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NEW SHOPS RIGHT UP THEIR ALLEY!

Station plans‘Flying’ ahead

after £797k Lottery award

BRING BACK CUP

HEROES’Pages 31 - 34

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Inside Morpeth is a community magazine published by Ian Leech Publicity Services. All rights reserved. Every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of material published in Inside Morpeth. All information is accurate at time of going to press. The publisher does not endorse any advertising material published in INSIDE Morpeth. No parts of the publication can be reproduced without the prior written permission of the publisher. INSIDE Morpeth c/o The Lodge, Carlisle Park, Morpeth NE61 1YD

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FRONT COVER: The Flying Scotsman pulls into Morpeth Station. Picture by Trevor Walker

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It’s been quite a few weeks in Morpeth as we report in this edition of Inside Morpeth starting with Morpeth Town’s stunning win in the FA Vase final at Wembley - and what a fantastic achievement that was.

Club chairman Ken Beattie, his management team and players deserved every last bit of the praise heaped on them when they returned home with the Cup.

That most famous of all railway engine The Flying Scotsman also drew the crowds when it stopped off at the town’s station, co-incidentally signalling more good news for Morpeth – this time Great Morpeth Development Trust securing £1m earmarked for upgrading the historic station buildings and creating much-needed office space for small businesses.

More needs to be done before work can hopefully start later this year but the increasing number of rail passengers travelling by train deserve the modern facilities the scheme will provide.

As new Mayor Andrew Tebbutt also exclusively tells us in this edition ‘Morpeth is a town on the up’. He couldn’t be more right in more ways than one!

Editor and Publisher of Inside Morpeth

Ian Leech

Editor: Ian Leech, Tel: 07968 102 547 Email: ian-leech@sky.com Advertising: John Matthews Distribution: Katherine Brodie (TYD) 07540 804 069

THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS

SANDERSON ARCADE Manager Medi Perry’s column

MORPETH TOWN COUNCIL The Town Cryer newsletter

27

GARDENING COLUMN With Heighley Gate’s Nigel Lawton

STATION PLANS ON TRACK7

RIGHT UP THEIR ALLEY10

OUR WEMBLEY HEROES27

DECADE OF TRUST4

TOWN’S POETS’ CORNER12

MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE48

HONOUR TO BE MAYOR22

OPEN GOLF INVITATION18

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More than £7 million worth of projects endorsed by the community and supported by a host of key partners, funders and volunteers covering a wide spectrum of life in and around Morpeth that might very well never have been devised and delivered if the Trust had not existed, would be the simplistic headline answer to that question. A quick and easy response but one that by no means tells the whole story of the contribution GMDT has made – and continues to make – to life in the town.

Over the past decade there have been some spectacular Trust contributions the most notable of which would be the design and delivery of the Morpeth Town Hall project in 2009 that not only repaired, refreshed and refurbished the iconic 300 year old building but gave it a new lease of life as a ‘fit for purpose’ 21st Century focal point of life in the town.

There have been other high profile projects including improving and opening access to riverside and woodland walks into and around the town from Mitford, through to the picturesque village of Bothal from the Whorral Bank and the ancient Bluebell Woods which won a Northumbria in Bloom Gold conservation project award for the way the work was carried out. Coupled with these physical works improving paths and fencing and installing seating, GMDT has been responsible for designing and placing informative and environmentally sympathetic signage in key locations so that local residents, visitors to the town and walkers could be more knowledgeable and better informed about what to look for on their way. More than 100 signs have been erected over the past decade.

Then GMDT played a leading part in Morpeth’s Emily Inspires! campaign to honour and mark the part local suffragette Emily Wilding Davison played in changing

Edwardian attitudes to women being given the right to vote. As part of the campaign that began with the fitting restoration of Emily’s grave in St Mary’s Churchyard, a year long programme of events culminated in a day of activities that attracted widespread national and even international media attention and coverage to mark the 100th anniversary of the return of her body to Morpeth after she was fatally injured when she was struck by King George V’s horse Anmer during the running of the 1913 Epsom Derby.

Over the past 10 years there have been many other perhaps more modest GMDT - but just as impacting - projects that have made a real difference to the lives of local people. Each year the Trust supports the Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering featuring the area’s rich cultural traditions as well as organising the town’s contribution to the nationwide Heritage Open Days’ celebration of all that’s best about Britain’s great architectural history

The Trust has encouraged local people to go out walking to improve their health and fitness; taken part in environmental clean-ups; staged the family fun ‘Picnic in the Park’ afternoons at the very start of the school summer holidays; supported local authors such as Bridget Gubbins by publishing her fascinating series of books delving into so many aspects of Morpeth’s history; brought professional theatre to the town through regular visits by Northumberland Theatre Company; co-ordinated an annual World Book Night to celebrate the enjoyment of reading; and re-introduced the movies back to the town through the monthly cinema nights it organises in the Town Hall.

Even here at Inside Morpeth we are indebted to Greater Morpeth Development Trust for its initial and on-going encouragement and support to launch our magazine nearly seven years ago.

Ten years of working for MorpethIt is 10 years since Greater Morpeth Development Trust (GMDT) was established as a community-led organisation working on behalf of the people of Morpeth to improve the town and surrounding countryside for their benefit through the implementation and delivery of quality projects enhancing the environment, safeguarding the town’s heritage, and promoting the economic and social well-being of all those living and working in the area. Inside Morpeth Editor Ian Leech looks back at what the Trust has achieved and delivered in that time.

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The Trust works through a series of ‘Interest Groups’ each headed by a Board Director covering the arts and culture, heritage, the environment and the community. With a small professional staff of just three, it relies heavily on the support of volunteers from board level down to bodies on the ground to run many of the events and activities listed above.

So partnerships beginning at that level right up to working with major national and regional funders and supporters prepared to back the Trust’s work with grants and funding, remain fundamental to its success and on-going ability to bring forward new and exciting projects such as the re-modelling of Morpeth’s railway station to modernise its facilities and give it an imaginative and sustainable future as both a place of work and a major gateway into the town.

(You can read about the GMDT’s latest railway station news elsewhere on page 7 of Inside Morpeth.)

The Trust has also facilitated a study into an ambitious HeArt plan to give Morpeth its own arts and cultural centre which many feel is notably missing from the town’s facilities – a good example of GMDT raising the possibility of what can be achieved and bringing partners together to try and realise that ambition.

GMDT’s Chief Executive David Lodge came from a commercial background before

becoming involved in economic and community development and is passionate about seeing Morpeth’s economy thrive. He has, therefore, pro-actively chaired the Town Team set up as a partnership between the Trust, Morpeth Town Council, Morpeth & District Chamber of Trade, Sanderson Arcade and Inside Morpeth since it was established in the wake of the Government’s Portas Initiative to improve the trading lot of the country’s high streets.

Together the partners work to raise the profile of Morpeth and make a positive impact on the local economy which corresponds with one of the Trust’s key objectives.

David also chaired the Economy Group for the Morpeth Neighbourhood Plan along with a number of Board Directors and volunteers who contributed to the vision for the town and is now keen to see that vision realised through the development of a resourced action plan.

“The past 10 years have been full of challenges alongside the exciting delivery of so many projects that we believe have made Morpeth a better place to live, work and visit,” said Doug Phillips who has chaired the Trust Board for most of that time. “We are proud of the fact that the Trust has made a real difference to the lives of very many local people through our work.

“But there is no disguising the fact that it has been difficult at times because for a non-

statutory organisation such as ours funding is always an issue. We rely on the support of partners and funders and we have been fortunate that we have built up solid working relationships with people who have bought into the vision of a Morpeth of the future that we share with many in the community

“We need that backing to continue going forward as an organisation just as we need the support of the wonderful volunteers without whom we could not do what we do. The strength of GMDT as an organisation lies in the cohesiveness that exists between our staff and volunteers both at Board level and in our interest groups where there are shared ambitions to deliver quality outcomes for the people of Morpeth across a whole range of activities.

“This approach has built strong working partnerships with local authorities, the private sector, the third sector and community organisations and we want to extend these links going forward. Over the past decade we have been proud to have been involved in making Morpeth a better place to live, work and visit.”

I started this 10 year review of Greater Morpeth Development Trust’s impact on the town by saying it had delivered investment totalling some £7m that might otherwise never have happened. By the end of 2017 that figure could rise to close to £9m if the Trust’s ambitions for Morpeth Railway Station are fulfilled.

6 inside Morpeth

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Greater Morpeth Development Trust (GMDT) has secured the money from the HLF’s Heritage Enterprise scheme which through grants can meet some of the costs of repairing neglected historic buildings that would otherwise not be considered commercially viable.

For the past four years GMDT has been working with partners and funders preparing the plans for the 167 year old Grade II listed station building, designed by architect Benjamin Green for the Newcastle & Berwick Railway Company. Morpeth Station is now regarded as one of finest surviving examples of Green’s ‘Jacobethan’ style railway buildings on the East Coast main line between London and Edinburgh.

It is, however, the only one of Green’s surviving station buildings in Northumberland to retain passenger facilities.

The plan is restore the historic features of the station’s buildings as well as developing offices to create a sustainable future for them by providing enterprise space for seven small businesses. The £1.6m scheme also includes work to re-open the station’s original portico entrance as well as providing a cafeteria/bistro and modernising the ticket office and toilets facilities.

In addition to the National Lottery funding GMDT has secured £250,000 from the Railway Heritage Trust which supports the preservation, upkeep and future sustainability of buildings and structures that form part of Britain’s historic rail network, and is in advanced talks with potential partners including Northumberland County Council, Network Rail and train operator’s Northern Rail/Arriva to complete the required final funding package.

GMDT’s Chief Executive David Lodge told Inside Morpeth: “The HLF award is a huge step forward towards delivering our proposals for Morpeth Railway Station and we are now confident that we will be in a position to start work on site by the end of this year.

“Securing this grant signifies that HLF has bought into our vision to restore the station buildings to their former glory by giving them a sustainable future and making them fit-for-purposes for the growing number of people who are travelling by train to and

from Morpeth. New rail services for Morpeth travellers have already been announced and along with plans to re-open the Blyth & Tyne line to passenger traffic and the new private housing being built around town, they will significantly increase the number people using the station.

“The condition of the station buildings has deteriorated over a number of years and much of the vacant space is currently unused.

“We plan to change that by creating up to seven serviced offices for small businesses in what would be a unique setting at the side of the East Coast main line track.

“There is a shortage of bespoke offices for small businesses in Morpeth and our plans will go some way towards meeting that demand. Being in the station would also be a wonderful marketing opportunity for new small businesses to get noticed.”

With a build time of around eight months the Trust hopes that the work on the renovated station buildings would be complete by the end of summer 2017.

The station project is the second time GMDT will have been involved in restoring one of Morpeth’s most historic buildings. Seven years ago it project managed improvements to the 300 year old Morpeth Town Hall designed by Sir John Vanbrugh who was also credited with designing Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard.

Morpeth station secures £797,000 of National Lottery fundingAmbitious plans to give Morpeth Railway Station a major facelift at the same time as creating trackside offices for small businesses have moved a significant step closer with the news that the project has been awarded £797,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) writes Ian Leech.

The Flying Scotsman arrives in Morpeth Station before the funding news was announced

It’s a dirty job driving the ‘Scotsman’ – but someone has to do it!

8 inside Morpeth

What a busy few months we have ahead here at the Arcade!

The new development is nearing completion, the Morpeth Larder has just about finished its expansion and it’s full steam ahead working on our new media room for the Stobhill Community Centre!

We have a fantastic few months ahead after 12 months of planning, organising and fundraising! We will finally see a few large projects come to life which is extremely exciting.

The re-development of the former Morrison’s site has come a long way since the contractors started on the 11th of December 2015. And only 6 months later our new retailers Next, Pets at Home and Home Bargains are getting their internal fixtures and fittings completed ahead of their open events this Summer!

