We are immensely proud that Tynemouth has once again been voted as one of the best places to live in the UK by the Sunday Times a team of expert judges travel the UK in search of the best places to live and loved the time they spent in Tynemouth The judges praised Tynemouth for its “elegant streets” which “are home to buzzy bars and convivial coffee shops as well as useful corner stores” and “beatnik beach hangouts” Elected Mayor of North Tyneside Dame Norma Redfearn DBE said: “North Tyneside is a fantastic place to live work and visit and it is great to hear that Tynemouth has been listed once again in this prestigious ranking by the Sunday Times a variety of independent businesses and fantastic transportation links we know how special and welcoming Tynemouth is to our residents “Tynemouth has become an extremely desirable place to live and we are proud to celebrate its thriving sense of community the Castle and Priory and the annual Mouth of the Tyne Festival Quadrant, The Silverlink North, Cobalt Business Park, North Tyneside, NE27 0BY | Directions An initial sketch of the sculpture (figure for scale only) We're inviting local residents and long-distance cyclists to contribute to the piece by taking part in our online survey We're working on the project with North Tyneside Council and Destination North East England The sculpture is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund with support from the North East Combined Authority Artist Ray Lonsdale with 'Big Fella' in Silloth Six long-distance cycle routes meet in Tynemouth They attract thousands of visitors every year Ray’s new artwork will be a large and visually-striking tourist attraction and photo opportunity.  The steel sculpture will include a 1.8 metre high bench and vintage bicycle It will be located on the grass embankment just off Pier Road Our team has been working with local people to gather stories and designs which will be included in the new piece Results from the online survey will also contribute to name of the sculpture Ray is famous for his public artworks of large-scale steel sculptures such as Herring Girl in North Shields and 'Big Fella' in Silloth He draws on his experience working in heavy industry in Sunderland.  I am delighted to be selected to create a sculpture marking the end of the coast to coast routes.  “I want to try to make something that attracts interest and photo opportunities and that relays a little of the history of the area.” our project coordinator said: “We’re excited to commission Ray to create this artwork "Tynemouth is a significant location for the National Cycle Network with six long-distance routes passing through it “The new sculpture will help establish Tynemouth as a go-to destination and encourage visitors to stay longer in the town “Local people have contributed their experiences of long-distance cycling to incorporate into the artwork as well as ideas about how Ray can link this to Tynemouth’s rich heritage “We’re looking to hear from long-distance cyclists about the orientation of the sculpture content of the accompanying interpretation panel and potential improvements to the area immediately around the artwork if funding becomes available” Cabinet Member for the Climate Emergency and Cycling Champion said: “Cycling is a key part of our commitment to sustainability and reducing carbon emissions in North Tyneside "This new sculpture will not only celebrate the six long-distance cycle routes that converge in Tynemouth but it will also inspire visitors and residents to engage with cycling as a mode of transport and recreation “We are thrilled to be part of this exciting project and look forward to seeing Ray’s stunning artwork come to life in such an iconic location.” The current end/start marker in Tynemouth is away from the high street and often overlooked Sustrans organised a drop-in event alongside Ray Local residents could ask questions about the new sculpture During another event members of Cullercoats Methodist Art Group came up designs celebrating the area’s heritage Cubs and Beavers groups also contributed their ideas about travelling an imagined bike journey Local writing group the Linskill Scribblers will use their words to inspire a poem for the back panel of the sculpture heritage and natural environment of Tynemouth The artwork will be close to the town’s business centre to encourage visitors to spend locally.  The six long distance routes that meet in Tynemouth include the Coast to Coast, the Reivers, Hadrian's Cycleway, Route 1, Coast and Castles (Newcastle to Berwick upon Tweed) and the North Sea Cycle Route (Eurovelo 12) The routes are all part of the National Cycle Network. If you are a local resident or long-distance cyclist please contribute to the survey with support from the North East Combined Authority.  