Chairman’s
Annual Report
for 2009/10
ANOTHER BUSY year for the Northumbrian Association (NA),
and I will give you a run-down on what has happened during the past
year of 2009/10.
Gospel’s Campaign
We have been campaigning for the Lindisfarne Gospels
for 11 years now, and it has been slow, but steady progress. Eventually other local organisations became
interested in the campaign resulting with a Steering Committee being
formed. I would like to pay a particular
tribute to the part Andrew Dixon (member) played in bringing together
of the interested parties. On the
committee, I represent the NA as an equal partner, which has
representatives from Durham Cathedral, Durham University, The
Association of NE Councils and the Tourist Boards of Northumberland and
Durham. Without the NA’s initial campaign,
I’m certain there wouldn’t have been a steering group, and further it’s
my belief that we have made the difference.
The British Library has agreed for the return of the
Book on loan for a period of three months in 2013.
The exact site has not yet been decided, but will
probably be Durham Cathedral. Security
will be very high and other precious artefacts will be displayed, some
of which have never been on public display before.
When the Book was last in the North East in 2001,
17,600 people came to see them. I am
confident that this figure will be easily exceeded.
Our aim of course, is for the permanent return to
their spiritual home in the NE, and it will be interesting to see the
strength of feeling when the time comes for the Gospels return to
London.
My thanks must go to the regional newspapers for
their support in the ongoing campaign singling out The Journal and Newcastle Chronicle for the
publicity and column inches (or should that be centimetres) that we
have been given.
Writers’ Competition
This was
expanded last year to include two extra categories: one for ages 12 to
18 and an adult section. Again, support
was given by The Journal and their Culture magazine,
creating coverage from as far as Teesside to Berwick.
There were many entries in all categories
maintaining an extremely high standard, and culminating in an award
ceremony held at the Washington Old Hall on the 14th October.
The 11 year old category was won by Liam Office with
Peter Mortimer, author and poet becoming ’writer in residence’ at
Liam’s Spring Gardens Primary school where they produced a comedy play
which Judith Robson was privileged to
witness. The 12 to 18 category was won by
Laurie Atkinson, a 14-year-old with an immense talent.
Rachael Barnwell won the Adult section with her poem
extolling the virtues of our wonderful coast at sunset.
Hotspur Awards
Presentation of the Hotspur Awards were also held at
the same venue and evening as the Writers’ Awards, and proved a
pleasant and successful occasion. The corporate award went to Durham County Cricket
Club for
their outstanding achievement in winning the English 1st
Division County Championship two years in a row and only after 16 years
from joining Championship.
Jane Ritchie received the individual award following
a substantial investment of her own money into providing a venue for
training of young people searching for jobs in the future.
These winners demonstrated ‘Bold Endeavour’.
Cuddy’s Corse Trail
On the 20th March (St Cuthbert’s Day),
we celebrated by walking from
Chester le Street to Durham. This year,
the weather could have been better, but although it rained for most of
the walk, 85 people turned up and was considered a great day. Refreshments were provided at Finchale Priory,
for which our thanks once again must go to Northumbrian Water for
sponsoring the cost of catering, and for their support, we are truly
grateful.
Our aim is to create a series of walks throughout
Northumbria, connecting places where St Cuthbert’s Body and the Book
were thought to have passed through before finally reaching the
eventual resting place in Durham Cathedral. This
is a huge project, and we need help with this. Currently
we are in talks with the Ramblers Association who are interested in
helping. Chris Kilkenny and I are liaising
with Pat Jackson (Ramblers Northern Secretary), with a view to
progressing this.
Durham County Council, as ever, have been supportive. Last year we were awarded a grant towards the
cost of creating the Cuddy’s Corse leaflet and way markers, which
enabled us to produce it. I am led to
believe that if we wished to apply again, it would be considered favourably.
St Cuthbert Banner Project
Everything is in place to embark on the NA’s
ambitious project to create a contemporary version of the original St
Cuthbert’s banner, which was destroyed around the time of the
Reformation in England. An embroiderer,
silver smith, wood turner and leather worker . . . all local
craftspeople, are all ready to begin work, but until we hear as to
whether our bid for funding has been successful, everything is on hold.
The cost of the banner is expected to be in the
region of £30,000. I would like to thank
Marion Bridgewood (Vice Chair) for the incredible amount of work she
has done to get to where we are, and also to Chris Kilkenny for his
research into the historical accuracy of the form of the banner.
Finally, I would like to say something about the
Northumbrian Association. The NA is very
well known and respected in the North East. In
my opinion, without our continuing pressure and high profile, the loan
of the Gospels would not be taking place. I
personally enjoy the networking that is necessary to keep us in the
forefront, and believe we punch above our weight.
We are listened to when we publicise the Hotspur
Awards, the Writers’ prizes, St Cuthbert’s Walk and now the Banner, which has the approval of Durham Cathedral. What
is not known however, is that we have very little income.
We are a charity. What
we have is generated from membership fees, and are grateful to
Northumbrian Water and the Gillian Dickinson Trust for supporting
particular events. Our committee is
forever hard at work, and I would like to thank them for their efforts
over the past year.
John Danby
|
THE HOTSPUR AWARDS
2010

