Interchange 48 - Bowburn Interchange

No. 48
www.interchange.bowburn.net/
September 2008
New church opens
M
by Maureen Robinson
embers of the church of Christ the King,
friends and villagers celebrated on Saturday
th
13 September.
With the Bishop of
Durham, the most
Reverend Dr. Tom
Wright, and the Bishop
of Beverly, the Right
Reverend Martyn Jarrett,
officiating, and the Area
Dean, Keith Lumsdon,
Fr. James Thompson,
Fr. Mel Gray and Fr. Les
Barron all taking a part in
the blessings within the
church, the dedication
was completed in a beautifully simple ceremony.
Present were the Mayor
and Mayoress of Durham,
Roberta BlackmanWoods MP, Council and
village representatives,
Mr K. Dobson of Necho
Ltd, the builder, and
many who had helped
with donations and gifts.
The hall was beautifully
dressed with flower and
candle arrangements.
Big hats were worn and
a sense of excitement
prevailed. For the first
time the people who had
worked, donated, helped
and were just generally
curious were able to see
how large the space was.
After the dedication,
a buffet meal was served
and the change from
church to parish hall was
quick and easy.
There is still lots for the
congregation to do inside
the building but extra
funds must be raised
for some of the projects.
After the successful building of a new church and a
wonderful dedication day,
I am sure that too will be
accomplished.
At the end of the service,
the two Churchwardens
gave a short speech thanking all who had helped.
O n S u n d a y 1 4th
September, the first service in the new church
was well attended. The
Bowburn Centenary
banner and Junior
School banner were both
displayed. Folks who
couldn’t make it the previous day all attended this
service, which was officiated by the Venerable Ian
Jagger, the Arch Deacon
of Durham.
Again big hats were
worn by ladies of the congregation, in another day
of celebration. The new
font, commissioned by
the PCC and bought with
donations from members
of the church, was on
display.
The first child baptised using the font was
Catherine Ann Potter, on
21st September.
An open day will be
organized for everyone to
come and see inside the
new building.
T
Robbie lost both his legs,
one above the knee and the
other just below, as well as
finger ends. For a long time
it was touch and go but
happily he was back home
in time for his second
birthday this month.
But he and his parents
will need help and they also
want to help the Meningitis
Trust and the Sick
Children’s Trust, which
runs Crawford House, in
Newcastle, where they were
so well supported while
Robbie was in hospital.
page 1
A
yshea Ferguson, of Anderson’s Bakery, has
been named the regional winner of the Jim
Ohio band 2009?
Lowe Personal Achievement Award. The Bakery
his year’s visit by the Ohio Brass Band was enor- was declared the best business.
T
mously successful.
They played three concerts in the Durham Brass
Festival and marched
the Bowburn banners
into Durham on Big
Meeting Day, to tumultous
applause.
It was thought our
association with the State
would not be repeated
next year. However this
year’s visitors were so
impressed that some are
trying to persuade another
Ohio band to come in 2009.
Let’s hope they succeed!
Friends rally as Robbie comes home
remendous fundraising
efforts have been made to
help Robbie Jones, who was
rushed into hospital with meningitis in July, and his parents,
Wayne Jones and Jill Graham.
Best ever worker
The first fundraising effort was a
golf tournament, raffle and karaoke,
at the Cooperage. This had already
been organized when Robbie was
taken ill, being an annual event in
memory of Alan Heightley. It raised
£1,260.
Betty and Allen Heightley have
asked us to record their thanks to
Sunderland Football Club and players for signing two football shirts,
which were auctioned for £500.
“Also everyone who played in the
golf tournament, Gary, John, Debbs
and Michelle, and everyone
who helped to organize this
special evening”, they said.
“And a special thanks to all
who attended on the night
and for their kind contributions.” Jill and Wayne have
also asked us to thank everyone for their kindness.
Then a charity disco
in Crowtrees WM Club,
on 6th September, raised
about £3,000 – with some
money still coming in.
The next big event is a…
(ctd. on page 4)
The competition judges
praised owners of the
business, Maureen and
Brian Anderson, for the
support they give their
staff in attaining “Train to
Gain” qualifications, not
only by affording them
time to study but also by
completing the qualifications themselves.
Maureen was particularly thrilled by Ayshea’s
success.
“She has worked for me
now for twenty years”,
she said, “and she’s certainly the best worker I
have ever had.
“In all the time she has
been here, she has never
let us down.”
Link road
O
pening the last
stretch of the new
Bowburn–Wheatley
Hill road, due in August, has been delayed
by the settlement of
part of an embankment.
The problem has been
solved and the road is- Water voles – a wonder or
now expected to open a worry? See page 5 article
at the end of October.
about flooding.
Co-op landscape scheme
A
fter the consultation event in Bowburn Community Centre on 17th June, Durham County
Council has revised plans for improvements near the
Co-op stores and at Romaine Square.
The changes have held up the works, which were due to…
(ctd. on page 4)
Local history End of an era at
gets boost the Junior School
Mining heritage
O
ver 300 people
flocked to the Community Centre on Saturday
13th September, where 44
historic miners’ lodge banners were on display.
the famous 1985 banner of
The event was organized by
the Bowburn Banner Group
and the Durham Mining
Museum, as part of this year’s
national Heritage Open Days
weekend. It included many
banners that may never see the
light of day again and will certainly not feature in any outdoor parades.
