0:00:02 > 0:00:04Around the coast of Britain are cities where lives
0:00:04 > 0:00:05are shaped by the sea.
0:00:05 > 0:00:06HOOTER BLARES
0:00:06 > 0:00:07It gets the heart going a bit.
0:00:07 > 0:00:11Each city is a gateway to the wider world,
0:00:11 > 0:00:13and around each city
0:00:13 > 0:00:16thousands of people work in jobs that touch all of our lives.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19- Lovely to meet you. - Whether it's keeping us safe...
0:00:19 > 0:00:20OK, deep breathing.
0:00:20 > 0:00:21..or keeping us smiling.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25Yes, my love. Don't spend your bus fare, will you?
0:00:25 > 0:00:27Jobs that keep the nation afloat.
0:00:27 > 0:00:31We are on call 24/7, 365 days a year.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33From clocking on in the morning...
0:00:34 > 0:00:36..to relaxing after work...
0:00:36 > 0:00:38The seaside beckons.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41..around the shores and rivers of their home towns,
0:00:41 > 0:00:43water brings people together.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48On the northeast coast of England,
0:00:48 > 0:00:50Sunderland is getting a new landmark.
0:00:52 > 0:00:54It's been a great experience.
0:00:54 > 0:00:55Something not to be missed.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59Along the River Wear, maritime links are still strong,
0:00:59 > 0:01:01for industry and for people.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03Ladies and gentlemen, the ship is open.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05And the crowds drop in for the airshow.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07It's a seaside jump. They're always special.
0:01:18 > 0:01:23Sunderland. A city with a maritime history stretching back
0:01:23 > 0:01:24hundreds of years.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29But it's a city that's changing.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32Old and new working traditions are coming together...
0:01:34 > 0:01:37..while the lure of the sea continues to bring pleasure seekers.
0:01:41 > 0:01:46And on the horizon, a 21st-century addition to the city's skyline.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54It's the moment Sunderland has been waiting for.
0:01:54 > 0:02:00For the first time in 40 years, the River Wear is to have a new bridge.
0:02:00 > 0:02:01The Northern Spire.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07Arriving today from Belgium, the centrepiece.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10Twice the height of Nelson's Column.
0:02:10 > 0:02:11The challenge -
0:02:11 > 0:02:13to navigate the massive structure
0:02:13 > 0:02:18two-and-a-half miles up the twists and turns of the river.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21A job two years in the planning.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25This is quite exciting because not something of this size and magnitude
0:02:25 > 0:02:27we haven't taken up river before.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32Baber Abidi is going to pilot the pylon to the construction site.
0:02:35 > 0:02:36It's got to be done so it will be done.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46But he's got to squeeze the precious cargo
0:02:46 > 0:02:47under the city's existing bridges.
0:02:47 > 0:02:52The tide level in the river has to be just right.
0:02:52 > 0:02:53It will be a close shave.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00At 4.30am, Baber is ready to go.
0:03:03 > 0:03:04All looking good so far.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06Just waiting for the moorings.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10Once the moorings are sorted out, the tug is in place and then we
0:03:10 > 0:03:12are on our merry way.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17Position on starboard quarter.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19Baber is coordinating two tugs,
0:03:19 > 0:03:21pulling the pylon up the river.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34With the first bridge approaching, the moment of truth.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36If his calculations are wrong...
0:03:37 > 0:03:40..the load will hit the bottom of the bridge.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01There is only a metre to play with.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20But the narrowest bend in the river is still to come.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54Dawn. Mission accomplished.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58I'm very pleased with how it went.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00A very smooth operation.
0:05:00 > 0:05:01All the way up to the site.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05I think it took about two-and-a-half hours, something like that.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09Just under three hours to get there and be stationed on the site.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11But to me it looked like half an hour.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15And yes, to come out of it pleased with myself.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17Yes, I have a part in it.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20A big part, because it is the centrepiece.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27HOOTER BLOWS
0:05:29 > 0:05:33The port of Sunderland has welcomed seafarers for hundreds of years.
0:05:37 > 0:05:38Almost!
0:05:40 > 0:05:42One woman is keeping that tradition alive.
0:05:45 > 0:05:50I'm preparing to visit the ship and to bring them along some gifts and
0:05:50 > 0:05:53some useful things that they may need in the cold weather.
0:05:54 > 0:05:58And then I have a little tape on here and this is called -
0:05:58 > 0:06:00I love it - You Raise Me Up.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02It is just one thing - You Raise Me Up.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08Sister Mary Scholastica opens her mission whenever a ship docks in
0:06:08 > 0:06:11the city, caring for sailors far from home.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22Somebody put that on the internet, giving the Pope the shirt,
0:06:22 > 0:06:23and I got it framed.
0:06:23 > 0:06:29And it's amazing, all the people ask me to do a copy for them.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32They love hoodies and love it with the hood on
0:06:32 > 0:06:34because when they come out
0:06:34 > 0:06:38in the cold, if they are the cook or the chef or that, they love that
0:06:38 > 0:06:41and with the zip on and they zip it on and they are beautiful.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47The most important thing we can give to anybody is our time.
0:06:56 > 0:07:01So, I have lived here in Sunderland for 59 years, in this city.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03So there are very few people I don't know.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07- Keeping well?- Very well, thank you.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11Sister Mary is stocking up on mobile SIM cards.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13Five, six.
0:07:13 > 0:07:14- There you go.- Thank you. All the best.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16Thank you, look after yourself.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18By far our best customer.
0:07:20 > 0:07:21Hat on...
0:07:28 > 0:07:31Today she is visiting the crew of the Cellus,
0:07:31 > 0:07:33which has been unloading wood pulp.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37That's good. Lovely to meet you.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39Lovely to see you back again.
0:07:41 > 0:07:42No problem.
0:07:44 > 0:07:45Thank you.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50Hello. Nice meeting you again.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53I'll give them another top up on the card that they can use tonight.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57Sister Mary hands over the mobile SIM cards so the crew can have
0:07:57 > 0:08:00vital access to home and the internet.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02Are you on Facebook and all of that?
0:08:02 > 0:08:03- Yeah.- That's great.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06You're on Facebook and all of that.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08My nephews have me on, and the family,
0:08:08 > 0:08:11on WhatsApp and that and all these bits are going
0:08:11 > 0:08:13and all these pictures are going and all these things.
0:08:13 > 0:08:18She brings a lot of love, a lot of nice reaction.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20Everybody's happy so I think it is a good idea.
