When a ‘spaceman’ landed at Souter Lighthouse

It’s always frustrating when we find one of the Gazette’s old photos with all or part of the caption torn from the back of the picture.
Memory Lane  social flow   October 1994  

Shot blaster Brian Dillon get to work on Souter lighthouse outbuildings.Memory Lane  social flow   October 1994  

Shot blaster Brian Dillon get to work on Souter lighthouse outbuildings.
Memory Lane social flow October 1994 Shot blaster Brian Dillon get to work on Souter lighthouse outbuildings.

So we are grateful to reader Graham Walton who was able to supply the missing details to a picture posted online, showing the launch of the South Shields Marine and Technical College’s new 54ft training vessel in 1971.

Graham said: “I believe this is the St Hilda before she was fitted with sailing masts.

Memory Lane  social flow  April 1971

  South Shields Marine and Technical College's new 54ft training vessel St Hilda pictured in St Monance, Fife.Memory Lane  social flow  April 1971

  South Shields Marine and Technical College's new 54ft training vessel St Hilda pictured in St Monance, Fife.
Memory Lane social flow April 1971 South Shields Marine and Technical College's new 54ft training vessel St Hilda pictured in St Monance, Fife.
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“She was moored on the Tyne for many years, opposite the Marine and Technical College training centre, in Wapping Street South Shields.

“She is now operating as a cruise vessel around Outer and Inner Hebrides, visiting such places as Isle of Skye, St Kilda, Mull, Jura, Islay, Staffa, and Iona.”

Below that is a picture of pure concentration, taken in February 1959, and showing Yasmin Ali and Judith Cartman, at Laygate Infants School.

Underneath, is a photo from January 1984, featuring people queuing outside the Savoy Theatre, eagerly waiting to see a panto.

Memory Lane social flow   February 1959  

Concentrating hard.  Yasmin Ali and Judith Cartman at Laygate Infants School.Memory Lane social flow   February 1959  

Concentrating hard.  Yasmin Ali and Judith Cartman at Laygate Infants School.
Memory Lane social flow February 1959 Concentrating hard. Yasmin Ali and Judith Cartman at Laygate Infants School.

Do you remember the occasion, and the panto being staged?

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Ten years later – and it looks as though the aliens have invaded South Shields.

But fear not, the photo simply shows shot blaster Brian Dillon getting to work on Souter lighthouse outbuildings.

Please get in touch with your memories relating to any of the pictures featured on today’s page.