Tuesday, February 25, 2014

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.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Local stories to feature in Remembrance Concert

Local stories to feature in Remembrance Concert

The Tynemouth World War One Commemoration Project has joined with the Army Benevolent Fund to stage what will be the most significant event in 2014 to recognise the response of the North East to the call for a massive increase in the country’s armed forces in the summer and autumn of 1914. The concert, The Response to be staged at Sage Gateshead on Saturday, 27th September, 2014, in the magnificent auditorium of Hall One, will be an event not to be missed. Tickets for that event will be on sale from the venue from June, 2014. In the meantime there is an opportunity to get a preview of some of the remarkable stories of the involvement of local men in many aspects of the war on land and at sea.
At 8pm on March 1st 2014 the launch of the Commemorative CD ‘Only Remembered’, featuring words, songs and music of the Great War will take place at Sage Gateshead. In the intimate surroundings of Hall Two, local singer Vicky Guillory, well-known columnist Denise Robertson and Colonel Alasdair Hutton will recall the experiences of the fighting men through music and verse, all featured on the new CD produced by the Army Benevolent Fund in aid of forces charities. As a part of the programme on the 1st of March, the Tynemouth Project has assembled a few of the many fascinating stories that have been uncovered in the course of the three years of our research and contact with living relatives of those who served. These will be presented with readings by current relatives of the men whose stories illustrate the realities of the conflict. Tickets for this event are available from the Sage Gateshead box office - (0191) 443 4661 or www.sagegateshead.com
The second half of the programme features music of later years with the ‘Little Sisters’ harmony singers, recreating the music and songs of the forties.

Further diary dates to note are the Public Information day to 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 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 project invites you to join them ‘Going over the top’ on Sunday, 23rd March, 2014 when they will be having a fundraising evening with superb entertainment provided by the regular musicians at the Low Lights Tavern -  North Shields oldest surviving pub.
Come and have an evening of good company and good music; all in the surroundings of a real pub with real ales, real fires and real atmosphere.

Tickets for this event are £5 (includes light supper); available from the usual outlets: KeelRow Bookshop, Preston Road (opposite Christ Church), the Low Lights Tavern and the Project Workroom B9, Linskill Centre.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Leading film director/ producer to speak at local Video Group meeting


Leading film director/ producer to speak at local Video Group meeting


Since its formation in 2011The Tynemouth WW1 Project has enjoyed immense support from the local news media, not least from the News Guardian which has afforded the project the opportunity to inform the public of its activities and progress on a weekly basis, as well as the ability to reach out to the local community to seek information about the almost 2000 casualties of the Great War.
The approach of the centenary of the outbreak of the war means that many special interest groups of local enthusiasts are also looking to feature materials related to the conflict in their programmes and meetings.

We were particularly interested to receive notice of a meeting of The Tynemouth Video Group, who meet at the premises of the Tynemouth Photographic Society above the Library in Front Street, Tynemouth. On Monday 17th February, at 7.30pm they will be hosting a talk by well-known speaker, historian and producer Ed Skeldon, which will be illustrated with film excerpts featuring the Ypres and Somme battlefields from his film ‘Walking the Western Front’.
Interest in this talk is expected to be widespread. If you wish to attend the event please telephone the Group (0191) 253 3536 for further details and to register interest. The event is free but advance reservation is recommended as the venue has limited capacity.

The next in our series of lectures at City Campus East, Northumbria University, New Bridge Street, (opposite Manors Metro Station), will take place at 6.15pm on Tuesday 18th February, 2014 when Dr Edward Madigan of Royal Holloway and Bedford College, University of London (and until recently historian in residence at the CWGC) will be speaking on the subject of The better part of valour: British understandings of courage in WW1’. The eight lecture series is now at lecture five, with four very interesting and stimulating topics and speakers due to address us from now until May. These lectures have all been very popular – see our website for details of all the remaining talks and registration to attend (not essential but it helps us with planning). - www.tynemouthworldwarone.org

Tickets are now available for the next in our series of informal talks at the Low Lights Tavern, Brewhouse Bank, Fish Quay, North Shields. Dr James McConnel, Head of History at Northumbria University will be talking about the trench songs of the Irish soldiery in the Great War. These were men who came from a part of the British Isles which had been, in the years before the war (and would remain) in a state of political unrest. A huge number of Irishmen served in the armed forces and all were volunteers. The government in London feeling it wise not to introduce the compulsory conscription of men into the army which was applied on mainland Britain. Tickets (Free) are available from the Low lights Tavern, The Project Workroom (B9) at Linskill Community Centre and from Keel Row Books, opposite Christ Church, Preston Road, North Shields.