Proggy masterpiece Weather perfect for village Fun Day
Transcription
Proggy masterpiece Weather perfect for village Fun Day
No. 64 www.interchange.bowburn.net/ September 2012 Sun Day in Bowburn Weather perfect for village Fun Day H undreds turned up to enjoy the Fun Day on Saturday, 8th September, at Bowburn’s community centre and youth club. The weather was perfect (a rare thing for fun days in Bowburn!). Over 30 stalls and attractions were put on by local groups and individuals, and everyone had a great time. The event was formally opened by Cllr Dennis Morgan, as ex-Chairman of Durham County Council, who cut a ribbon to signal the launch of the youth club’s new garden. He thanked the many charitable trusts, councils and other bodies that had funded both this and the recent big improvements to the community centre. Amy Brown, a member of the youth club, presented Joanne Eden, our area youth worker, with a bouquet and certificate of excellence (something she usually does to others!), in recognition of her wonderful work in Bowburn over the last seven years, and of her recent achievement of a B.A. Honours degree. Soon after that, Elsie Shaw and other members of the Durham Clayport Matters Group formally presented Martin Ridley, as chairman of the community association, with the magnificent proggy mat that now graces the entrance to the community centre. And meanwhile families, old and new, were turning up to test their skills, lose their money or win magnificent Proggy masterpiece T he latest creation of the Durham Clayport Matters Group, who meet regularly at Bowburn Community Centre, has been hailed “a masterpiece”. The new Welcome Mat, now permanently d i s played inside the entrance to the Centre, was formally presented to the chairman of Bowburn Community Association, Martin Ridley, during the Fun Day on 8th September. “This is a masterpiece”, said Martin. “We are very, very grateful to all those involved.” The wall-hanging was designed by Shirley Slater and put together by members of the Matters Group, at their weekly meetings, over the last several months. It includes 24 intricately woven pictures, each representing a group that regularly uses the Centre. The Matters are a self-help group w h i c h was founded at Clayport Library in January 2003, thanks to the manager there, Geoff Pratt, and Elsie Shaw, the group’s chairman and founder. At first, they were supported by New Col l ege an d then by Education in the Community. After classes were set up at Bowburn as well, they gained Lottery funding. The Welcome Mat project has been funded by the Area Action Partnership and local councillors – though the skills contributed by the group’s members are surely priceless. Rug Fest and Open Day The Matters will hold a grand Rug Fest and prizes, buy bargains, fall off the bucking bronco, have their faces painted, explore the Deric youth bus and the fire engine, admire the youth club’s new garden (and other facilities in both buildings), and to refresh their bodies at the two kitchens and their memories as they met up for a good gossip in the sunshine. Congratulations to Gary Hutchinson, who drove the idea to revive Bowburn’s fun days, to the youth club and the community centre, and to all those who organised stalls and attractions for the rest of us to enjoy. Open Day, at Bowburn Community Centre, on Saturday 3rd November, 11am-3pm. Admission is free. “This is a chance to socialise with other groups, members of the public, family and friends”, said Elsie Shaw. There will be a display of proggy and hooky mats and wall-hangings, braiding, knitting, weaving and spinning. Stalls will include a raffle for a small hooked rug, crafts, tombola, bric-a-brac, cakes and Rug Aid. Members of the group will hold free taster sessions in proggy and hooky mat making. Tea and coffee available. For further details, please e-mail: shirley. [email protected] or telephone Pat Crossley on (0191) 584-8212. See also www.durhamguild.com Cllr Dennis Morgan opens the garden and (below) rides the bronco Amy Brown says “Thank You” to Joanne Eden What did you think? T he Fun Day organisers are keen to know what people thought of this year’s event. Should it be held annually? If so, was this the best time – on the first Saturday of the autumn school term, 11am till 3pm? What improvements would you like to see? Please leave word at the community centre or the youth club, or e-mail: [email protected] page 1 Nature Notes by Richard Cowen he weather this summer has been appalling. Constant rain reduces the number of flying insects, so insect-eating birds find less food. Swifts in particular seem to have gone back to Africa early this year. Even so, there have been some good moments. T My first this summer was with a reddish body, emerald a black and yellow banded damselfly and banded demoiinsect landing next to me in selles appeared along with the garden. I took a photo- emperor dragonfly. graph and sent it to others Dragon and damselflies to see what it was. It was a really are attractive insects banded heath crane fly, more with long, colourful bodies. associated with heathland As with so many things these than gardens. Its days, if you have wasp-like coloradifficulty identition no doubt is fying them, you used as a defence can find British against predadragonflies on tors. Not rare, but the web with unusual in places pictures to help. Juvenile bullfinch © R. Cowen such as ours. But when around I’ve been looking for drag- water at this time of year, it is onflies around the ponds in always worth looking to see the Nature Reserve. They’d what there may be and, better been few in number until still, to try to identify it. early August. Then common Butterflies have also been blue and blue-tailed dam- uncommon for much of the selflies started to appear. The summer but recently quite common blue is probably our a few have appeared in the most common damselfly, a Reserve. Ringlet, a medium smaller version of dragonfly, sized brown butterfly with with blue and black bands on small rings on its underwing, its body. The blue-tailed is less is perhaps the most common striking but has a luminous but there are also Meadow blue tail, which gives it its Brown, Small Heath and Small name. Then common darter, Skippers in some numbers. Burgess-Hyder's Bowburn site is now open and accepting NHS patients. Our new modern practice is located within Wellsprings Business Centre, Durham Road West, Bowburn. We offer extended opening hours, including early mornings and evenings, in a friendly relaxed and professional environment. All NHS Treatment offered. For further information or to book an appointment please contact us on: It has not all been doom and gloom on the bird front this summer. Swallows and House Martins are congregating in large numbers on the wires, getting ready for their long migration south. Some young birds such as Whitethroats can be found in the hedges around the Reserve. And I have had three welcome visitors to my garden during the late summer. A male Bullfinch is always a stunning sight and one came to the feeders for a couple of weeks, bringing at least one offspring. And another stunning bird, the male Yellowhammer, also visited a few times along with female and young. Willow Warbler is common around the Reserve but this is the first year I have seen them in the garden. As insect eaters, they are not interested in