'Build a shipyard museum before it's too late'
Getty ImagesHundreds of people have supported plans to open a museum as a lasting tribute to an area's shipbuilding heritage.
Bronwyn Mogie, 32, from Jarrow, is leading a campaign to establish a fixed venue in South Tyneside, which has a long tradition of shipbuilding and seafaring.
Her family worked in the industry for generations and said their stories would be "forgotten if we don't have somewhere permanent for them to stay".
Andrew Leslie, the great-great-great-nephew of the founder of Hebburn's Hawthorn Leslie shipyard, said "shipbuilding in the region was the biggest in the world by some stretch and that's worthy of commemoration".
Mogie, whose family worked in shipyards for 150 years ending with her father, said: "Shipyards built these towns. There's just so many people locally that have stories from either having worked in it, or their grandparents did, their parents did."
She said government regeneration funding could be used to create a museum and it would be fitting to do so for the 90th anniversary of The Jarrow Crusade.
Mogie said there had been exhibitions over the years, but a permanent shipyard heritage museum could bring jobs, tourism and education.
SuppliedLeslie's namesake founded Leslie's shipyard in Hebburn in 1853, which became Hawthorn Leslie.
The 64-year-old's family shipyard built more than 700 ships during its existence, he said.
"I think it's a really important time to do something like this [establish a museum] because there are still people around who worked in the shipyard industry on the Tyne and on the Tees and on the Wear," he said.
"While some of them are alive, it would be a really good time to do something that commemorates how important this industry was to the UK."
SuppliedMore than 600 people have signed a petition for it.
South Tyneside Council said there were no proposals or funding in place for a dedicated museum in its medium-term financial plan.
The Labour-led council added plans would require "significant development work".
Councillor Judith Taylor, lead member for culture, leisure and the visitor economy, said: "We fully recognise the importance of preserving and celebrating the stories, skills and communities that shaped Jarrow, Hebburn and the wider Tyne."
"While there are no active plans for such a scheme at this time, we have not ruled out exploring opportunities in the future, should a fully developed and sustainably funded proposal come forward."
