Event Listings
North Tyneside Libraries
and Community Centres
APRIL - SEPTEMBER 2017
Astronomy season
Photo: Paul Turner
- see page 3
@NorthTyneLibs
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North Tyneside Libraries
www.northtyneside.gov.uk
Our libraries and community centres have a packed
programme of events and activities!
If you would like any further information about anything in this guide, or would like
to book for an event, please contact any North Tyneside Library or email
[email protected]
APRIL
Meet the... Botanist
Sixteen Centuries of
Botanical Art
Thursday 6th April, 10.30am
Wideopen Library
Local botanist Dr Gavin Hardy explores
the wonders of botanical art from
illuminated manuscripts to modern
botanical illustration. FREE event,
booking essential.
Meet the Author –
Stuart MacBride
Monday 24th April,
7pm
Whitley Bay
Customer First
Centre
Stuart MacBride is the
author of the Logan McRae and
Ash Henderson novels. Join us to
celebrate the release of
‘A Dark so Deadly’, the gripping
new novel from the award-winning
and bestselling author. Tickets: £3,
booking essential.
Read Regional events are in association
with New Writing North. Meet authors
whose books have been chosen for this
year’s campaign which introduces
readers to writers from the North.
Read Regional:
Shelley Day &
Kathleen McKay
Tuesday 25th April, 7.30pm
Cullercoats Library
Shelley Day is a former
lawyer and academic
psychologist. A grim case
of matricide is at the core of
her debut novel, ‘The
Confession of Stella Moon’.
Partnering Shelley is
Kathleen McKay, whose
novel ‘Hard Wired’ won the
Northern Crime competition.
FREE event, booking essential.
Astronomy season
All take place at North Shields Customer First Centre. Book all four talks in
the series for £10, or £3 each. Booking essential, call (0191) 643 5270.
Galaxies and Cosmology:
The birth and death of the
Universe
Thursday 6th April, 6.30pm
Modern science has been able to piece
together the story of the whole universe –
from how everything came to be born, to
how it might possibly end in the far future.
In this presentation, Dave Newton gives
an introduction to galaxies and what they
tell us.
The Northern Lights:
All about the Aurora Borealis
Thursday 13th April, 6.30pm
Their beautiful coloured light displays in
the night sky have fascinated people for
generations. Dave Newton gives an
insight into the Aurora and how you can
increase your chances of seeing it.
Shakespeare’s Astronomy
Thursday 20th April, 6.30pm
William Shakespeare's plays present a
fascinating glimpse into the world of
renaissance astronomy. Shakespeare sat
firmly on the cusp of change, but where
did he learn of these new ideas?
This talk examines Shakespeare's plays,
looking at the many astronomical
references and trying to gain an insight
into his Brave New World.
The Great Geordie
Space Race –
Famous Astronomers from
the North East
Thursday 27th April, 6.30pm
The contribution of this region to the
exploration of space is sadly largely
unknown. However, the North East has
been at the forefront of astronomical
research for over 1,300 years and lists
the likes of Bede, surveyor Jeremiah
Dixon, polymath Thomas Wright and
telescope makers, Grubb Parsons to
name but a few amongst its alumni.
Local History Month: May 2017
Local History Day
Saturday 13th May, 10am to 4pm
North Shields Customer First Centre
Featuring local speakers and taster sessions
on www.ancestry.com with staff on hand to
advise on the local history resources available.
Browse stalls showcasing local and family
history research, community groups,
societies and children’s activities throughout
the day. FREE event, some activities and
talks must be booked in advance.
Local history talks
Join us for an insight into local history,
historic buildings and landmark events.
All talks are free, booking essential.
Backworth
Remembered,
by Bob Mitchelson
Tuesday 9th May, 6.30pm
Shiremoor Library
Tynemouth & Cullercoats
History Tour, by
Ken Hutchinson
Tuesday 9th May, 2pm
John Willie Sams Centre, Dudley
Wallsend Through Time,
by Ken Hutchinson
Thursday 11th May, 2pm
Wallsend Customer First Centre
North East Life
in the 1930s, 40s
& 50s, by
Andrew Clark
Friday 12th May, 2.30pm
Wideopen Library and
Saturday 13th May, 11.15am
North Shields Customer First Centre
The Lit & Phil Library,
by Ian McArdle
Saturday 13th May, 1pm
North Shields Customer
First Centre
Mr Corvan's Music Hall,
by Ed Waugh
Saturday 13th May, 2.30pm
North Shields Customer First Centre
The Victoria Tunnel,
by Ian McArdle
Thursday 18th May, 2.30pm
Longbenton Library
‘From the heart of my bottom’
by Bill Blevins
Friday 19th May, 2.30pm
Howdon Library
Satirical humour, memories and
anecdotes.