0:08:20 > 0:08:21Yeah.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23Have you been on the ship before?
0:08:23 > 0:08:25Have I met you before, haven't I?
0:08:25 > 0:08:26I have. That's right.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28Sister Mary is very generous.
0:08:28 > 0:08:34She brings much, you know, much present for, like, toothpaste, everything.
0:08:34 > 0:08:39Yeah. Winter clothes.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42Cold here in the North East but it would be colder still in Norway and
0:08:42 > 0:08:44Sweden, I would imagine.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47So I have brought you some nice warm clothing.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51- Thank you.- I've brought you T-shirts and I've brought you
0:08:51 > 0:08:52some lovely gifts.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54Very generous.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56- Thank you. - Tesco's shelves would be empty
0:08:56 > 0:08:58if we hadn't seafarers to fill them.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00We would have no food on the shelves.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04You wouldn't have these beautiful trainers and shoes and everything
0:09:04 > 0:09:06like that if we had no seafarers.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09The Lord will probably retire me when he thinks I should retire,
0:09:09 > 0:09:10I think.
0:09:13 > 0:09:17I will do it while I am able to do it and then I will be able to row
0:09:17 > 0:09:19- my boat ashore...- Bye-bye.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21See you next time.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25..And thank the Lord for the opportunities,
0:09:25 > 0:09:27many opportunities and blessings he has given.
0:09:34 > 0:09:39Sunderland was once the world's biggest ship builder
0:09:39 > 0:09:42but all the yards have closed.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Today, young people need to find work in other industries.
0:09:49 > 0:09:50Like crane building.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56Malcolm Smith started in the shipyards in 1974.
0:09:56 > 0:10:01Now he is passing on his engineering skills to the apprentices here at
0:10:01 > 0:10:02Liebherr Cranes.
0:10:08 > 0:10:09Basically, what we are doing today,
0:10:09 > 0:10:12we are laying the pallets out with the fork truck.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14We're setting a little bit of an obstacle course up.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17For Tony, for his cherry picking course.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21The pallets is getting laid out just to give a little bit of
0:10:21 > 0:10:24an idea for the lad when he is driving around,
0:10:24 > 0:10:27putting a few obstacles just to make things a little bit awkward for him.
0:10:30 > 0:10:35Tony Armstrong is 19 and in the second year of his apprenticeship.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39Today's test - mastering the art of the cherry picker.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45- Now you're fired up.- Yep.- All right. Are you happy with that?
0:10:45 > 0:10:49- Yep.- I would like you to lift us off the ground, just enough.
0:10:52 > 0:10:53Just a joystick, you know.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56- All right.- Space Invaders.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59All right. Nae bother.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02- Before my time.- Never mind before your time.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06Super Mario. You dinna want to bounce out the basket.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10I'm a human being, not a monkey.
0:11:11 > 0:11:12I canna have anywhere.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18Now it's getting tighter for you.
0:11:18 > 0:11:19Now it's getting tighter.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21Perfect, that, now.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23Easy.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26Remember the wood, touch that wood and that's it.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29Tony has got safely around the obstacles.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31Now it's time to gain some height.
0:11:34 > 0:11:35Nice and easy.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38Fingertip control.
0:11:38 > 0:11:39Treat it like a woman!
0:11:42 > 0:11:45- All right. Treat it like a woman. - I'll try, Mal.
0:11:45 > 0:11:46Nice and gentle.
0:11:47 > 0:11:48You can tell your lass that.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54When you are 60 foot up in the air, you cannot be too cocky, you know?
0:11:54 > 0:12:00- Aye, that's the thing, Mal.- There's only one way and that's down.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02I think we've got an audience.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05- Just a bit, like, Mal.- Visitors.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08I never thought I'd get a job as David Attenborough!
0:12:11 > 0:12:12Flipping heck!
0:12:15 > 0:12:18So, has Tony done enough to pass?
0:12:20 > 0:12:22I must say congratulations,
0:12:22 > 0:12:25for you have passed that course for the cherry picker.
0:12:25 > 0:12:26- Thank you.- So, well done.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32- You're ticking the wrong boxes, like.- Oh, well, I'll turn that over.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34You don't have to say that!
0:12:34 > 0:12:36I could have adjusted that later on!
0:12:36 > 0:12:39The camera wasn't even on that!
0:12:39 > 0:12:41Flipping hell. All right, then.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43Fail, fail, fail...
0:12:52 > 0:12:55On the seafront, a very different challenge...
0:12:56 > 0:12:59..for runners from across the North East.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03A camera just appeared in front of my face.
0:13:03 > 0:13:04I'm just phoning Mum for inspiration.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12It's the biggest event on the calendar
0:13:12 > 0:13:14for the Sunderland Strollers -
0:13:14 > 0:13:16the Pier To Pier race.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20Five minutes to start, please.
0:13:22 > 0:13:23LOUD-HAILER WHOOPS
0:13:24 > 0:13:25Thank you.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35First and second. All right?
0:13:38 > 0:13:40Three, two, one, go!
0:13:53 > 0:13:57It's a seven-mile route from South Shields to Sunderland.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06Phil Tweddell created the run 20 years ago.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08Now he's president of the Strollers.
0:14:12 > 0:14:13See you at the finish.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17Today he's taking the easy route.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23On a training run I would have taken the clifftop, the edge path,
0:14:23 > 0:14:27but if I was actually in the run I would have taken the shorter route
0:14:27 > 0:14:28through the thick grass.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31All right.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35Lead runners are coming along the beach now.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38Should be at the finishing line in a matter of seconds.
0:14:40 > 0:14:42- Come on!- Come on, Wendy.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44Come on. Come on, Wendy.
0:14:47 > 0:14:48Well done.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54You've done awesome, chick. Well done. Well done.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59- As president of the club I congratulate you on an excellent run.- Thank you!
0:15:02 > 0:15:05This is the first win for me, and especially for the Strollers.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07- The Strollers' vest.- It's got to be the Strollers' vest
0:15:07 > 0:15:09for the Strollers' run.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11Go on!
0:15:11 > 0:15:15- That was fun.- It's something the city should be proud of.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25Just down the beach,
0:15:25 > 0:15:28a business that has been part of the seafront for decades.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31There we go.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33Nice and quiet. Nice and silent.
