ISSUE 5 | I LOVE NORTH SHIELDS

I,Love North Shields.

September 2024 COMMUNITY: An update on Project Nile Street

ISSUE 5

MUSIC: We speak to local band HMRC ART: Meet collage artist Jock Mooney BUSINESS: The low-down on The Lock

LOCAL PICK UP POINTS

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Hello North Shields

Contributors Founder/Editor-in-Chief Simone Harper ilovenorthshields @outlook.com

Hold onto your black-and-white scarves, because exciting things are happening at ‘I, Love North Shields’! We’re thrilled to announce that Bazoox has joined our team as the new writer for ‘The Mag’. Known for their sharp takes and passion for the Toon, Bazoox will be launching ‘If the Kids Are United’, a monthly column blending Newcastle United’s Premier League drama with the charm and cheek of North Shields.

Whether it’s match-day excitement or seaside strolls, this column promises to be as lively as a last-minute goal at St. James’ Park.

We’re also excited to introduce ‘HAT NEWS’ by Barry Hutchings! Dive into the world of headgear with Barry, from classic caps to trendy toppers. Expect the latest tips and tricks to keep your look stylish, served with Barry's signature flair.

As our publication grows, more and more locals are getting involved in creating it—and this is exactly what we hoped for.

Who better to highlight what’s happening in North Shields than the people who live here? Your involvement makes ‘I, Love North Shields’ truly community-driven.

Front Cover Collage by Jock Mooney

The 200 printed copies of our fourth, fifth, and sixth issues are sponsored by resources available to businesses in the North Shields Cultural Quarter. However, we’re actively seeking sponsorships to help us with our print runs for future issues.

Our goal is to get this publication into as many hands as possible because staying connected and informed matters!

Art Director Kimberley Rumble kimberleycreative.co.uk @kimberley_creative

To continue providing this content to you, we’re using a Pay As You Feel model for the digital issue. This allows you to contribute in a way that reflects the value you place on our work. Whether it’s a small token of appreciation or a more donation to increase our print run, your support helps us sustain and grow the publication. Thank you!

Survey

Authors Adrian Lee Barry Hutchings Bazoox (Author for The Mag) Caroline Oswald Carol Davison Diane Wailes Mark Tavender Mim Robson Rachel Chapman Simon Hetherington Proofreaders Sarah Graham Mim Robson Katie Stewart

Graphic Designers Holly Hammell-Purvis @h.llyhp TikTok Jodhi Mae Rutherford Photographers Lisa Young Photography Wayne Bordoli Photography Megan Ramsey Photography Coastal Captures Gaby Zak

Supported by

We’d love your input! Could you take a moment to fill out our survey and let us know how we can improve ‘I, Love North Shields’ and why you think what we’re doing is important for the community? THANK YOU! www.surveymonkey.com/r/5DPFRG9

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Contents

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Could it be a Banksy in North Shields?

An update on Project Nile Street

We chat to the local corner shop owner

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Hat news!

Swapping the Fish Quay for the deep blue sea

Mim Robson loves little things

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In response to ‘I Love Typewriters’

Local artist Jock Mooney

Earl Charlton’s Voice Night

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Contents

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Local band HMRC

A music Galapagos

Get ready for a night of poetry

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James Knott - one of the great folk of North Shields

Missing Low Light artwork discovered

Poet Dean Jolly

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Remembering Gaul trawler tragedy

Take a peek inside The Lock

An interview with Victoria Smith

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News

IF THE KIDS ARE UNITED

Bazoox Joins the Squad! Get Ready for If the Kids Are United ⚽ Hold onto your black-and-white scarves, folks, because we’ve got a quirky new addition to the ‘I, Love North Shields’ crew! Say hello to Bazoox, our fresh-offthe-pitch author for ‘The Mag’! Known for their punchy takes and love for the Toon, Bazoox is here to bring you ‘If the Kids Are United,’ a monthly column that’s as unpredictable as a last-minute winner at St. James’ Park.

Expect a wild ride through Newcastle United’s Premier League escapades, all mixed with the everyday charm (and cheek) of life in North Shields and along our beloved coast. From match-day madness to seaside strolls, Bazoox is serving up the perfect blend of football fever and local flavour.

So, lace up your boots and get ready for a read that’s as lively as a Toon Army chant! This one’s for the fans, the locals, and everyone who loves a bit of Geordie banter. Stay tuned—If the Kids Are United is about to kick off!

HAT NEWS Introducing HAT NEWS by Barry Hutchings We’re thrilled to launch HAT NEWS—a brand-new column by Barry Hutchings! Dive into the world of hats and how to wear them with style. From classic caps to trendy toppers, Barry’s got the scoop on all things headgear. Stay tuned for tips, tricks, and the latest hat trends, all served with Barry's signature flair!

TIK TOK COLLAB Guess what, North Shields? We've got a fashion fairy magician!

Hold onto your hats (and your stylish scarves) because we’ve got some fabulously quirky news! Jodhi Mae Russo, the fashionista extraordinaire behind Jodhi Mae Russo Styling, is teaming up with “I, Love North Shields” to sprinkle a little style magic on our TikTok account!

Jodhi’s got the magic touch when it comes to turning the ordinary into the extraordinary, and now she’s bringing her chic vibes straight to your screens as our official TikTok curator. Expect a whirlwind of fashion fun, local flair, and maybe a dash of the unexpected. Because with Jodhi at the helm, anything can happen!

Follow us on TikTok @ilovenorthshields

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Collectible Status The printed issues are in high demand and won't be around forever! Grab yours here!

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Community 8 ISSUE 5

Could it be a Banksy?

New! Salt Bar Social

A dog walker came across some interesting street art —it’s on a wall at the Howdon Road underpass, between Percy Main and the Royal Quays. Spotted by @nicolacalvert

Another great addition to the Fish Quay!

The bar is located in The Loading Bay area. It's funky, quirky and fun!

Quirky Low Lights

Launch party Baba Yagas

New artwork -Acrylic on canvas by Pam Morton. www.pjmartworks.co.uk

Baba Yagas is officialy opened! The ILNS was there to join the celebrations!

A River’s Lament by Olly Armstrong

Gigs Terry Gorman and Phil Martin

North Shields artist Olly Armstrong collecting tales of the Tyne. The project is supported by the North Shields Cultural Quarter Projects and Events Fund.

Friday 27th September 8pm Lowlights Tavern, North Shields.

Sunday 29th September 3pm Chirton Club, Silkeys Lane North Shields. @terrygorman

Community

PROJECT NILE STREET

SPOTTED

By Diane Wailes The plan to restore a rather neglected part of our town to its former glory, got off to a great start with the first community litter pick in early August.

With a minute to go before the 1pm kick off, three lonely figures stood outside the metro station, big bags at the ready. Then, in the style of a flash mob, people suddenly started to appear from all directions, clutching litter pickers, rubber gloves, brushes and brooms! And so the clean up began - from the top to the bottom of Nile Street, picking up every last bit of rubbish, pulling out the weeds that create pesky litter traps, and prising literally hundreds of fag ends from out between the paving stones.

Passers by commented on the transformation; some said thank you; one obligingly put his fag end straight into one of the bin bags! Litter picks are going to be a regular feature of the Nile Street Project - and hopefully there’ll be less rubbish to pick up every time.

Love this front door by @witchywomanwax

So a big thank you to everyone who gave an hour of their time to show their love for North Shields!

If you’d like to get involved - and there’ll be lots of creative and practical ways you can help out - get in touch with Rachel Bambrough at rachelbambrough@hotmail.com

Back lane of Donkin Terrace in North Shields!

Photos by Di Routledge

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Community

TYNEMOUTH VOLUNTEER LIFE BRIGADE WATCH HOUSE MUSEUM

By Carol Davison When I was invited to take a look around the TVLB Watch House Museum, I must admit, I wasn’t expecting much more than a man cave with some model boats and a scattering of dusty old maritime photographs. I couldn’t have been more wrong. It’s an absolute treasure of a place and easy to see why it’s been ranked number one in Trip Advisor’s list of things to do in Tynemouth – keeping Tynemouth Priory from the top spot.

The TVLB was established in 1864, after vessels ‘Friendship’ and ‘Stanley’ were wrecked on the Black Middens with thirty-four lives lost, despite being only one hundred yards from the shore.

Captain John Morrison, who had watched the tragedies unfold, realised that if the Coastguard had had a trained body of men to assist, more lives could have been saved. With the help of local dignitaries, he arranged a meeting at North Shields town hall, and it was there that the first ever volunteer life brigade was established. Over one hundred men volunteered that first night and by the time the organisation was up and running in February 1865, there were one hundred and fifty volunteers.

The TVLB’s courageous work continues to this day and its nineteen volunteers, now with women amongst them, still use the Watch House as an operational base. Today, they assist the emergency services with coastal search and rescue, which can include helping the police search for missing or vulnerable people. They also work alongside the RNLI, concentrating on shorebased rescue, which includes negotiating the hazardous cliffs and rocks along the coastline.

The dramatic history of the TVLB and many of its heroic rescues are told through a treasure trove of artefacts located throughout the beautifully restored wooden Watch House building.

The vast main hall is packed with exhibits from floor to ceiling and houses a ¾ size version of the breeches buoy rescue equipment, which I saw demonstrated during my visit. There are photographs of incredible rescues on the walls, cases full of items recovered from wrecked ships, paintings and historic documents. My favourite items were the figureheads from some of the wrecks - real works of art. They were dotted all around the museum - in the stairwells, on the walls and in the corners of the ceiling. The museum has made the exhibits accessible for children too and there are activities to keep them entertained, such as spelling their name out with semaphore flags and on the morse code machine, and, of course, there are plenty of buttons to push!

In addition to the heart of the museum, visitors can go up the two towers located at either side of the building. The North tower covers two floors, and the South tower covers three floors, each packed with even more exhibits. The outstanding feature of both towers are the stunning views, particularly from the top of the South tower which gives almost 360-degree views – worth a visit in itself.

