'The Jarrow March', Jarrow Metro Station

Image: © Andrew Curtis Taken: 27 Nov 2015

'The Jarrow March', by Vincent Rea (1984) is situated on Platform 2 of Jarrow Metro Station Image This low relief sculpture commemorates the 207 Jarrow Marchers who, in 1936, walked from Tyneside to London to protest about the lack of jobs. They received rousing support as they passed through England, although along their route they were monitored by the Special Branch. Vince Rae’s image was adapted from a contemporary photograph of the marchers and its use of steel recycled from a scrapped ship makes a poignant link to their plight. http://www.nexus.org.uk/art-transport/commissions/jarrow-march-vince-rea The sculpture's unveiling was part of a weekend visit to Tyne and Wear by Labour opposition leader Neil Kinnock, who confidently addressed a May Day rally predicting, 'I am going to be Prime Minister of this country'. He first led a 2000-strong march in Stockton and later arrived in Jarrow where he warned that the Conservative government was 'recreating the 1930s'. After unveiling the sculpture, Kinnock joined Jarrow March veterans on a half-mile commemorative walk from the Metro station. http://www.pmsa.org.uk/pmsa-database/9940/

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