Fish and Chips
Ponteland has its Fish and Chip shop again after some weeks of refurbishment – now with indoor seating.
One of our great British food traditions – but we owe it all to French, Spanish, Portuguese and Eastern European refugees who have settled here.
In the 16th century, Spanish and Portuguese Jews facing persecution came to England. Their Pescado Frito – white fish coated in flour and fried so it could be eaten cold on the Sabbath – became popular as street food. And the chips? French and Belgians dispute who first had the genius idea to fry potatoes (brought to Europe from Peru) but it was probably the French Protestant Huguenots, in their turn fleeing persecution in the 17th century, who introduced this to the English.
Putting the two together came around 1860. Joseph Malin is credited with opening the first fish and chip shop in London’s East End. He was one of around 140,000 Jews who came to Britain escaping the pogroms in Eastern Europe and Russia. Of course it didn’t stop there. Whether your favourite is curry, pizza, rice and beans or a late night kebab, our cuisine has been enhanced by waves of people who have come here to live. Uniquely British new dishes have been created – Balti in Birmingham, and the national favourite Chicken Tikka Masala which was improvised by a Bengali chef in Glasgow.
Italian ice cream for afters perhaps? Food brings people together. The new Ken Loach film The Old Oak is set in a former mining community in Durham, when Syrian refugees are brought to live there. The local pub is struggling, the one public place left after everything has closed in the town. The same pub which had been the centre for feeding families in the difficult days of the 1980s miners strike. Do see the film to find out what unfolds….
As we welcome those who today need to seek safety and new beginnings, who knows what food traditions we may come to enjoy?
Christine Brown
People Power Prevails on Privatisation
Local people added their weight to a national campaign aimed at preventing further privatisation within the Health Service.
Most were, of course, unaware that on 1 July 2022 the NHS had again been reorganised, as the national and local mainstream media had failed to cover it.
These latest changes potentially open the door to private health companies sitting on the Board and Committees of the 42 new Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), which now constitute the NHS.
The campaign, entitled Rebuild Our NHS and mounted by ‘We Own It’ supported by ‘Keep Our NHS Public’, asked the public to express their concern by writing to the Chair of their local ICS demanding that he/she keep their decision-making bodies free from private health interference.
Members of Morpeth and Pegswood Labour Party (also KONP supporters) spoke to people on the streets of Morpeth, a few days before the 74th anniversary of the founding of the NHS, inviting them to sign a giant birthday card and,by scanning a QR code, send an email to Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, Chair of the North East and North Cumbria ICS.
This region sent more emails than any other part of the country, prompting Sir Liam to respond via the ICS website.
While ‘We Own It’ are satisfied that his response amounts to a pledge to accede to the campaign's demands, KONP are more cautious and are seeking further clarification.
Certainly the ICS are now aware that the public are scrutinising their work, thanks to local people showing they wish their NHS to remain in public hands.
Paul Thompson
Further information on the campaign can be found at: We Own It and Keep Our NHS Public
“You can't improve what you don't measure.”
… once said a management guru. Targets focus attention – so we need to ensure we focus on what is most important.
Perhaps a legacy of COVID will be to remind us of what really matters; living well, caring as communities. The North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA) is leading the way as the first combined authority in England to adopt a ‘wellbeing framework’ to set priorities and steer its work in Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside.
NTCA say “It’s about how together, we can build a better life for everyone. A focus on what simply makes life worthwhile. Our goal is the development of the potential of all – to secure long lasting wellbeing for everyone. This Framework helps us do just that.”
So how to measure “Wellbeing”? In 2021, NTCA and Carnegie UK brought together specialists with experience in different sectors, to develop a wellbeing approach to pandemic recovery. They listened to the voices and experiences of people right across the area. They learnt from places already using the approach - New Zealand, Iceland, Scotland and Wales.
The four key outcomes are all inter-connected. This reflects a belief that wellbeing is something that must be shared: it can only be achieved when everyone has what they need to live well.
Social wellbeing – good quality homes, safe & welcoming communities, access for all to education, health & care service
Economic wellbeing – good quality jobs, fair work, all having enough money to meet needs like heating, eating and housing.
Environmental wellbeing –a good quality environment free from pollution. Businesses & communities taking responsibility for tackling the climate crisis
Democratic wellbeing – all valued & respected, human rights upheld. All have a voice in decisions affecting our communities and public services.
The Carnegie Trust (www.carnegieuktrust.org.uk) is continuing to work with NTCA and local universities to develop good measures against which to test how we are doing.
Wonder what this might look like in Heddon, Ponteland, Morpeth and Pegswood? What would make a positive difference?
