Surf spectacular
National championship at Druridge Bay

A Dog's life
We have the best dog beaches - it's official!

Affordable housing
Dreaming of your own house?

Deer Ambler
Spring surprise

Everybody's talking
Community forum promotes our interests

Hedging bets
Doing what comes naturally

Saving wildlife
Making a river change its mind

RNLI station shop
Spend money and save lives

Amble slimmers
Get thin and save lives

Editorial
Supermarket snags and what's in this "life saving" issue.

Have your say
Letters and email, including photos

Improving Queen Street
Grants can give you an uplift

National 'Elf
Dress up as an elf and save lives

Veggie basket scheme
Disadvantaged people help community

Neighbourhood watch
Keeping an eye on your neighbours

Coquet High School Partnership
Expected drop in pupil numbers

Women's house building project
The house that Jill built

Artograffi
Easter fun

David's Diary
News from Amble Development Trust

Town council report
News update from the Town Council

Confessions of an addict
Harry gives up the weed

Age Concern Northumberland
...need people who are concerned

Chinese freeze affects Welfare
Snow stops take-away

Child Trust Fund
Invest in your child's future

Penny
New year Resolutions

Amble Churches Together
Thoughts for New Year

County Councillors report
Future developments

A tale of two thefts
You have been warned

The Peer Mentors
Students help each other

Residents get the hump over bumps
Calming the traffic?

Dirty wellies in a wine bar
Rural romance

Small skinny latte
Toddlers make their own coffee shop

Poetry corner
Safe to shore

Paddlers Paradise
New look play area

Snippets...
Local food, recycling, school numbers, welfare update

What's On
Including live music, Easter services, volunteering at Warkworth Castle and more.

Greetings from Aglaia
Message from a tall ship

Ray King column
Kevin Keegan takes over. "We all eagerly await"

Peace needs to start in us

A squally shower threatened to spoil the service of remembrance at the town square on Sunday November 11. Those who arrived early had to shelter from the rain and the biting northerly wind, but as people took their places the sun prevailed. Despite the weather, a considerable crowd gathered to pay their respects.

Major Keith Stenton conducted the service, assisted by the Revd. John Pugh. The beginning and end of the two minute silence was marked by a maroon.

While Mrs Beverley Palin played a lament on the Northumbrian pipes, wreaths were laid firstly by Town Mayor Helen Lewis and Coun. John Hedley, followed by Amble District Council, Northumberland County Council, the Royal British Legion, Far East Prisoners of War, South Atlantic Medal Association, RAF Boulmer, the Army Cadets, Northumbria Police, the Fire and Rescue Service, the Ambulance Service, RNLI, HM Coastguards, Rotary Club, HMP Acklington and Castington YOI, and the Prison Officers’ Association, Amble Club, Radcliffe Club and Amble Development Trust.

The standard bearer was Lance Corporal Abbey Norton of the Cadets. Another of the cadets had to retrieve the wreaths as the wind whipped around the War Memorial scattering the poppies during the prayers.

From the War Memorial the councillors led the procession up Queen Street to St. Mark’s United Reformed Church where the Revd. Pugh led a lively service. He emphasised the importance of remembering, not for the glorification of war, but so that we know the price of freedom and peace.

The hymns were not the typical patriotic songs. The first one, ‘Awake, awake to love and work, the lark is in the sky,’ was written by G.A. Studdart-Kennedy, who was nicknamed ‘Woodbine Willie,’ because he personally handed out cigarettes to the troops in the trenches. A meditation, ‘How did you feel,’ explored the feelings of those who were called up to war.

From the beginning of time there have been those who seek to impose their will on others. With the help of the army cadets the Revd. Pugh demonstrated that it is easier to pull someone down to the lowest level than to raise them up.

The First World War, it was said, was a war to end all wars, but sadly that was not the case and the Revd. Pugh listed the conflicts our troops have been involved in since 1918 and are still involved in today.

‘Peace needs to start in us,’ he said in his closing statement and simply by smiling at those we meet, we can start a chain reaction.

Vivienne Dalgliesh