In April this year I mentioned the fact that the Castle Keep and Black Gate in Newcastle were being renovated and I hoped to visit once the work had been completed. Well. I eventually found the time to do just that when I accompanied a group of friends (and friends of friends) to this historic site yesterday.
I have of course walked around and past these wonderful buildings on many occasions but I am slightly ashamed to admit that I have never previously been inside.
Rather than give you a history of the site here, I will instead refer you to the excellent website http://www.castlekeep-newcastle.org.uk/
My visit was fascinating for all sorts of reasons but not least for the views across the city and the Tyne from the top of the keep.
For example, this view looks down river and takes in the Tyne Bridge, the Sage Gateshead and the Millenium Bridge.
This one shows the Black Gate in the foreground with St Nicholas' Cathedral behind it. Also in the distance on the left, St James Park the home of Newcastle United can be seen.
You can tell from this picture that we were braving the cold but the views made it all worthwhile.
This photo shows the swing bridge on the left and the Robert Stephenson designed high-level bridge on the right.
Finally here is an unusual view of a favourite watering-hole of mine. The Bridge Hotel where I have spent many a fine evening drinking beer and talking rubbish.
Belatedly I wish to pay my respects to Louisa Jo Killen who sadly passed away on 9th August.
With a Celtic heritage, Louis was born and raised on the banks of the River Tyne in the north east of England. Absorbing the musical traditions of that region as well as Scotland and Ireland, he began singing in folk clubs and was instrumental in establishing the long running club at The Bridge Hotel in Newcastle where he played with the likes of Ewan MacColl and The High Level Ranters (The Bridge Hotel stands at the end of the High Level Bridge).
I first became aware of Killen through the LP record, 'The Iron Muse' on which he sang several traditional songs, most notably 'The Blackleg Miners' which makes mention of a couple of villages close to where I live - Seaton Delaval and Seghill. This song has since been covered by a number of artists including Steeleye Span and Richard Thompson.
As a singer and concertina player, Killen's career spanned over 40 years during which time he released over 40 LP's and CD's.
In recent years, Louis Killen achieved a lifelong desire and went through a gender change, becoming Louisa Jo Killen.
Her passing is being mourned in the folk world and I now find myself compelled to dig out my Topic Records anthology, 'Three Score and Ten' and play the powerful song, 'The Blackleg Miners'.
RIP Lou (10 January 1934 - 9 August 2013).