0:15:36 > 0:15:41Grant Selden runs the family arcade with his sister, and with half term,
0:15:41 > 0:15:42he's hoping to be busy.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47Get ready, get prepared for all the families and children coming in
0:15:47 > 0:15:50today and, you know, hopefully make some more money.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11This is a big investment for us.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13It was all the money what we had and didn't have.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17Put all your eggs in one basket and luckily it paid off.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20- Yes, my love. - The spinning machines.
0:16:21 > 0:16:22Has it ran out of tickets?
0:16:22 > 0:16:24Has it ran out of tickets?
0:16:24 > 0:16:26- Has it what?- What are you asking me?
0:16:26 > 0:16:28No, the toy thing is stuck.
0:16:28 > 0:16:29The toy is stuck? There he is, man.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40I've been here since I was four years old.
0:16:41 > 0:16:4450, well, more than 50 years ago.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50Yes, love. Hello.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52Are you all right?
0:16:52 > 0:16:56- Yeah.- Lindsay and Grant learned the ropes from their parents,
0:16:56 > 0:16:57who never took a holiday.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01Always had to be open. It never had to be closed.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03We always had to be open.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05And he died on Christmas Day.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07And that day we were closed anyway.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10And it was like, you know, "We haven't even had a day off!"
0:17:10 > 0:17:13We didn't even get a day off.
0:17:13 > 0:17:14He knew! He knew!
0:17:20 > 0:17:22Don't spend your bus fare, will you?
0:17:28 > 0:17:31Just waiting for stock coming in this afternoon.
0:17:31 > 0:17:32I ordered it yesterday.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40I mean, the cranes are like random
0:17:40 > 0:17:43so you could win a couple of toys very early on
0:17:43 > 0:17:45and then not win none for a little while.
0:17:45 > 0:17:46They run an average time.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49But we do, we have them generous.
0:17:49 > 0:17:50We have the cranes generous.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53You like to give value for money to customers.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01The arcade is reliant on day trippers
0:18:01 > 0:18:03coming to enjoy the seaside.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07People love it. Get the buckets and spades, go out to the beach,
0:18:07 > 0:18:10come back when the tide comes in.
0:18:10 > 0:18:11They just love it, you know.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18I don't like the sea. I don't go in the water and I don't go on a boat
0:18:18 > 0:18:20and I don't... No.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22I don't, no. I'd love to go on a cruise but
0:18:22 > 0:18:24you'd have to go on the sea, wouldn't you?
0:18:27 > 0:18:29Oh, terrible, terrible.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33Fools. Fools!
0:18:47 > 0:18:49For over 100 years,
0:18:49 > 0:18:53Roker Lighthouse has guided ships home through the North Sea storms.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07This hidden passage helped men keep the lamp burning
0:19:07 > 0:19:08whatever the weather.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12When the weather was fairly stormy,
0:19:12 > 0:19:19he would use this tunnel to get to the lighthouse.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22Phil from the Sunderland Strollers running club
0:19:22 > 0:19:24is retracing steps he took as a child.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29At the end of this tunnel under the pier, his grandfather,
0:19:29 > 0:19:32William Emerson, the lighthouse keeper, was waiting.
0:19:34 > 0:19:40He knew we were on our way so he would be waiting for us at
0:19:40 > 0:19:42the basement there and he would bang the door...
0:19:44 > 0:19:48..and so the sound would reverberate backwards and forwards through
0:19:48 > 0:19:51the tunnel, which was quite nerve-racking.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53Absolutely terrifying.
0:19:53 > 0:19:58It was terrifying. He also made ghostly noises as we got towards
0:19:58 > 0:19:59the end there.
0:20:06 > 0:20:10The lighthouse is going to open to the public after a £1 million
0:20:10 > 0:20:13makeover. Phil will act as a guide.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18Matt Storey, who is overseeing the restoration,
0:20:18 > 0:20:20spots a chance to jog some memories.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23Can you remember what sort of condition it was in?
0:20:23 > 0:20:26Well, last time I was in it, it was like this,
0:20:26 > 0:20:28it was in very good condition.
0:20:28 > 0:20:29The tiles were perfect.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33The handrail could do with a polish.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36- Isn't that what you used to do? - That was one of my jobs.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38That was one of the family jobs - when my sister,
0:20:38 > 0:20:40my cousins came down to the lighthouse,
0:20:40 > 0:20:42which was on a regular basis,
0:20:42 > 0:20:44we were not allowed to walk up the stairs
0:20:44 > 0:20:45without polishing the handrail.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51The lighthouse is still working today.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56Here we are, Matt. We are in the light room.
0:20:56 > 0:21:01You can see the panoramic view from the windows here.
0:21:01 > 0:21:07And as a youngster you used to have to come here with my grandfather
0:21:07 > 0:21:08and clean the windows.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12We couldn't reach very far so it was difficult cleaning those windows,
0:21:12 > 0:21:14and quite terrifying.
0:21:14 > 0:21:18- I bet it was. I wouldn't like to do it.- I wouldn't like to do it now.
0:21:21 > 0:21:26Yeah, that's fine. Go to your guest, which is Stephen...McCaffrey.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28Is that cable all right like that, Josh?
0:21:28 > 0:21:29Yeah, that's great.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33It is a big day for the Northern Spire.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38You can see the steel icon is slowly, gradually
0:21:38 > 0:21:39starting to take shape.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41Just to give you an idea of what's happening,
0:21:41 > 0:21:44there is some steel jacks on this side of the river
0:21:44 > 0:21:45which are very gently,
0:21:45 > 0:21:48very gently inching this cable here
0:21:48 > 0:21:53and that's ever so slowly lifting the bridge into an upright position.
0:22:00 > 0:22:05It will take 48 hours to stand the massive pylon upright.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12See if you can loosen some of the propulsion,
0:22:12 > 0:22:15if you can put it on freewheel and then just drag it away.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19There is an international team working on this new road bridge.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21Ben Dunn is in charge of the lift.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24If the preparation is done correctly,
0:22:24 > 0:22:28then obviously you minimise the chance of problems
0:22:28 > 0:22:31but it is always possible that something is
0:22:31 > 0:22:33happening unforeseen.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36But so far, so good.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42And despite the bitterly cold weather,
0:22:42 > 0:22:44some people have braved the elements.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47It has been well worth every minute.
0:22:47 > 0:22:48It has been a great,
0:22:48 > 0:22:53great experience and one that I will only see once in my lifetime.
0:22:53 > 0:22:54Something not to be missed.
