Tall Ships - Mon 25 to Thurs 28 July 2005 | | The Angel of the North |
If you're a Geordie who's been living away from the area for a while, how do you fancy coming back to see what's been happening since you left? Maybe you've never seen the Millennium Bridge, or the Sage Gateshead or the Angel of the North, so why not take your chance now? The organisers of the Tall Ships race believe that the Race will give you the ideal opportunity. It takes place from Mon 25th July until Thursday 28th, when a fleet of more than 100 tall ships will drop anchor on the Tyne. More than 3000 young people from more than 20 countries are expected to take part as crew, and more than a million people are expected to be there to say farewell to the ships as they leave the Tyne on Thursday 28 July. NewcastleGateshead Initiative believe it will give ex-pat Geordies a chance to come home, stay with friends or relatives and take a look at Tyneside at its best. If you're a Geordie living elsewhere in the country, or elsewhere in the world, and you're thinking of coming back for the Tall Ships Race, we'd love to hear from you. Get in touch with us at tyne@bbc.co.uk and tell us your plans, and what you think when you get back here. Here are a selection of your comments: | | More than 100 tall ships will take part |
Martin Kostalas
Its got to be the transformation of the quayside. I am always harping on to my friends in Cheshire about it.Last week 5 of us did the C2C ride from Whitehaven to Tynemouth. Took them for fish and chips on the North Shields Quayside.It blew them away. Coming back in July for the Tall Ships with another couple. Great. sarah allen-harang
the magnificent view of all the bridges across the river tyne ! can't find that any where, when i see that i know i'm home. kristi hayden- kent
i participated in tall ships last year and i think its the best thing ever to do, and the hosts like Tyneside are brilliant, theyre so welcoming and they treat you brilliantly. Maurice Woodcock. Scarborough
Hi, Came to Newcastle to see the Tall Ships Thur 28/7/05 for my birthday. What a day it turned out to be. It poured down most of the day and I had decided to walk down the north quayside. I set off from the station about 09-00hrs to walk to TYNEMOUTH 12mls?(mistake was it not)but what a walk,such lovely people,it was such an electric atmosphere. Crews on the ships dancing and singing. People shaking your hand to say hello. I even had two brandies abuot 1/2mile apart from complete strangers living in houses on the quayside. The only thing was they did not say I would have to leave the river at WALLSEND and walk through the town to reach TYNEMOUTH from where I caught the metro back to NEWCASTLE.Wet through inside as well as out,and Legs a Shaking but feeling BRILLIANT Because I had made it.From Tynemouth I think I saw the last of the Tall Ships leave the mouth of the river. What a fantastic day. Will certainly come to stay longer next time. M.W.Woodcock John Spratt
The Beer. Is it still 12p a pint? james nicol
the Quayside we were there last Sunday night and we hope to return on Wednesday Dazzler
Born there 34 years ago, left at the age of 2. Always will consider myself a Geordie. Can't wait to the see the tall ships and go out in Newcastle. Come on the Toon! margaret
THE TYNE BRIDGE magic David Luxton (0777-580-6859)
I have vivid memories of playing down Bottle Bank and Windmill Hills in Gateshead in the early 1960`s. I`m returning tomorrow (Tuesday 26 July) to gawp at the transformation of the Quayside since I left in 1968, and even got a hotel room on Bottle Bank ovelooking the Tyne and the magnificant tall ships. Not sure if I can get Stotty Cake and Sasperilla pop from room service, or even somewhere to park my home made Bogey cartwith pram wheels that took me down Bottle Bank as a lad ! maureen ter heegde holland
i've lived away from geordie land for 32 years and i miss everything about it.The people my family young and old.What i miss most is with the whole family going to south sheilds with a carry out of course ,having a few drinks a game of rounders and to finish off some fish and chips ,no matter what the weathers like wind and rain the lot we love it and the atmosphere keeps us warm,you can only find that in geordieland. Mark Blencowe
Born a Geordie and also a student at Newcastle Poly technic (Northumbria Un iversity) I left for good(?!?) 12 years ago to live in Belgium. You can't believe how much I want to see the quay again, Athurs cooperage? As I board the Tenacious tall ship I hope for some fantastic photos before we sail away again! Graham Blakey
Crown Posada and on a more 'serious' note the train journey into Newcastle across the Tyne from Gateshead THE MACKEM
THE ROAD TO SUNDERLAND...BEST PLACE IN THE COUNTRY Emily Hawley
