DISCOVERY MUSEUM TURNS BACK THE CLOCK WITH A VINTAGE TEA DANCE…

A TOP Newcastle museum is turning back the clock with a fund-raising vintage tea dance hosted by the company which built it. Discovery Museum, at Blandford Square, was the former headquarters of the Co-operative Wholesale Society and staff regularly enjoyed social events such as dances and dinners in the impressive Great Hall. Now, to celebrate its 150^th anniversary the Co-operative, which moved out of the building in the 1970s, is hosting a tea dance in the Great Hall on Wednesday July 17 to raise funds for its nominated charity The Carers Trust. It is hoped around 200 people will attend the event which will have a 1950s theme and begin with a drinks reception followed by a traditional high tea and dancing to live music from a 19-piece swing band. In preparation, chefs from Sodexo Prestige, which manages catering and events at the venue, have scoured archives for authentic recipes for the hundreds of cakes and sandwiches they will serve to guests on the day. Samantha Doyle, area sales and marketing manager for Sodexo Prestige, said: “We’re hoping to create a wonderfully nostalgic 1950s feel, but, thankfully, we don’t have to worry about rationing, which lasted in Britain right up until 1954 – so we’ll be using fresh eggs in our cakes, not dried ones.” Built in 1899 the museum, formerly Blandford House, was the distribution centre for more than 100 Co-op stores across the region and contained extensive warehouse space and offices. It was taken over by Municipal Museum of Science and Industry in 1978 and was re-launched as Discovery Museum in 1993 with its star exhibit, Turbinia – once the fastest steam ship in the world – installed a year later. In 2004 the £13 million redevelopment of the Museum was complete and the following year the venue attracted 450,000 visitors. “It’s lovely that the organisation which built this incredible building is returning here to celebrate its 150^th anniversary,” said Samantha Doyle, “and with such a charming event.” The Co-operative Wholesale Society vintage tea dance will take place between 4pm and 9pm and tickets, which cost £5 each are available by contacting [email protected] or calling 0191 4112346. For further information about holding events at Discovery Museum, including hiring the iconic Great Hall, call 0844 856 1074 or e-mail [email protected]