0:22:55 > 0:22:56Thank you.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01I thought I'd bring both the kids along and show them.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04Kind of...it's a big engineering feat and I think
0:23:04 > 0:23:05it's worth coming to see.
0:23:11 > 0:23:16Ryan Dillon has made Sunderland his home while he works on the Spire.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19He's monitoring the stress levels on the winching cables.
0:23:20 > 0:23:21It's going fairly well.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24Everything is behaving as expected at this stage.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27To finally get this linked after a hard year's work,
0:23:27 > 0:23:29it's nice to be here.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31Not every day you see 1,500 tonnes being winched up. Yes.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44With every minute, the new bridge is taking shape.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55Day two, and everything is going to plan.
0:23:57 > 0:24:0014 months ago there was nothing on this river.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02Each piece of the jigsaw come together to make it successful.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05It's a massive milestone today to get this up.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08The pylon is finally standing proud.
0:24:08 > 0:24:12Sunderland's skyline has changed forever.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25What about the boat?
0:24:25 > 0:24:28- About 11 o'clock.- Are you going to drop the mast or what?
0:24:28 > 0:24:30- Yes.- I tell you what I was thinking about,
0:24:30 > 0:24:32was shall we put the kettle on?
0:24:32 > 0:24:34- Good idea.- Today,
0:24:34 > 0:24:37the lads from Sunderland's Maritime Heritage Group are preparing to
0:24:37 > 0:24:40commemorate the achievements of a local hero
0:24:40 > 0:24:44with their hand-built warship, HMS Venerable.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50- He's a good one.- Stand beside it. Let's have a look.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52Take your cap off.
0:24:52 > 0:24:53Stand beside it.
0:24:53 > 0:24:54LAUGHTER
0:24:57 > 0:25:00Chairman Tommy Rowe runs a tight ship.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03No messing about.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06Come on, then. Don't leave us all to meself. Come on.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09Where you been? You been hiding.
0:25:09 > 0:25:10That's it!
0:25:11 > 0:25:13Whoa! Go on.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21They are re-enacting a naval battle with the model of HMS Venerable
0:25:21 > 0:25:23- as the centrepiece.- Lift.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26Put this together.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29I tell you what, these guys are just like clockwork -
0:25:29 > 0:25:32you've got to wind them up now and again.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37- I'm going to be gentle... - That's the wrong bloody way.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39- Sideways, that.- What have you done?
0:25:39 > 0:25:40That's sideways, that.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48Whatever you do, don't look.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50Me eyes are forwards.
0:25:55 > 0:25:56Right, how do I look?
0:25:56 > 0:25:57THEY SING
0:26:00 > 0:26:05Welcome aboard the 74-gun ship HMS Venerable.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10- Everything correct, sir. - Thank you, Mr Fairfax.
0:26:10 > 0:26:14In the Battle of Camperdown in the 18th century,
0:26:14 > 0:26:17the Royal Navy clashed with the Dutch.
0:26:18 > 0:26:19Steady!
0:26:19 > 0:26:22Sunderland lad Jack Crawford
0:26:22 > 0:26:25heroically saved the Navy from humiliation.
0:26:25 > 0:26:26Fire!
0:26:28 > 0:26:31Without a thought for himself, Jack Crawford,
0:26:31 > 0:26:34through a hail of shot and a broken jaw,
0:26:34 > 0:26:37climbed and nailed the colours back to the mast!
0:26:37 > 0:26:38ALL CHEER
0:26:40 > 0:26:43Crawford is remembered in the park,
0:26:43 > 0:26:45a stone's throw from where Tommy is performing.
0:26:47 > 0:26:48So there he is. Look at him.
0:26:49 > 0:26:50Still braving the elements.
0:26:53 > 0:26:54Well done, Jack.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59See that? The hero of Camperdown.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02He's made the symbol of Camperdown.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04What a guy.
0:27:04 > 0:27:05Go, Jack!
0:27:06 > 0:27:10If he hadn't have done that I wouldn't be standing here like this.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13I'd be standing here with clogs on,
0:27:13 > 0:27:16eating a lump of Edam cheese and talking Dutch.
0:27:16 > 0:27:17That's what would've happened.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21And you can take that as gospel.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24- MUSIC PLAYS - And Jack cried out, "Avast!"
0:27:24 > 0:27:27and the colours of old England he nailed up to the mast!
0:27:30 > 0:27:31APPLAUSE
0:27:37 > 0:27:38It's went really well.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41We've had the biggest crowd, fantastic.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44They've gotten rid of their money and we've never gotten one boo!
0:27:53 > 0:27:57Those links with the Royal Navy continue, 200 years on.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02Looks like the ship is about three or four miles out.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08Boarding the ship will be from the starboard side,
0:28:08 > 0:28:10that's what they were telling the launch.
0:28:14 > 0:28:19Baber is here to navigate HMS Ocean, the Royal Navy's flagship,
0:28:19 > 0:28:20into the port.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24But first he's got to get on board.
0:28:34 > 0:28:35Good afternoon.
0:28:54 > 0:28:55Number one gun.
0:28:55 > 0:28:56Fire!
0:28:59 > 0:29:01Number two gun.
0:29:01 > 0:29:02Fire!
0:29:07 > 0:29:10HMS Ocean is Sunderland's adopted ship.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16But this visit is especially poignant.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19It's the last time Sunderland will catch a glimpse of her,
0:29:19 > 0:29:22as the ship will soon be decommissioned.
0:29:34 > 0:29:39HMS Ocean is in port for just five days, with a hectic schedule.
0:29:39 > 0:29:42Today, the doors are being thrown open to the public.
0:29:45 > 0:29:46It's its last visit.
0:29:46 > 0:29:47It's historic.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50You have to come and have a look, support it.
0:29:50 > 0:29:53It's good. It's nice to see the ship here.
0:29:53 > 0:29:55So, Joseph,
0:29:55 > 0:29:58because we've only seen him far away at sea and close-up it should be
0:29:58 > 0:30:00great, shouldn't it?
0:30:00 > 0:30:01Yeah.
0:30:02 > 0:30:07Because we know HMS Ocean is going to be decommissioned soon and never
0:30:07 > 0:30:11been on a helicopter carrier, so will definitely come for that.
0:30:14 > 0:30:19Second-in-command of the HMS Ocean is Commander Nick Wood.
0:30:19 > 0:30:20- Already to go?- Yes, sir.- Excellent.
0:30:20 > 0:30:22Right. Fantastic.
