The Sill project is the biggest investment in Rural Northumberland +opening June 2017

Great to visit the building site for the Sill last week. This is going to transform West Northumberland in so many ways. There is going to be 80+ beds for kids and tourists to use, which will massively boost tourist numbers and the revenue spend. The architecture on its own will make the sill a destination. And as a visitor centre it is going to be something special. Full credit to the team behind it, but it is a massive project funded largely by Heritage Lottery money and it was great to bring the Heritage Minister on site on Thursday of last week.

Easter events in Northumberland - hiking, food, gardens, the stars, a beer festival, top quiz and barrel racing

A good walk - you could go to Hadrians Wall http://www.visithadrianswall.co.uk/
But if you want 5 places to visit these would all make anyone's top spots:
- The Beach at Bamburgh - a great walk and a top castle
- Roman Vindolanda http://www.vindolanda.com/ = our best Roman and historical site
- Kielder Water and Forest Park: http://www.visitkielder.com/
They win awards all the time!!
http://www.visitkielder.com/news/2013/05/kielder-water-forest-park-officially-the-best-tourism-experience-in-engl-
- Alnwick Castle and its magnificent Gardens http://www.alnwickcastle.com/
For spring flowers then I would probably pick Cragside: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cragside/
-It is a stunning house with amazing engineering everywhere and beautiful gardens filled with 40 miles of walks, rare flowers and so much more. It is a special place.
Two gastropubs holding spcial events:
- The Battlesteads Inn has a new observatory. It is a brilliant pub and has gone to great efforts to make itself a destination in its own right. Here is the report by the Courant: http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk/home/sky-s-the-limit-for-new-observatory-1.1202156
- The award winning Feathers Inn is showcasing so much this Easter that their festival runs for many days. If you have not been I urge you to go - it's won awards for its food and has a great community atmosphere: http://thefeathers.net/news/2014/12/bed-and-breakfast-special-offer/
There is a beer festival, and on sunday night Toby sets a mean quiz and it is a good night, and Monday sees the barrel racing.

And if you want to go to church then where better to go than Hexham Abbey: http://hexham-abbey.org.uk/

Congratulations to the team behind the Sill

Tribute must be paid to the hard work of all the team behind the Sill. I am delighted that they have secured the Heritage Lottery Money to enable the project to proceed. I know the site well and have had a good look at the plans.
More details can be found here: http://www.thesill.org.uk/

I believe this project will bring jobs, extra tourist revenue and help make the National Park and Hadrian's Wall an even more attractive venue to visit.

More details of the project and my views on it can be seen on the attached You Tube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyelVOpEXj0

Merry Christmas

My 2014 Christmas Card of Hadrians Wall at Sewingshields, courtesy of the fantastic Hexham Rotary.

Stories behind Hadrian's Wall pioneers celebrated at Wall Face exhibition at Housesteads

It is largely thanks to pioneers like William Hutton, who raised awareness of the Wall and its importance, that the world heritage site monument is there today.

Hutton is among 11 individuals who recorded, protected and revealed the stories behind the Hadrian’s Wall frontier who are honoured for their roles in an exhibition which spans 150 Roman frontier miles

Wall Face opened last month and continues to November 9.

It features 11 prints and photographs from the National Portrait Gallery in London, each alongside the life story and achievements of the individual at a Wall site associated with their work.

The show is at Housesteads fort in Northumberland.

The exhibition has been organised through a partnership of heritage organisations across the Wall - Vindolanda Trust, English Heritage, National Trust, Senhouse Museum Trust, Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery Trust and the Hadrian’s Wall Trust. Full details here:

http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/stories-behind-hadrians-wall-pioneers-7636411

The Roman finds just keep on coming in Northumberland

Another amazing Roman find! If you have not been to Vindolanda you need to go but these kids found more than they bargained for when near Kirkhaugh!
Come to Gods own County soon and see the wonder or our history and Roman finds: more details here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-28645612

Letter from Heathrow! From late August Heathrow will showcase North East until November

The Chief Executive of Heathrow, John Holland Kaye, has just written to me:

Guy Opperman MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA                                                                                                      6th August 2014

Dear Mr Opperman,
Congratulations in playing your part in our #YourGreatBritain competition and securing the North East a £1 million advertising campaign at Heathrow. Despite losing the lead with just 48 hours to go, thanks to your support, the North East pulled together and showed not only to us here at Heathrow, but to the entire nation, that it is a region built on pride.

