Engage Magazine: Issue 3 by EngageMag

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NEWCASTLE AND GATESHEAD’S PREMIER LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE | NOV/DEC 2014 | 3

Bobby Moncur NUFC legend, Bobby Moncur, chats to us about his career Fashion & beauty, sport, motoring, homes, food & drink, travel and so much more…

Feel-good stories from the communities of Newcastle and Gateshead.

How to ensure you get a copy of Engage every issue with one of our exclusive subscriptions!

www.engagemagazine.co.uk

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Missed the motorway exit. Missed the turn to the office. There are days when everything works out perfectly. The new Cayenne. For further information call 0191 295 1234 or visit www.porsche.co.uk/cayenne

Porsche Centre Newcastle Silverlink Park Wallsend Newcastle upon Tyne Tyne and Wear NE28 9ND info@porschenewcastle.co.uk www.porsche.co.uk/newcastle

Official fuel economy figures for the Porsche Cayenne range in mpg (l/100km): urban 17.8 - 37.2 (15.9 - 7.6), extra urban 31.7 - 47.1 (8.9 - 6.0), combined 24.6 - 42.8 (11.5 - 6.6), CO2 emissions: 173 - 267 g/km. Official fuel economy figures for the Cayenne S E-Hybrid in mpg (l/100km): urban N/A, extra urban N/A, combined 83.1 (3.4), CO2 emissions: 79 g/km. The mpg and CO2 figures quoted are sourced from official EU-regulated test results, are provided for comparability purposes and may not reflect your actual driving experience.

welcome Community spirit

Hello Christmas – It’s such a crazy time of the year! People are rushing around frantically searching for the perfect gifts and planning (usually very large) Christmas parties, lunches and dinners. Despite the fact that the Christmas period seems to start earlier and earlier every year, I rarely feel festive before December. I’m not big on putting out hundreds of decorations and I can certainly go without hearing the same old Christmas songs every year too! However, before you label me a Scrooge, I should say that I do love Christmas, it’s just that, for me, Christmas isn’t about the shiny baubles, tacky songs or even the gifts. It’s just about getting together with family and friends to enjoy each other’s company (and a fantastic Christmas dinner too of course!) and take some well earned time away from the rat race. So what have we got for you this issue? Well, we’ve got a number of excellent community articles celebrating the wonderful people and places local to us. We’ve also got a couple of recipes and we take a look at the fantastic new Porsche Cayenne. You might notice that we’re missing our entertainment section this time around (there was so much content to squeeze in that something had to go)! But don’t worry, it’ll be back next issue as we take a look at the films that will be competing for next year’s Oscars!

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CONTACT US: Engage Magazine, The Axis Building, Maingate, Kingsway North, Team Valley, Gateshead NE11 0NQ T: 0191 404 6857 E: hello@engagemagazine.co.uk

We’ve got a fantastic interview with Newcastle United legend, Bobby Moncur, and an interview with up and coming Newcastle acting talent, Stephan Pierre-Mitchell (this guy’s going to be big, trust us!). On page 18 we’ve got some exciting news about the Engage subscription which you need to check out, and we’ve got more local restaurant reviews that have proven so popular thus far. To finish I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of our readers and sponsors for making the first six months of Engage Magazine so successful and enjoyable! Your continued support gives us great encouragement going forward in our efforts to create one of the best magazines in the region! Have a very merry Christmas everyone! We’ll see you in the new year!

James

James Tennant, Editor

@engagemag EngageMagNE

Supporting the Percy Hedley Foundation Splash Appeal

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See us in a new light

Community spirit contents

Inside Chief Editor

FASHION & BEAUTY

MOTORING

James Tennant Engage Magazine

06 Keep the chill out with Barbour

28 Porsche Cayenne

Contributors

08 A day in the life of a jewellery designer

TRAVEL

Melanie Kyles

11 Inﬂux Clothing

32 North West Sutherland

FOOD & DRINK

35 Our own Statue of Liberty: Gibside

Jeff Bowron David Alan Graham Soult Roger Harvey

13 Review: Jam Jar CHARITY OF THE YEAR

Adam Suleiman

14 Recipe: Squash, lemon and almond muffins

Mike Delaney

16 Review: Sausage Emporium

38 Raising vital funds: Percy Hedley

Adam Marshall

17 Recipe: Roasted fennel and shallots with lemon and olives

HOMES

Cheryl Lumley

Design/Art Direction

39 Tree-cycled Christmas

Copper Blue Creative T: 0191 421 1106 www.copperbluecreative.co.uk

SUBSCRIBE 18 Find out how to subscribe

INTERVIEW 40 Acting up a storm

Print Trust Print Consultants

FEATURE INTERVIEW

T: 0191 603 0811 www.wearetrust.co.uk

20 Bobby Moncur

Engage Magazine

SPORT

T: 0191 404 6857 E: hello@engagemagazine.co.uk

24 Gateshead FC hit the heights

Cover Image

COMPETITION

COMMUNITY 42 Pride on the Tyne 45 Beauty on your doorstep: Saltwell Park 46 From Durham to Olympia

BALTIC at Christmas – thanks to NGI.

26 WIN: Theatre Royal competition 27 WIN: Karting NE tickets WIN: TOFFS t-shirts

BUSINESS 49 The Business Club 50 Opening the lid with Double Concentrate

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fashion

Keep the chill out with Barbour Barbour prove that style and practicality donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be at odds with each other this winter with their outdoor range. These timeless classics are a must for any wardrobe.

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Community spirit fashion

His (left) Classic Beadale Waxed Jacket Hers (Main image) Stonehaven Quilt 1 Bedley 2 Powell Quilted Jacket 3 Banchory Quilt 4 Mission Duffle www.engagemagazine.co.uk | 7

fashion

A day in the life… …of a jewellery designer

The founder of Melanie Kyles, a luxury accessories company based in the heart of Newcastle which provides bespoke fashion pieces, talks us through her working day and her debut solo exhibition at Praxis Gallery, ‘Holier Than Thou’. A snapshot of my working day begins with the routine morning tempest of my snooze button on repeat, next door’s cat howling at our door and the panicked protests of my younger brother. Once we are ready, we dash towards the bus stop, me carrying what feels like the weight of a baby elephant strapped to my back (I would go as far as to say my Mary Poppins bag is

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probably not too far off), and wearing my heeled boots from Moda in Pelle, perhaps the only slice of glamour my early morning provides. After our commute into town and having arrived at my studio on Pilgrim Street, I settle down at my desk with a chai tea, something that has become a bit of a necessity since I indulged in a cup after a Buddhist meditation class

one evening. My desk is like my second home as I spend up to ten hours a day working here, so it’s important to me that it looks attractive and inspiring. Imagine glittering needles and Swarovski crystals scattered in front of a central floral piece, framed by delicate chains, luxury embroidered accessories hung above from a repurposed washing line, and an entire side wall plastered in

Community spirit fashion

pieces because of the limited volume of fabric, meaning each piece is unique and extra special as it cannot be mass-produced.

glossy images of Pre-Raphaelites, lacy underwear, French interiors and mini samples all cobbled together onto a pin board… Firstly I check my emails and make sure if there are any orders that they are carefully wrapped and sent off first class by lunch. As I give so much attention to detail to the accessories and the bow shaped swing tags, I love to wrap the accessories neatly in coloured tissue paper and top off the parcel with a lovely ‘Melanie Kyles’ business card, complete with the original bow logo. I also take responsibility for everything including the products, press, promotion and the planning of my business – there is never a dull moment. For example, one day may involve organising a photo shoot, promoting my accessories on social media and managing accounts, another (such as today!) I could be writing an article and creating embroidery samples. More recently, I have been focusing on an exciting new project that has allowed me to push the boundaries of my textile skills in a new and interesting way. The couture art pieces I am creating, in addition to the accessories I showcased alongside Tallulah Love and Dimesso Designs at Newcastle Fashion Week earlier this year, will make up my debut solo exhibition ‘Holier Than Thou’. I’m also privileged that my work will be opening Newcastle’s newest art gallery, Praxis Gallery at Ampersand Inventions. The gallery space is a haven in the centre of Newcastle city centre, with luscious green plants and faux grass floor, pillars in the rooms that

The artwork I have been preparing for ‘Holier Than Thou’ follows the same principles, up-cycling loose art pages from a vintage Botticelli book and turning them into lusciously embroidered and embellished artwork with an angelic and almost ethereal appearance. My exhibition is the result of a chain reaction, starting with director of Ampersand Inventions, Jonpaul, lending me a stapler and helping me organise my desk space, which led to our conversations and him giving me the Botticelli pages to ‘do something special’ with, to then applying my textile skills to the pages and sub sequentially contributing to the launch of the gallery! Working in Commercial Union House is like a dream for a young designer such as myself, as you get to share a lift with the most interesting and creative of people, knock on the open doors of local artists to borrow a pen (which often leads to a cup of tea and a bonding session), you never know what is around the corner or what a simple spark may lead to! While you are wondering what to do on your bank holiday Monday, why not pop along to the opening at Praxis gallery, Ampersand Inventions, fourth floor of Commercial Union House on Pilgrim Street, and share a few beers or a glass of wine, on Monday 1st December from 7-9pm.