0:30:22 > 0:30:23Should be busy all day.
0:30:23 > 0:30:25You all right, young man?
0:30:25 > 0:30:29- Good stuff.- He's hoping for more than 8,000 visitors today.
0:30:30 > 0:30:33Ladies and gentlemen, the ship is open. Please come in.
0:30:33 > 0:30:34APPLAUSE
0:30:39 > 0:30:41Welcome. Have a good time.
0:30:41 > 0:30:43And he's looking out for one particular visitor.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47Did you see this come in?
0:30:47 > 0:30:50I mean, it must be incredible to manoeuvre in here.
0:30:52 > 0:30:54My son is a commander.
0:30:54 > 0:30:55- Is he?- Yeah.
0:30:55 > 0:30:56So you can say what you like!
0:30:58 > 0:30:59Hello, Father. How you doing?
0:30:59 > 0:31:00I'm fine, thank you, and you?
0:31:00 > 0:31:02Welcome. Welcome to work.
0:31:02 > 0:31:03Thank you.
0:31:03 > 0:31:05Tell me what you do, show me what you do.
0:31:05 > 0:31:09Nick's dad, Bob Wood, was brought up in Sunderland.
0:31:09 > 0:31:10Where's the door?
0:31:11 > 0:31:13And with friends, is getting a personal tour
0:31:13 > 0:31:15from the second-in-command.
0:31:17 > 0:31:20You're in the town centre, the back end of it.
0:31:20 > 0:31:24Yeah, she's a bit of a beauty, isn't she?
0:31:26 > 0:31:31In the bowels of Ocean, a lesson in how to navigate around the ship.
0:31:32 > 0:31:36It's laid out in the same way as every other Royal Naval ship
0:31:36 > 0:31:39is laid out. Two, three, four, five.
0:31:39 > 0:31:43And then from there you go 01, 02, 03.
0:31:43 > 0:31:44So we're on two-deck at the moment.
0:31:46 > 0:31:47Hello!
0:31:53 > 0:31:56Nice to meet you. I'm the captain. A very warm welcome to HMS Ocean.
0:32:07 > 0:32:09That's quite a queue.
0:32:11 > 0:32:12Hi, Sister, how are you?
0:32:12 > 0:32:16- Very well, thank you.- And Bob isn't the only VIP guest coming on board
0:32:16 > 0:32:18- today.- I'm just going to take you up now.
0:32:18 > 0:32:20I'll introduce you to the captain.
0:32:23 > 0:32:25Sister Mary, a very warm welcome to HMS Ocean.
0:32:25 > 0:32:27A pleasure to come on board, thank you.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30It's a real pleasure to welcome you to Ocean today.
0:32:31 > 0:32:35And also, thank you for all the fantastic work that you do for your
0:32:35 > 0:32:36important mission.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41And on the bridge, a chance to sit in the hot seat.
0:32:42 > 0:32:46Fantastic. I've just seen views I've never seen before and will probably
0:32:46 > 0:32:51never see again. Panorama vista is brilliant.
0:32:51 > 0:32:53And I've got to say that I'm so proud of my boy, because,
0:32:53 > 0:32:56to be honest with you, I didn't think he'd make it.
0:32:56 > 0:32:59I thought, first 12 weeks at Raleigh, kaput!
0:32:59 > 0:33:03You know. But he came back and he got stuck in and it was brilliant.
0:33:03 > 0:33:06- He's done so well.- 31 years later I'm still trying.
0:33:06 > 0:33:0731 years later.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12He still won't pay for a round of beer, but I still like him!
0:33:25 > 0:33:28Down at Sunderland yacht club, there's a battle looming.
0:33:31 > 0:33:33Ready to go, lads, when you are.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36John Robertson is the man to beat.
0:33:36 > 0:33:38- Go for it.- Now he's back home in Sunderland,
0:33:38 > 0:33:41everyone wants to challenge the Paralympian sailor.
0:33:44 > 0:33:46Feel the tension rising now, already.
0:33:46 > 0:33:49Especially Gordon Spencer.
0:33:49 > 0:33:51This is my last chance to try and win some races.
0:33:53 > 0:33:54Heads.
0:33:55 > 0:33:59You can't doubt his experience or knowledge.
0:33:59 > 0:34:00You just can't doubt it.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05Gordon is quite quick, actually.
0:34:07 > 0:34:09- Hear that, Gordon? - What's that, sorry?
0:34:09 > 0:34:10Nothing, nothing.
0:34:11 > 0:34:16With the hot air out of the way, time to put wind in the sails.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20That's it. Pull, pull, pull, mate.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23Pleas, please, please. Ready?
0:34:25 > 0:34:28Pull back, pull back. Pull, pull, pull, pull.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32Pull back. Bit of breeze.
0:34:32 > 0:34:36- Set. All right, there, Luke? - Yeah, we're good.
0:34:36 > 0:34:38We're racing now, yeah.
0:34:48 > 0:34:51The race is a mile out to sea to the first buoy.
0:34:56 > 0:35:00John is ahead of us but it's early days yet.
0:35:00 > 0:35:02It's not over till the fat lady sings.
0:35:08 > 0:35:10Pull back, pull back.
0:35:13 > 0:35:14I want to beat everybody.
0:35:14 > 0:35:18But Gordon, especially, because he's in the same sort of boat.
0:35:23 > 0:35:26At the halfway point, it's neck and neck.
0:35:27 > 0:35:31Caught a bit of ground again, and we're catching John again.
0:35:31 > 0:35:33Is he catching us up, then?
0:35:33 > 0:35:35We like to say, we're a boat length away.
0:35:35 > 0:35:37Depends how big your boat is.
0:35:37 > 0:35:38Queen Mary!
0:35:45 > 0:35:47In one race we actually beat him.
0:35:52 > 0:35:54Bit of ease, now, lads. Bit of ease.
0:35:54 > 0:35:56John is going to get there before us.
0:35:57 > 0:36:01Yay! Nice one, lads.
0:36:01 > 0:36:02- Well done, John.- Team.
0:36:03 > 0:36:06John's reputation survives.
0:36:18 > 0:36:22On the river, Ryan's view is changing day by day.
0:36:25 > 0:36:30Today we're installing one of the last cable sleeves.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33They basically protect the housing for the main cable strands
0:36:33 > 0:36:35to support the bridge.
0:36:35 > 0:36:39In the past couple of weeks, the whole appearance of the site
0:36:39 > 0:36:40has changed.
