Project moves into fourth year as centenary nears
The
Tynemouth World War One Commemoration Project began with a huddled
meeting in the back courtyard of the Oddfellows Arms in North Shields
in December, 2010. We were huddled outdoors, under infra-red lamps,
as the worst winter in 50 years tightened its grip, because the Quiz
in the bar prevented any discussion above a whisper. From that icy
beginning, the outline, of what is now perhaps the nation’s largest
community-based commemorative project dedicated to remembrance of the
loss and suffering of a town in the First World War, began to take
shape.
As 2014 opens and the
centenary of the outbreak of the war draws near we are about to begin
the major tasks connected with the staging of a number of community
events. There are three important dates for the diary of anyone who
wishes to participate in the marking of the great struggle of the
years 1914-18. On 3rd August we shall have a whole day
event in Northumberland Square, including a formal service of
remembrance.
From 1st to
6th September, at the Linskill Community Centre, we shall
be staging the premiere performances of a play commissioned by the
project and written by North East playwright Peter Mortimer. Death
at Dawn is a fictional play based on certain of the true facts
surrounding the life and execution in France, after court martial on
charges of desertion, of William Hunter of Coronation Street, North
Shields
Supported by the Arts
Council England, North Tyneside Council and The Heritage Lottery Fund
the play is a full-length drama which will engage audiences of any
age from 14 years upwards- tickets available from 1st May,
2014.
Finally, on the 27th
September, at The Sage - Gateshead, in conjunction with the Army
Benevolent Fund, we will commemorate all the recruitment and service
of the men from across the North East who responded in vast numbers
to the call in autumn of 1914. A wide programme of music and readings
with audience participation will include materials drawn from the
project’s researches. Tickets for this event will be sold through
the Sage- Gateshead from spring 2014– details to follow through
this column.
The concert will be the
culmination of our four years of research and activity, by which time
we shall have opened our extensive database of biographical
information to public access on the internet (anticipated launch –
28th June, 2014) which will be available for viewing in
North Shields Customer First Centre (Discover North Tyneside –
Local studies section) for anyone not able to access the internet
easily. The project will also have a major exhibition running on the
second floor of the Customer Service Centre from early in July
throughout the summer until late September.
Nearer at hand we have
two events in January. At 6pm on Tuesday the 21st of
January, at Northumbria University, City Campus East, Emeritus
Professor John Derry of Newcastle University will deliver the fourth
in our landmark series of public lectures – ‘Ludendorff and
Hindenburg – a brilliant partnership?’ Details of all the
remaining five lectures can be found on our website.
The next in our very
popular series of talks at the Low Lights Tavern, Brewhouse Bank,
North Shields will be given by D. John Sadler at 730pm on Tuesday
28th January. John will speak on ‘The Northumberland
Hussars at the first battle of Ypres -1914’ – tickets (free) can
be obtained from the Project workroom, Linskill Community Centre, The
Low lights Tavern and Keel Row Bookshop, Fenwick Terrace – opposite
Christ Church, North Shields. The Northumberland Hussars (nickname –
the Noodles) were the first Volunteer Yeomanry Regiment (cavalry) to
see action in the First World War.
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