Blue Eagle (character) and Cramlington: Difference between pages

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Revision as of 09:30, 20 April 2007

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{{infobox UK place|

{{Superherobox| <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->

|image=

|caption=

|comic_color=background:#ff8080

|character_name=Blue Eagle

|real_name=James Dore Junior

|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]

|debut=(as Blue Eagle)Squadron Supereme Vol. #1

|creators=

|alliance_color=background:#ffc0c0

|status=Deceased

|alliances=

|previous_alliances=[[Squadron Supreme]]

|aliases=American Eagle, Cap'n Hawk

|relatives=James Dore Sr. (father, deceased),<br>Adrienne Dore (mother)

|powers=Powers of flight derived from the special wings he wears.

|}}

|country = England

'''Blue Eagle''', also known as '''American Eagle''' and '''Cap'n Hawk''', is a [[fictional character]], a [[Marvel Comics]] [[superhero]] who is a member of the [[Squadron Supreme]] of Earth-712. He is the Squadron's counterpart of [[Hawkman]].

|official_name= Cramlington

|latitude= 55.0821

|longitude= -1.5848

|population= 39,000 ([[2004]] est.)

|shire_district= [[Blyth Valley]]

| shire_county = [[Northumberland]]

|region= North East England

|constituency_westminster= [[Blyth Valley]]

|post_town= CRAMLINGTON

|postcode_district = NE23

|postcode_area= NE

|dial_code= 01670

|os_grid_reference= NZ2676

}}

The small [[town]] of '''Cramlington''' in the county of [[Northumberland]] is situated nine miles north of the provincial city of [[Newcastle Upon Tyne]] in the north east of [[England]]. Its population is about 39,000. Its name suggests a probable founding by the [[Danes]] or [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] origin, the word ‘Ton’ meaning town.

==Fictional character biography==

==History==

James Dore Sr. operated during World War II under the persona of American Eagle, outfitted with a pair of wings which he obtained through unknown means. During this period, he was allied with other heroes such as [[Power Princess]] and '''Professor Iaam''' as members of the Golden Agency. At an unspecified time after the war, he had retired, was married and sired a son years later.

[[Image:St_nicholas_cramlington.jpg|thumb|St Nicholas's Church|left]]

The first record of the Manor of Cramlington is from a mention in [[1135]] when the land was granted to Nicholas de Grenville. A register of early chaplains begins with John the Clerk of Cramlington (c.[[1163]]-[[1180]]). The register continues to the present day.

From the [[1100s|12th Century]] onwards, its history has been mostly rural incorporating several farms and the parish [[church]] of St. Nicholas (built at a cost of £3,000 during [[1865]]-[[1868]] in the [[Gothic style]]) but during the early [[1800s|19th Century]], [[coal mining]] with several mine shafts in the immediate vicinity (the first was sunk in [[1824]]) began to change that. It remained small, however, until [[1964]] when it was proclaimed a [[New town#United Kingdom|New Town]] and developers (such as William Leech and J.T.Bell) developed large [[housing estate]]s. It has effectively become a [[suburb]] of the much larger [[city]] to its south.

James Dore Jr. began his career as a superhero when he inherited the mantle of the American Eagle from his father. Eventually Dore abandoned the American Eagle identity after a falling out with his father over political differences, and adopted the identity of Cap'n Hawk. He again adopted another identity after his father died from a heart attack. Using a costume made by his dead father, he took the name Blue Eagle.

During [[World War I]], the North East of England was protected by the [[No. 36 Squadron RAF|No. 36 Home Defence Squadron]]. The squadron was formed at Cramlington on [[February 1]], [[1916]] by Capt. R. O. Abercromby, with Cramlington subsequently becoming an important base for military planes and [[airships]]. A reference to Cramlington airfield is made in [[W. E. Johns]] [[1935]] book ''The Black Peril'' from the extremely popular [[Biggles]] series.

He later joined the [[Squadron Supreme]] and fought for many years until the Squadron fought [[Nighthawk (Marvel Comics)|Nighthawk]]'s [[Squadron_Supreme#Nighthawk.27s_Redeemers_in_the_Squadron|Redeemers]]. During the battle, Blue Eagle killed the [[Black Archer]] with his mace, but lost the use of his wings after [[Lamprey (comics)|Lamprey]] drained the artificial gravity effect from them. He fell and crashed into [[Pinball (comics)|Pinball]], breaking his neck and the back of Pinball. Both characters died immediately and were placed in cryostasis until they could be revived and their injuries repaired.

==Geography and infrastructure==

Blue Eagle's wings were later adopted by fellow Squadron member [[Lady Lark]], as she had grown to love Dore shortly before his death. Lady Lark later changed her codename to Skylark.

The latitude and longitude of Cramlington are 55.07N & 01.59W [[British national grid reference system|NZ2676]]. The [[River Blyth, Northumberland|River Blyth]] is close by, as is Plessey Woods Country Park.

The town is served by [[Cramlington railway station]], with services to the [[MetroCentre]], [[Morpeth, Northumberland|Morpeth]] and [[Newcastle upon Tyne]] provided by [[Northern Rail]]. Cramlington has an extensive bus service of which is provided by [[Arriva North East|Arriva Northumbria]]. With the X1,X2,X3,X4,X5 and X6 buses linking the town to Newcastle Upon Tyne respectively.

After a period of time when the surviving members of the Squadron Supreme had returned to Earth 712 from their forced exile, they found the government of Earth combined to create an armed force of Blue Eagles to patrol and keep the populance docile. These troops would be opposed by the Squadron along with the Eagle's opposite number, the Nighthawks.

