DOWN YOUR WAY
of jobs, and full training and support will be given to all. If you are interested, call into the library to fill in a form or email your details to joan. stewart7@btinternet.com
The Barnes Institute holds a coffee morning each Monday and Wednesday from 10am to noon. All are welcome and proceeds go towards upkeep and maintenance of the Institute. Currently, weekly classes include line dancing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, Slimming World on Tuesdays, dog training on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, Karate on Wednesdays and Fridays, children’s dance on Tuesdays and Thursdays and seated exercise on Fridays. Whitburn Parish Church hosts a Chocolate Club after school for Academy pupils on Mondays and Wednesdays and the gym is open on weekdays from 5pm to 8pm for a nominal fee. Two personal trainers use the facilities for their individual sessions at various times. For more information about any of the above, contact me, Carol Shield, using my details at the top of this column.
Whitburn Lunch Club meets weekly on Thursdays at noon in the Methodist Church hall, North Guards. For £3, enjoy a homemade lunch with stimulating conversation and unlimited tea and coffee. Volunteers on a rota basis are always needed. If you can help, contact Michael Vallance on 0191 9031 408.
BOLDON Ring Margaret Davison on 536 7388 or email margaret-davison1@sky.com
Students from Boldon School attended a training weekend with the Sea Cadets and they were outstanding in all areas. Each student passed the courses with grades above 80% and Cade Scott achieved 100%. The courses included Meteorology and Engineering. The school now has Sea Cadet Specialisations that will help advancement through the ranks, but more importantly has increased their confidence. More than 40 Cadets were in attendance and the new students from Boldon School were able to interact immediately as part of the Sea Cadet family. Any student interested in becoming a Sea Cadet at Boldon School, ring 0191 536 2176 or see the Facebook page ‘Boldon School Sea Cadets’.
East Boldon Forum held a meeting in The Scout Hut in East Boldon on March 26. Two Local Authority Planners, Matthew Clifford and Neil Cole, gave a presentation on the latest National Planning Policy Framework and issues raised by the Group were discussed.
Volunteers who have already registered with East Boldon and Cleadon Community Library Group will receive a communication by post, which will include a couple of dates for drop-in sessions at the library when questions can be asked. IT skills, eg websites, software and knowledge of how to deal with technical stuff in relation to hardware, networks, wifi etc, are being sought so if you have something to offer in this area, get in touch. Contact eblg@icloud.com. If you are interested there is a closed Facebook page for Boldon and Cleadon Community Library.
There will be a Forest Playschool Easter Special on Friday, April 6, at West Boldon Lodge Environmental Centre. The session will run from 10am to noon with lots of activities including a hunt for a special treat from the Easter Bunny. This session is £7 per child and is suitable for ages one to five. Build Bear Woodworking Workshop will take place on Tuesday, April 10, from 10am to noon. This first workshop is focused on woodworking skills as the staff guide you through making your own wooden Boldon Bear. Using logs sourced on site, you will have great fun as you saw, carve, decorate and construct a wooden Bear to take away with you. All materials and equipment will be provided and no experience is necessary as instruction will be provided. Children must be supervised by an adult. Cost is £12 per child and this activity is suitable for those aged six and over. Email westboldonlodge@groundwork.org.uk. for bookings or further details.
A Daffodil Tea will be held in East Boldon Methodist Church hall on Wednesday, April 25, from 2pm. Tickets are available from church members or pay at the door. The church will hold the annual Community Day on Saturday, April 28, from 10am to 4pm. This is an opportunity for all groups using the facilities throughout the year to showcase their group’s activities. On May 12 an art exhibition will be held from 2pm to 5pm. The ladies of the church will put together the floral cross, which will be erected in the garden of the church on Front Street after the Easter Sunday service.
A presentation was given to West Boldon Residents’ Association at their March meeting regarding a proposed waste energy gasification plant, which will be constructed on the Hillthorn Farm site near Clay’s Garden Centre, Peel Retail Park in Washington, if permission is given. This plant would be the largest in the world. The Association’s next meeting will take place in The Wheatsheaf on Wednesday, April 11, at 10am. Tickets, which cost £2, are on sale for a coffee morning and presentation, entitled Memories of West Boldon Village over the last 80 years and before, which will take place on Tuesday, April 24, at 10.30am in The Wheatsheaf.
Freda Thompson will give a talk and presentation in the function room of The Grey Horse in East Boldon at 7pm tonight to the Boldons History Society. The topic is Charles Dickens. All welcome.
WASHINGTON Ring Harry Chalmers on 07938955778 or email harry. chalmers@9gc.co.uk
After a public meeting regarding Usworth Park, a children’s event has been arranged for Wednesday, April 4, from 11am to 1pm. The Usworth Park Rocks event invites you to decorate a rock, then hide it around the park for other people to find. For more details, email Julia. bentley@groundwork.org.uk or call Julia on 01915672550.
Girls football training, for ages three to 14, is held at Biddick Academy on Tuesdays from 6pm to 7pm. Ring Andy on 07834693517 for details.
Gemma Lewins Freestyle dancing takes place on Tuesdays at NE38 Sports Bar, Barmston. From 4.30pm to 5pm it’s fun dinky disco for ages two to four; 5pm to 5.30pm infant disco for five to sevenyear-olds; 5.30pm to 6.15pm beginners competitive freestyle and 6.15pm to 7pm junior disco for those aged eight and over.
Washington Lionesses Under 12s are looking to add and experienced player to their established and successful team. Ring Anth Hodgson on 07527241080.
Fatfield Musical Stage Society’s next production will be The Rise And Fall of Little Voice, by Jim Cartwright, from June 13 to 25 at the Arts Centre at 7.30pm. Tickets are £8, available from the Arts Centre.
Washington Ramblers has a new programme for the walking season. Walkers leave from the north end of The Galleries Bus station at 9am. Dates are: April 8, Piercebridge to Barnard Castle; April 22 The Sill, Once Brewed circular; May 6, Richmond circular; May 20, Kirbymoorside Circular; June 3 Fontburn reservoir/forestburn gate; June 17, Jedburgh to Kelso; July 1, Hovingham Circular; July 15, Sedbergh Circular; July 29, Ingelby Greenhow; August 12, Knowsgate to Elsdon; August 26, Langholm Circular; September 9, Haltwhistle Circular; September 23, Chatton to Egligham; October 7, Kilburn Circular and October 21, Hepple to Rothbury. For details, Contact Alan Clark on 0191 4174525.
Washington Clean and Green has three events arranged: Let’s Clean up Usworth Park, April 3, 10am to 11am. Equipment will be provided, wear suitable clothing; Let’s Clean up Princess Anne park, April 6, 10am to 11.30am, meet at Viewpoint car park off Parkway. Meet to find out about the the Future Of Princess Anne Park on April 3 from 5.30pm to 7pm in the conference room at Washington Leisure Centre. For more deails on any of the events, email Julia.bentley@groundwork.org.uk.
Washington AFC has weekly open day sessions, which new players are welcome to attend. The club is recruiting players in Year 5 for the under 10s to progress to nine-a-side and Year 7, under 12s, to progress to 11-a-side. Development nursery and reception year children are welcome to go along Years 2 to 11 every weekday 5.30pm to 8.30pm; girls under sevens, Year 2, and under eights, Year 3, Wednesday 6pm to 7pm. Girls only training for Years 2 to 11, 6pm to 8pm every Wednesday, girls only wildcats centre Fridays, 5.30pm to 6.30pm, Years 1 to 9. For more information, contact Head Of Football Gary Sykes on 07743820274 or email gary.sykes@washingtonafc.co. The club is also running an Easter football camp on April 2 and 4 from 10am to 3pm. For more information, contact Gary Sykes.