Published on 11 April 2017
This summer's series of six, free and entertaining Community Lectures will welcome authoritative speakers on the theme of the river Wear. The talks will mark the 300th anniversary of the River Wear Commissioners (1717 - 2017) and come at an important point in the history of Sunderland and its river; as it prepares to open a new bridge and welcome the Tall Ships Races in 2018.
Brought to you by the Workers’ Educational Association, Wearside University of the Third Age, Sunderland Heritage Forum and the University of Sunderland, the Community Lectures are held in the Sir Tom Cowie Lecture Theatre, Prospect Building, St Peter’s Campus, University of Sunderland. The lectures are open to everyone and there is no need to book.
Wednesday 10 May 2017, 2.30pm
Weardale from Source to Mouth in Old Postcards, George Nairn
A sixty mile trip in old postcards from Wearhead to Sunderland, including towns and villages on route. George Nairn has collected old postcards for over forty years. He is a well known author of numerous books on aspects of the North East.
Wednesday 24 May 2017, 2.30pm
The Restoration of Roker Pier and Lighthouse, Matthew Storey
Built between 1885 and 1903, Roker Pier and Lighthouse were subject to extensive restoration in 2012. This year the tunnel and lighthouse will be opened to the public for the first time.
Matthew Storey is a specialist in Anglo-Saxon history and former assistant curator at Bede’s World. He is Project Co-ordinator of the Roker Pier and Lighthouse Project for Sunderland City Council.
Wednesday 7 June 2017, 2.30pm
The Durham Wear Assemblage, Gary Bankhead
A collection of over 9,000 objects found in the River Wear, this research facility has the largest collection of late- and post-medieval finds in the North of England.
Gary is the Watch Manager based at Durham Fire Station and qualified sub-aqua diver who has found a number of treasures and other items of historical importance in the River Wear at Durham. The objects, which have been declared a major research project at Durham University, have been shown in a number of exhibitions.
Wednesday 2 August 2017, 2.30pm
The Geology of the River Wear, Dr Andy Lane
The River Wear is 60 miles from source to mouth and crosses some 350 million years of geological history. It provides classic examples of rock type and structure but also underpins magnificent scenery and the region’s past and present economic development.
Dr Lane migrated from Cornwall via Uganda, Zambia and South Wales Coalfield, before arriving in Sunderland in the 1980s! Since then he has taught geology at the University of Sunderland and now works with local groups to promote our exceptional regional and urban geology.
Wednesday 16 August 2017, 2.30pm
'More the Work of Art than Nature', Stuart Miller
The modern City of Sunderland is essentially the creation of the River Wear Commissioners who created the harbour from 1717, overcoming natural and human obstacles, pioneering harbour improvement techniques and experimenting with new technology to do so.
Stuart Miller is the former Director of Continuing Education at the University of Sunderland and former course organiser on Tyneside for the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA). He is currently very active in the local community and voluntary heritage sectors and teaches for the WEA. His research background is in harbour improvement.
Wednesday 30 August 2017, 2.30pm
My Life on the Docks, Jack Curtis
This talk is a history and personal memoir of living in Sunderland’s Hudson Docks, during a fascinating period of history around the Second World War.
Jack is a former engineer turned writer, poet and local speaker, and member of Living History North East and Sunderland Maritime Heritage Trust. He has recently written a book on John Murray, the resident harbour engineer of Sunderland who designed and built the South Dock.