“Having a voice” is part of the framework – Curious Squirrel would be interested in your views so contact us at https://www.curioussquirrel.net/contact.
Christine Brown
Colonial wars to culture wars: sensitive collections in our museums
The Great North Museum: Hancock (to use its proper name) is a valued part of our cultural landscape, but there’s always room for improvement. Adam Goldwater (Museum Manager at GNM:H) says, “the World Cultures Gallery is a bit of an embarrassment” and he is on a mission to improve it. He is a key player in an effort to ‘decolonise’ the museum, although he is not entirely comfortable with the term because of its culture wars connotations.
It is an issue facing museums across the UK (and beyond) which has its origins in the long-running campaign to repatriate the so-called ‘Elgin marbles’ from the British Museum to Greece and more recently the so-called ‘Benin bronzes’ to Nigeria. In part the issue revolves around how museums acquired their artefacts – the question of rightful ownership. But ethical concerns go beyond this to include how these artefacts are displayed and contextualised. For Adam, both are important.
GNM:H has developed a policy on repatriation of cultural property which lays out an approach to dealing with the first of these concerns. This has already led to pro-active moves to return the item shown here to Nigeria. Research by museum staff concluded that it was part of the treasure trove looted from Benin during the punitive colonial military campaign in 1897.
The history of the World Cultures collection spans over 250 years and records do not always capture how an object came into its collection, but as a first step GNM:H has prepared a 100+page inventory https://greatnorthmuseum.org.uk/collections/sensitive-collections-and-repatriation that is available on-line for public scrutiny.
As a legacy of colonialism, many communities worldwide have been physically separated from their material heritage which now exists in museums far from those communities. For indigenous peoples, aspects of history, heritage, identity and elements of culture can be embodied within such artefacts. Traditionally, museum displays have employed a clearly western approach to looking at artefacts in their collections and overlooked the objects’ significance to their source community. Decolonising GNM:H therefore poses challenges that go beyond repatriation so that displays (particularly within the World Cultures Gallery) recognise and show sensitivity to indigenous views of these artefacts. Looked at in this way, their existence should not be seen as an embarrassment but rather as an opportunity to educate museum visitors both about indigenous cultures and about the colonial experience that led to these objects ending up in a museum so far from their original home. We cannot change history but we can learn from it and GNM:H has decided to take a fresh look at its collection with input from local people who have strong cultural connections to these artefacts.
John Gowing (with thanks to Adam Goldwater)
Image credit: Brass stave with bird finial (Great North Museum: Hancock)
Coming soon to a site near you…
What goes around, comes around. So they say. And it seems to apply to nuclear power.
25 years ago the Druridge Bay Campaign was celebrating success in its long struggle to oppose plans to build a nuclear power station on the coast of Northumberland. That was shortly after the Chernobyl disaster had dumped its poison on Cumbria and the pendulum had swung against nuclear power.
In the interim, too little was done by successive governments to secure our future energy supplies and the UK became increasingly dependent on gas. Now we have a war in Ukraine and gas prices have gone through the roof. The pendulum has swung back and there is once again talk of building nuclear power stations.
The new ‘Energy Security Strategy’ (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/british-energy-security-strategy) envisages creating a new body - Great British Nuclear - that will be tasked with delivering around a quarter of the country’s projected energy needs. To achieve this end, the aim appears to be to build eight new reactors by the end of the decade. Currently, there are eight designated nuclear sites: Hinkley, Sizewell, Heysham, Hartlepool, Bradwell, Wylfa, Oldbury and Moorside. Worryingly, the new strategy mentions developing “an overall siting strategy for the long term”. Are they coming back to Druridge?
It’s time for a better-informed debate on whether or not nuclear power offers at least part of the solution to a secure zero-carbon energy future. It would have been better to have the debate before we got into this mess, but we are where we are.
One issue is, of course, the risk of another Windscale/3-Mile-Island/Chernobyl/Fukushima type accident. Estimates of the human impact of these incidents seem to vary widely. However, it is important to contextualise this risk alongside the threat posed by the climate emergency.
Another issue is the disposal of spent nuclear fuel. The new strategy says only that the UK “applies the highest global nuclear safety standards, including for the safe long-term disposal of all nuclear waste”. But what does this mean? It has to go somewhere and it has to stay there for a very long time.
According to the UK Radioactive Waste Inventory (https://ukinventory.nda.gov.uk/) the total mass of radioactive waste in stock and estimated to be produced over the next 100-year period is around 5.1 million tonnes. When packaged, this would fill a volume around 4.5 million cubic metres, roughly the size of Wembley stadium. It requires storage above-ground for 50 to 100 years and then deep burial in a geological waste repository for 1000 years. January 2018 marked the start of the sixth attempt by UK government to identify a suitable site. They are still looking. Let’s hope they are not looking at Druridge Bay.
