological Society 

(TillVAS), Crookham Village Hall, 

7.30pm."Operation Nightingale" 

with Alexander Sotheran, MOD Archaeologist. 

How archaeology assists 

with the rehabilitation of 

injured servicemen.Maureen Charlton 

TillVAS Secretary, 01668 

216091. 


Folk music session - for asppiring 

musicians of any level, 12, High St, 

Wooler. Free. 


Coffee Morning at Glendale Hall, 

Wooler 10am £1. In aid of Ford and 

Etal churches. 

23 

Roddam WI, Cheviot Centre, Wooler, 

7pm. 



St, Wooler. 10am, £1. In aid of 

the Community Christmas lunch. 


Messy Church, Glendale Hall, Cheviot 

St, Wooler. 3pm. Free. Crafts, 

stories singing and food for all the 

family! All welcome.Contact 

bill.eugster@glendalecrossingplaces.org

Link to an online 

copy of this 

magazine on our 

Facebook page - 

Glendale Live 

Glendale Live’s next 

deadline is 

February 5th 

24


Doddington WI, Wooler Bowling 

Club, Scott’s Park, 2pm. 


Glendale Local History Society,, 

Cheviot Centre, Padgepool Pl, 

Wooler. 7.30pm. £3. The Families of 

Wallington Hall – the Fenwicks via 

the Blacketts to the Trevelyans – 

Elizabeth Finch 


Wooler & District Camera Club, 

Glendale Hall, Cheviot St, Wooler, 

7.30pm. £3 Competition night. Subjects: 

‘Ships/Boats’ and ‘The letter 

Q’. Diane Baynton 01289 388455 

£6.50 visitors.Leonard Brown & 

Malcolm Ross (includes buffet 

supper) 


Folk Music session for aspiring 

musicians of any level,, 12 High St, 

Wooler. 7.30pm. Free. Gill Brooks 

07834 655593 



St, Wooler, 10am. £1. In aid of 

Branton School. 

Summerland 



St, Wooler. 10am. £1. In aid of 

Ilderton Church. 


North Northumberland Rock 

Garden group (NNRGG), Lowick Village 

Hall. 2.15pm. £3. THE SCOT- 

TISH MACHAIR Matt Topsfield 

South Uist. Alison McCormick 

01668 281857 

Summerland - "duo of distinction" 

Sophie Armstrong & Gary Shearer. 

A highly acclaimed acoustic duo 

playing a mixture of their own songs 

and covers. A great evening's entertainment. 

In aid of Wooler Netball 

Club and the Great North Air Ambulance. 

Riverside, South Road, 

Wooler. 7.30pm, £7. Ring Terri : 

0791 7891237 or Kath: 07971 

836782. 

Gig Fear Band, Breamish Hall, Powburn, 

Doors 7pm, band 8pm. £5.Bar 

and Jeff’s Fish and Chips. 

Glendale Accordian and Fiddle 

CLub, Glendale Hall, Cheviot St, 

Wooler. 7.30pm. Cost £5 members, 


Wooler & District Camera Club - 

Presentation by Jean Finlay- Land of 

the Thunder Dragon. Glendale Hall, 

Cheviot St, Wooler. 7.30pm. £3. 

25

26

To advertise in Glendale Live email: 

advertising.glendalelive@gmail.com 

“Oh no they aren’t” 

Sadly, there won’t be a Wooler 

Community Panto this year. 

The panto crew, who have raised 

thousands of pounds for very 

local charities in the last decade, 

are taking a year off because of a 

shortage of people willing and 

able to take part. 

group can be contacted on 07810 

713864 or through their Facebook 

page: Wooler Community 

Panto Group. 

Ill health has been a problem this 

year, says Yvette Hope one of the 

main organisers. 

“A lot of our men have been unable 

to commit to doing a panto 

because of ill health,” she says. 