This year, the museum has recruited fifteen volunteer guides who are well clued up on the history of the organisation and much more besides. During my visit, the guides treated me to some incredible tales of rescue, in addition to local history and the odd ghost story! Dave pulled my leg telling a very entertaining tale about a rescue aboard the crew room’s snooker table – which I fell for hook, line and sinker. I was rewarded by being shown the secret beneath the floorboards – something which I’ll keep to myself for now and let you discover for yourselves! www.tvlb.org

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Community

Community

GLOWING GOLDEN IN THE SUNSHINE

By Diane Wailes I’m a bit of a history nerd, so it was a real treat to be able to explore inside 11 & 12 Northumberland Square on a recent Open Day. It was definitely a case of ‘location, location, location’ when these elegant homes were built in the early-1800s, in a clean, green neighbourhood, away from the fish quay slums. Sadly, over the years they went from ‘des res’ to near-derelict shells - so it’s fantastic to see the remarkable way these grade II-listed townhouses have been restored. This part of North Shields has had millions of pounds worth of investment and regeneration work, thanks to successful bids for government funding

by North Tyneside Council.

When you look at the pre-restoration photo (courtesy of ‘An Ambition for North Shields’), with the caved-in roof, flood damage, vandalism and mould, it’s hard to imagine all the hard work that’s gone into transforming them into six eco-efficient homes. It’s also good to hear that three North Shields-based firms - Hastie Burton Joinery, Classic Masonry and AJ Walton Surveying - have played a key role in bringing these buildings back from the brink and restoring them to their former glory. This corner of our Georgian Square is now looking as good as it did when it was first built, with the sandstone glowing golden in the sunshine.

No wonder I Love North Shields!

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Community

Where can you buy a bottle of pop and a cricket bat?

By Diane Wailes I’ve always been fascinated by the signage on ‘Sharma Wines,’ a traditional corner shop at the junction of North King Street and Grey Street. On one side the sign reads ‘General Grocer & Off Licence’ and on the other it says ‘JAPS Sports, Specialists in Cricket Equipment.’ I, Love North Shields’ went along to meet the owner, Prabhu Sharma, to find out more about this much-loved little shop.

Prabhu grew up in India and arrived in the UK in 1977, moving to North Shields four years later. With a postgraduate degree in Economics, his dream was to start his own business, and by the mid-1980s he was running a successful off-licence and video rental store. Prabhu says he’s always been a keen cricketer and he still plays badminton every week with guys who have been his friends for 35 years. As the video rental market declined, he decided to start importing sports equipment from India, to sell alongside the sweets and bottles of lemonade. Cricket bats, hockey sticks, footballs, badminton rackets; one half of his shop is a treasure trove of sports equipment. But, this is much more than a simple corner shop, albeit with the sporting twist. For example, Prabhu tells me that it’s easy for children to get bored in the holidays and to get up to mischief, so he’s very happy to loan them a football or cricket bat and ball, provided they promise to return them at the end of the day. Prabhu knows most of his customers; many of them are good friends and he describes some as “family.” Some of them bought sweets from him when they were children, and they now bring their own children to the shop for treats. Many come to the shop for conversation, companionship and advice, as much as to buy something. As if to prove a point, while we were talking, a lady arrived to buy milk and for advice on the best spices to put in a curry. There used to be six small shops in the neighbouring streets but all the others have closed.

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Community

I asked Prabhu in what other ways this part of North Shields has changed in the 43 years he’s been here, and his answer surprised me. “It hasn’t changed that much,“ he said. And then he explained, “the people here don’t pretend they’re something they’re not. They’ve always been welcoming to me and very polite and nice. That’s never changed. Contentment is key to a good life and I feel very content; it’s my community and I’m proud to live here.” Prabhu was also keen to tell me about his interests away from the shop. He loves travelling, history and architecture, and he’s a keen writer. He’s a member of a local writing group which meets weekly in the room behind the shop - it’s called the ‘Shiremoor Scribblers’ and they’re always looking for new members! He’s also in the process of writing a book himself, which is a guide to the places named in the ancient Hindu text, the Ramayana.

It was a real pleasure talking to Prabhu and our conversation only ended when a young customer arrived, wanting to talk to him about the shop’s recent appearance in a Newcastle United promotional video featuring star goalscorer, Alexander Isak. Prabhu immediately obliged by showing the excited young fan a picture of Isak and his dog, taken during the filming outside the shop. That felt like a good point to bring our conversation to a close and to leave Prabhu to the important business of listening to people and helping to bring a community closer together.

Enter Your Local Hero Whether they're saving pets, baking treats, or spreading joy, we want to hear about them!

Nominate them for our Local Hero Spotlight. Let's shine a light on the everyday superheroes who make our town brighter!

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Community

IF THE KIDS ARE UNITED Monthly column by Bazoox (Author for ‘The Mag’) The 2024/25 football season is almost upon us, and I am truly excited about the regions only Premier League club's chances.

After an injury ravaged 2023/24 campaign, I expect Eddie Howe's Newcastle United to be fully recharged and ready to go, come August 17th.

There will be no European football at St James' Park this season, but I'm anticipating us having a right good go on the domestic front.

Newcastle have a favourable set of fixtures to begin the season, and I don't see any reason why we shouldn’t get off to a flyer.

As I type, the squad has only been slightly tweaked and strengthened so far in the summer transfer window. That will change before the transfer deadline at the end of the month. We are currently in negotiations to make a marquee signing that could well become a club record deal.

I classify Alexander Isak as Newcastle United's very own Rolls Royce, and I think he will carry on from where he left off last season when he was banging goals in for fun.

With Anthony 'Flash' Gordon and Harvey Barnes about, I can see the team creating and scoring goals by the bucket load.

The indomitable Bruno Guimaraes is undoubtedly our talisman, and he will be aided and abetted in midfield by his compatriot, the Brazilian powerhouse that is Joelinton. When you add the returning Sandro Tonali and Joe Willock to the mix, this department looks pretty formidable.

The equally talented Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall are also going to be big players for United this season.

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Community

I love local players pulling on the black and white stripes, and it is good to have the likes of Big Dan Burn, Sean Longstaff and young Lewis Miley at Gallowgate. Sean is a likeable and good North Shields lad.

So I guess you are wondering how I think the 2024/25 season will materialise and eventually pan out? Although Manchester City still have a court date looming in relation to 115 charges for financial irregularities, I think that they will win their fifth EPL title on the bounce. This will also be Pep Guardiola's last season at the Etihad.

The Top 4 will be made up by Newcastle United, Arsenal and Liverpool.

Aston Villa will be the best of the rest in 5th place.

As I have already stated, United have no European commitments to contend with. I want an all- out assault on the Carabao/League Cup and the FA Cup. We have every chance of finally ending our 70-year wait for domestic silverware.

The Saudi PIF are the best thing that has ever happened to Newcastle United. We have a lot to be grateful for, and none of this could have been achieved without the strength and perseverance of Amanda Staveley.

Our owners will be wanting Champions’ League football from now on, and even though we are currently being hampered by Financial Fair Play and Profit and Sustainability rules, the Saudis knew what they were getting into and will have been prepared.

Newcastle United are their flagship team as they look to eventually create a multi-club project and operation. There will also soon be an announcement on a potential upgrade of St James' Park that will increase capacity, or the building of a brand-new state of the art super stadium at Castle Leazes/Leazes’ Park.

It was great to see former 1970s Newcastle United footballers, Jimmy 'Jinky' Smith, Irving Nattrass and Paul Cannell doing a talk-in recently at Chirton Social Club, on behalf of the Independent North Shields Supporters’ Association. Top blokes the three of them.

When the Robins famously won the FA Amateur Cup in 1969, they were managed by Frank Brennan. Frankie had already picked up back to back FA Cup winners’ medals with Newcastle United in 1951 and 1952. By coincidence, the 1968/69 season was also the last time Newcastle won a major honour; the European Inter-City Fairs Cup. We all love being North Shields lads and lasses, and are rightfully proud of our roots, but when it comes to finding an everlasting love and having a proper love affair, you really cannot go past Newcastle United.

They are certainly going to be bringing back the good times, and we'll all be walking on air soon. You heard it here first!

Bazoox (Author for ‘The Mag’) www.themag.co.uk

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Megan Ramsey is a portrait photographer based in North Shields. Capturing the essence of a person and preserving memories, Megan embarked on her passion project.

Faces of North Shields is a photography project which is about celebrating the inspirational people that help create the community spirit in North Shields. Shining a light on hardworking Shields Folk.

Megan Ramsey Photography megramphotos www.meganramseyphotography.com

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Community

HAT NEWS

By Barry Hutchings | Photography by Lisa Young So… You’ve bought your first hat; a flamboyant fedora, a bonny beret, an outrageously funny fez, it doesn’t matter what it is, but now’s the time to wear it outside.

You’ve had plenty of practice indoors. You’ve posed in front of the mirror, you’ve checked yourself from all sides, you’ve cocked your hat at all jaunty angles…this is it. Time to open the door and step outside. You’ve prepared yourself for this. But just as you’re ready to go, just as you’re ready to step over the threshhold, you are paralysed with fear. You have the sweats, the shakes. In short – you’ve bottled it! This condition is known as hat-wearers’ paralysis. It affects 97% of the population* and has been that way since 1957, when the demise of the smart hat was first observed.

So, how to combat it? How to stiffen your spine and wear your fez with pride? Well, there are no easy answers. I’ve been outrageously eccentric for more years than I care to remember, but when the beret wearing season comes (October 27th for the North Shields parallel) I too, freeze with fear. You have no choice but to steel yourself, open your front door, and step outside. The trick is to walk with purpose and stare straight ahead. For the first few minutes you will be bubbling with fear - they’re all looking me, you will think! This is North Shields. North Shields isn’t ready for this, what would my shipyard working Grandad think! He’ll be turning in his grave!

But fear not. No one is looking at you, no one cares. And after a few minutes you will be sauntering along Bedford Street and perusing the charity shops looking for a tweed jacket to go with your hat. It is an addictive hobby. And I pity the spouses and partners of those afflicted.

Well, that’s me done for the day. To all those who love headgear, I doff my hat.

Toodaloo! *Statistics and dates are plucked from my arse.

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Your Stories

vol. 1

LONG WAY FROM HJEM NORTH SHIELDS COUPLE SWAP THE FISH QUAY FOR THE DEEP BLUE SEA Hello, sailors! Meet Faye and Rob, along with their adventurous dog Yewy, who embarked on a life-changing journey that started right here in North Shields. After getting married, the pair decided to do something a little different for their honeymoon; they spent five months sailing 1,600 nautical miles around the UK. Faye and Rob bought ‘Reach Out’, a Catalina 400 sailing yacht and immediately set off, sailing the South Coast, Wales, the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland before taking the Caledonian Canal back to the East Coast, ready to head for their home port.