0:36:40 > 0:36:43It's got a lot of attention locally because it's so visual and so quick.
0:36:45 > 0:36:48In total, I think there's 120 miles of cable going in,
0:36:48 > 0:36:50which would take you from here to Liverpool.
0:36:54 > 0:36:55OK.
0:36:55 > 0:37:00And in charge of putting in all the cable which will support the bridge
0:37:00 > 0:37:03is 27-year-old Frenchman Julien Eckendorfer.
0:37:05 > 0:37:07HE GIVES AN INSTRUCTION IN SPANISH
0:37:11 > 0:37:16Despite what you are seeing, the bottom part of this pipe is
0:37:16 > 0:37:19going to go over there, over the edge of the bridge.
0:37:21 > 0:37:22Keep going up slowly.
0:37:22 > 0:37:25Keep going back slowly, keep going back slowly.
0:37:26 > 0:37:30Julien's team are specialists who have been brought in from
0:37:30 > 0:37:32all over Europe to stress the cables.
0:37:33 > 0:37:34Almost there.
0:37:35 > 0:37:37Five minutes more and it's in position.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48I think all of our activities, the whole process,
0:37:48 > 0:37:52is...can be a little bit dangerous.
0:37:53 > 0:37:54Push! Push!
0:37:58 > 0:38:00Nothing should happen, nothing wrong should happen.
0:38:02 > 0:38:04- Fingers crossed. - No, no, no figures crossed.
0:38:04 > 0:38:06Touch the wood. In France, you touch wood.
0:38:10 > 0:38:12Fingers crossed is actually bad luck in France.
0:38:14 > 0:38:15It means I'm lying.
0:38:16 > 0:38:17And I am not.
0:38:21 > 0:38:23Push!
0:38:35 > 0:38:38Every day, every minute,
0:38:38 > 0:38:41we are drawing more closer to the target.
0:38:50 > 0:38:53Come to work for VSL, the best gym in the UK.
0:38:55 > 0:38:59I tried to pick up some girls with stay cable technology
0:38:59 > 0:39:01but apart if she is not civil engineer
0:39:01 > 0:39:03it's not working so well for me!
0:39:09 > 0:39:12When you go around in Sunderland and people are asking you,
0:39:12 > 0:39:15"What are you doing, you are a foreigner but what are you doing here?"
0:39:15 > 0:39:17"Oh, I'm building the bridge.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19"I'm doing the stay cables,"
0:39:19 > 0:39:23it's very visual for the people and it's also impressive.
0:39:28 > 0:39:32From its journey across the North Sea to the hundreds of people who've
0:39:32 > 0:39:37worked in the bridge, the Northern Spire now stands proud.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59I started in here, in 1974.
0:39:59 > 0:40:03Well, you'll be finished soon, won't you?
0:40:03 > 0:40:05It's about time that you actually got a job done.
0:40:05 > 0:40:09At Liebherr Cranes, Malcolm is in the cathedral.
0:40:09 > 0:40:13Once, this huge shed housed ship building on a grand scale.
0:40:13 > 0:40:17Malcolm is reliving old times with his friend Mark Nicholls,
0:40:17 > 0:40:20who worked at a rival yard on Tyneside.
0:40:22 > 0:40:25The biggest shipbuilding town in the world was Sunderland.
0:40:25 > 0:40:28- Right?- Yes, but you didn't build them correctly!
0:40:28 > 0:40:29Perfect.
0:40:36 > 0:40:40The ships may have disappeared but the banter lives on,
0:40:40 > 0:40:42and Mark has an ace up his sleeve.
0:40:44 > 0:40:49Malcolm has a habit of getting his words back to front or his sentences
0:40:49 > 0:40:53upside down, and we actually came up with the book of Malcolmisms,
0:40:53 > 0:40:56because there was a person called Mrs Malaprop
0:40:56 > 0:40:58who used to do the same.
0:40:58 > 0:41:00And Malcolm says to us one day, he says, "Mark,
0:41:00 > 0:41:02"what you call them people that read your mind?"
0:41:02 > 0:41:06He says, "You know, away man, ventriloquists, that's them."
0:41:09 > 0:41:11Your job was hard. It was a long day.
0:41:11 > 0:41:13The pay wasn't brilliant.
0:41:13 > 0:41:16- No.- But it was the craic with your mates,
0:41:16 > 0:41:19and it was the craic with your mates and you made lifelong mates,
0:41:19 > 0:41:20that's the thing.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25I says, "Malcolm, there's a mass meeting on.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28So Malcolm says, "Well, it's not for everybody."
0:41:30 > 0:41:34One of the other ones was, "There's no way you're as thick as me."
0:41:37 > 0:41:39Which I did say, "I hopefully am not."
0:41:44 > 0:41:47No, I don't miss the shipyards but I miss the people.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50What I do miss is the ships.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52I love the ships.
0:41:52 > 0:41:56I like the stuff we're building now but when we used to see a ship on a
0:41:56 > 0:42:00- ship launch.- It's like anything else, you have to adapt.
0:42:00 > 0:42:04They closed all the shipyards, they closed all the pits.
0:42:04 > 0:42:06So it was up to the men to adapt.
0:42:06 > 0:42:10And they did, in all fairness, full credit to them.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16I don't want to give too many of these away but my book is actually
0:42:16 > 0:42:18quite full of them. There's another one.
0:42:18 > 0:42:19"I want a minimum of one."
0:42:25 > 0:42:30It sometimes breaks a bad day when you have something like this.
0:42:37 > 0:42:39It's a lovely day along here.
0:42:39 > 0:42:42Matt Storey and Phil Tweddell are back at the lighthouse.
0:42:48 > 0:42:51They're showing round friends who will be conducting tours of
0:42:51 > 0:42:53the building.
0:42:53 > 0:42:5699% finished, we've just got a few things to do.
0:42:57 > 0:43:00This will be where we talk about
0:43:00 > 0:43:05the operation of the lighthouse, the history of the building.
0:43:05 > 0:43:09Damage to the pier has delayed the opening but the restoration of the
0:43:09 > 0:43:13lighthouse where Phil's grandfather worked is complete.
0:43:15 > 0:43:17Are you pleased with the way the restoration has gone?
0:43:17 > 0:43:20The restoration work is absolutely fantastic.
0:43:20 > 0:43:23I think my grandfather would be really pleased.
0:43:23 > 0:43:26It's brought it back to the way it used to look.
0:43:27 > 0:43:28He'd be over the moon.
