Nick - I used to live in Tyne & Wear and know Jim and others quite well. He used to play a ShoBud rack and barrel S10 using some banjo rolls to great effect, but that was with the American Echoes and probably 40 years ago. He still knows how to get around a 6st. Dobro, G high bass. Try seeking "Deisil Therapy" on YouTube. That's Jim with Danny Holmes and Chris Ringer. He gigs sometimes with Martin Stephenson too, also worth a google!
Look out for the North of England Steel Guitar Festival, 8/9th August, the website should be up soon with a link from this forum. It's in my village (between Bedale and Masham, N.Yorks. so about 55 miles south of you and only four miles off the A1, so an easy trip of around an hour.
You will be welcome to come down here, any time the room in the local pub is available, for a chat and play - that applies to any steel players out there, it doesn't have to festival weekend.
Regards, Tony.
