The Way We Were 3 - North East and Yorkshire.
Hours of long forgotten film has been dusted down and restored for this third popular series.
These eight programmes take a nostalgic look back over five decades at how life used to be in and around the North East of England. Amongst those taking the journey with us will be TV agony aunt Denise Robertson who tells us about her first kiss. Horrible Histories Author Terry Deary tells us about his schooldays and the excitement of the Saturday Matinee. Lecturer and TV personality John Grundy remembers the importance of being a milk monitor, and playwright Arthur McKenzie talks about his early days as a police cadet. Well be hearing their childhood memories and weaving them together with lovely archive pictures to conjure up a glorious glimpse into the past.
Programme One
Kids Stuff
In the first programme our interviewees recall the long carefree days of childhood when the streets were their playground. The smell of Monday morning and washday how some of the new fangled gadgets of the 50s and 60s affected our interviewees lives. Terry Deary on his mums twin tub, Denise Robertson on her shiny new appliances and John Grundy tells us how formica transformed their tired kitchen.
Programme Two
The Young Ones
Programme two looks at the teenage years and our embarrassment on the dance floor. From ballroom to bee bop, and frilly frocks to flirting. Agony Aunt Denise Robertson tells us about her first kiss, Terry Deary about his new drainpipe trousers and John Grundy admits to being a dreadful teddy boy.
Programme Three
Happiest Days of Our lives
All Things Bright and Beautiful as we take a look back at our schooldays. John Grundy vividly recalls the days of music and movement when he was called on to be a butterfly and Terry Deary tells us about the responsibilities of being milk monitor. We find out about single sex schools and hear about the girls college where men were banned.
Programme Four
On the Waterfront
This week we take a look at the bustle of our regions three big rivers. Denise Robertson and Terry Deary tell us about the sights and sounds of Sunderland shipyards in their hey day. We listen to tales of the North Shields fisherwomen with Arthur McKenzie and travel up the coast to Craster to talk to Alan Robson about his famous smokehouse in the early 1960s.
Programme Five
The Great Outdoors
In this programme we look at the daily hardships of farming in the Yorkshire Dales. The big freeze of 1947 when it snowed and snowed for weeks. Our interviewees tell us about the fun of the village fete and we visit the The Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate in 1957, the highlight of any farmers calendar.
Programme Six
Holidays At Home
This week Denise Robertson recalls the aftermath of the war when back yard holidays at home were all the rage and a donkey ride was the highlight of the day. The East Coast resorts were the place to be and how a jug of tea and a paddle in the sea were the main event. We take a look at beach fashion from the 30s with Arthur McKenzie and find out the history of Race Week when the Town Moor in Newcastle transformed itself into a giant funfair.
Programme Seven
High Days
We knew how to celebrate then. A return to the good old days of the carnivals and galas. We picnic with the miners and look at the history of the Durham Gala which was an awesome experience for a young Terry Deary and a memory of flat caps and brillcream for Arthur McKenzie. We look at the great jubilee celebrations and remember the day in 1953 when the Queen Elizabeth was crowned.
Programme Eight
Home Made Hollywood
Life through the lens. A tribute to the regions amateur movie makers who have passed down to us a unique record of the life of yesteryear in the North East of England. We look at the work of our three big cine clubs, at the events recorded in Redcar in the 50s and see clips from mini movies made by Teesside and Newcastle clubs.
To order the DVD: Northern Heritage