News Archive > July, 2009

The second Grand Day out of this year took place on Thursday 22nd July, to the open-air museum at Beamish. Twenty-five members and guests boarded the coach in Morecambe and travelled across country, making the traditional stop for coffee and sticky buns at Tebay.

On arrival at Beamish it began to drizzle so for many of the party it was a direct tram ride to the old style tearooms for an early lunch. Almost as soon as the mushy peas and meat pies struck the plates the sun began to shine and the cobbles of down town Beamish were cracking. It was then all hands to the cameras as members toured the site looking in the buildings, going down the drift mine, visiting workers cottages, shops, a farm and businesses. There were a number of places where old recipes were being used to produce food samples and there always seamed to be one member testing the food as part of the research for the movies being made.

During the filming, there was time to taste the local brew in the old style pub but the prices were in new style money. At 4.45pm, it was time to catch the tram or vintage bus back to our waiting coach for smooth drive home after an interest and warm day out. Chris Abram organised the event and, thanks to him, the day went well (including the weather) and there may be more days out to come before the end of the year.

The third Noggin-n-Natter meeting was held on Monday 13th July in the Owls Nest, Bare with a good crowd of approx 20 members filling the regular corner. During the evening chairman Graeme Isherwood gave the meeting an update with the progress regarding the club's recent success in being awarded a grant from the National Lottery "Awards for All" scheme.

The equipment, which has been selected for purchase, which will be used in our movie project and work in the community, will be bought as soon as possible subject to obtaining the paper work from the bank. The plans for celebrating the club's 40th anniversary year were discussed and the committee will be announcing a full list of the events very soon.

A mystery raffle was held where members bought a total of 34 £1 tickets for a prize donated by Ron Wood, following on from last months successful raffle. Frank Seymour won the first prize which was a hand made contemporary bud vase made from carved wood and copper tube, manufactured by Ron, complete with flowers. The second prize was won by Dave Jones, which was 2 kg of tomatoes grown by Ron, which had appeared in one of his recent movies.

Let's hope the next meeting on 10th August is as well attended and who knows what may be on offer.

On the 23rd June, 2009, it was announced that the club's application for a grant had been successful and an award of £4676 has been made. The grant has been made for the purposes as stated in the Awards For All agreement.

"This group encourage and aid members in the art of movie making. They will use funding to purchase new equipment enabling them to produce presentations and films for community groups and promote interest in videography. The project will also allow members to develop skills using the new equipment".

The members will now be able to develop new skills in the latest production techniques and computer software as well as giving improved presentation to the community.

The ceremonial hand over of the grant took place on Friday 10th July 2009 by Geraldine Smith MP