Sometimes I think it’s sheer bloody-mindedness that keeps me going ; a saner, wiser, less driven woman would have packed in a long time ago and made scones in the afternoon. But here I am 18 months on in the development of my dream – a spoken word website for my own and other writers’ work, almost at the end of my DigitalCity Fellowship with still no tangible website to show. Added to that I’ve just thrown my toys out the pram and walked away from a fledgling radio theatre group because the self-appointed lead actor/writer/director and his wife decided to muscle in his own work at the expense of mine. And I’m trying hard not to adopt the foetal position every time I open Outlook and find 401 unopened e-mails plus 298 e-mails on my internet provider still to download. Apologies to anyone who’s tried to contact me lately via this overrated mode of communication and is still awaiting a reply.
Therefore, when poet Keith Armstrong asked me to the launch of the book From Segedunum to the Spanish City – North Tyneside’s heritage in words and pictures, It was very tempting to say ‘Sorry I’m too busy’; the real subtext being ‘Actually I’m too pissed off to talk to anybody’. But something drew me to this event, perhaps it was my love of local history, or spoken word, or loyalty to Keith and his amazing poetry and whose recording for listenupnorth.com I have just finished editing . Perhaps it was also the need to be in a different place away from anger, disappointment and pressure.
I arrived at the aptly named Grand Hotel in Tynemouth which occupies a prime position on the seafront at Tynemouth. Its sumptuous and tasteful exterior would put many of London’s finest in the shade but with a difference that, the staff gave me a warm and unprejudiced welcome despite wandering in windswept in jeans and anorak.
As usual I found Keith in the bar accompanied with like minded individuals. Perusing From Segedunum to the Spanish City, I found it wasn’t quite what I expected. The first thing that struck me was how beautifully put together it was in a visual way. It was colourful – not only the photographs which ranged from stained glass of the council chamber to buildings of historical note to the sweeping coastline but also the pages were of different shades. The layout had such a clarity that I knew it would be a joy to read. The book was also a work of creativity: in addition to local history the book also featured poems, artwork and photographs by local people past and present all selected by Keith, the editor and designer Peter Dixon. Add to all this, that lovely new book smell of glossy, good quality paper and I was instantly in love with it.
Our party made their way up to The plush Orchid Room with commanding sea views where we were piped in by Ann Sessoms on the Northumbrian pipes. Keith started the proceedings with a welcome and by reading one of his poems from the book:
My Father worked on ships
They spelked his hands,
Dusted his eyes, his face, his lungs.
Then he introduced other contributors to read their work including Steve Brown:
Willington Dene is an interest of mine
with the twist of the burn running down to the Tyne
and G. F. Phillips read his Quarantine Song – a folk song about Russian soldiers billeted on St Mary’s Island in 1799 and suffering from cholera:
Our Troops they are lost and weary
On this Rock we all call home.
We were also treated to some rousing sea shanties from The Ancient Mariners, themselves looking very much like old sea dogs. Everyone was encouraged to join in and for a moment I was eleven years old again and back in the parquet floored hall of my grammar school singing Rio Grande with the rest of the school choir.
We were all addressed by Paul Kingsnorth, author of Real England, an exploration of the changing face of the community and character in our country. Keith finished with his Spanish City poem and thanked The Grand Hotel, itself featured in the book, and also thanked the sponsors of the book: Northern Voice Community Projects, Awards for All and North Tyneside Council.
I left the Grand Hotel, having pondered an area rich in 2000 years of history as seen through the eyes of everyday people. For me, it helped put my own life in perspective - at least until the next crisis.
From Segedunum to the Spanish City - North Tyneside’s Heritage in Words and Pictures is priced £7 and is available from Local Tourist Information Offices, Grainger Books in Grainger Market, Newcastle, North Tyneside Libraries, Keel Row Books, Harry Smith's (North Shields), Segedunum, St Mary's Lighthouse, Grand Hotel or by contacting Northern Voices Community Projects at k.armstrong643@btinternet.com
Listen to this poem that Keith Armstrong has recorded recently for listenupnorth.com
Download Splinters - For my Father by Keith Armstrong
