THE MAN THEY NAMED A TOWN AFTER

– As you know from previous newsletter articles, Peterlee is celebrating 75 years since it became a new town in east Durham. Exhibitions and other events are planned to mark the event, but the History Club felt that the man himself, Peter Lee, had been overlooked.

With this in mind, and working alongside Colin Robson, the Arts & Culture Development Officer for Durham County Council, we felt it would be a fitting tribute to introduce children to the man who gave the town its name, as so many people STILL don’t know that the town took its name from a man.

Colin had previously worked with The Mad Alice Theatre Company who specialise in getting difficult messages over to children in an educational, informative and entertaining way through the medium of music and drama and they agreed to work with us and in order to work with the schools in Wheatley Hill and surrounding areas, including Peterlee, we felt we needed to engage the services

The History Club applied for a Heritage Lottery Grant and also smaller grants from other funders in order to meet the high costs of the project, and we were delighted, when at the beginning of November we learned that our lottery application had been successful. We now have all funds inplace to start the project.

Work with the schools will begin in the coming weeks and it is expected that the final presentation will be held at the Lubetkin Theatre, Peterlee College before the end of the summer term. I will post regular updates in this news-letter.

The History Club celebrates its own anniversary in 2025 when we will have been in operation for 30 years and this project seems to be a great way to celebrate that anniversary too.