Classic Cars at Bamburgh Castle

Saturday 25 August there will be a classic car show held at the famous Bamburgh castle, there will be live music from the local Wooler steel band. It will be fun for all the family, and best of all its FREE entry, with lots of classic cars and motor bikes on show, with cream teas from the pavilion which is only metres away from Bamburgh beach. For those of you with kids there will be fair rides and Circus workshop throughout the day.

Car mad organiser Bruce Emmett said “We need a car show in North Northumberland and Bamburgh Castle was crying out to me. This is the first year but already we have had a massive response”. Many North East clubs and other individuals are set to show off their vehicles. The pleasure in owning a classic car is driving it and the Coast Road to Bamburgh is second to none.

Graffiti artist from Rothbury, John Craggs is taking the opportunity to come and spray live art work he said “this has to be the most photographed and painted castle in the land so why not graffiti style.

If you would like to enter a car or need more information, please visit the website www.bamburghclassiccarshow.co.uk 01325 339107

Bamburgh Classic Car Show is supporting local RNLI.

Northumberland Theatre Company to tour Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream

6th September – 27th October 2012

Northumberland Theatre Company returns this autumn to tour a physically imaginative production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream to 37 rural and small venues around the country.

Delightful, exhilarating and funny, NTC’s colourful production promises to provide an accessible introduction to Shakespeare for both children and adults alike.

This fabulously popular play centres around the grand wedding of the Duke of Athens, Theseus, to the Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta and includes the adventures of four young Athenian lovers and a group of amateur actors who are manipulated by the fairies that inhabit the forest in which the play is set, to wonderful comic effect.

NTC is delighted to welcome back regular actors Nigel Collins, Eleanor Dennison, Louis Roberts and Stephanie Butler for this production, as well as introducing acting trainee Kylie Ann Ford. See tour dates and play synopsis below. Performances suitable for all ages. Visit www.northumberlandtheatre.co.uk for further information and contact venues for ticket details.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream tour dates and venues:

Date	Time	Venue	Telephone
06-Sep	7.30pm	Hindmarsh Hall, Alnmouth, Northumberland, NE66 2RZ	01665 830894
07-Sep	7.30pm	Lilliesleaf Village Hall, Borders, TD6 9HX	01835 870311
08-Sep	7.30pm	Robinson Institute, Glaisdale, N Yorks, YO21 2PW	01947 897241
11-Sep	7.45pm	Best Western Beamish Hall Hotel, Co. Durham, DH9 0YB	01207 233733
12-Sep	7.30pm	Bishop Auckland Town Hall, Bishop Auckland, DL14 7NP	01388 602610
13-Sep	7.30pm	Longformacus Village Hall, Borders, TD11 3PB	01361 890648
14-Sep	7.30pm	Etal Village Hall, Northumberland, TD12 4TL	01890 820777
15-Sep	7.30pm	Seaton Dleval Arts Centre, NE25 0DY	0191 2375460
18-Sep	7.30pm	Pocklington Arts Centre, York, YO42 2AR	01759 301547
19-Sep	7.30pm	Bamburgh Pavillion, Northumberland, NE69 7BJ	01665 721061
20-Sep	7.30pm	Acklington Village Hall, Northumberland, NE65 9BN	01670 761941
21-Sep	7.30pm	Chatton Village Hall, Northumberland, NE66 5PX	01668 282271
22-Sep	7.30pm	Longhirst Village Hall, Northumberland, NE61 3LX	01670 790764
26-Sep	7.30pm	Eastwood School Theatre, Notts, NG16 3EA	01773 786212
27-Sep	7.30pm	Thoresby Riding Hall Theatre, Perelthorpe, Notts, NG22 9EP	01623 822567
28-Sep	7.30pm	Harworth & Bircotes Town Hall, Bircotes, Notts, DN11 8JP	01302 759037
29-Sep	7.30pm	Ludford Village Hall, Lincs, LN8 6AJ	01302 759037
02-Oct	7.30pm	Leadenham Hall 2000, Lincs, LN5 0QB	01400 272835
03-Oct	7.00pm	Redmoor High School, Hinckley, Leics, LE10 0EP	01455 230731
04-Oct	7.30pm	Kegworth Primary School, Derbyshire, DE74 2DA	01509 673138
05-Oct	7.30pm	Humphrey Perkins Community Centre, Barrow upon Soar, Leics, LE12 8JU	07718 153117
06-Oct	7:30pm	Long Clawson Village Hall, Melton Mowbray, LE14 4NA	01664 822247
07-Oct	7:00pm	The Palace Community Centre, Ibstock, LE67 6LH	01530 267303
10-Oct	7:30pm	Whitburn Parish Church Hall, Sunderland, SR6 7JZ	0191 5292760
11-Oct	7:30pm	Rose Theatre, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, L39 4QP	01695 584480
12-Oct	7:30pm	Heron Theatre, Beetham, Cumbria, LA7 7AS	015395 64283
13-Oct	7:30pm	Morpeth Town Hall, Northumberland, NE61 1LZ	01670 857167
15-Oct	7:00pm	Northumberland YMCA, Ashington, NE63 9XQ	01670 857167
16-Oct	7:00pm	Northumberland YMCA, Ashington, NE63 9XQ	01670 857167
17-Oct	7:30pm	Wall Village Hall, Northumberland, NE46 4ED	01434 681041
18-Oct	7:30pm	Middlesborough Town Hall Crypt, TS1 2QQ	01642 729729
19-Oct	7:30pm	Dinnington Village Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE13 7LD	01661 821041
20-Oct	7:30pm	Whitley Chapel Village Hall, Northumberland, NE47 0HB	01434 673772
23-Oct	7:30pm	Stakeford Methodist Church, Northumberland, NE62 5TU	01670 813523
24-Oct	7:30pm	Kirkwhelpington Village Hall, Northumberland, NE19 2RT	01830 540263
25-Oct	7:30pm	Glanton Memorial Hall, Northumberland, NE66 4AN	01665 578229
26-Oct	7:30pm	Alnwick Playhouse, Northumberland, NE66 1PQ	01665 510785
27-Oct	7:30pm	Alnwick Playhouse, Northumberland, NE66 1PQ	01665 510785

