Newton Aycliffe’s 75th Anniversary celebrations started in style with a big community event in the Town Park on Sunday 2nd July.
Hosted by Great Aycliffe Town Council, the Mayor of Great Aycliffe, Councillor Carl Robinson, and the County Durham Vice Lord Lieutenant, Michael Poole, launched the event which saw live music from Jen-Ami, a spectacular performance from Aycliffe Dance Academy, and family entertainment including fun fair rides, a bubbleologist, magician and balloon modelling.
Various stalls were provided by local community groups including the Pioneering Care Partnership, Lifeline Community Action, Great Aycliffe Cancer Support Group, 1st Baden Powell Scouts and Aycliffe Scout Group, Girl Guides, Aycliffe Bus Preservation Society and many more, all there to join in and to raise funds for their groups.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, the Scout Groups were given wildflower seeds to plant to help maintain our towns’ green spaces for the future.
The Town Council’s Corporate and Policy Officer, Amanda Donald, had prepared exhibition boards full of historic pictures, memorabilia and articles which were on display at the event and generated a lot of interest amongst members of the public on the day.
The Vice Lord – Lieutenant and Mayor made the first entries in the Memory Books purchased to help record the recollections of residents of the town and their memories of growing up, living and working on the town and a number of members of the public made their own entries on the day.
The Memory Books will be used to develop a ‘Life in a New Town’ exhibition later in the year and kept as a permanent record of the anniversary at the Council Offices.
The Vice Lord-Lieutenant said, “It was an honour and a great privilege to be invited to this event celebrating Aycliffe 75 years in the making. Such a strong community and the event on Sunday was well represented by local charities, groups and organisations that really come together to support their local residents. It was a great opportunity to chat to many of the individuals that make your Town such a great Town.”
The Mayor added, “It was wonderful to see so many residents at our Aycliffe 75th birthday celebration in the Town Park and an honour to host the event with the County Durham Vice Lord Lieutenant Michael Poole. It was a fantastic community event and a great opportunity to share this landmark date with all the townspeople.”
Great Aycliffe Town Council has also created an Aycliffe 75 page on their website where residents, past or present, can find out more about the anniversary and history of the town and share their photos and stories of growing up in the town via a dedicated form.
If you have memories to share, get in touch with the Town Council by visiting our website www.great-aycliffe.gov.uk, clicking on the 75th Anniversary link and selecting ‘Submit your memories’, or by ringing 01325 300700 and asking to speak to Amanda Donald.