GATESHEAD:PAST&IMAGINEDPASTPRESENT&IMAGINED
2022
by pupils at Kelvin Grove Primary School and Larkpsur Community Primary School
The project invited pupils to create an exhibition in response to the Saltwell Collection at Shipley Art Gallery in Gateshead.
The Saltwell Collection is made up of objects donated by residents of Bensham and the surrounding area in 1933. The objects in the collection, along with their catalogue entries, tell fragmented stories of life in Gateshead in the early twentieth century.
Gateshead: Past, Present & Imagined is the result of a New Writing North partnership project with Kelvin Grove Primary School, Larkpsur Community Primary School and Kingsmeadow Community School.
In Spring 2022, pupils from three local schools worked with writers Laura Lindow, Rowan McCabe, Bob Beagrie and Amelia Loulli to share their own stories – real and imagined – of Gateshead. They created a collection of writing, drawings, film and audio work for the exhibition and online. Some of their poems are collected in this Thebooklet.project was part of New Writing North’s Gateshead Young Writers’ programme, made possible with the generous support of the Kavli Trust.
You can watch and listen to more work from Gateshead young writers as part of Gateshead: Past, Present & Imagined at
newwritingnorth.com/nwn-young-writers/gppi/istheresultofa
You can watch and listen to more work from Gateshead young writers as part of newwritingnorth.com/nwn-young-writers/gppi/
New Writing North supports the development of writing in the North of England. We introduce young people to creative writing through long-term programmes in school and our open access Young Writers’ Groups. For details on our other programmes for young writers, please visit our website: nwnyoungwriters.com Our Gateshead Young Writers’ programmes use partnerships with cultural and community organisations to support young people in Gateshead to develop their own artistic ideas and ambition. Gateshead Young Writers’ programmes are funded by the Kavli Trust and Arts Council England.
Hear our voices resound. Picture it. At the top of a hill, Northern sky cold and sunny Emerald grass grows, fresh wind blows, as clouds do a run-ny.
And the houses sit close, side by side, pals together Strong and friendly, as should be, through storms and fair weather. Birds perch on the rooftops, they know where it’s at And the buses weave through and perhaps there’s a cat. Look close. Can you see? We’re here. What a view! Windows frame busy lives. Folk doing their do. Each square, living pictures of work rest and play As the people, they live, laugh and love day by day. That’s our way.
HERE, NOW words and ideas by Year 6 pupils at Larkspur Community Primary School
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Welcome to HERE, it’s the place we are found Sit up. Listen lively. We’ll show you around.
By painting with words our world, our home ground. Whether born, brought or drawn here, we are here We ARE ALL HERE
In this one a kitchen. A mum guides her daughter, Stirring and tasting, just the way that she taught herAnd her mum before. Generations that grew her On food cooked of love, dishes seasoned with laughter. And the warm spiced smell drifts out on the breeze Telling tales of far lands, and old friends overseas. Food makes me feel cheerful, and fit like a fiddle. Sweet, Crunchy, Hard, Chewy, IT ALL makes me dribble!
InAaah.this one a bedroom. A boy sits on his bed. Not moving a muscle. Eyes fixed. Few words said. But in his head… He’s battling zombies. Saving worlds from the dread Of Thanos in Fortnite, or the dread will be red As the computer in front is almost over-heating As he’s opening worlds, flying high, fast and fleeting Sword in hand, he’s a hero in combat (toast-eating). Meanwhile next door’s girl is deep in the pages Lost in far Middle-Earth or on trophy stages Getting medals for Quidditch. Or making marvellous potions That can shrink you or stink you, whatever her notions, Without even leaving her room. She’ll yawn, And she’ll go down for tea like she’s never been gone. Sword in hand, he’s a hero in combat (toast-eating). you
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Some hands have held reins, rough footballs or skittles Or blankets and toys from when we were littles. And held our dreams tight. And held loved ones tighter. We’ve seen through tough times. We’ve been through a pandemic. And been scared. And anxious. And fed-up. And Whilelonely.down in our ten years of living (or eleven for many). a lonely.
While down the road a quiet boy is expressing his life On a page. Us? We go far. Our fantastical happenings That take us beyond, off of every known map-penings Cos of our magic creative-creatings. Ideas and invention. Open gateways to great-things. Miss Hall’s endless cupboard, an ink pen on blank paper, Both portals might lead to imaginary capers. And we’ve made many marks on the world already in our ten years of living (or eleven for many). Our hands have held pencils and doors and new babies, Waved hello and good-bye, turned chapters, tried hobbies.
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We’ve even saved lives. We’ve stressed over SATS and been proud when they’re history (but why anyone invented homework’s a MYSTERY?!)
And even though tests cause tension and worry We know that our teachers will help in a hurry. And our hearts. Well our hearts Are open and strong, We are giants of kindness, we will help all day long. If we were to make a museum for THIS PLACE.
