SCA was delighted to host a special evening with the John Wrightson Band and Friends. Thank you to Joan Edmundson, John and the band, Dave Walker, John Weighall, Eric Duggan, Sammy and John, Trevor Bond, Maggie and Jeff, and Whisky and Wine. Thanks also to Richard Flannagan on the sound. It was a fantastic evening with all proceeds from ticket sales and a raffle (£630) going to James Cook Oncology department.

Springtime community events – Save the date!

Easter Monday – 21 April - Easter Picnic and Easter Egg Hunt - 2pm to 4pm Always great fun, the egg hunt (with chocolate and sweet prizes) is for children under 12 years old on the lawns. There will be decorated eggs and Easter bonnet competitions, with prizes for all ages. Families are welcome to bring their own picnic and the bar will open from 1:30pm to 4pm.

SCA Spring Quiz Night – Saturday 26 April – 7pm for 7:30pm
£10 per person to include pie and peas, with quiz master Peter Hinde – tickets from behind the bar, or from Pat, Sarah, or Peter. Teams of 6 or less, £10 per person. The SCA quiz is always very popular, so don’t be disappointed!

Mediaeval Fayre - Saturday 17 May - 10am to 4pm - Village Green and Ceddesfeld Hall and Lawns
The Fayre begins with the children’s walking parade from Burton Mews to the central performance arena on the village green. We’re expecting, ‘Dragons and Damsels’ this year, with Olaf the Ice Dragon and Princess Chardonnay adding a bit of extra magic to this special day! SCA will have two tombola stalls (bottles and gifts) while around the Green there will be new and varied craft, gift and food stalls as well as the traditional fun fair. Throughout the day, the mediaeval mayhem will continue with knights who will demonstrate their combat skills, local groups doing battle in the tug of war and a fantastic falconry display – not to be missed!

Ceddesfeld Lawns will be open, for everyone to enjoy ‘Walworth Birds of Prey’, True North Trades tool making, face painting, Marko’s circus skills, living history re-enactments, bucking bronco and more! Delicious hot and cold refreshments will be served throughout the day and the bar will be open.

Volunteers are essential!
SCA wholly rely on local people, community groups and businesses to get involved, to engage and volunteer support in making large events such as the Fayre sustainable and successful. Any financial sponsorship and support from local firms and businesses, as well as practical help with setting up, taking down, manning stalls, running activities etc, is very necessary, so please do get in touch if you can offer any support and help with the events.

Another great monthly meeting, when over 50 of our members gathered in the Parish Hall on the first Friday of the month to listen to an absorbing and motivating talk on the Durham Wildlife Trust.

With David Bellamy as one of the early rangers, and now supported by Sir David Attenborough, the Wildlife Trust play a very important part in protecting our natural heritage.

For 50 years Durham Wildlife Trust has been the leading conservation organisation dedicated to our local area, working to protect, enhance and promote wildlife and nature conservation in South Tyneside, Sunderland, Darlington, Gateshead and County Durham.

Owning and managing 50 nature reserves throughout the North East, they focus on work to restore Durham’s threatened habitats and species, and reconnect people with the natural world around them. While out and about in the coming months why not make it a reason to do your bit, perhaps calling into the West Rainton or Low Barns Reserves for ‘a tea and a wee!’ or offering your services as a volunteer at any of their other reserves.

Lots more details at durhamwt.com/what-we-do. Group meetings have been very quiet this month. With our demographic of retired people, however otherwise energetic and pro-active, we take care in the colder and less hospitable weather to stay closer to home; there have been no outside visits or trips away from Sedgefield during January and February other than by the intrepid members of the Lunch Group.

In January, they re-visited the Bay Horse in Middridge and enjoyed another lovely meal and in February will be eating at the Green Tree in Tudhoe Village. However, work does continue with other groups.

The Homes and Gardens Group have arranged their programme of visits until mid-summer, with many of them planning personal visits to Hardwick Park, Greatham or Kiplin Hall to see the wonderful snowdrop displays.

The Book Group have been investing in the volumes suggested for the next few months and our Scribes Group have embarked on their next project. The Photography Group will be planning their visits to outside venues. If you are interested in learning more about composing, shooting, editing or presenting your latest images, please do come along and join them at one of their meetings in Ceddesfeld Hall.

Whether you have one of the latest hi -spec cameras or a more pocketfriendly model our members would love to share their advice, knowledge and friendship. Do come along and have a chat. And that goes for all our groups! See the groups page on our website sedgefield.u3asite.uk.

Our next meeting will be on Friday 7 March in the Parish Hall from 2pm when Lynn Lamport will be returning to tell us all about ‘A Weaver Sent to War.’ Sounds intriguing! If you are retired or semi-retired, you are very welcome to join us. We look forward to meeting you then.