Hazel Mason: A Most Caring Coquetdale Creative

Hazel is a creative and talented woman, who is described by those who know her best as 'generous, kind, and honest'. She is a wonderful matriarch to a quite extraordinary Rothbury family. She is so loved, so revered, and held in immensely high esteem by her family.

Hazel and Tom's children: Nicola, Baby Louisa, Janet, Toddler Richard, Rosie

This mother and grandmother - who has raised her brood to also be compassionate, generous, and honest, is the grand-daughter of Mary Jane (Watson) Hindmarsh, who worked as the cook at the Isolation Hospital in Garleigh. She is the daughter of parents (George and Elizabeth Dryden) who farmed a small-holding farm at Fenrother. George also worked at Tritlington Broom Farm.

Hazel's mother and father.

Hazel and Sheila

Sheila, Elizabeth (their mum), Hazel.

When she was at school, Hazel enjoyed art and music, English, elocution, commercial subjects, shorthand, and book keeping. She grew up in quite a creative and musical house:

'My great uncle Jack from Jesmond visited us sometimes. He never read music but listened to concerts and played the music he heard, by ear. He used to play our piano, and I listened - I was about 6-7'

They were soon playing duets!

Hazel, and her older sister, Sheila, began piano lessons. Her sister would play the piano for the teacher first, when it was Hazel's turn she then played exactly what she had just heard Sheila playing. The teacher realised that Hazel was playing by ear, so she began to make Hazel have the first lesson, to ensure she learned to read the music, as well as play the notes.

Sheila and Hazel

Sheila, and her husband, went on to become missionaries with Overseas Missionary Fellowship in Japan for 30 years and then in Mongolia for a further 8.

Hazel was clearly musically gifted, and she has perfect pitch. It is not surprising that she was chosen in school to play the piano for the singing lessons and for assemblies. Hazel went on to play the piano for Sunday School.

She has always played for others, and from 1991, has played for the Longhorsley Ladies' Meetings (now called Women Together).

After having had a variety of jobs, Hazel was appointed to Ashington Training Centre as a 'supervisor of children with special needs'. Of course, Hazel shared with these students her love of music and she enjoyed arranging concerts with them. She made the background scenery, and ensured that all looked as good as it could.

Following on from this, Hazel began work at 'St Hilda's Home Office Approved School' in Gosforth, as a housemistress for twenty-four 14-18-year-old girls and young women. She soon progressed to work for the Northumberland Probation Service, as a Probation Officer in North Shields and for the North Northumberland Probation Service.

After marrying Tom, Hazel has raised a fine family, and helped with the Family business, T Mason & Son, Plant Hire.

Hazel and Tom

Hazel and Tom and family, Golden Wedding.

The Mason Family have formed a wonderful Christmas Tradition of performing carols around the village, raising money for charity.

After lockdown, the Family decided to move this annual event to inside the Queens Head pub. It is a fabulous Christmassy evening to remember, with Hazel on the piano, and the community members playing and singing along to Carols together. A great deal of money is raised for charities on these special nights.

Hazel was a member of the Rothbury Hills Folk Group, an entertaining group who performed at various venues.

The Rothbury Hills Folk Group.

Besides being very musical, Hazel also enjoys writing and performing Northumbrian Dialect Poetry. She won the 2019 Novice Cup with her poem Past and Present. Although Hazel is quick to point out that hers was the only entrant, the quality and sentiment of this poem would have won, however many entrants there were, I am sure.

If Poss' is another poem which Hazel wrote. It is in the style of Rudyard Kipling's 'If'.

This was originally composed for husband Tom's 60th birthday, but has since been updated and modified to celebrate Tom's birthdays ever since.

You can read the poem in the article on Tom Mason.

Over the Bridges, Prayer Corner, Winter 2025. By Hazel Mason

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God” Philippians 4 v 6

Listening to the news or reading the papers can make us feel overwhelmed. It is hard to know how to pray. We might wonder where to start or even if our prayers will be heard or answered. Thankfully we do not need special words or to be in a special place. The Lord knows about all these troubles so we can leave them in His hands. He hears our unspoken prayers. A good place to begin is simply to give thanks for all we receive from God, as we often take such gifts for granted.

Count your blessings!

Dear Lord,

We have so much to be thankful for in Coquetdale: Living in such a beautiful area, The Churches Together services, Community Transport, Cottage Care, Day Centre, lunch clubs, coffee mornings, bereavement counselling, sports clubs, dementia support and children and young people's clubs and many more. We thank all the volunteers who give of their free time to supply all these services.

We pray for all suffering loss, bereavement, worried about farming and NHS crisis, domestic and financial difficulties, loneliness, and mental health problems. May they find peace from faith in You and comfort and support from others in the community.

We thank You for the new life we see all around in springtime, hope of warmer days after the long hard cold days of winter. Lambs, spring flowers, buds on the trees - signs of new life everywhere. You give new life to nature, but not only that. You offer real hope and eternal life to all who believe and trust in You.

Thank you, Lord, for giving us strength when we are weary, hope when disappointed, and peace when we are anxious.

Amen.

A visual poem for Hazel, for Mother's Day, from her children.

When I asked Hazel what SHE is most proud of, in her life, she replied:

'I don't really like the word 'proud'. I am grateful and thankful to have had the love and example of Christian parents, Sunday School teachers and many more who have been an encouragement to me. Privileged to be part of the Upper Coquetdale Churches Together. I am thankful to live in such a lovely area and have so many wonderful friends.'

By all accounts, Hazel Mason is a remarkable, generous, and humble woman, who has time for everyone, and gives unstintingly of her time and love. I have been told many stories of her generosity and the enormous help she has been, and the difference she has made to the lives of a great many people.

One person, Becca Menzies, felt moved to respond poetically to Hazel's kindness to her.