Washington - Down Your Way

A busy two week spell of activities started last Saturday for Wessington U3A War memorial group, when members celebrated world knitting day with an outdoor knit on the Fatfield bridge.
Members of the Wessington U3AWar Memorial group knitting poppies on Fatfield Bridge to remember the soldiers killed in the battle of the Somme.Members of the Wessington U3AWar Memorial group knitting poppies on Fatfield Bridge to remember the soldiers killed in the battle of the Somme.
Members of the Wessington U3AWar Memorial group knitting poppies on Fatfield Bridge to remember the soldiers killed in the battle of the Somme.

Members, including one brave man, were knitting poppies for their latest project to remember the Washington soldiers killed at the Battle of The Somme. On Tuesday last they opened an information board, courtesy of Nexus, in the bus stop on Bonemill Lane to publicise their activities. The group has been knitting 2,016 poppies to mark the Centenary of The Battle of the Somme these poppies are attached to netting and on Thursday they will be attached to Fatfield Bridge. On the morning of July 1 at 7.28am a whistle will be blown as this is the exact time the order was given a 100 years ago to go over the top in the trenches and battle commenced. A public showing of a 20-minute film, Washington Men At the Somme, will be premiered at North Biddick Social club, Holy Trinity Church, Washington Village, and Holy Trinity Church, Usworth. After the blowing of the whistle everyone is welcome to these screenings. There will also be two screenings at 11am and 1pm in Beamish Museum chapel, normal entry prices to Beamish will apply for these.

The Washington foodbank, based out of Oxclose Church, currently provides basic food assistance to around 90 people per week in the Washington area, who are referred to the food bank via a range of agencies. The bank is currently low on supplies and would ask people to help by donating tinned or packeted foods, the bank doesn’t have the facilities to handle fresh goods. Donations can be made as you shop at Asda, Sainsbury, Wilkinsons and Washington Library all in The Galleries. They are also looking for three new committee members to join them to help with the running of the project. For information, contact Andrew via email [email protected].

Some of the completed poppies, which will be hung over the bridge.Some of the completed poppies, which will be hung over the bridge.
Some of the completed poppies, which will be hung over the bridge.
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The children’s society charity shop in the Teal Farm Centre is seeking more stock. All items are welcome but it is particularly keen to have more ladies tops and jackets and toys. The shop is also seeking volunteers for a number of different roles such as retail or sorting stock. Anyone interested in donating items or volunteering, call into the shop for further details.

Washington Arts Centre is hosting its ever popular art mart on Saturday. Go along and see a range of locally produced crafted items.

North Biddick Bowls Club is based in Penshaw Park, on the old road between Fatfield and Penshaw. The club is open every day, Monday to Saturday, between noon and 2pm. The benefits bowls can give people are gentle exercise, fresh air and companionship. Casual bowlers and new club members are always welcome so no matter what your age or ability level you are welcome to go along.

One Voice is a community choir, whose members have varying levels of ability and experience. The choir, which meets in Biddick Arts Centre, is looking for new members. No audition is necessary. Members of the choir all agree that singing leaves them with a good feeling and theirspirits uplifted. It is a very friendly group, which meets on a Tuesday from 5.30pm-7pm. Sessions cost between £3.60 and £4.60. Anyone interested can just pop along to one of the meetings.