The Common Room

Steve Knightley: Sanctuary - songs from sacred spaces
2026-03-21 19:00 - 22:30 (Europe/London)
Steve Knightley, the multi-award-winning singer and principal songwriter of the acclaimed acoustic roots duo Show of Hands, is renowned for his powerful, historically accurate, and socially conscious songs that capture the essence of English life and history. Praised as the “gravel-voiced spokesman of the rural poor,” he has crafted enduring anthems like the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award-winning “Arrogance, Ignorance and Greed” and the widely celebrated “Country Life” and “Cousin Jack.”
A formidable solo performer, Knightley delivers evenings of captivating storytelling and musical mastery. Expect a set list woven with crowd favourites, deep cuts from his extensive catalogue, and material from his solo album The Winter Yards. This is a unique opportunity to experience one of the UK’s most respected and enduring folk musicians live.
Special guest performance by Daniel Salvatore – hand-pan soundscapes and meditative ambience.

Coalfields of Song and Verse (Book Launch & Performance)
2026-03-24 14:00 - 16:00 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
NO TICKET REQUIRED
Johnny Handle will be joined by Benny Graham, Jim Mageean, Ingrid and Barrie Temple who will perform a selection of songs and poems from the book Coalfields of
Song and Verse – a collection of coal mining songs and poems.
The book is history of the coal mining industry in the North East of England told by the voices of the workers and their families.
The selection was made by Johnny Handle who worked for thirteen years in Northumberland pits. A prominent local folk singer he discovered many of these fascinating verses in libraries, museums, or in the performances by those with connections to the many villages dependent on mining.
A people’s chronicle of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries recording the tumult and energy of a past industrial age.
Doors open at 1pm.

NEIMME Lecture: Future Fusion Power [Free Ticket]
2026-03-26 17:30 - 19:00 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
Come and find out more about the latest development in engineering and materials supporting future fusion power technologies.
Ryan Ramsey is a seasoned leader in the business world and military, Ryan translates leadership experience and knowledge from corporate sectors such as energy, electricity transmission, renewables and nuclear translating strategy into tactical employment. Among a variety of leadership roles, he has led as Head of Electricity Construction (VP) for National Grid, leading a team of 250 National Grid employees and 4000 contractors delivering 148 major infrastructure projects around the UK. He also led as an Offshore Installation Manager on Shell’s flagship oil and gas ‘rig’ in the North Sea – Shearwater, achieving cultural change and leading profitably during the slump in oil prices.
His bedrock has been a career in the Royal Navy Submarine Service. His leadership and teamwork have been tested during an operationally focused career operating as far afield as under the Arctic Ice Cap to the Indian Ocean. He has also worked for the Royal Netherlands Navy, US Navy and Counter Terrorism forces. His notable military assignments were Captain of the nuclear-powered submarine HMS Turbulent and Commander of the world-renowned Submarine Command Course ‘Perisher’. He was responsible for teaching submarine captains to deal with the challenges of leadership, risk-taking and decision-making in the 21st Century. He has two Masters degrees and is part of the Windsor Leadership Programme Alumni. He is a published author.
17:30-18:00 – Tea and Coffee
18:00-18:50 – In-person only Lecture Starts
18:50 to 19:00 – Q & A

APOCALYPTICON UK 2026
2026-03-28 09:00 - 2026-03-29 18:00 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
APOCALYPTICON UK returns in 2026! March 28/29th. Hosted by Animosity.
It’s a huge 40K Apocalypse weekend, in which we invite players to bring out the big guns (or lots of little ones 🤷‍♂️) for some narrative wargaming insanity!
Saturday 28th: Arrival 8am-9am. Play starts 9am. Ends 9pm.
Sunday 29th: Arrival 8am-9am. Play starts 9am. Ends 6pm.
To find out more, or sign up, head over to our Facebook Page or email apocalypticonbooking@gmail.com

