Colourful Patio Lavatera

An elegant variety that is perfect for brightening up your garden borders and patio containers

WE’RE all familiar with the seven bridges that currently link Newcastle and Gateshead across the River Tyne, variously carrying motor vehicles, trains, Metros and pedestrians.

They are, of course, the Tyne Bridge, High Level Bridge, Swing Bridge, Millennium Bridge, King Edward VII Bridge, Redheugh Bridge and Queen Elizabeth II Metro Bridge.

The story of the river is also the story of the numerous bridges, tunnels and crossings that were planned and considered over the decades, but never saw the light of day.

Had two bridges that were planned further downriver come to fruition, the Tyne’s landscape might have been intriguingly different.

Dramatic composite images of the two separate bridges – one from the

mid 1960s, the other from 1901 – that would have linked South Shields and North Shields have been created by history enthusiast Mick Ray who lives in South Shields.

Mick’s first image depicts a Golden Gate-type bridge that was proposed around 1965. As reported in the Chronicle at the time, it was the brainchild of Dennis Clark Slater, architect planner of Cramlington

New Town, and would span “the Narrows” between the Low Lights at North Shields and Lawe Road in South Shields.

His idea was for a graceful suspension bridge that would employ the high ground on either side of the river, and give it enough height for the tallest ocean-going vessels to pass below. The bridge would have a span of 2,000 feet. The

plan was a non-starter and the Tyne Tunnel between Jarrow and Howdon would be preferred.

For the second illustration, Mick takes up the story of an earlier imposing bridge that was proposed at the turn of the last century.

He says: “This is based on a sketch I found showing a proposed transporter bridge between North and South Shields in 1901...Access to

the bridge was to be via walkways leading on to platforms half way up the support pylons. An electrically powered suspended carriage would shuffle... across the river, docking at the platforms to drop off and pick up passengers.”

See more of Mick Ray’s work on the Facebook page ‘Fietscher Fotos of South Shields & surrounding areas’.

The Rover returns. Soap star Kevin Kennedy played Curly Watts on Coronation Street for 20 years, but still found time to regularly play at charity football matches. 1993

1981 Not a lot of people know that. British film star Sir Michael Caine shared a football with England’s World Cup winner Bobby Moore when they attended the charity premiere of the movie Escape to Victory. The film saw them as British prisoners of war during the Second World War who are challenged to a game of football by their Germans captors.

Spot the celebrity. Trainspotting and Elementary actor Jonny Lee Miller is a keen sportsman. He runs marathons and does martial arts and took part in the Film Industry Football Event to raise money for charity. 1999

1997 May the Force be with you. Star Wars actor Ewan Mcgregor celebrated scoring a goal at an all-stars game in aid of the Calton Athletic drugs rehabilitation and prevention project in Glasgow.

1994 Four weddings and a football match. Film star Hugh Grant took to the pitch to show off his soccer skills.

1977 Anyone seen our ball? Monty Python star John Cleese and comedy performer Peter Cook took part in a charity football match in Dulwich in London to raise money for a primary school.

1974 Have you heard the one about the Scottish comedian? Billy Connolly proudly modelled the Scottish team’s football strip and added his own fashion accessory ... a tartan scarf.

2000 Heads or tails? Actors Jimmy Nail and Jude Law headed to Chelsea’s ground at Stamford Bridge for the Film Industry Football Event to raise money for NCH Action for Children.

1994 Get ready for the kick-off. Eastenders actor Sid Owen took a break from playing Ricky in the BBC soap to enjoy some time on the pitch.

1964 Read all about it. Singer and actor Tommy Steele turned out for a TV All Stars football match against a team of newspaper journalists for a game at Edgware in London.

1997 Let me entertain you! Football-loving singer Robbie Williams being cheeky at a charity football match at Fulham.

A Golden Gate-style bridge that was proposed in the mid 1960s

A Transporter Bridge that was proposed in 1901