VE Day project goes virtual as it gathers stories to remember soldiers from Sunderland's coalfields
and live on Freeview channel 276
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The original plan was to put up displays in community hubs, but with the coronavirus scuppering any chance of people visiting the four exhibitions, the team behind it decided to take it direct to the people.
Now the Virtual VE project is striving to remember those who served their country during the Second World War online.
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Hide AdEach member of the services is acknowledged through a panel detailing their title in the Armed Forces, how old they were and when they died, family members’ names and if there is a war memorial where they are remembered.
Among them is one for Hugh Paisley, a relative of the late Bob Paisley, the Hetton-born footballer who found success as Liverpool’s manager from 1974 to 1983.
The displays were due to go up in St Matthew’s in Newbottle, St Aidan's Community Centre in Middle Herrington, Hetton New Dawn, and ShARP in Shiney Row, the base for the Shiney Marras group, with each now given their own site.
While it was launched to mark the anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, the team is already looking ahead to Armistice Day 2020 as it gathers further details.
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Hide AdJohn Walls, Coalfield digital inclusion officer, is based at the Springboard Hetton Hub, and also oversees free photo restoration and family tree classes, and has praised the work put in by volunteers.
He added: “We had planned to have it all finished for the Friday, but because of the ongoing issues with the virus, we still wanted to do something with all the information we had.
“But even though it’s the 75th anniversary of VE Day, this is ongoing and we’re going to try and spread it out and keep all the project’s posters going.”
The online displays are:
*Hetton Heroes Memorial Page: https://albumizr.com/a/I63e
*Newbottle Heroes Memorial Page: https://albumizr.com/a/7Rgq
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Hide Ad*Herrington Heroes Memorial Page: https://albumizr.com/a/CbFk
*Shiney Heroes Memorial Page: https://albumizr.com/a/jaYn