Faye says, “we were fortunate to see some breathtakingly beautiful places on our travels, especially around Cornwall. We anchored or took moorings in places like Salcombe, Fowey and Fishguard, but it was actually the smaller fishing ports, like Buckie, that made us feel truly at home. Docking in the commercial port reminded us of North Shields’ Fish Quay and the local seafood and fish and chips - dare I say - may have even rivalled it.”

Sailing back into North Shields after five months away, was an emotional experience for Faye and Rob. The Northumbrian coast, with its iconic landmarks like Bamburgh Castle and Holy Island, looked even more magnificent from the sea and they appreciated seeing them from this new perspective. As they entered the piers of the Tyne, they used the High Lights and Low Lights’ lighthouses as transits to keep them a safe distance from the Black Middens’ rocks. Once back in Royal Quays, they were greeted by friends and family keen to welcome them home and hear their sailing stories over a drink.

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Your Stories But when one adventure ended, another had just begun. Faye and Rob had their sights set on sunnier shores which meant spending a brutal winter in the Royal Quays’ boatyard preparing ‘Reach Out’ to head for the Med. Currently, Faye and Rob are in northern Spain, hopping from port to port and dodging the occasional orca.

“The Cantabrian coastline is spectacular,” says Rob, “we just don’t get sick of looking at the lush green mountains and amazing cliffs.”

Throughout their journey, Faye and Rob vlogged their experiences on their YouTube channel, ‘Sailing Hjem’. The name, meaning “Sailing Home,” originally reflected their mission to return to North Shields. Now, it has taken on a new meaning as they live full-time on their boat, making wherever they drop their anchor their home.

You can join Faye, Rob, and Yewy onboard ‘Reach Out’ at www.youtube.com/@sailinghjem

Looking ahead, Faye and Rob have ambitious plans to cross the Atlantic, aiming to explore the Caribbean and perhaps even venture down to South America. They’ve started meticulous preparations for this monumental journey, including upgrading their navigation equipment and undergoing additional training to ensure they are well-prepared for the open ocean.

Their story is testament to the power of daring to dream, and the joy that comes from embracing the unknown. Through their YouTube channel, Faye and Rob continuevol. to 1 inspire countless others to pursue their own adventures, proving that home is not just a place, but a state of mind shaped by the people and experiences we cherish.

So, if you’re yearning for a dose of adventure and a look into the life of a couple who traded the conventional for the extraordinary, be sure to follow ‘Sailing Hjem’. With every new port they visit and every new friend they make, Faye, Rob and Yewy remind us that the world is vast and full of wonders waiting to be explored.

Their latest adventures have taken them to the picturesque coastal towns of Portugal, where they've been soaking up the sun and feasting on local delicacies like pastéis de nata and fresh seafood. Faye and Rob have been particularly enchanted by the vibrant culture and friendly locals, often sharing stories and tips with fellow sailors they meet along the way.

In a recent vlog, Faye shared her excitement about learning to sail in more challenging conditions, emphasising how each new experience has strengthened their seamanship and brought them closer as a couple. Rob, on the other hand, has been keen on exploring historical sites, documenting their visits to ancient castles and charming villages for their audience.

Their loyal companion Yewy, has also become a star of the channel, with viewers eagerly tuning in to see his latest antics and adventures. Whether he's chasing seagulls on a sandy beach or ensuring the boat is free of pesky seagulls, Yewy’s boundless energy and curiosity add a delightful touch to their videos.

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Your Stories

I LOVE LITTLE THINGS As a child I had a fascination for small objects and ornaments. At some point my parents put up a shelf with lots of compartments for me to house these varied items, and once on display, they became a true collection. I had no real theme that connected all of these oddments other than that they were small enough to fit into the shelf units, so it became known to me as my collection of ‘little things’.

In it stood: a set of painted wooden swans and tiny cygnets that I was given once for my birthday, two empty, miniature bottles of my mother’s favourite perfume, a tiny ceramic jug she brought back from her trip to Romania, various thimbles, a collection of gemstones, some little mice made at the local pottery, some very old ceramic kittens with limbs broken off, passed down from some rather Victorian great aunts I vaguely remember. And many other bits and pieces which were treasures to me as an 8-year-old but which I no longer remember.

When I was 6 I began piano lessons. I had wished for these lessons, perhaps because I had seen my older brothers going to them, and as a child of that age you often long to be able to join in with what your older siblings seem so free to do. I finally began my lessons, and stuck with it for a few years, but never really took off. My clearest memory from these lessons is going round to my piano teacher’s house, and her kindness. She was a beloved family friend, and a good friend of my mother, despite being old enough to be her mother - one of those kindred spirits. We called her ‘Aunty Nancy’. She was a farmer’s wife (we had working farms in the village back then), the church organist, a keen rag-rug maker, and her kitchen always had the sweet smell of freshly baked apple pie, of which we were invariably offered a piece.

I slogged through my scales, distracted by a glass cabinet in the corner of the room.

Nancy could see where my true interests lay and let me have a look in the cabinet, which was full of little ornaments. Seeing the enchantment these small objects had upon me, she proposed that I take one little thing home per week, to put on

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By Mim Robson

my shelf of little things. I would take care of it, display it, play with it, and then return it to her the following week and exchange it for something else. It was like a library of little things.

Many years later, long after the contents of the little things shelf had been stored away in boxes in my parents’ loft, I bought myself an old printers’ tray and attached it to my wall. It was time to bring my shelf of little things back into being. I suppose I have spent so many years moving around, renting houses and not really settling, that putting that shelf onto the wall felt like the beginning of becoming more rooted in a home. I unpacked my box of little things and found myself often delighted, often confused. I discarded anything that had lost its meaning or beauty to me (probably a great number of unremarkable rocks), and found a place for every other special or pretty little thing in my printers’ tray. Something about the shelf changed this assortment of items from clutter to a collection. Something in the display of it made each piece seem like a tiny piece of art.

Now when friends visit, they are permitted to ask the story of one little thing per visit. Some

Your Stories of them have beautiful stories attached, of connections to people who gave me something small that somehow holds the vastness of their love, or reminds me wholly of them. Others hold sweet stories of passing moments, brief encounters and special acts of thoughtfulness and generosity. And there are many that I carried home with me from my travels, a tiny reminder that I was once there.

But there are also a few that don’t hold any meaning or memory – they are just charming to me in some way, and sufficiently little.

Yesterday, as per the rules, a friend asked me the story of one small (obviously) pinkjumpered doll. I told her that a few years ago, my friend Hannah had put a photo online of her own shelf of little things. I commented that I had a similar shelf, and one of Hannah’s friends, who lived on the Isle of Lewis, chipped in and said she too had a similar miniature miscellany. We agreed between the three of us that it would be fun to do an exchange, one little thing for another little thing. I posted something out to the lady in Lewis, and she sent me a little ceramic Christmas tree and a shell. Hannah lived in the same town as me, so I got to choose something from her shelf myself. I chose the little doll with red shoes, green trousers and hat, and that pink jumper. It followed that a few other people got in touch with photos of their little things shelves, and I was delighted to see these many incarnations of displays of small objects each precious to their owners in some unspoken way.

Lately, I’ve been wandering around North Shields a lot, and noticed a small collection of little things on a garden wall near Alma Place. I guessed someone had dropped some things, and a passer by had left them on the wall to be found again. But another day I passed, and different things were on the wall. Things like little pink hair clips, a plastic whale bath toy, small items that small people might like to find, just at the right height for a small person to see them. I realised that the lovely lady that lives there was leaving them out for children to take home. This sweet act reminded me of Aunty Nancy, and her understanding that a small gesture of kindness can feel big to a young person, or indeed to anyone. The next time I passed this lady’s house, I took something from my

MIM ROBSON

collection of little things, and left it with her collection of little things for her, or for someone passing by to discover.

After a few months of living in North Shields some friends helped me put my printers’ shelf up. I unpacked my box of little things, and again found myself delighted and confused. I discarded the things that I couldn’t remember why I’d thought they were special or beautiful (again, mostly rocks), and put up each of the other little things in their new home, in my new home.

These days there are a few things that have stood the test of time from my childhood shelf.

The perfume bottles, mice and kittens, swans all have a spot on the shelf. But now the pinkjumpered doll has a seat. A marble elephant a friend gave me when reminding me to start small when tackling big things. Pin badges from every town I visited in Canada. A tiny globe with a tiny note inside from a long standing penpal. A couple of small bits of art made by friends I once shared studios with.

More thimbles. A piece of sea pottery found by my sister-in-law, that looks like the sea and sky at night. A couple of matchboxes that came from a kindred spirit who was 60 years my senior. A bouncy ball, an old smarties lid with the letter S on it, a pair of my mother’s earrings that I remember seeing her shine in.

Some ships in bottles, ships out of bottles, and of course, a few precious rocks.

Do you collect little things? What does your little things shelf consist of? Send photos, stories and thoughts to ilovebigboats@hotmail.com (I also love little boats).

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Your Stories

IN RESPONSE TO...I LOVE TYPEWRITERS (ISSUE 4)

Keyboard Trouble By Ian Robson Many years ago, when people were making their first tentative transitions from the keyboard of a typewriter to the keyboard of a computer, an acquaintance told me this anecdote. He was called for his assistance by a friend who was struggling with a computer-related problem. As he peered over his friends shoulder at the monitor, he noticed a number of white spots on the screen. What on earth could that be?

Further investigation revealed that it was tippex that his friend had been using in an attempt to amend spelling mistakes that he had made!! Here’s a curious thing! I can type at a moderate, steady speed without hesitation. Yet if you presented me with a picture of a blank keyboard I would not be able to fill in the correct letters to the keys. Most people know QWERTY because of the nonsense word it creates but after that, I only have a vague idea of which line the letters belong to and where they belong in relation to each other.

It seems that I have learned the position of the keys on a keyboard at an unconscious level but don’t have that knowledge on a conscious level! I wonder if that provides an insight into musical ability? I have tried for years to learn to play the piano and have probably racked up the 10,000 hours that it is supposed to take to master a skill.

