A moving correspondence received from our senior statesman, Douglas Hamilton, serves to advertise a ‘not to be missed’ event at Hexham Abbey as well as helping us put everything into perspective.

"Yesterday, after expressing doubts about the decision to change the arrangements for our match programmes, I felt I should expand on my reservations, but I didn't write anything down. Instead I went to Hexham Abbey!

I had been invited to a preview of an exhibition named "Hexham Hope and Resilience" marking the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. (The display runs until 20 September 2026.)

The exhibition is the work of the Abbey's Conservation Volunteers, who appealed for local people to share family letters, diaries, medals, photographs and memories. TRFC provided information. The exhibition is free, the exhibits are well displayed, and it is well worth a visit.

From Tynedale Rugby Club's point of view, whilst there is much to think about throughout the displays, there are the two huge panels relating to our club. The first panel describes the rugby club, its history and records the death of 49 past and present players in the First World War. Two were at the Somme. The panel also shows that Tynedale members won thirty-five medals including five DSO's, fourteen Military Crosses, two DCM's and three French awards.

That is what you see at this exhibition; examples of courage, friendship, hardship and disaster from the men and women of the Tynedale district who served.
The second panel features "Sammy" the half-bred Border terrier who had become the mascot of the 1914 Northumberland Cup-winning team and went off to War with them.

Coming away I decided that programme grumbles, and even rugby itself are pretty unimportant when compared with those turbulent times from 1914 to 1918.

I hope others will visit the Abbey. They may come away, as I did, "A sadder and a wiser man".

D F Hamilton

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"Hexham Hope and Resilience" is a major exhibition currently on display at Hexham Abbey until 20th September 2026. The exhibition, which is led by “Hexham Abbey Conservation Volunteers”, marks the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.

The exhibition features local family stories, wartime artifacts, medals, and accounts from the home front.
Exhibition Highlights:-

• Wartime artifacts: Medals, unusual objects, and the 4th Battalion war diary.
• Military heritage: The Northumberland Fusiliers' colors and sanctuary standard candles.
• Home front stories: Experiences of Belgian refugees, local voluntary aid hospitals, and women's wartime work.

Admission: Open during regular abbey visitor hours

What began as an appeal for local people to share family letters, diaries, medals, photographs and memories has uncovered a remarkable collection of stories, most never previously shared publicly. After the exhibition, much of the material will become part of a permanent digital archive, preserving it for future generations.

Visitors will also be encouraged to explore wartime connections within the Abbey, including the Northumberland Fusiliers’ colours, the Font and the Sanctuary Standard Candles – a place that became an important source of comfort for families grieving loved ones with no grave to visit.

Volunteers have also created a readable version of the 4th Battalion war diary for visitors to explore.

The exhibition reaches beyond the battlefield to tell stories from the home front, including the experiences of Belgian refugees, local Voluntary Aid hospitals and women’s wartime work. It also reveals unexpected discoveries, including the Abbey’s struggle to pay anti-Zeppelin insurance.