22 July 2008
GREATER MORPETH DEVELOPMENT TRUST
Picnic in the ParkMorpeth set for its grand picnic in the Park Parks and picnics go together like hands in gloves, and this weekend that will be exactly the case at Morpeth's Carlisle Park. On Sunday - July 27th - Greater Morpeth Development Trust (GMDT) stages what has now become its annual Picnic in the Park, an afternoon full of fun and entertainment for picnickers of all ages.
The family event has become a firm summer favourite in the town with a whole range of entertainment activities being organised and, of course, plenty of picnics taking place on the grassy slopes of the park.
The fun starts at 12 Noon when children will be invited to join local professional artists to create a larger-than-life mosaic picture of an iconic Morpeth scene. Under the guidance of the artists children will be encouraged to paint their own section of the picture which will be added to the complete artwork that will eventually go on display in Morpeth Town Hall. This will be followed by a programme of events centred around the bandstand area of Carlisle Park and they begin at 12.30pm with what else but a Teddy Bear's Picnic.
Following on throughout the afternoon will be magic shows, pony rides, entertainment from Wansbeck's Ashington Colliery Band, a bouncy castle, willow weaving and demonstrations by the ladies of Woodhorn Matters of the traditional miners wives' crafts of proggy and hooky mat making.
The Picnic on the Park is once again being organised by GMDT in partnership with Morpeth Town Council, Castle Morpeth Borough Council, Morpeth Chamber of Trade and Mermaid Architecture.
Also on the day there'll be an unusual display of the Greenhouses of William Turner, created by artist Geraldine Pilgrim. Mini greenhouses will form a trail from the town centre to the park and 3 full size sculptures in the park will help you find out more about Turner, the Father of English Botany, who was born in Morpeth 500 years ago. mini hanging basket greenhouses including one of Morpeth-born English botanist William Turner's greenhouse, between the Elliott Bridge and Ha' Hill.
GMDT's Arts and Cultural Interest Group has organised the event and its director Bruce Murray says he hopes lots of local families enjoy a great day out in Carlisle Park. "We try to make the Picnic in the Park a real family event for all ages - a bit like the old days when all the family used to go out together," he said. "Once again we've got something of interest for all ages, and we just hope people have a great day out with us in Morpeth." He urged families not to forget to pack a picnic - but in case they do there'll be plenty of catering vans around the Park selling hot dogs, burgers, doughnuts, ice creams, teas, coffees and refreshment.
The timetable of events is:-
12:00 to 16:00 Art project
12.30pm to 2pm Teddy Bears Picnic
1.30pm to 2pm Wansbeck's Ashington Colliery Band
2pm to 2.30pm Balloon Shapes Magician
2.30pm to 3pm Magic Show
3pm to 3.30 pm Wansbeck's Ashington Colliery Band
3pm to 3.30 pm Balloon Shapes Magician
3.30pm to 4pm Magic Show
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:- Ian Leech
Press Contact Greater Morpeth Development Trust
Telephone:- 079 681 02547
17 July 2008 GREATER MORPETH DEVELOPMENT TRUST
Press Release
Tamsin will help residents tap into their town's history
Newly appointed Greater Morpeth Development Trust (GMDT) heritage officer Tamsin Lilley has been given the task of helping more local people dig into their town's past.
Twenty three year old Tamsin who is a Durham University graduate, has joined GMDT after the Trust secured a grant of £300,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to support a whole range of activities to bring the town's history into sharper focus.
Tamsin will be supported by Kerry Gibson who joined GMDT in a part-time administrative role that is funded as part of the HLF grant.
The funding will be used to develop a series of events and activities, publications and open days related to Morpeth's past, its historic buildings and famous former citizens, as well as enabling GMDT to appoint Tamsin as its first full-time heritage officer.
Tamsin, who originally comes from Wiltshire, first moved to the North East to study Classics at Durham University before taking a Masters degree in Museum and Artefact studies.
After graduating she moved back to Wiltshire to take up a post as the historic plans cataloguer for English Heritage at the National Monuments Record Centre in Swindon.
Then she returned north again to work for the Tyne and Wear Museums service on a year-long project tracing the region's links with the slave trade. There Tamsin helped run a very successful 'Remembering Slavery' programme of events, lectures, educational projects and exhibitions uncovering some fascinating facts about the North East's involvement in the abolition of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
Now she has joined GMDT and says she is relishing the challenge of working with local people, community and voluntary interest groups and organisations, to enable more people to learn about centuries of Morpeth history.
Together, she says, they will uncover more fascinating facts about iconic Morpeth buildings, people and places such as the John Vanbrugh designed town hall, the much-visited Chantry that has in the past been a bridge chapel and grammar school for boys as well as the world's first bagpipe museum and is now a tourist information centre and outlet for local crafts, Morpeth Castle, Admiral Lord Collingwood's home, the grave of suffragette Emily Wilding Davison and, of course, the father of English Botany William Turner.
Tamsin will be working with the community to further develop town heritage trails as well as designing signage and interpretation boards to help local people as well as the many visitors to Morpeth, understand more about its history and famous people from the past.
"In the short time I have been in post I have already discovered for myself how passionate local people are about the heritage of Morpeth," she said. "There is a real enthusiasm for local history among the townspeople and we plan to work with them to further develop that passion so that the heritage of Morpeth continues to be alive, active and relevant for future generations."
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:- Ian Leech GMDT Press Contact on 079 681 0254 |
