Welcome to the thirteenth Bugle of the Covid-19 pandemic, reporting news and views relating to life in Bowsden
and district in these first days of Spring. Sadly the world news since our last edition has been dominated by
events in Ukraine and we are now on the brink of a European war. After weeks of posturing, Russia has sent
armies into Ukraine but has been shocked by the Ukrainian reaction. Far from welcoming the Russians as
liberators, Ukrainians have defended their country and the invasion has stalled.
Both sides have suffered mounting casualties but civilians have suffered most and currently over six million
refugees have left the country to seek shelter elsewhere. The War has been almost universally condemned but
although peace talks have started, the bombs, shells and rockets continue to wreak havoc.

Numbers of new cases of Covid are rising again in almost all parts of the country but the Government has no plans
to re-introduce restrictions in England. Scotland and Wales still require the wearing of face coverings in public
places but England now leaves the decision to the individual. It is interesting to see that many shoppers are
wearing masks and all Northumberland hospitals still require their use by staff, patients and visitors.
Clearly Covid 19 remains a risk and will be a feature of our lives for the foreseeable future. We will need to learn
to live with it and manage the risk to ourselves and others, recognising those situations where the risks of infection
and transmission are likely to be higher and taking appropriate action.

Published by the Editor every two months, the Bugle is an independent news-sheet seeking to inform its readers
and reflect their opinions. Contributions from readers are always welcome and should be sent to the Editor (phone
01289 388 543 or e-mail hgew13@gmail.com) by 25th May for inclusion in the June issue. (n.b. whenever Berwick
telephone numbers are quoted in this paper, the 01289 prefix will be omitted).

Bowsden Village Hall like many others all over the country had been closed since the start of the
pandemic some two years ago but all the original group activities have now re-started, mostly with a small
admission charge. The Ladies Keep Fit class (meets weekly on Tuesdays at 10 a.m., details from Eileen Wilson,
tel. 388 543), Ladies Needlework Group (finishes at the end of March and resumes in September on Tuesdays
at 1.30 p.m., more information from Kathleen Glen 388 295) and Carpet Bowls (Tuesdays at 7 p.m.until 26th April,
resuming in the autumn, details from Norma Wilson 309 250).

Four other Groups usually meet monthly during the season: the History Group meets every first Monday with the
next dates being 4th April and Monday 2nd May, both at 7.30 p.m. Booking is essential for these meetings, contact
Nick Jones for more information (07889 509324 or nicolasjbjones@gimail.com).

Soup and Sandwich Lunches are held every third Wednesday in the Village Hall from 12.noon, the menu
includes homemade soup, choice of filled rolls, traybake and tea or coffee for a £5 donation. The next dates are
20th April and 18th May. Unlike all other in- Hall events, catering for these lunches is provided by Bell View Services
of Belford (tel.01668 219220)

The Bowsden Ladies Group usually meets monthly on the third Thursday at 7 p.m., the next meetings being on
21st April and 19th May (details from Denise Hodgson on 388 684.

The next meetings of the Bowsden Camera Club will be on Thursday 28th April and Thursday 26th May at 7 p.m.
(more information from Derek Snee on 388 969)

Coffee Mornings in Café Bowsden are held from 10 a.m on the first Saturday of the month, the next ones being
organised by Sue Sim on 2nd April and by Jet Simpson on 7th May. The May event will feature a Plant Sale
organised (by the Gardening Club (see page 2).

The Bowsden Arms will usually be open from 7.30 p.m. in the Village Hall every third Friday. In April this falls on
Good Friday so the Pub Night has been delayed to Saturday April 23rd, opening at 7 pm. after the AGM. (see
page 3). This St George’s Day event will feature a Quiz Night arranged by Graeme Reavely. The May Pub Night
will be on Friday 20th May as usual . For more information contact John Sim (388,449)

Bowsden Parish Council next meets at 7 p.m. on Thursday 31st March in the Village Hall. It is
expected that Councillor Jayne Watson will be in the Chair, joined by Councillors Ian Jackson, Graeme Reavely
Chris Betts and Dominic Elsworth. Parish Clerk Sue Sim would also have been present. Regrettably the Bugle
Editor does not have second sight and the March Bugle will go to press before the meeting so there will be no
report this month. However draft minutes of the meeting will be published on the Village Notice Board and the
Bowsden website in due course. Contact susan.k.sim@btinternet.com for more information.

Personal Denise and John Hodgson would like to thank everyone for their kind thoughts, cards and
messages of condolence which they received after the passing of Denise’s Dad on February 17th and her Mum on
March 2nd. It means a lot to have such good friends.

