THE VALUE OF COMMUNITY

As we reach our mid 60s and retirement, our small group of perfectly fit and healthy college mates do not make reference to the day when one or more of us is no longer able to join in the fun and games presented by a week away reunion in a luxurious holiday house with our partners. We all have wonderful partners, we are mobile although today I had to cadge a car ride home from Craster having walked out there along the coastline from Embleton. It was a relief to plonk myself into the car and feel its warming seat, the others walked back.

Living in a community becomes very important as we get older and sitting in the local pub last night watching City v Spurs made us fully aware of the value of living in a friendly village. The local football team Embleton Whinstone Rovers play in the North Northumberland League Division 2 and by all accounts they are a successful club, playing against local villages such as Craster, Tweedmouth and Alnmouth.

The lads and coaches were in the Grey's Inn, where they weren't taking a lot of notice of the footy on the TV but were reminiscing the day's match when EWR FC played the team 2nd in the Division Ashington Town Miners. EWR won 4-1 and cemented their position at the top of the division.

The "choo choo" brought whinstone, a valuable "rock" from the quarry fro selling on.

The lads were very lively, pouring money over the bar and sometimes over themselves.

Researching the club I did notice that they had lost one of their squad in the summer to a car crash. Christopher Penney, a popular and influential team man was tragically killed and such an event eats deeply into a club and a community. The tributes to him and the warmth shown to his family made me remember the value of a team and club and a community.
Christopher is shown below dominating in the air.

OK its a bit philosophical this, but it's Sunday, I haven't had a drink, the England Cricketers have finally won their last ODI in India and Sanchez has just "chipped" a last minute penalty into the Burnley net. Phew!

BTW what is Whinstone?....bit of geology? do some research!