Full Power Cacao: Ceremony - 2026 Tour
2026-04-11 14:00 - 19:00 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
This is not your ordinary cacao ceremony.
Liam creates a powerful ceremonial container, honouring the great plant medicine Cacao and calling in his guides to open the space. Shamanic drumming shifts your energy, guided meditation grounds you into the earth, and the journey opens you to the truth, healing and clarity waiting beneath the surface.
You’ll meet the areas of your life that are ready to be released — and make space for who you really are to rise.
A 5-Hour Deep Dive
Every ceremony is crafted to take you deeper into all your energetic bodies.
Music and sound weave through the entire night, inviting movement, dance, shaking and release when your body needs it most.
Healing & Energetic Support
Liam and his team provide:
• Bodywork
• Entity clearing
• Intuitive energy healing
• Sound therapy
All held in a beautifully curated soundscape to support your journey. This is a cacao ceremony like no other.
What You Will Leave With
These ceremonies open your heart, show you what’s ready to be released and propel you toward your personal greatness.
You’ll leave feeling empowered, rejuvenated and with a renewed thirst for life.
You are the person you have been waiting for.
HEALING – MEDITATION – BREATHWORK – KIRTAN – DANCING…ARE YOU READY TO TRANSFORM?
FULL POWER!!!

Free Easter Scavenger Hunt [Drop-In]
2026-04-16 10:00 - 15:00 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
An Easter adventure awaits at The Common Room 🐰
Search the building, uncover hidden letters, and solve the puzzle for a choccie reward 🔎 🍫
🕙 16th April | 10am–3pm | Drop in
☕ 10% off café treats
🎨 Crafts for little ones
Free to attend, just come along! 🐣
[No Tickets Required]

The History, Engineering & Maintenance of the Metro
2026-04-16 17:30 - 19:00 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
With Phil Kirkland from RATW Railway Consulting Services Ltd.
The presentation will cover the concept of the Tyne and Wear Metro, its history and construction, which will also reference its extensions to Newcastle Airport, Sunderland and more recently the doubling of the track between Pelaw and Jarrow. Consideration will also be given to some of the innovative techniques and equipment used over the years, many of which are now standard items practices on the national and international networks.
Phil Kirkland is a career railwayman with over 52 years continuous frontline service. He started his railway career with British Rail Newcastle in 1973, and over the years has worked for numerous post-privatisation organisations both within Permanent Way Maintenance and Renewals where he would be seconded to the BR Metro construction team in 1979. After a wide-ranging career including work overseas, Phil would return to take up the role of Head of Maintenance Delivery at Nexus (Tyne and Wear Metro) in 2007. His role at Nexus encompassed heading up all infrastructure inspection, maintenance and rapid response, covering Track, Overhead Line, Signalling, Plant and Equipment, E&M, Civils and all other non-rail (bus) infrastructure.
To give some particular context, Phil worked on Metro in two spells – during its original design and construction phases up to and after the handover from British Rail until 1984 before returning in 2007 to head up the infrastructure maintenance department. Here he has brought influence and strong leadership qualities to ensure the necessary changes and working practices were actioned in order that Nexus kept pace with the wider rail industry, but importantly conducted its business in a safe, professional, assured and technically competent manner. His extremely high levels of personal availability all hours and commitment have been the hallmark of his time with Nexus, often recorded in dispatches.
Phil has also worked overseas in North America, Australia, New Zealand and Europe, drawing on these experiences and always sharing his learning opportunities widely via the Permanent Way Institution, where he became Vice President for over 20 years. In recent years Phil has been instrumental in supporting the concept and development of the Newcastle College Rail Academy, which today is the envy of many. Through consistent support and guidance, the Academy is now teaching appropriate curriculae in disciplines such as the inspection, maintenance and renewal of Track, Signals, OLE and Railway Civils. In semi-retirement, Phil is Director of his own business, RATW Railway Consultancy Services Ltd., established in 2019.
17:30-18:00 – Tea and coffee
18:00-18:50 – In-person only lecture starts
18:50 to 19:00 – Q & A
NEIMME is the Royal Chartered membership organisation for Engineering, Science and Technology in the North.
For more information about our events and the benefits of NEIMME membership see: mininginstitute.org.uk/membership
For information on IOM3 membership see: www.iom3.org