Bowsden Gardening Club has grown from small beginnings and now covers all aspects of Gardening.
Their next event is a Plant Sale at the Village Hall Coffee Morning on Saturday May 7
th from 10 -12 noon. They hope to have a wide variety of plants grown locally by the Group for sale and, if the
weather is good, they will set up the tables outside.And now a request for help: if anyone has any plant pots
(the small plastic type) which they no longer want, the Gardening Group can always make use of them. Please leave
them at Meadow House (down the lane just past the new houses) or contact Claire (leave a message on 388 714 or
e-mail Claire.smith@manx.net ) and she can pick them up. This will be an ongoing scheme and pots can be collected
at any time of year.If you’d like to join the Group, Claire sends out an e-mail newsletter every month with growing tips
and a seasonal recipe. Let her know your contact details if you’d like to be included in the mailing list.

Measles is back in the news for all the wrong reasons. Low levels of immunisation uptake over the last decade
have led to significant numbers of unprotected people amongst whom measles could spread rapidly. Measles is
highly infectious, a cough or a sneeze can spread the virus over a wide area and infect many people. Symptoms
include a rash and high fever and adults are likely to be more ill than children. Someone with measles would
usually need about five days in bed and be off school or work for ten days.
If you have missed one or both your MMR vaccinations, contact your GP surgery to arrange an appointment. For
more information visit www.nhs.uk/measles

New Rules for all Road Users came into force on 29th January 2022 but many drivers are still
unaware of the changes to the Highway Code. Full details can be downloaded from the Government web site
www.Gov.UK but a printed version of the new booklet will be available from bookshops from 11th April. Grieves
Stationers in Church Street, Berwick have copies on order, price £4.99.

The changes have been widely consulted since September and generally welcomed, in particular by the British
Horse Society. The changes reflect a new hierarchy of road users with motorists being responsible for giving due
consideration to the needs of other road users including cyclists, horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles as well as
pedestrians. Detailed guidance is given on priorities at road junctions, crossings and roundabouts, in particular
when leaving a roundabout when a slower vehicle is continuing round in the left hand lane.

Local Success stories are always good to read, none more so than that of local farmers Jonathan and
Jayne Watson who broke the auction record price when they sold their Charolais heifer Tweeddale Rosemary last
month at Carlisle Mart. This was the first dedicated sale of Charolais females on behalf of the British Charolais
Cattle Society for many years.

Another success was that of local potter Keith Webster of Heatherslaw who was chosen as the winner of the Ad
Gefrin prize (from the new Wooler whisky distillery) with Alice Elsworth of Whistlebare as runner up. Joining them
is Rowan Harris-Jones of Laverick Law who has just been awarded third prize in a national photographic competion
as Young Railway Photographer of the Year.

The Village Hall AGM will be held at 6.30 p.m. on Saturday 23rd April which is of
course St George’s Day and also Shakespeare’s Birthday. The AGM will be followed by a special Quiz with a St
George’s Day theme beginning at 7.30 p.m. and there will be the usual range of beers, wines and spirits together
with soft drinks available from the Bowsden Arms bar. Please note that this event replaces the BVH Pub Night
on the third Friday which this year would have fallen on Good Friday.

Exciting News from the Village Hall Committee …. where plans are being finalised for a
celebratory lunch-time tea which will replace the June BVH Coffee Morning on Saturday June 4th (the Jubilee
Weekend) The menu will include sandwiches and cakes and drinks will be available from the bar. Entry will be
by pre-booked ticket (price £2) which will include entry to a Jubilee prize draw. Tickets will be available from
Pamela Brewis (pebrewis@gmail.com or 387 524) Similar events are being held all over the Country to
commemorate the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on this very special weekend.

Robotic Surgery is now in Northumbria with equipment newly installed at Cramlington and
North Tyneside Hospitals. Costing more than £3.7 million, two Da Vinci Xi surgical robots will permit operations
which are less invasive, more consistent and precise and pose a lower risk for a range of procedures. For patients,
this means a shorter stay in hospital with less pain and a faster recovery.
The new technology allows the surgeon to use a special console in the operating theatre which provides an
ultraclear and magnified view whilst operating tiny instruments with greater mobility than the human hand. It is
expected that the equipment will be used for some Gynaecological operations as well as Upper Gastro-Intestinal
and Colorectal surgery. It is expected that the new equipment will be used for some 100 operations in the first
year rising to 200 in the second year and more than 300 in the third.
This investment comes on top of the £5.5 million spent recently on upgrading the six operating theatres at
Wansbeck Hospital.

The Louisa Waterford Prize is part of the Ford and Etal Art Trail, a new arts venture founded by
former television journalist Lesley McNish which takes place from April 30th – May 2
nd (the early May Bank Holiday). The prize is sponsored by Lady Joicey and the Guild of St George, a charity
for arts and crafts which was set up by Ruskin in 1871 Some 20 artists have entered their work on the theme “New
Beginnings, a Dialogue with Nature” The winner will be announced on the last day of the Art Trail and presented with
a cheque for £350.Louisa Anne Beresford, Marchioness of Waterford is best known for her life size watercolour frescoes
of Biblical characters, many drawn from local models and forming a series of wall paintings in Ford school. When the school
closed in 1957 it became known as Lady Waterford Hall and is now a popular visitor attraction, open most days
from April to October. Lady Waterford was a friend of many of the London artists including Rossetti, Ruskin and George and Mary Watts.
She was a woman ahead of her time and was responsible with her husband for creating sustainable craft industries
to provide work for their tenants during the Irish potato famine as well as building local schools. She helped set
up a Mission at Seaton Sluice to help families of miners killed in the 1862 Harton Colliery disaster.

