0:00:25 > 0:00:31Our East Coast is ideal to explore working endeavour past and present.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37I'm heading for the Humber, but beginning on the Tyne.
0:00:39 > 0:00:44Newcastle upon Tyne prospered thanks to its coastal connections.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52The early workers who built the wealth of Newcastle
0:00:52 > 0:00:55shifted countless tonnes of coal.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58But coal's no longer king.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00These days, the traffic is different.
0:01:04 > 0:01:09For most of us, parking up at the coast is the end of a journey.
0:01:09 > 0:01:15But for these brand-new cars, it's the beginning of a global adventure.
0:01:18 > 0:01:23Every two weeks on the Tyne, a massive car conveyor arrives.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27Then time is money.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30The port's workers go into overdrive.
0:01:46 > 0:01:51The challenge is to park a couple of thousand of these cars
0:01:51 > 0:01:55on that ship as fast as the drivers can get them on.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02To get a steer on the challenge, I'm cadging a lift with Derek Lay.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06It's like an aircraft hangar, isn't it?
0:02:06 > 0:02:08It's absolutely massive.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15Now, I've been on cross-Channel car ferries,
0:02:15 > 0:02:17but this is in a league of its own.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19Fast.
0:02:19 > 0:02:24With 14 decks, there's room for almost 8,000 cars,
0:02:24 > 0:02:26if packed very tightly.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32Parking must be swift and exact.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37I've got to ask, have you ever dinked a car, Derek?
0:02:37 > 0:02:38Erm, in the past.
0:02:40 > 0:02:45Mysterious hand signals appear to be more important than mirrors.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49And it's my turn next.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56With some 700,000 cars a year on the move,
0:02:56 > 0:02:58I can't stop the traffic.
0:02:58 > 0:03:03So before I'm let loose, they've got a lesson lined up for me.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06Even though I'm more of a walker than a driver,
0:03:06 > 0:03:09I reckon I'm pretty handy behind the wheel.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13But this is going to test my parallel parking to the limit.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19My instructor is Jonathan Small.
0:03:20 > 0:03:22- That's really accurate, isn't it? - Yes, yes.
0:03:22 > 0:03:24So what are the main hand signals?
0:03:24 > 0:03:26The hand signals are straight ahead,
0:03:26 > 0:03:28full lock left-hand down,
0:03:28 > 0:03:29full lock right-hand down.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32And when it's only small movements, we just use a finger.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34You'll turn half a turn left or right.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38As long as you put your faith and trust in me, we'll have no problem.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41- I'll tell you what, Derek... - Just take it nice and easy.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45..I feel more nervous now than I did when I took my driving test.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49Just follow his signals all the time. Don't look at anything else.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51Just watch his hand signals.
0:03:52 > 0:03:53Straight back.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55Straight back. Stop.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57That's it.
0:03:57 > 0:03:58Now I've got to turn.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00And just keep going straight back.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04- That car next door is like a hair's breadth away.- It's OK, yeah.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06You've got plenty of space.
0:04:07 > 0:04:08That's it.
0:04:08 > 0:04:13Well, I think I've got the hang of precision parking in a car park.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15But now I've got to do it on deck seven
0:04:15 > 0:04:18of a gigantic car-carrying ship.
0:04:25 > 0:04:26Up the ramp.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34Now, where is my leadsman?
0:04:41 > 0:04:44- You just went a bit too far there.- I did, didn't I?- Whoa...
0:04:44 > 0:04:47He's pointing left now. Can you see his hand?
0:04:48 > 0:04:49Keep it going left.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52No, watch his hand. Don't watch what's on the left. He can see that.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55Oops, stalled! What about that?
0:04:55 > 0:04:58Now I've got a queue building up now because I've stalled.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00Straight back.
0:05:00 > 0:05:01Concentrate.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03That's it.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06Phew! The Eagle has landed.
0:05:14 > 0:05:15This is pretty stressful.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18Those flashing lights mean the taxi is waiting
0:05:18 > 0:05:20to take me back to pick up another car.
