16 September 2011

Ponteland Historian September 2011


Ponteland Historian

Newsletter of Ponteland Local History Society
15th September 2011


PONT – NORTHUMBRIAN ARTIST & CARTOONIST

Our speaker on 15th September, Alex Melville–Mason is a member of Warkworth Local History Society.  Alex, a relative of Graham Laidler who worked under the pen name “Pont” for a variety of magazines, including “Punch”, illustrated the brief career of this most talented cartoonist.

ANLHS AGM

22nd October 2011

Longhorsley Village Hall.

Further details of the programme for the day will hopefully be made available to us in due course. Anyone interested in attending should leave their details with Ann and we shall endeavour to provide the necessary information in due course.  In any event this should be with us in time for our next meeting on 20th October.

CHRISTMAS SOCIAL EVENING

This annual event on Thursday 8th December will be “An Evening in Harmony with Imagine 5”.  There will be the usual quiz prepared by our resident quizmaster Dennis Oliver, a raffle organised by Jean Robson, with the assistance of Charles Wesencraft, and the evening will be rounded off with an excellent finger buffet and glass of wine.  Tickets are available from this evening at £8 each. 

THE OUSEBURN TRUST

It was originally intended to include an organised visit to the Victoria Tunnel in our outings programme for the summer months but the successful outings to Markenfield and Bamburgh took priority.
Because of limited space in the Tunnel tours are limited to a maximum of 12 persons and as so many members have expressed an interest it has been necessary to rearrange the programme.
The Lower Ouseburn Valley is a hidden gem of the industrial heritage of Newcastle and therefore provides the opportunity for a very interesting heritage walk. 
It is proposed that the visit is arranged with 45-minute tours of the Tunnel at 10.00am and 1.00pm.  The full group will therefore be limited to a total of 24 members with 12 on each tour.  Anyone wishing to take the heritage walk on a self-guided basis may elect to do so with the aid of an excellent guide published by the Trust.  If you are allocated an afternoon Tunnel visit you could do the heritage walk in the morning.  Otherwise if you visit the Tunnel in the morning you could take the heritage walk in the afternoon.  The Cluny pub nearby is an excellent place for lunch.
It is envisaged that the visit will take place on either Friday 18th or 25th November subject to availability.  Please indicate your preference on the list available this evening.  The cost is £4 excluding lunch.  Places will be allocated on a “first come first served” basis.
Anyone wishing to make their own arrangements for a visit may wish to join one of the organised public tours, which take place on Thursdays at 6.30pm and Fridays & Saturdays at 10.00am & 1.00pm.  It is however essential to check availability on these by telephoning 0191 261 6596 or visiting their website: www.ouseburntrust.org.uk.

CATCHING THE EAGLE

Members will recall the article “The Strange Mystery of the Robbery at Kirkley Hall” by Karen Charlton, which appeared in the 2010 issue of Pont Island News. 
Karen has now written a historical novel based on her research for the article and it is to be published by Knox Robinson later this year. 

The book is to be launched on 8th December initially in hard back at £19.99.  Karen is holding a book launch at Kirkley Hall on Sunday 8th January 2012, 2.00–4.30.  Mulled wine and mince pies will be served and all members are invited.

Book Signings at Waterstones:-- Middlesbrough
Saturday 10th December,    1-3pm Wallsend, Silverlink
Sunday 11th December 1-3pm Hexham
Saturday 17th December starts 1pm
Newcastle, Emerson Chambers Blackett Street
Saturday 14th January           1-3pm

COMMITTEE MEETING NEWS

At the committee meeting last week it was resolved that from time to time as space allowed in issues of Ponteland Historian, Members would be brought up to date with abridged detail of topics discussed at meetings.  This is the first such report.  
Earlier this year a member submitted 3 proposals to be considered by the committee:-
1.  That all archive material held by the Society should be passed on to Woodhorn for safe storage.
2. That the Society takes an active role with others in the restoration of Birney Mill.
3.  That the Society prepares for the 300th anniversary of the writing of Richard Coates’ will in 2019.
The committee resolved that;-
        1.  The Society will continue with its practice of passing suitable material to Woodhorn only after copies have been taken for local access.  This work will be accelerated by the acquisition of suitable scanning equipment.
        2.  The restoration of Birney Mill was considered by the Pele Tower Working Group some 10 years ago.  It was at that time rejected because of problems relating to ownership, sustainability and funding.  The committee saw no reason to depart from this decision.  
        3.  There is ample time to prepare for 2019.  It is foreseeable that the subject could be the theme for other events and no further action is taken at this stage.

COMMUNICATION

Please let us have your email address.  It makes for quick contact with you between meetings.contact the Society Secretary

14 September 2011

Christmas Social

Thursday 8th December 2011
7.30pm
St Mary's Church Hall
Ponteland
"An evening in Harmony with Imagine 5"
followed by buffet
Tickets £8