It's the news all of Wearside was waiting for. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were fast asleep in the spaceship Eagle after their first day's exertions on the Moon. The third astronaut Michael Collins was taking his own well-earned rest on board the mother ship Columbia high above them.placeholder image
It's the news all of Wearside was waiting for. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were fast asleep in the spaceship Eagle after their first day's exertions on the Moon. The third astronaut Michael Collins was taking his own well-earned rest on board the mother ship Columbia high above them. | JPIMedia Resell

Moon Landing 50th anniversary: 15 reminders of what was happening in Sunderland on the day Neil Armstrong took 'one small step'

By Chris Cordner
Published 20th Jul 2019, 06:00 GMT
Updated 25th Jul 2019, 19:42 GMT

The front page was emblazoned with stories of the ‘Moon Men’

But while Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins were reflecting on one of mankind’s greatest achievements, life went on in Wearside and County Durham.

Everyone, including the Beatles were talking about the men on the moon but it was a great year for the Miners Gala and Sunderland Football Club had just released the fixtures for the coming season. What were you doing that day.

And here, 50 years on from that incredible moment, is our look back at what was happening closer to home in July 1969.

Durham Miners Gala was on the same weekend as the Moon landings and the turnout was massive for the 'Big Meeting'.

5. Massive turnout for the 'Big Meeting'

Durham Miners Gala was on the same weekend as the Moon landings and the turnout was massive for the 'Big Meeting'. | JPIMedia Resell Photo: Sunderland Echo

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Carry On fans were in for a treat at the Odeon Sunderland. Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Barbara Windsor and Hattie Jacques were among the stars in Carry On Camping which was featuring on the day of the Moon landing.

6. Carry On Camping

Carry On fans were in for a treat at the Odeon Sunderland. Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Barbara Windsor and Hattie Jacques were among the stars in Carry On Camping which was featuring on the day of the Moon landing. | JPIMedia Resell Photo: SE

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James Burke, David Frost and others were the famous figures reporting on man's greatest achievement. There were Moon landing programmes galore including live images from the surface, expert analysis, and even Songs of Praise from the US Air Force base at West Ruislip. But if it was non-Moon telly you were after there was plenty of that as well including the Roy Castle Show and Star Trek on BBC1, Gardeners World with Percy Thrower on BBC2, and Fort Apache (a film starring Henry Fonda and Shirley Temple) on Tyne Tees.

7. Plenty on the telly

James Burke, David Frost and others were the famous figures reporting on man's greatest achievement. There were Moon landing programmes galore including live images from the surface, expert analysis, and even Songs of Praise from the US Air Force base at West Ruislip. But if it was non-Moon telly you were after there was plenty of that as well including the Roy Castle Show and Star Trek on BBC1, Gardeners World with Percy Thrower on BBC2, and Fort Apache (a film starring Henry Fonda and Shirley Temple) on Tyne Tees. | JPIMedia Resell Photo: SE

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Sunderland town centre is pictured in this July 1969 image. The sign for C&A can be seen in the distance. Which shops do you remember from that era? Email chris.cordner@jpimedia.co.uk.

8. Shopping scene

Sunderland town centre is pictured in this July 1969 image. The sign for C&A can be seen in the distance. Which shops do you remember from that era? Email [email protected]. | JPIMedia Resell Photo: SE

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