Talented pupils hailed as New Wear Crossing works of art go on display

Pupils in reception used their hands and feet to paint bridges. Pictured are Sunderland City Councils deputy leader, Coun Harry Trueman, FVBs community engagement manager Brigid McGuigan, and pupils Isabella Wells, 6, Jonathan Gamble, 6, and Olivia Terrell, 7.

Castletown Primary School was asked how they would like to get involved in the project by the team building the city’s new bridge.

Staff and pupils decided to get their paintbrushes out, and the quality of their work drew great praise.

Showing off the artistic handiwork is (from back, left) FVBs community engagement manager Brigid McGuigan, Year 1 teacher Sam Roberts, and Sunderland City Councils deputy leader, Coun Harry Trueman, with pupils, from left, Sophie Davidson-Pullan, 7, Leon Simpson, 7, and Lucy Lauderdale, 5.

Castletown Primary School headteacher Joan Lumsdon said: “The creativity from the teachers and pupils has astounded me and made me feel very proud.

“They have really put thought and effort into these paintings.

“All of the children are very excited about the new bridge because it’s going to be close to school and they can see it develop.

“It’s wonderful that we have been able to get involved.

Pupils (back, from left) Holly Tait, Oliver Campbell, Sophie Davison-Pullan and Jay Hindmarsh are pictured with their FVB goody bags with the painting of the glowing Sunderland skyline in the background.

“It’s important that children feel a part of changes to their environment, and I think they actually feel that this is their bridge.”

Farrans Construction and Victor Buyck Steel Construction, which have come together to form FVB Joint Venture to build the bridge on behalf of Sunderland City Council, provided the school with materials and simply asked the children to create something wonderful.

However, Sunderland City Council’s Deputy Leader, Coun Harry Trueman, and the FVB community engagement team did not expect the standard to be so high.

For the focus of their painting, each class chose a different aspect of heritage and history from in and around Sunderland, creating four different pieces that celebrated shipping and the port, bridges and some of the city’s iconic buildings.

Pupils and teachers from Castletown Primary School show off one of their pieces of art with Sunderland City Council deputy leader Coun Harry Trueman, FVBs Brigid McGuigan and headteacher Joan Lumsdon.

Pupil Ella Preston, 11, from Castletown, said: “I love art so it’s been great to be involved in this project. Seeing the boards up on display makes me feel proud.”

Fran Proctor, 11, from Castletown, said: “I have enjoyed learning about the new bridge more than anything else. I can’t wait until its open and we can walk across.”

The four pieces of art are now on public display on the north side of the construction site.

Coun Trueman said: “People should really come and have a look at these paintings because they are fantastic.

“This is such a landmark project for the city – it’s wonderful to have young people involved. As they grow up, they will always feel a part of it.”

FVB’s community engagement manager Brigid McGuigan said: “We are delighted to have schoolchildren involved in the project because we want to inform them about the new bridge, promote health and safety around building sites, and get young people excited about their local community and the world of construction.

“We didn’t know what Castletown Primary School would create with the resources we gave them, but we have been blown away by their enthusiasm and creativity. These paintings are tremendous.”

The new bridge will cross the River Wear between Wessington Way in Castletown and European Way in Pallion.

It is the first bridge to be built over the Wear in Sunderland for more than 40 years, and is part of the wider strategic transport plan to link the Port of Sunderland and city centre with the A19.