North East Nostalgia: My experience growing up in Newcastle

Anyone can live in Newcastle, but growing up here is something indescribable.

It’s beautiful, it’s rough, it’s complicated, but no matter what, there is an undeniable feeling of camaraderie between everyone born and raised here in Newcastle. It’s a beating heart of loyalty that runs like the River Tyne through yourself, your family, your neighbours, and the man who runs the corner shop down the road. You have this massive Geordie tribe as your built-in family before you can even comprehend your own kin. But simply just being born in Newcastle isn’t the only part of being a Geordie; it’s so much more than that.

Being a Geordie is racing down the Beehive Road to see Grandma; it’s visits to The Quadrant to see Gran; it’s days out at the coast to play on the arcades; it’s the feeling of St James Park on matchdays; it’s spending the summer at the Hopping’s; spending Christmas watching Fenwick’s window and walks along the Sheilds fish quay and passing Knotts flats on the way.

I hold some of my fondest memories in these places. They may seem like simple things, but as I look back now, I can see they stand for something much bigger. These experiences emphasise the hard work and the graft, which is grounded within Newcastle. Everyone here works and strives to be their best. From the strong women in my family to the unmatched dedication you see at St James Park, understanding this feeling of determination and being an active part of it is what makes you a Geordie.

The history and state affairs that stain Newcastle and everything within it have led to this unwavering perseverance. Geordies have been beaten and let down for generations through politics and promises that have turned to dust. For us, hard work has seemed like the only escape. However, this has led to us becoming a steadfast nation who are knotted together in the most beautiful way. Growing up in Newcastle is something I will always be proud of, and I’m so lucky I get to call it home.