John Gowing
It was 2019 and Kate Thick was dry stone walling. Hard skilled work, but Kate loves being outdoors in the Northumbrian countryside and the peace to reflect in the quiet hills. This day Kate noticed again the large quantities of fallen wood lying on the land and was reminded of an earlier time in her life, living in Africa and watching in awe as local women carried loads of firewood piled high on their heads. She remembers thinking, ‘I couldn’t do that’.
Nearly four years on and Kate has established and runs the Northumberland Log Bank, a non-registered charity providing dry, seasoned logs free to those in need across rural Northumberland. A platoon of trained volunteers collects wood donated by farms and estates, takes it to one of the five Log Banks, where it is cut to size and stored until ready for use and then delivered to those who need it.
They are aiming to help up to four hundred households this coming winter and with fuel poverty set to rise as financial constraints affect more people, Kate’s team is working hard this summer to build up stocks.
Kate identified a need and saw a solution. Her energy, enthusiasm and hard work have made it happen. Kate says, ‘There’s no point in waiting for the government to sort things out. You might wait forever. What we are doing is drop in the ocean but when communities work together and support one another they can solve many of their own problems’. Thanks Kate.
Jamie Thompson
Are you in need of wood fuel due to financial constraints, poor health, advanced age or rural isolation? We can deliver dry, seasoned logs.
THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR THIS SERVICE – make a small charitable donation if you wish.
We are also looking for volunteers.
Contact: Kate Thick
Email. katethick@hotmail.com Tel. 07900963234
Second Chances
Winston Churchill, contributing to a debate in the House of Commons in 1910 said “The mood and temper of the public in regard to the treatment of crime and criminals is one of the most unfailing tests of the civilization of any country.” Currently we are failing that test.
While prison should be a punishment, most establishments are dilapidated. 1/3rd of the prison estate dates back to the Victorian era, overcrowding is running at 46% and there is a lack of purposeful activity. England has the largest prison population is Europe and it is growing. The annual cost to society and the economy of re- offending is estimated at a staggering £18.1 million. Prison, though essential for some, does not work for most.
The North East has had the highest re- offending rates in England for over a decade, clearly action is needed. The Oswin Project, whose strap line is ‘Giving second chances’ became a charity in 2014 to place a wedge in the revolving door of re- offending. We build a bridge of opportunity between prison and outside and are happy to get involved in almost anything that gives our clients, who we call Oswinners, second chances, though it must be legal!
To start an Oswinner’s journey we run a bakery and café in HMP Northumberland. The goods baked there supply our Café 16 in Newcastle Cathedral and ‘graduates’ from prison have the opportunity of a placement there or in our flourishing inside out team which decorates, maintains gardens and landscapes. Mentoring and support of Oswinners and employees alike is key to our to success.
We have calculated that for every 10 Oswinners who do not re- offend (and it is a rarity) we save the public purse, in effect you the taxpayer, £1 million. Opportunity through training, volunteering, and employment gives Oswinners confidence and self-esteem.
In a post Brexit Britain, post Covid Britain many areas need a workforce and prisoners need jobs. It is a simple equation. Could you give someone a second chance? You can also support our team through volunteering. It is time to change perceptions!
Fiona Sample
Action: It’s not what you say, it’s what you do.
17 May
Northumberland’s Climate Change Action Plan (2021-2023) is ambitious. It aims for Northumberland to lead the way nationally by being carbon neutral by 2030. The plan (which you can access at northumberland.gov.uk) is comprehensive (rating 20th out of 409 in an independent assessment – www.climateemergency.uk) with two main gaps:
- first, there is no methane reduction plan which may not be surprising in a county with powerful agricultural interests. A farmers’ working group are amongst those addressing the issue.
- second, the plan doesn’t sufficiently address adaptation. How is the county preparing for increased coastal erosion, flood and wild-fire risk, building infrastructure resilience, protecting the natural environment and strengthening emergency services?
Nevertheless, it’s an impressive plan that recognises the geographic and historic advantages that Northumberland brings to the challenge and the opportunities for the county to benefit from being at the forefront of a green recovery and a growing green economy.
Whatever they say, it’s what they do that counts – and however good the plan, it is the action that matters. Translating plans into action is going to require funding and where this is going to come from is still rather opaque - although much depends on whether commercial capital backs the green recovery.
