MIKE HILL: High hopes over future of gun battery

By sheer happenstance, at the same time that this news was breaking, one of my first visits of the Parliamentary recess was to a local attraction which has always enjoyed popular support from the people of the town - The Heugh Battery Museum.

Because of COVID 19 the popular museum remains closed.

Talking to Manager Diane Stephens in the little on-site cafe, a place normally a hive of activity, it would have been easy to talk bleakly about the impact the decision to remain closed was having on the place.

But Diane is not that kind of person.

"I share everyone’s frustration’ she told me, “and know that everyone’s so enthusiastic to see the place open again.

"But realistically it will take weeks to get the place in shape by which time the visiting season will be largely over.”

The museum relies almost entirely on a team of 25 volunteers and Diane, plus two part time staff members, so it’s difficult.

Thinking back to the Tommy2Tommy sponsored walk last year, in which hundreds of townsfolk turned out to raise thousands to keep the museum going, she is genuinely grateful when she tells me: “The money raised from the walk saved us then and has done so now - people’s generosity has saved us twice over.”

Looking to the future Diane is buzzing with ideas to make improvements to the place and upgrade the exhibitions and develop a wider narrative.

This is not only about 1914 but about Hartlepool’s relationship with the armed forces beyond that.

Her ideas are ambitious, but achievable.

And she is hoping to secure Big Lottery funding and assistance from the Combined Authority; as well as a little further help from Swedish Rock legends Sabaton.

The band, she confirmed with a big grin, “are definitely interested in coming here - hopefully to do a gig.”

Now that would put Hartlepool on the map!