One day may involve organising a photo shoot, promoting my accessories on social media and managing accounts, another (such as today!) I could be writing an article and creating embroidery samples. can only be described as super-sized chalk pastels and a number of curiosities and oddities hiding and spilling from every corner. With the exhibition I am preparing for, which will include an opulent and organic mix of my inspirations, samples and final products, Praxis gallery is the perfect location. The work that I do and what I will be showcasing in my exhibition will involve up-cycling vintage, pre-worn and offcuts of fabric. It is important for me that I make a conscious effort to include up-cycled fabrics for both ethical and personal reasons. Not only is it more eco-friendly, but I also find it challenging and rewarding being able to make something that has become unwanted, due to the fast nature of fashion, more desirable than it was to start with! This often results in bespoke

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fashion

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fashion Community spirit

Inﬂux Clothing We make T-Shirts. You wear T-Shirts. We should get to know each other better. Here at influx clothing we have three main aims: to create awesome designs, to print them at the highest quality and to get them to you guys for a good price. If you check out our website I think you’ll agree we’ve managed to hit our targets.

All of our designs are created in-house and printed using dye sublimation; a technique which dyes the fibres of the fabric rather than simply printing onto them. This ensures that the design has no feel on the garment, will never wash out and won’t flake off or crack. Pretty cool, right? Don’t just take our word for it. Get yours today. Use the code INFLUXENGAGE to receive an exclusive 15% discount on all of our products.

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Community food review spirit

Jam Jar REVIEWED BY JAMES TENNANT

Located on the popular (and populous) Osborne Road in Jesmond, Jam Jar is a cool and cosy restaurant that serves breakfasts, classic lunches and dinners, and a number of excellent sandwiches and desserts.

With a thoroughly modern and youthful vibe to it, Jam Jar sits comfortably in its surroundings, catering well to the local demographic. When we first walked in at around 6:30pm Jam Jar was relatively quiet, but it only took half an hour or so for it to fill up completely. This is clearly a popular place to eat, so advance bookings would be advisable.

Steven Foister, Head Chef at Jam Jar

Once settled, we ordered our drinks. Both of us decided on a pint of The Jesmond Jar (an ale brewed specially for Jam Jar). Priced at £3.30, it was crisp and refreshing. When it came to eating, how could I pass up the Jam Burger (£9.50)? Jam Jar’s signature dish sounded mouthwateringly good – 7oz chuck steak patty, crispy bacon, smoked cheddar sauce and tomato jam. Served medium rare (as all burgers should be), it was juicy, tender and thoroughly delicious. My partner went for the Pulled Pork Sandwich (£8). Pulled pork, when done right, is one of the greatest food experiences you can have and, thankfully, Jam Jar knows how to do it right. The sandwich was huge, and crammed full of tender pulled pork smothered in a tangy, smoky BBQ sauce. Each dish was served with our favourite side – Sweet Potato Fries. If you haven’t tried them yet, I recommend that you do!

After our main courses were washed down with what remained of our pints of The Jesmond Jar, we were given a taster platter of Jam Jar’s dessert menu – a selection of treats that included Sticky Toffee Pudding, Salted Caramel Chocolate Balls, White and Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Tart and Jam Jar Mess (Jam Jar’s take on eton mess). Each one was

very tasty, but our favourite was definitely the Jam Jar Mess. Our meal was excellent, and the service was prompt and attentive too. The size and quality of the dishes means you’re getting excellent value for money, so I’d definitely recommend going!

Find out more information at www.jamjarjesmond.co.uk and call 0191 908 7158 Remember to mention Engage Magazine when you book

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recipe

Riverford Organic Farms squash, lemon & almond muffins makes 12, prep 20 mins, cook 40 mins Ingredients You’ll need a muffin tin lined with paper muffin cases. • 300g squash, peeled & diced weight • 125g unsalted butter, softened at room temperature • 125g light brown soft sugar • 3 eggs, beaten together • 1 tsp almond essence • finely grated zest of 2 lemons • 125g self raising flour • 150g ground almonds • 1 tbsp clear runny honey • 12 whole blanched almonds, toasted in a dry frying pan until lightly golden

Method Steam or boil the diced squash for 15 mins, until very soft. Drain and leave to cool, then mash with a potato masher. Preheat your oven to 200°C. Cream the butter and sugar together in a large bowl (an electric handheld mixer makes life easier), until pale, light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs. Stir in the almond essence, lemon zest and mashed squash. Add the flour and ground almonds and fold in gently. Spoon roughly equal quantities of the mixture into your muffin cases. Bake for 5 mins, then turn the heat to 180°C and cook for approx 20 mins until golden. Leave to cool. Gently warm the honey in a small pan. Brush a little over the top of each muffin and top with an almond.

Recipe by Kirsty Hale, Riverford Cook, www.riverford.co.uk/recipes

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food review

Sausage Emporium

REVIEWED BY JAMES TENNANT

Having only been open for little over a year, you’d be forgiven for having not heard of The Sausage Emporium before. However, with the quality of food on offer at this cracking little establishment, it’s certainly time you took notice of it. Situated in Arch 6 on Westgate Road, The Sausage Emporium is unique in both the shape of the building and its championing of the humble butcher’s sausage. As you walk in you may be greeted, as we were, by The Sausage Emporium’s adorable mascot, Hannah. If Hannah was trained to take us to our table, I think we would have paid just for that experience itself, but as it turned out, we were shown to our table by one of the human staff! The surroundings are comfortable and vibrant, and you certainly don’t feel like you’re being crammed too close to other diners either. Natural light floods in through the large double-height front window, helping the place feel spacious and inviting. The menu is sausage heavy, as you would expect, but there are other options available too such as Pulled Pork, Crab Cake and Steak Sarnies! For starters, both myself and my companion went for the Scallop and Sausage Kebab. Too often are scallops over cooked, making them rubbery and chewy, however that wasn’t the case here at all. Soft, melt-in-the-mouth scallops and large chunks of sausage and Mediterranean vegetables complimented each other perfectly and were washed down by a few sips of real ale (yes, there are real ale options available at the bar!).

When it comes to the choice of sausage for the main course, there’s a creative and varied selection to choose from. We went for the Onion Bhaji Sausage and Giant Bratwurst. The former came with sweetcorn and pea fritters, spicy rice and home-made naan bread pieces, while the latter came with sauerkraut, gherkin fritters and bratkartoffel (sliced potato fried with bacon and onion). First off, calling the Bratwurst ‘giant’ is not an exaggeration, the thing is huge! Both the Bratwurst and Onion Bhaji Sausage were incredibly tasty, the latter in particular is an inspired recipe! It was apparent from the first bite to the last that the quality of the sausage meat is very high, far better than the majority of the sausage meat you’d find at the local supermarket. The portion sizes are very generous indeed, so you don’t have to worry about leaving The Sausage Emporium hungry. The staff were great with us too, both informative and enthusiastic – you really get the sense that they thoroughly enjoy working there, which adds to the overall experience in my opinion. In summary, our first time at The Sausage Emporium was excellent. Will we go back? Definitely.

Visit www.thesausageemporium.com for more information, and follow them on twitter @SausageEmporium and www.facebook.com/TheSausageEmporium too! 16 | ENGAGE

Community spirit recipe

Riverford Organic Farms Roasted fennel & shallots with lemon & olives serves 4, prep 5 mins, cook 50 mins Ingredients

Method

• 2 large/3 smaller fennel bulbs, trimmed (save the feathery fronds for garnish)

Preheat your oven to 190°C. Cut each fennel bulb into 6 wedges. Boil in salted water for 5 mins. Transfer to a roasting tin with the shallots, olives and sliced lemon. Toss in just enough oil to coat. Season and squeeze over the juice from the other lemon.

