A MAJOR step forward took place in commemorating Sunderland International Brigaders who fought in the Spanish civil war.

The first cobbles of a future monument to the Brigaders were carved by those who attended the Solidarity Sunderland-organised event in March, and the next sessions are already being planned to tour the city.

Solidarity Sunderland was launched at a public meeting on April 5 2025 at the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens.

The meeting brought together a wide range of local people, groups, associations and institutions — united by the desire to create a project that tells the story of those from the Sunderland area who supported the fight against the rise of fascism during the Spanish civil war.  

The central aim of the project is to create a significant monument in the city, developed through the participation of young people and the wider community, bringing together artists, historians, families of International Brigade members, local activists, educational institutions, students, trade unions and the broader community, to build a project that stands against far-right ideologies and fosters unity.

Nearly a year since it launched, the project has engaged with various actors in the city such as Sunderland Culture and Sunderland College.

Students from different art courses are involved, including performing art students who created a play inspired by the Basque children refugees, who also did a play at the college shortly after their arrival to the city.

Others are designing portholes (80 portholes have been designed this year) inspired by the history of the brigaders that could end up in Malgrat de Mar (Catalunya, Spain); where there is already a living monument designed by Rob MacDonald. New portholes are added every year at the Solidarity Park Festival, which this year will take place the last weekend of May.

Although there is no final design or place for the monument yet, Solidarity Sunderland has decided to get a head start and get people engaged in designing, shaping and building the future monument. An event was held on March 14 — the first one of a series of planned events where people will have the opportunity to contribute to the monument.  

At this first one, 18 community cobbles were made by those who attended. One of them was made by the granddaughter of Captain Andrews, a Sunderland brigader who commanded the SS Thorpehall which was the first ship to break the blockade and enter Spain.

Although the main activity was to get the community carving cobbles, the event also had musicians Ron Brown and Sarah Denis play for those carving, having a look at the history section with the stories of local Brigaders or attending with their children and getting involved in other artistic activities.

Solidarity Sunderland plans to tour around the city, getting people from all over to contribute to the monument but also bringing the stories and remembering the Sunderland Brigaders.

The Brigaders should inspire us in many ways. They showed us that the only fight that is lost it that one that we don’t fight.

Julio Romero is chair of Solidarity Sunderland.

If you would like to learn more about the work of Solidarity Sunderland or help raise funds go to solidaritypark.com/solidarity-sunderland.