Member Article

Wallsend Memorial Hall announces Sting as Cultural Patron

Wallsend Memorial Hall & People’s Centre (the MEM) is delighted to announce Sting as Cultural Patron, giving the rebirth of one of the North East’s oldest community buildings a major boost.

Backing from the Wallsend-born musician comes at the perfect time for the hall, known locally as The Mem, which has been a hub of community life in the town since it opened in 1883 thanks to a donation from Sir G B Hunter, of Swan Hunter fame. The building is currently undergoing a £1.4 million transformation that will restore its original Victorian splendour while also bringing the facilities right up-to-date.

“With the restoration of the hall underway, we thought this would be the perfect time to ask Sting to get involved and were absolutely thrilled when he agreed to lend us his support,” said Maureen Madden, Chief Officer of Wallsend Memorial Hall & People’s Centre. “When the restoration is complete in the summer we will have a world class community facility, while still preserving the building that Sting would recall from growing up close by.”

Sting was born in Wallsend in 1951 and went to primary school in the town, often helping out with his Dad’s milk round. He later attended the Northern Counties College of Education, now part of Northumbria University, and became a teacher in Cramlington before finding fame with rock band, The Police.

“The Mem is a local landmark I remember well from my boyhood in Wallsend,” said Sting. “It’s such an important social, cultural and educational service, I’m very happy to support it.”

In addition to the refurbishment of the hall itself, the restoration of the building will also include a new light and airy entrance and café, providing a new community space for local people to learn, relax and interact. The completed building will be able to host everything from a sit-down dinner to a theatre performance, dance or business meeting, enabling it to fulfil its traditional role with all of the facilities and amenities that modern users demand.

“We’re very much looking forward to a bright future for the Mem and receiving Sting’s backing was a wonderful start to a very exciting year for us,” added Mrs Madden.

To find out more about Wallsend Memorial Hall & People’s Centre (the MEM) visit www.wallsendmem.org or call us on (0191) 2635029.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Morag Robertson .