They came from all over the
Durham coalfield, after being
collected from the Miners’ Hall
at Redhills, churches, schools,
working men’s clubs and
even private houses – the last
including a fragment of a 1923
banner, not seen for years, and
B
“Wonderful to see the banners
together. A remarkable piece
of history”.
Also highly praised was an
exhibition by members of
the Durham Photographic
Society… and the biscuits and
bacon sarnies served by members of the Banner Group!
Durham Mining Museum
and Silksworth Mining Society
also had stalls of books and
memorabilia for sale.
the Tursdale Mechanics, long
believed lost.
The oldest this year was
Bowburn’s own 1920 Edith
Cavell banner but there were
many others from the 1920s,
’30s, ’50s and ’60s, as well as
more modern lodge and community banners.
Among the comments made
by visitors were: “A very high
standard, rarely matched –
even in London”, “Felt a great
feeling of heritage and love
for people who had lived and
lanning permission has
worked through these times”,
been given for an anaero“The best display of ban- bic digester at Quarrington
ners I have seen to date” and Farm, subject to 21 conditions.
Anaerobic digester
P
owburn LHS
had a boost last
month when Jimmy
Milburn, formerly of
Bowburn, donated his
collection of mining
history books and memorabilia to its new resource centre. Its members are most grateful
for this generosity.
The resource centre
itself is still not set up but
it is hope that a grant from
Awards for All (applied
for) and one from the village’s Community Chest
(approved) will enable it
to move in this autumn.
Only after security grilles
have been fitted, and…
(ctd. on page 4)
Winwood & Ridley
Bookmakers
Prince Charles
Avenue, Bowburn
S
by Lynne Lyons, Headteacher
taff, pupils, parents and governors of Bowburn Junior School
were sad to see the end of an era,
when Joyce Heslop retired, after 30
years faithful service, on 11th September.
Joyce started as a cleaner at the secondary school, working her way up
to full responsibility as caretaker. The
junior school has been her second home
for many years and she has been their
“jewel in the crown”. Joyce looked after
everyone, always putting herself last.
I have nothing but praise for the caretaker who became a true friend. Joyce
has been the heart of our school for
many years. Every day, through rain, hail
or shine, she has been the first to arrive
and the last to leave. Joyce has been our
mother, carer, friend. She has supported
us in difficult times, provided a shoulder to cry on for many of her colleagues,
and just been a true friend to us all. We
will miss Joyce immensely, no one more
than myself.
Joyce’s retirement will give her the
opportunity to spend more time with
her family, time she richly deserves. I
am sure the whole community will join
with me to thank Joyce for her loyal and
faithful service to the school, and to generations of Bowburn children.
Welcome to our new
shop for all your bets
Open for all English
racing
K. & E. Atkinson
Newsagents
12, Durham Road West
Phone 377-0687
Ken & Liz welcome you to their Shop for
your Newspapers, Magazines, Tobacco,
Confectionary, Children’s Books, Batteries,
Toys, and a Good Selection of Greetings Cards
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri: 5.00am-5.30pm
Sat: 5 .00am-Noon; Sun: 6.00am-Noon
Delivery: Mon.—Sun.
Bowburn Post Office
Opening Hours:
Mon–Fri: 9am–5.30pm
Sat: 9am–12.30pm
(No closing for lunch)
National Lottery open till 6.00pm
on Wednesday
Post Office Services plus:–
Passport Photos; Travel Insurance;
Travel Money; Flower Orders; Holiday
Phone Cards; Moneygram; Personal
Loans; Mobile Top Ups; EHIC Forms;
Euros on Demand (new in October);
Key Recharge for Electric; Fishing
Licences; Photocopying and Fax
Service; Disposable Cameras; Dry
Cleaning; Wide Range of Greeting
Cards and Gift Wrap; Stationery; Cold
Drinks, Confectionery, Crisps
Telephone: (0191) 377-0360
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
page 2
R&C
Builders
for general building
work, extensions and
renovations
tel.:
(0191) 377-9656
Sat. 4th Oct–Salsa & Disco
Evening–£12.95 pp*
Sun. 5th Oct–Jazz Night (no
need to book)
Fri. 10th Oct–Sounds of the
60s Disco– Help yourself
from extensive finger
buffet, then dance to your
’60s favourites–£9.95 pp
Sat. 18th Oct–Carvery
Night–“Fill ya Boots” then disco to shed those
extra pounds–£12.95 pp*
We now
Sun. 2nd Nov–Jazz Night (no need serve Bar
to book)–1st Sunday of month Meals on
Fri. 15th August–70s Night–two- Sunday until
course meal –£12.95 pp*
4.00pm
(*Arrive 7pm to be seated for 7.45pm)
December– See our Christmas Brochure.
Tim Girvan Gas Services
Plumbing & Heating
All aspects of Gas, Heating & Plumbing
Local engineer
Time served tradesmen, Fully insured,
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System Upgrades, Boiler swaps,
Bathroom suites,
CP12’s (landlord certificates)
Call now for a free estimate:
01429-880663 or 0780-816-7350
Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish Council
Quarterly Parish Council
Newsletter No. 2 (2008)
Dear Elector,
33, Scargill Drive,
Spennymoor,
Co. Durham,
DL16 6LY.
Tel: (01388) 811909
E-mail: [email protected]
Parish Council Website:
www.communigate.co.uk/ne/
cassopcumquarrington
September 2008
I am writing to you all to give details of the very latest news from the Parish Council for 2008.
