Having had extensive building work carried over the last seven months, we have, for a large part of the time, been without a television. On acquiring a very nice one about a month ago we […]

Having had extensive building work carried over the last seven months, we have, for a large part of the time, been without a television. On acquiring a very nice one about a month ago we […]
The best until last? No not really. Every performance I’ve had the privilege to attend at St. Agnes RC Primary School has been superb. There really isn’t anything to choose between them. Today it has […]
I had the pleasure of returning to St. Agnes this morning to see the nativity story performed by Key Stage 1 and years 1 & 2. The youngsters were excellent (as always) and as well […]
St. Agnes has had a change of leadership since I was last there. The previous head, Mr. Geoff Laidler, has moved on and has been succeeded by Ms Joanne Woods. One thing that hasn’t changed […]
These rooms belonged to the Domestic Science and Art departments in my day. Mr. Skelton was my art teacher. He’s a lovely guy and I met him again a few years ago when I visited […]
On Sunday night Heather and I had a walk around the ponds at Blaydon, you’ll know where I mean, the back of where the old swimming pool used to be. I’ve never been down there before, but it […]
Mr Hall, of Thorp Academy, has most kindly asked me if I will write (in my blog) about the demise of the old school, and the rise of the new. This will be an on-going […]
Thorp Academy had better watch out, because the KS2 Drama Club, at St. Agnes Catholic Primary School in Crawcrook, are snapping at their heels. When it comes to end of term celebrations, St. Agnes know how to do […]
I’ve been back to Thorp Academy this afternoon, to tell sixth form students about my day job. What an impressive bunch of young people they all are – and set to lead lives far more […]
I suppose that at any given moment, in any school or college in the country, you will find a young person who is going to be the next Gary Barlow, Katherine Jenkins, Fred Astaire, Dame Maggie […]
I was kindly allowed to sit in on a rehearsal of Broadway last night, the new show being staged by students of dramatic art at the Thorp Academy. As they rehearsed ‘The Rhythm of Life’ […]
I wouldn’t want to live in London, but I love to visit, so I was delighted when Heather got us tickets to see North Shields v Glossop North End in the final of the FA Vase on Saturday […]
My experience in the perusal of a dancing career was not a happy one. When I was seven or eight, I was taken to a ballet lesson in a hall below Ryton Methodist Church. You […]
I’ve heard from a lady called Alison Stancliffe. Alison is a choral singer, and she has kindly emailed to tell me about the Ryton Choral Society. Did you know that there was such a thing? […]
There’s a line in the 1976 film version of the popular TV series Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads, where Terry makes reference to Omar Sharif. He says; “If Omar Sharif was born in Gateshead, […]
6pm on Friday evening found me sitting in the midst of my old stomping ground, the Charles Thorp Academy school hall, stealthily munching my way through a bag of Haribo while I waited for the […]
I’ve had a lovely weekend, spending Saturday afternoon with Heather, my friend Lyndsey, and her two little’uns at the National Glass Centre in Sunderland. You will see I’ve written a review of the Centre for What’s Good To Do, and in it I mention the glass roof. It’s made of glass 6cm thick and strong enough to hold 460 people in one go. You know you’re safe on it, and yet it’s a very hard thing to begin walking over it, and it took us several attempts and a lot of squealing to get going. Once you’ve got used to it you can look 40’ below into the brasserie reception area and shop. I advise that the wearing of trousers is a strict necessity, steer clear of skirts and kilts – or if you do have to wear them make sure that everything is safely gathered in.