Plaque commemorating famous South Tyneside businessman in park named after him is finally restored

The Readhead Park, named after Robert Readhead - whose father established the area’s historic shipbuilding firm, John Readhead and Sons Limited - had seen the memorial in better nick, after damage to the stonework surrounding the plaque accumulated gradually over time.

But the plaque has recently benefited from some much-needed restoration work, thanks to the efforts of Westoe residents and borough councillors.

The group, which included the Friends of Readhead Park community interest and support group, helped launch a fundraising drive for the repairs to the stonework framing the plaque in 2020.

Their campaigning efforts have now paid off, allowing them to unveil the newly-restored plaque.

Just a few weeks ago, the group helped oversee the installation of a defibrillator at the park.

One of the councillors involved in that effort and in the plaque restoration project, Glenn Thompson, who also chairs the Friends of Readhead Park organisation, said it was vitally important to rekindle an interest in the town’s shared spaces through such initiatives.

The Westoe park was officially opened by Mr Readhead in 1923, just a year after the businessman died. Mr Readhead is buried just a few hundred yards away from the park bearing his name, at Harton Cemetery.

Now, the group are hoping to help piece together the park’s history further by locating the whereabouts of a tree planted during the opening ceremony almost a century ago.

"The park wasn’t in a great place last year,” Cllr Thompson said.

"The restoration of the plaque comes on the back of work we’ve done to bring in picnic tables, new gates and fencing. There’s all sorts we’re doing.

"We need to keep up public interest in this kind of work – otherwise things in the area just fall apart.

"We’d like to make an appeal to residents in the area and see if anyone knows where that tree was planted, so we can mark that out and perhaps put up a separate plaque to recognise it.

"Even if we can establish the tree has since been uprooted, we can plant a new one as we approach the centenary date.”

Support your Gazette and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news, the latest football stories and new puzzles every day. With a digital subscription, you can see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.