THE golden jubilee Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering at the weekend provided a double delight for a North Tyne songstress.

For 12-year-old Abbey Tilley, who lives at Birtley, Wark, returned from the prestigious festival on Saturday with two trophies for her dialect singing.

Her version of a song by Redesdale poet Billy Bell about Bellingham Show at the turn of the last century won her the novice section, and she also took home the trophy for the junior (U14) section with another local favourite, Adam Buckham, by Percy Snowdon.

Abbey was encouraged to enter the gathering by family friend and North Tyne folk musician Mike Tickell, who taught her the songs from his rich repertoire of Northumbrian music.

And Abbey will be among the young singers and musicians taking part in a series of concerts across Tynedale next month in association with Mike’s daughter, Kathryn Tickell, the acclaimed Northumbrian piper and fiddler.

Magnetic North East showcases the best of the region’s young instrumentalists and singers in a special tour presented by Kathryn.

Performers include members of Superfolkus, a top level youth folk ensemble, who are already playing at a professional level and have delighted audiences across the UK, and also some exciting new, younger musicians.

Events are due to take place at Stocksfield Community Centre on Thursday, May 25; Allendale Village Hall on Friday, May 26 and Wark Town Hall and Mechanics Institute on Sunday, May 28.

All performances are due to start at 7.30pm.

Other Tynedale successes at the 50th annual gathering included:

* Unaccompanied song: Bob Bolam, Prudhoe.

* Open Northumbrian verse: Don Clegg, Yarrow, Kielder.

* Northumbrian prose: Nick Short, Hexham.

* Short story: Nick Short, Hexham.

* Country dance band: Hexham Village Band.

* Open fiddle class: Ali Say, Wall.