The Pop In group had a week of celebrations for the 80th anniversary of VE Day. The Pop In takes place in Ceddesfeld Hall. Their opening times are:
Tuesday 9:30am to 12 noon
Wednesday 10am to 12:30pm
Thursday 1pm to 3:30pm.
Why not ‘pop in’ and join them?

2025 sees the 20th anniversary of the Parish of the Upper Skerne, and one of the initiatives that has taken shape to mark the milestone is the development of a new walking and running route that links all five active churches in the parish.

The Five Churches Round is a self-guided route of 18.5 miles that follows public rights of way and is almost all on paths, trails and bridleways. There are a couple of very short sections on roads, and a few roads to cross.

To launch the Five Churches Round, and supported by Sedgefield Harriers, people are invited to meet and walk, jog or run the whole route, or one or more sections of it, all starting at 9:30am on Sunday 22 June.

Participants will be sent on their way by the Rev. David Lucas, rector of the parish. Run/walk leaders will accompany groups at different (sociable) paces.

All of the churches will be open, and parishioners will be inside to welcome walkers and runners with refreshments.
v Everyone will be welcome to tackle as much, or as little, of the round as they want, or complete it in a group in relay.

To find out more about the Five Churches Round, visit facebook.com/FiveCRound.

On Friday 9 May, the Chapel Choir of University College, Durham played in St Edmund’s Church, Sedgefield. The programme of music by Henry Purcell, Amy Beach, Sir Edward Bairstow and Francis Jackson was based on that of a CD recording the choir had made at the end of April. It will be on sale towards the end of this year.

The choir was expertly directed by Barney Howard and accompanied sensitively on St Ed’s, sometimes rather quirky, organ by Alan Erdelyi and another young man whose name did not appear in the programme. With only a short time before the performance for exploring the instrument’s idiosyncrasies, they somehow managed to find just the right stops to match the wide range of sounds coming from the choir. Whether accompanied or singing on their own, the sound of the choir was breathtaking and the expressive range and phrasing beautifully controlled. Within the choral music were several lovely solos including a beautiful performance of Bairstow’s “Music when soft voices die” sung unaccompanied by tenors and basses.

After the concert refreshments were served, and special thanks must go to all who helped in any way. It was good to have an opportunity to meet members of the choir after the performance, and they told us they’d enjoyed coming and would be very happy to come again. They liked the church and its acoustic, and something they particularly appreciated was the fact that they had an audience, where normally they sing Evensong with just a handful of people in the congregation. Let’s hope we’ll see and hear this excellent young choir back at St Edmund’s on future occasions.

My name is Tim Lowe and I have lived in Sedgefield all of my life.

Some of you will know me from playing in my bands 101 and Oasisjam or maybe you’ve seen me walking my Weimaraners. I recently completed my full service as a Police Officer and am ready for a new challenge.

Allow me to introduce to you “Flappy Dogs Sedgefield” professional dog walking service! I will be the trusted dog walker, taking dogs out in groups of 4 or solo walks, if required. I have recently completed the British College Of Canine Studies dog walking and dog sitting certificate which includes canine first aid.

I am fully insured and DBS checked. The van is ventilated with a professional cage system installed with fans for hot days. Fresh water is provided and treats where allowed!

I offer competitive rates and cover Sedgefield, Fishburn, Trimdons, Bishop Middleham and Wynyard. Contact me on 07986 388819 to arrange a friendly chat. I look forward to meeting you and your 4 legged friend!

Ferryhill Town Band recently won the North of England Brass Band Championships (Second Section) and will represent the North of England (a region stretching from Cleethorpes to the south, up to the Scottish Borders) at the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain. The band has also won promotion to the First Section from next year.

This is the second year in succession that the band have qualified for the national finals and is a great achievement, particularly as we have a young band including several students at school or in full time education.

Indeed, at the contest in March we also won the prize for fielding the youngest player in the competition, Ellen Mortimer!

The band is entirely self-financing – we no longer receive financial support from Ferryhill Town Council or any other organisation – and all of the costs associated with running the band (hire of rehearsal space, insurance, etc.) need to be funded through concert fees and other fundraising.

We are playing a number of concerts over the summer – including a concert at St Edmund’s Church in Sedgefield (see poster on Page 5) – and this will assist with our fundraising efforts. We have played in Sedgefield on many occasions over the last decade and really enjoy playing to the appreciative audience at St Edmunds. Everyone is welcome.

As part of our fundraising efforts we have also organised a recycling collection. Details of the items that will be accepted are included on the poster. The recycling can be dropped off at 4 Durham Road in Sedgefield – or can be collected.

Call 07753 470350 to arrange a collection. Every penny raised will help to support the band and brass music in the area.