But they aren’t giving up and are 

determined to be up and running 

next year. Yvette says they would 

welcome new members and are 

looking for a new director. The 

27

Valentines Day 

Thursday 

14th February 

- Booking early is highly 

advised 

-We will be celebrating 

valentines on the day, 

the weekend before and 

the weekend after 

-Free gift 

@MilanWooler 

@milan_wooler 

MMILAN 

MILAN RESTAURANT 

2 high street, wooler 

NE716BY 

www.milan-restaurant.co.uk 

01668 283692 

Gal-entines Day 

Wednesday 

13th February 

- Celebrate your besties!! 

- Booking is advised 

- 90 minute free flowing 

prosecco available 

£14 per head* 

- Prize raffle too 

‘Galentines Day’ is an 

up-and-coming holiday 

where we take the 

opportunity to celebrate 

our friendships! 

* Ts&Cs apply 

28

Getting to grips with 

mental health issues 

From the Prime Minister downwards 

there's been a lot of talk 

about mental health recently. 

Now, in Glendale, people are 

doing something practical. 

A mental health forum has been set 

up to bring together people who 

are not neccessarily medics, but 

who have professional experience in 

mental health, or who are 

carers/relatives or who have experienced 

mental challenges themselves. 

Understanding 

The second forum meeting had 

presentations from MIND, Talking 

Matters and Fiona Cox, a local complementary 

therapy practitioner. 

Together we hope to gain a good 

understanding of what’s available 

and how to access it. We want to 

identify any gaps and draw them to 

the attention of people who can 

make a difference. 

Are services dovetailed well 

enough? Do agencies ensure that 

there are seamless services? Are 

those services accessible to people 

on limited or fixed incomes? What 

about people in work – are there 

evening sessions available? What 

support is there for carers? 

Our next session is on January 31 at 

5 – 7 p.m. in the Cheviot Centre. We 

plan speakers from the Children’s 

Service, Newcastle Recovery College 

and from Talking Matters. 

If you’d like to come along then you 

can just turn up. If you’d like to talk 

through what we’re doing, then 

please contact Jane Pannell on 

jane.pannell51@btinetrnet.com or 

01289 388321. 

Jane Pannell 

Wooler Neighbourhood Plan... 

...is still waiting for the okay in their latest stage - an environmetal assessment 

- but intends to do a full report on what will be in the plan for 

the March issue of Glendale Live. 

Afterwards there will be another round of public consultations when 

you can give your views on what you like or don’t like about what’s 

being proposed. 

Towards the end of the year there will be a referendum and everyone 

gets a chance to vote on whether to accept the plan. 

29

30

The Country 

Kitchen 

We have some great cooks in Glendale and we would 

love them to share their tips and recipes - particularly 

our WIs! Janet Laycock from Roddam WI has started 

the ball rolling with a classic local dish, Border Tart. 

Ingredients 

For the shortcrust pastry 

8 oz flour 

21/2 oz butter or margarine 

11/2 oz lard 

1 oz caster sugar 

10-12 teaspoons of water. 

For the filling 

2oz margarine, 

1 egg , 

1 oz mixed peel , 

1oz ground almonds, 

2 oz castor sugar, 

2 oz currants 

A few drops of almond essence 

Icing, 

3 oz icing sugar, 

2 teaspoons of lemon juice 

the water gradually until it binds together. 

Roll out and line a greased, 

7 inch shallow tin and trim the 

edges. 

For the filling - beat margarine and 

sugar to a cream. Add the beaten 

egg, then the fruit almonds and essence. 

Put mixture into pastry case and 

smooth the top. Roll out pastry trimmings 

into strips and make a trellis 

top 

Bake at gas No 6 or electric 400 degrees 

for 15 minutes then reduce 

the heat to No. 4 and 350 degreesfor 

another 15 minutes. 

Mix the icing and ice the top of the 

tart while warm . 

Method. 

Make the pastry - rub the fat into 

the flour till it resembles breadcrumbs. 

Add the sugar. Then add 

Top Tip... 