Peter Thorpe, Clerk to Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish Council
New Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the
Parish Council
Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish Council selected a
new Chairman at its Annual General Meeting on May
21st 2008. The new Chairman of the Parish Council
is Councillor Alan Richardson from Tursdale and his
Vice-Chairman is Councillor Sylvia Raine from Old
Quarrington.
Members of the Parish Council agreed to award the
former Chairman of the Parish Council, Mrs. Margaret
Robinson, a Long Service Medallion in recognition of
her Services to the Parish Council as Chairman from
1996 to 2008.
New Parish Councillor for Bowburn
Members of the Parish Council have selected Mr.
William Temporal to fill the recent vacancy for a Parish
Councillor, caused by the resignation of Councillor
Howard Armstrong. Readers of the Interchange will
certainly recall that Bill Temporal served previously
as a Parish Councillor between 2001 and 2006. He has
also served as Chairman and Secretary of Bowburn
Community Association and he served as a School
Governor at Bowburn Junior School for two years.
Welcome back on board, Bill, and good luck to
Howard Armstrong in all of his future endeavours.
Parish Plan Arrangements
The Parish Council has recently been awarded a grant
of £4,000.00 by Durham City Council to assist with
the expected costs of Parish Plan Preparation.
The idea behind the Preparation of a Parish Plan is to
consult the Electors in each Village of the Parish Area
about what they wish the Parish Council to undertake
in the next five years or so.
Mrs. Lesley Millgate of the Durham Rural
Community Council attended the Monthly Meeting
of the Parish Council on June 18th 2008 to brief
Members about the options available to them about
Public Consultation for a Parish Plan in each of the
Villages in the Parish Area.
Members of the Parish Council are expected to
decide soon whether to go ahead with Parish Plan
Preparation and, if so, to select a Steering Group of
Members to supervise the progress of work on the
Plan from week to week.
Mrs. Millgate attended the Monthly Meeting
of the Parish Council in September 2008 to give
Members further information about what level of
Public Consultation Work can be undertaken for the
amount of funding received by the Parish Council.
Floral Displays in the Parish Area (Summer
2008)
I am delighted to inform Electors that this year’s Floral
Displays in the Parish Area for Summer 2008 are
now in place. Hanging Flower Baskets have been set
up in Bowburn and Cassop. Flower Tubs and Floral
Displays for the Village Stone Locations and Bowburn
Doorstep Green are also in place. Hanging Baskets on
Flower Trees in Parkhill were put in place when work
on the current Link Road Scheme between Bowburn
and Wheatley Hill is completed in the area.
Now all we need is for the rain to stop!
Litter Nuisance along the length of Bridleway
No. 36, Bowburn
There have been many instances of rubbish dumping
and fly tipping along the land adjacent to Bridleway 36
in recent months. Durham City Council is the Local
Waste Collection Authority, but it is reluctant to trespass upon Privately Owned Land to clear up the mess,
which accumulates along the Bridleway.
Messrs. Durham Green have now given permission
for Community Service Offender Groups, supervised
by staff from the County Probation Service, to undertake Litter Clear Up Visits to the Area alongside the
Bridleway and remove some of the callously dumped
rubbish, which becomes a blight on all of our lives.
The Clear up Groups have also been organised to clear
up rubbish left in hot-spots on or near to the Depot
Allotment Site. These latest initiatives support the
regular litter picks already organised and staffed by
Parish Councillors.
A number of Litter Pickups have now taken place,
supervised by the County Probation Service, to help
reduce the piles of rubbish, which have been dumped
along the Bridleway in recent months.
Further Litter Pickups organised by the County
Probation Service are planned in the next few weeks
when staff supervision numbers allow.
I have also written to specific tenants on the Depot
Allotment Site in Bowburn, who have been seen dumping their surplus garden refuse along the Bowburn
Beck Sides and into the Beck itself.
I have reminded these tenants that such activity
contravenes the Conditions of their Tenancies and it
is completely unnecessary when composting facilities
or supervised refuse burning can be done.
Picnic Tables for the Parish Area
The Parish Council has accepted the offer of a set of
three brand new Picnic Tables from Mr. Jim Milburn
of Shincliffe. Mr. Milburn supplied the Miners’ Coal
Tub, which forms the basis of the Mining Heritage
Memorial located on Durham Road, Bowburn.
Members have decided to locate two of the Picnic
Tables at Children’s Play Areas in Tursdale and Cassop
and the third Table may be located at the Bowburn
Doorstep Green Site. It is expected that Officers of
Durham City Council can install the Picnic Tables for
the Parish Council within the next couple of weeks.
Now all we need is for the rain to stop!
Bowburn Banner Group assembled on the
Doorstep Green on Miners’ Gala Day
The Parish Council was delighted to agree to the
Bowburn Banner Group Procession assembling on
the Doorstep Green Site at Burn Street, Bowburn on
Miners’ Gala Day on Saturday, July 12th 2008.
The Procession marched through Bowburn after the
Initial Assembly on its way to Durham City for the
Miners’ Gala Day Celebrations.
Asbestos Emergency in Tursdale
The Chairman of the Parish Council, Councillor
Richardson, and I attended a Site Meeting in Tursdale
on June 25th 2008 after deposits of dumped, concealed
asbestos were discovered.
Enquiries are still ongoing about who is responsible for dumping asbestos at the edge of such a small
community and appropriate enforcement action will
be taken in the next few weeks.
Arrangements have been made to have a Specialist
Contractor remove all of the concealed asbestos and
dispose of it safely.