the seed feeders, but they were flitting around the trees in the garden a couple of times looking for food. Active Life Centre to celebrate T he Active Life Centre @Coxhoe will celebrate its first full year on Saturday, 3rd November. “We’re inviting our community to this special anniversary event, to say Thank You”, said Melanie Adams, Centre Manager. There’ll be live music and a festive atmosphere for the whole family. The fun starts at 7pm. Melanie also invites terested please e-mail And much, much people to get involved. M e l a n i e a t m e l @ “We have numerous a c t i v e l i f e c o x h o e . more is going on, too: opportunities for vol- co.uk or ring (0191) scouts, cycling, concerts, parent & toddler unteering”, she said. 377-3245. She also wants to group, badminton, “These include coaching sports and fitness thank all those who squash, table tennis, activities, working voted for the Active basketball, tennis, with children in our Life Centre at the 5-a-side football… To find out more, youth clubs, helping AAP Participatory with the pre-school Budgeting event on visit www.activelistay and play ses- 2 1 s t J u l y . “ W e ’ v e fecoxhoe.co.uk or sions, maintenance been awarded £2,728, follow on Twitter – @ and building work, which we’ll use to ActivLifeCoxhoe – and organising social p u r c h a s e q u a l i t y or Facebook – www. innovative health and f a c e b o o k . c o m / events and groups. activelifecoxhoe. We are seeking fitness equipment.” people in our community who are interested in helping people become more socially and physically active and improving their health and wellbeing.” If you’re in- Fri 5th Oct. – Sound of the Sixties – Dance to our resident D.J. Sun 28th Oct. – Music Through the Decades – Re-live the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. Sat 3rd Nov. – 80's Disco Party – Put your dance moves into action and enjoy the music of the 80’s. Fri 16th Nov. – Sweet 70's Night – Put your dance moves into action and enjoy the music of the 70’s. All £12.95 per person. Includes 2-course chef's choice buffet. Arrive 7.00pm, party till 12.00 midnight. RAY’S SCHOOL OF MOTORING 0191 3773465 Calm, expert tuition with experienced driving instructors or visit our website www.burgesshyder.com Your Local driving instructors Excellent pass rates Free access to theory website Bowburn Post Office Telephone: Ray or Linda on 3770008 or 07880507191 EXCEL SCHOOL OF MOTORING Durham County Credit Union Your Community Bank Anderson’s Bakeries Bringing convenient and affordable financial services to you • Flexible and Convenient Loans • Safe and Secure Savings • Christmas Club • Your own Paypoint Card • Dividend on Savings • Free Life Assurance • Young Saver Accounts • Low Interest Rates on Loans To join, just come along to Bowburn Community Centre Fridays 11.00am to 12 noon or ring 0191 375-7677 See also www.durhamcountycu.co.uk page 2 Crowtrees Lane, Bowburn and Church Street, Coxhoe Open: Monday—Friday 8.30am—4.15pm and Saturday 8.30am—12.00 noon Tel.: 377-0200 Cakes For All Occasions A Speciality www.my-cakes.co.uk R&C Builders for general building work, extensions and renovations tel.: (0191) 377-9656 Opening Hours: Mon–Fri: All day to 5.30pm Sat: 9am–12.30pm (No closing for lunch) National Lottery open till 6.00pm on Wednesday Post Office Services plus:– Free Cash Withdrawals (most banks & building societies); Cash/Cheque Deposits (most banks); Travel Money (Euros over the counter) & Travel Insurance; Moneygrams; Top Ups – Mobiles, Electric & Gas; Fishing Licences; Photocopy & Fax Services; Dry cleaning; Wide Range of Greeting Cards; Stationery; Cold Drinks and Confectionery Telephone: (0191) 377-0360 Cry from the Heart Band booked again for next year by Pat Wilcock he story behind the “Edith Cavell” banner, since it was removed from an ippax Band, from Leeds, proved to be every bit as good as expected, on attic where it had lain for many years and lovingly restored in 2005, has this year’s Durham Miners’ Gala Day, and have been booked again for fascinated many, historians and local residents alike. The banner now hangs next year – Saturday 13th July 2013. This was the first time the band has in our Community Centre once known as “The Miner’s Welfare Hall”, “the played at the Big Meeting, though “Welfare” and the “’Tute”. T Early this year, members of local groups came together to discuss a project set up by the Banner Group. This was to explore different sources of information which would lead us to better understand why the lodge banner was designed to carry Edith Cavell’s portrait/likeness to the Durham Big Meeting in 1920 – a controversial decision in its time, as this was the first time a recognisable woman had been portrayed on a banner. The resulting drama project with Jack Drum Arts was performed to a full house on the eve of the Gala. The play was written by Laura Emerson, and together with Tom Burton, who also played the part of the artist, met with us on a weekly basis and miraculously created the drama. Jack Burton who was responsible for recorded sound and light systems also acted a part. The young artists with Jack Drum Arts showed their ability to do really engaging high quality work around important subject matter. The cast, including local children, gave its best performance on the night, just the third time we’d had the use of the stage. Music to set the mood was played by young musicians from Spennymoor and Tudhoe Grange schools, who played “The Bowburn March” and “Gresford” (Miners’ Hymn). “Lightly Row” was also played for us by pupils from Bowburn and Shincliffe Primary Schools. The story was partly told through the words of typical letters to and from Belgium, newspaper articles, radio broadcasts and telegrams and also drawing on local knowledge and publications. In 1914 Bowburn was mainly the “Colliery rows” which were built after the first shaft was started in 1906. We know that at least two hundred men, many working at the pit, went from Bowburn to fight in the First World War. Around fifty men were killed. The exuberant energy and sensitivity of the children in the cast was used with skill to help us to feel the human story behind the banner: the execution of nurse Edith Cavell by German authorities for assisting British soldiers to get home, and the way in which her memory is revered, still, in a mining community. For more information about Bowburn men who died in World War I, see “Durham Men of the Great War”, by John Davison (2002), published by the History of Education Project, School of Education, Durham University. New Photoshop course A new course on how to use Photoshop to manipulate and improve your digital images will start at 6.30pm on Tuesday, 25th September, in the Computer Suite in Bowburn Community Centre. Following the success of two earlier courses, Ian Boseley has kindly volunteered to run another one. The only charge, of £17.50 for ten weekly sessions, will be to cover room-hire and the cost of sundry materials. People wishing to attend are advised to contact Ian beforehand, to book a place. Please e-mail him at ianboseley@ hotmail.com Opencast inaction T he Bowburn Opencast Action Group (BOAG) is likely to be wound up next month. The group was formed in January 1990, following an application by R. & A. Young to extract 1.25m tonnes of coal by opencast at Cassop Moor (“Whitwell”) and a drift mine from there