ABC Magazine: Wansbeck Edition, Oct - Nov 2021

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WANSBECK EDITION | OCT / NOV 2021

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2008

PUZZLES INSIDE

SINGING IS GOOD FOR YOU! Ashington Male Voice Choir are looking for new members

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WELCOME TO ABC MAGAZINE

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Welcome to the Wansbeck edition of ABC, your bi-monthly local magazine.

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LO CA L N EWS

Work starts on major upgrade to Newbiggin Sport & Community Centre

Work is about to start on an exciting £1.5m scheme to refurbish and revitalise Newbiggin Sports and Community Centre.

The Northumberland County Council funded scheme includes the refurbishment and re-modelling of the centre to provide modern leisure, library and community spaces.

As the internal layout of the centre is to be changed, it will be necessary to close the centre to the public while the work is being carried out.

Alternative arrangements have been introduced for customers and sports clubs from November 1.

Once the work is complete, the centre will provide a new and improved sporting offer; The ground floor gym area will be refurbished and reconfigured to provide a dedicated cycling/spinning studio while the first floor will be converted into a fantastic new gym area with weights and state-of-the-art cardio equipment.

In addition, the three squash courts and viewing gallery will be refurbished and the six-court sports hall upgraded. There will be new and improved changing facilities that will be available for sport and community use, including changing places that are designed to be fully accessible for those with additional needs.

A new, modern and welcoming reception area, a library and the creation of a community café and

hub area are also included in the scheme as well as some essential repairs to the fabric of the building.

The centre also has two external full sized football pitches that are used by a number of local teams; Northumberland County Council has been working with Newbiggin AFC, local clubs and the Football Foundation to provide new and enhanced grass pitches to the rear of the centre. All Active Northumberland customers have been written to inform them of the alternative sites they can use, and sports clubs have been temporarily relocated.

Members have been given the option to have their membership frozen if they wish.

It is anticipated that the work will take nine months to complete with the centre scheduled to re-open in summer 2022.

Northumberland County Councillor, Jeff Watson, cabinet member with responsibility for health lives said: “This upgrade work will breathe new life into the centre and provide a modern and much improved experience for the local community. The start of the work on site marks another milestone and means we are one step closer to bringing these fantastic new facilities to the local community.”

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Established

2008

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- J U LY 2 02 1 EDITION | JUNE N O RT H S H I E L D S

PUZZLES INSIDE

ON YOUR BIKE

MAKE NEW SPACE

Your loft & garage hold the key to extra space in your home

Summer of Cycling underway & plans revealed to expand cycle network

STIC PAWTA The North East Dog Festival

returns for 2021

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LOCAL NEWS

Winter Events at Spanish City The iconic Spanish City was returned to it’s former glory in 2018, to rekindle its love affair with the residents and visitors of Whitley Bay. Spanish City hosts everything from Christmas markets and corporate exhibitions to birthday parties and spectacular weddings. Awardwinning Trenchers Restaurant and Takeaway, fine-dining 1910 restaurant, Valerie’s Tearoom and The Champagne Bar take permanent homes inside the historic building.

They have also built a name for our stunning afternoon teas, which can be enjoyed under the dome in The Gallery or with sea views in 1910.

Here is a selection of some of the upcoming events you can look forward to at this historic local venue:

HALLOWEEN TRIBUTE: LADY GAGA ROCKY HORROR SHOW Sunday 31st October, 7pm

The perfect Halloween treat for all of you “Little Monsters” out there. The fabulous Lady Gaga tribute is coming to Spanish City on the scariest night of the year. And, to make it extra spooky, there will be a Rocky Horror Show twist.

So get your paws up and join them this Halloween. Walk the red carpet on arrival so you really feel like the star that you are, then indulge in a stunning two-course meal and dance the night away to the live singer, followed by DJ until 12.30am. £25 per person.

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHT SWITCH ON

Sunday 21st November 5pm – 7pm Kick off the festive season on Sunday 21st November and come along for the stunning Christmas tree light switch on. On display will be a tremendous glittering tree, awarded 8

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the Best Christmas Tree in Europe in 2019, so the switch on is not to be missed.

Under the grandeur of the Dome, listen to carol singers, sip on mulled wine and eat mince pies, while children are entertained by stilt walkers, bauble decorating and balloon modelling. Let the countdown commence! £3.00 per person or free entry if you book and dine in Trenchers or 1910 between 4pm – 7pm.

CHRISTMAS MARKET

Friday 26th November – Sunday 28th November The annual Christmas Market, which received 8,000 visitors in 2019, features a variety of traditional stalls where you can buy unique, handcrafted gifts for your loved ones and stock up on local delicacies. There will be festive food stalls selling a variety of sweet and savoury treats, all handmade by the in-house team of chefs.

Make it extra special and have a meal in the award-winning Trenchers Restaurant or enjoy a Festive Afternoon Tea with stunning sea views in 1910.

Event times: Friday 26th 5pm – 9pm, Saturday 27th 10am – 5pm, Sunday 28th 10am – 5pm.

Entry fee: Advance booking: £2 per person, on the door: £3 per person.

Book an Afternoon Tea during the market and receive free entry.

CHRISTMAS TRIBUTE NIGHTS Are you organising a special gettogether with family and friends, or treating the team for all their hard work? These Christmas Tribute

Nights are the perfect way to celebrate the festive season.

You’ll enjoy a three-course meal with the perfect backdrop of the stunning sea views. Later let your hair down and dance until 12:30am with the resident DJ. Each Tribute night is £40.00 per person and are held in the St Mary’s Lighthouse Suite.

Thursday 2nd - Michael Bublé Is it really Christmas with Michael Bublé? Get in the festive spirit by singing along to all of Bublé’s Christmas hits.

Sunday 5th - Freddie Mercury The ultimate Freddie Mercury tribute act performs songs from a huge repertoire from every decade of Queen’s musical legacy and his solo career.

Thursday 9th – Tom Jones Come along for the ultimate Tom Jones tribute act performing songs from the pop sensations’ huge musical repertoire.

Sunday 12th – ABBA Celebrate a night of dazzling entertainment with a fantastic ABBA tribute act that will bring back to life all of your favourite singalong hits.

Thursday 16th – George Michael The ultimate George Michael tribute act performing songs from his Wham! and his solo days.

▪ For more details on all of these events, plus a comprehensive list of more events, visit www.spanishcity.co.uk

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Pilates Classes Come along and enjoy a Pilates Class with Gill.

She focuses on strengthening and lengthening all of the body muscles, especially the Core.

Pilates will increase your flexibility, mobility, enhance your posture and balance allowing you to move more efficiently.

It will also reduce anxiety, help with depression and fatigue and give you a sense of well being within your mind and your body.

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Call Gill on 07742 885165 to book your place

L OC A L NE WS

Image:gov.uk

River Wansbeck trial aims to improve water quality

Sluice gates which manage water levels in the River Wansbeck will be open for three months as part of efforts to reduce silt build up. This will affect the river from Sheepwash Weir downstream to Wansbeck Barrage, also known locally as Wansbeck Weir.

The long-term aim of the project is to improve the ecology of Wansbeck Lake, enhance the facility for those who use it recreationally, and contribute to habitat improvements further downstream in the estuary.

A study, carried out last winter, looked at the options available for making improvements to the popular lake in Riverside Park in Ashington, where the community go for water sports and to enjoy nature. The build-up of silt on the lake bed is adversely affecting the future of these activities as well as impacting on local habitats and water quality.

