The snowflakes were falling heavy and wet a couple weeks ago, so I think Will was glad to take a break with us in a warm kitchen and a cup of coffee, to chat about his outdoor pursuits, after a…
Category: Services
Pennines Wildlife Rescue
I think that Tony has had a passion for wild animals for a long time, but certainly after his various tours of duty with the armed forces, this devotion to care for suffering animals has become an obsession. Together with…
Our local tradespeople
We’ve been fortunate, over the year, to have garnered in stories of a few tradespeople in this patch (like Glenn Nattrass, electrician; or Nigel Baynes, Calor gas distributor; or Peter Dodd, fencing; or Trudie McConnachie’s mobile hairdressing; Jill’s Catering pre-prepared…
The Barber Bus
Just in time for Christmas, the peripatetic Barber Bus is making its grand tour around Tynedale, stopping off this afternoon in its regular slot at Allendale’s Market Square. I was able to drop in for a couple of photographs, as…
A hymn of praise to local builders
It would be remiss if we missed out on a small window of opportunity to offer up a hymn of praise to local builders currently working throughout these valleys. We might not be able to fit every tradesperson in the…
Jill’s Catering, Jill’s Catering
It was the chorus of the sing-along Pantomime song some years back, accompanied by framing hand gestures, that we all sang along to with great gusto. That was back in the time when Jill Wilkinson was parking her little van,…
The quieter village halls
Amongst the six village halls in this patch, there are three that are really very busy, and three that are quieter. Still sustained by the faithful, still solvent, just quieter. Langley Village Hall, for example, sometimes hosts an evening with…
Whitfield Village Pantry
I dropped into Whitfield Village Pantry the other day to deliver the new (October) update to the Allendale and Allen Valleys Pocket Directory. While I was there, Janet Marriott graciously (it was lunchtime!) answered a few of my questions, so…
The High Forest Community Centre
Just about on the road coming down from the ‘heeds into Sinderhope, the High Forest Community Centre has become rather a busy hall over the past few years. Rescued from its near-derelict state by a combination of significant and timely…
Milestones at Natural Ability
Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, Natural Ability is a local success story in the charitable organisation sector. An important milestone was marked last month, as the charity attended the 2019 North East Charity Awards as a short-listed Finalist for…