A Living Tradition was delighted to organise two events in the last week. On Tuesday 28th August, we took a number of Roma families for a great day out at South Shields. the sun shone (just about) and a great day was had by all!
Then on Sunday 2nd September, Peter Sagar from A Living Tradition organised a small ceremony at the graveside of Alexander Wilkie in Heaton Cemetery, to mark the 90th anniversary of his death. Alexander Wilkie was born in Leven in Fife in 1850. On leaving school he went to work in local shipyards, before moving to the Clyde yards in Glasgow. It was there that Wilkie formed the Associated Society of Shipwrights in 1882. In its first year it had 3 717 members. In the 1890's the union moved its headquarters to the Tyne and Wilkie moved with the union and came to live in Heaton. According to census materials, Wilkie lived at 56 Cardigan Terrace in 1891, before living at 84 Third Avenue in 1901, next door to the Chillingham pub and then at 36 Lesbury Road in 1911. He named this last address 'Leven House' in recognition of his birthplace. In his personal life, Wilkie married Mary Smillie, daughter of James Smillie in 1872.
Wilkie stood unsuccessfully for parliament for the nascent Labour Party in Sunderland in 1900, before becoming an M.P. for Dundee in 1906. He was Scotland's first Labour M.P. Wilkie remained an M.P. until 1922. During all that time, he retained his homes in Heaton and returned to Lesbury Road on his retirement in 1922. It was there that he died in on 2nd September 1928. He is buried in a family plot in Heaton Cemetry.
Then on Sunday 2nd September, Peter Sagar from A Living Tradition organised a small ceremony at the graveside of Alexander Wilkie in Heaton Cemetery, to mark the 90th anniversary of his death. Alexander Wilkie was born in Leven in Fife in 1850. On leaving school he went to work in local shipyards, before moving to the Clyde yards in Glasgow. It was there that Wilkie formed the Associated Society of Shipwrights in 1882. In its first year it had 3 717 members. In the 1890's the union moved its headquarters to the Tyne and Wilkie moved with the union and came to live in Heaton. According to census materials, Wilkie lived at 56 Cardigan Terrace in 1891, before living at 84 Third Avenue in 1901, next door to the Chillingham pub and then at 36 Lesbury Road in 1911. He named this last address 'Leven House' in recognition of his birthplace. In his personal life, Wilkie married Mary Smillie, daughter of James Smillie in 1872.
Wilkie stood unsuccessfully for parliament for the nascent Labour Party in Sunderland in 1900, before becoming an M.P. for Dundee in 1906. He was Scotland's first Labour M.P. Wilkie remained an M.P. until 1922. During all that time, he retained his homes in Heaton and returned to Lesbury Road on his retirement in 1922. It was there that he died in on 2nd September 1928. He is buried in a family plot in Heaton Cemetry.
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