Historic Tyne Bridge rivets help raise £5,000 for Armed Forces charity SSAFA

29 May 2026

Historic Tyne Bridge rivets help raise over £5,000 for Armed Forces charity SSAFA

Historic rivets removed during the refurbishment of Newcastle’s iconic Tyne Bridge have helped raise £5,000 for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, at an exclusive charity auction hosted at Newcastle Racecourse.

The rivets - part of the original structure of the famous 1928 bridge - were donated by contractors ESH Construction and auctioned at a special black-tie fundraising evening attended by supporters of SSAFA from across the Northeast.

Contractor ESH Group has carefully preserved the historic rivets removed during restoration of the bridge. Each rivet represents a physical piece of the region’s history, offering collectors the rare opportunity to own part of one of the North East’s best-loved structures while helping charities, including SSAFA, to continue life-changing work.

The event was organised by Tom Robson, of local environmental engineering company Roflow, in conjunction with the Army Benevolent Fund. The evening, which featured an auction of generously donated prizes alongside the rivets, raised around £14,000 in total, with proceeds shared between SSAFA and ABF, reflecting the joint commitment to supporting serving personal, veterans and their families across the region.

Funds raised will help SSAFA continue supporting serving personnel, veterans and their families across Tyne and Wear and beyond.

Chris Tearney, Chair of SSAFA Tyne and Wear Branch, said:

“The Tyne Bridge is one of the North East’s most recognisable landmarks and means a great deal to people across our region. We are incredibly grateful to ESH Construction for donating such a unique piece of its history to support today’s Armed Forces community.”

Tom Robson of Roflow said: "The atmosphere on the evening was very special. I was so pleased we were able to raise significant funds for Both SSAFA and ABF, and I'd like to thank everyone who donated and attended for their generosity and support."

The Tyne Bridge rivets formed part of the original structure that has connected Newcastle and Gateshead for nearly a century, making it a powerful symbol of endurance and community -values shared by the Armed Forces family SSAFA supports every day.

SSAFA provides practical assistance, emotional support and community connections to serving personnel, veterans and their families when they need it most.

SSAFA volunteers have been helping the Armed Forces community – regulars and reserves, serving or retired, and their families since 1885. To volunteer or fundraise for SSAFA, or to seek support, search for “SSAFA near me”.