There was some controversy in the press last week over a head teacher charging a quid per person for parents/relatives to see a nativity play. A right old hooing and hahhing. One father wrote, in […]
Busy in retirement
I’ve dreamt of retirement every day since the 6th of September, 1965. This was the 249th day of the year 1965 in the Gregorian calendar. There were 116 days remaining until the end of the […]
Let’s celebrate Christmas Dinner!
CHRISTMAS DINNER 9th DECEMBER 12.30PM GREENSIDE COMMUNITY CENTRE HOSTED BY THE PICKLE PALACE TRADITIONAL DINNER WITH SEASONABLE VEGETABLES FOLLOWED BY CHRISTMAS PUDDING £5 RSVP 07753 759476 by December 2nd contact@thepicklepalace.co.uk
The Hawk Walk with Hector – a great Christmas gift
I’m a fan of all of Ken Loach’s films, including the most recent I Daniel Craig. For me however, his best will always be Kes, the 1969 film based on the novel by Barry Hines. […]
Broadway comes to Thorp
The old school hall at Thorp Academy was the keeper of many memories for my peers and me, so it was sad to see it tumble down during the summer. However I was fortunate enough […]
Ryton Festival of Music and Drama 2017
Did you know that Wendy Craig and Sir Thomas Allen both took part in Ryton Festival of Music and Drama? From the mid-1950s Wendy Craig appeared in British films such as The Servant (1963) and […]
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People – save your stamps
Christmas is coming and Hearing Dogs for Deaf People would like you to save your used postage stamps for them. It would be great if you could cut them from the envelopes leaving a 1cm […]
Here’s what’s going on in the park
The project leader for Wildground, Nikki Woodward, has been in touch to give an update on Ferndene Park. I used the park last month when my four-year old niece and nephew were here along with […]
Pickle Palace
“You need to get yourself along to the Pickle Palace,” Heather told me a week or two ago. “The where?” “The Pickle Palace in Greenside. Harriet’s been telling me about it, they make lots of […]
A heritage site and working museum
How many times have you driven or walked past the brown signs for the Path Head Water Mill beside Pumphrey’s on Summerhill? If you’ve never been there, go and have a look – as I […]
Another year of Sixth Form success for Thorp
Mandy Peel has been in touch with me. Mandy works for the Northern Education Trust (Thorp Academy sponsors) and has been involved in issuing all the good news about their excellent GCSE results. The students […]
Bollywood comes to Ryton!
Ryton Community Library, in conjunction with GemArts, held the second of two summer holiday events this afternoon. Last month you could come along and have a bash (quite literally) at African Drumming. Today it was […]
Clara Vale Bingo
I visited the Bingo club in Clara Vale this afternoon, organiser Helen and club members kindly let me take some photographs for this blog, see them here and on the Clara Vale page. This friendly […]
Clara Vale Bingo Club
Come and join our friendly group in Clara Vale Village Hall every Thursday from 2pm til 3:45pm. Times coincide with the R4 bus timetable perfectly! New Members most welcome! For more information contact claravalecraftgroup@hotmail.com
Clara Vale Craft Group in the Village Hall
Clara Vale Craft Group have kindly been in touch to see if rytonian.com can help promote them. They meet in Clara Vale Village Hall on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month from 7pm […]
Goodbye Domestic Science & Art
These rooms belonged to the Domestic Science and Art departments in my day. Mr. Skelton was my art teacher. He’s a lovely guy and I met him again a few years ago when I visited […]
Bug Hunt
I’ve already told you about WildGround, who will be working in Ferndene Park most Tuesdays between now and January. WildGround is a three-year initiative to deliver high quality traineeships in natural heritage grounds maintenance. On […]
Picnic in the park… The Last Shift Festival
Greenside Pit closed 50 years ago yesterday. Thank you to the proud keepers of our heritage for bringing our village together for an afternoon on the green. Hard work goes into organising a wonderful event […]
Puttin’ on a show!!
When it comes to putting on a show, St. Agnes RC school in Crawcrook do it in style. Mrs Hankin kindly invited me along to what she termed as “A concert in the yard.” I […]
Last Shift Festival, Brass band march through Greenside
A faulty zoom lens meant that I didn’t get all the photographs I wanted to this morning, at the launch of the Last Shift Festival in Greenside. Here are the few I did manage to […]
More Thorp Academy demolition photos
Wednesday, 22nd June, 2016 Saturday 18th June, 2016
Bit by Bit – Thorp update
Thank you so much to Karen of Thorp Academy for taking me to the top of the STEM building this morning to get some photos of the demolition work. Also to the staff of Thompsons […]
Down the Dene
We are very fortunate indeed that WildGround will be working in Ferndene Park most Tuesdays between now and January. WildGround is a three-year initiative to deliver high quality traineeships in natural heritage grounds maintenance. The […]
Busy Bee Busy Bee
An over reliance on “screen” entertainment can leave youngsters unchallenged, so Wyevale Nurseries have come up with the idea of Busy Bee Week. Held over the half term holiday, parents and children can enjoy gardening, […]
Judith’s year of giving
I’ve recently had a birthday which means I have a list. Contents included a wireless mouse, new trainers, and the latest John Wilson CD. Rytonian Judith Lawson has put me to shame then. Judith celebrated […]