Whisky Tasting - An Evening With...Brendan McCarron
2026-04-17 19:00 - 21:30 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
In person whisky tasting event.
Brendan has earned his place as THE go to consultant on whisky distilling and blending since working along side some of the biggest brands in the industry. Being responsible for notable releases from distilleries such as Ardbeg, Deanston,Bunnahabhain,Glenmorangie,Tobermory and Ledaig. He now spends most of his time advising existing brands on improving spirit quality and and furnishing new brands with the ability to produce the character of whisky they desire.
He will be taking time out of his busy schedule to join is at the Common Room on 17th April for a evening of chat and tasting some of the releases he has played a part in, including…
Benbecula prophecy
Kaze Blended from Japan
Deanston 18
Glenmorangie 19 yo (with a twist)
Glenmorangie Signet Reserve
Bunnahabhain Cask Strength 12 2025
Ardbeg 19 yo
And a special surprise from the Isle of Mull – the Tobermory 21 year old!
It’s very rare that Brendan hosts whisky tastings outside of trade and headline festival masterclasses, we’re very lucky to host him in Newcastle!

Doon The Waggonway with Les Turnbull
2026-04-23 13:00 - 14:30
Join us at The Common Room for an introduction to Doon the Waggonway: a Railway Heritage Walk, a brilliant new booklet by historian Les Turnbull that reclaims Tyneside’s rightful place as the true cradle of the railways. For far too long, the Stockton and Darlington Railway has stolen the spotlight, but this fascinating exploration sets the historical record straight. It delves deep into the Great Northern Coalfield’s massive network of waggonways, revealing how our local colliery lines, early steam locomotives, and pioneering engineers truly birthed the transport revolution that changed the world. The booklet also outlines a walking route from Freeman Road to Coach Lane.
Focusing on the historic Kenton and Coxlodge Waggonway, the booket brings to life a time when monumental engineering feats bridged our valleys and coal was king. We are absolutely thrilled to welcome the author himself to guide us through this history. A Durham University history graduate, former lecturer, and dedicated NEIMME Council member, Les has spent years championing the story of our early railways. Whether you are a railway enthusiast or a local history buff, this is a fantastic opportunity to hear from a true expert and celebrate the North East’s world-changing legacy in the very building dedicated to preserving it!
Event takes place in our Lecture Theatre at 1pm.
FREE, no tickets required.

NEIMME Lecture: Rail Baltica Estonia: Geotechnical Conditions and Mineral Materials
2026-04-30 17:30 - 19:00 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
Rail Baltica is a major transnational railway extending over 800 km across the Baltic States; this lecture will focus on Estonia.
The Rail Baltica project is a major transnational railway development extending over 800 km across the three Baltic States. This presentation provides an overview of the current progress of the Estonian sections of the project. Key geotechnical conditions encountered along the route are outlined, alongside the principal technical challenges faced. The talk will also cover mineral material requirements and considerations relevant to construction in Estonia, including project requirements, sustainability, material reuse, and project execution.
Margus Evart – Margus is currently the Materials Lead within the Technical Assurance Unit of Rail Baltica Estonia. He has over 10 years of experience in the testing, development, and construction processes of mineral materials and asphalt mixtures in Estonia. Margus has been involved in the Rail Baltica project since 2021, with a focus on the Estonian construction sections since 2023. His current role includes providing technical oversight of design-and-build construction sections and alliance contracts, managing compliance with earthworks design proposals and construction processes.
Chris Davies – Chris is the acting Principal Geotechnical Engineer within the Technical Assurance Unit of Rail Baltica Estonia. He has over 10 years of experience spanning research, major infrastructure and nuclear decommissioning projects in the United Kingdom and internationally, working on both the designer and client sides. Chris has been involved in the Rail Baltica project since 2019 as the Pan-Baltic Geotechnical Engineer, with a focus on the Estonian construction sections since 2024. His current role includes providing technical oversight of design-and-build construction sections and alliance contracts, reviewing and approving design proposals, and addressing site queries- particularly those relating to ground investigations, the design and construction of temporary and permanent works as well as instrumentation and monitoring.
17:30-18:00 – Tea and Coffee
18:00-18:50 – Lecture Starts
18:50 to 19:00 – Q & A
NEIMME is the Royal Chartered membership organisation for Engineering, Science and Technology in the North.
For more information about our events and the benefits of NEIMME membership see: https://mininginstitute.org.uk/membership
For information on IOM3 membership see: https://www.iom3.org/