towards Old Cassop. Its battle against that application was unsuccessful. The Secretary of State allowed it, after a public inquiry into the County Council’s refusal, and R. J. Budge started opencasting in April 1994. This continued for three years (but did not include a drift mine). Meanwhile, in 1995, the group took up the cudgels against two further applications, this time at “Quarrington” (between Bowburn, Park Hill, Coxhoe and Old Quarrington). Because of the new site’s location, membership of the group was widened. It became the Bowburn & Coxhoe Opencast Action Group, though it retained the same bank account. This time opposition was successful. The original application, from DS Supplies, who wanted to extract 825,000 tonnes of coal, was withdrawn before the company went bankrupt. A second one, from the Eco Energy Group, for 725,000 tonnes of coal, was rejected by Durham County Council. Following a public inquiry, the Secretary of State upheld this decision in December 2003. Since then, BOAG has had nothing to do. There have been no further opencast applications in the area. The group has had no meetings and its bank account has been unused. The Government can take and distribute unclaimed money in bank accounts that have not been used for 15 years. Although there are still a few years before that can happen, the last elected officers are now of the opinion that the group should fold. Sadly, many of its original members have died, and others have moved away from the area. So it is proposed that a public meeting be held, at which it will be formally moved that the Bowburn Opencast Action Group be dissolved and its assets handed to the Bowburn & Parkhill Community Partnership, with a stipulation that they be used only for purposes that match BOAG’s aims, at least until such a time as it becomes clear that there is no likelihood of any further opencasting proposals in the immediate area. The meeting will be held at Bowburn Community Centre on Tuesday, 16th October, starting at 6pm. K AAP News O ur local Area Action Partnership (AAP) Board met at Sedgefield Community College on 13th June 2012. • Cllr Jan Blakey, chairman, presented a certificate to Josephine Eileen Dickinson, Chairman’s Medal 2012 Community Champion for the AAP area. • It was agreed to support the Plain Packaging Campaign for tobacco products. • Tony Devos outlined work carried out on the Limestone Landscapes project. • Sarah Thompson, DCC Traffic Section, gave a presentation on changes to parking enforcement in County Durham. • Peter Carden gave an update on Digital Durham. • Alison Wilkinson gave a presentation on Young Enterprise, a national business-education based charity. • Support in advertising the “Its Up2U” project was requested. The Board met again on 12th September at Cassop Community Centre. • Stuart Timmiss, Head of Planning and Assets, gave a presentation on The County Durham Plan Preferred Options. • The AAP’s communications options have been updated to include Facebook. • New office signage has been put up at Trimdon thanks to funding from Livin. • A request for an Equality and Diversity representative will go out to all Board Members, via e-mail. • A report is available on the “It’s Up2U” event where 23 projects gained funding; over 600 people attended, 221 new Forum members joined, and it attracted £30,000 match funding. This was the highest match funding gained. • Loraine O’Donnell gave a presentation on “The Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy”. The next AAP Board meeting will be at Bowburn Community Centre on 3rd October, 4pm to 6pm. Race for Life Y outh work staff and young people from Bowburn were among over seventy who took part in a Race for Life event on 15th July, raising money for Cancer Research UK. They are all members of the girls county-wide running network. some of its members had been with other bands before. These had given their colleagues some idea of what to expect but it was clear that they were all mightily impressed. They wrote thanking the Banner Group and everyone in Bowburn for our welcome. We thank them, too, for their excellent music and good company. The Banner Group is proposing that next year’s parade through Bowburn should start near the Youth Club, proceed up Burn Street, round Surtees Avenue and Edward Avenue to the Co-op, and then down Prince Charles Avenue to the War and Mining Memorials near Durham Road. Before that, the band will be asked to play one piece of music at the bottom of Ramsay Street, Tursdale, when they first come off the motorway from Yorkshire. Their bus will then thke them to Bowburn Community Centre, for a quick breakfast and comfort break, before they set off through Bowburn. Comments on these proposals are invited. The Banner Group is also keen to involve more residents (and former residents) of Bowburn in carrying the banners. These represent the heritage of the whole village and all are welcome to be part of this annual celebration. Anyone interested in carrying a pole, or holding one of the ropes, should contact Malcolm Bell or Mike Syer (tel: 0191-377-1391 or 377-1491; e-mail: malcolmb1@hotmail. co.uk or [email protected]). Shared birthday M rs Mabel Raine of Old Quarrington, Bowburn, recently celebrated her 101st birthday. She was delighted to learn that she shares her birthday, August 16 th, with City of Durham M.P. Roberta Blackman-Woods, who visited her at her home with a card and a bouquet Another welcome visitor on the day was Vice-Chair of Durham County Council Pauline Charlton, who presented her with a basket of flowers and a card from the Council. A lifelong Labour supporter, Mabel joined the party on moving to Durham in 1991; she always makes a point of going to vote on polling day, and has not yet resorted to a postal vote. She was 17 in 1928 when women were finally awarded the same voting rights as men (though she could not vote until she was 21, of course) and regards voting as a right and a privilege, rather than a chore. She assured Roberta that she will continue to support her and other Labour candidates whenever there is an election. page 3 Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish Council Quarterly Parish Council Newsletter No. 17 (2012) 23rd August 2012 Dear Parishioners, Parish Plan in Action (Shopping, Employment and the Economy) The Parish Council has written to Planning Service Managers at Durham County Council to pass on to them the views of Local Parishioners expressed in the Parish Plan Household Survey about the need for more Local Shopping Facilities and Job Opportunities in the Parish Area. Responses to the General Household Survey carried out in all of the Settlements in the Parish Area have revealed that the vast majority of Local Residents do their regular shopping outside of the Parish Area in Spennymoor and Durham City. A significant number of Respondents wanted to see a Local Supermarket in Bowburn. 