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(nature contre béton....)

C'est bien l'Bruno.

Participation à l'oeuvre "Batofar" ( un bateau musical amarré sur la Seine), de l'amie Lola Duval, graphiste de son état.

The Advanced Passenger Train programme was all about creating a world beating tilting train for the future, without having to spend billions on new dedicated track for high speed running. It should have followed in the steps of the HST, and put the UK in the forefront of railway innovation. It was scrapped, and the technology sold to the Italians who produced, the Pendolino! Scrapped by a government who lacked backbone and vision, and a hostile press who excelled in the maxim of not letting un truths get in the way of a good story. Nothing new there then, you may say? During its short life in scheduled service, No. 370003 speeds through Lichfield Trent Valley with a Glasgow Central to London Euston service on 19th April 1985. Copyright Photograph John Whitehouse - all rights reserved

Mirai Nagasu

Gold Medal winner, Womens

ISU Junior Grand Prix, Lake Placid, Sept. 2007

 

A full Bielman..and spinning at incredible speed to boot.

 

A future Olympian to look out for in Vancouver 2010!!!

 

Performing her long programme, Coppélia. Notes on Coppelia below. This is the same programme she performed January 26th 2008 at the US Senior Ladies championship, and won gold with. At age 14, even though Mirai is the US woman's champion, she is too young to go to the world championships.

 

Coppelia is ballet about a girl who sits still, without smiling in the window of the shop of a toymaker Coppelius. A group of young kids enter the shop, and one of them noticing that Coppelia is a mechanical doll, pretends to be her, and gradually comes to life. The original choreography for Coppelia was by Arthur Saint-Leon with music by Leo Delibes.

 

Mirai's programme tells the story of the ballet (or part of it). It is not just skating to music, but a beautifully choreographed piece. Fulls mark to her choreographer, as well as to Mirai.

 

Nagasu trains in Pasadena and represents the Pasadena Figure Skating Club. Her coaches are Charlene Wong, Sashi Kuchiki, Sondra Holmes, Bob Paul, and Jim Yorke. Her choreographer is Lori Nichol.

    

The Audi Sport Quattro S1 was a Quattro programme car developed for homologation for Group B rallying in 1984, and sold as a production car in limited numbers.[1] It featured an all aluminium alloy 2,133 cc (130.2 cu in) (2.1 L) 20v DOHC engine slightly smaller than that of the Audi Quattro (in order to qualify for the 3-litre engine class after the scale factor applied to turbo engines). In road-going form, the engine was capable of producing 225 kW (306 PS; 302 bhp),[1] with the competition cars initially producing around 331 kW (450 PS; 444 bhp).[1]

 

The vehicle also featured a body shell composed of carbon-kevlar[1] and boasting wider arches, wider wheels (nine inches as compared to the Ur-Quattro's optional 8-inch-wide (200 mm) wheel rim), the steeper windscreen rake of the Audi 80 (requested by the Audi Sport rally team drivers to reduce internal reflections from the dashboard for improved visibility) and, most noticeably, a 320 mm (12.6 in) shorter wheelbase.

 

In addition to Group B competition in rallying, the Sport Quattro won the 1985 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with Michèle Mouton in the driving seat, setting a record time in the process.[21] 224 cars of this "short version" Sport Quattro were built, and were offered for sale for 203,850 German Marks.[1]

Manufacturer: Eurofighter GMBH

Operator: Luftwaffe (German Air Force)

Type: Eurofighter EF2000 (31+18)

Event/ Location: NATO TLP 2021/4/ Los Llanos, Albacete, Spain

A brilliant place to visit and a surprisingly large nature reserve in the middle of one of the worlds greatest and largest cities. You can see the urban backdrop and aeroplanes over the city but at times you will feel as if you are in the countryside. You will see many common wildlife as well as rare birds dropping in as well. It has quite an impressive list for a reserve in an urban area. A number of birds especially which are not found in urban areas are resident or passage migrants here.

  

www.wwt.org.uk/visit/london/

  

City oasis

 

WWT London has been voted the UK’s Favourite Nature Reserve. Close to the heart of the capital, it is a haven for birds, wildlife and people.

 

www.wwt.org.uk/visit/london/plan-your-visit/

  

Queen Elizabeth's Walk

Barnes, London

SW13 9WT

T: 020 8409 4400

F: 020 8409 4401

E: info.london@wwt.org.uk

  

Opening times

Open 7 days a week, except 25 December.

 

Winter opening time until Saturday 24 March 2012

 

9.30am to 5pm (last admission 4pm).

 

Summer opening time until Saturday 27 October 2012

 

9.30am to 6pm (last admission 5pm).

Early closing on 24 December (last admission 2pm, centre closes at 3pm)

Water's Edge Cafe: last orders 4.30pm in winter and 5.30pm in summer

Water's Edge Cafe: closes 5.00pm in winter and 6.00pm in summer

 

Terms of entry

 

Children under 16 years must be accompanied by an adult.

Photography is permitted on site providing it is for personal use only. All commercial/stock library photography, filming, recording, etc. must be agreed in advance with the centre. Please phone 020 8409 4400 for any commercial filming or photographic enquiries.

Visitors are asked to respect the habitats and wildlife of the centre by keeping to the paths at all times and not causing undue noise. The centre is a nature conservation area designed to protect natural habitats for all UK wetland species, both botanical and animal. It is especially important to remain quiet in the bird viewing hides.

 

The following are not permitted on site:

 

•Dogs, other than trained assistance dogs (i.e. guide dogs), which must be kept on their harness at all times, and the harness must clearly state "working or assistance dog." Any dog waste must please be removed. There is minimal shade in the car park so we strongly recommend dogs are not left locked in parked cars. There are no suitable areas anywhere at the centre for dogs to be left tied-up outside. Please be aware that our priority is for the welfare of the dogs, so it is our policy to call the RSPCA or Police immediately if we are concerned for the health of a dog.

•Scooters, bicycles, tricycles, roller skates or blades or skateboards. Bike cages are provided in the car park, please bring your own lock. WWT London Wetland Centre accepts no responsibility for any theft or damage of bikes or property left in the cages.

•Climbing on any trees or shrubs or any pruning/picking of flowers or vegetation.

•Climbing on any exhibits or habitats either in the World Wetlands area or the Wildside areas.

•Swimming/wading or entering any water bodies on site.

•Sports or games (including jogging).

•There is no provision for left baggage, please leave all baggage in your vehicle or do not bring it with you.

•We do not allow re-entry to the centre, unless admission receipt is provided.

 

Accessibility

 

•The grounds have level access and hard-surfaced paths with tarmac on main routes (and compacted gravel on minor paths)

•Low-level viewing windows and level access to ground floor bird hides. Heated bird-watching observatory in main visitor centre

•Lift access to upper floors of visitor centre, observatory and three-storey Peacock Tower hide. No lift in Wildside Hide

•Free wheelchair loan

•Free electric mobility scooter loan. One only - must be booked in advance.

•Fixed hearing loops in admissions area and in audio visual theatre

•Trained assistance dogs only (i.e. guide dogs). No other dogs permitted

•Accessible toilets in car park and throughout the visitor centre

•Free car parking on site. Tarmac surface and reserved bays for disabled visitors.

•Public transport is available direct to the centre from Hammersmith bus station to the centre between 9.30am and 5pm (No 283 from Stand K)

  

www.wwt.org.uk/visit/london/plan-your-visit/walks-and-talks/

  

London Wetland Centre is an idyllic spot to escape the hustle and bustle of the City for a walk or to indulge in an afternoon of bird watching from one of our six hides. The reserve is easily accessible with pathways and bridges among the pools, meadows and gardens.

But if you want to learn a bit more about the centre - how it was created and the work we do here - you can join one of our tours held daily at 11.30am and 2.30pm. There’s no need to book and the tour is free with admission to the centre.

Our guides will explain how London Wetland Centre was created from four redundant Thames Water reservoirs. They will also point out wildlife spotted on the day.

Over 200 species of bird have been recorded on site since we opened in 2000. Also making their home amongst the 300,000 plants and 27,000 trees we planted during the centre’s creation are water voles, dragonflies, frogs, snakes, slow worms, bats, newts and butterflies, to name just a few.

You can also join one of our wardens at 3.00pm each day as they feed the birds in World Wetlands. Just turn up and the walks are free with admission to the centre.

As well as our regular walks we frequently run specialist walks and talks on everything from plant identification and reptiles to bird watching and bird song. See our Whats On section for forthcoming events.

And every day you will find our ‘Guide in the hide’ who will be able to point out the birds you can see on our lakes and lagoons.

