On Bedlington.uk Now...

Historical factoids 23. Plessey Woods Country Park. When I was first elected as NCC Councillor, 9 years ago, I went down to Plessey Woods and spoke to the staff working there to see how it could be improved. It was about the only major ‘leisure’ asset I had in my ward. Back then it was mostly used by a few dog walkers and the staff said they had seen a steady decline in the numbers of people using the park. No wonder, it looked run down and starved of any investment! First job do something about the play offer there. There were only two ‘springers’ in the kids play park and I thought that was derisory! I lobbied the park management and the portfolio holder saying they were saying they were investing in NCC parks and while I could see investment going into others I think they forgot about one! I argued they have a sea side park at Druridge Bay and a lake park at Bolam and both were getting substantial investments. I said I think you have forgotten about your woodland park at Plessey! So that started to turn the tables a bit and I was offered some funding to put a new play park in and do some repairs to the walkways around the inside of the park. That, on the proviso I managed to increase visitor numbers. I agreed to the challenge but insisted all the monies taken in the parking machine to be used for further upgrades at Plessey Woods! So we saw the two springers ripped out and a new range of play equipment installed. I insisted some of the equipment was suitable for disabled children and I bought two all-terrain wheelchairs so everyone can enjoy the park. Once I had something there I put on some events to get people down and see what we had to offer. Visitor numbers started to increase so I asked for upgrades to the café saying it was going to be too small soon! This time I got a flat no! Covid hit and when we could go outside into the fresh air people descended on Plessey Woods en mass. So much so I had to sort out double yellow lines for the indiscriminate parking which residents down there were up in arms about and which was going on outside the park because the car park and the overspill car parks were full! I argued for a new extension to the car park and used the visitor numbers to justify it. That was agreed in about 6 months which is lightning fast for a council! I also suggested some ‘Hobbit Huts’ which could be hired on a daily basis and possibly some sort of crazy golf, but again all I got back was ‘negative wave’s man’! Just before Covid hit I worked on a scheme to install a national climbing boulder course in the park arguing this would bring in a whole new visitor demographic. I took it to the ‘gaffers’ again and blow me down with a feather they liked it! More on this later but in the course of around 5-6 years which seems the normal procrastination period for councils the prices jumped up to such a height that the 10 boulders I had specified was reduced to 3! I’ve since fought back to get the original one I wanted next to the play area for kiddies, so 4 boulders going in. I’m not about to bite the hand that feeds so……….. I also won the case for an upgrade to the café and like the boulders I’ve put my MLIS money into it to make it happen! Thankfully it was agreed to upgrade the toilet facilities there too. The only bits I’m not too happy about is the size of the kitchen, which is basally the same, and the glass atrium for the café which is basically facing the car park instead of the play area. Apart from those small niggles it’s all good stuff! So after many years of neglect (and I’ve been on several times about the broken play equipment which is now getting sorted) we will soon have a much improved and exciting park to visit on our doorstep. What I would like to see now is an enlarged and committed ‘Friends of Plessey Woods’ group formed so we can drive further improvements in this woodland park. If anyone would like to join please drop me a line. (Still think the Hobbit Huts is a good idea!)

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@Mark JThat magazine was issued randomly mid 60's to late 80's. My wife has a couple but they don't really have much in them. I've found a few photo's of some pre mid 90's stuff we built that I'll email you. As I mentioned in an earlier 'mail, Hugh himself may have some photos stashed away somewhere.

@Dave Cordes I have sent you an email. I did get a document celebrating 50 years of Welwyn 1937 to 1987, but nothing else so far

@Dave Cordes - if you whish to tag a member so that they are notified then you can use the @ before the members name. The tag only works when you start with the @ followed by the members name and selecting the full name from the list that the system throws up eg @M and the system will give the names and then you select the name you want :- @M and you will get @Mark J

Mark, had no reply yet. Did you source what you need elsewhere?

I've contacted Mark via email.

@Mark J I keep checking this topic annd my posting of your comment on thr Bygone Bedlington(BB) gtoup. There are no new posts on the BB group but I will leave it open and let you know if antone else comes up with something that may help your Have you and @Dave Cordes passed info to each other? And Has Teresa Charlton or her dad emailed you with any info? Alan

@Mark J this is what @Dave Cordes posted on the Bygone Bedlington group :-

@Mark J I have sent you a private messgae via the service in this group = envelope in the top right hand corder of your screen.

Hi Mark, you should be getting some info' forwarded from the post on Bygone Bedlington FB group as I worked closely with Hugh. I've a few photos of older Electronic stuff I was involved with ranging from old Taiwanese winders on which we changed the control systems and converted the feed system to handle much finer wire (Hugh's design). The "Magic Roundabout" in question may have been a twin turreted rig for making fuse cards for Fiat lorries - but there were several things we did that involved a single turret. Hope your dad's OK!??!

Blimey, Dr Kirby & IBM computer, they're blasts from the past. As for John Storey, I was an apprentice '66 to '72 and can only remember him from the earlier years in the Tech' block.

Posted a screen shot of your initial comment on the Bygone Bedlington group and I will copy any replies that may help you into this topic.

Just playing around with AI Alan..............

@Alan Edgar (Eggy1948) that would be great if you can post this and see if anything comes back. Much appreaciated

Yep you will have to start from scratch and invite all your friends to the new account. The advrts are a paiin but normally by reloading the page via the circle with arrowhead on at the top left the adverts sometimes stop - but unfortunately not always. However if you visit one of the groups , eg. Bygone Bedlington the latest advert(s) are blocked out and when you go back to your hame page the advert(s) should have gone

@Mark J searched on the FB group Bygone Bedlington and the only postings on the group about the Welwyn are group photos of office parties among the female workers, What if I screen shot your first comment and posted that on the Bygone Bedlington site and see what response it gets?