The Freemen of Newcastle issue 30 September 2022

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ISSUE 30 - SEPTEMBER 2022
3Freemen Magazine Freemen Magazine2 Photos courtesy of Steve Brock Photography, Nick Atkinson, David Wilson. Graphic design by Whiteleaf Design www.wleaf.co.uk. Thanks to article contributors Tom Charlton, Jim Johnson, Ian Miller, Barbara Nesbitt. Special thanks to Sue Riney-Smith of Riney Media CONTENTS 3 Her Majesty the Queen 4-5 View from The Chair 6 Tree Planting Projects 7 Archives Projects 8 Engagement Strategy 9 The Capture of Holy Island 10-13 A-Z of being a Freemen 13 Bravery Award for Edward Hall 14 Little Acorns 15 Lord Mayor’s Parade 16-17 Freemen Celebrating 18 Lord Mayor’s Silver Gallery 19 Further Private Ceremonies 20-21 Superintendent’s Report 22-25 Events 26 Easter Guild 27 Notice Board 15 serving the people of our Nation and the Commonwealth. A positive influence Worldwide. Always with great dignity, a sense of duty and a touch of humour, an iconic and inspirational role model. R.I.P. David Wilson Chairman, Stewards Committee, Freemen of the City of Newcastle O n behalf of all Freemen of Newcastle I express our deep sadness on the death of Her Majesty the Queen. Our thoughts and sympathies are with her family. The death of our much loved and long serving Monarch is very sad news for Freemen as well as people throughout our Nation and across the World. Her Majesty the Queen dedicated her life to her job, HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN 22 14

VIEW FROM THE CHAIR

Stewards Committee continue to put in major effort on behalf of the Freemen of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Grazing, Town Moor maintenance and management of our land and leases are all progressing well.

As well as the significant work of business as usual the Committee are undertaking a number of important projects, these include: Engagement Strategy - improving our communications with all Freemen. As part of this project, we are developing the ‘brand’ of the Freemen so that we are identified and easily recognised by both Freemen and the general public –a new Freemen logo has been designed and will be implemented across all of our communications, including letterhead, website, FaceBook and other

social media. You can see our new logo in this issue of the magazine.

Our website is currently being redeveloped, including security enhancement after being hacked.

As part of our contribution to climate change mitigation and protection of the environment we have completed several tree and hedge planting projects. These are being registered as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy in recognition of the Platinum Jubilee, the trees are also part of the Great North Forest initiative.

We have also earmarked several sites for tree planting in the autumn planting season as part of our ambitious tree planting strategy.

Events – we’ve had a busy programme of events this summer, including of course the Hoppings at the end of June.

Relatively new to the Town Moors we’ve hosted two music festivals; the Rock and Roll Circus with Noel Gallagher in June and the LooseFest Music festival at the end of July. We also hosted Holi, Eid prayers, Pride and Mela events. In order to protect residents around the Town Moor, we have had several meetings with them and Newcastle City Council regarding noise control rules.

Finally, on behalf of all members of the Stewards Committee, thank you for all of the work you do for your Companies. We send best wishes to you all and look forward to meeting with you again at Michaelmas Guild in October.

Please feel free to contact us at any time through our Moorbank Lodge Office.

Letter from Buckingham Palace to The Tanners Company.

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TREE PLANTING PROJECTS

We reported an ambitious programme of tree planting in Issue 29. We are happy to report that work has progressed in partnership with Newcastle City Council on a number of tree planting schemes, some of these as part of the North East Community Forest (NECF) initiatives. Projects completed are:

Nuns Moor adjacent to Cowgate/Kenton - 610 linear metres of mixed hedgerow; 2,875 hedgerow plants and 38 hedgerow trees.

Nuns Moor/Walter Terrace 28 oak trees planted.

Nuns Moor South/Brighton Grove initially 123 trees with an option to increase to 161.

Little Acorns project of 30 oak trees in Moor Bank Gardens.

We will plant another 300 trees by the end of February 2023 with even more ambitious plans for 2023/2024.

