TheTeam

Jim Grant
Jim Grant is a storyteller working in environmental education and interpretation. Prior to this he spent many years as primary school teacher working in inner city schools and nature parks.
Jim now provides living history and story experiences that heighten awareness of the natural world and highlight humankind's dependence upon the natural environment.
Jim has over seventeen years of story-telling experience. He works with audiences of all ages in formal and informal situations, indoors and out; in schools, National Trust grounds, English Heritage sites, Wildlife Trust reserves, Northumberland National Park and at various Visitor Centres.

CONTACT
Email: jim.millgreens@gmail.com
Phone: 01670 772302
http://www.storytellerjim.co.uk

Graham Taylor
Graham is an Experimental Archaeologist and Pottery Specialist, and holds a BA Hons in 3D Design, Ceramics. He has over thirty years experience as a freelance potter and educator including:
Running his own pottery/arts studios in both Britain and Lesotho
Seven years as Head of Creative Arts at Machabeng College, International School of Lesotho where he established the Selibeng Arts and Cultural Centre and The Machabeng Art College
Extensive experience of working with individuals, community education groups, schools across all age groups, mental health trusts, museums and other organisations.
He offers a wide variety of services including demonstrations, workshops, talks, lectures, creation of bespoke replicas, reconstructions and museum displays. He specialises in the Prehistoric and Roman pottery of Britain and Ireland but can also cover the pottery of the Anglo-Saxon, Medieval, Ancient Greek and Egyptian periods.
His workshops and demonstrations can be pitched for any age or ability group from Primary School to Post Graduate level.
CONTACT
Phone: 01669 622890
http://www.pottedhistory.co.uk

info@pottedhistory.co.uk

Steve Richardson - Maximus
I have been providing Roman army workshops,as Maximus the Centurion,to
Heritage Organisations, schools and community groups for five years. I have
an extensive handling collection of replica items and offer interactive
talks on the life of a Roman soldier(all ages) and costumed role play
drill and battle tactics training sessions for KS2/3 pupils who are all
provided with Roman uniform and safe weapons(maximum 32 per session).

I am also available for festivals and shows, promotional events and
birthday parties.

I am able to travel outside the Newcastle area and have worked as far
afield as Birmingham and Glasgow.

Numerous clients include Tyne and Wear Museums, English Heritage and the
Northumberland National Park Authority.

Please contact me for further details.
Web   http://maximusvi.terapad.com
E     maximusvi@blueyonder.co.uk
T     0191 2895143
M     0791 4092103

Lesley Silvera
Lesley Silvera has worked in the protected landscapes of Northumberland for 25 years, firstly for the National Park Authority, then in the World Heritage Site of Hadrian's Wall for the Tourism Partnership and latterly for the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. She works on special projects related to protected landscapes designed to increase confidence and knowledge e.g. Touching the Wall, and regularly leads outdoor events
She is a qualified mountain leader (British Mountaineering Council - summer award) and first aider, and is a keen botanist. She has a geography degree (BA) and a Masters with distinction in Rural Resources and Countryside Management.
She also co-led Hexham's Junior Youth Theatre of 50 teenagers for 10 years. She plays Muriel the Herbalist and Market Stall Holder at Touching the Wall and similar events along Hadrian's Wall.

lsilvera@enterprise.net

Jo Catling
Jo Catling worked for many years as Project Education Officer for the Museum of Antiquities at Newcastle University creating a series schools outreach projects, most notably the Reticulum Project http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/reticulum/ , finalist for the Gulbenkian Prize in 2004.
Prior to this she worked as a Special Educational Needs teacher. She has a B.Ed. in Education and an M. A. (Res.) in Archaeology.
Since 2007 she has worked freelance, delivering bespoke handling sessions to schools and developing educational resources for a variety of projects and organisations, for example Nottingham University Museum.
Since 2007 she has been administrative manager for Touching the Wall and The Tyne Team.
She offers the following
Services to schools
Themed, led artefact handling sessions offering pupils a unique opportunity to enhance their understanding of past lives through object based learning
Off the peg or bespoke options available, including

Now & Then - a look at the familiar through the lens of the past
Aspects of Roman life
Inside an Anglo-Saxon house
How do we know? - the role of archaeology in learning about the past

Services to the heritage sector

Project design and administration
Development and production of educational resources
Provision of site specific learning

Contact:
Jo Catling
Phone: 01547 540 235
Email: alnheritage@googlemail.com

Ruth Hicken - Textiles Through Time
Ruth is an experienced weaver and textile specialist. She can demonstrate and teach spinning and weaving techniques from the Neolithic to the 19th century, including the use of drop spindles, the great wheel and the warp weighted loom.
Ruth's tools and equipment are based on original excavated examples. Hands-on activities for children and adults give participants the pleasure of creating their own textiles and a real appreciation of the value of fabric and clothing to the people of past ages.

ruth175@btinternet.com

Sue Sharp
Background: Potter, Artist, Subsistence Farmer (15 YEARS)

Although I am mainly involved with producing my own work I have been running craft workshops for schools and community groups since 1973.
Clients include Natural England, R.S.P.B. Friends of the Lake District and Schools.
http://www.suesharp.co.uk/index.html

Sue Sharp, Whitewell Farm, Alston, Cumbria, CA9 3LD
01434 381 879
website: http://www.alstoncraftworkers.co.uk/html/communityschoolprojects.htm

Roy Lawson

Roy is a qualified teacher, who after many years spent in the Pennies and Lake District introducing school children to the delights of the landscape through outdoor and adventurous activities, altered direction to the interpretation of these landscapes in the past.

After completing and Masters degree in Heritage, Education and Interpretation and a spell as a Community and Education Advisor for the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site, Roy now works freelance developing and delivering projects introducing children and adults to the Past, Heritage, and Archaeology using objects (ancient and modern) and living history.

Roy has been involved in Touching the Wall and it's predecessors since 2002 and has worked with English Heritage, Tyne and Wear Museums and the Darlington Railway Museum among other.