• 8 shallots, peeled & cut in half if large • 12 pitted olives (green or black)

Roast for approx 45 mins until slighty sticky and lightly caramelised. Use the fronds to garnish.

• oil for roasting • 2 lemons - 1 juiced, 1 cut into thick slices

Recipe by Kirsty Hale, Riverford Cook, www.riverford.co.uk/recipes

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feature interview

Bobby Moncur

WRITTEN BY JAMES TENNANT

Bobby Moncur is a legend to Newcastle United fans. He captained the last side to win a major trophy (the 1969 Fairs Cup) and played alongside some of the best players Newcastle have had. It might have been four decades since he last laced up for the team, but his passion and support for Newcastle United remains strong.

After getting comfortable, I start with the same question Bobby’s probably heard a hundred times before – What is it like to be the last captain to win a major trophy for Newcastle United? “I’ve got to accept it,” Bobby says with a smirk, “and I’m very proud of it, but it’s disappointing that people are still saying that after all these years.” One of the more astonishing facts from the two games in the Fairs Cup final, against Újpesti Dózsa of Hungary, is that Bobby, a hard-tackling centre-back, scored half of Newcastle’s final tally of six goals. So where had this goal scoring form come from? “Well the crowd were stunned when I scored, and no wonder because I didn’t score a lot of goals. But in fairness to me I was never allowed to cross the halfway line, Joe Harvey wouldn’t let me!” laughs Bobby. “I scored two at St. James’ Park and one over there. The one over there was probably more important

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because we were 2-0 down at half time and everyone was a bit worried.” Newcastle had won the first game 3-0 at home, but had run into some trouble early on in Hungary. “But at half time Joe said all you’ve got to do is score a goal and they’ll collapse. So what did we do? Scored a goal and they collapsed. We ended up winning that one 3-2, and won 6-2 on aggregate. It was a fantastic moment and a great achievement by the players.” Moving on from the final, I ask Bobby what it was like to wear the famous black and white stripes of Newcastle United, fulfilling the dream of many thousands of young Geordies. “Well it’s something that makes you very proud. To play in front of those fans was incredible. I think Newcastle United are the best supported club in the world, bearing in mind we’ve not won anything in such a long time. And I’m not just saying that as an ex-player and fan myself, I really think it’s true.”

Bobby played as a deep-lying centre-back for Newcastle (not an out-and-out sweeper as he told me), and although he believed that position was made for him, it’s not where he started out. “As a school boy I started as a left-back would you believe. I think it was because I was quite small when I first joined the Scottish Schoolboys, so they didn’t want me in the centre of defence. However, after a short time I ended up captaining the side at centre-back. Bobby also played inside left and told me that when he eventually found his position at centre-back, he found it so easy he, “could have had a pint and cigar and played all at the same time back there.” Over his 296 games at Newcastle United, Bobby would play alongside some great footballers, but who were the best? “A difficult question that one. It’s hard to pick because so many were so good, but definitely one was a

feature interview Community spirit

pal of mine called David Craig. He left Belfast when he was 15 and I left Scotland when I was 15 and we met up at Newcastle. He went on to play for Ireland and I went on to play with Scotland and we’re still friends to this day. He was someone I remember standing out when we were there as 15 year olds. Only a few players would go on to play for Newcastle out of that initial group of lads and you could tell he was going to be one of them right away.” There’s mention of other Newcastle greats such as Tony Green, Alan Suddick and Malcolm MacDonald. “Malcolm and I never saw eye to eye on the pitch. We were both two of a kind, stubborn maybe! But he certainly was a great centre forward and he could stick the ball in the back of the net.” Since Bobby’s time as a player at Newcastle United, the Toon Army has seen more great players come and go, but who has stood out in his eyes? “Peter Beardsley for sure. I’m very proud of being instrumental in starting his

career by giving him a chance at Carlisle, where I was managing at the time. He was such a gifted player. You’ve also got Shearer and Gascoigne too. You could argue that with Gascoigne he could have been better, with all the talent he had, but he was still a great player.” No arguments from me there. In recent times Newcastle United have experienced some ups and downs, a sentiment Bobby shares. “The year we finished 5th everything was going right for us, I think. Last season we started well but we had a big dip after Christmas when Cabaye left. We had to buy new players which, in fairness, the club did do. However it’s just not gone to plan so far this season. “ Despite all the new signings, it’s obvious that Newcastle need two or three more to compete at the top end of the table. However, it’s not that simple as Bobby explains, “Everyone at the club knows we’ve got to strengthen, but it’s difficult to get the best players here. It was

disappointing to lose Cabaye but we’ve always had that problem at Newcastle. You’re competing against the ‘glamour clubs’ (the London clubs) and those clubs in the top four who can offer Champion’s League football. While Newcastle is a great club to play for and a great place to be, a lot of the players outside of the UK see London as their preferred destination. Having said that, Newcastle don’t get ripped off anymore, and we don’t pay silly wages either, and that’s a sensible way to do things. It’ll be a miracle to get back into the top four in the near future, but it would be foolish to try and compete with the clubs that are paying their players crazy money.” I ask Bobby if he thought that money had ruined the game. “I do think, when you look at it that way, that it has spoiled the league a bit. The money the top clubs can pay for players is obscene and it’s hard for most of the league to compete with it. If you can buy >> www.engagemagazine.co.uk | 21

feature interview

>> the best players you’ll have the best team, and that’ll keep you at the top. There are a few clubs that sometimes creep into the top four like Newcastle, Everton, Tottenham and Liverpool have done in the past, but for the most part you can’t compete and it makes the Premiership rather predictable.” Bobby wasn’t just a legend for Newcastle United, he also captained his native Scotland – an achievement he looks back on fondly. “The proudest moment for me was walking out at Hampden Park captaining Scotland against England in front of 134,000 people. You can imagine what that would feel like as a Scotsman, walking out onto that pitch with the pipes playing and the crowd cheering. That was some day.” After a playing career that lasted 15 years, Bobby hung up his boots and moved into management. “I think that was always going to happen with me. I remember talking to Joe Harvey who told me to go away and learn the trade somewhere and do my apprenticeship. The plan was then to come back to Newcastle later on and take over.” So that’s exactly what Bobby did.

clause in the contract that would have to be paid when I left, which I agreed to as it was only fair. I told Newcastle about the compensation and then didn’t hear anything from them for a couple of weeks. So I rang them up and asked what was going on. They told me that they weren’t going to pay the compensation on me! So I told them where they could stick the job, or words to that effect.” Bobby laughs, “and that was my chance to manage Newcastle United gone.” Does Bobby regret that? “No. Because if they weren’t prepared to pay the compensation, which was a relatively small amount of money, then I had no confidence they would back me to build the squad I wanted.” Spells at Plymouth Argyle, Whitley Bay and Hartlepool United followed Bobby’s time at Hearts, but in 1989 he gave it all up for good. “I enjoyed every minute of managing, but I just decided that I didn’t want to do it anymore. I’d been in football all my life and wanted a new challenge.”

Before the interview finished, I wanted to get Bobby’s thoughts on one of the more frustrating aspects that has crept into the First he went to Carlisle and “had four game over the last 20 years – diving. “Don’t fantastic years there.” An ill-fated move to Hearts came after, before everything was ready get me started on this! It’s steadily become a part of the game and it’s so annoying. It’s even for Bobby to take the job at Newcastle, but that’s when it all unravelled as Bobby explains, worse when a Newcastle United player does it. The worst part is that they go down, but then “Joe Harvey thought it was time for me to go back to Newcastle and he still had a lot of pull they roll around and scream. Now when you get hit and you think you’ve got an injury, there at the time. However, there was a compensation factor. When Carlisle hired me, the first thing you do is keep completely still, you certainly don’t roll around. So it’s pretty they knew I was eventually going back to Newcastle, so they wrote in a compensation obvious to me when someone is and isn’t hurt.”

22 | ENGAGE

In 1989 he gave it all up for good, “I enjoyed every minute of managing, but I just decided that I didn’t want to do it anymore. I’d been in football all my life and wanted a new challenge.”

win

A replica Newcastle United 1969 Fairs Cup TOFFS shirt. Signed by Bobby Moncur! See page 27

Community spirit header

www.engagemagazine.co.uk | 23

sport

Gateshead hit the heights after a superb opening third of the campaign Gateshead look set for another promotion campaign as the feel-good factor remains on the south bank of the Tyne. WRITTEN BY JEFF BOWRON

them beauties, and rattled the woodwork several times in his first seven games for Peterborough.

It could hardly have gone much better for Gateshead. After the opening 15 games of the Vanarama Conference season they sat second in the table with gates having soared.

