'I have fond memories of Jimmy Carter staying'

Carter had visited the region 10 years earlier while serving as President of the United States

PA Media Jimmy Carter waving at the door of Air Force One which has the president's seal on the door - a circular badge with an eagle in the centre. Carter has grey, windswept hair. — Carter had visited the region 10 years earlier while serving as President of the United States

A family who hosted Jimmy Carter and his wife for a weekend almost 50 years ago said they "were just lovely people" who left "such fond memories".

Jenny Coates, 73, said the village of Riding Mill, in Northumberland, was "taken by storm" in 1977 when the former US president stayed with her and her husband, Terry, and their two daughters.

The Coates family got to know the Carters through Friendship Force, an exchange organisation which they helped set up in the 1970s.

Mrs Coates recalled how she made dinner for the couple and how her late husband went for a morning jog with the VIP guest and his security detail "which was quite amusing" before they headed to see Hadrian's Wall.

The president's flight was so punctual there was only just enough time to give him the red carpet treatment

Former president Jimmy Carter coming down the steps from a flight into Newcastle. A red carpet is being quickly rolled out in front of him. — The president's flight was so punctual there was only just enough time to give him the red carpet treatment

Mr Coates, who died in 2018, became involved with the Newcastle branch and before the former president's stay, his daughter Amy Carter visited the family in Northumberland as part of the programme.

The 39th president died on Sunday, aged 100.

Mrs Coates said she was "very sad at the news" and that it had "brought up a lot of memories for us".

Carter and his wife visited the north-east of England in 1987 when he stayed with the Coates family

PA Media A black and white photo of Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, in a black carriage. Rosalynn is looking into the camera, smiling while Jimmy Carter looks to the side waving. — Carter and his wife visited the north-east of England in 1987 when he stayed with the Coates family

On the way back, Carter stopped the entourage to watch a cricket match between Humshaugh and Wylam Second XI.

"It was the funniest thing, if you'd seen everybody's faces," Mrs Coates said.

"But that's the sort of guy he was. He just went and spoke to everybody and shook all their hands."

When they got back to Riding Mill, the former president decided to go to the local pub for a pint.

Mrs Coates confirmed a well-known local story, that someone asked her late husband in the bar if Carter had gone, to which the president himself replied: "No, he's still here."

Jimmy Carter delighted the crowd with the - now standard - baby cuddle

Getty Images Former president Jimmy Carter hugging a baby, surrounded by a smiling crowd. The baby is wearing a knitted bonnet and jumper. Carter is wearing a suit and tie and is grinning widely. — Jimmy Carter delighted the crowd with the - now standard - baby cuddle

The Coates family also spent happy times in Georgia through the programme.

The late Look North presenter Mike Neville went on the very first trip and told the BBC in 2017 there were "hundreds of people waiting" for them.

"They cheered, they screamed," he said.

Mr Neville said Americans came up to his hosts and asked "to borrow the Geordie to take him out for the day".

The president's greeting of "howay the lads" was met with cheers from the crowd

Getty Images Former president Jimmy Carter greeting a crowd in Newcastle in 1977. There are flowers around the podium, on which sits the Lord Mayor in red robes, and Prime Minister James Callaghan. — The president's greeting of "howay the lads" was met with cheers from the crowd

It was Carter's only visit to the UK as president in 1977, when he greeted 80,000 people in front of Newcastle's Civic Centre saying "howay the lads".

Footage from the time shows the lord mayor introducing the special guest saying: "Mr President, Sir, you are a Georgian. You have now become a Geordie."

Addressing the crowd, a beaming Carter said: "I'm very grateful to be a Geordie now," as the then Prime Minister Jim Callaghan chuckled behind him.

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