Houghton - Down Your Way

At the Rotary Club, member Geoff Pratt gave a talk entitled Vince and I about his volunteering work with blind people after his retirement, taking them for walks and outings to build up their confidence. Geoff applied for a dog to be trained. Geoff was given a seven-week old puppy, Vince, from the National Breeding Centre, for initial training. At 11 months old Vince was taken to the National Final Training Centre and will eventually be allowed to act as a guide dog to a blind person. Geoff was thanked for his dedication in the process of providing guide dogs for the blind.

The next surgery by Shiney Row councillors Anne Lawson, Mel Speding, and Geoff Walker will be in Trinity Methodists Church hall from 10am to 11am on Saturday when residents are welcome to raise any relevant issues for discussion.

Big River Ukes will provide the musical entertainment at Houghton Older People’s Enterprise in the Methodist Church hall at 1pm on Thursday.

Bill Hiley will be presenting another Stamp Collectors fair in Dairy Lane Bowling Club with opportunities for valuation and sales from 10am to 4pm on Saturday. For further details, phone Bill on 3855225.

Houghton and District Rambling Club will be walking around Middleton (not Middleton-in-Teesdale) on Sunday with leader S McLean. Further details of time and meeting place from secretary John Conder, phone 3856551.

The next meeting of the Members of the Friends of Rectory park will be in the community room of St Michaels Kepier Hall at 7pm on Tuesday, February 9.

The Sunderland Group of the Ramblers’ Association will be walking around Roker, meeting in the seafront car park at 10.30am on Wednesday, February 10 ,with leader John Roughtledge, phone 5286966 for details.

Sandra Gates, from a well known local Houghton Methodist family, was the guest speaker at Sunniside Methodist Women’s Fellowship when she took her subject “God’s unfailing love for everyone” and outlined the reasons why.

An open meeting was held at Houghton Methodist Women’s Fellowship, led by Iris Richardson with individual members providing various items of interest and entertainment.