Heathrow – the UK’s only hub airport - is one of the busiest airports in the world, with around 73 million passengers travelling through every year. We are delighted that with 7 daily flights from Heathrow to Newcastle, we are able to connect businesses in the North East to their global markets and give easy access for overseas tourists to enjoy the incredible landscape, history and culture that the North East has to offer.
With this competition, we wanted to show our commitment to delivering growth for the whole of the country. In March, Heathrow began a 12-month advertising partnership with VisitBritain where we gave £4 million of advertising space to inspire visitors to explore the UK. The first three months of the partnership promoted the previously flood hit areas of Devon, Cornwall, Llanddwyn Island (Wales Coast Path) and Glastonbury, to show they were back on track and open for business. The second round of adverts that went live in June were chosen to coincide with the Tour de France Grand Départ, illustrating Yorkshire’s celebrated countryside, as well as the region’s retail and architectural strengths.
For this third round of adverts, we let the public decide which region would feature. In a two week competition, the North East fought off the North West, Midlands and Northern Ireland to secure £1m worth of free advertising at Heathrow. The North East will now see four advertisements showing its breadth and beauty presented across digital screens in all terminals at Heathrow from the end of August until the end of November.
Thank you for your support, Heathrow is a national asset and, if we get approval for expansion, we will ensure that the whole of the UK feels the benefit, not just London and the South East. For more information, visit http://your.heathrow.com/britainsheathrow/

Yours sincerely, John Holland-Kaye, Chief Executive
Fuller details here: http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/north-east-voters-win-region-7563741
For my part I cannot wait to go to Heathrow and see the Wall on display!!

The Weekend Read: How do you recreate a "new" - old - station like Gilsland?

Dr. Beeching did for Gilsland Station 50 years ago, but the infrastructure remains and the Gilsland Railway Station Campaign was front page of the Hexham Courant last week, and rightly so. The full story is below but I am acutely aware that the local campaigners have gone to huge lengths to ensure the campaign has full support from both Rory Stewart MP and myself, the local councillors, Network Rail, The Tyne Valley Rail Users Group, the local community and businesses, and most importantly, the 2 County Councils. The strength of the case made is without question:
- it would revitalise a local community on a multitude of levels
- it would help Hadrians Wall and Pennine Way Tourism
- it would aid business investment in the cross border area
- and promote greater use of the trains, which is something we all want

The Campaign to Open Gilsland Station (COGS) was set up last year; I have held a series of meetings with many of the people involved not least Northern Rail, Rory Stewart MP and Network Rail; the COGS study, as helped by Councillor Alan Sharp, has revealed that the project could take five years, and cost up to £2.5million. This is no small sum, but it is genuinely doable. This is not a pipe dream project. It does tick the boxes, albeit we still have plenty to prove. If Gilsland station re-opens, it will be a remarkable victory for a community which lost the facility almost half a century ago.


But then we come to an understanding of what is called the GRIP Process. This may sound like some medieval judo hold and, to a degree, it is ... but I will try and explain it and outline the plan of action:
GRIP stands for the Governance for Railway Investment Projects: this is how such projects have been approached for a long time by Network Rail; it has 8 specific stages. Some might see these as bureacratic, but there is a degree of logic to the process, and as public money is going to be used in the process - then, in particular, in these tricky times- a need to ensure the money is well spent is required.


This from the Network Rail site:
"Governance for Railway Investment Projects (GRIP) describes how we manage and control projects that enhance or renew the national rail network.


GRIP divides a project into eight distinct stages.

1.Output definition
2.Feasibility
3.Option selection
4.Single option development
5.Detailed design
6.Construction test and commission
7.Scheme hand back
8.Project close out"

The Gilsland project is already well through the early stages, with the feasibility study yielding positive results, and the 2 Councils are looking at ways to take the project forward. The 5 year estimate is realistic - this is not going to happen overnight. But the planets are aligned and we have a formidable team of supporters. Money will always be the problem, but if we take this GRIP process stage by stage I genuinely believe this will happen.

Fuller details on the story here:
http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk/news/gilsland-it-s-full-steam-ahead-for-2-5m-rail-dream-1.1131325

See God's own county with the Haltwhistle Walking Festival

Some places still available on the 27 - yes 27 - different guided walks across south west Northumberland. All details here.
http://www.haltwhistlewalkingfestival.org/spring2014.html

You will not regret this. Great views, nice people, well organised, and plenty of tea shops and pubs to reward yourself with at the end of the day. It all starts next week, but there is nothing to stop you pulling on your hiking boots and coming to see us this Easter.

Hadrian's Wall - have you visited yet? It is not too late to book that break to God's Own Country!

Richard Bunce, 32, from Ilkley in Yorkshire, beat thousands to win a commendation from the Garden Photographers’ Association. His picture of foxgloves at the Wall earned a place in the GPA’s gigantic coffee table book and shows just how stunning the county can be.
Mr Bunce said: “I love the rugged and wild atmosphere of the Northumberland landscape. It’s very easy for your imagination to run wild as you roam through such an ancient and well-preserved environment. You feel a bit closer to everything – a bit closer to nature, closer to history. There’s the sense of all those people that have walked the paths and roads before. It’s amazing to think that you would have found foxgloves around this same area during the Roman occupation of the wall.

