Cancellations Covid-19 has had a significant impact on events for April and beyond. This is a list of cancelled events at the time of printing. As the months go on, please feel that you can still use this email to send messages to readers about your group or any plans you have in development.
Aircraft Restoration Group Open Cockpit Days, Monday 13th April & Sunday 10th May cancelled.
Ferryhill, Sedgefield & District Flower Club. All meetings until September 2020 have been cancelled.
Scouting Activities All face to face activities are on hold.
Sedgefield Farmers’ Market Cancelled until further notice
Sedgefield Harriers Training paused until further notice.
Sedgefield in Bloom All activities suspended including Northumbria in Bloom spring judging.
Sedgefield Youth FC Training sessions cancelled for the moment as per FA guidelines

Sedgefield Library
All libraries in Durham have closed but online services are available using an app called BorrowBox. Download the app onto your phone, tablet, or laptop, then use the number on your library card and your surname to register.

The rest is easy; e-books and audio books are there for you to use. For more details go to www.durham.gov.uk/ebooks.

St. Edmund’s Church
We have been advised by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York that, with immediate effect, there will be no services of public worship for the foreseeable future. This means that St. Edmund’s will not hold any services until further notice.

Sedgefield Methodist Church
We have been advised by the Methodist Church to suspend all services of worship for the time being in line with Government guidance, and to that end, there will be no services in our Methodist Church until further notice. Other church meetings have also been cancelled/suspended. We look forward to catching up with everyone again soon.

The Hub
@Sedgefield Community College Closed until further notice.

Message from the Juicy Pear
Over the next few weeks if people have to self isolate and don’t have family/friends to help, we will try to deliver to people in Sedgefield. To order, please call 01740 622911 DURING THE AFTERNOON.
Your order will then be delivered late on the following day.

Event Posters

After COVID-19 would you like your event poster published here?
Just email us the poster and we can also add a link to your website or Facebook page. All for FREE!

Sedgefield Library

Check with the club for COVID-19 updates.
Usual Opening Hours:
Wednesdays: 9:30am-12:30pm
Thursdays: 10am-6pm
Fridays: 1pm-7pm
Saturdays: 9:30am-12:30pm

Thursdays 10:30-12:30: Basic computing, tailored to your needs.
Thursdays 2.15pm: ‘Boogie Beat’ Pre-school session. Booking reqd.
Craft Group: 1.30pm 2nd & 4th Friday
Book Circle: 2pm 3rd Friday. New members welcome. New Borrow Box Service. Download the app and gain access to audio e-books or audio books on computer, tablet or mobile phone. This is a free service to all our members. More information at the library. Summer Reading Challenge: Space Chase, limited spaces, please book

Tel: 03000 269521

---

The Hub

Sedgefield Community College
Closed due to COVID-19.
New Dance Generation: Monday U9s 5-5.45pm. Over 9s 5.45-6.30pm
Clubbercise:Tue 6.00pm
Zumba: Tue 6.30pm & Thurs 7pm
Blade Taekwondo: Sat 10.30am
Call 01740 617882 for all enquiries

---

Sedgefield Community Association

Ceddesfeld Hall is closed with immediate effect. In line with Government advice, relating to Coronavirus, COVID-19, Ceddesfeld Hall is closed from Tuesday 17th March, initially for two months. All SCA events up to mid July have been cancelled. Very best wishes to all members and patrons of Ceddesfeld Hall.

---

Sedgefield Social Club

Check with the club for COVID-19 updates. Usually Entertainment every Saturday. Telephone Number: 01740 620591

---

St John Fisher Catholic Church

Check with the contacts for COVID-19 updates. Wed & Fri mornings, 9.45am. Sunday 10.45am with Children’s Liturgy in term time. Adoration on Thursday at 7pm. Legion of Mary meeting Friday mornings after Mass. To contact The Parish Office, email parishsecretary1961@btconnect.com

---

New Generation Church

Check here for COVID-19 updates.

