Acklington Parish - Acklington Community Team

ACKLINGTON
COMMUNITY
TEAM

THE BIRTH OF ACT

In November 2000 some parents of children at Acklington School thought it would be a good idea to form a group of people to oversee activities that would benefit the residents of Acklington and the surrounding area. They sent out a questionnaire to see whether there was sufficient support for this new venture. A positive response resulted in a meeting being called in Acklington School on 13th February 2001. Two dozen people (listed below) attended that initial meeting and a new community group was formed:

Grace
Dorothy
Teresa
Janet
David
Graham
John
June
Linda
Megan
Angie
Ann
Angela
Bob
Sheila
Marjorie
Alison
Rachel
June
Claire
Vera
Mark
Yvonne
Morag Aynsley
Bithell
Bolton
Brearley
Charnock
Cock
Davison
Davison
Gordon
Henderson
Howie
McDougall
Nicholson
Nicholson
Patterson
Selwood
Sharpe
Shutt
Smailes
Sygrove
Taylor
Vickers
Vickers
Wright

At first the group was called “Community Friends of Acklington” and subsequent meetings took place to discuss ideas, constitution, committee, fund-raising, etc.

The group’s name was changed to Acklington Community Team (ACT for short) and it was formally launched with a ceilidh in the village hall on 1st September 2001. The first chairperson of ACT, Claire Sygrove, said,

“I am very excited about what we hope to achieve as a community in Acklington. We know there are a few on-going activities taking place already but the village is growing and more amenities are needed if we are to build a real sense of community. To do this we have formed ACT. We have such a lot to do!”

THE CONSTITUTION

Please click on the link opposite to access the ACT constitution document.

NEXT ACT MEETING

Will be on Thursday 1st March 2012 at 7pm in Acklington Village Hall.
Everyone is welcome to attend

MINUTES OF MEETINGS

Please click on the date below to read the minutes from our most recent meetings.

• 12th January 2012
• 12th January 2012 AGM
• 10th November 2011
• 8th September 2011
• 19th July 2011
• 7th June 2011
• 18th May 2011
• 26th April 2011
• 5th April 2011
• 10th March 2011
• 13th January 2011 AGM
• 13th January 2011
• 11th November 2010
• 13th October 2010
• 16th September 2010
• 19th August 2010
• 28th June 2010
• 10th May 2010
• 18th March 2010
• 14th January 2010 (AGM)
• 14th January 2010
• 8th October 2009
• 10th August 2009
• 9th July 2009
• 7th May 2009
• 23rd April 2009
• 12th March 2009
• 15th January 2009 (AGM)
• 15th January 2009
• 6th Nove mber 2008
• 3rd September 2008
• 17th June 2008
• 22nd April 2008
• 1st April 2008
• 12th March 2008
• 19th February 2008
• 17th January 2008 (AGM)
• 17th January 2008
• 3rd September 2007
• 30th October 2007
• 2nd July 2007
• 9th May 2207
• 3rd April 2007
• 27th February 2007
• 16th January 2007 (AGM)

OFFICIALS

2001
Chairman Secretary Treasurer	Claire Sygrove Teresa Bolton Yvonne Vickers

2002
Chairman Secretary Treasurer	Lynda Hastie Linda Gordon Yvonne Vickers

2003
Chairman Secretary Treasurer	Lynda Hastie Linda Gordon Yvonne Vickers

2004
Chairman Secretary Treasurer	Lynda Hastie Linda Gordon Yvonne Vickers

2005
Chairman Secretary Treasurer	Alison Sharpe Emma Birch Yvonne Vickers

2006
Chairman Secretary Treasurer	Alison Sharpe Barbara King Sharon Thorpe

2007
Chairman Secretary Treasurer	Louise Hall Barbara King Sharon Thorpe

2008
Chairman Secretary Treasurer	Louise Hall Barbara King Violet Currie

2009
Chairman Secretary Treasurer	William Rowntree Barbara King Violet Currie

2010
Chairman Secretary Treasurer	William Rowntree Lorna Budge Violet Currie

2011
Chairman Secretary Treasurer	William Rowntree Lorna Budge Violet Currie

2012
Chairman Secretary Treasurer	Tessa Sayers Lorna Budge Violet Currie

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY.....

Saturday 14th April
Indian Supper Night
Acklington Village Hall
£10 per person
Maximum of 50 people so get there first
Courtesy of Chris & Tessa Sayers
Further details to follow

Saturday 24th March
Annual Village Clean Up
10am - 12 noon
Meet at Village Hall
Protective Clothing & Equipment provided

Saturday 5th May
Annual Table Top Sale
10am - 12 noon
Tables £5 each
Contact 01670 761451 to book a table

17 January 2013
ACT AGM

COMMUNITY BOOKLET

Acklington Community Team produces a booklet... particularly for newcomers to the parish. These booklets have been very well received and an updated copy can be viewed by clicking on the picture.

