By Louise Luke
I was around 11 years old when this photo was taken, with my brother Paul, my mum June, my dad Eric, and our dog Mitzy. My dad, Eric, was at work when the photo was taken at our house at 3 Epsom Close. My mum was very house proud at the time and cleaned her heart out that day. The photographer wanted to capture a natural moment, a “day in the life” of a working-class family, which we’ve always been.
My dad, Eric, worked on the fish quay from around 15 years old. He was a very hardworking, well-loved, and proud man who worked until his stroke in 2006. He lived on in poor health until he passed in 2022. My mum, June, worked as a barmaid in several pubs in Shields: the Albion Grill, The Jungle, and lastly Charlie’s Bar. In 2006, we nearly lost her to pneumonia. She survived, but in April 2017, she was diagnosed with lung cancer and sadly passed away that same month.
My brother Paul tried working on the Fish Quay, but it wasn’t for him. He went on to work on standby boats and ferries. Paul has never married, but he has one daughter, Lauren. We’ve always been close, as we were with our mum and dad, and both he and I still live in North Shields. I live with my partner Chris, and we have two children, a son, Eric, and a daughter, Lilly. My working life started as a carer in a care home. I worked away at holiday camps, and when I returned, I worked with adults with learning difficulties. After having Eric and Lilly, I became a homemaker for a few years. When my mum, who was my best friend and meant everything to me, passed suddenly, I was so grief-stricken that I needed to return to work. I’ve worked in the same care home since and still do today.
We are born and bred in North Shields. We were part of the fish quay family, and my mum’s friends from working in the local bars were a big part of our lives. We socialized in all the pubs of Shields with each other and with many of the characters of North Shields. My brother does go out, but I still love a weekly night out in the pubs of North Shields. Many of these characters I’ve shared nights out with are no longer with us, but I cherish the memories and the many photos I’ve taken with them.
Although we’ve seen many changes in the 43 years since this photo was taken, I’m still a proud North Shields girl through and through.
