The village Christmas tree has been ‘planted’ and wired up by the County Council in readiness for lighting up on 5th December, this Saturday. Thanks to our local councillors for providing funding again.
Shotley Bridge Primary School choir will be there to sing carols at 4.30pm, followed by the lighting of the tree.
Everyone is welcome to join in.
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.
Daffodils, tulips and violas were planted in the tubs on Saturday morning, in readiness for a good show of colour throughout the conservation area next Spring.
Thank you to all the volunteers who have helped to organise the event or planted the tubs.
The Consett & District Heritage Initiative is holding a 3 day exhibition at the Methodist Church in Consett. There will be displays of old photos of each settlement in the Consett area, including Shotley Bridge.
Entry is free and there is ample parking on the Sherburn Road car park.
If you are in Consett at the end of next week pop in for a cuppa and find out about the heritage of the area.
For the first time the Village Trust has registered an event during the HODs festival. It is organising guided tours and self guided walks around the village this coming weekend, based on the Shotley Bridge Heritage Trail booklet that was published in April last year.
If you want to explore other places have a look at the Heritage Open Days website.
The festival runs from 10-13 September and you can experience local history, architecture and culture for free.
Bank Holiday Monday afternoon at The Spa Grounds was a little soggy! It didn’t dampen the Consett Rugby Club’s ‘Strong Man’ competition nor the children’s enthusiasm for the inflatables.
Numbers visiting the event were well down on previous years and consequently the Village Trust only raised £50 for its ‘Blooming Shotley Bridge’ Fund with its Tombola and Children’s Lucky Dip, compared to £180 & £160 on its stall in 2013 & 2014. Thank you to the volunteers at the event and the support from local businesses, members and residents who donated prizes.
For a sixth successive year, the Benfieldside, Blackhill, Bridgehill and Shotley Bridge Community Partnership have a FREE Fun Day on Bank Holiday Monday at the Shotley Bridge Cricket Club.
The Village Trust will have a Tombola and Children’s Lucky Dip – raising funds for Blooming Shotley Bridge next year.
A very interesting and informative talk was given to members of the Trust and guests, after the AGM last Thursday. Harold Dobson from the Friends of Red Kites in the North East of England Group gave an excellent illustrated talk about this rare and most spectacular bird, which is often seen in the skies above the village.
Between 2004 & 2007 the Northern Kites Project re-introduced 94 red kites into the lower Derwent Valley where they continue to breed. The Friends Group was formed in 2009 to maintain interest and involvement in protecting and maintaining the red kite population in the valley.
Further information about the Group and how to become a member can be found on the Group’s website.
The Consett & District Heritage Initiative is holding another exhibition which will include old photos of Shotley Bridge and the Consett area. There is ample parking on the Sherburn Road car park and refreshments are available each day.
The Trust will be displaying some of its own photos and collections from local residents.
A dozen volunteers turned out this morning to tidy up the village. A big thank you to all who helped.
All the roads leading from the centre of the village were cleared of litter, throughout most of the conservation area.
This year the Trust has arranged its annual litter pick on Saturday 21st March, to coincide with ‘Community Clear Up Day’, a national initiative by the Keep Britain Tidy organisation. We will also be helping to support the Litter Free Durham Initiative.
If you can spare an hour or two, meet at the Golden Flower car park at 9.30am and bring gloves. Bags, pickers and tabards will be provided, if you don’t have them.
Carols were sung and the Christmas Tree was lit early Saturday evening at the ‘Triangle’ in the village centre.
Thanks to Martin Jackson & St Cuthbert’s choir members and to Debbie Brett and Shotley Bridge Junior School pupils who led the singing. Thanks also to the Trust’s volunteers for stewarding and the PCSO’s attendance. Particular thanks to Stephen Robinson and Peter Oliver, our local County Councillors, who have funded the tree and lights again.
There was a good turnout to watch and take part in the event. Hopefully, everyone enjoyed themselves.
The village Christmas tree will be put in place this week by the County Council, ready for the eagerly awaited ‘switch on’ early evening this Saturday, 6th December. Thank you again to our local councillors for providing funding for the tree.
The Village Trust has arranged for Shotley Bridge Junior School choir and members of St Cuthbert’s Church choir to sing carols at 4.30pm, followed by the lighting of the tree.
Everyone is welcome to join in. There will be a charity collection in aid of Willow Burn Hospice.
There was a good turnout for the Remembrance Service yesterday afternoon at the Memorial Cottages, when the First World War memorial stone, showing the additional names, was re-dedicated.
Along with local councillors and representatives from community organisations, John Worters laid a wreath [on behalf of the Village Trust] in memory of those villagers who lost their lives whilst serving their country.
More photographs have been published on The Works website.
On Remembrance Sunday at 3pm, a new memorial stone is to be dedicated in a special ceremony at the Memorial Cottages in Shotley Bridge. [Opposite the entrance to Oley Meadows.]
The Shotley Bridge War Memorial Cottages Trust commissioned the work after research showed that there were missing names on the original plaque that was erected in 1919.
The Works website has more information about the 15 soldiers whose names have been added to the memorial.
Forty people turned out last Tuesday on a windy night to the Trust’s autumn Open Meeting in the Catholic Church Hall. Sue Shaw [secretary of the Blooming Shotley Bridge working group] gave a presentation about the work of the volunteers and the Silver Gilt award from Northumbria in Bloom. John Worters [chairman of the Trust] presented certificates and gardening vouchers for the Trust’s own front garden and business hanging basket awards. The meeting unanimously agreed to support the Trust’s entry in the village category of Northumbria in Bloom in 2015.
Residential Front Garden Awards
Golden Gardens …
5 Riverside
20 Derwentdale
26 Snows Green Road
Gardens …
77 Snows Green Road
81 Snows Green Road
Greengarth, West Law Road
Business Hanging Basket Awards
Golden Baskets …
Adam & Eve Fashions
Baskets …
Moon Jewellery [Winner]
Sale Pepe [Runner Up]
Jeff Singleton [secretary of the Trust] gave an update on the village centre improvements being organised by the County Council and paid for with S106 funds from the housing development on the former hospital site. He also gave a slide presentation of old photographs, as an introduction to the setting up of a Heritage working group to pursue various initiatives.
Thank you to all those who supported the ‘Night at the Races’ social event on Saturday.
We raised £840 for the Blooming Shotley Bridge fund, which will enable the Trust to plant the village with flowers and shrubs in 2015.
Every business in the village helped support the event and fund raising with donations, raffle prizes and sponsorship.
The meeting of the Village Trust, for members, residents and businesses, is being held on …
Tuesday 21 October 2014
7.30pm
[Refreshments – 7.15pm]
Our Lady of the Rosary
Roman Catholic Church Hall
Snows Green Road
On the Agenda …
‘Blooming’ Shotley Bridge
– update & presentation of front garden and hanging basket awards
Village Centre Improvements
– update
‘Heritage’ Shotley Bridge
– slide presentation of old photos
– working group initiatives
Councillors’ report
Any other business
– Christmas Tree lighting & carols
There are just a few tickets left for the Race Night next Saturday. Thank you to all the local businesses who have sponsored the races or provided a raffle prize and those who have donated bottles of wine or ticket money. We are aiming to raise £700 for the ‘Blooming’ Shotley Bridge fund. It should be an entertaining evening.
The Village Trust raised £164 at the FunDay last Monday on its ‘Pick a Prize’ stall, for the Blooming Shotley Bridge fund.
Tickets are now on sale for the next fundraising event in October. We need to raise £800 each year to continue planting the tubs and troughs in the village.
Shotley Bridge Village Trust 