North Shields 800 will take over the Linskill Centre on 28 June for a community day with talks, live music, displays, a community marketplace and craft beers.
The free day will explore and celebrate the history, heritage and culture of North Shields.
It is being led by the Northumbria World War One Commemoration Project with support from the North Shields Heritology Project and the Old Low Light Heritage Centre.
Booking is not necessary for any of the activities, just turn up on the day. Details of the programme and timings can be found on the North Shields 800 website.
Talks by local historians will cover the 800-year history of North Shields, the role of the Herring Girls in the town’s fishing industry, the history of the River Tyne, the Wooden Dolly, Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade, and Lyd Sawyer – one of the – Victorian era’s most gifted art photographers.
Music in the Burnett Hall and Trevelyan Garden will include Northumbrian pipes, sea shanties and North East work songs, primary schoolchildren and community choirs. Linskill Community Choir will perform original composition ‘Riversong’ for the first time, in a musical tribute to their home town.
Displays include films and exhibitions by North Shields Heritology Project, Northumbrian pipers’ groups, North Tyneside Steam Railway Association, Northumbria World War One Commemoration Project and Old Low Light Heritage Centre.
A community marketplace in the Trevelyan Hall will see 30 local organisations promoting their role in the local community, with volunteering opportunities for those who are interested.
Event organiser Alan Fidler from Northumbria World War One Commemoration Project said: “There is so much to do and see at the North Shields 800 Community Day. Hundreds of people from the town are involved in staging, organising, and performing at the various activities.
“The Linskill Centre is a fantastic venue as it’s possible to have talks, performances and displays happening throughout the building and grounds. I would urge anyone who is interested in the heritage, history and culture of North Shields to come along and enjoy this unique event, as part of the town’s 800th anniversary celebrations.
”Our thanks to Radar Taxis and the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB) for their generous sponsorship of the event.”
Chair of the North Shields 800 Committee, Tynemouth MP Sir Alan Campbell, said: “An enormous amount of work has gone into organising this ambitious and wide-ranging community day, which is one of the highlights of the North Shields 800 events calendar. There is so much variety in this programme, there really is something for everyone.
“North Shields 800 is all about celebrating the town’s past, present and future, and this event embraces the many strands of North Shields’ proud culture and identity.
“It will bring local people together for a fun and enjoyable day, and give them an opportunity to find out more about the community groups and organisations that help make North Shields such a vibrant and exciting place.”
Elected Mayor of North Tyneside Karen Clark said: “This Community Day is a fantastic way of showcasing the community groups and organisations that enrich the lives of people in North Shields and beyond. From choirs to heritage groups, railway enthusiasts, historians, artists, musicians and the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade, they are all a huge source of pride for our Borough.
“This is a wonderful moment for North Shields 800, with the community at the forefront of the celebrations.“
Talks:
- North Shields – an overview of 800 years by Mike Coates
- That’s Women’s Work by Nina Brown
- History of the River Tyne and its three conservators by Phil Collinson
- Dolly, a North Shields Legend by Susan Lynn
- The history of the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade by Dave Bell
- Lyd Sawyer – the Sheriff of Shields, by Dave Young
Music:
- Northumbrian pipers
- Pupils from New York Primary School
- The Mariners and Marras
- Linskill Community Choir
- Can’t Sing Choir
Displays:
- North Shields Heritology Project
- North Tyneside Steam Railway Association
- Northumbrian pipers
- Northumbria World War One Commemoration Project
- Old Low Light Heritage Centre
The event is supported by Radar Taxis and the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB).
Other highlights of the North Shields 800 celebrations taking place in June include YMCA Picnic in the Park on June 7, the Parade of Boats and Blessing of the Fleet on 20 June and the North Shields 800 Celebration at North Shields FC on 21 June. A full calendar of projects and events is available on the North Shields 800 website.