Sunday 29 April 2012

St Georges Day in Northumberland and much to report

A blustery, sometimes rainy, occasionally sunny, day in Hexham was the venue for Saturdays St Georges Day celebrations, the Market, the Book Festival and so much more: I spent several hours chatting and buying everything from one of Andy Bates Hexham made belts, to local books from the History Society stand, to local cheese and a Kielder Organic Bacon Butty. Brian Sewell, the London art critic and journalist for the Spectator and Evening Standard wandered around, as well as hundreds of locals, enjoying the efforts of the stall holders and the organisers.
Then went on to Haydon Bridge Community Centre where I popped into the coffee morning and bought too many books and yet more cheese scones [some were to be given away later as a present] and agreed to try and make their Jubilee celebrations on Tuesday June 5th.
Then on to Bellingham where a group of us enjoyed a delicious lunch at the Cheviot Hotel and met the team behind the Friends of Bellingham Surgery, and the barrister who fought their case for them in the High Court. Had time to pop in also to the Bellingham Heritage Museum, and the new cafe which is next door in a railway carriage ... where more cheese scones were purchased. All scones - those munched and given away as presents were delicious.
A great day