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About the site

Bowburnnews has been going for some time now and was set up by Gary Hutchinson a local lad who lives in the village his intentions were to keep everyone informed of what is going on in the village .
Bowburn grew and the website grew and after disscusions between Gary and another local man George Stoker they decided to go for there own domain and build a bigger website .
The new website is WWW.BOWBURN.NET

sorry for any inconvieniance this may have caused but hopefully you will lke the new version .
Bowburn Website

The Chapel

The Chapel is on the main road like the library above .

The Comunitty Centre

The Communitty centre is also on the main road a177 running through the heart of the village.
A brief History of the Bowburn Community Centre, Put together by the Bowburn Local History Society who are one of many of the groups who meet at the centre on regular basis.
Today’s Community Centre in Bowburn was built in 1961 as the second Bowburn Miners’ Welfare Hall and Institute.
The first Miners’ Institute had been opened on 26th February 1921, when a Roll of Honour, on which the names were inscribed of 35 men who had fallen in the First World Ward. This was unveiled by Rev. Thomas Wardle, vicar of St. Paul’s, then the Parish Church of Cassop-cum-Quarrington.
The roll of honour was on brass, mounted on marble and framed in oak. It was dedicated by Rev. A.J. Gadd, former vicar of St. Paul’s and then honorary chaplain to HM Forces. Prayers were said by Rev. G.R. Bell. The plaque has remained in the Miners’ Welfare ever since, moving to the new building (now Bowburn Community Centre) after it was built in 1961. Four more names were added in 2001.
The original Institute was built by Bell Bros., owners of Bowburn Colliery, who also donated the memorial. It was later known as the Green Hut Welfare, in contrast to today’s building, which built across the road from it, in 1961.
Under the 1920 Mines Industry Act, provision had been made for establishing a fund to improve social conditions for miners and their families. Many NE collieries opened new welfare halls and built parks, sports grounds and other amenities. The Institute was leased by the colliery company to the workmen and comprised billiard rooms, reading rooms and a large hall.
On 4th February 1929, and additional 0.35 acres of land “and wooden institute thereon” were leased from Dorman Long & Co. (now the Colliery owners), to extend the Institute. Signatories on the new lease were Peter Harle and John Gladstone Ramsay (the Colliery Manager and Under-Manager) and miners Robert Willey and Joseph Cook Smart.
The building was well-used throughout its history, not just by miners’ organizations but by churches and other bodies.
On 22nd July 1961, the new Miners’ Welfare Hall (now Bowburn Community Centre) was opened, replacing the wooden Welfare over the road. A plaque in the foyer reads: “This Welfare Hall was opened on 22nd July 1961 by W.L. Lowson Esq.” Mr. Lowson was the former Colliery manager, having retired in January.
By a 99-year lease dated 24/4/1964 (but effective from 6/5/1960, i.e. before the centre was built), 1.25 acres containing the “social welfare centre” were leased to four foundation trustees – two nominated by the NCB (Walter Harrison, keeker, of 12, Grange Park Crescent, and Stanley Charlton, Colliery manager, of Hoggersgate House) and two nominated by the NUM (Joseph Wright, shot-firer, of 64, Park Avenue, and Robert Arkwright, stoneman, of 5,Walker Street). The general control of the “scheme” was vested in a Management Committee consisting of the foundation trustees plus nine members appointed by the NCB, nine by the NUM, two by the Durham Education Committee and two others (to represent those not engaged in mining) appointed by the rest of the Committee. The lease set a rent of Ł5 p.a.
The new Welfare Hall was built at a cost of Ł74,000, allocated by the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organization, through its Durham Divisional Welfare Committee. The previous tenant of this land had been John G. Hare, of Bowburn Farm (across the road from Tweddle Terrace, near the Hare & Greyhound.
The old Welfare Hall remained in use as a youth club.(The annual meeting of the Bowburn & District Youth Centre was held there, for instance, on 19/2/1962, and the DJ Evans Youth Club did not open until 1963.) It was demolished, however, in 1964.
A licensed bar was used for first time in the new Welfare Hall on 31st December 1963, at a New Year’s Eve dance. Serving at the bar were Bob Bellis, Fred Jones and Tommy Gordon. (The last two were outside members, being a police tailor and a self-employed builder, not miners.) The bar had been built by Harry Bainbridge and Mr. Coates jnr., both NCB joiners.
On Tuesday 28th May 1963, the Hall was filled when Walter Harrison opened a gala night concert by past and present members of the Bowbells party. The compare and pianist were Mr. & Mrs. Freeman. The Bowbells were famous for their concerts throughout the county.
In October 1964, Bowburn Women’s Institute celebrated its 40th birthday in the Welfare Hall, with a supper followed by entertainment. Founding member Mrs. Holmes was present and Mrs. Willey presided. The toast was given by Mesdames Bowman, Haigh, Baker and Wright, who had also been members for 40 years.
