A Tyne Tees Television production in which cameras capture the various activities undertaken by people across the region on an average Sunday. Some of these activities are ordinary such as working in the garden or on an allotment, cooking the Sunday lunch or going to church, while other are more exciting such as members of an English Civil War re-enactment society recreating a battle or others driving their motorbikes around Tyneside and Northumberland. Others are members of brass bands or...

A Tyne Tees Television production in which cameras capture the various activities undertaken by people across the region on an average Sunday. Some of these activities are ordinary such as working in the garden or on an allotment, cooking the Sunday lunch or going to church, while other are more exciting such as members of an English Civil War re-enactment society recreating a battle or others driving their motorbikes around Tyneside and Northumberland. Others are members of brass bands or choral societies, while a group of photographic enthusiasts take snaps of Raby Castle near Staindrop in County Durham. The programme is also cross generational with an old man living in the Salvation Army Hostel, Rowton House in Newcastle while a group of young men enjoying going to the coast for a few drinks, a swim in the sea and a possible punch up. A woman stays at home making Sunday lunch while her husband visits the Milvain Club in Newcastle for a pint and to watch a female stripper. Title: Tyne Tees Colour [Logo] The film opens showing a mist covered lake with a solitary rowing boat in the middle distance as the commentary recites from the Bible regarding the seventh day of Earth’s creation. The film moves along Newcastle’s quayside showing the three main bridges across the Tyne: the Tyne Bridge, the Swing Bridge and the High Level Bridge. Title: The Seventh Day A view follows of the market square in South Shields through the arches of the old town hall. A newspaper boy on his bicycle delivers a newspaper to a house possibly in the Scotswood area of Newcastle. Another view follows of the old town hall in South Shields as a street sweeper gathers a shovelful of rubbish from the street to put in his litter cart The view changes to the Tyne bridge and a building next to it. A painted sign in large letters on one side of the building reads, ‘The Salvation Army Men’s Palace, Good Food and Beds’. A man washes himself from a sink presumably in the hostel building. He sits down on a bench placed between two larger sinks opposite and dries himself. In his room he puts on a shirt and tie and then his jacket and hat. On camera he talks about what occupies him on Sundays. The film cuts to a field where many tents have been pitched, some of them flying flags. Nearby someone waits patiently for a toilet cubicle to become free. Others start to wake up and leave their tents. On camera a young man speaks of how he might spend his Sunday which is to fight reconstructed historic battles from the English Civil War with the Sealed Knot or Roundhead’s Association. They dress in costumes and use weapons from the period. The film cuts to show two cannons amongst some of the tents at the camp site. The film moves on to a church with bells ringing, inside a service is underway, views follow of the congregation. The film moves on to show brief clips of railway sidings, a shipyard, a British Road Services Depot and a colliery, before going back to the priest’s sermon on life and leisure. Views follow of an empty office typing pool, an empty drawing office and a view of Newcastle from an office window. The film then again goes back to the sermon. At the men’s hostel tea and sandwiches are served in a canteen; at the campsite the historic battle participants prepare snacks. In the church the congregation take communion; the film cuts back to the hostel canteen as a man eats his sandwich. Again the film goes back to the communion, and the man at the hostel drinks his tea as does the man who was in the washroom earlier in the film. At church communion wine is taken. Brief views follow of allotments, houses, a beach and a man sea fishing. A salvation army organist begins playing a hymn and the congregation start singing. The chapel where this is taking place is probably at the hostel seen earlier. The film goes back to the church where they also sing a hymn. With the sound of the hymn continuing the film moves on to a man at home mowing his lawn, another man washes his sports car in the driveway. Announcer Frank Wappat at BBC Radio Newcastle introduces a Sunday morning programme. The film cuts to day-trippers on a beach with some exploring rock pools. Children sit on an outlet pipe. Nearby, ponies wait patiently to give rides. Back at the BBC studio Frank Wappat introduces a record he is about to play. In his back yard a man gets ready to ride his bicycle. He speaks on camera about his Sunday activities. The film shows him on his bike riding to his allotment. A brass band gets ready to play on an area of open grass near Lynemouth Aluminium smelter. On camera a man speaks from his home about Sunday being his music day, the film shows him conducting the brass band. The music continues as we see the cyclist arriving at his allotment. The film cuts back to the band; the cyclist takes some garden tools from a long box, then he starts digging potatoes with a garden fork, then picks rhubarb and attends to other plants. The band keep on playing, while the camera shows various parts of the Lynemouth power station and nearby electricity pylons. The sequence ends showing stacks of aluminium ingots near the Lynemouth smelter. The film moves on to a view of Lake Windermere from Bowness on Windermere, the view is taken from a sightseeing coach on tour. Views follow of a car park and boats in the harbour; family have a picnic on a grass verge. The film cuts back to Newcastle and a terrace house possibly in the Fenham area. A woman speaks from a living room saying that Sunday is like any other day, with housework and preparing meals being a priority. Her husband