I think the baltic and all the scenery along the banks of the River Tyne is amazing but being able to walk over the river Tyne on the bridges is just simply wonderful.I know a french man (who lives in spain !) who loves Newcastle upon Tyne and would love too see the Tall ships racing and our spectacular football games. Tony Conomy
Stotties & Kippas Grace Tirado (nee Whitworth), Ocala Florida
Family and friends are the biggest draw - you just can't stay away from them for too long. Judith Frazer now living in Sydney for the past 18
Driving North up on the A1 from the airport I always look out for Penshaw Monument and I know I'm getting close to home. Parents and family live in Washington. People are soooo.... warm and friendly and I love the chance to top up on the accent again. My hubby is Aussie and 2 weeks back in Geordieland he has difficulty understanding me all over again.....well it's better than the aussie mumble they all talk down under!! ha ha. Will be planning a trip back in 2007, and hoping the weather will be bewt!! David Gallimore
The Gateshead and Newcastle Quayside, particularly the Millenium Bridge, Sage and Baltic, which we have seen a couple of times now. Janice Lewington
Always proud to go home and see all the changes.Proud of my roots, will be especially proud to watch HMS Invicible coming into the Tyne for Tallships as my husband is serving on her. Shelly Wyre
The Quayside is wonderful and the town is fantastic. Always great to come back and visit family and Tyneside sights. Jean Palfrey
I moved from Newcastle to York in May 1993 and returned for a vist for the Tall Ships Race in the July of 1993. At that time I was heavily pregnant with my daughter who is now aged 11. I am hoping to come up for the event and it would be nice to wander around the quayside rather than waddle! It will be interesting to show daughter the quayside area and expalin how it has changed since she and I last waddled along its paths! I hope the event goes very well and the commemorative T shirts for this visit of the ships wear as well as the last - I am still wearing them and they are in great condition! val chapman
Would have liked to have returned for this but cannot get back until August. I work in United Arab Emirates. Please say hi to my family and friends. Fred, Melbourne, Australia (Born a proud Geordie)
Oh people, oh us Geordies who moved away, why exactly did we do it? The work, plenty of that now. I live in the Auss and have done for 36 years, never returning to my native Tyneside until December 2004, even with the damp weather, there was still a great warming atmosphere of proud Geordies around the place. I miss the Toon badly and i'm heavily considering coming home to a view of the absolutely beautiful scenery across Newcastle and the fabulous coast of Tynemouth (where i'm from). The people, accent, scenery, events, fun, everything, even the weather are brilliant beyond the most. I LOVE the Toon and tourists will too. The Tall ships are usually top noch so i'm flying back to see them. Andria Scully, Dallas, Texas
Coming over to see my fiance and of course eat loads of fish and chips. Geordies are such a wonderful breed!!! Elaine, Cincinnati, USA
I can't decide! By car from the South it is the Angel of the North, by plane it is the thrill of seeing the words 'Wecome to Newcastle Airport'. I left Newcastle Upon Tyne in 2004, I spent a few weeks there before moving out to the US. The quayside is fantastic, the Eye looks wonderful. I'm from the Gateshead side and I am so impressed with the way in which both sides of the river are beginning to compliment each other. The Sage was still being built when I left, so I am really looking forward to visiting that place. I went to the Tall Ships during my teens and loved every minute. One thing I do enjoy doing is standing on Seahouses pier eating the mussels and cockles, or the lady who sells those crab sandwiches on Lindisfarne! Yummy! The best thing for me though would be returning to watch my nephews run at Gateshead International Stadium in the Junior Games or watching them play football for Real Winlaton and Fellside or NUFC! Go Ben and Alex Kitchen! Do your Best! Sue Venis
Apart from the fab usual Tyne Bridge ,Angel of the North etc. You've got to revisit the Tyne Theatre.......fabulous building on a fabulous street!! Bob Colquhoun
Outa Hamburg the wonderfull way they have run North Shield into the Ground so gut gemacht das die meisten einheimischer hab das nicht Kapiert from Bob outo the old Ridges ANDI
THE WHOLE PLACE, THE PUBS THE CLUBS BUT WHAT I MISS MOST IS THE PEOPLE Bill Devenish
The transformation of the quayside, fish anbd chips at North Shields Quayside, Tynemouth but most of all the Tyne Bridge, you always know you are home when see it. Dave Waddell, Houston, Texas
Back to see family and friends. This time I'm bringing my six-year-old daughter and nine-year-old son. We can't wait. Barrie Symonds
I'ts got to be the Angel of the North, you know your home when you see it. Ilove the atmosphere of the toon. Angela Sapsford nee Thornton.
