Northumberland communities - Berwick

Easter 2013 Christian Church Services in Berwick-upon-Tweed

2013-03-21T09:33:19Z

BERWICK BAPTIST CHURCH
29th March: 11.00am Good Friday Communion Service
31st March: 10.45am Easter Day Service
Theme: The Risen Lord said to them 'Do not be afraid' Matthew 28:10

ST ANDREWS WALLACE GREEN
28th March: 7.00pm Maundy Thursday Communion
29th March: 7.00pm Good Friday Service
31st March: 11.00am Family Easter Day Service

TWEEDMOUTH, SPITTAL AND SCREMERSTON
25th March: 6.00pm Evening prayer and reflection in St. John's Spittal
26th March: 6.00pm Evening prayer and reflection in St. Peter's Scremerston
27th March: 6.00pm Evening prayer and reflection in Tweedmouth Parish Church
28th March: 6.00pm Maundy Thursday - Informal Last Supper Holy Communion service with a shared meal in St John's, Spittal
29th March: 12.00 Devotional service of meditation on the Passion at St Peter's Scremerston
1.00pm Devotional service of meditation on the Passion at St John's Spittal
2.00pm Devotional service of meditation on the Passion at Tweedmouth Parish Church
31st March: 9.00am Holy Communion service at St John's Spittal
10.00am Holy Communion family service at Tweedmouth Parish Church
10.45am Holy Communion family service at St Peter's Scremerston
3.00pm Creative Church family party at St John's Spittal
6.00pm Songs of Praise for Easter at St John's Spittal

BERWICK URC and METHODIST CHURCHES.
28th March 7.00pm Maundy Thursday - united URC-Methodist communion service at URC in Spittal led by the Revd Keith Osborn.
29th March: 10.00am United URC-Methodist service at the Methodist Church, led by the Revd Rachel Poolman.
31st March: 8.00am Easter Sunday on the beach at Spittal, led by Mr Graham Ferguson.
10.45am Holy Communion at Walkergate
11.00am Communion Service at URC Spittal.

ROMAN CATHOLIC
28th March: 6.30pm Mass of the Lord's Supper;
29th March 10.30am Stations of the Cross
3.00pm Afternoon Service
30th March: 6.00pm Easter Vigil
31st March: 9.30am Mass

HOLY TRINITY, BERWICK
25th March: 7.00pm Reflection & Compline
26th March: 7.00pm Reflection & Compline
27th March: 7.00pm Reflection & Compline
28th March 10.00am Holy Communion
7.00pm Maundy Thursday Holy Communion and stripping of the altars
29th March: 10.00am Children's service with Hot Cross Buns
12.00 Reflecting on the seven words from the cross (Haydn)
2.00pm The Cross of Christ
30th March: 8.00pm Service of Holy Fire and baptismal vows renewal
31st March: 8.30am Holy Communion
10.00am Holy Communion
6.00pm Choral evensong and Holy Communion

Berwick shop windows to tell the Easter story

2013-03-21T09:26:55Z

The Christian story of Easter will feature in a walking trail of fifteen shop window displays through the centre of Berwick-upon-Tweed from Saturday 23rd March to Saturday 6th April.

Beginning and ending at the Tourist Information Office at 106 Marygate, the trail of prominently-displayed pictures is introduced and mapped on free sheets available there, with an explanation and reflection to accompany each picture.

A child-friendly version of the trail is also available and completed sheets will be rewarded with chocolate.

The Revd Ann Peters, Assistant Vicar of Tweedmouth, Spittal and Scremerston, said, "Churches Together in Berwick are very grateful to all the shops for their willingness to display the pictures and we hope that people will pause and reflect on the story - and perhaps pop into the shop as well and do some buying too."

On Good Friday (29th March) the pictures will be the focus of the Walk of Witness by members of all the local churches. This will begin at approximately 10.40am outside the Methodist Church on Walkergate and end up outside the Advertiser offices on Marygate at 11.00am with a short service. People may join the walk at any stage and also join in the singing too.

