i cant ever think of allan and his dingy ever being any other place than the river wansbeck between bothal and sheepwash that one is knew to me .

hi again i had forgotten all about the jam jars . i can remember we used to pass our tickets out the toilet

window to our mates ... if i remember the projectionist was a man called woodhouse who also lived at easgate

It was Rance Woohouse. i got a pic of him opening up. Did you know the star cinema was the smallest projection box in the world. the projectionist was on his honkers showing the film.

It should really go to the book of records. When my archives come back i will post pics of the star and Rance. Rance was related to Esther Dryer. Dor Dryer was her husband. She and most people from the Gate called him "The Big Un" He lived next door to Esther and they married. Dor was a cracking cricketer. He played for Bomarsund in their winning teams.

Just a point of note, but Dor was a big big lad, he playerd football, what a size he was at school, got pics of him and you would think he was a full grown adult with the rest of the team around him, he was huge. He was a cracking gardner too, and in the leek shows, i don't know if his leeks were as big as him

But a lovely bloke indeed, and a big miss.

i knew an allan dawson who lived inwhat we called the square at eastgate we used to call him daw daw he like the rest of us would often go swimming in the river wansbeck beteen bothal and sheepwash to get to it you crossed a field opposite to the entrance of choppington high pit many a happy year i spent there i can remember allan used to take an inflatebill dingy

Yes, there was Alan Dawson. It must be the same Alan. He worked at Whittle Colliery. His nickname was "Da Da" Alan died late 2011. He raced pigeond too. Good crack he was. Got some great memories from him at the pit. Some great stories. I may post them one day. Some really funny stories they are too.

You know at Whittle Colliery it was the old fashioned pit work. We hand-filled, old fashioned bumping too. On the caunch the cutter undercut, you blasted the coal, then drilled the caunch with the electric bull head, blasted it, and hand filled it and put your pack in at the side of the gateway to the face for support. When i was on composite work, as we called it, or developement work, i was on the team that holed into Shilbottle. We just used the cutter to undercut, fill the coal, blast the caunch, filled it and moved on like that. Shilbootle was the same. No Docos, just graft. When we holed we met the Shilbottle lads and went to shake hands, the first person i seen was my sisters ex-boyfriend, George West. I said "Bloody Hell, George, How you going" He laughed and we began chatting about old times.

I moved on to Ellington at a later date.

Some very good people from the Gate. Worked with many, like George Maddison and his brother Davey. What a pair of splendid lads they were. Good drinkers too i must say. Got some super stories of them, i may let you know one day. Jackie and Bob Ramsay. Two lovely lads. Jackie was the oldest. Alan "Da Da" Dawson. and many many more.

I grew up with some of the finest families in my day. John Chivers, and a character. I worked with his dad at Collumbia Ribbons at Cramlington before moving to Whittle. He was a brilliant and funny fellow. A pleasure to have worked with. Ronnie Martin, Keith Tilbury, Peter Mathewson, Mick and Benny Harnet, Stuart Dawson, Eddie Lee, he had two brothers who died very young, bless the, John and Robert, two fine young lads indeed. I forget their mothers name, but John was her husband i think. Lilly and Mary were the daughters. Lilliy married JohnTasker, Mary married Bobby Ramsay. Sadly Bobby died. We called him "Ranbo" What a strong lad he was. Then there was the Liddle family from East Gate. you know it goes on and on the names. What times they were.

At Choppington School i remember the caretaker clearing the deep sanow on the pathes to get us into school. yopu won't get that these days. Just days off, and with winters then being hasher than today we would have had some mega days off.

Outside toilets too at school. And, thje playing field with not 11 a side cricket or football, but everyone split in half, maybe 30 a side i would say.

Oh, John Rigg who went to choppington school died lately, he was a super football player and moved to Guide Post. 72 he was. R.I.P John, me old m8.

He worked for Newcastle Breweries as a rep. Then went to United buses, where he retired under Ariva.

What about the Lofthouse family and Les and Frank.? Two good lads there too. Olive the mother was a super doopa Darts player and won many titles, bless her. Lilly Lee played dart with her, she was a cracking darts player. I can go on and on, but guess what ? i am ready for bed. But will always hold the fondest of memories for those from the Gate, and Choppington Colliery.