As of early 2007, there have been rumours of a possible metro link being established in the future through sharing the somewhat redundant line between neighbouring towns [[Blyth]], [[Bedlington]], [[Ashington]] and [[Morpeth]].

Cramlington also has good road transport links, being situated between the [[A1 road|A1]], [[A19 road|A19]] and [[A189 road|A189]] roads. The town is also notable for its many roundabouts, especially the notorious Moor Farm roundabout which links the A19 and A189 as well as other roads to Cramlington.

In 2006, it was announced that Moor Farm roundabout is to be 'traffic controlled' with traffic lights installed, working on a similar operation to those at the A19 Silverlink roundabout, due to continuous congestion and also frequent accidents on a severe scale.

It has also been announced that Blyth Valley Council are proposing the construction of a new bus concourse, of which will be located near to Manor Walks Shopping Centre to improve public transport links for commuters.

==Economy==

==Powers and abilities==

There are several large industrial zones in Cramlington, most to the town's north-west, housing major pharmaceutical companies including [[Merck Sharp and Dohme]]. Other growing chemical companies including Aesica Pharmaceuticals are also present.<ref>[http://www.aesica-pharma.co.uk/find.html]</ref>

Blue Eagle flies due to a pair of wings he wears on his back. These wings had a "anti-gravity effect" that allowed Dore to fly.

The popular Manor Walks shopping centre was constructed in the centre of the town in the [[1970s]], and was subsequently expanded in the mid-[[1990s]] and in [[2003]]/[[2004|4]]. The centre now includes retailers such as [[Argos]], [[ASDA]], [[Boots Group|Boots]], [[Next (retailer)|Next]] and [[Sainsbury's]].

He fought with a mace, and his Blue Eagle costume was lightly armored.

Provisional permissions were recently given to an [[Open-pit mining|open cast mining]] operation to the north-west of the town, however the fine detail of how much [[coal]] is to be extracted has yet to be agreed.<ref>[http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/BB_News.asp?BB_Bulletin_ID=2891]</ref> As of [[July 2006]], it now appears mining will not go ahead.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/5146544.stm] </ref>

==Alternate versions==

====Supreme Power====

As of this writing, a modern version of Blue Eagle has been introduced in ''[[Supreme Power]]'', a modern revamp of the Squadron Supreme, in the pages of the Hyperion mini-series.

==Education==

[[Category:Marvel Comics superheroes]]

Schools in [[Northumberland]] currently operate under a three tier system, however, the council recently made the decision to convert to the national two tier system. This change will affect all schools in the town. For example, [[Cramlington Community High School]], which is currently one of the largest high schools in the country, will absorb a neighbouring middle school to increase its student capacity.

Prior to the closure of the area's many middle schools, some elementary schools will be relocating to the former middle school sites, which will allow disused sites and land to be sold to housing developers and other parties. It has been proposed that the changes will begin as of September 2007, however there has been concern from local residents over traffic and parking arrangements at the new sites.<ref>http://www.blyth-wansbecktoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=1115&ArticleID=1974999</ref>

==Leisure==

Cramlington's main leisure centre, Concordia, is situated in the town centre adjacent to the shopping mall and was opened by the Queen in the 1977. It boasts a leisure pool, originally designed in the 1970s as an indoor tropical paradise, indoor football pitches, tennis, badminton and squash courts, as well as a climbing wall. It also features a well-equipped gymnasium, sauna and bowling green.

As part of the new town design, the town has a large cycle path network. A cycle route also connects the town to the nearest beach, in Blyth.

As of late March 2007, Blyth Valley council have announced that the cycle network is to be extended to allow access to neighbouring town [[Bedlington]].

There are few pubs located around Cramlington, however the original Cramlington Village, ajacent the modern town centre is now more well-known for its nightlife. As the village incorporates popular pubs The Plough, The Blagdon Arms, The Travellers Rest, Capella's wine bar, The commrades club and the social club.

==Religion==

Cramlington has a number of churches of various denominations.

'''Methodist'''

* Doxford Place Methodist Church

* Welcome Methodist Church (formerly Station Terrace Methodist Church)

'''Church of England'''

* St. Nicholas Parish Church

* St. Andrew's

* St. Peter's

'''Catholic'''

* St. Paul's

==Famous residents==

The acclaimed [[comedian]] [[Ross Noble]] comes from Cramlington. Footballers [[Alan Shearer]], [[Steven Taylor (footballer)|Steven Taylor]] and [[Peter Ramage]] also started their careers playing for [[Cramlington Juniors F.C.]]. [[Sting]] briefly was a first school teacher at St Paul's First School. [[Trade unionist]] [[Charles Fenwick]] was born in the town.Worldwide renowned photographer and gangster rapper SWalton was also born and raised in Cramlington.

[[Middlesbrough F.C]] winger [[Graeme Owens]] was also born in Cramlington. Professional Skateboarder, Jamie Adair also originates from the town.

Pseudo-[[Chav]], Buzzcocks is from Cramlington. Buzzcocks is the character created by Adam Riffle and Norman Sheeran for an internet [[mockumentary]] on chav life. He is alledgedly the Godfether of Cramlington and the fastest [[rave]] dancer in the North East. A Youtube link to the character is available below

==Twin towns==

* [[Solingen]], [[Germany]]

* [[Ratingen]], Germany

* [[Gelendzhik]], [[Russia]]

==References==

<references/>

==External links==

*[http://www.rafweb.org/Sqn036-40.htm History of the No. 36 Home Defence squadron]

*[http://communities.northumberland.gov.uk/Cramlington_C15.htm Northumberland Communities] Photos and maps of Cramlington from 1610-1910.

*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO6ucOnBwHA] Buzzcock's the Chav.

{{Northumberland Settlements}}

[[Category:Towns in Northumberland]]

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