On 17th May 1967, a special meeting of the Bowburn Colliery Consultative Committee was held in the Miners’ Welfare Hall to discuss the NCB’s proposals for closure of the Colliery. Last coals were drawn on 20th July that year and, after a year of salvage work, the Colliery closed in 1968.
The Centre did not cease to operate, however. Indeed it continued to be well-used. Apart from normal day-to-day activities (like the snooker room), there were some major events. In September 1971, BBC Radio’s Gardeners Question Time was held here and in 1972(?), Chay Blythe, circumnavigator of the world, gave a slide show. (This visit was organized by MacKay’s Carpets.)
However it was clear that the building could not operate indefinitely as a miners welfare and institute, now that the pit had closed. So a public meeting was held on 25th October 1977 and a steering committee formed. On 11th April the next year Bowburn Community Association held its inaugural meeting and a constitution was adopted.
The President of the new Association was JJ Ramshaw, Chairman J. Tommy Robinson, Vice-chairman Terry Mills, Secretary Maureen Anderson, and Treasurer Fred Jones. The rest of the Committee consisted of J. Bowman, L. Brown, G. Egglestone, J. Gething, Mrs. G. Goodwin, T. Gowland, R. Grey, G. Knox, J. Lethbridge, T. Lynn, S. Marr, C. McCormick, W. McFeggan, E. Smith, G. Stoker, M. Syer and Mrs. J. Todd.
On 29th March, 1982, a deed of variation to the lease of the “Bowburn social welfare scheme” (including the community centre), by the NCB to the foundation trustees, formally vested the general management of the scheme to a committee appointed by Bowburn Community Association plus not less than two appointed by the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organization (CISWO). The Trustees at this time were Ralph Walton (4, West Park, East Herrington), Stanley Charlton (The Gables, Trimdon Grange – formerly Hoggersgate House, Tursdale) and Joseph Wright (5, Park Hill Estate).
The Community Association has officially been responsible for the Community Centre ever since.
With the privatization of the coal mining industry in the 1990s, ownership of the land and building passed first from British Coal (formerly the NCB, of which CISWO had been a part) to the Coal Authority and then back to CISWO, which had in 1991 been re-established as a national, independent charity. Bowburn Community Association is therefore the tenant of CISWO to this day.
Recent noteworthy events at Bowburn Community Centre have included an ecumenical service on 7th Mary 1995, to mark the 50th Anniversary of VE Day and the end of World War II. The service was in two parts, the first in the Centre and the second at the site of the new Bowburn War Memorial “to those who fell in war to give us peace”. The parade included West Cornforth branch of Royal British Legion, Navy Club, RAF, Army Cadets, Gateshead and Chester-le-Street Sea Cadets and Air Force Cadets.
Three years later, on 26th July 1998, a Book of Remembrance to Bowburn men who died in World War II was dedicated in the Community Centre. A parade marched down from the Oak Tree public house and Gerry Steinberg M.P. attended the ceremony. The cabinet containing the Book was made by local cabinetmaker, John Johnson, using oak from Bowburn Methodist Church pews, and has since had pride of place in the foyer.
On 17th April 1998, the Child Health Clinic closed after 30 years at the Centre, due to the substandard nature of facilities. (The health visitors had used the Board Room and the doctor used the tiny office.) Five months later, on 18th September, the Clinic was officially re-opened by Gerry Steinberg, M.P., in the converted Ladies Cloakroom. (It closed, however, in 2004, when the service was transferred to the communal hall in Marlene Avenue, Bowburn.)
On 12th November 1999, the Computer room was officially opened by Gerry Steinberg, M.P. Also present were representatives of the project’s sponsors, PC Henderson’s, Northern Electric and East Durham & Houghall Community College. Funding was also granted by the National Lottery Charities Board.
On 28th October 2001, a memorial plaque to four men killed in World War I, was unveiled in the foyer by Cllr. George Cowper, Mayor of Durham. There was already a plaque there, with 35 names on – the one that had signaled the opening of the original Miners’ Institute in 1921. (A further plaque was at that time in Christ the King Church, originally placed in St. Paul’s Church, Quarrington Hill, and subsequently relocated in Quarrington Hill Community Centre. This other plaque included men from Cassop and Quarrington Hill, as well as Bowburn. However there had been four Bowburn men whose names were not on either this or the Miners’ Welfare plaques.)
On 2nd July 2003, a fire at P.C. Henderson’s sliding door factory destroyed the GRP (glass reinforced plastic) shop. Following fire klaxon just before 11.00am, all 250 (approx.) employees assembled safely in the car park. (None were hurt.) They then transferred, together with those from other evacuated units on the industrial estate, to Bowburn Community Centre, where volunteers served them tea and biscuits.

The Community Centre is run by a managment/executive commitee.
management meetings every month.

Agenda and minutes are posted every month on the notice board.
members of the public can attend meetings by Invitation only, Or if they wish can become members (there are vacancies).

