Generations have come together to remember those who lost their lives in the First World War Zeppelin attack on Sunderland.
Today, (Friday, April 1) which is the 100th anniversary of the attack, the Mayor of Sunderland Councillor Barry Curran was joined by guests including community and veteran’s groups for a public unveiling of a memorial bench at the Wheatsheaf Green.
The Mayor of Sunderland, councillor Barry Curran, said: “It is hard to imagine what people must have experienced at the time with bombs raining down on their communities, and we need to commemorate both their suffering and their bravery facing such an attack.
The mayor then travelled with his guests to Monkwearmouth Station Museum for the launch of the ‘Zeppelin’ art structure created by children at Grange Park Primary.
As part of the project, Year Five children from Grange Park Primary in Swan Street have been inspired by historic re-enactment sessions and talks from the Time Bandits to think about how they would have felt during such a deadly attack on their community.
Subsequent workshops at the school with Infinite Arts, have translated the children’s thoughts into the paper artwork and creative writing, which forms part of the skin of the Zeppelin model unveiled and put on display at Monkwearmouth Station Museum.
Cllr Curran added: “The memorial bench provides the opportunity for people to sit and reflect on what happened, while our young people have used their creative talents to capture the emotions children must have experienced a hundred years to create the Zeppelin artwork.”
The programme of centenary commemorations of the First World War air raid attack which killed 22 people and injured many more has taken place from Thursday, March 31.
The station museum hosted ‘Zeppelin Attack!’ on Thursday , as they were one of the sites bombed on April 1.
It gave the chance for visitors to see displays commemorating the event and make a model of their own Zeppelin during drop-in sessions to take home.
The commemorations will finish on Saturday, April 2, with a chance for everyone to take part in a guided walk through the city centre 9.30 – 11.30am, to learn more about how the First World War affected Sunderland.
To book a free place please contact Anthony Hindmarch on 0191 561 4578.
The project was funded by Sunderland City Council’s North Area Committee and led by Museums, Heritage and Library Services working with Infinite Arts.