The study identified that leaving the lock on Wansbeck Barrage, situated at the mouth of the river, open for three months could allow the river to flow through and flush out some of the silt. The Environment Agency and its partners have consulted with river users about the plans and the gates, which are operated

by Northumberland County Council, will be opened between mid-November until mid-February. The results will then be reviewed to inform the future operation of the barrage.

It means sports activity on the water will be limited to appropriate tide levels during this time. The project is being delivered collaboratively by the Environment Agency, Groundwork North East & Cumbria, Hull 10

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University, river user groups, Northumberland County Council, Choppington Parish Council and Ashington Town Council.

Heather Harrison, from the Environment Agency’s Environment Programme Team in the North East, said: “We are working closely with the local community, river users and our partners to safeguard the long-term future of Wansbeck Lake and its surroundings. Our 2020/21 study helped us get a better understanding of the options available to improve the water quality and biodiversity of the lake and its sustainability as a recreation ground for local people to enjoy.

“One of the initial options is to try to flush away sediment build up on the bottom of the lake, and the best way to do this is to leave the gates open for three months to see if it has a positive impact. This is a popular area for the community and visitors alike and we’ve worked closely with them throughout to ensure they understand the project, the decisions we are making as a partnership, and continue to have a say in its future.”

Councillor John Riddle, County Councillor Cabinet Member for Local Services, added: “This is a well-loved lake popular with families and water sports enthusiasts and we want to do all we can to keep it in good condition.This work will unfortunately mean use of the lake will be restricted for a period of time although the rest of the park will still be open. Hopefully once this is done we’ll end up with an improved facility as well as an improved habitat for the wildlife which flourishes in the area.”

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An exciting £5 million scheme to completely transform and modernise Blyth Sports Centre is complete, and members of the public can now enjoy the fantastic new facilities and services within it. The Active Northumberland centre has undergone a major facelift to radically improve sports and leisure facilities, create a wellness hub for the local community and give the centre a fresh and modern feel to it.

Funded by Northumberland County Council the work has taken place in three phases over the past two years.

The final phase of the work finished this month and is opened to the public last month. It includes a dedicated cycling studio with Technogym bikes, a new and improved soft play experience and an extended cafe offer, while a re-designed, modern reception area will give a welcoming customer experience.

Northumberland County Councillor Jeff Watson, cabinet member with responsibility for health lives said: "Over the last couple of years, the centre has been totally transformed with some fantastic new exercise facilities, equipment and services that will help enhance the health and wellbeing of the local community.

“I hope customers enjoy all that the new look centre has to offer and I encourage anyone who hasn’t visited in a while to come along and try out the new facilities – I think they’ll be very pleasantly surprised.”

Other works that have been carried out in previous phases of the refurbishment work include the creation of a new state of the art gym and fitness area, two new fitness studios and new spa facilities.

The refurbished swimming pool hall, spectator area and modernised changing areas have also proved a big hit with local residents.

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Image:Northumberland County Council

Blyth Sports Centre £5million transformation now complete

In addition, there are new classrooms which will be used by the county council’s Learning & Skills Service to provide a range of learning opportunities for the local community.

The leisure centre is operated by the charitable trust Active Northumberland. Mark Warnes the Chief Executive said: “The revitalisation and refurbishment work that has been carried out has given Blyth Sports Centre a fresh modern feel making it a great place for the people of Blyth and surrounding areas to visit, to be active and to have some fun.

At Active Northumberland we have a fantastic fitness team with a wide range of qualifications, knowledge and experience who are always friendly, approachable and on hand to motivate and encourage our members to achieve their best.

“Whether you are three years old or ninety-three, our centres offer something for everyone - the young and old, experienced athletes or complete beginners, so whatever your fitness or wellbeing aims we will be able to help you meet your needs.

“Residents can pay as they go when they visit the centres, but becoming an Active member for just 85p per day offers enormous benefits. These include unlimited access to all Active Northumberland gyms, fitness classes and swimming pools, receiving expert one-onone support and guidance and a specially tailored training package for your personal fitness journey. You can also access advance bookings on classes and activities and earn loyalty points each time you visit.”

The funding for Blyth Sports centre has come from Northumberland County Council as part of an ambitious £65 million countywide investment programme to upgrade and transform sport and leisure facilities and to enhance the customer experience.

This includes building new leisure centres in Berwick, Morpeth and Ponteland and major investment to refurbish and revitalise centres in Newbiggin and Hexham.

To find out more about Active Northumberland membership options, including a great value flexible membership option, go to www.activenorthumberland.org.uk

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Alternative Advent Calendars For 2021

AIRWICK ADVENT CALENDAR £4.99

Christmas is nearly in full swing and if you are looking for a little bit different this year, B&M may have the answers - from scented tea lights, hot chilli sauce to a cute beauty, cruelty-free option. All in store now.

FABULOSA ADVENT CALENDAR £3.99 Impress the Mrs Hinch in your life, with a gorgeous alternative to a chocolate advent calendar with this Fabulousa scented tea lights advent. Light up your home with festive scents including sugared almonds, festive lights and fairy dust!

THREE MILLS 24 BRITISH WINES ADVENT CALENDAR £34.99 Know a special someone with a taste for vino? This alcohol advent calendar from Three Mills is perfect for those who enjoy a Christmas tipple.

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Create a winter wonderland discover Airwick seasonal festive candles, a collection of carefully blended winter home fragrances to fill your home.

CHILLI HOT SAUCE ADVENT CALENDAR £5 24 days of hot sauce chilli lovers advent calendar.

Includes 24 hot sauces – the perfect gift to give the chilli loved in your life.

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A D V E RT I S I N G F E AT U R E

ENJOY A WARM CONSERVATORY THIS WINTER If you’re fed up with your conservatory being freezing cold and unusable during the winter then Thermos Roof explain how they have the answer...

C

onservatories are a fantastic space to enjoy whilst looking out onto your garden, they are bright, spacious and give you a great sense of closeness to the outdoors. However, as most conservatory owners will know, whilst they bring all of those benefits, it is usually short lived and can only be enjoyed for two or three months of the year, the rest of those months being either freezing cold or blisteringly hot.

At Thermos Roof, we have been insulating conservatory roofs since 2005 for two main reasons, firstly to increase its insulating performance and secondly to enhance its internal aesthetic appearance.

Experience will have shown you that in the winter as soon as you open the door the heat is sucked out of your room into the conservatory and, during the summer, it becomes a dazzling sauna that’s so hot you need a fan to cool you down. At Thermos Roof we can transform your conservatory from a room you barely use into a room that you can enjoy all year round, because the temperature is comfortable and constant, you will even be able to watch TV or use a computer without sunglasses.

What is most impressive is that we can do this all in one day! With no mess!

We retain your existing polycarbonate or glass roof and insulate it from the inside, finishing it in an attractive gloss white tongue and groove PVC cladding that matches perfectly with the rest of your conservatory

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construction. The materials we use are lightweight, therefore no roof strengthening is required, no planning application is necessary and no long periods of mess and upheaval in your home. In addition to this the look and finish of your Thermos Roof will be as fresh in 10 years as it is now.

The performance of the lightweight insulation system will equal that of vastly more expensive options, with less mess and waste, and less time to install saving you thousands of pounds and allowing you to enjoy your conservatory immediately.