ARCHIVES PROJECT

Our review has so far identified that we hold the following in our offices at Moor Bank Lodge

• Books containing details of individual Freemen when they were sworn in from around 1830

• Books of minutes of meetings (Guilds and Stewards Committee)

• Books on all sorts of subjects but broadly covering the history of New castle and of the Freemen

• Leases and other agreements for the use of our land; some of these are very old

• Legal opinions covering disputes about the ownership and use of the Moors

• Legal opinions regarding membership of the Freemen

• Background papers to our legislation

• Details of payments by the TMMC and via the Stint process

• Papers concerning the Hoppings and other events and exhibitions on the Moor

• Details of social events

• Bound bundles of miscellaneous correspondence, some of them almost 200 years old

• Lots of old pictures looking for a wall; some of them are group photos, many are prints of paintings of Newcastle

• Enough maps of the Moors to cover at least the Little Moor

• Halberds

• Company records; we will discuss the fate of these with Stewards once we’re sure that we’ve identified them all.

There is hopefully a lot to be learnt about the Freemen from these papers. We can see that we were very argumentative in the past and were forever engaging solicitors. This was probably exacerbated at times by the fact that some members of the Stewards Committee were solicitors. The business of the Freemen was often carried on from SC members places of work. And we kept everything.

We have engaged some help with this project. Olivia Redpath who helped Tom Charlton with his work on the Hostmen’s records is doing some transcription work and we have found a bookbinder who will produce books of minutes. We have a backlog of about sixteen years minutes to be bound.

It is difficult to involve more Freemen in the project because of the logistical problems of working at Moor Bank Lodge. If you would like to help out at a later date, please get in touch with the archive team via admin. and we’ll keep a record of your interest.

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ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY

On 30th January, we held a meeting of Company Stewards at the Guildhall to discuss our Engagement Strategy. The meeting was very well attended and Stewards brought some excellent ideas to the table.

We have done some preliminary analysis of the data gathered and have identified the following themes: People

• Improved Stakeholder Management and networking opportunities

• Improved Comms with Stewards

• Training for Stewards

• Engagement/involvement with younger freemen Process

• Investment in Tech

• Better use of social media

• Improved branding/PR/Marketing/ public perception

• Modernise processes/rules (TMMC, Swearing in, Blue books)

Performance

• Transparent succession and continuity planning

THE CAPTURE OF HOLY ISLAND BY TOM CHARLTON (HOSTMEN)

• Address Stewards Committee skills gaps

• Updates need to be more timely

• Apply for lottery/heritage/government funding

Our Vice Chairman, Nick Atkinson said “We will of course be prioritising each of these issues in more detail. However, great progress has already been made; our website has been completely updated and you will see from this issue of the magazine that we have done an overhaul of our branding. In August, we launched the first in a series of short videos which showcases the work that we do. You may have seen this on our facebook page, this ticks a lot of boxes in terms of networking, social media profiles and improved communications across the Freeman Community and our business partners”.

If you haven’t seen the video check out our website at www.freemenofnewcastle.org

My 9th Great Grandparents were Major Gilbert Errington (1608 - 1686) and Margaret Babington (1629-1682).

Their son, Lancelot Errington was born 1657 and he was my 8th Great Grand Uncle. The Errington family were an “ancient and respectable family” who lived in Denton Hall, Newburn, Northumberland.

In 1689 after the failure of the Glorious Revolution of 1688 the Roman Catholic Stuart King, James II of England and VII of Scotland, fled into exile in France. William III of Orange and Mary II, James’s daughter ascended the British throne as joint sovereigns.

On 1st October 1699, Lancelot Errington married his cousin, Catherine Errington (1670-1756).

In 1715, James II’s son James Francis Edward Stuart, also known as the Old Pretender, attempted to regain the throne by launching a Jacobite rising in Scotland.

Lancelot was one of several locals who supported the Jacobite cause, led by Thomas Forster, Member of Parliament for the county of Northumberland. Their first objective was to gain a landing site in Northumberland, and Lindisfarne was selected.