0:05:35 > 0:05:40When I'm not holding it up, a stream of steel flows from our shore.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45Four out of five cars we make we ship overseas.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49That's well over one million motors a year.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58These precision parkers
0:05:58 > 0:06:02have helped put the North East into pole position for vehicle exports.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16Coastal workers turn their hands to many trades.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18THEY SQUEAK
0:06:20 > 0:06:24Sometimes, it's a struggle to scratch a living on the margin.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32Even so, a generous spirit thrives.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34A noble tradition of life-saving volunteers.
0:06:37 > 0:06:42And rescue services don't only save people around our shore.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47As day breaks at Exmouth, a strange sight.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03An emergency is unfolding.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06These bags are pretend dolphins and whales.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09They aren't being laid out for fun,
0:07:09 > 0:07:11this is planning for the worst.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15A specialist marine SWAT team is summoned to the beach.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18Could you put a text out, please, to all Devon and Cornwall medics?
0:07:18 > 0:07:21Thanks a lot. Cheers, bye.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24Miranda is responding to the distress call.
0:07:26 > 0:07:27By day, I'm a trained zoologist,
0:07:27 > 0:07:30but I've also volunteered for another part-time job.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32For the last five or so years,
0:07:32 > 0:07:35I've been signed up to help save sea mammals in distress.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39As you can see, there's a small army of us marine mammal medics
0:07:39 > 0:07:41dotted around the coast.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45'In fact, there are around 2,500 of us constantly on call
0:07:45 > 0:07:49'for a stranding emergency. And we're a varied bunch.'
0:07:49 > 0:07:50I'm a chartered surveyor.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52I work in care and I've got a care home.
0:07:52 > 0:07:53Self-employed carpenter.
0:07:53 > 0:07:54Veterinary nurse.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56I work as a production assistant.
0:07:56 > 0:08:01'British Divers Marine Life Rescue trains some 400 volunteers a year.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04'This a mass stranding exercise -
0:08:04 > 0:08:08'keeping the creatures alive until the tide comes in
0:08:08 > 0:08:10'to get them back to sea.'
0:08:10 > 0:08:15These pretend dolphins are the exact weight and size as the real thing.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18Now, they may just look like a bag filled with water,
0:08:18 > 0:08:20but for the purpose of the exercise,
0:08:20 > 0:08:22we have to treat them like real animals.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25You can immediately see how heavy they are...
0:08:25 > 0:08:27and how difficult they are to handle.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34Getting to grips with dolphin and whale strandings is a big issue.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38Around 600 of these mammals a year need help.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42Some make headline news,
0:08:42 > 0:08:45like the whale discovered in the Thames in 2006.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51In 2011, a pod of around 60 pilot whales
0:08:51 > 0:08:53was floundering on the Scottish coast.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56Rescuers managed to save over 40 animals.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03One of the team leaders is organising our exercise,
0:09:03 > 0:09:05Stephen Marsh.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07Whales and dolphins have always stranded,
0:09:07 > 0:09:10but are we just more aware of it now, or are numbers on the increase?
0:09:10 > 0:09:13We think that some strandings may well be increasing,
0:09:13 > 0:09:15but animals will strand naturally as well.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18You could have one animal that is ill,
0:09:18 > 0:09:20and because they're all very, very gregarious,
0:09:20 > 0:09:22they may well bring the whole of the pod in.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25So we work from the bottom up, if you like, sort of saying,
0:09:25 > 0:09:27"What's wrong with this animal?
0:09:27 > 0:09:28"Is it in a fit state to actually go back?
0:09:28 > 0:09:30"Let's give it first aid
0:09:30 > 0:09:33"until a vet can come along and make that decision."
0:09:33 > 0:09:35'Time is of the essence.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37'The longer a dolphin is out of the water,
0:09:37 > 0:09:39'the less likely it'll survive.'
0:09:40 > 0:09:41It might seem a bit comical,
0:09:41 > 0:09:45but training for a marine mammal rescue is a serious business.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49'The animal's plight begs a simple question -
0:09:49 > 0:09:52'why are dolphins so utterly helpless on land
0:09:52 > 0:09:55'when being out of the water doesn't pose a problem
0:09:55 > 0:09:58'for other marine mammals, like seals?
0:09:58 > 0:10:01'To find out, we need to strip the animals to their bare bones.'