We can install a Thermos Roof to conservatories of any size or shape transforming them into a flowing extension of your living space wherein its use is not dictated by the external weather conditions, it will become warm in winter and cool in summer.

In addition to the above benefits, our team will eliminate mould and condensation, reduce rain, noise and serve to cover up an unsightly

dirty roof. The gloss white finish will make it brighter in the evenings by reflecting light and will give your conservatory that WOW factor, making it a great place to relax or work.

All installations come with a 5 year warranty and we guarantee that you will be amazed with both the improved appearance and the insulating performance of your new roof.

We offer a free quotation service for the installation of your Thermos Roof and, should you require it, we can also undertake maintenance works to repair or replace gutters, fascias, soffits, window sills, roof panels and leaking roofs.

Please give us a call today on 01670 828 695 to start the ball rolling to making full use of your Conservatory!

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WINTER IS COMING! Get your conservatory insulated now so you don’t have to shut the door to it until next summer.

A THERMOS ROOF INSULATION SYSTEM KEEPS YOU AT THE PERFECT TEMPERATURE In winter, conservatories can very quickly become cold and uncomfortable to be in once any form of heating has been turned off. Insulation can help retain this heat, keeping you warm as well as saving you energy and money.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Dog Cuddles are the Ultimate Escape from Digital Dependency Distract yourself from digital services with a four legged friend Initially the internet was perceived as an amazing escape from the humdrum of everyday life but, after years of technological revolution, and recent spells living under lockdown, people are questioning their online habit and looking for real life solutions to escape digital dependency. Cuddling and caring for a friendly dog could be the perfect solution to distract us from digital devices, suggest local dog lovers from Barking Mad Northumberland.

In media regulator Ofcom’s Online Nation report in June 2021, a decade of digital dependency was highlighted.

With the UK in some form of lockdown for most of 2020, we were more dependent than ever on online services for entertainment, shopping, keeping in touch, getting information, home working and home schooling. By the end of the year, about 94% of UK homes had internet access, and we spent more time online: an average of 3 hours 37 minutes a day on smartphones, tablets and computers as well as an average of 1 hour 21 minutes a day watching online services such as Netflix and BBC iPlayer on television sets.

These statistics highlight some of the more negative effects that spending too much time online can have on significant numbers of people.

The report said that some people feel that ‘they are always at work’ while 54% of people surveyed admitted that ‘connected devices interrupt face to face conversations with friends and family.’ Understandably, at Christmas, we spend more time indoors with family and friends, with television schedules aimed at family viewing, Christmas specials for old favourites, and binge watching box sets or the latest series. Furthermore, the newest games console and the latest computer games, leads to our family members spending more time spent online.

As we move into the New Year,

and our minds turn to resolutions and starting 2022 with renewed energy and motivation, what will your New Year resolutions include? If it is fresh air, exercise and getting out and about more, perhaps Barking Mad Northumberland can help. Dogs have been proven to encourage us to exercise, get out and about more and generally improve our well-being.

After all, who can resist those puppy dog eyes pleading for a walk? This has been documented by Deborah L. Wells of the School of Psychology, Queens University, Belfast, in ‘The Effects of Animals on Human Health and WellBeing’ which concluded: “This particular companion animal can contribute to a significant degree to our well-being and quality of lives, and supports the widely held belief that pets are good for us”.

Barbara Frater and Caroline Bradshaw of Barking Mad Northumberland enthuse, “We are currently seeking more doggy holiday hosts based in Northumberland to care and provide a home from home stay for friendly, well mannered dogs whose owners are away on holiday or business.

This is an ideal opportunity for retired people, home workers, families, or teaching professionals, to experience the joy and life enhancing benefits of canine companionship, at a time to suit them. Our hosts also benefit from being part of our host community, we organise regular host get-togethers such as beach walks, coffee mornings, cinema trips and being part of our Barking Mad hosting community leads to meeting like minded people, with a love of all things canine.

Kick starting the New Year with a healthy new hobby might be just what you are looking for. As well as cuddling and caring for a lovely dog, a canine visitor provides real interaction and exercise. We witness families’ leisure time being transformed by visiting dogs. The dogs arrive with all their own food, bedding, toys and treats, with all insurance and administration taken care of by ourselves. There is no need to provide anything other than your time and affection and a loving home environment. If you are real dog lovers and have a dog friendly home, and some free time, we would love to hear from you!”

To find out more about becoming a Barking Mad doggy holiday host, you can call Barbara and Caroline on 01665 575981, email northumberland@barkingmad.uk.com or visit www.barkingmad.uk.com/become-a-dog-sitter 18

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Your dog’s holiday starts here Devoted to dogs since 2000 ver Fore

We provide loving home from home holiday care for your dog. Everything is arranged, overseen and supported locally by our friendly dog care professionals.

We're the experts at making your dog feel at home.

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BarkingMad.uk.com 01665 575981 A franchise owned and operated under licence by Barbara Frater & Caroline Bradshaw

TOTALLY

MEN

Offering all aspects of Barbering

Check out our Facebook page for all our latest offers 122 Station Road, Ashington Tel: 01670 858 759 Open: Weds, Thur & Fri 9am-6pm • Sat 9am-4pm Mon & Tues Closed ABC MAGAZINES

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

BACK ON SONG - BUT LET’S DISPEL THE MYTHS!

If you fancy joining Ashington Male Voice Choir, but you have some reservations, here they answer some misconceptions that you may have.

After having to suspend our activities because of COVID, Ashington and District Male Voice Choir are definitely “back on song”. Our Thursday evening rehearsals have resumed at Bomarsund Welfare, and we are actively planning our forthcoming concerts.

The choir are always pleased to welcome new members, but we understand that sometimes people might not be too sure what we are all about. Sometimes they might have the wrong ideas about us, so we thought we’d try to set the record straight. Some common misconceptions …

“You have to be a really good, top class singer.”

WRONG! You don’t have to be like Pavarotti or Russell Watson or even that bloke who flogs car insurance on the tele. (Go compare!). You just need to enjoy a good sing, no matter how good (or bad) you think your voice is.

“The choir members are a bit snobbish and stand offish and I wouldn’t fit in”.

WRONG!. The blokes in the choir are all “ordinary” folk from all sorts of different backgrounds. Everybody gets on well and enjoys each other’s company, as well as a good laugh.

“You have to be able to read music and pass an audition to see how good you are before you can join.”

WRONG! You don’t have to be able to read music and there is no audition. We are a community choir open to any men who want to sing.

“The choir only sings highbrow, posh classical music and I wouldn’t like it.”

WRONG! The choir sings a wide variety of music to fit all tastes.

We sing popular songs of all kinds 20

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and genres, from The Beatles to traditional folk songs, from Elvis to modern musicals.

“The rehearsals are really strict and boring and if you sing something wrong everybody looks down their nose at you”.

WRONG! Rehearsals are quite light hearted and enjoyable.

Obviously the idea is to sing the music properly and professionally.

Anybody can get it wrong from time to time but nobody gets upset or criticises. After all, that’s what rehearsals are for – so we can put right any mistakes.

“It’s just a bunch of blokes getting together for a sing without any real purpose.”

WRONG! Not only is singing good for you physically and mentally the socialisation with other people does you good as well. It’s not only good for the members the choir performs at a number of concerts during the year, not only to provide good entertainment, but also to raise funds for local good causes and charities. Every year we select

a charity or worthwhile organisation we can try to help in this way.