0:43:28 > 0:43:31I mean, I give the workmen their due.
0:43:31 > 0:43:35They've done a really wonderful job in restoring the lighthouse.
0:43:35 > 0:43:39Certainly this room, it's absolutely brilliant.
0:43:39 > 0:43:42And here you are all these years later.
0:43:42 > 0:43:45- Cleaning the handrail, cleaning the windows.- Cleaning the handrails!
0:43:47 > 0:43:48Back to childhood.
0:43:49 > 0:43:50Yes.
0:43:50 > 0:43:54The group will start their tours of the lighthouse in the spring.
0:43:56 > 0:43:58I've always wanted to get in the tunnel and pier,
0:43:58 > 0:44:00so what better way of doing it than to be a tour guide?
0:44:02 > 0:44:05Opening this lovely lighthouse, is quite exciting, really.
0:44:05 > 0:44:06Once we get going,
0:44:06 > 0:44:09getting people to the tunnels and up into the lighthouse, it'll be great.
0:44:12 > 0:44:16What we're hopefully going to provide us a bit of excitement,
0:44:16 > 0:44:19a bit of dark and water as you get under the pier
0:44:19 > 0:44:21and obviously a fantastic view.
0:44:21 > 0:44:24There is only one place to see the view and that's from the top
0:44:24 > 0:44:27of the lighthouse.
0:44:42 > 0:44:45In just a few hours, Sunderland Airshow,
0:44:45 > 0:44:48the biggest event of the year, will get under way.
0:44:51 > 0:44:54Half a million visitors are heading into the city.
0:44:57 > 0:44:59Guns! See you later.
0:44:59 > 0:45:03On the ground, Laura Young from Sunderland City Council
0:45:03 > 0:45:06is coordinating live music acts and visitor attractions.
0:45:06 > 0:45:08You all right?
0:45:08 > 0:45:10Any chance you could string it out for eight minutes more?
0:45:10 > 0:45:14So if you could take that to 20, 25, that would be absolutely brilliant.
0:45:17 > 0:45:19Because we can tell the camera to keep on getting shots of it to go on
0:45:19 > 0:45:22- the big screen.- These bins... - Brilliant, thanks, guys.
0:45:22 > 0:45:23..into that corner, please.
0:45:23 > 0:45:2645 grand a year, I'll move bins!
0:45:29 > 0:45:32- Yeah?- Yeah.- Brilliant, right, that's time to go now.
0:45:32 > 0:45:34See? I love it when a plan comes together.
0:45:34 > 0:45:36All good. All happy faces still.
0:45:46 > 0:45:49You're looking forward to the end of the airshow,
0:45:49 > 0:45:50cos it's quite a busy time.
0:45:50 > 0:45:54A lot of stress and a lot of aggravation
0:45:54 > 0:45:55but we take lots of money.
0:45:57 > 0:45:59I've never actually
0:45:59 > 0:46:01watched it in all these years.
0:46:01 > 0:46:03If I could get a year off, that would be great.
0:46:05 > 0:46:06On the seafront,
0:46:06 > 0:46:09Lindsay and Grant at the arcade are hoping to cash in on
0:46:09 > 0:46:13the airshow crowds by bringing in new attractions.
0:46:15 > 0:46:17This is the earliest we could get this.
0:46:22 > 0:46:27Which is an old game but old is new.
0:46:27 > 0:46:28The old is new again.
0:46:31 > 0:46:33So it's lovely. It is lovely, isn't it?
0:46:33 > 0:46:36- Lovely.- Is it going to be a money-spinner?
0:46:36 > 0:46:38Well, if it's not, it'll be going back.
0:46:44 > 0:46:48This is one we've had this season, and this is The Walking Dead.
0:46:51 > 0:46:53Which is awful, but they like that.
0:46:57 > 0:47:00It could be the most profitable weekend of the year
0:47:00 > 0:47:02for Lindsay and Grant
0:47:02 > 0:47:05but how much money they take is dictated by one thing.
0:47:05 > 0:47:09If it rains on a bank holiday, then you're grumpy,
0:47:09 > 0:47:13which you don't want it to be. And it often does.
0:47:25 > 0:47:29The rain means the flying display could be postponed
0:47:29 > 0:47:30or even cancelled.
0:47:30 > 0:47:35A tough call for flight director Ian Sheeley.
0:47:35 > 0:47:36The challenge today is the weather.
0:47:36 > 0:47:40We can't actually get aircraft to the display site
0:47:40 > 0:47:41or safely back to land
0:47:41 > 0:47:45at the moment, but they'll be there under their umbrellas just hoping to
0:47:45 > 0:47:50see something fly and if there is an opportunity, we will certainly get
0:47:50 > 0:47:51something in the sky.
0:48:09 > 0:48:12Considering we all come from the south,
0:48:12 > 0:48:13predominantly from the south-east,
0:48:13 > 0:48:15we love coming up to Sunderland.
0:48:15 > 0:48:19We get very well looked after whilst we're up here.
0:48:19 > 0:48:22It's one of our favourite shows of the year, to be fairly honest.
0:48:22 > 0:48:23We all look forward to it.
0:48:25 > 0:48:27With the cloud level still low,
0:48:27 > 0:48:30Frank Millerick and the Tigers Parachute Display Team
0:48:30 > 0:48:32have had to sit it out.
0:48:34 > 0:48:37What we're doing right now is prepping the smoke.
0:48:37 > 0:48:41We are hopefully going to get a high jump today so we are planning on
0:48:41 > 0:48:45doing a diamond formation which is four canopies in a diamond shape,
0:48:45 > 0:48:47one at the top, one at the bottom, two in the middle
0:48:47 > 0:48:49with a flag and blue smoke.
0:48:52 > 0:48:55On the seafront, Laura is feeling more hopeful.
0:48:57 > 0:49:01We are just waiting to find out if they've got enough base, the base cloud's all right for
0:49:01 > 0:49:04them to drop. So what we've had to do, because the tide's coming in,
0:49:04 > 0:49:05we've had to extend the drop zone.
0:49:05 > 0:49:08So I'm just checking our stewards and our site crew have managed
0:49:08 > 0:49:11to get the crowd off the beach and put it in place.
0:49:11 > 0:49:14It looks as though they have, though, so, positive.
0:49:26 > 0:49:27Makes you look fat.
0:49:28 > 0:49:30He's been on the team for 25 years.
0:49:30 > 0:49:32I think it's his last year this year.