 

•Guided tours, daily at 11.30am and 2.30pm

•Bird feed tour, daily at 3.00pm

•Guide in a hide, daily

  

www.wwt.org.uk/visit/london/plan-your-visit/prices/

  

2012 admission prices

 

Prices are shown inclusive of Gift Aid and without. The Gift Aid admission price includes a voluntary donation, which enables us to claim the tax back as part of the Government's Gift Aid scheme. For further information on Gift Aid click here.

 

Pricing*Gift AidNo Gift Aid

Adult£10.99£9.99

Concession (65+, full-time students, unemployed)£8.20£7.45

Child (4-16 years)£6.10£5.55

Family (2 adults and 2 children, 4-16 years)£30.60£27.82

Children (under 4 years)FreeFree

Essential helpers assisting disabled visitorsFreeFree

 

Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

 

Please note: you may be asked for proof of age, student ID or proof that you are receiving Job Seekers Allowance to qualify for concession admission prices.

  

www.wwt.org.uk/visit/london/plan-your-visit/eat-drink-ref...

  

Eat, drink, refresh

 

The Water’s Edge café is situated overlooking the centre's entrance lake where you can watch the ducks hunting for their own lunch! On warmer days you can relax on the terrace but there is also plenty of seating indoors for when the weather is chillier.

The café serves a delicious selection of main dishes and sandwiches, soup, cakes, biscuits and snacks plus children’s lunch boxes.

Each day we offer breakfast rolls (full English breakfast at weekends). Hot food, including a vegetarian option, is served from 12 noon.We also serve hot and cold drinks and wines throughout the day.

Throughout the year we serve meals to celebrate festive occasions such as Christmas, Mothers’ Day and Valentine’s Day. Where better to treat someone to lunch than in the beautiful, relaxing setting of a 105 acre wildlife haven?

We also have rooms available for hire for private celebrations such as weddings and parties.

The Water’s Edge café is in the centre so cannot be visited without paying for admission to the centre (admission is free for members).

Although only food purchased from the cafe can be eaten inside and on the café terrace there are ample picnic areas situated around the centre where you are welcome to eat your own food and drink.

Water's Edge café last orders: 4.30pm in winter and 5.30pm in summer

Water's Edge café closes: 5.00pm in winter and 6.00pm in summer

  

www.wwt.org.uk/visit/london/plan-your-visit/shopping/

  

Our gift shop stocks a wide range of souvenirs, practical items and luxury gifts. Select from wildlife books to enhance your enjoyment of nature, eco products, outdoor clothing, bird feeders/boxes, cards, children’s gifts, souvenirs and much more.

We also have a wide range of children’s products for budding wildlife enthusiasts. Help our feathered friends by taking home a pack of bird seed and treat yourself to a bag of traditional sweets too!

To enhance your walk through our 105 acre nature reserve you can hire binoculars from the In Focus optics shop located next to the art gallery (above the shop).

Binoculars cost £5.00 to hire. In Focus stocks everything you will ever need to watch wildlife, from compact binoculars to state of the art telescopes (a percentage of all sales goes to the conservation work of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust).

  

www.wwt.org.uk/visit/london/plan-your-visit/group-visits/

  

London Wetland Centre is a beautiful place for a group visit, offering close views of nature, especially wetland birds, and a wide variety of wetland habitats to explore (although you won't need your wellies!). There is also a collection of beautiful birds from around the world kept for conservation purposes and a family of otters.

We have an excellent visitor centre for all your group’s needs with a lakeside restaurant, gift shop and a theatre. The majority of the paths are tarmac so are easily accessible and there are plenty of benches for you to sit and relax. Even our three storey hide with views across the entire reserve has a lift.

The centre is easily accessible from central London and beyond, with public transport links direct and free onsite car/coach parking.

 

Benefits for groups

 

•Reduced admission prices for groups of 12 or more

•A complimentary ticket for the group organiser

•Free pre-visit on request for the group organiser

•Free coach parking

•Guided tours available, tailored to your group's requirements (fee applies)

Please note that all benefits except reduced admission only apply if you book up to two weeks in advance.

 

Group admission prices 2012

 

The following discounted rates apply to groups of 12 paying visitors or more:

Adult: £9.20

Concession: £7.00 (over 65 years, full-time students, unemployed)

Child: £5.15 (4 - 16 years)

 

Sample group itinerary

 

11am - Arrive at the centre and meet with one of our tour guides. Visit the observatory, enjoy a tour around ‘World Wetlands’ discovering water birds from across the globe and learn how the centre was created.

1pm - Enjoy lunch in the Water’s Edge cafe where you can choose from a selection of hot and cold meals and refreshments.

2pm - Explore the reserve and discover the birds and other wetland wildlife that have made this their home. Don’t forget to visit our Peacock tower for wonderful panoramic views of the wetland habitats.

3.30pm - Afternoon tea in the Water’s Edge cafe with sumptuous home-made cakes.

4.15pm - Enjoy a spot of shopping in our gift shop.

4.50pm - Depart.

 

Private group tours

 

Make the most of your visit with a tour by one of our expert guides. £20 fee applies for a maximum of 20 people. Tour last 1.5 hours. Please call 020 8409 4400 for details.

 

Frequently asked questions

 

When is the best time to visit?

 

The London Wetland Centre is a beautiful place to visit all year round with the landscape and wildlife changing constantly with the seasons.

Spring is perfect for wild flowers and songbirds. In the summer you can relax outside with a picnic and enjoy the sound of marsh frogs, crickets and warblers. Our sustainable gardens are beautiful at that time of year, bursting into a blaze of colour that lasts all summer.

Autumn is great for seeing rare birds passing through on migration and winter is the best time to observe the flocks of wild duck or catch sight of an elusive bittern, regular visitors over recent winters.

Why not combine your visit with one of our special events such as late night opening, some of our animal themed events or a twilight bat walk?

 

What should we wear?

 

The centre has tarmac/firm level paths throughout and so any comfortable shoes will suffice. It is worth bringing an umbrella or waterproof if rain is forecast as the reserve covers more than 40 hectares and it can take a few minutes to reach shelter.

 

When should we pay?

 

Please pay at the admissions desk on the day of your visit. The centre would very much appreciate if you could arrange one payment per group. This will speed up your admission into the centre. If you are paying individually please be prepared to wait.

 

Some of our group can’t walk far, is it still suitable?

 

Yes, there is plenty to see and do in our visitor centre and there are numerous benches scattered throughout the reserve. It is also possible to book a wheelchair or electric buggy to help you travel around the reserve.

 

Making a booking

 

Please complete our group booking form (pdf, 37kb) and return it to info.london@wwt.org.uk

Contact us on 020 8409 4400 or email info.london@wwt.org.uk for further information.

 

www.wwt.org.uk/visit/london/plan-your-visit/school-visits/

 

School visits

 

At WWT London we provide unique and unforgettable learning experiences for schools.

To find out more about what’s on offer for you and your pupils

 

www.wwt.org.uk/learn/learn-at-wwt-london/

 

We welcome school groups of all sizes, all year round.

We offer guided learning sessions outdoors, suitable for a range of ages and abilities, including special needs groups. Or for schools wishing to explore independently, we offer self guided visits.

  

www.wwt.org.uk/visit/london/plan-your-visit/venue-hire/

 

WWT London Wetland Centre is an idyllic spot to hold any event, whether you are celebrating a special occasion, getting married or holding a meeting. The Centre is just 10 minutes from Hammersmith but it could be a world away. The combination of beautiful surroundings and central location makes it easily accessible but offers a rural experience. Our 42 hectares of scenic lakes, pools and meadows are unique so close to the heart of London and they are complemented by first rate facilities, excellent transport links and ample free parking.

WWT London Wetland Centre is part of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust so by holding your event with us you will be directly contributing to our global conservation work.

 

Contact us

 

To further information please contact our functions team.

Telephone: 020 8409 4400 or email: functions.london@wwt.org.uk

If you are travelling to or from the centre by taxi we encourage you to use the taxi company Green Tomato Cars. This company uses a fleet of the most viable environmentally friendly cars and offers the service at competitive rates. For more information please see their website www.greentomatocars.com or call 020 8568 002.

 

www.wwt.org.uk/visit/london/volunteer/

  

The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust is a charity and relies on the generous support of volunteers at all of its wetland centres to help with conservation work and other daily tasks.

The London Wetland Centre currently has openings for:

 

•Office volunteers – reception and office cover, Friday morning and afternoon, and weekend mornings and afternoons

•Membership volunteers (especially weekends)

•Corporate work groups - weekdays

•Events volunteers (at weekends)

 

We are also interested to hear from people with specialist skills that may be of use to WWT. Currently we are particularly looking for good birders who are also great communicators.

