Park View modelsearch finds a Winner

North Shields’ Siobhan Walker was crowned the winner of Park View Shopping Centre's modelsearch 2012, and walked away with a one year modelling contract with Tyne Tees Models, a porfolio and a DFDS mini cruise to Amsterdam, courtesy of Hays Travel.

“I really, really wanted to win, but it was such a shock,” she said. “Everyone has been so nice and I’ve met some wonderful people and I’ve had a great time.”

Lesley Lister from Tyne Tees Models said: “It was really difficult to pick a winner, and they were all brilliant. There was a mixture of ages and everyone came from all different parts of the region, which is lovely. The girls and boys all did a great job and I think they thoroughly enjoyed it. Siobhan is a lovely girl and has a very bubbly personality and we hope she will prove to be a great model for Tyne Tees Models.”

Runners-up were Stephanie Loraine and Luke Jowsey.

Creative Studios Arts Students Showcase their Artistic Talents

Higher Education Fine Art students from The Creative Studios based at Queen Alexandra Sixth Form College Campus in North Shields recently held a Private Viewing to show case their completed art work. The Private Viewing which was open to friends and families of the artists and VIP guests was held on Thursday 8^th March in the Park View Shopping Centre in Whitley Bay.

The event proved to be a huge success with the guests openly admiring the pieces on display from all of the very talented student artists.

Art work from other students studying on HE Fine Art courses at The Creative Studios was on display to the general public, at the same venue, on a weekly basis Monday 5^th March until Saturday 24^th March.

Dr John O’Rourke, Teacher in Art and Design, The Creative Studios, said;

“The art work showcased during all of the exhibition sessions has been of a very high standard; the students put all of their creative talent to the test and produced some amazing pieces or art. We are delighted to have been able to utilise the space within the Park View shopping centre. The venue provided an excellent back drop to the featured displays. Having had the opportunity to share these works with the general public has been a fantastic experience for the students. We hope to be able to continue with exhibitions such as these in the future. I would particularly like to thank the owners of the shopping centre for allowing us to make use of the space”

Julia Gould of McKibbin, managing agent for the centre, said: “The owners of Park View Shopping Centre are delighted to be able to give something back into the local community, who are our shoppers. We are very pleased with the display by the students, which is of a high standard and certainly brightens up the entrance to the shopping centre.”

Park View Shopping Centre supports ShelterBox

Park View Shopping Centre in Whitley Bay played host in February to the organisation behind sending relief to the world’s disaster areas. Linked with the Whitley Bay Rotary Club, Shelterbox provides emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies for families around the world who are affected by disasters, at the time when they need it the most.

The ShelterBox solution in disaster response is as simple as it is effective. It delivers the essentials a family needs to survive in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Each large, green ShelterBox is tailored to a disaster but typically contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, water storage and filtration equipment, cooking utensils, a stove, a basic tool kit, a children’s activity pack and other vital items.

Martin Macray co-ordinates the ShelterBox appeal within Whitley Bay Rotary Club, and said: “We want to make people aware of what the organisation does and the tremendous help it offers all over the world where the need arises. Over 1600 boxes were sent to Japan after the earthquake and flooding; nearly 8,000 have gone to Pakistan after the monsoon caused so much homelessness, and people are living in them still in places as diverse as Thailand, Brazil and Kenya.

He added, “The thought that has gone into the contents is amazing, and everything is essential to helping life continue for families who have been made homeless due to natural disasters. We are grateful to the management and shoppers at Park View for their great support, and hope we can help to fund many more boxes in the future.”

Photo Caption – L-R:  Rotary’s Richard Hart, Tony Gorski - Security Office, Park View Shopping Centre, Maggie Richardson and Martin Macray of Whitley Bay Rotary Club

Saks in Park View Shopping Centre have held a special evening to launch their programme of fundraising for Motor Neuone Disease. Specifically the fund has been set up in tribute to Mark Taylor, a member of the victorious Whitley Bay FC team which lifted the FA Vase at Wembley in May last year. But since then he has been given the devastating news he has the debilitating Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Some of Mark's family - his wife, Mum and sister -  get their hair done at the popular salon, so for Margaret Cassidy, co-owner of Saks in Whitley Bay, it was an obvious choice. She said: “We wanted to help a local charity and one day Mark’s sister was in the salon and told us about Mark.

“Motor Neurone Disease (MND) does not really get a lot of awareness and because some of the family come to the salon we decided we would fundraise for the MND Association.

“We decided to organise a pampering session for his family. Visitors to the salon also enjoyed food and a disco.

  Pictured is Mark Taylor's wife Faye, with Saks Charlette Harris

One piece is the full height of the mall, and a colourful portrayal of the St Mary’s Lighthouse, whilst the other is in the stairwell, and shows scenes of Whitley Bay landmarks.

Chris has had studio space at North Tyneside Art Studio for a number of years. The Studio is a charity providing support for people in North Tyneside who are experiencing a wide range of mental health problems. They offer access to studio space and the guidance of professional artists and volunteers, providing the opportunity for people to develop personal and creative strengths within a supportive and culturally active environment.

Now Danielle has taken on a challenge to keep Megan’s memory alive and to raise funds for the charity. She and seven friends and colleagues did the C2C cycle ride and  smashed through their original fundraising target.

Danielle said, “This was a challenge my sister-in-law Jane Rue came up with, and we all thought it was a great idea. We’ve trained for two months and were fundraising all the time as well, so whilst we originally aimed for £1,000, we went way past that, which is great news!” She added, “the money raised will go towards helping Tiny Lives as they work hard to support families with young babies that need support and help in many different ways.”

Whilst most of the eight cyclists were friends or family, including Jane who suggested the challenge, support came from the shopping centre too. Helen George, aged 64, is a regular customer at Tea in the Park, and jumped at the chance to join in. A sporting enthusiast, Helen is an archery coach for the Paralympics Games and a regular cyclist.

Steve Seymour, Acting Centre Manager at Park View Shopping Centre, also volunteered, and commented, “I thought that this was an excellent cause to support, so volunteered straight away. Danielle is an enthusiastic advocate of all that Tiny Lives do, and there are certificates in the tea rooms, which show how much they have done to support Tiny Lives over the years. This is obviously a major fundraising effort, and I wanted to do more than just sponsor the team, so joined in and managed to raise money too!”

Andrea Atkinson, Fundraising Manager for Tiny Lives, said, “We are dependent on supporters such as Danielle for much of our funding, so are delighted she and her team have made such a big effort on our behalf. We wish them every success in the cycle ride at the weekend, and their efforts will go to help Tiny Lives support more families in a positive way.”

Sponsors can still visit www.tinylives.org.uk or pledge support by ringing 0191 222 0945.