ON SALE NOW

FROM FIREARMS TO PAINTBRUSHES

GRAHAME ANDERSON meets Charlie Sprigg, who went from protecting the royal family to becoming a celebrated local artist.

FEEDING COUSINS SEEK OUT NEW HABITATS

IAN KERR profiles the closely-related lapwing and golden plover, whose changing patterns of winter feeding have prompted a national bird count.

GOING, GOING...NEARLY GONE

PHIL HUNTLEY looks at the history of the county's livestock auction marts.

A LAND FIT FOR POETS

DIANE SMITH tells how she uses her love of poetry to extol the virtues of the Northumbrian landscape.

WINNING THE FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL

in the second article of his country pub series, STEWART BONNEY discovers how two village pubs have found different ways to keep traditions alive.

ADDING TWO MORE TO THE COLLECTION

Burnets and Primulas, two new national plant collections

THE FORTRESS HERO'S FINAL RETURN

TINA ELLIOTT retells the famous story of the rescue of the crew of an American war plane during the Second World War,
and describes the final mission which the pilot set his family.

MOODS OF WINTER

ALLAN POTTS captures the chilly spectacle of the season's grip on nature.

A MORPETH ARTIST'S QUIET CONSOLATION

North East art historian MARSHALL HALL tells the intriguing story of a painting which has led a double life for more than a quarter of a century.

KIPPERS KEEP SMOKING ALONG

VERONICA HEATH finds the family tradition of kipper smoking at Craster very much alive in its centenary year.

WHY I'M GOING WEST FOR THE NEW YEAR

JOHN GRUNDY's latest TV series has included locations as far away as Merseyside - and he's worried...

LONELY LOUGHS IN THE HILLS ABOVE ELSDON

ANTHONY TOOLE takes an upland walk in the hills to visit Darden Lough and its smaller companion, Little Lough.

CHRISTMAS FOOD AND GIFT IDEAS

It may seem that Christmas is approaching at a frightening rate, but don't despair. There's still time to buy imaginative presents or to stock up with essential and luxury supplies for the festive season.

CONTINUING THE COBLE TRADITION

DAVID LINKIE meets Steven Moss from Blyth, a proud and traditional Northumbrian inshore fisherman.

MOODS OF WINTER

ALLAN POTTS captures the chilly spectacle of the season's grip on nature.

FROM NATIONAL PARK TO THRIVING GARDEN

SUSIE WHITE meets Jimmy Givens, a former National Park warden who now specialises in growing prize-winning sweet peas.

COQUETDALE'S OWN DAYS AT THE RACES

DAVID THOMPSON looks back at the history of horse racing at Rothbury.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

A TASTE OF NORTHUMBERLAND
A rich fruit cake for Christmas

NEWS VIEW
Chirapatre School campus gets clean water
Better access for visitors to Bellcrag Flow
Six top Northumberland tourist businesses honoured in Awards

BOOK REVIEWS by John Watson

READERS LETTERS

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