Please call Chris Elliott on 020 8409 4400.

 

Membership volunteers

 

Are you inspired by wetlands and their wildlife? Could you help save them?

 

Do you have an outgoing, friendly personality to engage with visitors at WWT London Wetland Centre?

 

We are looking for volunteers to join us to actively recruit members for London Wetland Centre. Can you spare at least two mornings or afternoons a month to help us with this worthy cause?

 

If you are interested, please contact: Chris Elliott, Volunteer Coordinator on 020 8409 4400 or email info.london@wwt.org.uk

 

Corporate volunteering

 

Escape the office for a day and do your bit for wetland conservation with our corporate volunteering opportunities at WWT London Wetland Centre.

We can cater for corporate volunteering days, where work groups can assist wardens with duties such as planting, digging, weeding and pollarding.

Costs vary depending on type of volunteer work completed.

Please call our Volunteer Coordinator on 020 8409 4400 for further details.

 

Work experience

 

WWT London Wetland Centre takes five work experience students a year for one working week at a time. Students spend each day working with a different department.

Work experience must be part of the schools programme and placements are subject to interview.

Demand for placements is very high and there are no remaining openings in 2012.

With limited staffing resources we very much regret that the London Wetland Centre cannot accept students on the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.

 

Contact us

 

For further information please contact our Volunteer Coordinator Chris Elliott on 020 8409 4400 or email info.london@wwt.org.uk

 

Another participant in the D Day revival weekend in the village of Southwick, Hampshire. This young lady was dressed in clothes from the period and selling event programmes. Nice smile!

Finali Mondiali Ferrari 2011 at Mugello Circuit

After a week of ground-based communications antennas, test vehicles and the like, here's some genuine space hardware with multiple flights to its credit.

 

This is the original Spartan flight instrument, which was carried into space five times in the Shuttle payload bay (you can see a badge depicting five Shuttle silhouettes attached to the vehicle) and deployed for the duration of each mission into a parallel orbit with Shuttle. The programme was created by NASA in the 1980s to replace its sub-orbital sounding rocket programme.

 

The scientific payloads for Spartan therefore were of the same order as those formerly carried aloft by Aerobees and other sounding rockets. This retrievable system as presently instrumented houses an ultra-violet coronagraph from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and a white light coronagraph from the Goddard Space Flight Center. These devices use internal and external means of occulting the solar photosphere to reveal the structure of the sun's faint outer atmosphere. They and other similar instruments studied the solar corona on five separate occasions and played a part in numerous Shuttle exercises.

 

This particular configuration was reassembled by Swales, Inc., under NASA contract, for display at the Udvar-Hazy Center in 2003. It hangs from the ceiling in the Space Science section of the James S McDonnell Space Hangar.

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click to activate the icon of slideshow: the small triangle inscribed in the small rectangle, at the top right, in the photostream;

 

clicca sulla piccola icona per attivare lo slideshow: sulla facciata principale del photostream, in alto a destra c'è un piccolo rettangolo (rappresenta il monitor) con dentro un piccolo triangolo nero;

 

Qi Bo's photos on Fluidr

  

Qi Bo's photos on Flickriver

  

Qi Bo's photos on Flickr Hive Mind

  

www.fotografidigitali.it/gallery/2726/opere-italiane-segn...

  

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the slideshow

  

Qi Bo's photos on Fluidr

  

Qi Bo's photos on Flickriver

  

Qi Bo's photos on FlickeFlu

  

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“You will not teach anything if those who listen to you do not perceive your emotion in doing so.”

 

STEFANO CHIACCHIARINI

 

…I was looking for an aphorism on emotions, I came across this, I think it can also fit well with photography, because the photographic story that I am about to present here, on Flickr, led me to experience intense emotions while I was taking my photographs , I took photos yes, but at the same time I had to make a strong effort to repress those emotions, because they were so intense that I risked being overwhelmed by them… thus risking losing concentration on what was materializing before my eyes…. The party I attended, thus realizing this photographic series, was held at the beginning of May in the town of Melilli, which celebrates its patron saint San Sebastiano, in reality the canonical feast is held on January 20 also in Melilli, however this town in the province of Syracuse, in early May a "Big Feast" is organized to commemorate an event that seems to originate now from a historical event (it would be reported on an ancient correspondence), now from a story that has the flavor of legend : the story tells that in April 1414 a ship coming from the Adriatic Sea was wrecked on an island near the coast, there were no deaths, and the event, considered miraculous, was attributed to the presence on the ship of a statue of San Sebastiano, which was kept inside a chest, a chest that became heavily immovable by anyone who tried to lift it, the story (or legend) has it that the chest containing San Sebastiano became light only when some inhabitants of Melilli tried to lift it, a sign that the Saint wanted to be brought to that country, and so San Sebastiano was satisfied. Talking about the feast of San Sebastiano di Melilli also means talking about the so-called "nuri", a Sicilian dialect word which indicates those who "naked" come on foot (even barefoot) from numerous towns in the surrounding area, even very distant countries: in reality the custom of walking "naked" covered only by a band in correspondence with the pubic area belongs to the past, when "naked" were only male, later with the participation also of the female, the "naked" ” they have covered themselves, wearing white clothes, including a bandana, with red bands tightened around the waist and trunk, so they come on foot, even barefoot, wearing or not wearing white socks; the children cannot be missing, and since for them the journey on foot is unthinkable, the parents take turns carrying their little ones on their shoulders, even very small ones (we are talking about distances to be covered on foot of even 40 or 50 km!; the “ nuri" arrive in groups, and if all the groups, who are expected according to a precise programme, do not arrive beforehand, the procession with San Sebastiano does not begin; the "nuri (or naked)" bring with them bundles of fresh flowers, the “nuri” from Solarino bring handcrafted paper flowers with them, because due to the distance they have to cover, often under a sun in early May which can be very hot, the fresh flowers would arrive completely ruined. inside the church, they approach the float on which there is the statue of the Saint, a beautiful statue whose face is extremely sweet, not large in size, it appears covered with gold and precious objects: one witnesses a unique ritual of its kind, the devotees ask the staff present on the float to bring their objects closer to the Saint, in this way these objects are considered so blessed (I photographed a very kind and nice gentleman who explained this custom to me, he himself he had a “Sicilian puppet” blessed!). When all the various groups of "nuri" have arrived, then the procession begins, which will carry the statue of San Sebastiano to another church, from which in the late afternoon it will leave for a new procession inside the town of Melilli, to then return to the "his" church.

 

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“Non insegnerai nulla se chi ti ascolta non percepirà la tua emozione nel farlo.”

 

STEFANO CHIACCHIARINI

 

