Project moves into 4th year

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 3^rd August we shall have a whole day event in Northumberland Square, including a formal service of remembrance.

From 1^st to 6^th 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 1^st May, 2014.

Finally, on the 27^th 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 – 28^th 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 21^st 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 28^th 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.