Northumberland Music Festival Returns...

2012 Northumberland Music Festival Featuring “ Evenings with Opera North” 9th - 18th November 2012

Following the success of the first festival held in 2011, which attracted music lovers from across the UK, the second Northumberland Music Festival will feature a variety of concerts including Opera, Traditional, Brass, Classical Music and the ever- popular Gilbert and Sullivan. Highlights this year include Evenings with Opera North, Chetham’s School of Music, a Remembrance Sunday Concert with The Reg Vardy Brass Band, and Traditional Northumberland. The highlight of the Chamber Concert performed by the Liquid Architecture Ensemble is sure to be the Schubert Octet.

The concerts being held between the 9th and 18th of November will be performed in three of Northumberland’s grandest period houses, Eshott Hall, near Morpeth, Guyzance Hall, near Alnwick, and Doxford Hall, near Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Full details about all of the concerts can be found on www.nmfestival.com. Find us on Facebook/nmfestival and follow us on Twitter@Northmusicfest. For a brochure please telephone 01668283100

WOODHORN CALL FOR BUDDING SONGSTERS

Woodhorn Museum and Northumberland Archives has issued an appeal to musicians in the region to compose a song about Grace Darling, the 19th century sea rescue heroine from Northumberland.

The competition is open to any individual and group, and the song can be of any genre as long it relates to Grace Darling in some way. Up to six of the new songs will be broadcast during the three-week tour of a play about Grace Darling called, Amazing Grace, which will be performed at ten theatres in the region throughout October and November.

Grace Darling and her lighthouse keeper father lived on Longstone island when, in a storm on September 7, 1838, the SS Forfarshire struck the notorious Harcar rocks, a part of the Farne Islands and situated off the Northumberland Coast between Bamburgh and Seahouses. Of the 63 people on board, nine managed to escape in the lifeboat and headed to South Shields, while Grace and her father selflessly manned a coble to heroically rescue nine people stranded on the rocks.

Queen Victoria bestowed the Silver Bravery medal on Grace, and, after Victoria, she became the most well know woman in 19th century Britain. Sadly, the unwanted media attention forced Grace to become a recluse within a few month of the rescue and she tragically died of TB in 1842 aged only 26, four years after her heroic deed.

Woodhorn is home to Northumberland Archives which houses records of lasting importance to the county of Northumberland, including several relating to Grace Darling. Many of her letters and papers celebrating her legacy are housed at Woodhorn as part of the collection of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle and are available to view in our Study Centre.

Woodhorn Exhibition and Events Officer Liz Ritson explained: “We are delighted to be working with the playwrights Ed Waugh and Trevor Wood on this. The music can take any style as long as it’s original and comes in at under four minutes.

“Amazing Grace tells the story of Grace Darling through the eyes of a modern-day writer called Grace who wants to make a film about her famous namesake, so the song can have a modern context.”

The competition closing date is Friday, September 14, and the songs to be used on the tour will be announced soon after. Woodhorn will host a concert featuring the new songs on Friday, Saturday, October 6.

To enter, download an entry form from the Woodhorn website www.experiencewoodhorn.com/song-competition/ and send it with a CD of the Grace Darling song to Grace Darling Song Competition, Woodhorn, QEII Country Park, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9YF. Call 01670 528 080 if you require any further information.

Grace Darling to be brought to the Stage!

The story of the Victorian sea rescue heroine Grace Darling is to be brought to the stage.

Tyneside-based Ed Waugh and Trevor Wood, whose international and national stage hits include Dirty Dusting, Waiting For Gateaux, Maggie’s End and Son of Samurai, have penned Amazing Grace to celebrate the achievements of the first Victorian female heroine, who tragically died in 1842 aged only 26, four years after her heroic deed off the Northumberland Coast between Bamburgh and Seahouses.

Grace Darling and her lighthouse keeper father lived on Longstone island when, in a storm on September 7, 1838, the SS Forfarshire struck the notorious Harcar rocks, a part of the Farne Islands. Of the 63 people on board, nine managed to escape in the lifeboat while Grace and her father selflessly manned a coble to heroically rescue 9 people stranded on the rocks.

Queen Victoria sent £50 for Grace which was administrated by the Duke of Northumberland and three Bravery medals were bestowed on her by three separate Humane Societies and the RNLI. After Victoria, Grace became the most well know woman in 19th century Britain. The play will tell the story of Grace Darling through the eyes of a modern-day writer called Grace who wants to make a film about her famous namesake. Trevor Wood explained: “It’s a funny, modern take on a wonderful story and will appeal to everyone aged from 13 to 113. We want to celebrate Grace’s achievement whilst illustrating how the Hollywood machine can play fast and loose with the facts.

“Grace was the first working-class female celebrity – the Cheryl Cole of her time – and the play is a tribute to her achievement.” Amazing Grace will include film of some famous Northumberland landmarks and is being co-produced by Alnwick Playhouse with the support of Sunderland University.

Jo Potts, manager of Alnwick Playhouse, said: “Alnwick Playhouse is excited to premiere this new play based on and around Grace Darling. Her unique story is rooted firmly in the Northumberland landscape and deserves to be told.” Judith Hills, Associate Dean in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Media at Sunderland University, said: “We are very excited to be involved in Amazing Grace. It’s a novel approach to fantastic story which I’m sure will make a terrific piece of theatre.”

The three-week north east tour will begin with a world premiere at Alnwick Playhouse on Wednesday, October 17, as follows:

Alnwick Playhouse: 01665 510 785 Wednesday, October 17; Thursday, October 18 (evening and matinee); Friday, October 19
Consett Empire: 01207 218171 Saturday, October 20 (evening and matinee)
Hexham Queen’s Hall: 01434 652477 Monday, October 22 and Tuesday, October 23 (evening and matinee)
Gala theatre (Durham): 0191 332 4041 Wednesday, October 24 and Thursday, October 25 (evening and matinee)
Hartlepool Theatre: 01429 890 000 Friday, October 26
Gateshead Old Town Hall: 0191 433 6965 Saturday, October 27
Customs House (South Shields): 0191 454 1234 Monday, October 29 and Tuesday, October 30 (evening and matinee)
Blyth Phoenix theatre: 01670 367 228 Wednesday, October 31
Berwick Maltings: 01289 330999 Thursday, November 1 and Friday, November 2 (evening and matinee)
Playhouse Whitley Bay: 0844 277 2771 Saturday, November 3 (evening and matinee)

Tickets for Amazing Grace are on sale from the venues. For further information visit www.edwaughandtrevorwood.co.uk

My Spring Tynedale - By Derek A. Sim

Oh! To hear the curlew call, from field, and fell, and moor,
whose presence closes winter’s door, proclaiming spring for sure.
Her dainty call on silent hill, such music to my ear,
she brings the sun to melt the snow, and sweep the grey skies clear.
‘Tis March, the time that mad hares box; cock pheasants fight for hens,
and all of the wader’s congregate, on marshes, bogs, and fens.

The rooks return to nests of old, preparing for their brood,
the magpie hops along the hedgerows, scavenging for food.
The harvest mouse and vole emerge, from months of winter sleep,
foraging the farmer’s fields, stealthily they creep.
For hanging in the sky above, the kestrel eye’s his prey,
one unguarded moment, and he steals his quarry away.

The petrol coloured lapwing darts in acrobatic flight,
to watch this aerial fly-past… for me is sheer delight.
She swoops down low then climbs the sky, then tumbles out of sight,
she skims the moor then up again, windswept as a kite.
The hares run wild and random, like rags in the blowing wind,
as their place on the fox’s menu, they’re attempting to rescind.

Brilliant white and resplendent in his ermine winter coat,
another predator scours the land, the intrepid little stoat.
His favourite dish is rabbit, which he’ll corner before the attack,
he’s cunning and determined, pushing toward a cul-de-sac.
He’s fussy and discerning, and he only takes what’s best,
he drinks their blood then eats his fill, discarding all the rest.

High above, the buzzard soar’s, in effortless gliding flight,
he’ll take the remains of any meal, and devour with such delight.
He’s lazy and quite cumbersome, and prefers his meal prepared,
he’ll even consider road kill, no chase; already dead.
He’ll carry it off to feed his brood; who wait with mouth’s agape,
nestled amongst the poplars, high above the oil-seed rape.
Written by Derek A. Sim

Review: The Three Wheat Heads Inn, Thropton, Nr Rothbury

I have really fond memories of visiting The Three Wheat Heads Inn many years ago when I was a kid, we used to go regularly for Sunday lunch as a family in the 80's. It's strange what you remember with crystal clarity from your childhood, I remember the car park at the front and the panoramic view from the restaurant, but nothing of the food. So I had a quick chat with my mum before writing this review 'Why did we stop going to the Three Wheat Heads?' I asked her 'because it went crap' was her reply and she hasn't been back since the late 80's! She always did have a way with words and it just goes to show that it takes years to build up a good reputation, but just seconds to bring it crashing to the ground and that's what sticks.

I'm sure The Three Wheats Heads Inn has changed hands many times since I was last there, but what hasn't changed is that view. Oh what a view to behold, the Coquetdale Valley in all it's glory on a sunny day warms the soul and the restaurant uses this feature well. Large glass sliding doors open out to a garden area with seating and a little play area for the kids, you can't help but stop for a moment and just take it all in. It was a little overcast on the day we visited which was a shame as it would have been nice to show you this special place at it's very best.


On to the food, it was early Sunday afternoon and we hadn't booked a table in advance which wasn't a problem for the friendly lady who welcomed us into the restaurant. Had we been ten minutes later I don't think they would have been able to fit us in so I would recommend booking ahead. The carvery lunch comes in three sizes: small, medium and large so we promptly ordered two large meals and some drinks which were brought to our table. The large portion certainly lived up to it's billing. We were told we could go up to the carvery and we went for the 'bit of everything' option which consisted of beef, lamb, turkey, ham and roast pork with 8 roast potatoes, three home-made yorkshire puddings and stuffing! There was also a choice of three different types of gravy, one plain, one with mint added and one for vegetarians along with the usual array of condiments you would expect to see. Vegetables were brought to our table in a bowl, which I have never seen before in a carvery and did raise small concerns about wastage - I wouldn't have chosen to put all those veg on my plate.

It wasn't until we were up at the carvery that we saw there was a blackboard with a range of starters, which weren't mentioned when we arrived. As there was no menu given to us we had assumed that the carvery was all that was on offer and with a restaurant full of people they are potentially missing a lot of extra revenue here. Nevermind we thought, there was more than enough food to keep us going in front of us! All the meats were extremely tender and tasty with the roast potatoes being particularly good and the gravy (I had the plain) thick and rich.


Despite a really strong appetite we just couldn't get through all the lightly cooked vegetables that were brought to us, which as I mentioned earlier was a shame. A lot of effort has clearly been made by the current owners to make the restaurant a pleasant and relaxed dining area with modern furniture and fairly plain decoration, perhaps intentional to keep the attention on that view.


We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch (which was £9.95 for the large carvery) and had absolutely no room to even contemplate a dessert after such a gargantuan plate full. I've informed my mum that after her 25 year hiatus it's safe to go back to the Three Wheat Heads Inn. And so the long, slow process of building word of mouth and a good reputation is restarted and I wish them the very best of luck.


The Three Wheat Heads Inn's Scores
Venue: 4 out of 5
Ambience: 4 out of 5
Service: 2 ½ out of 5
Presentation: 3 ½ out of 5
Taste: 4 out of 5
Value for Money: 3 ½ out of 5



Overall Score: The Three Wheat Heads Inn have the advantage of an effortlessly beautiful location so it's hard not to recommend visiting for a Sunday lunch, or any other day of the week for that matter. The view will take your breath away, the front of house staff will welcome you and you will receive good, hearty food. It should certainly be on your list to consider for a good honest family meal. 3 ½ out of 5.

My scoring system explained: 1 = Poor, 2 = Average, 3 = Good, 4 = Excellent, 5 = Outstanding

Contact Details
The Three Wheat Heads Inn
Thropton
Nr Rothbury
Northumberland
NE65 7LR

Tel: 01669 620262
email: info@threewheatheads.co.uk

Web: www.threewheatheads.co.uk