EASTER CELEBRATIONS AND MEDITATIONS

2012-03-27T10:46:07Z

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, BERWICK

APRIL 2-4 (Monday to Wednesday)

7.00 3 RELECTIONS ON CHARACTERS ON THE WAY OF THE CROSS (including Simon of Cyrene, Joseph of Aramathea, The Centurion and the Thief etc) WITH COMPLINE

APRIL 5 (Maundy Thursday)

10.00 and 7.00. HOLY COMMUNION

APRIL 6 (Good Friday) 10.00 CHILDRENS SERVICE

12.00- 3.00 CHARACTERS OF THE PASSION (Peter, Judas, Mary,Caiaphas,Herod and Pilate)AND (2.00 with the Choir) FROM OLIVET TO CALVARY

APRIL 7 (Easter Saturday) 7.00 HOLY FIRE AND RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL PROMISES

APRIL 8 EASTER DAY 8.15 and 10.00 HOLY COMMUNION

6.00 EVENSONG

ST. PAUL'S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, SPITTAL

8.00am Beach service (Graham Ferguson) followed by breakfast at the church

11.00am Easter Morning Family Worship with Holy Communion led by Graham Ferguson

6.00pm Evening Worship (informal) led by Revd Tony Ritchie

UNITED SERVICES

Maundy Thursday service at Berwick URC (St Paul's, Spittal) but led by Methodists 7.00pm

Good Friday Service at Methodist Church 10.00am- Preacher: Revd Rachel Poolman (Holy Island).

Easter Sunday Ecumenical Service (URC/Anglicans) 11.30am led by Revd. Rob Kelsey in Berwick URC Horncliffe Centre.

ST ANDREWS CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, WALLACE GREEN

Maundy Thursday communion: 7pm

Good Friday: 7pm

Easter Sunday: 11am

OUR LADY AND ST CUTHBERT RC CHURCH

Saturday Easter Eve Vigil at 8pm

Easter Sunday; Mass at 9am and 10.30am

PARISHES OF TWEEDMOUTH, SPITTAL AND SCREMERSTON

Monday at 6pm. Evening Prayer with a short meditation, Tweedmouth.

Tuesday at 6pm. Evening Prayer with a short meditation, Scremerston.

Wednesday at 10.00am. Holy Communion followed by coffee, Tweedmouth.

Wednesday at 6pm. Evening Prayer with a short meditation, Spittal.

Maundy Thursday at Tweedmouth. 6pm. Holy Communion and meditation, followed by a shared supper in The Parish Church hall.

Good Friday at St. John's, Spittal. 12.30- 3pm A service of reflection and hymns, during which The Revd Richard Ferguson will narrate his translation of Mark's Gospel by heart.

Easter Sunday 9.00am Holy Communion, St. John's, Spittal.

10.00am. Holy Communion, Tweedmouth.

10.45am. Holy Communion, Scremerston.

EASTER CELEBRATIONS AND MEDITATIONS

2012-03-27T10:28:12Z

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, BERWICK
APRIL 2-4 (Monday to Wednesday)
7.00 3 RELECTIONS ON CHARACTERS ON THE WAY OF THE CROSS (including Simon of Cyrene, Joseph of Aramathea, The Centurion and the Thief etc) WITH COMPLINE
APRIL 5 (Maundy Thursday)
10.00 and 7.00. HOLY COMMUNION
APRIL 6 (Good Friday) 10.00 CHILDRENS SERVICE
12.00- 3.00 CHARACTERS OF THE PASSION (Peter, Judas, Mary,Caiaphas,Herod and Pilate)AND (2.00 with the Choir) FROM OLIVET TO CALVARY
APRIL 7 (Easter Saturday) 7.00 HOLY FIRE AND RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL PROMISES
APRIL 8 EASTER DAY 8.15 and 10.00 HOLY COMMUNION
6.00 EVENSONG

ST. PAUL'S UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, SPITTAL
8.00am Beach service (Graham Ferguson) followed by breakfast at the church
11.00am Easter Morning Family Worship with Holy Communion led by Graham Ferguson
6.00pm Evening Worship (informal) led by Revd Tony Ritchie

UNITED SERVICES
Maundy Thursday service at Berwick URC (St Paul's, Spittal) but led by Methodists 7.00pm
Good Friday Service at Methodist Church 10.00am- Preacher: Revd Rachel Poolman (Holy Island).
Easter Sunday Ecumenical Service (URC/Anglicans) 11.30am led by Revd. Rob Kelsey in Berwick URC Horncliffe Centre.

ST ANDREWS CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, WALLACE GREEN.
Maundy Thursday communion: 7pm
Good Friday: 7pm
Easter Sunday: 11am

OUR LADY AND ST CUTHBERT RC CHURCH
Saturday Easter Eve Vigil at 8pm
Easter Sunday; Mass at 9am and 10.30am

PARISHES OF TWEEDMOUTH, SPITTAL AND SCREMERSTON
Monday at 6pm. Evening Prayer with a short meditation, Tweedmouth.
Tuesday at 6pm. Evening Prayer with a short meditation, Scremerston.
Wednesday at 10.00am. Holy Communion followed by coffee, Tweedmouth.
Wednesday at 6pm. Evening Prayer with a short meditation, Spittal.
Maundy Thursday at Tweedmouth. 6pm. Holy Communion and meditation, followed by a shared supper in The Parish Church hall.
Good Friday at St. John's, Spittal. 12.30- 3pm A service of reflection and hymns, during which The Revd Richard Ferguson will narrate his translation of Mark's Gospel by heart.
Easter Sunday 9.00am Holy Communion, St. John's, Spittal.
10.00am. Holy Communion, Tweedmouth.
10.45am. Holy Communion, Scremerston.

