Plaques honouring war heroes find new home at Deckham Family Hub
Two War Memorial plaques have been rehomed at Deckham Family Hub, after being discovered in a skip.
At a ceremony earlier today (7 February) the plaques were unveiled by Gateshead mayor, Councillor Kath McCartney, ahead of a performance from Carr Hill School Choir and refreshments to remember the fallen heroes who were at risk of being forgotten.
The plaques feature members of the CIU High Fell Club, formally located on Old Durham Road, who served and died in World War One and World Ward Two.
The Memorial plaques were discovered in a skip but were thankfully discovered by an unknown member of the public before being handed to Thomas Miller Auctioneers.
The auctioneers then made the decision to donate them to Gateshead Council via the North East War Memorials Project (NEWMP). The volunteer organisation agreed with the council's War Memorials Officer, Phil Howarth, that Deckham Family Hub would be the perfect place for the plaques to be honoured.
Councillor Stuart Green, Armed Forces Champion for Gateshead and member of the Veterans Advisory Pensions Committee, said: "The two plaques each tell a story of brave men from our area, who served for our country.
"We must remember them. War Memorials can often go overlooked and forgotten, and it is heartbreaking to think how close these important historical records were to being lost completely.
"It is a great honour to be able to celebrate their unveiling at Deckham Family Hub, a place of love, care and community for many. The plaques will be valued as they should be, with families and young children being able to reflect on the importance of remembering, in an environment that is full of joy and hope for the future."
The Mayor of Gateshead, Councillor Kath McCartney, added: "It was an honour to unveil the plaques and reinstate the important memorials in all their glory.
"I would like to share our heartfelt gratitude with the wonderful school choir from Carr Hill, the volunteers at the North East War Memorials Project and to the unknown member of public who found them and handed them to the auctioneers."
Jean Atkinson, volunteer at the North East Memorial Project, said: "It was wonderful to join the celebrations today. We have been looking for these two plaques for years.
"It is wonderful to see how they will be valued by families and particularly young children at the hub, to learn about the importance of valuing our community history."
Two War Memorial plaques have been rehomed at Deckham Family Hub, after being discovered in a skip.
At a ceremony earlier today (7 February) the plaques were unveiled by Gateshead mayor, Councillor Kath McCartney, ahead of a performance from Carr Hill School Choir and refreshments to remember the fallen heroes who were at risk of being forgotten.
The plaques feature members of the CIU High Fell Club, formally located on Old Durham Road, who served and died in World War One and World Ward Two.
The Memorial plaques were discovered in a skip but were thankfully discovered by an unknown member of the public before being handed to Thomas Miller Auctioneers.
The auctioneers then made the decision to donate them to Gateshead Council via the North East War Memorials Project (NEWMP). The volunteer organisation agreed with the council's War Memorials Officer, Phil Howarth, that Deckham Family Hub would be the perfect place for the plaques to be honoured.
Councillor Stuart Green, Armed Forces Champion for Gateshead and member of the Veterans Advisory Pensions Committee, said: "The two plaques each tell a story of brave men from our area, who served for our country.
"We must remember them. War Memorials can often go overlooked and forgotten, and it is heartbreaking to think how close these important historical records were to being lost completely.
"It is a great honour to be able to celebrate their unveiling at Deckham Family Hub, a place of love, care and community for many. The plaques will be valued as they should be, with families and young children being able to reflect on the importance of remembering, in an environment that is full of joy and hope for the future."
The Mayor of Gateshead, Councillor Kath McCartney, added: "It was an honour to unveil the plaques and reinstate the important memorials in all their glory.
"I would like to share our heartfelt gratitude with the wonderful school choir from Carr Hill, the volunteers at the North East War Memorials Project and to the unknown member of public who found them and handed them to the auctioneers."
Jean Atkinson, volunteer at the North East Memorial Project, said: "It was wonderful to join the celebrations today. We have been looking for these two plaques for years.
"It is wonderful to see how they will be valued by families and particularly young children at the hub, to learn about the importance of valuing our community history."