Ford Castle has had many occupants over the years but new tenants have announced their arrival as
Northumberland’s newest activity centre for 7-17 year olds. PGL specialises in short breaks for schoolchildren,
introducing them to a wide range of activities. The first centre was established in the 1950s by Peter Gordon
Lawrence, using his initials as the company name. This was quickly translated as “Parents Get Lost” but now
parents can accompany children in family rooms. The centre will be opening in May and is currently advertising
a number of staff vacancies (if interested contact recruitment@pgl.co.uk or phone 03333 212 123)

Please help our Fourum friends who are asking for used inks and toners to be left at the
village shops at Etal or Ford for recycling (to date £659 has been collected). Fourum is a free local newsletter
which covers Ford, Etal, Crookham, Branxton and copies can be picked up from Ford and Etal shops.
News from the Parish Churches in Lowick, Ford & Etal and Ancroft has been supplied by our Vicar,
the Revd Charlotte Osborne. With the onset of British Summer Time comes the final two weeks of Lent and the
last stages of the journey to the Cross. Preparations for this during Holy Week and beyond are outlined in the
Diary below. You will find a warm welcome in all our churches and we very much hope to see you soon, perhaps
on Palm Sunday (April 10th) when all three parishes worship together in Ford church at 11 a.m. The service is
preceded by a procession from Ford (meet outside Lady Waterford Hall) led by a donkey to remind us of Jesus’
last journey into Jerusalem and the beginning of Holy Week. Do join in at any point
Sunday 3rd April Lowick 9.15 a.m, Etal 11 a.m. including a Baptism, no service at Ancroft
Sunday 10th April Palm Sunday at Ford church 11 a.m., no service at Lowick or Ancroft (see above)
Monday 11th April Ancroft 7 p.m. Short address with Compline (Compline is a simple version of Evening Prayer)
Tuesday 12th April Lowick 7 p.m. Short address with Compline
Wednesday 13th April Ford 7 p.m. Short address with Compline
Maundy Thursday 14th April Ancroft 7 p.m. Holy Communion with Foot Washing
Good Friday 15th April Lowick 2 p.m. Meditations at the Cross
also Berwick Parish Church 5 p.m. Stainer’s Crucifixion
Easter Eve Saturday 16th April Ford 8 p.m. Easter Fire, Holy Communion
Easter Day Sunday 17th April Holy Communion at Lowick 9.15 a.m., Ford 11 a.m, and Ancroft 11 a.m
Sunday 24th April Holy Communion at Lowick 9.15 a.m., Ford 11 a.m. and Ancroft 11 a.m.
Sunday 1st May Holy Communion at Lowick 9.15 a.m and Ford (with Baptism) 11 a.m. no service at Ancroft
Sunday 8th May Holy Communion at Lowick 9.15 a.m., Ford 11 a.m. and Ancroft 11 a.m
Sunday 15th May Holy Communion at Lowick 9.15 a.m. and Ford 11 a.m., no service at Ancroft
Sunday 22nd May Rogation Sunday Holy Communion at Lowick and Ancroft 11 a.m
Thursday 26th May Ascension Day Holy Communion at Lowick 7 p.m.
Sunday 29th May 5th Sunday “Flake” Service Ancroft 10 a.m (all three Churches worshipping together)

A New Berwick Farmers’ Market at Conundrum Farm is to be held monthly on every second
Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Conundrum is just off the A1 and is the most Northerly farm in England, just a
couple of miles South of the Sottish Border. Sat Nav users will need the post code TD15 1UT .The first Market
will be held on Sunday April 10th and more than 20 food producers from the local area will be attending. The
organisers of the new market are Simon and Debbie Rutherford who are well-known in the Borders.

Toby’s Tailpiece (a dog’s eye view of the world) is written by us, Leo and Freya, two
Dalmatians who live with Eileen and Harry Wilson here in Bowsden. We begin this month on a very sad note as
our friend Dave the black Labrador (who we used to see when he came to visit his relatives in Berrywell) choked
whilst playing with a tennis-sized ball. This must have been a freak accident as we have all played with similar
balls.and come to no harm.
Another sad note comes from the daily TV news showing lines of Ukrainian refugees plodding towards border
crossings and relative safety. Most have animals, mainly dogs on leads and one wonders what happens at the
Border? Will the animals be allowed to board the transport and what happens if not? .There have been cases
where dogs were not allowed on the train and owners have refused to leave their animals behind and begun to
walk to the next safe haven. Such is the bond between man and beast

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