Next phase of Tynemouth to St Mary’s route starts National Cycle Network C2C or Sea to Sea Reivers Cycle Route Hadrian's Cycleway - Route 72 Route 1 Coast and Castles South (Newcastle to Edinburgh) Sign up now to hear more about our latest news Sustrans is committed to fundraising in a way which is legal, open, honest and respectful. Read our fundraising promise Sustrans is a registered charity in England and Wales (326550) and Scotland (SC039263) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England (1797726) at 2 Cathedral Square This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page As you were browsing something about your browser made us think you were a bot There are a few reasons this might happen: please make sure that cookies and JavaScript are enabled before reloading the page We're getting everything ready for you and you'll be on your way in just a few moments Weekend parking is free once again this year in North Tyneside town centres throughout December making life jollier for Christmas shoppers and businesses On-street parking is already free on Sundays in North Shields with the Council extending this to Saturdays throughout December That’s on top of the hundreds of free spaces already available in some North Tyneside Council-managed town centre car parks and Priors Haven car park The scheme aims to support North Tyneside businesses and encourage people to shop local this Christmas said: “At this time of years people are dashing about and enjoying the fantastic programme of Christmas events in North Tyneside “We want to make it easier for people to spend their money here in North Tyneside and we’ve had lots of positive feedback in previous years about how free parking helps “We hope everyone has a wonderful festive season hospitality and Christmas lights displays that North Tyneside’s town centres have to offer.” Ticket machines and mobile phone parking payments will be temporarily suspended on weekends throughout December in the following locations: Front Street – please note that the current 2-hour restriction on length of stay during the day will still apply to encourage a turnover of the free parking space in this area There are also hundreds of free spaces available via the following Council-managed car parks: The first section of the Tynemouth to St Mary's route opened in July Phase Two will complete the new five mile route The £11 million ‘Seafront Sustainable Route’ project from Tynemouth to St Mary’s lighthouse is led by North Tyneside Council with funding through our Paths for Everyone programme and Active Travel England The local community were actively involved in the scheme from the start In July 2024 local people celebrated the opening of the first section which is part of National Cycle Network route 1 from Tynemouth Front Street to the Aquarium The next phase of work sees the improved route extending to St Mary’s Lighthouse in Whitley Bay The new route features separate foot and cycle paths which create a safer The new improved Route 1 on the National Cycle Network is part of of work across the UK to create accessible paths for everyone to enjoy In the first phase construction company capita upgraded 1.7km of footpaths A 20mph speed limit was introduced to ensure safer and more enjoyable travel along the scenic coastal stretch In the second phase Capita will extend the dedicated spaces for people walking We worked with the local community and the Council to help make the route route permanent separated walking and cycling route between Tynemouth and St Mary’s since 2020 after a popular temporary pop up scheme was dismantled Sustrans worked with the community to help develop the scheme and access funding As well as helping improve transport options funders expect the new route will boost the appeal of the award-winning seafront and support local businesses and attractions The new route is safer for all ages and abilities to walk our Director in the North of England said: “This is a fantastic example of how the local community led the campaign for a permanent wheeling and cycling and were actively involved in the design process “The new segregated path makes it practical and enjoyable for many more people of all ages and abilities to make healthier “We anticipate it will encourage more sustainable tourism too as more daytrippers and cycling families learn about this high-quality path in a beautiful coastal location This will have knock-on benefits for local businesses and the wider economy while looking after the special landscape and nature of this special area.” The new route will attract more visitors to North Tyneside which will have economic benefits for local shops and services “I’m delighted to see the new route already being well used “It strengthens connections between communities The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive with many saying how much safer and more enjoyable their journeys have become.” “We’re thankful to have secured the investment for such a high-quality scheme and we appreciate the support of Active Travel England The second and last phase of work is expected to run until December 2024 There are temporary traffic measures in place from October until December 2024 including a one-way system between Tynemouth and Cullercoats and temporary traffic lights at key points Souter to St Mary's Newcastle School