goes to the local working man’s club for a drink and to watch a striptease show. The film shows the name of the Milvain Club which is on West Road in Newcastle. The striptease artist does her routine, while at home the woman who spoke on camera prepares Sunday lunch. All the family eat their lunch together and the father chats to his children. Title: The Seventh Day – end of part one [Blank] [Countdown] Title: The Seventh Day – part two The film shows a man and woman in a small car parked in long grass in the shade of a tree. The passenger door is open but they both seem to be asleep. A troop of Roundheads walk along a forest track, a troop of Royalists walk a different path. On the brow of hill the armies gather. The film cuts to a group of young men walking along a seaside promenade. They push each other so that some fall on to the nearby beach. In a woodwork workshop a young man speaks to camera about his Sundays away from work. The Roundheads and Royalists make their way through woodland. The film cuts to a travelling view from the side of a motorcycle. This is followed by a group of motorcyclists heading off down a road. A young man sits on the front of a Ford Capri car, the bonnet is open. He speaks to the camera about his ideal Sunday, which is going for a motor bike ride with his friends. A view from a roadside safety mirror shows the motorcyclists negotiating a hill and bend on a country road near a three-storey house, they speed off over a bridge. The Roundheads and Royalists are now in battle; the group of young men seen at the coastal resort fight with each other in the sea. Cannons are fired at the civil war recreation; at the seaside another young man is thrown in the water. The 17th century re-enactment becomes more violent; a fully clothed man sits forlornly in the sea. The film shows a few more alternate views of the Civil War enactment and the antics of the young seaside visitors. A view of Raby castle in Durham is followed by a group of men gathering on the nearby riverbank. They are photographers and are taking pictures of the castle. A man consults another over the reading of a light meter. A man stands next to a small table in a room or hallway and speaks to the camera about photography excursions on Sundays. The film shows the men again on the riverbank preparing to take a photograph and talking amongst themselves to ensure their cameras are adjusted for optimum performance. The film cuts to a guide showing a group of visitors the medieval kitchen at Raby castle. The film shows the ceiling where a vent helps disperse smoke and steam. More views of the kitchen then show shelves with rows of copper moulds and the large oven or kitchen range. The film cuts back to the photographers on the riverbank. On camera a woman outlines how Sundays can be a very busy day at Raby Castle. The film shows visitors passing through some of the highly decorated rooms. At the seaside a group of young men walk up a slope leading from the beach to the promenade. A travelling view from a motorcycle shows several other motorcycles belonging to the group speeding along the road. The film shows alternately views of motorcyclists and the young men at the seaside At the seaside the men try out a helter-skelter at the Spanish City fairground at Whitley Bay; the motorcyclists continue to speed along country roads. The motorcyclists make their way through Rothbury. A change of location as four naturists play mixed doubles tennis with wooden discs for racquets. A man wearing sunglasses speaks on camera from home. His Sundays give him the opportunity of visiting his local sun club. More views follow of the tennis match. The film cuts to a men’s barbershop choir singing on a bandstand in a public park, the film then cuts back to the tennis match. A man speaks to camera from his home and explains that his Sunday is spent working with the barbershop choir, money from concerts going to charity. More views follow of the choir On a river bank a group of people put a sports rowing boat into the Tyne near Ryton. They maybe members of Tyne Amateur Rowing Club. The film cuts to a view in a town, possibly North Shields showing empty streets and the sound of a church bell. In a church hall gospel singing is being directed by Frank Wappat from BBC Radio Newcastle. A sign on the roof of a building reads ‘Non-Denominational Chapel – Open to Everyone’ this is probably where Frank Wappat holds his non-denominational services. In the hall a man in uniform reads a passage from the Bible. This contrasts with a view of a solitary woman walking towards the camera along a back street. A closer view of the Bible reader follows; the woman gets closer to the camera. On the river, the rowing boat the ‘Alex Thompson’ makes quick progress on the water. A close view of the rowers shows the efforts they are making to propel the boat. At the religious gathering a man sings the spiritual song ‘Down By The Riverside’ The rowers pass four large cooling towers on the bank of the river near Ryton. The film cuts to a crowded pub or club. From behind a desk Frank Wappat speaks to the camera and gives his views about how people spend their Sundays. The film cuts back to the pub and its customers. A crucifix on an altar comes into focus as Frank Wappat speaks to the congregation at the church who are praying. A couple walk hand in hand along a sand dune, the film cuts to a pin ball machine in the pub. The couple walk along the windy shoreline in the fading light. The film cuts back to the mission congregation who listen and pray. On the beach a group of rowdy visitors walk along the sand then along the promenade singing the song ‘Blaydon Races’. The film ends showing the sun setting behind clouds looking from Whitley Bay’s promenade with strings of lights hung between the lamp standards. Credit: researcher – Andrea Masefield Credit: camera – Norman Jackson Credit: sound – Bob Rhodes, Mike Billing Credit: film editor – Mike Pounder Credit: executive producer – Les Barrett Credit: produced and directed by – John Irwin Credit: Tyne Tees Colour logo