On National Mackem Day, August 12, we’ve rounded up some of the weird and wonderful things associated with people from our city by the sea.
9. A deep-rooted pride in our industrial heritage
Sunderland has a long and proud shipbuilding heritage and watching mighty ships being launched on the Wear was once a popular pastime. At the height of its success, Sunderland was the biggest shipbuilding town in the world and many of today's residents either worked in the yards or had family members employed in the industry. During the war, it was the women of Wearside who kept the shipyards afloat and played a key role in the war effort.
Pictured here is youngster Andrew Rowland in October 1979 at the ship launch of the SD 14 Thai Binh from the new tandem covered-in berth of Austin and Pickersgill at the Southwick shipyard. Photo: jpi media
10. "I'll meet you at C&A"
Before mobile phones, before the internet, you'd have to set a meeting point in advance if you were catching up with your mates and C&A in the centre of town became a popular meet-up spot. It's pictured here in 1971 and was still a regular meeting point long after the Bridges got its roof. Photo: jpi media
11. The excitement of getting a delivery from the 'Pop Man'
Villa Pop was once a staple drink in Sunderland, thanks to its long-established bottling plant in Southwick, which is now Clearly Drinks. A highlight of the week would be getting a delivery from the 'pop man' from Sykes' or getting some sarsaparilla Villa pop. Pictured here is worker Martin Fenwick in October 1994 when we ran a story on Villa lemonade being exported to Russia. Although the factory is no longer called Villa, it still produces some Villa flavours: cherry, lemonade and orange. Photo: jpi media
12. Enjoying a cuppa at Louis
A cuppa and an ice cream float at Louis in Park Lane was once an integral part of Sunderland life before the popular family-run cafe closed its doors . It's pictured here in December 1982. The business first started in Ryhope in 1924 and later opened in Crowtree Road in Sunderland city centre before moving premises to Park Lane in 1975 where it traded until 2018. Photo: jpi media