New Series: The Way We Were

‘The Way We Were’ returns for fifth series

One of ITV Border’s most popular programmes returns for a fifth series at 7.30 pm on Thursday 28 February.

The Way We Were uses viewers’ own archive film and personal testimony to tell the story of how we used to live.  This rarely seen archive footage, and striking photographs depicting past life in the region, is combined with powerful, funny and moving first-hand accounts from the men and women who lived through it.

The first programme in the new series is called Distant Shores and looks at travel footage dating back to the 1930’s.

• Bert Anderton from Lamplugh was a fan of the Isle of Man’s TT and visited the island with his family after the war.   There’s film of his Manx airlines flight leaving Silloth airport to fly to Ronaldsway on the island.

• The footage includes shots of Douglas Harbour, a horse drawn tram, Rushen Abbey – famous for its strawberries and cream – and steamers bound for Liverpool.

• The Nicholas family from Asby used to embark upon adventurous travels in the 60’s and 70’s in their VW campervan.   Louise Rawling, the daughter takes us on a nostalgic trip through rural Spain as we see scenery that could have come straight out of a Spaghetti Western.  Said Louise: ‘We were free spirits and our parents had a real sense of adventure.’

• Gordon McKerrow from Dumfries has a wealth of family film dating back to 1933 shot by his grandfather, father and mother.    The oldest footage was taken by his grandfather in India and shows some little girls having a tea party with their dolls and being waited on by an Indian house servant.

• There’s also film of a cruise to Madeira just before the war which was taken by Gordon’s father and film of Africa in the sixties shot by Gordon’s mother.

Paddy Merrall, ITV Border managing director, said:  ‘We continue to recommission The Way We Were because our viewers love it and have an insatiable appetite for nostalgia – it’s a ratings winner.’