🌼 Consett Magazine – April 2025 Issue (No. 149)
Spring has officially arrived in Consett, and this month’s issue is blooming with heartwarming stories, nostalgic reflections, and inspiring community highlights.
In this issue, Joyce Shaw continues her look back at teaching in the 1960s, offering a charming and vivid picture of education in a pre-digital age. We also shine a spotlight on local businesses in Leadgate including Khans Food Store and NUTS Barbers, both celebrated for their longstanding service and community spirit.
Lorraine Weightman takes us on a musical trip down memory lane in “Nothing Rhymed,” reminiscing about the songs and friendships of 1970s Consett. We also meet Vera Parnaby, affectionately known as “Mrs. Poppy,” whose decades-long dedication to the Royal British Legion has raised over £1 million.
Don’t miss the introduction of Will O’Burn, the new children’s mascot at Willow Burn Hospice, designed to help young visitors feel more at ease. And from Shotley Bridge Nursery School, we see how British Sign Language is being embedded into daily routines to foster inclusive communication year-round.
Local creativity and heritage are front and centre too—with Mike Pinkney’s print exhibition at Land of Oak & Iron, and Leadgate DIY celebrating 40 years of service. We also preview the St. Patrick’s Catholic Primary School centenary and support fundraising initiatives like Jude McCrory’s 24-hour darts marathon for Cancer Research UK.
As always, the magazine celebrates the people, places, and stories that make Consett a special place to call home.
