Published at 09:09, Monday, 05 September 2011

IT’S been an eventful summer for Bellingham’s still revered retired GP, Iain Mungall, to say the least.

The popular doctor, who has a history of heart trouble, was on holiday in Montenegro in July when he suffered a cardiac arrest.

“It wasn’t another heart attack,” he assured me the other day.

“My heart simply stopped beating – not once but twice!

“Luckily for me, there just happened to be a holidaying nurse close by, who happened to be able to get hold of a defibrillator, and she was able to zap my heart back into action gain on both occasions.”

However, he was still many hundreds of miles away from home, and had to be flown back to the UKpost haste.

He was soon in the operating theatre at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, where surgeons performed a triple by-pass.

That was six weeks ago, and he tells me he now feels fitter than he has at any time over the past 30 years.

Watching him zoom up the Riding Bank on his push bike, I can well believe it.

I’m sure I speak for the whole village in wishing Iain a full and speedy recovery.

DESPITE torrential rain on Friday, and more heavy showers on Saturday morning, Bellingham Show went ahead as scheduled.

The weather doubtless restricted the number of visitors, making the showfield a lot quieter than usual, but those who went seemed to enjoy it – apart from the motor bike stunt man who had broken his ankle!

Children who rode on the vintage bus taking showgoers to the showfield were fascinated to see the world before power steering, as the drivers wrestled with the steering wheel to get round corners!

The village was certainly hotching until the early hours of Sunday, and the football club disco went well, apart from the odd scuffle.

THE moment of truth is dawning for the leek growers, with Bellingham and District Leek Club’s two-day show set to take place at the town hall next weekend (September 10-11).

As usual, no-one is giving anything away, but it will be interesting to see how the heavy rain and cold temperatures of late have affected exhibits.

WELL done to the volunteers at the Heritage Centre, who have half of one of their railway carriages looking resplendent in Border Counties Railway maroon and cream livery.

ANYONE who would like to help ensure St Cuthbert’s Church continues to grace the village for the forseeable future should go along to the Reed Hall at 4.30pm on Sunday.

That is where the Friends of St Cuthbert’s organisation is being launched.

There will be a chance to join the Friends and plan events before refreshments. This will be followed at 6pm by the St Cuthbert’s Festival Evensong, sung by Antiphon, conducted by John Roper.

The weekend begins with a contrast in music, with Hexham Brass playing a concert of light music in the town hall tonight, followed by St Cuthbert’s Trail tomorrow.

Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk