Morpethinside

Tasked with ‘selling’ Brand Morpeth

Make a note of two new publications

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inside Morpeth

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inside Morpeth

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INSIDE Morpeth is a community magazine published by Ian Leech Publicity Services. For editorial call 07968 102 547. For advertising call John Matthews on 07751 156 160 or email ian-leech@sky.com. All rights reserved. Every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of material published in INSIDE Morpeth. All information is accurate at time of going to press. The publisher does not endorse any advertising material published in INSIDE Morpeth. No parts of the publication can be reproduced without the prior written permission of the publisher. INSIDE Morpeth c/o The Lodge, Carlisle Park, Morpeth NE61 1YD

fRont coVeR:

can MaRy the‘Queen’ of shops help MoRpeth?

How the Town Team is bidding for funding from the shopping ‘guru’ Mary Portas

4

two ‘oscaR’wins foR localMotoR DealeRs

Blackshaws’ delight at double success on industry motoring prestigious awards’ night

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enJoyinGthis easteRat cRaGsiDe

Fun for all the family on Lord Armstrong’s Rothbury Estate over the Easter holidays

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Golf club’solyMpic leGacyfunDinG awaRD

Morpeth is the only golf club in the country chosen to receive Sports’ funding

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Make a noteof John’swoRks of aRt

Local wildlife artist John Caffrey’s birds of the Wansbeck valley notelets now on sale

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twin theMesat the 45thGatheRinG

In Olympic year Morpeth remembers its history and town’s very own ‘Games’

17tales of theDays DRoVeRscaMe to town

We review Bridget Gubbins’new book of the time drovesof cattle were herded to market

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the VeRy besteVents’ GuiDein MoRpeth

Full Gathering programmedetails plus what’s on whenover the next few weeks

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he past is important to Morpeth, a town proud of being able to trace its heritage back to the days more than 800 years ago when King John granted

a charter for a weekly market to be held here.

But it’s to the future that town and business leaders are turning their attentions right now as they consider how best to maintain and develop Morpeth’s reputation as a shopping Mecca and a great visitor day out.

The need to do so has been brought into sharp focus over the past few weeks because of the disruption caused by the utility works across the town centre that undoubtedly have affected trade and visitor numbers perhaps even more so than the floods of four years ago did.

As always, however, resources to do the job required are at a premium, hence the decision to bid for funding being offered to town teams following the review by Mary ‘Queen of Shops’ Portas into the future of the country’s high streets. Being selected as one of only 12 ‘Portas Pilots’ is a tough ask, but the Economic Forum is determined to put forward a convincing and compelling case for Morpeth to be awarded the sort of funding that would go a long way to putting us right up there with the very best modern English market towns. The full backing of everyone in Morpeth could help swing the decision in the town’s favour.

this issues ouR contRibutoRs

T

Ian LeechEditor of Inside Morpeth

Medi ParrySanderson Arcade’s manager welcomes two more newcomers

Patrick Eyres Bin 21’s owner has more wine column tips for our readers

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Morpeth Town Council A bumper edition from the Town Council in this edition’s Town Cryer

Mick Wood Creative Director of MW Design adds creative flair to INSIDE Morpeth magazine

Wildlife artist John Caffrey has had his work published in notelet form by Greater Morpeth Development Trust. Photo by Trevor Walker

More Inside

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Can ‘Mary Queen of Shops’ help sell Brand Morpeth?By Inside Morpeth Editor Ian Leech

Together Morpeth Chamber of Trade, Morpeth Town Council and Greater Morpeth Development Trust (GMDT) have established an Economic Forum to market the unique shopping and visitor attractions of the town not only locally but across the region in a way that has never been done before.

The idea of setting up the forum to promote that message has been in the pipeline since the floods of 2008. However, recent concerns over media reports about the impact on retailing of the road works that have disrupted the traffic flow through the town centre for the past few weeks, focused attention on the urgent need to get the message out that Morpeth is indeed still very much ‘open for business’.

Now with the roadworks at an end the

three partners with the help and support of others including Dransfield Properties and Sanderson Arcade as well as some leading local businessmen and women, plan to take the marketing campaign to the next stage to demonstrate that Morpeth is fit for purpose as a 21st Century modern market town.

Over the coming weeks and months they will be rolling out the ‘More in Morpeth’ brand image designed for the Chamber of Trade to promote the unique selling points of Morpeth.

At the same time a bid is being made by the Economic Forum for a share of £1m being offered by the Government to 12 pilot areas as a follow-up to a review by Mary Portas of what needs to be done to improve trading on England’s high streets.

Dubbed by the press as ‘Mary Queen of Shops’, her challenge to bidders is to show that their town centre can become more than just a place for shopping, but for socialising, wellbeing, learning and culture. Local Government Minister Grant Shapps has also been quoted as saying that they will be looking for a mix of bidders - including market towns -with both high and low levels of income and high street vacancies, as well as a good geographical spread of chosen pilot areas.

“Internet shopping is not going to go away,” he is quoted as saying “so to survive high streets need to offer something new and exciting.”

Business people, councillors

and development trust officials

have joined forces to promote

morpeth as the ultimate modern

market town destination in the

north east – perhaps with a

little help from retail guru mary

‘Queen of shops’ portas!

continued on pg 6 >>

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The Morpeth partners are confident that they can put forward a case that ticks the right boxes to be named as a Portas Pilot. While

Morpeth may not on the surface be the archetypal ‘failing’ high street there is, they say, a demonstrable need to act now not only to maintain but to increase the footfall in the town centre so that it continues to be viable and progressive and able to compete with the out-of-town centres around the region as well as minimising the impact on local businesses of the growing trend of internet shopping.

Recently a number of smaller businesses have announced they are closing down in the town, the most high profile being Appleby’s Bookshop which has been trading in Morpeth for more than a century. On the other side of the coin Morpeth has been chosen as the location for their first North East stores by leading menswear retailer Frank Bird and ladies fashion store Hobbs and shortly the national chain Pizza Express will be opening in the Market Place.

“We do welcome and are benefiting from business investment in the town,” said Chamber of Trade Chairman John Beynon. “Sanderson Arcade was, for example, a huge vote of confidence in Morpeth’s future by its developers Dransfield and it has attracted

some of the biggest names on Britain’s high street.

“Their presence adds to the unique package we can offer local people as well as strengthening our hand as an unrivalled shopping destination for visitors looking for an excellent day out. But the independent businesses trading in Newgate Street, Oldgate, Bridge Street and the New Market which all add to the character of Morpeth, do need on-going support to help them remain viable trading outlets.

“However, we can’t sit back on our laurels and think that local people will continue to shop in Morpeth and visitors will continue to come to the town without getting out the message more effectively about the attractions of the town.”

The Chamber of Trade has launched its own initiative to market the town through its ‘More in Morpeth’ brand and is looking at not only at producing point-of-sale material branded with the logo but at the possibility of introducing a loyalty card to encourage people through individual shop discounts and offers to spend their money in the town.

Councillor Ken Brown who represents Morpeth Town Council on the Economic Forum says one Mary Portas review recommendation is that Town Teams should be established to effectively manage town

centres across the country.

“By setting up our Economic forum we have gone some way down the road to establishing a Town Team and already we are working together to ensure there is ‘More in Morpeth’ on the high street for shoppers and visitors,” he said. A Northumberland Tourism Survey in 2009 concluded that 96 percent of visitors found that Morpeth was a top destination for a day out and that was before Sanderson Arcade opened.

“Things have got tougher since then but we believe we still have a retail offer that is second-to-none in Northumberland,” said Councillor Brown. “As the Town Council we recognise that money spent in a locally owned shop is more likely to be spent locally again thereby supporting the local economy.

“Morpeth still has more independent, locally owned shops than most market towns, although it remains very much a case of use them or lose them. As shoppers we have to recognise and value more what we have in Morpeth.”

David Lodge, Chief Executive representing GMDT on the Forum, said Morpeth town centre could also demonstrate that it is very much more than just a shopping destination.

He pointed to annual events that have become major attractions in the town centre including the Morpeth Gathering, Fair Day, Picnic in the Park, Morpeth in Bloom and the Christmas Lights.

“GMDT has also re-started a monthly community cinema in the Town Hall which is part of efforts to boost the night-time economy in Morpeth,” he said. “As a team we think that this all demonstrates that Morpeth has the potential to be a prosperous and diverse high street in the future, but we would welcome the extra resources available to a Portas Pilot to help us do the job with the maximum impact.”

>>

“By setting up our economic forum we have gone some way

down the road to establishing a Town

Team and already we are working together

to ensure there is ‘more in morpeth’...

7

inside Morpeth

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Local artist Ivan Webley has been commissioned by Morpeth Chamber of Trade to paint seven large framed pictures of scenes around the town, to hang in the Old Nag’s Head Yard linking Newgate Street with the Back Riggs’ bus station and Sanderson Arcade.

The paintings depict a bird’s eye view of the Town Hall and Market Place on market day; Carlisle Park; the Hundred Steps overlooking the town above the Park’s paddling pool and bowling green; Oldgate and Chantry Bridges; and the River Wansbeck as its runs along Lady’s Walk in the High Stanners.

The largest of the paintings of the Old Nag’s Head measures eight foot by four foot while the other six are slightly smaller.

As an adopted Morpethian – ‘I’ve only lived and worked in the town for 34 years’ – Ivan says he is proud and honoured to have his work going on permanent public display.

“It has been a very special labour of love for me because I am so fond of the town,” he said.

For many years Ivan taught art and other subjects at King Edward VI Grammar School, and held the post of Deputy Head Community before he retired 10 years ago.

It took him more than six months to paint the pictures on plywood and as he says: “It offered me a wonderful opportunity to make a statement about my feelings for Morpeth.”

All the scenes are his own choice and were selected to show different aspects of the town. “I just hope people enjoy them as much as I enjoyed painting them,” he added.

The idea of commissioning some artwork to brighten up what had become a dark and dingy alleyway leading to and from Newgate Street, originally came from local traders led by Chamber of Trade chairman John Beynon.

New and improved lighting has also been installed and the project was supported by County Councillors Andrew Tebbutt and David

Moore using some of their councillors ward allowances.

“Ivan has done just what we wanted him to do and that is turn what was an unwelcoming but important link into Newgate Street, into what is in effect a public art gallery with seven wonderful paintings of the town,” said John Beynon. “We are sure his work will be admired by local residents and visitors to the town and become a talking point among them for many, many years, thereby helping traders by drawing more people into Newgate Street.”

Ivan gets his own public art gallerymorpeth’s only public art gallery is being unveiled this weekend in the unlikely setting of a town centre alleyway.

Ivan Webley with his Morpeth Market Place painting

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Traders, business and council leaders are planning a series of weekend events and activities to bring the crowds back into the town centre now that the disruption of the road works is well and truly over.

On Friday March 30th the ‘public art gallery’ in the alleyway alongside T & G Allan that links Newgate Street with the Back Riggs area of the town, will be officially opened. Seven paintings by local artist Ivan Webley will brighten up the alleyway.

The following weekend is, of course, Easter and there will be a day of fun events for all the family in Sanderson Arcade on the Saturday.

The monthly Farmers’ Market also happens to fall on Easter Saturday so it will have an Easter theme and plenty of stallholders are expected now that the road works are at an end.

Then on Easter Monday Morpeth Mayor Councillor Phil Taylor will continue the long tradition of handing out oranges to children in Carlisle Park followed by games their grandparents used to play at Eastertime.

Over the Easter Holidays shopkeepers from

Newgate Street and New Market will be running an Easter Bunny Window competition with some great cash prizes for the winners.

A total of 36 shops will have an Easter Bunny in their windows and each one will have a name which shoppers of all ages will have to try and find. There’ll be three prizes - £100 for the winner and £30 each for the two runners-up.

Entry forms will be available in the participating shops from March 31st.

The weekend of Friday 13 to Sunday 15 April will be dominated by the 45th Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering with a packed programme of events and activities for all ages to enjoy. (See our centrespread for the full programme details).

All in all it adds up to a busy few weeks that will demonstrate that Morpeth town centre is back in business following the road works.

bike ride charity boostAn 18-strong team of cyclists from Sanderson Arcade developers Dransfield Properties has raised almost £15,500 for the NSPCC in the North East.

Fundraising volunteers from the charity’s Morpeth Committee, first encouraged the Dransfield team to support their work and the money will help set up a dedicated unit to assist and advise families with babies where there are child protection issues.

The team members rode the 360 miles from Portofino to Rome in just over three days and MD Mark Dransfield who took part in the ride expressed their gratitude to the many people who supported the challenge.

“Riding into Rome is something we will never forget and it was great to visit the NSPCC North East centre to present the cheque knowing the money we raised will be spent in the area,” he said.

Football legend Alan Shearer accepted the cheque on behalf of the NSPCC and members of its Morpeth committee.

Easter Bunny says - ‘We’re back in business’

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It has been a busy few months at the Arcade and we’re really excited to be welcoming two new high quality retailers to the centre.

Frank Bird Menswear opened on March 9th – local businesses and customers were invited along to see some of the great brands the store will be stocking and share a glass of wine and some nibbles with the team. The shop is selling brands including Polo, Ralph Lauren, Barbour, Tommy Hilfiger, Sand, Pretty Green and Lyle and Scott – so some great new names for the stylish men of Morpeth!

In addition to menswear, the classic women’s fashion and footwear retailer Hobbs has also opened here at the Arcade – bringing the first stand alone Hobbs store in the North East to Morpeth! The leading British retailer stocks Hobbs London and also Hobbs invitation which brings in a selection of stylish occasion wear – great for those very special events you might have coming up this summer !

JoJo Maman Bebe, Mountain Warehouse and Monsoon have all just marked their first birthdays with some great offers and giveaways! And our mission to find the region’s top Mum saw one lucky mother win our fantastic Pamper Hamper prize – courtesy of some of the stores here at the Arcade.

The last few weeks have obviously been difficult in town for all the retailers and businesses with the road works. But the one good thing that has come out of it is everyone seems to be working together in the town - joining forces in challenging times to promote the town and send out a message that we are definitely open for business!

That work will continue now the road works are finishing and we are very keen to play our part in that. There are certainly some exciting ideas to spread the word about what a great place Morpeth is to come and visit – and of course shop!

Saturday the 7th of April will see the Arcade’s Easter Eggstravaganza where Easter themed stilt walkers will be on site, as well as FREE face painting, balloon modellers, lots of giveaways and the Arcade’s very own Easter Egg Hunt and Easter Egg design competition where all entries will be displayed in a number of shop windows.

All Easter Egg Design entries will be judged and the winner will be announced on Saturday 7th of April and will be presented with an Easter themed prize. For further information visit www.sandersonarcade.co.uk

Also watch this space for the opening of the brand new salon located above Laura Ashley towards the end of April where Jazz Hair will be expanding their range of treatments along with some fantastic beauty treatments!

For up to date offers and events at the Arcade visit www.sandersonarcade.co.uk or follow us on Twitter @sandersonarcade or like us on Facebook.

Dates to make a note ofSaturday 7th of April – Easter Eggstravaganza – including stilt walkers, free face painting, balloon modelling, giveaways and family entertainment.

Tuesday 10th to the 15th of April – Children’s Rides on site

12th April – Grand National

13th – 15th of April – Northumberland Gathering

23rd of April – St George’s Day – look out for the Beadles in their St George’s Day ties!

End of April – Spring In Bloom judging

7th May – Bank Holiday entertainment

spring is certainly blossoming at the arcade as the centre welcomes two new retailers to its line up. We’ve also got some great plans for easter and are busy planning our displays for morpeth in Bloom and making sure everything is looking lovely for the all important judging day says sanderson arcade manager medi parry.

Spring blossoming at the Arcade

Opening of the new Frank Bird (above) and Hobbs stores (top right).

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Blackshaws collect two motoring ‘Oscars’

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Blackshaws Garage of alnwick is celebrating after winning two national accolades at the recent am awards in Birmingham. The prestigious AM Awards which are held annually and are hosted by the Automotive Management media publication, are widely regarded as the definitive ‘honours’ within the UK motoring industry.

Blackshaws first success came in the category of ‘Best Marketing Initiative’ when the family owned Nissan and Suzuki dealership fought off strong competition from the likes of Mercedes Benz GB.

Recognised for its cohesive and innovative marketing programme Blackshaws was thrilled to receive the award which was announced by BBC Breakfast presenter Suzanna Reid, in front of 1000 people.

Later the same evening in the second short listed category of ‘Aftersales Operation of the Year’ the team from Blackshaws held their breath hardly daring to hope they might win a second award but when their name was

called out again it was celebrations all round.

Blackshaws entered the Awards in October last year and since then the company has been subject to a rigorous auditing process by a judging panel of industry experts looking for examples of innovation, best practice and outstanding performance.

Explaining what the award meant to him Managing Director David Blackshaw said: “This is one of the proudest moments of my business career and it is a major achievement

for a company of our size. There is no doubt that our success is due to the dedication, motivation and hard work of all our staff and of course to the support of our customers.’”

Blackshaws which was established in 1919 is located in the Lionheart Enterprise Park on the outskirts of Alnwick. In addition to Suzuki and Nissan new car sales the business sells a wide selection of approved used vehicles, Motability cars plus all makes servicing, MOTs, accessories, parts and bodyshop services.

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Wildlife and landscape artist extraordinaire John Caffrey has just launched a stunning series of all-occasion cards featuring birds of the Wansbeck Valley. ian leech reports.

The six beautifully illustrated cards have been published by Greater Morpeth Development Trust (GMDT) with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and are now available for sale.

For most of his 73 years John has been walking, sketching and painting the woodlands, countryside, riverbanks and the wildlife inhabiting them, in and around his beloved Morpeth, and he says the cards are his way of giving something back for a lifetime of enjoyment of the natural environment on his own doorstep.

“In John we have an exceptional talent in our midst,” said GMDT’s new part-time heritage officer Barry Mead. “The cards are all works of art in their own right and we are sure they are going to be extremely popular not only with local people but among ornithologists world-wide through website sales.”

John and the Trust – which he has been a member of since it was formed – have worked together many times in the past, particularly on the development of a series of interpretation panels now to be found in Morpeth town centre and along local woodland and riverside trails following the Wansbeck from Mitford to Bothal.

It was while he was working on the interpretation panels that John said he would be willing for his paintings to be made into notelets, an offer the Trust has now been delighted to take up.

The job of improving access to many of those walks where the boards can be found was originally instigated as part of the Castles, Woods & Water project started by Castle Morpeth Council and then taken on by GMDT when the local authority was merged into the new Northumberland unitary council.

John’s illustrations adorn the panels, sitting alongside the words of his great friend and colleague local historian Professor Alan Davison, and have greatly added to the enjoyment of walkers and passers-by.

His work has also been exhibited locally and regional as well as being seen on an

international stage, notably in America where his admiration for 19th Century writer, philosopher and naturalist Henry David Thoreau drew him to the attention of the Thoreau Society, one of the biggest literary organisations in the world.

John’s essay on the first English edition of Thoreau’s ‘Walden’ from 1886, published by Walter Scott Publishers of Newcastle, was included in the Thoreau Bulletin (Number 271) in the summer of 2010. More recently his illustration of a hermit thrush was published in ‘The Concord Saunterer, A Journal of Thoreau Studies’ to illustrate a collection of poems ‘The Poet at Walden’ by J Walter Brain (Volume 28, 2010).

John considers two of his greatest honours were to have one of his paintings of a wood thrush selected to hang in the society’s office in Thoreau’s birthplace which has now become a museum, visitor and research centre as well as a brief profile of him featuring in the 150th anniversary Walden edition of the Thoreau Society’s Bulletin (Number 247 Spring 2004).

His chosen illustrations for the GMDT notelets series are drawn from the portfolio he has built up over many years and include watercolours of birds to be found in the Wansbeck Valley – a Bullfinch, Wren, Redpoll, Goldcrest, Greater Spotted Woodpecker and Goldfinch.

He refers to them as ‘portraits’ rather than paintings and all have been done not by copying photographs but from a lifetime’s observation of the birds in flight or in their natural habitats. “Birds are like people,” says John. “They are all different and no two are alike.”

All the proceeds from the sale of the cards will

go to GMDT to help the Trust continue its work of supporting the promotion of the natural heritage, the provision of new facilities, events and amenities in the town. “GMDT has done a tremendous job in the town since being set up and I hope the sale of my work through the card series will help the Trust to continue to do so in the future,” John added.

The Birds of the Wansbeck Valley cards cost £2 each and are available from local outlets including The Chantry TIC, as well

as direct from GMDT. Telephone 01670 503866 or visit the website

www.gmdt.net

Just a note drawing on a lifetime’s experience

John Caffrey and GMDT’s Heritage Officer Barry Mead admire one of the notelets.

On the trail of a hardy breed of cattlemen

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morpeth has always been a meat town. From the days way back in 1190 when King John granted the town a charter to hold a weekly market, morpeth was at the centre of the thriving trade of buying and selling cattle and sheep writes ian leech.

For centuries animals were herded into the town often from the very far north of Scotland, the Highlands and the Hebridean islands, by kilt-swinging Scottish drovers - as hairy and shaggy as the cattle they brought with them - to be sold in Morpeth or moved further afield to markets in Newcastle, Yorkshire or even London.

In a fascinating book – The Drovers are Coming to Morpeth Town - just published by Greater Morpeth Development Trust, local author Bridget Gubbins eloquently tells the story of these hardy Scots, in part by tracing the trails they took into the town centuries ago after crossing the Border into Northumberland.

The Drovers are Coming to Morpeth Town is Bridget’s second book and follows her success

last year with The Curious Yards and Alleyways of Morpeth also published by GMDT with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Bridget followed three drovers’ roads into Morpeth – twice in the company of her friend from College days Mary Harris – starting at Coldstream, Kelso and Jedburgh. Together they cycled and walked centuries-old routes like Clennell Street and Dere Street to re-create the journeys of the drovers, the people they met and the communities they passed through on their way into Morpeth.

Their own adventures were as arduous and bleak as they had been led to believe they would be from their readings and research. To add to the realism of their modern-day ‘droving’

experience they tried to follow the way the drovers would have sustained themselves in the old days with a bag of oatmeal to make into cakes and biscuits, and a rams horn of whisky to keep out the cold, although they did equip themselves with tents and four-season sleeping bags.

The drovers on the other hand, would have carried little more than a plaid slung over their shoulders which doubled as a blanket covering for the raw, wet nights on the Northumbrian hills. On occasions, however, Bridget and Mary found that even their camping equipment was of little protection against the wild elements, vividly bringing home to them how tough conditions would have been centuries ago.

“We wanted to be like drovers but, as we are both 66 years old,

we made excuses for ourselves and banged on the door of the Queen’s Head in Glanton,” writes Bridget after one torrential soaking. “Welcome ladies” says the smiling owner of the inn “not at all disconcerted as water from our capes trickles over his floor.”

She recalls one particular night camping out high in the Cheviots when the temperature plunged almost to zero even in July. “If a storm had come with gale force winds, we could have died,” she writes with alarming realism.

What comes across in the book is the admiration Bridget and Mary gained for the generations of men, boys and their dogs who relentlessly drove huge herds of cattle and sheep long distances to market across the hills and along the lanes and tracks of Northumberland.

The Drovers’ Return

Bridget Gubbins (right) and GMDT’s Liz Young at Weldon Bridge.

Not only did they have to contend with the challenging terrain and fickle weather conditions they encountered, but the emergence of turnpike roads and toll gates in the mid 1700s set up by wealthy landowners to raise funds to build and repair roads across their land. Every time the drovers passed through they had to pay a toll per score of animals they had with them.

Bridget has calculated that at present day prices the tolls they were asked to pay for a herd of cattle being driven to market would have added up to a few hundred pounds by the time they reached Morpeth. Unsurprisingly, the drovers became adept at find their way around the toll roads and avoiding such crippling charges.

Her book is full of anecdotes from farmers, shepherds and village people and places they met and travelled through on their way, as well as personal accounts of their droving days left in perpetuity by old drovers such as George Robson.

A veteran who drove cattle into Northumberland from the 1790s to the 1830s, his thoughts are recorded in an interview with an anonymous publication in

1843 when he was running an hotel near London’s King’s Cross Station, and provide a remarkable insight into his life’s work.

The drovers have also long figured in literature, notably in the writings of Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson. Bridget notes that in his 1827 short story The Two Drovers, Scott wrote: “The Highlanders are masters of this difficult trade of driving which seems to suit them as well as the trade of war. It affords exercise for all their habits of patient endurance and active exertion. They are required to know perfectly the drove roads which lie over the wildest tracts of country, and to avoid as much as possible the highways which distress the feet of the bullocks, and the

turnpikes which annoy the spirit of the drover.”

Bridget concludes her book by recalling the part the butchers of Morpeth played in the tale of the drovers. Two of the butchers Martins and Gebhards are still trading in the town although both are now in new ownership from the original families who once ran the shops, and Bridget has recorded interviews with Eddie Gebhard and Dennis Martin who worked in the family businesses from being young boys.

Her painstakingly researched book is a fascinating read about a long-gone trade that was once so much part of the way of life

in Morpeth. She eloquently paints a picture of the hustle and bustle of market days as the drovers and their animals arrived in the town, the journeys they regularly made through the Northumberland countryside to reach their final destination and the preparations the people of Morpeth made to be ready for their arrival.

The Drovers are Coming to Morpeth Town by Bridget Gubbins is published by Greater Morpeth Development Trust at £10.00 and will be available from local bookstores, The Chantry, GDMT offices at The Lodge, Carlisle Park and online from GMDT at www.gmdt.net or call (01670) 503866

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“They are required to know perfectly the drove roads which lie over the

wildest tracts of country...”

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Caribbean Christmas: 25 nights Date: 16th December 2012

On board Black Watch departing from Southampton

Christmas Markets: 12 nights Date: 22nd November 2012

On board Black Watch departing from Southampton

Baltic & St. Petersburg: 12 nights Date: 14th September 2012

On board Boudicca departing from Newcastle

Spitsbergen: 16 nights Date: 15th July 2012

On board Boudicca departing from Rosyth

Fantastic Prices plus Added Benefits on all

these Fred. Olsen cruises!

If a cruise of your choice is not listed above please ring 01670 829922 to obtain the best possible price. We always appreciate the opportunity to quote!

All offers and cabins are subject to availability and can be withdrawn at anytime. Fred.Olsen terms and conditions apply.

Into the Arctic Circle: 12 nights Date: 14th August 2012

On board Boudicca departing from Newcastle

Iceland & The Faroes: 12 nights Date: 26th August 2012

On board Boudicca departing from Newcastle

UK & Ireland: 9 nights Date: 22nd May 2012

On board Braemar departing from Dover

Canada: 28 nights Date: 5th September 2012

On board Balmoral departing from Southampton

Call Northumbria Travel on 01670 829922Visit www.northumbriatravel.com or email us at info@northumbriatravel.com82 Front Street East, Bedlington, Northumberland, NE22 5AB

***2013 PRE-LAUNCH OFFERS!***Be first to call and book Fred.Olsen 2013/2014 itineraries! Limited cabins available

at pre-launch prices! Call us on the number below for more information.

Because with the leading cruise lines all opening bookings for 2013 with a series of discounted offers Beryl and Jane Gibson say now is the very best time to strike the very best deals for next year’s cruises.

A combination of discounts are on offer from the cruise lines for early bookings, group travel for passengers sailing with Northumbria Travel and ‘past-passengers’ who have travelled with the lines before.

Add on Northumbria Travel’s own five percent discounts with the majority of cruise lines and the many additional on-board and excursion benefits from the cruise lines and the packages now available offer the sort of substantial savings that are not-to-be-missed on the cost of next year’s sailings.

There are also plenty of new departure dates and exciting destinations for passengers to visit in 2013.

Take Norwegian and Northern waters’ cruise specialists Hurtigruten for instance. The cruise line specialises in sailings to its ‘home’ waters along the Norwegian coastline and further afield to the Arctic, and Northumbria Travel has announced eight new exclusive group 2013 departure dates for its clients to see the phenomenon of the Northern Lights.

The Aurora Borealis as the natural light show is also known, has been providing some awe-inspiring sights already this year, but American space agency NASA is predicting that the in 2013 Northern Lights could be at their most spectacular best for half a century.

Viking River Cruises known as the world’s leading river cruise line, are also offering discounts of £1,000 per person on the majority of sailings next year. One exciting new destination for 2013 is a cruise along the Douro that has been dubbed Portugal’s ‘River of Gold’.

The eight day river cruise begins with two nights in Lisbon before sailing into the heart of Portugal to the Spanish border and includes visits to four UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Exciting news for many passengers next year

will be the return to the Tyne of the popular Fred Olsen line vessel the ‘Black Watch’ - a favourite with many past passengers. The vessel will depart for the Palaces of Stockholm and St Petersburg on June 18th; the Arctic waters on July 2nd; Estonia and St Petersburg on July 9th; and the Norwegian Fjords on July 22nd.

The ‘Black Watch’ will also be the only cruise ship to sail south from the Tyne next year when it departs for the Canary Islands on July 30th.

Northumbria Travel is advising that already only a limited number of cabins are available on Fred Olsen sailings at the special 2013 discounted prices.

“Now really is the optimum time to book a 2013 cruise to ensure that you reserve the very best deals,” said Jane.

To help clients find out more about 2013 cruises Northumbria Travel is organising two special events at the Caledonian Hotel in

Jesmond’s Osborne Road, both beginning at 2pm. The first on Thursday April 19th will have all the details about the Hurtigruten cruises, while the second on Tuesday May 1st will focus on Viking River Cruises.

Anyone wanting more information about the events or indeed about cruise travel, can contact Northumbria Travel on (01670) 829922. Beryl, Jane and all the girls at Northumbria Travel have a great wealth of personal experience sailing with these cruise lines. So please call them to learn more about their first-hand knowledge of the ships.

insiDe Morpeth Reader offer – Quote iM 15

when booking any cruise with northumbria Travel and receive £25 worth of marks and spencer

vouchers.

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Cruise lines launch their ‘sails’ of the century!

With the start of this summer’s holiday season still a few weeks away cruise experts northumbria Travel are advising would-be passengers to book up now for their cruise travels...in 2013!

The Northumbria Travel team

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Easter at Cragside

Registered charity number 205846.

Easter at Cragside Saturday 31 March - Sunday 15 April, 10am - 5pm Fun for all the family with Water Wizards activities, a Cadbury Easter trail, family bushcraft courses and tree climbing. Present this advert in the gift shop during the Easter holidays to receive one free wind up torch per family while stocks last.

Call 01669 620 333 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cragside

escape to cragside in the heart of northumberland this easter where the national trust team are poised to entertain you with an array of family activities.

Throughout the Easter holidays, Saturday 31 March to Sunday 15 April, you can get hands on and investigate the wonder of water for yourself, just like Lord Armstrong. Experiment with the power of water by joining our volunteers at each water station for interactive fun. £1 per child.

Then take up the Cadbury Easter Trail on Sunday 8 and Monday 9 April, 10am to 3pm. This year it’s a water themed trail and you’re on the hunt for water bugs as you explore the lakes and streams at Cragside with a chocolate reward if you complete the course. £3 per trail.

For adventure with your family in the outdoors book onto a Family Bushcraft Taster Course on either Wednesday 4 or Tuesday 10 April.

On this one day workshop you can have a go at shelter building and lighting a fire in a woodland environment while having a great fun day out. It’s £20 per person and £15 for National Trust members.

For a unique Cragside experience try Tree Climbing on Wednesday 4 and 11 April. We’ll harness you in for a climb up the tall trees with our Foresters and you’ll discover how we manage our forest and woodland with the experts. £6 per person.

For dates and times please check our website for booking details. Normal admission charges apply.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cragside and visit us on our facebook page at www.facebook.com/cragside house gardens and estate.

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In the run-up to the London Olympics, there will be plenty to remind the town of its own sporting importance focussing on the Morpeth Olympic Games, one of the country’s leading athletics events from 1870 to 1958.

There are plenty of local songs about champion rowers and tunes named after winning racehorses (the Beeswing gave its name to a pub where it was stabled in Morpeth).

Some will be revealed by Keith Gregson at a special Saturday lunchtime presentation, and at Friday’s opening concert on April 13th Johnny Handle and others will perform, the grand finale being the region’s best-known song to mark the 150th anniversary of the Blaydon Races.

Archive films and a lecture on the Sunday evening by national expert in sporting history Dr Martin Polley of Southampton University, will tell the story of the Morpeth Olympics and a new song on the topic is being commissioned from Jez Lowe, internationally-known folksinger, to be premiered at the Gathering.

The other theme is inspired by the return of the coat of arms to Morpeth Town, recalling

the regranting of the ancient borough’s arms by Charles II in 1662.

That was also the date that Punch and Judy first appeared in England - so the Gathering will again present Professor Grunermench and his puppet show.

There will be a Stuart battle re-enactment in Carlisle Park on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, and performances of the grand courtly music of the time.

The music and dance of ordinary people will be prominent, too, with workshops on Playford dancing and before the weekend Bennett Hogg will develop a community band to play at the opening concert.

Ray Alexander will appear at events as Sir George Downing, Morpeth’s MP at that time, who developed Downing Street which became the Prime Minister’s residence.

A visual art project will cover both themes to produce artwork for the Saturday morning procession, with some of the craft activities and storytelling in the Barnabas Big Tent among the stalls in the Market Place.

As usual there will be a barn dance (with Fiddler’s Elbow), competitions for

singers, clog dancers, writers, reciters, instrumentalists and craftspeople, exhibitions, workshops, pub sessions, dance teams and street entertainers, and a special afternoon of dialect led by the Northumbrian Language Society and guest Sid Calderbank of Lancashire.

Special mention should go to the Clock Tower Cloggies who run weekly clog dance lessons as part of the Gathering’s outreach work. On Gathering Friday they’ll host a two hour workshop for those with some experience who’d like to try Ulverston-style clog, and on Saturday morning before the Pageant there’s a shorter session for novices.

There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in other traditional artskills over the weekend, with crafts demonstrations in the Town Hall exhibition on all three days, a series of workshops in dance and mouth organ-playing plus daily workshops with Ray Langton who will teach melodeon from scratch, using special mini-melodeons (they’re the rectangular squeezeboxes with buttons on both sides) that are ideal for beginners.

Twin themes for 45th Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering 13 – 15th AprilWith a number of special events and anniversaries coming up this year the 45th morpeth northumbrian Gathering will celebrate “a Good sport” with twin themes - local sporting heritage and music and dance of Charles ii’s era.

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Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering

Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering Committee is a standing committee of Morpeth Antiquarian Society (Reg. Charity No. 507640) and a member of the Association of Festival Organisers/Folk Arts. MNGC reserves the right to alter programme details.

Tickets: Morpeth Tourist Information Centre, The Chantry, Bridge Street, Morpeth, NE61 1PD. Tel: 01670 535200. Gathering Office queries: 01670 513308 Web: www.northumbriana.org.uk

before the Gathering:PAGEANT CoSTuMES - FAMILY ArT WorkShoPS - ChANTrY BAGPIPE MuSEuM

We aim to hold drop-in workshops during the Easter holiday to make Olympic-themed medals and costumes to join in with Saturday’s pageant. Details from Chantry, Gathering office or website.

wednesdays 4th and 11th april ChANTrY BAGPIPE MuSEuM

3.30 - 5.00 PLAYForD DANCE WorkShoPS with Elizabeth Lawson

6.30 - 8.30 CoMMuNITY BAND WorkShoPS with Bennett Hogg in preparation for Friday’s concert. Contact Gathering Office for details of enrolment.

saturday 7th april afternoonFLIGArIShoN CoNCErT - ChANTrY BAGPIPE MuSEuM

Young musicians’ supergroup raise funds for summer music tour to Sweden. Contact Chantry or Gathering Office for time and cost.

friday 13th april9.30 - 5.00 CrAFTS EXhIBITIoN with refreshments; adult & junior craft competitions (entries received Thurs. 12th April 5.30pm - 7 pm). Displays/stalls: proggy mats, smallpipes, shepherds’ sticks, T-shirts, cards, books, CDs. Town Hall Corn Exchange - 60p adult/40p child or OAP

10.00 – 4.00 ouTDoor ENTErTAINMENT AND MArkET STALLS Early music duo Hautbois (music of Charles II’s time), Prof. Grunermench’s Punch & Judy, Lesley Bentham’s historic characters, Rent a Peasant, Maximus the Centurion, storytelling, stalls, etc. Market Place Free

During the weekend performers will visit care homes

10.00 - 1.00 FAMILY ArT DroP-IN WorkShoP Make medals, trophies and costume items inspired by the Morpeth Olympic Games with Elaine Porter. Olympic Yurt Market Place

10.00 - 11.00 CIrCLE DANCE WorkShoP with Morpeth Circle Dancers. Town Hall Ballroom Free

11.00 - 12.00 PLAYForD DANCE WorkShoP with Elizabeth Lawson. Town Hall Ballroom Free

12.00 - 2.00 CLoG DANCE WorkShoP Ulverston style with Anne Walton - bring flat hard-soled shoes. Town Hall Ballroom Free

2.00 oFFICIAL oPENING of Gathering by the Mayor of Morpeth. Town Hall Exhibition

2.15 Book LAuNCh Bridget Gubbins on the old drove roads to Morpeth. Town Hall Ballroom Free

3.00 MELoDEoNS For BEGINNErS workshop with Ray Langton. Chantry Bagpipe Museum Free

4.00 STorIES For ChILDrEN with Jim Grant. Library Free

7.30 A CoNCErT oF TWo hALVES Songs and tunes commemorating the region’s local sporting heritage and the music of Charles II, including Johnny Handle, Stewart Hardy and Fligarishon, Mouth Music, Bennett Hogg and community orchestra and appearance by actor Ray Alexander as Morpeth’s MP in 1662, Sir George Downing. Methodist Church £8/£7

8.00 MuSICIANS’ SESSIoN with Alasdair Turnbull, Keith Besford & friends. Tap and Spile Free

45th

continuing Northumberland’s traditions 13th to 15th April 2012

Jim Grant - storyteller throughout weekend

Benny Graham, headlining the Winner’s Concert Saturday

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saturday 14th april: (10-4 park & Ride at county hall)St. John Ambulance at rear of Town Hall.

9.30 - 6.00 CrAFTS EXhIBITIoN as Friday. Town Hall

9.30 - 10.30 MELoDEoNS For BEGINNErS with Ray Langton. Town Hall Anteroom Free

9.45 - 10.30 STorYTELLING For ChILDrEN with Chris Bostock. Including the legend of Michael Scott. Library Free

10.00-3.30 STrEET ENTErTAINMENT AND MArkET STALLS Punch & Judy, local dance teams, Bell and Bullock, Time Bandits, Jim Grant, Chris Bostock, Circus Tony, Lesley Bentham, November Club, etc. Market Place, the Park, Old Bakehouse Millennium Green Storytellers’ Garden, Sanderson Arcade Free

Plus LIVING HISTORY with Sealed Knot and Rent a Peasant. The Park paddling pool area

10.00 - 10.45 CLoG DANCE WorkShoP Bring flat hard-soled shoes. With Anne Walton. Town Hall Free

10.00 - 10.45 MEET ThE NorThuMBrIAN PIPErS’ SoCIETY Bagpipe Museum Free

10.00 rING o’ BELLS Clock Tower open afterwards (admission charge)

11.00 PAGEANT Border piper, flags, Lord Greystoke’s return from Otterburn, welcomed to Town Hall by Morpeth Gadgy and civic leaders. Dancers, banners, Northumbrian Water Ellington Colliery Band.

During this time (10.45 - 11.45 am) Market Place & town centre from Chantry roundabout to Manchester Street closed to traffic. Alternative route via Dark Lane/ Dacre Street/ Manchester Street.

11.45 - 1.00 A GooD SPorT Keith Gregson on local sporting songs and pastimes. St Robert’s Church Hall Free

11.45 - 12.45 MouTh orGAN WorkShoP with Ernie Gordon (in key of C). Bagpipe Museum Free

12.00 MuSICIANS’ SESSIoN as Friday

12.00 - 3.00 SINGArouND with Fred Brierley. Joiners Arms Free

SATurDAY AFTErNooN CoMPETITIoNS

Passport ticket for entrants & audience £2.00/£1.50 includes free entry to Exhibition. Doors open 30 minutes before times given below to allow entrants to register. Refreshments at all venues except museum.

12.00 CLoG DANCING Town Hall

1.30* NorThuMBrIAN PIPES & LoWLAND/ BorDEr /hALF-LoNG PIPES/ETC Bagpipe Museum (*note later start time than previous years)

1.30 SPEAkING - dialect & stories. St Robert’s Church Hall

2.00 BANDS, ACCorDIoNS, FIDDLES, oThEr INSTruMENTS, DuETS St. George’s Church (church ground floor, not the upstairs hall)

2.30 WrITING rESuLTS and recital by entrants of this year’s dialect prose & poetry. (Writing competitions closing date 24th March, juniors 31st March). St Robert’s Church Hall

3.30 SINGING including groups. Town Hall

1.00 – 3.00 BIrD & BATBoX MAkINGOld Bakehouse Millennium Green, Newgate St. Free (pay for materials)

2.00 - 2.45 FAMILY ShoW with Professor Squeezyjig’s Songbook. Music to merriment - lots of instruments and audience participation. Methodist Church Free

3.00 - 3.30 BATTLE The Sealed Knot and Time Bandits re-enact a 17th century Stuart skirmish. Park Bandstand area

4.00 - 5.00 AN AFTErNooN WITh SID CALDErBANk The Lancashire dialect legend entertains and gives a foretaste of October’s National Dialect Day, to be hosted in the NE. St Robert’s Church Hall. £2 at door or use passport ticket

4.00 - 5.00 EArLY MuSIC CoNCErT with Jamie Savan (17th century cornett music) and Border pipers Matt Seattle and Bill Telfer. Bagpipe Museum £3

5.00 - 6.00 DrEAMS oF MorPETh Rachael Hales presents her sound composition inspired by an afternoon spent in Morpeth’s Carlisle Park. Bagpipe Museum Free

6.30 - 8.30 WINNErS’ CoNCErT Guest Benny Graham plus 2011 open winners. Town Hall Ballroom £6/£5

7.30 TWILIGhT TALES with Chris Bostock and Jim Grant. Wrap up warmly and bring a torch! Millennium Green Free

8.00 MuSICIANS’ SESSIoN as Friday

8.30* BArN DANCE with Fiddler’s Elbow (caller Robin Dunn) and guest spots. Please bring own drinks - no bar. And - no stiletto heels, please! St George’s Church Hall £6/£5 (*note later start time than previous years)

sunday 15th april:

9.30 - 4.30 CrAFTS EXhIBITIoN as Fri. Town Hall

9.30 - 11.00 orIENTEErING EVENT (prizes at 12) Park

10.00 - 3.00 ouTDoor ENTErTAINMENT AND MArkET STALLS Musicians, stories, Maximus, Monkseaton Morris Men, Punch & Judy, living history, stalls. Market Place & Park

10.30 ChurCh SErVICE with Gathering performers. St George’s UR Church

11.00 MELoDEoNS For BEGINNErS with Ray Langton. Town Hall Free

11.00 - 12.30 WALkING Tour The natural history of the ancient woodlands around Carlisle Park. Meet at William Turner Garden in the Park. Free

12.00 - 2.00 MuSICIANS’ SESSIoN as Friday.

1.00 - 3.00 TourS oF CouNCIL ChAMBEr, Mayor’s Parlour, Civic Silver. Town Hall Free

1.30 - 3.00 FAMILY CoNCErT by 2011 clog winners, melodeon workshop members, stories with Jim Grant, Northumbrian Ranters Harps and Pipes, McGuinness Irish Dancers. Town Hall Free but donations welcome

3.00 - 3.30 BATTLE The Sealed Knot and Time Bandits re-enact a 17th century Stuart skirmish. Park Bandstand area

6.00 ThE MorPETh oLYMPIC GAMES talk by sporting history expert Martin Polley, author of English Heritage’s book “The British Olympics”. Town Hall Evening ticket £5

7.30 ArChIVE FILMS FILMS Tom Temple’s Morpeth Olympics sequences and other local sporting heritage films with Keith Hartnell.Town Hall Evening ticket £5

Jamie Savan - early music expert performing Sat. afternoon on the cornett

Bennett Hogg - tutor for community band workshops in domestic music of the 17th century, leading up to performance at the Friday concert

Morpeth Town Council

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More events in...

If you are planning an event and would like it listed in our ‘What’s On’ pages contact Laura Robinson at Greater Morpeth Development Trust on (01670) 503866

cancer support concertIn aid of Macmillan Cancer Support featuring the New Voice Choir – an old English folk group.

Date: Saturday 31 March Time: 7.30pm Venue: Morpeth Methodist Church Cost: £5 Contact: For tickets and details call Rachael Cryer (01670 516797) or Sue Mathieson (01670 515533 or pay at the door

festival winners’ concertFeaturing winners of the Wansbeck

Music Festival

Date: Sunday 1 April Time: 6.30pm Venue: St George’s URC

lunchtime concertWith Julia Watson (cello), Alex Banfield (tenor) and the Longhirst Garden Festival Singers

Date: Wednesday 4 April Time: 12.30pm Venue: St George’s URC Cost: Tickets £3 at the door

Morpeth farmers’ MarketSpecial Easter Market with local produce on sale from local producers

Date: Saturday 7 April Time: 9am – 2.30pm Venue: Morpeth Market Place Cost: Free to public. £20 to producers Contact: For stalls call Pat Walsh on 0790 005 2446

Morpeth community cinema‘Made in Dagenham’ dramatisation of the 1968 women workers’ strike at the Ford car plant starring Sally Hawkins, Bob Hoskins and Miranda Richardson.

Date: Saturday 7 April Time: 7pm

Venue: Morpeth Town Hall Cost: £5 Contact: For details and tickets GMDT (01670) 503866 Town Hall (01670) 514314 The Chantry (01670) 535200

Morpeth peace VigilAn hour long vigil for peace. All welcome. Bring your own candles, placards and banners

Dates: Wednesday 11 April, Friday 11 May Time: 5.30pm – 6.30pm Venue: Morpeth Market Place Cost: Free Contact: Nic Best (01670) 517915

Morpeth Music societyLast concert in current series featuring the Badke Quartet playing works by Haydn, Britten and Dvorak.

Date: Thursday 12 April Time: 7.30pm Venue: Morpeth Methodist Church Cost: Adults £12; students over 18 £2.50 Contact: Tickets from Church (01670) 513369; The Chantry (01670) 535200 or at the door

Morpeth art GroupExhibition – and sale of some – paintings plus chance to meet artists

Date: Friday 13 April Time: 6.30pm – 9.30pm Venue: Hepscott Village Hall Contact: Otto Meth-Cohn (01670) 512899

2012 organ RecitalsSeries of seven lunchtime recitals in Morpeth Methodist Church starting with Jonathan Clinch of Durham University

Date: Friday 20 April Time: 12.30pm Venue: Morpeth Methodist Church Cost: Free Contact: The Church (01670) 511078

newcastle Male chorusA musical evening with ticket proceeds going to international charities.

Date: Saturday 21 April Time: 7pm Venue: St George’s URC Cost: £7; Under 16s free if accompanied by an adult Contact: Alan Clark (01670) 517536; tickets also available from J & J S Mackay

tea-time talk‘Overland to Australia’ by Jim Lowery

Date: Thursday 26 April Time: 2.30pm Venue: St George’s URC Cost: £2 includes tea/coffee and scone Contact: (01670) 514610

pirates of penzanceOne of four performance of concert version of Gilbert & Sullivan favourite by Mid-Northumberland Chorus

Date: Saturday 28 April Time: 7.30pm Venue: Chantry Middle School Cost: £7 (£4 under 18s)

Morpeth community cinemaShowing ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ – Ridley Scott’s epic action film set in the time of the Crusades. Stars Orlando Bloom, Jeremy Ions and Liam Neeson

Date: Friday 4 May Time: 7.00pm Venue: Morpeth Town Hall Cost: £5 Contact: GDMT (01670) 503866 The Chantry (01670) 535200 Town Hall (01670) 514314

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Morpeth Town Council, Morpeth Town Hall, Market Place, Morpeth NE61 1LZCall 01670 514314 email ednamtc@btconnect.com or mayormtc@btconnect.com or visit www.morpethtowncouncil.org.uk

Keeping you informed with the latest News from Morpeth Town Council

Morpeth Town Council

The recent major works by Utilities and part of the Phase Two Town Centre redevelopment have meant that access to shops has sometimes been difficult, but our businesses have continued to provide excellent service throughout, and I urge you to continue to give your support.

This year’s International Women’ Day (8th March) was celebrated with poignancy and pride, and again we remembered our own Emily Wilding Davison and the important role she played in the Suffragette Movement. Plans are well underway for June next year, when we will commemorate the 100th Anniversary of her death – keep watching this space!

Like everyone, I am delighted to welcome investment into the town. We now have the great news that funding is in place for the Link Road and affirmation that our Flood Alleviation Scheme will go ahead, and by 2015 Morpeth should be ready to cope with any future disaster.

I was pleased to meet Richard Benyon, Minister for Defra, in February and hear how his Department acknowledges the determination of our town to overcome the 2008 flood and the tireless work undertaken by the Flood Insurance Working Group to lobby Government for a fair Insurance Scheme nationally, a sure way of significantly reducing the blight effect such fluvial disasters bring.

The next few months, too, have some special ‘feel good’ events coming up. I look forward to opening our own Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering on 13th April 2012. This year, will take us from history and heritage straight into the future! Yes, the Gathering will have an Olympic theme, and why not? Just in case anyone doesn’t know, Morpeth is a front runner for the Olympic Torch route and will be arriving here on 15th June 2012 - watch out for updates and be there!

And of course, we will be ‘lighting up’ the town a couple of weeks earlier, when we celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, with a beacon on Ha’ Hill. Continuing our “royal” theme, we are delighted to celebrate the “royal Purple” as we welcome Benmar House at Stobhill, one of the North-East’s leading centres for Multiple Sclerosis Research and Relief (MSRRF) into our In Bloom campaigns. Their symbol of recovery, regeneration and hope, the Purple Mountain Aster, will be planted around the town and in their own garden.

Morpeth is a town which has recovered from the flooding in 2008 and is always regenerating with new and exciting projects.

Phil Taylor

What a year this promises to beafter the gloom of winter, morpeth welcomes spring – in a big way!! There are several important events coming up and they will uplift any flagging spirits .

TownCryer!

Morpeth Town Council

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Morpeth Town Council

Budget costs reflects Town Council’s front-runner statusWhen local government re-organisation took place in 2009, it was understood that town and parish councils would gradually assume responsibility for some services currently provided by the County Council. This trend has been reflected in recent budgets and is continued in the Council’s budget for 2012/13.

Giving local councils more responsibility will accelerate now that the Localism Act has become law. Neighbourhood Planning is now on the agenda and this council this year hopes to be a front runner and the budget reflects this possibility. What it will mean will be a re-working of the present Town Plan, for which there is already £4,000 in the budget. Morpeth Town Council has applied to be a Neighbourhood Plan front runner. Appreciating how important such planning will be in the future in a town that is growing, where increasing numbers of developers wish to add to the housing stock, the Council has embraced the concept with enthusiasm. There will however be additional expenditure, as neighbourhood planning will involve the council in working with planners and consultants in order to both include all aspects of planning and provide a model for other parish councils doing a plan in the future. Having consulted Alnwick Town Council who is already a frontrunner about likely costs, it is proposed to add £6,000 to the budget. A further £5,000 will be required in 2013/14.

The Town Council is both a community leader and a provider of services – both of which impact on the budget. Leadership has continued to be shown in lobbying for the flood alleviation scheme and in working with partners to secure affordable insurance for people living in flood risk areas. The Council plans to enter the Britain in Bloom competition, as it did in 2010. It has been encouraged to do so, following its very successful Northumbria in Bloom achievements in 2011. The Council thought long and hard about this and encouraged by support from key partners, it has agreed to do so by adding a further £1,000 to its budget. At a time of economic difficulty and financial constraint, it seemed right to take this step as a way of assisting the Town’s economy. The need for advice and training becomes ever more crucial for a council that is taking on more responsibilities. This council, like other councils finds itself depending much more than in the past on the support of the National Association for Local Councils. NALC is expanding its services, but doing so at a time when the County Council has

considerably reduced its grant – this council’s contribution to NALC in 2012/13 will therefore rise from £871 to £1234.

The Council has taken a number of initiatives during the year to enhance its service profile. It has recognised that there is inadequate public loo provision in the Town. It has therefore launched a public loo scheme, inviting businesses to consider permitting the public to use their loos in return for a retainer from the Council. A number of businesses have positively responded and there is therefore £1,500 in the budget to meet the cost of this and other promotional schemes. The Council has also decided to offer a wider range of civic awards – seeking sponsorship successfully in some cases - but there is a small additional cost of about £200 to the Council.

In April, the County Council will transfer responsibility for the upkeep of the war memorial to the Town Council. It is estimated that a provision of £750 will be required for its upkeep.

The budget represents a modest net increase of £16,200 in

expenditure. The County Council has reduced its charge for grass cutting and planting by £1840 and it will make a grant of £5000 towards the upkeep of Carlisle Park and Terrace toilets. It regards these toilets as strategic – meeting not just the needs of local residents but also tourists and visitors to the Town. Morpeth Town Council has reviewed its charges for the two community centres. It has not however increased the charges for the use of the Town Hall, as these charges were raised in the autumn of 2011. So to maintain services at the present level, meet the cost of neighbourhood planning and the upkeep of the war memorial, the Council will be requiring Band D council tax payers to find an additional £1.92 – about 4p per week for each household. This is an increase of 2% - well below the rate of inflation, which is currently 3.6%.

Budgeted expenditure for 2012/13 will therefore be £595,460 with a precept charge of £530,885, which for Band D properties is £102.17

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Morpeth Town Council

nominations are now open for the annual community Civic awards for the period 1st april 2011 to 31st march 2012.

Nominations open for Morpeth’s Civic Awards

The Awards sponsored by Morpeth Town Council, The Mayor of Morpeth, Schweppes Abbey Well, Sanderson Arcade, Heighley Gate Garden Centre and Morpeth Lions will be presented annually to people, businesses or organisations who live, work or provide services to the Town of Morpeth.

The Award Categories are:

Townsperson of Morpeth This person must have made a significant contribution and difference to the residents of Morpeth by showing outstanding service for the benefit of the Community on a voluntary basis.

Young Townsperson of Morpeth A young person, who is 21 years of age or under who is making a positive endeavour to take part in community or voluntary activities, which benefits the local community or who regularly provides care or support to a relative or friend.

Mayor’s Award To be presented to a person or a group for a specific action of bravery and courage.

Achievement Award – Sponsored by Morpeth Lions For a person or group of people who

have provided exceptional service and demonstrated a long term dedication in the scope of their work in a field of voluntary work for a charity or in the field of community service.

Sport Award – Sponsored by Schweppes Abbey Well For a person or a team who have gained a significant success or excelled in terms of sporting achievement bringing credit to Morpeth.

Leisure and Culture Award – Sponsor to be confirmed Presented to a person or group who has excelled in cultural, artistic or entertainment terms bringing cultural recognition to Morpeth.

Business Award – Sponsored by Sanderson Arcade Presented to a local business that has created jobs, nurtured and promoted the skills of local residents or invested in making the town a great place to live, work and conduct business. A good employer with evidence of supporting the environment and equalities

and diversities.

Community Award – Sponsored by Heighley Gate Garden CentrePresented to an organisation which has worked towards the benefit of the community.

Nominations will be considered by the Civic Awards panel, Chaired by the Mayor of Morpeth , with finalists being invited to attend the presentation event which will take place at the Annual Assembly and Reception on Wednesday 9th May 2012 in Morpeth Town Hall. The Mayor of Morpeth and the Award Sponsor will present the Award winner with their trophy and certificate.

Entries should be submitted on or before Friday 13th April 2012 at Morpeth Town Hall.

Nomination Forms are available on www.morpethtowncouncil.org.uk, from the Town Hall reception or by making a request through e-mail Mayormtc@btconnect.com or by calling 01670 514314.

Morpeth will light up (no, this is not a pro-smoking campaign advertisement) in a big way, with a Jubilee Beacon on Ha’ Hill (4th June 2012) and when the Olympic Torch comes through our town (15th June 2012) I will be carrying my own personal beacon, and with it an honour I could not have even imagined – THE Olympic Torch.

As one who’s schoolgirl sporting prowess was limited to the sack race final, the Olympics were something I delighted in out of sheer admiration of the athletes: those superstars that emulated the Ancient Greeks and gave so much of their lives in training for the glory of representing their countries.

Much, much later, I discovered distance running and out of this came once-in-lifetime experiences of countries, cultures and sharing my hobby with amazing

people like Sir Ranulph Fiennes and unsung heroes who overcame so many hurdles (sorry about the pun!!) to enjoy being ‘out there’.

Thanks to Coca Cola, and a sneaky few words from my boss, Town Clerk Gillian Turner, my name was put forward to be a torchbearer and even weeks after being notified of success, it is difficult to take in.

How do I feel? Terrified! But delighted and incredibly proud. To be one of 8,000 not only representing the country but my home town and an International Company who had such faith in me is the greatest honour I could ever receive. Letters after a name are wonderful, and only earned by genuine endeavour: being eternally represented by one of those 8,000 little gold rings which make up the Torch, and the flame inside, will burn forever in the mind and heart. Thank you, Coca Cola: This is the REAL THING!

Flaming June!

Stevie Matthews

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Morpeth Town Council

Old traditions NEVER die!With all the exciting things happening in Morpeth this year, it would be very easy to forget some of the old favourites we have. The Town Council doesn’t forget!On Easter Monday (9th April 2012) the Mayor and helpers will be handing out Easter Oranges at 11:00 am close to the paddling pool in Carlisle Park.

This is a much-loved tradition, and is followed by the ‘Boolin’ and Ja’apin’ of Pace Eggs, with the kind help of Morpeth Round Table.

Okay, it might not be the Olympics, but every child taking part is just as determined to be a winner as those taking part in London a few months later. Bring them along and have some fun!

In 2012, Her Majesty The Queen will become the second Monarch in British history to celebrate sixty years on the throne, the previous Monarch to achieve this was Queen Victoria.

As part of the celebrations, a series of beacons will be lit across the UK to celebrate this Jubilee. On Monday 4th June 2012 the aim is to light 2012 Beacons throughout the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth marking an important and historic moment in the Queen’s reign.

It is with great pleasure that Morpeth Town Council announce that on 4th June, between 10 pm and 10:30 pm a Beacon will be lit on the top of Ha Hill in Carlisle Park and this event will feature in a book which will be presented to The Queen. The exact timing will be issued at a later date...you are all invited to come along and join us at this time of celebration.

When: Saturday 12 May 2012, 6.45 pm until Midnight

Where: The Town Hall, Market Place,

Morpeth

Tickets £30

To Include Dinner, Live Music & Disco

Tickets available from:Morpeth Town Council Offices

Town Hall, Market Place Morpeth, NE61 1LZ

Tel: 01670 514314 email: ednamtc@btconnect.com

Proceeds towards the Mayor’s Charity

Barnabas Safe & Sound

Morpeth Celebrates the Jubilee

The Mayor’s Civic Ball

If there is one thing that gets Morpeth people talking, it is the issue of car parking. Almost every week someone has something to say about it in the local press. Everyone has some view about this issue. Yet the matter is still to be resolved – even though the County Council has recently adopted a strategy for the County. The strategy will be fully implemented when consultation with each community has been completed within the next few months. The Town Council adopted a policy some time ago and used it to inform its response to the County Council’s consultations in July 2009 and 2010.

The Town Council’s policy recognises:• That the strategy should apply to all parts of the County.

• That it should take account of social, environmental and economic considerations.

• That this will mean a major aim is the managing of vehicle movement in and out of car parks at all times of the day.

• That it will take account of the different needs of shoppers, business staff and visitors.

• That supply and demand will be crucial and the strategy must seek to match demand with supply.

• That because car parking spaces are finite in each town that this will affect the way the strategy is applied.

• That the level of the charging in particular car parks will need to vary.

• That unless this is recognised, traffic management will not be possible and residents will find that they are unable to park when they desire to do so and in a car park that is near enough to meet their particular needs.

• That charging should not therefore be a revenue earner, so charging levels must be set to enable the strategy to be achieved.

• That the so called shoppers’ permit resonates with these aims because it is only on offer at those times of the day when there is least demand.

• That charging on Sundays, or after 5:00 pm on weekdays, are not necessary because supply exceeds demand at such times.

• That it is vital that the County Council takes over the policing of on street car parking at the earliest possible time.

The Town Council will continue to press the County Council to adopt all aspects of its policy.

County pressed to adopt Morpeth’s parking policy

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Morpeth Town Council

An introduction to Councillor Ed Hillier

The Morpeth Boundary Ride takes place on Thursday 26th April 2012.The event dates back centuries and was an annual walk undertaken by the Lord of the Manor and the Parson to check on the Boundaries of the Borough and to enable them to survey their land.

As time passed and horse riding became the norm, the event changed from “Walking the Boundaries” to “Riding the Boundaries”.

The ride took place traditionally on a Thursday, when most of the businesses and shops were closed.

The course is approximately 16 miles and traditionally commenced in the Market Place and ended at the Common where St. Mark’s Day races took place.

This year’s event will commence at the Common Car Park and will finish at the same point. Members of the public and visitors will be able to witness this unique spectacle as the ride passes through the Town at around 1.30pm.

Morpeth Town Council believes it is important to maintain and support Morpeth’s heritage and are a key sponsor for this event.

Morpeth South Ward:MARK HORTONT. 01670 513758 E. mhcouncil2000@gmail.com

DAVID HERNET.07980599471 E. dave4morpeth.south@hotmail.co.uk

DAVID PARKER T. 01670 516218 E. davidparker12@sky.com

PHIL TAYLORT. 01670 503556 E. philtaylor.10cw@hotmail.co.uk

Morpeth Stobhill Ward:IAN LINDLEY T. 01670 515217 E. Ian.Lindley@northumberland.gov.uk

DEREK THOMPSON T. 01670 515419 E. Derek_Thompson@btinternet.com

MRS JEAN YANNAKOYORGOU T. 01670 513204 E. jyanna@btinternet.com

Morpeth Kirkhill Ward:

KEN BROWNT. 01670 515760 E. ken.brown1@talk21.com

ANDREW TEBBUTTT. 01670 511631 E. Andrew.Tebbutt@northumberland.gov.uk

ED HILLIERT. 01670 519599 E. edwardhillier@hotmail.com

Morpeth North Ward:DR NIC BESTT. 01670 517915 E. nickel@globalnet.co.uk

LES CASSIET. 01670 516424 E. leshcassie@aol.com

MRS JO TANTAWYT. 01670 503027 E. J.Tantawy@tees.ac.uk

RICHARD THOMPSONT. 01670 510287 E. richard.thompson@wellway.uk.com

GRAEME TROTTERT. 01670 511377 E. graeme.trotter@ymail.com

Council Meeting Timetable - See noticeboards and website.

Meeting Timetable for the period 1st April – 31st July 2012. All meetings will be held in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall. Committee meetings commence at 6:30 pm and Full Council at 7:00 pm, unless otherwise stated on the posters or website (If there is more than one meeting on the night, the commencement times will be half an hour earlier, and this will also be indicated on the Town Council noticeboards and website)

Full Council

9th May 2012 - Annual Assembly (7:00 pm) 23rd May 2012 - Annual Meeting & Mayor Making (7:00 pm) 27th June 2012

Planning and Transport Committee

4th April 2012* (6:00 pm) 18th April 2012 9th May 2012 ** 30th May 2012 20th June 2012 4th July 2012 * 18th July 2012 * precedes the Property and Asset Management Committee

Meeting. ** followed by the Annual Assembly

Finance and General Purposes Committee

11th April 2012 16th May2012 13th June 2012 11th July 2012

Property and Asset Management Committee

4th April 2012 * (6:30 pm) * follows the Planning and Transport Committee meeting

MORPETH TOWN COUNCILLORS

Home addresses are available from the Town Council Offices or website

Centuries old ritual still going in 2012

On 26th January I was elected as Town Councillor for the Kirkhill Ward. It is a huge honour to be a Town Councillor and I am looking forward to representing the people of Kirkhill efficiently and effectively. In order to help me achieve this I would like to ask the people of Kirkhill to contact me if there is any issue that they think I can help with. I will respond to every query within a week.I intend to spend my time as a Councillor by continuing the excellent work of the Town Council in fighting for the people of Morpeth and making sure that their voice is heard especially when it comes to complex issues such as planning and flood defences.Working with our local County Councillors is an important part of that work. In addition to the existing good work I would like to spend my time as a Councillor to help improve the lives of young people and to ensure that Morpeth is a town they are proud to live in.I am currently fundraising for Barnabas Safe and Sound by running in the Wallington Half Marathon on 25th March. If you would like to support their work you can donate online at http://www.mycharitypage.com/Edhillier.

My interests outside of the Town Council centre on my family and my work. I have three children aged 6 and under and I teach Art and Photography to teenagers in a large secondary school in Newcastle. It is a busy but very entertaining timetable and it helps me keep my feet firmly on the ground.Finally I would like to acknowledge that party politics has a bad name at the moment so it is vital that debate within the Town Council reflects the concerns of the people of the Town and not the narrow interests of the major political parties. I want to take decisions that are in the interests of the people of Morpeth and I am looking forward to playing my part in the democratic process.

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They know all about all things green at Morpeth Golf Club where some of the finest playing surfaces in the county are prepared for golfers to sink their putts!Recently, however, club officials took their knowledge of ‘green’ issues to a whole new level when they began thinking about investing in solar technology to help cut their energy bills.

They commissioned the Morpeth-based Solar Energy Centre to design and install a solar photo voltaic system that would meet at least half of the club’s electricity needs thereby dramatically cutting costs as well as earning a welcome income thanks to the Government’s ‘feed-in’ tariff scheme.

The Feed In Tariff pays property owners – both domestic and commercial - to supply and consume their own electricity, with any surplus not being used sold back to the grid.

The Solar Energy Centre designed a 10 kilowatt PV system powered by 42 solar panels fitted – where else – on the south-facing roof of the club’s green keepers’ shed!

Like any other business, says Morpeth’s General Manager Terry Minett, the club has had to take a long hard look at its operating costs and decided that energy bills were one area where savings needed to be made.

“Installing the solar panels will give us a good return on our investment not only through cutting our energy bills but by earning us an income from the ‘feed-in’ tariff system that

will be paid to us for the next 25 years, index linked and tax free,” he said.

At the end of the 25 years Morpeth Golf Club will have recovered 19.4% Return On Investment with a net profit of £56,000.00

“When the initial investment has paid for itself in a few years time we will actually be getting ‘free’ electricity in the long term.”

Mr Minett says the club looked carefully into various ways of achieving their aims before selecting the Solar Energy Centre to design and install their PV system. “”The technical advice David Pollard and his team gave us was excellent and, in the end, we were delighted to be able to commission the work from a local supplier based in Morpeth,” he added.

David, who runs the business based in Bilton’s Court with his wife Aileen, says they

are now hoping more commercial users and organisations such as the golf club, will carefully consider the benefits of solar power generation.

“Going ‘green’ in this way not only provides commercial and domestic property owners with a clean source of power generation giving them considerable savings on their energy bills, but actually makes them money by feeding back into the national grid any electricity their system develop that is surplus to their own needs,” he said.

The company is planning to run an ‘open day’ at Morpeth Golf Club on Sunday 1st April from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. to give local people the chance to find out more about the Green services which The Solar Energy Centre offer.

This is no ‘April Fool’ - Just a great Investment Opportunity.

A shed load of ‘green’ money!

Use this voucher to get £1 off food/drink at the bar.**not member card sales

!

David Pollard and Terry Minett

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inside Morpeth

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A truly fine dining experiencethe evening my wife susan and i chose to dine at bistro no. 62 three amazing young finalists were battling it out to win the coveted Masterchef title on bbc television.Having seen some of the previous rounds I was mulling over what it is about watching contestants put themselves through the agonies of cooking for some of the country’s top chefs and food critics that makes such compelling peak-time viewing. After all, at the end of it you watch presenters John Torrode and Greg Wallace drool over what’s being served on a plate to them…….and you can only imagine what a delight they would be to try!

My thoughts, however, were interrupted by the arrival of our starters looking like plates of food the contestants would have been happy to present to the judges – and they tasted just as good as well. I can never resist black pudding, and I prefer my eggs poached so I had my perfect starter nestling on a bed of warm salad. My wife’s leek and potato soup was declared equally delicious and flavoursome.

For her main course Susan chose ribeye steak – cooked just as she ordered it – peppercorn sauce, roast tomatoes, mushrooms, battered shallot rings and hand-cut chips served in their own mini-fryer basket which added a novel touch to the style of presentation.

My choice was rump of lamb, braised lamb and kidney pudding, swede puree and dauphinoise potatoes, all cooked to perfection. The miniature lamb and kidney pudding – another favourite of mine – was an absolute delight.

Susan passed on dessert but dear readers in the interests of accuracy in presenting you with the fullest of reviews, I manfully felt obliged to make a choice from a tempting array of puddings. But what to chose? That’s where Candice – our friendly and helpful co-owner who also happens to be the partner of Bistro No 62 chef Del Thomas – came to my rescue.

“Why not order the chef’s mini trio of desserts and you get a Bailey’s crème brulee, a sticky toffee pudding with a warm butterscotch sauce and a serving of Beckleberry’s vanilla ice cream AND a chocolate, salt caramel and peanut cheesecake,” advised Candice. And what a choice it turned out to be!

Del decided to open Bistro No 62 on Bedlington’s Front Street eight months ago after 17 years ‘cooking for other people.’ He began his career at The Swan at Choppington, then the Half Moon at Stakeford before moving to Alnwick Castle and Gardens.

“I just want to cook in my own restaurant modern English food that I like and I hope our diners like too,” he told me.

Bistro No 62 is open six days a week serving coffee and light breakfast bites, lunches and early evening specials, an a la carte evening menu and Sunday lunches.

Which brings me finally back to Masterchef. Through TV programmes we’ve come to expect imaginatively presented food when we dine out these days, although at the end of the day it’s quality that really matters. On both counts Bistro No 62 doesn’t disappoint if you are looking for a truly fine dining experience.

By Ian Leech

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morpeth Golf Club has been named as the only club in the country granted funding of £50,000 from the first round of sport england’s inspired Facilities programme to create lasting nationwide legacies of the 2012 london olympics.

The money will support the development of new practice and academy facilities at the club which celebrated its centenary six years ago.

Some of the money will be spent on providing all-year-round practice facilities including a covered Dry Range, artificial playing surface, five short par 3 academy holes and a new putting and chipping green.

In particular it is hoped that the new academy holes will encourage more people of all ages from youngsters to adult beginners, to take up golf.

Club Chairman Keith Davidson said the award was another indication of the club’s ‘drive, determination and ambition.’ He added: “We believe we are building a lasting legacy for future generations of golfers in Morpeth. Our club is one of the best in the county and this award will help us build on the momentum we have created.”

The schedule of work is currently being finalised and the club is aiming to open the facilities for use before the Olympic Torch passes through Morpeth on June 15th.

Wansbeck MP Ian Lavery presents delighted club officials and players with Morpeth’s £50,000 Olympic legacy cheque

Golf Club wins Olympic ‘gold’

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Michelle Fowler has been photographing the people of Morpeth for more than 20 years after setting up her business and studio in the town in 1989.In that time she has built up a loyal clientele capturing through the lens of her camera people of all ages from babies and children, to grans and granddads; recording their weddings, special occasions and family gatherings; and even snapping many of their pets!

Her work has not only been recognised by those she has photographed but by her fellow professionals as she has won many regional Master

Photographers’ Association competitions in the Under 5s and Pet categories as well as a prestigious national award for wedding photography.

Michelle can organise portrait sittings in her Oldgate studio or at a clients’ preferred location.

“Whether I am photographing a cute little baby, a playful puppy the size of a ball of fluff, or a macho teenager building a portfolio for a modeling career they’re all a great challenge with really nice people,” she said.

Currently, Michelle has a sale of beautiful filet mounts, frames and modern photo albums.

Michelle Fowler Photography can be contacted on (01670) 513885; by emailing sales@michellefowler.co.uk; or visiting her website www.michellefowler.co.uk

Captured on camera

Morpeth ‘olympics’ are backIn 2012 London olympics year Morpeth will once again be staging its very own Games!Between 1873 and 1958 the town held the Morpeth ‘Olympic Games’ which in their heyday attracted crowds of around 15,000 spectators to watch the running, wrestling and boxing events.

Now in this Olympic Year the town is staging an exhibition of the Morpeth Games in the Town Hall during the forthcoming Gathering and again on Fair Day and – for one year only – the Games are being resurrected by local churches with the help of the Mustard Tree Trust and Greater Morpeth Development Trust.

During the weekend of July 28th and 29th there will be events in Carlisle Park including running races for all the family, kayaking on the River Wansbeck, 5-a-side football and ‘Sumo’ Wrestling. Sunday’s activities will be staged as part of GMDT’s annual ‘Picnic in the Park’. Look out for more details in the next edition of INSIDE Morpeth.

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patrick eyres proprietor of newgate street’s Bin 21, writes another of his wine columns for insiDe Morpeth.

spring is here at last (i hope) and although the winter was not as bad as the “another severe winter” forecasters had claimed it was going to be, i for one am glad to be through the worst. i know we can still get snow in april and frosts through may but hey... let’s be positive.

Spring brings with it a feel good factor like no other season. The first grass cutting weekend, the first short sleeved outing without a dozen layers on and of course a change in eating and drinking habits. Food gets a bit lighter and greener and the same is true of wine.

For many those big heavy reds are a little less frequent and lighter fresher wines get poured more often.

There is a real resurgence in European wines at the moment and there could be a number of reasons for this including the cost as the Euro loses a bit of ground against sterling and the new world currencies get stronger. Add on the cost of fuel to transport from further away and there you have it.

Also, European wines are a little lighter than many “big” southern hemisphere or new world wines and as our palates have changed and our expectations are higher, we are now looking for different often more complex things when opening a bottle, not just a big mouthful of fruit and alcohol.

If we divide the world into two groups, cool climate and warm

climate, we get a general feel for the style of wine able to be produced.

Cool climate wines often exhibit lower alcohol, higher levels of acidity with fresh clean and defined aromas. Hot climate wines tend to produce wines that are higher in alcohol, lower in acidity and have more up front fruit.

Put these and other factors together and you have a good case for looking closer to home when selecting wine.

Go for a light crisp Loire Valley Touraine Sauvignon or Muscadet starting around £7.99 and you won’t be disappointed.

Or for reds go for a wine from the Vin de Pays d’Oc region in Southern France or a Barbera grape from around £7.00 which is Italy’s third most planted grape after Sangiovese and Montepulciano.

All these wines offer fruit and softness with different layers you might find more interesting than those of many new world wines.

Anyway whatever you decide...here’s to Spring !

Spring has sprung so try some lighter and fresher wines

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