"Highway" Hexham, 1984 (ITV)

In 1984, the Northumberland market town of Hexham was host to the popular ITV Sunday Evening Programme, "Highway", hosted by Sir Harry Secombe. The show mixed hymns and chat. Guests sang religious songs, gave readings or talked about their lifestyles and spiritual feelings.

Some well-known Hexham personalities featured in this programme - including local Institutions such as Hexham Auction Mart, Hexham Abbey, The Abbey Choir, and the renowned Hexham Male Voice Choir plus guests such as the famous British folk group Steeleye Span, actress Gemma Craven and folk singer Johnny Handle.

Venues include Chesters Roman Fort, The Hunday National Tractor Museum (including a look at the oldest tractor in the world!) the Roman Wall World Heritage site (Hadrians Wall), the magnificent countryside of Northumberland and Hexham Auction Mart, at it's original site near the heart of the ancient Market Town. The 30 minute programme ends in Hexham Market Place with Tyne Valley Brass Band providing the music for the gathered crowd of singers and townspeople to sing along to.

This is a fascinating short snapshot of the Hexham of the day.

Back then, Ronald Reagan was the US President; Band Aid recorded "Do They Know its Christmas" and the Space Shuttle Discovery made its maiden Voyage - 1984.
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