Streets scheme to be made permanent Tyneside Walking and Cycling Index Work is set to begin on the second phase of North Tyneside’s ambitious Seafront Sustainable Travel Route has already made journeys safer and more enjoyable for thousands of residents and visitors Phase Two will extend the route to St Mary’s Lighthouse in Whitley Bay with dedicated spaces for cyclists and pedestrians The improvements aim to boost the appeal of the award-winning seafront Funded by the Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund and Sustrans and with Capita handling the construction the project is a key part of the council’s commitment to reaching carbon net-zero by 2030 It promotes sustainable travel options that benefit everyone while protecting the environment “We’re excited to begin this next transformative phase of the Seafront Sustainable Travel Route and enjoyable seafront for everyone—whether you’re walking and this project isn’t just about infrastructure while making North Tyneside greener and healthier." "We know there may be some temporary disruption during construction but the long-term benefits will be worth it I’d like to thank everyone in advance for their patience as we work to improve our coastline for everyone to enjoy." Traffic Management: October 14 to the end of 2024 temporary traffic measures will be in place Cyclists may need to dismount or follow diversions during lane closures Pedestrians in the Beaconsfield area will be directed to cross to the opposite side of the seafront while work continues These measures will remain until the work is completed We apologise for any inconvenience during this time Site compounds will be set up away from residential areas in the following locations: For bus service inquiries, residents can email: roadworks@nexus.org.uk Further information on the scheme can be found here. To receive regular project updates and advance notice of any works affecting journeys please sign up for our electronic bulletin service by scanning the QR code For best viewing experience of this website Please enter a place name in the search bar After provisionally the warmest May Day on record in the UK higher than average temperatures will subside over the weekend Environment Agency Updated: 09:26 (UTC+1) on Tue 6 May 2025 Dry with warm sunny spells today. Light winds. A cold and sunny start for many. Otherwise, another fine and dry day, with some decent spells of sunshine. Some high level cloud turning the sunshine hazy at times. Feeling a touch warmer compared to Monday, with light winds. Maximum temperature 19 °C. A fine end to the day, with some evening sunshine. Staying dry with some lengthy clear skies overnight. Turning chilly with a touch of grass frost in places. Light winds. Minimum temperature 2 °C. Staying fine and dry, with variable amounts of cloud and sunny spells on Wednesday, after a chilly start in places. Feeling cooler than on Tuesday, with a gentle northeasterly breeze. Maximum temperature 14 °C. Fine and settled weather conditions are expected to continue with variable cloud and bright or sunny spells throughout. Temperatures near normal by day, with some chilly nights. Light winds. Fairly typical weather for the time of year is most likely through this period. Overall, fine and dry weather is more likely to dominate although this will be interspersed with occasional spells of rain and showers, with a risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms in places. Overall, temperatures will most likely be near to or slightly above average. in his recently purchased beanie hat (Tesco is reflecting on his early creative stirrings as we contemplate his spoof railway posters at Tynemouth Station As a newish member of staff at ‘The Ministry’ which is what everyone called the mighty complex in Longbenton which opened in the 1940s as the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance he had been recruited to a five aside football team But since he tended to find himself on the subs’ bench “They were circulated round the office and people loved them.” Read more: Raising a glass(house) to 20 years of music “Then I started doing player profiles and they were quite popular too. But I got into a bit of trouble because I quoted someone in the pub afterwards who criticised one of the strikers.” To paraphrase, he had said that so-and-so couldn’t score in a ****** with a ??? tied round his ******. Chris, of course, didn’t put it quite like that, telling it how it was. “A lady complained and I was summoned to the manager’s office. “I was surprised because he didn’t tell me off. He said, ‘You’re showing some sort of potential there for journalism. There’s a vacancy for the assistant editor’s job on the in-house sports and social club magazine. Why don’t you apply for it?’ “So I did and became assistant editor of The Bulletin, as it was called. They didn’t let me near the editorial, though. I just ran errands for the editor as a punishment really.” Chris’s talent for journalism, if you can call it that, flourished most famously in Viz, which grew out of the popular comics he started at school with inky-fingered fellow humourists. Credit Colin DavisonThis was what was to occupy his time after his formative years at The Ministry which he looks back on fondly “I worked there for two and a half years and it was good fun… well if you like administering National Insurance contributions for people working abroad in countries that don’t have a reciprocal agreement with the UK “And if your National Insurance number ended in 43 44 or 42 c or d then I administered those contributions I started in October 1978 and I think I left in June 1980 The Viz years are also far behind Chris now – he bowed out some years ago – so how does a socially aware chap with a talent for art and a quirky sense of humour fill his days Well, these posters – on show at the Globe Gallery in North Shields and now in the Bridge Gallery (as they call the bridge over the Metro lines at Tynemouth Station) – offer part of the answer Read more: Review - The Velveteen Rabbit at balletLORENT He started doing them on Facebook when bored, making posters for films he’d invented. His favourite was The Sex Invasion of the Daleks. “That was quite good.” His mind then turned to the travel posters which railway companies used to put out, depicting popular destinations in upbeat style. Chris, always into trains and stuff, was something of a devotee. There had been one in the Viz days, he muses fondly. It, too, had got him into a bit of trouble. “It was based on a real poster but it said, ‘Skegness is ******* ****. Come to Mablethorpe’ and it had a jolly fisherman skipping along the beach with dog turds and litter on it. “Skegness kicked up a right storm about that. It turned out that the council had inherited the copyright on the original poster and I just assumed it would have gone with railway nationalisation and nobody would be bothered.” Chris Donald explaining the inspiration behind his Darras Hall poster. Credit Colin DavisonRunning with the same idea to stave off boredom, he created his ‘Tynemooth’ poster, replacing elegant 1920s trippers with modern lasses eating chips and a chap with a hoodie. He showed it to Rashida Davison, who runs the Globe Gallery, who’d suggested a poster exhibition. Ruefully, Chris said she’d rejected The Sex Invasion of the Daleks and requested more in the travel mode… and here they are. After the Tynemouth one he turned his attention to Vera, making fun of the series for its geographically implausible mix of locations (a common complaint levelled at TV dramas when characters are seen to make five-minute journeys which locals know fine well would take 50, what with roadworks). So there she is, the great detective, beside a Hadrian’s Wall strung with North East landmarks. (And if you look carefully, you’ll also see Vera attending a crime scene on the Tynemooth beach. Another TV legend, Supergran, is shown standing nearby.) The Ministry came next, Chris taken with its similarity, obvious to him at least, to a Butlin’s holiday camp. “Well, the buildings, the single-storey ones, were in the same style and it was very self-contained. You didn’t have to go off site to do banking or anything. “In Butlin’s posters there’s always a lady in a bikini with a beachball or something and a family behind her looking all happy. It’s been popular, that one. So many people have worked there.” Chris Donald with his Darras Hall posterThe one of Whitley Bay reflects the seaside town’s recently acquired cycle lanes Says the artist: “There’s this big painted road thing and people who live nearby were telling me it’s very controversial Some of the traders think it’s bad for business I’m sort of on the fence a bit whether I approve of it or not.” It was an original Whitley Bay poster that spawned his new-look one for Morpeth ‘Life is Gay at Whitley Bay’ goes the slogan on the original 1960 version with its happy Chris relocated the boat family to a flooded Morpeth beneath the tempting invitation to ‘Mess About at Morpeth’ He also substituted his own dog for the poodle in the prow I wonder if he’s ruffled feathers among the residents of the Northumberland market town with this one and he thinks for a second or two But I believe the flooding thing’s been sorted out now My dad used to take us there to feed the ducks and a friend used to own a cheese shop there.” Read more: Review - Present at Live Theatre He says the Darras Hall poster, urging people not to come, is his favourite. It clearly tickled him. In Darras Hall, he says, they opened a station but closed it 13 years later because nobody used it. All these posters, he insists, were meticulously researched. He loved drawing the Austin 7 in the Darras Hall poster and just as it was about to go to press, he realised that the big house, an amalgamation of two recently offered for sale, had no guttering over the porch. A last-minute guttering amendment is offered as an example of the attention to detail lavished on these creations. But it’s nowhere more apparent than in the one poster you won’t see at Tynemouth Station (I suspect the restraining influence of Rashida