Articles February 2023
An OBE for a Longhorsley resident
Dr Phil Souter received an OBE in King Charles III New Year’s honours list for his services to Medical Research. Phil is a Senior Director working in Procter and Gamble’s Innovation Centre in Newcastle. Some 24 years ago, he discovered the technology which enables a 4g packet of powder to transform 10 litres of dirty, contaminated water into drinking water, using only a bucket, a spoon and a cloth.
Phil started working on the P&G Purifier of Water in 1999 with a brief to develop a new product that would give third world countries access to clean, safe drinking water. In September 2001, two years on from the first experiment, he launched the first test market in Guatemala. The product was tested in many communities around the globe, some with unique challenges. In Kenya the water was so thick and dark through soil erosion that it resembled gravy, and in Bangladesh the well water was contaminated with arsenic.
In 2023 the Children’s Safe Drinking Water programme continues to achieve incredible things, having provided 20 billion litres of clean water to over 90 countries around the world - predominantly in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Phil and his wife Joanne have lived in Longhorsley for over 25 years. They enjoy being part of village life and very much appreciate the time so many residents spend on volunteering, whether it’s on committees, sports clubs, setting up social events, writing newsletters etc, to create such a vibrant community.
Longhorsley Parish Council
The next Parish Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, 8th February, in the Village Hall, starting at 7pm, with a parishioner slot at 8pm. Meeting notices are displayed on village notice boards, with minutes and other information found on the Parish Council website.
Contact details for the current members are detailed below:
Clerk: Gillian Turner, 4 Lowther Close, Seaton Manor, Ashington, NE63 0HY 01670 812704 or parishclerk@longhorsley-pc.gov.uk
Chairman: Norman Douglas 07485 174529 norman.douglas@longhorsley-pc.gov.uk
Councillors: Sarah Alcock, Kirsty Bell, Peter Boyle, Penny Ford, Anne Peat and David Pringle.
Old St Helen’s Church
Over the years old St Helen’s Church had become a rather neglected and almost forgotten feature of the village and many using the footpath will have been unaware of its history and the important part it played in village life for many centuries.
Just over a year ago some of the volunteers looking after Old Church Wood decided to remedy this and after obtaining the necessary permissions from NCC, set about clearing the weeds and rubbish from the interior of the church. The old paving was uncovered and 3 flower beds designated in the body of the church. Hardy, native and wild flowers have been planted and we look forward to a good show this year.
Funding was obtained from the Wingates Community Benefit Wind Farm Fund, for which we are very grateful, and this was used to buy 3 custom made benches, 3 information boards and a name plate.
The boards were put in position in January 2023, two of the benches have been installed and the third is in production.
It is now, hopefully, a pleasant, interesting and peaceful place to visit and has regained its place in the village landscape.
If you would like to join our friendly Friends of Old Church Wood Group and help with planting and maintenance on our regular sessions then please contact the Parish Clerk.
Further details on the Old Church can be found on the Local History Society’s website.
Village Christmas Tree
We would like to thank all of those people involved with the supply, installation and maintenance of the village Christmas Tree. Our thanks go to Mr Michael Lishman for once again donating a perfect tree for us to decorate, to Peter & Matthew Boyle and Rob Murdoch for the installation and sorting out the tree lights.
We hope you agree that the tree looked fantastic on the Village Green and certainly brightened up the whole area, it is such a shame that we have to take it down!
Lighting of the Beacon - New Year’s Eve
We would like to thank everyone who braved the inclement weather to join us for the “Lighting of the Beacon” ceremony on New Year’s Eve.
I am sure that everyone appreciated the hot mulled wine on such a cold, damp evening!!
Archies Pond
We are pleased to say that the refurbishment works are now complete with the final layer of surfacing on the footpath being laid. The ponds have worked well over the recent period of inclement weather by containing the excess rainwater, thus preventing flooding onto the West Road.
Car Parking Issues in the Village
We have received several complaints of late, from residents who have had cars parking up in front of their drives, preventing them from gaining access to or leaving their houses. The majority of incidents happened around the school dropping off / collection times. Cars have also been reported parking on Village Green land thus churning up the grassy edges.
Northumberland County Council and Northumbria Police have been informed and will carry out patrols during the times mentioned above.
Can we please remind drivers to be considerate when dropping off / collecting children from school – local residents in the area need access to their properties 24 hours a day as some are emergency responders. There are spaces in the Village Hall car park – but better still, why not walk the children to school – it’s much healthier!