40% of Local Respondents to the Survey also felt that there were not enough Local Job Opportunities in the Parish Area. Bearing these facts in mind, the Parish Council has written to the County Council Planners requesting that they place more emphasis on these needs of Local Parishioners and less emphasis on future new House Building in the Parish Area in the new County Council Plan, which is expected to be put out to public consultation in September 2012. Members of the Parish Council are broadly in agreement that there are more than sufficient new Housing Schemes in Bowburn and not enough is being done to promote new Employment Opportunities and provide Local Shopping Facilities. Members of the Parish Council want to see Local People working and shopping within the Parish Area and not just living in the Parish but shopping and working elsewhere. Summer 2012 Hanging Baskets, Tubs, Planters and Flower Trees Readers of the Interchange will have noticed that the time of year has come around once again when the colourful Summer Flower Baskets, Planters and Flower Tubs are adorning the Streets of Bowburn, Parkhill, Tursdale and Cassop. Floral decorations have also been put in place once again near to the various Village Stones. In addition, County Councillors Blakey and Williams have provided additional roadside floral decorations at Tursdale and Bowburn provided from their Annual Members’ Allowances. The Parish Council will seek compensation from the County Council, whose Contractors have damaged some Flower Baskets in Parkhill and elsewhere with slap-dash weed killer spraying on neighbouring grass verges. page 4 33, Scargill Drive, Spennymoor, Co. Durham, DL16 6LY. Tel.: 0798-631-9443 E-mail: [email protected] Parish Council Website: www.communigate.co.uk/ne/ cassopcumquarrington Parish Council Members’ Names, Addresses and Contact Telephone Numbers Cllr Andrew Shutt, 27, Park Hill Estate, Coxhoe, Co. Durham, DH6 4JH (Tel: 0191-377-0904) (Chairman of the Parish Council, re-elected at the Annual Meeting in May 2012) Children’s Play Equipment for Cassop I am delighted to report that Parish Councillors have received a grant of £10,000 from the Big Lottery Fund to help pay for new Children’s Play Equipment for installation in the Cassop Playing Field. Some older Play Equipment has been removed form Children’s Play Areas right across County Durham by County Council Officers, due to understandable Health and Safety concerns. Now that grant funding has been received from the Big Lottery Fund, new Play Equipment can be purchased to replace those items removed from the Playing Field. The Grant Application was initiated by Parish Councillor Muriel Marsden. Amongst other items, the Parish Council is seeking to have a 4 metre Climbing Net installed on the Playing Field. A considerable amount of assistance with the grant application process has been provided by the County Council’s Regeneration and Economic Development Office. Finally, Cassop Community Association has also applied for grant monies from other sources to provide more Play Equipment for Cassop. Work on the actual installation of the Play Equipment will commence in late August/early September 2012. Garden of Remembrance at Bowburn Cemetery I am delighted to report the Opening Ceremony of the new Garden of Remembrance at Bowburn Cemetery has taken place on July 30th 2012 in the presence of Parish Councillor Maggie Robinson, who initiated the Garden of Remembr ance Project. The Opening Maggie Robinson tries Ceremony is out the seat donated commemoby Parkhill Residents rated by the Association provision of a Special Plaque on one of the Walls in the Garden of Rememb rance. A picture of the Commemorative Plaque is shown right. I am also pleased to report that a number of Local Residents have purchased spaces on the Walled Areas on which to attach Memorial Plaques to honour their departed loved ones. The cost of leasing a space on a walled area in the Garden of Remembrance is an unbeatable £50.00 for an indefinite period of time, which offers better value for money than many neighbouring Parish and Town Councils can offer. Neither the Memorial Plaques nor the Opening Ceremony Commemorative Plaque are constructed out of any materials with a resale scrap value. New Code of Conduct for Members As a consequence of the Localism Act 2011 receiving Royal Assent in November 2011, the Coalition Government has finally set out the arrangements for a new Code of Conduct for Local Authority Members. The Code of Conduct is based on the principles of honesty, selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness and leadership as set out by the Nolan Parliamentary Committee on Standards in Public Life. Members of the Parish Council are required to register their pecuniary interests (as defined in Appendices A and B of the Code of Conduct Document) and declare their Interests at Meetings of the Parish Council if such Interests could affect their consideration of a particular matter under discussion. Members of the Parish Council will also have to declare the receipt of (or offer of) any Gifts and Hospitality with a value of £5.00 or more. Peter Thorpe, Clerk to Cassop-cumQuarrington Parish Council Cllr Sylvia Raine, The Grange, Old Quarrington, Co. Durham, DH6 5NN (Tel: 0191-377-2728) (Vice-Chairman of the Parish Council, re-elected at the Annual Meeting in May 2012) Cllr John Barker, 37, Marlene Avenue, Bowburn, Co. Durham (Tel: 0191-377-2253) Cllr Janet Blakey, 13, Philip Avenue, Bowburn, Co. Durham, DH6 5EQ (Tel: 0191-377-1608) Cllr Paul Leake, 16, Tunstall Avenue, Bowburn, Co. Durham, DH6 5EE (Tel: 0191-377-2985) Cllr George H. Marsden, 31, Luke Avenue, Cassop, Co. Durham, DH6 4RD (Tel: 01429-820017) Cllr Jason Marsden, 24, Luke Avenue, Cassop, Co. Durham, DH6 4RD (Tel: 01429-821329) Cllr Muriel Marsden, 31, Luke Avenue, Cassop, Co. Durham, DH6 4RD (Tel: 01429-820017) Cllr Dennis Morgan, 26, Durham Road West, Bowburn, Co. Durham, DH6 5AU (Tel: 0191377-0553) Cllr James Robinson, 4, Steavenson Street, Bowburn, Co. Durham, DH6 5BA (Tel: 0191-377-1655) Cllr Margaret Robinson, 93, Park Avenue, Parkhill, Coxhoe, Co. Durham, DH6 4JJ (Tel: 0191-377-2222) Cllr Stanley Robinson, 93, Park Avenue, Parkhill, Coxhoe, Co. Durham, DH6 4JJ (Tel: 0191-377-2222) Cllr Mike Syer, 8, Clarence Street, Bowburn, Co. Durham, DH6 5BB (Tel: 0191-377-1491) Cllr William Temporal, 19, Tunstall Avenue, Bowburn, Co. Durham Cllr William Tickell, 21, Henry Avenue, Bowburn, Co. Durham, DH6 5EL Bowburn’s buzzing by Sylvia Raine Bowburn Youth FC by Warren Rumney uch has been written and broadcast recently about the catastrophic owburn Youth FC has had a decline in population of our bees, butterflies and general pollinators. great season. Four teams won their This could have disastrous effects on our food supply, as it has been estimat- leagues and the under-7s won the Cup, ed that up to 80% of our food is produced with the help of such creatures. as well. The under-12s (below) won the M After watching Sarah Raven’s threepart documentary on BBC2 in spring this year, a group of concerned people from Bowburn got together to see if they could do anything to help: Sarah had explained how all of us from large local authorities to small groups could help stop the decline in our own areas. We resolved to try and help the bees by establishing a small wildflower meadow in Bowburn, and “Project 4Bs” was born. (4Bs being Bees and Butterflies in BowBurn). A site was soon identified: a very small plot by the Beck, on the corner of the allotment site owned by the Parish Council. This plot was too small to be let as an allotment and had become a bit of eyesore, being used as a dumping-ground for general rubbish, and also being overgrown with long grass, brambles and nettles – which can, of course, be good for caterpillars! B Beautiful parish J udging in