I was very pleased to receive today the old postcard below of Waugh's Refreshment Rooms, Post Office & Shop, Hexham Road, Heddon on the Wall from email correspondent Lawrence Scott.

I will add some further information here later but a modern photo of the property (from a similar angle) is shown below.

Mary Ann Waugh is listed as a Grocer in Heddon on the Wall in 1914. At that time, the Post Office was operated by John Wright from Jubilee House on Towne Gate.

In 1925 she is listed as operating both as Grocer and Post Office.

Winifred Spoor tells us:
The main shop in Heddon was run by Mrs Waugh. Her first shop was in Haddock's Hole, in the middle house. On the Military Road side of that house was a pantry window and on the lintel above the window in red lettering was the word, 'Lemonade'. After school time there would be a member of the family perched in the pantry window to sell lemonade and sweets to passing cyclists. Mrs Waugh moved to her new shop at the Old Post Office, further west on the opposite side of the road, which she bought from the Sir James Knott estate in 1924.

The Post Office was in operation here until the death of Willie Waugh in 1968.

The gravestone in St Andrew's Churchyard (36) reads:

36) In loving memory of John Waugh died Nov 1909 aged 50 years. Also Mary Ann wife of the above died 1 May 1955 aged 86 years. Also Grace Ivy daughter of the above died June 1903 aged 1 year. Also John son of the above accidentally killed in British Columbia April 1927 aged 30 yrs. Also Isabella Knott sister of the above John Waugh (senior) died at Toronto Canada June 1948 aged 78 years. Also William Andrew Waugh son of the above died 17th Oct 1968.

In 1934, Rhoda Waugh, sister of the then postmaster, William Waugh, married John Lyall Aitchison also from Heddon, and later moved to Canada where their son, Colin, still resides.

On Monday March 6th 2017, 50 invited members and friends helped us celebrate being 100 years old. It is quite an achievement to have reached 100 and still be going strong, with new members joining us all the time.

Representatives from Northumberland County Council, the Parish Council, neighbouring WIs, our twin Institute from Seaton Valley, and others who have helped us over the years, enjoyed a sit-down meal, lovely songs from the shows with Beryl Amos, her friend Albert from Hexham Stage Society and Freda Philipson at the piano.

Freda played several of her own compositions, one dedicated to the WI which turned out to be a slightly different interpretation of Jerusalem.

We then had the cutting of the beautiful cake, which was made and iced by a friend of Aileen's. Our President, Elizabeth, gave a short talk about the exhibition of events she had prepared from the archives taking us from 1917 to the present day.

The Knit and Natter group in the village had secretly prepared a banner wishing the WI a very happy 100th birthday. This was strung across the back wall as a lovely surprise to many.

We also had prepared a modern 'banner' for the occasion with names of all present members embroidered on a leaf and attached to the branches of a metal tree. This can be seen displayed on the wall of our hall.

Gifts were received from other Institutes, for which we are extremely gratefuland will be put to good use. At the end of a very successful evening we presented everyone with a memento mug. The committee can now breathe out and relax after months of preparation.