The three stores will open on different dates – so watch this space – and when the final new store opens – Next – we’ll be planning a special celebratory event to mark the completion of the project and this further investment in the town centre.

We are able to announce when the first

retailer is set to open. Pets at Home will be opening their doors early August – not too long to wait! Look out for the August and September edition of Inside Morpeth for the latest news on the Home Bargains and Next openings – these are certainly not to be missed!

If you haven’t dined in the new ‘al fresco’ terrace dining area at the Morpeth Larder yet – this is highly recommended! With a delicious menu, summer flowers and sunshine through the day - it would be a shame to miss out! If you prefer to sit inside, the Morpeth Larder has just expanded its eatery area allowing for more tables and chairs – making your experience as comfortable and pleasant as possible.

Last but certainly not least over the last 18 months we have been fundraising hard for our adopted charity ‘Barnabas Safe and Sound’. To date nearly £6,000 has been raised and this will be spent in converting an old gym room at the Stobhill Community Centre into a modern multi-media room. The new media room will be used for a number of purposes and will be enjoyed by the heart of the community in Stobhill.

In order to deliver the best media room possible, we have been talking to a number of local businesses for support, materials and time – I must say, the response has

been fantastic! This is a fine example of real community spirit and thank you to everyone who is getting involved.

We aim to have the media room ready for the Summer holidays therefore watch this space for news and developments – and of course, the opening event!

To keep up to date with events and offers at Sanderson Arcade visit www.sandersonarcade.co.uk or follow us on Twitter @sandersonarcade and if you’re on Facebook and Instagram please give us a like.

It’s all GO, GO, GO...….writes Medi Parry, Sanderson Arcade

Manager

David Robinson, owner of the Morpeth Larder, at his new outside dining area

DIARY DATES

July 2nd Morpeth Farmers’ MarketJuly 20th Start of the Summer holidaysJuly 30th Waterstones late night opening.

inside Morpeth 9

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Development that’s right up their alley!The alleyway Nicola is talking about is Packhorse Lane one of Morpeth’s ‘curious yards and alleyways’ celebrated in a book of the same name by local author Bridget Gubbins, that business partners Les Sage and David Chambers have transformed into an attractive and intriguing mini-shopping precinct just a short distance from the town’s Market Place.

Five small shops are now providing trading opportunities for new businesses along the alleyway with another on the development’s Newgate Street frontage, along with four flats above.

Perris Antiques share a shop selling antique silverware, hand-made bags and cushions with Nicola’s Decorative Delights’ hand-made crafts, book art, paper wedding bouquets and table decorations’ business. Their new neighbours include Joanne and Jim Orde’s J & J Models, Lateral Art run by husband amd wife lawyer and accountant Stephen and Fiona Greenway

and Willow Home Gifts and Hardware owned by mother and daughter partners Linda and Sam Jones.

Just before going to press the remaining shop tenancy was taken by Lola & Flo, a luxury natural skincare and well-being store offering a fantastic range of organic skincare, body care, natural remedies and nutrition as well as aromatherapy candles and room diffusers from the award-winning Neal’s Yard Remedies.

The shops have been created in what were once the stables of the Packhorse Inn which stood at the entrance to the alleyway, one of many that followed the lines of oxen-ploughed furrows dating back to the Norman days that set the pattern on which the shape of Morpeth’s town centre would gradually be developed.

By the 19th Century the yards and alleyways were not only providing premises for a host of businesses but over-crowded homes for local people as well, as

the town centre grew. The yard and alleyways that survive today as a testament to Morpeth’s past are now mainly used as pedestrian shortcuts in and out of the town centre.

The last use of the Packhorse Lane buildings was as a newspaper office before standing empty for many months. Les Sage takes up the story of their transformation into the new shopping precinct. “The idea of providing a precinct of affordable shops for small businesses along the alleyway with flats above really appealed to me,” he said.

“As someone who has Morpeth very much at heart and passionately wants it to be the best market town in the region I could see the potential for creating something very different in the centre of town that would add to the existing attractiveness of Newgate Street - a place where independent businesses trade together to help give Morpeth its unique character as a shopping

destination.”

Packhorse Lane has been given a complete ‘make-over’ by Les and David with its new entrance, re-paving, brickwork cleaned and restored. Wall-mounted floral planters bring a splash of colour and a wrought-iron gate at the end of the lane has opened up a striking view of St Robert’s Church across the Millennium Green.

“We are delighted with the result and with the tenants who have moved into the shops,” said Les.

“We feel they complement each other very well and will grow into a little trading community that will benefit one another and the town from the footfall they can bring in between them. We hope they stay with us but if they move on to bigger premises they will go with our best wishes because it will mean they have been able to establish themselves and be successful.”

All the tenants are delighted with their shops and the opportunity given to them to locate in a

‘Each morning it’s such a pleasure to walk up the alleyway to go to work!” The words of Nicola Wells the first tenant to move into Morpeth’s newest shopping development in the town’s Newgate Street writes Ian Leech.

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Packhorse Lane show owners (left to right) Nicola Wells, Stephen Greenway, Joanne Orde, Sam and Linda Jones

unique trading environment that has similarities with the alleyways where niche businesses successfully trade in the old port of Whitby.

“We just happened to walk up the alleyway out of curiosity to see what was happening, met Les and were so taken with it that we decided to move in” said Sam Jones. “After working craft fairs and exhibitions we were looking for premises to dip our toe into the water so to speak as a new business. Right now we feel this was meant to be.”

Joanne and Jim Orde had previously run their model and specialist toy business from premises further up Newgate Street before closing it down and trading on-line and from fairs. “I was in Morpeth when I saw the work going on and

decided to take a shop. The alleyway offers something really different and we are delighted to be part of it,” said Joanne.

Stephen Greenway– a keen artist himself – has opted for a complete career change at the age of 54 by going into business with his wife to stock high quality art material and papers sourced from around the world, to supply both professional and amateur artists. “We are stocking products that are a little different to anything else you can find locally,’ he said.

“We were looking at a number of options including taking over an existing business when we heard about the alleyway development and decided it was just the place for us. It’s fantastic and we are sure it will work very well.”

“... a place where independent businesses trade together to help give Morpeth its unique character as a shopping destination.” Les Sage

The front shop facing on to Newgate Street has been taken over by Jill Fenwick who has moved The Sewing Box business started by her mother Mary and Bill Baker 40 years ago, across the street. “The move has given us far more display space all on one level and will be a new beginning for our business,” she said.

The Sewing Box

Newgate Street, Morpeth

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London has its world famous Poet’s Corner in Westminster Abbey but now Morpeth is to get its very own ‘poetry street’ within the next few weeks.For the record the corner of the Abbey devoted to poetry is very much given over to the memory of poets of yesteryear but the Newgate Street Poetry Festival will be dedicated to local poets who are very much alive and well.

The festival planned for September is the brainchild of a group of around 30 poetry enthusiasts who regularly meet up in venues around Morpeth to read and listen to one another’s work.

The group meets at venues such as the Sun Inn, the Ice Bar and the Tap & Spile with each session raising funds to donate to local worthy causes including Contact, the Wansbeck Food Bank, the Whalton Unit and Stobhill Community Link. The group is also planning a second poetry reading recital at Morpeth Town Hall in aid of children’s cancer charity Henry Dancer Days following the success of the initial event last December.

What they are aiming to do is to get businesses along the street to post poems in their windows and even consider writing poems about their own shops, or businesses which traded from the premises in the past. As well as the shop window displays, however, the organisers are planning open mic sessions when poets will be reading their works and already signed up to take part are a number of venues including The Ice Bar, the Black & Grey, the White Swan, Sour Grapes, the Wheatsheaf, Peppermint Tea Rooms and the Vault Café.

The co-ordinator of the festival is Barbara Ross whose association with the street goes back to the days when her parents owned a jewellery shop and a coffee bar and the family lived in the flat above.

“My mother and father, Enid and Lionel were in business on Newgate Street for 60 years and I was brought home as a baby to live on the street,” she said. “So Newgate Street is very close to my heart and I hope our festival will give it a real boost over the next few weeks.

“We have already had a tremendous response to the idea of holding the festival, we are still talking to people and we are sure more businesses will sign up to take part,” said Barbara. The festival is being planned for Monday September 5th to Sunday September 12th which will co-incide with this year’s Heritage Open Days being planned in Morpeth.

“We want people of all ages to submit poems

about the street, its past and present shops and businesses and children will be especially welcome to submit their work.

“Already we have had poems written about ‘Auntie’s May’s fruit shop at the top of Newgate Street (now the Ice Bar) on the other side of the road to Appleby’s bookshop which only closed last year after more than 160 years in business in Morpeth.”

The Festival is being backed by Morpeth Town Team.

Anyone wanting to submit a poem can do so by emailing morpethpoetryrecital@gmail.com; telephoning 0771 898 9566; or calling in to Anderson’s Sandwich Shop in Newgate Street.

At the corner of the poets’ streetBy Ian Leech

Poets Barbara Ross (right), Mikey Mann and Maureen Davison who are organising the Newgate Street poetry festival

inside Morpeth 13

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Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown an estate worker’s son who hailed from the hamlet of Kirkharle, created more than 250 landscapes during his lifetime for clients including Royalty, six prime ministers and half the members of the House of Lords.

Some of the quintessential 18th Century English gardens he designed and landscaped can be still be found at the country’s grandest stately homes including Blenheim Palace, Chatsworth, Highclere Castle (the location for the worldwide television hit ‘Downton Abbey’), Burghley, Weston Park and Compton Verney.

He earned the nickname ‘Capability’ because of his uncanny knack of spotting the ‘capabilities of nature’.

Perhaps one of the greatest early influences on the young Brown was the magnificent estate surrounding Wallington Hall which he most likely explored on his daily walk from his home to school at Cambo. Fitting then that the Morpeth-based November Club will celebrate ‘Capability’ Brown’s remarkable legacy with what it describes as a ‘playful’ guided walk and promenade performance through the grounds of the National Trust property.

(The November Club is an award-winning performing arts company that works both indoors and outdoors, to produce unique theatre in unusual places involving local communities by weaving together historical and contemporary themes.)

The live ticketed performance which will be available to a small audience only, will invite participants to explore the Wallington grounds in the company of actor John Cobb playing the role of a modern day Monty Don-style television gardening programme presenter. The production is based on a collection of Brown’s drawings owned by Wallington, a selection of which will be on display at the Hall until October 30th.

A ‘Landscapes of Capability Brown’ exhibition of work by the North East Embroiders’ Guild inspired by his designs, can also be seen at Wallington during the same time period and on Sunday July 10th visitors to Wallington can follow in his footsteps by visiting the Hall’s Walled Garden before taking a trip to Cambo where they will be able to enjoy tea and cake in his old school room. Normal Wallington admission charges apply plus £5 for the trip to Cambo. Any money raised will go to the NGS open day.

Participants in the November Club performances will learn how Brown would have built a Ha-Ha (recessed landscape designs that prevented grazing livestock from reaching trimmed lawns and gardens); changed the course of rivers; created lakes; transported villages and used a tree-moving machine – all in pursuit of ‘The Perfect View’ as the theatrical experience with a difference is being called.

There will be four performances on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th July at 1.30pm and again at 4pm.

Cinzia Hardy, the November Club’s artistic director, told Inside

Morpeth: “This is a show about landscape, how we view it and how it has changed over time.

“Our character who will lead audiences around the estate, embodies the qualities of ‘Capability’ Brown’s vision, creating a link from the past to the future, and will invite visitors to consider the elements that might constitute their own perfect view. We hope people will come and join us to play a part in investigating the ‘capabilities’ of Wallington.”

The performance will last around one hour 20 minutes and is said to be suitable for seven year olds upwards. Participants are reminded to wear suitable footwear and that gates open 30 minutes before each performance. (Anyone wishing to go earlier will have to pay the normal admission prices to Wallington Hall or show a National Trust membership card).

