As the town moves out of 2025 and the year that we all celebrated the 200 years of the Birth of the Railway into the interim year of 2026, thoughts are already in motion to celebrate in 2027 the 200-year anniversary of the Royal George Locomotion, built by Timothy Hackworth, coming into service, writes Shildon Town Clerk Glenn Gibson.
It was innovative design that revolutionised steam locomotives at the time.
During 2025 Shildon Town Council, with the help of local groups and organisations, worked hard together to put on the fantastic Mini Street Cavalcade, leading to the Fun4All event in Hackworth Park – a lot of work went on behind the scenes to help the park get ready.
Thanks must be given to the Probation Service for painting the outer railings of the Park and to the Town Council’s Direct Works section for cleaning these prior to painting and general repairs and tidying leading up to this momentous event in August 2025.
It was hoped that the painting of the bandstand and fountain would be completed by the event day but unfortunately the appointed contractor failed to materialise. Therefore, the council turned to a local company, Robert Aldworth Decorators, who carried out the work in September and has done a fantastic job. The Town Council is greatly appreciative to Mr Aldworth for the work he has done on the bandstand and fountain, helping spruce up the tired looking structures at a time where the whole world is celebrating railway heritage, innovation and global expansion of this mode of transport.
The bandstand has been used for wedding photographs and as a backdrop for the Big Brass Bash events and in the past, traditional brass bands and it is pleasing to see both the renovated and revamped bandstand and fountain in their shiny new coats of paint.
The Town Council is always looking for support and funding to improve services in the town and will continue in their efforts to move forward into the future.