“It’s not worth turning out and missing an evening watching tele”.

WRONG! What can I say?There must be more to life than watching tele every night …… ‘’It would be too expensive. I don’t want to buy a uniform and music’’ WRONG! Uniform and music are provided free. There’s a small weekly subscription after the first six weeks…not much different to buying a tea or cofee.

Hopefully the above might have given local men some insight into what the choir is all about and encouraged some to think about joining us. You’ll be very welcome so come on, give it a go! See our advert on page 6 for contact details or visit us on Facebook.

ADVANCE NOTICE! Christmas is coming and so is our Christmas Concert on Saturday 11th December Bedlington..

WATCH OUT FOR DETAILS.

▪ www.ashingtonmalevoicechoir.org

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BarkingMad.uk.com 01665 575981 A franchise owned and operated under licence by Barbara Frater & Caroline Bradshaw

Ashington & District Male Voice Choir We’re Back - Thursday Nights 7pm

Bomarsund Welfare Lounge Calling all Gentlemen singers, Bass, Baritone, Tenor There’s a place for you in our Community Choir •Forge lifelong friendships • Singing lifts your mood •Free 6 week trial • No audition required •Perform at events in the area • Support local charities

Christmas Concert at St Cuthberts Bedlington 11th Dec Watch this space for further details.

Interested? Call Stuart 07950770021

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BOOKS

UNCOVER THE SECRETS OF NORTH SHIELDS & TYNEMOUTH NEW BOOK OFFERS FASCINATING INSIGHT

The neighbouring communities of North Shields and Tynemouth are very different, but each has depended on the other for its existence over the years. Tynemouth the small pretty seaside village overlooking the harbour of the River Tyne. Conversely, North Shields the hard, industrial town, which was founded on the industries of mining, fishing and salt. The ruins of Tynemouth Priory and Castle dominate a rocky headland and today attract many visitors. The priory was built in around 1090 on the site of a much earlier chapel and although the prior had considerable influence, critically, he had no power over neighbouring Newcastle upon Tyne.

In this book author David Scholey explores the rich history of the area and uncovers some surprises and secrets along the way. The book relates how the town and village came into existence and the battles with Newcastle over the existence of North Shields, once described as ‘a town where no towns ought to be’. Readers will also discover more about the local people – the sailors, inventors and entertainers – and how, against the odds, they still remain proud and defiant.

Illustrated throughout, Secret North Shields & Tynemouth offers a fascinating insight into the heritage of this part of the North East, and will be of immense interest to residents, visitors and all those with connections to the area.

▪ Secret North Shields & Tynemouth will be available from 15th November 2021 from www.amberley-books.com and all good bookshops.

Brooks of Oldgate In our lovely shop we have a unique range of gifts, accessory’s for your home, hand painted furniture, unique up-cycled accessories.

We also take furniture painting commissions.

There’s also lots of help and advice on hand and hopefully our shop will help inspire your creative side.

Check out our Facebook page: brooksofoldgate@morpethclocktower Mobile: 07437 853 665

16 Oldgate, Morpeth, NE61 1LX 22

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(behind the Clock Tower)

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

FANCY A BREAK? Right now we all need something to look forward to, and a UK coach break could be just the ticket!

Local coach tourism experts Graham Wright and John Hindhaugh have started their own coach tour company and are taking bookings now.

Graham explains more...

John and I have worked in the coach tourism industry as drivers for many years, the last few spent as tour drivers for the same local North East coach holiday company, until the Global pandemic had a catastrophic effect on our industry, with many companies going out of business.

Over the years, on our numerous tours both abroad and in the UK, we have built up a fantastic relationship with many of our passengers, and are lucky to call many of them friends. They really appreciated our experience and knowledge of the places we visited, to the extent that a lot of passengers started asking who the driver would be before they actually booked a tour with the company. It was during a conversation with one of our friends that the question was asked about starting our own company doing our own holidays, so here we are.

We have put all our years’ experience and knowledge to good use while planning our exclusive tours. All the tours are exceptional value for money, and we only select the best-established quality hotels, that are generally either known to us, or we have previously used before.

The specific day trips on each tour are also carefully created, all based on our knowledge as well as any relevant previous customer feedback and suggestions to ensure they are always enjoyed. The trips do not leave the hotel too early, or return too late, so as to allow 24

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everyone to make full use of the facilities of the chosen hotel. Guaranteed free time as well as entertainment are also key factors that we take into account to try and make a tour as pleasurable an experience possible.

In such a short space of time, from the initial concept, we have managed to make massive progress. During this current difficult time we all need something to look forward to, and we currently have a wide range of fantastic tours in Great Britain. Our advert on the opposite page shows you what’s on offer, with more to follow!

You can rest assured that you can book with confidence with us. We have been granted a COVID-19 Industry Standard Certificate which shows government and industry COVID-19 guidelines are followed. Plus, if your tour is cancelled due to the COVID restrictions, you will receive a full refund.

We look forward to welcoming you aboard!

■ United Group Travel Ltd

Tel: 01670 632460 / 07957 141654 www.unitedgrouptravel.com Facebook: United Group Travel Ltd E mail: graham.john.unitedgrouptravel@gmail.com Company no. 13052351

PUZZLE CHALLENGE

CROSSWORD Across 7 Destitute, lacking (6) 8 Allowing movement in a single direction (3-3) 9 False god (4) 10 Towards the back, at the end (8) 11 Major road (7) 13 Local authority regulation (5) 15 Cow’s mammary gland (5) 17 Having taste, genteel (7) 20 Computer ID (8) 21 Adorable, charming (4) 23 Tearful (6) 24 Reach, realise (6) Down 1 Desire, covet (4) 2 Riches (6) 3 Abiding, immortal (7) 4 Articulate (5) 5 Room to move and row (6) 6 Bearing, stance (8) 12 Commerce, trade (8) 14 A few, not many (7) 16 Insect with pincers (6) 18 Encourage, foment (6) 19 Assess, quantify (5) 22 Offshoot (4)

SUDOKU

WORDSEARCH

SOLUTIONS

Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the numbers 1 through to 9 with no repetition.

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SUDOKU

WORDSEARCH

To celebrate National Novel Writing Month, can you find all of the one word book titles hidden in the grid?

Ash Beloved Bonsai Calf Clockers

Dancer Duplex Emma Fan Fences

George Gilead Hild Himself Inheritance

Island Jubilee Kintu Monster Norwood

Oreo Passing Push Replay Room Scythe Sidewalks Silence Stoner Tampa Unami Unless Warlock Wave

CHOPPINGTON SOCIAL WELFARE CENTRE N

WHAT’S O

LITTLE SHOOTERS JUNIOR FOOTBALL TRAINING SESSIONS

SEQUENCE DANCE GROUP Sunday & Tuesday 7pm - 10pm

A great place for 4 to 6 year olds to learn basic football skills & drills amongst a friendly group of kids & qualified Trainers. They can advance into playing competitively in one of the junior teams.

Contact Marc the Coach on 07855 954783 for more info.

New Members Wanted! Come along & enjoy an evening in the company of a lovely friendly group of people. New joiners please call the centre first to book your place.

CARPET BOWLS

Come along and Line Dance to traditional music or dance to the latest pop music.