this year’s Beautiful Durham Competition took place in July and awards will be made at Durham Town Hall on 3rd October. In last year’s competition, there were a number of local winners. Bowburn Care Centre received an Award of Merit in the Best Business Premises category; Cassop Community Association in the Best Group Environmental Project category and Tony Lister, of Broadmeadows, in the Best Small House Garden and Best Backyard/Patio Garden categories. Cassop Village was Runner Up in the Best Small Village Category. Peter Thorpe, Clerk to Cassop-cumQuarrington Parish Council, presented commemorative plaques to all of these at the start of its meeting on 21st March. The Parish Council donated £50 to this year’s competition, as a sponsor. Fire & Rescue training centre A We also contacted Bowburn Junior School, where one of our group is a governor, and asked if they would like to be involved. The answer was a resounding and enthusiastic “YES”. Having ascertained from an ecologist from the County Council that the land would be suitable for such a project, we asked the Parish Council if they would be prepared to let our group manage the land for the benefit of pollinators. They gave the goahead at their April meeting and we then set about looking for funding for the land clearance and seeding, though much of the initial work (rubbish clearance) is to be done by group members, with help, we hope, from allotment holders, whose crops will of course benefit from the hoped-for influx of pollinating insects, and members of the general public who will enjoy an improved beck-side walk. We applied to the AAP for funding under their “It’s up 2 U” scheme, and set up our stall at the funding day on July 21st at the Active Life Centre in Coxhoe. With wonderful posters made by Bowburn Juniors, a miniature “bee meadow” and samples of honey for the voters, we were lucky enough to secure funding of £1160 for our project. Thanks to the AAP for giving us this opportunity, to Bowburn Juniors for their help, and to everyone who voted for us. So now the growing season is almost over, we can start to transform the plot. WATCH THIS SPACE!! If you would like to become involved, please e-mail sylvraine@tinyworld. co.uk NHS information day C ounty Durham LINk held an Information Day in Bowburn Community Centre on 18th September. Members of the general public were invited to hear about the North Durham Clinical Commissioning Group and plans for the Local HealthWatch in Durham. First Division and will be playing in the Premier League next season. planning application is expected from the Fire & Rescue Service, for a training centre on Bowburn South Industrial Estate. If successful, this would occupy the last area at the back of the former colliery site, near to the currently disused Leamside Railway. The Service would use it to train on such things as cutting open crashed vehicles. Digital Switchover B owburn’s nearest TV transmitter, at Pontop Pike, switches off analogue signals this month. BBC2 analogue went first and the rest will go on 26th September. All Freeview, TopUp TV and BT Vision equipment needs to be retuned, to pick up the new digital services. If you are 75 or over, eligible disabled, registered blind or partially sighted, or resident in a care home, the Switchover Help Scheme can convert one analogue television in your home. For more information call 0800 40 85 900 or visit helpscheme.co.uk before 26th October. Almost all televisions can be converted with a digital box, so you shouldn’t need a new TV. If you have good analogue reception now, you won’t need a new aerial. Digital UK, an independent, not-for-profit company, has sent every house a 18-page booklet “Your Guide to Switchover”. If you haven’t got one, call their advice line on 08456 50 50 50. Dance school show success T he Polka School of Dance put on a one-night show at Mainsforth Theatre, Ferryhill, in July, in front of a sell-out audience. Over 100 children from Bowburn and the neighbouring villages, aged 2 to 16, took part. “The show was a complete success”, said Stephanie dance school at Bowburn “ I was so proud of how C o m m u n i t y C e n t r e . the children conducted themselves”. The children raised £100 by selling programmes, and this was donated to “Heel and Toe”, the Durham children’s charity that offers free therapy to children with cerebral palsy. They rai s ed f urther f un d s for the charity later in the summer, by doing a sponsored walk round Hardwick Park, before Matthews, who runs the enjoying a fun day with a bouncy castle and face painter. For more information about the dance school, contact Stephanie on 0786-803-0988, or e-mail polkaschoolofdance@ hotmail.co.uk Paxtons – the story of a local business by Helen Armstrong n July 2009, an empty newsagents on Romaine Square in Bowburn became Paxtons Sandwich Bar. Owned by Helen Armstrong and Kelly Paxton, this was the perfect space for the business they had spent over a year creating. One initial concept took 16 months to make a reality. I It took Kelly’s 17 years catering knowledge, experience and qualifications to create a menu and organise and run the kitchen, and Helen’s 15 year background in teaching and managerial roles, to be particular about every detail and manage the day to day running of the shop. Paxtons are proud to employ excellent staff, most of which have been with them from the start. Marie has been a family friend of Helen’s for 14 years. With some catering experience, she started at Paxtons the day after opening and is still a valued, loyal member of staff. Sam is the full time chef/supervisor who started her employment there 3 months after opening. Sam has worked with Kelly in a previous job; when an opening became available Sam was perfect for the job. Sam contributes a lot of new menu ideas and is mainly responsible for the homemade soups and hot food that is served. Kelly S. (little Kelly) started working at Paxtons four months after opening. A friend of Sam’s, Kelly breezed through her trial day by selling practically everything that was on offer(!) and is still a key member of staff today. With the addition of a delivery driver, Alan, and a new member of staff, Lesley, Paxtons Sandwich Bar is striving to maintain an excellent team and keep providing high quality food to Bowburn and surrounding areas. In June 2011, Paxtons were awarded the highest hygiene rating of 5 by the food standards agency. In three years Paxtons Sandwich Bar has adapted to suit their customers’ needs. Providing outside catering, offering delivery services for local businesses and residents, and adjusting their menu to suit dietary requirements. Paxtons is proud when possible to support the local church and fundraisers and be an active part of the community. Helen and Kelly would like to thank their loyal, hardworking staff and all of their customers for supporting their local business. New heritage room to open soon A new local history and heritage room has been created at Bowburn Community Centre. Bowburn Local History Society has been in first one room and then another, at the back of the building, for the last three years. However access and storage problems made it impossible to make its growing collection of books, maps, photographs and memorabilia easily available to the public. Now, with a new room at the front of the building, it is planned to open the room to