…cercavo un aforisma sulle emozioni, mi sono imbattuto in questo, credo che possa adattarsi bene anche con la fotografia, perché il racconto fotografico che mi appresto a presentare qui, su Flickr, mi ha portato a vivere emozioni intense nel mentre scattavo le mie fotografie, scattavo le foto si, però al contempo dovevo sforzarmi fortemente nel reprimerle quelle emozioni, perché erano talmente intense che rischiavo di farmi travolgere da esse… rischiando così di perdere la concentrazione su ciò che andava materializzandosi davanti ai miei occhi…. La festa alla quale ho assistito, realizzando così questa serie fotografica, si è tenuta agli inizi di Maggio nel paese di Melilli, che festeggia il suo santo patrono San Sebastiano, in realtà la festa canonica si tiene il 20 gennaio anche a Melilli, però in questo paese della provincia di Siracusa, i primi di maggio si organizza una “Festa Grande” per rievocare un evento che sembra originare ora da un evento storico (sarebbe riportato su di un antico carteggio), ora da un racconto che ha il sapore della leggenda: la storia narra che nell’Aprile del 1414 una nave proveniente dal mar Adriatico naufragò su di un’isola nei pressi della costa, non vi furono morti, e l’evento, ritenuto miracoloso, fu attribuito alla presenza sulla nave, di una statua di San Sebastiano, che era conservata dentro una cassa, cassa che diventò pesantemente inamovibile da chiunque tentava di sollevarla, la storia (o leggenda) vuole, che la cassa contenente San Sebastiano diventò leggera solo quando alcuni abitanti di Melilli provarono a sollevarla, segno che il Santo desiderava essere portato in quel paese, e così San Sebastiano fu accontentato. Parlare della festa di San Sebastiano di Melilli, significa anche parlare dei cosiddetti “nuri”, parola dialettale siciliana che sta ad indicare coloro che “nudi” provengono a piedi (anche a piedi scalzi) da numerosi paesi del circondario, paesi anche molto lontani: in realtà l’usanza di mettersi in cammino “nudi” coperti solamente da una fascia in corrispondenza della zona pubica, appartiene al passato, quando “i nudi” erano solamente di sesso maschile, successivamente con la partecipazione anche del sesso femminile, i “nudi” si sono coperti, indossando degli abiti bianchi, inclusa una bandana, con delle fasce rosse stretta attorno alla vita ed al tronco, essi quindi vengono a piedi, anche scalzi, indossando o meno dei calzettoni bianchi; i bambini non possono mancare, e poiché per loro il tragitto a piedi è improponibile, i genitori a turni, portano in spalla i loro pargoletti, anche molto piccoli (parliamo di distanze da percorrere a piedi anche di 40 o 50 Km !; i “nuri” arrivano in gruppo, e se prima non arrivano tutti i gruppi che sono attesi secondo un programma ben preciso, la processione con San Sebastiano, non inizia; i “nuri (o nudi)” portano con se dei fasci di fiori freschi, i “nuri” provenienti da Solarino recano con se dei fiori di carta costruiti artigianalmente, poiché a causa della distanza che devono coprire, spesso sotto un sole di inizio maggio che può essere molto caldo, i fiori freschi arriverebbero completamente rovinati. I vari devoti, giunti dentro la chiesa, si avvicinano alla vara (il fercolo) sulla quale c’è la statua del Santo, una bellissima statua il cui volto è estremamente dolce, non di grandi dimensioni, appare coperto di oggetti d’oro e preziosi: si assiste ad un rito unico nel suo genere, i devoti chiedono al personale presente sulla vara di far avvicinare dei loro oggetti al Santo, in tal modo questi oggetti vengono ritenuti così benedetti (ho fotografato un gentilissimo e simpatico signore che mi ha spiegato questa usanza, egli stesso si è fatto benedire un “pupo siciliano”!). Quando tutti i vari gruppi di “nuri” sono arrivati, allora inizia la processione, che porterà la statua di San Sebastiano in un’altra chiesa, dalla quale nel tardo pomeriggio uscirà per una nuova processione dentro il paese di Melilli, per poi rientrare nella “sua” chiesa.

 

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The Glasshouse is an international centre for musical education and concerts on the Gateshead bank of Quayside in northern England. Opened in 2004 as Sage Gateshead and occupied by North Music Trust The venue's original name honours a patron: the accountancy software company The Sage Group.

 

History

Planning for the centre began in the early 1990s, when the orchestra of Sage Gateshead, Royal Northern Sinfonia, with encouragement from Northern Arts, began working on plans for a new concert hall. They were soon joined by regional folk music development agency Folkworks, which ensured that the needs of the region's traditional music were taken into consideration and represented in Sage Gateshead's programme of concerts, alongside Rock, Pop, Dance, Hip Hop, classical, jazz, acoustic, indie, country and world, Practice spaces for professional musicians, students and amateurs were an important part of the provision.

 

The planning and construction process cost over £70 million, which was raised primarily through National Lottery grants. The contractor was Laing O'Rourke. The centre has a range of patrons, notably Sage Group which contributed a large sum of money to have the building named after it. Sage plc has helped support the charitable activities of Sage Gateshead since its conception. The venue opened over the weekend 17–19 December 2004.

 

Sage Gateshead was developed by Foster and Partners following an architectural design competition launched in 1997 and managed by RIBA Competitions. Over 100 architects registered their interest and 12 – a mixture of local, national and international talent – were invited to prepare concept designs. A shortlist of six was then interviewed with Foster and Partners unanimously selected as the winner. The Design has gone on to win a number of awards: the RIBA Inclusive Design Award, Civic Trust Award and The Journal North East Landmark of the Year Award.

 

As a conference venue, the building hosted the Labour Party's Spring conference in February 2005 and the Liberal Democrat Party conference in March 2012. On 18 August 2009, Sage Gateshead was selected to host the 2010 and 2011 National Union of Students annual conference. The 2010 Annual Conference took place 13–15 April 2010.

 

In 2022 The Sage Group announced that they were also sponsoring a new development that is being built next to Sage Gateshead which will be called The Sage. Sage Gateshead announced that they will be finding a new name for the venue prior to The Sage opening in 2024. On 13 September 2023 the venue announced its new name, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music.

 

Building

The centre occupies a curved glass and stainless steel building designed by Foster and Partners, Buro Happold (structural engineering), Mott MacDonald (engineering consultants) and Arup (acoustics), with views of Newcastle and Gateshead Quaysides, the Tyne Bridge and the Gateshead Millennium Bridge.

 

The Glasshouse contains three performance spaces; a 1,700-seater, a 450-seater, and a smaller rehearsal and performance hall, the Northern Rock Foundation Hall. The rest of the building was designed around these three spaces to allow for maximum attention to detail in their acoustic properties. Structurally it is three separate buildings, insulated from each other to prevent noise and vibration travelling between them. The gaps between them may be seen as one walks around inside. A special 'spongy' concrete mix was used in the construction, with a higher-than-usual air capacity to improve the acoustic. These three buildings are enclosed (but not touched) by the now-famous glass and steel shell. Sage One was intended as an acoustically perfect space, modelled on the Musikverein in Vienna. Its ceiling panels may be raised and lowered and curtains drawn across the ribbed wooden side walls, changing the sound profile of the room to suit any type of music. Sage Two is a smaller venue, possibly the world's only ten-sided performance space.

 

The building is open to the public throughout the day.

 

Concerts

The Glasshouse will host concerts from a wide range of internationally famous artists, and those who have played at the venue include Above and Beyond, Blondie, James Brown, Bonobo, Andy Cutting, De La Soul, Nick Cave, George Clinton, Bill Callahan, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Dillinger, Grace Jones, Gretchen Peters, Elbow, Explosions in the Sky, the Fall, Herbie Hancock, Mogwai, Morrissey, Mumford & Sons, Pet Shop Boys, Sunn O))), Nancy Sinatra, Snarky Puppy, Sting, Yellowman, Shane Filan of Westlife and others. In February 2015, it was one of the hosts of the second annual BBC Radio 6 Music Festival.

 

It is also home to Royal Northern Sinfonia, of which The Guardian wrote there is "no better chamber orchestra in Britain", and frequently hosts other visiting orchestras from around the world. The current music director for Royal Northern Sinfonia is the pianist and conductor Lars Vogt. In late 2014, Royal Northern Sinfonia collaborated with John Grant, performing at Sage Gateshead, and other venues throughout the UK. Recordings from this tour were made available as a limited edition CD and 12" record via Rough Trade Records in 2015.

 

Opinion

There has been popular debate surrounding what was Sage Gateshead. The venue is popular in the local area because of its concerts, and also its accessible learning courses for all ages and its constant interaction with local schools and academies through programmes such as Sing Up and the option of school visits.

 

Awards

2019: UK National Lottery 25th Birthday Award - Best Arts, Culture and Film

2019: Julie's Bicycle Creative Green 2 Star

2019: Gold Standard - Attitude is Everything

2018: Gold Award for Inclusive Tourism (North East Tourism Awards)

2018: Gold Award for Business Tourism (Visit England Awards for Excellence)

2005: Local Authority Building of the Year

2005: British Construction Industry Awards

2005: RIBA Award for Inclusive Design

 

Gateshead is a town in the Gateshead Metropolitan Borough of Tyne and Wear, England. It is on the River Tyne's southern bank. The town's attractions include the twenty metre tall Angel of the North sculpture on the town's southern outskirts, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. The town shares the Millennium Bridge, Tyne Bridge and multiple other bridges with Newcastle upon Tyne.

 

Historically part of County Durham, under the Local Government Act 1888 the town was made a county borough, meaning it was administered independently of the county council.

 

In the 2011 Census, the town had a population of 120,046 while the wider borough had 200,214.

 

History

Gateshead is first mentioned in Latin translation in Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People as ad caput caprae ("at the goat's head"). This interpretation is consistent with the later English attestations of the name, among them Gatesheued (c. 1190), literally "goat's head" but in the context of a place-name meaning 'headland or hill frequented by (wild) goats'. Although other derivations have been mooted, it is this that is given by the standard authorities.

 

A Brittonic predecessor, named with the element *gabro-, 'goat' (c.f. Welsh gafr), may underlie the name. Gateshead might have been the Roman-British fort of Gabrosentum.

 

Early

There has been a settlement on the Gateshead side of the River Tyne, around the old river crossing where the Swing Bridge now stands, since Roman times.

