THE NEW MAYOR OF SUNDERLAND Councillor Doris MacKnight will welcome people into Mowbray Park tomorrow (Saturday 20 May) for a community event and to meet her Mayoral Consort, Keith MacKnight.
Every year the Mayor’s Consort or Mayoress hosts an annual event at the beginning of the Mayor’s term of office, to meet residents and the volunteers who do so much work in their local communities.
This year it is being held as part of wider civic celebrations for the 160th anniversary of Mowbray Park, and commemoration of its historical significance to the city as home to the monument honouring one of its greatest heroes, Jack Crawford.
The Mayor of Sunderland, Cllr Doris McKnight who opens the event at 2pm said: “What a fantastic way to launch my term of office, and I’d like to thank the organisers of the event for inviting me to open this celebration of one of our finest parks.
“My Mayoral Consort and husband Keith decided it was also a perfect opportunity to hold his ‘At Home’ and meet as many people as possible.”
The Mayoral Consort, Keith MacKnight added: “Rather than organise a separate event, I thought it would be a good idea to combine it with such a special occasion as this.
“It’s a great chance for me to chat to people and introduce myself. The Mayoral Office is here to support the community and we want everyone to know that.”
‘ A moment in Mowbray Park ‘ is supported by community partners including Gentoo and the Friends of Mowbray Park, and funded by the East Sunderland Area Committee as a celebration of the 160th anniversary of one of the oldest parks in the region.
The event commemorates the bravery of local hero Jack Crawford during the Battle of Camperdown 220 years ago through music, art, film and historic re-enactment.
Events include –
Music;
- Proms in the Park with music from the Salvation Army 35 piece brass band 2.15 – 3pm, 3.30 – 4.15pm near the lake
- Young musicians from Gentoo’s GenFactor 3 – 3.30pm performing at the bandstand
- Musical finale 4.30 – 5pm with national musical star Marty Longstaff (The Lake Poets) performing the ‘Songs of Sunderland’ with St Paul’s Choir, RyhopeHistory;
- Sunderland Maritime Heritage group will display a large scale model of The Venerable with costumed sailors and a ‘memory box’ of artefacts giving people a taste of naval life during the battle with shows near the Victorian Lawns 2.15, 2.45 and 3.30pm
- Test your knowledge on the history trail quiz 2.15 – 3.15pm on the Victorian Lawn
- The Friends Group of Mowbray Park will provide a guided tour of the Park and its geology 3.30pm meeting at the Walrus near the lake Art;
- Be drawn by famous caricature artist Helen Wardropper, re-create Jack Crawford’s medal for gallantry , and learn more about his bravery during the Battle of Camperdown from local artist Anna Glover near the bandstand between 2.15 and 4.15pmFilm;
- Lonely Tours Film and Media have produced a 30 minute film funded by Sunderland City Council about the adventures of Jack Crawford. being screened in the museum’s Pottery Gallery at 3.15pmDrama;
- Dreambox Theatre Company and pupils from Hudson Road Primary School with perform the ‘Hero of Camperdown’ in the Pottery Gallery at 4pm ( tickets only )
For further information contact nicol.trueman@sunderland.gov.