“I’m confident the crowds will continue to come and, hopefully, grow if we remain in contention for promotion, which we intend to be.”

Only two defeats in those 15 games, one at home and one away, put the Heed three points behind leaders Barnet and on course for promotion.

The scheme to allow Newcastle United season ticket holders £5 off the admission price for home games last season proved a success.

The former Magpie looks set for a glittering career and with Gateshead having a healthy 20% sell-on clause they will hope he goes all the way.

Magpies fans injected an extra £20,000 into Gateshead’s coffers, Tyneside’s two blackand-whites working hand-in-hand to get Gateshead back into the Football League.

Gateshead got a five-figure compensation fee when Josh Gillies joined Carlisle United in 2013 and a four-figure fee when Ryan Donaldson signed for Cambridge United.

The scheme is in place again this season and has been extended to Sunderland season ticket holders, as Gateshead look to keep the turnstiles clicking at the International Stadium.

That move came back to haunt the Heed when Donaldson scored Cambridge’s second goal in the 2-1 play-off final win over Gateshead at Wembley in May.

Since last year’s surge to Wembley and the Conference play-off final, an extra 500 has been put on the gate at the International Stadium while season tickets have doubled to more than 300. The club has traditionally struggled to record four-figure gates for league games on Tyneside and never averaged a four-figure crowd since they moved to the International Stadium four decades ago. All of the opening eight fixtures on Tyneside, however, comfortably surpassed four figures to give Gateshead an average attendance of 1,400. Last season’s average, excluding the play-off and cup games, was a much more modest 844, prompting chairman Graham Wood to say: “We expected the upsurge in interest to continue after what we achieved last season,” said Wood “and to put another five hundred on the gate is very pleasing. “It makes a big difference to the revenue raised on match day. To get eight consecutive 1,000 plus crowds hasn’t happened before, so we’re delighted.

24 | ENGAGE

Gateshead’s impressive start to the season, meanwhile, was despite the loss of flying winger Marcus Maddison to League One title contenders Peterborough United. It was Peterborough who took Gateshead’s place in the Football League in 1960 and they put another mark on Gateshead’s history in August. An initial fee of £250,000 comfortably broke Gateshead’s transfer record set in 2009 when Lee Novak joined Huddersfield Town for £150,000. Maddison’s transfer fee could rise to £500,000 on appearances and it will be more than that if Peterborough win promotion and Maddison has played half of the games. The 21-year-old scored three goals, all of

Gateshead now have much more fire-power at their disposal and were the only side to have scored in each of the opening 15 games of the Vanarama Conference this season. New signing Danny Wright scored five goals in six games during his first month at the club and was named Conference Premier Player of the Month for September. Goal machine Jon Shaw, back at Gateshead after previously scoring 56 goals in 96 games for the club, hit six in eight with an injury spell in between.

Community spirit sport

Danny Wright being presented with his Conference Player of the Month award by chairman Graham Wood. © Pic by Rob Chambers

Manager Gary Mills has been able to strengthen his squad with the early season signings of former Newcastle and Norwich City schemer, Matty Pattison, and ex-Falkirk striker, Carl Finnigan. The big money sale of Maddison will also give Mills the opportunity to bring in players during the January transfer window to bolster the promotion push. Promotion rivals FC Halifax Town, meanwhile, provide the festive fare again this season. Gateshead host the Shaymen on

Boxing Day with the return on New Year’s Day in Yorkshire. “I’m pleased with the progress we’ve made and delighted with the hike in attendances,” said Mills. “It’s what the club deserves. It’s what the chairman deserves. It’s what the players deserve. “We’re all working hard to get this fantastic football club back into the Football League. There’s a long way to go, but we’ve given ourselves a real platform in the first 15 games.”

HEED HOME GAMES NOVEMBER Tue 11 Lincoln City Sat 29 Dover Athletic DECEMBER Sat 6 Woking Tue 9 Southport Fri 26 Halifax Town

www.engagemagazine.co.uk | 25

competition header

Dreamboats and Miniskirts

The sequel to Dreamboats and Petticoats…What happened to ‘Bobby & Laura’ and ‘Norman & Sue’…? Their story continues… inspired by the 7 smash hit multi-million selling albums of Dreamboats and Petticoats. It’s 1963, and the world is changing. Bobby and Laura’s single Dreamboats and Petticoats has not taken off. Norman and Sue have settled down to non-marital bliss – and a baby! But Ray and Donna seem blissfully happy… The advent of the Beatles and the Merseyside sound is inspirational. But will it inspire Bobby and Laura to have one more shot

Win a pair of tickets to see Dreamboats and Miniskirts! 26 | ENGAGE

at stardom – Norman to “get off the drains” and find that singing voice he has longed for, and Ray to realise his ambition and manage a really top pop act!? All will be revealed in a follow up with the same wit, charm, and great songs as Dreamboats and Petticoats. Many of the songs are from the next period in pop history… Dreamboats & Miniskirts the album is out now.

The Theatre Royal Newcastle 19 19-24 January 2015 Sim SSimply log on to engagetyneside.co.uk/ competitions c o and follow the instructions to enter Ter and conditions apply. Valid for Mon-Fri performances at the Terms Theatre Royal Newcastle (19-24 January 2015). Prize is as stated Th aand cannot be transferred or exchanged. Subject to availability. an

Community spirit header sport

WIN A

KARTING & PAINTBALL EVENT FOR 10 PEOPLE ENTERING IS EASY AND FREE! SIMPLY VISIT WWW.ENGAGETYNESIDE.CO.UK/COMPETITIONS/ AND FILL OUT THE ENTRY FORM!

KARTING NORTH EAST, WARDEN LAW MOTORSPORTS CENTRE, SUNDERLAND, TYNE & WEAR, SR3 2PR TELEPHONE : 01915214050

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win

with S TOFF

A replica Newcastle United 1969 Fairs Cup TOFFS shirt. Signed by Bobby Moncur! A Peter Beardsley T-shirt! The Old Fashioned Football Shirt Company aka TOFFS was formed in 1990 with a vision to recreate vintage football shirts just the way they were. Still manufacturing on Team Valley (where there is also a factory shop, see www.toffs.com for location), TOFFS shirts make such memorable presents for fans of all ages. Shirts are researched and then come to life using traditional design, pattern cutting and manufacturing methods. Stanley Chow t-shirts are now part of the range as well as old leather footballs and Newspaper Books produced by the Daily Mirror all about your favourite team. Children’s shirts (a new brand being launched Tiny TOFFS), scarves, hats and badges are all available to purchase in person or on-line. TOFFS shirts are also favoured stag party attire! Have a shirt hand-numbered as an extra special add-on to your gift. XXXL+ shirts also available.

All you need to do is go online to engagetyneside.co.uk/ competitions and follow the instructions from there! A big well done to our previous competition winners Winner of the Ross Noble DVDs: Shaun Elliot. Winner of the £50 Metrocentre Gift Card (Subscribers only): Tammy Linsell. www.engagemagazine.co.uk | 27

motoring

An SUV thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a sports machine and efficient?

28 | ENGAGE

motoring

David Alan looks at the new Porsche Cayenne

Porsche is a name that conjures up images of sports cars that are easy to use every day. They may not always be the most daring with their looks – but why change a successful combination? And the German marque divided opinion when it used those looks on its first SUV in 2002. The first Cayenne did look something of a mistake: like a 911 stretched to fit a 4x4 chassis by someone as hopeless at technical application as me! Nevertheless, the combination of speed, space, sportiness and serviceability made the SUV a real hit as they sold 276,000 units in eight years of the first generation. After all, Range Rovers are a bit too square for some people! Porsche has waited only half as long to introduce the third version. It’s just four years since the Cayenne’s looks were calmed down for the Mark 2, which resulted in one of the finest SUVs available. On sale since last month (October) the Cayenne’s new generation has much sharper design and will make the Cayenne even more sought after. Like its sports car brothers, it’s a supercar you can use at the supermarket. But with the Cayenne you can mount the kerbs, ride the speed bumps and park on the grass knowing you’ll not damage the underside! And if it snows, it makes no difference. The latest Cayenne offers five versions: Diesel, S, S Diesel and

the barnstorming Turbo. The fifth model is a real highlight: it’s the S E-Hybrid! Yes, that’s right, a hybrid that’s a Porsche, and a sporty SUV one at that… Porsche engineers have made the traditionallypowered versions more efficient – yet the Turbo still hits 173mph and reaches 62mph in only 4.5 seconds – which will cheer those who may have been put off by perceived running costs. But the E-Hybrid offers something to those who want a desirable and sports-focused car that is more practical than a low-slung roadster or supercar and doesn’t damage Mother Earth. The plug-in hybrid is the first in the premium SUV segment and produces only 79g/km of CO2 (so free road tax!) but can reach 151mph! It makes the new Cayenne a serious player to many who may have overlooked the car in the past. With that sharper body design, a more comfortable driving environment and cracking options, this Cayenne is likely to be the most successful SUV from Porsche so far. Prices start at £49,902 for the Diesel, while the S E-Hybrid is £61,474 – the same as the S Diesel. I really don’t know which to choose. There are five, so why not one for every day of the working week!* *This is not likely to happen, unless I am in the will of some very rich person who I, at the time of writing, know nothing about… www.engagemagazine.co.uk | 29

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Community spirit advertisement

Shop at the Shipley Christmas Shopping Mornings Saturday 6, 13, 20 December (11am-1pm) Browse, shop and relax with a FREE hot drink and a mince pie in the beautiful surroundings of the Shipley. Treat someone to a special gift from our new ranges of handmade jewellery, ceramics or textiles by local artists and designers.

