Santander rang me a couple of days ago. Did I want to go and work in their call centre in Sunderland? No, not really. I’m assuming a certain amount of mathematical acumen is required and […]
Days away, chaos at home
We’ve discovered the benefits of buying a railcard, in our case “Two Together”. The only disadvantage with this, is that I have to travel with Heather, and vice versa. We bought it prior to a […]
Whatever happened to… Sleeping Beauty?
I’ve been on the committee of Ryton Festival for a couple of years now, and I’ve heard my friends Liz and Trevor Peart mention being committed elsewhere for the first week of the Festivals, namely, […]
Unemployed again
I retired from Northumbria Police three years ago and entered into a state of happy lethargy. I was roused from it temporarily when I went to work on a holiday scheme run by Gateshead MBC […]
You’ve done it!
The Ye Olde Cross committee report as follows: “We are thrilled to be able to announce that our community has raised enough money to be able to purchase our local pub, Ye Olde Cross. Our […]
The best until last?
The best until last? No not really. Every performance I’ve had the privilege to attend at St. Agnes RC Primary School has been superb. There really isn’t anything to choose between them. Today it has […]
Key Stage 1 and years 1 & 2 show us how it’s done!
I had the pleasure of returning to St. Agnes this morning to see the nativity story performed by Key Stage 1 and years 1 & 2. The youngsters were excellent (as always) and as well […]
Another hit at St. Agnes!
St. Agnes has had a change of leadership since I was last there. The previous head, Mr. Geoff Laidler, has moved on and has been succeeded by Ms Joanne Woods. One thing that hasn’t changed […]
Ye Olde Cross on Alfie and Anna!
Picture above courtesy of Ye Olde Cross committee team Liz Smith has been in touch with to tell me why she is keen to be part of getting Ye Olde Cross open again. Liz writes; […]
Why is Ye Olde Cross special?
My Mum used to bemoan the fact that she didn’t ask enough questions of elderly relations. Suddenly they aren’t here anymore and it’s too late…….. I wish I’d asked Mum more about Ye Olde […]
Thorp Academy, official opening!
A couple of years ago I was privileged to be present when Estelle Morris, the Baroness of Yardley, opened the STEM block at Thorp Academy. This was shortly before the old school buildings (where I […]
Cricket Club Fair 2018
Thank you to the organisers and the many people taking part in the Cricket Club Fair. A great afternoon out, and a chance to bump into friends.
Another year of Sixth Form success for Thorp Academy
The 2018 A-level results at Thorp Academy demonstrate another year of positive results, which were once again above national average. Thorp Academy is one of ten secondary academies operated by Northern Education Trust (NET), a […]
Crawcrook Fair
Lovely afternoon yesterday down at Crawcrook Fair. It’s the first time I’ve been to the event and it was smashing. The sun shone, and the music (particularly from Doug Musgrove and another band called The […]
Don’t hover the apostrophe
“Don’t hover the apostrophe. If you don’t know whether it is mens’ or men’s or children’s or childrens’ look it up. Don’t hover it somewhere up there and think I won’t notice that you haven’t got a clue […]
You can’t touch this
The Greatest Showman is not my favourite film, in fact I thought it was dreadful – but where Hugh Jackman failed St. Agnes have won me over. Their traditional July concert this afternoon featured several […]
Waistcoat Wednesday
Having missed Sweden v England last Saturday NOWT was going to come between me and Croatia v England on Wednesday. Driving home on Saturday with Howard, my festival colleague and friend, in the contentment of […]
Fun at the Fun Station
I’ve been down to see Laura of the The Fun Station in Prudhoe. It’s tucked out of the way a bit, so like me you might have missed it. Coming from Crawcrook turn right at the roundabout […]
Ryton Festival is fun!
I’m glad that the light nights are coming in. We usually make plans for the dismal first two months of the year when depression tends to infiltrate. We spend a few days near Holy Island […]
News from Brighten Ryton
Many of you will have observed many diligent volunteers tending the flower beds in our village, clearing up litter, and generally bringing Ryton back to some of the glory it enjoyed during our Britain in […]
Ryton Festival ready go go again
We apologise once again for the cancellation of the Speech and Drama weekend due to the heavy snow. Just to let you know that the final weekend will be going ahead as planned, beginning at […]
New beginnings
Here we are in 2018, and so we have turned our attention to home alterations. Well actually not alterations, more bulldozing down half of the house and building it back up again. It seems such […]
Ryton Festival 2018
Ryton and District Festival of Music Speech and Drama is upon us again. Just a reminder, we are in our 75th year, and alumna/alumni include Wendy Craig and Sir Thomas Allen. Please come and join […]