On 10 October 1715, Lancelot and his nephew Mark Errington visited the castle on

Lindisfarne. Some sources say that Lancelot asked the Master Gunner, who also served as the unit’s barber for a shave. While inside it became clear that most of the garrison were away. Later that day he returned with Mark and claimed that he had lost the key to his watch. They were allowed in, overpowered the three soldiers present, and claimed the castle for the Jacobites. Some sources say that he gave brandy to the soldiers to incapacitate them. As the expected reinforcements did not arrive to support them, they were only able to hold out for little more a day. When a detachment of 100 men arrived from Berwick to retake the castle, the Erringtons fled but were captured and imprisoned at Berwick. They later escaped by tunnelling out of Berwick Jail.

Sometime later they received a pardon and Lancelot was able to live the rest of his life as a publican in Newcastle upon Tyne. He lived until December 1745 and witnessed the final Jacobite rising of 1745. His widow Catherine died at Cramlington in 1756.

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King James II of Scotland and VII of England

A – Z OF BEING A FREEMAN

Being a Freeman of the City of Newcastle is about a lot more than grazing cattle, here we look at the many things we get involved in.

AAir - Air & exercise on the Town Moors

Access - Access to open green spaces right in the heart of the City Allotments - We manage 1,000+ allotment plots

Act (of Parliament) - Town Moor Act 1988 / Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL] schedule 28A

Agriculture - We have a dedicated team of land managers at Moorbank Lodge

BButchers - Company of Freemen Bricklayers (& Plasterers)Company of Freemen – see also Wallers

Barber Surgeons (Chandlers)Company of Freemen

Bakers & Brewers - Company of Freemen

Biodiversity - We have encouraged biodiversity across the moors for over 800 years Blue House - We manage the tenancy

Barracks site - Industrial estate on Town Moor BBC Studios - Tenant

Blood Transfusion Service - Tenant Birds - We protect the environment for dozens of varieties of birds on the Town Moors

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City - Newcastle City Council are one of our most important strategic partners Council - Partnership/Liaison/ Support

Castle Leazes - Town Moor Church - Annual parade & church service at St Nicholas Cathederal Climate Change Mitigation - Grassland carbon storage/ Tree-hedge planting/maintenance –Sustainable travel (Walk/jog/run/cycle)

Circus - Annual event Charity - Freemen of Newcastle is a Registered Charity Cricket - We support the Cricket Association on Nunsmoor South Cycling - On the moors

D

Dukes Moor - Town Moor Diversity - Site partners for Pride, Mela and Eid prayers

Drainage - Installation/Maintenance Dog & Cat Shelter - Tenant Dog walking - On the Town Moor

E

Environment - Environmental Protection Exercise - Enabling air & exercise Events - A full schedule of events is planned each year, ensuring our land management is not compromised and full consideration is given to local residents

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FFree - Enjoying Free access for Air & Exercise

Feltmakers, Curriers & Armourers - Company of Freemen Fullers & Dyers - Company of Freemen

Fencing - We maintain many miles of fencing around the Moors Fertilising - Maintenance of ground/soil condition

Flood risk mitigation - The Moors act as a giant City ‘Sponge’ aiding drainage

Fairgrounds - As well as the hoppings, we host a few smaller fairgrounds during the year

Forestry - Tree planting/ maintenance / North East Community Forest partner. We are part of the Queens Green Canopy initiative for Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee year

Fawdon Allotments - Allotments site

Grazing - Cattle Goldsmiths - Company of Freemen Grounds - We run an extensive programme of Estates management Green - Green approach / Original Green Party Guild / Guilds - Meetings / Companies

HHouse Carpenters - Company of Freemen

Hostmen - Company of Freemen Hunters Moor - Town Moor Highbury - Town Moor

Highbury North AllotmentsAllotments site

Highbury South AllotmentsAllotments site

Heritage / History - Being a Freemen is hereditary, we have an 800 year history of protecting the open spaces of the Town Moors

Herbage - Freemen have the right to graze up to 800 cows on the Town Moors

Hoppings - The largest travelling fair in Europe held each June on the Town Moor

Hedgerows - Miles of hedgerows have been planted to protect various species of wildlife and to encourage beneficial insects

Intakes - Are Special leases managed by the Stewards Committee

Independent - Site partners for Pride, Mela and Eid prayers Infrastructure - We provide drainage / water supplies / electricity Supplies

