ONE of the North East’s keenest shoppers plans to go off the rails when she celebrates her 80th birthday this week.
Win Crooks, from Dinnington, will fulfil a long held dream tomorrow (Thursday 6 August), when she steps onto the footplate of the intu Metrocentre’s miniature train and takes friends and family on a rail journey through the mall.
The train is a familiar sight to shoppers as it makes its way around the ground floor of the mall and the centre stepped in to make Win’s dream come true after her neighbour, Emma Clinch, 24, got in touch.
“I’ve known Win almost all my life,” said Emma, “and throughout that time she has visited intu Metrocentre at least once a week. She used to take my sister and I to Metroland and always used to say she wanted to ride the train.
“So when she reached her milestone birthday I wasn’t in the least surprised that she still wanted to have a go – I couldn’t believe it when the Metrocentre emailed me to say she could.”
Win, will be joined by husband Alan, 80 and children Lindsay and Peter for her special treat.
Helen Atkinson, intu Metrocentre marketing manager, said: “We are delighted to be able to help Win realise her ambition to drive the Pirates Cove train.
“Not only will it give her the chance to see the centre from a different perspective but we’ll pull out all the stops to ensure she has a lovely day to remember.”