The Great Wallsendo
Well-known member
Had a few jars last night - turned my PC off before I went out, removed a couple of fuses and hid my glasses so I couldn't do any damage on my return 
....
My friend had managed to get a couple of tickets to the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade Annual Smoking Concert - held at the Watch House in Tynemouth...my friend, himself, a former member of Cullercoats Lifeboat for 7 years with his younger brother keeping the tradition going with the TVLB
What is this event some of you may ask?
Well it's an annual fundraiser (raffles, auction etc) and also an acknowledgement to the hard graft and selfless devotion given by a few to serve us all. I felt humbled (and it wasn't just the beer talking) as the lads themselves are modest about what they do and don't feel the need for rhetoric and self promotion. They put themsleves up against it in all weathers and seas to save lives and they rightly deserve our respect and admiration.
Why is it called a Smoking Concert? Part of the tradition is that for a cost, you purchase a clay pipe and a roll of baccy and then you have to keep it going for as long as you can - this years winner was a salty old dog who kept it up for 37 minutes
One last thing that struck me about the evening was the promotion of good old fashioned traditions - singing of old geordie Folk songs, toasting the Crown and singing the National Anthem to name a few...I've waxed lyrical about PC recently and it's the potential loss of these old fashioned traditions that worry me more than anything - long may they continue.
You can sign up to the TVLB as an honary member - something I may just do
....My friend had managed to get a couple of tickets to the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade Annual Smoking Concert - held at the Watch House in Tynemouth...my friend, himself, a former member of Cullercoats Lifeboat for 7 years with his younger brother keeping the tradition going with the TVLB
What is this event some of you may ask?
Well it's an annual fundraiser (raffles, auction etc) and also an acknowledgement to the hard graft and selfless devotion given by a few to serve us all. I felt humbled (and it wasn't just the beer talking) as the lads themselves are modest about what they do and don't feel the need for rhetoric and self promotion. They put themsleves up against it in all weathers and seas to save lives and they rightly deserve our respect and admiration.
Why is it called a Smoking Concert? Part of the tradition is that for a cost, you purchase a clay pipe and a roll of baccy and then you have to keep it going for as long as you can - this years winner was a salty old dog who kept it up for 37 minutes
One last thing that struck me about the evening was the promotion of good old fashioned traditions - singing of old geordie Folk songs, toasting the Crown and singing the National Anthem to name a few...I've waxed lyrical about PC recently and it's the potential loss of these old fashioned traditions that worry me more than anything - long may they continue.
You can sign up to the TVLB as an honary member - something I may just do