Christmas 2011 in Berwick's Churches: Come and see what it is all really about.

2011-12-09T15:17:50Z

Tweedmouth Parish Church
24th December 6.00pm Carols by candlelight - singing traditional carols and Hearing the Christmas readings
25th December 10.00am Parish Communion
St John's: Spittal
24th December 3.00pm Instant nativity play with carols - children are welcome to come ready dressed to be part of the play - no rehearsals needed
25th December 9.00am Parish Communion
United Reformed Church: Spittal
25th December 9.45am Christmas Morning Service
St Peter's: Scremerston
24th December 11.30pm Midnight Communion - for the first Christmas Communion
St Andrew's Wallace Green & Lowick
24th December 2.30pm Christmas Eve Service (LOWICK)
11.15pm Christmas Eve Service with carol singing
25th December 10.00am Christmas Day Service
Methodist Church: Walkergate
24th December 11.15pm Candlelight service (MILLFIELD)
25th December 10.00am Christmas morning Celebration
Roman Catholic Church: Ravensdowne
24th December 10.00am Confessions
6.30pm Family Mass
12.00pm Midnight Mass
25th December 10.00am Christmas Day Mass
Baptist Church: Golden Square
25th December 11.00am Christmas Day Service
Salvation Army: Church Street
24th December 11.30pm Carols by candlelight
25th December 10.00am Come & Join the Celebration
Berwick Parish Church
24th December 6.00pm Crib Blessing & Carols for Families
7.00pm Candle lit Carols & Lessons
11.30pm Midnight Communion
25th December 8.30am Holy Communion
10.00am Family Communion

Berwick's Maltings theatre announces gala farewell

2011-11-22T18:14:34Z

Sent in by The Maltings Theatre. To see your news featured email northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk

The Maltings Theatre & Cinema has announced a very special event to celebrate the contribution of chief executive Dr Miles Gregory, who steps down in December to move abroad with his family to New Zealand.

"The Show Must Go On - A Gala Tribute in Honour of Miles Gregory" will take place on Tuesday 6th December at 7pm in the Main House Theatre. The evening will feature a varied line-up of entertainment, music, laughs and tributes and is sure to be enjoyed by all. After the show, the celebration will continue into the night in the Stage Door Bar and Henry Travers Studio with music, dancing and much merriment.

Any further details are being kept hush-hush by the organisers so as to not to spoil any surprises that might be in store for the guest of honour and his wife, Barbara "Bob" Gregory.

At Miles's request, the event will serve as an important fundraiser for the theatre - proceeds raised from the evening's ticket sales will go directly towards the refurbishment of the theatre's basement to create a new, second studio space for rehearsals, classes and performance. It is hoped the refurbishment will be complete by the end of this year.

In his three-year tenure as chief executive and artistic director, Miles has played a pivotal role in The Maltings' astonishing transformation into the premiere venue for live performance and film in north Northumberland and the Scottish Borders. Head of the Board, Maurice Ward, said, "Miles's contribution to the theatre and the community over the past three years is immeasurable.

"This evening will give the community an opportunity to express its appreciation and bid Miles a proper, formal farewell. I encourage everyone to join us for a what will be a lovely and fun-filled evening, and to help support the worthy cause of creating a much-needed additional studio at The Maltings."

Head of marketing & development and film programming, Tamiko Mackie, added, "Since Miles announced his departure we've been inundated with enquiries about whether there would be some kind formal tribute or event for Miles. That's how the idea for this gala show began and we anticipate a great response. I, for one, am really looking forward to the night - the more the merrier!"

Tickets for "The Show Must Go On - A Gala Tribute in Honour of Miles Gregory" are £12 / £10 concession and can be booked online at www.maltingsberwick.co.uk or by ringing the Box Office 01289 330 999. Dress code is "come as you are". Enquiries should be directed to marketing@maltingsberwick.co.uk.

Where does the wildlife go?