Yet I have only, at best, achieved an intermediate level and rarely get through a piece without making a mistake. In contrast to my typewriting skills, it seems that I have very little intuitive knowledge of where the keys are on the keyboard. Accomplished musicians must have this, as there just isn’t time for them to think about where to place their fingers. At a conscious level I can make a reasonable stab at reading the music but translating that to the keyboard is a painfully slow process. So, why can I do it on a typewriter but not on a piano?

KNOW THE ANSWER? OR A FANCY MAKING A GOOD GUESS? SEND IT IN TO ILOVEBIGBOATS@HOTMAIL.COM 22 ISSUE 5

Your Stories

Veronica Irving By Caroline Oswald Like many women of her generation, my mother, Veronica, was an avid user of the typewriter.

She learned an array of secretarial skills at Tynemouth High School on Hawkeys Lane, North Shields, before moving into several clerical roles throughout her life at establishments including Bainbridge’s, the Royal Grammar School and Tynemouth Ice Ltd. on North Shields Fish Quay. The most fulfilling part of her career, however, was most definitely as the local correspondent for New York and Percy Main for the Newcastle Evening Chronicle, where she was given a full page with her photo at the top.

As well as representing the aforementioned local areas, my mum was always scouting about North Shields for news as well. She would sometimes call upon me and my friends when news was thin on the ground, featuring us in articles about trick-or-treaters, school uniform issues and even my gigantic pet rabbit! She would tap away on her big old iron typewriter on the dining room table, somewhat reluctant to move along with technological advances.

When she tried to use a computer she would almost break the keyboard through tapping it with the force necessary for typing on the typewriter. She always returned to her trusty typewriter. After all, who needs a ‘delete’ button when you have correction tape? My mum made scrap books of all of her articles, which I treasure as a fascinating snapshot into various aspects of local life at the time. She also used the typewriter to write her own life story for a project by the National Archives, which she had to draft and redraft on the back of headed paper from Tynemouth Ice Ltd. When my mum retired from working life (she had a whole other sideline as a singer, but that’s another story…), she sold her typewriter to local writer, Peter Mortimer, and enjoyed delivering it to his fascinatingly colourful home. I like to think of the many articles, poems and plays that the typewriter went on to produce at the hands of Mr Mortimer, and I wonder if it is still in use to this day.

IN RESPONSE TO...I LOVE TYPEWRITERS (ISSUE 4) 23

Your Stories

MEET STEVEN C. GULL After reading Mim’s article last month about the local seabirds, Ellen Fernley took to the streets to hear their side of the story.

Here’s what one gull had to say: Alright, how’s it going? My name’s Steven.

Steven C. Gull. Not to be confused with SEAgull. That would be ridiculous. I’m a herring gull. All this chat about “sea” gulls.

They don’t exist. That’s you humans tarnishing all us gulls with the same brush because you can’t tell the difference between species. Get a bird book!

By the way, the C in my name - that stands for Chips. My favourite. Anyway, I live and breathe in North Shields. Word spreads quickly here, and I’ve been told that me and my mates had a scathing article written about us last month. Folk writing in telling everyone about their “horror stories” of us. Blasphemy.

Wicked tells the story of the baddy from Wizard of Oz. Maleficent tells the story of the baddy from Sleeping Beauty. Joker tells the story of… well, Joker, from Batman. And now it’s my turn. Some people say we’re the pigeons of the sea. Don’t get me STARTED on people’s opinions on pigeons. You humans used to keep pigeons as pets. You used them to send messages for you back in the day. And now they’re living on the streets, half of them with one leg, because you lot have “post offices” now, so threw them out to fend for themselves. They’re little survivors given their back stories. Little warriors. And so are we.

Me and my mates, we’ve been knocking around since the early Oligocene times. We’re talking 33 million years ago.

Not me personally. My life span is probably around 20 years if I’m lucky. My mate says his mates’ dad lived to be 49. Madness. But my ancestors, they were there. We go way back.

We were here long before you two legged, unwinged humans turned up. And we’ll be here long after you. We’re very resilient.

And yet people… hate us? Why? We help you lot out. You know those scraps of kebab and chips that you humans leave on the pavements after a night out?

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The smears of ice cream on the floor from kids who haven’t yet mastered the art of secure grip in their hands? Ever wondered why they disappear after a couple of days? Because me and my mates, we’re working tirelessly to clear up your mess. We gobble that up for you.

When your drunk mates throw up in the street? We’ll eat that too. We’re doing our best to keep your streets tidy when you lot can’t make it to a toilet to be sick in, or can’t be bothered to find a bin. So forgive us when we see you strolling down the street, Greggs sausage roll in hand, and we act a bit… preemptively. We’re so used to finding your mess on our streets, so we just clean it up for you - before you get a chance to drop it. Not our fault if that means nabbing it from you before you’ve even eaten it. Precaution, innit.

We’re good parents too. If we’ve got a nest, with our lovely, scruffy little grey chicks tucked away somewhere, we’ll make sure you humans don’t come anywhere near. Our nests are our families’ safe space. You wouldn’t like it if you had strangers letting themselves into your house, and walking past your beds as you and your loved ones slept. Neither do we.

We stay together too. We mate for life. We’re loyal. I know loads of you humans aren’t.

We’ve seen some of you stumble out of pubs and clubs with all sorts of different people on different nights!

So stop giving us a bad rep. Stop taking swipes at us. We’re alright if you take a chance to get to know us and appreciate what we do for you. The world would be a better place if you human lot learned to live in harmony with other living, breathing creatures, no matter what they look like. Plus, you can get fined £5000 if you hurt us. We get nothing if we swoop at you. The Wildlife and Countryside act of 1981 has our back y’all. So think twice.

Be nice. And don’t forget your place in the pecking order. We were here first. Gull power.

Squawk.

Art LOCAL ARTIST JOCK MOONEY 26 ISSUE 5

Art

JOCK MOONEY: COLLAGE ART Jock creates large scale collages using his own original photographs in both lurid colour and black and white - partly inspired by his experience working on the 'Here Comes the Sun' music video for The Beatles in 2019. Jock co-directed the film with friend and long time collaborator Alasdair Brotherston. In addition to directing, Jock designed the photographic 'sun' that features in it, made with the invaluable assistance of the team at Arch Model studio in London. The vast project was then used as part of the set in a film shoot, directed by the duo at Abbey Road studios one long hot summer. The video was produced by the late, great Maria Manton, with the team at Trunk Animation. It has since amassed nearly 150 million views on YouTube.

Thinking back, the experience of not only directing, but also laying out some incredibly rare (in some cases unseen) images of The Beatles, was a challenge, but Jock took to it with gusto.

Looking back he says; "One thing that collage work teaches you - unlike other mediums perhaps - is to not be too precious with materials and imagery. You are in a universe where the rulebook is out of the window more than ever, even if you are constructing worlds and forms based on natural imagery. The key is the photographic element, there is a chance to abstract certain things, to encourage a play on juxtaposition, to find a balance of chaos and harmony. With an act such as The Beatles you clearly have to respect that legacy, but you still need to take some risks, only then can you create something truly unique.”

Jock's recent collages may not quite be of the giant scale from The Beatles one, but the level of detail, playfulness, beauty and subversion remains. Many are created using Jock's photographs of the North Shields’ area (his home since moving from London during the pandemic). Of his new coastal base Jock says;

"I've been getting to know the area I live in with a camera in hand.

There's always something new that you haven't seen before, even on your doorstep!"

Those familiar with North Shields will recognise some of the town’s iconic architecture, as well as some joyfully garish takes on Northumberland Park. Jock hopes to also explore the Fish Quay in further works. You can see more of Jock's various projects - from illustration, sculpture, drawing and collage at his Instagram: @jockmooney

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Art

TYNEMOUTH PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY Tynemouth Photographic Society has a long history in North Shields, so it is fitting that they have returned to their roots on Howard Street in the town’s Cultural Quarter. In 1894, a club was set up in North Shields by Walter F. Corder, first President of the Northern Counties Photographic Federation.

Corder ran two pharmaceutical businesses in the town, including a chemist at 22, Albion Road.

The Borough of Tynemouth Photographic Society was founded on 18th March 1903 and the first address on pictorial photography was given by W.F. Corder himself. They began their meetings at the Presbyterian Church hall on Northumberland Square, but moved to Howard Street Presbyterian Church hall, as the original room was too cold and noisy due to the Boys’ Brigade!

They moved to the YMCA on Bedford Street in 1920 for the next ten years. In 1933 they moved to their own club rooms, Camera Corner, at the top of Nile Street. They stayed there until 1937 when they moved to Camera House on Tynemouth Front Street, where they remained until moving back to their current premises in North Shields in 2019.

The club’s secretary, Jane Flowers, explains more about their present-day activities; “We share a common interest in photography in all its forms. More experienced members are always happy to support any beginners. As well as our general Thursday evening group, we run many subgroups, including nature, urban and practical sessions, which provide hands-on experience of photography and processing. We also have a record group with a huge archive of pictures and equipment, as well as a film and video group. Visitors can enjoy three free meetings before deciding whether to join.”

Meetings are on Thursday evenings at 7:30pm at 106 & 107 Howard Street.

For further details go to: www.tynemouthps.co.uk.

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Art

SHOW

Surreal Shields 29 x 21 inches Mixed media on board Instagram @gailcurryartist On display at Wild and Free Gallery, 3A Ilfracombe Gardens, Whitley Bay NE263ND

Show will be a monthly feature showcasing visual artists who are from, live and/or work in North Shields. If this is you, please send your name and contact details, social media or website address, and/or 3-5 images of your work to shownorthshields@gmail.com, for consideration.

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Art

Earl Charlton's Voice Night

By Adrian Lee | Photograhy by Gaby Zak Grand relaunch 17 July 2024 Review Fishnet Tavern, North Shields Fish Quay (formerly The Staith House/The Dolphin) What are the Voice Nights?

A monthly event for everyone.

It’s not a buskers’ event, but it does have musicians. It’s not a poetry event, but it does have poets. It’s not a spoken word event, but it does have spoken word life experiences. It’s not only for old gits, but young gits as well.

Was there an auction?