Resources
Purpose built, single-storey building. Sub divided to offer:- Foyer giving access to ladies and gents toilets.
Cloakrooms,games rooms (2), small kitchen, committee room, office, stores, dance hall with sprung floor, lounge with bar,coffee bar and large fully functional kitchen, emergency exits.

Location and Contacts
Grid Ref: NZ 307 379.
Durham Road
Bowburn
DH6 5AT
Tel:0191 3770571

Access
Situated near to main road through area.
Tarmaced car park adjacent to building.
Two main points of entry on front of building. Sets of double doors give access.
Emergency exits on sides of building.
Ramp for disabled

At long last the bowburn community centre has a complete new look to the front of the building,
The money for the doors and windows was raised through the awards for all, (national lottery fund),
The facias and soffets were paid for money raised by D.Baker and S.hill who spent many hours at the roadchef services standing in the freezing cold dressed up in panto dresses.
We hope this will lead the way to brighten up the centre, (which is well over due)and show the people of the villages that we mean to keep the centre open and make it a success for all, after all the centre is your centre which was given to you the people back in the 1960's by the miners.

Information about training, Ideas, events etc.

Learn to use a computer and digital camera

From computers for beginners to using microsoft word,Excel,Access,powerpoint and Photo imaging computer software (Adobe Photoshop).
Data bases,Spread Sheets and computers for beginners.
For bookings contact Comm CTR.

Ideas
If you are interested in taking part or assisting with a new please contact Com ctr.
Appointments

Can be made to see either your local Councillor or Police Officer.
P.C Cockburn
Holds his Police Surgery at Bowburn Community Centre come along and express any views or problems you may havePolice Surgery Dates

Jumble sales, Toy fairs, Antique fairs, Pantomimes, dances, parties etc.

Animal Behavior and Training Jo Churlish.
Animal Behaviour & Training. Here you should find information about most of the services and products we can offer. Should you require additional information please do not hesitate in contacting us. http://www.jcanimalbehaviourandtraining.com/

Juke Box Jive
(music of the 50s and 60s)
Group members Ed, Rich, Sparky, Mary, Gil, and Dave.
In 1997 Juke Box Jive were voted The Top Band of North East. In 1998 They had there T.V Debut on Mike Neville's Programme N.E. News, Tyne Tees Television. The group practice on regular basis in the main hall of the comm ctr. Contact Details for bookings etc. Val Stephenson Tel: 0191-3770639 E-mail : val@stephensonjbj.fsnet.co.uk comm ctr 0191-3770571 or just call in.
http://www.atthehop.co.uk/ATHFrameset.html

Disco Nights
Resident D.J.JIMMY.
HI-LIGHTS Mobile Disco
DISCO LIGHT SHOW
MUSIC FOR ALL OCCASSIONS

Contact details:
Tel. 01740 655487
Mobile. 07720716936

Watch this space for next disco!
5 TO 13 OLDS
8 Years and younger must be accompanied by Parent or Gaurdian.
Next Disco

6.00 Pm 8.00 Pm

Modern Jive Dance Class (Blitz)
Jive Dance has been cancelled for the near future,
We will post details as and when it starts again.

Details
Contact Lynn 01325-288501
e-mail lynnsmith05@hotmail http://www.blitzjive.com/

Past events

Ever Ready Band
Friday 25th February 2005 The night of the Big Band performance.
Over 230 people were in the Main Hall to watch the Ever Ready Colliery Band. Many of who had never seen a brass band before.
They were totally amazed how brilliant they were.
A very big thank you goes out from the Community Centre and from the people to the band perfomers and to the banner group who made it possible for the performance to take place, Not forgetting why The Ever Ready were here,To raise funds to get our colliery Banners back to Bowburn.

Friday 25th March Good Friday 2005
Face Painting,Egg Painting,Treasure Hunt many games and lots to do, there were many prizes given away for best eggs etc.
A good day was had by all, also the disco on night rounded the day of nicely.
This is I hope is the start of many events which will be held at the comm centre.
The problem is volunteers but on this day we had many and that is what makes the day, when ordinary people with or without families are willing to give up there time to help out.
Thank you to all concerned for all there help,I hope they enjoyed the day as much as the children did.

Parents Comments

Good Friday was an eventful day at Bowburn Community Centre.
There were plenty of activities for the children to join and have fun with, including the treasure hunt, egg painting competition, colouring off egg, face painting and games in the hall.
Those who had there face painted looked wonderful.
To top the day off there was a disco in the evening with more games and fun.
Refreshments were available all day.
It was a great day for children of all ages enabling them to interact and join in the fun together, everyone had an enjoyable day.
I am sure it was a small price to pay to see the children smile and hear their laughter.
These comments are from a few of the parents who took part on the day.
Michelle Allen
Suzanne Hurton
Claire Stevenson
Angela Stevenson.

Groups
Banner Group
The Bowburn Banner Group who have regular meetings at the centre,Are well under way to getting the Miners Banners fully restored and returned to our village.
The community center will be the home of the Banners (Three in all)as the community centre in the early years was the Miners Welfare.