Wednesdays 7pm to 9.30pm

Part of the centre for over 30 years. A very friendly group of people, some of whom have played Bowls at the highest level for County & league competitions. They have also raised thousands of pounds over the years to donate to various charities. Come along and learn the skill attached to Carpet Bowling from some of the best Bowlers of their time.

Contact the centre.

COMMUNITY CHOIR Thursdays 7pm - 9pm

Anyone wishing to come along and join Choir Master Richard and the group should call the Centre to book a place.

TO HELP US KEEP EVERYONE SAFE, ALL ACTIVITIES MUST BE PRE-BOOKED. Limited numbers can attend each session.

COVID rules must be adhered to. Contact details for Track & Trace are required and a mask or visor must be worn in the centre.

For more information or to book an activity call Neal on Email:

LINE DANCING Monday, Friday & Saturday 7pm to 10.30pm

PILATES CLASS Wednesdays 6pm - 7pm With Gill Glass. Enjoy this popular way of exercising and help losing those few extra pounds put on during the Pandemic Lockdown with the aim of getting fit.

Call 07742 885165 to book your place.

TABLE TENNIS & BADMINTON We’ve had interest in both activities. However we need more people to make their interest known in order to run these activities.

Please call the Centre for details.

?

Is there an activity you’d like to participate in but can’t find a location offering it?

Contact us & we’ll see if we can make it happen!

Also, if you have the skills to help run any of the activities listed above or something new - please get in touch!

01670 822 028

neal@choppington.org

BECOME A MEMBER £5 PER YEAR OR £4 FOR OAP & JUNIOR

MAGAZINES Choppington Social Welfare Centre, Fernlea Drive, Scotland Gate, ChoppingtonABC NE62 5SR|

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E N TE RTAIN M E N T

FILM REVIEWS GHOSTBUSTERS AFTERLIFE Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Supernatural Age Rating: PG-13 Release date: 19th November In ’Ghostbusters: Afterlife’, two grandchildren of the 1984 original ghostbusters get together to fight against a supernatural phenomenon that returns years after the first movie.

The story starts with two siblings and their mother moving into a decaying farmhouse in the tiny Oklahoma city of Summerville, to take over their late grandfather’s failing farm.

Following their arrival in town, the family begins to notice and sense odd activities taking place around the city. Mr. Grooberson (Paul Rudd), Trevor’s teacher, shares his thoughts on how current circumstances link to supernatural events of the 1980s. The family then proceeds to learn about their grandfather’s hidden legacy, and how supernatural powers threaten to take over the world once again. As a result, the children must blow the dust off the Ghostbusters’ equipment and use it to save the world, their friends and their family.

Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, and Annie Potts have agreed to reprise their roles as five of the Ghostbusters original cast from the 1984’s ’Ghostbusters’.

At the same time, in a moment that can almost be called a passing of the torch, the movie is directed by Jason Reitman, the son of director Ivan Reitman - who directed both ’Ghostbusters’ (1984) and ’Ghostbusters II’ (1989).

Jason has already directed a number of other films as well, including ‘Tully’ (2018), ‘Labor Day’ (2013), and ‘Thank You For Smoking’ (2005), and in this one will also be acting as co-writer for the screenplay along with Gil Keenan and Dan Aykroyd.

‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ is set for UK release on 19th November.

CRY MACHO

Genres: Thriller, Western, Drama Age Rating: TBC Release date: 12th November Clint Eastwood’s new movie ‘Cry Macho’ is a western drama-thriller about a fired horse trainer who takes the job of returning his former boss’

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11-year-old son from his alcoholic wife. The mission doesn’t go as planned, but the horseman learns what it takes to be a good man as he crosses Mexico into Texas.

Based on a 1975 book with the same title by M. Richard Nash, ‘Cry Macho’ has been announced under several previous projects. Director Brad Furman announced at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival that Arnold Schwarzenegger would play the horseman, but the project was cancelled after Schwarzenegger divorced Maria Shriver.

The now 90-year-old Eastwood takes three main roles in this movie - leading actor, director, and producer. The multi-talented star becomes Miko, the horseman, along with several other cast members. They are Dwight Yoakam, Natalia Traven, Horacio Garcia Rojas and Fernanda Urrejola.

It is not the first time Eastwood has taken more than one role. The last movie where he both acted and directed was ‘The Mule’ in 2018, playing the role of a horticulturist who turns into a courier for a drug cartel. Screenwriter Nick Schenk reappears here, adapting Nash’s screenplay for ‘Cry Macho’.

HOUSE OF GUCCI

Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller Age Rating: tbc Release date: 26th November

‘House of Gucci’ depicts the real-life events leading to Maurizio Gucci’s death and the aftermath of his murder. It is based on a book titled ‘The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed’

by Sara Gay Foden.

Adam Driver portrays Gucci, an Italian businessman, grandson of the luxury brand founder Guccio Gucci, and head of the family and business, before his assassination in 1995. He is assassinated just outside his office by a hitman.

Soon after, it is revealed that the hitman and the whole murder was planned by his ex-wife Patrizia Reggiani, played

by Lady Gaga. She goes on to spend 16 years in prison for the crime.

The casting of Gaga was approved by Reggiani herself, according to the now-free woman in an interview with Italian magazine Novella 2000 earlier this year. However, Gaga was not allowed to meet her in person since the producers did not want her to be seen as endorsing the crime.

Among the cast list are Jared Leto as Paolo Gucci, Al Pacino as Aldo Gucci, Jeremy Irons as Rodolfo Gucci, and Reeve Carney as Tom Ford.

Ridley Scott, known for his work in ‘Blade Runner’ and ‘The Martian’, directed the movie, based on a screenplay written by Roberto Bentivegna. Driver teams up with Scott for the second time after ‘The Last Duel’, which was just released at the beginning of this year.

‘House of Gucci’ is set for UK release on 26th November.

The

3D Cakery

Cakes made for all occasions

Let us create that special cake for that special occassion Birthdays, Weddings, Christenings etc.

Cake Decorating Equipment & Consumables.

Cake Boards, Cake Boxes, Icing, Food Colouring etc.

The 3D Cakery Hirst Yard, Viewlands, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9AF

Tel: 01670 812852

www.the3dcakery.co.uk

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LOCAL N E WS

A sensory garden is being developed by the Full Circle Food Project at Hirst Park, with the support of College Ward Councillor Mark Purvis.

The Full Circle Food Project provide a range of activities and services at the recently developed Growing Zone in Hirst Park. Activities include the provision of interactive cooking classes that assist both adults and children in learning to cook healthily as well as managing food on a budget with tasty recipes.

In providing activities the project found that a number of beneficiaries and volunteers needed a quiet space to sit and reflect on what has recently been a very difficult time for many. This has led to the development of the sensory garden, within the Growing Zone, which has been directly funded by Cllr. Mark Purvis’s County Council Small Improvements Scheme.

Sarah Robinson, CEO at the Full Food Circle project, said ‘We were so grateful for the donation from Cllr. Purvis towards the development of the sensory garden. Over the next year the garden will be fully developed to provide a restful space filled with plants that will appeal to our senses with the aim of improving health and well-being’.

Cllr. Purvis adds ‘I’m pleased to support this worthwhile project as I know the Full Food Circle are doing much to meet need and address food poverty in

Image:Ashington Town Council

New Sensory Garden and Community Cafe at Hirst Park both the College Ward and wider Ashington area’.