Addressing climate change is going to impact on many aspects of our lives – housing, heating, transport, health, diet, waste, employment, education, environment etc. The challenges will be different across our various urban, rural and isolated communities. With fuel and food prices rocketing and inflation rising many of us are going to struggle to survive financially, let alone invest in insulation, heat pumps, electric vehicles and solar panels.
So we read the climate action plan (please do) and we ask questions and say what we think but what are we to do? Can we identify needs in the communities we live in? Can we identify opportunities? Can we identify risks and vulnerable people? Could we set up a power generating ‘hub’ where we live? Is a shared transport project viable? Can we identify community approved suppliers of services such as home insulation, heat pumps and solar panels? Can we campaign for council support for such schemes in our communities?
We would love to hear your thoughts and ideas at Curious Squirrel.
Jamie Thompson (Spring 2022)
Safer Transport Northumbria - a new app for your phone.
17 May
Curious Squirrel articles have highlighted the need for affordable and accessible public transport in our area. We also want travelling to be safe, and to look out for each other. Have you heard about the new way in which bus and Metro passengers can contact help, or report concerns? The new Safer Transport Northumbria app is available to download for free - for Apple devices from the Appstore, and for Android devices from Google Play. It’s a quick and easy way for passengers across Northumberland, especially those travelling on their own, to report the routes and stops that need looking in to. The app is part of a public awareness campaign called ‘It’s the End of the Line’ because it’s the end of the line when it comes to unwanted behaviours and attitudes that make people, particularly women and girls, feel unsafe why travelling around our region. It is a supported by a collaboration between Transport providers, Northumbria Police, and a number of local groups, including Victims First, Rape Crisis and Street Pastors. Using the app you can
• Report places or situations of concern – quickly and discreetly
• Access support
• Check up to date travel information - bus, Metro or train – and plan your journey
If it’s an emergency we can always dial 999, but sometimes when we’re waiting at a Metro station or sat on the top deck of the bus, we might see something that doesn’t feel right. Police and transport bosses want passengers to tell them about that, and the app has been launched to help us identify just where the areas of concern are. Poorly lit locations, broken equipment or unwanted behaviours and attitudes can all make us feel unsafe. What matters is that we don’t just sit there and ignore the fact that a someone is being harassed by a group of guys on the Metro or put up with feeling uncomfortable at a remote bus stop because the lights are out. We can flag concerns for another’s safety or for ourselves. Why not download the app and give it a try? – and spread the word. Together we can make a difference.
Christine Brown (Spring 2002)
A Mayor for our region. A New Deal for the North of Tyne
17 May
The Lindisfarne Gospels are coming to The Laing in the Autumn as part of The North of Tyne Mayor’s £2.6million Culture and Creative Programme. Jamie Driscoll was elected as our first Mayor for the North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA) in May 2019. Thanks to Jamie, 2022 will be a real celebration of the rich history of art and culture in the North East, from the 1900th anniversary of Hadrian’s Wall to the Pitman Paintings.
The slogan of the Artists’ Union England is ‘Industry without Art is brutality’. Art and culture enrich our emotional world and mental health, and are seen by the new Mayor as a sound investment in our collective wellbeing.
Born in Middlesborough, Jamie is a qualified engineer and one-time director of a software development company. Married with two sons, he is “black-belt” in jiu jitsu, a football enthusiast and a committed socialist. The North of Tyne Devolution Deal covers Newcastle, Northumberland and North Tyneside. It comes with £20 million per year for investment to “increase opportunities and living standards through inclusive growth and productivity improvements.” Among Jamie’s key priorities are: -
Green Industrial Revolution, including improved public transport. An £18m Green New Deal is planned to include a jobs and skills programme focused on decarbonising the economy. The Mayor’s Citizens’ Assembly on climate change has already taken place and the target set for a net-zero region by 2030. There will be no chauffeur-driven mayoral car for Jamie, it will be bike, public transport, or if really necessary, use of a shared, Nissan Leaf, pool car.
Affordable homes. The NTCA will have broad powers to acquire and promote house building. The aim is to establish Community Housing Cooperatives to build houses for long term tenancies with fair rents. Solar panels and energy efficiency will be a must.
Community Wealth Building will be adopted so that more work goes to local small / medium sized businesses. This tried and trusted approach was used in Preston and helped it win the title of “Most Improved City in the UK”. In 2004 Dominic Cummings (remember him?) cut his campaigning teeth “successfully” opposing North East England Regional Devolution. Consequently, for fifteen years, key decisions about our region were made in Westminster. Now at least we’re beginning to take back control.
Bob Turner (Spring 2022)