Tickets cost £10 and are limited to 25 per performance. Booking is essential by telephoning 0844 249 1895. More details can be found on the website www.novemberclub.org.uk/theperfectview

The November Club is currently also involved in another exciting creative project – an iBook bringing the Newcastle of the time of the First World War back to life via interactive digital technology. Using a mixture of fact and fiction ‘Reflections of Newcastle’ combines intimate storytelling with a rich collection of archive materials to invite viewers to explore the intellectual, cultural and social life of the city by telling stories as never heard before.

The iBook creates three different trails through Newcastle’s city centre starting and ending at the Lit & Phil with fictional characters created and filmed by the November Club, as tour guides. Each character tells their story from a different viewpoint – a young man who signed up for war but returned home injured; a woman who worked in a munitions factory before becoming involved in women’s suffrage; and young twins whose father left for the battlefields of Europe.

Perfectly capable view of a lifetime’s work!Events will be taking place around the country this summer to mark the 300th anniversary of the birth in the heart of Northumberland of a child who would grow up to earn the reputation of being England’s most celebrated landscape gardener.

The iBook goes live on July and information about how to access and download it can be found on the website www.novemberclub.org.uk

Actor John Cobb leading visitors on a ‘Capability’ Brown exploration at Wallington Hall

16 inside Morpeth

CHANTRY

For those who love a little glitter and glamour you’ll be excited to learn that Elizabeth Tuman jewellery (right) has just added an entire new range and – if it’s possible – it’s even better than before!

Elizabeth creates and sells jewellery inspired by her love of travelling and the beauty she sees on the way. Each piece is created with materials she collects whilst travelling to various places around the world and is completely unique.

She prides herself on creating beautiful one-off pieces and we have many customers who have fallen in love with her gorgeous accessories. Elizabeth designs and makes all her jewellery right here in the North East and whilst always elegant, she loves her pieces to make a statement.

What’s jewellery without a sparkle? Which is why most of Elizabeth’s silver jewellery pieces are made with semi-precious stones as well as the occasional sapphire, ruby and emerald. Elizabeth’s cabinet can be found in the middle of the craft centre and we Chantry girls are always happy to help you find the perfect fit. So go on, treat yourself or a loved one to a stunning piece of jewellery as unique as the person wearing it!

Of course, if jewellery doesn’t tickle your fancy we have new artists on a monthly basis displaying gorgeous sketches, paintings,

water colours, photographs and oil paintings. The stunning artwork we are able to display boasts exquisite views from all around Northumberland and the North East which we know you will just love.

As well as our popular Chantry friends such as Little Bird, The Felthouse, Rosie Bee, Denise Wall and Jan-Prints we have some fantastic new products in Morpeth right now including some awesome prints of local concert tickets featuring Genesis, Queen and the iconic David Bowie – so pop in and have a look because they are disappearing fast.

You won’t want to miss out especially on a few nautical pieces which are perfect for you-know-what coming up on August Bank Holiday weekend. From August 26th to 29th Blyth will be hosting the Tall Ships Regatta Festival – really one not to miss because it promises to be such a spectacular event for all the family. South Beach will offer a fabulous vantage point to see the flotilla of majestic ships sailing off to Gothenburg on Monday August 29th.

If you are looking to take public transport to Blyth the No. 2 bus services operates from Morpeth via Bedlington, or if you want to go by car Park & Ride facilities will be operating. For more information contact Morpeth Tourist Information Centre on (01670) 623455 or watch our Twitter feed@moreMorpeth for regular updates.

Chantry stock refreshedfor summer-time salesWe are having a bit of a revamp at The Chantry writes Amy Hall, and a lot of our stallholders are refreshing their already amazing stock with some great new products

Details about the Tall Ships arriving in Blyth in just a few weeks as well as travelling details are available from The Chantry TIC

inside Morpeth 17

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18 inside Morpeth

In the last edition of Inside Morpeth we told readers that non-members are more than welcome to call into the newly refurbished clubhouse for a meal or a drink throughout the day without having to become a member of the club - and plenty of you have already taken up the offer.

In the past Morpeth like many other golf clubs, operated a strict ‘members-only’ rule in the clubhouse but that’s all changed now.

Recently the new-look clubhouse was officially opened by Councillor Alison Byard (Mayor of Morpeth at the time) with the club extending an invitation to local people to call in and try out its new facilities.

“We are delighted with the improvements that we have made and would remind local people that they are available to anyone to enjoy whether or not they are a member of the club,” said chairman Tommy Turnbull.

More than just a golf club...... that’s the message Morpeth Golf Club officials are keen to get over to local people to remind them that anyone can enjoy using its social and leisure facilities.

Councillor Alison Byard opened the newly refurbished clubhouse in the company of club chairman Tommy Turnbull

Alan and Leigh Hair – in charge of clubhouse catering

Alan returned to Morpeth

after more than

35 years travelling the world

learning his trade as

a chef.

inside Morpeth 19

For bookings call Alan or Leigh on (01670) 504942 or aandlharecatering@gmail.com

Your ‘Open’ invitation to join us at

The 2016 British Open takes place from 14 -17 July at Royal Troon – but you don’t have to go that far to take up our ‘Open Invitation’. Join us any day in our recently refurbished clubhouse for a drink or a ‘daily special’ meal starting from just £4.95. Non-members always welcome.

Ask about our British ‘Open’ weekend special drinks offers

Morpeth Golf Club

Daily meals are served in the bar with ‘specials’ starting from just £4.95 and Sunday lunches are particularly popular. A good selection of draught and bottled beers and lagers is also served in the clubhouse at competitive prices.

As well as the clubhouse bar and catering, however, two function rooms capable of seating of up to 100 or 25 in the smaller room, can also be hired for any kind of private function from wedding receptions, funerals, birthdays, anniversaries or christenings. The

club’s catering service holds a 5* hygiene rating.

Catering at the club is in the capable hands of Alan Hair and his wife Leigh. A local lad, Alan returned to Morpeth after more than 35 years travelling the world learning his trade as a chef.

“We are more than happy to talk through a function with anyone planning an event and to welcome diners on a daily basis,” said Alan.

Eating well and keeping fit go hand-in-hand, of course, and Morpeth Golf Club can help there too! The club has its own well-equipped fitness suite run by former professional footballer Gary Neil, once of Leicester City and Torquay United.

It is open to golfers and non-members wanting to benefit from Gary’s one-to-one help and guidance as a practised personal trainer. Gary designs training and fitness regimes on an individual basis to help clients improve their fitness for their own particular sport, to lose weight or to just enhance their posture and body balance.

Gary Neil can be contacted by calling 07293 556 138 by anyone looking for advice or to book personal training sessions with him.

“We are delighted with the improvements that

we have made and would remind local people that they are

available to anyone to enjoy whether or not they are a member of

the club,”Tommy Turnbull

Personal trainer Gary Neil who runs the club’s fitness suite

20 inside Morpeth

If the price is right…!I often think there are many in this country who have an unhealthy obsession with the price of property. ‘How much

has the market gone up since I bought my house last year’ is a question estate agents are asked on a daily basis even when the enquiry comes from someone with no intention of selling!

For the committed seller, however, it is altogether a more serious business and one where it is absolutely essential they receive the right advice backed by a comparison based market appraisal.

From here the estate agent can agree with the owner what the optimum asking price and marketing strategy should be to achieve the best possible outcome. Get this stage wrong and the end result could be very disappointing for the seller.

While timing, pricing and marketing are critical to achieving the best result, the most important of these is pricing. Unfortunately sellers sometimes justify an over-ambitious asking price on the basis of ‘I’m not in a hurry to sell so am prepared to wait to get the price I want’ coupled with the well-worn myth of

‘You can always come down but you can’t go up!’

Firstly, the maxim ‘I’m not in a hurry to sell….’ might have worked 10 to 15 years ago when values where rising by around 20 per cent per annum, but in today’s market invariably overpricing will result in the ‘For Sale’ board putting down roots before being adorned with a ‘Sold’ slip.

The reason for this is quite simple – buyers do their homework and pre-select properties to view on a value-for-money basis. Ask too much and there is a real chance a seller will attract insufficient interest in order to produce a sale.

The property then sticks on the market and over time attracts the stigma of being a bad seller making it even harder to sell – evidenced by the most common question we are asked - ‘How long has the property been on the market?’ demonstrating buyers’ aversions to properties that have been around for any length of time.

The second trap to steer clear of is ‘You can always come down but you can’t go up’. As I mentioned above that is another well-worn myth and can result in a lower price being

achieved at the end of the day.

Ignoring an evidenced-led approach to pricing will we know result in restricting interest, viewings and ultimately the level of offers. The perceived safety net of a price reduction sometimes has little or no effect in bringing down a sale.

How often have we heard the comment ‘We thought there was a problem because the house has been on the market for a while and now we know there definitely is a problem because they have brought the price of the house down.’

Unfortunately, you will never achieve the same level of interest from a reduced price as you would have done by asking that price in the first instance. On the other hand if the asking price is realistic and generates good interest with a number of offers, it is always an option for the seller’s agent to invite buyers to make their best offer by way of a sealed bid by a set date.

This often results in the final selling price being in excess of the asking price which well and truly puts paid to the adage – ‘You can’t go up!’

43 - 45 Newgate Street, Morpeth, NE61 1AT Tel. 01670 517214

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In his regular Inside Morpeth property column Charles Robinson of estate agents Rickard debunks some of the myths surrounding the selling of houses.

inside Morpeth 21

Cussins’ latest Northumberland developments are in high demand from families looking for a change in lifestyle.

The third-generation family home builder is developing properties in three prime sites across Northumberland; in Longhorsley, Longframlington and Warkworth.

Already, many families, couples and individuals have reserved the homes of their choice across the three developments.

Cussins sales manager Julia Burnett said: “Our new homeowners are telling us they’ve been wowed by the combination of build quality and the lifestyle on offer at these locations. We’ve chosen our sites very carefully to make sure they all offer the benefits of country or coastal living, with good schooling for families, while being within easy commuting distance for those who work in Newcastle.”

Wilding Grove is an exclusive development with only 19 plots, bordering open countryside in Longhorsley. Every home is within walking distance of the village centre, with Morpeth and the rest of the Northumberland National Park also easily reached.

Prices at Wilding Grove, where final plots have just been released, start at £227,500, with popular house types including the four-bedroom Lily and Lavender models, and the three-bedroom Bluebell. While new-build bungalows are rare, Wilding Grove benefits from the option of the three-bedroom Foxglove model.

Fenwick Park in Longframlington is also proving popular, with newly released plots now available. Homes, which are just a few

minutes’ stroll from the village, are being built around a traditional village green. Prices start at £260,000, with house types appealing to a wide variety of buyers. The four-bedroom Iris and Lily and the five-bedroom Orchid are all proving popular with families while those who prefer single-storey living are also able to choose the Foxglove bungalow at this location.

Cussins is also building at Morwick Gardens in Warkworth, where some models have already sold out. But buyers can still opt for the four-bedroom Honeysuckle and Primrose models, with prices for remaining properties starting at £282,950.

Homes at all developments are being built to Cussins renowned standards and all have been designed in keeping with their historic surroundings, featuring materials such as heritage brick, slate and sandstone.

Julia added: “We knew these developments were going to prove popular with families who have fallen in love with the locations just as much as we have. We’re thrilled to be releasing new and final plots so those who haven’t yet chosen their property can secure their new home.”

For more information, tel: 01670 788825 / 01665 600800 or visit www.cussins.com

Cussins’ new Northumberland developments are in high demand

22 inside Morpeth

Andrew Tebbutt admits to me quite candidly – but I suspect rather sadly – that he will never be able to consider himself a true Morpethian simply because he won’t ever be able to spend enough time in the town during his lifetime to lay claim to such a title.