Hartley Pit Disaster 1862,
by Ken Hutchinson
Tuesday 23rd May, 2pm
Killingworth Library
50 Years of Fun, by Valerie
Hooper
Tuesday 30th May, 2.30pm
Whitley Bay Customer First Centre
Featuring memories of Whitley Bay
Pantomime Society from 1964–2014.
MAY
JUNE
Hands on Dyslexia
Meet the authors –
Sophie Hannah & Adele Geras
Saturday 6th May,
11am to 3pm
Whitley Bay Customer First Centre
North Tyneside Libraries, in association
with Dyslexia North East, present a fun
and interactive information day for
everyone. Enjoy crafts, story telling and
games while raising awareness of
Dyslexia. FREE event, suitable for all
ages.
History Wardrobe:
Bad Girls and Bonnets
Tuesday 16th May, 7pm
North Shields Customer First Centre
A bold, brash and beautiful celebration of
Jane Austen’s wicked women, and a truly
revelatory look at clothes and crime in the
eighteenth century. Tickets: £6.50,
booking essential.
Wednesday 14th June, 7pm
Whitley Bay Customer First Centre
Sophie Hannah is an international bestselling author
of psychological thrillers,
which have been adapted
for television. In 2014 she
published the first authorised continuation
novel to feature Agatha Christie’s Hercule
Poirot, ‘The Monogram Murders’.
Her mother, Adèle Geras,
has published more than
100 books for readers of all
ages, including ‘Cover Your
Eyes’ and ‘Love or Nearest
Offer’. Tickets: £5, booking essential.
This event also sees the
launch of Story Tyne 2017 –
the North Tyneside Libraries’
short story competition.
Story Tyne entry forms and details of
events will be available on the evening
and in North Tyneside Libraries from
15th June.
This year’s judges are:
• Hazel Osmond, an author of romantic
comedies, winner of the Woman &
Home short story competition
sponsored by Costa and the Yeovil
short story prize.
• Victoria Watson, a past Story Tyne
winner, writer, copy writer, proof reader
and blogger who runs creative writing
workshops.
• Christine Featonby, winner of
Story Tyne 2016.
Read Regional:
Phaedra Patrick &
Naomi Booth
Tuesday 20th June, 5.30pm
Monkseaton Library
‘
‘The Lost Art of Sinking’ by
Naomi Booth is a novella
that explores the art of
losing yourself, and the
effects of taking obsession
a little too far.
In ‘The Curious Charms of
Arthur Pepper’ Phaedra
Patrick’s protagonist, a
loveable widower, embarks
on a life-changing
adventure. FREE event, booking essential.
Great War Talks
Popular talks delivered by
retired lecturer Ian McArdle
A Doctor’s Experience of
the Western Front
Monday 26th June, 2.30pm
Wideopen Library
FREE event, booking essential.
Medical Services of the Great War
Monday 25th September, 2.30pm
Wideopen Library
FREE event, booking essential.
JULY
Wallsend Festival
Saturday 1st July, 10am to 4pm
Wallsend Customer First Centre
Festival family fun day, with lots of stalls
and activities.
Summer Reading
Challenge
Launches Saturday 15th July
The theme for this year’s Summer
Reading Challenge, produced by The
Reading Agency and delivered by libraries,
is Animal Agents, illustrated by the
amazingly talented children’s illustrator
Tony Ross.
There’s something peculiar happening at
the library – and that’s where the Animal
Agents come in! It’s a detective agency
manned by all kinds of clever animals –
furry, scaly and slippery – and these guys
are out to crack the case with a little help
from their friends.
As you read library books you’ll receive
stickers, some with mysterious smells...
By collecting the stickers you will help the
Animal Agents find out what’s really been
going on behind the scenes and who is to
blame! Solve the mystery and earn a
medal as a reward. There’ll be lots of fun
events and activities in the library over the
holidays too.