...Using a small amount of lard in 

the fat for pastry makes it easier 

to handle 

You can follow us on Facebook at Glendale Live 

for an up to date what’s on and you will also 

find the link to a digital version of Glendale 

Live so you can share it with friends 

31

32

Around the parishes 

Wooler Parish Council vice chair Mark Mather reports on the latest 

parish news. We look forward to hearing from other parishes 

Wooler parish council is back to full 

strength and would like to welcome 

the four new councillors. Angus 

Murray, Tom Armstrong, Joyce Robertson 

and Mark Napier who bring 

a new energy back to WPC and add 

to the passion to give the best possible 

service to the public. The council 

has a real drive to not only fill its 

necessary role but to encourage 

real investment in the town. 

One project is to get the old school 

farm signed over to WPC from the 

county council. This site would give 

the Wooler scouts a home and space 

to develop outdoor skills. 

We also are looking at a joint venture 

with the Community Allotments 

Group to offer bits of land, from 

small plots to full sized allotments 

for cultivation. We’ve great news 

that the contract to take over this 

land was signed late last year. 

Another project to improve the look 

of the town is to remove dead trees 

and bushes along the river bank. 

WPC agreed in November to bring 

in a tree surgeon so we can then 

level the area enabling it to be cut 

with a mower. It will look better and 

more people can enjoy the green 

space on the river side. 

We have had great feedback about 

the Christmas lights. We’d like to 

thank everyone who supported our 

fundraising coffee morning. This 

would not be possible without the 

volunteers who spend hours in the 

cold putting them up and taking 

them down. Thank you. Thanks also 

to the retailers on the High Street 

who offered hot drinks to the team. 

We want to be more open and get 

more feedback. We have put up a 

new parish notice board in Scott's 

Park where, along with the one in 

the bus station, you can read the 

minutes of the last meeting and see 

upcoming events. We also have a 

website: 

www.northumberlandparishes.uk/wooler 

and a Facebook page. With our new 

email adress we have added a mobile 

number, as the clerk is only part 

time. You can leave a message. We’ll 

get back to you as soon as possible. 

33

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34

My favourite walk 

Walking is not just for 

the hale and hearty 

who can do 15 mile 

yomps across the 

moors. Judy Kirby 

tells how regular 

visits to Wooler 

ponds put her back 

on her feet. 

Every year 300 people in the UK 

succumb to a rare ailment called 

transverse myelitis. In December 

2014 I became one of them and I've 

been reclaiming my legs ever since. 

After long stays in hospital most of 

my favourite walks were inaccessible 

by zimmer frame. The future 

looked grim. But a genetic inheritance 

of cussedness came to my 

help. 

I started to plan; to study 'neurolgical 

deficits' and what could be 

achieved despite them. Most of all I 

began to challenge the prevailing 

medical opinion that 'you might not 

get any better.' 

First steps 

The first 'step' was when my pals 

pushed me round Wooler Common 

in a wheelchair. 

It was hard work for them on a cold 

and windy day. Even though it is a 

flat circle of path, there are sneaky 

little peaks where the surfaces rise 

up. 

35 

It had been one of my first 'outings' 

after hospital where I had staggered 

endlessly along corridors pushing a 

zimmer frame. 

Revived 

The fresh air of the Common and 

the many off-path glades of mixed 

foliage and trees revived my spirit. 

It was the only outdoor trip by 

wheelchair I was to do. 

Not long after I tackled the Common 

with two sticks and a companion. 

It was the start of a long 

relationship that still endures although 

I can now attempt more 

ambitious walks, sometimes without 

a stick. 

In rain, sun, squalls and snow I have 

walked the Common, gingerly in the 

first months, shoeing away friendly 

dogs because my balance was rubbish. 

I think I now know every tree, bird 

species, flower and creature that 

call it home. All you seasoned 

walkers probably never give it a

thought as a serious walk, but it has 

done more than any gym to improve 

my strength and resolve. 

I can walk it unsticked, and sometimes 

even attempt a slow run. I 

shall be ever grateful. 

