‘Only the beginning’ - New memorial pays tribute to Boldon Colliery’s mining and military heritage
Six years of dedication, fundraising and community spirit has seen a new memorial unveiled in Boldon Colliery.
A new memorial that commemorates the mining heritage and military sacrifice of people from Boldon Colliery has been unveiled.
After six years of planning and fundraising, the Boldon Colliery Heritage Group invited crowds to gather in the village to get a glimpse of the memorial for the first time on Friday, October 30.
The memorial features two life-sized statues of a Boldon Colliery pitman and a British soldier - with it sitting just off the roundabout on the corner of Cotswold Lane and Hubert Street.
Constructed by North East Granite Ltd, the project has also included the refurbishment of the historic Boldon Colliery clock which was originally gifted to the village in memory of those who lost their lives during the First and Second World Wars.
‘Only the beginning’
The Boldon Colliery Heritage Group has expressed its delight at seeing the memorial unveiled in the village as it will now stand as a permanent reminder of the sacrifices made by generations of residents.
A spokesperson for the group said: "This is only the beginning. It has taken us six long years to reach this point, but we are absolutely delighted to see our vision finally come to life.
"The people of Boldon Colliery are incredibly proud of their village, and to have played a part in bringing something so special to our community has made every minute of the hard work, challenges and sacrifices over the past six years worthwhile.
"This memorial belongs to the people of our village, past and present.
“It will stand as a permanent reminder of the sacrifices made by generations of Boldon Colliery residents, both in service to their country and on the coalface, ensuring that future generations never forget those who came before them.
"To have the historic village clock refurbished and incorporated into the memorial makes this even more special.
“It brings another important piece of our history back to the heart of the community, where it belongs.
"We will remember them."
More to come from the Boldon Colliery Heritage Group
While Friday’s unveiling gave the community a chance to see the completed memorial, the Heritage Group has confirmed that a more formal dedication ceremony will take place in the new year.
A Remembrance Service will also take place at the memorial on Sunday, November 8, with ex-servicemen and women invited to join the group for a march from the Old Barrel pub, on North Road, from 10.30am.
Members of the public are invited to follow the procession or make their own way to the memorial site for the service.
The Boldon Colliery Heritage Group has stated that its fundraising efforts are “far from over” as it looks to cover some of the outstanding costs associated with the project alongside preparations for the formal dedication ceremony and future heritage initiatives.
As a result, the group is continuing to appeal to members of the public who wish to support its work.
The group has stated that every donation will go towards benefitting Boldon Colliery for generations to come.
If you wish to make a donation to the Boldon Colliery Heritage Group, then visit: https://boldonchg.org/donations.html.