This page last updated 12 November 2004
This, our tenth Annual Schools Day, was the most successful to date. Over 1,000 children and 200 adults passed through our gates on the day and enjoyed an event which continues to benefit from the support of the armed forces, emergency services, local companies and many others. Operations staff had an extremely busy, but not quite unmanageable, day.
Refreshments were kindly sponsored by Thompson's of Prudhoe, and crisps by Andrew Gurteen and Northumbria Water Enviricare.
819 Squadron, Royal Navy, based at Prestwick in Ayrshire provided a Sea King helicopter which came to Springwell directly from exercising with a submarine off the west coast.
Two other helicopters present were:
a Gazelle from 656 Squadron, 9 Regiment Army Air Corps, Dishforth
a Puma from 33 Squadron, RAF Benson, Oxfordshire
The Americans had hoped to attend again with a Jolly Green Giant helicopter (as in 1998), but had to cancel as their helicopters were grounded for maintenance after intensive use in Kosovo. Similarly, the Dutch were keen to attend, but Kosovo commitments prevented them too.
The Territorial Army provided a Sabre light tank and Sultan command vehicle from D Squadron (Northumberland Hussars) Queens Own Yeomanry based at Fenham Barracks.
Wilf Husband of Houghton le Spring provided music from a Decap Fairground Organ hauled by a vintage Scammell tractor unit.
George Vardy of Hetton le Hole displayed a Ruston and Hornsby portable steam engine, Sentinel steam bus and vintage Foden and Bristol tractor units.
Further support came from the Mines Rescue Service, Houghton le Spring, who put on a display and provided first aid cover; a display of cliff rescue equipment by the Volunteer Life Brigade; and a fire appliance courtesy of Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade.
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This page last updated 12 November 2004 |