Free entry Shipley Art Gallery, Prince Consort Rd, Gateshead NE8 4JB Tel: (0191) 477 1995 www.shipleyartgallery.org.uk

www.engagemagazine.co.uk | 31

travel Travel

North West Sutherland WRITTEN BY GRAHAM SOULT

Chances are, we all have at least one London-based friend who perceives Newcastle or Gateshead to be so far away it might as well be on the Moon.

So, imagine explaining to them a place that is seven hours’ drive north of Tyneside, where you point your car towards the far north-west corner of Scotland and keep driving until the Atlantic Ocean prevents you going any further. That place – a unique, rugged and wonderful place – is North West Sutherland.

Of course, not everyone sees Sutherland in such ‘northern’ terms – indeed, the historic county’s name means ‘southern land’, because if you were a Viking, settling the region from a base in Orkney, that’s exactly what it was. Today, many tourists make a beeline for Sutherland’s comparatively developed east coast, where the resort of Dornoch offers much to enjoy with its Championship golf course, quaint independent shops and country house hotels. If you want remoteness, however, it’s to the county’s north-west portion – designated as Scotland’s first Geopark due to its extraordinary geology and landscape – that you must head, where you’ll be rewarded with the experience of one of Europe’s wildest and most otherworldly places. Certainly, in a region where the only shops are usually Spars and little village stores, and the nearest Tesco is at least an hour’s drive away, don’t expect to find much retail therapy. The weather may not always be kind – though when it is, the skies and quality of light are incredible – but a visit to North West Sutherland is all about being outdoors; hiking, exploring and savouring. So where to start? On the north coast, Faraid Head at Durness is a good place to acclimatise, with easy walking, and sweeping views across sandy beaches and dramatic

32 | ENGAGE

cliffs. Nearby, you can descend the steep steps to Smoo Cave – the largest coastal cave in Britain – and its dramatic waterfall. A little south of Cape Wrath – the most north-westerly point of the British mainland – Sandwood Bay is an astonishingly beautiful mile-long sandy beach, accessible only on foot. Starting from the car park at Blairmore, it’s a nine-mile round walk, following a good track across dunes and around lochans, to the bay. Be prepared to have your breath taken away when the bay finally and suddenly reveals itself as you round a corner. Unsurprisingly, for the most panoramic views, there’s little option but to head uphill. The Ben Strome Stalker’s Track, starting from Kylestrome, offers breathtaking landscapes at every turn – across Loch Glendhu, of the graceful Kylesku Bridge, and over Eddrachillis Bay, with its sprinkling of shimmering islands. Even better, you can reward yourself afterwards with a hearty meal and a pint at one of the area’s few hostelries – the Kylesku Hotel, named as Scottish Hotel of the Year 2014 by the Good Hotel Guide. So, find yourself a small but cosy lochside cottage (or a room in the Kylesku), turn off your mobile (it won’t work anyway), and enjoy the chance to get away from it all in this most northerly of southern lands.

Community spirit travel

The weather may not always be kind â&#x20AC;&#x201C; though when it is, the skies and quality of light are incredible â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but a visit to North West Sutherland is all about being outdoors; hiking, exploring and savouring.

Graham Soult is the owner of Gatesheadbased CannySites.com, which runs the Holiday & Travel Directory at www.holidayandtraveldirectory.co.uk

www.engagemagazine.co.uk | 33

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34 | ENGAGE

Community spirit travel

A Statue of Liberty? We had ours ﬁrst.

WRITTEN BY ROGER HARVEY

Lightbulbs? Turbines? Steam locomotives? Here in the North East we invented them all and much more – including the idea of raising a statue to Liberty. Poet, novelist and scriptwriter Roger Harvey celebrates a local monument that ranks as yet another Great British First from our region. The world is familiar with the Statue of Liberty erected in New York harbour to welcome millions of immigrants to the freedoms of the New World. Visitors to Paris are intrigued to be shown a miniature version of the same statue on one of the bridges, facing down the Seine towards her gigantic sister across the Atlantic. But a lesser-known monument to Liberty was built more than a hundred years earlier and stands on a wooded hill in the North of England. The Column to British Liberty was commissioned by George Bowes, one of the most powerful landowners of the time and an ancestor of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. A number of so-called ‘coal-barons’ had made fortunes out of the Northumberland and Durham mines, but George Bowes’ vast wealth, influence, and successful business acumen earned him the greater title of ‘coal-czar’. Far more than a wealthy entrepreneur and merchant, he was a cultured man, a great music-lover and patron of the Arts, and during the middle years of the Eighteenth Century he embarked on a

costly and spectacular redevelopment of his estate at Gibside in County Durham. His creation combined old-fashioned ideas of garden design, epitomised by a magnificent formal Avenue, and the latest influences of the growing Romantic Movement including irregular planting of trees, winding paths, steeply wooded slopes, follies, and open meadows. The result was a spacious and inspiring landscape, the magnificence of which was scarcely matched in the Northern counties. The first statue raised to the ideal of Liberty was one of several buildings that made focal points in the grand vistas. The Column to British Liberty was begun in the 1750s to a design by Daniel Garrett, who died in 1753. The work was completed by James Paine, the architect responsible for the

Chapel in the Palladian style, which is the great glory of Gibside, sited a mile away at the opposite end of tree-lined Avenue. The gigantic Tuscan column is truly monumental, dominates the valley, can be seen from miles around, and commands a spectacular view over the estate and neighbouring countryside. The original plan was to top it with a statue of Minerva, goddess of Wisdom. Bowes preferred to celebrate social and political enlightenment and a love of freedom for which England had always been synonymous – and at the same time proclaim his support for the Whig party – by choosing a figure of Liberty. Christopher Richardson, a sculptor from Doncaster, was commissioned to depict an attractive young woman. She is wearing what was, in the 1750s, a fashionable gown and proudly carries a Cap of Liberty atop >>

www.engagemagazine.co.uk | 35

Travel travel

>> her Staff of Maintenance: symbols of freedom and egalitarianism that would become increasingly potent as the Enlightenment swept into the Romantic Movement and became truly revolutionary towards the end of the century. In an extraordinary feat of sculpture, Richardson carved the figure in situ, 40 metres up on top of the column, protected from wind and weather by a wooden shelter. When the stonecarving was finished he covered the figure with 66 books of gold leaf: an extravagant flourish that only one of Englandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wealthiest landowners could have afforded. The statue gleamed out over the romantic landscape and was the wonder of every visitor to Gibside. Today, the gold leaf has weathered away and the figure appears in grey stone, but shreds of the leaf were still visible in the early years of the Twentieth Century, stimulating unscrupulous treasure hunters armed with shotguns and rifles to fire at it in the hope of dislodging fragments of gold. There is a local legend that the figure still holds a bucket of gold coins, perhaps derived from the unlikely possibility that some gold leaf lingers temptingly in the curl of her fingers.

In its day, the Column was one of the tallest and most ambitious monuments in Britain. It attracted much praise and attention and featured in paintings by Turner. However, it was gradually forgotten and has been little known outside the North of England while Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s iconic statue claimed and held the fame. The Gibside estate and its fascinating buildings deteriorated during the Nineteenth Century and more drastically during the Twentieth. Its treasures might have been lost altogether had it not been gifted to the National Trust, whose steady and sympathetic restoration has accellerated in recent years to create a venue that is increasingly popular. During their walks through the woods and meadows and along the spectacular Avenue to the beautiful Chapel, visitors to Gibside can reflect on the intriguing fact that it was a visionary English landowner who was first to raise a gigantic monument to Liberty, long before Americans had theirs. With the continued regeneration of Gibside, another Great British First should gain wider recognition. More information for visitors is available at nationaltrust.org.uk/gibside.

