On Bedlington.uk Now...

This info posted by @johndawsonjune1955 of this group and the Facebook group Past Times History group :-

When the last Northumberland Miners Picnic was held in Bedlington in 1989 this program was on sale and Malcolm Robinson posted a copy within this group :-

@Malcolm George Allan there are a couple of albums, created by 'Blank' & under the gallery/Historic Bedlington section. Tese are direct links to the albums :- The only photos with harold Wilson on that I have come across are these two that are said to be 1958 by the member of a Facebook group that posted them. Passing the Market Place on the way to Atlee Park :- This one looks like they are just passing the wall of St Cuthbert's church opposite the begingof front Street East :-

The place were Harold Wilson was at, was Netherton Social Club west end of Bedlington as I was the paper boy that was I was allowed in once in whipped out the autograph book and Harold Wilson signed. Take your chances in life. M G Allan.

Hi I am going a bit nostalgic here, it seems like Bedlington does not hold the Northumberland Miners Picnic anymore, as this was one of the highlights of the year in Bedlington, what with the brass bands, the Scotch pipers along with the thousands of people lining the streets of the town, it must have been a economic gold mine for the town. Along with the banners and the speeches at Atlee Park of leading members of the Miners Union and leading Labour politicians of the time, In fact I got Harold Wilson autograph as Prime Minister when he attended one year as I was a paper boy so got past the policeman on the door as I had to deliver the papers Harold Wilson was polite and he signed my autograph book for me. Also we had the Shows were many a fun time was had and it was reasonably cheep I can imagine there would be some archive pictures of those days happy memory's indeed. Those were the days my friends. Malcolm G Allan.

Thanks for your reply Malcolm, as I now live in Glastonbury which have tried alternative ways of Community involvement in alternative economic ways from developing a successful Rural Credit Union, Mendip Community Credit Union, which is a savings and borrowing financial organisation run by its members for it's members, also what has been tried are Local Exchange Trading Systems (LETS) along with Edgar Cahn Timebanks were you exchange time for work done so that it more equitable than capital as no interest or charges are involved. Bedlington Terriers should have used a accountant from either the Co-operative or Social Enterprise sector to get their accounts delivered on time to Companies House, is it possible to declare Bedlington Terriers as a Community Asset? Is it the Welfare Park the ground of Bedlington Terriers also have they lobbied the Big football clubs in the North-East for any financial support I am sure they could spare a bob or two to keep Bedlington Terriers financially afloat for the coming football seasons ahead. Have the Councils formed into Unitary bodies as they have done in Somerset so there are now no District Councils they are now part of Somerset County Council and like all Councils due to the cutback on the Central Government Local Authorities Grant increase making Town Councils like Glastonbury to increase Council Tax precepts thus making the local population rally against the Town Council because of the increase Council Tax charges with in some cases a decrease in services provided as the local authority have not got the financial budgets to meet the demand. Yours in the Out of the Box thinking. Malcolm.

Thanks for your reply Malcolm, as I now live in Glastonbury which have tried alternative ways of Community involvement in alternative economic ways from developing a successful Rural Credit Union, Mendip Community Credit Union, which is a savings and borrowing financial organisation run by its members for it's members, also what has been tried are Local Exchange Trading Systems (LETS) along with Edgar Cahn Timebanks were you exchange time for work done so that it more equitable than capital as no interest or charges are involved. Bedlington Terriers should have used a accountant from either the Co-operative or Social Enterprise sector to get their accounts delivered on time to Companies House, is it possible to declare Bedlington Terriers as a Community Asset? Is it the Welfare Park the ground of Bedlington Terriers also have they lobbied the Big football clubs in the North-East for any financial support I am sure they could spare a bob or two to keep Bedlington Terriers financially afloat for the coming football seasons ahead. Have the Councils formed into Unitary bodies as they have done in Somerset so there are now no District Councils they are now part of Somerset County Council and like all Councils due to the cutback on the Central Government Local Authorities Grant increase making Town Councils like Glastonbury to increase Council Tax precepts thus making the local population rally against the Town Council because of the increase Council Tax charges with in some cases a decrease in services provided as the local authority have not got the financial budgets to meet the demand. Yours in the Out of the Box thinking. Malcolm.

Malcolm, I like the outside the box thinking. If nothing else it usually results in the people I deal with not being able to give a reply or adequate reason why not to do something. The Terriers is a difficult case given they had been stuck off by Companies House for not filing accounts and County Council had to step in to safeguard the ground for community use! There is a lot of work being done and the only reason for my cooperation is to make sure the end result is in community use! It will probably go to litigation so there are tight lips so as not to prejudice any case!

Thanks Alan, I think this is the guy that I have read on some of the posts of what the Council is doing are not doing, I have attended a lot of Glastonbury Town Council meetings even put ideas towards them never got a reply or thank you from them as it seems across the length and breadth of this country (England) that the majority of the populace have no great faith in the actions of our so called elected local Councillors, I wonder why. Do you just love Democracy? Malcolm.

Cheers @Malcolm George Allan I would guess the very ative councilor you are thinking abouit is Malcolm Robinson who often posts info on the work the local council is doing, or not doing.