Joiners - Company of Freemen

Cows / Cattle - Grazing/Animal Husbandry

Cordwainers - Company of Freemen Coopers - Company of Freemen Colliers, Paviours & Carriagemen - Company of Freemen

Equality - Women freemen legislation (Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL] schedule 28A) / Pride / Mela / Eid Prayers

Eid Prayers - On Nuns Moor Exhibition Park - Previously part of Town Moor

Great North Run - Start is held on the Town Moor Golf - Newcastle United Golf Club - tenant Gates - Access to Moors / Installation & Maintenance / Licences

Guildhall - We have an interest in the preservation of the Guildhall. Some Companies hold their meetings there. We own a “flying freehold” of the Merchant Adventurers Court Girls Day School Trust - Playing fields - Tenant

Keeping - Keeping (protecting/ maintaining) the Town Moors, open green spaces

Knowledge - Knowledge of the City, its environment, history and heritage

Keys - Keys to the City - Freelage Kennels - See Dog and Cat Shelter

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Leases - We manage and maintain many leases

Leazes Park - Previously part of Town Moor LooseFest - Music festival Little Moor - Town Moor

Little Moor AllotmentsAllotments site Litter - Clearance on Moors

Merchant Adventurers - Company of Freemen

Masons - Company of Freemen Masters & Mariners (The Trinity House) - Company of Freemen Millers (Milners) - Company of Freemen

Mary Magdalene & Holy Jesus Trust - Almshouse on Claremont Road. Special residence arrangements exist for Freemen Magazine - Freemen Magazine Mela - Event - South Asian festival Moorside Allotments - Allotments site

Nature - Preservation, protection of nature on the Town Moors

NUFC - St. James Park / Training Ground - tenant Nuns Moor - Town Moor Nunsmoor Park - Previously part of Town Moor

Ornithology - Birdlife on the Town Moors Organisation - Guild/Stewards Committee/Companies Oath - Freemen’s Oath

Oxnam Crescent AllotmentsAllotments site Orchard - Community fruit trees (Fountain Row)

Plumbers, Pewterers & GlaziersCompany of FreemenP

PProtection - Protection of the open spaces (Town Moors)

Public - Public access to open spaces

Pride - Pride in our City Pride - Event - Event - Pride Festival

Playing fields - Nuns Moor / Fawdon / Highbury / Little Moor

QQueen - Swear allegiance to HM the Queen / Queen’s Green Canopy participant

Quality Assurance - Red Tractor certified

RRopemakers - Company of Freemen

Running - Individual / Organised (e.g. Town Moor Parkrun and Junior Parkrun)

Royal Grammar School - Playing fields - Tenant

Tailors (Taylors) - Company of Freemen

Tanners - Company of Freemen Trees - Town Moor has many woodland areas containing a wide variety of trees, shrubs and bushes This is Tomorrow - Music festival

Upholsterers (Tin Plate Workers & Stationers) - Company of Freemen University - Tenant

Verges - Grass verges and tree avenues are part of Moors

Weavers - Company of Freemen Wallers, Bricklayers and Plasterers - Company of Freemen – see also Bricklayers Wildlife - Birds, animals, insects on the Moors

Wildflowers - Wildflowers on the Moors

Weed control - Part of our land management obligations

Xylan - Polysaccharide found in plant cell walls, especially in wood. Xylem - Plant tissue

X-country - Cross country running on the moors

Youth - Activities for youth – Junior cricket, Junior Parkrun, schools allotments plots. Freemen “Little Acorn” group set up to involve young people in Freemen activity, eg; tree planting, bird box construction

Zeal - Persistent, fervent dedication of Freemen to City, Environment & Town Moors

Zoology - Animal life and all of its manifestations on the Town Moors

SScriveners - Company of Freemen

Shipwrights - Company of Freemen

Sailmakers - Company of Freemen Skinners & Glovers - Company of Freemen

Saddlers - Company of Freemen Slaters (& Tilers) - Company of Freemen

Smiths - Company of Freemen Stewards - Officers of Companies

Stewards CommitteeManagement Committee / Board of elected trustees

Superintendent - Town Moor Superintendent manages the Town Moor Stints - Payments for grazing

We are very proud to report that Edward Hall (Masters and Mariners) has earned the Police Public Bravery Award Medal which will be presented to him in the November awards ceremony.

