Gate creator’s happy return
Bubbly treat from Sir John for architect’s 70th
THE designer of the iconic St James’ Park gates which were once lost for more than a decade has been honoured in his retirement.
Architect John Aynsley celebrated his 70th birthday and retirement on Thursday.
But the Newcastle United season-ticket holder was stunned when he was contacted by former club owner Sir John Hall to mark the occasion.
Sir John received a letter from Mr Aynsley’s brother-in-law, former Norwich City owner Roger Munby, and invited the architect to St
James’ Park to present him with a bottle of champagne.
Mr Aynsley said: “When I got the call, my secretary could not believe it was Sir John Hall on the phone.
“I realised it really was, and it was my brother-in-law who set it up for my birthday and retirement. “It was a wonderful phone call.” The imposing entrance gates were created by former city-centre business Aynsley Metalwork – now known as John Aynsley Architectural Metalwork Ltd – and installed outside the stadium in 1989.
Standing almost 14ft high and weighing two tonnes, the gates were taken down and lost during the redevelopment of St James’ Park in 1999.
The gates had been put into storage on farmland near Woolsington Hall in Northumberland, and became forgotten and lost in the weeds.
Rediscovered in 2013, the entrance gates now stand proudly outside the Milburn Stand reception on Barrack Road.
Sir John, who owned Newcastle United from 1992 until 2007, said: “It was only last weekend I got a letter from Mr Munby.
“I used to come through those gates, and I never knew who made them.
“It’s the final chapter of those gates, and it’s nice to know they were donated by a local company.
“I said let’s get together, I’ve got a bottle of champagne to give him.
“It is such a nice story. That’s what this club is about.
“It’s about the passion and the history.”