Archive for September 2007
Great North Run, South Shields
Kara Goucher wins female elite event
Great Britain’s Paula Ratcliffe had to settle for second place at this year’s Great Noth Run which ended in South Shields today. She was beaten by American Kara Goucher who recorded the year’s fastest time for a half marathon, one hour six minutes and fifty seven seconds.
I am currently using a computer at my father’s home, my own is “toast” after a power supply failure on Friday, I will continue to post when I can until my new pc is built and operating satisfactorily (probably around about Wednesday.) My apologies for the lack of posts on Friday and Saturday.
Signs of preparation
Getting ready for the Great North Run 2007
South Shields is preparing for Sunday’s Great North Run with hundreds of people chipping in to make the event another huge success. The obligatory road signs are all now in place, a massive tented village is almost complete on The Leas, and the BBC Television gantries are in position.
The Great North Run is the worlds biggest half marathon with almost 50,000 runners taking part, representing every known postcode in the UK. Over 2,500 volunteers are helping to organise this year’s event, which will be televised by the BBC.
Former England football manager Sir Bobby Robson will fire the starting pistol on Sunday morning, and I will feature the Great North Run for the next few days.
Old South Shields buses
Two big yellow taxis
I’m a bit short of inspiration today, so I’ve delved into the archives to present these two old buses of the type that used to serve South Shields before the age of deregulation. I think they are Atlanteans (perhaps someone can confirm) and are shown in the livery of the old Tyne Wear Passenger Transport Executive. I pictured them at the Tyne Tees rally for vintage commercial vehicles in 2006 at the Bents Park in South Shields. The bus in the foreground is of an older vintage than the one in the background.
We have one or two buses left in the South Shields Busways depot in Dean Road still in the blue and cream livery of the South Shields Corporation, I don’t think I have a picture ofthem, so I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled!
Autumnal scene, West Park, South Shields
Early leaf fall
I don’t know if this is a common feature this year in the northern hemisphere, but leaf fall (autumn) appears to be happening a few weeks earlier than usual. This was captured in the West Park, South Shields, and whilst there is yet little change in the colouration of the trees many berries and fruits are showing and a lot of leaves are carpeting the ground.
Are you witnessing these changes yet?
Camera details; Pentax K100D, 32mm lens, 1/500 second, f8, iso 200
North Shields Fish Quay
Seeing South Shields from a different position
Click the picture to enlarge.
On the left is the small fish quay in North Shields where the fishing boats from the River Tyne land their catch from the North Sea. On the right is South Shields with the new(ish) housing development Harbour View below The Lawe, and the Littlehaven Hotel and Groyne lighthouse.
Camera details; Pentax K100D, 30mm lens, 1/500, f11, iso 200.
South Shields Coat of Arms
Original model in Town Hall
This our original Coat of Arms adopted by South Shields after it’s incorporation in 1850, the oak carving hangs in the Ante Room to the Council Chamber in South Shields Town Hall. It was designed by one of our townsmen, Robinson Elliott who was a landscape artist.
The lifeboat in the centre is rowed by South Shields pilots representing humanity. The supporters are a South Shields sailor representing courage, and a figure representing commerce, our strong links to the sea are represented by the anchor and our loyalty by the Union Jacks. Our town motto “Always Ready” was suggested by the town’s first MP Robert Ingham QC.
The wall paneling within the main civic rooms in the Town Hall is of Golden English Oak.
Camera details; Pentax K100D, 58mm lens, 1/30 second, f6.7, iso 200. No flash.
Readhead’s Landing, South Shields
Tyres and tillers
Click picture to enlarge.
This is not a commentary about the state of this public landing, this is not the place for such a discussion, however it’s likely that every major town around the world has a place like this. Somewhere to surreptitiously deposit the detritus of your life and work. This is one of the only remaining points of public access to the River Tyne in South Shields, a place where you used to be able to go and launch your own boat, probably a cobble in years gone by.
As an image, I was struck by the mixture of textures and material on offer, wood, rubber, and brick, all being consumed by the hungry vegetation of nature.
The toning, cracking, and peeling were all achieved with the aid of Alien Skins Dreamcraft plug-in for Photoshop.
