Confronting the sceptics
Northumberland Foods and the celebrity brand future

Lifeboat's busy new year
Stormy weather means many call- outs

Report those potholes
County council wants to know

Good to see the 'Boys in Orange'
Polar Bear skipper on the RNLI

Amble GPX
Wanted: young people for computer game project

Walkies on the wild side
Anguish of dogs lost on dunes

Well done!
Lifeguard training in Amble

End Polio
Rotary club campaign

Remembering Kit
Kit Rollo Obituary

Amble and the RAF
Rt Hon Sir Alan Beith on our links with the Royal Air Force

Muslims visit Friendliest Port
Pilgramage brings group of Muslims

Community Forum on Facebook
How to join in on your laptop

Police Forum
Help Amble Police help us

Out of the Trees
Music festival raises money for Bobby Robson Foundation

From the Team
Something of a dilemma!

Lush Acoustics
Original meets traditional. And it's FREE

Pam's back in business
Why she's a Swiss Army Wife

Fire Works
Coquet High School students on team building and self esteem course

Gok's fashion fix
Gok's team are looking for help

Coquet Medical Group
Easter hours

Breast screening
Mobile screening Unit invitations

Your letters and email
Harrison clocks, colliery checks and council newspapers

Supporting your voice
NHS help for complainants

Bootcamp classes
New excercise classes to target every area of the body

The Lost Sister:
Part two of our online serialisation of Paul Harris' book. 2/6

ACT becomes CCT
Amble Churches together and thoughts of resolutions

Bovril for birds
Help Northumberland Wildlife Trust win £20k for local wildlife

County council budget
Report form recent meeting

Artograffi
It's Spring!

David's Diary
News from Amble Development Trust

Town council report
News and updates from the Town Council

County Councillors reports
Reports from Robert and Jeff

Free computers
Help for low income families

Penny...
reflects on the weather

Photo Gallery
Your wintery pictures

St George's day event
Now an annual community event

Aln Valley Railway
Plans are progressing

Through the Lens
Last call for photography competition entrants

Action week
Raising awareness of what is on offer in the community

Pont of Punch magazine
The life of a famous cartoonist with Warkworth connections

What's On
Including Easter services, live music and drama group productions

Cross country success
Youngsters challenging run

Richard qualifies
Local swimmer in National Junior championships

Help us put Amble at the Top
Pete Banks on motorcycle racing

Ray King
On footballing celebrations

ACT

Enjoy, but remember

Light switch-ons, Yuletide crooners echoing out through shopping centres, potential presents teasingly displayed wherever we look, Santa settling into his grotto in the garden centres.

Christmas is upon us again.

Despite the recession, or maybe because of it, we are being encouraged, particularly in tv adverts, to spend, spend, spend and make it a ‘better Christmas than ever.’Better for whom and in what way?

Given the state of the economy, many people have less money to spend. Businesses are on short time, people are being made redundant, new jobs are hard to find.There is the general assumption that the more money you have and the more you spend, the happier you will be.

Certainly it’s good not to have to worry about where the next meal comes from, or how to pay the rent or the fuel bills. But a number of people have got to the stage where they are buying things they don’t need and particularly at Christmas, eating too much and drinking too much.

Think about those who can’t afford even the basic bills, or haven’t got enough to eat or a decent place to live. We tend to forget about that first Christmas, when a baby was born in a cattle shed, in the most basic conditions. And about the message of love and caring for our fellow men that he subsequently spread around the world.
By all means let’s enjoy Christmas and celebrate it, but let’s not forget what it’s really about and if we do have enough, let’s share some of it with those who don’t.
Happy Christmas on behalf of all the Amble Churches Together!

Tim Jones
Chair
Amble Churches Together