Yes! Raising funds for Abby Traynor’s Acorns Project, a North Shields’ charity dedicated to those affected by domestic violence. A review of the brilliant work they do will be featured in a future issue. £670 was raised.

Was it any good? No. It was better than that.

Is it free? Yes, any donations go exclusively to charity. Can I perform? Yes. You just check in with the organisers upon arrival. Further details are on the Facebook group “VOICE NOTES”

First up Earl with a few deeply personal poems about his life to date. Thought-provoking and illustrating why he is such a driven man for the passions he strongly believes in. Next Corey, a 14 year old dressed as a biker, with a hat that is a cross between Slash's and Tom Petty’s.

Some Bon Jovi & Alice Cooper and then he's joined by Helena, who does Blur, Aerosmith and Guns N Roses with a choreographed jump - nice! Helena soloed with an upcoming local lads’ song "Hypersonic Missiles," plus Florence & the Machine, ending the set with Adele.

Then it was Mia, and for me, the absolute highlight of the night, singing The Ballad of Jane Doe, a show song I very much doubt has ever been heard before on the Fish Quay. The audience stood and applauded, it was so unexpected. I hope she returns and sings it again. The venue was very busy and it was unfortunate that some artists didn't get the chance to perform - Earl will address this at future monthly events.

What we did get however, was a Big Issue rap artist, Arid Fool; Jack doing some Clapton, and, my pharmacist Stewart, singing Icelandic blues rock songs by Kaleo. Towards the end, we had the poem from a young lad Aaron, remembering his uncle, and also local girl, Vanessa, leading an acapella sing along of Janis Joplin's "Mercedes Benz". The raffle shifted this years must have, the ‘I Love North Shields’ tote bags. The sound and PA was courtesy of Terry Gorman and was, as usual, flawless. I would guess that there were over 100 people there throughout the evening.

GZPHOTO_

Give it a whirl next time. It’s a little different from the normal open mic evenings.

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Music POP PUNK AND A PODCAST IN PITTSBURGH

By Mark Tavender This magazine is all about championing local creativity and creative content.

And sometimes that local creativity can go international. Nick BrownleeSayers, who lives in North Shields, and his friend Chris Doughty, have been friends since childhood and big music fans. They were in a band together, toured a little and even released an album.

But they ended up going their separate ways when Chris moved to London. In 2015, he started The Wasting Time Podcast which focused on the London punk rock scene. Nick and Chris had always kept in touch and in 2019, Nick jumped aboard with a remit to help widen the reach of the podcast. In March 2020, Covid hit and brought the world to a standstill. Bands could not tour anymore and there were no gigs or festivals for music fans to attend. But this didn’t stop Nick and Chris; instead they saw it as an opportunity to reach out to bands by asking them to appear on their podcast. Bands were keen to do this, as it meant keeping their profile high.

They had some success attracting high profile guests for interviews such as Dave Baksh from Sum 41 and Frank Turner. At the same time, they managed to build up connections in the music industry at a management and press level.

As the pandemic petered out and live music started to become a thing again, Nick and Chris used their connections to apply for press access for festivals and were successful in securing one for Slam Dunk Festival in Leeds.

‘That was an interesting experience,’ says Nick.’ The weather was horrific and bands were struggling to get on site and one band cancelled whilst they were in the queue to get in.’ It meant some plans were scuppered, but all the same, it was a great learning experience for them - they used the opportunity to do more ‘off-the cuff’ content that was not part of their initial plans and which, ultimately, gave them ideas for future festivals. The experience was to come in handy. Not long before, they had invited Rishi Bahl onto their show to talk about his band, Eternal Boy and the festival he curates in Pittsburgh called the Four Chord Music Festival.

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Waynebordeliphotography

Music Out of the blue Rishi suggested that Nick and Chris should travel to the USA and be part of the action. He wanted to invest in an independent podcast to cover the festival and create dedicated content throughout the weekend. The Wasting Time Podcast would be the sole media partner - this was more than just attending as press, it meant they would be the face of the festival. ‘It was all a bit surreal,’ admits Nick. Weekly planning meetings followed and before long they were on their way to America, flights and hotels paid for by the festival.

So on 19 June 2024, Nick and Chris flew out to Pittsburgh, excited and full of ideas. It was by far the most professional set up they had experienced up to this point - they were provided with an interview tent and audio equipment as well as a videographer who followed them around as they shot footage interviewing bands and festival-goers. It was not long before their content was attracting thousands of views.

Nick is quick to point out that, despite their venture being what is essentially a hobby, he and Chris approach what they do professionally because they want to be taken seriously.

‘We started preparing weeks ahead and we were still making notes whilst we were waiting for our plane at Heathrow,’ he says. They both regard their trip as a big success and the fact that they have already been invited back next year is testament to that. It is quite a feat when you consider how unlikely it is that the festival organisers and festival goers in Pittsburgh would have heard of North Shields.

Despite this, Nick points out that there are a lot of similarities between the two places. Nick and Chris have always been willing to evolve and realise that rather than being just a podcast, they can expand into a media channel showcasing their favourite music genre and create engaging content, both visual and audio. They have both learned a lot from their trans-Atlantic experience and will use it to good effect as they go forward. By the time you read this, Chris will have attended the 2000 Trees Festival in Gloucestershire where he had already secured an interview with a headlining band called The Gaslight Anthem.

They have also secured press access for the Leeds Festival at the end of August where pop punk legends Blink-182 are headlining on the Saturday. They are also excited to see, and hopefully interview, other bands like Neck Deep, Bleachers and Militarie Gun (who coincidentally played Four Chord festival).

Pop punk has been around for decades but emerged into the mainstream in the 1990s and 2000s with bands like Green Day, Blink-182 and Sum 41 blazing the trail - however, the Wasting Time Podcast does not just look back with nostalgia; it strikes a balance between vol. 1 the old and new and Nick hopes to be able to feature North East based pop-punk bands to add to the mix.

The future looks bright for The Wasting Time Podcast - their dedication and enthusiasm, coupled with a commitment to being as professional as possible, is beginning to pay off.

You can listen to, watch and engage with Nick and Chris’ here: The Time Wasting project

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Music

HMRC RAISING THE THRESHOLD

By Mark Tavender | Photography by Wayne Bordoli Photography At last, HMRC are taking a stand against injustice. But it's not what you think.

There's a vibrant live music scene in North Shields and the surrounding area; we’re spoilt for choice. All types of genres are catered for - whether it’s folk, electronica, or post-punk and once in a while, a band comes along which stops you dead in your tracks.

I first saw HMRC supporting a favourite local band of mine, TV Death, at Zerox, Newcastle. I always try to make sure I get to a gig early to see all the support acts and HMRC are precisely the reason why. I had checked them out in advance, as I usually do, and their music hit the right spot. Not bad, I thought. And the name of the band was decidedly quirky.

But as soon as they came on stage to a lolloping, menacing bassline, I was hooked and have been ever since.

So when I was given a chance to chat to them about an article for this magazine, I was never going to turn it down. I met with their lead singer and guitarist at the Engine Room in North Shields to discuss how they came about and what inspires them to write and make music.

HMRC are a four piece band from Newcastle, a refreshingly straightforward line up of Lloyd Holmes (lyricist and vocals), Arian Starfield (guitar), Joseph O’Neill (bass) and Duncan Arnold (drums). They formed as a band at the start of 2022 but all knew or knew of each other well before then.

36 ISSUE 5

Music Lloyd and Duncan have been friends since they were kids and always wanted to start a band but other than the occasional jam together at parties, things never really got off the ground.

Arian and Joe also knew each other having worked together in a bar. They all moved in the same circles and soon Lloyd and Arian became friends too, so much so that Lloyd ended up moving in with Arian. ‘It was a bit of an emergency situation,’ says Lloyd. ‘I had nowhere to stay.’

But it meant that Lloyd could pester Arian, a professional musician who moved to Newcastle from The Netherlands, to start a band with him and Duncan. Lloyd had always written lyrics since he was a young teenager and starting a band had always been something he had wanted to do. Arian finally relented and the stars were gradually aligning. Arian managed to persuade Joe to join and, in January 2022, the band came into being.

‘Once every couple of weeks we’d get together and have a jam,’ Arian recalls. ‘After a couple of productive sessions, we already had at least three original songs to play with.’ They decided fairly quickly that they would not do cover versions and soon their band identity was forming. vol. 1 They all have different musical influences and backgrounds which provides them with a melting pot of musical inspiration that combines together well, into their own distinct sound. No doubt some will be able to spot their favourite music genre influences, but the fact is, HMRC are difficult to pigeon-hole.

‘We’ve never made a creative decision based on what anyone else has done,’ says Arian.

‘I find it a massive compliment that people struggle to describe our sound,’ adds Lloyd. ‘But it’s not a very marketable feature to have.’ his band, I thought there was a shocking lack of that,’ says Lloyd.

Nevertheless, the band are not viewing what they’re doing as a money making commercial venture. They want to stick to their principles. This approach makes them feel more relaxed about things and they feel they don’t have to compromise what they are about and what message they want to get across.

I ask them about the band name.

‘I was reading about a band called ’Easy Life’ who were sued by EasyJet and I could not understand why EasyJet would take offence. So we went one better and named our band after a government department,’ explains Arian.

‘There’s nothing more punk than being sued by the government!’ beams Lloyd.

Their approach to launching the band was pretty unconventional too; they released an EP after only one gig with no marketing. ‘We just wanted people to know what we’re about and tell them ‘this is our mission statement,’ says Lloyd.

Arian points out that they are quickly forming their own identity and sound. ‘We’ve all brought maybe two or three of our own personal influences to the band and tried to balance them to form our own style.’

I FIND IT A MASSIVE COMPLIMENT THAT PEOPLE STRUGGLE TO DESCRIBE OUR SOUND,’ ADDS LLOYD. ‘BUT IT’S NOT A VERY MARKETABLE FEATURE TO HAVE.’ .

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Music ‘I comment that whilst their music is superb, it’s also their lyrics that stand out - and we’re not talking love songs. They are not afraid to address hard-to-discuss serious subjects such as immigration, wars, prisons and domestic violence. It might not be what everyone wants to hear in a song but music can act as an important voice in highlighting social issues that affect us all.

‘When I was starting this band, I thought there was a shocking lack of that,’ says Lloyd.

