Remembering Jimmy Carter

THERE’S a programme of events being put in place in the first week of May to mark the 40th anniversary of the Jimmy Carter visit to Newcastle and Washington. It has the following aims: To mark a historic visit that many people still remember clearly and with affection and subsequent visit to the city and region by Jimmy Carter in 1987 and visits to the region via the Friendship Force of many members of his family.

To highlight our sister city relationship with Atlanta through the programme.

To test the water for the possibility of re-establishing the Newcastle Friendship Force, having been the one that was involved in the very first of the programme of international home-stay exchanges under Friendship Force International.

And to celebrate the principle and practice of international collaboration to/ by/from our city and cityregion. The main event is at Newcastle Civic Centre on the morning of Saturday, May 6, and will recall the occasion with film footage, photos and personal reminiscences.

The Lord Mayor will preside, as her predecessor Hugh White did 40 years ago.

There will be a number of short speeches including from Lord Jeremy Beecham, Tony Coates – a global trustee of Friendship Force International, who subsequently stayed with, and hosted, the Carters, Cynthia Scott who runs the Friendship Force club in Durham, and hopefully Baroness Hilary Armstrong whose late father Ernest (MP for North West Durham and a junior minister in the Callaghan Government) played an important role in setting up the President’s visit to the North East.

The organisers would like to invite you to join them in the Council Chamber on Saturday, May 6, 10.30am coffee for an 11am start, to finish by about 12.15pm. If you can be with us, please email your acceptance for management of the numbers, coffees to us and use the same email address if you have any memories to share of the Carter visit(s).

COUN DAVID FAULKNER, Email: jimmycarternewcastle@

gmail.com