Held on Saturday 8 August at the Robert Brown Showfield, this year’s Sedgefield Show was a fantastic success, with a wonderful atmosphere throughout the day.

It was great to see people of all ages coming together to enjoy a brilliant summer’s day. Sedgefield Show continues to be a true family event, celebrating the area’s agricultural heritage while providing something for everyone to enjoy.

From livestock classes to farm produce and rural attractions, the show showcases the hard work and dedication of those involved in farming and country life. It also offers a memorable day out for local families and visitors.

A huge amount of work goes on behind the scenes to make the show happen, much of it carried out by a small team of dedicated volunteers.

Show Secretary Helen Shaw said: “There is a sense of pride when you stand back and watch everyone enjoying their day. It makes all the hours of hard work worthwhile. We may all only be volunteers, and there may only be a few of us, but we make a good team!”

The organisers would also like to thank Sedgefield in Bloom and Sedgefield Young Farmers for their invaluable help in preparing the Showfield.

A heartfelt thank you goes to everyone who helped make this year’s show such a success.

Sedgefield Show 2027 takes place on Saturday 14 August. We’ll see you there!

Planted from seed, with nurture and care,
With summer leaving, a sunflower to share.
A stem so strong, reaching up to the sun,
Making you grow has been so much fun.
Your short life lived, it will soon be the end,
Goodbye my gigantic, big yellow friend.
Richard Fearnside.

2nd Sedgefield Brownies recently enjoyed their annual Pack Holiday at Beamish Museum, with 22 Brownies and 7 Rangers taking part in a weekend full of fun, learning and adventure.

Blessed with glorious weather, the group explored the museum's 1900s and 1950s towns, sampled traditional sweets, rode the vintage tram and enjoyed plenty of time discovering life in the past.

The visit gave the girls a fascinating insight into how people lived and worked in different eras, bringing history to life in a memorable way.

A highlight of the trip was an interactive ice cream making workshop, giving the Brownies the chance to learn new skills while creating their own sweet treats.

The group also stayed overnight in the Masonic Hall, where marshmallow toasting, games and lots of laughter rounded off the day.

Leaders described the trip as a great success, praising the Brownies' enthusiasm, behaviour and teamwork throughout the weekend.

The group also thanked the Sedgefield District Uniformed Services Group (SDUSG) for its generous donation, which helped make the experience possible and enabled the girls to enjoy such a special experience together.

As well as our usual traders, Sedgefield in Bloom will be at September's Farmers' Market. If you would like to learn more about the group or are interested in volunteering, they would love to chat with you.

What a fine bunch of men we are! Friendly, enthusiastic, innovative, welcoming and inclusive...and many other adjectives besides!

Now firmly established in Sedgefield, we are developing our calendar of events for the autumn and are already looking ahead to the new year ("It's only September!" I hear you cry).

We have enjoyed a variety of activities throughout the summer, including walks around the village exploring its heritage and history, ten-pin bowling (ability no obstacle!), social evenings and an informative farm visit, to name just a few.

Please see the Diary and Events section for our September programme.

If you would like to join us, even for a specific event, or know someone who might welcome our company but perhaps doesn't realise it yet, just turn up or get in touch at graham.price2@outlook.com or text 07501 467487.

Ideas for future activities are always welcome. Let us know what you would like to do or what you could offer.

Homework Help feels that education is an opportunity to invest in oneself and one's future. If you're a student/pupil and you'd like a hand understanding your homework or lessons, contact us:
homework@sedgefielddevelopmenttrust.co.uk - also if you are someone who could spare an hour a week to share your knowledge and understanding with a student.
You don't have to be teacher-trained.
All volunteers are DBS checked

Sedgefield Cricket Club is launching a new monthly business networking event aimed at bringing together businesses from Sedgefield and the surrounding area. Business on the Boundary will launch on Friday 25 September, with the first meeting completely free to attend.

The idea is simple: to create a relaxed, friendly environment where local business owners and professionals can meet, build relationships, share opportunities and ultimately do more business with one another. The morning will begin at 9am with informal networking over breakfast, tea and coffee, followed by introductions giving everyone the opportunity to explain who they are, what they do and who they would like to do business with.

