Holy Cross residents have been enjoying a “virtual tour” of historic Sunderland thanks to an illustrated talk by a local heritage centre volunteer.
Stuart Miller, a retired university lecturer, very kindly agreed to give the presentation after the home’s activities coordinator, Clare Quinn, met him at the Donnison School Heritage and Education Centre.
“Stuart agreed to give the talk as a favour to Holy Cross where his mother-in-law was a former resident,” said Clare. “Everyone thought it was brilliant and gave us an insight into life during Victorian times and up to the 1920s.”
Residents were reminded of stories told by their parents and grandparents including the Victoria Hall disaster of 1883 when 183 children died at a variety show in a stampede for free gifts. There is a memorial to those who were killed and their families in Mowbray Park in the city.
“I learned some new things about Sunderland and about our residents when the discussions and reminiscences started,” said Clare. “One lady apparently used to be a dancer on the stage!”
Clare hopes to invite a colleague of Stuart to give a follow up talk later this year on life in Sunderland from the 1930s to the ’60s.