GREAT WHITTINGTON VILLAGE HALL WINTER 2025 NEWSLETTER
AUTUMN UPDATE
The autumn season at the hall has probably been one of the most active ever in its fifty years of
operation. There have been fifty two different sessions during the three months mainly supported
by our regular users who are.
The Upholstery Group has used the hall between 10.00am and 2.00pm every Tuesday in term
time
Sound Bath has held a monthly meeting on a Wednesday evening.
Pilates now runs two hour long sessions on Thursday afternoons also in term time
Women’s Wellbeing Evening holds two evening meetings per month usually on Thursday
The Craft Workshop has an all day workshop once per month on a Saturday.
The Village Hall Committee has run several events.
The very popular monthly coffee morning on every first Saturday in the month which also included
the December Christmas Fair when stalls of items specific to the season were present.
Frosty’s Fish and Chips comes on the first Friday evening from 7.00pm and customers are
welcome to come into the hall to enjoy their meal or just shelter before collecting. He also comes
earlier on the third Friday to be more suitable for families with children.
Two National Theatre Live performances, Present Laughter and Prima Facie.
Two Highlights productions. A Lino Printing Workshop and The Bookshop Band.
A talk, Lindisfarne to The Lake District, the Viking history of the area.
The Launch of the history of Great Whittington and the Hall book.
In addition the hall has been used by other organisations including The Tynedale Hunt and Belsay
Bowls Club plus we have given free use of the hall on four occasions. Sue Robson in her fantastic
effort raising over £3800 for Breast Cancer Now. She hopes to make this a annual event and we
hope that the use of our email list and Facebook site helped her achieve this. A event was also
held to provide training on the village defibrillator and two training sessions followed.
EMERGENCY HUB
As you know following the Storm Arwen disaster we obtained some funding from the Northern
Powergrid Foundation so the hall could become an emergency hub in the event of further
disasters. With the final installation of of the solar panels and heat pump system we have been
able to plan some changes and improvements to this. Green Rigg Windfund has made a grant of
£3400 to enable us to make those changes and provide a larger generator so we can now just
switch over to generator power.
This will enhance the the provision we can make for the whole parish providing a warm
environment with the possibility of hot drinks and food if it continues for a long period together
with internet communications, mobile phone charging and entertainment through the AV system.
In addition it means that the bottled gas fires we still possess can be lent out to any resident if
their own heating fails.
ACTIVITIES JANUARY TO MARCH
The regular users will start again in the New Year and the hall committee will run some events but
not as many as in the autumn.
Regular classes and Groups
Pilates will start again on Thursday 9th January with the two sessions starting at 1.30pm and
2.30pm. For further details or to book your place contact Anna on anna@annalittle.co.uk or go to
her website www.annalittle.co.uk
Upholstery Group. This group will recommence on Tuesday 28th January between 10.00am and
2.00pm. Bring an old chair or other upholstered item back to new life with help from Hilary Watson
contact her on hilarywatson21@gmail.com
Craft Workshop. The Craft Workshop run by Jean Tinsley, jeantinsleyarts.com or 07913264768,
which meets at the hall for a full days workshop once per month on a Saturday will recommence
in March. Workshops will include sessions on willow, textiles and block printing
Womens Wellbeing Evenings. Glynis will run these popular sessions starting again in January.
Contact her on glynismh112@hotmail.co.uk for further details
Sound Bath. The monthly restful evening hour starts again on 8th January. Contact Lindsay on
lindsay@soundmedicine.co.uk for further details
Women’s Institute. The WI which is a joint one with Matfen will be meeting in Matfen over the
winter on the first Tuesday in the month but if you want details contact Jean Conteh on
contehjean@gmail.com
Other Events
Coffee Mornings. There will be no coffee morning in January but it will return on the first Saturday
in each month so February 1st and March 1st from 10.30am to 12.30pm. The usual excellent
array of home made cakes and coffee or tea for the great price of £4.00 per head.
Frosty’s Fish and Chips. Every first Friday in the month from 7.00pm when the hall will be open to
either just wait or have a drink and eat. Also the third Friday earlier to suit those with families
National Theatre Live. Two plays in the winter three months.
First will be that Oscar Wilde classic The Importance of Being Ernest staring Ncuti Gatwa, the
current Doctor Who, which will be shown twice to ensure that there is room for everyone who
wants to come to sit at tables and have a good view. Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd February.
Next will be Dr. Strangelove on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th March. Staring Steve Cougan in
the three roles played by Peter Sellers in the 1964 film with doors opening at 6.30pm and the play
starting at 7.00pm.
To book your seats for either play text Phil on 07780622694 (preferably) or email
greatwhittingtonvhc2@gmail.co.uk. The price is only £10.00 each.
ADVANCE NOTICE
Highlights Events. We have managed to secure two highlights events in the Spring 2025 calendar,
one music show, Sons of Town Hall, on Friday 16th May and a theatre performance, The Bench,
on Sunday 1st June. Put both these dates in your diary and further details will be circulated
shortly.
PRIVATE PARTIES AND EVENTS.
Don’t forget that the hall is available for private parties and other events at a very reasonable rate.
Contact us through our website www.northumberlandvillagehalls.org.uk/great-whittington-villagehall
or email us on greatwhittingtonvhc2@gmail.com or speak to any committee member.