Flooding Problems in Bowburn
Members of Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish Council
attended a Joint Meeting on June 12th 2008 at Bowburn
Community Centre with the County Council, the City
Council, Northumbrian Water and the Environment
Agency, concerning the flooding problems experienced in Bowburn last summer.
The Meeting, which was chaired by Mr. Geoff Race
of Durham County Council, discussed a number
of flooding issues affecting various locations in
Bowburn.
Members of the Parish Council have been informed
by Durham County Council about the flood prevention features being built into the new Bowburn to
Wheatley Hill Link Road Scheme, but they continue
to have grave concerns about the likelihood of future
flooding problems in Bowburn itself.
Readers of the Interchange will remember only too
clearly that flooding occurred in the vicinity of the
Local Library Building last summer after a bout of
very heavy rainfall.
Members of the Parish Council, some of whom have
lived in Bowburn for many years, are convinced that
the flooding has been primarily due to the inability of
old underground pipework to cope with substantial
flows of rain water, which need to be safely drained
away, as well as water flows discharged from new additional homes in the recent Housing Developments in
Bowburn.
A further Joint Meeting of Interested Parties concerning Bowburn’s Flooding Problems took place on
Monday, September 2nd 2008 at Bowburn Community
Centre.
Recent torrential rainfall has resulted in further
flooding on parts of the Depot Allotment Site in
Bowburn.
Parish Council Members’ Names, Addresses
and Contact Telephone Numbers
• Councillor Alan Richardson, 61, Ramsay Street,
Tursdale, Co. Durham, DH6 5NS (Tel: 0191-3779957) (Chairman of the Parish Council)
• Councillor Sylvia Raine, The Grange, Old
Quarrington, Co. Durham, DH6 5NN (Tel: 0191-3772728) (Vice-Chairman of the Parish Council)
• Councillor John Barker, 37, Marlene Avenue,
Bowburn, Co. Durham (Tel: 0191-377-2253)
• Councillor Janet Blakey, 13, Philip Avenue,
Bowburn, Co. Durham, DH6 5EQ (Tel 0191-3771608)
• Councillor Margaret Higham, 18, Luke Avenue,
Cassop, Co. Durham, DH6 4RD (Tel: 01429-821423)
• Councillor George H. Marsden, 31, Luke Avenue,
Cassop, Co. Durham, DH6 4RD (Tel: 01429-820017)
• Councillor Muriel Marsden, 31, Luke Avenue,
Cassop, Co. Durham, DH6 4RD (Tel: 01429-820017)
• Councillor Dennis Morgan, 26, Durham Road
West, Bowburn, Co. Durham, DH6 5AU (Tel: 0191377-0553)
• Councillor James Robinson, 4, Steavenson Street,
Bowburn, Co. Durham, DH6 5BA (Tel: 0191-3771655)
• Councillor Margaret Robinson, 93, Park Avenue,
Parkhill, Coxhoe, Co. Durham, DH6 4JJ (Tel: 0191377-2222)
• Councillor Stanley Robinson, 93, Park Avenue,
Parkhill, Coxhoe, Co. Durham, DH6 4JJ (Tel: 0191377-2222)
• Councillor Andrew Shutt, 27, Park Hill Estate,
Coxhoe, Co. Durham, DH6 4JH (Tel: 0191-3770904)
• Councillor Michael A. Syer, 8, Clarence Street,
Bowburn, Co. Durham, DH6 5BB (Tel: 0191-3771491)
• Councillor William Temporal, 19, Tunstall
Avenue, Bowburn, Co. Durham (Tel: 0191-377-3215)
• Councillor W. Tickell, 21, Henry Avenue,
Bowburn, Co. Durham, DH6 5EL (Tel: 0191-3772820)
Parish Councillors Blakey, Morgan, Raine,
Richardson, James Robinson, Margaret Robinson,
Shutt, Syer, Temporal and Tickell can also be contacted online.
page 3
Nature Notes
by Richard Cowen
S
Scouse goes tashless
E
by Gary Parle
ummer flowers have bloomed round the Reserve. Purple saxifrage carverybody in Bowburn has always known me, since I moved here
peted the ground and the yellows and blues of bird’s foot trefoil and tuftaround 1981, with a hairy lip. It was only removed once – by fellow
ed vetch were plentiful. More delicate were the common spotted and early football team members, on a pre-season tour when I played for Bishop Auckpurple orchids, and I found a few bee orchids this year as well. The pastel land. Apart from that, the black (not grey!) fuzz has always remained.
blue of harebells has been a common sight.
Following months
So the scene was set: family in Liverpool and,
The Reserve also had a number of dark
red helleborines, knapweed and field
scabious.
Around the Ponds I found a few different damsel flies, smaller versions of
dragon flies. And ringlet, meadow brown,
dinghy skipper and small blue butterflies
appeared in some numbers. On warm
days I saw wall brown, red admiral and
peacock butterflies. But despite the rock
roses in the Reserve I have not seen the
Durham Argus, a sub-species of the
Argus butterfly unique to Durham.
The garden warbler sang throughout
June and grasshopper warbler started
reeling again. Willow warbler, blackcap
and common whitethroat made their
presence heard. In early July, I found
a lesser whitethroat by Cold Knuckles
Quarry, its song almost like a mini pneumatic drill.
