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In Response: Typewriters
Like many women of her generation, my mother, Veronica, was an avid user of thetypewriter. She learned an array of secretarial skills at Tynemouth...
Celebrating the Launch of Veronica: A Lifelong Dream Fulfilled
By Caroline Oswald On the first day of his boat-building apprenticeship at the age of 16, my dad could havehardly predicted that he would continue...
Reconstructing South Shields Lighthouse: A Storm Recovery Story
By Caroline Oswald When structural engineer Rob Ratcliffe moved from Scotland to North Shields in 2022, he could not have imagined that he would be...
From Grief to Resilience: Louise’s Story of Ocean Healing
By Jake Rusby Danish author Karen Blixen once wrote: “The cure for anything is salt water – tears, sweat or the sea.” For North Shields...
Content Creator: Jodhi Mae Rutherford
Being a creative is such a big part of who I am , back in 2022 I graduated Leeds Arts University with a BA...
In response to: To Wave or Not To Wave
Following her earlier musing on the neighbourly etiquette of waving, Mim Robson has been hearing from readers far and wide, each with their own thoughts on the subtle art of the wave. Messages touched on everything from unspoken social rules to curious differences in how people choose to greet, depending on mood, setting, or even clothing. Together, the replies paint a picture of how something as simple as a raised hand can open up a whole world of questions about connection, confidence, and the tiny decisions that shape our daily interactions.
I Love Trees
A quiet love letter to trees, this reflective essay explores why they captivate us so deeply. From childhood shelter and shared memories to fallen giants and changing landscapes, trees become markers of time, place and self. As familiar trunks topple and iconic trees are lost, the author reflects on grief, continuity and renewal—reminding us that trees are more than scenery. They are companions, storytellers and living links between past, present and what still grows.
Remembering how one Shields family were at the heart of a desperate RNLI rescue mission
Photographs on a family wall sparked Dorothy Brownlee’s lifelong memory of one of the RNLI’s greatest missions – when Tynemouth’s lifeboat battled a raging storm to rescue 50 people from the wrecked hospital ship Rohilla in 1914. As the RNLI marks its bicentenary, Dorothy now shares the remarkable story of her grandfather and great-uncle’s courage, bringing a dramatic chapter of local and national history back into the light.
Meet Barry Hutchings: The man with a passion for hats
From punk rebellion to timeless elegance, Barry Hutchings’ lifelong love affair with hats is about far more than fashion. In a hat-shy modern world, he champions confidence, craftsmanship and old-world etiquette, mourning the decline of tipped brims and celebrated styles. From berets to Stetsons, Barry’s collection tells cultural stories—and fuels his Hat Club mission to revive individuality, tradition and the simple joy of wearing your identity proudly under a well-chaped brim.
234 years on Tyneside: E Turnbull & Son’s seven generation legacy continues to thrive
In a year that saw Washington deliver his first State of the Union, revolution rumble through France, and Mozart debut Cosi fan Tutte, life in North Shields was also quietly changing. In 1790, local craftsman John Turnbull set up shop as a furniture maker and undertaker in the Low Town beside the Fish Quay—laying the foundations for what would become one of the town’s longest-standing family businesses. Fast forward 234 years and E. Turnbull & Son is still serving the community, now led by seventh-generation descendant Ben Broadhead. From hand-written ledgers to horse-drawn carriages, wartime tragedy to modern, personalised services, the story of Turnbull’s is woven into the history of North Shields. We sat down with Ben to explore the family legacy, the evolving craft of funeral directing, and why community remains at the heart of everything they do.
