In 2008 we toured the North East and got to appreciate the dramatically changing scenery from the cathedral city of Durham to the industrial heartland through Middlesborough on the way to Saltburn-by-the-Sea.
Our two weeks started off in Durham and included an outdoor concert in the grounds of Gibside, a National Trust garden, and a visit to the newly opened Durham Swimming Pool. Our time in Durham concluded with an evening concert before we travelled up north to Morpeth.
In Morpeth the now annual band ceildh was enjoyed by all, we played in the town centre and had rounders and a barbeque on the beach at Druridge Bay. We also had a Saturday evening concert and played for the Sunday morning service.
We then started the journey south, firstly to Saltburn-by-the-Sea with its funicular railway. Whilst we were there we played for the evening service at Marske, went on a band outing to the cinema, enjoyed go-carting and had an outdoor concert indoors because of the rain! We also had a formal indoor concert in Saltburn Methodist Church as well as playing for the guests of Brockley Hall, a Christian hotel.
Our journey south continued to Scarborough where we stayed at Central Hall, giving a concert there and playing for Sunday morning worship. We gave an outdoor concert in Whitby where we also had a band sandcastle competition. The delights of Scarborough were explored in both rain and sunshine, football and adventure golf were played and dragons were peddled around the lake of Peasholm Park.
It was a great tour, thanks to all the churches who hosted us and to the McAdoos for all their hard work.