Sand martins were plentiful round
the Ponds, with 20 or more appearing
on quite a few days. Swift however were
less common, although at the beginning of July I did see about 30 over
Cold Knuckles. House martins nested
in Parkhill, but there is a national concern about the lack of these birds this
year. A few have on occasions flown over
my house. There has been a reasonable
number of the swallows in and around
Old Quarrington.
In late July I saw my first jay here. This
colourful crow can be very hard to see and
usually gives itself away with its raucous
call. One was round the quarry entrance
for a couple of days.
Perhaps my best sighting this summer
was an animal. At the beginning of July I
was surprised to see a deer at the Ponds.
Not roe, but a red deer hind. It may have
been an escapee that wandered into the
Reserve but, even if it was, I was still
pleased to see it.
Or maybe it was on Bank Holiday
Monday when I saw two creatures I
had not seen here before. The first was
the magnificent red kite flying over the
Ponds before disappearing among the
trees alongside the adjacent field. Then
shortly after that a speckled wood butterfly appeared on the track from Old
Quarrington to Quarrington Hill.
Co-op landscaping
(ctd. from page 1)
…start at the end of November. Additional
costs are also expected, because the dilapidated wall in front of the stores may have to
be re-built. Higher costs could mean further
delays for similar works at Romaine Square.
The area in front of the Co-op will be
done first, after which the footpath, grassed
area and parking area will be adopted and
maintained by the council. Re-surfacing
the car park outside Somals’, which will
not be adopted, will complete that area.
The work will take about two months
and be done by the Service Direct gang that
has improved Durham Road.
CCTV
During the June consultation, the City
Council asked whether there should be a
closed-circuit TV camera in front of the
stores. Reactions were mixed. Some feared
“big brother” or thought it would give a
bad impression of the village, making it
look “rough”.
Others pointed at vandalism and underage drinking in the area and said they felt
intimidated there.
67% were in favour of a camera.
£20,000 has been allocated from the village’s regeneration fund, to instal one and
to cover the initial running costs. However
a City Council officer has said they will
have to seek the County Council’s approval
before they proceed.
The camera would be linked to other
cameras going up in the park.
Fitness suite
Hopes that a gym and fitness club would
open above the stores have fallen through.
The building’s owners have no other plans
for them at present.
Bowburn Rec
Work on phase 1 of the
new park in Bowburn
started in August. £90,930
has been raised from grants
for this phase. The rest will
come from the Bowburn
Regeneration Fund.
Park Hill play area opens
T
he new play areas in Parkhill were officially opened by
the Mayor of Durham on Saturday 20th September. There
was a good turn out by local residents and the mayoress cut a
celebration cake, made by Bishop Auckland College Catering
Department.
“We had a wonderful day”,
said Angela Richardson, who
chairs the Parkhill Residents
Association. “with the ordered
sunshine making an early
appearance.
“We were panicking a little as
last minute earth moving and
painting was still taking place
on Friday, followed by a family
outing to sweep the leaves from
the bull ring play area on Friday
evening. But we got there. There
are still a few cosmetic touches to
complete, such as landscaping.
But this was unavoidable due
to the weather over the last few
weeks.”
The Residents Association also
launched its consultation on
plans to provide a community
building behind the bungalows
(where the old Council depot
was). So far, said Angela, this
has been very positive but it will
continue throughout October.
“Thank you to every one for your
help and support”, she added.
Consultation for Community Building at Parkhill
Capacity will be approx. 40 people.
The key will be held by a member of the Residents Association.
For use by all age groups.
What are your feelings with regard to this?....................................
1. Would you like a Community Building?.....................................
2. Would you use it if we provided one?..........................................
3. A fee for use would be for the upkeep of the building –
would you object to this?...............................................................
Please return comments to 53, Park Avenue.
of micky-taking from
friends and family, saying
that it was dyed, I decided
it was time for it to come
off. After further weeks of
deliberation, the plunge
was taken on Saturday
31st May.
Then, already traumatised at the idea of losing
my beloved tash, I was
told by a so-called friend
that I looked like “Borat”.
If I wore the Borat mankini on the night I was
shaving my tash off, he’d
pledge an extra £100.
More turmoil!
Scouse in a Borat mankini
costume shaving his tash
off in the Cooperage!
I said I’d wear the costume all night if customers could match the
already pledged £100. A
quick whip round raised
another TWO hundred,
so overall: £300 – just
for wearing the costume!
The night was a big hit;
the Cooperage was full; a
raffle took place, and the
tash was shaved.
A total of £1,035 was
raised, with sponsorship
from work colleagues,
Local History Society Boost
…the room re-decorated,
will books, maps, photos
and files, and a small but
growing collection of
memorabilia, be moved
in. At present they are
scattered between members’ homes.
Meanwhile, normal
meetings continue. Bill
Swinburn gave an excellent slide show on 21st
August. Richard Annis, of
Durham University, gave
a fascinating illustrated
talk on 4th September. It
looked at excavations of
Walter Hinton
(ctd. from page 5)
…meet up with his sister Doris, who
lives in Sherburn Hill.
From the age of 14 to 21 Walter worked
at Bowburn pit but he left following an
accident. He was in a reserved occupation (driving) during the war and was in
the Home Guard. Later he worked as a
labourer, as a driver for local farmers and
for Morgan’s of Shincliffe, the grain and
feed merchants. In the late 1960s he got a
job at Paton and Baldwin of Darlington, a
wool factory, but was made redundant in
his late ’50s.
