A number of our members attended a U3A North East Regional Art Event at the Laing Gallery to celebrate the loan of Turner’s Fighting Temeraire from the National Gallery. We were given a well researched analysis by Catherine Stevenson, the regional art convenor. She explained the history of the painting, the event which it records, as the ship is towed to the breaker’s yard, and its multiple meanings. In the first instance the painting demonstrates the demise of sailing ships caused by the advent of steam power, and most significantly for us, the tug boat pictured was ‘The Monarch’ which was built in Gateshead. The Temeraire was the last surviving battleship from the Battle of Trafalgar and Turner was perhaps reflecting on the decline of British naval power after the Napoleonic Wars. Turner used Artists’ Licence in the picture – the viewpoint is looking east towards the Thames Estuary, and yet we are looking at a misty sunset. In addition the Temeraire was towed by two tugs, the second being ‘The Monarch’s sister ship.