Author Description

In a decade of steep industrial decline, Ian La Frenais and Dick Clement had their fingers on the pulse of changing nation. Introducing `Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?' on BBC1 in 1973, we saw the characters of Bob Ferris and Terry Collier simultaneously looking back on the 60s and looking forward to the 70s. Alongside the images of a transforming Newcastle, the theme song lamented the lines `Oh what happened to you, whatever happened to me? What became of the people we used to be?' Victorian built terraced streets were demolished in favour of more modern alternatives, such as the Byker Wall housing complex. Eldon Square was demolished to make way for a shopping complex. The Central motorway began to take form. The Tyne and Wear Metro system would come to revolutionise public transport. All this change amongst the backdrop of conflicting unions and management. Yet the household experienced more access to mod-cons; colour television, stereo players and even a family car. Pop culture also experienced a surge with music coming from the likes of David Bowie, Elton John and Pink Floyd. It was a bad decade for football as Newcastle failed to repeat the success of their win of the Inter City Fairs Cup, and as the 70s changed to the 80s they found themselves in the second division. This vast amount of change would lead the way for a new era, Thatcher's era, which would deliver its own set of challenges and problems for the North East - but that's another story. For now, enjoy the fascinating story and stunning photographs of Newcastle and Tyneside in the 1970s.