Signs of the times
Driving into Morpeth recently I noticed a missing sign, more of that later, but what can you tell about a place by its signs?
Outside St Mary’s church is a sign giving the distance to Edinburgh (110 miles), thus dating itself as pre bypass when all the A1 traffic went along Bridge Street. It even tells you it is only 20 ½ miles to Alnwick. This is now a plastic sign, replacing a much older metal cast one, but it is good to know that someone recognised its uniqueness.
My policeman Dad worked point duty in Morpeth on bank holidays at Telford Bridge and was convinced that when waving around his huge white gauntlets, all he did was to make traffic jams longer and more frustrating! There certainly wasn’t any speeding going on and as an equal opportunity man he also helped mess up the traffic in Ponteland, Hexham and Alnwick.
Above the Lollo Rosso restaurant is the sign saying Ironmongers, former home of the legendary Smails. A friend bought a plastic overflow pipe from them in the 2000’s and it was still priced in shillings and pence – and I thought I was a hoarder. Treasure our unique shops as you will surely miss them when they’re gone.
Moving behind our new leisure centre you come to a scout hut where the name of the leader is twice the size of the scout logos on the front door sign. Far from being a cult, scouting in Morpeth is in rude health, though I am sure the 4th and the 6th would welcome volunteers if you have the time.
There are lots of yellow signs advertising new housing developments which are popping up around town. No nimbys here please, it brings life and vigour to our schools and communities – let’s hope they all shop local.
The sign that is missing and seemed everywhere when I was young is for twinning. Is it as extinct as a school cap or could it be brought back to life. Surely people in Paris or Milan would love to make some friends in lovely Northumberland. Or post Brexit will we need to restrict ourselves to Workington or Redcar, but if Alnwick and Ashby-de-la-Zouch can do it then so can we. ‘Morpeth – twinned with Sydney, Australia’ - now that really would be a sign.
Peter Hayle