The Great Performing Rope - a Free Film, Cake and Conversation, 18 February at 4.30 pm, The Maltings, Berwick

Last October, the Great Performing Rope occupied the streets of Berwick creating a 900 metre long route through the town centre carrying the personal stories, memories and hopes of the people of Berwick and its visitors.

Here's an opportunity to see a film screening documenting the event, hear the stories of some of the people who took part and helped to make it happen.

You'll hear Katie Doherty’s popular new sea shanty for Berwick “All hands to the Rope”.

It's at The Maltings Theatre & Cinema, Eastern Lane, Berwick-upon-Tweed, TD15 1AJ at 4.30 pm on 18 February. Map.

They’ll be serving tea and cake afterwards and hope you'll stay on for an informal discussion to explore what could happen next to the stories on the rope.

They have an idea for another project for Berwick-upon-Tweed and would love to hear your thoughts, contributions and ideas.

The film features work by artists Carl Von Weiler, Julia Barton, Kate Doherty and Dan Fox as well as local school children; several community and youth groups; and local musicians Electric Penelope, Sammy Read and the Golden Square Singers, who all helped to bring the Great Performing Rope to life!

The Great Performing Rope was co-produced by November Club and Culture Creative in association with artist Carl von Weiler and was presented as part of Berwick 900.

The event is free. Book now !

Arty-Facts Finale to Berwick 900 at Berwick Town Hall - 24 and 25 October

This weekend from 11am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday there will be an exhibition of local art and craftwork reflecting the themes of the Berwick 900 festival during 2015 in the Berwick Town Hall and demonstrations of peg-loom weaving, needle-felting, Lucet cord-making, mosaic-work and making rag-rugs.

There will also be family history displays.

It's not quite the finale, because the Berwick 900 Our Families project will be continuing to record family stories and provide training in family history and related subjects over the winter and into next spring.

Also, go and visit the memories and family stories of Berwick-upon-Tweed tied to a rope  from 22 to 25 October.

Come to our Easter Family History Surgeries at Berwick-upon-Tweed

This weekend is the start of the Berwick 900 Festival that celebrates 900 years of Berwick’s history.

The theme of the Easter weekend, 3  to 6 April is “Our Christian Story” that celebrates Christian institutions, religious life and a few of the great Christian leaders in the town.

At St Andrews Church, Wallace Green, Berwick-upon-Tweed, TD15 1ED as well as the “Moments in Time” Flower Festival, inspired by the church’s history, there will be display panels about Robert Balmer, an inspirational minister at Golden Square, Dr John Cairns and Berwick’s well known physician, Philip MacLagan, a church elder.

Although all these men were born in Scotland and at times lived elsewhere, they all had strong links with Berwick. Like them, John Hamilton Hall, a freeman, was born in Coldstream, moved to Berwick as a child where his father was a doctor, left the town to fight in India, returned when he retired from the army, aged 40, got married and then moved to Edinburgh.

Did your family move into or out of Berwick ?
Why did they do that ?
If your family is associated with Berwick, Tweedmouth or Spittal, the Berwick 900 Our Families Project would love to hear your family stories.

Normally you need to visit Berwick Record Office to consult the transcripts of church registers of baptisms, marriages and burials for Berwick and Tweedmouth. However, over the Easter weekend, you can look at some of the registers in the churches where the events took place – Berwick Parish; St Andrews and Berwick Roman Catholic churches and Tweedmouth Parish Church. Look on the Berwick 900 website for opening times.

Are you wondering how to start your family history ? Perhaps you’ve started researching your family but have hit a brick wall.

If you need any help why not come along to our Family History surgeries in St Andrews Church from 12 to 2pm each day from Good Friday to Easter Monday and speak to experienced genealogists.

Family History Volunteers Needed, Please Help !

The Our Families Project is looking for volunteers to help research families and their stories for displays as part of the other themed weekends for the Berwick 900 Festival in Berwick, Spittal and Tweedmouth this year.

If you are an experienced Family Historian, we’ll provide you with advanced training on specific resources.

If you are a complete novice, we’ll train you in basic family history and provide you with resources.

We are holding an initial meeting for Beginners on Tuesday 7th April at 10am in the Berwick Record Office, Council Offices, Wallace Green, Berwick-upon-Tweed, TD15 1ED.

Do come along if you want to find out more and are keen to help us. Researching family history is fun and interesting.

For further information please contact Linda Bankier at berwickarchives@woodhorn.org.uk or tweet @Berwick900.