THE region’s North East Film Archive has achieved a resounding response to the North East on Film project, passing the milestone of one million views of films in just six months.

The archive has been working with media partners across the region, adding more films to its website, releasing short clips on Facebook and delivering a series of sold-out screenings, creating further access to the film heritage of the region all thanks to support from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

From industry to holidays, sport and familiar scenes, the North East on Film CineSecrets initiative has seen more than 230,000 online views of the building of the iconic Tyne Bridge in 1928, trips to the seaside gaining more than 150,000 online views of 1950s visits to Roker Beach and Redcar, and archive footage of the 1984 Great North Run watched by more than 110,000 people.

Within the millions of feet of film preserved by the archive are thousands of individual stories.

The project has provided an opportunity for the people of the North-East and beyond to share collective memories.

To celebrate reaching one million views the archive has released more films, newly-digitised

as part of the North East on Film project.

The new films include a Darlington family sharing the delights of a Christmas gone by in A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS from 1950.

From Northumberland, local hero and World Cup winner Jack Charlton returns home to spend time in his beloved Ashington with his family and friends in BIG JACK’S OTHER WORLD. In this Tyne Tees documentary from 1971 we see Jack on his home turf having a game of bingo in the local working men’s club.

In FACES AND PLACES (1954), bygone Sunderland takes centre stage in the film which shows the city and many of the area’s beauty spots in full colour. The film also includes the sights of Billy Smart’s Circus, on parade through Sunderland city centre.

From Newcastle, Geordies get some camera training in the comical USING THE CAMERA: A LESSON ON CINE BY GROUP B (1968), from the collection of the Newcastle & District Amateur Cinematographers Association.

Railway enthusiasts also get a real treat with the wistful ALL CHANGE from County Durham. Casting a poetic eye over Durham City’s railway station, the film documents the station and its comings and goings as it prepares for modernisation in 1965.

Finally, for anyone fancies a pint, a trip is made to Middlesbrough’s Co-operative Club in 1965 for a Vaux Breweries commercial showing a gang of sporty regulars quenching their thirst over a locally-brewed beer.

North East on Film Delivery Manager Julie Ballands said: “When we began this project in the summer, we had no idea that the public response would be so incredible.

"For over one million people to have watched this material in just a few months underlines the power of the films we preserve and how much the people of the North-East want to see their communities and their history onscreen.

"We have lots of events lined up and are making more films available online every month. Alongside that we are also receiving new submissions each day through our Search & Rescue campaign - long may it continue.”

Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, North East on Film connects the people and communities of the North East with their regional film heritage.

The team at the archive are uncovering new films to preserve and reveal, enabling the people of our region to see, enjoy and even contribute to the onscreen story of more than 100 years of life in the North-East of England.

As well as providing access to their online collections, North East on Film includes screenings and special events.

Upcoming screenings include those in Durham, Hexham and Newcastle in January and March next year.

Fore more information and to see more of the thousands of hours of films of the region preserved by the North East Film Archive visit the website at northeastonfilm.com

  • The North East Film Archive is always looking for historic films made in and about the North-East to preserve and protect for the future.
  • Members of the public who would like to talk to someone from the North East Film Archive about a film or video they have should email nefa@tees.ac.uk or call NEFA on 01642-384022.