Business of the Year Award - Bongo Barn

I was delighted to award Stocksfield business Bongo Barn with this year's Business of the Year Award.

Tim and the team at Bongo Barn restore bespoke camper vans. They import them to the country, restore and recommission them and then build them into state-of-the-art camper vans with modern comforts, safety and reliability.

The company also received orders from customers nationally and sometimes outside of the UK.

This happens in their rural Northumberland workshop in a beautiful setting, a few fields from where Tim's family has ran businesses for over 100 years.

This is a tremendous local Northumberland business going from strength to strength. Congratulations to Tim and the team!

Wylam Wears a Hat for Brain Tumour Research

As it is every year, the last Friday in March is ‘Wear a Hat Day’ where people up and down the country put on a hat for brain tumour awareness. 

This is always a special day for me. 12 years ago, in 2011, I was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Thankfully, I was one of the lucky ones and made a full recovery, but the experience of meeting others along the way who weren’t so lucky has made me a committed campaigner for brain tumour awareness. 

Locally, the place to be is always Wylam for ‘Wylam Wears a Hat Day.’ Thanks to the amazing efforts of Viv Smith, a local and tireless campaigner, residents in the village dig out their craziest hats and put on special events, all to raise money for the incredible Brain Tumour Research charity.

The beauty of Wear a Hat Day is that it is family friendly and fun for all. This year, I joined a pre-school cookery class at the Wylam Institute where the ‘Tiny Tasters’ made Easter treats while their parents sported some fetching headwear, all in aid of brain tumour awareness.

Locals in Wylam never fail to impress. Well done to everyone who took part. I’m looking forward to next year already!