Bedlington Miners Picnic.

[Malcolm George 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.

[Malcolm George Allan]

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.

[Alan Edgar (Eggy1948)]

@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 :-

 

[Alan Edgar (Eggy1948)]

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 :-

 

[Alan Edgar (Eggy1948)]

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