Former Prime Minister Tony Blair was invited by South Shields PM. and Foreign Secretary Rt. Hon. David Miliband to give the 7th Annual Lecture at the Customs House 14^th November 2007
After lecture, much to the amusement of Mr. Blair he was presented with a Bob Olley caricature of himself by David Miliband.
Later that evening a group of invited friends dined on fish and chips and mushy peas at the town's nationally renowned and award winning Colman's Fish Restaurant.
Mr. Blair said they were the best fish and chips he had ever tasted!