Meet the author Sue Miller: 20/20 Vision
Tuesday 4th July, 2.30pm
Monkseaton Library
What’s fair? What’s right? When you live
in a community with barely enough
resources to go round you ask those
questions every day. Lucy Daniel has
struggled with these questions her whole
life. In ‘20/20 Vision’ it’s 2099, global
disasters have changed everything and
there’s no room for sentiment. FREE
event, booking essential.
Nell Gwynn: More
than a mistress?
Tuesday 11th July, 7pm
White Swan Customer First
Centre
Costume historian and dressmaker Meridith
Towne’s lively presentation explores the
fascinating life of Nell Gwyn, Charles II’s
favourite and most famous mistress.
Using beautifully handcrafted replica
costume we will delve into her wardrobe
and join this ultimate social climber.
But was Nell more than just a mistress?
Tickets: £6.50, booking essential.
SEPTEMBER
Andrew Clark:
Life in the 30s, 40s and 50s
Thursday 7th September, 2.30pm
As part of Heritage Open Days, local
author Andrew Clark will host one of his
very popular talks about life in days gone
by. FREE event, booking essential.
Meet the... Forensic Artist
Norman Kirtlan: Forensic
Reconstruction Workshop
Tuesday 12th September, 6.30pm
North Shields Customer First Centre
Back by popular demand, ex-Northumbria
Police Officer Norman Kirtlan talks about
reconstruction and age progression. Ever
wondered how they can tell what a skeleton
would have looked like in real life? Would
you like some insight into how you or
someone you know might look in thirty
years? Tickets: £3, booking essential.
An evening with the
author of ITV’s ‘Vera’,
Ann Cleeves
Tuesday 19th September, 7pm
North Shields Customer
First Centre
The Queen of Crime fiction, Ann Cleeves,
is the author of the bestselling novels
which have inspired ITV's ‘Vera’ and
BBC One's ‘Shetland’. A local author,
Ann was this year awarded the highest
honour in crime writing, the CWA's
Diamond Dagger. Join her to celebrate
the publication of her brand new ‘Vera’
novel, ‘The Seagull’. There will be the
opportunity to buy signed books. Tickets:
£3, booking essential.
Meet the poet Pauline Plummer
Tuesday 19th September,
2.30pm
Monkseaton Library
Pauline Plummer was born in Liverpool
but has lived in the North East since
1982. She has had two collections of
poetry published and two pamphlets
that were collaborations with an artist
based on journeys in West Africa.
A writer in residence at Woodhorn
Colliery Museum and Poet Laureate
of Middlesbrough (2000), she has
read her poems on TV, on radio and
at many venues. FREE event, booking
essential.
The Underwear
Project: Underneath
Fashion
Tuesday 26th September, 7pm
Shiremoor Library
From the Greeks to Janet Reger,
discover the fascinating history of
underwear with this entertaining talk
and performance. Tickets: £5, booking
essential.
Summer Fayres
Saturday 8th July,
11am to 2pm
Howdon Community
Centre
FRE
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Tuesday 11th July,
3.30pm to 5.30pm
Howdon Library
Thursday 27th July,
11am to 2pm
John Willie Sams Centre,
Dudley
Saturday 29th July,
11am to 2pm
Oxford Centre, Longbenton
Thursday 3rd August,
11am to 2pm
White Swan Customer
First Centre
Thursday 10th August,
2.30pm to 4.30 pm
Forest Hall Library
Friday 11th August,
2pm to 4pm
Wideopen Library
BOOKINGS:
Please note some events have limited
spaces available.
You are advised to book early to avoid
disappointment.
You can book your tickets by visiting your
nearest North Tyneside Library or
alternatively card payments can be taken
over the phone.
Please note - all events must be paid
for in advance.
E-BULLETIN:
For regular updates on library events you
can now subscribe to our newsletter.
Send an email with ‘sign-up’ in the subject
box and your name and contact details to
[email protected]
CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
North Shields Customer First Centre
Tel: (0191) 643 5270
Wallsend Customer First Centre
Tel: (0191) 643 2075
White Swan Customer First Centre
Tel: (0191) 643 2040
Whitley Bay Customer First Centre
Tel: (0191) 643 5390
@NorthTyneLibs
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F
.eps
North Tyneside Libraries
www.northtyneside.gov.uk