Vote for your Local Heroes

It’s that time of year again when local people are given the chance to nominate their suggestions for whom they believe should be added to NewcastleGateshead’s “Walk of Fame”.

The nominees are recognised for their significant contribution to the region over the past sixty-years. It could be for a variety of subjects including business, community, entertainment, medicine, politics, science, sport, and the arts.  The person doesn’t have to originate from the region but needs to have played a major role in Newcastle and Gateshead.

Last year’s Local Heroes were Tim Healy (actor), John Grundy (television presenter and author), Brian Johnson (singer and songwriter) and the late Mike Neville, MBE (television presenter).

The current number of 33 bronze plaques are positioned along NewcastleGateshead’s iconic Quayside Mile. The route goes from Baltic Square to the Swing Bridge, across the River Tyne, to the Gateshead Millennium Bridge (on the Newcastle side of the water).

Newcastle City Council’s cabinet member for culture and communities, Cllr Kim McGuinness, said: “The Local Heroes campaign is going from strength-to-strength and continues to be a lovely way to mark the achievements of people who have made a big difference to Newcastle and Gateshead.

“This is a chance to show both that we are proud of our heritage and say a big thank you to those individuals who put Newcastle Gateshead on the world map.”

Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and Leisure at Gateshead Council, Cllr Angela Douglas said: “We already have some amazing people, from all walks of life, whose achievements and legacies are celebrated in our Local Heroes’ walk. This is a highly visual and accessible way of acknowledging those people who have not only achieved fame in their particular field, but who have put our area on the map as a place where innovation, invention and creativity continues to thrive and grow. I look forward to seeing what other names are put forward for the next phase of our Local Heroes’ walk.”

Sarah Stewart, chief executive at destination management and marketing organisation, NewcastleGateshead Initiative, said: “The Local Heroes project helps to tell the story of NewcastleGateshead through its people. Situated on one of our most iconic locations – the Quayside – the project forms part of an already impressive cultural offer for visitors to the area. We attract more than 17 million people from all over the world every year thanks partly to our culture, shopping and food and drink offering, but also our famously friendly people.

“I’d encourage the public to get behind the project and nominate their own personal Local Heroes that inspire them and make them proud to call NewcastleGateshead their home.”

How to cast your nomination:  Local Heroes nomination cards are available to complete at libraries and customer contact centres across Newcastle and Gateshead.  People can also send in their suggestions online by filling in the online form at www.NewcastleGateshead.com/LocalHeroes (this web page also provides full details of participating centres, where the nomination cards can be found).

Voting is open until 16 February.