Prime Minister backs World Heritage Site

Friday 14 Nov 08

The Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pledged his support for Wearmouth-Jarrow’s bid to be nominated for World Heritage Site status in 2010 by signing a Book of Life.

John Mowbray, Wearmouth-Jarrow ambassador and Director of Corporate Affairs for Northumbrian Water, took the book to the Labour Party Conference in Manchester.

John said: "I was delighted to be asked to be an ambassador for the Wearmouth-Jarrow nomination and used the opportunity to gain widespread support from a range of people attending the three party conferences. Wearmouth-Jarrow has worldwide significance and people were happy to give their support by signing the book. It received cross party support at the highest level and that high profile political support is essential if the bid is to succeed.”

The Books of Life are new versions of old manuscripts, which were used to record the names of supporters of particular monasteries over many centuries, from 7th-century Northumbria on. The signatures of support will be recorded and presented to UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, the people who decide which sites are given the worldwide recognition.

John Mowbray is one of a number of high profile people who have agreed to act as ambassadors for the bid. He went to school in Monkwearmouth, close to St Peter’s and still lives in Sunderland. Northumbrian Water attend the party political conferences every year, using them as an opportunity to talk to MPs about issues affecting their customers and the industry.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, South Shields MP and Foreign Secretary David Miliband and former Conservative Party leader William Hague were among the other MPs to pledge their support, whilst efforts are also being made to obtain Conservative Leader, David Cameron's signature.