Friends of Saltwell Park
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Events programme
Barbara Keating, Tyneside Bee Keepers, helps us
learn about the progress of our colony of Honey Bees
in Saltwell Park.
Peter Craig, Friends of Chase Park in Whickham,
tells us about Chase Park and the process the
Friends went through with Heritage Lottery Funding.
Come and tell us about your experiences and
concerns in the Park.
Life in the 1930s / 40s / 50s
Andrew Clark, local author, encourages us to
discuss what life was like during these years,
with memories of the Park at this time.
end of the First World War, Ian McArdle from the
This
talk recounts from the German point of view the
major events from the
offensive in March, 1918 leading
up to the Armistice on November 11th.
The talk then
continues by examining some of the reactions of the
defeated
troops and their bitter return to a deeply
unstable and dangerous homeland.
Christmas at St Chad's Church, Bensham
Seasonal fayre and songs from Urban Chorus choir.
All welcome, meet at St Chad's.
Past Events
Saturday 9th June -
GREAT EXHIBITION OF THE NORTH (GETNorth 2018)
The Great Exhibition of the North is coming:
22 June to 9 September
It's the biggest Exhibition in England.
displays of innovation, new artworks and unforgettable
experiences.
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Sunday 13th May - Bird Walk 9.30am start
7.00pm Training Centre
All welcome. Join us from 6.30pm for refreshments
before the meeting starts at 7.00pm
Joseph Shipley
Thank you to Ian Daley who provided a very interesting
illustrated talk about Joseph Shipley and
the Shipley Art Gallery. Another of our local heroes.
Thank you to 2 enthusiastic Friends of Jesmond Dene
who told us about the history of the Dene and the
their activities. Many similarities to Friends of
Saltwell Park, lots to learn!
POLICE COMMUNITY DROP IN EVENT
(Cuppa with a Copper)
Friday 9th March 2018, between11am – 12noon at
Saltwell Towers.
Join PC Nicola Smith to discuss your concerns about
activities in the Park and hear about what the Friends
of Saltwell Park are doing to help make the Park more
Bernard Hope gave us a fascinating account
of John George Lambton and Penshaw Monument.
Thank you - and we hope Bernard will return
next year as we see he has new talks to offer.
If you would like to see a full list of Bernard's
talks please visit his website.
Thank you to Yvonne Kennedy and team for helping
us discover how to research our family trees.
WiFi was provided for this event, and the event was
sponsored by Allay Claims Ltd.
ST CHAD'S CHURCH ... arrive any time from
10am for tea / coffee and biscuits - with a
festive theme.
Topic: Christmas at St Chad's
Our annual event - with Carols around the Organ.
A lovely event to start our Christmas celebrations
and wish everyone well fro Christmas and New Year..
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any time from 10am for tea / coffee and biscuits.
Topic: Medical Services during World War 1
Thank you to Ian McArdle from the Literary and
Philosophical Society, Newcastle gave a fascinating
account of how the medical services coped
during WW1. The conditions the soldiers and the
medics coped with were described in some detail
which showed the true horror of war. We also
observed 2 minutes silence during this event.
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any time from 10am for tea / coffee and biscuits.
Topic: Behind the Scenes at the Little Theatre
A big thank you to Irene Crankshaw who told us about
all the work which goes on by the Progressive
Players so that plays can be put on at this notable
local building which gives pleasure to so
many.
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Saturday 16th September 2017 10.30am start - arrive
any time from 10am for tea / coffee and biscuits.
Topic: Open Meeting
A great meeting. Lots to hear about and lots of questions
answered.
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any time from 10am for tea / coffee and biscuits.
Topic: Newcastle Quayside
Thank you to Bill Saunders, who made a very welcome
return to the Friends, and told us about a lot of places
on the Newcastle Quayside which you may walk past
and not notice as they are tucked away.
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SATURDAY 22 JULY 2017
What Ever Happened to Saltwell Park Museum?
Guided Walk and Talk
A guided walk led by Michael Turner (Chair of FoSP)
around Saltwell Park looking at several of the
Grade ll listed structures. This was followed by a walk
to the Shipley Art Gallery, with refreshments and two
further presentations by Ian Daley, Chair of Friends
of Shipley Art Gallery and Michael McHugh from
Tyne and Wear Archive Museum (TWAM). An excellent
time had by all.
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SUNDAY 16th JULY 2017
Saltwell Park's Celebration for Love Parks Week (14th-23rd July).
Wow! What a day of brilliant music - and sunshine too!
Friends of Saltwell Park brought to you:
Music in Saltwell Park Bandstand in The Grove
Featuring Bands: NE Concert Band; Big Muddy; Urban Chorus;
and GiDiMaPa
Other activities throughout the day:
Muddy Monsters and Little Movers.
Tyneside Bee Keepers,Wildlife Trust, and RSPB.
Northumbria Police, Police Cadets and
Tyne and Wear fire Brigade.
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any time from 10am for tea / coffee and biscuits.
Topic: Change of View
Julian Harrop, Collections Resources Officer, Beamish
Museum,gave a wonderful illustrated talk about how
places around North Durham and Tyne & Wear have
changed over the years, using images from the
Beamish Collection.
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SUNDAY 11th June 2017 2-4pm
Topic: Music in the Bandstand
The Silver Wind Band returned to provide rowsing
music in the Park - much missed by all in recent
times. Certainly attracted good weather and a crowd!
Watch out for similar event 16 July 2017.
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any time from 10am for tea / coffee and biscuits.
Topic: Bees in Parks
Thank you Barbara Keating from the Tyneside
Bee Keepers - your example of a park in
Manchester which keeps bees and sells its
own honey was inspiring. We look forward to
sampling Saltwell Park Honey in the future.
