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February 5, 2017

Robinson College, Cambridge

  On Thursday 26 January we had a Cambridge day. My wife’s book-buying odyssey started in Waterstone’s (I escaped to the café), and continued to Heffer’s. Then we had a lunch break. Julie went back to Heffer’s and I went for a walk. I cut through King’s College, Clare Memorial Court, past the University Library, instead turned down Burrell’s Walk and crossed Grange Road to enter Robinson College. Robinson College – website – is a new foundation he types, then realises that 1977 is hardly “new”. Her Majesty opened the College on 29 May 1981, and Julie and I were...
Categories Cambridgeshire/Personal Comment: 1
January 24, 2017

Technical problems, and a simpler world

I just wish to assure my readers that northernvicar is alive and kicking. I’m on my post-Christmas break this week and will attempt to blog some churches. I have written one blog, but I cannot get photos from my camera to load. All I get is “http error”. It will get sorted. We have been to a lovely exhibition at Derby Museum – The Story of Children’s Television from 1946 to Today – website. It is only on until the 29 January, so this week is your last chance to see it. Here is a mobile phone photo of Rosie...
Categories Derbyshire/Personal Comments: 0
August 22, 2016

Tissington, Derbyshire – St Mary

When I left Ponteland, the lovely staff of Richard Coates School gave me a balloon flight as a leaving present – jokes about Vicars and Hot Air. I flew from Tissington on Monday 15 August with Virgin balloons – website. I had to be there at 6 am, so parked by the Hall and Church, and walked up to the launch field. Being one of the first there, Graham the pilot, Chris his sidekick, and me got the hot air blowing into the balloon, and I hung on to various ropes and did what I was told. 16 of us...
Categories Derbyshire/Personal Comments: 0
July 17, 2016

Hexham, Northumberland – St Andrew (Hexham Abbey)

I have several hundred photos of Hexham Abbey. Our son Gareth was verger there, we enjoyed worship there, we own a house in Hexham. They have a daily pattern of worship and a choral tradition, places to pray, a website, an excellent guidebook, a Visitors’ Centre, a cafe, and lots of lovely things to photograph. Here is a selection. One of the oldest things in the Abbey must be this Roman tombstone for Flavinus. He was only 25 when he died, but had served in Britain for seven years. It dates to the end of C1, and may well...
Categories Evetts' windows/Northumberland/Personal Comments: 3
July 15, 2016

Hadrian’s Wall Exploration 13 – Vindolanda

Vindolanda is a very special place. All this blog can do is to give a flavour of it. If you haven’t visited, why not? Their website is here. The main entrance is at the west of the site, car park and welcome centre, with a lovely fountain. From here it is a flatish walk to the main remains. More on them in a moment. Those of us with a wheelchair usually go to the other end, the eastern end. The shop, café and museum are easily accessible, and you can easily get through to the gardens with various reconstructions....
Categories Hadrian's Wall Walk/Northumberland/Personal Comment: 1
June 20, 2016

Ousby, Cumbria – St Luke

The family of one of my Godsons live in Ousby in Cumbria and I had a drum kit for his brother (sorry neighbours). While there Clare and I walked to St Luke’s church, where they worship. It is part of the Cross Fell group of churches. Ousby is a collection of hamlets and the church (NY632344) has  lovely view – though the weather was not very good. The original church, apparently dedicated to St Patrick, was probably C13, and a rector called Barnard is mentioned in 1214. Tradition says that the church was derelict by the end of the following...
Categories Cumbria/Personal/World War 1 Comments: 5
June 17, 2016

Celts, Carmichael and some railway films

If you are in Edinburgh (or can get there before September) I urge you to visit the wonderful Celts Exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland – website. Julie and I went last Monday – did half the exhibition in about an hour, had coffee, then did the other half. A marvellous collection of items from across Europe. As photography isn’t allowed, here are three photos lifted from websites – both with a Roman connection to fit the (current) theme of this blog. “A souvenir of Hadrian’s Wall” – the inscription on this bowl commemorates some of the forts...
Categories Derbyshire/Hadrian's Wall Walk/Northumberland/Personal/Railway History Comments: 0
May 26, 2016

Hadrian’s Wall Exploration 5 – Whitley Castle Roman Fort

I have included the South Tynedale Railway – website – in previous blogs. It is a special line for me as Gareth drove diesel trains here. Here he is, in his element (7 June 2012). I came for a visit, to meet Clare (the mum of one of my Godsons), and we had a train ride to Kirkhaugh. It was a beautiful day for a train ride, and a beautiful day for a walk. We walked out of Kirkhaugh station and climbed up to the main road, then joined the Pennine Way. Clare had done this many years ago, but...
Categories Cumbria/Hadrian's Wall Walk/Personal/Railway History Comments: 0
April 17, 2016

Northernvicar moves South

Sunday 17 April, and at this morning’s services I have just announced that Julie and I are leaving Ponteland. This is what I said: After eight years in Ponteland Julie and I have decided it is time to move on, and we will be moving, in the next couple of months, to the parishes of St Matthew’s Darley Abbey and St Edmund King and Martyr in Allestree. These are two parishes on the north side of the city of Derby. They are two busy parishes, both with good congregations, both with choirs, both with schools and children’s work. I’ll...
Categories Derbyshire/Personal/Railway History Comments: 11
April 14, 2016

Ponteland, Northumberland – St Mary the Virgin

Time to blog my other church. We are in the middle of the town at grid reference NZ165729, and our church website is here. Tina and I have done our best to put a good selection of photos and news on the web – see “News” and “Archive”. Some of the photos on this blog were taken on 10 April 2016 and the snowdrops were earlier this Spring. I have added some others that are special from previous years. This sheet is the one produced for the schools about the history of the church. sheet for coates year 5 I have often said...
Categories Evetts' windows/Northumberland/Personal/Railway History/World War 1 Comments: 6