A CHANCE encounter between friends who had not seen each other for about four decades has led to a reunion party to raise cash for a village hall.
Newsham Village Hall started out as a Nissen hut but has been transformed over the years to become a vibrant hub for the community.
Now former Newsham resident Pauline Glasper is inviting people from the village and nearby Barningham, Gayles and Ravensworth to a reunion at the building.
She came up with the idea after bumping into a couple of childhood friends she had not seen in 40 years.
Now living in Barnard Castle, the 86-year-old fondly remembers growing up in Newsham and playing cricket, football and rounders in the field alongside it.
She said: “When I was born it was just a black hut. That was all. Over the years improvements have enabled the people of the village to use it on a regular basis.
“Our reunion is a fundraiser to help their cause.”
The reunion takes place on Saturday, September 21, at 7pm and tickets cost £15 per person. Tickets include a buffet supper of vegetable lasagne and chicken curry.
As part of the reunion Ms Glasper hopes to have a display of photographs for the reunion and is appealing to people to send her any they might have. She said: “We want as many pictures from the past as we can so we can remember what it was like over the years.”
For tickets or to send photographs contact Mrs Glasper at paulineglasper@gmail.
com. More than 80 people have already booked tickets.