The London-born rambler, who calls himself ‘the walking photographer’, was travelling with his wife Caroline in the summer of 2013 when he spotted the flowers “regimented, all lined up.”

The question you have to ask is this: Why have you not visited Hadrians Wall yet?

Assorted Journos [and MPs] are to be found hiking Hadrians Wall this summer

The Telegraph journalist, Christopher Hope is presently walking Hadrians Wall at the moment for a good cause: https://twitter.com/christopherhope
He described his first day today as follows:
"22miles. Exhausted. 62miles to go. Please sponsor me at http://www.justgiving.com/christopherhope  to walk Hadrian's Wall"

If you see a tired journo on a good cause please stop and say hello, buy him a pint, or better still sponsor him. I have walked the Wall several times, notably in 2011 for Tynedale Hospice at Home. I have not got the heart to tell him that the big challenge is ahead on the long march from Humshaugh to Twice Brewed and on down to Greenhead.
But think of the tea rooms, pubs and the grub along the way and all will be well.
To help him on his way I will resubmit my guide to the local pubs and beer originally found in more detail here: http://guyopperman.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/my-top-10-places-to-go-in.html

The key section is:
Where to eat:

If you want great pub food then I am a big fan of the Barrasford Arms,http://www.barrasfordarms.co.uk/

Tony is a brilliant chef, and the pub also has great beer and a bar where you will discuss everything from sheep prices to current affairs and who won the big race of the day. Great people and a top dining pub.
The Feathers in Hedley, and La Bouchon in Hexham are both prize winning and the destinations for fine dining but if you want a great south Asian experience then two restaurants will prove it is not just country fare up north.
The Valley in Corbridge is the ultimate Railway lovers restaurant, producing great food in an old railway station: http://www.valleyrestaurants.co.uk/
Also very good is Hexham's Diwan E- Am: http://diwaneam.com/?page_id=58

You will need a tea shop on your travels:

My friends say I am on a mission to try every tea shop in Tynedale but the county is justifiably famous: on your Pennine Way travels do not forget to stop at the Greenhead Tea Room: http://www.heartofhadrianswall.com/tea-rooms/60-greenhead-tea-rooms

Alison makes great cakes and scones.

Corbridge has more tea shops that any other but my favourite is Tea and Tipple, where you can while away an afternoon - they do great Northumberland Scones, including the normal cheese scone but also Blue Cheese and Caramelised Onion Scones: http://teaandtipple.blogspot.co.uk/
Their web site has a special "Sconage" section...

Beer: this is obviously essential. We have lots of brilliant brewers, but I have worked a lot with the Hadrian Border Brewery, who produce the deliciously summer ale which is Tyneside Blonde. But my favourite would be a pint of Golden Plover, made locally by the Allendale Brewery, and found in most of the pubs: http://www.allendaleale.com/index.htm

To my knowledge two of my MP colleagues are also intending to tramp the Wall this summer - they will get a warm welcome, great beer, sore feet and the views that rival Montana.

Two ways to show off the wonder of Northumberland - full credit to the BBC and our special tour guides Jedward!

The BBC are doing Northumberland Proud this week: but from different angles. Now available on Iplayer is Monday's great programme "Heritage Heroes", which focused on local British craftsmen who play such a role in keeping Gods Own County special> I urge you to watch it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01c18w8/Britains_Heritage_Heroes_Episode_1/

John Craven and Jules Hudson toured the North Pennines and met skilled engineers passing on their knowledge to the next generation in Haltwhistle, farmers reintroducing hay meadows to the Allendale Valley and volunteers in Nenthead fighting to keep alive the rich memories of the mining industry.

On a slightly less reverential note we all wait with baited breath for
The Hadrian’s Wall episode of a new children’s TV show starring Jedward which will be broadcast on Friday, February 10.
The X-Factor stars visited the World Heritage Site in their mission to become the UK’s best tour guides.
Filming for Jedward’s Big Adventure involved the twins trying to learn all about Roman Britain in just 24 hours. Jedward stopped off at key locations along the wall for history lessons from experts.

The pair said: “We’ve really loved making this show for CBBC.”
Caroline Sinclair, marketing manager for English Heritage’s Hadrian’s Wall Group, was full of praise for Jedward.
She said: “Chesters and Housesteads forts made such an impression on them that they bought a replica Roman helmet.”

Hadrians Wall Charity Walk starts today!

