In July 2020, following the death of Jack Charlton, Cllr Liam Lavery acted on the outpouring of grief, locally and further afield, with the idea of a fitting tribute; a statue in his hometown Ashington.

The project received support from Ashington Town Council who commissioned well respected sculptor Douglas Jennings to create a life-size bronze cast statue of Jack ‘The Elder’, to stand proudly in Hirst Park, overlooking the fields where Jack first kicked a football.

There is much written about how football evolved in mining communities, but whatever point of view you take, mining communities produced some enviable talent in football. As a proud ex-mining town there are links to the mining heritage of Ashington in people, places, words, and structures. Add to that a town that boasts four ‘footballers of the year’ and you have an exciting heritage project in the making.

As the project moves into extra time, we are delighted to share that Jack will be in exceptional company in Hirst Park. Local football and heritage enthusiast and expert Barry Mead has worked closely with Ashington Town Council to bring forward the story of Ashington’s football hall of fame. Jackie Milburn, Jimmy Adamson, Bobby Charlton, and Jack Charlton will all feature in ‘Ashington’s Footballing Heritage’, including special coverage of the 1966 World Cup. Using interpretation panels, the aim is to educate, motivate, and inspire people by bringing to life the story of these four players in words and pictures, with a focus on their early roots and career triumphs.

In the coming weeks we will be delighted to share an artist’s impression of the work, but in the meantime the landscape plan gives an overall picture.

For more information on the Jack Charlton Statue and Ashington’s Football Heritage, please contact Ashington Town Council.

Tune in to the Breakfast Show on BBC Radio Newcastle tomorrow morning to hear Cllr Liam Lavery being interviewed on the project.

Woodhorn Museum are currently working on a project called Our Past, Your Future which celebrates the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) heritage

The latest major milestone on the Northumberland Line has been reached after the Government approved a key part of the authorisation process. 

A multi-million pound bid is being submitted to Government for transformational improvements to Ashington town centre.

There is still time to enter the Garden Competition, closing date is this Friday, 1st June 2022.

Man Friday is a new group for men starting on Friday 1st July, 10am at Full Circle Food.

Northumberland County Council has vacancies for more than 60 apprenticeships,

SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK, a leading provider of recycling and resource management services, is proposing to develop an anaerobic digestion (AD) facility

Ashington has again been chosen to host the GB age group qualifying triathlon event.

At the end of March, Ashington Town Council invited applications for Annual Grant Funding and are delighted to have now pledged £64,250. This followed a change in how awards to outside bodies are made. The Council moved to an open invitation creating more opportunity for new and emerging groups and allowing us to direct funding where we feel it would be most beneficial.

The Council recognised that in some instances funding had become routine, rather than considered, and following a thorough process, due diligence is clear.

Funding in 2022/23 represents a 50% increase on awards made in 2021/22 with several new applicants attracted.