In this episode, we take a nostalgic journey back to 1977, when US President Jimmy Carter visited Washington Village. Howay Jimmy is a heartfelt reflection on this historic event, written and performed by Paige Temperley, with stories and insights from members of the Washington community.

Hoaway Jimmy  

Written by Paige Temperley

Hoaway Jimmy come on down

And look at our new town

The streets are lined 

And soon you’ll find 

There’re full of roaring crowds

Hoaway Jimmy come on down

And give our hands a shake 

We’re dressed up to the nines

And we’ve asked the band to play 

‘Cause things like this don’t happen every day…

Flags at the ready

Lets wave those stars and stripes

A striking combination of red, blue, and white

Hello Mr President

With one we share a name

And here you are on your first trip of Presidential fame 

Pedal to the floor he arrives our doorstep

Like that of those before and so the story goes

Hoaway Jimmy come on down

And look at our new town

The streets are lined 

And soon you’ll find 

There’re full of roaring crowds

Hoaway Jimmy come on down

And give our hands a shake 

We’re dressed up to the nines

And we’ve asked the band to play 

‘Cause things like this don’t happen every day…

Green thumbs at the ready

Let’s head down to the green

We all know what happened to that poor tulip tree

Hello Mr President

For you we have a gift 

A miners flame safety lamp used in colliery F

Pedal to the floor he arrives our doorstep

Like that of those before and so the story goes

Hoaway Jimmy come on down

And look at our new town

The streets are lined 

And soon you’ll find 

There’re full of roaring crowds

Hoaway Jimmy come on down

And give our hands a shake 

We’re dressed up to the nines

And we’ve asked the band to play 

‘Cause things like this don’t happen every day…

Hoaway Jimmy, Hoaway Jimmy, Hoaway Jimmy, Hoaway Jimmy x2  (whoas in background)

Hoaway Jimmy come on down

And look at our new town

The streets are lined 

And soon you’ll find 

There’re full of roaring crowds

Hoaway Jimmy come on down

And give our hands a shake 

We’re dressed up to the nines

And we’ve asked the band to play 

‘Cause things like this don’t happen every day…

‘Cause things like this don’t happen round our way…

‘Cause things like this don’t happen Mmmmm…

Washington Community Podcasting Group, Laurie Endean-Olsen, David Warden, Olive Metcalfe, Jim Metcalfe, City Swing, April Welby, Mike Laws, Barbara Fiddy, Shaun Hair.

• Produced by: Grace Stubbings & the Washington Community Podcasting Group
• Music by: David Brewis & Paige Temperley
• Executive Producers: Caroline Mitchell & Jude Murphy

This episode was developed in collaboration with:

• Washington Heritage Partnership
• Sunderland City Council’s Washington Area Committee
• Sunderland Culture at The Arts Centre Washington
• Baseline Shift
• We Make Culture

Supported by:

• The University of Sunderland
• The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Special thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players for making this project possible.