Whitburn - Down Your Way

Mr and Mrs John Hays kindly invited Whitburn Parish Church to raise funds by selling tickets to join them for their annual party in the grounds of Whitburn House. As well as providing the venue, refreshments were ‘on the house’, games, sweets and small gifts were given to the children and a Guess the Teddy Bear’s Birthday competition raised over £350. The total of £1,164 was raised for church upkeep. Grateful thanks go to Mr and Mrs Hay for their generous hospitality and continued support of village organisations.

Dokan Karate held its summer invitational tournament, attended by 190 adult and junior competitors. The tournament with 50 different categories, originally organised for local Dokan students, now attracts clubs from Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cleveland, making the event a high class open competition with quality trophies, medals and awards. However, it retains its reputation as a grassroots development event with more infant and junior sections than anything similar. Dokan Karate Club, with a leading national competition squad, is based in Sunderland and South Tyneside. For information on lessons and venues, contact Kevan Mitchinson on 07939 130 411, email: [email protected] or visit the website: www.dokan.co.uk .

On Saturday, from 1pm to 2.30pm, at Souter Lighthouse, local lighthouse enthusiast Mike Ennis will tell the story of Trinity House, the organisation concerned with the safety of shipping and seafarers since the reign of Henry VIII. Tickets for FLASH! A history of Trinity House and their Lighthouses cost £2 and booking can be done online or by calling 0844 249 1895. Mike will deliver his talk again on Saturday, August 13.

On Sunday from 12.30pm to 2.30pm, join a Souter Ranger for a Rockpool Ramble, cost £1 per child. The ramble is suitable for children of all ages, who must be accompanied by an adult. Dogs on leads are welcome. Meet in the Foghorn Field. Nets and buckets can be provided but feel free to bring your own.

For more details, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/souter-lighthouse-and-the-leas email [email protected] or call 529 0909.

Tony Hadley, frontman for Spandau Ballet, with other support artists will be performing on Sunday from 1pm to 5pm in Bents Park, South Shields. This is the third of South Tyneside Festival free concerts. For more information, visit www.southtyneside.gov.uk/article/55326/Tony-Hadley. You can take your own food and drink, but lots of tasty treats ranging from fish & chips, noodles and crepes to prosecco, Pimms and speciality craft ales will be on sale.

The Barnes Institute is available for hire for one-off events such as children’s parties. Contact Carol Shield on 07767 156 134 for more information. A coffee morning is held every Monday and Wednesday from 10am to noon to which all are welcome. Keep up with news on Facebook: The Barnes Institute Whitburn.

Coffee mornings take place every Saturday in Whitburn Methodist Church hall and Churches Together Lunch Club is on Thursdays from noon to 1.30pm. Soup, sandwiches, salad, sweet, unlimited tea or coffee and stimulating conversation are available for £3 and all are welcome. For more information or to offer voluntary help, contact Michael Vallance on 903 1408.

Regular free activities at Whitburn Library include Baby Bounce – gentle knee bouncing, finger and action rhymes for babies on Mondays from 10 to 10.30am; Library Storytots – stories, crafts and songs for pre-school children on Tuesdays from 2.30 to 3.30pm and on Thursdays, Mat Making from 10.30am to noon and friendly Knit and Natter from 1.30 to 3.30pm. The library has five public computers and photo-copying and fax services. For more details, phone 529 3412