St Michael’s Coffee & Bric-a-Brac Morning will be held on Saturday 18th February from 10am-Noon (including a display of photographs from the Queens’ Platinum Jubilee Celebrations) to raise funds for our Rev David Lucas who is planning to do voluntary work in Uganda. A fascinating Bric-a-Brac sale will be available for all to enjoy together with tea, coffee, biscuits and cake served with a smile in our beautiful 12th century church. So, why not come into Heighington to pick up a bargain in the sale? Then have a walk around our peaceful village in the fresh air to walk off some calories.
And, to all who attended last year’s amazing Queens Platinum Jubilee Celebrations, photographs taken on the day will be shown to remind us all of that wonderful event and, if some of the pictures are of you and your family, copies will be made available for you to buy them. All will be welcome.
Sunday 19th February – another enjoyable event in St Michael’s Church this time starting at 5.15pm with pizzas and other refreshments, an evening of song led by Ron Hutchinson and his group supported by local singers. This is an event that will lift your spirits sky high and guarantees to make you feel happier by the end of the evening than you were when you first went into the church. The singers, the music, the audience participation and the welcome will set you up for the week so to those regular guests we look forward to seeing you again and to those who will be coming for the first time, we look forward to welcoming you.
Dog Fouling – Moving from two happy events, dog fouling in and around the Parish brings us down to earth, all dog owners are responsible for ‘picking up’ after their dogs. There are no excuses. Over the last few week’s complaints have been made about dog fouling which has increased, particularly in certain areas of the Parish. Reasons given are the cold weather and there are more dog owners since Covid, both of which are not acceptable. More and more people are objecting to dog fouling and more and more people are keeping their eyes open and, should they witness a dog performing, they will report the owner to either the Council or to me and I will have no compulsion but to feed the information into the authorities. So, dog owners, to save your embarrassment of being named and shamed, do the right thing, pick up and drop the bag into a dog litter bin or take it home if the bin is full.
2025 Stockton & Darlington Railway Celebrations
Millions of pounds is being spent in Darlington to create a Railway Heritage Centre and further plans are afoot to celebrate this important event in the history of the railway. The Friends of Stockton & Darlington Railway, a volunteer group, have also been working hard to improve our Heighington Station and to have it restored for the 2025 celebrations. The station opened in 1827 as the Kings Arms and most recently as Locomotion No 1. It is an exceptionally important early railway building, the scene of Locomotion No 1’s assembly and trials on arrival from Newcastle, and a key point on the planned S&DR walking/cycling route with huge potential for visitor education, community and tourism benefit. The Friends of the S&DR have been in dialogue with the owner and Durham County Council for several years to try and safeguard it’s future but, with time running short and no obvious solution in sight, the buildings are at risk from arson and vandalism, so the Friends Group are looking at ways to improve the appearance of the station for 2025, so a meeting is to be called to investigate ways to safeguard the building. If anyone has any practical and sensible suggestions please email them to: gerald.lee@darlington.gov.uk
Cllr Gerald Lee
Heighington & Coniscliffe Ward.