I got married on 19th July 1986, when the tall ships set sail so missed them.Managed to see the tall ships in 1993 and now want to bring my husband and 2 children to see the Tall ships in 2005.I live in Hertfordshire but am a frequent visitor to Newcastle to visit family.My Dad worked on the tug boats on the Tyne in the fifties.He is especially looking forward to seeing the ships. Lynne Hudson, Ottawa, Canada
The people. Their friendlyness and hospitality is amazing!! Geordie Vegas
The sight of a Greggs cheese pastie does it for me everytime! GARY HEWITT
IVE GOT TO SEE THE TALL SHIPS MISSED THEM IN LIVERPOOL BE NICE TO SEE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AGAIN IN NEWCASTLE 23YEARS SINCE I WAS IN NEWCASTLE LASTED, paul Dodds
The life, the Geordies, the general feel of the place, Whitley Bay on a Friday night, the Toon, walking from wallsend to Whitley Bay and stopping off for a broon or two. what more can I say if your a Geordie you will never get a feeling like seeing the tyne bridge as the train crawls into Newcastle Central Station. I was born in Wallsend in 1947 but have worked all over the world and now live in Hong Kong but have a business in the Philippines. My wife two children and myself will be back home to see the Tall Ships Race. rianna shepherd
i think your tyne bridge is a fantastic and i would love to see it but i live in gloucestersheire and it is a long way for me to travel Kevin Neilson
I miss the waarmth of the people on Tyneside, I now live in Athens where the place is warm, but the people are cold ( unless a friend introduces you then it's the complete opposite ) Cannot get my head around this coming from Newcastle and experiencing how open the geordies are. I miss this enormously - TOON ARMY !!!! ted latimer vancouver canada
THE PEOPLE BLESS EM.ex whitley bay Anne
Just spent 2 weeks on Tyneside on a visit after 40 years. It still felt like home and I loved everything even the weather. I would move back in a minute if I could get work. People where kind, helpful and friendly. The work being done to improve the area is fantastic as the History is being preserved while progress is being made. To me it was always beautiful city, country and coast and it still is. You are all lucky to live there. Muriel Brown
The people, the accent and the magnificent new architecture and bridge. Shara Brennan
I saw the Tall Ships as a kid but this visit I am coming from humid Rome to chilly Newcastle to see my best friends and family as they are the most important thing for me to see apart from a walk along the beautiful coast and mixing with warm geordie people. amy medlen
the races with the tall ships always a plesure Crazy Trev
Coming back and seeing the Tyne bridge is always a poignant moment, always great to see. You then know your home. Anne-Marie
The best thing about returning to the NE is the people and the lovely coastline. I am glad the weather isnt always gorgeous so we dont get overun with too many people overcrowding our lovely area. Errol (Albert Flynn)
I saw the Ships on the Tyne in the 90's & was blown away, especially as they went out to sea, saw the button boys on the Sedof standing at 200' ontop of the masts!!.What a site, I will be back to see this years race. An ex Geordie from Gateshead. ian greener
to all GEORDIES WORLD WIDE WHAT A START WE HAD...DOWN ON THE BIG BEACH AT SHIELDS COLD WET ...GREAT THEN OFF FOR A COUPLE DOWN OCEAN ROAD ,COD CHIPS PLEASE EXTRA BATTER TA THEN OFF TO THE MARKET LAST BUS TO BIDDICK ALL...AHHH JUST MISST IT...BEAT THAT AUSTIN TEXAS.. Liz
Seeing how much the Bigg Market/Quayside has changed since I last left (oh the memories!). Missed the Tall Ships when it was here in the 1980's so will do my utmost to get up there this time round. What I miss most is the Stottie cakes! Allan Hobby
The two things I like about the North East is the people. They are happy and helpful. And the beach at South Shields, its a nice place to get a tan (when its sunny!). carol bissett
we have the most fabulas beaches, I love them all shelley
im on the boat, returnin to me fan club is the best reson i can think of them returnin as well as to drop me off as theyll b sik of is by then lol Gemma
We live in Houston, texas and my family and i are coming back home for the tall-ships race! John Newcastle
Angel Of The North, Baltic, Sage, Millenium Bridge, Quayside, Nightlife, and me | 
