At the Annual Town Meeting, Sedgefield celebrated the remarkable contributions of two individuals who embody the very best of community spirit. Amelia Taylor was named Young Citizen of the Year 2025, while Michael King received the Citizen of the Year 2025 award.

At just 15, Amelia has already made a significant impact across the village. Her involvement spans Guiding—through Brownies, Guides and Rangers— where she also supports younger members as a youth leader. Alongside this, she is an active cricketer, a member of the Sedgefield Players Youth Section, and takes part in school productions. She also gives her time to local events, including volunteering at the Community College Open Evenings. Her enthusiasm, commitment and willingness to help others make her a truly deserving recipient and a fantastic role model for young people in the community.

Michael King’s award recognises decades of dedication to Sedgefield life. Although he jokingly describes himself as a “newcomer” after 37 years in the village, he has become one of its most familiar and valued figures. As a lay minister at St Edmund’s Church, Michael plays a central role—leading and assisting services, organising rotas, supporting pastoral care, and delivering much-loved events such as Carols on the Green. He is also known for conducting funerals with a deeply personal touch.

Beyond the church, Michael is equally committed at Ceddesfeld Hall, where he volunteers behind the bar, helps run events, and supports major community occasions including the Beer Festival and Mediaeval Fayre. Known for his friendliness and reliability, he is always ready to lend a hand—often stepping in wherever help is needed.

Together, Amelia and Michael represent the strength of Sedgefield’s community. Their dedication and generosity of spirit highlight just how fortunate the village is to have so many people willing to give their time for others.

Congratulations to both on their well-deserved awards

This June Sedgefield Farmers Market hosts a bookstall with a twist. The stall will be run by the author and, unusually, the book’s main character – Sparky the barn owl.

The book, Sparky – My Barn Owl Story, is the work of local author Tracey Iceton. Part memoir-part novel, it tells of how Tracey adopted Sparky, a captive-bred barn owl, and follows them on their journey together as they learn each other’s ways.

The book also includes imagined scenes from Sparky’s life before she and Tracey met and offers Sparky’s owl’s-eye-view of her life lived with humans.

Tracey explains, “I was volunteering at an animal centre that Sparky happened to be brought into.

Wanting to enrich her quality of life, I sought advice from a local bird of prey expert and began flying Sparky at the centre. After a while I realised the centre couldn’t provide for Sparky properly and, for her wellbeing, I adopted her. Thankfully I had the support of the bird of prey expert as these animals need specialist care.”

Nearly four years later, Sparky is thriving and the subject of Tracey’s latest book (her fifth full length publication) which is released in May. Keen to share their story with people Tracey and Sparky are excited to be attending the Sedgefield Farmers Market on 7 June.

Signed copies of the book will be available and, weather permitting, Sparky will entertain shoppers with a flying display.

Afterwards, Tracey is giving a talk at Sedgefield’s wonderful Back of Beyond Books so join her there at 2pm for cake, a cuppa and the lowdown on the book.

For more information about the book visit www.traceyiceton.co.uk.

We reported in April on a new initiative to create a men’s social group for the wider Sedgefield area. At that time, plans were underway to launch the group and consult with interested men and their supporters.

We can now confirm the success of the first meeting, which attracted a strong turnout and lively discussion about how the group should develop and the activities it might offer. Graham from the group said, “We not only had participants for our developing calendar but also men willing to lead groups.”

While organisers prepare a full programme, two early sessions have already taken place. A mid-May walking group followed the Sedgefield Heritage Trail, sparking shared memories and experiences. This will be followed by a social and competitive ten-pin bowling event in early June.

Suggested activities range from walking and walking football to gardening, music evenings, and talks on topics relevant to men. These will form part of a broader and more varied programme in future.

The group also aims to link with other complementary local initiatives. Graham added, “Amongst the great support we’ve received is a financial contribution from the Town Mayor, which is greatly appreciated.”

Anyone interested in joining (we are very inclusive) can email sams@sedgefielddevelopmenttrust.co.uk or join the WhatsApp group by texting 07501 467487 with your name. Hard copies of the calendar are also available on request.