here). Some of Chrisis posters at Globe Gallery. Credit Colin DavisonIt’s the one advertising the ‘football specials’, the trains that used to bring away football fans to Newcastle on match days. “I was a trainspotter and it was exciting when the football specials arrived because you’d sometimes get an unusual engine on them, but also you got about 500 football fans looking for a fight and other football fans waiting to ambush them. “They all came to Manors, to keep them away from the city centre I suppose, and then they’d be escorted to the ground by police with dogs. “A lot of people have asked for that one because they were football hooligans at the time. One bloke thought he recognised some of the faces and it was all coming back to him, the nostalgia. “And the graffiti in that one is all authentic. I found photographs. In the ’70s, when I was a kid, the Longbenton Aggro Boys and their rivals from Newbiggin Hall were always the ones fighting in the Leazes End. “You see where it says ‘Longbenton Clockwork’? That’s taken from Four Lane Ends when the new Metro station opened. Someone must have popped along and put that there with the eye thing from A Clockwork Orange. “I don’t know if Longbenton Clockwork existed or if it was a figment of someone’s imagination but it looked good in graffiti.” Despite the absence of this particular example of his handiwork, Chris says he’s delighted to see his spoof railway posters displayed at an actual station. So, evidently, are the people who’ve been pressing their noses up against the glass and smiling as we chat. If you’re going to miss a train, what better way to miss it than with a Viz-style chortle? A might magpie at Globe Gallery, part of Blank Canvas. Credit Colin DavisonDo catch the Jolly Days posters at Tynemouth Station or at the Globe Gallery, 87 Howard Street, North Shields, where they’re on show alongside the stories behind them. Also being exhibited is Blank Canvas, featuring fabulous work painted straight onto the walls by street artists Toby Heaps, Mark One87 and Cack Handed Kid, whose ‘fish finger’ poster can also be seen at the station. Chris Donald\u2019s posters at Tynemouth Station As a newish member of staff at \u2018The Ministry\u2019 But since he tended to find himself on the subs\u2019 bench \u201CThey were circulated round the office and people loved them.\u201D Read more: Raising a glass(house) to 20 years of music \u201CThen I started doing player profiles and they were quite popular too. But I got into a bit of trouble because I quoted someone in the pub afterwards who criticised one of the strikers.\u201D To paraphrase, he had said that so-and-so couldn\u2019t score in a ****** with a ??? tied round his ******. Chris, of course, didn\u2019t put it quite like that, telling it how it was. \u201CA lady complained and I was summoned to the manager\u2019s office. \u201CI was surprised because he didn\u2019t tell me off. He said, \u2018You\u2019re showing some sort of potential there for journalism. There\u2019s a vacancy for the assistant editor\u2019s job on the in-house sports and social club magazine. Why don\u2019t you apply for it?\u2019 \u201CSo I did and became assistant editor of The Bulletin, as it was called. They didn\u2019t let me near the editorial, though. I just ran errands for the editor as a punishment really.\u201D Chris\u2019s talent for journalism, if you can call it that, flourished most famously in Viz, which grew out of the popular comics he started at school with inky-fingered fellow humourists. \u201CI worked there for two and a half years and it was good fun\u2026 well if you like administering National Insurance contributions for people working abroad in countries that don\u2019t have a reciprocal agreement with the UK \u201CAnd if your National Insurance number ended in 43 \u201CI was working on Viz at that time too.\u201D The Viz years are also far behind Chris now \u2013 he bowed out some years ago \u2013 so how does a socially aware chap with a talent for art and a quirky sense of humour fill his days Well, these posters \u2013 on show at the Globe Gallery in North Shields and now in the Bridge Gallery (as they call the bridge over the Metro lines at Tynemouth Station) \u2013 offer part of the answer Read more: Review - The Velveteen Rabbit at balletLORENT He started doing them on Facebook when bored, making posters for films he\u2019d invented. His favourite was The Sex Invasion of the Daleks. \u201CThat was quite good.\u201D \u201CIt was based on a real poster but it said, \u2018Skegness is ******* ****. Come to Mablethorpe\u2019 and it had a jolly fisherman skipping along the beach with dog turds and litter on it. \u201CSkegness kicked up a right storm about that. It turned out that the council had inherited the copyright on the original poster and I just assumed it would have gone with railway nationalisation and nobody would be bothered.