Everybody's hometown is unique and Peterlee is no exception.
The County Durham town, which was founded in 1948, by the coastal village of Horden, can have a bit of a reputation but like anywhere in the North East, you won't have to search far to find a friendly face.
It's easy enough to pass by on the A19 between Sunderland and Middlesbrough, but for those of us from Peterlee, we will always be fond of the town that we grew up in.
From that infamous Christmas tree, which was actually more like a branch, to strong opinions of the Apollo Pavilion built to commemorate the moon landings, there are plenty of experiences that connect the people of the town.
These are just some of the things you'll know if you're from Peterlee:
1 .Yes, the town is named after a man called Peter Lee. It’s a bit out of the ordinary, but true.
2. When somebody not from the North East asks where you’re from, you never know quite what to say. Durham, Sunderland, Hartlepool? It can change with every answer.
3. The epicentre of Peterlee is the Asda, closely followed by McDonalds and Costa Coffee. Go into one of these three buildings and you will see at least five people you know.
4. You either detest the Apollo Pavilion sculpture or you love it. There is no inbetween and you will fiercely defend your point of view.
5. Going to the annual Peterlee 'Carnival' is a must-do tradition, no matter the weather or how dear the rides are.
6. You spent a chunk of your formative years falling out of the town’s only nightclub Vibe.
7 Before heading to Vibe, it is mandatory to have a drink at the Wetherspoons and at ‘The Lodge’ beforehand.
8. You had a rivalry with Shotton Hall school if you went to St Bede’s and vice versa which continues to this day.
9. You can’t claim to be from Peterlee if you’ve never gone down ‘the dene’ - Castle Eden Dene that is - and got lost for hours.
10. If you hear about something happening in town, somebody is bound to say “I’ll have a look on Peterlee Have Your Say”. It’s the Facebook group that never misses a trick when it comes to drama.
11. Everybody knew someone who worked in the Walkers crisp factory before it closed. The legend was that they could take home as many bags of crisps as they wanted.
12. The dilapidated college in the centre of town was a massive eyesore until it was finally, finally demolished.
13. You had your school prom, got married or worked at the Shotton Hall Banqueting Suite. Quite possibly all three.
14. Nobody calls Woodhouse Park, Woodhouse Park. It has always been and always will be Bell’s Park, named after the nearby shop before it became a Sainsbury’s.
15. Everybody is genuinely excited to be getting new shops including a KFC and a Starbucks after plans were allowed to go ahead.
16. Peterlee was a new town, built after the Second World War to offer a better quality of life to mining families who were living in the colliery villages. Almost everyone in the town is descended from miners, and proud of it.
17. Everyone loves to get an ice cream from Reo as he goes around in his van in the summer time.
18. The Christmas tree of 2008 which made national headlines for being so pathetic has gone down in history.
19. We love to have a moan about our town but we will claim “it’s not that bad” when someone from out of town starts criticising it and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
