KING OPENS BRIDGE WITH A GOLDEN KEY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18629, 5 December 1928, Page 7

KING OPENS BRIDGE WITH A GOLDEN KEY.

CONVEYS SYMPATHY TO THE DEPRESSED NORTH. • (Special to the “ Star.”) LONDON, October 13. The great £1,200,000 bridge, joining Newcastle on one side of the Tyne with Gateshead on the other, was opened by the King yesterday amid a wonderful display of loyaltv by the vast crowds lining the Royal route. The bridge is the biggest single-span iii Britain. The 38lt road which the steel arch of the bridge carries over the river was lined with Naval and Army units, ex-Service men. ecclesiastical and civic dignitaries, while 80ft below the ships and streets, gay with bunting, were black with people. After a service conducted by the Bishop of Newcastle and the Bishop of Durham, the King raised -he barrier across the centre of the bridge by the

turning of a golden key presented to him by Sir Arthur Dorman, of Dorman, Long and Co., Ltd., the constructors of the bridge. Earlier in the day the Xing and Queen visited the new Heaton secondary schools, where 23,000 scholars were gathered. Replying to an address in the school hall, the King said: “It is a source of much grief to me to know that during the past few years men and women of this area have been living under the shadow grave industrial depression. “ The erection of the new bridge is a characteristic act of courage, and demonstrates your belief in the power of your industries to recover lost trade, and play again their former proud role in the world’s markets.” . The King and Queen drove to Durham, where, in reply to an address, the King said his sympathies had been with the people of the country in the suffering due to the coal

depression. Their Majesties joined the Royal train for London, where they were greeted in the evening by crowds welcoming them back from their holiday. Both looked remarkably well.