Each monthly meeting will feature a local business presentation, a short update from Sedgefield Cricket Club and further time for networking and oneto- one conversations. The initiative forms part of the club’s plans to strengthen links with the local business community while supporting the longterm growth of Sedgefield Cricket Club.

Local businesses will also have the opportunity to become the 'Featured Business' at a future meeting, giving them dedicated time to present their business and distribute promotional material.

Sedgefield Cricket Club would love to welcome businesses of every size and sector, whether you’re a sole trader, local independent business or part of a larger organisation.

The Business on the Boundary launch meeting will take place at the club on Friday 25 September, starting at 9am.

Five years after my life changed through illness and disability, I am delighted to share some happy news in my own community: I have published a book, Who Am I Now? Finding Myself After Disability, Loss and Change.

Many people in Sedgefield have known me since before my diagnosis and have supported me as I learned to navigate a different life. Today I use a power-chair and my condition continues to progress, so adapting never stops.

Yet I am settled, happy and living a life within the circumstances I have.

Who Am I Now? grew from that experience. It explores what happens to our sense of identity when disability, illness, loss or change alters the life we expected.

More importantly, it is about finding ourselves again and living our best lives, whatever our circumstances, wherever we can. I hope it will help people experiencing change, as well as families, friends and professionals supporting them.

Writing it has reminded me how fortunate I am to live in a small community. Our GPs and the team at Skerne Medical Practice, along with friends, neighbours and the many people who help one another every day, have all played a part in my journey.

A kind word, a door held open or a helping hand may seem like a small gesture, but to the person receiving it, it can mean far more than you know.

I recently celebrated the book with a launch at our gorgeous independent bookshop, Back of Beyond Books. I am sure many readers know how fortunate we are to have this little gem here in Sedgefield.

This book began with a difficult question. Publishing it here, surrounded by the community that helped me find my answer, feels very special indeed. Thank you all.
Carole Lawford

With a love of gardening and some extra free time, I joined Sedgefield in Bloom as a volunteer in April.

Since then, I’ve seen first-hand the dedication of the Bloomers, who work throughout the year to keep our village looking its best. From pruning trees and shrubs to removing weeds and planting borders and containers, the team works hard with the support of local residents and businesses.

In June, we completed improvements near the Salters Lane roundabout and Winterton estate. Thanks to a £250 donation from the Sedgefield District Uniform Services Group, two planters were installed beside a bench that had been added in 2025.

The tubs were supplied by Amperol and planted by volunteers, with donation tags added in recognition of the support.

We are continuing to refresh and develop village spaces, including a current project at Ceddesfeld grounds. To follow our progress, visit the Sedgefield in Bloom Facebook page.
Melissa Hill

The final week of the school year saw our extremely talented students performing High School Musical Jr – our annual summer musical and the fourth year that our students have been able to participate in a professional performance of this kind. Our cast (and crew off the stage) are made up of students from Y7 to Y11 and they are a fantastic example of teamwork in action!

Over the course of three evening performances, we were delighted to be joined by many members of our wider school community, who were able to enjoy the story of Gabriella and Troy as they navigate the challenges of an American high school.

As well as this, we also staged not one, but two matinee performances this year. It was fantastic to welcome the Y6 children from a number of the local primary schools and some of our Y7 and Y8 students also had a chance to see the show!

The talent of our students is seen across the creative and performing arts and was also showcased during our annual art exhibition. As with one of our evening performances of High School Musical Jr, we were competing with an England World Cup game during this year’s exhibition! Despite this, large numbers of family and friends joined us in school to enjoy the wide range of fabulous artwork produced!

Each year, Sedgefield Community College presents the Les Joss Mathematics Award in memory of the late Mr Les Joss, a dedicated mathematics teacher and longserving governor of the College.

The award recognises a student who has demonstrated outstanding mathematical ability, along with the perseverance, determination and resilience that are essential to success in the subject.

This year, the award was presented to James, a Year 10 student who has consistently impressed his teachers with his commitment to, and enthusiasm for, mathematics.

His excellent problem-solving skills, positive attitude and unwavering dedication to his studies make him a thoroughly deserving recipient of this prestigious award.