Whisky Tasting - An Evening With... Justine Hazlehurst
2026-05-01 19:00 - 21:30
Justine is the founder of Kask Whisky – a tasting events and tour company. She is also the co-founder and co-director of the annual Fife Whisky Festival.
Her passion and enthusiasm for whisky has led to her being selected as a judge for a number of whisky awards including the World Whiskies Awards and Icons of Whisky Awards as well as a number of tasting panels. Her knowledge of Scotch whisky history has led her to work with several distilleries, organisations and publications delving into the heritage of brands.
Justine will be joining us on Friday May 1st at the The Common Room to talk about her recent book “Opening The Case: The Affairs of Pattisons’ Whisky” with six drams chosen specifically to accompany. Including…
JG Thompson Blended Grain 1972 Batch 2
Cameron Bridge Cadenhead 31 yr Single Cask
Oban Distillery only Batch 3
Aultmore 14 Single Cask Rare Find
Benrinnes Single Malts of Scotland Single Cask PX 15 yr
SMWS 1.288 What the bells of St. Clemence say.
And possibly even an old school treat from Leith itself!
Attendees will also have the opportunity to pre-order a copy of “Opening The Case: The Affairs of Pattisons’ Whisky” for a discounted price of 14.99 via this link. Pre-order deadline is Sunday 5th April.
We’ll see you there!

The Late Shows 2026: Beneath the Surface
2026-05-09 18:00 - 22:30 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
We are thrilled to once again to be part of The Late Shows. For 2026, step inside our spectacular heritage building and immerse yourself in a bespoke mining soundscape that brings our region’s history to life through sound and scent!. In an exciting partnership with Newcastle University, we are hosting a striking architectural installation that will take you on a journey into the lost future of coal mining, allowing you to discover our shared industrial heritage in a completely new way.
While you are exploring, be sure to get hands-on and enjoy some LEGO®. Finally, round off your evening downstairs in our 5|Quarter café bar, where you can grab a drink and join us for a brilliant sing-along!
We are proudly dog-friendly, so please feel free to bring your four-legged companions along on your culture crawl. We cannot wait to welcome you!
Last entry 10:00pm

NEIMME Lecture: Subsurface Voids – Implications for Shallow Coal Mine Geothermal
2026-05-14 18:00 - 19:00 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
Join us for a fascinating talk exploring the potential of former coal mines in Durham and Northumberland as future geothermal energy reservoirs.
While historical “pillar and stall” mining methods left open spaces that are seemingly ideal for water flow, time and pressure often lead to roof collapses and the buildup of backfilled waste (goaf). This research, incorporating extensive fieldwork along the Northumberland coast, investigates how these structural changes act as long-term barriers to flow. By establishing one of the first datasets of its kind, this project aims to de-risk subsurface mine workings and determine the true geothermal viability of older, highly compacted mines.
About the Speaker:
Stuart Jones is a sedimentologist at Durham University, specialising in subsurface reservoir characterisation for the energy transition—including geothermal, carbon capture, and hydrogen storage. With a rich background in both academia and the hydrocarbon industry, Stuart currently leads major multi-disciplinary research programmes, including the Geothermal Energy from Mines and Solar (GEMS) project. He is also a passionate champion of Earth Science education and the NetZero transition.
17:30-18:00 – Tea and Coffee
18:00-18:50 – In-person only Lecture Starts
18:50-19:00 – Q & A
NEIMME is the Royal Chartered membership organisation for Engineering, Science and Technology in the North.
For more information about our events and the benefits of NEIMME membership see: https://mininginstitute.org.uk/membership
For information on IOM3 membership see: https://www.iom3.org