2011-11-07T13:42:28Z

Written by Kevin O'Hara, conservation officer at Northumberland Wildlife Trust

Where do they all go in winter? - Part 1

Recently I felt the first twangs of winter; the 'first frost' gripped my garden, the chickens came skidding out of their ark, and I had to break the ice on their drinking water. I really like those first days, when we still have some daylight left to enjoy the wonderful colours and smells. I take the camera and binoculars with me when I walk the dogs, keeping an eye out for winter thrushes or other visitors. The clocks have altered and we start the long haul of winter - not until February will some real light return to the sky, and warmth to the sun.

It is during these months that we wonder where, exactly, many of our resident wildlife species go to survive the coldest and wettest days of winter, especially those that are more delicate and less mobile.

We may have an idyllic mental image of a hibernating hedgehog (unless you're my terrier, Brock) cosily curled up under the garden shed, but other UK creatures avoid the chill in very varied and often surprising ways.

In the North East the weather is more variable than the rest of the country and our continental neighbours, upland birds such as red grouse, need only make temporary altitudinal movements, generally returning to higher ground once the snow relents. However, with snow lying longer on the hills they often move to the tops where drifting snow exposes the best feed.

Relief from the winter cold is also afforded by migration to salt water. For example, the kingfishers from the Blyth and Wansbeck disappeared over the last couple of winters, but I regularly saw kingfishers in the estuaries and along the open rocky shoreline.

The golden plover's breeding grounds in the Pennines seem remarkably empty after the birds leave together. They abandon the open moors to winter on the coast, some pushing as far south as Sussex and in extreme weather, over the channel to France.

The grey partridge is a highly sedentary bird and whilst I have been heartened by the number present in my local area this year, they will have a tough time in the open countryside this winter if it is a hard one again. This is why I keep banging on about good hedgerows and not flailing them to within an inch of their lives (plus maintaining a good field margin) - this is where these birds find shelter, food and warmth. Other residents, like the woodcock, whose numbers swell in the winter months with continental migrants readily make bad-weather-related movements. With great dependence on wetlands, most of our wildfowl and waders must constantly shift location in icy weather.

Amongst the species that truly hibernate to escape the winter cold, bats are the most well-known occupants of houses and other buildings; mostly roosting in the roof, but also sometimes (as in the case of my house), in the tiny spaces in the wall cavity. They will also roost under tiles, beneath lead flashing, in boiler rooms, cellars and service tunnels...anything that maintains a constant temperature and affords access to the outside world, and that replicates their natural hibernacula such as caves, trees and other enclosures.

I will be making the most of these last rays of light because I can't stand the dark winter nights. As a youngster it was a time for pranks and dares, but now health and safety, political correctness and a zero-tolerance society has put paid to nicky-knocky-nine-doors, apple bashing and dogging (the traditional pursuit of legging it through people's gardens unobserved, not the lewd public behaviour of some ex-football stars).

Besides, at 48 my days of out-running the local plod may have come to an end. I content myself with using my rowing machine in the conservatory whilst staring at the grey skies, shooting defenceless pigeons around my farmer friends' fields, days out walking my dogs (avoiding hibernating hedgehogs), and a bit of photography and writing.

Berwick Asked to Create 21st Century Cyber Bible

2011-09-29T14:20:46Z

This Autumn, people in North Northumberland will have the chance to quite literally make their own mark on history. A national scheme marking the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible is offering the chance to create a very 21st century cyber bible - and Berwick has been chosen as one of the staging posts for this important project.

The People's Bible is exactly what is says, it is written for the people by the people. Anyone will be able to write at least selected two verses using digital pens in the specially created cyberpods which will be in Berwick Town Hall on Sunday 30th October and Monday 31st October. Their verses will be available to see both on-line and later in a published version creating a unique legacy for future generations.

The People's Bible began its tour in Edinburgh in June and already a host of famous names have added their own contribution including HRH Prince Charles, Television Presenters Aled Jones and Sally Magnussen and actor Sir Timothy West.

The project, a joint venture between Bible Society in England and Wales and the Scottish Bible Society, is currently touring through shopping centres, supermarket carparks and venues across the country. When it stops in Berwick, residents will have the chance to add to their own personalised passages to those of thousands of people of all ages, backgrounds and beliefs.

The reason Berwick has been chosen as one of the stopping points is thanks to Belford resident Ann Tunnard and her daughter Felicity Sweeney from Coldstream. They heard about the project and approached the organisers. Ann comments, "We were delighted when the People's Bible agreed to come to Berwick. The King James Bible is still one of the world's most important books and this is a great chance for people to contribute to a piece of national and perhaps even international history."

