As excitement builds on Wearside with Sunderland AFC crossing the Wear to head to Wembley this Sunday for the League One Play off final, a series of lectures will reflect on the historical significance of river crossings.
The University of Sunderland is hosting its popular Community Lectures Series 2019, and this summer’s six free and entertaining talks will welcome authoritative guest speakers on the theme of river crossings.
Beginning tomorrow (May 22) and running until August 21, the talks cover topics such as the cause of the Tay Bridge disaster, The Lake Baikal Ferry, the Wearmouth Brige and Crossing the Tyne.
Organised by the Workers’ Educational Association, Wearside University of the Third Age, Sunderland Heritage Forum and the University of Sunderland, the Community Lectures are held at 2.30pm, in the Sir Tom Cowie Lecture Theatre, Prospect Building, St Peter’s Campus. The lectures are open to everyone and there is no need to book.
Stuart Miller, Chairman of Sunderland Heritage Forum, and the former Director of Continuing Education at the University of Sunderland, said: “The Community Lectures have been running for many years now and are aimed at a wide regional audience. Last year we themed around the river ships, with Sunderland hosting the Tall Ship Festival 2019, but this year we have identified a series of key aspects of river crossings both in the North East and also further afield.”
Community Lectures 2019 include:
Wednesday 22 May 2019, 2.30pm
The Causes of the Tay Bridge Disaster, Eric Fletcher
When the Tay Bridge was opened on the 1st June 1878 it was described as a marvel of Victorian engineering. Seven months later during a violent storm the central part of the bridge collapsed plunging a train and seventy five people 85 feet down into the Tay. The lecture will look at how the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the bridge contributed to the disaster and the crucial role played by the personality of designer Thomas Bouch.
Eric was professor of applied computing at the University of Sunderland specialising in computer graphics, image processing and mathematical modelling. In 2003 he took early retirement and with a colleague set up Cleamond Software to develop software solutions for industry. He worked extensively on EU and UK funded research and has over 80 publications in solid state physics and mathematical modelling.
Wednesday 5 June 2019, 2.30pm
From Tyne to Tweed in old postcards, George Nairn
Having made other journeys in County Durham by old postcards in previous lectures George will now undertake a journey from the Tyne to the Tweed along “Northumberland’s lordly strand”
George worked for many years for Pickfords. A collector of old postcards for forty years he has been a dealer for the past twenty one. He has published an impressive range of books on aspects of local Durham County history and is much in demand as a speaker. Anyone who wants to bring a pre-1955 postcard can receive a free evaluation.
Wednesday 19 June 2019, 2.30pm
The Lake Baikal Ferry, Alan Owen
In 1895 a contract between the Russian Imperial Government and Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd was signed for a unique icebreaking ferry to operate on Lake Baikal as part of the new Trans-Siberian Railway. By June 1896 it had been delivered in flat-pack form. It was launched in 1899 and operated until 1918. This lecture will describe how the crossing of the largest freshwater lake in the world was achieved through the skills of North East Engineers.
Alan lectured in Liberal Studies for many years at Wearside College. He was also a teacher in Durham Prison. He has written numerous articles about a variety of historical subjects including a long running series of articles for the Connoisseur magazine. He recorded the memories of some of the last surviving Boer War veterans.
Wednesday 17 July 2019, 2.30pm
The Biddick Ferryman, David Inch
In the 18th Century a ferry-boat service operated between North and South Biddick on the River Wear. For a period the ferryman was a man named James Drummond. Was he a simple ferryman or was he someone of quite amazing status ? This talk explores a fascinating local legend.
Educated at Murton and Ryhope Grammar School David worked for both Durham and Northumberland County Councils. He is a founder member and chairman of the Friends of Durham County Record Office
Wednesday 7 August 2019, 2.30pm
Crossing the Tyne, Pat Lowery
The Romans built the first bridge over the Tyne and a fort to protect the crossing. Since then several bridges and tunnels have been built to transport people and goods from one side to the other. This lecture will look at some of the river crossings both above and below the river, their construction and use, and stories of the people who built and used them.
Born and raised near the River Wear at Roker, but now resident in Newcastle Pat is a long serving Newcastle City Guide and leads guided tours of the whole of Tyne and Wear area, including Sunderland
Wednesday 21 August 2019, 2.30pm
The Wearmouth Bridge (Stuart Miller)
The first Wearmouth Bridge at Sunderland was the second iron bridge in the world, and much more ambitious than that at Ironbridge. It was soon added to the “bucket list” of contemporary travellers. This talk will explore the background to the building of the bridge, describe its novel construction and outline the intriguing controversy about who was responsible for the design.
Stuart was a lecturer in history and Head of the Continuing Education Unit at the University of Sunderland and later worked as a WEA course organiser on Tyneside. He still teaches for the WEA. He has published text books on British and European history, various books and articles on aspects of local history and several books of walks in Northumberland and Durham