Pint of Science: Pioneering better science - Alternatives to animals
2026-05-18 19:00 - 21:30 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
At the UK’s National Centre for the 3Rs, we work with the scientific community to drive forward the 3Rs of animal research. We help scientists replace their use of animals and, where this is not currently possible, reduce the number of animals used and refine the care of the animals to keep pain and suffering to a minimum. Using new and advanced technologies, scientists today have more ways to study human biology, health and disease without animals than ever before. Join us as we showcase the latest innovations and explore the future of alternatives to animal research.
Can you 3D print human tissues?
Professor Kenny Dalgarno (Professor of Manufacturing Engineering)
Imagine a 3D printer that combines living cells with biomaterials. Scientists use ‘bioprinters’ to create 3D cell-based models of how human tissues are built and behave. Learn about a state-of-the-art system with the potential to replace up to 1,000 mice a year to predict drug responses in medicines development at Newcastle University. Kenny Dalgarno is sharing the technology with scientists across the country to replace animals in other areas of research – from leukaemia and liver cancer to blood and bone biology.
Heart disease: From donors to discoveries
Rebecca Conway (PhD student)
Donated human organs and tissues are a valuable resource for scientists. Rebecca Conway uses human heart tissue to better understand how heart disease develops and is working towards the ability to test new treatments without animals. Learn more about how Rebecca keeps heart tissue alive in the lab and studies cardiac disease in a dish. Her approach could replace up to 2,500 mice a year at Newcastle University – with tens of thousands of animals used in similar research across the UK the replacement potential of this technology is huge!

Pint of Science: From Spin to Sponge and Saving the Planet
2026-05-19 19:00 - 21:30 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
Carbon and hydrogen may be small, but handling them is a big challenge. Learn how carbon can be captured using spinning systems, and how hydrogen can be safely stored in materials packed with microscopic pores. Two talks, one mission: save the world.
Porous carbon materials for hydrogen storage application
– Tesfay Berhe Gebreegziabher (Postgraduate Researcher at Northumbria University)
Porous carbon materials for hydrogen storage focuses on using carbon-based materials—such as activated carbon, carbon nanotubes, graphene, and carbon aerogels that contain a high density of pores to store hydrogen gas. Their large surface area, low weight, good chemical stability, and tunable pore structure make them promising candidates for safe and efficient hydrogen storage, mainly through physical adsorption. This topic highlights how pore size, surface chemistry, and material design influence hydrogen storage capacity and performance, supporting clean energy and fuel cell applications
You Spin Me Right Round Baby (Rotating Packed Beds for Carbon Capture).
– Dr James Hendry CEng MIChemE (Researcher at Newcastle University)
Presentation will cover the recent developments in commercialisation of the technology of rotating packed beds for carbon capture at Newcastle university. Starting from the humble beginnings at Newcastle in the early 1980’s to becoming a world-leading partners in the commercialisation of the technology for carbon capture applications, the current state of the art, and what the future holds for this most Geordie of technologies.
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Accessible toilet
Lift to function room floor