To all intents and purposes, however, Morpeth has now well and truly been ‘home’ for the last 32 years to someone who was born and grew up around 250 miles away in the town of Bedford just to the north of London.

In that time he has immersed himself in both the social and political side of life holding the rare distinction of representing Morpeth as a councillor at three different levels of local government – Borough, County and Town councils.

As he was growing up back home in Bedford Andrew admits his academic career was ‘less than distinguished’ as he recalls. Away from the classroom, however, he took to voluntary work ‘like a duck to water’ which was to prompt one of his teachers to remark that he should look for a career working with people, advice that was put to good use when he began his working life as an assistant

welfare officer with the local council.

After moving around the Bedford area working in places like Dunstable and Biggleswade Andrew travelled north for what he thought would be a useful experience improving his interview skills and techniques. When he got the job back in the mid-1970s, however, it was to change his life for ever with a move to live and work in Northumberland which meant putting down the sort of roots that have stayed firmly in place ever since.

Andrew spent five years as a social work team leader in the Ashington area working with colleagues he clearly fondly remembers such as Dennis Davison, to build up a network of support and assistance for the vulnerable and needy. “At times we were quite literally fighting a battle to ensure people of all ages got the help and support they needed and deserved,” he said.

One of those he worked closely with during his time in Ashington was local doctor Donald Irvine, later to become Sir Donald and the first GP to hold office as the President of the General Medical Council. “I tried to build up a strong networking system with people like Dr Irvine and so good was our relationship that we often agreed to differ which I took as quite a compliment from such an eminent person as himself,” he said.

The logical career progression for Andrew would eventually see him move on to the training side of social work where he was keen to give young recruits

the benefit of his experience and wisdom. At first he worked in Gosforth but by 1984 had transferred to County Hall and at the same time moved with his family including son Richard and daughter Alison to Morpeth.

Active at work in the trade union movement where he became the NALGO branch secretary at work, Andrew also led a busy social life including being a member of Morpeth Pantomime Society where he was both its secretary and responsible for lights and sound behind the scenes. It was through the society that Andrew met his second wife Joan and later this autumn the couple will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary.

However, it wasn’t until ill health forced an early retirement in 1997 that Andrew began to be active in the political life of Morpeth. Through helping his friend David Parker to be elected as a local councillor Andrew first successfully stood for election to the Kirkhill Ward of the former Castle Morpeth Borough Council in 2001 and then for Morpeth Town Council in 2003.

Later he would be elected as a County Councillor in 2008 for the same ward of the new unitary Northumberland council formed by the amalgamation of the county and the six district authorities of Alnwick, Berwick upon Tweed, Blyth Valley, Castle Morpeth, Tynedale and Wansbeck.

With the Liberal Democrats able to form the council’s first administration after their successes at the Ballot Box, Andrew Tebbutt took on the duties of Executive Member

for Corporate Resources in the new Northumberland-wide council with one of the prime responsibilities of his new role being over-seeing the setting and delivery of the authority’s multi-million pound budget.

It was, he says, a considerable challenge which he approached with his own long-held principles of honesty, ‘telling it as I see it’, his dislike of injustice in whatever form that takes and his determination to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and equally no matter what the circumstances.

Away from the busy world of politics – although in many ways associated with it – one of Andrew Tebbutt’s most enduring aspects of his life in Morpeth, will always be the significant part he played in the way the town has honoured the memory of suffragette Emily Wilding Davison over the last decade.

Andrew first became involved with the Emily story through the efforts of Jim Rudd to recall her contribution to life in Britain and her determination to win women the right to vote, something denied to them through Victorian and Edwardian times. In 2006 he took over the chairmanship of a working group that would not only ensure Emily’s grave in St Mary’s Churchyard was restored as a fitting and proper monument to her, but would ultimately take the lead in organising what became not only a local but national and even international movement to mark the 100th anniversary of her death in 1913.

As everyone knows Emily

Honour to be Mayor of his ‘home’ townIan Leech meets new Morpeth’s new Mayor for the latest in Inside Morpeth’s series of ‘Big Interviews’ with local people.

inside Morpeth 23

Wilding Davison died in hospital shortly after she was struck by King George V’s horse Anmer during the running of the Epsom Derby. “As a group we were determined to ensure that the true story of what happened that day was told and not the sensationalised version of her throwing herself to death in front of the horse pedalled by the establishment and press at the time,” said Andrew.

During his work with the group Andrew became firm friends with Emily’s ancestor Geoffrey Davison who travelled over from his home in Australia to take a leading role in Morpeth events marking the 100th anniversary. Andrew also led a Morpeth delegation to the Epsom Racecourse to see a plaque unveiled by another of Emily’s relatives Lauren Caisley at the exact spot at Tattenham Corner where the incident took place.

“That was a special moment because it was Epsom recognising Emily in a way it had not done before,” said Andrew.

“I am immensely proud of what we did as a group to right a wrong that had been perpetuated for 100 years,” said Andrew. “But while I am proud to have led the group I must also mention that amazing contributions made to the Emily story by Penni Blythe and Maureen Howes, Greater Morpeth Development Trust, the

County and Town councils and many others.”

While Emily may be a stand-out moment Andrew Tebbutt is equally proud of what Morpeth has done to honour the memory of the great sea lord Admiral Lord Collingwood who for many years kept a home in the town; the creation of a garden at the Chelsea Flower Show in tribute to William Turner; and, of course, ten years of success in the Northumbria and Britain in Bloom competitions.

“Now right at the start of my mayoral year of office we have welcomed back ‘home’ Morpeth Town Football Club after that unbelievable triumph in the FA Vase at Wembley,” said Andrew. “Once again Morpeth has been truly put on the national map!

“Morpeth is now well and truly ‘home’ to me and my family and I can scarcely find words to say how humble and honoured I am to have been chosen to be the town’s first citizen – just like my wife Joan was three years ago.” Andrew is clearly proud as any Grandad to make sure I mention grand-daughters Sophie (4) and toddlers Isla and Clara in our story.

“In my humble opinion Morpeth is very much a town on the up and heading in the right direction and I was recently delighted to eaves-drop on a conversation just around the corner from the Town Hall when two men who were clearly strangers to the town, were discussing what an attractive and special place it is to visit.

“So for Joan and I to have both been chosen as mayor is an honour we will treasure as a couple for the rest of our lives.”

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Councillor Tebbutt (left) pictured at the grave of Emily Davison with her relatives Geoffrey Davison and Lauren Caisley

24 inside Morpeth

OF0382k Priority_Guru_A1_Posters.indd 2 14/06/2016 16:42

After what has been a thoroughly cold and miserable spring, it’ll be all systems go during June and July. Even in North-East England, it is usually safe to say that by the end of May there is little risk of frost.

June might be a variable month, with chilly nights and rain, but the long days and moisture ensure that the growing season is with us.

We have had the most fantastic displays of tulips around Morpeth this spring with the Rotary Garden being one of the highlights.

However it is time to prepare for the new season and members of the Heighley Gate team will be readying the beds and planters to ensure the town is ablaze with colour this summer…highly appropriate as we commemorate the 800th anniversary of King John burning down the town.

Here are a few jobs to consider in your own gardens over the next few weeks…

Summer colour Summer bedding is an ideal way of providing a quick fix. If you have not planted out pots and containers yet, there is still plenty of time to ensure a good show.

Argyranthemums, petunia and most silver-leaved tender perennials like a bright position

and will flower profusely over a long period in a sunny spot. Fuchsias, impatiens and even begonias can cope with a little shade, but keep them in a warm place until they are well established before planting them.

Cut back the perennials Many of the early-flowering perennials such as Papaver orientale, brunnera, tellima and the May-flowering Geranium sylvaticum and G phaeum will have already flowered and may well be leaving a hole.

Cutting them back hard to the base as soon as the flowers are over will provide a fresh crop of foliage and in some cases a second round of flowers later in the summer when things lose that fresh green that is so plentiful now.

If it is dry, water thoroughly immediately afterwards, and in a fortnight new growth will cover bare ground.

Grow your own strawberries To help ripen strawberries and keep the fruit from getting splashed by mud, it is traditional to bed them down with straw.

A bundle of fleece, placed under the fruit, will also work if straw is hard to come by.

Wet weather, so often associated with Wimbledon and the strawberry season, is bad news for the fruit, so if you have a cloche or two to hand, cover them to prevent grey mould getting a hold.

Tie up the toms Young tomatoes should be planted outside if they haven’t been already. Pinch out side shoots and tie in loosely to canes.

You will not need to start feeding until the first truss is set.

In a greenhouse this should already have happened, so feed with a product high in potash, such as Tomorite, to encourage fruit formation and ripening.

Have a bean feast Sow runner beans and climbing French beans now that the soil has warmed.

It might feel late when many other vegetables are already cropping, but they get off to a better start if the soil is warm and the night temperatures are more consistent.

The same goes for courgettes, marrows and sweetcorn, but you will need to act promptly now to make the most of a British summer.

And finally ... Remember that ‘one year’s seed is seven years’ weed’ as my father constantly reminds me! Little and often is the way to keep on top of things – exercise the hoe regularly when the soil surface is dry to keep rampant weeds at bay.

Is your garden all set for summer?

HEIGHLEYGATE GARDEN CENTRE – NIGEL LAWTON

Nigel Lawton – Heighleygate Garden Centre’s Horticultural Manager, has plenty of sound advice for gardeners in his new Inside Morpeth column

Top tips from Nigel Lawton of Heighley Gate

inside Morpeth 25

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26 inside Morpeth

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Morpeth has never lived through anything quite like the last few weeks.

Since the footballers of Morpeth Town reached the final of the FA Vase competition the whole town has been buzzing with excitement and expectation which bubbled over with that amazing victory by four goals to one over the cup favourites from Hereford Town.

...return for Wembley winners

Heroes’By Ian Leech

inside Morpeth 27

More than 4,000 of us travelled down to Wembley to share the greatest game in the club’s history – a moment those of us privileged enough to be there will remember for a long, long time. Back in Morpeth it seemed the whole town was turning the club’s shirt colours of black and amber in time to give the players and officials a tumultuous welcome home with that unforgettable open-top bus lap of honour on Fair Day.

Thousands of people from babes in arms to Granddads and Grandmas thronged the streets from the railway station where the bus set off at the rear of the Fair Day parade of vintage vehicles, right down into Castle Square and on into Bridge Street before pulling up in the Market Place. Looking down from the Fair Day entertainment stage it was just a sea of happy, smiling, cheering faces as our photos show.

An emotional club chairman and stalwart of nearly 50 years Ken Beattie said he had never seen anything like it in his life and likened the reception to lifting the cup at Wembley. “It’s all been an amazing, unreal, wonderful experience which we don’t want to stop,” he said.

He praised and thanked the support given to the club by so many people in the town;

local businesses who decked out their show windows in club colours; Morpeth Town Team which organised the open-top bus parade as well as arranging stalls in the Market Place where the club could sell its souvenir shirts, scarves and hats; and Morpeth Town Council for welcoming players and officials to a civic reception in the Town Hall hosted by Mayor Andrew Tebbutt.

“The way everyone has got behind us has been incredible and we have genuinely appreciated the support we have been given from so many quarters. It spurred us on to come back from Wembley with the cup!” said Ken.

There was a special moment on the stage and at the Town Hall reception when Ken

paid heartfelt tribute to lifelong fan Donny Carmen who died just a few weeks before the Wembley match. “From the age of 15 he gave his life to Morpeth Town and every spare moment he had was spent at the club,” said Ken who presented Donny’s wife Barbara and daughter Susan Layton with a signed Morpeth Town shirt. “Donny would have been over the moon to see us win at Wembley.”

Another Morpeth Town veteran 90 year old Ted Walton also proudly rode on the top deck of the bus as it travelled into Morpeth – I suspect with tears in his eyes to see the reception for his beloved team.