ANDREW DIXON first came to
the North East in 1988 after
a career in rock music, theatre and in local government..
From 1997 until 2003, he was Chief Executive of Northern Arts, and from 2002 to 2005, was the Executive
Director of Arts Council England. Under
his leadership, he helped transform the region in cultural terms,
leading the development of the Case for Capital, the cultural
investment costing £250 million, which helped in the delivery of major
projects including The Sage, Angel of the North and the Baltic.
In 2005, Andrew was appointed Chief Executive of
NGI, overseeing the public/private partnership that promotes
Newcastle/Gateshead as a world class place to live, learn and visit.
He led the bid to host the World summit on Arts and Culture. This attracted
550 delegates from 70 countries, and was Programme Director. Andrew was
Chair of the group which co-ordinated the bid to bring World Cup
football to Newcastle.
Other pursuits that Andrew was a member are: NE
Economic Forum Steering Group, governor of Gateshead College and
council member of Durham Cathedral. He
co-ordinated the forming of a Steering Group from local organisations,
who are pressing for the return of the Lindisfarne Gospels to the North
East and has found time to be part of Rock Group 55 Degrees, which
raises money for charities.
Andrew fits all the criteria for the Hotspur Award
for Bold Endeavour, and has tirelessly promoted the North East.
* * * * * * * * * * * *

BECAME the panel’s choice for the corporate Hotspur Award 2010, and clearly
was a worthy selection.
This year Teesside University was awarded the
accolade of ‘‘University of the Year’’ and
the first modern university to win the Times Higher award.
It is one of the top five UK universities for
widening participation Higher Education, having invested over £120
million into their campus.
Teesside University is now celebrating 80 years of
education and have just announced the launch of the 100th company
through the Digital City Fellowship scheme. Bold
endeavour deservedly goes to Teesside University.
Both awards will be presented at Washington Old Hall
on the 13th October along with the Writers’ Awards.
* * * * * * * * * * * *

House
of Commons Dinner
June
2010
OUR THANKS once again go to. Northumbrian Water who
sponsored the 11th
Northumbrian Association Annual Parliamentary Dinner in the House of
Commons.
During the formalities the Hotspur Awards were
announced and the citations read out. Following on from that, the Northumbrian Association had presented an
appeal for funds to finance the creation of the St Cuthbert Banner, and
not in our wildest dreams, did we expect the response that it received.
Before the appeal could fully get off the ground, we
received an offer made by our President to cover the full cost of
production for the banner, totalling in the region of £35,000.
We clearly
expected to pick up some pledges towards its
construction, but certainly did not anticipate the generosity that
followed. The Northumbrian
Association extend their appreciation for the fantastic gesture made by
John Cuthbert.
The St Cuthbert’s Banner will now go ahead
immediately, and it hopefully should be completed in time for the
Lindisfarne Gospels coming to the Cathedral for three months in 2013.
We also have to provide a Liber Vitae, which will lie
beside the Banner permanently and displaying the names of all those who
have been involved or provided funds for this magnificent banner, which
will be a permanent feature in the Cathedral, and used in celebrations
henceforth. For this Liber Vitae, we still
require funds to produce, and for the service of commemoration and
consecration. For this, we are asking for
donations and hope members of our Association will be generous.
All pledges for this will be gratefully received,
and cheques should be made out to the Northumbrian Association, and
sent to: Marion Bridgewood, The Lodge, Whickham Park, Whickham, Tyne
and Wear, NE16 4EH.
EVERY LITTLE
HELPS
* * * * * * * * * * * *
A DISAPPOINTMENT
IT
IS with regret that little interest in our venture for committee
members to meet our members on the last Tuesday in the month at the Bridge Hotel in
Newcastle has not been successful.
We have only had three members taking up the opportunity. Our
hope to receive members input has not materialised and we now
reluctantly have cancelled further dates at this venue.
However, should any member like to
contact us, we would be pleased to hear from them.
Call
Gordon Sinclair on
0191 549 1964
or an
e-mail to
sinclairgs33@hotmail.com
We would be pleased to hear your views
|