The project currently provides a Community Larder, open every Monday from 10.00am to 11.00am and Wednesday from 1.00pm to 2.00pm, as well as a Community Café, open every Tuesday from 12noon till 1.00pm, for homemade soup and toasties on a pay what you can basis.

The Full Circle Food Project are based at the Growing Zone in Hirst Park (NE63 9BA). The Growing Zone has been developed as part of Northumberland County Council’s successful bid for the National Lottery funding to rejuvenate the Park. A grant of £2.2m was awarded through The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund and is supported by contributions from Ashington Town Council and the Ashington Leisure Partnership.

For more information on the Full Circle Food Project visit www.fullcirclefoodproject.org.uk or find the group on Facebook.

ARROW WORD In this crossword the clues are printed in what would normally be the ‘black’ squares. Follow the signs from each clue to find where the word should fit.

At what time?

Paradise

Conclusion

Goes in

Piece of ground

Bowmen

Exist

Showed excessive fondness

Complete

Bounder

Manufactured

Possessive pronoun

Conjunction

Simplest

E E N A N T I R D E C R H A S I E T R N D O S S

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Woody plant

Public house

Spent time idly

Understand

TILE NORTH EAST

LTD

K I T C H E N T I L E S | B AT H R O OM T I L E S | F LO O R T I L E S

UNIT 3, HUBBWAY BUSINESS CENTRE, CRAMLINGTON, NE23 8AD OPPOSITE AZURE GARDEN CENTRE Tel: 01670 716 767 Email: tilenortheast@outlook.com www.tilenortheast.com ABC MAGAZINES

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LOCAL N E WS

More Multi-Million Pound Investment Coming to Northumberland

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Image:Northumberland County Council

M

ore multi-million pound investment is coming to the county after JDR Cable Systems (JDR), the global subsea cable and umbilical supplier and servicer, announced its plans to open a new state-of-the-art subsea cable manufacturing facility in Cambois.

The news has been welcomed

by Northumberland County Council, Advance Northumberland and the North East Local Enterprise Partnership which have worked tirelessly to support the project.

JDR has confirmed its intention to go ahead with the project, subject to final agreements, with construction expected to begin in 2022 ahead of a 2024 opening, creating 170 high-quality local jobs on completion and safeguarding 270 jobs at JDR’s existing facilities. The initial project investment is estimated at £130m, which will be part funded by a grant from the BEIS Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Support (OWMIS) scheme. JDR and TFK plans to raise the remaining funding with support expected from financial institutions and UK Export Finance.

The new facility is the first stage of JDR’s plans to expand its product portfolio to support the growing global renewable energy market, adding high voltage export and long length array cables to its existing capacity and product capabilities.

Further stages of the development could result in over 400 staff working at the site, with supplied products complementing JDR’s existing capacity provided by the company’s Hartlepool and Littleport UK manufacturing centers.

Tomasz Nowak, Chief Executive Officer at JDR, said: “As the energy transition gathers pace and the UK’s offshore wind sector continues to thrive, turbines are growing taller and farther from shore, calling for higher voltage subsea cables. We’re delighted to build on our legacy as a leading provider of subsea cables to the offshore energy sector by investing in this new facility.

We’re also delighted to continue our investment in the North East of England, and in bringing new jobs to Cambois, Blyth and Northumberland.

Our proposed facility is strategically located to capitalise on the rapidly growing and largest offshore renewable energy market in Europe.”

Northumberland County Council Leader Glen Sanderson said: “This latest investment in Northumberland is great news and another example of the area’s ever-growing reputation as a centre for renewable energy. With another 170 high quality local jobs in the pipeline we will look forward to working with the company to make this another county success story.”

Tony Quinn, Chair of Energi Coast – the North East England’s Offshore Wind Supply Chain Cluster, adds: “We’re delighted that JDR has selected Cambois, near Blyth, for such a strategically important investment. It will make a significant contribution toward the development of an offshore wind industrial cluster in the North East, strengthening an already well established supply chain and creating hundreds of high value jobs.”

As the UK prepares to host COP26 in November, the project is an example of the country’s commitment to its net-zero vision.

At the same time, the facility fits with the government’s ‘levelling-up’

agenda in the North East of England, as well as its ‘Build Back Better’ ambition in the wake of COVID-19, helping to deliver on a number of strategic national priorities.

The 69,000 sqm facility will occupy the site of the former coal-fired power station, continuing Northumberland’s emergence as a hub for renewable energy engineering and industry.

Helen Golightly, Chief Executive at the North East LEP, which oversees the region’s 21 Enterprise Zones, said: “It’s excellent news that JDR Cable Systems has chosen the NEP1 Enterprise Zone site as the location for its new facility.

Developing manufacturing capacity and supporting the creation of jobs in the offshore and subsea sector in the region is a strategic priority for the North East LEP. “As such, we have invested over £21m to support Advance Northumberland and Northumberland County Council in their efforts to remediate the site, including £2.25m from the Government’s Getting Building Fund and £4.4m from the Local Growth Fund. This investment has led to the creation of one of the UK’s leading deep-water offshore energy bases – attracting investors, securing high quality new jobs and reinforcing the region’s reputation as a hub for renewable energy.”

Davidsons of Morpeth

Volkswagen Authorised Service Dealer Booking your Volkswagen with Davidsons is the surest way to have your car serviced, repaired & cared for by a knowledgeable expert to the highest standard from a family run company, striving for a flawless experience to our customers.

Service, Repairs, Warranty & MOT Call us today to book Davidsons of Morpeth Coopies Way, Morpeth, NE61 6JN

01670 512 115 www.volkswagen.co.uk/retailers/75007/davidsons-of-morpeth-morpeth 33

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LOCAL N E WS

Rebrand for Rejuvenated Retail Centre A Tyneside retail outlet centre is celebrating its 25th anniversary by embracing change and catering for a new generation of shoppers and leisure seekers.

Royal Quays Outlet Centre in North Shields has rebranded to recognise the many small independent businesses that have moved into the centre. Now known as the Royal Quays Independent and Outlet Centre, centre manager Matt Dawson is confident that the change will encourage more retailers and a new cohort of customers looking for a fresh shopping and leisure experience.

Since taking over management of the centre at the height of COVID, Matt has had to cope with forced shop closures, lower than average footfall, competition from online sales and a decline in the popularity of brandbased stores.

The situation reached a critical point in October 2020 when there were 17 empty units in the centre but with careful market research, planning and thinking outside of the box, Matt has reduced this to just four empty units and footfall has risen considerably.

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“Retail has been battered in the past year and we have anticipated, embraced, and supported the many new businesses here. We're not going to see large brands expand soon and it's not easy to just pull in any large store especially as online sales have decimated many high street household names, “said Matt.

“We've rebranded because the expectations of people when they see Royal Quays Outlet is that it’s just an Outlet with lots of designer brands at outlet prices. We want to highlight the changes we’ve made and lead the way in showing our support to the many businesses we have here, both outlet and independent. Our hybrid model is constantly adapting, and we are proud of what we have done to make the retail future bright again.”

Indeed, many new, local independent businesses have moved into the centre including Garden World, Hauticulture and Quay Furniture. Steven Ward from

Hauticulture is one of the business owners who have moved into Royal Quays Outlet and Independent Centre.