visitors at regular hours, in the near future. The group meets every third Thursday of the month, starting at 7pm. A series of meetings, with talks and slide shows, will be held over the coming months. Non-members are always welcome. The next talk, on 18th October, will be “On the Buses”, with Bobby Robson, Tom Spressor and Gordon Wigham. On 15 th November, the subject will be “Bowburn Rivals: John Gladstone R a m sa y , u nd e r m a na g e r , and Alderman Billy Kelly, checkweighman”. There will be no formal talk on 20th December but a session about “The Pit Laddie Inn” will follow in the new year. The 2013 Bowburn local history calendar is now on sale from the usual outlets – Community Centre, Club, Gulf garage, shops etc. page 5 Infant School News Sport and play get boost by Trish Fay by Iain Wilby he frantic fun filled weeks leading up to the Summer holidays seem a upils at Bowburn Junior School are now able to enjoy their PE lessons long time ago! and playtimes even more, thanks to the new sports equipment added over Our special day to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II the summer holidays. Miss Lyons, our PE co-ordinator, has seen the project began with the rousing tones of Land of Hope and Glory as the children filed through from school council requests to the finished product. “I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to in to Celebration Assembly. T Children and staff came to school wearing red, white and blue. Each class spent a busy morning making bunting, crowns and learning more about this important time for our Queen. Excitement built dramatically as classrooms were emptied of tables and chairs! Where were they going??? P Footpath reopens Bridleway still open the brickworks and clay pits of Thomas Barker, brickmaker. (This occupied the site of the original, 19th Century Bowburn Colliery.) This footpath was included on the first ever definitive map of public rights of way in Durham, in 1952. In 1979, when the definitive map was updated, a clerical error showed this path on a different line across that field. Attempts to correct this, twelve years ago, met objections from the landowners. So, when the map was digitised and published on-line, two years ago, the 1979 line remained the official right of way. However it continued to be ploughed over and not maintained by the landowner. In 2011, the County Council, after repeated warnings had gone unheeded, took action. First they erected a stile at the edge of the field (and another next to the railway embankment) and then, after a path was still not cleared through the crops, they sent in the strimmers. Messrs Johnson retaliated by destroying the stile and posting a “keep out” notice. So the County Council decided to prosecute. Now, some fifteen months later, an agreement has been reached. Court action has been called off. Messrs Johnson have agreed to erect a new stile and to maintain Footpath 29, on the original pre-1979 line. Durham County Council have agreed to go through the necessary procedures, again, to re-instate this 1912 line on the definitive map and remove the incorrect 1979 one. For earlier reports on Footpath 29, see Bowburn Interchange nos. 57 (“An old colliery walk”) and 58. However completion of these agreements does not mean that the top bridleway will close in the near future. The quarry is owned by Tarmac Ltd., which is itself owned by Anglo-American. The latter agreed early last year to form a new joint venture company with the French company, Lafarge, creating a cement, aggregates, concrete and asphalt business with 7,300 UK employees. This £3bn merger faced being blocked by the Competition Commission. However it got the go-ahead in May this year, subject to a number of assets owned by both Tarmac and Lafarge being sold to independent third parties. Raisby Quarry at Coxhoe, for instance, is to be sold. Meanwhile the new company has no short-term plans to implement the new permission to extend Cold Knuckle Quarry. The bottom bridleway, which already existed without being a designated right of way, has been improved; a new one has been created alongside the churchyard at Quarrington Hill, towards the Heather Lad, and another discretionary bridleway has been created round a field owned by Tarmac, south west of the quarries. A A footpath that has been a popular bridleway is likely cause of conflict between a loto stay open well into next year. cal landowner and Durham County Planning permissions were granted Council has reopened. last year for work at Old Quarrington Cassop-cum-Quarrington footpath and Cold Knuckle Quarries, subno. 29 connects the bridleway from Old ject to various conditions and legal Quarrington to Park Hill with the track agreements. Those were completed from Four Mile Bridge to the former this summer. They include the creaClarence Railway branch embankment. tion of a new bridleway to replace the On the way, it crosses a field owned one along the ridge between the two by Philip and Andrew Johnson, of Quarrington Farm. The path was first quarries. That will be removed and, established in 1912, when the then Rural in years to come, a new one will be The children were delighted to find District Council agreed to divert earlier built about 100 metres further north. their lost tables and chairs in the play- footpaths by creating a new one round (See Interchange no. 58, April 2011.) ground for a street party! They were joined by governors, who helped serve the children. Each child was presented with a Commemorative mug to ensure that this day is remembered for years to come. Thank you to all governors and staff who gave their time and energy to make this a truly special day. The school welcomed two students from Hong Kong as part of their exchange studies. Our International Schools Council interviewed them – which you can read on the school website. Inspired by the Olympics our Sports Day was a little different with all children placed in mixed teams representing various countries. The winner was Australia (below), managed by Miss Scott and Mrs Draper. Congratulations to all children who took part and gave their best. Our Summer Term Friendship Day started with an assembly where members of staff acted out playground scenarios based on tale-telling and getting friends into trouble! The theme for the rest of the day was Transition which gave teachers a chance to spend time with their new classes. Our school hall was transformed into a Dojo when Glynn Fidgeon, from Destination Judo, kindly came to give each class a taster session. As part of Durham Brass Festival we welcomed Beat and Blow, a brass and drum band from Berlin. The children were encouraged to join in as much as possible and they had a fantastic time. Many thanks to Forge and Durham Brass Festival for letting us share this amazing experience. The sun shone brightly for our end of term Teddy Bears Picnic. Many other soft toys joined our teddies in the yard to help the children eat their lunch. The term ended on a sad note as we said goodbye to our Year 2 children, and to Mr Soppitt who has left us to further his career with older children. We hope he will be as happy there as he has been with us. There are lots of photographs on our school website – www.bowburn-inf. durham.sch.uk, as well as the children singing the song they wrote and recorded with Les Watts during our International Week. page 6 