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Just a heads up that there is a long overdue Gallery update coming in February. The way images are added is staying the same but there will be some fairly big improvements in how the images are presented to members. The main changes are the awful screen overlay is being removed and the overview page will be much better at highlighting images that are being commented on.

Here is what I have spent over the last 4 years out of my Members Local Improvement Scheme. It would seem some members haven’t spent their allowance for local projects and our last Bedlington West Ward councillor left over £20K unspent in his, which then disappeared, so it wasn’t available to me to use for local projects when I started! There are a couple of projects included which are actually just outside my ward area and I’ll explain why I agreed to them. First one is the new accessible footpath behind the War Memorial in the Town Centre. I think that one is self-explanatory, it’s about commemoration and respect! Second one is the bus shelter on Schalksmuhle Road. I think some of my residents would use that and appreciate it as much as anyone. Third one is the BMX track in Gallagher Park. Again I think the cycling kids in this ward will use that outdoor facility as much as anyone so no problem supporting that. I would just point out that in every case these were shared costs and resulted in improvements way and above what a single contribution would mean and brought benefits to the Town as a whole.

2nd load went off yesterday from the Community Centre.

I know it's earlier than normal but I keep thinking my PC might catch an omicron variant, 'Desktop Lock Out'. Stay safe. Eggy

Merry Christmas from the cold NE i wish everyone a healthy 2022

Wilf's here! It's officially Christmas! A very merry Christmas to you all. Stay safe and avoid Covid and we'll see each other in the new year. Meanwhile, I've said this before and it's worth repeating:

Have a good one Alan, Merry Christmas to every one and a Happy New Year

A snap shot of what's been happening in the Bedlington West Ward over the last 4 years. This one!.mp4 536174421_Thisone!.mp4

Billy Mcglen was my Grandad. I often (on what would have been his birthday) Google his name. This year I came across your post. It's nice to think he is so well remembered.

Wow!

Merry Christmas to everyone and Happy New Year

Merry Christmas to all.

Merry Christmas to everyone in this group from Bygone Bedlington:-

Happy to pay the necessary earlier this year to turn the old dilapidated building at West Lea Cemetery into a suitable base for the Friends of West Lea Cemetery. Instead of making their Xmas wreaths in their respective kitchens and having pine needles and holly all over their houses to pick up they can now use this. It took well over a year to sort out with the legals themselves taking for ever, but it been worth all the time and effort put into it. Anyone visiting the cemetery and the lasses are there just say “Hi”, I’m sure they will be pleased to chat and I know anyone wanting to join them in their quest to make this cemetery the very best it can be will be very warmly welcomed. And a big round of thanks for all the help off NCC cemetery staff!

Happy Christmas to you all Maggie

Following a long absence on this site I have just become aware of Derek's passing today, sad news indeed. A true gentleman respected by all who were fortunate enough to have the pleasure of his company.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY! Hope it's a better one than thi last one was! Cheers Bill.

@ShaunL Hi Shaun. Like you, I've come across this site by accident. I was a seafarer, and studied at South Shields. In 1974 I was parachuting at Usworth (before Nissan goth there) and managed to break my leg. After surgery at Sunderland Orthopaedic Hospital, part of my recovery programme was a spell at Hartford Hall. At the time I lived in Cramlington New Town, but was still admitted as a residential patient. I think it was your Dad at the time who had a VW Beetle, and was having trouble with his carburettor. One or two of us fancied ourselves as amateur mechanics, and spent a happy afternoon diagnosing and fixing the problem for him. I remember Joyce Miller very well: I was once invited round to her house for dinner, and gave her a Bohemia cut crystal fruit bowl and water jug in return (cheap as chips in Poland, and I had a house full). Very down to earth, and loved a good chat. She was a bit of a match-maker, though. One of the other residents was in for treatment for a broken neck, and somehow he managed to slip on a walk down to the river, and broke his wrist. He had a yellow Triumph Sprite, which he asked me to look after, since he couldn't drive. One of the junior physios was a lovely Canadian girl. I was 27 and single, so Joyce tried to fix me up with her by telling me to take her home one evening. Being naive, I assumed she only wanted the lift home for a chance ride in the sports car, so dropped her off like the gallant gentleman I was, and drove back to the hall. The next day Joyce gave me a right going over for not asking her out. Those were the days! For my sins, I ended up doing a second spell at the hall in 1975, after a further operation, and this time it all worked out OK, so I have some happy memories of that place.

