Former US President Jimmy Carter, who has died at the age of 100, was a 'friend' of Newcastle
Reporter Jonny Blair has been looking back at President Carter's visit to Newcastle in 1977
Newcastle is remembering a "friend" of the city, former US President Jimmy Carter, who has died at the age of 100.
In May 1977, just a few months after entering the White House, President Carter visited Newcastle as part of his first trip abroad in office.
He addressed a crowd of around twenty of thousand people outside Newcastle Civic Centre, greeting them with the traditional Geordie phrase "Howay the Lads!"
Councillor Karen Kilgour, Leader of Newcastle City Council, said: “We are deeply saddened at the passing of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.
“He was an an extraordinary global figure and friend of our city. In 1977, he became the first sitting U.S. president to visit Newcastle, leaving a lasting impression with his warmth, humility, and commitment to peace.
“His connection to Newcastle remains a part of our history. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.”
Also paying tribute was Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Councillor Rob Higgins: "It's said news and our thoughts go out to the friends and family of Jimmy Carter," he said. "He chose to come to the North East and visit our region and I think that was all about the affinity he saw between his home region of Georgia, in the United States, and the people there, and the people of the North East."
The Lord Mayor said the visit will never be forgotten: "Quite rightly he was awarded the Freedom of the City which is a wonderful acknowledgement. And in the banqueting hall, which is a wonderful part of our Civic Centre, on the walls we have the names carved of famous visitors, previous Lord Mayors and Freemen of the City. And there is the name of Jimmy Carter. And I love, when we have special occasions, to point that out to people who come along. It's a wonderful accolade and its something we're rightly proud of."
During his visit to the North East of England, President Carter also visited Washington Old Hall, a National Trust owned manor house with family ties to America's first president, George Washington. He also planted a tree on the nearby green.
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The visit to North East drew huge media coverage at the time.