Hi Alan Community Asset Transfer. It specifically refers to the transfer of assets (Land &Buildings) from a public body to a Community organisation often less than market value, with the aim of promoting COMMUNITY WELL-BEING just like Humford Baths all those years ago Alan just to finish a good legal structure for any Community is a Community Benefit Society (BENCOM) That's it. Thanks. Malcolm.

Hi Alan I am a bit rusty with my definitions as I am now retired but had some experience in Workers Co-operative sector. Have found out some interesting things. From the Community Right to Buy introduced as part of the Localism Act 2011. There are 4 categories as follows. Community Right to Buy. Community Buy Out Community Asset Transfer. Community Right to bid. That allows community groups to nominate land or buildings as "Assets of Community Value" that does not guarantee the community the right to buy but it does trigger a process where the Community gets first opportunity to bid when an asset is put up for sale I have been reading about Bedlington Terriers and the problems they have as a Community Interest Company (CIC) with a company that wants the Bedlington Terriers to vacate the ground that has been part of the local football fabric for a very long time. If the Bedlington Terriers could look at those 4 categories that I have displayed and they got some legal advice from a Co-operative Development Body in the region this could be of some assistance in their case of keeping Bedlington Terriers at their home ground for years to come. I don't know if this would be helpful in anyway as there is a very pro-active councillor Malcolm I am not familiar with his surname so apologies for that but he might be interested in this Localism Act 2011 and the categories that could benefit the Bedlington Community in the future as a form of building up Community Assets. I hope this is helpful information. Yours in the Spirit of Co-operation. Malcolm.

@Malcolm George Allan - whats a 'Community right to build'? I only know I have seen many comments on the online groups about a new swimming pool in Bedlington and I believe it has been discussed many times by the West Bedlington Council but never had the go ahead In the 1950's we walked walked to Humford baths and it was 3d for the whole 8 hours Wilf kept it open Back in 2016-17 we created a couple of Then & Now images :- In the Gallery section of this group under Historic Bedlington there ia an album with images of Humford. This is a direct link to that album :-

@Malcolm George Allan - I have replied to you via the private Message system.

Hi when I was young living in Bedlington 1950s/60s Bedlington Council was rated as one of the best run Councils in the country, it seems since the amalgamation of Bedlington with Wansbeck that amount of capital investment towards Bedlington did not meet the requirements of improving the town a great deal. Bedlington used to have an open air swimming pool at Humford in the good care of Wilf Marley this acted as a social hub and a place to keep fit even though the water could be a bit cold sometimes and yet still Bedlington waits for a swimming pool maybe a Community right to build could be put forward to Northumberland County Council for the benefit of all ages of the Bedlington population. Yours in the Spirit of Co-operation. Malcolm G Allan.

Hi Alan Past &Present is a name I have come up with for the get together in September have had a reply from a friend who is going to attend so slowly but surely we are building up a group for the night. Got to keep on been positive. Malcolm.

Message for Trish Cook if she would be so kind and contact Janet and Mary if at all possible to let them know about the get together at the Red Lion on September 14th at 7pm as we have plenty of time to see if we can add to people to attend looking forward to that day. Keep well Regards Malcolm.

Hi Alan would like to thank you for your assistance in my efforts in trying to locate past classmates and friends in the Bedlington and Wansbeck area now have had a few good responses also I would like to extend a invitation to you to attend the get together at the Red Lion in Bedlington time 7 pm on Sunday 14th September 2025. Keep well. Thanks from Malcolm.

@Malcolm George Allan I screenshot the three replies you did for Margaret, Kevin & Trish and posted them next to each of their comments on the Bygone Bedlington group. Only one reply up to now :- but if anyone else responds on the Faceboo group I will update this post.

@Malcolm George Allan if you start the name of the member of this group you are replying to with an @ immediately followed by the persons name then their name will appear and if you select that the system 'Tags' the member you are responding to. eg @Bill Straughan

Hi Alan..on the old map it is called West Sleekburn Farm.[right side of the A1147 heading north] On Google Earth it is the site of the Toby Henderson Trust,The Earth Balance Shed,Redress,and the Sleekburn Horticultural Therapy unit for disabled people. The Shed is a community project to encourage anyone who feels they need a place to go for a cup of tea and a natter...or take part in crafting,whether it's woodworking..or whatever..My next door Neighbour ,Rob Ferguson,helps to run the project,and is a very likeable fella,who is a qualified woodworking teacher. Ken D..I am sure you would be made very welcome if you called in for a natter with the gang,you will probably get some more info from any of the old timers about the farm's history! Cheers and best of luck! Bill.

Hi Vic! Hope ye are keeping weel! Alan has answered your question very well!..thanks Alan! Also welcome to Pegwoman,and thanks a lot for your kind advice..you are right,I AM too tolerant!!..that's my nature..I always give companies a lot of time and space..thinking..I am not their only customer!!...but...when I start to fight..I am like a lion!! ....and NCC will find out if they mess me about!!heh heh!! Maybe I will try ringing them on Monday...my application will probably be "Lost"!!

Hi Margaret sorry to hear about Tim I always liked Tim he was a good man also I don't use the name Talc anymore it's Malcolm as I have lived now in Glastonbury for 35 years now so it's my home. Hope you had a great holiday trying to arrange Sunday 14th September at the Red Lion in Bedlington 7pm be great if you make it. Keep well spread the Love. OM SHANTI. Malcolm.