I have to admit that it was an honour and a privilege to meet one of the original Jarrow marchers back in 1997.

A group of marchers in 1997 were set to recreate the epic march in 1936 to London and it was good to see one of those who took part in the first one at the launch.

Anyway it was good that the story was picked up by the Northern Echo the following day.

The original 206 marchers took part in the organised protest, which was also known as the Jarrow Crusade, against the unemployment and poverty suffered in the north east town.

They marched from Jarrow to London carrying a petition to the Government calling the re-introduction of industry in Jarrow after the closure in 1934 of the town’s main employer – Palmer’s Shipyard.

Despite being received by the House of Commons it was not debated in the chamber and the march produced few immediate results while the men returned home in the belief that they had failed.

From the Northern Echo on Tuesday, May 20, 1997.