A fun colourful way to share memories

A new colouring book has been produced to help senior citizens recall what life was like in their local community many years ago.
Artist Ivan Webley with his new publication called Places Remembered - A Northumbrian Colouring Book.Artist Ivan Webley with his new publication called Places Remembered - A Northumbrian Colouring Book.
Artist Ivan Webley with his new publication called Places Remembered - A Northumbrian Colouring Book.

Morpeth artist Ivan Webley has been working with Bedlington-based charity MIND Active to produce art pieces for various Northumberland care homes.

He has now completed Places Remembered – A Northumbrian Colouring Book for elderly people. The paper is thick enough to take paints, as well as coloured pencils.

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It includes well-known scenes of the county, including one by Telford Bridge in Morpeth, buildings and vehicles that have now gone, such as the old Co-op and Avenues in Ashington and the River Blyth Ferry, or how particular sites used to look – for example Bedlington Station in 1959.

Scenes in north Northumberland and North Tyneside are also included.

Mr Webley produced artwork for the Old Nag’s Head Yard alleyway next to T&G Allan and his work can be seen in Morpeth pubs such as The Office, The Joiners Arms and The Electrical Wizard.

He said: “When I decided to go ahead with the colouring book idea for elderly people, none of the books of this type in the research that I did focused on a local area.

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“So I thought it would be good to include buildings and scenes that senior citizens will know well or remember from years ago. The drawings include developing some of my old sketches and working from archive photographs.

“The whole purpose of this exercise is to encourage them to share their memories.”

The book costs £10 and residents can buy one or more copies at The Office. It is available for £5 if purchased by or for care home residents.

For more information, visit www.ivanwebley.weebly.com