Footpath 29 (“Barker’s Path”) The solid line shows the original 1912 line, which has now been re-opened. The dashed line shows the route wrongly drawn on the 1979 designated footpaths map, which is now going to be put right. provide such a wonderful playing area for our children. When designing it, I wanted to provide something for everyone, to enable all children to enjoy playtimes, and the evidence so far shows that this has definitely been achieved.” Our multi-use goal ends can now help the children playing a range of sports from football to cricket. As well as goal ends, there are colourful additions in the form of bright playground markings for children to use to play a number of games, refine their throwing ability or help learn times tables. With the support of the Headteacher and school governors, and through our school’s fundraising efforts, the children have even more quality equipment to play with. Ciara Y3: “Its good because you can learn your times tables when you’re outside or use the ladders for fun games.” Emma Y4: “Loads of people who didn’t play, do now. They like it because we can play basketball!” Kieron Y6: “We are all able to play football together without any arguments. It’s really good.” Lesley Y6: “The markings are great because they help you learn your times tables.” The improvements to the outdoor learning areas are far from over though. Our school magazine, the BJS Newsflash will have reports on what’s happening which will be printed in the December edition of the Bowburn Interchange. Your say on the future of Durham M embers of the public are being invited to comment on the next stage of the County Durham Plan. This will set out policies to guide where development is located and plan for change in the county over the next 20 years. Six studies provide the background to ensuring the county: • provides development where it is needed and in the most sustainable locations; • identifies the amount of affordable housing required and how it will be delivered; • reviews the current provision of water and sewage works as well as identifying what will be needed in the future, and • provides a guide to ensure developers provide usable open space and the outcome of the Durham Green Belt survey work. 25 public consultation events are being organised. The nearest of these to Bowburn will be on: • 18th September, at Durham City Town Hall; • 21st September, at Meadowfield Leisure Centre; • 4 th October, at Coxhoe Leisure Centre; • 11th October, at Spennymoor Town Hall; • 15 th October, at Laurel Avenue Community Centre, Sherburn, and • 16 th October, at Ceddesfeld Hall, Sedgefield. All the above are from 4pm till 8pm. The Plan will be also available at local libraries, County Council buildings and online at www.durham.gov.uk/cdp The consultation period ends on 2nd November. Parkhill Residents Group by Angela Richardson fter our summer break it is back to business as usual with our meetings held 7pm, every second Tuesday of the month, in Browns Close community building, Coxhoe. (Top bungalow on right hand side on way to Co-op). A We have an open door policy and all residents are welcome to attend any meeting. Coxhoe Post Office Going on holiday? Homemade Daily Specials £3.50 Great News! Mondays - Lasagne & chips OR salad Tuesdays - Cottage pie & vegetables Wednesdays - Mince & dumplings, roasties & vegetables Thursdays - Yorkshire pudding & Cumberland sausage Fridays - Steak & ale pie, roasties & vegetables You can now get Euros, US dollars and travellers’ cheques over the counter at Coxhoe Post Office. And it only takes one day to get other currencies, if ordered by noon! Newspapers delivered Would you like your newspaper delivered to your door, seven days a week? 80p delivery per week. Over 60's get a special discount! Opening times: Monday - Friday = 6am - 9pm Saturday and Sunday = 7am - 9pm For more details contact: Somals Lifestyle Express 29b, Prince Charles Avenue, Bowburn, Durham, DH6 5DJ call (0191) 377-0491 Thank you! HILLRISE GUEST HOUSE BOWBURN, DURHAM COMFORTABLE THREE STAR EN SUITE ACCOMMODATION FOR BOTH TOURISTS AND BUSINESS VISITORS NO SMOKING THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING Tel. 0191-377-0302 Fax: 0191-377-0898 E-mail: [email protected] WebSite: www.hill-rise.com The Hair Hut Tel.: 0191 377 3391 For all your hairdressing needs, from everyday to big night out Closed............................................. Monday 9.00am—5.30pm .......................... Tuesday 9.00am—5.30pm .....................Wednesday 9.00am—7.00pm ........................ Thursday 9.00am—6.00pm...............................Friday 8.30am—2.00pm ......................... Saturday Also available: manicures, eyelash & eyebrow tinting, vertical fast tan – 77% stronger (maximum time 9 mins. – £1 for 3 mins.) Book your appointment now! 1a, Cambridge Tce, Bowburn Your local county councillors Cllr Jan Blakey (0191) 377-1608 [email protected] and Cllr Mac Williams (0191) 378-3723 [email protected] Armstrong Cleaning Services • We move your furniture!! • Twelve years’ experience • Minimal drying time • Stain removal • Car valeting All work guaranteed & fully insured Forget the Rest – Use the Best Call now for a No Obligation Quote (0191) 377-0268 or 07775-603436 Cleaning Bowburn, Coxhoe & surrounding villages for over 28 years Logs & Sticks £3.00 per bag 4 bags for £10.00 Cash & Carry from the Paving Factory Coxhoe Free delivery £20.00 & over Bulk orders on request 0191-377-3272 or 0795-150-9868 CROWTREES WMC Durham Road West, Bowburn – (0191) 377-0298 (Back Street opposite Cooperage) Extends a warm welcome to all CIU Associates and bona fide guests. COUNTRY & WESTERN CARPET BOWLS SHOWS Contact Club for details Fortnightly on a Tuesday BINGO night (£2.50) Monday and Wednesday nights FOR THOSE WHO LOVE FREE ENTERTAINMENT GAMES There’s Darts, Snooker and Saturday and Sunday nights upstairs Function Pool Room DOMINO HANDICAP Available for hire Friday night and Sunday Contact Secretary for details lunchtime page 7 Supermarket a step nearer “Junior Youthie” starts this month P re vi ou s e dit io ns of Bo wburn Interchange have told about earlier applications, from the small store approved in 1986 (on the site now occupied by the Morgan House Care Centre); to one of 1,500 sq.m., plus three smaller non-food units, in 2008, to one of 2,650 sq.m. in 2009. None of these attracted a supermarket operator. The latest application was submitted last September but could not be determined till all environmental issues, including traffic flows and protected wildlife species, had been addressed by the applicant. With the necessary surveys done and reports submitted this summer, the Council’s Planning Committee met on 5th September and gave a unanimous thumbs-up. Outline permission today does not mean constructors on site tomorrow, however! But this time Morbaine Ltd., the company working on the project for the owners, Ogden Properties, is optimistic. John Parle, Managing Director for the Widnes-based company, told the Interchange that the “Big Four” retail food operators used to want 90 or even 100,000 square feet of floorspace for their supermarkets. But now they were much more interested in 50, 60 or 70,000 sq.ft.. At 45,036, he thinks the Bowburn site is now definitely in their range. “We have now got a store size that the big national operators can be confident with”, said