The Gobins, Swinhoes, Archbolds, Lumsdens, and as i say, the list goes on, but time for beddies.

Its great to talk about Scotland Gate and as i said i love them all. Always will. Born and Bred there i was. At me garndparent house at number 60.

Chat soon Dudes. You all take care now, as the Beverley Hillbillys used to say

Edited February 27, 201214 yr by johndawsonjune1955

i lived at eastgate from 1939 till 1952 moved to bedlington station i still have happy memories of my time at eastgate i can remember most of the names that you have mentiond i still keep in touch with a joe jobson who lived at no21 i still go to see him at bedlington.

Whey,aam a bit late o' finding this thread,but just as weel cos if a start wi aal the nyems a knew at Choppington high pit,and aal thi fowks a knew at Choppington and Guide post...........aal not get ti bed thi neet!

Ti hell!....let's see hoo many a can mind of.....

Started the pit in 1959,but lived at Hollymount Square in Bedlington by then.

Born in Gudepost,lived also at Storey's Buildings,on the Willow bridge.....till 1947/8,then Bedltn after that.

Started in the timber yard wi Pat [Paddy] Purcell..[a went ti school at Westridge with his Daughter Pat..lovely jovial lass..],and his marra was Tommy Taylor.

Jimmy Framm was the Keeker,[in charge of aal the men on bank],Ned Cushing was the Training Officer,[both of who remembered my Father working there as a laddie 14yr old putting,in 1929!]

George Ferguson was the screens chargehand,[an NUM man,but paid a few shulling extra for tekking charge],old Jackie Levison was on the screens with only one hand,[he knew me the day a started,and said "are ye Bill A...........'s Son,lad?,ya the spitting image of him when he was a laddie!] [aa was 15 yrs aad]

John Brown was also on the screens,[he had one leg blown off by a dropped .303 rifle..the bullet took his leg off above the knee,and he stood aal day at the screen belts on an artificial leg]....smashing bloke wi us kids.

"Baggy" [?] was also a chargehand on the screens,him and Geordie Ferguson were the only two awful-natured and bad tempered fella's oot o' aal the Heapstead men.

Bobby and Davy Wood....Banksmen,Alfie Cairns [senior]...Winderman,["Brakesman"],Walter Gobin[R.I.P. Walter]....Shakers,John Richardson....Shakers,"Chalkie" White,....cleaning tubs oot alang a gantry from the Heapstead..Willie Givens..Pit pond cleaner-a-oot-a-raa....

He's Brother,Arthur Givens..Shunter,Ronnie Hunt,...Shunter,Harvey [?]....Shunter,Old Jimmy Mitcheson [R.I.P.] [?]...travelled and repaired the branch line from the Low Pit up ti thi High Pit every day.,old Jimmy Armstrong[?] ..Oiler on the Heapstead,[R.I.P.],old Billy Puntin [R.I.P.] ...Underground oiler,Billy Smith..Baths attendant,Mr Fenwick..Manager,Cyril Bird..Undermanager..,Jimmy Marley..Manager's Clerk,Davy Mitcheson..Timeclerk["timekeeper"]

Charlie Dent..Lampcabin man,Harry Dent [brother]..pit Deputy,Raffie Weightman..Blacksmith,Alan Stewart[?],Blacksmith [and pony shoe-er],Bob Nichol..Blacksmith,Jimmy ["Sticker"] Nichol..big coal-filler,Harvey Knox..Onsetter and union Secretary,Billy Proctor..Onsetter,Les  ["Fingers"] Dawson..Shaft-bottom pushing tubs into cage,[full'uns],Jimmy [?] Greaves..Shaft-bottom hanging chummins on ti thi rope,[empty tubs],Harry Barnes.Horse-keeper,

Arthur Fennel..Horse-keeper and union treasurer,Basil Hunt [?]..Shaft-bottom superviser [new created job],Alfie Cairns [Junior]..Loader-end,Geordie Sproat...Loader-end,Larry Thompson[?]..Loader-end..[bad accident to his leg nearly killed him-Chris Arkle ..Fore-Overman saved his life],Joe Barratt..