Amid all the medical input I have 

had, I recall a young registrar telling 

me – 'there are some things 

which we just don't have an explanation 

for.' I'll settle for that. 

If you would like to start walking 

there are Walking for Health 

groups around the area you can 

join. 

Walking for health 

The Wooler (Glendale) Walking 

Group is a well established friendly 

group which meets every week on 

Thursdays at 1.00 pm at the Cheviot 

Centre in Wooler. 

All walks are led by trained walk 

leaders and they usually include a 

visit to a cafe for refreshments 

afterwards. 

Walk leader Chris Crosbie says: 

10th Jan 



31st Jan 

36 

“Each week we do a couple of different 

walks, one usually around 2 

miles and a longer 3-4 mile walk. 

“As the countryside around Wooler 

is quite hilly, we use shared cars or 

a bus on some weeks to increase 

the variety of walks we can offer. 

Small voluntary contributions are 

requested towards the cost of this 

transport. 

“New members are always welcome!” 

says Chris. 

Simply turn up or ring Chris on 

01668 215531. 

Wooler Common and Earle, 3,2 miles 

Commonburn Road to Wooler,2.0 miles 

plus Starter walk 

Wooler Water 3.9 miles 

Turvelaws 2.5 miles 

Brandon and Reaveley, 3.7 miles 

Ingram and Reaveley , 2.2 miles 

Weetwood Moor via St Cuthbert's Way, 3.2 miles 

Tile Sheds1.9 miles 

Details of walks are available online at 

https://www.walkingforhealth.org.uk/walkfinder/glendale-walkers

Saving our 

night skies 

Are you a threat to Northumberland’s 

starry, dark skies? 

Many outside lights, especially LED 

floodlights and security lights, can 

be too bright and are installed so 

that much of the light is directed up 

into the night sky, contributing to 

the orangey-white sky glow above 

towns which spreads out into the 

countryside. 

Now, a new national campaign is 

encouraging property owners with 

outside lighting to assess their 

lighting and ensure, where possible, 

lights are directed downwards. 

Northumberland International Dark 

Sky Park covers 572 square miles 

making it Europe’s largest area of 

protected night sky. 

“We are asking people to ensure 

that the lights around their home 

point down, are fully shielded and 

only illuminate necessary areas and 

aren’t used excessively. 

“If possible, don’t use bulbs which 

emit a blue/white light, but rather 

warmer colours which minimise the 

glare affectingnight skies and the 

wildlife we share our region with.” 

To help local businesses, the NNP is 

offering grants to assist with covering 

the cost of replacing outdoor 

lighting with shielded lighting until 

the end of March 2019. Contact 

ruth.dickinson@nnpa.org.uk 

for details 

37

38

Thoughts 

from 

the 

farmyard 

Winter is well upon us and 

the moles are busy working 

their socks off. 

agreements so we just have to keep 

our heads down and hope that a 

sensible path is formed for all of us. 

Very useful if you are a gardener - 

no soil conditioning required - but 

not so good for sheep farmers as 

any soil in silage bales can cause 

problems such as listeriosis, a bacterial 

disease. 

The kale and turnips are being 

eaten at a prolific rate, I hope we 

can eek them out. Farming is not an 

exact science and the summer 

weather is still taking its toll with 

the lack of water. 

As I write this we are still arguing 

about Brexit, leadership, and trade 

This is a quote that I hold dear, I hope it strikes a chord with 

you. Anybody know where you can see it? Answer in next issue. 

Good luck to the hoof and the horn 

Good luck to the flock and the fleece 

Good luck to the growers of corn 

With the blessings of plenty and peace. 

39 

Most livestock is now housed for the 

winter and given the soft (warm) 

weather, treated with a pneumonia 

vaccination and possibly clipped to 

keep them cool . 

As I write this the tups (rams) are 

doing their job, so in April we will 

know how successful they have 

been. Once again, this is weather 

related; if you are on 

top of Cheviot in a 

snowstorm you might 

prefer sheltering to 

working! 

