BELMONT RURAL: NORTHOLME COMMUNITY CENTRE

Northolme concert attracted a full house and raised £460 for Hospice
A note from Joyce Clare regarding the concert on December 15. "The concert group and I want to thank Belmont Rural PC for financing the event. We had a full house, an ample and excellent buffet prepared by ladies on the NCC committee (who also approved free use of the hall) and entertainers who came long distances, at their own expense, to help raise fund for St Michael's Hospice. Samantha and John sang for us and the hand bell ringers of Kington St Mary played a great selection of carols and songs to suit the festive occasion. Chaplain David Vonberg compered and a volunteer from the Hospice entertained with a comical reading. Super raffle prizes were donated and handed out by our very own Father Christmas (Ron Morgan) and good ladies of the parish contributed thirty cakes to sell. The event gave local people a chance to get together at a happy time of the year and we raised £460 for St Michaels. Thanks to the guys at the charity shop on the Oval and Cllr Andy Myatt who very kindly delivered chairs on the day, to Ron and Mo Morgan who gave so much of their time in the preparations and also offered a free taxi service for anyone who could not get to the hall. Thanks also to Steve Fisher and Cllr Stuart Taylor who helped sell raffle tickets. We hope everyone who came had a good time."

Free Christmas concert, plus call for cake - and more
A free Concert with Carols is scheduled for December 15, 7 pm at Northolme Community Centre on Northolme Road. Refreshments (mince pies, sausage rolls, soft drinks, etc) are also free. Proceeds are in aid of St Michael's Hospice and the programme has been prepared by David Vonberg, the hospice chaplain, who will also compere the evening. Events will include carols from the organ, songs at the piano, poems, musical offerings, party pieces by estate residents, and a raffle.

The NCC committee will be pleased to hear from anyone keen to contribute to the entertainment or provide a cake for a cake-stall. Please note: cakes should be wrapped, or provided in a container, as they will be displayed until sold. They should be delivered to Joyce Clare, 20 Abbotsmead Road, on the evening before (December 14), or to the centre on the afternoon of December 15. Cakes can also be collected.

Joyce Clare can be contacted on 01432-353210.

News about the Northolme Centre

BOOKING FORM Above is a new version of the form for making bookings at the Northolme Centre. This was supplied as a JPG. Adrian Bridges, who provided the PDF has also asked if a "button" facility could be provided so that potential users can print out the form directly. The website editor will look into this.

MAGIC SHOW FOR CHILDREN The following letter comes from Beryl Brown: "On December 10 sixty four- to five-year-olds, with teachers, from Our Lady's RC schoo, and eighty-two children from St Martins attended a magic show at Northolme Centre. Most of the "magic" was in fact supplied by the smiling happy faces of the children. A surprise visit was paid by Father Christmas and each child received a quality gift, together with an orange, apple and banana provided by Tesco.

"Prior to the event each child wrote a letter to Father Christmas to which I replied individually. From the letters I realised that Father Christmas had more persuasive powers than Jamie Oliver or the school meals service. I capitalised on this by telling the children that my reindeer ate their carrots and I hoped they ate their fruit."