But back to Wembley. My wife Susan and I travelled down to London for the weekend and joined the Saturday afternoon eve-of-the-match get-together at the Morpeth Arms on the banks of the Thames.

There we chatted with Joe Garcia and his pal Eric Abrev, two of Ken Beattie’s friends from Portugal.

Strangely I also bumped into them at half-time and again at full-time in the Bobby Moore suite at Wembley.

I also enjoyed a re-union with Morpeth-born Nicola Gray who had travelled over from her home of 20 years in Barbados for the match. Again co-incidentally we had known each other as colleagues when we worked in the PR departments of Northumberland County and Wansbeck District councils. She decided

“It’s all been an amazing, unreal,

wonderful experience which we don’t want

to stop,” Ken Beattie

Sean Taylor celebrates in front of the Morpeth fans after scoring the third goal

Club chairman Ken Beattie with long-time fan Ted Walton

28 inside Morpeth

Veteran defender Chris Swailes scores the equalising goal

inside Morpeth 29

30 inside Morpeth

to travel ‘home’ for the match after listening to a live semi-final commentary against Bowers & Pitsea live on her laptop thousands of miles from Craik Park.

“Straight away I knew I just had to travel over for the final to see Morpeth history in the making,” she said.

At Wembley I met up with my friend Abdul Muhit owner of Morpeth Tandoori and a great supporter of the club, resplendent in his replica shirt, and sat watching the match alongside Dave Pollard from Morpeth Heating & Plumbing and Bill and Liz Durning from the Riverside Lodge. After the match I met Bev and Toby Raimes happy but facing a long drive home to Stannington with sons Max (8), Freddie (7) and Ollie (3).

What of the match itself? A goal down against a lively Hereford team in less than two minutes, Morpeth were on the back foot until the ‘Bionic Man’ Chris Swales – he has a six-inch steel screw in his foot as well as having had keyhole heart surgery - bundled the ball over the line for an equaliser 10 minutes before half-time. Second half goals from Luke Carr, Sean Taylor and Shaun Bell then sealed Morpeth’s historic victory.

For the record book purists at 45 years of age Chris, twice a Vase winner in the past with Bridlington Town and Dunston, became the oldest finalist and goalscorer in Wembley’s history. Captain Keith Graydon who lifted the trophy with club captain Chris Jewells, also knew what it was like to be a previous Vase winner having scored the winning goal for

Spennymoor three years ago,

For the team it was a dream come true. “Going up to receive the cup and our medals in front of our families, is something we will remember for the rest of our lives,” local lad and goalkeeper Karl Dryden told me. “On the day our fans were fantastic. In the second-half I was keeping goal in front of 20,000 Hereford supporters but all I could hear was our own fans singing and cheering us on.

“Stepping out at Wembley first in our suits and then our warm-up gear was unreal but then going out again for the match with the stands filled up was something else. Now we want to go back again because we would know what to expect the next time and would be able to take everything in even more.”

The last word must go to Ken Beattie who has given so much to Morpeth Town as a player, committee member and chairman. “What we have achieved is still sinking in,” he said. “For a club like ours to get to Wembley is a dream come true but to lift the cup….well what can I say!

“As Karl says we want to go back and do it all again especially for our supporters who come and watch us week-in and week-out. Next season we have to build on what we have achieved, starting with winning the Northern League and we hope many of the people who have turned out to welcome us home with the cup start coming to our home games. Then wouldn’t it be wonderful to go back to Wembley again?” Wouldn’t it just Ken! The whole of Morpeth certainly hopes so.

The team travelled to and from Wembley in a luxury coach sponsored by Story Homes who will be launching their first-ever Signature range of 39 executive family homes in Morpeth in September. The company’s Chief

Executive Steve Errington said: “We are committed to supporting the communities around our developments so to kick-off supporting Morpeth

Town has been brilliant.”

The Raimes family outside Wembley

Nicola Gray who travelled from Barbados to be at the match

inside Morpeth 31

Morpeth Town Council, Morpeth Town Hall, Market Place, Morpeth NE61 1LZ Call 01670 514314 email dee.smith@morpeth-tc.gov.uk or mayor@morpeth-tc.gov.uk or visit www.morpeth-tc.gov.uk

The latest News from Morpeth Town Council

TOWN CRYER!

I was honoured and privileged to be elected Mayor of Morpeth and I will do my very best to serve the town and its residents to the best of my ability.

I follow in a line of excellent Mayors with Councillor Alison Byard being up there with the best of them. Alison has brought great credit and charm to the role, and is a very popular figure around Morpeth. Congratulations to her and I have thoroughly enjoyed being her Deputy. All recent Mayors have tried hard to make the mayoralty relevant to the 21st century and the demands of modern living, and I think have succeeded.

In my 32 years of living here I have seen Morpeth undergo significant change, mostly good, but not always so. I felt a particular sadness the other day walking past an empty Smail’s shop - the end of an era if ever there was one. But perhaps its loss typifies the challenge of the old versus the new.

Can Morpeth retain its ancient market town values and heritage whilst encompassing a new order, which includes massive house building? What do we all have to do to make the old and the new come together into something we value? We have made a magnificent start, with overwhelming support for the Morpeth Neighbourhood Plan, which offers structure and purpose to managing development.

So I see one of the major challenges as keeping Morpeth moving in the right direction, enhancing its economic outlook, promoting local businesses and creating jobs. But the quality of life is also important, and here I draw on my arts and cultural experiences, seeing leisure activity as a vital

part of community life. The need for some form of theatre, exhibition centre, heritage or museum location in the town is inescapable, but someone has to find the seed money to get it moving. Why has Morpeth never found that entrepreneur who would invest in cultural facilities? I tried hard enough when Secretary of Morpeth District Arts Trust, as have others before and since. The latest Heritage Group development plan deserves to succeed.

2016 will see Northumberland County Council progress the move of its headquarters away from Morpeth to Ashington. Not for me in this column to comment about the justification of such a move other than to say that it is vital there is a sustainable plan for the current County Hall site once vacated. Morpeth Town Council is working hard through the Morpeth Forum to find ways of sustaining the town as the County Council undertakes a fundamental property review. Morpeth Library will move to its temporary home in Manchester Street; they want to relocate the Leisure Centre; The Chantry will change.

What a fantastic result for Morpeth Town AFC at Wembley. Congratulations to all involved and I enjoyed meeting the team and officials

in the Mayor’s Parlour on Fair Day. On a more sombre note Morpeth Town Council will join church leaders to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of The Somme on Friday 1st July.

I have asked Rev Fiona Sample to be my Chaplain for the year. I have worked closely with Fiona for some years in my capacity as Chair of the Emily Inspires! Working Group and I have a great deal of respect for her wisdom and thoughtfulness. My chosen charity is Contact, the local group supporting people with mental health challenges. Mental Health services, or the lack of them, frequently make the headlines for all the wrong reasons, so I was delighted to join lots of users and volunteers at Contact’s 30th Anniversary when the Duchess of Northumberland cut the Anniversary cake. I know Contact struggles for funds, and as the only support service of its kind in South East Northumberland, it supports and helps a lot of people, so I hope I can raise lots of money in the next 12 months.

Reverend Councillor Ron Forster is my Deputy Mayor and he shares my support for Contact. Ron, Alison and I are also trustees of the Mary Hollon Trust, probably Morpeth’s oldest charity.

I haven’t forgotten I am also a Northumberland County Councillor, and a Governor at Abbeyfields First School and I remain totally committed to my responsibilities in those roles too. They always say ‘give a busy person the job, and they get it done.’ If that is to be my motto for the coming year, so be it. I look forward to meeting many of you during this coming year.

Andrew Tebbutt Mayor of Morpeth

Challenges that lie ahead for Morpeth

MORPETH TOWN COUNCIL - TOWN CRYER!

32 inside Morpeth

MORPETH TOWN COUNCIL - TOWN CRYER!

The Award Winners are:

Townsperson of Morpeth Katie Harrison

Katie is a 16 year old Sergeant in the RAF Cadets, which she joined in 2012 and is a ‘beacon of expertise’ now training younger cadets in first aid and academic training in aviation. She also volunteers at the Pegasus Riding Centre which she started doing in 2013 for the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award.

In 2014 Katie started volunteering at the Cancer Research shop for the Silver Duke of Edinburgh award. She has also continued to volunteer for both while volunteering to assist in the school art department and working for a Gold Duke of Edinburgh award.

Katie has been nominated by the squadron for the Lord Lieutenant’s cadet for 2017 (best cadet in Northumberland).

Young Townsperson of Morpeth Katie Cook

Katie is 15 years old and profoundly deaf. She wears a hearing aid and has a cochlear implant. She attends KEVI and with help and support (does not sign and communicates orally), she is achieving well.

She loves swimming and trains with Morpeth ASC Squad as well as teaching the younger members of the club to improve their swimming techniques. In 2011 she received the swimmer of the year award and last year she was nominated for the NPFA Silver Salver Sportability award, which she won.

Katie has also represented the school in netball and plays the steel pans, completed her Duke of Edinbrough Bronze last year and is now doing Silver as a member of the Explorer Scouts.

Katie is one of 38 pupils to be accepted to take part in a World challenge next year to Costa Rica and Nicaragua. She has never been abroad and is looking forward to meeting the locals and trying out her Spanish. Katie loves being deaf and does not allow it to restrict her activities in any way.

Mayor’s Award Laura Coel

Laura is a successful singer. In October 2015 Laura allowed The Journal to publish

her story of child abuse. She has faced her abuser through the Restorative Justice Council Scheme and this was the first time this had happened through this scheme.

Laura waived her anonymity to help others take similar steps. To face someone you trusted, and indeed, loved, with their abuse and to reveal the dreadful consequences of bulimia, anorexia, self-harming and attempted suicide is an action that requires great bravery but which serves as an inspiration and encouragement to other victims. Laura has come through all that and is a strong person, in a good relationship with her two young children. Achievement Award Mike Bateman

Mike has been the Secretary of the Morpeth Harriers since 1974, practically a full time job, dealing with 400 members of all ages and a turnover of £20k in subscriptions.

Mike organises teams and handles entry forms for invitation races and championships. He is a great organiser and coach and was himself a good runner to international level.

Morpeth Harriers has an excellent reputation as a club and is very well known, bringing sporting recognition to the town. Mike has made a great contribution to the club over many years. Sport Award Ken Beattie & Morpeth Town AFC

Morpeth Town AFC was established in 1894.

In the 2014-14 season, Morpeth Town FC

won through to the fifth round of the FA vase which was their most successful run in the competition to that date. In the current (2015-16) season, they reached the final at Wembley beating Hereford by four goals to one.

This team has raised the profile of the town nationally meriting the Sports Award. Leisure and Culture Award Simon Foley

Simon has served Morpeth for many years in various capacities. He is generally quiet but very actively involved without any great acknowledgement and never seeks recognition or acclaim.

Simon is the Chairman of Hunter Memorial Homes, the Music Society and a talking newspaper. For a long period, he was involved in the running of the Citizens Advice Bureau and served as a caseworker.

He has previously been the president of the Rotary Club of Morpeth and is still an ongoing active member. Simon is also an energetic committee member of the Mid Northumberland U3A and a leader of various activities.

Business Award Layla Welsh, French Grey Tales

Layla Welsh set up her upcycling, crafts and vintage business in Bedlington before relocating to Chantry Place in Morpeth in 2012. The shop provides a hub for crafting workshops and has built up a supportive network of customers and enthusiasts. It comprises of four paid staff, three workshop tutors and at least two volunteers.

The business is now attracting visitors to Morpeth and with the branding of the shops in Chantry Place and the Chantry itself as the Chantry Creative Quarter, is an example of how Layla is using her marketing expertise to promote Morpeth not just her own business.

In 2015, Layla accepted the role of Ambassador for the Northumberland Be Digital Women and Broadband Challenge, part of a national programme of support for women in business and returning to work, funded by Government Equalities Office and run by the County Council.