0:49:32 > 0:49:34He's going to get retired.
0:49:34 > 0:49:37Considering the amount of jumps he's got, he's not very good at it
0:49:37 > 0:49:40because he just flies around kicking you in the face and stuff.
0:49:41 > 0:49:43After a long wait,
0:49:43 > 0:49:47the Tigers are ready and broadcasting live on social media.
0:49:48 > 0:49:49Going live, guys.
0:49:51 > 0:49:54Now walking to the aircraft, so keep in touch.
0:49:54 > 0:49:55Any questions, feel free to ask.
0:50:13 > 0:50:17At Newcastle Airport, the VIP guests have arrived.
0:50:18 > 0:50:20And for Red Arrows engineer Mike Fleming,
0:50:20 > 0:50:22this event is close to home.
0:50:32 > 0:50:36The Sunderland Airshow is only about five miles from where I live
0:50:36 > 0:50:40so ever since I was younger I have always travelled up to the Airshow
0:50:40 > 0:50:43on my bike or walked up. Just to watch it.
0:50:47 > 0:50:52Weather here, it's now 350, it's a northerly, scattered at 16.
0:50:52 > 0:50:53There's no view at the moment.
0:50:53 > 0:50:58David Montenegro, Red One, the leader, briefs the team.
0:50:58 > 0:51:00And even the Red Arrows can't plan the weather.
0:51:02 > 0:51:05We can do three types of show depending on the weather and right
0:51:05 > 0:51:08now I've no idea which show we're going to do.
0:51:08 > 0:51:10It could be a beautiful blue sky, or it could be low-level cloud
0:51:10 > 0:51:12so we're going to prepare for all three and
0:51:12 > 0:51:15then we'll go and deliver it in the airshow.
0:51:15 > 0:51:16Check in 05.
0:51:18 > 0:51:20BRASS BAND PLAYS
0:51:23 > 0:51:27Back in Sunderland, prayers have been answered.
0:51:27 > 0:51:30The umbrellas are down and the skies have cleared.
0:51:41 > 0:51:44And is the change in the weather a big win at the arcade?
0:51:45 > 0:51:48Yes, it's been OK. It's been not too bad.
0:51:48 > 0:51:52Space Invaders has been really good for us since it's come in,
0:51:52 > 0:51:53and hopefully it will continue.
0:51:53 > 0:51:55I mean, the weather hasn't been great this year.
0:51:55 > 0:51:58You know, the figures are down slightly, quite a bit.
0:51:58 > 0:52:03But overall, it's been quite good, still.
0:52:03 > 0:52:04We've had quite good crowds in.
0:52:04 > 0:52:07I don't whether they're coming for cover or spending money,
0:52:07 > 0:52:08a bit of both, I think.
0:52:14 > 0:52:17- Hi, guys. How you doing? Are you all right?- Yes, yourself?
0:52:17 > 0:52:20Yeah, good, thank you. Have you got yourself tickets?
0:52:20 > 0:52:21You can win the car.
0:52:21 > 0:52:23- There's a raffle. - I couldn't get in it!
0:52:27 > 0:52:30Kirsty is an ex-Red Arrows pilot.
0:52:30 > 0:52:32Today, she's flying with the Blades,
0:52:32 > 0:52:34a display that needs a strong stomach
0:52:34 > 0:52:36and isn't for the faint-hearted.
0:52:39 > 0:52:42From a pilot's point of view, flying our airshow is pretty exhilarating.
0:52:44 > 0:52:48We do 32 manoeuvres in 15 minutes, so it's pretty nonstop.
0:52:56 > 0:52:59Then we split up and then do all the aerodynamic manoeuvres like
0:52:59 > 0:53:01the spins and snaps and things.
0:53:07 > 0:53:09You can't do that in a jet aircraft because of the way the
0:53:09 > 0:53:12engine is built. We've got a propeller on the front and we're
0:53:12 > 0:53:14very light, very manoeuvrable, so we can do
0:53:14 > 0:53:16all the really exciting manoeuvres.
0:53:30 > 0:53:33And at the end of it you think, "Oh, my God, what just happened?"
0:53:33 > 0:53:34But I love it.
0:53:43 > 0:53:46Mike Ling, the Red Arrows' man on the ground,
0:53:46 > 0:53:49is ready to guide the boys in.
0:53:51 > 0:53:55Ian here will give the green light to display once he is content that
0:53:55 > 0:53:57everything is safe and sound to go.
0:53:58 > 0:54:01- TANNOY:- Mike will be having a new Red 10 at the end of the season.
0:54:01 > 0:54:03This is my last Sunderland Airshow.
0:54:03 > 0:54:06I've been coming here for many, many years now.
0:54:06 > 0:54:09I've displayed here as one of the Red Arrows pilots and I've been here
0:54:09 > 0:54:13every year as Red 10 in my tenure for the last six years.
0:54:13 > 0:54:17It's very sad to be hanging up the red suit at the end of the season,
0:54:17 > 0:54:20and very sad to be leaving this part of the North East,
0:54:20 > 0:54:22having been here so many times.
0:54:29 > 0:54:33And the Tigers have also been given the green light.
0:54:53 > 0:54:57The view's fantastic. It might be a little bit overcast but, you know,
0:54:57 > 0:54:59it's a seaside jump and they're always special.
0:55:17 > 0:55:20About 1,000 feet down, you start to hear people as well.
0:55:20 > 0:55:22People cheering, and that's really cool.
0:55:32 > 0:55:33APPLAUSE
0:55:37 > 0:55:41Sunderland, please put your hands together for the Royal Air Force
0:55:41 > 0:55:43aerobatic team, the Red Arrows!
0:57:14 > 0:57:17Cruising at 800mph, the pilots are working hard,
0:57:17 > 0:57:20everything in their bodies is six times heavier.
0:57:20 > 0:57:22Their blood wants to go from the brains and vital organs
0:57:22 > 0:57:23to their feet.
0:57:58 > 0:58:01I think it's fabulous for the North East.
0:58:01 > 0:58:03Fabulous for Sunderland city.
0:58:03 > 0:58:06I think it's something that they should be proud of.
0:58:06 > 0:58:09When they're coming in here like this now,
0:58:09 > 0:58:12you just, it's awe-inspiring.
0:58:15 > 0:58:16I reckon I could do it, though!
0:58:18 > 0:58:20This one is for you.
0:58:20 > 0:58:22For the people of the North East.