This amateur film footage by an environmental health officer at Gateshead Council, Stephen Gray, documents the streets and parks of South Shields, Gateshead, and Durham. It also includes footage of diesel locomotives at Durham, Carlisle, Newcastle upon Tyne and Boldon Colliery railway stations, a visit to Whitby and a school fete, probably in Gateshead. The first sequences document locations in South Shields, Frederich Street (now demolished), New Green Street (now partly demolished), and...

This amateur film footage by an environmental health officer at Gateshead Council, Stephen Gray, documents the streets and parks of South Shields, Gateshead, and Durham. It also includes footage of diesel locomotives at Durham, Carlisle, Newcastle upon Tyne and Boldon Colliery railway stations, a visit to Whitby and a school fete, probably in Gateshead. The first sequences document locations in South Shields, Frederich Street (now demolished), New Green Street (now partly demolished), and the traditional Market Square on King's Street. The Blenheim (3), a cruise ship on the Fred Olsen Line, sails towards the mouth of the Tyne, past the North Shields ferry. Back in the town centre, King Street is busy with traffic and there are general views of Beach Road, a main road and Anderson Street. 'The Stud' is on at the ABC cinema on the corner of Ocean Road and Pollard Street (formerly the Savoy). The Tyne Lifeboat memorial under canopy and clock tower with a Potts clock, known as the Wouldhave Memorial to honour William Wouldhave and Henry Greathead, stand on the Pier Parade, in between North and South Marine Park. People are rowing on the yachting lake in South Marine Park including two small boys in the No. 8 boat. Three young lads rowing wave at the film-maker. Over at the fairground, people are enjoying the rides. Toffee apples are on sale at a stall. Children slide down a helter-skelter. An exterior shot of the West Park pub in Stanhope Road, South Shields (closed in 2014) follows. The next footage is filmed in Saltwell Park, Gateshead, and includes the film-maker's sister and mother. Lads are playing a casual game of football on the grass. Children play on the swings and play tennis on the grass. There's a close-up of the gate to Saltwell Park. General views follow of people lounging around and strolling in the park and boating on the lake. Children play in the adventure playground including the slide, and there are more shots of football on the grass and a game of rounders in progress. A yellow double-decker bus travels along Gateshead High Street. A sign reads 'Felling Park'. There are various shots inside the park recording the gardens, men playing a game of tennis on a court, children and mothers on the swings and roundabout in a playground. The next sequences were filmed in 1979. A sign reads 'Durham Station'. General views include Durham Cathedral and Castle, street scenes in the city including the railway viaduct crossing North Road, the new bridge over the Wear, Old Elvet Bridge, Market Square with the statue of Charles Stewart, Silver Street, Elvet Bridge, boating on the river, panoramic shot of Durham, and a glimpse of Kingsgate Bridge and Framwellgate Bridge, Claypath and the ring road. [out of focus] The Durham footage concludes with Class 47 diesel locomotives arriving and departing Durham Station.  Close-up of a sign for Carlisle. British Rail eight car diesel multiple unit trains travel in and out of the station. Scenes in Carlisle are documented, including the castle and Bitts Park, Lowther Street, Warwick Road, Botchergate and a crenellated mansion house. An Intercity diesel locomotive leaves Carlisle railway station. Brief general view of Newcastle Central Station. Many York sights are recorded on a trip to the city including the city walls near Station Road, the River Ouse looking towards Leeman Road area, Bootham Gate, view towards Minster, Stonegate, the Shambles, Parliament Street, Blake Street, the Ouse from Lendal Bridge, Memorial Gardens. Back on the castle walls, a couple walk towards camera. An exterior shot of Whitby Station opens this sequence that records a trip to the town. There are various general views of the Cutty Sark pub on New Quay Road, Whitby Abbey ruins on the east cliff, the harbour, Flowergate, Bridge Street, gardens near the station, Pier Road, and people strolling on the pier, the busy beach, children playing in the sea, view towards Sandsend, and further shots of Whitby Abbey. A bird flies around in the sky. Children and their parents are attending a fête at a school. The crowd watches an 'aerial race' across zipwires strung from the school. Some lads wave at the camera. Various shots follow of diesel locomotive trains, shot between 1979 and 1980. These include a locomotive entering Newcastle Central station across the diamond crossings, with Castle Keep in the background. A mainline diesel loco is standing at a platform. The Ballymoss arrives at the station. More 'trainspotting' footage is shot at Tile Shed level crossing at Cleadon and East Boldon, South Tyneside. Coal trucks pass at the Boldon Lane crossing, heading to Durham coastline. General view of the Tyne Bridge. Another diesel locomotive heads towards Newcastle. The film-maker's sister Diane and a friend play on swings outside council houses in Gateshead.