(Continued on the next page).

Morpeth’s Civic Award winnersThe 2016 Morpeth Civic Awards were presented at The Annual Assembly on Wednesday 11th May in Morpeth Town Hall. The Awards are sponsored by Morpeth Town Council, The Mayor of Morpeth, Rutherfords & Co Ltd, Schweppes Abbey Well, Sanderson Arcade, Heighley Gate Garden Centre and Morpeth Lions.

The Civic Award winners line up for the camera

inside Morpeth 33

MORPETH TOWN COUNCIL - TOWN CRYER!

The many men who lost their lives in one of the bloodiest battles in World War I will be remembered in a church service on Morpeth a century after the conflict on the Western Front took place.

Battle of Somme church remembrance service

An open invitation to meet Morpeth’s new Mayor Councillor Andrew Tebbutt for a chat, a cup of tea and a slice of cake is being extended to anyone from the town.Everyone is welcome to drop into the Town Hall between 2pm and 4pm for the Mayor’s ‘At Home’ event on Friday July 22nd.

Meet the Mayor

A service of remembrance is being jointly organised by Morpeth Town Council and the Rev. Simon White, Rector of Morpeth, to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Somme on July 1st 1916.

More than 19,000 Allied troops along with many men from the German army lost their lives that day. Altogether the British Army reported more than 57,000 casualties making it the worst day in its history.

Sixteen men from Morpeth were among those who died that day .

Mayor Andrew Tebbutt said: “It will be an ecumenical service and I sincerely hope as many people as possible will be able to attend.”

The service will take place in St James’ Church in Copper Chare beginning at 6pm.

The Morpeth service will be one of many that day with two of the most poignant taking place at The Thiepval and Lochnagar Crater memorials.

Mayor Andrew Tebbutt, his deputy Councillor Ron Forster and their wives

Community Award Stobhill Community Link

Stobhill Community Link was set up in 2008 to provide opportunities for disadvantaged people. It is based on Shields Road in Morpeth and works closely with residents from the local area to create a stronger sense of community spirit and improved physical and economic conditions. It also does a fantastic job with elderly, disabled and disadvantaged people.

The Community Link runs many initiatives such as the free use of computers and staff to help with job searches, creating and updating CVs, printing, copying and laminating. There are volunteering opportunities for residents and its Bedlington Community Allotment works with schools, nursing homes and day centres. Morpeth Community Allotment is due to open in the near future.

Civic Award’s continued

The full Morpeth Town Council

34 inside Morpeth

MORPETH TOWN COUNCILLORSMorpeth North Ward:DR NIC BEST T. 01670 517915 M. 07878 896 292 E. nic.best@ymail.comLES CASSIE T. 01670 516424 M. 07739 259 254 E. leshcassie@aol.comDAVID CLARK T. 01670 503033 M. 07971 451 906 E. davideunsonclark@hotmail.comRON FORSTER T. 01670 517431 M. 07840 871 882 E. ron@the4stars.f9.co.ukBOB ROBERTSON T. 01670 516399 M. 07885 297 556 E. bobrobertson@fsmail.net

Morpeth Kirkhill Ward:KEN BROWN T. 01670 515760 M. 07935 214 569 E. ken.brown1@outlook.comDAVID PARKER T. 01670 516218 E. davidparker12@sky.com

ADRIAN SLASSOR T. 01670 517678 M. 07795 592 224 E. adrian@slassor20.freeserve.co.ukANDREW TEBBUTT T. 01670 511631 M. 07767 338 509 E. Andrew.Tebbutt@northumberland.gov.ukJOAN TEBBUTT T. 01670 511631 E. joan.c.tebbutt@gmail.com

Morpeth Stobhill Ward:ALISON BYARD T. 01670 515391 M. 07963 306 549 E. alisonbyard65@gmail.comMARK HORTON T. 01670 513758 M. 07803 078 438 E. mhcouncil2000@gmail.comSTUART LISHMAN M. 07840 800 805 E. stuart.lishman@gmail.comDAVE POPE T. 01670 515806 M. 07714 143 640 E. dpope@morpethnet.co.ukJOHNNY WEARMOUTH M: 07956 429942 E: johnny4morpeth.stobhill@gmail.com

Council Meeting Timetable - See noticeboards and website.

Meeting Timetable for the period April to May 2016. All meetings will be held in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall. Committee meetings and Full Council meetings commence at 6.30pm unless otherwise stated on the posters and website.

Full Council 27th July

Planning & Transport Committee 6th July 20th July 10th August

Finance & General Purposes Committee 13th July

Property and Asset Management Committee 29th June 3rd August

Home addresses are available from the Town Council Offices or website

MORPETH TOWN COUNCIL - TOWN CRYER!

Morpeth Town Council congratulated Morpeth Town AFC on winning the FA Vase at Wembley on Sunday 22nd May 2016. To mark the achievement a Civic Event was held in the Town Hall on Sunday 12th June 2016 for the team following their open top bus tour through the town.

Mayor Andrew Tebbutt on the Fair Day stage with the victorious Morpeth Town players

inside Morpeth 35

Despite many being aware of the possibility of being hit by a serious illness, few of us have taken action to prepare for the consequences.

Many of us worry about being diagnosed with a serious health issue. Despite this, far too few of us do anything to help prevent it. For example, a recent study showed that eight million British adults fail to take simple lifestyle precautions to reduce the risk of developing cancer. 1

Alongside the failure to adopt preventative measures like taking regular exercise, many of us fail to insure ourselves against the financial impact of serious illness. Just eight per cent of households have income protection and eleven per cent have critical illness cover. 2

The potential for physical and financial frailty is underlined by the fact that, each year, close to one million working people unexpectedly have to give up work because of injury or illness. 3

In an effort to highlight the need for people to plan financially for the eventuality that they become too ill or injured to work, the 7 Families campaign has teamed up with Disability Rights UK. They are helping seven individuals who have been diagnosed with a serious illness and have no realistic financial

safety net. A tax-free income for one year is offered to the person who has been forced out of work.

One of the people who was chosen is Graeme Snell. Until the summer of 2014 Graeme was fit and healthy working full-time as an Advanced Health and Wellbeing Practitioner.

In July of that year he had a double stroke and, although he hasn’t worked since, he has been described by medical staff as a “walking miracle”.

“There are some ongoing symptoms but overall I’m keen to return to work as soon as possible,” Graeme told the charity last year. “The money from the project will help with day-to-day life. I would like to return to work in some capacity, which is why the rehabilitation and support also provided by the project could be so important.”

Individuals like Graeme, who did not have sufficient savings or insurance to replace the lost income, can find themselves in serious financial difficulties such as mortgage arrears, rent and other credit repayments.

But research suggests that two fifths of consumers have never even thought about what they would do if forced to stop working by a long-term illness or injury. 4

Income protection can replace lost income when an individual is forced to stop work due to serious illness or injury. Some employers will provide a level of cover as part of their employees’ benefits packages, but there is no such provision for the self-employed, making this group particularly vulnerable. Having income protection enables households to maintain income levels at, or close to, previous earned income if the main earner has to stop work due to ill health or disability.

Stories like Graeme’s are a reminder of the value of such protection; and while it is thankfully true that not everyone will experience a serious illness or injury that prevents them working for a significant period, none of us know if it will happen to us, or to someone in our family.

For more information on the 7 Families campaign, please visit www.7families.co.uk. Links from this page exist for information only and we accept no responsibility or liability for the information contained on any such sites. The existence of a link to a website does not imply or express endorsement of its provider, products or services. Chris Straker can be contacted by calling 07782 382 190.

Could you cope financially if serious illness prevents you from working?

Financial planning and investment advisor Chris Straker says being prepared to cope financially in the event of serious illness could be money well spent.

CHRIS STRAKER - FINANCIAL PLANNING AND INVESTMENT ADVISOR

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1 www.aviva.co.uk, 21 January 2016. 2Family Finances Report, Aviva, August 2015. 3Welfare Reform for the 21st Century: The role of income protection insurance, Association of British Insurers, September 2014. 4ABI Quarterly Consumer Survey 2012 Q3, Association of British Insurers, October 2012.

36 inside Morpeth

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Acts as a credit broker and not a lender

A Northumberland car dealership is on the road to Wembley after reaching the final of a business awards.Blackshaws, which has recently opened up a new Mitsubishi dealership on the Coopies Lane Industrial Estate in Morpeth, is representing the North East region in the 7th annual Red Ribbon Awards, which celebrates family-owned firms across the UK.

And with such a prestigious competition, the final had to be held somewhere special – and they don’t get much bigger than Wembley Stadium.

William Blackshaw (pictured), a fourth generation Dealer Principal at Blackshaws said: “We are delighted to have been nominated for this award. We are proud of our heritage and play a vital part in helping our local economy prosper.

“As a family-run business, we know how important it is to treat your staff well and build up a loyal following. And as a local

company, we are always accountable to our customers. We hope to do the North East proud in the final.”

There has been a family-owned Blackshaws business in Alnwick, for almost a century. In recent years it has seen rapid growth and currently runs a Nissan and Suzuki dealership in Alnwick in addition to the recently opened site in Morpeth.

The Red Ribbon Awards seeks to recognise

the contribution of enterprising families to the UK economy. Blackshaws was nominated for the award by a customer, employee or friend of the business, with the final being held on July 15th.

Award judges take into account a company’s passion, integrity, customer service and longevity before being chosen to represent their region in the final. A previous winner of the award includes Michel Roux Junior.

Northumberland dealer to represent North East at Wembley Final

BLACKSHAWS - MITSUBUSHI, NISSAN, SUZUKI

40 inside Morpeth

10 Chantry Place, Morpeth, Northumberland NE61 1PJ

www.morpethtandoori.co.ukTel 01670 517180 or 01670 516144

Indian Take-away Est. 1983

choice of authentic and classic Indian cuisine freshly made to your order with our own Bengol Range – a house speciality.

Open Mon - Sat Noon to 2pm; 6pm to midnight. Sun 6pm to 11.30pm. Open all Bank Holidays except Christmas Day

A long-time Manchester United fan Abdul enjoyed a dream weekend when both United and Morpeth won at Wembley in cup finals... and he was there to see his ‘home’ town club’s greatest ever moment resplendent in his replica kit shirt.

Mind you it took a marathon effort to do that! After a busy and late-night Saturday evening shift at his popular Chantry Place take-away Abdul watched a re-run of United’s FA Cup victory over Crystal Palace before getting ready to go out again to catch the 6am flight to London... without any sleep! After the game it was back to the airport and the return flight to Newcastle.

“It was a very long day... but boy was it worth it,” Abdul told us at Inside Morpeth. “Seeing the lads win at Wembley was just a dream come true.” United fans will long remember 1999 when the team won an unprecedented treble climaxed by beating Bayern Munich with two injury time goals in the Champions League final.

Watching at home Abdul that night got so excited he leapt off the sofa only to smash a chandelier in his celebrations. “Seeing the fourth goal go in at Wembley was just like that moment... without the damage!” he laughed.

During the Wembley run Abdul showed his support for Morpeth Town by sponsoring a banner across the Courthouse building, and he was delighted like so many others to be there for the team’s triumphant open-top bus parade Fair Day. He is now selling Wembley win T-shirts for the club from Morpeth Tandoori.

But his ‘celebrations’ don’t stop there. Tongue-in-cheek after the Wembley win Abdul came up with the idea of a new dish at his take-away - a Bengol Ronaldo beef curry based on the Hereford Bull of the same name the club paraded around the Wembley pitch before the match.

And it is going down a storm with Morpeth fans ever-so-pleased to be able to continue rubbing salt in Hereford’s wounds... in the nicest possible way of course!

“Our ‘Ronaldo’ is proving so popular that we are going to make sure it stays on our menu,” said Abdul who plans to donate all the money from what was expected to be temporary sales during June to Morpeth Town Football Club! “It is our way of saying well done to the lads and encouraging them to make sure we go back to Wembley and do it all again next year. I can’t wait for that to happen.”

