November 2008 Archives

Wansbeck plots return of the big screen

Posted by The Journal on Nov 30, 08 11:59 AM in News

Movie-going is enjoying a revival in part of Northumberland - despite the fact that the area hasn't had its own cinema for years.

Film fans in Wansbeck have faced a trek to North Tyneside or Newcastle since the last local cinema - The Wallaw in neighbouring Blyth - brought the final curtain down almost five years ago.

But recently a special DIY-style film project has seen the latest movie blockbusters and classic golden oldies showing on screens in church halls, community centres and miners' welfares across the district.

Model life for Newbiggin teenager

Posted by The Journal on Nov 28, 08 03:09 PM in News

Few could argue teenager Melissa Bell hasn't had a model upbringing - literally.

The 19-year-old Northumberland lass has been hitting the world's catwalks and the pages of top fashion magazines for the past five years and admits she is now something of a veteran in the business.

Melissa Bell

Next week she will be taking to the catwalk in front of 3,000 fashion followers at The Clothes Show Live - and even after years of posing, admits she is still nervous.

People in Northumberland are getting good adult social care, according to a new national inspection.

The Commission for Social Care Inspection has given Northumberland's adult services department a two-star rating, and says it has "excellent capacity" for improvement.

Money lessons for Newbiggin young mums

Posted by The Journal on Nov 27, 08 02:13 PM in News

Young mothers in Newbiggin have been learning how to tighten their belts and boost their family finances at money management workshops.

Parents have been offered tips including how to cope with the cost of Christmas at Action for Children's Financial Futures workshops at centres in Ashington and Newbiggin, Northumberland.

The workshops, run by Action for Children staff and volunteers from Barclays Bank, are part of a £1.8m national partnership between the bank and the charity aimed at improving financial literacy and helping people to avoid debt.

Theatre tour takes in Newbiggin

Posted by The Journal on Nov 26, 08 01:59 PM in What’s On

The Northumberland Theatre Company will be bringing its latest production to Newbiggin as part of a big national tour.

Scene from 'Straw Headed Peter'

Straw Headed Peter by award winning writer Mike Kenny is a re-telling of classic cautionary tales written Dr Heinrigh Hoffman more than 150 years ago. It features a talented cast including Stephanie Butler, Nigel Collins and Philip Oakland.

Christmas lights displays are about to be switched on in Wansbeck's three main communities.

Newbiggin-by-the-Sea's lights will go on as part of a carol service by local churches starting at 6pm on Sunday in the village centre piazza.

Bedlington's switch-on is on Monday evening outside the community centre in Front Street, while the Ashington display is illuminated at 4.30pm on Tuesday in a pedestrianised shopping area.

People in Northumberland are being urged to have their say on executive decision-making arrangements for the county's new super-council which takes over in April.

Consultations on the issue close on Friday so residents are being reminded to comment before it is too late.

Newbiggin footballer in Africa mission

Posted by The Journal on Nov 25, 08 02:05 PM in News

Tennage football ambassador Nick Storey will never forget the children he met on a mission to South Africa.

The 17-year-old from Newbiggin jetted out to Cape Town as part of a team of four young leaders on a once-in-a-lifetime trip as part of the Football Association's Changing Lives programme in partnership with Coaching For Hope.

Nick, a midfielder with Ashington Football Club, had the job of coaching youngsters who played in their bare feet, some of them living on the streets in shanty towns.

People in Northumberland will be asked to take part in an X Factor-style public vote to decide how a £60,000 fund should be spent on local community projects.

Wansbeck has been chosen as one of 12 areas across the country to pilot a Government scheme which aims to involve local residents more closely in how public money is spent on key priorities in their area.

Everyone in the district will be given the chance to nominate a community project to compete for a share of a £60,000 pot being made available by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Newbiggin artists display at Woodhorn

Posted by The Journal on Nov 24, 08 10:40 AM in News

Work by members of the Newbiggin-by-the-Sea Arts Forum is on display at the Woodhorn Museum and Archives Centre until January 4.

Forum members work in a wide variety of art media including ceramics, pop art, needlework, block printing, dance, singing, creative writing amongst others.

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