Mr Parle. Morbaine has appointed BNP Parabas, of Leeds, to promote the site. As soon as the official notice of planning permission is received (which will include various conditions agreed by the planners), Parabas will be contacting Asda, Morrison’s, Sainsbury’s and Tesco – the Big Four. (He does not think that the other big national operator, Waitrose, will be interested.) Morbaine will then choose their best option and work with that company to put together a detailed planning application, with exact building details and layout etc.. If successful, they’ll then take things right through the construction period, till it is time to hand the keys over to the new supermarket operator, who will fit it out, stock it… and open its doors to shoppers… At the risk of repeating ourselves, this is still only an outline permission. And a national operator has still to be identified. But, even in the current recession, prospects of a supermarket in Bowburn now look better than they ever have before. sessions at the DJ Evans Youth Club (where BYP is based). But, for many A B new supermarket in Bowburn at last looks a real possibility, after the owburn Youth Project (BYP) started sessions for under-13 year olds County Council approved outline planning permission for a 4,184 sq.m. on 18th September. D u r h a m C o u n t y years, it has only been the AAP. This was put to [45,036 sq.ft.] store this month, on the site at the front of Bowburn South Industrial Estate. This would be somewhat under a half of the size of the Tesco C o u n c i l e m p l o y s t h e able to do so for young members of the public at youth workers who run p e o p l e a g e d 1 3 a n d the “It’s Up 2U” event at store at Dragon Lane. Football champions M embers of the Bowburn Youth Project triumphed at the Durham Youth Football Tournament at Maiden Castle, on 14th August, winning the final 9-1. page 8 Remembrance Sunday R Bowburn FC News emembrance Sunday this year falls on Armistice Day itself, 11th November. So on the elevowburn FC (forenth hour of the eleventh day of the merly Bowburn eleventh month, the Last Post will Cooperage FC) was sound over Bowburn War Memorial, promoted to Division followed by two minutes’ silence. Two in the Swinburne Maddison Durham & District Sunday League this season but did not get off to the greatest of starts. After their first four matches, they stood tenth in the table (out of eleven), with just one point. It’s early days yet, however. Come on All residents, of whatever religion or the lads! denomination, are invited to attend this annual commemoration of those “who died in war to give us peace”. Please assemble at about 10.45am. The Last Post will be played at 11am. Father John Livesley, of Christ the King Church, has extended an invitation to follow their procession to the church afterwards, for a Requiem Mass for all those who have died in the wars of the past century. Bowburn Methodist Church will be having a service at 10am, before going to the war memorial for the joint act of remembrance. Wind turbines wanted near Bowburn T wo separate planning applications have been made recently, to erect wind turbines near Bowburn. Mrs Diane Kemp wishes to build a 34.2m high turbine on Heugh Hall Farm. east of the village. Mr G. Salvin wants a 46m high one to the west, just north of the former pit heap, on land farmed by Mr David Laing, of East Grange Farm. Both are in fields used for pasture The first was submitted to the County Council early in June and the second early in July. However neither had yet been determined when Bowburn Interchange went to press. Both the Parish Council and the local Community Partnership have objected to the one at Heugh Hall, because of the sensitivity of the landscape in this area. The one west of the village has drawn an objection from the Ministry of Defence, because of its likely impact on radar signals. B The club has new officers this season, after last year’s stood down in June. The Chairman is now Craig Hill, Secretary is Ray Pirt and Treasurer is Dale Sudder. The Manager is still Martin Ridley. For news about Bowburn Youth FC, see page 5. Buffs raise money for toddlers T he Pit Laddie Lodge No 8835 of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes donated £260 to the Bowburn Toddlers Group, after holding a Charity Event held on 1st June 2012. over. Now, thanks to a grant from the Council’s local AAP (Area Action Partnership), Bowburn has one session a week for these youngsters. The grant was requested by the youth club committee, after Joanne Eden, our area youth worker, reported that lots of children, too young to join existing sessions, were asking to be allowed in. Enquiries showed that dozens of under-13 year olds would be interested in joining, so a funding application was made to Coxhoe, in June, and succeeded in getting enough funding to run one session a week for a year. Success of the first year of the new “Junior Youthie” club will be assessed. If demand proves to be as high as expected, a further application will be made, to various sources, to make this a permanent provision. The new sessions, for years 6 and 7, are held on Tuesday evenings, from 5 till 6.30pm. Activities will include arts and crafts, sports, cooking and IT. New garden opens T he latest phase of Bowburn Youth Project’s garden make-over was carried out during the summer and was formally opened, by Cllr Dennis Morgan, on 8th September. The work was funded by East Durham Rural Corridor Area Action Partnership and local Councillors and, with the help of the County Durham Community Foundation, by the Esh Charitable Trust, the NNB Wind Farm Community Benefits Fund, the Community Action Fund and Healthier Durham Fund. Young people say thanks B owburn Youth Project wishes to thank all those who donated raffle prizes for the Fun The Pit Laddie Lodge Day: Bowburn Hall Hotel, The Hair Hut, The Barmeets at 11am every ber Shop, Bowburn Pharmacy, Bowburn Co-op, Sunday, at Crowtrees WM Paxtons Sandwich Bar, Davidson’s Fish Shop, Joan Club. For more informa- Beck, Factory Carpet & Laminates and Tesco’s. tion, contact the secretary, Ron Goole (rongorle@ hotmail.co.uk). Bowburn Toddlers Group meets at 9.15– 11am every Friday, at Bowburn Community Centre. For more information, contact Kelly Etherington (etherington. [email protected]). New brewery opens T he Sonnet 43 microbrewery started production this month, in the former workshop next to the Kicking Cuddy. Owned by Mark Hird, of Tavistock Leisure, it will start by making four new real ales. The Kicking Cuddy will be closed for refurbishment next year. Andrew Punshon, title contender A ndrew Punshon, of Bowburn, met Jack Marshman, British Middleweight Champion, in a British Association of Mixed Martial Arts (BAMMA) contest at Wembley Arena, London, on 15th September. Marshman retained his title. Perch pronouncements No. 51 My dictionary says– “Fun Day: Village ritual that makes it rain.” Correspondence should be addressed to Bowburn Interchange, c/o Bowburn Community Centre, Durham Road, Bowburn, DH6 5AT. Views published in this newsletter do not necessarily represent those of Bowburn Village Celebration (BVC). No responsibility can be accepted for any damage that may arise from the publication of erroneous information. A copy of BVC’s Editorial Policy is available on request or on our website. I LOVE it… …when books are wrong.