 

The first recorded mention of Gateshead is in the writings of the Venerable Bede who referred to an Abbot of Gateshead called Utta in 623. In 1068 William the Conqueror defeated the forces of Edgar the Ætheling and Malcolm king of Scotland (Shakespeare's Malcolm) on Gateshead Fell (now Low Fell and Sheriff Hill).

 

During medieval times Gateshead was under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Durham. At this time the area was largely forest with some agricultural land. The forest was the subject of Gateshead's first charter, granted in the 12th century by Hugh du Puiset, Bishop of Durham. An alternative spelling may be "Gatishevede", as seen in a legal record, dated 1430.

 

Industrial revolution

Throughout the Industrial Revolution the population of Gateshead expanded rapidly; between 1801 and 1901 the increase was over 100,000. This expansion resulted in the spread southwards of the town.

 

In 1854, a catastrophic explosion on the quayside destroyed most of Gateshead's medieval heritage, and caused widespread damage on the Newcastle side of the river.

 

Sir Joseph Swan lived at Underhill, Low Fell, Gateshead from 1869 to 1883, where his experiments led to the invention of the electric light bulb. The house was the first in the world to be wired for domestic electric light.

 

In the 1889 one of the largest employers (Hawks, Crawshay and Company) closed down and unemployment has since been a burden. Up to the Second World War there were repeated newspaper reports of the unemployed sending deputations to the council to provide work. The depression years of the 1920s and 1930s created even more joblessness and the Team Valley Trading Estate was built in the mid-1930s to alleviate the situation.

 

Regeneration

In the late noughties, Gateshead Council started to regenerate the town, with the long-term aim of making Gateshead a city. The most extensive transformation occurred in the Quayside, with almost all the structures there being constructed or refurbished in this time.

 

In the early 2010s, regeneration refocused on the town centre. The £150 million Trinity Square development opened in May 2013, it incorporates student accommodation, a cinema, health centre and shops. It was nominated for the Carbuncle Cup in September 2014. The cup was however awarded to another development which involved Tesco, Woolwich Central.

 

Governance

In 1835, Gateshead was established as a municipal borough and in 1889 it was made a county borough, independent from Durham County Council.

 

In 1870, the Old Town Hall was built, designed by John Johnstone who also designed the previously built Newcastle Town Hall. The ornamental clock in front of the old town hall was presented to Gateshead in 1892 by the mayor, Walter de Lancey Willson, on the occasion of him being elected for a third time. He was also one of the founders of Walter Willson's, a chain of grocers in the North East and Cumbria. The old town hall also served as a magistrate's court and one of Gateshead's police stations.

 

Current

In 1974, following the Local Government Act 1972, the County Borough of Gateshead was merged with the urban districts of Felling, Whickham, Blaydon and Ryton and part of the rural district of Chester-le-Street to create the much larger Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead.

 

Geography

The town of Gateshead is in the North East of England in the ceremonial county of Tyne and Wear, and within the historic boundaries of County Durham. It is located on the southern bank of the River Tyne at a latitude of 54.57° N and a longitude of 1.35° W. Gateshead experiences a temperate climate which is considerably warmer than some other locations at similar latitudes as a result of the warming influence of the Gulf Stream (via the North Atlantic drift). It is located in the rain shadow of the North Pennines and is therefore in one of the driest regions of the United Kingdom.

 

One of the most distinguishing features of Gateshead is its topography. The land rises 230 feet from Gateshead Quays to the town centre and continues rising to a height of 525 feet at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Sheriff Hill. This is in contrast to the flat and low lying Team Valley located on the western edges of town. The high elevations allow for impressive views over the Tyne valley into Newcastle and across Tyneside to Sunderland and the North Sea from lookouts in Windmill Hills and Windy Nook respectively.

 

The Office for National Statistics defines the town as an urban sub-division. The latest (2011) ONS urban sub-division of Gateshead contains the historical County Borough together with areas that the town has absorbed, including Dunston, Felling, Heworth, Pelaw and Bill Quay.

 

Given the proximity of Gateshead to Newcastle, just south of the River Tyne from the city centre, it is sometimes incorrectly referred to as being a part of Newcastle. Gateshead Council and Newcastle City Council teamed up in 2000 to create a unified marketing brand name, NewcastleGateshead, to better promote the whole of the Tyneside conurbation.

 

Economy

Gateshead is home to the MetroCentre, the largest shopping mall in the UK until 2008; and the Team Valley Trading Estate, once the largest and still one of the larger purpose-built commercial estates in the UK.

 

Arts

The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art has been established in a converted flour mill. The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, previously The Sage, a Norman Foster-designed venue for music and the performing arts opened on 17 December 2004. Gateshead also hosted the Gateshead Garden Festival in 1990, rejuvenating 200 acres (0.81 km2) of derelict land (now mostly replaced with housing). The Angel of the North, a famous sculpture in nearby Lamesley, is visible from the A1 to the south of Gateshead, as well as from the East Coast Main Line. Other public art include works by Richard Deacon, Colin Rose, Sally Matthews, Andy Goldsworthy, Gordon Young and Michael Winstone.

 

Traditional and former

The earliest recorded coal mining in the Gateshead area is dated to 1344. As trade on the Tyne prospered there were several attempts by the burghers of Newcastle to annex Gateshead. In 1576 a small group of Newcastle merchants acquired the 'Grand Lease' of the manors of Gateshead and Whickham. In the hundred years from 1574 coal shipments from Newcastle increased elevenfold while the population of Gateshead doubled to approximately 5,500. However, the lease and the abundant coal supplies ended in 1680. The pits were shallow as problems of ventilation and flooding defeated attempts to mine coal from the deeper seams.

 

'William Cotesworth (1668-1726) was a prominent merchant based in Gateshead, where he was a leader in coal and international trade. Cotesworth began as the son of a yeoman and apprentice to a tallow - candler. He ended as an esquire, having been mayor, Justice of the Peace and sheriff of Northumberland. He collected tallow from all over England and sold it across the globe. He imported dyes from the Indies, as well as flax, wine, and grain. He sold tea, sugar, chocolate, and tobacco. He operated the largest coal mines in the area, and was a leading salt producer. As the government's principal agent in the North country, he was in contact with leading ministers.

 

William Hawks originally a blacksmith, started business in Gateshead in 1747, working with the iron brought to the Tyne as ballast by the Tyne colliers. Hawks and Co. eventually became one of the biggest iron businesses in the North, producing anchors, chains and so on to meet a growing demand. There was keen contemporary rivalry between 'Hawks' Blacks' and 'Crowley's Crew'. The famous 'Hawks' men' including Ned White, went on to be celebrated in Geordie song and story.

 

In 1831 a locomotive works was established by the Newcastle and Darlington Railway, later part of the York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway. In 1854 the works moved to the Greenesfield site and became the manufacturing headquarters of North Eastern Railway. In 1909, locomotive construction was moved to Darlington and the rest of the works were closed in 1932.

 

Robert Stirling Newall took out a patent on the manufacture of wire ropes in 1840 and in partnership with Messrs. Liddell and Gordon, set up his headquarters at Gateshead. A worldwide industry of wire-drawing resulted. The submarine telegraph cable received its definitive form through Newall's initiative, involving the use of gutta-percha surrounded by strong wires. The first successful Dover–Calais cable on 25 September 1851, was made in Newall's works. In 1853, he invented the brake-drum and cone for laying cable in deep seas. Half of the first Atlantic cable was manufactured in Gateshead. Newall was interested in astronomy, and his giant 25-inch (640 mm) telescope was set up in the garden at Ferndene, his Gateshead residence, in 1871.

 

Architecture

JB Priestley, writing of Gateshead in his 1934 travelogue English Journey, said that "no true civilisation could have produced such a town", adding that it appeared to have been designed "by an enemy of the human race".

 

Victorian

William Wailes the celebrated stained-glass maker, lived at South Dene from 1853 to 1860. In 1860, he designed Saltwell Towers as a fairy-tale palace for himself. It is an imposing Victorian mansion in its own park with a romantic skyline of turrets and battlements. It was originally furnished sumptuously by Gerrard Robinson. Some of the panelling installed by Robinson was later moved to the Shipley Art gallery. Wailes sold Saltwell Towers to the corporation in 1876 for use as a public park, provided he could use the house for the rest of his life. For many years the structure was essentially an empty shell but following a restoration programme it was reopened to the public in 2004.

 

Post millennium

The council sponsored the development of a Gateshead Quays cultural quarter. The development includes the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, erected in 2001, which won the prestigious Stirling Prize for Architecture in 2002.

