Wed 14th February 2.00pm The Magpies versus the Black Cats – there has always been local rivalry between Newcastle and Sunderland’s football clubs. But, where and when did this rivalry start? Malcolm Grady makes a welcome return and reveals some fascinating facts about the two clubs.

Wednesday 13th March 2.00pm Richard Bliss brings to life the story of John William Pease and his family who lived at Pendower Hall, Benwell. He also talks about other Pease relatives as well as other prominent Quakers such as Thomas Hodgkin.

Wednesday 10th April 2.00pm During the 1926 General Strike, miners in Cramlington accidentally derailed the Flying Scotsman. No one was killed and only one person was slightly injured but eight Northumberland miners were sentenced to 48 years’ penal servitude.  Discover more in this illustrated talk by local playwright Ed Waugh.

Wednesday 8th May 2.00pm Trevor Ermel has been a keen photographer since the 1960s and has amassed a large collection of pictures taken on Tyneside over the decades. Many of them have appeared in books on local history and in the ‘Chronicle’ newspaper. This afternoon he shares some favourite Gateshead photographs and talks a little…