A spectacular highlight event as part of the North Shields 800 celebrations will see the River Tyne at the Fish Quay filled with a parade of boats.
The midsummer event on the afternoon of Friday 20 June is being organised by North Shields Fishermen’s Heritage Project (NSFHP), with sponsorship from DFDS and support from North Tyneside Council. It includes a blessing of the fleet by the Fishermen’s Mission.
The Svitzer tug will shoot its firefighting water jets high into the air above the river, alongside vessels from the North Shields fishing fleet, pleasure craft from Royal Quays Marina, and boats from Port of Tyne, Northumbria Fishing Heritage, North East Maritime Trust, and Northumberland Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority.
A procession of 300 school children will walk along the Fish Quay from the Fisherman sculpture at Fiddlers Green to the Herring Girl on Western Quay. They will be led by three bagpipers and a vintage quayside truck - a popper. When they reach Western Quay, the children will sing local songs including Lindisfarne’s ‘Run for Home’ and the blessing of the fleet will take place.
The parade of boats is expected to last around 30 minutes from 1pm onward, followed by a live music stage.
This signature event as part of the North Shields 800 celebrations brings back some of the best-loved elements of the town’s Fish Quay festival, which ran from 1987 to 2006.
Six local schools from the North Shields areas are involved: Christ Church Primary, Spring Gardens Primary, New York Primary, Percy Main Primary, St Joseph’s Primary, and Waterville Road Primary.
A lecturn will be set up on the quay for Peter Dade from North East Fishermen’s Mission to perform the Blessing of the Fleet, with local church leaders in attendance.
North Shields Fishermen’s Heritage Project is the charity behind the Fisherman on Fiddlers Green and Herring Girl sculptures on the Fish Quay, a book of remembrance in North Shields library for Fishermen lost at sea, and regular trips for local school children to Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre.
Terry McDermott from NSFHP said: “We want the children to have a special day that they will remember forever. We want them to understand that they’re from a fishing town and be proud of it.
“They can have lifelong memories of the day they marched along the Fish Quay for the North Shields 800 celebrations. It’s about keeping the heritage of North Shields and the fishing industry alive.
“We are bringing back the tradition of the Blessing of the Fleet because it’s important to continue our community traditions.
“We want the fishing industry and the fishing community have a prominent place in the North Shields 800 celebrations, because the story of the town all started with the fishing.”
Chair of the North Shields 800 Committee, Tynemouth MP Sir Alan Campbell, said: “North Shields is very proud of its working Fish Quay, which is the focal point for this key highlight of the North Shields 800 celebrations.
“Our thanks to North Shields Fishermen’s Heritage Project for all the hard work that has gone into organising this ambitious and spectacular event.
“The river and the fishing industry are where the story of North Shields began and seeing the river filled with a parade of boats will be a moment to remember as we mark the 800th anniversary of the town.”
Elected Mayor of North Tyneside Karen Clark said: “The parade of boats and blessing of the fleet will bring the whole community together, attract visitors, and help raise the profile of North Shields.
“This is an event that continues some of the important traditions of our Fish Quay, celebrates our fishing and maritime heritage and showcases the spectacular backdrop of the Tyne.”
The ferry operator DFDS is supporting the event. Chris Whitfield, Port Operations Manager at DFDS said: “We are delighted to be supporting the North Shields 800 celebrations as the main sponsor of the Parade of Boats and Blessing of the Fleet.
“It is a fantastic opportunity for the North Shields community to come together for a spectacular and memorable day and a tribute to the town’s maritime heritage.
“For DFDS, 2025 is an anniversary year for the Newcastle – Amsterdam sailing and we are incredibly proud to be a vital part of North Shield’s history for the last 30 years.
“As proud partners of the North Shields 800 celebrations, we are delighted to offer our Amsterdam minicruise with 50 percent off the cabin price and coach transfers to and from Amsterdam city centre.”
More details of the DFDS North Shields 800 offer can be found on their website and at www.northshields800.com/news
Other highlights of the North Shields 800 celebrations taking place in June include YMCA Picnic in the Park on June 7, the North Shields 800 Celebration at North Shields FC on 21 June, and the North Shields 800 Community Day at the Linskill Centre on 28 June. A full calendar of projects and events is available on the North Shields 800 website.
About North Shields 800, celebrating North Shields past, present and future:
North Shields 800 is a community effort, with the people of the town working together to host a year of celebrations for its 800th anniversary.
North Shields was founded in 1225 as a village of simple huts called shiels on what is now the Fish Quay. The fishing port served Tynemouth Priory and later grew into a thriving harbour and town.
A programme of events has been selected to appeal to a wide range of audiences and to celebrate North Shields’ maritime, mining, railway and industrial heritage as well as its reputation as a vibrant destination for arts and culture and a thriving location for business.
It will include a spectacular parade of boats and a blessing of the fishing fleet, a parade along the Fish Quay, exhibitions, street art murals, heritage projects, community events and creative collaborations. It will bring performing arts to the streets, stage events at local venues and capture and record memories of the town in years gone by.
It is being organised by the community-led North Shields 800 Committee which has been meeting since mid-2023, chaired by Tynemouth MP Sir Alan Campbell. Its members include heritage groups, the fishing industry, the arts and cultural sector, charities, churches, community groups, local venues and businesses.
The celebrations coincide with an ambitious regeneration programme for North Shields and the Fish Quay. At the same time, North Shields Cultural Quarter is helping the creative economy grow, with support from North East Combined Authority.