Tag: Newcastle

Newcastle Tribute To Queen Elizabeth II

On September 26, 2022

Like most people in the UK (and perhaps the world), we were saddened by the recent passing of our Queen, HRH Elizabeth II.

Queen Elizabeth II was a constant in our ever changing world and a warm familiar we could count on when the going got tough.
She performed her duty with diligence, dedication and devotion.

**Find out more**: **https://www.royal.uk**

It has been a momentous time and although only a week has passed since we said goodbye to her, it seems a lifetime ago since Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral.

We were fortunate to attend the service in the beautiful St Nicolas’ Cathedral in Newcastle upon Tyne on Sunday 18th September, the eve before the official state funeral.

The event was serious, dignified but definitely not sombre.

The service was thoughtful; reflective and above all, uplifting.

A lovely Address was given by The Right Reverend Mark Wroe, the Acting Bishop of Newcastle, recalling memories and the humour of Queen Elizabeth.

Similarly, the choice of familiar music and hymns was appreciated. The finale of the congregation singing God Save The King was heartfelt and stirring – though the second verse lyrics were unknown to us and judging by the rusty, stuttered singing by those gathered, we definitely weren’t the only ones!

Thankfully lyrics to God Save The King were printed in the order of service.

The whole thing was a lovely commemoration and thanksgiving for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

**Find out more: https://newcastlecathedral.org.uk/**

Additionally, we signed the Book of Condolence at Newcastle City Library and visited the exhibition; a celebration of the times The Queen visited Newcastle, including opening the City Library in 2009 with His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.

The Book will be passed on to the Tyne & Wear Museum & Archive.

**Find out more:**
https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/services/libraries-and-culture
https://twarchives.org.uk/

We left thoughtful messages in the Book, giving thanks to Her Majesty the Queen for her service – and always being herself! A job well done.

RIP M’am, you deserve it.

Life Centre’s For Life, Not Just For Christmas!

By Sharon

On November 9, 2018

In Beer, Drinks, Food, Geordies, Stories, Up North

We were informed of the launch of Newcastle’s latest Christmas extravaganza – a Christmas Village in Times Square – as well as brilliant The Centre For Life’s ice rink opening and encouraged to attend.

“This is brilliant,” said Mum. “We have the whole place to ourselves!”

Bar the half a dozen workmen and staff setting things up the Christmas Village ahead of its five PM launch countdown. If you don’t count them, then yes, we have the whole Christmas Village to ourselves….

The Life Centre’s seasonal ice skating rink is a Newcastle Christmas steadfast, hugely popular and will be open to the public from Saturday 10^th November. The Life Centre has a wonderful Seasonal programme coming up.

Photo courtesy & copyright of The Centre For Life

Sarah Reed, Communications Manager at Life Centre gave us the lowdown on all that will be happening at the Life Centre in the lead up to Christmas!

“There’s been loads going on today [launch day]. We’ve done an event on the ice rink as we’ve brought it back and it will be here until next February’s half term holidays, and although the event is centred on the ice rink, today was to launch our whole festive season. So we’ve got the ice rink that opens to the public skating from tomorrow. We’ve got Santa in his grotto, from November 17^th on weekends only up until Christmas. Plus our friends in the Christmas Village launching today so that’s exciting that it’s alongside Life Centre!”

There’s also lots going on in the Life Science Centre as well. Not everyone knows that we run Christmas themed activities – you can explore fake snow in the experiment zone; make Christmas crafts in the Making Space; and on the 4D Motion ride, we’ve got The Polar Express, which gives you a completely new way of experiencing the show.”

We also have a fantastic exhibition opening for the Christmas holidays! If anyone likes a nice sci-fi movie for Christmas they should come along to Alien Invasion.”

“We can hardly contain our excitement as you’ve got so much going on!” I tell Sarah.

“It must be a very busy time of year for you?!” Mum chips in.

“There’s just so much going on – there’s a lot of buzz and excitement. There’s going to be as much buzz and excitement in Times Square as there’s going to be in Life Centre this year which makes it particularly brilliant!”

“Will you be at the Christmas Village launch this evening?”

“Oh, definitely! Who doesn’t like a nice, warm drink and a log fire? It just gets you into the festive spirit. It’s so pretty,” Sarah told us. “The Christmas Village team have done a really great job with it – it looks so impressive, so pretty with all of the fairy lights and Christmas trees. It looks fantastic!”

“We look forward to raising a stein with you – cheers!”

“Cheers!”

Life Science Centre https://www.life.org.uk/

Newcastle Christmas Village https://www.christmasvillagenewcastle.co.uk/

Thriller – Thriller Night!

By Sharon

On November 2, 2018

In Beer, Fancy Dress, Music, Reviews

We received complimentary tickets to attend ‘Thriller – A Halloween Special’ featuring The Hits Of Michael Jackson at Wylam Brewery in Newcastle’s Exhibition Park.

The show was presented by World Headquarters.

We caught up with Tommy from the latter who presented the event.

He tells us: “A while ago I decided just doing WHQ Club for the young ‘uns wasn’t enough. I wanted to get older people out and get our unifying WHQ vibe spread around the generations.

Wylam is the perfect venue to do that. The band ‘Rogue Symphony’ that played the MJ Halloween show for us, are one of the finest we work with.

As soon as they said they had this in their box of tricks I jumped all over it..!

I’m a massive MJ fan and I know that that they will do him justice”

Rogue Symphony, a 14 strong team of top London session musician chums with full string and brass sections, blasted out the choons!

They sang MJ songs across the ages – from The Jackson Five, through Off The Wall to Dangerous.

‘Can’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough’ was belted out by Alex, who was introduced as being part of the Thriller Live Show. His falsetto voice was something I only hit on seeing a spider!

He shared the vocals with Annie and Hollie and all of them were great, definitely not ‘Bad’*!

“The show is on Halloween night,” we say to Tommy, “what kind of fancy dress are you expecting?”

“Ha! We’ll see… I hope a lot of folk will get with the ‘spook’ of the event and go mad on the costumes!”

Some people went the whole hog. I’m sure I saw someone dressed as a hog roast.
Or maybe he’d come straight from work in an abattoir.

There was Wednesday Adams, witches, zombies. Oodles of sparkly skull jumpers and at least three Corpse Brides.

Lots of MJs in different costumes.I wore a Thriller jacket, then spotted a lad had had the same idea. Bloody cheek. Pffft!
I also saw a woman in a Thriller jacket. I obviously looked better than she did – plus she grabbed her crotch a lot more…

“So what next for WHQ at Wylam Brewery?” we ask.

“We have Paul Simon’s Graceland with the London African Gospel Choir. I’m really looking forward to those shows. The first date on Friday 16th November has already sold out and Saturday 17^th November is flying out.

That is an astonishingly uplifting night out. You should come you’ll be amazed..!

Then Rogue Symphony are back with their ‘Hits of Beyonce and Destiny’s Child’ show, which is amazing too on Thursday December 13^th. It’s pretty much the dream for a girls’ night out and always packs out.

I love the whole run into Christmas; we’ve got so much fab stuff happening at Wylam – sometimes I feel like I’m going to explode with excitement..!!”

And we love World Headquarters!

Would you want to bump into these couple o’Thrillers on Halloween eve… Mwah ha ha ha ha!

* British English definition of Bad…