The Newcastle Drop - May 9, 2025
The anniversary of VE Day is marked in Newcastle, one of the arts world's biggest events is coming to the city and there has been good news for young sports stars
Good morning Newcastle. This is the first edition of the Newcastle Drop, a new newsletter that will be sent to your inbox three times a week with all the news and events happening in our city. We’re aiming to give you the information you need in a concise way so you can get up to speed as quickly as possible.
🎖️ A service to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day took place at Old Eldon Square, with a number of veterans in attendance. A beacon was later lit outside the Civic Centre in a separate event. David Huntley, ChronicleLive
🎶 The Mercury Prize for the best UK album of the year is coming to Newcastle, the first time the event has been held outside London. City and regional leaders have welcomed the news as a boost for Newcastle’s creative industries. - Daniel Holland, Local Democracy Reporter, ChronicleLive
🚓 A city centre building has been surrounded by police in what has been described as an “ongoing investigation”. Officers would not give any details of the operation on Leazes Park Road. - Sophie Doughty, ChronicleLive
🌳 A school trust has been fined and a man given a suspended sentence after a member of the public was hit by a falling tree outside St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School in Fenham. The Health and Safety Executive described the incident as “completely avoidable”. HSE
🚣 The death of a teenager who is believed to have drowned in the lake at Leazes Park is still under investigation a year on from her death. Two people arrested after the death of Reagan Brown remain under investigation, police say. - Sophie Doughty, ChronicleLive
In the city: the Big North Tattoo Show takes place at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle this weekend, featuring nearly 300 tattoo artists and promising “fire, magic, supernatural, music and comedy performances by an amazing array of unique acts”.
🚇 Metro passengers are being warned of a four-day track closure on the line to Newcastle Airport. There will be no trains between Regent Centre and Airport from May 29 to June 1 to allow level crossing renewal works at Callerton Parkway and Bank Foot. - Nicole Goodwin, ChronicleLive
💷 Housing association Karbon Homes is pledging to invest in Newcastle and the wider North East after striking a deal for £200m of fresh finance. The Gosforth-based firm has 34,000 homes in the region and Yorkshire. - Coreena Ford, BusinessLive
🎓 Newcastle University says it hopes to achieve savings it needs through voluntary job losses. But the UCU union says it is worried that compulsory redundancies have not been ruled out. Austen Shakespeare, Local Democracy Reporter, ChronicleLive
💡 The Northern Lights festival will return to Leazes Park for a third year, it has been announced. The event will take place from November 27 until December 31. Ryan Smith, Newcastle World
🐶 A new play at Newcastle’s Live Theatre has been described as an “extremely strong piece”. Dogs on the Metro by Emilie Robson won last year’s North East Playwriting Award in 2023. - Mark Clegg, the Reviews Hub
⚽ Youngsters from Newcastle United's Under-8s team joined the first-team training session ahead of the team’s crunch clash against Chelsea in the fight for Champions League football. The youngsters posed for a selfie with local hero Dan Burn. - Sky Sports
⚖️ A man has appeared in court in connection to a recent incident outside Newcastle Central Station. The 37-year-old faces two charges of assault by beating and one count of common assault. - Kali Lindsay, ChronicleLive
🎭 Three artists have been selected to have their work displayed during Newcastle's Pride festival. Sculptor Lady Kitt and fashion designers Christopher Niari and Sam Barley will have their work showcased at the first Pride Fringe Festival. - Jonny Manning, BBC
🏉 Newcastle Falcons youngsters Jonathan Broadbent and Ajay Edwards have been named in the England under 17 squad. The young players from Gosforth Academy and Durham School will be hoping for places on a tour to South Africa this summer. - Newcastle Falcons
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📌 The Changing Lives charity has announced a partnership with real estate firm Avison Young on two Newcastle projects. The firm will help projects to redevelop the garden at Virginia House in Byker and create a community allotment at Alex’s Place in Benwell.
📌 Throckley Primary School has been rated outstanding by Ofsted, with inspectors saying that children “thrive in this welcoming and highly inclusive environment.” Co-head teacher Julia Brown said it was recognition for “our fantastic school community; our engaged and enthusiastic pupils; our supportive parents and carers; and the passion and dedication of our hard-working staff team.”
📌 Residents of the BKW Estate are set to hold a VE Day-themed picnic on Beech Grove Road tomorrow. The event organised by long-time resident Amanda Koch is the latest effort aimed at revitalising the estate and fostering stronger community ties.
📌 More than 150 solar panels have been installed at Jesmond Pool in a bid to reduce its energy bills and its carbon footprint. Energy efficiency work will also be carried out at Elswick Pool.
Thanks for reading The Newcastle Drop - a new newsletter that aims to bring together all of the news and community events from around our city. It’s brought to you by Graeme Whitfield, editor of The Journal and long-time resident of the city.
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