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Wednesday 26th April, 2017 7pm start - arrive
any time from 6.30pm for tea / coffee and biscuits.
Topic: AGM
All members are invited to come along to hear about
what is happening in the Park and join us to decide
who will be on the Committee for the year.
NOTE THIS WALK STARTS FROM THE
MAIN DOOR OF SALTWELL TOWERS
Topic: 12 Grade 2 Listed Structures in Saltwell Park
The sun shone on us as Michael Turner led the walk around
the Park to see these structures which we usually take
for granted. Saltwell Park has a fascinating Heritage.
Thank you Michael for an entertaining and informative walk.
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any time from 10am for tea / coffee and biscuits.
Topic: Capability Brown
Anthea Lang visited the Friends to enlighten us about
another local "celebrity" who created world class
gardens and landscapes.
An excellent talk, thank you very much Anthea.
It is amazing how many he influenced.
any time from 10am for tea / coffee and biscuits.
Topic: Eddie Chapman, North East Double Agent
Bernard Hope returned to tell us about this
local "Celebrity" from Burnhopefield. Bernard talked
to a packed room and everyone was enthralled by
the story. Thank you Bernard for all the research you
have done into Eddie Chapman and telling and
illustrating the story in such a fascinating way.
Saturday 14th January, 2017 10.30am start - arrive
any time from 10am for tea / coffee and biscuits.
Topic: Healthy Eating. After the festive over
indulgence John Roughey created mouth watering,
vegetarian, healthy, recipes in front of our eyes. We
had the opportunity to sample them afterwards - delicious.
Thank you John.
Saturday 10 December 2016
Topic: Our usual Christmas cheer with
the Big River Ukelele BandWhat a wonderful morning we had at
St Chad's. Tea, coffee, mince pies and
other assorted goodies, music and chat.
Has Slade's "Merry Christmas" ever been
sung in this church before?
Saturday 12 November 2016
Topic: Durham Pals
In full uniform and equipment Durham Pals
brought to life conditions in the trenches
using examples of equipment. A real eye
opener. Thank you Neil for an excellent
talk.
Saturday 8 October 2016
Topic: Red Cross and Saltwell Towers
Margaret Musgrave came to talk to us about
the Red Cross, past, present and future.
We all agreed that we did not
realise how much the Red Cross does - world
natural disasters and conflict, but much closer
to home too e.g. floods in Cumbria and
helping isolated individuals who need support.
Thank you Margaret for this fascinating insite.
Sunday 2nd October 2016 12 noon - 2.00pm
Sage Gateshead Silver Wind Band
A fabulous event - the Bandstand filled with
musicians and visitors hearing their
wonderful music.
Excellent weather too, a perfect afternoon.
A huge thank you to all the Band members
and the FoSP volunteers who came along to
move the chairs to and from the event.
Saturday 10 September 2016 10.30am
Topic: Open Meeting
This was an informal chance to discuss items
important to you in the Park. Topics discussed:
Friends of Saltwell Park Consultation; Thrive's
activities in the Park; the arrival of Bees in the
Park; the RSPB Summer Project. We also met
Cllr Jeannie Kielty, recently elected to Saltwell
Ward, who listened to our activities and concerns
and is looking forward to working with FoSP in
the future.
Saturday 20 August 2016
Topic: Parks in Australia
Maria Goulding told us about the parks
she visited in Australia. There was a lot
of inspiration for what Saltwell Park
could be like - make it even more
Tuesday 23 August 2016, 7:30-9:30pm
Topic: Go Batty in the Park
Noel Jackson from Durham Bat Group
joined us for a very interesting and
informative talk and walk in the Park.
3 different type of bats spotted with thebat detectors! Thank you very much
Noel.
Saturday 16 July 2016
Tyne and Wear Heritage Forum about the history
of Dunston as well as the Staiths. Thank you
Tony - so much industrial history, mostly now gone.
Pleased the Staiths still there as an iconic reminder.
Saturday 25 June 2016, 9.30am
Topic: YOUR PARK NEEDS YOU!
Thank you to all who attended the consultation at
Gateshead Old Town
Hall. We are collating all
the many ideas generated and will let you
know
Saturday 11 June 2016, 10.30am
Topic: Visit to Whickham Hermitage Garden
Following on from our talk in April we visited this
beautiful garden. 20 Friends of Saltwell Park
enjoyed a guided tour, refreshments in the new
cafe and bought plants from a large selection.
Well worth a visit.
Sunday 8 May 2016, 9.30am
Topic: Spring Bird Walk
Thank you Michael for a very informative
walk on a most beautiful day weather wise.
The pair of swans produced their newly
hatched 6 cygnets on this day and swifts
gave us an aerial display.
Saturday 9 April 2016 10.30 am
Topic: Whickham Hermitage Garden
Thank you David Peacock MBE for your
inspirational talk this morning. You and the
volunteers are obviously passionate about
the garden. We look forward to visiting
it on Saturday 11th June.
Wednesday 20 April 2016
Topic: Annual General Meeting
A chance for the Friends to review the last year.
Very positive meeting. Part of the AGM was
devoted to outlining the consultation which will
Saturday 12 March 2016
Topic: Museum Memories
Thank you to Michael McHugh
for giving us an insight into the
future Saltwell Park Museum exhibition
at the Shipley Art Gallery.
Saturday 9 January 2016 10.30am
Saturday 12 December 2015 10.30am
The Friends of Saltwell Park thank the Silver Wind
Band for their festive melodies at St Chad’s Church
Saturday 14 November 2015 10.30am
Thank you, Chris, for a very interesting insight
into the work of Thrive. We did not realise Thrive
did so much. Anyone keen to help with their