A group of youngsters from the north east of England are to re-enact part of the great Jarrow Crusade of the 1930’s by attempting to cross the Tyne Bridge from Newcastle to Gateshead entirely on foot.
The event has been organised in reaction to swingeing benefit cuts and proposed job opportunities threatened in recent Government plans aimed at reducing the deficit and kick starting the NE economy.
‘Most of us Geordie kids had never heard of the march until recently’ said march organiser Colin Fazakerley ‘we only became aware of it through the new ‘Call of Duty: Geordie Ultimatum’ on X-Box. It might sound crazy to most Geordie kids of our age but we are convinced there really is a Gateshead out there somewhere and we would like to see it for ourselves.
The original Jarrow march of 1936 - now the story of Geordie folklore - is stepped in history. Taking place at a time when the ordinary man in the street had little or no opportunity in which to influence political thinking it allowed the working class Geordie both a voice and an identity. It is a story of great courage and endeavour to survive against insurmountable odds.
Back in 1936 the original marchers made 22 stops along the route from Newcastle to London, taking nearly 4 weeks to complete the 300 mile journey.
‘That’s pretty amazing’ said Colin staring at the bridge with a worried look in his eye ‘it’s a lot to ask of kids these days but if we can cross the bridge from Newcastle to Gateshead in anything like that time we’ll be well pleased’
The Jarrow Marcher’s story is one of incredible hardship and suffering. All they owned on the day of the march were the very clothes they stood up in and a pair of battered old boots paid for by charitable donations. Exactly the same as the original marchers did back in 1936.
‘The bridge spans over 530ft in length so clearly we are not expecting very many to make it’ continued Colin ‘there will be public transport laid on to bring back those unable to complete the whole march across the bridge, but more importantly there will be a fleet of taxis on hand for those who need to be down the DHSS in time to sign on.
There will be plenty of resting places and an emergency burger van every 15 yards for anybody needing a top up’.
Ample support has been provided for those taking part in the march. St. John’s Ambulance say they have set up emergency first aid posts offering cigarettes and brown ale the full length of the bridge for the inevitable casualties. As a precaution The Samaritans have set up a helpline for anybody considering jumping off the bridge in the unlikely event any of them should actually reach Gateshead.
Donors will be welcome to give blood but organisers insist it must be your own.
‘It’s just a precaution’ said Colin ‘we don’t envisage things will ever get that far. Not Gateshead’.
Finalists from Miss Geordie 2011 join exhausted marchers at the first burger van
