The sixth and final episode of the third series of ‘Grundy’s Wonders’ produced by Tyne Tees Television and written and presented by architectural historian and broadcaster John Grundy. In this final edition John dedicates the programme to ‘tiny journeys’ visiting or riding on things that may only take a couple of minutes to complete, but can provide exciting and wonderful experiences. An animation of a book with its pages turning revealing different buildings and architectural styles...

The sixth and final episode of the third series of ‘Grundy’s Wonders’ produced by Tyne Tees Television and written and presented by architectural historian and broadcaster John Grundy. In this final edition John dedicates the programme to ‘tiny journeys’ visiting or riding on things that may only take a couple of minutes to complete, but can provide exciting and wonderful experiences. An animation of a book with its pages turning revealing different buildings and architectural styles ending on presenter John Grundy holding the programmes title card. Title: Grundy’s Wonders With the Transporter Bridge at Middlesbrough in the background, presenter John Grundy walks past explaining that because he has been having a problem with one of his legs he has come up with a ‘Grundy Concept’ of the joy of tiny journeys. A montage follows of John taking part in several tiny journeys that will feature in this programme. Returning to Middlesbrough he talks about the excitement and endless possibilities of short journeys before confessing as he boards the gondola that although he has visited Teesside and Middlesbrough many times before, this will be his first journey on the Transporter Bridge. As the two-and-a-half-minute journey across the River Tees gets underway he provides some interesting facts about the bridge, the most exciting building on Teesside. On reaching Port Clarence on the far shore, he remembers his car is parked on the other side and takes the journey back to Middlesbrough exclaiming that this tiny journey has lived up to expectations. Explaining that some tiny journeys need to be made a montage of cars and other traffic stuck in a queue as they make their way into the Tyne Tunnel. As traffic passes through the toll booth, John states that journey doesn’t need to be long to be horrible and tedious. More traffic queue around the Newcastle Central Motorway, again John explains that he finds the experience hateful having to travel through the concrete jungle of urban motorways and wants to crush it under ‘Grundy’s Great Boot of History.’ An animation of a giant boot descending follows crushing the slow-moving traffic. Taking the wooden escalator down to the Tyne Cyclist and Pedestrian Tunnel that passes under the River Tyne, John explains that he will be trying to spot his friend Ben who uses the tunnel everyday to cycle to work. As John walks along one of the twin cycling and pedestrian tunnels he provides some history explaining that it opened in 1951 when shipyards lined the Tyne and in its first ten years 10 million people use it. As he friend Ben speeds past on his bicycle he appears on the tunnels CCTV monitors before ascending the escalator on the other side to the surface. As John slowly ascends the 200ft on what is the longest wooden escalators in the world he admires the tunnels Art Deco details. Arriving at the top John states that was another ‘spiffing’ tiny journey but remembers again that his car is parked on the other side. He heads back down the escalator. Standing beside Castle Stairs in Newcastle John explains that immense will-power needed to climb these steep steps, especially with his leg giving him problems. John begins the climb from The Close on the Quayside to Castle Garth at the top and tells the story about showing an American visitor around the city and why it took them five-hours to reach the top. Passing though the Sallyport he reaches Castle Garth and heads up the steps into The Castle Keep and up onto its roof to look out across the Tyne with the Gateshead Millennium and Tyne bridges in the distance. He watches as a Pacer train crossing the High-Level Bridge into Newcastle before pointing out some of the rich and varied structures nearby including the Moot Hall, Swing Bridge below and the Newcastle Cathedral with its lantern spire nearby. Coming back outside he crosses the road to get a drink from the Bridge Hotel. Title: Grundy’s Wonders End of Part One Part Two Overlooking Mowbray Park in Sunderland John explains that as this is the last half of the last programme in the series, he will end on one final tiny journey that he believes will sum up what the programme stands for. As he wonders around the park, he provides details on its history and development and points out some of it features such as the nearby Victorian suburb of Ashbrooke and the statue to local-boy General Haverlock. He goes onto explain that like make municipal parks it has suffered from issues of vandalism, civil neglect and what would be classed today as anti-social behaviour but has been brought back from the brink. Over a montage of people wondering around enjoying the park, including a couple getting their wedding photographs taken on the bandstand, John explains why he likes the park and points outs some of the restoration work that has been done. As a small child feeds the ducks on the pond, John comes to rest against the bronze statue of a walrus pointing out the nearby Sunderland Museum. Standing outside the museum entrance on Borough Road he provides some history of the building explaining why it is the third building and museum to be built on the site and that it was the first civic museum to be built outside of London. Over a montage of historic images John talks about the Winter Garden which was part of the museum but was demolished following bombing during World War Two and replaced with a concrete municipal building in the 1960s. However, John is very pleased with the new Sunderland Museum and Winter Garden which has been built with funding from both the Heritage Lottery Fund and Sunderland City Council. As a group enter the new museum John explains why he finds it exciting and modern. He wonders around some of the exhibits looking at some of its oddities and curiosities including Wallace the Lion, Sunderland favourite big cat. Back outside the exterior of the new Winter Garden, inside crowds of visitors looking over the many exotic plants growing there. Standing nearby is John who states that the total cost for the museum, park and winter garden was just over £13 million and explains why it is good value for money. Over a montage of people enjoying the Winter Gardens John explains that in the first ten-weeks of it opening more than 350,000 people visited. The programme comes to an end with John commending the people of Sunderland for making the tiny journey to visit their brand-new and wonderful museum and winter gardens. An animation of a fanfare of trumpets over the following title. Title: Grundy’s Wonders Over the closing credits a montage of some of the locations visited in the programme. Credit: Written and Presented by John Grundy Camera and Location Direction Simon Elphinstone, Dave Dixon Sound Paul Graham Lighting Gordon Porteous, John Mason, Ken Hird Production Assistants Margaret McKie Production Manager Christine Stewart-Tilling Graphics Dave Richardson Title Music and Dubbing John Cook Editor Mike Pounder Executive Producer Jane Bolesworth Series Producer Steve Robins End title: A Tyne Tees Television production. Granada. © Tyne Tees Television MMII