I WILL SING OF MY OWN NEWCASTLE

 

I WILL SING OF MY OWN NEWCASTLE

sing of my home city
sing of a true geordie heart
sing of a river swell in me
sing of a sea of the canny
sing of the newcastle day

sing of a history of poetry
sing of the pudding chare rain 
sing of the puddles and clarts
sing of the bodies of sailors
sing of the golden sea

sing of our childrens’ laughter
sing of the boats in our eyes
sing of the bridges in sunshine
sing of the fish in the tyne
sing of the lost yards and the pits 

sing of the high level railway
sing of the love in my face
sing of the garths and the castle
sing of the screaming lasses
sing of the sad on the side

sing of the battles’ remains
sing of the walls round our dreams
sing of the scribblers and dribblers
sing of the scratchers of livings
sing of the quayside night
 

sing of the kicks and the kisses
sing of the strays and the chancers
sing of the swiggers of ale
sing of the hammer of memory
sing of the welders’ revenge

sing of a battered townscape
sing of a song underground
sing of a powerless wasteland
sing of a buried bard
sing of the bones of tom spence

sing of the cocky bastards
sing of a black and white tide
sing of the ferry boat leaving
sing of cathedral bells crying
sing of the tyneside skies

sing of my mother and father
sing of my sister’s kindness
sing of the hope in my stride
sing of a people’s passion
sing of the strength of the wind 


KEITH ARMSTRONG 
(as featured on BBC Radio 4) 

BACK TO SCHOOL!

 

COMING SOON

 

GREEN SPACES BOOK - A MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

Foreword

 

Green spaces have always been important, but how important has been revealed by the Covid-19 pandemic.  The authors of this book could not have known the challenging conditions of its production when North Tyneside Council commissioned them to celebrate our green spaces in the autumn of 2019.  Like other residents of the borough the authors have lived through the lockdown constraints and restrictions but persevered in their task.

As the autumn of 2020 approaches we publish a book of immense importance and one which will have a deep resonance to the people of North Tyneside who have sought sanctuary and solace in the green spaces of the borough.

This book captures the spirit of creativity of local people.  A refusal to allow adversity to quell a creative spark that is inspired by the open spaces and natural environments that have sustained us through these difficult times and will sustain us in times to come.

While many have enjoyed our parks and green spaces over the years, many more have come to understand their importance at the present time.  This book ably showcases some of those spaces and will hopefully inspire many more to visit the parks and green spaces of the borough.  

 

Norma Redfearn CBE

Elected Mayor of North Tyneside

September 2020