NEWS: Clear White Light Shines on People’s Kitchen

Clear White Light Shines on People’s Kitchen

If music is the food of love then the people of the north east now have the chance to show how much three of the region’s iconic organisations mean to them with the release of a fund raising charity CD.

The People’s Kitchen have teamed up with the Live Theatre production of the sell out Clear White Light to exclusively release four live tracks from the soundtrack of the show.

Clear White Light features the songs of Alan Hull and Lindisfarne and starred Charlie Hardwick, Joe Caffrey, Elizabeth Carter, Ray Laidlaw, Billy Mitchell, Phil Adele, Alice Blundell and Dale Jewitt. It tells the story of a night shift at St Nicholas Hospital in Gosforth where Alan Hull penned some of the songs when he was working as a nurse there.

Four tracks have been selected for the CD – Winter Song, Court in the Act, Scarecrow Song and Clear White Light.  Winter Song has a special significance for the People’s Kitchen as Ray Laidlaw explains: “Alan was a master song writer and had the ability to create vivid pictures with his lyrics. Winter Song conjures up some very emotive images which resonate with the valuable work that The People’s Kitchen does with the vulnerable of our towns and cities.”

Indeed, six days a week the charity provides food from its base near St James’ Park or from special catering vehicles in various parts of Newcastle. It has been a constant source of friendship and food for the homeless and vulnerable for more than 30 years. Run entirely by volunteers, with no government funding and no one paid for their work, the charity is grateful to individuals, churches, businesses and community groups for donations of food, clothing and cash to help it carry on its work.

A limited edition of one thousand of the new four track CD’s have been made to help boost funds at one of The People’s Kitchen’s busiest times – Christmas. Trustee David Yellowley, himself a Lindisfarne fan is delighted that the music of Alan Hull is helping those member of society that need it the most.  “This is a fantastic gesture from Live Theatre, the cast,  Alan Hull's family and Lindisfarne. I’m sure Alan would be very happy to know that his work is still making a difference to people in need.”

The Clear White Light CD is priced £5 with all profits going to The People’s Kitchen and is available from two other Tyneside iconic retailers, J G Windows of the Central Arcade and Metrocentre and from entrepreneurial couple Paul and Lucy Hull who run  'For the Love of the North’ from their two shops in Whitley Bay and one each in Corbridge and Newcastle City Centre at The Stack in Pilgrim Street. The CD is also available for £6 including postage by emailing info@peopleskitchen.co.uk

The People’s Kitchen are also asking people to pledge £5 for the cost of a winter meal via their website  www.peopleskitchen.co.uk/feed-a-friend.