Welcome to the December Notes for our group. I am happy to inform you that we had a splendid turn out for our Christmas meal at San Lorenzo Gosforth High Street. Even though there was still ice and snow around, fifteen of our members turned up to an enjoyable and entertaining afternoon which lasted for two and a half hours. We had apologies from Joan, Margret and Michael. Michael was kind enough to leave some money for drinks which went down very well. Val supplied some entertainment in the form a quiz on local events that were to take place in Newcastle. If we did not get them all we were informed of what is come now and in the New Year. We all caught up with members who had not seen each other for a while and we had a good discussion on the work we had been doing both as individuals and also in the Adult Learning classes that we attend.
Why not start your History Discovery New Year with a little project. Try and find a little known fact about a Person Place or Event in the North East. Either bring them along to our meeting or e-mail me with your results, here is some thing I found out about:
(Bruce, J. Collingwood (John Collingwood), 1805-1892)
John Collingwood Bruce a nonconformist
minister and school master wrote many books on Hadrian’s Wall, which researchers still use today he also wrote a book on the Bayeux Tapestry and a catalogue of antiquities at Alnwick Castle. He joined his farther, teaching at their academy in Percy Street. A plaque can be seen above the Walter Robinson Estate Agent on Percy Street not a stone throw from our meeting place at The Hancock, pop down after our meeting and have a look.
He was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquities in 1852, and as you can see had many honours attributed to him for his work. He is buried in Jesmond Old Cemetary. Another true Local Hero.
Here is a little known fact taken from The Life and Letters of John Collingwood Bruce.
“My mother's father was Mr John Jack of 12 Golden Square, London. He was a Scotsman, and I believe came from the neighbourhood of Inverness. I have understood that when he was coming up to London by sea he was seized by the pressgang for service in the Navy; that he made his escape, and getting to land had to hide himself and lie about in the fields at night. By this means he became subject to rheumatism, from which he suffered all his life. He carried on the business of a tailor, and eventually at his death had a good and genteel business.”
Bruce, Gainsford. The Life And Letters of John Collingwood Bruce of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.. , 1905.
Online Books of John Collingwood Bruce
Another not widely know fact about a British Hero on the reverse of our current Five pound note (Winston Churchill) is if you closely look at the clock on Big Ben you can see it it set to 3 pm the exact time on Monday 13 May 1944 that Churchill made his iconic first speech to the House of Commons announcing that:
The policy to wage war:"nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat"
"by land, sea and air with the single aim of victory: victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however hard and long the road may be."
Unfortunately the photography and reproduction of Bank notes is not allowed so if you do not have a fiver at hand you can see an example at the following link:
Great North Museum Hancock
Discovery Museum
The Hatton Gallery
Pioneers of Pop
The Hatton Gallery at Newcastle University re-opens on 7 October 2017 following a 20-month, £3.8million redevelopment funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, with a ground-breaking exhibition that will firmly – and correctly - position Newcastle as the birthplace of Pop Art.The Hatton has played a unique role in the development of British Art, with its history intimately entwined with some of the most influential artists of the 20th century. The exhibition Pioneers of Pop revolves around the numerous artists and writers, activities, projects and ideas which had at their centre artist Richard Hamilton, during his time teaching at Newcastle University (1953-1966).
Pioneers of Pop includes around 100 works by some of the leading British artists associated with both Pop and abstract art - Eduardo Paolozzi, David Hockney, Richard Smith, Ian Stephenson, R.B Kitaj, Joe Tilson and, of course, Hamilton himself.
The exhibition will include works created in a wide range of media, including paintings, prints, collages, magazines and photographs – from lenders across the UK, such as Tate, V&A, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Abbot Hall, Pallant House, and Arts Council England.
Our Next meeting will be on Wednesday January 17 at the upstairs cafe of the Hancock Museum at 10.30 am.
A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. Marcus Garvey
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/marcus_garvey_365148?src=t_history