(ctd. from page 1)
Robbie Jones
…concert at the Gala Theatre, Durham,
on Friday 17th October. The theatre’s
staff are donating their wages. Tickets
cost £20.
Much of the fundraising is being done
by work colleagues of Robbie’s gran,
Linda Jones, at City Care. On 23rd
October, they will do a sponsored pubcrawl through Durham. And, in case
you think that sounds like easy work,
note that they will be in fancy dress – one
man being sponsored to dress as Amy
Winehouse, for instance. (He clearly
didn’t know how to say No, No, No!)
And they are all going to be “arrested”
during the course of the evening.
“We thought we’d ask for sponsorship
to get us bailed out”, said Sue. “But then
some one – who shall be nameless – said
they wouldn’t pay to get me bailed… but
would pay to keep me locked up! So now
sponsors can support locking us up or
bailing us out. I hope the bailers bid the
highest!”
Anyone wishing to contribute or help
can ring Sue on (0191) 377-1583.
of course, Bowburn. So
once again, a great big
thankyou to everyone.
All monies raised went
to the MS Society & the
Heart Foundation, in
remembrance of our dear
friend Alan Heightley who
passed away five years ago
but is always in our hearts
and minds.
[Editors’ comment: Allen
and Betty Heightley wrote
to us to say how grateful
they were to Gary and to
everyone who attended on
the night. We’d like to add
our own thanks.]
(ctd. from page 2)
Roman sites around the
region – including a previously unknown one just
south of Heugh Hall Farm,
which was uncovered by
the new A688 link road
works.
The LHS 2009 calendar will be on sale in
October.
A Battlefield Tour
by Margaret Heslington
A few days away planned to a foreign shore to
Walk where my granddad fought so long ago.
That’s how it started as three generations of our clan,
Set out to pay homage to the soldier, the man.
We heard so many stories of those long dead,
Brought alive by our guide as our tour he led.
A father who, with his sons went together to war,
Though they returned, their father is no more.
A Christmas walk, an eagle eye, a button found,
It belonged to George Nugent who lay in the ground.
A family he never knew were able to attend
A full military funeral as tears they shed.
The bravery of soldiers but a doctor as well
Twice given the V.C., the last as he fell.
It seemed that every turn in the road brought
A glimpse of Portland Stone, Cross of Sacrifice caught.
Epitaphs on stones that could break your heart,
“Mothers’ baby son, sorely missed”, families torn apart.
We heard the stories of those who were shot at dawn,
We listened in an eerie cell, spines chilled to the bone.
The young , with bravado, who lied about there age,
Dead at 15, how obscene, what waste, what sacrilege.
Death came to them all every race, every creed,
From politician’s sons, from Eton’s playing fields,
To farmers and miners, dustmen and poor mill hands.
No respect of age or rank they went to foreign lands.
They died in their thousands, buried side by side,
While those at home watched casualty lists and cried.
And then at last when we couldn’t take any more
Sights of graves and trenches and feeling heart sore,
It was the turn of Ypres and the missing war dead.
Thousands of men with no known grave, no final bed
To rest for eternity, but remembered as they should
On the Menin Gate, their names etched for good.
The “Last Post” sounded at the Menin Gate
To always ring out in respect each night at 8.
Tears again shed as the service to thousands relayed,
Then a haunting lament, as the piper he played.
The weekend over, we’d walked where granddad fought
But we’ll never know the fear, the terror or thoughts
He and the others must have had in that awful
bloodbath,
That showed mankind at its worst, in all its wrath.
At 11.00am on 9th November, Thomas Wallage,
of Pittington Band, will play the Last Post in this
year’s Remembrance Sunday service at Bowburn war
memorial.
page 4
Celebrating 90
W
alter Hinton celebrated his
90th birthday in September.
The party, at the Bowburn Care Centre, was organized by his son Peter,
who now lives in Hertfordshire.
Walter was born at Shincliffe Bank
Top on 15th September 1918, being one
of seven children. In 1956, he moved to
12, Tunstall Avenue, Bowburn, with his
wife Esther and one-year-old son David.
Peter was born the next year.
The couple met during the war at
the Mount Pleasant hostel, in Durham,
where she was a cook, and married in
the early 50’s. Sadly, Esther passed away
in 1985 and Walter lived on his own
in Tunstall Avenue until his stroke in
February this year. He is an outgoing
chap, however, and went regularly to the
races and into Durham, where he’d…
(ctd. on page 4)
Flooding problems studied
T
wo multi-agency meetings have now been held, in June and September, about Bowburn’s flooding problems.
Convened by the
County Council, they
have concentrated so
far on Bowburn Beck
and drains flowing into
it.
Various surveys have
been done. Divers and
CCTV cameras have
looked at the culvert east
of Bowburn bridge. The
function of each drain
– and some blockages –
have been identified.
It is clear that the beck
has been poorly maintained for many years
and does not allow rain
water to flow away fast
enough. The culvert is
in quite good condition and is unlikely to
be the main problem.
More serious is the vegetation at the bottom of
the rec.
Putting things right
will not be simple. For a
start, responsibility lies
with whoever owns the
land on either side of
the beck. These include
the County, City
and Parish Councils
and the farmer, Mrs.
Johnson but also, probably, the builders of
Charlesworth Court (in
2006) and Lansdowne
Crescent (1936). The
latter could be hard to
trace!
Another difficulty is
there are water voles
living along the whole
length of the beck. This
“charismatic species”
received extra protection from 6 th April
this year, after populations had declined by
over 90% since 1990. It
is illegal to kill, injure
or take them from the
wild. (Only six other
inland mammals are so
highly protected.)