For more information about the People's Bible please visit www.thepeoplesbible.org For information on the Berwick event please contact Felicity Sweeney on 01890 883 295 or felicitysweeney@gmail.com

Berwick Food Festival will be a Feast for all the Senses

2011-09-03T16:32:44Z

Now in its fourth year, this year's Berwick Food Festival promises to be a feast for all the senses. On Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th September at the town's historic Barracks, visitors will be able to taste local produce, touch newly spun wool, smell the mouth watering aromas in the demo kitchen, see heritage breed animals, hear great music and much more.

Festival Director Lisa Wilson says: " We have tried to offer something that will appeal to all the local community and the many people who spend their holidays in Berwick. Once again the festival has only been made possible by people giving up an enormous amount of time and I would like to thank Graham Head and the Slow Food committee, English Heritage, Berwick Events Group and all our suppliers, stall holders, sponsors and volunteers. This year's festival will see some activities back by popular demand as well as plenty of new things to see and do."

North Northumberland and the Scottish Borders now have a thriving food scene and this year there are more stalls than ever in the Producers' Market. Brimming with produce, they will feature hand crafted cheeses, locally reared meats, free range eggs, hand made preserves, locally caught fish and seafood, home baked bread, pies and preserves, cakes and chocolates and locally grown vegetables. There will also be kitchen equipment and a range of fair trade and organic produce.

In addition a whole range of organisations will be on hand to offer advice on everything from cutting household food waste to conserving wildlife. There will also be chance to get a personal MOT from The Healthy Initiative. New for this year will be the Oxfam Campaign stall showing how we can support communities that don't have the wealth of produce we enjoy in our region. The Co-operative Trailer will feature its From Farm to Fork Campaign, which helps children find out more about how their food is grown and its Plan Bee campaign to save the honey bee.

Throughout the weekend, local chefs and producers will be showing people how to prepare and cook the produce they buy at the festival.

Jack Smith from the Queen's Head Hotel will be making a terrine of Berwick Lobster and red Mullet followed by Doddington Rack of Lamb while Morgan Whitelegg from the The Barn at Beal will cook Lime Tempura with Northumberland Scallops and Samphire followed by Pot Roast Brockmill Farm (Beal) Pheasant and a Chocolate Orange Souffle. They will be joined by John Forestier form the Wheatsheaf at Swinton cooking Pan Seared Turbot, Puy Lentil and Pancetta Casserole and grilled Scottish Langoustine with lemon butter sauce. Katrina Reynolds from the Allanton Inn will demonstrate how to put together a seafood platter to tempt the tastebuds.

The much-loved Jimmy the Lamb Man will be demystifying the best ways to cook different cuts of local lamb and Willy Robson from Chainbridge Honey Farm will talk about his work as a beekeeper and the secrets behind their delicious honey. Throughout the weekend there will be plenty of fun with the festival's own version of Ready Steady Cook with a few well known local faces.

Just as important is where our food comes from and back by popular demand will be the Animal Farm. With assistance from local farms and sponsorship from Renton Swan Vets, visitors will be able to see many rare historic breeds close up including Tamworth Pigs from Peelham Farm in Foulden, Saddleback Pigs from Hunting Hall, Middle White Pigs and Shetland Sheep from Lowick High Steads, some miniature Donkeys and back by popular demand the Barnacre Alpacas from Hartburn near Morpeth.

There will be a display of Traditional Breed fleeces and wools from the Wool Board in Galashiels organised by Jean Bennett. Jean and her team of spinners will be on hand throughout the weekend to demonstrate wool crafts and to answer questions. The local Sheep Tales Project managed by community arts organisation Think Make Grow in partnership with the North Northumberland Mission Partnership of the United Reformed Church will display some of the artwork produced by local school children as part of its ongoing work to record the heritage of sheep farming in the region.

This recording of our food production and heritage has always been an important part of the festival. This year Berwick historian Derek Sharman, will introduce the imaginative new initiative Mouth of the Tweed led by local businesses and community organisations including Slow Food Berwick and the Berwick Cittaslow Committee.

The aim is to develop and promote the town's unique heritage of producing and processing food and drink, in the past and the present.

A network of food related locations, activities and enterprises is being created that will add substantially to Berwick's attractions as a distinctive place to live in and to visit. In addition the team from Gunsgreen House will be on hand to explain more about the restoration of this former smugglers palace in the Borders and talk about a time when tea was taxed at 120%!

Throughout the summer Helen Henderson of the Fenton Centre has been collecting traditional family recipes as part of a Slow Food Slow Wisdom Project, the recipes will be on display at the Slow Food stand and the winning recipe will be demonstrated in the Slow Food kitchen.

