BBC News
November 4, 2024
Cathy comes home for 'train wrecker' grandad play.
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A woman is flying from Canada to the UK to see a new play about a group of men, including her grandfather, who were imprisoned following a train derailment.
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Read the article here
"Derailed",
a poem by Steve Blakeney
Many thanks to Steve Blakeney for his excellent poem.
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Today I met a man I had never met before,
Waiting for the Scotsman to fly through,
Today I saw a man I had never seen before,
Pushed past desperation by the few.
He would fight his violation,
Feed off tears of frustration,
Bury shame and isolation,
There’d be no more supplication.
Today I met a man I had never met before
His pride and courage wouldn’t let him crack
Today I saw a man I had never seen before
Standing by that broken, twisted track
He would stop his babies’ cries
He’d expose the government lies
They would be the ones to rise
Our union never dies!
Today I watched a man I had never watched before
As that iron horse forebodingly marched on
Today I watched a man welcome carnage to his door
As metal screamed and burning bolts were flung
Off the rails it clattered
Its broken neck lay shattered
Its steely bridle spattered
The blacklegs splayed and battered
Today I was a man I had never been before
A man prepared to take a stance and fight
I will always be that man that I should have been before
A man prepared to die for what is right
ChronicleLive
September 15, 2024
Play's North East tour revives remarkable tale of how Cramlington miners derailed the Flying Scotsman​
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By Barbara Hodgson, Life Writer
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Read the article here
"No Regrets",
a song by Tom Patterson
A big thank you to Tom Patterson, the Birmingham-based Geordie folk singer, for his brilliant song No Regrets, inspired by the 1981 book of the same name by Cramlington Train Wrecker Bill Muckle.
Cramlington Community Choir
The rise and rise of Cramlington Community Choir
In 2022, the then newly-formed Cramlington Community Choir supported the Wor Bella project, performing pre-show in tour venues around the region.
Two years on, Wisecrack Productions is delighted to be working with the excellent ensemble again when The Cramlington Train Wreckers play takes to the stage this November (2024).
Around 70 members of the thriving choir will sing a selection of songs based on themes of justice, protest, rights and power before the 7 pm performance in Cramlington Learning Village on Thursday, November 7, and ahead of the 7.30 pm show in Playhouse Whitley Bay on Wednesday, November 13.
Led by Jill Brown, the choir prides itself in entertaining the local community. Members enjoy performing in community spaces such as the shopping centre, local care homes and parks. Their recent concerts in Doxford Place Methodist Church were attended by over 300 audience members.
Concerts and performances are free of charge so that they are as accessible to as many people as possible.
Jill said: “We are delighted to be invited to be part of the Cramlington Train Wreckers project and play our part as people come together to remember this historic event which took place in our town. Our rehearsals will begin in June.”
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Find out more about the choir on the Facebook group or by e-mail.