Welcome to the fourteenth Bugle of the Covid-19 pandemic, reporting news and views relating to life in Bowsden
and district in these first days of Summer. Much has happened since the last Bugle when the Editor was
hospitalised for several days with an acute infection. This has prompted a review of the publication, its purpose
and its role alongside the other journals now being published in our surrounding Villages.
The most obvious outcome is a reduction in frequency of publication but equally important for the future health of
the Bugle is the creation of a production team which will help with the written text and any offers of support will
be welcome (contact the Editor, phone 01289 388543 or e-mail hgew13@gmail.com)
It is hoped that this Bugle will appear at the end of June and will begin a three monthly cycle thereafter.
Bowsden Village Hall like others all over the country has had a mixed year as it struggled back to re-
open its full range of services. Now we have well-attended Coffee Mornings in Café Bowsden on the first
Saturday from 10 am every month complemented by monthly Pub Nights in the Bowsden Arms every third
Friday from 7 pm. There is also the monthly Soup & Sandwich Lunch which is provided by Bell View of Belford
from 12 noon until 2 pm every third Wednesday.
The Ladies Keep Fit class resumes on Tuesday July 5th (weekly sessions from 10 am, details from Eileen
Wilson, tel. 388 543). The Ladies Needlework Group begins again on Tuesday September 20 th at 1.30 p.m.,
(more information from Kathleen Glen 388 295). Carpet Bowls meets again on Tuesday September 20th at
7 p.m., (details from Norma Wilson 309 250).
The History Group meets every first Monday in the season, beginning at 7.30 pm on Monday 5 th September.
(contact Nick Jones for more information 0907889 509324 or nicolasjbjones@gmail.com) . The Bowsden
Ladies Group meets monthly on the third Thursday, usually at 7.00 pm (details of the next meeting from Denise
Hodgson on 388 684). The next meeting of the Bowsden Camera Club will be on Thursday 21 st July (more
information from Derek Snee on 388 969)
A very special Coffee Morning in Café Bowsden took place on 7 th May and was
organised by Jet, Joan and Corinne, specifically to raise money for Ukrainian refugees. The money was sent via
the Disasters Emergency Committee (the DEC is a multi-national group of charities which allocates resources to
some 16 individual charities including the Red Cross) The Bugle is delighted to report that a total of £402 was
raised from the proceeds, a phenomenal amount from a such a small group.
Gardening Club news (compiled by Claire Smith) A big thank-you to everyone who attended the
Plant Sale which we held at the same time as the Coffee Morning. Half the takings (£74) were donated to the
Ukranian appeal and the rest used to purchase a second-hand bench to make a seat in what will be the new
community Forest Garden. The “new” bench has cast iron ends and Kit is now replacing the rotten wood.
I’d also like to say a big thank-you to everyone who has given plant pots since my request. Please feel free to
drop off any more if you have some. Likewise if anyone needs plant pots or seed trays, please come and get
some for free as I now have plenty.
The Community Garden isn’t open at present and isn’t likely to be for some time as there isn’t a lot to see other
than tree guards! The young trees are getting a lot of damage from deer and rabbits but I am pleased to say that
all the trees that were donated are still there.
Although the Garden is currently closed any resident who would like to see work in progress, please get in touch
with claire.smith@manx.net or 38871
New Rules for all Road Users came into force on 29 th January 2022 but many drivers are still
unaware of the changes to the Highway Code or have even seen the new booklet. This is remarkably good
value for money at £4.99 for 156 pages, many in full colour. Copies are available from good stationers including
George Grieve of Church Street in Berwick.
A good idea for compilers of village quizzes might be to add a copy to their own reference library.
Berwick Railway Station opening hours have been under review by the LNER as part of a
post-Pandemic country-wide review of operations. A packed public meeting was held in Berwick Guildhall last
Autumn and many speakers stressed the unique importance of Berwick as a major source of traffic, many
passengers driving cars considerable distances to pick up trains from that station.. At that time, LNER claimed
that the proposed reductions in hours reflected reduced demand for customer services at the station, a claim not
substantiated whenever the Bugle Editor saw passengers outside the rail enquiries office.