Pint of Science: Ringing Ears and Starry Eyes
2026-05-20 19:00 - 21:30 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
From phantom sounds that won’t switch off to technologies that sharpen our vision beyond what seems possible, we will explore the strange ways our brains interact with the world.
Learn why tinnitus might exist at all and how tools built to study distant galaxies are now helping us understand the cells in our eyes and the activity in our brains.
From Black Holes to Eyes to the Human Brain – delving into the mind using adaptive optics
– Dr Penny Lawton (Research Associate at Newcastle University)
In this presentation, I’m going to talk about how adaptive optics – a technique used in astronomy for imaging galaxies and stars through the turbulent atmosphere (and which played a large role in the discovery of the black hole at the centre of the universe) – can also be used down here on earth to image the cells at the back of the eye (the retina) with high precision. From imaging these cells we can find out more about how they work, and how problems in these cells lead to sight loss. Interestingly, this technique also lends itself to being an extremely high precision eye-tracker. This talk will also give some insights into how we can use this to probe activity in the human brain and investigate neurological diseases.
Why is my brain spamming me with sound?
– Will Sedley (Researcher and Consultant Neurologist)
This is the question asked by the one in eight of us, and one in four once we’ve reached old age, experiencing persistent tinnitus. We never hear true silence; the sound is always there unless we’re distracted or other sounds are loud enough to drown it out. I’m one of the lucky majority who aren’t bothered by the sounds, but millions in the UK suffer long-term distress and disability from their tinnitus. In this overview of tinnitus neuroscience, I start with the question of why we have evolved tinnitus; it is too common to occur as simply a design flaw. Is it like pain; even though we don’t like experiencing it, it still helps protect us? Some scientists believe tinnitus helps protect the brain from long-term damage caused by hearing loss, but even if this is the case, surely we can find a more pleasant solution? For people suffering from long-term tinnitus, can we do better then just helping them live better with it, and actually quieten or silence the sound?
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Accessible toilet
Lift to function room floor

NEIMME Lecture: Corrosion - Super Duplex Stainless Steel in Seawater
2026-05-26 18:00 - 19:00 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
This talk covers corrosion of stainless steels in seawater, what goes wrong, importance of welding, and avoiding poor quality materials.
The talk addresses all the forms of corrosion that can affect stainless steels in seawater (crevice corrosion, erosion corrosion, cavitation, MIC and HISC) , and why you need super duplex for most applications. This includes some examples of what can go wrong if you pick the wrong alloy. The talk will also discuss welding duplex stainless steels and how to ensure that welds are of good quality with adequate corrosion resistance. We still see failures due to poor quality welding. Finally there have been failures of duplex stainless steels, particularly super duplex, due to poor quality, and the talk will discuss how to avoid poor quality material for a lot less than the cost of a major failure.
Dr Roger Francis has been a corrosion engineer for over 50 years. He has wide experience in the fields of marine corrosion, desalination, sour oil and gas corrosion, mineral processing, and the chemical and process industries. He has published over 100 technical papers in all these areas, particularly on copper alloys and duplex stainless steels. He has written seven books on various aspects of corrosion and has jointly edited three others. The most recent was on corrosion in desalination plants. The author has served as chair of NACE Europe, two terms as the NACE European Area director and also as chair of NACE STG 32 (Oil and Gas; metals). He was made a NACE Fellow in 2005 for his work in marine corrosion. In 2014 he received the T J Hull Award for his work in publications. In 2023 He was given the Paul McIntyre Award by ICORR in the UK for his work on corrosion standards and in educating young engineers. In 2012 he set up his own corrosion consultancy business, RFMaterials.
17:30-18:00 – Tea and Coffee
18:00-18:50 – Lecture Starts
18:50 to 19:00 – Q & A
NEIMME is the Royal Chartered membership organisation for Engineering, Science and Technology in the North.
For more information about our events and the benefits of NEIMME membership see: https://mininginstitute.org.uk/membership/
For information on IOM3 membership see: https://www.iom3.org/

