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Been organised even before you wrote it _Pauls I hesitate to say we are not all amateurs! They have all been placed at 90 degrees to the section of the road as you come in. Like them or loath them they "announce" when you enter Bedlington Town, in other words they are gateway features....

I come from a typical coal mining family – the men went down the pit and the girls went to the colliery offices. However I was the exception – in 1949 the King decided he needed my services and I was called up to do my National Service in the army. I never returned to Northumberland except for the occasional family visits, I am now in my dotage and at such a time, one tends to reminisce and to look back at one's roots and where one came from. And there is one thing which has puzzled me for a long time and I haven't been able to find the answer. What happened to the pit houses when the NCB closed down?. Some of the houses may have been destroyed but I know the vast majority weren't destroyed because they are still occupied and even for sale. I wonder if someone would kindly explain the history of what happened – an old man would be very grateful. Haffy

I can't help wondering about the placement of the train in Attlee Park - from the road it is slap bang behind a bin, a road salt bin and a dog waste bin. Unless those are going to be moved at some point it kind of spoils the effect as you drive into the town.

I spent a lot of my youth hanging around Hollymount square with the likes of Les Chivers,Bob Tweedy,Micky Mole a few lasses as well,Kim Haig and her mate Christine,Les and Bob lived in the 2 houses to the left of the cut leading to the park,Bob with his grandad,also called Bob,a proper gent you'd see walking his blue whippet (Betty).We used the kerbs and gates as goals for football and the lines on the roads for tennis nets,not a gameboy or nintendo in sight,In later life I knocked around with Jim Mullarky who built his own house at the other entrance to the square behind Clousons shop,which belonged to his Mam,you probably new his dad, Jim,who I used to talk to about his work down the pit that left him on oxygen tanks in his latter life,a proper diamond he was,ring any bells HPW

Excellent love the new Gateway Features

Couldn't name 'the best' but another Bedlington lad, lived in Hirst Villas, that played professionally was John Brodie :- born 8 September 1947 who played as a full-back for Whitley Bay, Carlisle United, Bradford Park Avenue,Port Vale, and Northwich Victoria. Played for Whitley Bay, before joining Carlisle United in 1967. The "Cumbrians" finished tenth and 12th in the Second Division in 1967–68 and1968–69 under the stewardship of first Tim Ward and then Bob Stokoe. He then joined Bradford Park Avenue, who went on to be relegated out of the Football League in 1969–70 after finishing bottom of the Fourth Division. He was signed by Port Vale manager Gordon Lee for a £250 fee in January 1971. He became a regular in the team, building a reputation for his "hard tackling and reliability". However during a 3–1 defeat to Huddersfield Town at Leeds Road on 8 March he went into a "ruthless tackle" only to come out with a red card and a broken leg. He recovered by January 1976, and played 12 games at the end of the 1975–76 season before re-breaking his leg in a 3–0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at the Withdean Stadium on 10 April. He managed to play three games in the 1976–77 season, but after breaking the same leg for a third time he decided to retire in April 1978. He was given a testimonial game for Port Vale in August 1979, in what turned out to be a goalless draw with Everton.

Brian was good mates with my brother in law and he would always pay him a visit on the Friday night before Match day when his team were playing against Newcastle. Never forgets where he comes from and still keeps in touch with his old mates.

Brian O'Neil of Burnley was known as 'The Bedlington Terrier' and played in the late sixties. He went on to play at Southampton in the early 70's. If you played local football in the early 70's there was always a chance you would get picked up by Burnley. Jimmy Anderson from Ashington was manager of the club around that time. Anderson had joined the club around 1947. There was also a Bill Dodd from Bedlington who was one of a number of North East players to go to Turf Moor in the 1950's.

Plenty beer and a barbi then Brian

Morning High Pit Wilma 43 Hollymount Square is the second house from the park cut. The Chivers family moved from Gladstone Terrace in the 50s and lived there for over 30 years. I was a regular visitor to the house. I too went to the Whitley but do not recognise any of your friends' names. Think you're a little bit older than me!