36 | ENGAGE

Roger Harvey was born in 1953 and lives in Newcastle. His published works include the novels Percy The Pigeon, The Silver Spitfire, A Woman Who Lives By The Sea, and several poetry collections. Details of his latest books Poet On The Road, Albatross Bay, River Of Dreams, The Green Dress and The Writing Business are at roger-harvey.co.uk.

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charity of the year

The Percy Hedley Foundation

Raising vital funds Can you help us raise the vital funds to build our new hydrotherapy pool and children’s residential unit? Imagine a world where you can move independently, where you can relax and enjoy yourself, where you don’t feel any pain. For most of us that’s pretty easy to do. For a disabled child that freedom only comes in a hydrotherapy pool. That’s why, here at the Percy Hedley Foundation, we NEED YOUR HELP to raise £1m to build a new, state-of-the-art pool at our upper school in Killingworth. The new pool will bring huge benefits to children and adults with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. This appeal is part of a wider capital project and alongside the new pool we’ll be building a 26 bed residential unit as part of our school and for respite, short-break use.

Richard’s Challenge Wheelchair user, Richard Trumble, has pushed himself to his limits to raise money for an appeal very close to his heart. The 54-year-old, who has cerebral palsy, completed his CrossFit challenge to generate vital funds needed to support the latest fundraising efforts of the Percy Hedley Foundation’s Splash Appeal. CrossFit is a difficult strength and conditioning programme and Richard did four different upper body disciplines, including overhead pull-downs with heavy resistance bands, plastic tube overhead, ski-fit and 20m rope pull with weight attached. Richard has lived at Chipchase House, one of the residential homes for disabled adults at the Percy Hedley Foundation, for 40 years and is determined to raise as much money as possible for its Splash Appeal. Percy Hedley is raising £1m to build a hydrotherapy pool that helps children with conditions like cerebral palsy move independently and enjoy relief from painful joints. Richard said, “I’m very passionate about what I do and CrossFit keeps me fit and active. I have cerebral palsy which affects all four of my limbs, but I don’t know any different and just get on with it. I sit in my wheelchair so only use my upper body strength.

I feel very strongly about raising money for the Splash Appeal as it is so important as the pool will help children with cerebral palsy to keep active.” Richard spent an hour exercising and has so far raised nearly £2000 for the Splash Appeal. Jordan Wallace, owner of Reebok Crossfit Tyneside, said, “Richard has been working with us for a little over 12 months now. Every session he shows unbelievable effort and determination and as a result we’ve seen improvements in his strength, mobility and confidence. It’s been a pleasure to help him achieve his goals, finish his challenge and support a great charity who do so much for disabled people.”

Text SPLASH to 70500 to donate £5 today You can also get in touch to see how can easily get involved to make a difference Like us on facebook percy.hedley Follow us on twitter @percyhedley use #SplashAppeal Email: Splashappeal@percyhedley.org.uk Tel: 0191 238 1332 or 07739 002024 www.splashappeal.org.uk

38 | ENGAGE

Community spirit homes

Tree-cycled Christmas WRITTEN BY CHERYL LUMLEY

Real, artiﬁcial or something else entirely, Christmas trees don’t have to cost a fortune and you can create a beautiful, bespoke tree. You just need to let your imagination run away with itself. 1

We have the same debate every year about Christmas trees in our house – should we splash out on a good artificial one that will last us years or should we go for the real deal and spend a fortune anyway? For the last 16 years we’ve always gone for the the forest smell and the dropping needles, and, at the end of the day, Chopwell Woods is just too Christmassy to miss out on. Last year, to bring Christmas to the rest of the house, I arranged the cards on a feature wall in the kitchen in the shape of a tree. This inspired me to be more creative this year and bring upcycling into Christmas. If you don’t know where to begin, look no further than Pinterest for inspiration. There are so many great ideas that you’d find something to suit all homes and budgets.

1 During the autumn months collect

Use existing materials to create a very unique Christmas tree

branches and twigs, then arrange in a triangle, decorate with fairy lights, pompoms and top with a willow star. www.architectureartdesigns.com

2 Recycled Christmas card tree

Courtesy of yours truly

3 One for next year – save your cards this year, cut into circles and layer up with a skewer through the centre to secure it. www.cutoutandkeep.net

4 Pallets are so versatile and can often be

found for free. Stain then paint a rustic tree shape and hang decorations. Couldn’t be simpler! www.trendhunter.com

5 A rough chalky sketch on a slate tile or chalkboard works great wth a few well placed festive touches. www.holidaywithmatthewmead.com

Find Cheryl Lumley on Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/lumley3 and can also be found blogging on all things creative at www.allroundcreativejunkie.wordpress.com www.engagemagazine.co.uk | 39

interview

Acting up a storm

Actor, model, singer and motivational speaker, Stephan Pierre-Mitchell is representing Newcastle at one of the most prestigious drama schools in London over the next two years. In addition to being a talented actor, Newcastle College graduate, Stephan, has been on the catwalk at both the London and Paris fashion shows, and has directed a short ﬁlm called ‘Freedom’, that will be translated into a screenplay by BBC America. We caught up with Stephan to chat about his past, and what’s coming up next for one of the North East’s most promising talents. Very nice to meet you Stephan, why don’t you give us a bit of background on yourself? Well I’m from Newcastle. I like to think Newcastle is my home and always will be, even though I only got here when I was nine years old from France. My mum is French and my dad is from the Caribbean which is why my accent is a little all over the place!

40 | ENGAGE

Was it weird to move from France to England at that age? Not really. I missed my friends when I came over, but I think I was young enough that it wasn’t a huge deal. What was it that got you into acting? As a child, acting was my dream. The idea of getting paid to pretend to be someone else and create characters and stories fascinated me and has held my fascination since.

So how did you get started in acting? When I joined Newcastle College a few years back. There is no way I could have gotten to where I am today if it wasn’t for the education I received from Newcastle College, they’ve been fantastic for me and I encourage anyone who wants to get into acting to enrol there! I did my BTEC first, during which I joined a boy band called ‘Raw’, and my foundation degree after.

Community spirit interview

When I go to America and I tell them I’m from Britain, they say things like “Oh, the Queen!” and “Downton Abbey!” It’s not their fault, it’s just what they see on television and in the media. And we can’t change it here because that is the market!

A boy band!? You’ve got to tell us about that! Haha, it was crazy! We gigged all over the UK and then we got on the X-Factor which was totally mad! There are so many auditions to get on that show. What people don’t realise is just how controlled the show actually is. The judges are only there as celebrity faces and it’s all controlled by other people. Things went reasonably well for us but more and more I was being asked to go on my own. In the end the whole X-Factor thing just wasn’t for me. I still get asked to go back but I have to be careful about the things I do for my future career. People often say that acting skills are transferable across many aspects of life. Do you think that is the case? Yes, definitely! They can help in so many ways. Its the confidence you get from acting that can be transferred to other aspects of life. For example I can use my speaking skills when talking to new people, talking in front of groups of people, or in interviews. The skills you learn mean you don’t get nervous. You also learn how to bring out your personality, which can be very important in helping you get noticed in life or at work. You’ve been accepted into the Central School of Speech and Drama, a very impressive feat to have achieved. How did that come about? I always wanted to go drama school but it’s a nightmare because it’s so competitive! But all the top actors go to drama school so, if I wanted to give myself the best chance at being an actor, I had to go for it. I completed my foundation degree first, then I went down to London to audition. The audition was in February and was for just one place at the school. Around 150 people turned up for it! They cut the group down and down throughout the day and then eventually told me I would hear from them if I was successful. When I got back to Newcastle I had an email saying they had offered me the place – I was shaking when I read it!

