Member Article

Shoppers To Salute The Armed Services In a Centenary Tribute…

~~ONE of the region’s biggest venues is to host a weekend of tributes and displays next month (August) to mark the centenary of World War One. As the country gathers to remember those who fought in 100 years of conflicts, intu Metrocentre, Gateshead will be holding its own, special tribute to the armed services. On Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 August, the shopping centre will stage a number of displays and activities, including an exhibition of WW1 artefacts, such as bagpipes and a bugle played on the battlefield during the Battle of the Somme. Visitors will also have the chance to see military vehicles including a field kitchen and an armoured Jeep, along with a Hawk jet, of the type flown by the famous Red Arrows display team. There will also be a poignant display of more than 1000 poppies, hand crafted by schoolchildren from across the North East and shoppers will be able to purchase poppy crosses, to lay at the Garden of Remembrance in the centre. These will then be transferred to the official Garden of Remembrance, at Saltwell Park, Gateshead, in the run up to Remembrance Day. On Sunday 3 August the centre’s Exhibition Square will be transformed into an artificial picnic field where, from midday until 2pm, visitors can enjoy their own food along with entertainment from choirs and theatre groups. The following day, at 2pm, exactly 100 years since the outbreak of WWI, the Square will stage a more formal ceremony when intu Metrocentre’s Chaplain, Lyn Jamieson and the Rt Revd Paul Butler, Bishop of Durham, hold a public, WW1 Commemorative Drumhead Service. Following the service, army veteran Ian Proud, Poppy Appeal Organiser for Gateshead will start a 100 mile Honour Run through intu Metrocentre on behalf of The Royal British Legion, The Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity, The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, SSAFA and the ABF Soldiers Charity. “We are very proud to be honouring the men and women of our armed services who have fought for our freedom over the past 100 years,” said intu Metrocentre marketing manager Helen Atkinson. “We hope this commemorative weekend will highlight the invaluable work they do, the often horrendous conditions in which they do it and the sacrifices many of them have made on our behalf – and we hope as many people as possible will come along.” For further information about events over the WWI commemorative weekend, visit www.intu.co.uk/metrocentre

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