Although LNER had asked for written comments from passengers as part of their consultation, new opening
hours for the station have just been published. These show a considerable reduction from those which have
just been replaced and unfortunately take place with immediate effect. Berwick County Councillors Georgina Hill
and Catherine Seymour have both expressed their disappointment in the outcome, particularly as LNER has
said that the effect of the changes will not be monitored.
The new opening hours at Berwick are now 7 am to 2 pm Monday to Friday, 8 am to 3 pm Saturdays and 9.15
am to 3 pm on Sundays. Outside these hours, tickets may be purchased from a machine in the station or on
line at home (if one has a computer, printer and a credit card). Sadly more and more essentials are being less
and less available (anyone remember Daniel Blake? )
Bowsden’s Farming Update is a new informative section which local farmer Tom Jackson of
Bowsden West Farm has offered to write for The Bugle, answering some of the many questions (most of which
we never ask !) about the main source of employment in the village.
First Piece, harvest predictions and BUAS schools day;
In this piece I plan to provide an update on farming in and around the local Bowden area. It is important to
engage with the community and keep you informed as to what is going on around you.
As arable farmers we have had a good autumn for establishing crops, with the right amount of rain and sun to
push things on, winter wheat, barley and oilseed rape look like they have good potential going into harvest. As
for spring sown crops, oats and barley and latterly vining peas have enjoyed the recent rain as emergence was a
little patchy.
In recent weeks we have finished fertilising winter and spring crops and they now have all the nutrition required
for the important grain fill period. In winter wheat crops we have been out spraying to protect the flag leaf, this is
the main leaf and we need to keep it free of disease in order to maximise yield.
The old saying goes "eight weeks from ear to harvest", this means that the winter barley harvest could start as
early as mid-July. Personally, a great time of year when you are rewarded for the hard work put in throughout the
season.
Many of you will have heard about the issues around food security, there are several threats to our business
currently primarily brought about by the effect of COVID, Brexit and the War in Ukraine. Like us all increased fuel
prices focus the mind and it is important we are prepared for limited availability and longer delivery times,
fertiliser prices are also up by 134% on last year.
As a director of the Border Union Agricultural Society, a few weeks ago I was involved in my first Schools
Countryside Day where as a society we host over 1000 P5 kids from across the borders at Springwood Park,
Kelso. I was tasked with helping educate kids on products manufactured from arable crops. It was a fantastic
day full of energy and great to see kids outside the classroom full of enthusiasm for the rural sector. It was a
great platform to showcase the farming industry to the younger generation, after all they are the future of our
industry and we need to show them what it’s all about!
News from the Village Hall brought by the BVH Committee
In April we held our AGM which was attended by several members of the public who were given an account of
the year’s activities. The village hall remained closed until September 2021 due to ongoing restrictions as a
result of the Covid 19 pandemic. In normal circumstances the hall relies heavily on donations, grants and events
to generate income but due to the ongoing restrictions the hall was supported by the government grant schemes
for businesses that were required to close, or were severely impacted due to local or national restrictions. The
majority of the hall’s income was therefore through this support grant of £10,667. The grant enabled the hall to
meet its overheads during the closure and also to catch up on some much-needed repairs and maintenance.
The Trustees have a duty to ensure that the hall is safeguarded against any potential financial difficulties and
have endeavoured to ensure that it is financially secure to enjoy as a community facility for now and in the future.
The hall’s activities resumed in September including coffee mornings, soup & sandwich, pub nights and clubs
and classes.
The village hall is looking forward to offering a more varied programme of events in 2022-23 and with this
intention it applied for and received a grant from Barmoor Windfarm to upgrade the audio-visual equipment. A
smart TV is now installed and has been in operation for a couple of months and the feedback from audiences
has been very positive. We hope to run many more live streamed events including the mens’ and womens’
Wimbledon finals on consecutive days in July and the Last Night of the Proms in September. We welcome ideas
from the public for future events such as this so if there is something you would like the hall to livestream, please
get in touch.
During the monthly meetings held throughout the year the Committee was busy and the following actions were
taken:
To prepare for and to re-open the hall safely following the gradual lifting of Covid restrictions.
To review and renew licensing agreements, insurance and undertake a comprehensive programme of repairs
and maintenance to both the outside and inside of the hall, including the notorious electric doors which are finally
working properly.
The Committee also looked at a review of charging structure for hall hire and events in order to ensure it can
cover expenses.
