Sorry to issue a #spoiler for #AEWCollision - #CashWheeler v. #Pac, but it’s a good day to love #Newcastle #athletes. #HowayTheLads

#nufc #aew #wrestling #wwe

Jimmy Carter in Newcastle (1977)

The news of the death at the age of 100 of former US President Jimmy Carter reminded me of a day way back when I was still at school. It was Friday, May 6th, 1977 and I was at the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle upon Tyne. I remember that morning it was announced at Assembly that Carter would be visiting the city and giving a speech outside the Civic Centre, which was less than 10 minutes’ walk from the School. I think some senior boys were allowed to go an see him, but as a mere third-former I went to a class and the occasion largely passed me by.

One thing I do remember is a classmate after Assembly saying “Thank God he didn’t visit Sunderland instead…” – Carter visited Newcastle on his way to Washington (the ancestral home of George Washington), which is nearer to Sunderland than Newcastle. I suppose the reason was that Newcastle has an airport, whereas Sunderland hasn’t.

The other thing I remember was the TV coverage on Look North when I got home, which showed the start of President Carter’s speech with his famous “Howay the Lads!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y75iPmYXMMA

R.I.P. Jimmy Carter (1924-2024)

#CivicCentre #HowayTheLads #JimmyCarter #NewcastleUponTyne