Your County Councillor
I hope everyone had a happy Christmas and all best wishes for 2023.
The new year has brought the conditions most loved by potholes - heavy rain and frost - and whole families of them have sprung up everywhere. We aren’t alone in having this problem but it will mean a lot of extra cost and time to deal with them.
The Devolution deal involving the seven Councils in our region has been agreed in principle and consultation will begin soon. This will bring significant extra money to our NE Region, and by being a good partner I am confident our County as well as the Region will benefit. If you want any more details on this then please let me know.
If you have any issues then I am always happy to try to help.
Glen Sanderson 07730 979737 glen.sanderson@northumberland.gov.uk
Longhorsley Flower Festival at the Coronation Weekend
Theme: King Charles III
Dates: Saturday, Sunday, Monday 6th - 8th May
Venue: St. Helen’s Church, Longhorsley
Setting up day will be Friday 5th May between 10am and 4pm.
Each arrangement will feature an interest in the life of King Charles, and we have a list for you to choose from, if you can’t think of one.
So ‘flower arrangers’ put on your thinking caps and start planning.
No experience in flower arranging is necessary, as classes will be held in Longhorsley Village Hall, with plenty of advice and guidance, on Wednesdays 1st, 15th, 22nd and 29th March between 7pm and 8.15pm. If you can’t make Wednesdays and would like to be involved, just email Olive.
Maybe you would like to sponsor one of the arrangements, perhaps in memory of a precious loved one, or to celebrate a birthday or anniversary.
We are looking for anyone interested in helping, not just flower arrangers, so have a peep at the list of jobs below:
Providing some foliage or flowers from your garden.
Designing a poster, printing posters, delivering posters.
Helping with some of the ‘donkey’ work.
Stewarding - we need someone present throughout the Festival to welcome visitors and for security. If you can spare an hour, or two, to help steward the event, that would be so useful.
Interested in helping in any way? Please email olive.light72@gmail.com.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Dorothy, Shirley and Olive
A1 Dualling Update
The government’s decision on whether to dual the A1 in Northumberland has been pushed back for a third time, to allow a wider UK transport study to be completed. The new deadline for a decision is now September 2023.
Check that you have the right ID to vote
For the first time, voters will need to show photo ID when they vote in person at elections in England. This does not apply to postal votes.
Accepted forms of ID include a driving licence, passport, as well as some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass or a blue badge. Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo. It is also possible to apply for a free voter ID.
You can find more details on the County Council website here.
Northumbria Connected
The Neighbourhood Policing Team for our area have not reported anything of note over the past month. However on Northumbria Connected there is a report about attempted thefts from motor vehicles in the rural areas of Morpeth. The advice is for you to stay vigilant, not leave any valuables on display in vehicles and make sure that your vehicle is locked and secure.
You can subscribe at www.northumbriaconnected.co.uk
Longhorsley Takeaway Food
We will send out a Breaking News if we are notified of any changes.
The Shoulder of Mutton
The Shoulder of Mutton is open and offering takeaways every day.
Sunday lunches 12-6pm ~ Monday to Saturday 5pm-8pm
See their menu at shoulderofmuttonpub.com ~ phone 788236 to order
The Flying Fryer
The Flying Fryer will be here every Friday from 4pm to 7pm, depending on demand.
Facebook The Flying Fryer 07984 426 725
Dou_h&co
Dou_h&co are here some Thursdays 4:30pm – 7:30pm.
The next visit date is Thursday 2nd February.
Pre-order on 07507 834 628 from Monday 9am.
See their menu on the Dou_h & Co Facebook page, Instagram and Dou-h.co.uk
Post Office in Longhorsley Village Hall
Monday 9.15am to 12.15pm
Tuesday 9.30am to 1.15pm
Friday 11.30am to 1.30pm
Please note that this Outreach Service cannot accept large parcels.
Mobile Library Visiting Times
The Mobile Library visits Longhorsley once a month, on Fridays between 3pm and 4pm, in the Village Hall car park.
The next visits will be on 10th February and 10th March.
The Mobile Library Service website can be found here
March Edition
The last date for submissions is 20th February. You can email or phone us.
Please keep articles under 250 words, if at all possible.
Jan and Sheena Haveman 07834 740649 longhorsley.tree@gmail.com