Pete Loam

40

Wooler, Kirknewton, Doddington, 

Ilderton (Cheviot Benefice) 

Rev Suzanne Cooke, 01668 283502, 

suzanne@cookehouse.co.uk 

Wooler URC 

Jean Armstrong (Secretary), 01668 

216205, jean.arms50@gmail.com 

www.woolerurc.org.uk 

Church contact list 

Chatton, Chillingham, Eglingham, 

Ingram, South Charlton 

(Breamish & Till Benefice) 

Rev Marion Penfold, 01665 578250, 

marion.penfold@btinternet.com 

Lowick, Ford, Etal, Ancroft, St John 

the Baptist (Vacant) 

Glendale Crossing Places 

Rev Bill Eugster, 01668 282176, 

bill.eugster@glendalecrossingplaces.org 

www.glendalecrossingplaces.org 

Wooler St Ninian's (Roman Catholic) 

Father David Philips, 01665 574240 

Wooler Evangelical Church 

Michael Veitch, 0777 900 4253, 

michaelgveitch@yahoo.co.uk 

www.wooler-evangelical.org.uk 

Milfield Methodist 

Rev Gillian Welsh, 01289 306291, 

www.lindisfarnemethodistchurches.org.uk 

Crookham URC 

Rev Mary Taylor, m.taylor_1@btinternet.com 

Wooler Christian Brethren 

David Pulman, 01668 216520 

Glendale Live would not have 

been possible without start-up 

help, so we would like to thank 

Northumberland National 

Park, The Glendale Gateway 

Trust and North Northumberland 

Volunteer Forum

Useful Contacts 

To book local halls: 

Cheviot Centre, Wooler: 01668 282406 ggtadmin@wooler.org 

Glendale Hall, Wooler: 01289 388387 

Kirknewton Village Hall: 01890 850285 kirknewtonvillagehall@gmail.com 

Chatton Village Hall: 

villagehall@chatton.uk 

Lowick Village Hall: 01289 388285 

Bowsden Village Hall: 01289 388543 hgew13@gmail.com 

Etal Village Hall: 

www.etalvillagehall.org.uk 

Crookham Village Hall: 01890 820446 

Schools: 

Wooler First School: 01668 281470 

www.wooler.northumberland.sch.uk/website 

Glendale Middle School: 01668 281470 

www.glendale.northumberland.sch.uk/website 

Ford Village School: 01890 820217 

www.ford.northumberland.sch.uk/website 

Lowick First School: 01289 388268 

www.lowickholyislandschools.org.uk/website 

Health Facilities: 

Glendale Surgery: 01668 281740 

Cheviot Medical Group: 01668 281575 

Glendale Pharmacy (Wooler): 01668 281343 

Community Contacts: 

Wooler Tourist Information: 01668 282123 

Wooler Police Office: call 101 (Non- emergency only) 

Wooler Parish Council: 

07501169591 (clerk Samantha Hook) 

woolerparishcouncil@yahoo.co.uk 

Kirknewton Parish Council: 0191 257 1948 

clerk.kirknewton.pc@gmail.com 

Lowick Parish Council: 01289 388205 

lowickparishcouncil@btinternet.com 

Ford Parish Council: 01890 820566 

clerk.fordpc@btinternet.com 

Milfield Parish Council 0785 657 7181 

milfieldpc@gmail.com 

Tillside Parish Council: 01289 306365 

tillsidepc@btopenworld.com 

Cornhill-on-Tweed Parish Council: 

parishclerk@cornhill-on-tweed.co.uk 

01890 820501 

County Councillor: 

01668 281062(Cllr Anthony Murray) 

Anthony.Murray99@northumberland.gov.uk 

Glendale Gateway Trust: 01668 282406 

ggtadmin@wooler.org 

U3A: 01668 281362 

https://u3asites.org.uk/wooler/home 

Samaritans 

call free any time, from any phone on 

116 123 

Are there other numbers you would like us to include? 

Contact: editor.Glendalelive@gmail.com

Glendale Live Jan-Feb 2019

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