Tynedale Today - Bellingham, Wark, West Woodburn, Otterburn & several places in between

Today is all about the Upper North Tyne. I am off to Bellingham and beyond, taking in schools, businesses, councillors, and so much more, and spending part of the day with the vicar of Bellingham, Susan Ramsaran. If you have not followed her blog you should do so: www.NorthumberlandRector.blogspot.com

Saturday in Tynedale

Byrness, Otterburn and the surrounding villages feature on a busy day in the North today. I am hoping to go to the church of St Francis bring and buy sale in Byrness, at 2, and meeting locals as well as knocking on doors in the village, before heading off to other villages south of the village. I will be holding surgeries in Otterburn and then heading to Ponteland in the evening.
There is also a litter pick in Horsley in the morning at 10 and in Wylam there is a jumble sale at 2 in aid of project Gateway in Africa.
Hexham Market is on all morning in Hexham - try and support it! We need to buy local and support our local producers.

Percy Arms, Otterburn: Canvass / Get Together

A good day in Otterburn with much canvassing around Brierley Gardens and delivery of our new survey followed by a get together / grilling session in the Percy Arms. John Riddle came along as the local councillor and we faced questions from a variety of locals on issues such as the Human Rights Act, roads budgets, immigration, local jobs and housing, prisons, law and order and a variety of other issues in a 2 hour round table discussion. A big thank you to Chris Galley who organised the evening - which involved a lot of work, and the Percy Arms for letting us take over part of the place

Otterburn TV Shoot

Peter Atkinson and I get a grilling from ITV's man in the north east, Gerry Foley

To Otterburn with Peter Atkinson MP to be interviewed by ITV's man in the North East Gerry Foley - who is one of the last "good guys" in TV
Despite the fact that it was chucking it down with rain we did some outside shots and then had a good meeting in the Percy Hotel - who very kindly let us spend the morning there

Summer Tour - in typical Northumbrian weather

Peter Atkinson MP and I outside the Camien Cafe, Rochester with Tod Law behind us [photo by Chris Galley]:
Off to West Woodburn, Redesdale, Kirkwelpington, Otterburn and Rochester - where the weather was interesting but the welcome in the Camien Cafe was warm. We were very grateful to the cafe for huge steaming cups of coffee and warmed up as the weather closed in on us.
Met chris and others on the campaign trail and spent an extended morning in Otterburn. Peter coped very well with my driving!