Public Information Day

Plans well in hand for forthcoming events

Our Public Information Day will be held at North Shields Customer First Centre (Library) on 1st March, 2014 when a number of local and regional groups will be on hand from 10am to 4pm to demonstrate the resources available to help anyone wishing to learn more about the war and the part that a relative may have played in the momentous events of 100 years ago.

The NET (North Shields) will be present with a wartime themed display and information on progress towards the development and opening of the Fishing and Maritime Heritage Centre now being created in the Old Low Lights Building on the Fish Quay.

The next talk at the Low Lights Tavern, on Tuesday 25th February, featuring Dr James McConnel of Northumbria University, talking on trench songs of the Irish soldiers is ‘sold out’. We are sorry if you have been unable to obtain a ticket for one of these very popular FREE events but limited space at the venue prevents our issuing more than 40 tickets. The March 2014 talk (illustrated) will be given by Dr Cecilia Holmes of Newcastle College- ‘The Avant-Garde versus The Old Guard: British painting and the Great War – at 7.30pm on Tuesday 25th March.2014.Tickets for that event will be available from 4th March, from the usual outlets.

For anyone unable to attend some or any of these talks we are repeating three during the Public Information Day on 1st March, 2014. They are; ‘Britain in Crisis’ – Dr Dan Jackson of the project surveys the state of the nation in the years immediately before the outbreak of the war. (11.30); John Sadler and Rosie Serdiville will look at the poetry of the serving men, drawn from their recently published book ‘Tommy Rot’ – the poetry they didn’t let you read (1230); and finally Ian McArdle MA will give his talk ‘Cruelty and compassion’ – a comparative review of the war literature of the French and German fighting men (1430).

At 1.30pm Alan Fidler will be reviewing the development and range of the Tynemouth Project as we approach a summer of activity to mark the launch of our Database as well as Death at Dawn the full-length play by North East playwright Peter Mortimer, to be Directed by Jackie Fielding and premiered at Linskill Community Centre from 1st to 6th September; and culminating in the regionally focussed commemorative concert ‘The Response’ being staged by the project jointly with the Army Benevolent Fund in the magnificent venue of the Sage Gateshead at 7.30pm on 27th September.

Tickets are now available for ‘Going over the top’ on Sunday, 23rd March, 2014 when the Project will be having a fundraising evening with superb entertainment provided by the regular musicians at the Low Lights Tavern -  North Shields oldest surviving pub. Tickets for this event are £5 (includes light supper); available from: Keel Row Bookshop, Preston Road (opposite Christ Church), the Low Lights Tavern and the Project Workroom B9, Linskill Centre.