Many thanks to the 200 children and adults from the Shotley Bridge Primary School who walked down to light the Christmas Tree and sing carols on a fine night last Saturday.
Unfortunately the batteries in the ‘sound blaster’ did not like the cold temperature, so the singing was ‘A Cappella’.
The event raised £86 for the ‘Blooming Shotley Bridge fund. Thank you to all who donated and the volunteer stewards.
This year the village Christmas tree will be lit up on Saturday 3rd December. Thanks to our local councillors for providing funding again.
Shotley Bridge Primary School choir will be there to sing carols after the lighting of the tree at 4.30pm.
Everyone is welcome to watch or sing along.
We will also be collecting donations for ‘Blooming’ Shotley Bridge at the event.
This year the Village Trust will again be raising funds for ‘Blooming’ Shotley Bridge at The Snods Christmas Fayre on Saturday 19th November.
There will be a ‘Bottle Tombola’ where every winning ticket is a bottle bag with a surprise inside, which could be Whiskey, Wine, Water or a bottle of something else!
We still need a few more bottles and bags if you would like to donate items for the tombola … please give to Sue Shaw at Shotley Villa West, on The Terrace.
There will also be a raffle for a limited edition print by Mildred Sheeran, ‘The Charms of Shotley Bridge’. Tickets are on sale before the event at Harrington Brown Estate Agents, where the framed artwork can be seen until Friday 18th November.
Last Saturday our volunteers planted the winter bedding in the Trust’s tubs and planters.
This year we have planted multi coloured pansies instead of violas, which were not as successful as in previous years. Tete a Tete daffodils, iris and tulip bulbs have been planted too. The County Council will be planting up the barrier baskets to match.
If you would like to help tidy up the village, there is to be a litter pick and sweep up on the morning of Saturday 29th October. We are meeting in the car park next to the Golden Flower at 9.30am. Litter pickers, bags and hi-viz vests will be provided. Bring your own gloves and tools to cut down weeds and sweep paths.
The next meeting of the Shotley Bridge Village Trust is on 4th October.
Fiona Jane Carvell and Joan Murray, local artists who live in the village, will be giving an illustrated talk about how the village and area have influenced their artwork. There will be a selection of limited edition prints if you wish to buy any of their paintings.
Please invite your relatives, friends & neighbours to come along.
Despite not entering Northumbria in Bloom this year, the Trust’s tubs, barrier baskets and sustainable beds are looking colourful.
Thank you to all the volunteers who planted and maintain them. Thanks also to Durham County Council for planting the barrier baskets to match our colour scheme this year.
Thirty two members and local residents attended the AGM & Open Meeting held on 21 June. As the Trust’s Chairman was away on holiday a summary of his report was given by Garth Johnson, acting Chairman. Have a read of the Chairman’s Annual Report to find to what the Trust was involved in during the last year.
As Garth had decided not to stand for re-election as Treasurer, but remain on the Executive Committee, Andrew Thompson was elected to fill the post. The other committee members were also re-elected.
Unfortunately, the guest speaker Grace McCombie was unable to attend. Instead, Jeff Singleton [Secretary] gave an illustrated talk based on “The History of Shotley Bridge”, a 32 page booklet that had been researched and recently published by the Trust’s Heritage Working Group. Copies were available for Trust members to purchase.
The next meeting of the Shotley Bridge Village Trust is on 21 June. All welcome.
Daffodils and tulips planted by the Trust were in full bloom this week in the conservation area, giving a colourful display. The violas are flowering too, which will hopefully give colour until the Trust’s volunteers plant up the tubs with summer bedding at the end of May.
This morning, eight volunteers of the Village Trust spent a couple of hours cutting back vegetation, clearing the stream and removing debris from the path.
Thanks to Carol, Jeff, Keith, John S, John W, Margaret, Richard & Sue for all their hard work. The Cut looks lovely & clean and the new bulbs and plants have made a big improvement.
This year the Shotley Bridge annual spring litter pick, organised by the Trust, is being held on Saturday 19 March …
Volunteers to meet at the Golden Flower car park in the village centre at 9.30am.
Gloves, bags, pickers and hi-viz vests will be provided, if you don’t have them.
Blooming Shotley Bridge will be raising funds again at ‘The Snods’ Christmas Fair next Saturday 21st November, 10am – 4pm.
Our stall will have both ‘New’ and ‘Nearly New’ items, many suitable for Christmas presents, plus a Tombola and children’s ‘Lucky Dip’
All items have been donated by SBVT members and friends and proceeds will be used to buy bedding plants, bulbs and shrubs for Shotley Bridge conservation area.
‘Shotley Bridge’ pin badges will be on sale, at only £2 each.
