The verses on the panels read, in sequence:
1900-1919
Children of Biscop’s
Land Survey
A place of ships, coal and glass
On the hills of Tunstall
Canny decent working class
Never ones for bragging
Or for the idle boast
You will never meet finer folk
Than those from the Barbary Coast.
1920-1949
Friday night on the town
Mackem chests
Swell with pride
A round of drinks for half a crown
The FA Cup comes to Wearside
Built the ships, dug the coal
Sat on the steps of the Dogs and Cats
Fought the wars
Signed the dole
Hankies tied in knots for hats.
1950-1969
Sucked on Spangles, chewed liquorice root
Rocked around the clock till 2
Five bob for dad’s new suit
The Beatles and Love Me Do
Sunday morning down the club
Just for a little taster
A bag of pork scratchings
As we laugh at the Little Waster.
1970-1989
Progress seems to run amock
At an ever increasing pace
Whatever happened to the town hall clock
And what took its place.
The ships, the pits, the glass all gone
Like the sweets once sold in jars
Sunderland a place of learning once more
Of manning phones and making cars.
1990-2007
Whatever may lie in store
Whatever dye may have been cast
Sunderland moves forever forwards
Whilst learning lessons from the past.
The wheel has turned full circle
The time foretold has come
Proudly we face the future together
Bequeathed to us by the Venerable One.