Their song ‘Boots On The Ground’ for example is a commentary on the Ukraine/Russia war and the West’s reaction - or lack of reaction - to it. ‘Port Clarence,’ on the other hand, is a tune about issues closer to home and the lyrics resonate right from the start;

'The smog obstructs my breathing My safety is suddenly in doubt Tata all done leaving There’s too much down and out’

vol. 1

I ask about how they write their songs. Does Lloyd write the lyrics and then hand them over to the rest of the band to put the music to them? ‘It’s not even that,’ says Lloyd. ‘The rest of the band will come up with something and I will be standing in the room and I’ll either start improvising on the spot or I’ll have a bank of poems which aren’t musically structured and it goes from there.’ ‘The whole thing is built on compromise,’ adds Arian.

Performing their material live is another thing altogether. I tell them that when I first saw the band, I was slightly intimidated by Lloyd's high energy on stage. But Lloyd acknowledges that he does not necessarily find performing in front of an audience an easy thing to do. The band are learning quickly which of their tracks help them get into the zone in the right way, to drive the rest of their performance. They think about their set-list very carefully, balancing the order of the songs with Lloyd’s delivery of the lyrics. They both acknowledge that Duncan (drums) and Joe (bass) are an integral part to this, providing the hooks on which to hang the rest of the song.

HMRC are refreshingly honest and are evolving into something that seems to have been missing from the music scene for some time. They are not concerned about performance pieces or packaging or writing love songs about failed relationships. Their music is intelligent and thoughtprovoking, fuelled by a collective frustration with the state of the world and drawing inspiration from the UK's current social and political climate.

So, the next time you hear HMRC, forget about tax returns. Think of a band using music as a weapon, a megaphone to challenge the status quo and make us think. In a world that often feels overwhelming, HMRC offer a cathartic release, a chance to mosh and confront our anxieties with a healthy dose of rebellion and dark humour.

CHECK THEM OUT HERE; WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/@HMRC-THEBAND INSTAGRAM @HMRC_THEBAND

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Music

A MUSICAL GALAPAGOS Richard O’Brien interviews Nev Clay.

Photo by JOAN HEWITT As a child, Nev Clay recalls seeing North Shields as a ‘mystical place.’ Every Saturday, his family would take a diesel train from Benton to visit his paternal grandmother in Chirton Green. He remembers holding his breath through the series of three tunnels between the town and Tynemouth, ‘coming up for air’ in a ‘different realm’ where they would watch Doctor Who, play word games like Lexicon and marvel at a vitrified rock in the garden. Like much of Nev’s work, this story seems to overlay the ordinary with a sense of wonder, or perhaps to discover the wonder that was always there. It’s a quality that’s well in evidence on So Little Happened For So Long, his first album since 2001, released last month, and its centrepiece, ‘Cuddy’s Cave.’

It started life in the late 90s as a poem called ‘Last Exit’ which drew on the acerbic stylings of John Cooper Clarke. In 2013, Ashington musician Gary Lang asked if Nev had any lyrics to go over an instrumental, and the material evolved over time into a kind of regional litany, a string of rhyming couplets (some suggested by friends; all edited and organised by Nev) which bring together landmarks both historical and personal, from ‘The great Northumbrian coastal plain to Bargain Booze in Percy Main … from Cuddy’s Cave to me Grandma’s grave.’ Reflecting on the blend of tragedy and comedy that’s characteristic of his writing, Nev breaks down the three-frame structure of a Peanuts cartoon: ‘bathos, bathos, pathos.’

The lyrics’ appearance in an illustrated poetry pamphlet from Lang’s Maplestreet Press has given Nev the opportunity to assess the evolution of the work, as an initial ‘harsh’ tribute to a rough area has ‘softened’ into something more ‘plangent’ and elegiac.

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vol. 1

Music Bereavement forms part of the backdrop: more broadly, Nev, a former NHS mental health nurse, sees the project through the lens of psychological reintegration. Early memories of North Shields (including, in a recent live version at the Engine Room which is excerpted on the previous page, ‘Xmas trees / On the Formica factory’) weave together with sites and references familiar across Northumberland, ‘Vindolanda to the Crown Posada.’

These ‘vectors’ of connection speak to the magical ability of rhyme to put distant ideas in conversation. But their breadth also indicates a desire ‘to reconnect with Northumberland, with a deep past.’ This harks back to his 1960s childhood, a time before the creation of ‘Tyne & Wear’ as an artificial political entity: Nev affectionately remembers trips to the Mithraic Temple at Brocolitia and Lordenshaws hill-fort, whose ‘Neolithic ghosts’ have ‘haunted me ever since.’ Instead of clichéd visions of ‘whippets and flat caps,’ the song aims to explore the area’s past and present in all its complexity, in loving detail.

Specificity is the watchword of Nev’s writing style: he aims to write like ‘a CCTV camera,’ favouring ‘the recognisable world’ over the imagination. ‘It’s about eschewing the universal. I’m not interested in ‘We Are The World,’ you know what I mean?’

At gigs, he loves the charge of recognition when a local audience recognises a reference to Victory Amusements on Clayton Street, or the shuttered Lexus dealership in High Heaton, north of the Coast Road, which now provides a habitat for sparrows in the singer’s ‘favourite hedgerow.’ On a book rack in a toy shop in Forest Hall, he first discovered formative authors like Hemingway and the Mersey poets. Later, Mark E. Smith’s lyrics for The Fall were also a revelation: ‘Christ, you can write about anything.’

Musically, Nev has been on a circuitous journey. He taught himself guitar on a borrowed instrument which he tuned using the Rush song ‘Temple of Syrinx.’

With the top 40 on in the background on Sunday evenings, he’d play along to songs from ‘every genre,’ picking out the melodies and basslines.

All this ‘farting around’ provided a comprehensive grounding, as did the character-based showtunes his mother, a keen amateur actor, would sing around the house. After some years shredding in a metal band, an injury in 1994 left Nev with his arm in a cast: looking for a different way to play, he discovered finger picking and, eventually, alternate tunings. ‘Every different tuning suggests different melodies,’ and the result is an intricate, complex and melodic playing style, closer at times to jazz than folk.

His work is also informed by a ‘millefiori’ of rich and diverse local music scenes to which he’s keen to give proper credit. This includes artists to whose recordings he’s contributed, like Lang’s project St James Infirmary and The Young Property Developers, but ‘it starts with promoters and venues, doesn’t it? Without them, there’s no scene.’ Nev lists key names like Slampt, who put on vibrant weekenders at the Cumberland Arms in the 90s, and Chris Trew, whose outfit Prancey Dog has become a record label to put out his new album.

‘There’s no money in it,’ he notes: the ‘selflessness’ of DIY scenes creates a ‘communal’ musical landscape where artists from different genres can meet and mingle easily, rather than fighting for opportunities ‘like rats in a sack’ as they might in bigger cities. He lands, instead, on a different animal metaphor: ‘It’s like a musical Galapagos, isn’t it – where things have just evolved at their own pace,’ and the finches ‘have developed these weird, twisted, specialised beaks for pecking these musical seeds from the surroundings.’ If Nev’s latest is anything to go, it’s been a rich harvest this year.

Nev Clay’s new album So Little Happened For So Long is now available at nevclay.bandcamp.com.

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Poetry

from ‘Cuddy’s Cave,’ version 25 (Live at the Engine Room – 19/7/24) Nev Clay Kielder pine martens, Blyth Spartans Sodom and Gomorrah by John Martin Gibson Street Baths to Tanners Bank Freddie Shepherd’s Chieftain tank The Wooden Dolly, Newcastle Poly Abandoned shopping trolleys Bedlington Terriers, Heaton Harriers Persistent social mobility barriers Howdon Dock, Northern Rock Sparkie the budgie in the Hancock Wallington beavers, the Border Reivers, The Northern Goldsmiths clock Cragside rhododendrons To the Anson and Segedunum From the Low Lights to the High Main Crushing emotional pain Once Brewed, Twice Brewed Concrete hippos at Garth 22 Greaves Ash to Allerwash Longbenton Metro to the Nash Dickens, Rosetti, Garibaldi, Jimi Hendrix at Marshall’s chippy Wideopen to New Hartley Dwindling life expectancy Corbridge to Clousden Hill Snidey vapes and dodgy pills Fentanyl and nitazene From Denton Burn to Briar Dene Three kings at Tynemouth Priory Good old Ian Lavery In December, Xmas trees On the Formica factory

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Poetry

POETRY EVENING Introducing an exciting new local poetry evening hosted by North Shields’ own local poet, author and events organiser, Dean Jolly.

Dean will be hosting his evening at a new venue called Baba Yaga's Loft, located at 61 Church Way, North Shields, NE29 0AE and will be in their upstairs loft function room.

Going to the toilet and thinking of the Central African Republic

By Adrian Lee If you've read the title and are thinking what’s this all about, please continue for the most bizarre story you will read about today. The English have a strange, quirky, mad approach to humour. Town Twinning is where places in different countries are paired to encourage contact and trade and cultural links.

North Shields is twinned with Merthyr Tydfil in Wales. But now toilets are being twinned together.

And the North Shields Library toilets have been twinned with a latrine in the Central African Republic.

The confirmation photograph is on the wall next to the disabled toilet with the exact co-ordinates should you wish to visit. If you do, please make sure you are photographed outside the latrine with one of our ‘I, Love North Shields’ Bags, just £7. I am assured there are no plans to install webcams between the two facilities. The highest toilet on earth is in the Burgh Khalifa, Dubai on the 154th floor, narrowly beating The Fire Station in Whitley Bay.

The night promises to be a grand affair, if Dean's previous events are anything to go by, having previously founded and hosted a monthly poetry evening at Barista Boho called Bards of Boho for twelve months prior to its unfortunate closure.

The venue itself is vibrant and very much in support of the local creative community, with another venue in Whitley Bay which already has an established poetry night called The Cooking Pot. Dean is organising and hosting this event with a view to turning it into a regular, monthly poetry evening. He has yet to decide upon a name as he would prefer to leave it to the poetry community to decide collectively and may well have a vote or poll regarding the name on the night.

Should you wish to be a part of what will surely be a spellbinding evening, he has set a date for Tuesday 10th of September with a 7 pm start.