 

Former brutalism

The brutalist Trinity Centre Car Park, which was designed by Owen Luder, dominated the town centre for many years until its demolition in 2010. A product of attempts to regenerate the area in the 1960s, the car park gained an iconic status due to its appearance in the 1971 film Get Carter, starring Michael Caine. An unsuccessful campaign to have the structure listed was backed by Sylvester Stallone, who played the main role in the 2000 remake of the film. The car park was scheduled for demolition in 2009, but this was delayed as a result of a disagreement between Tesco, who re-developed the site, and Gateshead Council. The council had not been given firm assurances that Tesco would build the previously envisioned town centre development which was to include a Tesco mega-store as well as shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, offices and student accommodation. The council effectively used the car park as a bargaining tool to ensure that the company adhered to the original proposals and blocked its demolition until they submitted a suitable planning application. Demolition finally took place in July–August 2010.

 

The Derwent Tower, another well known example of brutalist architecture, was also designed by Owen Luder and stood in the neighbourhood of Dunston. Like the Trinity Car Park it also failed in its bid to become a listed building and was demolished in 2012. Also located in this area are the Grade II listed Dunston Staithes which were built in 1890. Following the award of a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of almost £420,000 restoration of the structure is expected to begin in April 2014.

 

Sport

Gateshead International Stadium regularly holds international athletics meetings over the summer months, and is home of the Gateshead Harriers athletics club. It is also host to rugby league fixtures, and the home ground of Gateshead Football Club. Gateshead Thunder Rugby League Football Club played at Gateshead International Stadium until its purchase by Newcastle Rugby Limited and the subsequent rebranding as Newcastle Thunder. Both clubs have had their problems: Gateshead A.F.C. were controversially voted out of the Football League in 1960 in favour of Peterborough United, whilst Gateshead Thunder lost their place in Super League as a result of a takeover (officially termed a merger) by Hull F.C. Both Gateshead clubs continue to ply their trade at lower levels in their respective sports, thanks mainly to the efforts of their supporters. The Gateshead Senators American Football team also use the International Stadium, as well as this it was used in the 2006 Northern Conference champions in the British American Football League.

 

Gateshead Leisure Centre is home to the Gateshead Phoenix Basketball Team. The team currently plays in EBL League Division 4. Home games are usually on a Sunday afternoon during the season, which runs from September to March. The team was formed in 2013 and ended their initial season well placed to progress after defeating local rivals Newcastle Eagles II and promotion chasing Kingston Panthers.

 

In Low Fell there is a cricket club and a rugby club adjacent to each other on Eastwood Gardens. These are Gateshead Fell Cricket Club and Gateshead Rugby Club. Gateshead Rugby Club was formed in 1998 following the merger of Gateshead Fell Rugby Club and North Durham Rugby Club.

 

Transport

Gateshead is served by the following rail transport stations with some being operated by National Rail and some being Tyne & Wear Metro stations: Dunston, Felling, Gateshead Interchange, Gateshead Stadium, Heworth Interchange, MetroCentre and Pelaw.

 

Tyne & Wear Metro stations at Gateshead Interchange and Gateshead Stadium provide direct light-rail access to Newcastle Central, Newcastle Airport , Sunderland, Tynemouth and South Shields Interchange.

 

National Rail services are provided by Northern at Dunston and MetroCentre stations. The East Coast Main Line, which runs from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh Waverley, cuts directly through the town on its way between Newcastle Central and Chester-le-Street stations. There are presently no stations on this line within Gateshead, as Low Fell, Bensham and Gateshead West stations were closed in 1952, 1954 and 1965 respectively.

 

Road

Several major road links pass through Gateshead, including the A1 which links London to Edinburgh and the A184 which connects the town to Sunderland.

 

Gateshead Interchange is the busiest bus station in Tyne & Wear and was used by 3.9 million bus passengers in 2008.

 

Cycle routes

Various bicycle trails traverse the town; most notably is the recreational Keelmans Way (National Cycle Route 14), which is located on the south bank of the Tyne and takes riders along the entire Gateshead foreshore. Other prominent routes include the East Gateshead Cycleway, which connects to Felling, the West Gateshead Cycleway, which links the town centre to Dunston and the MetroCentre, and routes along both the old and new Durham roads, which take cyclists to Birtley, Wrekenton and the Angel of the North.

 

Religion

Christianity has been present in the town since at least the 7th century, when Bede mentioned a monastery in Gateshead. A church in the town was burned down in 1080 with the Bishop of Durham inside.[citation needed] St Mary's Church was built near to the site of that building, and was the only church in the town until the 1820s. Undoubtedly the oldest building on the Quayside, St Mary's has now re-opened to the public as the town's first heritage centre.

 

Many of the Anglican churches in the town date from the 19th century, when the population of the town grew dramatically and expanded into new areas. The town presently has a number of notable and large churches of many denominations.

 

Judaism

The Bensham district is home to a community of hundreds of Jewish families and used to be known as "Little Jerusalem". Within the community is the Gateshead Yeshiva, founded in 1929, and other Jewish educational institutions with international enrolments. These include two seminaries: Beis Medrash L'Morot and Beis Chaya Rochel seminary, colloquially known together as Gateshead "old" and "new" seminaries.

 

Many yeshivot and kollels also are active. Yeshivat Beer Hatorah, Sunderland Yeshiva, Nesivos Hatorah, Nezer Hatorah and Yeshiva Ketana make up some of the list.

 

Islam

Islam is practised by a large community of people in Gateshead and there are 2 mosques located in the Bensham area (in Ely Street and Villa Place).

 

Twinning

Gateshead is twinned with the town of Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray near Rouen in France, and the city of Komatsu in Japan.

 

Notable people

Eliezer Adler – founder of Jewish Community

Marcus Bentley – narrator of Big Brother

Catherine Booth – wife of William Booth, known as the Mother of The Salvation Army

William Booth – founder of the Salvation Army

Mary Bowes – the Unhappy Countess, author and celebrity

Ian Branfoot – footballer and manager (Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton)

Andy Carroll – footballer (Newcastle United, Liverpool and West Ham United)

Frank Clark – footballer and manager (Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest)

David Clelland – Labour politician and MP

Derek Conway – former Conservative politician and MP

Joseph Cowen – Radical politician

Steve Cram – athlete (middle-distance runner)

Emily Davies – educational reformer and feminist, founder of Girton College, Cambridge

Daniel Defoe – writer and government agent

Ruth Dodds – politician, writer and co-founder of the Little Theatre

Jonathan Edwards – athlete (triple jumper) and television presenter

Sammy Johnson – actor (Spender)

George Elliot – industrialist and MP

Paul Gascoigne – footballer (Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio, Rangers and Middlesbrough)

Alex Glasgow – singer/songwriter

Avrohom Gurwicz – rabbi, Dean of Gateshead Yeshiva

Leib Gurwicz – rabbi, Dean of Gateshead Yeshiva

Jill Halfpenny – actress (Coronation Street and EastEnders)

Chelsea Halfpenny – actress (Emmerdale)

David Hodgson – footballer and manager (Middlesbrough, Liverpool and Sunderland)

Sharon Hodgson – Labour politician and MP

Norman Hunter – footballer (Leeds United and member of 1966 World Cup-winning England squad)

Don Hutchison – footballer (Liverpool, West Ham United, Everton and Sunderland)

Brian Johnson – AC/DC frontman

Tommy Johnson – footballer (Aston Villa and Celtic)

Riley Jones - actor

Howard Kendall – footballer and manager (Preston North End and Everton)

J. Thomas Looney – Shakespeare scholar

Gary Madine – footballer (Sheffield Wednesday)

Justin McDonald – actor (Distant Shores)

Lawrie McMenemy – football manager (Southampton and Northern Ireland) and pundit

Thomas Mein – professional cyclist (Canyon DHB p/b Soreen)

Robert Stirling Newall – industrialist

Bezalel Rakow – communal rabbi

John William Rayner – flying ace and war hero

James Renforth – oarsman

Mariam Rezaei – musician and artist

Sir Tom Shakespeare - baronet, sociologist and disability rights campaigner

William Shield – Master of the King's Musick

Christina Stead – Australian novelist

John Steel – drummer (The Animals)

Henry Spencer Stephenson – chaplain to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II

Steve Stone – footballer (Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and Portsmouth)

Chris Swailes – footballer (Ipswich Town)

Sir Joseph Swan – inventor of the incandescent light bulb

Nicholas Trainor – cricketer (Gloucestershire)

Chris Waddle – footballer (Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield Wednesday)

William Wailes – stained glass maker

Taylor Wane – adult entertainer

Robert Spence Watson – public benefactor

Sylvia Waugh – author of The Mennyms series for children

Chris Wilkie – guitarist (Dubstar)

John Wilson - orchestral conductor

Peter Wilson – footballer (Gateshead, captain of Australia)

Thomas Wilson – poet/school founder

Robert Wood – Australian politician

On 30 March 2025 the European commercial rocket Spectrum, developed and operated by Isar Aerospace, took flight from Andøya Spaceport in Norway and flew for 30 seconds, clearing the launch pad and proving the launch vehicle can achieve one of the hardest parts of space transportation: liftoff.