In Edward’s own words:

“Earlier this year, I was driving near to the Metro shopping complex and noticed a Policeman being attacked. The PC involved already had hold of his attacker but he was being kicked violently by this person; I assisted the PC in restraining him - he was stronger than several men put together! Having been in the police force as a young man, I applied the wrist

lock manoeuvre as I’d been trained to do - you never forget these things. He screamed at me to leave go as I was breaking his wrist, I wasn’t but the more you struggle, the worse it feels. When assistance arrived, I stood up and went back to the loan car, mine was being repaired. A week or so later, I had a phone call from the car repairers saying Northumbria Police had contacted them and asked me if they could forward my details. I said I knew why and gave my permission”

Please don’t try this at home folks! But well done Edward!

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L M N O
T U V
X Y Z
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BRAVERY AWARD FOR EDWARD HALL

LORD

LITTLE ACORNS

Our Vice Chairman Nick Atkinson is continuing with his campaign to engage with future Freemen and hosted another “Little Acorns” day planting oak trees grown from our own acorns on Sunday 20th March. These trees will replace the 30 we lost due to Storm Arwen. There was a fantastic turnout and we were so proud to receive positive comments and answer yet more questions regarding all that we do. Watch for our next Little Acorns project in the coming monthsbuilding bee hives.

Aftera 2 year absence, it was our great pleasure to once again join Canon Clare McLaren in St Nicholas’s Church for the annual Lord Mayor’s parade and ceremony. The procession was led by Chairman David Wilson and the Lord Mayor, Cllr Karen Robinson

Many thanks to those Freemen who were able to join us.

Those who were able, stayed for the service to commemorate Danish Liberation Day on 5 May which celebrates the surrender of German troops in Denmark and Norway on 5 May 1945. During World War II, the entire Danish merchant navy fleet was ordered by their government not to return to Denmark after German armed forces occupied the country on April 9, 1940.

Some 6,000 Danish sailors of all ages and ranks spent the next five years sailing the world’s oceans in service of the Allies, and half of them would end up in the UK. In the summer of 1940, the Danish consul in Newcastle offered the city as the ‘official home town’ for the Danish War Sailors, as they came to be called.

The following year, the British Government opened a Danish club for them in St Nicholas’ Building opposite Newcastle Cathedral. Today there is a memorial plaque on the side of the building. An annual service is held, to commemorate the relationship between Newcastle and Demark, and to pay respect to the thousands of Danish sailors who called the city their home during the Second World War.

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MAYORS PARADE 1ST MAY 2022

FREEMEN CELEBRATING

There is a folder among the archives at Moor Bank Lodge labelled Coronation but it doesn’t refer to Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation, rather to that of her parents King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937.

George’s father George V died in 1936 and was succeeded by his eldest son Edward VIII. Edward was popular with many people because of his service in

WW1 (although not on the front line) and his visits to deprived areas of the country during the Depression of the early 1930s. However, his party-going life style and a series of affairs with married women, which were not of course public knowledge, meant that he wasn’t trusted by the government. Edward abdicated in December 1936 so that he could marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson and George VI became King to the relief of many in authority.

The Coronation was on 12 May 1937 and the Freemen held a commemorative dinner on Friday 21 May. This was paid for from Freemen’s funds and was a formal occasion at the Royal Station Hotel in Newcastle. Evening dress was to be worn and there was a six-course meal with four toasts and responses where appropriate. And of course, men only.

All Stewards were invited plus a guest who must be a Freemen. There were

thirty-two active companies at the time with varying numbers of Stewards, not all local, and around ninety Stewards and guests attended. The Stewards Committee also invited around fifty other guests including the Lord Mayor, officers of the City Council and representatives of the Evening Chronicle and the Journal. Unfortunately, we haven’t come across the bill yet.