Please feel free to get there early so you can get a seat and a drink. As this is the first event, there are no headliners so this will purely be an open mic evening.

Should you wish to register your interest to perform you can contact Dean in advance via dean_jolly@yahoo.co.uk or simply turn up on the day and he will pop your name on the list.

Free entry. Open to all. This is a pay as you feel event as Dean would like to encourage as much turn out as possible and keep poetry accessible to all.

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History

JAMES KNOTT (1855-1934) - ONE OF THE GREAT FOLK OF SHIELDS

By Rachel Chapman From humble beginnings, Sir James Knott – shipping magnate, entrepreneur and philanthropist – became one of the great folk who helped shape North Shields.

The iconic Knott’s Flats, which overlook the mouth of the Tyne, were built in 1938 as a memorial to him. They were mainly for families with connections to the sea, replacing poor housing.

Today, 90 years after his death, the Sir James Knott Trust, which is managed from Newcastle, provides grants for organisations across the North East, including the Fish Quay’s heritage centre, the Old Low Light.

So, who was Sir James Knott?

One of 11 children, he spent his early childhood in a flat in Linskill Street. He was educated at the school attached to the Scotch Church in Howard Street, leaving at 14 to work as a shipping clerk at Newcastle.

Realising opportunities offered by shipping, aged 23, he borrowed money to start his own business, spending £187 on his first ship - a collier brig, which carried coal from the Tyne to Northern France.

Embracing innovation, he ordered his first steamship, the Saxon Prince, in 1881, the first of his Prince Shipping Line which became the world’s third largest privately owned shipping line, expanding to include 45 steam ships, many built in Tyne & Wear shipyards.

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History History

Although his office in Milburn House, Newcastle, was a short walk from the Customs House on Newcastle Quayside, he registered all his new steamers at the North Shields’ Customs House, an indication of his pride in his home town.

He married Margaret in 1878 and their first home was in Frank Place, North Shields, later moving around the corner to a bigger house in Alma Place. They had three sons and as Sir James’ businesses prospered, the family rented grand houses, including the Manor House, Jesmond and Close House, Wylam. In 1891 they bought Monks Haven, Beverley Terrace, Cullercoats, where they developed strong links with the fishing community.

In addition to shipping, he had business interests in coal and anthracite mining. And always keen to improve himself, he studied law and qualified as a barrister. He served as an MP and was also a magistrate.

Great sadness beset the Knotts when two of their sons were killed in WW1. Shortly afterwards he sold his shipping business and established a trust to help widows of men lost in battle.

In 1924 Sir James bought Samares Manor in Jersey for his retirement and formed an investment company to further his philanthropic interests. This runs alongside the Newcastle managed fund, helping many causes.

Local historian and Old Low Light volunteer, Mike Coates has researched the life and achievements of Sir James and his book, ‘Sir James Knott – Tyneside’s Most Charitable Shipowner,’ has informed this article.

Mike said; “The more I researched his life, the more I became fascinated by this man’s story. His motto was ‘deeds not words’ and not only did he live up to this during his life, but now, 90 years after his death, local communities are still benefiting from his success.”

A display about Sir James Knott can be seen at the Old Low Light Heritage Centre, where Mike Coates’ book is also on sale.

Photo captions Sir James has been described as a strong, genial, vigorous, enthusiastic and courageous man.

The Scotch Church, Howard Street, North Shields Local historian Mike Coates

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History

MISSING LOW LIGHTS’ ARTWORK REDISCOVERED

By Carol Davison | Photography by Coastal Captures Back in 1956, Eddie Rowley put a set of overalls on over his collar and tie, stood on a chair and began to paint a scene above the fireplace in the back room of the Low Lights Tavern. The painting, from a drawing he had sketched whilst down on the Fish Quay, depicted a trawler called The Abergeldie, moored alongside The Gut with an undeveloped South Shields in the background.

It isn’t known what prompted Eddie to commit this painting to the wall of the pub, but it is known that this wasn’t the first time a Rowley family member had taken a paintbrush to the walls of the Low Lights. As owners of Fleming’s decorating shop on Nile Street, old receipts showed that his grandfather had actually painted the pub’s rooms back in 1925.

When Danny Higney bought the Low Lights in 2016, the painting of The Abergeldie was long gone. Danny recalled that some of the old fishermen who still drank in the bar would ask about it from time to time and he was both frustrated that he was unable to answer them, and disappointed that part of the pub’s history was lost. As Eddie had painted the artwork directly onto the heavily textured anaglypta wallpaper, the presumption was that it had been scraped off or worn away when the pub fell into disrepair in the early 2000s.

other than the painting of The Abergeldie. Far from being destroyed, some of the locals had decided to save it when the pub was closing.

With the utmost of care, the painted section of wallpaper had been peeled off and mounted on a piece of plywood, preserving it for posterity. Considering its journey, it was still in surprisingly good condition, though heavily nicotine-stained from its many years on the back-room wall.

Danny, who values the history of his pub, is over the moon to have the painting returned, though sorry that Eddie, who passed away five years ago, didn’t live to see it. He plans to have the painting cleaned, then hold a ceremony where The Abergeldie will be hung back above the fireplace where it belongs, both restoring a piece of Low Lights’ heritage and as a fitting tribute to Eddie Rowley.

Low Lights Tavern

Danny had been running the bar for about a year when a dapper gentleman in a suit and tie, was brought into the bar by his grandson, to celebrate his 86th birthday. This turned out to be none other than Eddie Rowley. Eddie not only recounted his tale of creating the back room painting but had also brought along a black and white photograph which showed him putting the finishing touches to it. At last Danny was able to see the painting he had heard so much about, albeit on a photo, and meet the artist himself.

But that was not the end of the story.

Remarkably, seven months ago, a fisherman walked into the Low Lights and asked if they would like a painting he had come across in his loft and you’ve guessed it, it was none

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History

REMEMBERING GAUL TRAWLER TRAGEDY Fifty years ago this year, the fishing trawler Gaul, vanished off the coast of Norway, taking the lives of all thirty-six men aboard. On September 21st – 22nd this year, North Shields remembers the devastating tragedy with a weekend of memorial events honouring the six crew members from North Shields and the thirty crew members from Hull. Events took place in Hull in February this year, and now the focus is on North Shields in September.

“The loss of the Gaul was absolutely monumental,” said Peter Dade, our North Shields’ Mission Area officer. “It was a massive tragedy and a stark reminder that fishing remains one of the most dangerous of peacetime occupations.”

“The positive in this, is the link between the families in North Shields and Hull. This weekend will be a time of remembrance and coming together,” he emphasised. The sinking of the Gaul remains etched in the memories of both communities, serving as a constant reminder of the risks faced by those who venture into the unforgiving seas. The news of the tragedy was not confirmed until Fishermen’s Mission officers, David Saltiel and Alex Slater visited the houses of the relatives of the deceased to tell them what had happened.

To this day, our officers are still visiting those who were affected by the tragedy and others just like it. Since the Fishermen’s Mission was formed in 1881, in Hull alone over six thousand fishermen have died at sea.

The weekend of events is confirmed as the following: Saturday 21st September 4pm: Service at Christ Church, Preston Road, North Shields NE29 0LW Sunday 22nd September: Service and Wreath Laying at Fiddler’s Green Fishermen’s Memorial, Clifford’s Fort, North Shields’ Fish Quay, NE30 1JA. Around eighty fishing families from Hull and representatives from the community of Hull are expected to attend the special weekend. www.fishermensmission.org.uk

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History

UP, UP AND AWAY!

By Diane Wailes You’d have needed sharp eyes to spot the tiny entry in the ‘small ads’ column of The Evening Chronicle on Monday 26th August, 1889: 'A Descent from the Clouds: MISS ALMA BEAUMONT, AMERICAN AERONAUT AND PARACHUTIST will make an ascent in a Balloon of 12,000 Gas Capacity, and descend in a Parachute, at the NORTH SHIELDS’ CYCLING GROUNDS on Wednesday evening, August 28th. Admission 6D.” And that’s exactly what she did - twice although we know, from a later report in The Shields’ Gazette, that things didn’t go exactly to plan. At the end of the 1800s, jumping from a balloon, using only a primitive parachute was a surprisingly popular form of entertainment.

And so, on that Wednesday evening, a large crowd assembled at the bicycle track on Hawkey’s Lane (just opposite the junction with Cleveland Road) to watch the spectacle. The crowd helped out by holding down the edges of the enormous silk balloon as it filled with gas. Once inflated, the balloon rose above North Shields with Miss Beaumont sitting on a thin strap that hung beneath it. There must have been a collective gasp as the balloon rose higher and higher above the crowd. Then - health and safety be damned - the brave Miss Beaumont leapt from her unsteady perch, to perform a terrifying free-fall, before her parachute opened and returned her safely to the ground.

So, what could possibly go wrong? Well, nothing the first time she jumped, and news of the daredevil event spread like wildfire, so that a few days later a crowd of 3,000 people gathered to see her repeat the stunt. This time there was a bit of a breeze. The parachute, which didn’t have any steering mechanism, drifted off course and became tangled at the top of a 70 ft chimney near Billy Mill, leaving Alma dangling helplessly.

It was decided that the quickest way to rescue her was by climbing the chimney’s lightning conductor, but that gave way on the first attempt, so ladders had to be lashed together to reach her.

Alma and her rescuers returned to the Cycling Grounds in triumph. The crowd had certainly got its money’s worth! But not everyone was so thrilled. The balloon had come down to earth in a field on Hawkey’s Hall Farm, flattening a crop of wheat. The farmer wasn’t happy; he sued the North Shields’ Bicycle Club and was awarded £9 in damages by North Shields’ County Court.

When asked why she’d chosen this peculiar career path, the 21-year old from Omaha, Nebraska, replied, “To make money!

Ballooning is a very pleasurable pastime; but no one is likely to become a parachutist simply for the enjoyment it affords. It is too risky a business for that."

Alma went on to make more than 150 parachute jumps from a balloon in different parts of the UK, but always made the point that “few other aeronauts dared to exhibit in the north on account of the weather” - a reference perhaps to her unfortunate experience in North Shields.

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Business

AN OASIS SURROUNDED

BY WATER THE LOCK

By Adrian Lee The Lock, opened in 2018, is unsurprisingly located next to the lock connecting the Royal Quays Marina, North Shields to the rest of the world.