“We welcome the change of name at Royal Quays as we feel it better reflects the new and exciting direction Matt is taking the centre. Customers continually tell us how positive the atmosphere is now and how much of an improvement it is to see so many small local independents within the centre, offering something different that you just can’t get elsewhere.”

With additional transport links created and a new vibrant feel to the centre, Matt is optimistic that Royal Quays is gearing up to face the next 25 years with confidence and a new vision for what the next generation of shopper expects.

“We are already seeing a huge difference in the centre and things are moving at a lot faster pace than even I had planned. We have embraced fantastic local independents who have integrated with our established branded outlet stores and added unique leisure and hospitality to compliment them to create a visitor destination rather than just a visit to the shops, “said Matt.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

GIVE SOMEONE POWER OF ATTORNEY… BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE Lasting Powers of Attorney are invaluable documents as part of the overall planning of your estate as managing your financial affairs can become more difficult as you get older. If a person is unable to manage their affairs due to mental incapacity and they have not made a valid Enduring or Lasting Power of Attorney, their assets will be frozen as no one (including their spouse and children) has the authority to deal with them.

At this point someone will need to apply to the Court of Protection to be appointed as the person’s Deputy. The Court will then authorize the Deputy to deal with the person’s affairs in a certain manner. This is a very time consuming (around 6 months) and expensive (in the region of £1,750) process.

This situation can be simply avoided through the making of a Lasting Power of Attorney.

By making a Lasting Power of Attorney you can decide whom you would like to manage your affairs in the event that you are unable to do so either due to physical or mental incapacity.

There are two types of Lasting Power of Attorney that can be made, one dealing with your property and financial affairs and the other dealing with your personal welfare.

PERSONAL WELFARE This power gives your attorney the authority to make decisions regarding your healthcare and medical treatment.

PROPERTY AND AFFAIRS This power enables your attorney to deal with your bank accounts and your property. This includes decisions in relation to selling or renting your property, paying your bills, applying for benefits you are entitled to and all aspects of dealing with your bank accounts, savings and investments.

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All work we undertake is at fixed fees: Single Property and Affairs Lasting Power of Attorney: £300 inclusive of VAT Double Property and Affairs Lasting Power of Attorney (suitable for couples): £420 inclusive of VAT Single Will: £180 inclusive of VAT Mirror Will: £240 inclusive of VAT It is imperative that specialist advice is taken in order to ensure that the power given accurately reflects your wishes.

Call Crichton Wills Trusts & Probate on 01670 514772 and speak to a specialist adviser today who will be happy to discuss any concerns you may have and offers a free no obligation appointment in the comfort of your own home.

55 Beaumont Court, Pegswood, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 1BF

Price of Family Trust £1,800 (inc. VAT)

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GARDENING

PROTECT & SURVIVE

By Rachael Leverton No…not the 1970s public information campaign exhorting us to hide under a table in case of nuclear attack, this is far more useful. It’s about protecting tender perennials and taking cuttings to over winter so your plants survive and even multiply. First the protection: to protect tender perennials such as Salvias and Pelargoniums, lift them and bring them into a greenhouse. If you have a heater, set it to the frost setting (around 5C). You can use bubble wrap to insulate the greenhouse for additional heat conservation. If you do this the heater will only need to kick in on extremely cold days and nights.

For tender bulbs and tubers such as dahlias, wait until the foliage has been blackened by the frost, then lift them and place in a box of sand in a dry, dark, frost-free location.

Plants like Agapanthus, which are generally happy to be left in the ground with a little protection, are best left undisturbed. Cover the top with a generous quantity of wellrotted compost or bark mulch. This can be removed from around the crown of the plant in spring and will help retain moisture throughout the spring growing season.

November is the start of the bare root planting season.

Plant roses, hedging and trees, and it’s also a good time to move any of these plants which you think are in the wrong area of the garden. They are more likely to survive this treatment if moved at this time of year.

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SO, WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO IN NOVEMBER? • Ideally your spring bulbs should already be planted but if you haven’t done it yet, just put some in this month. November is actually the perfect month to plant tulip bulbs are because the less time they are in the ground the less likelihood of them developing a virus called tulip fire blight.

• Plant garlic cloves if you have an area with free draining soil.

• Dig over the vegetable plot, leaving clods to break down over winter • Rake the fallen leaves regularly from lawn areas because if you leave them they deprive the lawn of light.

• Bring in garden tools for the winter. Clean, sharpen, and oil them first.

• Keep removing weeds. It is easier to see them once garden plants have died back. November is a great time to get rid of persistent perennial weeds

Wreaths are set to be bigger than ever for Christmas 2021, with many using wreaths to decorate their front doors for the entire winter season, not just for Christmas. While traditional wreaths tend to be colour and decoration adorned, for those looking for a more natural and pared back look, Dobbies eco-wreath fits the bill. Bringing the outdoors in, quite literally, this wild and wonderful wreath adds natural flair to Christmas décor this season. With no metal or plastic required, flora and fauna can be foraged from the garden, including earthy greens like Conifers and Pine, while dried flowers are perfect for adding pops of colour.

Dobbies Lead Stylist, Rebecca Stanton, commented: “We know our customers love being outdoors and, in their gardens, so creating your own eco wreath is perfect for our green fingered friends. Rustic wreaths can be hung on front doors or indoors and add a modern, fuss-free festive feel.”

Rebecca explains how to create your eco wreath:

YOU WILL NEED: Twine Scissors Twigs Cut/foraged greenery STEP 1: Get the look by gathering twigs together and moulding into a rough hoop shape. Don’t worry, this doesn’t have to be perfect as each wreath should be unique. Secure as you go with the twine.

STEP 2: Time to get creative by using the greenery to make little individual posies and secure with twine. This is where you can inject pops of colour with flowers – fresh or dried.

STEP 3: Next, place each posey on the hoop, securing each one with twine. Layer the next one on top of the last, to hide where you have tied.

STEP 4: Once you have taken the posies as far round as you would like, stop. It’s nice to leave some of the hoop exposed for a rustic feel.

STEP 5: Hang your wild eco wreath and prepare for compliments as you wow your festive guests.

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LOCAL NEWS

International Award For Ashington School An Ashington school has been recognised by the British Council for its outstanding work to integrate international teaching and learning into the curriculum.

Duke’s Secondary School has been reaccredited with the International School Award having demonstrated how elements of international education have been embedded into the culture of the school, resulting in pupils having an increased knowledge of other countries, cultures and languages, awareness of key global issues, global citizenship attributes, and an appreciation for cultural diversity.

Assessed against 13 different activities, ranging from taster sessions in Modern Foreign Languages including Mandarin and German, as well as Art, English and Maths-based projects carried out in partnership with schools in Belgium, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Croatia, Duke’s was praised by assessors for its innovative approach to international awareness, especially during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Elizabeth McNally, International Coordinator at Duke’s Secondary School, commented, ‘While the pandemic was and continues to be a challenge for schools, in regard to the activities we had planned to support our international curriculum, the worldwide handling of coronavirus added a new dynamic to our programme and allowed us to adopt new activities which focused more on the promotion of international friendship through shared experience.

Our pupils found common ground with the students from overseas in their experiences of lockdown and disruption to their schooling. Working closely with our twinned school in Remscheid in Germany in particular, the students formed friendships and wrote to each other, practicing their 42

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written and spoken language skills translating messages back and forth.’

James Pearson, fellow International Coordinator at Duke’s, added, ‘We decided to create a ‘Gratitude Tree’ in school where we could pin notes about the things we were grateful for during lockdown.

