In 2024, the North East entered a new era. Kim McGuinness was elected as Mayor of the brand new North East Combined Authority, ushering in a significant shift of power. Devolution puts the people of the North East closer to decision making, giving greater control of their own destiny and more influence over how resources are deployed.
Inspired by this opportunity for renewal, New Writing North, in association with Redhills and UCL, commissioned 12 vibrant new essays from the North’s leading talent including Richard Benson, Preti Taneja, Terri White and many more. These essays, which have also appeared in The Journal's print edition, get under the skin of the issues facing the region, often providing unheard perspectives from those far away from centres of power. These are new narratives for the North East, encouraging us to consider what gives the region its character, what stories we want to tell about our region, and how we can influence a brighter future.
As part of the series, drawing on her own agricultural background, Adelle Stripe writes about a Hereford bull whose physical prowess and stature remains a powerful symbol of the North East’s resilience.