New for this year will be the Slow Food Cinema screening a series of short food related films. Mainly covering the more serious issues around food, they will focus on Fair Trade, projects to alleviate global poverty and world farming practices. There will also be special screenings of Babette's Feast at the Maltings on September 8th and Ratatouille on September 11th supported by Berwick Film Society and Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival. David Foxton will be serving a specially inspired evening menu at his theatre restaurant from September 8th -10th.

Starting lunchtime Friday 10th September, a Beer Festival organised by Borders based DM Event Catering will once again feature an amazing line up of beers and ciders. At least 11 award winners will be on hand pull including the Champion Beer of Scotland, the CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain and a host of other UK and world medal winners. Delicious catering will be available in the Barracks courtesy of Café Curio who will offer a range of light meals including sandwiches filled with local produce, Berwick Fish Chowder in an edible bread bowl and a Northumberland Ploughman's Lunch. Well Hung & Tender will have a range of burgers based on their unique tasting, award winning Scottish beef and there will be a Hog Roast courtesy of the Great Northumberland Bread Company.

Berwick Food Festival will take place at The Barracks, Berwick-upon-Tweed from 10.00-17.00 on September 10th and 11th. Entrance is £2 for Adults, Children under 12 Free and includes entrance to the Barracks Museums and all festival activities. Funding for Berwick Food Festival is being made available from Berwick Town Council, The Co-operative and Renton Swan Vets. Anyone wishing to find out more about the weekend should visit the main festival website www.berwickfoodfestival.com

Festivals Merge to Create Food on Film

2011-08-30T17:29:57Z

In a unique collaboration, this year's Berwick Food Festival will combine both food and film. Bringing together the Berwick Food Festival on 10th & 11th September and the Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival on 23-25 September, there will be two Food on Film screenings at The Maltings Theatre and Cinema and a mini Slow Food cinema on the festival site itself.

The screenings at the Maltings Theatre in Berwick-upon-Tweed will include Babette's Feast which will be shown on Thursday 8th September at 8.00pm and a special showing of the popular children's film Ratatouille at 10.30am on Sunday 11th September. And for those who keep their ticket stubs from either film, there will also be free entrance in to the food festival.

The film events have been organised by Slow Food member Joe Lang, who explains the background to the two events: "It's great that we have been able to bring these two art forms and events together for the first time. You can't taste food on film, and you can't smell it - but as the huge success of food programmes on TV proves, we also eat with our eyes. Both the films are a visual treat - one for adults, and one for the whole family."

The showing of Babette's Feast is a rare opportunity to see this Oscar winning masterpiece directed by Gabriel Axel and starring Stéphane Audran. Set in a remote Jutland village, the gently comic tale shows the transformative power of food when Babette, a political refugee from Paris, opens hearts and minds and heals old divisions with a village feast that generates an atmosphere of sheer joy. Described by one critic as "a bizarre, magical concoction, seasoned to literally mouth watering effect," the film triggered a craze in America for restaurant re-creations of Babette's banquet.

The showing of Ratatouille is part of The Maltings' ongoing Sunday morning film programme for families. The tale is set in the sewers beneath Auguste Gusteau's elegant but fading Paris restaurant, where misfit rat Remy dreams of becoming a great chef. No one wants a rat in their kitchen, so he teams up with hopeless kitchen assistant Linguini. Together, they develop some fabulous dishes as they set out to restore Gusteau's reputation and legacy. This great family film won a Best Animation Oscar and four other nominations. The fantastic depiction of food results from the film-makers, Pixar, consulting gourmet chefs, attending cookery schools and employing a professional chef as part of the production team. They developed new techniques to bring the ingredients and dishes to life and the dish the rats cook for the film's climax was specially created by one of America's most famous gourmet chef-proprietors.

In addition to these screenings, a series of short food related films will be shown at the Berwick Food Festival. Mainly covering the more serious issues around food, they will focus on Fair Trade, projects to alleviate global poverty and world farming practices.

Lisa Wilson of Berwick Slow Food concludes, "This is a great example of different events and organisations working together to provide a great event for Berwick. I would like to thank Joe Lang and the teams at The Maltings Theatre and the Film Festival for their hard work in making these exciting events happen. We are looking forward to welcoming as many people as possible to the screenings and to the Berwick Food Festival this September."

Following the festival, there will be a further opportunity to enjoy food and film when the Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival is inviting people to enjoy a showing of the first ever screen adaptation of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland from 1903 which was restored last year by the British Film Institute. In their very own version of the Mad Hatter's Tea Party film goers will also get to enjoy cream tea at Café Curio in Bridge Street.

