The North East Film Archive is one of a network of regional film archives established to collect, preserve and show film made in, or about the North East of England. Our collections are non-fiction, and date from the early 1900s to the present day, providing a rich record of life in the region over the 20th century. Many of our films are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
US President Jimmy Carter's Visit to North East England
Honorary Geordie and US President, Jimmy Carter finds a warm welcome and a heart of glass at Cornings in Sunderland.
From the collection of:
Overview
The Wearside crowds and glassblowers at Cornings of Sunderland warm to the personable Georgian President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, on his feted visit to the north east in 1977. In the din and 100-degree heat of the furnace room, the extraordinary skill and ballet of the craftsman glassmakers thrills the president and British Prime Minister James Callaghan.
This news special was part of the biggest ever outside broadcast and film operation Tyne Tees Television had ever mounted, with cameras situated at key sites along the route – Newcastle Airport, Newcastle Civic Centre, Washington Green and Old Hall, and Cornings in Sunderland. Due to the spontaneous, informal nature of Jim Callaghan’s invitation to Carter to spend a day in the north east, Tyne Tees TV only had about 3 weeks to prepare. Months of planning would be the norm. But when the locals took Jimmy Carter to their hearts as he greeted them in Newcastle with the Geordie rallying cry ‘Howay the lads’, the world was watching, courtesy of Tyne Tees and their live feeds into American TV networks.
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