St Mary's Centre Users

The St Mary’s Centre is used by a large number of groups, for a range of uses, including coffee mornings, theatrical performances (including youth theatre), Beavers, Cubs & Scout meetings, dancing classes, Day Care Centre providing lunch and entertainment for twenty elderly people who are housebound or living in sheltered accommodation,  Childminders’ and Carers' weekly meetings, Gateshead Council flower shows, regular blood donor sessions, Taekwondo, Slimming World, indoor bowls, bridge and whist. The premises are also regularly used for church, community and private functions such as children’s parties, wedding receptions, school discos, lunches, meetings, ceildahs, suppers and so on. 

Further information on some of these groups is given below:

DAY CARE CENTRE

St Mary's Day Care Centre started thirty three years ago and is still run by volunteers. It meets every Tuesday in St Mary's Centre, Church Chare, Whickham. It provides a day out, away from 'those four walls' for people who through frailty, disability or loneliness and advanced age are unable to get out on their own. We pick up people who reside in Whickham, Sunniside or Marley Hill in our special mini bus and take them home again. A warm welcome awaits, a cup of tea or coffee and biscuits, the company of others in like circumstances, an opportunity for conversation and a home cooked meal. We also arrange an interesting and varied programme.

Everyone is initially visited in their own home to find out if they would benefit from day care and that the Centre caters for their particular needs.

For further details please contact 0191 4881355 or the Parish Office 0191 4881553

GROUP 67 
Group 67 is a group of women who meet on the first Monday of each month at 8pm. The group arrange visits and invite guest speakers to talk on a variety of topics, followed by a discussion or questions and answer sessions as appropriate. The meetings are informal and held in members’ homes around Whickham and are usually attended by 12 to 16 members. The venues and topics can be obtained each month from the Parish Magazine. The group was formed in 1967 as a 'Young Wives' group but dropped the name some time ago. A few founder members are still active with the group and new members are always welcome. 
Contact - Dorothy Ruddick, Tel. (0191)4217936 or Beth Smith, Tel. (0191)4881631.
 

ST. MARY'S FLOWER GUILD 
Contact - Mrs Sheila Renton, Tel. (0191)4883944 or Mrs Joan Smith, Tel. (0191)4883654.

 

ARTHRITIS RESEARCH CAMPAIGN 
Contact - Mrs Ruth McRae, 8 Crawley Gardens, Tel. (0191)4209512.
     Link to national website: http://www.arc.org.uk. 

LINE DANCING

7pm Tuesdays in St Mary's Centre with Pauline Kilday. Contact Parish Office for further details.

SLIMMING WORLD

Mondays at 5pm and 7pm in St Mary's Centre. Contact Natalie 07747 424348
 

WHICKHAM BRIDGE CLUB 
Contact – Mrs H Underhill, 'Starwood', The Leazes, Burnopfield, NE16 6HJ, Tel. (01207) 270448.
 

WORKER'S EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION (W.E.A.) 
 Contact – Mrs L Unsworth, Tel. (0191)4881389.
     Click here for the W.E.A.'s own page.

DERWENT VALLEY and WHICKHAM & DISTRICT U3A 
Link to the U3A website: http://www.nru3a.co.uk/gateshead/whickham/index.htm.
 

CUBS AND SCOUTS

Meet on Fridays at St Mary's Centre. Contact Mr David Porteous (0191) 4885344

INDOOR BOWLS

Tuesdays at 1pm in St Mary's Centre. Contact the Parish Office for further information.
 

FLORAL ART GROUP 
Contact – Mrs S Hodgson, 12 Cornmoor Road, Whickham.
 

WHICKHAM FELLSIDE TOWNSWOMEN'S GUILD 

Contact – Mrs F M Marshall, 76 Oakfield Road, Whickham, NE16 5JD.
 

WHICKHAM THEATRE CLUB 

Click here for the Theatre Club's own page.

WHICKHAM ART CLUB 
Contact Mrs P Maxwell 0191 4140956

WHICKHAM BELL RINGERS 
Link to the Whickham Bell Ringers' website: http://www.thewhickies.org.uk.