There are so many big names to come out of the school. Dame Judi Dench finished there, Anthony Hopkins finished there, Christopher Ecclestone, Kit Harington and more! When we were being shown around all you could see were BAFTAs and Oscars. It’s a really prestigious school and I’m thrilled to have a place there. Congratulations Stephan! You’ve got a script that’s getting some attention too, don’t you? Yes. It’s called ‘Freedom’. It’s quite political and I actually took it down to the Central School with me for my audition. It was there that they read it and asked me if I would like to transfer the script into a screenplay potentially for BBC America. I said yes! So, with everything that’s happening now, where do you see yourself in the next 5 years? Hmm. Well, I’d like to see my film out. I also want to move into cinematography as I love that side of things. I want to learn as much as I can about it. I’d also like to be progressing well as a performance/confidence coach too. I want to be able to give something back and help other potential actors, singers and models because acting has done so much for me. I’d also like to move to LA too! Why Los Angeles? Because the industry is there and it’s quite difficult for mixed black actors in the UK. We are losing a lot of good black British actors to America. It’s nothing to do with the industry in the UK, it’s just the outside perception of what people expect from British television and British actors.

Even big name black British actors like Chiwetel Ejiofor and Idris Elba moved to America and became big over there before coming back. Basically there are more opportunities over there. It’s a shame but that’s the way it is. Let’s move on for a moment to modelling. How did you get into that? I was directing a part of London Fashion week and something went wrong. The models had food poisoning and couldn’t do their walk. So they asked me if I would help out by modelling. I was a little shocked but I accepted the opportunity. I think I did pretty well too! I don’t have the height of most models, but I think I made up for it in personality. In fact, I ended up winning best photo of the day which was amazing! Well done! We can’t let you go off to London without asking how you have enjoyed living and growing up in Newcastle. What are you going to miss? I’ll miss the people for sure, and my mum’s cooking! Newcastle is such a cool place and it’s so clean compared to London! Despite all the cuts we’ve still got a great arts and culture scene, in particular the Live Theatre and Theatre Royal, which I’ll definitely miss. I could go on and on about things I’ll miss – the countryside, the coast, the night-life, there’s so much to enjoy up here! It will be hard to be away from Newcastle but it’s only three hours away, so I’ll be back often!

We would like to thank Stephan for his time and wish him the best of luck in his new adventure in London.

www.engagemagazine.co.uk | 41

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bridges become frames for looking at the world around us.â&#x20AC;?

42 | ENGAGE

Community spirit community

Pride on the Tyne WRITTEN BY ADAM SULEIMAN

Some of us cross them every day. Millions of us cross them every year on foot, by rail, car and cycle. How much do we really appreciate the bridges of Tyneside? Standing strong and passive, like the pavements and roads, they’re just there – occupying the space between where you’ve come and where you’re going. Did you know the Redheugh Bridge was a site of protest in 1922 when hunger marchers disobeyed the toll to challenge their working conditions? Or that the Swing Bridge once opened up to 6,000 times a year – an average of 16 times a day!? Did you know that the Nocturne light installation on the QEII Metro Bridge can exhibit more than two-billion colour combinations? Or that the King Edward Bridge is described as “Britain’s last great railway bridge”?

It’s taken over 150 years of civil engineering and thousands of hours of hard-graft to give rise to Tyneside’s twelve bridges, with some becoming iconic symbols of the area. Seven of these bridges are contained within less than a mile of each other but all stand on their own merit. A pioneer like his father, Robert Stephenson, alongside Thomas Elliot Harrison, constructed the double-decker High Level Bridge in 1849 in conjunction with Newcastle Central Station. The oldest of all twelve, today it still stands strong under the demands of modern life, carrying trains on its top deck and cars and pedestrians below. Personifying the world class design, engineering and technology that Tyneside has produced, the High Level underwent a massive restoration in 2009 winning it a Europa Nostra conservation heritage award for “an enormously impressive level of engineering professionalism…” Along the walkways today you can view hundreds of curiously inscribed padlocks peppering the steel mesh. Walking in the footsteps of the Victorians decades before them, couples attach these novel ‘lovelocks’ as a symbol of their commitment to one another. A few minutes downstream, 7,000 tons of steelwork is brought to life in Tyneside’s tallest and most illustrious bridge constructed

Christmas Shopping Mornings Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead Saturday 6, 13, 20 December (11am-1pm) Browse, shop and relax with a FREE hot drink and a mince pie in the beautiful surroundings of the Shipley.

in 1928. It held the biggest Olympic rings in the UK in 2012 and with the millionth Great North Runner crossing it this year, the Tyne Bridge is symbolic of the Tyneside identity. Branded into the hearts and minds of the people, its impressive arch spanning over 500 feet is reminiscent of its bigger cousin; The Sydney Harbour bridge, also designed by Mott, Hay & Anderson. Upon crossing, the views above your head are equally as impressive as those around you. Contemporary engineering has given way to simplistic and intriguing designs like the Gateshead Millennium Bridge. Representing the modern regeneration of the Quayside and the burgeoning arts scene, 36,000 people came to see it open in 2001. As the world’s first tilting bridge, the unique design (a competition winner) made its way onto stamps and currency. It costs less than £4 to open thanks to the elegant and precise arrangement of its arches supported by steel suspension cables – it even collects any dropped litter as it tilts! Slender and beautifully lit in a spectrum of colours at night, it brings a unique ambience to the ever popular Quayside. So next time you’re going from A to B, take an extra minute to consider these bridges as more than just part of the path you’re following but a feature along the way.

Free entry Prince Consort Rd Gateshead NE8 4JB

www.shipleyartgallery.org.uk www.engagemagazine.co.uk | 43

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community

Beauty on your doorstep WRITTEN BY MIKE DELANEY

Now, as most people know, England’s green and pleasant land is ﬁlled with parks and open spaces that make it a delight to spend a glorious summer’s day in. What if I were to say to you, then, that not just this very region, but Gateshead itself, is home to a park that, in 2005, was named ‘Britain’s Best Park’ and was the Civic Trust ‘Park of the Year’ in 2006?

You’d no doubt wonder why you hadn’t visited this park yourself, or indeed if you had, then why hadn’t you visited it more often, and explored more of its 55 acres. Saltwell Park, in the heart of Gateshead, has been attracting visitors since it was first opened in 1876, however it was only more recently, between 1999 and 2005, that it benefited from an extensive restoration, making it the jewel in Gateshead’s crown, attracting over 2 million visitors each year. It is a far cry from its formative years as the estate of Saltwellgate owner, William Wailes, who was the proprietor of a prominent stained glass workshop, supplying glass for churches and cathedrals throughout the country. However, due to problems with debt, he sold his home, Saltwell Towers, and the surrounding grounds to the Gateshead Corporation and his loss was ultimately the public’s gain as this wonderful estate became a public park. Those who have visited the park will no doubt be more than familiar with the boating lake, Pets Corner, the children’s play areas and maybe even Bewick’s Tearoom, but scratch the surface, and the park can offer even more for its visitors.

A recent family outing with friends from overseas presented us with the challenge of entertaining them for the afternoon, and, given the exceptional weather we’d been experiencing, there was only one real option for us – “to the park!” A bit of preparation by my good lady wife resulted in us procuring a Treasure Trail (www.treasuretrails.co.uk) designed specifically for Saltwell Park.

park are listed, and again, when you stumble across them, and marvel at them, you can understand why. Even a building as innocuous as the stable block takes on a whole new lease of life when you step back and admire it from afar.

Having completed the trail, I can safely say that I discovered new parts of the park, noticed more details on statues and buildings, found newly-discovered gardens and saw more beauty than I had ever noticed before. For example, had I ever stopped to think where the name ‘Saltwell’ came from? Could it possibly be a, erm, salt well? You got it. Hidden away in a corner of the park is the very salt well that gives the park its name, nestled alongside a quite simply stunning lodge that is straight out of middle England. Finding little gems like these really made our afternoon, and showed Saltwell Park to be worthy of its previous accolades.

Clearly, to have such a park at one’s disposal, it comes as no surprise, then, that it is used as a location for many events, both annual and one-off. Whether this be the Cancer Research Race For Life, where thousands of women don pink tutus, feather boas and fairy wings to run the 5km for charity, or the now firm family festive favourite (try saying that in a hurry), Enchanted Parks, which sees the park transformed into a magical, mystical place through visual arts, performances and installations. This event in particular has become very popular very quickly and is now seen by many as an integral event in the run-up to Christmas. Or what about a celebration of Britpop music and streetfood, at the inaugural ‘Porklife’ event in August? A fine example of the versatility of the park, and the diversity of the people and events that use it.