GALLERY

Below are some pictures from the "Parish Clean Up Days" which ACT organises from time to time.

Below is a colourful picture from one of the popular May Day Table Top Sales

Below are some images from the Open Gardens event of July 2006

Below are two images from the Queen's Golden Jubilee Celebrations in 2002 - The Village Tractor Float and the Male v Female Tug of War.

NEW ACT PROJECTS

ACT is always looking to improve our community and enhance the quality of life for all parishioners. At present the team is working on updating an information pack for all households in the parish. It is felt that this will be particularly useful to newcomers moving into the parish. New ideas are always welcome and if you would like to support the work of the community team then please attend one of our meetings in the village hall (all welcome) or ring our secretary on 01670 761446 for more information.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

SOME OF THE MANY SUCCESSES OF ACT

ACT GAMES NIGHT - 28th January 2012

There was a lot of fun and laughter at the recent games night, which had been one of the events suggested by the community. Sadly, only 16 adults and 2 children turned up. However, as can be seen from the photographs, those that did attend had a really enjoyable evening.

ACT CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR - 4th December 2011

The Acklington Community Team kick-started the festive season for the village on the 4th December with a Christmas Craft Fair in the Village Hall.
There were fourteen stalls with a dazzling array of top quality hand-crafted goods including home made ginger wine, textiles such as cushions and door stops, children’s soft toys, wooden and metal Christmas decorations, natural bath and body products, patchwork goods, a jewellery stall whose proceeds were going to the Oncology Department of the Freeman, fabric bags, candles, wood-turned ornaments, and handknitted scarves. One visitor remarked that she wished she had not already done her Christmas shopping! There certainly was something available for everyone.
Christmas decorations adorned all the stalls and the refreshment tables, and the Hall sparkled and glistened, the Christmas atmosphere enhanced by soft background Christmas music.
As usual, the refreshment table groaned with delicious cakes home made by members of the ACT team, and there was a good variety of raffle prizes to be had.
The event had been advertised throughout the district and it was good to welcome many visitors from outside the village.
The amount of £325 was raised through the hire of stalls, refreshments and raffle, which after the hall hire cost is taken out, will be donated to the Hall Refurbishment Fund.
Don’t miss next year’s Fair!

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PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION September 2011

Back by popular request, this year's photographic exhibition (held over two days to coincide with Acklington Church's 150th anniversary celebrations) proved to be an extremely successful and well attended event. The photographs were displayed in eleven categories and numerous people commented upon the outstanding quality of photographs on show again this year.

Voting slips were available for those who wanted to vote for their favourite photographs (for fun only – no prizes!). 68 voting slips were completed and opposite is a list of the most popular photographs on show - as voted by the public who attended the event. There was a tie in the REFLECTIONS category and also the ANIMALS category. Thirteen fantastic photographs, as shown below.

GREAT POPPY PARTY Sunday 12th June 2011

An extremely well supported event that raised £1,285.18. After deduction of essential expenses and including match-funding by Barclays bank (£380.04) a total of £1,000.04 has been sent to the Poppy Appeal’s 90th Anniversary.

THANK YOU TO THE 250+ WHO CAME AND SUPPORTED THIS EVENT. Many people turned up in war time/1940’s dress, the theme of the occasion and the whole area was well decorated with Union Flag bunting/streamers and posters reflecting the work of the Royal British Legion. The atmosphere was added to with the playing of war time/1940’s music as people entered the courtyard leading to the garden.
The most popular stall was the Coconut Shy but other stalls were Tombola, Refreshments, Lady P.G., Man in the Stocks, Paper Aeroplane competition, Plants, Royal British Legion, Raffle, Memorabilia and the Warrior Stone.

Approximately 50 people took the walk to the Gun Tower/Pill Box which was on the perimeter of the old RAF Acklington Airfield. All the flags and bunting were seen by the passing trains and one of the helpers (who happened to be on one of the trains) told everyone about what was happening putting the tiny village of Acklington (Population approx 446) on the map.

At 4pm everybody joined in a National toast to the 90th Anniversary of the Royal British legion.

All in all, an excellent afternoon of old fashioned entertainment and the rain held off until 4.45pm. Many thanks to Chris & Tessa Sayers for the use of their Garden in the Old Vicarage.

On the left is a picture of the poppy collage made during the afternoon by many of the children who attended.