---

One Step Forward Bereavement Support Group

Check with the contacts for COVID-19 updates. One Step Forward is a group offering mutual support after bereavement. We meet every Thursday from 3pm to 5pm in The Welcome Room in St. Edmund’s Church. Further details from Panny Pighills: 01740 620909/07443 423113

Sedgefield Methodist Hall Non-Profit Playgroup

Check with the contacts for COVID-19 updates. Mon, Wed & Thurs 9.30am - 11.30am in term time. For children aged 2 to 4. Contact Barbara Smith 01740 620923 or Jane Jones 01740 620893.

---

Youth Club

Check with the contacts for COVID-19 updates. Monday Evenings in Term Time. Parish Hall. Juniors (50p) 6-7pm, Seniors (£1) 7-8:30pm. Table tennis, Xbox, Playstation, tuck shop and more. For info email natalie@Sedgefieldtowncouncil.gov.uk

---

Sedgefield Tea Dance

Check with the contacts for COVID-19 updates. For information, call Joyce 01740 622601 or Ann 01740 629070

---

Fishburn Art Group

Check with the contacts for COVID-19 updates. Fishburn Art Group is looking for new members. The group meets every Monday from 9.30am till noon. Anyone interested is welcome to visit to see what goes on and meet members. For further info call Julie Underwood on 07770 972 988 or email underlogs@talktalk.net

---

Sew Easy Sessions

Check with the contacts for COVID-19 updates. Mon 6.30-9pm & Wed 1-4pm. Venue: Parish Hall Boardroom

Sedgefield in lockdown

Please accept a big thanks for the marvellous pictures & poems we have been sent after last month's request.

The weather has been mostly excellent during the lockdown & we have seen some really beautiful images like the sunset below, captured by Sharon Hodgson.

The reduction in noise and traffic has seen a marked increase in wildlife and Richard Jardine was kind enough to send us some of the pictures he has taken, like this friendly squirrel at Hardwick Park. We haven't had any paintings yet, but hopefully, as the colours continue to come out in the weeks ahead more of our readers will reach for the brushes!

Of course these are grave as well as hopeful times & Maureen Legender has captured what a lot of us are feeling in her composition 'A Jewel so Rare'.

We are anthologising our collected responses to the epidemic on our Facebook page. Please visit www.facebook.com/sedgefieldnews for more poetry & beautiful images of the local area. And of course, please keep sending in your work & brightening up our days.

---

Sedgefield Players

While the players remain unable to perform together, they are keeping their skills & spirits up with Zoom read-throughs. They hope to be able to publish a date soon for their next venture, but it all hinges on the next announcement from Downing Street. Keep checking Sedgefield News for updates(!)

---

Poet’s Corner-A Jewel So Rare

We all fall victim to the newest trends
At the press of a key we access our finds
The latest fashion and man made wants
But Covid 19 has cleared our minds.
An eye opener of a Springtime
Depleted of freedom of choice
Knowing now what’s important
Let everyone hear our voice.
Rid the oceans of plastic
Marine life are suffering neglect
Ban pollutants from the air
Conserve, clean up, protect.
Hoping we don’t take for granted
Our family, friends and good health
And the wonderful nature around us
That can’t be acquired through wealth.
In the years following twenty twenty
Be kind to each other and care
For this beautiful world we inhabit
Is a precious jewel so rare.
Maureen Legender

---

Norman Cornish online

Fans of the world-famous son of Spennymoor can now take a virtual tour of a recent exhibition entitled 'Norman Cornish: The Definitive Collection'.

Due to museum closures, the artworks and Cornish’s sketchbooks have been made available in films narrated by Norman's family free here: www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/Exhibitions/2019/Norman-Cornish-The-Definitive-Collection.

Cornish took his sketchbooks everywhere, directly capturing the daily life of his community to take back to his studio & produce finished pieces. They illuminate the detailed process that Cornish followed and the compositional changes that went into each finished work. The exhibition showcases the wide breadth of styles in which he worked, from vibrant views of bustling streets, reminiscent of Bruegel the Elder, to intimate family portraits and larger-than life bar-room scenes.

Hearing the work described by those who knew the man, with extra biographical details, offers an additional insight even to those already familiar with his output, and makes both films a must-watch for those of us who enjoy Norman’s work.