cultureFEBRUARY10
6060
favouriteplacescultureFEBRUARY10
Region's
rituals
I
f there's something we English are
famous for it's our little eccentricities.
What endears us to others � and
perhaps bamboozles them � are our
unique and quirky traditions that see
communities bond together for a spot of
cheese-rollingoraNewYear'sDaydipinthe
freezing North Sea.
It's these kind of traditions that have
inspired the new and aptly-named Where
Else But England awards.
People in the region are being asked
specifically Where Else But North East Eng-
land? and invited to submit their ideas on
what makes the region unique.
RegionaldevelopmentagencyOneNorth
East, together with VisitEngland, is asking
us to get our thinking caps on and nominate
local events or experiences to enter into the
national awards.
To get the cheese ball rolling, how about
the annual New Year's Eve ceremony in
Allendale, Northumberland, when villagers
parade through the streets with burning tar
barrels on their heads.
Or the centuries-old Shrove Tuesday tra-
dition at Alnwick when two parishes com-
peteinano-rulesfootballmatchfortheprize
ofacheese�ortheoneatSedgefield,when
afreedrinkawaitsthebatteredwinnerofthe
Shrove Tuesday ball game pitting mech-
anics against agriculturists.
Then there are the rapper sword dance in
Northumberland and pig-racing at Belling-
ham Show.
Once the entries are collated, the region's
favourites will go head-to-head with events
from around the country in a public vote in
April. Winners will be announced at the
national awards ceremony to be held on St
George's Day, April 23, in Brighton.
The awards are part of the annual Enjoy
England Awards for Excellence.
Stacy Hall, director of communications
and tourism at One North East, said: "North
East England has so many interesting and
unusual events and experiences that make
it a unique and exciting place to visit, and
this award is a fantastic way of highlighting
those.
"Where else but North East England can
you eat in an actual living tree house or
bungee jump from a landmark like the
Transporter Bridge in Middlesbrough?"
Nominations can be made at the
www.mynortheastengland.comwebsitebut
don't delay as the deadline is February 26.
The site, which launched in November
and is the first of its kind in the region,
encourages both residents and visitors to
share their "must see and do" experiences,
which range from the best day out to
suggestions of places to stay and eat.
The idea is to make the most of online
initiatives in promoting the region as widely
as possible.
Stacy added: "People in the North East
are passionate about the region and by
adding their ideas to the mynortheast-
england.com website they are helping vis-
itors to have an unforgettable experience."
Submit ideas � marked Where Else
But England � before Friday, February 26
at www.mynortheastengland.com where
they can be posted quickly and easily by
submitting your name and address and
uploading any photographs or videos.
Whats weird and wonderful about the
North East? Your answer could help the
region win a new national award, as
Barbara Hodgson reports.
Chloe Miller, left, Emily Miller, middle, and Sheila Crudden are
braving the waves at the New Year's Dip in Whitley Bay.

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