The marina, about a 15 minute walk from the centre of Shields, could be anywhere in the world, when photographed on a sunny day.

ILNS spent some time with new manager, Gavin Buchan talking about his plans for this hidden gem, which is without any local competition.

His philosophy is to concentrate on local products at great value.

The shift to local produce has already begun, with fresh fish from the Fish Quay, and the fish platter for 2 for less than £20 proving very popular.

Scones are prepared in-house and Newcastle Gin, Cullercoats Brewery beers, Marlish soft drinks and Ringtons tea and coffee augment a wide range of drinks for all occasions. Coffee is cheaper here than at a major chain in the centre of Shields. The Lock opens at 9am daily, for breakfasts, coffees then it’s on to lunch, and afternoon teas until 5pm. On Fridays and Saturdays it becomes a great place for an early meal (orders up to 7.30pm) and drinks (until at least 10pm). The Lock is a family and dog friendly restaurant (with its own kids and doggy menus!) situated in the heart of the Royal Quays Marina with stunning views - the inside can cater for 100 and significantly more outside. Free car parking for up to 4 hours is available.

The menu changes twice a year, plus daily specials, and seasonal events such as Christmas & Valentines. Here are just some items that caught our eye: Breakfast – Craster Whole Kipper - Breakfast Ciabatta with back bacon and brie. I had the ciabatta as it was an early meeting and it was significant at £5.90. Summer Menu : Madrid or Barca platters / 7 types of Tapas or Pizzas /Crispy Duck Flatbreads / The Bangkok Bad Boy Vegan Burger / The Lock Homemade Special Paella.

ILNS will be offering its readers the chance to have a tour round the control tower, lock and marina and understand how North Shields only remaining lock works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week when we feature “The last lock keeper of Shields” in a forthcoming issue.

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Featured

INTERVIEW WITH VICTORIA SMITH FROM ADVERSITY TO ADVOCACY

@KERRYHAYSPHOTOGRAPHY

Victoria "Tori" Smith's life has been a testament to resilience and dedication. Having faced significant vol. 1 challenges, from navigating a difficult educational journey to the upheaval of her parents' separation at the age of 15, Tori has transformed her experiences into a mission to support children and young people. Through her work, she ensures that no child feels lost or unsupported, as she once did.

In this interview, we explore Tori's inspiring journey and the passion that drives her work.

Q: Tori, you’ve had quite a journey with education and your career. Can you start by telling us about your early experiences with education?

From a young age, I struggled to fit into the education system and never felt like I knew my place. When my parents separated when I was 15, it felt like the rug was pulled from underneath me, and I didn't know what was next. I did manage to get my GCSEs, but my time at school was far from enjoyable, and I struggled with learning.

Q: How did this impact your time in college and further education?

After my parents separated, I ended up living in supported lodgings at 16 and then moved into a flat with a support worker. I was studying nursery nursing at college during this time, and it was incredibly difficult. My tutors, instead of offering support, said, "Well, you have your own flat now, so what's the problem?" Unsurprisingly, I didn’t complete the qualification and spent the next few years in jobs I hated.

However, I’ve always had a thirst for knowledge. Over the years, I've done numerous courses and eventually found my own learning style, especially in ways that support my ADHD. I understand that not all children and young people learn the same way, and this understanding has shaped my approach to helping them. I eventually made it to university as a mature student, earning a 2:1 in Youth and Community Work—a moment I’m incredibly proud of. Later, I even pursued a masters in psychology, though I stopped at a postgraduate diploma. Doing a masters with one-year-old twins whilst working, wasn’t the best life choice!

Q: What changed for you when you started working with children and young people?

When I began working with children and young people at 19, I realised that my purpose was to ensure that they never felt as lost as I did. This passion has driven me for over 20 years, working in various roles including residential care, educational settings, youth and community work, and children’s participation. I’ve worked with children who have experienced unimaginable trauma, and I’m committed to doing everything in my power to support them.

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Q: Your personal life has had its own challenges. Can you share some of those experiences and how they impacted you?

I've faced my share of challenges, including experiencing domestic abuse, a traumatic early birth of my twins, and a late diagnosis of ADHD at 38. These experiences have profoundly affected me. There were times when my mental health impacted my ability to be my best at work. Reflecting on those moments, I realise how much more I could have done if I’d understood my nervous system and emotional triggers better. I think all parents have moments they wish they could redo, but as Virginia Satir said, "parents do the best they can at any given time."

Q: How have you managed to overcome these challenges and continue to progress in your career? vol. 1 Working on myself and understanding my nervous system has been transformative. This growth has not only improved my professional life but also my personal life. I’m passionate about sharing what I’ve learned about the nervous system, both in supporting myself and in helping others, especially children, to understand their own triggers and reactions.

Q: Can you tell us about your current work and what excites you most about it?

I’m involved in several areas, but what I love most is working one-on-one with children and young people, helping them recognise their strengths and reframe their challenges. I incorporate trauma-informed practices into my work, understanding that trauma isn’t just about major events—it can be anything from a hospital visit to the birth of a sibling. I’m also thrilled to be working with The Mental Wellbeing Company, where I help others understand the profound impact of being trauma-informed.

Q: It’s clear that your experiences have shaped your dedication. Can you share how your interventions have made a difference in children’s lives?

My motivation stems from my desire to ensure no child feels as lost as I once did. I’ve had the privilege of being part of many children’s journeys, helping them realise their worth and potential. It’s important to remember that all behaviour is communication. Children may not always understand what their bodies are trying to tell them, especially if they’re reacting to something on a somatic level. We need to be attuned to these signals.

Q: Lastly, what advice would you give to others facing similar challenges?

I’d advise them to seek support and focus on self-care. It’s essential to understand the impact our behaviours and regulation can have on our children. Struggles are part of life, and it’s okay to have hard days. What matters is finding ways to move forward, even if it’s just making a cup of tea. Remember, some days, 40% might be your 100%, and that’s okay. The same goes for our children.

Upcoming event: I’m hosting a parenting workshop later this summer. Keep an eye on my socials for the date. We’ll discuss challenges, vagus nerve toning, and self-care strategies.

CONTACT INFORMATION: MOBILE: 07711 220457 EMAIL: TORI@DRAGONFLYNORTHEAST.COM INSTAGRAM @DRAGONFLY_NORTH_EAST WWW.DRAGONFLYNORTHEAST.THEMENTALWELLBEINGCOMPANY.COM

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Two Tone Toon A Monochrome Pictorial View Of Newcastle Upon Tyne

Photography Book Explore the soul of Newcastle upon Tyne through Andrew Pounder’s lens. His monochrome images capture the city’s essence, architecture, and people. Discover hidden stories in every frame. https://art-photography.uk/photobook

Virtual Exhibition Gallery

Immerse yourself in the online gallery showcasing an extended collection of Andrew’s powerful photographs. Experience Newcastle’s streets, shadows, and light like never before.

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Directory

NORTH SHIELDS-BASED CHARITIES & COMMUNITY GROUPS Live Well With Cancer + North Bank Café (Nile Street) Sarah’s Star (supporting people with incurable illnesses), based at the Linskill Mindstars (children’s mental health) (Albion House, West Percy Street) MAPSS - Mental Health & Physical Support Services + Little Community Hub (Bedford Terrace) Warm Welcome Hubs (various) + YMCA Community Meals North Tyneside YMCA Phoenix Detached Youth Project Pearey House Centre for Visually Impaired + Iris Community Café, Show Racism the Red Card - UK-wide charity based in Linskill Centre Deaf Awareness:NE (daNE) - local charity based in Linskill Centre Smart Works - helping women into employment (collection point Hadaway & Hadaway, Solicitors) Support and Growth North East Providing Food, Clothing & Support www.supportandgrownortheast.com Meadow Well Connected The Bay Foodbank, Meadow Well North Tyneside Art Studio - Linskill Centre (supporting mental health) North Shields Fishermen’s Mission Linskill ‘engAGE’ community programme for over-55s Linskill Shedders Group GENTS - Guys Especially Need To Speak / It’s OK not to be OK walking group to support men’s mental health Independent North Shields (Football club) Supporters Association Churches Together in North Shields Sew Soe - Sewing for Self, Others & the Environment North Shields Litter Pickers Heritologists Remembering the Past Project (based at the Linskill Centre) ‘Lest We Forget’ Poppies Group North Shields 173 (remembering the Wilkinson’s Air Raid Disaster)

BUSINESS SUPPORT North Tyneside Business Forum The Business Factory

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Directory

HERITAGE GROUPS Heritologists Remembering the Past Project (based at the Linskill Centre) Fishermen’s Heritage Project ‘Lest We Forget’ Poppies Group North Shields 173 (remembering the Wilkinson’s Air Raid Disaster)

FACEBOOK GROUPS North Shields People North Shields Fish Quay Opinions North Shields Nostalgia North Shields Past ,Present and Future I Love North Shields Community Group

MUSIC VENUES The Exchange Three Tanners Bank The Engine Room The Salt Market Salt Social Bar King Street Social Club The Klurb Social Club The Juke Shed Low Lights Tavern

TOURISM Old Low Light Heritage Centre Clifford’s Fort, Fish Quay North Shields NE30 1JE Email info@oldlowlight.co.uk For further information www.oldlowlight.co.uk

JOIN US I LOVE NORTH SHIELDS We are seeking volunteers to assist in the following roles: Graphic Designers Local Community News Reporters Local Event Reporters Facebook Community Group Engagement Manager Community Editor Marketing /Sales Guru If you're interested in contributing, please reach out to us at: ilovenorthshields@outlook.com

CRAFTS & VESSELS We want to read your poems responding to the history, landscape and culture of the North East, North Tyneside, and above all, North Shields!

If you'd like your work to be considered for a future issue, please send no more than three poems in a single Word document to craftsandvessels@gmail.com Poetry editor Richard O'Brien (from the Creative Writing team at Northumbria University) will get back to you within a few weeks with any editorial suggestions.

Linkedin company/ilovenorthshields Facebook @ilovenorthshields TikTok @ilovenorthshields Twitter iluvnorthshields Instagram @ilovenorthshields ilovenorthshields@outlook.com ilovenorthshields.com

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I,Love North Shields.