After a bit of a Geordie tribal gathering on Sat night at a friends the talk (after several bottles of wine!!) turned to the old haunts we all used to frequent in the Toon. Now most questions where answered with the obligatory “ Hang on !!@!It’s on the tip of me tongue yes It’s was called the ………blah etc”

2 questions remain unanswered

 What was the name of the wine bar down the back lane near the Old George?  What was the name of the bloke with the big feet and the bucket that used to collect money around all town center pubs. Especially match days!

Now this wine bar had to be one of the first in the town around the 1975 era. It had barrels for tables and a sawdust floor( original or what!) It was possible that Viv managed it for a while. This was when the Old George was the real hippy bar and you ran the risk of having your head smashed in by skinheeds.

Correct answers win you a invite to the next gathering to be held over the festive season

-- Anonymous, December 21, 2000

Answers

And yes I know some of you weren't born then!!

So ask ya dad!

-- Anonymous, December 21, 2000

The guy was Big Heck. Died a while ago.

-- Anonymous, December 21, 2000

I remember big heck, what did he die of? Hiro when you mention Viv do you mean Viv graham?

-- Anonymous, December 21, 2000

Big Heck. Don't know what he died of. Someone accused him of keeping most of the money he collected. He said he only took his travel expenses and the occasional new pair of shoes as he walked so many miles collecting. After a long court case, Heck won but he lost heart after the vicious and totally unfounded accusations. May have died of pneumonia or something like that. Someone wrote a play about his life which did well at the Theatre Royal. That's all I know other than that I put a lot of money in his pail over the years- well you didn't refuse Big Heck.

-- Anonymous, December 21, 2000

Big heck rings a bell Cliff Syme Yes. Viv Graham I'm sure he ran the place for a while. I think Viv also met with a untimely death.

-- Anonymous, December 21, 2000

Viv graham got shot outside one of his estblishments on shields road a number of years ago. I think one of his kids were present at the time.

-- Anonymous, December 21, 2000

If you remind where the old george was I'll tell ya the name of the wine bar, I frequented back lanes quite often.

-- Anonymous, December 21, 2000

I think you're talking about different Viv's. The other Viv was a very well-known 'horse's hoof' in the Toon - I think he may have run the Black Boy pub.

-- Anonymous, December 21, 2000

The nancy Viv at one time ran the Royal Court then the Tiger bar I think.

-- Anonymous, December 21, 2000

There was only ever one Viv Graham to my knowledge. Local thug that ran the bouncer/doorman distribution for the toon bars. Had his fingers in all sorts of illegal activity.

-- Anonymous, December 21, 2000

Bacchus waw around there, don't remember it being a wine bar though

-- Anonymous, December 21, 2000

The Viv I knew ran a pub in Jesmond for years, bliddy forget the name and finished his time owning the Azure Blue in Gateshead, he swung when it was not fashionable , good laugh , played the Joaana but was a hard hard man, not to be crossed. My pre-footy drinking place was always the Lion and Lamb, jes doon from the Bacchuss, cannot mind a wine bar, only other bar near was the Chancellors.

-- Anonymous, December 25, 2000

Yer right Buff. Viv did run the Azure Blue and was apparently stabbed to death outside by some young thug. Still can't mind the name of the wine bar but apparenly it sold "Maderia Red" which was quite fashionable at the time (along with flares and baseball boots)

-- Anonymous, December 25, 2000