Back-Overman,Fen Barratt...Ventilation Officer,Danny Barratt..Pit Deputy, [all Brothers],Ray Barratt ...Linesman,[Fen's Son][was in my class at school],

Bartie Slaughter,Willie Humble,and Jimmy Aitchieson....all Rolleywaymen [and haulage -rope splicers],George McCallum,Surveyor[?] Linesman,Ronnie Barber ..Surveyor [?] Linesman,Bob Barber..[brother]..Timberleader,Old Jake Jenkinson..Button-man,Dor Dreyer..Main-Timber-set lad,"Cockney" Ernie

Watson..[Dor's cross-marra on the set],"Maverick" Dennis Barwick..,Frankie Greaves..Eddie Allison,John Halliday,..all Timber-leaders,Bobby Brooks..Tony Shippam,and John Mash[R.I.P.],all Girder-leaders,John Dickinson..John Wardlow..and Me...Heavy transport lads,George Wardlow..[John's Brother]..Shaft bottom..Dreggin fullun's up on the Kip,Jimmy Armstrong[?]..Button Man,Billy Myers..Overman..[knew me Father when he was a laddie also at 14 yr old..in the 1930's!,old "Salt" Dawson,Bart Dawson,Tucker Dawson,Harry.["Harper"]Dawson..Coal-fillers,[same family]"Big Toss" Dawson...

Cutterman,"Daa-Daa" Alan Dawson...Driller,Billy,Tommy,Dickie Nicholson....all Coal-fillers on the same face![brothers] ,Raffie Nicholson..[brother also]...

Timber-leader.

Ronnie Brown..Filler,Geordie Brown..Timberladdie,Curly Taylor and Walter Etheridge..Coal-cuttermen,Harvey Tilbury.."Scrammer" George Young..

..Jimmy Prime..Cuttermen,Johnny Gobin ..Caunchman,Geoff [his Son]..Coal-filler,Brian "Doc" Gobin[ also Johnny's Son]..Timber-laddie,John Arkle..Master-Shifter,Chris Arkle [afore-mentioned]..Fore-Overman,Ernie Arkle..Development-Worker..[all Brothers],Jackie Lake,Jimmy Swan,Councillor Eddie Teasdale..Deputies,Bobby Cross..Overman,George Carr..Fitter,Eddie Hagerty..Electrician,Freddie Cadwallender[senior]..Electrician,Freddie

Cadwallender[Junior],Apprentice Fitter,Arthur Smith..Ditto,Ken Tyrie..ditto,Jimmy Haley..Electrician,old Walter Grey..[R.I.P.]..Stageloader Stall-man,

old "Sol" Collis..Button-man,Harry Derbyshire..Deputy,Dawson James..Stoneman,Ernie Clough..Development worker,"Limpet" Llodundra[?][correct name given in his Family search in another thread]..huge man..Coal-filler,Harry Undeldorf..Development worker.

My fellow-trainee young-uns who were sent to Choppington high Pit together in 1959;Me, Kieth Cooney..[R.I.P.], Harry Common..[R.I.P],Geordie Ord,

Edwin Collis,Ronnie Hannah.

The late night,plus my empty stomach means I will have to pack up!!

Hope this post gets read after me spending the last two hours typing it in!!

Correction to a name........it wasn't "Chalkie White".....it was "Chalkie" Miller!

not sure if it was the same pits - but my uncle jack white was at chopington as was my father and my grandfather. I seem to recall that a lad called Billy Gradwell  was killed at the pit on the day afore his holidays when he was caught atween the face and the cutter after he tried to free it - is that right - would have been in he 60's  and think he lived in dr terrace

There was a real pleasant jovial lad on the loader-end at Choppington B pit,[the high pit],called Jackie White,whose other name we called him by,was "Bet" White.

His Dad was "Owld Bet" White,or "Beth" White.

I never knew yet what "Bet",or "Beth",was an abbreviation of!,but the owld one was also a real canny fella!

I never knew anyone called Gradwell,or of the cutter accident....maybe that happened at the "Low" pit..[the A pit].

Choppington High Pit was the only pit I knew of and worked at,where the whole pit would shut down for 24 hours,all shifts would voluntary go back home upon hearing of one of thier marra's being killed in the pit,such was the bond between the workforce there.

Other pits stopped production on the face where a fatality occurred,[had to by law],but the rest of the pit would carry on with production.

