Staff today stood in wonder as they opened a recently discovered time capsule, buried in 1945 offering a glimpse into life in Gateshead during the origins of the college.
While looking for reporting documents, business development and innovation director, Ivan Jepson discovered the previously buried capsule which had been relocated following the building of the new campus in 2008 ready to be opened on an occasion the college saw fit.
With the college celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, it felt it was the right time to unlock the mystery left by the people of Gateshead in 1945.
Items inside the time capsule included traditional sweets of the time – boiled sweets and liquorice, which Ivan commented had kept some flavour. A child’s hat and staff identity card also gave insight to life in 1945, but the most interesting discovery is the wild imaginations of children in the area.
When creating the time capsule children of a local primary school in Gateshead were asked to include their visions of the future giving insight into their hopes and dreams, dreams which have become reality.
Drawings from the children peculiarly included items such as a portable phone, resembling the first edition of the iPhone, a ‘flying camera’ akin to a modern drone, ‘wireless in your ears’ a dead-ringer for Air Pod headphones, and same-day delivery, decades before Amazon Prime.
The children also dreamed of Newcastle winning a cup, which has now happened twice since 1945.
Ivan said, “I never imagined that searching for old reports in our archive would lead to such an incredible discovery. Liquorice was a childhood favourite of mine, but after 80 years, I can confirm—it does not age like fine wine.
“To know that children in the 1940s had such high hopes for the future is remarkable. Jeff Bezos and Steve Jobs might be shocked to learn their so-called ‘revolutionary’ ideas were dreamt up decades earlier by the kids of Gateshead. Who knew our region was the original Silicon Valley?”
April Fools! Did we get you?
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