800 boats expected to be part of North Shields anniversary celebration

An event as part of the North Shields 800 celebrations will see the River Tyne at the Fish Quay filled with a parade of boats.

The town celebrates its 800th birthday this year and this is one of a series of events to celebrate.

The midsummer event on the afternoon of Friday, June 20 is being organised by North Shields Fishermen’s Heritage Project (NSFHP), and support from North Tyneside Council as a nod to the town’s fishing history.

A tug boat will shoot its firefighting water jets high into the air above the river, alongside vessels from the North Shields fishing fleet, pleasure craft from Royal Quays Marina, and boats from Port of Tyne, Northumbria Fishing Heritage, North East Maritime Trust, and Northumberland Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority.

A procession of 300 school children will walk along the Fish Quay from the Fisherman sculpture at Fiddlers Green to the Herring Girl on Western Quay. They will be led by bagpipers and a vintage quayside truck as part of the celebrations. When they reach Western Quay, the children will sing local songs including Lindisfarne’s ‘Run for Home’.

The parade of boats is expected to last around 30 minutes from 1pm and is expected to be followed with live music on the North Tyneside waterfront.

This signature event as part of the North Shields 800 celebrations brings back some of the best-loved elements of the town’s Fish Quay festival, which ran from 1987 to 2006.

Terry McDermott from NSFHP said: “We want the children to have a special day that they will remember forever. We want them to understand that they’re from a fishing town and be proud of it.

“They can have lifelong memories of the day they marched along the Fish Quay for the North Shields 800 celebrations. It’s about keeping the heritage of North Shields and the fishing industry alive.

“We are bringing back the tradition of the Blessing of the Fleet because it’s important to continue our community traditions.

“We want the fishing industry and the fishing community have a prominent place in the North Shields 800 celebrations, because the story of the town all started with the fishing.”

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Chair of the North Shields 800 Committee, Tynemouth MP Sir Alan Campbell, said: “North Shields is very proud of its working Fish Quay, which is the focal point for this key highlight of the North Shields 800 celebrations.

“Our thanks to North Shields Fishermen’s Heritage Project for all the hard work that has gone into organising this ambitious and spectacular event.

“The river and the fishing industry are where the story of North Shields began and seeing the river filled with a parade of boats will be a moment to remember as we mark the 800th anniversary of the town.”

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