Our popular and successful Monthly Farmers market relies very much on the support of our volunteers in setting up and taking down the gazebos and tables.

If you are able to help with one or both sessions on the first Sunday every month it would be much appreciated. Each activity takes approximately 30 minutes or less.

Set up is at 8am and take down is from 12pm. If you would like to help, just turn up on the day and you will be warmly welcomed!

Future Fixers? Some of the volunteers at Friendly Fixers had a great session with the 1st Sedgefield Brownies and Guides recently, when we talked about why we run the Repair Cafe, what sort of things we try to fix, and the skills needed to do so.

We had a practical session, where everyone had the opportunity to sew on a button, and wire a plug.

We were so impressed with the enthusiasm, knowledge and skills shown by the Brownies and Guides, and we hope to see some of them again in future, as new recruits to the Friendly Fixers!

Our thanks to the leaders and volunteers, for a very enjoyable and productive session.

Contact us at repaircafe@sedgefielddevelopmenttrust.co.uk or join our Facebook page - Friendly Fixers - Repair Café.

On 20 June, I’ll be marking my 40th birthday by taking on the National Three Peaks Challenge to raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK.

This cause is very close to my heart, as my dad has been living with prostate cancer for several years. Seeing his journey has shown me how vital support, research and awareness are for families facing this illness.

The challenge involves climbing the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales within 24 hours. Every step I take will be in support of the important work carried out by Prostate Cancer UK.

I’d be grateful for any support from the local community—whether through a donation or by sharing my fundraising effort.

To contribute, visit: GoFundMe.com/lee3peaks This challenge is for my dad, and for all the families who are navigating life with prostate cancer. With your support, we can help make a difference.
Lee Gavin

Harry Smith, a well-known and muchloved figure in the village, celebrated his milestone birthday on 30 April.

To mark the occasion, a special birthday party was organised at the Hardwick Arms.

What made the celebration particularly remarkable was the overwhelming generosity and support shown by local residents.

Contributions poured in from across the community to help organise the event and provide Harry with some wonderful gifts.

Support was not limited to current residents, either. Former villagers also joined in, sending donations and even travelling back to Sedgefield to attend the celebration in person and wish Harry a happy birthday.

Thank you to everyone involved.
Carrie Mekins and Ruth Young

Two major projects led by the Thorpe Thewles History Group (TTHG) are now drawing to a close. Readers may remember the story, featured in the January 2026 edition of Sedgefield News, of the antique diaries of David McLaren, discovered at a car boot sale.

The diaries, which vividly describe life in the years leading up to the Great War, have since been transcribed and turned into a full-length documentary supported by a National Lottery grant.

The documentary will be screened at Sedgefield Library at 2pm on Thursday 21 May 2026. Tickets are available from the library.

Meanwhile, TTHG are also completing work on the Thorpe/Carlton Cross project, first covered in the October 2025 edition. The cross fragments, found in the garden rockery of a former farmhouse, have been examined by experts from Durham and York Universities, who confirmed them to be early medieval, dating to the 10th century, and Anglo-Scandinavian in origin. More information can be found at thorpe-thewles.org.uk/the-carlton-thorpe-cross/.

When the nominations for the Tes Awards 2026 were announced, the entire team at Sedgefield Community College were delighted to find out that we have been shortlisted in the 'Secondary School of the Year' category. The Tes Awards are extremely prestigious national educational awards and are sometimes referred to as the ‘Education Oscars’.

The winners of the various categories will be announced during the awards ceremony that takes place in the Grosvenor Hotel in London on Friday 19 June 2026. The school’s achievement in being shortlisted for this award is even more impressive due to the fact that it was only 2021 when we were last shortlisted for the award and actually won it on this occasion.

As a school, we're delighted that the fantastic efforts of our students, families, governors and staff have been recognised in this way.

Our nomination focused on the efforts we make to ensure we are a truly inclusive school and our approach that is underpinned by having high expectations for every child in terms of their academic progress, but also in their development of wider skills and personal qualities.

Thank you to every member of our school community who has contributed to this success.