As a starting point I would like to thank Norman and the administrators for all they do to facilitate this Forum. Clearly without them nothing would happen and we couldn’t connect in the way that we do.

Having read, and occasionally contributed to, the Forum for a number of years I have recently found myself reflecting on how it has evolved.

In the last week or so there have been some great examples of what is good about the Forum. The contributions of Peter Cook with his photos, John White’s poetry and Stan Wears historical research on St Paul’s church, each provide interesting insights. These were added to with Jackie and Margaret working with Norman on the mystery Reyrolle’s man. There were the posts on Ship models (connecting Tony and Irene), Clegwell teachers and Aston Villa footballers (by the way Tommy Dodds’ first and last first team game was that of Johnny Dixon’s debut). In their own way these posts each provided information, historical perspective and a connection for those born in Hebburn or nearby.

However this type of content is now increasingly overshadowed by people’s personal opinions on wider UK or world events and not all of those views are substantiated by credible evidence or facts. I have no issue with people having their own views but I do wonder whether there is a need to have such posts here. Some people are simply confirming and broadcasting their personal views which in some cases have become very repetitive.

There are clearly many issues in today’s world which are far from ideal. The political system and institutions are no longer fit for purpose. Immigration is a huge problem, as it is in numerous developed countries, and the NHS can’t cope with the wider demands now, rightly or wrongly, placed upon it. None of us can do anything about these things.

Towards the end of 2024 Norman pointed out that he felt that the Forum wasn’t being used for its intended purpose. However he didn’t clarify what he meant by his comment. I think it would be useful if we did consider the aim of the Forum and whether personal views on topics such as party politics and current affairs add any value.

There is undoubtedly a lot of truly awful events and issues which we could comment on but they are often far more complex and nuanced than how they are covered in the media. There is also a vast amount of misinformation and irresponsible reporting out there with much of it found in unregulated online sources. Producing material which shocks and causes outrage is an immensely profitable business but is this Forum the place to replicate, amplify or repost this type of content?

It’s not for me to decide what should or shouldn’t be posted here. However I’d prefer to see the Forum focus on the positive aspects of our local history, continuing to make the valuable connections through our shared past and providing help to each other when we can.