Any work on the beck
and its banks must be
very carefully planned
– and is likely to be
expensive.
Further multi-agency
meetings are planned.
Northumbrian Water
has been asked to
report to the next one
on sewerage problems
connected with recent
and planned housing
developments.
(NWL’s recent upgrading of the pumping
station and combined
s ewer ou t f l o w ne a r
Edna Street is not connected with any of the
above matters, as it only
serves sewerage in that
area. It was to resolve
a pollution problem
identified some years
ago.)
Want to know more
about water voles? Try
<www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/index.ph
p?section=watervole:int
roducing>, from which
our photograph, by John
Keeling, was taken.
Durham Green Business Park
A
new planning application could be submitted for the business
park at Peat Edge Farm in October. It will be very like the previous application, which was approved. However it will now include another 18 acres near the interchange, part of Park Hill Farm. This makes
a new access possible, coming directly from the motorway roundabout
instead of opposite the service station.
The applicants are expected to give
presentations to the Parish Council
and the local community partnership when their plans are complete.
They have tried to deal with all likely
planning conditions in advance, such
as a more detailed archaeological
survey, which is why the application
has taken so long to prepare. A decision is expected early next year but
Armstrong
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Somal
Newsagents,
Off-licence &
Convenience Store
Prince Charles Ave.
Daily newspaper delivery Mon.–Sun.
Pensioners – first 2 weeks delivery free
Mobile Top Ups
Gas Card Charge and Key
phone: 377-0491
page 5
Coxhoe Post Office
Going on holiday?
Great News!
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!
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
no work will begin on site for another
couple of years.
Applications to build a golf course
and a driving range, which were submitted by a Berkshire company earlier
this year, have been withdrawn. The
Durham Green company objected to
those proposals and is now expected
to acquire the land, on Cornforth
Moor Farm.
Coxhoe Café
Teacher marries
L
ucy
Short,
former class
teacher at
Bowburn Infants School,
married Dr.
Alan Cooper
at St. James’
Church, Castle Eden, on
9th August.
They met
whilst students at Durham University.
The real Cade’s
by Robin Walton
Road
I
n August 2003, Bowburn Interchange
reported that I had uncovered a Roman
road crossing Bowburn Beck about 40
yards west of the Methodist Church.
The road came from Brough-on-Humber,
via Great Stainton, Coxhoe and Bowburn, to
Old Durham and on to Chester-le-Street. For
many years, archaeologists have called this
“Cade’s Road”, after John Cade, the 18th century antiquarian who originally proposed it.
I also believed another road crossed
Bowburn Beck, about 160 yards further west.
So I went back to Cade’s own writing, to
check the places he mentioned. As a result,
I now believe this second road is the real
“Cade’s Road” and that the first one (through
Coxhoe) is wrongly named. Cade made no
reference to Coxhoe or Bowburn.
After further excavations, I have found the
second road at Bowburn Beck and at other
places I believe were on the line of Cade’s
Road: Mordon, Mainsforth, Brandon House
Farm, Bowburn, Shincliffe and Old Durham.
North of the beck, the road connected
with the road from Coxhoe, about 250 yards
north of Bowburn Post Office. Traces of the
now united road have been found east of the
A177, near Shincliffe Station. From there it
went through High Shincliffe, Old Durham,
Kepier and Newton Hall to Chester-leStreet.
at Tursdale Business Park
Open Mon–Fri 7.30am–2.30pm
Sat 8.00am–12pm
tel.: 0796-243-1051
Telephone Orders Welcome
+ Deliveries
Daily Specials from £2.95
Mince & Dumplings, Braised
Steak etc.; OAP Deliveries
Special Price for Weekly
Bookings
Also Bubble Balloons and
Party Supplies
Anderson’s
Bakeries
Crowtrees Lane,
Bowburn
and
Church Street,
Coxhoe
Open:
Monday—Friday
8.30am—4.15pm
and
Saturday
8.30am—12.00 noon
Tel.: 377-0200
Business as usual at the “Tute”
B
owburn Community Association had a
shock at the end of August, when an electrical
inspection revealed some serious problems. Quick
action, however, led to business as usual when the
new “season” started in September.
The committee had
known, of course, that a
re-wiring was desirable.
That was already written
into its plans to refurbish
the building. However, a
periodic inspection, done
to fulfill a standard condition of its insurance
policy, highlighted some
serious problems.
Action was swift. A
meeting was arranged
with the electrician, to
classify each fault as high,
middle or low priority,
and a price was sought
for the most urgent jobs.
Some uses of the building were restricted, and
warning signs put up, till
these could be done. An
application to the village’s
Community Chest, to pay
for these, was approved
o n 1 6 th S e p t e m b e r .
By the time Bowburn
Interchange goes to press,
these works will be done.
Meanwhile the insurers had been contacted
and wrote back saying
they were happy with
the arrangements being
made. The Association’s
cover was unaffected.
At the same time, a
meeting was set up with
City Council officers and,
on 9 th September, an
action plan was agreed
to take matters through
Perch pronouncements No. 37
to funding applications
for all aspects of the
refurbishment.
Apart from re-wiring,
the aim is to instal a new
heating system (using
renewable sources of
energy), to move the
computer suite to the
front of the building, and
to improve access and
instal new fittings and
furniture throughout.
The first funding applications will be made at
the end of October.
