Ashington is celebrating its’ 150th anniversary and school children from Bothal Primary school have marked the occasion with a memorable event celebrating its mining history.
Local historians date Ashington back to 1867 when the Bothal mining shaft was first shrunk, this then lead to the rapid expansion of coal mining and the development of Ashington.
To mark the anniversary, pupils from Bothal Primary School organised a parade which ran from Bothal Primary Lower School to Bothal Primary Upper School. The primary school pupils marched in the parade which celebrated the mining history of Ashington, seeing the children and teachers dressed up as miners, flying flags and banners. The parade finished with a picnic for all involved at Bothal Primary Upper School.
Parents, carers and family members were invited to watch the parade and cheer on the pupils and staff throughout their route. The event was also attended by Wansbeck MP Ian Lavery
Cllr Wayne Daley, cabinet member for children’s services at Northumberland County Council said: “The event was a great success and it was fantastic to see the local children and families involved with the celebrations and marking the occasion.
The parade highlighted the importance of mining in Ashington’s heritage and allowed the children to play an active role in bringing this heritage to life for the benefit of the local communities.”