Was a good time had by all? Well, there is a photo where no-one is smiling but they are all waiting for their dinners and people tended not to smile for photos in those days. We’ll assume that they were pleased to have the new King with his young family in place and, despite the threat of war in Europe, they enjoyed themselves. There was certainly a short but positive article afterwards in one of the local newspapers.

The Freemen also took the opportunity to make gifts to members in need. The sum of £1 was given to each recipient of Town Moor Money and to what were described as inmates of the Holy Jesus and Mary Magdalene Hospitals. There were sixtythree in total. Recipients had to attend the Guildhall on 13 May to pick up their money unless they were too ill to do so.

Unsurprisingly twenty-seven couldn’t attend. Those who did, received their money from Mrs Anderson and Mrs Story, wives of the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Freemen.

The whole event gives the impression of an organisation comfortable with itself and its place in the world. No doubt the Freemen, like the rest of the population, were unaware of the huge social changes that would follow in the late twentieth century.

We don’t have space to print a list of attendees here but if you would like a copy, please contact the Archives Team via admin.

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LORD MAYOR’S SILVER GALLERY

You may remember the story of Arlene Cameron and her long lost family the Bolams (Cordwainers) in Issue 29? We were delighted to welcome Arlene and her husband Jamie back to Newcastle in June, this time, Arlene was sworn in as a Freeman of the City. As they had travelled from Ontario, Canada, we arranged for a private ceremony in the Lord Mayor’s Gallery before Lord Mayor, Cllr Karen Robinson. Thanks to Brenda Joyce in the Lord Mayor’s Office for making all of the necessary arrangements.

COUNCIL CHAMBER

Alexander James Robertson, Bricklayer: Alice Emily Bell, Smith: Katie Mae Clarke, Barber Surgeon: Abbie Lannigan, Baker & Brewer: Pamela Henry, Butcher: Lynden

Hogarth, House Carpenter: Elizabeth Catherine Ranson, House Carpenter: James Alexander, House Carpenter: Ami Claire Pescod, Shipwright: Oliver James Pescod, Shipwright: Leeanne Wright, Taylor.

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Catherine Dunlop, Master & Mariner Richard Aylmore, Scrivener SILVER GALLERY On Arlene’s next trip, we hope to swear her in to the Incorporated Company of Cordwainers.
FURTHER PRIVATE CEREMONIES WERE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER AND THE SILVER GALLERY BEFORE THE LORD MAJOR CLLR KAREN ROBINSON ON THE 23RD AUGUST 2022.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

S oil samples taken over the last 3 years have allowed us to introduce eco friend ly fibrophos into the fertiliser mix to ensure the soil was at the right PH by 31st March.

As a result, this provided excellent grass growth for the grazing season. The grazing season was delayed a few days due to adverse weather but once opened up, we decanted 300 cattle onto the Town Moors, rising to around 450 overall. We can report another excellent grazing season this year.

As the organisation responsible for the largest outdoor events spaces in the region our events schedule and the as sociated work has been extremely busy.

The events range is diverse – community

cricket, fairgrounds, Holi, music festivals, cancer runs, circus and so on. Each one needs our specialist attention to set up, mark out and return the ground to high quality grazing land – prioritising the wel fare of our cattle at all times.

Three professional sound modelling and management exercises were commis sioned to optimise stage placement/direc tion, maximise noise management levels

and minimise noise impacts on residents using the latest speaker technology.

A defibrillator has now been fitted outside Moorbank Lodge and has been registered with the emergency services.

It was our great pleasure to welcome the Little Acorns back to Moor Bank Lodge to plant oak trees. We look forward to working with them again soon on insect hotels and bee hives.

Palisade fencing has been installed on Hunters Moor and improved drainage mate rials have been installed on the Town Moor.

Broken locks, water troughs and fencing have all been replaced or repaired. We are working with Northumbria Police where incidents are linked to vandalism.

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HOPPINGS 2022

Chronicle Live reported that this year’s Hoppings drew its biggest-ever crowds with an estimated 400,000 visitors coming through the gates.

The event made a welcome return to the city in June after a two-year absence because of Covid. The enormous travelling fair is the biggest in Europe with more than 450 attractions.

