Tag: history

North East hosts national organisation’s 100th anniversary celebration of votes for women

By on 19th October 2018in Events, Local Biz

A national organisation devoted to gender equality and promoting change, held its national AGM in Newcastle this month and celebrated the 100th anniversary of votes for women.

The National Council of Women of Great Britain (NCW), originally founded as the National Union of Women Workers in 1895, promotes confidence, public speaking skills and debate among young women, developing the next generation of inclusive leaders who will create a world in which it is no disadvantage to be a girl.

The NCW’s Annual Meeting has taken place for over 100 years. This year, it was held at the Royal Station Hotel, Newcastle and welcomed over 50 delegates as well as a number of schools from the areas in which its youth division operates including York, Nottingham and London.

Dr Andrena Telford, president of the NCW, said: “It was so encouraging to see the interaction between our older and younger members. The young members enjoy being part of an influential national organisation and are excited by our links to international groups.”

Speakers at the event included Guy Oppermann MP, Professor Ron Beadle of Gateshead Council, Veronica Jones of Northumberland County Council and Baroness Joyce Quin, all of whom contributed to the theme of ‘Beyond the Ballot: Women and Parliament’.

Visitors also heard from Marion Anderson, who introduced some of the personalities and activities of Newcastle’s suffrage movement and the work it did to help bring the vote to women.

Dr Telford continued: “It’s an exciting time for us; the world has come a long way since women were given the vote and we are looking to bring our constitution into line with a different type of membership and different lifestyles for women.

“We plan to increase our membership, to open new branches as far as possible and to use modern technology to keep in closer contact with our individual members.”

The NCW is holding a training session on November 17th in Derby for young women members, led by Barbara Maddison, the prime instigator of the youth division.

For more information on NCW or to get involved, see www.ncwgb.org.

County Durham Record Office Holds Half Term Family Event

By on 6th February 2016in In & Around

Families are invited to honour fallen First World War soldiers, make medieval-style illuminated letters, create cameras, and discover how Durham County Record Office cares for the region’s history…

 

The archive, which is based at Durham County Council’s Aykley Heads headquarters, is holding its seventh annual Family Fun Day this half term.

Education and outreach archivist Dawn Layland said: “This is a family fun day with a difference. It’s a great chance to find out about local history, and our fun activities are coupled to a rare opportunity to explore the Record Office and our archives as a family.”

On Friday 19th February, from 9.30am to 12.30pm, families will be given the chance to discover what the Record Office offers and find out more about the heritage of County Durham.

There will be lots of activities, including:

  • Making your own pinhole camera
  • Having a go at historic jigsaws
  • Making an illuminated letter like those found in medieval manuscripts
  • Making a remembrance card to commemorate a fallen soldier of the First World War
  • Seeing the strong rooms where the archives are kept
  • Playing with historical toys, and for younger children, dressing up.

Entrance to the fun day is free, and you do not have to book, but children must be accompanied by a parent or carer at all times.

Durham County Record Office Introduces Victorian Prisoners

By on 20th January 2016in In & Around

History fans will this week be taken on a journey back to the Victorian era inside the grim walls of Durham Prison to meet the ‘Guests of Queen Victoria’…

 

The 1851 census listed 226 people as being at her majesty’s pleasure in the city, and a talk this Thursday at Durham County Record Office will explore the justice system that led to their imprisonment, while examining some of their stories in detail.

Dawn Layland, education and outreach archivist at Durham County Council, said: “The Victorian justice system is fascinating, and this talk will take a look at it through the eyes of the people who were caught up in it right here in County Durham.”

The event is the first in a series of talks taking place on the third Thursday of January, March, May and August.

Future talks will feature topics including highwaymen and striking miners; letters to George Bowes; dirt, death and disease in Durham City in the 1900s; and “a bit of a historian and a philosopher: the Teesdale Hermit.”

Dawn said: “These talks are an easy and enjoyable way for local historians, or anyone with an interest in history, to find out more about our county’s past.”

The Guests of Queen Victoria talk takes place from 12.30pm to 1.15pm on Thursday 21st January.

Tickets, which cost £2, must be booked in advance by calling 03000 267626.

Durham Exhibition To Tell Untold Story Of Gypsy Holocaust

By on 18th January 2016in In & Around

The harrowing – and often unheard – story of the gypsy holocaust during the Second World War will be told at an upcoming exhibition…

Durham County Council is hosting the Gypsy, Roma Traveller Service’s display entitled Porrajmos: Through the Eyes of Children.

It tells the widely unknown story of the deaths of hundreds of thousands of gypsies at the hands of the Nazis during the Second World War.

The Porrajmos, translated as ‘the devouring’, is the term used to describe the genocide of Europe’s Roma and Sinti (gypsy) population between 1934 and 1945.

Up to 500,000 Roma and Sinti were killed or died as a result of starvation or disease, and many more were imprisoned in forced labour camps and subjected to forced sterilisation and medical experimentation.

Despite the atrocities, however, the story remains largely unknown.

The free exhibition, which will be held weekdays between 19th and 29th January from 9am until 4pm in the Durham Room at County Hall in Durham City, and will coincide with Holocaust Memorial Day on 27th January, aims to change that.

It will include a short educational documentary produced by the Plymouth and Devon Racial Equality Council/Devon Learning and Development Partnership, as well as additional information about the genocide.

 

The aim is to play a part in helping to ensure that lessons are learned from the past in terms of exclusion, discrimination, racism and hatred of other religions, beliefs or ways of life.

The Porrajmos exhibition is part of the Safer Communities Awareness event, and staff from the Safer Communities team will be on hand to provide information about wider community safety issues and support to those who need advice or assistance.

Cllr Joy Allen, Cabinet member for safer communities, Durham County Council, said: “This important exhibition will tell the story of the Romany victims of Nazi persecution.

“We hope the event goes some way towards promoting community cohesion and encouraging visitors to reflect on the impact of unchecked discrimination and racial hatred.

“There will also be an opportunity to find out more about wider community safety initiatives and access advice and support from partners.”

A separate exhibition organised by the Gypsy, Roma, Traveller Education Service is being held at Durham Cathedral from 25-29th January during opening times, and will be staffed on 27th January.

It is being hosted by pupils from The Hermitage School in the Chapel of Nine Altars, and will explain the genocide to other secondary school students from the area. There will also be a speech by holocaust survivor Zdenka Fantlova.

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