Electric witches brooms and a big black cat on the prowl - all in the 1986 Halloween news
‘All-electric Hallowe'en character near Penshaw Monument’
A witch flying on an electric broom over Penshaw Monument and a big black cat on the loose - guess what the link was.
The answer is they were two of the curious tales which appeared in the Halloween edition of the Sunderland Echo in 1986.
The October 31 tradition of Halloween took on a different feel on Wearside back then and it’s time to take a look at life in the area on the spookiest night of the year 40 years ago.
The Sunderland Echo suggested to its readers that electric brooms were taking to the air above Wearside.
“There were more than thoughts of new technology in the air around Sunderland today,” said our report.
“An Echo staffman spotted this all-electric Hallowe'en character near Penshaw Monument. So if you're witch-hunting tonight, listen for the VROOM ... VROOM ... and look to the sky.”
Speculation was growing that there was a mystery beast on the loose in the area.
The prowling creature, described as bigger than an Alsatian and possibly a puma, was seen by Florence Watson when it appeared in her garden. She was hanging out her washing at the tome.
The creature stood its ground for a few seconds as she stared at it, before it fled over fields towards a nearby quarry. The pensioner said: “I didn’t run away or anything, not because I wasn't frightened but because I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.”
Over in Thompson Park, the atmosphere was much more fun.
Youngsters from the Thompson Park family centre had a party, for which the children made lanterns and hats, and Denise Conlin (left) played the part of a witch.
Halloween was not welcomed by everyone and the authorities had concerns on how it would affect Wearside’s older generation.
David Hobman, director of Age Concern, said there had been a national survey and some retired people “don’t know about the custom and are surprised and frightened by it.”
He urged any pensioner who was scared by the masks to ‘call the police or a beefy neighbour to get rid of the nuisance’.
We would love your memories of Halloween celebrations in years gone by.
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