Wallsend. 8.30am. Its going to be a bit wet but we will be off!
Greatly looking forward to hiking for the next 6 days. Am being accompanied by everyone from some of the local Police, to Ramblers, to racehorse trainers. Later today I am off to the Freeman Hospital to meet with staff and the chief exec there and raise a number of constituents cases.
You can still donate to one of the two fantastic charities I am supporting - the Tynedale Hospice, which helps local people all over Hexham, or the National Hospital for Neurosurgery in Queens Square, London, which saved my life in May.
Thanks, Guy

Tynedale Hospice at http://www.justgiving.com/guy-opperman-mp/

National Hospital for Neurosurgery at https://www.justgiving.com/Guy-Opperman-Mp0
POSTSCRIPT:
A full report of the amazing evening I sent last night with the Cancer Support Group at Hexham Hospital will follow shortly

The Hiking and Halls Tour

I am hiking Hadrians Wall from Wallsend in Newcastle, then up the Tyne and all across the constituency in Northumberland into Cumbria.
I am doing this to promote our tourist strengths, to raise money for 2 great charities, to prove my fitness, and stopping off along the way to hold a series of Village Hall "ASK GUY" events with the local councillors. I have rented some village halls where anyone can come and quiz myself and our councillors as to what we are doing on their behalf, what concerns them, and generally ask us questions.
The schedule is as follows:
Sat 20 Aug
Allendale surgery and Allendale Show

Sun 21 Aug
Bellingham BBQ Lunch

Mon 22 Aug
Hexham day and
Meeting the team at the Hexham Courant

Tue 23 Aug
Meeting at County Hall RE: Equal Pay Campaign
Constituents surgery in Hexham
Speaking to Cancer Support Group, 7.30pm, Ward 1, Hexham Hospital

Wed 24 Aug
Start of walk - Wallsend to Newcastle
Interview with Paul Tully, of the Journal
Freeman Hospital visit
Visit to Scotswood Garden

Thu 25 Aug
Walk Newcastle to Heddon on the wall, then by car to Prudhoe
Then a Wylam walkabout visiting all the shops
Then...
ASK GUY Ponteland event 7.30 @ Ponteland Memorial Hall + local councillors

Fri 26 Aug
Tynedale Business Forum 7.15am Hexham
Walk Heddon on the Wall to Corbridge
Corbridge shops walkabout
ASK GUY Event 7.30 at Corbridge Village Hall

Sat 27 Aug
Walk Corbridge to Humshaugh
Drop in to Old Church B+ B at Chollerton for a much needed cup of tea
Bellingham Show 2-5pm
Then...
ASK GUY Humshaugh event 7.30 @ Humshaugh Village Hall

Sun 28 Aug
Walk Humshaugh to Gilsland
Meeting various constituents on or next to Hadrians Wall
Going to Haydon Bridge

Mon 29 Aug
Walking Gilsland - Carlisle. End of the Walk

Tuesday Aug 30
Hexham based Surgery day
Parliament returns Monday September 5th

Please feel free to join me on the walk - simply call 01434 603 777 / or email hexham@tory.org
Come along to one of the events - simply turn up. They are free.
Or donate to one of the two fantastic chairities I am supporting - the Tynedale Hospice, which helps local people all over Hexham, whilst the National Hospital for Neurosurgery in Queens Square, London, saved my life in May.
Thanks, Guy

Tynedale Hospice at http://www.justgiving.com/guy-opperman-mp/

National Hospital for Neurosurgery at https://www.justgiving.com/Guy-Opperman-Mp0
POSTSCRIPT:
A really nice article by Robert Weatherall in the Journal on our plans
http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2011/08/10/hexham-mp-guy-opperman-to-raise-funds-for-brain-charity-61634-29208283/

Hadrians Wall Day

An amazing evening as literally thousands of people descended upon the 80+ miles of the wall. Every Bed and breakfast is sold out, every restaurant fully booked. It has been an amazing success. A real boost for the wall and tourism in the area

The view towards Housesteads as dusk descends

Looking back towards Chesters

Torchlit beacons lighting up Hadrians Wall - do not miss it!

It is 6 days to go until Hadrians Wall is lit from end to end and is the number one tourist attraction of the North East once more. On Saturday, March 13, the entire length the Wall will be illuminated by 1,000 beacons carried by volunteers standing at intervals in a spectacular torchlit beacon lasting the 84 miles from Wallsend to Cumbria. Linda and her team at the Hadrians Wall Heritage are to be congratulated. There have been some doomsayers who say it might rain or is not worth the cost - but I disagree: I am sure it will be an amazing event. Everyone I know locally will be there watching it. All of us have got our own special points of interest from which to view it from, as the top spots at Housesteads are all gone. As I ride out between Chollerford and Housesteads I think I have a good spot! A good coverage of this once in a lifetime Tourist event is found in the Courant this week.
http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk/news/news-at-a-glance/the-rush-to-switch-on-the-wall-lights-1.677145?referrerPath=home