Macmillan Cancer Support in Ponteland

Macmillan Cancer Support will be at the next Ponteland Market in Ponteland on Friday 27^th September to raise funds for Macmillan (and have coffee, chat and fun). August.  If you would like any information on the services offered or would like to support the cause please come along and see us – we would love to see you.  Don't forget to register for the Worlds Biggest Coffee Morning on 24

Show support at RAF Boulmer parade

Almost 100 servicemen and women from RAF Boulmer will march through the streets of Morpeth on Thursday September 23 to receive the Freedom of Northumberland - the county's highest civic honour.

It is hoped that people from across Northumberland will turn out in force to pay their respects to all those stationed at the base who have provided such a valuable service to both the county and the country

The parade will start in Manchester Street at 12.35pm and will follow a route through Dacre Street to Bridge Street where civic leaders from around the county will be assembled outside the Town Hall and the Freedom Ceremony will take place at 1pm.

To mark the occasion, Boulmer's iconic yellow Sea King helicopter will also fly over the centre of the town just before the ceremony commences.

Northumberland County Council Chairman Marcia Bircham said:

" RAF Boulmer  has a very close association with the county and plays a vital role in the security of our country.  I hope that local residents will turn out in force to pay their respects and thanks to the servicemen and women and give them an extra special welcome. "

RAF Boulmer has been an integral part of the defence of Northumberland since 1940 and the base has developed significantly over the years.  It is now the Force Headquarters for the United Kingdom Airspace Surveillance and Control System that maintains a watch over our skies 24 hours each day, 365 days per year.

Their highly capable yellow Sea King helicopters provide round-the-clock Search and Rescue cover for a large part of the North-East.  The station  also provides essential training to our military personnel and those of coalition forces, who deploy on operations worldwide.

FAMILY-RUN REST HOME CELEBRATES 25 YEARS

Daniel and Joyce Whaley opened a rest home at GRANGE LEA 25 years ago with seven residents.  They did all the work except for night cover.  Dan's mother, Margaret, was running the Pele Rest Home in the old vicarage at the same time and eventually they combined when Grange Lea was enlarged to cater for 20 residents, looked after by a team of 26 staff.  To celebrate this success story a Black & White garden party was held last month when residents, relatives, friends, and former workers all joined in for an afternoon of friendship and entertainment between the showers.

Grange Lea is woven into the fabric of the Ponteland community and a warm welcome is given to all in this friendly and caring enterprise, still run by Dan and Joyce.  Dan gave an emotional thank you to the guests at the Party and praised his mother and his wife who had carried him through the tough times.  The current and past staff were praised and a poem was read which was written by resident Mrs Stoker and carer Geraldine Donnelly.  This is a verse by Mrs Stoker.

I'm proud to say that Grange Lea is the place I live

I wouldn't swap it if a million pound you gave
As the taxi driver one day said while I was in his car
Well, everybody round here knows that Grange Lea is the Star!

Dan & Joyce Whaley with residents Charlotte and Margaret – Dab's mother

Dan Whaley with his mother Margaret, wife Joyce and the current staff

Carer Geraldine and resident Mrs Stokoe read their poem

 By Muriel Sobo

PONTELAND GENERATIONS COMBINE FOR COLOURFUL EFFECT

Ponteland Lions run an annual competition for young people who have made an original contribution to the community.  This year 16 year old Hannah Seeber was the winner for her input into setting up a new web site and her work as a youth sports leader.  Part of her award was £500 to spend on a project of her choosing.  Very aware of the gap between the young and the older generations she wanted to do something to bridge this divide.  But what?  Athol House, on Callerton Lane, is sheltered accommodation for more than 30 residents, including Mary Short, who has worked hard to keep the extensive gardens colourful and weeded.  More input was needed but very few residents are able to do much in the garden.  Hannah decided, after consultations with the Lions' president, with Mary and with help from her father, to design and plant up the area around the patio to give all year round colour in that part of the garden and make it easy to maintain.  Hannah's father is a garden designer so she had a head start!

Friends from the Youth Club, directed by Angus Ramlal, joined Hannah and her Dad and one or two able residents from Athol House in early August for a planting day and worked hard to complete Hannah's design in one day.  Keep a watch on this garden as you pass into the Sport's Centre and admire the efforts of all.  Mary Short said it was marvellous!

The young people helping Hannah were Georgina Shipley, Lucy Hay, Adam Potter, Michael Crisp, Sean Campbell, Andrew Christie and John Freeman.  Well done!

John Andrew and Georgina Shipley and another

 Residents Alfie and Mary with Lucy and Adam

 Hannah Seeber


By Muriel Sobo

Ponteland Market - Merton Way Shopping Centre

Public Information

A new market will be held in the above location on the following dates.

Friday	27th August 2010
Friday	24th September 2010
Friday	22nd October 2010
Friday	26th November 2010
Friday	17th December 2010

The Market will run between 9am and 4.30pm

There will be a good selection of Stalls providing

Organic meat

Pies & Quiches

Clothing

Fish & Game

Plants & Flowers

Eggs

Cheeses & Wines

Cup Cakes

Chocolates

Anyone wishing to trade from the market please contact:-

Keith Gray

0796 6568612

01434 652419

The market will run every 4^th Friday of the month

Police Surgery, Ponteland

Police Surgery, Ponteland

Event Date: 28 Aug 2010

East Tynedale Local Policing Team would like to invite you to a Neighbourhood Policing Surgery to be held in Ponteland.

These sessions give members of the public a chance to meet their local Community Support Officer and to discuss any community concerns they may have.

The next local drop in session will be held at The United Reformed Church, The Broadway, Ponteland, Newcastle upon Tyne, on Saturday August 28th, from 11 am - 12 pm.

Sybil celebrates 103rd birthday with the Mayor

Ponteland's oldest resident celebrated her 103rd birthday with a visit from the Town Mayor.

Coun Robin Ramsay and his wife Jean dropped in to Ponteland Manor care home to wish Sybil Harvey many happy returns with a bouquet of flowers.

The centegenarian enjoyed a birthday party organised by staff at the home with friends and her only child, daughter Jill.

The great-grandmother of seven, who hails originally from West Sussex, has lived through two world wars and seen five monarchs and 20 Prime Ministers since she was born back in 1907 in Bognor Regis – the year the farmland Darras Hall estate was built on was purchased.

Sybil, who went to school in Chichester, was married to municipal engineer George in 1935. They lived in North London and Dartmoor, where George worked as borough engineer and surveyor. They were married for over 40 years until his death in 1976.

She retired to West Sussex, where her interests included golf, bridge and working with the WRVS.

Sybil moved to Ponteland in her centenary year to be near Jill, who lives in Darras Road. She said: "My mother had a lovely day – she certainly enjoyed it. It was extremely kind of Robin and his wife to come along. The flowers they brought were amazing, and have been divided into four vases and displayed around the home.

"She has had an interesting life, with lots of friends and lots of things to do and would no doubt put her long life down to good living and taking care of herself."

Coun Ramsay said: "This is one of the loveliest parts of being Mayor, joining in celebrations like this. Sybil must be the oldest person in Ponteland and was in great spirits. We were delighted to be there at Sybil's party and help her mark the occasion."

Photo:
Sybil Harvey is pictured at her 103rd birthday party with Town Mayor Robin Ramsay.