SLIMLINE Tony Blair surprised onlookers as he tucked into a fish supper after giving his first speech since leaving office.
He dined on fish, chips and mushy peas, as well as a traditional Geordie stottie-cake, with Foreign Secretary David Miliband at Colman's in Ocean Road, South Shields.
Groups of onlookers were held back as he jumped out of his motorcade and strolle
d into the restaurant after his lecture at the Customs House.
One said: "He was always very down to earth, and it just shows he hasn't changed a bit.
"Some of his party looked shocked that they were being led into a little chippy for their grand meal, but Blair didn't care."
In 2003, Mr Blair took US president George Bush for a fish supper at his local pub, the Dun Cow Inn in Sedgefield.
Mr Blair was the first to see a brand new work of art when he visited the Customs House.
French graphic artist Olivier Blanc was commissioned to create a plaque to commemorate the former PM's visit to the newly refurbished South Shields arts
venue.
The piece, entitled Customs House, From Reality to Imaginary, was unveiled during his visit to deliver the sixth annual South Shields Lecture.
It shows an image of the Customs House, surrounded by a dreamy, colourful montage of flowers, birds and stars.
Ray Spencer, executive director at the Customs House, said: "We are thrilled that Tony Blair was here to launch the newly refurbished Customs House – what a brilliant opening act."
The full article contains 257 words and appears in Shields Gazette newspaper.
