The Friends of Jesmond Old Cemetery have been named the North East winner of the inaugural Everyday History Heroes awards, after being shortlisted in a national competition organised by Find My Past, in partnership with Heritage Open Days. The ‘Everyday History Heroes’ award celebrates the historic and cultural sites that champion the stories of ordinary people and we were just one of three sites in the North East that were selected for the public vote, with Berwick upon Tweed Record Office and Cragend Farm, in Rothbury, being the other two organisations.

Historian and broadcaster, David Olusoga OBE said that “the response to the award demonstrates just how much people value the stories of those who rarely make the history books. Across England, heritage organisations and volunteers are preserving powerful histories that help us better understand our families and communities. Congratulations to the Friends of Jesmond Old Cemetery for ensuring these stories continue to be shared for future generations.”

Although we didn’t win the overall national vote, we are thrilled to be named the North East winner of Everyday History Heroes. This recognition celebrates the dedication of our volunteers and supporters who work tirelessly to research, preserve and share the stories of the people who shaped Newcastle. We hope it inspires even more people to discover the rich history that can be found within the cemetery and connect with the generations who came before them.

The overall national winner was Holkham Estate in Norfolk, with the other regional winners being the Jewish Burial Ground in Bath, Otley Courthouse in Yorkshire, the Pankhurst Museum in Manchester, the Royal Victoria Chapel in Hampshire, Nottingham Road Cemetery in Derby and Moor Pool Heritage Trust in Birmingham.

A big thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for us – your support means a lot and is much appreciated.