
About 12.45 the final checks are made of the bridge
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Across the river on the Newcastle side, a large queue is developing
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The queue of people wanting to cross the bridge is much shorter on the Gateshead side
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The civic dignitaries gather in Baltic Square ready to cross the bridge
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At 1.00pm the civic dignitaries step onto the bridge, led by Mayor of Gateshead Joseph Hattam, Leader of Gateshead Council George Gill, and Millennium Commissioner Judith Donovan
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The party proceed along the walkway
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The group from Gateshead approach the Newcastle side.
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The civic group return with the addition of a Newcastle contingent. The party is led by the Mayors of Gateshead and Newcastle
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A number of local schoolchildren also cross the bridge
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The rain starts again making a Millennium Bridge umbrella a useful souvenir to have
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Joseph Hattam, Mayor of Gateshead shakes hands with Mary Carr, Lord Mayor of Newcastle in Baltic Square for the benefit of a cameraman. Millennium Commissioner Judith Donovan looks on
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About 1.30pm the first group of cyclists cross the bridge
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At 1.35 a group of children from a local school sing a song called "Meet In The Middle"
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At 1.40, Gateshead Council Leader George Gill, together with Gateshead's Millennium Babies are in the control room to raise the bridge.
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The bridge starts to open
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The bridge is not fully open yet, but a small boat sails beneath it
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By 1.45 the bridge is fully open
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The civic dignitaries mill around in Baltic Square
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The Mayors prepare to greet the first members of the public who will cross the bridge. Beyond them the crowd on Newcastle Quayside continues to grow
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At 2.00pm the queue of members of the public is permitted to enter Baltic Square ready to cross the bridge
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And away we go - the Gateshead contingent move onto the bridge using the cycle path. We are instructed to keep moving and not to stop and take photos
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Joseph Hattam, the Mayor of Gateshead greets those crossing the bridge
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The view ahead was mainly people's backs
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Looking down the Tyne from the new bridge
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The first group of pedestrians from Newcastle pass us near the middle of the bridge
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The queue on Newcastle quayside
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The crowds on the Quayside with the Bridge behind
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Looking back at the crowded bridge from Newcastle quayside
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On reaching the Newcastle side they gave me a medal. It reads "I was one of the first people to cross the Gateshead Millennium Bridge Monday, 17 September 2001."
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