 

Isar Aerospace’s two-stage launch vehicle Spectrum is 28 m tall, 2 m in diameter and, with its ten engines, it is targeting to launch payloads of up to 1000 kg to low Earth orbit.

 

The flight allows Isar Aerospace engineers to analyse all the data they need to tweak their Spectrum launcher for a next flight.

 

“Our first test flight met all our expectations, achieving a great success”, said Isar Aerospace CEO Daniel Metzler, “We had a clean liftoff, 30 seconds of flight and even got to validate our Flight Termination System.”

 

“A test-flight is exactly that: a test to gather data, learn and improve. Everything Isar Aerospace achieved today is remarkable and they will have lots of data to analyse. I applaud the teams for getting this far and I am confident that we will see the next Spectrum on the launch pad ready for test-flight 2 liftoff soon,” said ESA’s Director General Josef Aschbacher.”

 

Isar Aerospace is a German-based company, building their Spectrum launch vehicle in state-of-the-art production facilities relying on in-house manufacturing.

 

Initially supported by ESA’s Business Incubation Centre, the company is supported by as part of the Boost! programme that helps commercial initiatives offering transportation services to space, in space, and returning from space.

 

Credits: Isar Aerospace/Wingmen Media–S. Fischer

Organised jointly by Arthur Howes and Brian Epstein.

Among supporting acts were Gerry and the Pacemakers, Gene Pitney, Marianne Faithfull The Kinks and Cilla Black

DBC Switch on to Safety liveried class 60 no. 60007 sits in the Murco Sidings at Bedworth on 14th November 2016 having arrived over night with 6M03 from Robeston. Thanks to Ben Sweeney for letting me know this was about.

 

The locomotive is part of DB Shenker's fleet of 'super sixties' and was refurbished at Toton during early 2013. 100 examples of the Mirrlees MB275T engined Class 60s were built by Brush traction between 1989 and 1993. Initially the fleet proved troublesome however, they eventually began to prove their worth and replaced older classes such as 20, 26, 27, 31 33 and 73 on double headed freight duties. On aggregate workings, the 60s replaced 56s and some 58s. Their immense power meant that they could work longer and some of the heaviest trains.

 

Upon privatisation, the locomotives were all brought under the control of EW and S. Initially, EWS' policy was to keep the 100 strong fleet running with repairs being carried out to locos which received damage however, by 2004 examples of the class began to go into store at Toton. Between 2004 and 2007 the situation became dire with between 50% and 75% of the fleet being out of service at any given time. When DB Shenker took over EW and S in 2007, they continued to store examples and by 2009 it was common for only 15 locos to be in service at any given time. After carrying out tests on 60099 and 60011 in 2010, DB Shenker announced that 20 class 60 locomotives would be put through an overhaul programme to become 'super sixties' and the programme went ahead in 2011. The DBS fleet is used on a wide variety of work including: aggregate, ballast, fuel, steel, engineers, the occasional car train and super shunting duties.

  

10 locomotives have been sold to Colas Railfreight and their future is bright with them going through a programme at Toton to return to an operational condition.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The Jaguar programme began in the early 1960s, in response to a British requirement (Air Staff Target 362) for an advanced supersonic jet trainer to replace the Folland Gnat T1 and Hawker Hunter T7, and a French requirement (ECAT or École de Combat et d'Appui Tactique, "Tactical Combat Support Trainer") for a cheap, subsonic dual role trainer and light attack aircraft to replace the Fouga Magister, Lockheed T-33 and Dassault Mystère IV. In both countries several companies tendered designs: BAC, Hunting, Hawker Siddeley and Folland in Britain; Breguet, Potez, Sud-Aviation, Nord, and Dassault from France. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in May 1965 for the two countries to develop two aircraft, a trainer based on the ECAT, and the larger AFVG (Anglo-French Variable Geometry)

 

Cross-channel negotiations led to the formation of SEPECAT (Société Européenne de Production de l'Avion d'École de Combat et d'Appui Tactique – the "European company for the production of a combat trainer and tactical support aircraft") in 1966 as a joint venture between Breguet and the British Aircraft Corporation to produce the airframe. Though based in part on the Breguet Br.121, using the same basic configuration and an innovative French-designed landing gear, the Jaguar was built incorporating major elements of design from BAC – notably the wing and high lift devices.

 

Production of components would be split between Breguet and BAC, and the aircraft themselves would be assembled on two production lines; one in the UK and one in France, To avoid any duplication of work, each aircraft component had only one source. The British light strike/tactical support versions were the most demanding design, requiring supersonic performance, superior avionics, a cutting edge nav/attack system of more accuracy and complexity than the French version, moving map display, laser range-finder and marked-target seeker (LRMTS). As a result, the initial Br.121 design needed a thinner wing, redesigned fuselage, a higher rear cockpit, and after-burning engines. While putting on smiling faces for the public, maintaining the illusion of a shared design, the British design defacto departed from the French sub-sonic Breguet 121 to such a degree that it was for all intents and purposes a new design.

 

A separate partnership was formed between Rolls-Royce and Turbomeca to develop the Adour afterburning turbofan engine. The Br.121 was proposed with Turbomeca's Tourmalet engine for ECAT but Breguet preferred the RR RB.172 and their joint venture would use elements of both. The new engine, which would be used for the AFVG as well, would be built in Derby and Tarnos.

 

Previous collaborative efforts between Britain and France had been complicated – the AFVG programme ended in cancellation, and controversy surrounded the development of the supersonic airliner Concorde. Whilst the technical collaboration between BAC and Breguet went well, when Dassault took over Breguet in 1971 it encouraged acceptance of its own designs, such as the Super Étendard naval attack aircraft and the Mirage F1, for which it would receive more profit, over the Anglo-French Jaguar.

 

The initial plan was for Britain to buy 150 Jaguar "B" trainers, with its strike requirements being met by the advanced BAC-Dassault AFVG aircraft, with France to buy 75 "E" trainers (école) and 75 "A" single-seat strike attack aircraft (appui). Dassault favoured its own Mirage G aircraft above the collaborative AFVG, and in June 1967, France cancelled the AFVG on cost grounds. This left a gap in the RAF's planned strike capabilities for the 1970s at the same time as France's cancellation of the AFVG, Germany was expressing a serious interest in the Jaguar, and thus the design became more oriented towards the low-level strike role.

 

The RAF had initially planned on a buy of 150 trainers; however, with both TSR2 and P.1154 gone, the RAF were looking increasingly hard at their future light strike needs and realizing that they now needed more than just advanced trainers with some secondary counter insurgency capability. The RAF's strike line-up was at this point intended to consist of American F-111s plus the AFVG for lighter strike purposes. There was concern that both F-111 and AFVG were high risk projects and with the French already planning on a strike role for the Jaguar, there was an opportunity to introduce a serious backup plan for the RAF's future strike needs - the Jaguar.

 

While the RAF had initially planned to buy 150 trainers, the TSR2 and p.1154 were gone, and believing that both the US F-111 and AFVG were high-risk programs, and with the French already planning a strike role for their Jaguar, the MOD suddenly realized they were in bad need of a new light strike aircraft capable of delivering tactical nuclear weapons. As a result, by October 1970, the RAF's requirements had changed to 165 single-seat strike aircraft and 35 trainers.

 

The Jaguar was to replace the McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR2 in the close air support, tactical reconnaissance and tactical strike roles, freeing the Phantom to be used for air defence. Both the French and British trainer requirements had developed significantly, and were eventually fulfilled instead by the Alpha Jet and Hawker Siddeley Hawk respectively. The French, meanwhile, had chosen the Jaguar to replace the Aeronavale's Dassault Étendard IV, and increased their order to include an initial 40 of a carrier-capable maritime version of the Jaguar, the Jaguar M, for the Aeronavale. From these apparently disparate aims would come a single and entirely different aircraft: relatively high-tech, supersonic, and optimised for ground-attack in a high-threat environment.