NEIMME Lecture: The K Class Submarines - aka the "Kalamity Class2"
2026-05-28 18:00 - 19:00 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
This lecture will tell the story of the K Class submarine; its design issues, the lessons learned and remembering the many men who perished.
During World War I, it was decided to build submarines which were fast enough to keep pace with surface ships. Equipped with steam turbines to produce sufficient power, they were as large as modern nuclear submarines. The engines were a success, but the submarines were an ill-conceived concept in other regards. Geoff Horseman will describe incidents which led to these vessels becoming known as the “Kalamity Class” and an appointment as a crew member became known as joining “the Suicide Club”. Among these was a tragic event which was undisclosed for over 30 years and is not well known today. In the so-called ‘Battle of May Island’, Royal Navy ships and submarines collided at night in the Firth of Forth early in 1918, with great loss of life. In all, more than 200 men died while serving onboard the K class. This lecture will tell the story of the K Class looking at some of the design issues with the submarines, recalling lessons learned which should not be forgotten and remembering the many men who perished due to those mistakes.
Geoff Horseman joined NEI Parsons Ltd. in 1980 as a graduate trainee engineer. In 1982, he became a Design Engineer in the Steam Turbine Design Department, subsequently rising to Head of Turbine Design in 1991. Following this, in 1994, he was appointed Head of Turbine-Generator Engineering at Parsons. In 1997, Parsons became part of Siemens Power Generation with Westinghouse following in 1998. This led to Siemens Large Steam Turbine Engineering in Europe being focused primarily at two sites: Mülheim-an-der-Ruhr in Germany; and, CA Parsons Works in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. Geoff was appointed Chief Turbine Engineer for the Newcastle site and a Principal Expert on Steam Turbines within Siemens globally. He continued in these roles until his retirement in 2019. Since retirement, Geoff has been working full time on documenting the Parsons history while original records still exist for preservation in museums. It was during this work that he discovered the story of the K Class submarines which he will describe in this lecture.
17:30-18:00 – Tea and Coffee
18:00-18:50 – In-person only Lecture Starts
18:50 to 19:00 – Q & A
NEIMME is the Royal Chartered membership organisation for Engineering, Science and Technology in the North.
For more information about our events and the benefits of NEIMME membership see: https://mininginstitute.org.uk/membership/
For information on IOM3 membership see: https://www.iom3.org/

Briana Corrigan
2026-10-31 19:30 - 22:30 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
The Common Room & Hapless Museum Worker Gigs present…Briana Corrigan, BRIT-winning former vocalist of The Beautiful South.
Briana Corrigan (The Beautiful South)
“One of the most distinctive voices in pop” – Time Out
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience an intimate, heart-warming, and joyous evening of story and song with Briana Corrigan, the iconic former vocalist of The Beautiful South.
Returning to the stage following a 10-year hiatus, Briana has already completed five hugely successful, largely sold-out tours across the UK and Ireland, and arrives with a brand-new album in the pipeline.
About the Artist
Born in Belfast, Briana’s unforgettable voice is best known for delivering The Beautiful South’s most successful single: the chart-topping, Brit Award-winning No. 1 hit, A Little Time. Her unique vocal styling, combined with Paul Heaton’s brilliantly acerbic lyrics, created an enduring anthem to broken love.
Beyond her band years, Briana has established herself as a formidable songwriter in her own right. She has released two critically acclaimed solo albums, drawing widespread praise from the music press:
“Her forte… chest-hugging, breast-beating balladry of the highest calibre.” – Q Magazine
“A songwriter of wit and elegance.” – Hot Press
“A revelation! It’s like listening to someone sing you a story. The rain outside is drifting along the glass and this is a good soundtrack to the tale of its falling.” – Melody Maker
What to Expect
Described by VOX as a voice that “could melt icebergs at 50 paces”, this is a unique chance to hear her stupendous vocals up close and personal.
Briana will lead the evening on vocals and guitar, backed by a beautifully stripped-back band featuring an additional guitarist and cellist. The setlist will pack an emotional punch, weaving together:
– Classic hits from The Beautiful South
– Her own beautifully crafted solo material
– Unique, fresh takes on traditional favourites
“Corrigan’s vocals still sparkle with gold dust.” – The Irish Independent
TICKETS ON SALE 10AM, 29TH APRIL, 2026.

INES RAE: Loud But Lonely Tour
2026-11-20 19:00 - 23:00 | The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE, United Kingdom
Get ready for unforgettable live music as the incredible Ines Rae brings her highly anticipated Loud but Lonely Tour to Newcastle!
Known for her captivating vocals and deeply relatable songwriting, Ines is set to deliver a performance that perfectly balances high-energy anthems with intimate moments.
Whether you have been a fan from the beginning or are just discovering her sound, this is your chance to experience the raw emotion and undeniable stage presence that makes her live shows so special.
