Looking back: 2013 in The Friendliest Port
Posted on 30th December 2013 | in Community , Heritage & Tourism , What's On , Young People’s Activities
Extreme weather was a constant companion this last year, as 2013 got off to a freezing start. It played its part in Amble’s first Puffin Festival too, with torrential rain delaying the opening ceremony.
Because of the storms during the spring, the annual appearance of Coquet Island’s colony of puffins was affected too; finally they returned in their thousands, although about a month later than expected.
But when summer did arrive, it brought long hot sunny days; perfect for the beach, nature watching or watersports activities. The Friendliest Port welcomed more visitors than ever this year and two new restaurants opened their doors. Good news for foodies, and much needed jobs for locals.
And then the weather re asserted itself bringing exceptionally high tides, floods and gales.
Here is a slideshow of some of Amble’s memorable events in 2013. Slide over image for captions and text to appear.
Snow-at-Little-Shore
January 2013 brought snow and freezing temperatures
Food-factory-demolition
The former Cheviot (Northumberland) Food factory was eventually demolished after around 30 years of production under different owners.
Scotty the singing-postman
Scotty the Singing Postie was hailed as Amble's cheeriest postman
New pier lights
Years of intense North Sea storms took their toll on the original pier lights, and at the beginning of 2013, new lights were installed The lights proved popular with fishermen but were not to everyone's taste.
Old-Boat-House opening
April saw the opening of a new seafood bistro on the Quayside. Chefs Richard Sim and Martin Charlton opened The Old Boat House in the former RNLI station
puffin-logo
Amble Puffin Festival is the only celebration of its kind in the UK. The very first event took place at the end of May.
Bing-homepage2
The Puffin Festival proved popular, even Microsoft's search engine Bing devoted its homepage to celebrating the event
Captain-Coquet-in-puffin-ha
The Puffin Festival was officially opened by "Captain Coquet" aka Paul Morrison, RSPB warden for Coquet Island. The island, which is only 1 mile out of Amble harbour, is home to a colony of thousands of puffins
poet-Ian-Williams and Busy Bees
The opening celebrations were delayed by a day because of torrential rain, but were watched by hundreds of people
Firebird dance
Youngsters sang and performed in front of an appreciative audience. Dancers from Edwin St school took part in the Firebird dance
St-Cuthberts
St Cuthbert's RC children re-enacted the early history of habitation on Coquet Island
RSPB-Puffineers
RSPB wardens took a short break from guarding the puffins and other seabirds to join in the fun
Puffin-Cruises
Visitors can take boat trips from Amble around Coquet Island to see the puffins, seals and other seabirds such as the very rare Roseate tern which live on the bird sanctuary,
canoes-at-Little-Shore
Watersports activities took place on the Little Shore during the Festival
Tommy-Craggs-at-puffin-fest
Chainsaw sculptor Tommy Craggs carved a puffin during the event. The finished piece can be seen in the garden in High Street
puffin-crafts
There were puffin-themed crafts for children. Most events were free.
puffins-in-a-row
In June the puffins returned in their thousands to Coquet Island. Bad weather earlier in the year had delayed their arrival
The-Colony-in-full-swing
The Puffin Festival ended with The Colony music festival.
TheColony03
Hundreds of locals and visitors enjoyed listening to local bands and musicians. The Colony brought the two week Puffin celebration to a close
Edwin-St-larkabout
Edwin Street First school said goodbye to a "temporary" classroom, affectionately known as the Larkabout. The classroom had been in constant use since 1966
Good-Citizens'-Award-2013
Bobby Stone (left) from Amble Links First School was voted Good Citizen of the Year 2013. The award celebrates outstanding behaviour and conduct in Amble's young people.
JCSC-prom-2013
Year 11 students from James Calvert Spence College celebrated their prom at Lindon Hall
picnic-at-the-Little-Shore
July saw the hottest summer for years, meaning everyone could relax and enjoy the peace and quiet...
fun at-Little-Shore
...but for some the good weather was a chance to enjoy fun and games on the beach
low-hauxley-archaeology-pro
The summer also saw a 13 week archaeological dig on the dunes at Low Hauxley. The dig drew the attention of TV and national media
Janet-Smith-Hannah-Duquemin
Hundreds of volunteers of all ages took part in the dig, which uncovered a bronze age burial cairn and artifacts from 8200 BC, when Britain was still connected to Europe
jAAP0C5ZzvE
England-surf-kayak-team-201
August saw champion Tamsin Green and husband Dan help the England team bring home a silver medal in the Surf Kayak World Championships, held in Queensland, Australia
repairs to Harbour wall
Repairs to the Harbour wall, damaged in the floods of September 2008 were finally completed in the Summer
two-lifeboats
The annual Lifeboat Day once again drew hundreds of people to witness displays by Amble RNLI and a Sea King helicopter RAF Boulmer.
lifeboat-day-crowds
The ever popular annual event raised over £9,500 for Amble RNLI
Town-Square-Sept12
All the hard work weeding and planting by Pride In Amble volunteers, paid off in the summer, with the Town Square looking magnificent
Robson-Green-in-Amble
Actor Robson Green paid a visit to the Friendliest Port, when he was filming for his ITV series "Tales from Northumberland with Robson Green"
Geoff-Moscrop
September saw two world records smashed by North Broomhill leek grower Geoff Moscrop, His leek was the biggest ever recorded, meaning he also won in the biggest pair of leeks category
The Old-Storehouse
Amble benefited from a major investment by Park Leisure as they opened The Old Storehouse Restaurant and Bar in what was formerly The Granary pub. 30 jobs were created.
Remembrance-Day-2013
Amble's Remembrance Day drew the biggest crowds yet, with some people travelling from Newcastle to join the service in the Town Square
Christmas lanterns
Amble's Torchlight Procession brought thousands of people out to see the Christmas Lights switch on. This year's theme was Christmas By The Sea
Radcliffe-Club-characters
Everyone got into the festive sprit
Waterloo
More businesses took part in the parade this year than ever before.
A1086-submerged-BL
December saw a return to the extreme weather, with the Warkworth Road closed as the sea overwhelmed the A1068 at high tide
