Seats are a model for the future

26-OCT-09

Issued by: Duncan Bennett

New seating installed by North Tyneside Council is set to become a model for the future.

In Bedford Street, North Shields, the council has introduced seats in the style of Plasticine in recognition of the product's locally born inventor, William Harbutt.

And North Shields-based Marshalls Street Furniture, which made the innovative seating based on the council's design, is so impressed with the results they're offering other organisations the chance to buy future versions.

Meanwhile, local schoolchildren who won the council's Plasticine writing competition are set to collect their prizes of vouchers for Borders Books on International Animation Day, Wednesday 28 October.

On the same day, the council is hosting Plasticine animation workshops for youngsters at the nearby Saville Exchange.

Cllr Jon Jo MacNamara, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: "We want our town centres to vibrant and enjoyable places for people to visit.

"The existing seats in Bedford Street had really come to the end of their useful life.

"We hope these new seats, and their innovative design, will enhance North Shields town centre as well as mark the achievement of one of the borough's famous inventors."

Maggie Richardson, chairman of North Shields Chamber of Trade, said: "We've been delighted to be involved in the concept and design of the seats and bins.

"We hope that it will encourage people to visit and take pride in our town by using the bins and 'shopping til they drop' onto our new seats."

Twenty-nine seats and 14 bins, coloured red, yellow, green and blue, which have been made to look like moulded Plasticine, are being introduced along Bedford Street in the town centre.

The seating, formed from cast coloured concrete, consists of modular curved benches and individual seats.

Eleven of the seats have been installed so far at the southern end of Bedford. The remaining seats and bins will be installed by the end of November.

Six nearby paving stones will feature a picture and story about a Plasticine roller coaster, The Plasta Blasta Coaster, written by Peter Dyers.

Peter, of Norham Community Technology College (formally of Spring Gardens Primary School) won a competition among local primary schools. He will receive a prize of £50 worth of vouchers for Borders Books.

The runners-up will each receive £25 worth of vouchers for Borders Books. They are Jessica Yip and Sam Edmonson, of Preston Grange School; Bradley Jolly of New York Primary School; Abdolla Aly, Toni Barry and Rowan Aly of Riverside Primary School.

Budding animators are invited to attend a fabulous, fun-filled day of workshops, film and stop-motion animation, followed by a big screen showing of the work produced for families and friends.

The workshops will be held at the Saville Exchange, North Shields, on Wednesday 28 October, 10am to 3pm.

They will be led by leading Tyneside animator Robin Webb, and are aimed at nine to 11-year-olds. Places are free but are strictly limited and must be booked in advance. To find out further details and reserve a place, contact Saville Exchange on 0191 643 7090 or email saville-arts@northtyneside.gov.uk

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Born in North Shields in 1844, William Harbutt studied at the National Art Training School in London, and eventually became an associate of the Royal College of Art.

He was headmaster of the Bath School of Art and Design from 1874 to 1877, and then opened his own art school in Bath.

Harbutt invented Plasticine around 1897 as a non-drying modelling clay for use by his students.

In 1899 Harbutt was awarded a trade mark, and in 1900 a factory was set up at nearby Bathampton to manufacture the product for commercial sale. He died of pneumonia while on a trip to New York in 1921.

The Harbutt company, owned and run by Harbutt's descendants, continued to manufacture Plasticine in Bathhampton until 1983.

From 1983 to 2006, the brand went through a number of ownership changes and is now owned by Flair Leisure and produced in Thailand.