Bedies,I  hope it wasn't your lack of servicing that caused big Harvey Tilbury to speed past us at the entrance ti thi High pit,one afternoon,when aal the men were waiting for the bus from Morpeth ti tek us yem at loose!["lowse"= end of shift"!].

Harvey was in night-shift,[5-0pm],and should have turned in at thi pit road,but instead went past us daeing aboot 80 mile an hour![on his 650 Triumph Tiger 110].

He's footrests were just aboot scraping the road as he leaned inti thi bend,and we aal were gaping and saying waat thi hell is that silly b....r daeing!!

Five minutes later we heard the putt-putt of the big bike ticking over and coming towards us.

When he appeared ,Harvey had that big grin,showing the gaps atween he's teeth,and he was riding wi one hand on the clutch,[riding it],and he had he's other hand up in thi air for us aal ti see......Snapped throttle cable.....wi thi carb wide open!

A think he was gripping thi cable wi he's teeth ti control he's speed coming back doon thi road!!

It was amazing that he survived that day!!

He was that gud-natured wi ivrybody,and played thi clown so much,that you wud think that he was like that aal thi time.

Whey,one day,we were aal having wor baits at the Mothergate end of the new face,in the Top Busty,called "TB 23's",which had just been won oot,and was being installed

wi the new-fangled "Desford" [mushroom ] chocks,instead of the aad-fashioned mechanical steel "Bolton" rat-trap chocks.

Harvey,as usual,had the chair,telling us one joke after another,and had us in fits of laughter.

Above the noise of us aal laafin,I heard an urgent shout from up the face,and called ti Harvey ti haad on a minute.

It was Harry,[Harper] Dawson,aboot 40 yards up the face,yelling for us ti get a stretcher,and help,as there was a man fast atween the coalcutter,and a Desford chock.[hydraulic-and pumped up hard against the roof].

Harvey instantly took charge and barked orders seriously,at me[19 yrs old],and Harry Undeldorf,[a Polish fella-strong as an ox],ti gaan for the stretcher,at another man ti seek the Deputy,somebody else ti phone ti the surface for an Ambulance and Doctor,[the phone was a few hundred yards doon another roadway!],

and the rest ti follow him up the face ti help move the cutter and prepare timber for getting moved with the stretcher.

I was amazed and impressed at the speed at which Harvey re-acted,and the command that he instilled into everybody.

Within minutes we were up the face with the stretcher,having carried it aboot 200 hundred yards,running like hell through swallies of knee-deep water,slipping and sliding aal thi way.

When we got up the face we were confronted with the sight of little Jimmy Prime,[hardly six stone wet through,],trapped by his body,between the cutter,and the chock,and he's eyes were almost popping out,and rolling up in the sockets,out of sight under the eyelids.

His tongue was rolling out down to his bottom jaw,and he was white and blue,[cyanosed].

It was a horrible sight to witness,but within minutes Harvey,and the other lads physically moved the cutter,by hand,[three and a half tons...],away from the chock,and freed Jimmy.

Harvey instructed every man in turn,as to how they were going to get Jimmy onto the stretcher,safely,without causing further damage to Jimmy,as he was nearly dead.

We got Jimmy strapped down,and began humping the stretcher along the face towards the Mothergate end.

It nearly killed Jimmy,as it was rough as hell,and low,about two foot six high,and wet,and it was a really rough travel,having to hump and drop the stretcher every couple of feet.

We carried Jimmy all the way to the shaft bottom,with other men taking turns to do a bit of carrying.

Conditions were so bad in the pit,with long swalleys of deep water,falls of stone in the roadways,travelling down steep gradients,then up the 1-in -6 gradient

drift,which led to the shaft.

We were all absoloutely knackered,to put it mildly,soaking wet,aching all over,but at the time,we were more concerned about poor little Jimmy,than our own aches.

We got the report next day,that his organs internally,were badly crushed,and it was touch and go.

After a couple of weeks went by,we got a report that he was playing hell with thi Nurses,ti let him oot,for a pint!!

Soon after,I saw him,as usual,up Bedlington main street,coming oot of the top club,a bit tipsy....as usual!!

Was I pleased!

Afer that incident,I held Harvey as a hero,and till this day,had the utmost admiration for him.

R.I.P BIG Harvey Tilbury.