The home of Royal Northern Sinfonia has joined museums and galleries around the North East in paying tribute to the Queen - with special mention of the vital role she played in its story.
Sage Gateshead was opened by the late monarch in 2004 and then came a further honour when the royal title was bestowed to its in-house orchestra nine years ago. Following news of her loss at the age of 96, Sage's managing director Abigail Pogson said: “We are very sad to hear of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II whose lifetime of service is an inspiration to people across the globe.
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"At this time of loss, our thoughts are with our new King and the Royal Family." The boss of the Sage, which is set to soon announce a name-change, added: "We were honoured when Her Majesty opened Sage Gateshead in 2004 and again in 2013 when Northern Sinfonia became Royal Northern Sinfonia, the first time an orchestra had received the accolade in more than 20 years.”
Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, whose venues in the region have also enjoyed visits from the Queen - who officially opened Newcastle's Great North Museum: Hancock in 2009 - and other members of the Royal Family over the years, also shared its sadness and its memories about the monarch. It added: "Our thoughts and condolences are with the Royal Family at this time."
Keith Merrin, director of TWAM, said: "We are saddened to hear of the death of Her Majesty the Queen. As an organisation who cares for much of our region’s rich heritage, we will be collecting objects that mark this sad but momentous occasion to be shared with future generations.”
Museums and galleries across the region come under the TWAM umbrella and they already contain collections of several objects relating to the monarchy, such as commemorative tea caddies, official portraits, photos, medals, coins and bunting from the coronation and jubilees. On display at South Shields Museum & Art Gallery, for instance, are birthday cards sent by the Queen to a Hebburn resident called Marion Beaton who lived to be 107.
During the opening of Great North Museum: Hancock in Newcastle, photographs show the Queen with former TWAM director Alec Coles looking at the likes of a Japanese spider crab and replica full-size elephant in its Living Planet Gallery. Also in TWAM archive collections is a portrait of a young Queen Elizabeth II; images showing her at Swan Hunters shipyard; menus from state visits and programmes from the opening on the new Metro system.
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