DRs 20301 is the first 20 at Barrow Hill to be getting overhauled as part of a life extension programme to nearly all the Drs class 20 fleet all but two were present on site on this visit!160116

London Bus Museum Open Day & Spring Gathering

 

Sunday 16 April 2023

© Copyright Steve Guess MMXXIII

In the early 1950s the Royal Air Force realised that it could streamline its training programmes if jet powered aircraft only were used. As a result of this, a requirement for a new dedicated training aircraft was issued to UK aircraft manufacturers. Originally developed by Percival as a cheap jet-powered derivative of its successful Alvis Leonides, radial-engined Piston Provost, the Jet Provost evolved into an entirely new aircraft. Powered by a Bristol-Siddeley Viper 102 engine, the prototype aircraft (XD674) took its first flight on 26th June 1954. It soon caught the eye of the RAF with its side by side layout and superb handling qualities, and was appreciated enough for the RAF to purchase an initial batch of nine airframes. They were incorporated in a new training syllabus with 2 Flight Training School (2FTS) based at RAF Hullavington, and performed very successfully.

 

As a result of this the Royal Air Force adopted the Jet Provost and ordered 201 T.3s in June 1959, and announced that the 'JP' would become the standard basic RAF trainer. The T.3's differed from the T.1s in having Martin Baker ejection seats, tip tanks, updated cockpit avionics and a clear-view canopy.

 

In November 1961 the RAF issued a follow-on order for a further 198 Jet Provosts T.4's. Powered by an updated Rolls Royce Viper 202 instead of the 102 used in the T.3, these were built and delivered by the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) until 1964.

 

In 1967 the RAF made a final order for further JPs, this time 105 Jet Provost T.5s. Two prototypes were built by BAC (XS230 and XS231), and the first of these first flew on February 28th 1967. The T.5 was different from the earlier T.4 with a pressurised cockpit, re-designed windscreen, sliding canopy, longer nose and new wings. Deliveries of this type started in the latter years of the 1960's. Five T.55's were also built and sold to Oman, and the type also enjoyed success in the overseas market with Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Iraq and Venezuela Air Forces.

 

As a result of the success of the T.5 BAC looked at producing a JP that could also be used as a light attack aircraft as well as a trainer, and the result was the Strikemaster. Changes made to the airframe included 8 stores hard-points underneath the wings, a strengthened airframe and shortened landing gear for use in rough terrains. The prototype Strikemaster first flew in October 1967 and deliveries began as the Strikemaster Mk.80 to the first export customer, Saudi Arabia in late 1968, and many others followed concluding with Sudan in 1984 with the Mk.90.

 

In 1993 the Jet Provost finally ended its career, spanning over 35 years, with the Royal Air Force. It was replaced by the Shorts Tucano. A number of the surviving aeroplanes were retired and sold into private ownership. As a result, they can now be found across the globe, from the UK to the USA, Australia and New Zealand.

 

Known universally as the 'JP', the Jet Provost helped introduce the concept of all-jet basic training for pupil pilots in the RAF for the first time, and indeed in any air force around the world.

Damn I can never remember my access code. Its either 69696969 or 96969696.

Who'd give a code like that to a dyslexic!

  

If you like my work and fav it spend the time to comment please.

 

View On Black

 

STILL LOOKING

I am looking for young male and female volunteer gritty, punky or just plain funky models

I would really like to photo you personally, however unless you live in West Yorkshire, UK that will not be possible. But it may be possible to direct you and then post your shots for editing. You will need to sign a model release form which I will supply. You can keep a set of finished shots but beware that I will own copyright of the finished images. If this interests you then please contact me through flickr.

 

thanks

The Jaguar programme began in the early 1960s, in response to a British requirement (Air Staff Target 362) for an advanced supersonic jet trainer to replace the Folland Gnat T1 and Hawker Hunter T7, and a French requirement (ECAT or École de Combat et d'Appui Tactique, "Tactical Combat Support Trainer") for a cheap, subsonic dual role trainer and light attack aircraft to replace the Fouga Magister, Lockheed T-33 and Dassault Mystère IV. In both countries several companies tendered designs: BAC, Hunting, Hawker Siddeley and Folland in Britain; Breguet, Potez, Sud-Aviation, Nord, and Dassault from France. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in May 1965 for the two countries to develop two aircraft, a trainer based on the ECAT, and the larger AFVG (Anglo-French Variable Geometry)

 

Cross-channel negotiations led to the formation of SEPECAT (Société Européenne de Production de l'Avion d'École de Combat et d'Appui Tactique – the "European company for the production of a combat trainer and tactical support aircraft") in 1966 as a joint venture between Breguet and the British Aircraft Corporation to produce the airframe. Though based in part on the Breguet Br.121, using the same basic configuration and an innovative French-designed landing gear, the Jaguar was built incorporating major elements of design from BAC – notably the wing and high lift devices.

 

Production of components would be split between Breguet and BAC, and the aircraft themselves would be assembled on two production lines; one in the UK and one in France, To avoid any duplication of work, each aircraft component had only one source. The British light strike/tactical support versions were the most demanding design, requiring supersonic performance, superior avionics, a cutting edge nav/attack system of more accuracy and complexity than the French version, moving map display, laser range-finder and marked-target seeker (LRMTS). As a result, the initial Br.121 design needed a thinner wing, redesigned fuselage, a higher rear cockpit, and after-burning engines. While putting on smiling faces for the public, maintaining the illusion of a shared design, the British design defacto departed from the French sub-sonic Breguet 121 to such a degree that it was for all intents and purposes a new design.

 

A separate partnership was formed between Rolls-Royce and Turbomeca to develop the Adour afterburning turbofan engine. The Br.121 was proposed with Turbomeca's Tourmalet engine for ECAT but Breguet preferred the RR RB.172 and their joint venture would use elements of both. The new engine, which would be used for the AFVG as well, would be built in Derby and Tarnos.

 

Previous collaborative efforts between Britain and France had been complicated – the AFVG programme ended in cancellation, and controversy surrounded the development of the supersonic airliner Concorde. Whilst the technical collaboration between BAC and Breguet went well, when Dassault took over Breguet in 1971 it encouraged acceptance of its own designs, such as the Super Étendard naval attack aircraft and the Mirage F1, for which it would receive more profit, over the Anglo-French Jaguar.

 

The initial plan was for Britain to buy 150 Jaguar "B" trainers, with its strike requirements being met by the advanced BAC-Dassault AFVG aircraft, with France to buy 75 "E" trainers (école) and 75 "A" single-seat strike attack aircraft (appui). Dassault favoured its own Mirage G aircraft above the collaborative AFVG, and in June 1967, France cancelled the AFVG on cost grounds. This left a gap in the RAF's planned strike capabilities for the 1970s at the same time as France's cancellation of the AFVG, Germany was expressing a serious interest in the Jaguar, and thus the design became more oriented towards the low-level strike role.

 

The RAF had initially planned on a buy of 150 trainers; however, with both TSR2 and P.1154 gone, the RAF were looking increasingly hard at their future light strike needs and realizing that they now needed more than just advanced trainers with some secondary counter insurgency capability. The RAF's strike line-up was at this point intended to consist of American F-111s plus the AFVG for lighter strike purposes. There was concern that both F-111 and AFVG were high risk projects and with the French already planning on a strike role for the Jaguar, there was an opportunity to introduce a serious backup plan for the RAF's future strike needs - the Jaguar.

 

While the RAF had initially planned to buy 150 trainers, the TSR2 and p.1154 were gone, and believing that both the US F-111 and AFVG were high-risk programs, and with the French already planning a strike role for their Jaguar, the MOD suddenly realized they were in bad need of a new light strike aircraft capable of delivering tactical nuclear weapons. As a result, by October 1970, the RAF's requirements had changed to 165 single-seat strike aircraft and 35 trainers.

 

The Jaguar was to replace the McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR2 in the close air support, tactical reconnaissance and tactical strike roles, freeing the Phantom to be used for air defence. Both the French and British trainer requirements had developed significantly, and were eventually fulfilled instead by the Alpha Jet and Hawker Siddeley Hawk respectively. The French, meanwhile, had chosen the Jaguar to replace the Aeronavale's Dassault Étendard IV, and increased their order to include an initial 40 of a carrier-capable maritime version of the Jaguar, the Jaguar M, for the Aeronavale. From these apparently disparate aims would come a single and entirely different aircraft: relatively high-tech, supersonic, and optimised for ground-attack in a high-threat environment.

The Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) currently includes over 100 Issuing Banks in the EBRD region and more than 800 Confirming Banks worldwide. The event gave EBRD partner banks the opportunity to review and discuss industry challenges, pricing, limits and trade opportunities with key industry specialists, regulators and representatives from the World Trade Organization, the International Chamber of Commerce HQ and local National ICC Committees.

  

It also featured the highly popular award ceremony for ‘The Most Active EBRD TFP Banks’ and ‘The Best Transaction of 2016’.

 

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