CELEBRATING THE BLAYDON RACES

That this House notes that 9 June2012 marks the 150th anniversary of the Blaydon Races event that is immortalised in the song of the same name and is widely accepted as the Geordie national anthem; is delighted that local people have organised numerous cultural events throughout the week leading up to the annual race along the route made famous in the song; acknowledges the huge importance of the song to the people of Tyneside and the wider North East; and sends everyone connected with the Races all the best for 2012 and many years to come.