I spent the first year of my life living in John Street before moving to Bill Quay. My maternal grandfather and uncle were local builders they lived in John Street, Sunderland Road was such a vibrant place, there was Maggie Watsons the bakers, a fantastic fish and chip shop which was next door to the Claxton Pub, that’s where the bus stop was, heading towards Gateshead High Street there were number shops, there was King Edwards School, a really nice park with swings etc for kids, there was also the C of E Church long since gone, then, of course the Essoldo, going the other way towards Felling was the Felling Gate Social Club now, I believe a theatrical school, the petrol station next to that is now a residential care home, just across the road from the Felling Gate was a fantastic pork butchers selling pork sandwiches, saveloys etc. Now Sunderland Road is a complete mess, the ‘new’ houses have done absolutely nothing to enhance the area, but hey that’s supposed to be progress!!!