One Month On

Only now are we beginning to appreciate how many aspects of the running of Newbiggin Maritime Centre Dave Futers was involved in. We will have to learn how to manage what we have hitherto largely taken for granted. For example, the free Wi-Fi system went down and we have had to set about sorting that out. The Newbiggin  Genealogy group had arranged to install an interactive piece of equipment in the Community Gallery and we are now meeting with  Hilton Dawson to determine how we should go about this.  One of the projectors in the audio visual suite decided to go on strike . We were quoted an unbelievable price for repairing/replacing it so Steve, one of our volunteers, used his extensive knowledge of electronic gadgetry to repair it.

You will notice that most of the information concerning events has disappeared from the new website. We are hoping that more up to date information will be available on our Facebook page which is accessible from the What’s On button . It is easier and quicker to update and keep up to date than the previous system.

We now have a twelve month waiting list of artists wishing to exhibit in the Breakwater Café. Don’t let that deter you. If you are interested in displaying your work please get in touch. We now also have a small additional space, which can be used on more of an ad hoc basis – we can display about six pieces for shorter (or longer) times than the main exhibition area, which is organized on a calendar monthly basis and provides hanging space for up to thirty pieces.

The permanent collections in the three museum galleries  are of a high standard and are both informative and interesting. We are hoping to supplement them with small items that have been acquired over the last few years. To this end we have obtained a new glass showcase that will house small items of community interest and we have installed an informative display about the Northumbrian Coble in the Fishing Gallery. We hope to update the panel showing  Wilf Cook when he was active on the Girl Anne. And of course there will be the new interactive display from the Newbiggin Genealogy Group. In the Mary Joicey Hall we have installed a model of a sailing ship  recently donated and we are hoping to tidy up the various items that have accumulated beneath the lifeboat itself and introduce some logic to the display.

We are always looking for volunteers to help run the Centre. If you can offer any help it would be gratefully appreciated.