A rare trip ‘up Dale’ today in glorious sunshine proved that Spring has certainly sprung and the Gazette wasn’t the only one who ventured into the far west of the county to experience the annual magic of the season.
Driving through the almost deserted villages of the upper Dale, the sun was shining and its rays pointing the way to Cowshill. Glancing round at the greenery of the hills, awakened and looking like the cellophane had just been unwrapped, we didn’t pass a car. Driving through Daddry, ‘Chapel’ through Ireshopeburn and into Wearhead, all was quiet. The daffodils waved in the slight breeze as the Gazette drove past – the radio signal lost, no sound apart the car’s engine breaking the silence of the lambs frolicking in the fields.
91-year-old Frank Walton from Westgate in the village hall
Turning round the left-hand bend over the bridge, negotiated with the ease of someone who had done it scores of times before, only to discover cars everywhere! A wave to Bruce and Eileen as they crossed the road in front of me before driving almost to Copt Hill to find a place to park! Walked down towards the village hall, stopping to chat to Ian Dent, who had been to collect his pies, it felt good to be back and it appeared as though the whole Dale had converged on Cowshill. Those pies must be very good.
It was a battle to actually get into the village hall with not a seat to spare. It was jam-packed full with folk chatting, laughing, eating…THIS is what the Dale is all about – community. A quick word here and there, the new vicar – Rev Graham – enjoying the occasion too after presumably cycling up there, and then down under to the ‘recycling’ shop beneath the hall. Again, it was very busy with bargains galore to be had and a cheery and welcoming atmosphere. We bought a rechargeable dehumidifier for two quid – who knew there was such a thing?
The weekly Recycling sale opens every Saturday morning between 10am and 12 noon.
Yes, it was so good to be back among the upper Dalers – but my visit didn’t end there. I had yet to fulfil the reason I had gone in the first place – the Spring Fayre, organised by Wearhead’s Lesley Blackett, along with Rev Heather Ross, which had stalls galore inside the church with something for everyone, including a raffle, tombola, crafts, crochet and knitwear, feltwork, floral wreaths, diamond art, preserves and more plus two local authors – Judith Sales and Margaret Manchester – offering their literary works. Proceeds went to the church with Rev Heather in there welcoming everyone.
It had been worth the 20 miles journey there and back just to witness the community spirit that is alive and well in the upper Dale. Well done everyone involved.
