Hope you have had a nice break, we chose to postpone the Ouseburn trip until September 14 to allow us a breathing space for the holidays.
As you can see from the heading above I have been to Belsay Hall and Castle and can recommend a trip there to see the latest exhibition. Here is the description from the web site and some pictures I have taken.
Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens hosts an exhibition of contemporary art
this summer. Outside In brings together the work of artist Halima
Cassell.
Halima Cassell has used clay which has been gathered from across the
globe and presents an exciting diversity of textures and colours
reflecting the geology and climate of their places of origin. Her
abstract carvings have earned her a reputation as one of Britain's best
contemporary sculptors.
By bringing the outside into the beautiful atmosphere of Belsay Hall we
have the chance to look at the landscape in a different way. Family
visitors during the summer holidays can explore and be inspired by the
exhibition, then join the garden exlporers activity to make your own
'wild art' in the gardens.
An impressive monolith stands in the main entrance of the Hall and in the library is a collection of carvings that are well worth seeing.
The gardens are still in bloom and very attractive to butterflies such as Commas, Red Admirals, Green Vain Whites and Tortoiseshells, apart from my wife I have not seen any Painted Ladies this year.
Above is a Comma I photographed on the Buddleia in the gardens of Belsay Hall, its distinctive scalloped edge wings give it its name as they resemble a comma.
"The Comma is a relatively common species in
England and Wales becoming less common further north towards the edge of
its range around northern England. It appears to be extending northwards
probably as a result of global warming in recent years. The adult
butterflies from the summer brood hibernate during the winter and it is
these individuals which you will see on the wing in early spring
(March/April) the following year."
Steve Cheshire British Butterflies
Book Review
Rescues in the Surf
The storey of the Shields Lifeboats 1789-1939
Considering the
tragic loss of life this year around Britain's coasts Stephen Landells book is
a poignant reminder of the service given by the RNLI and volunteer
organisations that save lives. Until I read this book I had no idea of how much
we owe these services for their historic and continuous service of saving lives and property. The North East Coast is a
grave yard of wreaks and lost lives but because of the invention and
development of the Shields rowing boats many lives both here and around
Britain's coast have been saved. Stephen Landells a member of South Shields
Volunteer Life Brigade for eighteen years has extensive knowledge and
experience and a wealth of research that
is passed onto us via his book.
It is a history book
with great depth and diversity covering the early life boat invention and
development and the trials and tribulations of the lifeboat services. The life
boats and their crews are honoured by the descriptions of their heroic efforts
and you cannot help but admire these stoic individuals who came together as a
volunteer team in the most atrocious
foul and gale force weather to save lives and property.
The long standing
controversy of who invented the lifeboat is very sympathetically and fairly
covered, you can see that the sources of Willie Woodhave and Henry
Greathead contentions, have been well
researched using local records, testimonials, local press and even
parliamentary records. This approach for research is again shown in the long
history of the Tyne Lifeboat Institution and the Volunteer Life Brigades. There
are copious accounts of wreaks and lives
saved in the Appendices some 93 pages all arranged in chronological order.
There are extensive photographs of boats, boat crews, lifeboat stations and
wreaks that I had never seen before. There is a great diversity of subjects
surrounding the lifeboats from the harbour and river pilots, the crews the
sailors homes the memorials, the engineering of the Tyne to remove the sand
bars and the construction of the two piers all add up to a fascinating read.
If you hurry, you can get a copy of this book from the City Library at the ridiculous cost of £1 for this price it is worth putting a few more coins in the RNLI charity box next time you see one.
If you hurry, you can get a copy of this book from the City Library at the ridiculous cost of £1 for this price it is worth putting a few more coins in the RNLI charity box next time you see one.
Next meeting
Wednesday September 14 10:30 Tanners Arms (outside) NewBridge Steet for Ouseburn Walk