Babette's Feast will be shown at 8.00pm on Thursday 8th September, tickets £5. Ratatouille will be shown at 10.30am on Sunday 11th September, tickets from £2.50 (under-3s free). To book please contact The Maltings Theatre on Tel. 01289 330999 or visit www.maltingsberwick.co.uk

For further information on the food festival please visit www.berwickfoodfestival.com

BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY: 25th September 2011

2011-08-28T15:46:53Z

Back to Church Sunday is now the largest single local-church invitational initiative in the world. It is based on the simplest and shortest step in evangelism - that we should invite someone we already know to something we love; invite our friend to our church. The initial focus was to invite 'back' those who used to attend, but we want to ensure that anyone who doesn't currently attend can be guaranteed an especially warm welcome.

The main focus is on the personal invitation of one church member to one friend. Back to Church Sunday raises a high media profile as tens of thousands of Christians offer this invitation at the same time.

In Berwick-upon-Tweed some of the Churches are putting on special events. Others chose to continue with their regular services. Either way, the most important part of the day will be to offer a warm and honest welcome to people.

St Andrew's Wallace Green and Lowick Church of Scotland, Berwick-upon-Tweed will be open all day. Starting with a Family Service at 11am and concluding with Desert Island Hymns at 6pm, the Kirk will remain open all day offering a light meal (soup, bread and something sweet), tea, coffee or juice. There will be activities for youngsters and a quiet room set aside for prayer, or just a bit of peace. This is an opportunity to come and see what the church can be like not only during worship and also at other times. We are hoping that it will be a lively day with the buzz of members and visitors appreciating a small part of Christ's work in the town. If you have only half-an-hour or are prepared to stay all day, you would be made very welcome.

Beer Festival Pulls World Champion Ales

2011-08-24T11:14:18Z

Real ale drinkers will most definitely not be disappointed with a visit to Berwick-upon-Tweed from September 9th-11th for the town's fourth annual Beer Festival.

Organised by Reston based DM Event Catering alongside the annual Berwick Food Festival, they have once again put together a fantastic range of champion beers.

Festival visitors will be able to sample the Champion Beer of Scotland, the CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain and a host of other UK and world medal winners.

Organiser David Cree from DM Event Catering says: "The Berwick Beer Festival continues to go from strength to strength and we are delighted to be able to offer some of the best beers in the world for people to try. There will be a real variety in flavours from light and floral to those with a more full bodied flavour so we hope that everyone will get chance to try something new this year."

At least 11 of the beers from the huge range on offer are award winners. Berwick-upon-Tweed has a long involvement with the beer industry even the town's name is derived from the Old English for barley farm so this selection of modern beers crafted using traditional methods couldn't have found a better backdrop. And for those worried they may not get to try them all, drinks will be available in third of a pint measures so that discerning drinkers can research their favourite!

At the bar Cuillin Beast, the Champion Beer of Scotland from the Isle of Skye Brewing Company whose undertones of fruit, sweetness and caramel belie its 7% strength is joined by the light and golden Jarl from Fyne Ales voted Overall Scottish Champion Beer by the Society of Independent Brewers Association. The appropriately named Oscar Wilde from the Might Oak Brewery was voted this year's CAMRA champion beer of Britain for its depth of character. There will also be four award winning ales from the Highland Brewing Company - Orkney Blast, Orkney Best and Dark Munro and Orkney IPA which won them an international gold medal in 2011.

From the Brewdog Brewery will be 5am Saint voted the Champion Craft Beer in a Keg this year by the SIBA and Trashy Blond, former winner of the Tesco Drinks Award. And making their way from the international stage to Berwick are Leghorn and YPA from Roosters Brewery, the gold and silver medal summer ales at the World Beer Cup in Chicago.

Further choices will be provided courtesy of the Scottish Borders Brewery, Stewart Brewing Company and the Hadrian & Borders, Allandale and Oakham Breweries. There will also be a range of local ciders from the Thistly Cross Cider Company which in addition to its classic brew includes a range of fruit ciders flavoured with berries from the nearby Belhaven Fruit Farm.

The festival will be held in the Marquee on The Parade opposite the entrance to the town's Barracks Square which hosts the Food Festival activities. On Saturday night, from 8.00pm DJ Tony Riddell will be back by popular demand. Once again he will be aiming to fill the dance floor with his favourite R & B and Northern Soul tunes and a selection of hits that promises something for everybody in the family.

The Beer Festival will be open from noon to 11pm on 9th & 10th September and from noon to 7pm on September 11th. Entrance is free anyone interested in finding out more about the Beer and Food Festivals should visit www.berwickfoodfestival.com or www.dmeventcatering.co.uk

Your Photos: Berwick Town Walls

2011-08-18T13:37:50Z

Allen Waugh sent in some of his pictures taken around the Berwick Town Walls.