The whole school got involved and we also included notes from our European pen pals, written in French and German.’

The assessment also explored how Duke’s has been able to promote understanding of its local community in Ashington to international students and how international culture has also been shared with other schools locally.

Operating as part of Northumberland Church of England Academy Trust, Duke’s Secondary School naturally partnered with neighbouring Bishop’s C of E Primary School and Castle School - the Trust’s speciality school for pupils with profound and multiple learning disabilities, to further the reach of its international curriculum.

The assessor acting on behalf of the International School Award team for the British Council, commented, ‘The international dimension is firmly rooted in your school's curriculum and whole-school ethos.

Your links with schools in different countries are providing rich learning experiences for students and staff.

Over the course of two academic

years (2019-2021) you have carried out a range of international activities which include different subject areas and age ranges. You have introduced extra activities during the Covid pandemic enabling your students to reflect and exchange feelings and thoughts on happiness and gratitude with their partners at Roentgen Gymnasium in Remscheid, promoting international empathy and friendship. Your ambassadorial role is well established via your work in introducing an international dimension to transitional activities in your feeder primary schools, as well as supporting progress towards International School Award accreditation. Congratulations to all concerned! We wish you continuing success and enjoyment with your international enterprises.’

Russ Atkinson, Principal at Duke’s Secondary School, added ‘We are delighted to have once again been awarded the International School Award.

Promoting understanding of international cultures and supporting all of our pupils to become global citizens who can contribute positively to their local communities is an important part of our ethos here at Duke’s and we’re honoured to have had that commitment recognised once again by the British Council.’

For more information about the schoolvisit www.dukes.ncea.org.uk.

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TECHNOLOGY

How Much is that Phone in the Advert?

By Tom Hancock

Mobile phones are expensive. The latest iPhones and top of the range Android phones cost upwards of £1000 so they are a big financial commitment.

But are they value for money? Is £1000 phone any better than one which costs £200?

When you watch a phone advert it's easy to believe that owning the latest model will make your life infinitely better.

With ultrahigh resolution screens, multiple professional quality cameras and massively powerful computing engines, you could easily use your phone to replace your laptop, camera, TV and, at a push, your spouse!

But how many of these fantastic features will you actually use?

Most of use our phones for fairly mundane, lowpower tasks. We text, check our social media, post selfies or snapshots, watch YouTube videos, make quick videos to post on social media, play a game, and some of us even use them to make phone calls.

But none of these tasks require any of the high-end features that are pushing the cost of your phone through the roof.

Budget phones summon up the image of a piece of sad plastic that struggles to turn on, let alone do anything useful. But there's a big difference between ‘budget’ and ‘great value for money.’

Big brand names such as Apple and Samsung market their phones as status symbols. Pulling out the latest iPhone or flipping open your foldable Samsung is the same as wearing a Rolex watch or rocking up in your sports car. If you enjoy that feeling and are happy with the cost then these are the phones for you.

If you want a phone that has almost all the features of the top brands; screen, cameras, powerful processor etc., there are a range of less well-known 44

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brands that will deliver all this for a lower cost.

Many of these from Chinese manufacturers where components and labour costs are lower. You'll still get a high-quality product, and the phone will power through all of your day-to-day tasks with room to spare, but people won't recognise the logo on the back.

For example, my 12-year-old needed a new phone and we wanted to get one that would be fun to use rather than the low powered basic model he’d started out with. I came across a phone from Xiaomi, the Redmi Note 9. This has a powerful octa core processor, loads of memory, 64 GB of storage space, ultrahigh resolution screen, three high resolution specialist cameras, fast charge, and long battery life and all for the very pocket friendly cost of £150. From a pre-teenage point of view, he’s pleased as punch with the power and quality of the phone. Form a parent point of view, I’m delighted with the price.

So, when buying a new phone, my advice is to be honest about what you're going to use it for. If you feel a premium phone is worth the money go for it. If you want a phone that does everything and is a pleasure to use but is easy on your pocket, shop around.

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BOOKS

A GOOD READ

By Tash Donovan

PROJECT HAIL MARY

by Andy Weir

Ryland Grace wakes up on a spacecraft with no idea how or why he is there-or even who he is, and on top of this he has to work scientific miracles, from scratch using a Heath Robinson approach to staying alive.

If this sounds like the plot of The Martian there are indeed similarities. Grace, like Mark Whitney is a scientist’s scientist, self-deprecating, highly intelligent, and funny.

The book alternates between Grace-on-Earth and Grace -in-Space as the narrative flips between the present day on the Hail Mary, and the events that led to him waking up alone and with no memory at the beginning of the book. The best science fiction happens when the author has put in the background work, uses it to craft a world we believe in, then creates characters we care about. Andy Weir has achieved all that here, and maintains a slick, fast paced plot to boot.

There’s loads of real science for the geeks, interesting, well-developed characters, excitement, thrills, and a touching friendship between the central characters. During the final third of the book, the stakes are raised ever higher, and I found myself reading ever faster in suspense all the way to the final page.

EVERYONE DIES FAMOUS IN A SMALL TOWN

by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock

This is a young adult novel with a difference. It’s a collection of interconnected short stories all set in the mid-1990s, in Alaska and small towns scattered across the American west. Each story centres around one or two disparate teen characters who each face the challenges and rewards of small-town life. Told through the ordinary events of their lives, we 46

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glimpse brief moments, like peeking through a window.

We can see their inner struggles, how they deal with pain or boredom or survival, and how they find new paths and moments of healing.

There are hitchhikers, kids with a 'reputation', free spirits, and young people who have suffered loss.

Woven through the stories are some common threads; we get an early warning of wildfire in one story which is at the centre of the plot of another. The aftermath of events in one story, pop up in later ones.

Each character's life has a 'butterfly effect' on the lives of other characters, some big and some small, and most of the characters never know the threads that connect them, even though we as readers are treated to the bigger picture and have the pleasure of seeing where all these lives overlap.

In Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town, Hitchcock takes us into the inner workings of young minds and hearts. A beautiful read for older teens.

IN THE NIGHT KITCHEN

by Maurice Sendak

Another book from the Seventies, In the Night Kitchen is not as wellknown as Sendak’s other dreamscape, Where the Wild Things Are, but is every bit as magical, with beautiful illustrations.

The story is a fragmented, comic book romp through a child’s dream. A streamof-consciousness, random, quirky, child’s-eye-view of the world, set in a sort of kitchen-cum-cityscape built from giant boxes of baking ingredients. Written in a poetic meter that stretches and contracts with the ebb and flow of the action, it’s almost as much fun for an adult to read as for a child to listen.

My kids (aged 5 and 3) love it, but I will issue a nudity warning to those parents who may not appreciate some of the illustrations. The little boy Mickey is naked for most of the book, which my three-year-old finds utterly hilarious for some reason. My husband had no problem with the nudity, but he wasn’t fond of the Oliver Hardy look-alike bakers, proving that even Sendak can’t please everyone.

Giant milk bottles, planes made from bread: for me, Sendak is a master storyteller who doesn’t talk down to his audience. It’s highly stylised and like Where the Wild Things Are it feels slightly of its time, but that doesn’t matter; the kids feel a mixture of intrigue, excitement, trepidation, and wonder - it’s perfect storytelling.

Book your MOT before the end of November for just £35

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