‘Howay the Lads’ says Abdul!One of the most fervent reporters of Morpeth Town FC during the club’s remarkable run to Wembley and subsequent triumph in the FA Vase Final over Hereford Town was Abdul Muhit who has owned the Morpeth Tandoori take-away for more than 30 years.

Abdul pictured at Wembley with his friend Stu Watts

Abdul Muhit is selling Wembley souvenirs at his Morpeth Tandoori take-way.

inside Morpeth 41

From sportiness to versatility you can be sure to find the perfect model to suit you. Plus our latest offers across the award winning BMW model range all include a generous deposit contribution too.

Call us or pop in and take a no-obligation test drive. You will always be most welcome.

FIND YOUR PERFECT MATCH.

Alloy Racing Ltd is a credit broker/intermediary that can introduce you to a limited number of lenders to provide funding for your vehicle. They may incentivise us for introducing you to them. Cars must be hired through BMW Contract Hire, subject to availability. Not available in conjunction with any other offer. Retail customers only. At the end of your agreement you must return the vehicle. Hiring examples based on a 36 month BMW Contract Hire agreement for the models shown, all with initial payments followed by 35 monthly rentals commencing in month 2 and a contract mileage of 24,000 miles. Excess mileage charges and vehicle condition charges may be payable. Terms and conditions apply. All finance is subject to status and available to over 18s in the UK only (excluding the Channel Islands). Guarantees and indemnities may be required. We can arrange finance and hiring facilities for you. Prices, offers and finance are correct at time of printing and are subject to change without notice. Vehicles must be registered by 30 June 2016. Test drive subject to applicant status and availability. Images shown for illustration purposes only. Advertised finance is provided by BMW Financial Services (BMWFS), RG27 9UF. Whilst we have close links with BMW FS and commonly introduce customers to BMW FS, we do not work exclusively with BMW FS. Alloy Racing Equipment Ltd, Loxley House, 2 Oakwood Court, Little Oak Drive, Annesley, Nottingham, NG15 0DR.

View our full range offers at Stratstone.com

Official fuel economy figures for the BMW Range: Urban 13.8-72.4mpg (20.5-3.9l/100km). Extra Urban 30.4-91.3mpg (9.3-3.1l/100km). Combined 21.1-470.8mpg (13.4-0.06l/100km). CO2 emissions 314-0g/km. Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions.

Stratstone is a trading style of Alloy Racing Ltd who is acting as a credit broker and not a lender.

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LAURA ANDERSON - HAIR & BEAUTY

‘ There’s never been anything like this in the hair industry until now!’The team at Laura Anderson hair and beauty is buzzing with excitement over OLAPLEX. The transformations we have achieved using this bond perfecter are truly unbelievable.

A lot of clients have been asking in the salon ‘what is OLAPLEX?’

A REVOLUTION IN A BOTTLE

OLAPLEX is like medicine for most of your hair problems, dehydration and damage. OLAPLEX is essentially a bond multiplier.

When your hair goes through chemical treatments of any kind, it gets extremely damaged, dry and hay-like. But when the OLAPLEX formula is added to your treatment, it prevents splitting by linking broken bonds in your hair. OLAPLEX bonds and seals the hair.

There has never been anything like this in the hair industry, until now.

THE DIFFERENCE OF OLAPLEX

Masks and conditioners form a temporary surface on the hair, it feels good but doesn’t last. OLAPLEX works from within and repairs the damage. OLAPLEX is not a conditioner. Conditioners are cosmetic whereas OLAPLEX works internally to cross link single sulfur hydrogen bonds to create disulfide bonds.

This wonder product works from inside out to condition and strengthen your hair whilst reconnecting any broken hair structure and existing damage to your hair bonds.

It is effectively a bond multiplier. OLAPLEX will benefit chemically coloured hair as well as dry and damaged hair from numerous other services including thermal (permanent straightening) and mechanical (blow drying, ironing, tonging).

OLAPLEX USAGE

OLAPLEX is a versatile product that can be used for salon use and at home. At the salon it can be used as a pre-treatment to restore hair’s elasticity and strength before or after a straightening/thermal treatments like ironing, blow drying or curling.

OLAPLEX can be added to perm, bleach/lightener colour, toner and gloss to give hair follicles increased protection against damage that may result from colouring or lightening treatments.

The immensely popular No3 Hair Perfector is a homecare treatment, to be applied in between services to maintain the strength and health of hair. This is not a conditioning treatment. The longer this is left on, the more effective it will be. It may be used more than once a week if necessary.

OLAPLEX is now available in Laura Anderson Hair & Beauty. For more information or to book an appointment please call 01670 516113.

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True taste of Turkey right here in MorpethTake time out to enjoy the authentic taste of Turkish cooking right here in Morpeth. Sample our speciality barbeque dishes, cooked over wood charcoal in a traditional way.

Vegetarian choices also available.

inside Morpeth 45

Wheelie supportive offer

Local motor dealers Dennis Common Cars of Longhorsley and Heighley Gate garden centre have joined forced to support the charity set up by his mother Jane in memory of 12 year old cancer victim Henry Dancer.

The company which has a range of its vehicles on display at Heighley Gate, is loaning Jane a car to use in the Henry Dancer Days charity’s work to support children and young people coping with primary bone cancer.

“I honestly couldn’t believe it when I was told that Dennis Common was prepared to consider sponsoring us with a car for the next two years,” said Jane. “Even better, we can fit in wheelchairs which is just what we need to give extra support to local families.”

Adrian Drake, Heighley Gate General Manager, said the centre is also proud to announce that it has adopted Henry Dancer Days as its Charity of the Year during which it will organise a full calendar of fund-raising events and activities.

NEWS IN BRIEF Tribute to JoMorpeth joined in a world-wide tribute to murdered MP Jo Cook on her 42nd birthday when the Emily Inspires! team organised a vigil appropriately outside Emily Davison House in Sanderson Arcade.

Speakers included the Mayor of Morpeth Andrew Tebbutt, County Civic Head Alan Sambrook, Wansbeck MP Ian Lavery, Laura Pidock and Penni Blythe. A minutes’ silence was immaculately observed, candles lit and white and purple flowers handed out.

Who met Ali?

The world was saddened at the recent passing of the ‘Greatest’ Muhammed Ali. But did you know that there is a Morpeth link to the boxing legend?The clue is in our photo. Who is the youthful looking young man who is now a well known Morpeth figure, meeting Ali when he visited Tyneside a good number of years ago! We reveal all below.

Answer: David Lodge Chief Executive of Greater Morpeth Development Trust

Penni Blythe and Ian Lavery speaking at the event

46 inside Morpeth inside Morpeth 47inside Morpeth 46

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An age-old tradition that could perhaps have its origins in the days of the Vikings is being kept alive by a group of enthusiastic ladies in Morpeth.

Legend has it that the invaders from across the North Sea probably made some form of coverings for the benches crew members sat upon to make their long journeys from their homeland into Britain a little more comfortable and bearable.

Fast-forward a few centuries and things had moved on to the point where those same skills were being used to make the home-made rugs and mats that had become a common sight in working-class homes rather than the carpets found in wealthier houses.

There were many regional variations and names for the craft but here in the North East it was known as proggy, clippy or hooky mat-making. (As the names suggest the differing techniques involve either ‘progging’ clippings through the hessian base or hooking them through from underneath.)

With times being tough financially making rugs and mats became a whole family experience with everyone from young children through to Grandma sitting around

the kitchen table recycling and cutting up old clothes and materials for the clippings to be woven initially into hessian sacks to make the basic floor coverings.

These days groups like the ladies of Woodhorn Matters who meet twice a week in Morpeth, are keeping the old mat-making tradition alive. The group has its origins in a project inspired by the Mid Northumberland Arts Group which in the early 1990s commissioned textile artist Ali Rhind to produce some wall hangings based on the mat-making techniques of old, to adorn the entrance to the new Wansbeck Hospital in Ashington.

Ali involved a number of communities across various venues in Northumberland including Woodhorn Colliery Museum, Alnwick, Blyth and Cramlington to make wall hangings with a host of people eagerly taking part – some complete beginners to the craft. From that project Woodhorn Matters became a formal group in 1993 initially meeting at the colliery.

The Matters group has now moved into a new ‘home’ at Morpeth Methodist Church in Howard Terrace, meeting on Wednesdays from 12.30pm until 4pm and Sundays from Noon through to 4pm.

Mats have also largely given way to decorative

wall hangings, cushions, seat covers, bags and even Christmas decorations.

Newcomers are always welcome to join the group for a membership fee of £30 (£15 for half year). For this they will be able to obtain frames, hessian and tools at competitive rates as well as being able to use the group’s books and equipment such as cutters, cutting board and light box, attend workshops and trips and importantly, be able to get help and inspiration from other more experienced members.

“Although we meet as a group, learning from and encouraging each other, nearly all the work we do is as individuals with occasional group projects,” said Karen Walker, the Matters’ chair. For instance, the group created wall hangings to mark the 100th anniversary of the death of suffragette Emily Wilding Davison, the opening of the William Turner garden in Morpeth’s Carlisle Park, and an exhibition of the Lindisfarne Gospels at Woodhorn Museum.

Anyone interested in joining Woodhorn Matters in Morpeth or learning more about the group’s activities can simply go along to either a Wednesday or Sunday session or log on to the www.woodhornmatters.com website for more information.

Keeping tradition alive’s what really

MATTERS!Jill Elphick (centre) and Meg Vinton watch on as Jan Oliver works on a proggy mat

“Is this going to be the Romeo and Juliet story of Morpeth?” asked Greater Morpeth Development Trust CEO David Lodge as we discussed my idea to write about the marriage of Juliana and Ranulph and its significance in the early years of the Norman Conquest.

Although I would have liked to say so I had to admit it wasn’t possible. We simply don’t have any evidence of romance or tragedy – we only have a few bare historical facts about either of them.

“Are you writing the story of Northumbrian women, their courage and bravery risking their lives every time they gave birth as well a suffering great indignities with forced marriages and the humiliation of widowhood?” asked my sister.

I was thinking about how I could bring to life the story of Juliana who came to Morpeth when she married the son of a Norman conqueror of England . We know little about her other than her name, but she really had existed, married and given birth, 900 years ago in the town in which I live.

Her marriage was arranged and the King had something to say about it. What about her husband Ranulph, the son of William

de Merlay, the first baron of Morpeth? He was a partner in the arrangement. For political reasons this father and King Henry 1 favoured an alliance between the families of the conquering Normans and the exiled earls of Northumberland, the de Merlays and Gospatrics, to help stabilise the borderlands between England and Scotland. The two young people were at the focus of this plan!

But no it could not be a Romeo and Juliet story – I had to think about what could realistically be told. Of course, we can study family history and learn more. Also, in the days of yore when long winters nights encouraged story telling around the fire, people’s memories would have extended further back in time.

Thus, I knew that Juliana would hold in her head the adventures of her grandfather who fought the Norman conquerors but ultimately lost the struggle, and her father and mother who grew up in exile in Scotland.

She would have had her own story of her childhood and coming to Morpeth in just the same way Ranulph would have heard time and time again from his father about how he left the family home in Normandy to take part

in the ferocious conquest of England.

Through these young people who did not even speak the same language, I decided to investigate their stories and to see what I could find out about Morpeth’s earliest history. I started with their grandparents and took it to the time of their marriage over the course of three generations.

But it is also a story about the countryside. We know virtually nothing about Morpeth in the days before and just after the Norman conquest of the north. Who was in charge? Who were the people who worked the land? Was there even a village here? Juliana’s grandfather lost the earldom of Morpeth but was there a connection between his loss and her arrival in Morpeth?

An historical story needs to be told in order and that means dates. In the case of long-distant and people of minor national importance like Juliana and Ranulph there are very few. So I spent many hours working on possibilities such as, for example, the dates when the young couple married and when their children were born.