Send your pictures to northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk to see them on this site.

Grab Your Granny's Recipe

2011-08-13T08:38:51Z

Has your favourite chocolate cake recipe been passed down the family for generations? Do you always cook your lamb casserole the way your Mum taught you? If so Slow Food Berwick on Tweed would love to hear from you.

As part of its Slow Wisdom Campaign to pass food knowledge between generations they are now collecting these family favourites. The recipes will be displayed and a winning selection demonstrated at this year's Berwick Food Festival on September 10th -11th.

Slow Food is a global organisation which takes the protection of our food heritage very seriously. The Slow Wisdom Campaign particularly focuses on preserving family recipes and cooking methods so they can be passed on to future generations. Slow Food will be collecting recipes over the summer and a team of volunteers will be busy testing them out. The best will be displayed at the Berwick Food Festival and the winners will be invited to help cook their recipes in the Demo Kitchen with a professional chef.

The project is being co-ordinated by Helen Henderson. A member of the Slow Food Committee and co-owner of the Fenton Centre is Wooler, she explains the importance of the project, "Taking time to teach the younger generation to cook fosters good eating habits and a positive attitude to food from an early age. Many of us look to our parents and grandparents for advice and inspiration and we want to celebrate the wealth of knowledge we have in the region. I use at least three of my father's recipes every Sunday when we do Sunday lunch in the Fenton Centre and I'm now passing them onto to my children so I understand the importance of teaching people to cook in this way."

Slow Food Berwick plans to get all generations of the community involved including individual members of the public, schools and community groups such Guides, Scouts and The Women's Institute. Helen and her team will be visiting a number of groups to talk about the project and give cookery demonstrations and would be delighted to hear from any groups who would like to get involved.

During the week after the festival Barry Smith, Store Manager of the Co-operative in Berwick upon Tweed has agreed to display the recipes on the community notice board and then there are plans to incorporate them into a Slow Food recipe book in time for Christmas.

For more information please email SlowWisdomRecipe@hotmail.co.uk or contact The Fenton Centre, West Fenton, NE716JL

Food Festival on Track for Stallholder Sell Out

2011-08-10T10:34:27Z

With just five weeks to go to this year's Berwick Food Festival, organisers are delighted to report that stalls are virtually sold out. Once again, on the 11th & 12th September, locals and visitors will have chance to try and taste some of the finest produce from across Northumberland and the Scottish Borders.

Lisa Wilson from Berwick's Slow Food Group which organises the festival says, "We are particularly delighted by the response this year, as the plan stands at the moment, I only have a couple of stalls left and am still receiving lots of enquiries. We all know it has been a tough economic year so this really is a testament to our thriving local food scene. We are pleased to see the return of many companies who have supported the event from the beginning along with some new stallholders who will be at the festival for the first time."

Once again the festival will give visitors the chance to do their weekly shop but with the important difference that they can meet the people who have actually made it. On offer will be handmade cheeses, fresh herbs and vegetables, ice cream, sweets and puddings, home baked bread, cakes and pies, seafood, lamb, beef, poultry and eggs, jams, preserves and honey, liqueurs and English wine. A range of local cooks and chefs will also be on hand throughout the event with tips on preparing and cooking this produce.

Lisa continues, "We are also very happy to have the support of local businesses to help demonstrate the background to our food production in the region. Renton Swan Swan Vets have agreed to sponsor the Animal Farm which is back by popular demand and The Co-operative will have its educational trailer on site to highlight a range of environmental and food production issues."

The Animal Farm, is always one of the highlights of the festival and once again people will be able to see at first hand some popular rare breed pigs and sheep as well as the alpacas who have adapted so well to our climate.

The popular Co-operative Trailer will also be back at the Barracks. This year it will feature the From Farm to Fork Campaign which helps children find out more about how their food is grown. Whitsome Hill Farm in the Borders is one of the many farms taking part in a project which has hosted over 40,000 school children. In addition the Plan Bee campaign will be showing how we can help save the honey bee from choosing specific plants for our gardens to taking up bee keeping.
The 4th annual Berwick Food Festival will take place on September 11th & 12th and the organisers would also be interested to hear from anyone who might be interested in helping with stewarding. In addition to the Producers' Market, Cookery Demonstrations and Animal Farm there will heritage displays, health checks, delicious catering and also a Beer Festival organised by DM Event Catering.

For more information please email thefreelancefoodie@hotmail.co.uk or visit www.berwickfoodfestival.com