0:10:15 > 0:10:17This is a skeleton of a seal.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19We've got the skull, quite a long neck,
0:10:19 > 0:10:21and then these front limbs,
0:10:21 > 0:10:24which are very powerful, strong front flippers.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28These are what it uses to manoeuvre itself on land.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30When it's lumbering up and down the beach,
0:10:30 > 0:10:35the seal's internal organs are protected by quite a strong ribcage.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38The breast bone is quite strong and thick as well.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46This is the skeleton of a common dolphin.
0:10:46 > 0:10:47The ribs are much more fragile,
0:10:47 > 0:10:53and the breast bone here is much thinner than that of the seal's.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56If a dolphin or whale finds itself stranded on the beach,
0:10:56 > 0:11:00often it can't bear its own weight and it can suffocate.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04The front limbs have been modified to make these pectoral fins,
0:11:04 > 0:11:07which are great when the dolphin is moving through the water,
0:11:07 > 0:11:11but absolutely useless if it's stranded on a beach.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14The differences between dolphins and seals
0:11:14 > 0:11:16evolved millions of years ago.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22The fins and tails of whales and dolphins
0:11:22 > 0:11:26have become so perfectly adapted to the sea
0:11:26 > 0:11:30that they need a hand from volunteers like us when stranded.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33We've got two dolphins here that we're ready to refloat,
0:11:33 > 0:11:35but because of the sun and the wind,
0:11:35 > 0:11:37we've got tarpaulins over them to protect them from the sun.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39We've got a wind break to protect them from the wind.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41Just trying to keep them as cool and as calm as possible
0:11:41 > 0:11:43before we can get them down to the sea.
0:11:44 > 0:11:49'Now the tide's turned, we can try to master the delicate operation
0:11:49 > 0:11:52'of returning a distressed animal to its home.'
0:11:56 > 0:11:59Wow. There you go. It's that easy.
0:11:59 > 0:12:03Discard... One person hold on to that. Form a line. Form a line.
0:12:03 > 0:12:08Encourage them. Go on, off you go. Go on, don't want to see you again.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17Strandings are obviously really sad events,
0:12:17 > 0:12:19but thanks to the great work
0:12:19 > 0:12:22of teams of volunteers and professionals,
0:12:22 > 0:12:24we're constantly learning more
0:12:24 > 0:12:27about how to protect our valuable sea life.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30And off they go.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37Being beside the seaside wasn't a getaway
0:12:37 > 0:12:39for many hard-pressed coastal folk.
0:12:41 > 0:12:46It was a harsh life for manual workers in the docks.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50But there was dignity in labour with splendid surroundings.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56The port of Grimsby marked its workers' achievements
0:12:56 > 0:12:58with a mighty tower.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04Close up, it's quite a sight.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06It was completed in 1852
0:13:06 > 0:13:10and it's a copy of a beautiful tower in the Italian town of Siena.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12But like everything else in this port,
0:13:12 > 0:13:14their tower had to work for a living.
0:13:17 > 0:13:22The pretty brick facade conceals the building's true function.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24It's a giant water tower.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31Wow, this is even more monumental on the inside.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34This pipe here used to pump water way up the tower
0:13:34 > 0:13:36to a huge holding tank.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39The water was then released down this pipe here,
0:13:39 > 0:13:43which fed hydraulic pumps that worked the lock gates
0:13:43 > 0:13:45and the cranes in the harbour.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51One thing that's missing from the tower, though, is a lift.
0:13:51 > 0:13:56That means walking up the biggest spiral staircase I've ever seen.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03The Workers' Coast is hard work.
0:14:03 > 0:14:09A million bricks built the tower, and it takes 450 steps to climb it.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11I hope the view is worth it!
0:14:14 > 0:14:20The mammoth efforts of labourers to remodel our shore unfolds below.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25The Grimsby Tower doesn't disappoint.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30This monument in brick may have been paid for
0:14:30 > 0:14:34by the great and the good, but it was built by ordinary folk.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38The skills, the endeavours of such unsung heroes
0:14:38 > 0:14:41are written all around our shores.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43This is the Workers' Coast.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46It's our coast. Let's celebrate it.