Fun and games time.Byline: By Robert Brooks
Highwaymen and exploding bridges will herald the 36th Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering when it bursts into life today. The annual three-day celebration of Northumberland's music and culture is this year focusing on the role played by the Great North Road in the shaping of the region's traditions, as well as song, dance and entertainment. A special headline concert featuring a wealth of tunes and stories linked to the historic road will be the highlight of tomorrow's programme, starring fiddler Stewart Hardy, youth band South Wind and other top performers taking the stage at the Town Hall during the evening. Tomorrow's activities start at 9.30am with a crafts exhibition, while the following days will be packed with plenty of indoor and outdoor fun for all the family, including free shows, stalls, historic tours, parades, bands, competitions, workshops and a barn dance. Sunday's entertainment winds up with an archive film show. Taking his usual place as the traditional Morpeth ``Gadgy" - or town bailiff bailiff Officer of some U.S. courts whose duties include keeping order in the courtroom and guarding prisoners or jurors in deliberation. In medieval Europe, it was a title of some dignity and power, denoting a manorial superintendent or royal agent who collected fines and - is Alec Swailes, who will be officiating for the weekend with tricorn hat and staff. Culture vulture vulture, common name for large birds of prey of temperate and tropical regions. The Old World vultures (family Accipitridae) are allied to hawks and eagles; the more ancient American vultures and condors are of a different family (Cathartidae) with distant links to for all things Northumbrian, retired headteacher Alec said: "We always have a canny time. The Gathering is one of the highlights of the year." Kim Bibby-Wilson, who has been instrumental in recent years in bringing the Gathering together said: "Despite the roadworks taking place in the town, there have been very few changes to the usual pattern of events. "We're very much looking forward to seeing a great crowd there as usual, and we're keeping our fingers crossed that the weather will remain fair for us." The Market Place will be closed to traffic for an hour from 10.45am to 11.45am to allow the traditional procession of Lord Greystoke's return from the Battle of Otterburn The Battle of Otterburn took place according to Scottish sources on 5 August 1388[1][2], or 19 August according to English sources [3][4]as part of the continuing border war between England and Scotland. , but alternative routes around the eastern edge of town and along the riverside will allow vehicles to keep moving. A special Park and Ride from County Hall using vintage Leyland Tiger The Leyland Tiger was a mid-engined bus and coach chassis which was built between 1981 and 1993. It replaced the Leyland Leopard, which had been in production for over 20 years. buses to help visitors on the Saturday. Full details are given in a free colour brochure obtainable from most libraries and tourist offices or during the weekend from the various venues in Morpeth, or from the website at www.northumbriana.org.uk * Also present will be The Journal's very own roadshow, complete with double-decker bus, to meet and greet readers and make new friends. As usual, free goody bags will be handed out to children, and anyone with questions about the paper and its role in the region's communities is welcome to climb aboard. |
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