If anyone is interested I came across the website of mikcritchlow.com he has a good array

Of photos of miners picnic etc some of the faces are pretty soulless but the content is very good

It's mostly ashington people & Blyth power station but there are a few from bedlington miners picnic

I think some of the older members will recognise some people,worth taking a look at

A few of our members should know one of the people in three photos he has on his website, I know the person well.

Might be a good site to add to the new directory Adam?  He will surely appreciate the extra traffic for his efforts.  I can spin-off a new category for historical interest later.  Thanks Tony.

Not a photo, but a video - day the powerstation came down. Sad day me thinks, whether by plane or by land, you knew you were almost home when you saw the chimneys.. I may have some other footage from a little while before taken from the air - but those I'll have to hunt out.. And yeah, I know, I should have gotten a tripod - but cameras were pricey back then!

 

http://timerider.co.uk/download/power.mpg

 

Feel free to take a copy, someone somewhere should be keeping an archive of such things.

Not a photo, but a video - day the powerstation came down. Sad day me thinks, whether by plane or by land, you knew you were almost home when you saw the chimneys.. I may have some other footage from a little while before taken from the air - but those I'll have to hunt out.. And yeah, I know, I should have gotten a tripod - but cameras were pricey back then!

 

http://timerider.co.uk/download/power.mpg

 

Feel free to take a copy, someone somewhere should be keeping an archive of such things.

I remember well, I was standing on the other side of the river on the old Bates Colliery site when the chimneys were bought down, the operation was massive police blocking all the roads to the power station, a police helicopter doing a fly past to see if anyone was in the area, fire and rescue on site to dampen down the dust for the chimneys, was a sad day to see them go from the skyline like it will be when Alcan's go and then in time the power stations.

 

I heard a rumour when they were blowing the chimneys, the third or forth one fell on top of an empty fire engine because the explosion went wrong anyone know if that was true?

Thank you Steve, that brings back lots of fond memories, at school seeing the first chimney going up and then several times working there in construction and definitely a sight saying you are "nearly homeâ€.

Here's some more nostalgia Vic hopefully of interest to you and Canny Lasses Old / Young Fella.   Thats the Power Station Ash Boat that replaced the Sir Fon and to the right is Bolckows breakers yard with one of eight Russian Submarines lying on its side waiting to be broken up.  Sorry about the text but I've had problems with a History Group taking images for their Facebook Page.   

Yes Foxy fond memories, I can almost smell the creosote and seaweed on the staithes, that photo must be from around the high ferry(chain)? we used the low ferry to go pick williks.

One day,I was sitting in my small conservatory,enjoying a cuppa tea,in the warm sunshine,when a loud booming made the flimsy old-fashioned conservatory shake.

My Wife and I thought it was a mini Earth-tremor.

Later on we found out that it was the first of a series of demolition stages,down at the power station.

I phoned the police,and asked if they could inform me before each successive stage would be demolished,as I was a bit of a historian,and would like to be there ready with my camera,for posterity.

Sure enough,I was put on the list that they reserve for the press,etc.

So,I was there in readiness,and captured all the explosions,thereafter.

Prior to that,I went down and captured all the buildings,best as I could,from different angles.

I used my trusty Halina 35x ,[35mm film],which my Wife,[girlfriend at the time!],bought me for a Xmas present,in around 1963-ish..!!

Consequently,I have packs of decent quality pics of all the demolition,plus 8mm videotape,footage of the chimneys coming down.

I went and asked the security guard if I could have a quick run over and get a piece of the chimney for a keepsake,which he agreed to,so that is on my little collection of stones from various interesting places,over the years,and it lies on my wee stream and pond wall in the back garden!!

This was a day or two after the chimneys came down...not the same day!!

They sure are a miss as a landmark to bring you home![better than a sat nav,if you were just travelling around Northumberland!]

Noo,why has me post needed approval.....aam a a spy or summick?

Mighty queor ti me!

tellyiwataamgaantibednoocosaamabootbuggaadaanamnotgaanasitheorinwaitfosumbuggasyenitsaareetwilmaaakaynitenite!!

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What is the strange language that High Pit Wilma writes?

Concatenated Geordie