The Ambler Online

I was at the Northumberland Women's Refuge yesterday for a meeting with the manager Angela Dixon and she mentioned that they currently have 32 children in the refuge, 17 boys aged from 3 weeks to 16 years and 15 girls aged from 3 years to 14 years and there is a shortage of presents to give them on Christmas Day.

As you will appreciate these children find themselves in the refuge due to significant domestic abuse/violence that has been suffered by their mothers, which many of them will have no doubt witnessed. The refuge staff do their utmost to make the children's stay at the refuge as pleasant and normal as possible and this includes trying to ensure that they have an enjoyable Christmas, which of course involves the children receiving presents.

I appreciate that it may be a bit late in the day, but if you have any contacts etc that may help in obtaining some presents it would be appreciated. The presents should be new or nearly new condition and should not be wrapped as the refuge staff need to ensure that the present is relevant to the child's age, before wrapping.

If you are able to help then any presents can be given to myself and I will deliver to the refuge or the refuge can be contacted direct on 01670 820199.

Regards,

Morris Winning
Domestic Violence Coordinator
Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service
Northumberland County Council
Safer Communities Team
Information Centre, Forum Way
Cramlington, Northumberland NE23 6YB

Long live Zecca!

Dear Ambler,
As a resident of High Street may I tell you how delighted my partner and I are at the arrival of Zecca.
I partly agree with Mrs. Potts in a previous edition that Zecca’s development was dusty and inconvenient. It often made our car parking difficult but I believe the result is worth it in the long term.
I can also see the extraction pipes from my home and although they are not the most attractive view in the world I can safely say that I have looked at worse views. Also having had our windows open all summer the worst thing that has drifted my way is a delicious smell of pizza.
Personally I think despite slightly challenging parking my life has been improved by Zecca. As is the same for other friends in Amble and surrounding area.
I should point out that Amble wants people to stay and use local businesses and not drive to bigger towns with other amenities. Surely this applies to couples or groups of friends who would go out for a meal and a few civilised drinks at the weekend. Up until the arrival of Zecca I know people who went to Morpeth, Alnwick or Warkworth to do this. Now we don’t need to and can support the community and local businesses in our own way.
Therefore long live Zecca and all who eat in her.

Sandra Clark
High Street, Amble.

Torchlight Procession thanks

Dear Ambler,
My thanks to everyone who assisted in this year’s Torchlight Procession any way, from organising the tree, lights, electricity, music, entertainment and workshops, logistics and moving essential equipment. Thanks too to the Bikers, security/stewards - not forgetting Santa and his helper and of course the community for coming out and enjoying the night.

Julia Aston
Amble Development Trust

“I know your dad”

Dear Ambler,
Another old family photo -Walter Scott of Amble. He went to school with my dad (Bruce Rochester). I bumped into him in Aden in 1961 when I was posted there. He was my sergeant in charge for a few weeks and enquired of me one day "Where are you from?" "Originally from Amble,” I said, to which he replied, “I know your dad!” Perhaps Walter is still with us or some relative would like the photo!

Regards Ken Rochester
kenwroch@hotmail.com

Home grown charity cards

Dear Ambler,
I have designed and made Christmas cards in aid of the “Gillian Sweetman Art Prize”. This is a competition set up in Amble Links School in memory of our daughter. Cards will probably cost about £1 from the churches

Rev. Denis Sweetman,
Gloster Park, Amble

New hill on the horizon - the answer

Dear Ambler,
The big mound (Letters 59, p21) is part of an exciting restoration project for the Maidens Hall opencast site. The mound and its circular path will be open to the public and on good days they will experience magnificent views over coastal Northumberland. There will be a sculpture on top of the mound and the path will link to many kilometres of paths to be installed in the area. There will also be two big lakes in the restoration. Details of the approved plan can be obtained from UK Coal or NCC.

Peter Wood
Project Manager UK Coal

Children in Need

Katie Henderson and Jessica Watson want to say a big thank you to everyone who donated to Children in Need on the night. With support from the people of Amble and surrounding area they managed to raise £106.79p for the appeal. The donation has been verified.

Home Movie roadshow

Next year, BBC 2 is launching a new series which will travel the country in a hunt for the nation’s home movie archive.
We are looking for any amateur-filmed footage that reflects the events of the last seventy years.I t might be footage of the summer of 1976, or the great storm of 1987. It might be street parties celebrating the Coronation, Jubilee or the Royal Weddings. We’re interested in footage of people’s hobbies or the big events in their life - local festivals, or people who perhaps went on to be famous.
If you have old cine, video or film footage we want to hear from you. We will take it on any format. At this point, we are still at the research stage.. If any clips are used in the series, then a fee will be paid.
Please contact the production team at
samia.murphy@diverse.tv or on 0203 189 3228.
Or you can post your footage to:
Home Movie Roadshow,
1 Ariel Way, London W12 7SL
Samia Murphy
samia.murphy@diverse.tv

We welcome all your letters and email.

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