Friends of Beamish Museum.Events you must not Miss.
1. Meccano Exhibition - Saturday and Sunday, 26th and 27th April.
Find out about the world of Meccano - real engineering in miniature. Meet the makers and see fascinating models and historical items tracing more than a century of development of one of the world's best-loved hobbies.
The exhibition is always a great hit with Beamish visitors with an opportunity to admire the models, chat with the makers and, of course, to reminisce.
The North East Meccano Society create exciting displays at Beamish, with construction sets dating from the early 1900s up to the present day. To whet the appetite, a selection of Meccano models is already on display in the Museum's Entrance Building - including The Angel of the North.
In The Collections Room.
In The Collections Room at the Regional Resource Centre at Beamish will be a fascinating array of all things Meccano - an exhibition demonstrating the versatility of this timeless toy. There'll be working models of all kinds, including industrial and agricultural vehicles. Meccano versions of television stars from Dr Who - a Dalek and K9 - will be on display, alongside railway exhibits and a working model of the Newcastle 114 tram which carries visitors around Beamish. A host of novelty exhibits will delight visitors throughout the weekend.
Children's Meccano Corner.
New at the exhibition for 2008 is a Children's Meccano Corner. With the help on an expert, children can be hands-on and have a go at model making, with child-friendly Meccano and real Meccano tools.
Bank Holiday Fun at Beamish
Two fascinating events take place at Beamish this coming Bank Holiday weekend, with something for the whole family to enjoy.
Power from the Past - Sunday, 4th May
On Sunday, 4th May, near the Regional Resource Centre at Beamish, there's Power from the Past, a fascinating display of early 1900s technology - from pedal power to horse power.
On view and in action from 10.00am to 4.30pm will be exhibits ranging from cycles, safety bicycles and high bicycles (penny farthings to the uninitiated) up to horse-drawn vehicles and a magnificent 1900 Humber Quadricycle.
In between there are stationary engines and shining motorcycles, including a 1920 Matchless Model H and a 1927 AJS 350. Making an appearance, too, at the Event is a beautifully restored, unique Newcastle cart, dating from around 1890, alongside a 1928 SOS bus which is currently undergoing restoration.
Many of the exhibits on display at this event have been restored to their former glory by The Friends of Beamish and members of The Friends will be on hand to put these marvellous machines through their paces and to talk to visitors.
May Festivities - Monday, 5th May
On Monday, 5th May, there'll be fascinating May Day Celebrations. Children from local schools, dressed in period costume, will recreate a typical May Day Festival. The fun begins at 11am with a May Day procession, followed by a ceremony to crown the May King and Queen. Then there'll be splendid Maypole Dancing displays. The Ceremony will be repeated at 12.30pm and again at 2.30pm.
Children from Esh Village C of E Primary, Ringway First School, Guidepost and West Pelton Primary Schools have been rehearsing for many weeks to perfect the complicated interwoven patterns for the dancing display.
And Music Too
Adding to the Bank Holiday fun, on Saturday, 3rd May, Norma Hall will entertain visitors with merry concertina tunes in the cosy farmhouse kitchen at Home Farm. Windy Nook Methodist Choir will give recitals in The Colliery Village chapel at 11.00am and 2.00pm and on Sunday, 4th May East Durham Circuit Methodist Choir will sing in the chapel at 2.00pm.
Race the Beamish Tram Sunday, 29th June 2008
Entries are now open for the fourth Beamish Tram Challenge, the athletics fixture that pits man (and woman) against machine.
Two races, a multi-terrain 10km and a Fun Run of 2.5km will take place at Beamish on Sunday 29th June 2008, organised in conjunction with Derwentside Athletic Club and sponsored by Stagecoach North East. Both races involve runners trying to beat one of the museum's historic trams around the track, but the 10k route carries on through the surrounding woods and finishes in the grounds of Beamish Hall Hotel.
The event was the brainchild of award-winning children's author Terry Deary and aims to raise funds for education and access projects at Beamish. Last year £4,000 was raised. Terry will be at the museum to fire the starting pistol for both races.
Runners and their supporters can also buy half price admission tickets to visit the museum after the race. There is a limit of 250 entrants for each race and entries cannot be accepted on the day. Entry forms can be obtained from Carla Hunter on 0191 370 4025, email carlahunter@beamish.org.uk or by logging on to www.beamish.org.uk