peter reid yeah that’s right, A chemist by the name of Joseph Swan, I used to go to school with his great grandson, his lab was in Northumberland street in Newcastle and they got commissioned by the government as a test to light that street via electric thus making it the first street in the world to have street lights as we know them, after that it was rolled out across the country...

Joseph Swan needs A LOT more recognition

Thank you, Phil. I am a Wearsider too, and proud of it. I agree wholeheartedly with you about Newcastle getting the lion’s share of funding, especially when it comes to bridges, infrastructure and transport, etc.

I agree. I am a southerner (London and Kent) but have visited Sunderland. The word "mackem" is just vulgar and degrading to Wearside folk.

Typical of the debilitating petty tribalisms that plague the north east. The fact is that Newcastle is also very poor, tiny population compared to many other cities, and struggling. We in the north east can't afford the stupid football type rivalries that keep us apart. Even added together, the whole north east population is only 4% of the UK. We really are that tiny. We ALL deserve better, but that also depends on us not being such stupid tribal idiots. Whether we're in Newcastle or Sunderland, we all really need to grow up.

David Miller Thank you Mistah Millah, Sunderland had the most Fascinating history, I really was amazed to learn so much about it, and Alice in Sunderland is a really interesting bewk

"u mak m, we tak m" motto of Sunderland social services..

Ah - the usual Newcastle conceit that Newcastle covers the whole of the Tyne. Jarrow is not Newcastle. Although Ceolfrith founded the Jarrow section of the Monkwearmouth-Jarrow Abbey / Monastery there is no evidence to suggest that Ceolfrith remained in Jarrow permanently and never returned to Monkwearmouth. The complete guess work that Bede went to and/or remained at Jarrow is just that.

When Bede was born then went to St Peter’s the Jarrow monastery didn’t exist Bishop established it later. There is no actual proof that Bede spent most of his time at Jarrow, he’s been essentially hijacked by Tyneside over time and Sunderland Council have let them get away with it.

@@caveydavey2486 l

No, Nil Desperandum Auspice Deo. Think roughly "those who believe in God have nothing to fear" or "don't let the bastards get you down" LOL.

@@axelusul That was a joke (carborundum is an abrasive).

@@tedf1471 Cool, I better swot up on me sand papers. Cheers matey. LOL

yes.....whaaaat.....Sundereland has a Culture

Unbelievably, with a lot of digging Sunderland and adjoining places has loads of history. Plus too much lost, forgotten or simply dismissed.

Can I ask where you are from? Where and what exactly did you see here? I was born and raised here I am neither sad or wear cheap padded jackets. Yes some of it is depressing but it has it's good points and it's bad points but that could be said of a lot of places in this country there are worse places.

I was born in Sunderland, brought up in the Garth, I left town at 16, 1977, I never returned to live. Generally you know what I,m talking about. Comparing Sunderland to worse place,s is exactly the mentality I,m talking about, Try comparing Sunderland to better place,s then you become stuck. Sunderland is geographically in the wrong place, our for-father,s had absolutely no idea, knowledge or vision for the future after the closure of the shipyard,s, mine,s etc,. They complained and moaned and did nothing to generate a future for the next generation, hence again the "negative" mentality now past on to their sibling,s. Sunderland and surrounding area,s will decline and crumble completely in time, but people there will continue to gripe and complain. I,ve never seen so many benefit scrounger,s, chain smoking in wheel chair,s or on walking stick,s. Fact is the people of the town are scared of change, the unknown, they are natural born panic attack worrier,s. I won,t tell you so much about myself but I,ve did ok and continue to do ok to say the very least. I have a small property portfolio in Sussex. A home on the cote d azur and here in south east asia where I live now and e-mailing you from now. Although it,s the wet season the sky is still blue most of the day and a constant 33 degree,s. I flew here from Newcastle (Emirates) last time I came back they don,t have a first class on the flight as there is no demand, it,s the only emirates departure that does,nt, that suggest,s the overall picture again, I had to travel business to Dubia before I could pick up on first !!! ......To be fair to you, your reply was polite and calm, I was expecting a defensive angry reply, well done on that point. I just suppose I,m a little angry still that I,m not proud of Sunderland, people say I should be proud of where I come from, that,s absolute crap ! I proud of where I am. I,ve always,s travelled hopefully. I my opinion someone up there (Sunderland) should get themselves in a position to put a stop to the grim outlook up there, get people to say, were finished with the old way,s, Get everyone working, not just any old job, job,s with prospect,s and a future, stop benefit completely and within 1 generation every school leaver will be mentally looking forward to changing the path for themselves. I do go on abit don,t I ! Thank,s for the reply, I,m sure your a decent fella. Cheer,s.

Anthony Smith Nice to see you seem to have done good for yourself mate. I suppose I am proud of where I come from Nowt I can do about that now. I agree on some points, people here again I suppose do gripe and complain. I have been lucky enough to have held down a job in one form or other since I left school and am still working. I know some people have the attitude 'I'm better off on the dole it's not worth getting out of bed I would be worse off' that attitude hacks me off. At the same time the town doesn't seem to get anything like what our neighbours Newcastle get we are the poor relations in Tyne and Wear and the council in this town are shite for the want of a better word but people of this town voted them in I for one didn't but hey ho. There are some changes going on but it is poor compared to other places, but I have to stand by what I said it has it's good points and it's bad like everywhere but I get your point/s. I have never had the inclination to move away from here if I had been unemployed it's something I would have considered but I never had to. I sure your a decent fella also good luck to you continue to be happy and successful.

Hello again, thank,s for the praise. Doing good for ourselves is about being happy, I,m happy now but I never used to be, I was always,s looking for something I did,nt know I was looking for, still I arrived at Pleasantville and I,m ok, I still can occasionally get out of my pram though!.......... I also agree Newcastle does appear to have a different attitude to Sunderland, I have brother,s and sister,s living in Morpeth, Amble and surrounding area,s there, it,s totally different to Sunderland. Why do Sunderland people have that "give up attitude" ( generally speaking)? It really annoy,s me, that pity me, why I don,t nar approach to everything. Could you give me a list of Sunderland,s good point,s??????? It,s about 4am here, we,ve just had a "blinding" thunderstorm, hot wind,s and torrential rain, it,s the wet season here as I last mentioned but a typhoon over the south China sea near Taiwan is "licking" the edge of here. I quite like the noise and fear of it, must be them long summer holiday,s I spent on roker beach as a bairn.! I don,t know if or where you have travelled but if you have,nt you should. I like sitting in the middle of nowhere drinking cold beer, I,ve did this all over the world, I find places that smell foreign and look unusual. I drive a scooter here and my son and I travel deep into the swamp,s and jungles sometimes, it,s weired and wonderfull , I take drink,s and food and eat when we get lost, then I challenge myself to find a main road, I always,s do. Anyway again I,ve gone on abit, please , go somewhere different on holiday, go question what lifes about, it,s not in Sunderland, that is for sure! cheer,s mate.

Anthony Smith you cretin.

Teresa C sunlun is the smelly armpit of England. its an actual disgrace.

barry cox I'm Sorry Barry, I must disagree. I took a lovely trip there from America, and the people were wonderful, and the places I saw, including Roker Beach and lighthouse and the town centre were very nice. There are some wonderful old pubs in town as well, you ought to have another look