Now organisers have praised the thou sands of well-behaved visitors who turned out in force to support the event, which was trouble-free, and making it one of the best-attended Hoppings ever.

This is the first year that the Hoppings has been operated by Crow Events. The fami ly-run company took over the management from The Freemen of Newcastle, who still act as consultants for the event. Crow’s is one of the UK’s largest fairground and

events providers and has been in opera tion since 1865.

Ryan Crow, of Crow Events, said that this was the most family-oriented Hoppings he had ever seen and his team was thrilled by the size of the crowds and their behaviour.

“Everything went well and with British summertime on our side, everyone had a fantastic time. We had lots of families from all over the North East as well as families travelling from as far as Leeds, Carlisle and even some who popped down from Scotland.

“Everyone just wanted to enjoy themselves after missing the fair for two years.”

New Lord Mayor Karen Robinson threw herself (quite literally) into the event and gave a speech about how important the event is to the City and how much it had been missed during the pandemic.

THIS GIRL CAN

After 2 years, This Girl Can brought its trademark vibrancy back to Exhibi tion Park and the Town Moor on Tuesday March 8.

This Girl Can, organised by Active New castle, is held with the aim of encouraging as many people as possible to lead more

HOLI

Also known as the Festival of Colours, is a vibrant ancient Hindu festival mainly celebrated in India and Nepal. It marks the end of Winter and welcomes the Spring season, symbolic of good triumphing over evil. The festival begins on the night before Holi. Bonfires are lit and people gather around while eating traditional foods. The second day of the festival is when people celebrate by gathering in groups and splashing brilliantly coloured

active lifestyles and highlight the vital role that women play in all walks of life and the contributions they make to society. The event actively promotes women’s equality and safety and celebrated International Women’s Day.

observed on Friday, March 18th, on the last full moon day of the Hindu lunisolar calendar month and was celebrated on Nuns Moor by Students from Newcastle University HAS Society on Sunday 20th March.

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WE ALSO HOSTED THE FOLLOWING EVENTS DURING THE SUMMER OF 2022.

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EASTER GUILD

APRIL 2022

NOTICE BOARD

BEREAVEMENTS

At long last we were able to resume swearing in ceremonies at open Guild. The following eight people were sworn in by Lord Mayor, Cllr Habib Rahman:

We hope all new members support their Companies by taking part in Company meetings and ensuring the continuity of the good work done by Freemen for the benefit of the City.

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Robinson -

Swithenbank -

Robinson -

Heron -

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WE NEED YOUR

EMAIL ADDRESS

We are keen to make sure you get up to date information on all Freemen activities, we also hope to make better use of technology to reach you quickly and cost effectively. To help us do that, make sure we have your up to date contact details, including an email address.

Send us your full name, address, mobile phone number and email address to admin@freemenofnewcastle.org

On behalf of the Freemen of the City of Newcastle, we extend our sincerest condolences to the families of the following Brothers and Sisters Derek Lowdon Cordwainers Audrey Stevens Bricklayers J Young Coopers Captain Rudyard C Shipley Master Mariners & Millers Terence McGill Coopers Matthew Youll Smiths Stephen Craig Alexander Tanners Fredrick Hugh Patterson Taylors
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Campbell Guy James Charlton Master Mariners
Benjamin Kenneth Adcock
Butchers, Heather Robinson
Millers Beth Mary Millard
Shipwrights Robert
Colliers Joanne
Butchers Rachel
Colliers Sophie
Ropemakers
25TH

Freemen of Newcastle upon Tyne

Mr Kevin Batey, Moor Bank Lodge, Claremont Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4NL Tel: 0191 2615970 Email: admin@freemenofnewcastle.org Website: www.freemenofnewcastle.org

http://www.facebook.com/groups/ freemenofnewcastle

COPYRIGHT: Freeman of Newcastle upon Tyne.

COPYRIGHT: Freemen of Newcastle upon Tyne

PUBLISHER: Riney Media, Sue Riney-Smith Tel: 01325 304360 Email: sue@rineypublishing.co.uk

PUBLISHER: Riney Publishing Limited, Sue Riney Smith Tel: 01325 304360 Email: sue@rineypublishing.co.uk

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