Changes are unlikely
to start till next year.
However it is business as
usual, meanwhile.
Regular activities at the Centre include:
Mondays:
Tai Chi – 9.30-11.30am
Toddlers 9.30-11.30am (term-time)
Computers for Beginners – 1-3pm
Taekwando – 6.30-8.30pm
Tuesdays:
Judo (age 6-11) – 6-7pm
Judo (age 11-15) – 7-8pm
Tai Chi – 6.30-8.30pm
Orchid Society (monthly)
Wednesdays: Rug Making – 10-12 noon & 1-3pm
Dog Training – 5.45pm
Fuchsia Society – 7.30-8.30pm
Taekwando – 6.30-8.30pm
Thursdays: English as Second Language – 1.45pm
Retrievers Club – 7-9pm
Dog Club – 6-9pm
Fridays:
Toddlers 9.30-11.30am (term-time)
Drama Club – 6.30-8.30pm
Under 13s Disco (monthly)
Saturdays:
Sequence Dancing – 6.30pm
Music Tuition – 10.45am
The Centre has a variety of rooms for hire, from
large hall to small meeting rooms. Catering and bar
can be arranged if required, also tea/coffee facilities
and kitchen.
Blood donors needed
The next blood donating session in Bowburn
Community Centre will
be on Friday 17th October.
Phone 0845-771-1711
to make an appointment.
Geoff Woodcock, of the Esh Group,
gave a progress report on the decontamination of the site of the former
B
However a number of racerelated incidents led some families to move to safer environments in Durham City. Most of
those incidents were said to be
caused by young people. This
is why we organized the first
Family Fun Day, in 2007.
That day was a great success.
So we had another one this year,
on 12th August. We wanted to
page 6
create a positive atmosphere
between people from different geographical and ethnic
backgrounds and to provide
an opportunity for families,
children and young people in
Bowburn to interact with residents from the diverse cultures
and take part in fun and arts
activities from various cultural
traditions.
The Fun Day aimed to
break down barriers, prejudice and misunderstanding
by bringing together families and young people from
different ethnic communities. It was run by a partnership between Bowburn Youth
It just sparked
life…
But it
wasn’t
fatal.
… back into the
refurb plans.
A good year for bowls
B
by Anne Gething
owburn Bowling Club has had a very
good season. We have won promotion back
into Division 1 in the Durham & District League,
after only being out one year. Not only that, but
we’ve gone back as Champions.
Up to the second to last
game, we held the record
for not losing a game –
the only team in the three
Divisions to do so – but
alas we let ourselves down
in just that one game.
It was easier this year,
as we had more players.
Unfortunately, Coxhoe
couldn’t get a team for
the Saturday League, so
three joined us. It made
a big difference, when
people took holidays
etc., as we had players to
replace them.
We also had one player,
Christopher Gething, in
four finals. It could have
been five, but we didn’t
Cape site decontamination going well
Fun – with a serious message
owburn’s black &
minority ethnic (BME)
population has grown in
recent years, with migrant
families and international
students’ families forming
small communities here.
I hear the
Community
Centre
had an
electric
shock.
Cape asbestos factory, to the September
meeting of the Bowburn & Parkhill
Community Partnership.
quite make it. Three of
the finals were run by
the City: Singles, Mixed
Pairs (with Karen Penn)
and Triples (with Karen
and Alan Summers). The
other final was a Men’s
Pairs (Christopher and
Alan), run by the Durham
& District League.
The City finals were
played on 31st August and
we won two out of three
of them – the Singles,
which Christopher won
by a massive 21-2 victory,
and the Pairs.
Then, in the League
finals on 7th September,
Christopher and Alan
won the Men’s Pairs. It
was a perfect end to a
Good Year!
The presentation night
will be at the Durham
Indoor Bowling Club, on
3rd October.
by Ijjou Derrache-Thompson, Darlington & Durham County Racial Equality Council
Project, Bowburn & Parkhill
Community Association, City
of Durham Council, Durham
County Council, the Twelve
Villages Network, Durham
Constabulary, Durham &
Chester-le-Street Domestic
Abuse Service and County
Durham Sure Start.
Many of the activities were
chosen by children and young
people in Bowburn, who also
helped with fundraising.
About 350 people registered.
191 were young people, including 169 from Bowburn. Others
came from Gilesgate, Brandon,
New Brancepeth, Ushaw Moor
and Wear Valley.
About 17 different activities catered for all age groups,
They included a Rodeo bull,
face painting, henna painting,
Chinese calligraphy, nail art,
hair plaiting, trying on traditional clothes from Malaysia
and Pakistan, arts & crafts, jewellery making, traditional games
for younger ones and a play &
stay session from Sure Start.
Fruit smoothies, thanks to the
generosity of the Co-operative
Group, were made by the PCT
Healthy Eating programme.
A taste of Malaysian food was
provided by the Malaysian residents in Bowburn. There was a
chocolate fountain (requested
by many young people!) and
other food and refreshment.
More than 15 stalls offered
a range of information and
advice.
A panel consisting of the
Mayor of Durham, ex-footballers Gary Bennett and Dean
Gordon (from Show Racism the
Red Card), Cllr Janet Blakey,
the DDCREC, the Hate Crime
officer and an army recruitment officer answered questions about racism. Durham
MP Roberta Blackman-Woods
also attended.
Questionnaires collected
sh o w e d e v e r y o ne w a nt e d
another Fun Day next year.
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.