\u201D Chris Donald explaining the inspiration behind his Darras Hall poster. Credit Colin DavisonRunning with the same idea to stave off boredom, he created his \u2018Tynemooth\u2019 poster, replacing elegant 1920s trippers with modern lasses eating chips and a chap with a hoodie. He showed it to Rashida Davison, who runs the Globe Gallery, who\u2019d suggested a poster exhibition. Ruefully, Chris said she\u2019d rejected The Sex Invasion of the Daleks and requested more in the travel mode\u2026 and here they are. So there she is, the great detective, beside a Hadrian\u2019s Wall strung with North East landmarks. (And if you look carefully, you\u2019ll also see Vera attending a crime scene on the Tynemooth beach. Another TV legend, Supergran, is shown standing nearby.) The Ministry came next, Chris taken with its similarity, obvious to him at least, to a Butlin\u2019s holiday camp. \u201CWell, the buildings, the single-storey ones, were in the same style and it was very self-contained. You didn\u2019t have to go off site to do banking or anything. \u201CIn Butlin\u2019s posters there\u2019s always a lady in a bikini with a beachball or something and a family behind her looking all happy. It\u2019s been popular, that one. So many people have worked there.\u201D reflects the seaside town\u2019s recently acquired cycle lanes Says the artist: \u201CThere\u2019s this big painted road thing and people who live nearby were telling me it\u2019s very controversial Some of the traders think it\u2019s bad for business I\u2019m sort of on the fence a bit whether I approve of it or not.\u201D \u2018Life is Gay at Whitley Bay\u2019 goes the slogan on the original 1960 version with its happy Chris relocated the boat family to a flooded Morpeth beneath the tempting invitation to \u2018Mess About at Morpeth\u2019 I wonder if he\u2019s ruffled feathers among the residents of the Northumberland market town with this one and he thinks for a second or two But I believe the flooding thing\u2019s been sorted out now My dad used to take us there to feed the ducks and a friend used to own a cheese shop there.\u201D Read more: Review - Present at Live Theatre But it\u2019s nowhere more apparent than in the one poster you won\u2019t see at Tynemouth Station (I suspect the restraining influence of Rashida here). Some of Chrisis posters at Globe Gallery. Credit Colin DavisonIt\u2019s the one advertising the \u2018football specials\u2019, the trains that used to bring away football fans to Newcastle on match days. \u201CI was a trainspotter and it was exciting when the football specials arrived because you\u2019d sometimes get an unusual engine on them, but also you got about 500 football fans looking for a fight and other football fans waiting to ambush them. \u201CThey all came to Manors, to keep them away from the city centre I suppose, and then they\u2019d be escorted to the ground by police with dogs. \u201CA lot of people have asked for that one because they were football hooligans at the time. One bloke thought he recognised some of the faces and it was all coming back to him, the nostalgia. \u201CAnd the graffiti in that one is all authentic. I found photographs. In the \u201970s, when I was a kid, the Longbenton Aggro Boys and their rivals from Newbiggin Hall were always the ones fighting in the Leazes End. \u201CYou see where it says \u2018Longbenton Clockwork\u2019? That\u2019s taken from Four Lane Ends when the new Metro station opened. Someone must have popped along and put that there with the eye thing from A Clockwork Orange. \u201CI don\u2019t know if Longbenton Clockwork existed or if it was a figment of someone\u2019s imagination but it looked good in graffiti.\u201D Despite the absence of this particular example of his handiwork, Chris says he\u2019s delighted to see his spoof railway posters displayed at an actual station. So, evidently, are the people who\u2019ve been pressing their noses up against the glass and smiling as we chat. If you\u2019re going to miss a train, what better way to miss it than with a Viz-style chortle? A might magpie at Globe Gallery, part of Blank Canvas. Credit Colin DavisonDo catch the Jolly Days posters at Tynemouth Station or at the Globe Gallery where they\u2019re on show alongside the stories behind them featuring fabulous work painted straight onto the walls by street artists Toby Heaps whose \u2018fish finger\u2019 poster can also be seen at the station Entry is now open for the popular North Tyneside 10K Road Race The event will take place on Sunday 21 September 2025 later in the year to allow for the completion of the seafront cycleway The race sets off from the Parks Sports Centre in North Shields Tynemouth Priory and Castle and a long stretch of coastline before finishing at St Mary’s Lighthouse in Whitley Bay Entry is £21 (£20 for affiliated club runners) and includes a goodie bag and branded race t-shirt Enter the North Tyneside 10k The event is organised by North Tyneside Council and supported by Start Fitness The independent voice of Newcastle United since 1988 Get your daily update and weekly newsletter by signing up today Well, I did tell you all in my pre-Cup Final Q and A for The Mag that there was no way Newcastle United were losing to Liverpool this time I’m