Tunnels of Love

Whitley Bay, from the northern extremity. The city district is also called Whitley Bay. Beyond the distant point is Cullercoats. In the centre of the picture, on the far shore, is the white dome of Spanish City. This was built in the early 20th century as a theatre, which became a ballroom, with associated pleasure gardens - a large, permanent funfare, including a big wheel. That persisted into the 1990s, becoming ever more delapidated. We rode a big dipper there in the 1980s, the night before our friend's wedding; the same friend to whom we bid farewell tomorrow

Sting mis-spent some of his youth in Spannish City, as did Mark Knopfler, not knowing that he was gathering materiel for Dire Straits best song, 'Tunnel of Love'  (full lyrics)  which, of course, has been playing in our ear all day

And now I'm searching through
these carousels and carnival arcades
Searching everywhere
from Steeplechase to Palisades
And any shooting gallery
where promises are made
To Rockaway, Rockaway
Rockaway, Rockaway
From Cullercoats and Whitley Bay
Out to Rockaway.
And girl it looks so pretty to me
Like it always did
Like the Spanish City to me
When we were kids.
 — Dire Straits, 1980