To celebrate HERE by collecting what’s ace, To give you a sense of this time and life’s pace We might choose a front step, or top of a wall To use as a shelf to display it all Or even a spot at the heart of the Shipley To exhibit with pride for those taking a trip-ley Around the museum. So all can come-see The marvellous items that’ve taken our fan-cy. We’ve got a jar of good times, all laughy and chatty, My humour (cos I think my jokes are quite natty), An army of care, lined up ready to rise, And a gold case of friendship that glows from inside. Some LOVE in a sculpture that’s been carved with a knife, Summer days, a cuddle, real laughter, a life. My imagination, a rainbow-tinged candyfloss cloud Sits on a cushion, fizzy and proud. a
Again we’ll have nerves while trying to keep cool, But the difference is massive, our friends that we’ve made We’ll be in it together with the foundations we’ve laid. We’ve got backpacks stitched with the happiest times Water-bottles sparkling with joy unconfined, Pencil cases filled with dreams. We are ready, Thinking brave. Thinking good thoughts. We’re hopeful. Rock steady. Look out for us as you go on your way. We are changing and growing, but these things will stay. Mates and keep
If you look, a book of ME amongst all these things Titled Playing Out With My Mates full of zipwires and swings And a paper boat I’ve made. Because I know how to. That might float to… Poland and back if it wants to. And we’ll never forget our first day of school, Feeling shy and confused, while trying to stay cool. Meeting new people, finding new ways, Learning the rhythm and rhyme of our days. And listen, time marches and changes are coming, We’ll move on and move up, another beginning, Going from being the oldest to the youngest in school
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A place that we think is the real cat’s miaow
Whether born, brought or drawn here, we are here We ARE ALL HERE Hear our voices resound. At the top of this hill, Northern sky cold and wide Emerald grass grows, fresh wind blows, invisible tide And the houses sit close, side by side, pals together where people chant NEWCASTLE (even though we’re Gateshead), And the houses sit close, side by side, pals together
The knees of the bees and the tip of the top
The place where we live, we are happy, belong, The place where we share and where we grow strong. And where friends are made, we have tonnes, they’re like family. We can trust people, have no litter and live pretty cannily.
Warm greetings are plenty. If you’re passing, do stop. And our friends are like family, and ideas brought together Here love is accepted, folk protected whatever.
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To future horizons, great adventures ahead. Welcome to HERE, it’s the place we are found Sit up. Listen lively. We’ll show you around.
And we are talking of HERE and we are thinking of NOW
The place we feel good, and as one of us said, where people chant NEWCASTLE (even though we’re Gateshead), where we can feel safe, and everyone smiles And from HERE when it’s clear then you might see for miles.
By painting with words our world, our home ground.
7 Strong and friendly, as should be, through storms and fair weather. Our NOW is a pin on the great map of time And we’re speaking from our NOW to yours through this rhyme If these words were a flag then we’d wave them with pride And sing songs with our hearts full of strength SIDE BY SIDE. Our location is March, the year 2022 This is where we are right now. Where are you? them
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It is something great smells like my home a trumpet sound. We are scared because we expect something is going to happen. What will happen to us the people are asking. Duck under the table and the woman that is pushing, her baby cried. In the silent time the Angel came out and said I will return when the Wicked Angel arrives, I will help, do not be afraid, I will come.
THE LIGHTNESS SUMMON by a Year 5 pupil at Kelvin Grove Primary School
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10 THE GREAT FIRE OF GATESHEAD A series of poems by Year 5 pupils at Kelvin Grove Primary School inspired by the Great Fire of Gateshead in 1854.
NONE SHALL FORGET TODAY
The sky is full of clouds of grey, No one shall forget today. Like a pride of lions, flowing manes Made of orange, yellow flames. Like a phoenix, feathers orange and red, Flapping its wings of fear and dread Fire has no mercy, scorching ground, Death, destruction will still be found. Blackened buildings, houses trashed, Belongings burnt, people gashed. Water splashes against the rocks, Fire spreads to wooden docks. Wooden things are all ablaze, People around are in a daze. Attempts to stop it are not working, Flames creeping, hiding, looming, lurking.
Death, destruction will still be found. Belongings burnt, people gashed. Fire spreads to wooden docks. People around are in a daze. Flames creeping, hiding, looming, lurking. People are dying here and there, Embers launching from their lair. The great fire lasts for two days long, leaving half the town by the river, gone.
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People are dying here and there, Embers launching from their lair. The great fire lasts for two days long, leaving half the town by the river, gone.
FLAMES WERE ROARING Fire spreads, smoke is filling the air as people run. Flocks of pigeons fly over. Buckets of water were throwed in the air. Flames were roaring like a herd of lions.
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13 THE FIRE OF GATESHEAD One spark into one big fireFire spreads like a monster about to threat, This is one big regret, The smoke is so big I cannot bare, Rocks catapulted through the air, So take care and beware!
14 THE AMAZING SENTENCES Lonely the rain dripped on the flower Sad sitting with the sheep Happy on the mountain Angry the fire turns to flames Furious the candles light up Worry in the dark sky Confused, taken by the sun Bored my eyes dripped some tears Loved on the horizon Nosy in the nature
