Youngsters' special day out at the zoo

WHATEVER became of the lads and lasses who appear in our photo- graphs taken 55 years ago?

- DAVID MORTON

"Four hundred children from the 'twilight zone' of Newcastle's West End had a half-term holiday - a free trip to Stanley Zoo in County Durham," reported The Journal's sister newspaper the Evening Chronicle on Monday, October 27, 1970.

"Hordes of bright-eyed youngsters jostled for places on the 10 buses laid on for the outing. The trip was organised by SCAN - the Students Community Action for Newcastle group. For some children, whose ages ranged between four and 11, the zoo trip was their first away from home."

Our story noted that busmen from North East firms lifted their strike ban to drive the coaches, and volunteered their services for free. One of the organisers explained how the trip was part of a community action week, aimed at involving Newcastle students in the everyday life of the local community.