CEILIDH Saturday 2nd April 2011

VILLAGE CLEAN UP DAY Saturday 26th March 2011

SPOOKY NIGHT October 2010

ACT's "Hallowee'en Spooky Night" proved to be a very entertaining evening for all those brave souls who attended. The hall was suitably decorated and the evening included a history presentation as well as witch stories, ghostly poems and supernatural tales. Certainly not for the faint hearted!

PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION September 2010

There were some stunning photographs on display at this exhibition in Acklington Village Hall. It was not a competition as such, but those who attended were given the chance to vote (if they wished) for their favourite photographs in each of the twelve sections. Lynn Kerr's picture of Amble Pier (below) was voted the favourite photograph overall.

TREASURE HUNT July 2009

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW ACKLINGTON?

Despite the drizzly weather there was a very good turn out for the Acklington Community Team ‘Walking Treasure Hunt’ on 26 Jul followed by free cream teas for all.
Graham Cock did a wonderful job of setting all the clues which had the groups walking from The Mart to the Millennium Walk. No team got all the answers correct but 5 teams got 13 out of 15 so on a tie-break teaser (set at very short notice by John Davison) “When was Acklington Village School built?” won by The Thorpe team who guessed nearest at 1850. Answer is 1852.
For those who didn’t make it on the day the questions are below. See how well you can do. Answers at the bottom of this page.

1. In what year was Mr Lamb born?
2. How many different colours appear on the bus stop sign?
3. At what time can you catch a train to Hexham on a weekday?
4. What sort of structure has the identification 53AA?
5. What is the penalty for dog fouling?
6. How many different colours (or shades of colours) appear on the
Acklington/Northern sign on platform 1?
7. Who manufactured the “Chieftain 550”?
8. What can you not use to pay for a telephone call in the village?
9. In what year was Acklington voted Northumberland’s Calor Village of the Year?
10. What number house is being sold by Rook, Matthews, Sayer?
11. In what year was the commemorative bench placed in the grass?
12. Where is the intermediate health walk going on 4th August 2009?
13. What rate would be charged for a landline call to Traveline?
14. How old was Mary Taylor of Cavil Head when she died?
15. What is the total number of wigwams and yurts to be erected if permission is
granted?

ANSWERS: (1)-1928 (2)-5 (3)-1928 (4)-Lamp Post (5)-£1,000 (6)-5
(7)-Stanton & Staveley (8)-Coins (9)-2007 (10)-8 (11)-2002 (12)-Acklington to Morwick (13)-10p/min (14)-23 years (15)-12

PANTOMIME December 2008

The Annual December Pantomime this year was "The Pied Piper" performed by the Bruvvers and once again the event was a sell-out. Everyone enjoyed themselves ("Oh yes they did!") and it was hard to tell who had the most fun - the children or the adults. The Bruvvers have now performed a number of times in Acklington and their pantomimes are always eagerly anticipated.

FORTIES & FIFTIES NIGHT
November 2008

Acklington Community Team recently held a Forties & Fifties Themed Dance Night in the village hall. Dancers danced away the evening to Glen Miller and other artists from that period.

Pictured opposite enjoying themselves are (left to right) Violet and David Currie, Lorna and Garry Budge and Pauline and Tony Hall. Former parishioners Pauline and Tony are visiting from Australia.... it is rumoured they came half way round the world just so they could take part in our 40s and 50s night!!

VILLAGE OF THE YEAR 2007

The community team entered Acklington Village into the 2007 Calor Village of The Year competition and the village was judged the best village in Northumberland. Above are members of ACT receiving the county award from the Duke of Northumberland.

Below are pictures of national judges visiting our parish as part of the assessment process for the England Calor Village of The Year 2008 competition. Acklington Village reached the finals and were up against 39 other villages across the country. Quite an achievement!

OPEN GARDENS EVENT July 2006

In 2006 an ambitious Open Gardens Event organised by ACT proved hugely successful with fifteen gardens in the parish being open to the public on a Sunday in July. It is hoped that more Open Gardens Events will be held in the future.

LOTTERY SUCCESS

One of the community team’s biggest achievements was to attract funding to help young people in the parish and to respond to their needs.
A much needed Toddler Group was set up and a very successful sports club for youngsters was also established. Both of these initiatives continue to flourish. The toddlers meet in the school on Monday and Thursday mornings and the junior sports club takes place in Acklington Village Hall on Friday evenings.

LIST OF ACTIVITIES

Acklington Community Team has organised numerous events in the parish since it was formed back in 2001. The variety of events has really been impressive and has helped to generate a community spirit to be proud of. Listed below are just a few of them.

A C T