It just seems that behind every privet hedge, around every corner, over every bridge is a cute, traditional building of some sort. The BBC once described Saltwell Towers as a ‘fairytale mansion’, and it’s not hard to see why. In fact, 11 of the buildings within the

All of these people (and I..!) surely can’t be wrong, so why not get yourself down there and experience all, or even just part, of what Saltwell Park has to offer? This particular devotee can guarantee you won’t be disappointed. www.engagemagazine.co.uk | 45

community

From Durham to Olympia WRITTEN BY ADAM MARSHALL

I feel like a superstar. As I wind my way up this road; cheers, applause and manic fist pumps drive me forward. I can’t yet see the summit but I know it sits somewhere far up the mountain, beckoning. A car with mountain bikes affixed to the roof full of young girls passes to my left, and with their shouts of “Allez, allez!” ringing in my ears I punch up a gear, rise out of my saddle and increase the tempo again. With this level of enthusiastic encouragement you simply can’t help it. The support is hugely welcome. I’m dehydrated, riding beyond my threshold and suffering in the searing heat. In the final meters, I pass a man who is utterly cooked. Zig-zagging his way across the road to try and flatten out the gradient, he’s hunched over his handlebars, mouth agape, face contorted in agony desperately trying to keep the pedals turning. This is Alpe D’Huez. At the summit some 3500ft and 8 miles from it’s base, strangers congratulate me, other cyclists nod and smile in approval. One of them pats me on the back as he rides past, “Fini? Finished?” He asks. “Not quite, we’re going to have a coffee then we’re riding for Italy.” He lets out a laugh: “Oh my! Bon courage!” and wheels himself off to the café, laugh not subsiding, head shaking. Of course, I’m not a superstar, far from it.

But I do have form in long distance adversity. The previous summer, two friends and I had spent 24 days driving a Nissan Micra to Mongolia and occasionally I’d gaze longingly at the stunning scenery and colossal mountains passing me by and think “I’d love to ride my bike around here.” When I returned to the UK I called up three keen cycling friends with a simple pitch: Our aims, if not our task, were straight forward

enough; cycle from the doorstep of Heel & Toe Children’s Charity in Durham to the ruins of Ancient Olympia, and in doing so, raise as much money and awareness for Heel & Toe that we could. The direct route was out of the question. This had to be brutal. We would cover sections of famous Belgian cobblestone and iconic Alpine climbs: 2400 miles and 160,000 feet of climbing. We would be Heel and Toe to Olympia – H2O Cycling team.

Free entry Prince Consort Rd Gateshead NE8 4JB

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Holland led us over dykes and past windmills. Into Belgium we hurtled over lengthy strips of haphazardly cobbled roads steeped in cycling history, in Luxembourg the roads began to undulate more regularly and the landscape became more beautiful with every mile. We routed back into France and the stunning vistas of Jura before the Alps slowly rose into view from the horizon, their appearance eliciting furtive glances from those that hadn’t seen for themselves quite how enormous they really are when you stand before them. Some of the team told me riding in the Alps was the hardest thing they’d ever accomplished both physically and mentally. Wrestling with the overwhelming desire to stop as every ounce of your body screams at you to do so. Watching the road snaking up the mountain ahead of you, the gradient ever increasing and your heartrate simply incapable of rising any further to match it. The dead click of your shift lever and the accompanying feeling of dread as you realize there are no more gears but thousands of feet left to go. “Allez, allez!” Even the Gendarmerie would will us onward. The long descent to meet the Italian coast would bring challenges of its own. With the major climbs behind us, we were now faced with having to battle the heat. The beauty of Cinque Terre and it’s idyllic fishing towns nestled in the bays among the clifftops provided welcoming shelter and sustenance as we weaved our way around this stunning jewel in the Italian Riviera’s crown.

Some of the team told me riding in the Alps was the hardest thing they’d ever accomplished both physically and mentally. Occasionally we’d be joined by friendly groups of Italian cyclists, keen to ride with us. On more than one occasion I’d sit down with a beer in the evening ruing the energy I’d expended chasing a 60kg Italian up a 20% incline for national pride. Inland the heat was now compounded by the lack of coastal breeze. It was so hot the tarmac was melting. The days would end in us practically falling from our bikes, slumping to the ground in any shelter we could find, ice packs pressed to the backs of our necks. Arriving at Brindisi in the South Eastern corner of Italy, we allowed ourselves a couple of hours rest on the beach. As we

watched the sun set on Italy, we steeled ourselves for the last three days in Greece. On the 20th August we rolled into Olympia, laid our bikes against the wall behind the ticket booth and wandered around the ruins for a few minutes. For twenty days solid from morning until evening we’d ridden constantly, now it was over. We’d done it. Best friend and team mate Matt appeared beside me and after a minute or so spoke. “What’s next?” I looked at him for a moment in amusement. “We’ll talk about that when I can walk properly again.”

More information about Heel & Toe can be found at www.heelandtoe.org.uk You can donate at: www.justgiving.com/H2OCycling/

www.engagemagazine.co.uk | 47

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Community spirit business

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www.engagemagazine.co.uk | 49

business

Opening the Lid on Double Concentrate

Double-owned by Andy Kilburn and Mark Lenthall, Double Concentrate is looking to serve the North East with quality design, advertising and marketing solutions. Andy Kilburn, after years of running a design company, changed careers to qualify with a first in Advertising, then worked internships as a copywriter with some of the leading creative agencies in Newcastle. Mark, an Animation & Illustration graduate, created projects for ITV and Northern Film & Media, before adding design and art direction to his skill set. Andy and Mark met whilst working in a Newcastle design studio, where they both discovered that clients expectations of a creative studio were the same as those of an advertising agency. So both decided this challenge needed to be met and went about designing and creating advertising work together. Andy says, “The relationship works well as I’m able to check Mark’s design work.” “And I’m able to check Andy’s spelling and grammar,” adds Mark. Understanding that client’s expectations are rising, Andy and Mark, with the support of a local design studio, headed up a multidisciplinary training programme for young creatives wanting to gain experience in the creative industries. The experience gained from enabling disciplines from all backgrounds to work together is at the core of Double Concentrate.

50 | ENGAGE

“It’s our close working relationship and the extra thought we give to all of our clients that’s at the heart of Double Concentrate.” And where did the name come from? “The recent addition of twins to the Kilburn household was probably weighing on my mind at the time,” says Andy. #DoubleTrouble. Based in Newcastle, with a second office in Durham, they most recently acquired a video conferencing space in London as their work is beginning to attract a lot of attention. The growing team includes Alex Breeds as Brand Manager, a Masters degree in Mass Communications and Management recently under her belt, and beginning to show that she’s a force to be reckoned within both digital and print. The bottle of talent opens up to reveal a creative team of illustrators, designers, digitisers and social media experts. Double Concentrate’s core values are built around three key messages; FRESH, ADD and MORE. • To keep FRESH by working with good clients and organisations. • To ADD our talents to your company by helping your business grow.

• For your business to gain MORE from working with Double Concentrate. One company Double Concentrate have worked with is an upcycling furniture startup company based in Hexham, called Decord, who offer an interior design service that will roll out nationally with a skilled network of interior designers. They also rebranded a Tyneside web development company, Highten Digital. Highten grew into a digital business development company with Double Concentrate’s help, and is now attracting corporate clients. They’ve also worked with JP Concrete, a national construction supplier based in Brighton. No matter what the budget, Double Concentrate approach all projects thirsty to introduce the unique character of your business into their work. Whether that’s anything from print collateral to a viral online campaign, Double Concentrate ensure that the story of your business is shared. Email: hello@doubleconconcentrate.co.uk Call: 0191 3755 788 Visit: www.DoubleConcentrate.co.uk Tweet: @DblConcentrate Like: facebook.com/DoubleConcentrate

Community spirit

BMW Economics

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Official fuel economy figures for the BMW 1 Series 5-door range: Urban 25.2-62.4mpg (11.2-4.4 l/100km). Extra Urban 45.6-83.1mpg (6.2-3.4 l/100km). Combined 35.3-74.3mpg (8.0-3.8 l/100km). CO2 emissions 188-99g/km. Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions. Advertised APR available on a BMW Select agreement for new BMW 1 Series models ordered between 1 July 2014 and 30 September 2014 and registered 31 December 2014 (subject to availability). Retail customers only. Finance available subject to credit acceptance to UK residents aged 18 or over. Guarantees and indemnities may be required. Terms and conditions apply. Offer may be varied, withdrawn or extended at any time. ‘BMW Select’ is a form of hire-purchase agreement provided by BMW Financial Services (GB) Limited, Bartley Way, Hook, Hampshire RG27 9UF. We commonly introduce customers to BMW Financial Services, for which we may receive payment if you enter into an agreement with them. This introduction does not amount to independent financial advice. †Test drive subject to applicant status and availability.

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