Great War dead are honoured
COMMEMORATION events to honour men and women from the North East who served and died during the Great War saw civic leaders from Ypres in Belgium, and Arras and Authuille in France travel to Tyneside.
Jef Schoonhere, first deputy major of Ypres, and his wife Kathleen were accompanied by the deputy mayor of Arras, Alexandre Malfait, and Mayor of Authuille, Regis Schoonhèere, plus other officials from the towns from the area of what was the Western Front.
Many local dignitaries also attended, including the Lord-Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear Susan Winfield, the Lord Mayor of Newcastle Coun David Down and Mayor of Gateshead Coun Jill Green.
Following a reception at the Vermont Hotel, Newcastle United hosted a service of remembrance at the club’s war memorial, led by the Rev Cecil Dick with a welcome address by club ambassador and former captain Bob Moncur.
The visiting party joined Durham Army Cadets at the Field of Remembrance at Saltwell Park, Gateshead, to plant a commemorative tree with blessed soil from the battlefields of the Somme and Passchendaele.
Later the dignitaries attended a concert at St Nicholas Cathedral followed by a special dinner onboard HMS Calliope. The following day the guests were invited to the Lord Mayor of Newcastle’s Silver Gallery for a reception and exchange of gifts.
A tree planting ceremony followed in the grounds of the Civic Centre then a service at the Response War memorial.
A reception was hosted in the banqueting suite of the Civic Centre for 370 guests. A NORTH EAST campaigner has welcomed moves to allow patients to be able to access medical cannabis prescriptions from next month.
Last week, Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced legislation had been laid before the House of Commons.
Currently, cannabis oil is only ever prescribed in exceptional circumstances and has to be granted by a medical panel.
But while marijuana will remain illegal for recreational purposes, from November 1 doctors will be able to offer their patients cannabis-based products which meet safety standards.
Those suffering from epilepsy, nausea and chronic pain due to chemotherapy could all be given the option to get the drug on prescription.
The announcement comes after the public outcry which greeted the treatment of an epileptic 13-yearold boy.
Billy Caldwell suffered seizures and came close to death earlier this year after his medical cannabis was seized by the Home Office.
The department then issued a special temporary licence allowing Billy to use the drug – and launched a review of its status.
Epileptic Alfie Dingley was also granted a special licence after his mum tried to bring cannabis oil into the UK.
Alfie’s mum Hannah Deacon said: “Today is a momentous day for every patient and family with a suffering child who wish to access medicinal cannabis.
“We urge the medical world to get behind these reforms so they can help the tens of thousands of people who are in urgent need of help.
“I have personally seen how my son’s life has changed due to the