not being smug or feeling self-satisfied that March 16th 2025 was going to be Newcastle United’s day and the scousers wouldn’t have had reason to complain Every man jack in stripes was up for it and have cemented themselves in Geordie folklore forever Even though far too much heartache and near misses over the decades The happiness on the Wembley pitch was resounding the emotion of the players a sheer pleasure to behold Our manager Eddie Howe is a credit to his Mother who he spoke so fondly about in the aftermath of this famous victory The whole of Tyneside has taken you to our hearts Eddie and we are all grateful for what you and your staff have done for United A celebration party has been arranged for 10am Monday (St Patrick’s Day) at the Fat Ox in Whitley Bay I’ll see if I can get some good pictures of the lads and lasses that I can share on The Mag later in the week Liverpool 1 Newcastle 2 – Sunday 16 March 4.30pm (Stats via BBC Sport) Possession was Newcastle 34% Liverpool 66% Shots on target were Newcastle 6 Liverpool 2 Touches in the box Newcastle 26 Liverpool 17 (Liverpool 1 Newcastle 2 – Match ratings and comments on all the Newcastle United players – Read HERE) Liverpool 1 Newcastle 2 – Late night Newcastle United fan/writer reaction – Read HERE) (Here’s the photo all Newcastle United fans are absolutely loving on Sunday night! See HERE) The upcoming Newcastle United match schedule: Wednesday 2 April – Newcastle v Brentford (7.45pm) Monday 7 April – Leicester v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports Sunday 13 April – Newcastle v Man U (4.30pm) Sky Sports Wednesday 16 April – Newcastle v Palace (7.30pm) View Author Profile If you would like to feature on The Mag, submit your article to contribute@themag.co.uk Newcastle United loan player releases emotional farewell statement to fans Official Newcastle United announcement- Garang Kuol shortlisted for award Confirmed Newcastle team v Brighton – Schar Sky Sports expert’s verdict on Newcastle United – Struggle to disagree with any of this Brighton 1 Newcastle 1 – Instant Newcastle United fan/writer reaction Alexander Isak leaving Newcastle United headlines take decisive shift Just imagine having this brilliant player in black and white stripes next season Monday night twist impacts chase for Champions League places Brighton fans comments after Sunday’s draw against Newcastle United – Interesting Registered in England No. 894646. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade was called out to the party over reports of a red smoke flare - but it turned out the flare was pink and part of the celebrations I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A gender reveal celebration took an unexpected turn after emergency services arrived over concerns for the safety of a boat crew Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade was called out to the party near the mouth of the River Tyne late on Saturday after reports of a vessel “going round in circles” and what appeared to be a red smoke flare from the boat. The coastguard dispatched the brigade to investigate after fearing the boat was in distress. However, upon arriving at Royal Quays Marina, emergency services discovered the situation was far less serious than first feared. A spokesperson for the brigade said: “The team found that the ‘red’ flare was in fact ‘pink’, and the crew had been helping a couple reveal the gender of their baby.” The boat’s skipper apologised for any alarm caused by the flare. “Ultimately, we’re grateful everyone was safe and well,” the brigade spokesperson added. “We send our best wishes to the parents-to-be.” The brigade also reminded the public that using flares in coastal areas can easily trigger emergency responses. “Deploying flares in a coastal environment will always raise concerns that an emergency is taking place,” the spokesperson said. “We’d recommend avoiding using flares near the coast in any other circumstances, but if you intend to, please contact Humber Coastguard in advance.” The incident was recorded as a false alarm with good intent — and the brigade described it as one of its more unusual callouts. There were six members of the team were involved in the response. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker From shipwrecks to surfing gone wrong, a band of life-saving volunteers has been ready to respond to accidents and emergencies along the North Tyneside coast for 160 years. Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade (TVLB) was set up in 1864 in the wake of two shipwrecks in the mouth of the Tyne which claimed the lives of dozens of people. This dedicated search and rescue team has been poised to provide its help to those in need at a moment's notice ever since. Based at the Watch House, perched on a hill overlooking the mouth of the Tyne, the brigade began operating on 5 December 1864. Less than a fortnight earlier, on the night of 24 November, two ships ran aground on The Black Middens, rocks just off Tynemouth. Dave Bell, Watch House Director, said: "The general public of Tynemouth came down to watch these two shipwrecks, and tried to help the coastguard but didn't understand which ropes they were pulling or why they were pulling on particular ropes at particular times. "Effectively, on that night they watched 34 people die within 100 metres of the shore. "Consequently there was a huge public outcry and one man, John Morrison, came up with the idea that if we'd had a band of trained men then maybe, just maybe, we could have saved more lives. "That's how we were brought into existence." From that moment on, volunteers were trained up to use the rocket lifesaving apparatus - commonly known as the breeches buoy - at a time when a bustling ship industry meant the Tyne was a hive of activity. "It was a massively busy coastline," added Dave. "That's why, when the tragedy happened in '64, there was such a public outcry." The brigade saved 330 lives using the breeches buoy - but as the shipping industry dwindled overtime, so too did the need for the equipment. Wind the clock forward 160 years and, while the Watch House is now a museum, and the breeches buoy no longer in use, the team is still on hand. However, the nature of its rescues has changed dramatically. Members of the TVLB are nowadays more likely to find themselves at the aid of those who have come into trouble while enjoying everything this stretch of coast has to offer. Heather Peacock, a volunteer and a director, said: "We cover from Tynemouth up to Blyth, you could get called to a beach, to a cliff, to a river potentially, so you never really know what's coming in." She said the unknown of what is to come is part of the appeal, adding: "Whenever a call comes in you get a little adrenaline rush of 'what is it - what am I going to be doing now?' "The reality is it can go off any time of day or night. You can't ever plan for it but when the call does come in I try to make sure I respond quickly, get my kit on quickly and get to scene as quick as possible." Over the last two decades alone, the number of call-outs has jumped from around 30 a year to 130 a year - as people make use of the coast. The varied nature of call-outs mean the team needs to be trained up across different disciplines, meeting every week to keep on top of all those skills. They have to hit coastguard standard - and continue to adapt to meet the evolving demands of their rescues. Bill Westall, who joined the team in 1981, is one of six currently taking a first responder course - the first step to being a paramedic. He said: "[At] a lot of our emergencies, we often have to wait maybe an hour for an ambulance, so you can have someone in dire straits. "We try and stabilise them ourselves before the ambulance gets there and give them the best chance of survival." As one of the longest-serving volunteers, Bill has seen first-hand the changing nature of the brigade's role, including recently to more emotionally challenging call-outs. "Unfortunately at the moment, a lot of it is responding to people threatening to jump or who have jumped," he continued. "When somebody does go off, that's the worst part of the job. But with experience you get through it and we've got a good support network in the brigade. "We always talk about things and don't let it fester." To be there in someone's time of need is what motivates the team to give up their free time. This means people can enjoy the coast knowing there is a safety net in place if something does go wrong. Heather said: "It's really satisfying to be there in the moment and be part of a team that's skilled and really dedicated." A trailblazer, TVLB was the first of its kind and one of only two still in existence. With local volunteers still as committed to protecting their community, that seems unlikely to change any time soon. Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know... Credit: ITV Tyne TeesA volunteer life brigade on the North East coast has issued safety advice to swimmers and surfers about the risk of rip currents in the autumn months Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade told ITV Tyne Tees they dealt with four near-deaths this time last year after individuals got into difficulty in the water Speaking at King Edward's Bay - a popular sea swimming hotspot - Heather Peacock said: "For this particular area it's really handy to take a look from the top before you come down onto the beach "Rip currents look more like flatter pieces of water in between the waves we advise trying to swim parallel to shore." A rip current - sometimes known as a 'rip-tide' is a powerful narrow channel of fast-moving water flowing from the shore out to the sea Rip currents can move at speeds of over 5mph - often faster than a tide They can occur on any beach with breaking waves and are a leading cause of beach-related drownings according to the Royal Life Saving Society Rip currents are more common during the autumn months and are caused by the waves out at sea Another way to spot a rip current is a change in the colour of the water - usually it will look darker or murkier Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To know..