The year the TV boat came in to Readhead's shipyard in South Tyneside during the summer of 1976
When South Tyneside became a red hot TV favourite
As the sun blazed down on the North East Back in 1976, South Tyneside was in a red hot topic of conversation.
It was beginning to have an impact on television.
BBC1 started screening the drama series When the Boat Comes in and it starred Sunderland-born James Bolam as union leader Jack Ford.
Right from its distinctive opening title song, with the memorable couplet – ‘you shall have a fishy, on a little dishy’ – it was distinctively northern.
And in the roasting hot summer of ’76, the cast descended on Readhead’s shipyard in South Shields to film part of the second series.
Our Gazette photographer captured Bolam and his sidekick Matt Hedley, actor Malcolm Ferris, being filmed walking, talking, and finally arguing, in the alleyway alongside the yard’s Victorian-built engine shop.
It was a great moment for the borough and it was not the only time that the crews filmed in the region. But although some of the series was filmed in Wallsend and Durham, the bulk of scenes were shot down south, particularly in Reading and Folkestone.
But that was not all that was happening on South Tyneside 50 years ago.
Focus Cinema in South Shields was showing a landmark film called The Man Who Fell To Earth. It was significant because it was David Bowie’s first ever starring role. He appeared alongside Rip Torne, Candy Clark and Buck Henry in a movie which was shown three times a day.
As the weather warmed up, South Tyneside’s shops encouraged people to turn to them to help them cope with the hot weather.
Gatoff in Fowler Street was selling a range of casual shirts from £2.50, cricket trousers by Fred Perry from £6.75 and lightweight jackets from £14.
Bontons in Ocean Road and Laygate urged people to ‘be cool in cheesecloth’ with plains, checks and stripes all available from £1.99.
We want your memories of the red hot Summer of 1976. How did you handle the heatwave and what do you remember of those days? Get in touch and share your memories by emailing [email protected]