The Houghtonian Magazine Vol 2 Issue 1 - Houghton-le-Spring

THE HOUGHTONIAN | MAR 2012 | VOL 2 ISSUE 1 | ISSN 1757-3890IN MEMORIAMwww.zazzuk.comTEL 0191 584 0764To join the HH Group onFacebook simply click thelink from the main websitethen follow the directions tojoin!NOW ON KINDLEOX ROASTING:A BEEF HISTORYwww.amazon.co.ukPETER TATE1946 - 2011Houghton Heritage Society was sad torecently hear of the passing of PeterTate on November 14 th 2011. PaulLanagan, Chairman of HoughtonHeritage Society, said: “I was actuallyon composing a letter to Peter about hiswork on the Gilpin Thorn when I heardthat he had sadly passed away back inNovember. It came as a great shock ashe was one of my Heroes of Houghton.”In the 1990s, the original Gilpin HolyThorn was in a sad and sorry state – atone point it was vandalised – Peter, aforestry officer with Sunderland Council,took some seeds, froze them andplanted them – and a couple ofseedlings grew! They were planted onthe land between the old Rectory andHoughton Area Office and the GilpinThorn tradition continued, as shownabove in the photograph from theSunderland Echo. Pat Taylor, amember of Houghton Heritage Society,left a small tribute on the Society’sFacebook forum: “Peter was a nice lad,one of the best.” You can find out moreabout the holy Gilpin Thorn and its linkto the crucifixion of Christ in theRectory section of the HH website:www.houghtonlespring.org.uk/parkHOUGHTON PARISHCHURCH is open dailybetween 11:00AM and1:00PM from April untilOctober. It is the idealtime to visit and seesome of Houghton’soldest heritage,including memorials,plaques, stained glasswindows, interpretationboards and historicalremains.POSTCODE FOR SAT NAV:DH4 4DNThe next issue of the HOUGHTONIAN will beavailable to download in June 2012. Send us yourdetails and get a copy sent directly to your Inbox!