Tynemouth Longsands was clearly proving to be a popular destination for daytrippers and holidaymakers this week 65 years ago.
Our striking main photograph shows the densely-packed Tyneside beach on a blazing hot Sunday in June 1957. Space is at a premium, the ‘shuggy boat’ rides are in full swing, and the outdoor pool is a big attraction.
It was a time, 12 years after the end of World War II, when things were on the up and people were determined to enjoy themselves. Post-war austerity had run its course and there was a new era of relative prosperity and near full employment. Only a month after our photograph was captured, British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan would be prompted to declare: "Most of our people have never had it so good."