It also planned events and purchased legacy items such as a picnic bench, plaque and Jubilee rose bushes to
commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations at Bowsden Village Hall
The Committee began planning the activities to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee some months prior to the event.
We wanted to do something that was both inclusive and proportionate to the population of the village and also to
have a lasting legacy that would mark the occasion.
With so many events to choose from in the surrounding area, the Committee decided to concentrate on one
event that would have wide appeal and be open to all those who wished to take part. We organised an old-
fashioned Afternoon Tea complete with long trestle style table settings so that we could accommodate as many
people as possible. The event was a sell-out and enjoyed by all.
We are very grateful to the numerous people who came forward to volunteer, both on the day an in preparation
for the event, cooking, decorating, donating and preparing for the event which included a Grand Prize Draw,
Tombola with prizes for all and lots of sandwiches, cake and of course fizz to celebrate the occasion.
The second part of the commemoration was to purchase something that would be a lasting legacy of the
occasion. We applied for and were successful in being awarded a grant from the Northumberland County
Council’s Jubilee fund. This money was put towards purchasing a picnic table and benches which will be
situated outside the hall, a plaque for the wall and some tubs which will contain commemorative roses.
Once again, the Village Hall Committee would like to thank everyone who came along and made the day so
enjoyable, those who made donations or who contributed to the successful day in any way. In turn, the Bugle
team on behalf of the residents of Bowsden would like to thank the VHC for all their work to make the event
possible.
An Announcement of a Special Event in the Village Hall where strawberries and cream are
coming to Bowsden to accompany the Wimbledon Finals to be shown on the new TV. The Ladies’ Final will be
on Saturday 9 th July with doors open from 12.30 and match from 1 pm and the Gentlemen’s Final will be on the
following day Sunday 10th July with doors open from 1.30 and the match beginning at 2 p.m.
Because it’s Wimbledon, there has to be strawberries and cream served with Fizz and Pimm’s and we have
added sandwiches and scones to help ward off any remaining pangs of hunger. To accompany the traditional
refreshments, you will be able to watch the full BBC coverage of both matches. Entrance is payable on the
door at £3 on either day
News from the Parish Churches in Lowick, Ford & Etal and Ancroft has been supplied by our
Vicar, the Revd Charlotte Osborne. Rather than print long lists of repetitive information, we have decided to
publish by exception. For example, most Sundays there are Holy Communion services at Lowick at 0915 and
1100 at Ford. Ancroft has a fortnightly Holy Communion service at 1100.
In those months where there are five Sundays, all three Parishes come together to share Holy Communion in a
common service at 10 am. These services have proved very popular and have become known as the FLAKE
services (from Ford, Lowick, Ancroft, Kyloe and Etal)
The next Flake service is at St. John’s Church Lowick at 10 am on Sunday 31 st July. We are pleased to
announce that the Celebrant will be the Rt Revd John Sentamu, the retired Archbishop of York.i
Lowick Village Store re-opens with Lynsey Fairbairn back in charge !! In 2015 she took a break
to spend more time with her young family but time moves on and she is is now able to come back with grown-up
children, much to the delight of her old customers. The well-known traybakes are there, but perhaps equally
importantly, so is the role of information exchange where we can all find out what is going on. The shop opens
early to take delivery of the morning papers but Lynsey is ahead of the game, sometimes coming in at 05.30 to
start baking.
Shop opening hours are 07.30 to 5.30 pm Mondays to Fridays,
07.30 to 4 pm on Saturdays and 8 – 1 pm on Sundays
By the time the next Bugle appears, the planned merger of the two Wooler GP practices
should have happened. Based in the Cheviot Medical Centre, the Cheviot Medical Practice and the Glendale
Surgery have agreed to merge operations. Watch this space for more information.
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. Just over a week ago, our friend Finty, the
black, flat-coated retriever (who has lived in Bowsden all her life), had to go for surgery as she had a very heavy
tumour on her front right leg which had to be amputated. She was sore for 3 days but gets around so well now
that she could win the 3 legged race on her own ! She will be able to move even faster when she gets the
stitches out at the end of the month and is able to take off her posh T-shirt. We forgot to mention that Finty is
9yrs old in July, so we are all looking forward to a party. Stop and say hello if you see her out and about. She
loves meeting people.