Sunday 13 August 2023 @ 6:30 am - 6:00 pm
FREE: Join the walk at any stage or simply give the trekkers a cheer!!
Further information from Peter Stoten peter.stoten@daftasabrush.org.uk
Geordie philanthropist and founder of the Daft as a Brush Cancer Charity, Brian Burnie is to organise an epic 21-mile walk from Newcastle to Sunderland walk to mark VJ (Victory over Japan) day and honour the memory of his “great friend” Len Gibson and all Far East PoW.
Route of the VJ Walk – Sunday 13 August 2023
6.30am Civic Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne, Service – Inc Service
6.45am Start of the walk leaving the Civic Centre and walk toward Ridley Place down Northumberland Street. Head towards Greys Monument
7.00am Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne
7.20am Quayside, Newcastle/Gateshead Millennium Bridge
7.25am Leonardo’s Hotel, Gateshead Quays
7.30am South Shore Road, Gateshead
7.50am The Schooner Pub, Gateshead
8.00am Tyne Main Road, Gateshead
8.10am Friar’s Goose/River Hotel
8.25am International Paints, Stoneygate Lane
8.30am River Tyne Embankment, Tyne Street
8.35am Follow the footpath
9.05am The Cricketers Pub, Joal Terrace, Bill Quay NE10 0TX
9.40am Follow the footpath Reay Street, to Hebburn Marina
9.55am Ellison Street, Hebburn (Church)
10.05am Lyon Street, Hebburn
10.10am Wagonway Road, Jarrow
10.20am Ellison Street, Jarrow opposite the Church
10.25am Tyne Tunnel Pedestrian Car Park, Jarrow
10.30am Priory Road, Jarrow
10.35am Church Bank Road, Jarrow
10.40am/11.00am St. Paul’s Monastery, Jarrow – Inc 11.00am Service
This part of the walk is 9.3 miles
11.30am/12.00pm Greggs, Bede Industrial Estate, Jarrow
12.00pm Follow the A185 Road, Jarrow Road towards South Shields
12.20pm Port of Tyne Office, Tyne Dock
12.30pm Kennedy’s Pub, take the road on the left
12.35pm Thornton Avenue Temple Town
12.45pm The road name changes to Commerical Road
1.05/1.30pm Customs House, Dalton’s Lane, River Bank
1.45pm Station Road, Crossgate
2.00pm South Shields, Town Hall
2.10pm Beach Road, South Shields
2.20pm Bents Park Road
2.35pm New Crown Hotel A183, Coast Road
3.20pm Marsden Bay Car Park – “The Grotto”
3.30pm Souter Light House, A183, Coast Road, Whitburn
4.10pm A183 Coast Road, Whitburn
4.20pm Minchella Ice Cream Kiosk, A183 Coast Road, Whitburn
5.00pm A183 Coast Road, Roker
5.15pm Dame Dorothy Street, Roker
5.30pm A1018 Wearmouth Bridge
5.45pm Fawcett Street
6.00pm Burdon Road, Sunderland Cenotaph – Inc. Service
This part of the walk is 12.3 miles
6.30pm Service Ends with a DAAB drive pass
6.45pm/7.00pm Wetherspoons, Fawcett Street
Remarkable Sunderland war veteran Len, who was awarded the British Empire Medal, died in 2021 at the age of 101 – after years spent promoting remembrance of World War 2 – and in particular the sacrifices of those who fought in East Asia like himself.
Sunday 13th August 2023 – The walk will be officially started by the Bishop of Newcastle from Newcastle Civic Centre at the Burma Star Memorial at 6.30am and will arrive at St. Paul’s Monastery, Jarrow for 10.45 am in readiness for the 11am service and ‘thousand poppy drop’. From here the walkers will take the coastal route to Sunderland Cenotaph, arrival for approximately 6pm.
All are welcome, there is no charge for the event, please show your support for all Far East Prisoners of War.
“Len’s passing was terribly sad. I’ve said it before, he is the greatest gentleman I’ve ever met. This Memorial Walk is to remember Len and all the Far East Prisoners of War.” Brian said in 2022; the walk was about bringing communities together – and he welcomed hundreds who had joined them – even just for a mile or two.