Bearing in mind all the thoughts I had, I have placed the likely date of their marriage

A tale of Morpeth’s Romeo and Juliet?Prolific local author Bridget Gubbins is about to publish the latest in her series of books chronicling yet another fascinating aspect of life in Morpeth in days gone by. ‘Juliana and Ranulph’ tells another comprehensively researched story – this time of the marriage of a young couple and their de Merlay and Gospatric families in the turbulent times in Morpeth more than 900 years ago. Bridget exclusively tells Inside Morpeth readers the story behind the book.

Author Bridget Gubbins (left) and illustrator Sue Dibben

48 inside Morpeth

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as around 1113. But what in fact, do we know for sure? Juliana is mentioned in three sources – her marriage charter; as a founder and donor to Newminster Abbey; and in her burial place with her husband and son Osbert at the Abbey.

As for Ranulph’s family – tracking down information about his father William de Merlay was a story in itself. I learned a lot about him from the way his life was linked to important historical characters such as Bishop Geoffrey of Countenance (one of William the Conqueror’s most important men) and Robert de Merlay who became earl of Northumberland.

In the course of this, a fascinating connection with a little town called Le Merlerault in Normandy , came to light, the place of origin of Ranulph’s grandfather Roger du Merle. (Bridget visited the town as part of her research for her book).

Looking back – yes I would have liked to tell the story and bravery of a Northumbrian woman called Juliana but in the end I had to settle for what she surely knew and held in her mind as well as what she would have told her children. In the same way, Ranulph too would have heard his father’s version of the conquest of England.

Starting with Juliana’s grandfather Gospatric I and using evidence from the chroniclers of his battles, changes of loyalty, victories and ultimate defeat I gleaned he crossed and re-crossed the north of England from his base in Bamburgh to his ultimate exile in Dunbar.

Ranulph’s story takes us back to the preparations

for the conquest of England with his grandfather Roger’s departure from the green fields of Normandy when his father William was little more than a boy. As the story progressed we move away from the battlefields to the more homely elements focussed on Morpeth when William de Merlay and Juliana’s father in Dunbar were looking for a suitable marriage for their offspring. Their ambitions brought Juliana to Morpeth, not as a helpless girl but one who played a significant role in the story.

Through my story we follow dramatic events and meet striking characters – Juliana’s grandfather who battled alongside the Danes against the Norman invaders; Geoffrey of Coutances, the warrier bishop; Ranulph’s father William who followed the bishop; the unpleasant Robert de Merlay and the unfortunate Lady Matilda who married him.

They are exciting stories and little told. Through them we can learn how the Normans arrived in Morpeth and gradually controlled Northumberland; find out about the first documented mentions of Morpeth and the castle by the River Wansbeck; and explore the stories behind the marriage of Juliana who came as a young bride to Ranulph, the son of a conqueror and the future baron of Morpeth.

‘Juliana and Ranulph’ is being published by Greater Morpeth Development Trust and will be launched at its annual general meeting on July 14th The beautiful front cover illustration is the work of Sue Dibben. The book will shortly be available from local bookshops at a cost of £10.99

inside Morpeth 49

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More in... market

MorpethTownCouncil

#morpethmarketswww.moreinmorpeth.co.uk @moreinmorpeth /moreinmorpeth

The Morpeth Market is located in the Market Place in the heart of Morpeth. For more information on Morpeth Markets please contact Markets Manager Neil Brown at neil.brown@northumberland.gov.uk or 07713115204

Great

FREE events:

Six weeks Summer funOFat Morpeth Markets every Wednesday from July 27th to August 31st!

Come and join us over the kids holidays...

live music,

face painting, animals

and much more.

We have 21 stalls

every week with

fresh produce.

The Six Weeks Summer of Fun is due to make a popular return for the third year running at the Morpeth Market this summer!

The events run every Wednesday during the weekly Morpeth Market and are free for youngsters to attend.

To kick start the madness are Animal Antics who will be on the Market Place from 12pm till 2pm on Wednesday 27th July with a whole host of animals from cuddly bunnies through to scary snakes!

Don’t worry if you can’t make the 27th, there will be plenty more free activities happening until August 31st, including more animals, live music and face painting for the children to enjoy while the adults spend some time

shopping on the 21 stalls at the Market Place.

Neil Brown, County Wide Markets Manager said: “It’s great having something on the Market Place each week, it creates a terrific atmosphere and it’s something free for the kids to do when they are off school.

“It also gets the younger children out to see markets who could potentially be our next generation of Morpeth Market traders!”

You may have also noticed the new ‘We Love Morpeth Market’ tote bags that have been distributed across the town lately.

Bags are still available from Sanderson Arcade, The Morpeth Tourist Information Centre and the Morpeth Market Place every Wednesday and first Saturday of the month for only £1!

Also not forgetting a date for your diary - the fourth annual Morpeth Food and Drink Festival is on October 1st which is proving to be bigger and better than ever will also be incorporating the monthly Farmers’ Market, making it an extra special event!

Morpeth Market is managed by Northumberland County Council and Sanderson Arcade, working in partnership with Morpeth Town Council, Morpeth Chamber of Trade and other local organisations through the Morpeth market working group.

The Wednesday Market runs from 9am to 3pm and the Farmers’ Market runs from 9am to 3pm on Morpeth Marketplace every first Saturday of the Month.

Fun-packed summerBy Zoe Christopher

50 inside Morpeth inside Morpeth 51

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When you are a child, nothing beats the excitement of racing home after school, grabbing your bike and heading off with your friends to explore the outdoors. Or at least that used to be the case.

Nowadays, the fear culture permeating the modern day world extends to children playing alone outdoors. Gone are the days when parents felt safe letting their children play outside until dusk - a situation compounded by advancing technology with most young children preferring the virtual outdoors to the outdoors itself.

It’s a sad statistic that prisoners spend more time outside than our children do, surely a statistic that has to change and change soon.

Engaging children with the outdoors has been a real concern of mine for many years. As a professional horticulturalist I worry where the next generation of gardeners will come from, where the next conservationists and pioneers of the natural world will spring from.

How will the future of land-based industries look 20 years from now? If we don’t take stock of the situation and actively encourage children to be inspired and interact with nature then that future looks somewhat bleak.

This pressing question led me to investigate the initiatives, schemes and projects that do just that, to get children back in the outdoors, and none does it better than ‘Forest School’.

Forest Schools originated in Scandinavia in the 1950s where most of the teaching in

schools takes place outdoors. The concept was brought back to the UK and gradually made its way into schools as more and more teachers saw the positive impact on child development and learning when children are taught outdoors.

Pure Forest School is not connected to mainstream teaching. A typical Forest School site would be found in the middle of the countryside, deep in the heart of the woods where imaginations run wild.

The ethos has at its core the importance of giving children the time and space to explore the natural world through child initiated activities; a luxury that is seldom found today.

The key facet that captivates children within Forest School is the inherent element of risk and danger attached to most activities.

Forest School is a health and safety officer’s nightmare as children are encouraged to evaluate and take measured risks; something that all of us used to do in the nostalgic days of old.

Climbing trees, whittling spoons with knives, lighting fires with natural materials, chopping down trees to coppice the wood and splitting the logs with billhooks - all activities that carry an element of risk and all activities to which the modern day child is losing exposure.

This led me to a career change. Five years ago, I turned my attention to Forest School and took on the role of Forest School Leader at Abbeyfields First School in Morpeth. Having been established for two years prior to my arrival, the Forest School quickly introduced outdoor sessions on a weekly basis for all children attending the school.

Today we take more than 350 children to the Forest School site and spend hours getting back to basics and learning all about the wonders of the outdoor world.

We are privileged to have such a wonderful site that includes acres of natural meadow with winding pathways that lead to log circles, fire pits, a wildlife hide, a bushcraft parachute circle, bug hotels, a 28-foot high tipi and a newly acquired Mongolian yurt. Our site backs on to ancient woodland to which we have full access for sessions and which the children have recently conserved and cared for through the John Muir Award.

The site is teeming with wildlife including roe and red deer, hordes of badgers, resident foxes, nesting buzzards, tawny owls, thousands of frogs, voles, mice and every critter you can imagine.

We teach children the importance of nurturing nature and of engaging with this captivating Northumbrian landscape in which we are so privileged to live.

We get to witness the joy on children’s faces and eagerness that their group be chosen this week simply to enjoy what nature has to offer. We see daily just how vital it is to a child’s personal, social and emotional development.

If we can encourage more children to go outdoors and inspire them to venture beyond the same four walls, then that future might just look a little bit brighter.

Abbeyfields Forest School offers teaching sessions to schools and Induction Training for teachers. For more information visit www.abbeyfieldsforestschool.co.uk or email rpearson@abbeyfieldsschool.co.uk

A walk on the school wild sideRoss Pearson explores the concept of Forest Schools for Inside Morpeth

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More events Inside ...

RIVER SIDE ROCKAll day music festival featuring top local bands. Date: Saturday 2 JulyTime: 2pm onwardsPlace: Riverside Lodge, MorpethCost: £15Contact: (01670) 512771

NEW LIFE CENTRELibby Redman – nominated as best female singer in the Premier gospel music awards - performs with her at band at the centre in Dacre Street, Morpeth.Date: Saturday 2 JulyTime: 7.30pmPlace: New Life Christian CentreCost: Tickets £5Contact: mike@newlilfe-morpeth.org.uk

MARKET PLACE MUSICFirst in Morpeth Town Team’s summer Music in the Market Place open-air concerts featuring Jenny Lacelles. Programme continues with Dean Haipani (July 16), Jason King (23 July), Along Came Lola (30 July), Jeffri Ramli (13 August), Dean Haipani & Alison (20 August) and Tom Wylie (27 August)Dates: Saturdays in July & August as per programmeTime: 1pm to 4pmPlace: Morpeth Market PlaceCost: FreeContact: GMDT (01670) 503866

MORPETH ORGAN RECITALMichael Haynes (Assistant organist at Newcastle Cathedral) in lunchtime concert.Date: Friday 22 JulyTime: 12.30pmPlace: Morpeth Methodist Church Howard RoadCost: FreeContact: For more details – morpethmeth.org.uk

MEET THE MAYORTea and cake with Morpeth’s new Mayor Andrew Tebbutt.Date: Friday 22 JulyTime: 2pm – 4pmPlace: Morpeth Town HallCost: Free

MORPETH FLOWER CLUBSummer ‘Members’ Night’.Date: Wednesday 27 JulyTime: 7.30pmPlace: St James’ Church Centre MorpethCost: Annual subscription but members welcomeContact: For more details call at Lavender’s Blue florist’s, New Market Morpeth

SUMMER FLORAL DEMONSTRATIONBy Anne Codd, an NAFAS Area demonstrator followed by afternoon cream tea. Soroptomists International Morpeth holding the event in aid of the 500 Miles charityDate: Saturday 6 AugustTime: 2pmPlace: Stannington Village HallCost: Tickets £12 (to be bought in advance as numbers limited)Contact: Pam Turner (01670 514568) pturner27@btinternet.com

MUSIC ON GREENSweet music on a summer’s afternoon on Morpeth’s Millennium GreenDate: Sunday 14 AugustTime: 2pm to 4pmPlace: Off Old Bakehouse Yard, MorpethCost: Free

MORPETH MUSIC FESTIVALThird organised by First 4 Music featuring local bands and singers.Date: Sunday 21 AugustTime: All dayPlace: Waterford Lodge, MorpethCost: Free EntryContact: First 4 Music (01670) 512721

PICNIC IN PARKGMDT’s summer family fun afternoon featuring Jo Jingles, climbing wall, petting zoo, circus performers, Ellington Colliery Band, BBQDate: Sunday 17 JulyTime: Noon to 4pmCost: Entry is freeContact: GMDT (01670) 503866

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