JOIN THE JAUNT AND RAISE CASH FOR THE NSPCC AND YOUR OWN CHARITY
On October 1st an event is taking place at Locomotion, NRM Shildon to celebrate the 191st anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway which will fall on September 27th. The celebration is being organised by the Friends of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, which was founded in 2013 to protect and promote this important part of world railway heritage and, hopefully, stimulate economic regeneration through heritage based tourism. As a hugely important part of the celebrations, a Community Sponsored Jaunt is being organised by Newton Aycliffe Rotary Club with the support of the Mayor of Shildon, Aycliffe Town Council and Locomotion, NRM Shildon, amongst others. The aim is to use the new tarmac path installed by Durham County Council, linking Aycliffe and Shildon, alongside the railway line which follows the route of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. We hope to symbolically unite the two towns – Shildon, the ‘cradle of the railways’ and Aycliffe, presently witnessing the re-birth of the railways with the arrival of Hitachi in the town. The Community Sponsored Jaunt will begin at Aycliffe railway station at 2pm, with free refreshment available at Locomotion for the participants making the two mile journey along the path. The proceeds from sponsorship monies are to be shared with the NSPCC, and the participants’ own nominated charities. The Mayor of Great Aycliffe, Jed Hillary, will see everyone off. As part of the overall celebrations, the mayor of Shildon, (who is chair of the Friends of the Stockton and Darlington Railway), is organising a civic reception at Locomotion and receive the participants of the Community Sponsored Jaunt on the forecourt of the museum. The Mayor of Aycliffe, will be present to welcome them, together with other invited Mayors from around our area. We hope that the Lord Lieutenant, the Chairman of Durham County Council, our MP’s and local councillors will attend. Perhaps some of them will want to take part in the Jaunt, as well as the ceremonial part of the day and raise funds for the NSPCC and their own charities. Welcome speeches will be given by the Mayors of Shildon and Aycliffe. We are currently putting together a programme of events for this day of celebration, as the museum will be open to visitors and supporters of the Jaunt between 10.00 and 5.00pm. It will include steam train rides, provided by the celebrated Furness steam engine and by South Durham Model Engineers, both at a reasonable cost. Heritage Walks will be led by a DCC leader and potentially by Locomotion staff and volunteers. FREE ENTERTAINMENT There will be railway-themed exhibitions, including one by the Middleton Photography Group on the Stockton and Darlington Railway today and railway artist John Wigston and by local Stockton and Darlington railway conservation volunteers, the Brusselton Incline Group. Music will be provided by Durham Music Service students, with contributions by dance troupes, singers and local theatre groups, and from local schools. We are keen to make display stands available to event sponsors. Locomotion can supply trestle tables for interested parties and these are normally free of charge. We are pleased to say that Hitachi has already agreed to provide a display. The day will build on the links already established between Aycliffe and Shildon by the amalgamation of Greenfield and Sunnydale schools. Head teacher David Priestley is enthusiastic, pledging full support for the venture. We hope that local primary schools from both towns will also get involved.
WALK, BIKE, & RUN etc. Sponsored walkers/bikers/ runners or people using any other appropriate mode of transport will leave from Newton Aycliffe at 2pm, arriving at Locomotion between 2.30 and 3.00. People will gather on the forecourt if the weather is good, or inside the museum building if the weather is inclement. Those on the Jaunt may want to return the way they came or take a train back to Newton Aycliffe. Participants on the Community Sponsored Jaunt who are resident in Shildon may want to take the train to Aycliffe or use the path and begin the Jaunt with everyone else at 2pm. We already have considerable interest from bikers, walkers, running groups, town
organisations etc. and the aim is to spread the word and get as many people as possible involved, including individuals and families. We are particularly interested in getting a group of volunteers who will litter-pick the path – bags and litter sticks provided. The publicity campaign will be ongoing through Newton News the Shildon Town Crier, posters etc. The Jaunt is expected to attract the interest of the media, and we already have indications of support from both the TV and radio. We will keep you in the picture as the programme develops. Registration Forms forms for the Jaunt are on Page 4 to be cut out and returned. They can also be collected from Newton Press Offices, Walkers Butchers, Tesco’s, returned there and sponsor forms collected. All sponsorship money raised is shared between the NSPCC and your group or own choice of charity, so come along and join in and have a great community day out.