Have a merry Christmas and happy new year to all.

https://www.northumberlandline.uk/post/bedlington-works

Merry Christmas to all my gud friends on wor great channel!...Nice ti see ye back Brian..mind aav been idle an aal...but aam chinkaplonka,it's looking after Cath full on noo,that limits time for me..nivvor mind,one thing a wud like ti remind ye aal...if ye get tipsy,keep ya phones switched off!!...aam a teetotaller,so aam fully aware constantly......aav had aboot a dozen scam texts and calls owa the last few months,more so this last few weeks..from Lloyds Bank..[supposedly!],Royal Mail wanting 2 quid for a parcel ti be redelivered..[nonsense!]Hermes,[same thing],and just last week and today,a text saying "I think you are in this Video"..beware that one,my marras have fallen for it,thinking it was from old Pit Marras,but it scans all your contacts....I dont know if this has been covered already,apologies if it has,better be safe than scammed! Cheers and all the best folks! Bill and Cath xx

Thank you kind sirs! I am delighted, honoured and humbled to receive this prestigious award. I coudn’t have done it without your help - and the help of Covid which gave me, and you, loads of spare time. There are a couple of others I’d like to mention and thank for their help along the way: My parents, who provided the raw material. The people of Bedlington and Netherton who moulded that material. Friends and colleagues around the world who made adjustments and amendments to the design. The many educational establishments who nurtured my thirst for knowledge. Esther at the corner shop. Tommy the milkman. The colliery pollis at Netherton. The next door neighbours, here and elsewhere. Santa Clause. The Witch of Wookey Hole. Moscardini’s coffee shop. Lidl’s. The staff of Keenleyside’s. The Swedish Government, for letting me in. The British Government, for letting me out. Bedlington YMCA. The Metropolitan Police Force. The Canadian Royal Mounties. The Toon Moor. Newcastle United FC. Morrison’s. SAAB motors. … and not forgetting: Robson’s the printers. Jack, the ice-cream man. Netherton Socail Club. Prestos, Market Place, Bedlington. Jimmy Millne. The French Onion Sellers. The Beano. The nr 48 United Bus. St Cuthbert’s Church. Doncaster Royal Infirmary. … and, last but not least, Old Uncle Tom Cobley (and all). Thank you once again kind people of Bedders.

Greetings and best wishes from Oz. (35 degrees here in Adelaide today). May you all have a wonderful and safe Christmas .

Merry Christmas,and a happy new year to all,if we get that far!! Hope to be seeing you all a bit more next year,past two years have been disastrous ,healthwise,with my Wife. The NHS have been absoloutely MAGNIFICENT ,between Wansbeck,The RVI,The Freeman,and The Mount at Morpeth,all the Consultants and Staff,all the way down the ranks,deserve medals,solid gold ones the size of dustbin lids! My Wife and me hope the NHS gets the Appreciation,and funding that it deserves Nationally. ALL THE BEST! Bill.

Merry Christmas Alan and to all of our friends, followers and families, and a safe and happy New Year.

Just to keep our friends overseas in the loop........

If the project comes off, and I should know better after next week, trees will be supplied.

Update on West Lea Cemetery. Work on the new drainage system started today. Good start more to do! video-1623851069.mp4

.. not enough roughage in their diet, obviously!

Thanks for that -pauls, interesting read and a refreshing one. This is exactly the type of 'conversation' we need in Bedlington so we get the investment, type of development which will focus the Town, help all the existing retailers and add to their ranks. It encapsulates the reasons why I don't think putting in a facsimile of what's available around us will change the fortunes of our Town. We need to be bold, innovative and imaginative if we are ever to see Bedlington become a 'destination' Town.

Was walking the dog in the woods behind the hazlemere estate in bedlington and found a mountain bike thrown in the bushes way off the path. I left it just in case the owner was about but it was still there next day so I dragged it out and brought it home. It is an apollo mountain bike. If you think it is yours you need to describe it to me in detail. I have found the frame serial number so if you give me that good. It also has a unique kind of lock wrapped around the frame so if you have the key for it that would prove ownership to me. I want the bike to go back to its owner so dont 'try it on' please. Reply to this forum and we will go from there.

Hi Hi @AvrilG! Welcome to the forum. If Edward was 2 years and 10 months, rather than ‘almost 2’ then I believe that the following is his obituary, published in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle on March 15 1929. My 11-year experience of rummaging through old documents, digital or hard copy, leads me to believe that the churchyard you refer to is Cambois Churchyard. Old newspapers, and therefore digitalised copies, can vary in quality due to the ravages of time. I can understand your mistaking Cambois for Cambels. The letter ‘i’ can look very much like the letter ‘l’ in faded or blurred print (compare the ‘li’ in ‘Bedlington’ next to the MORTON name). Likewise, ‘e’ and ‘o’. It might help you in your search to know that St Andrews (Cambois) was a small church built in the 1860s as the mission church of St Peter (West Sleekburn). West Sleekburn is often referred to as Bedlington Station, as in the obituary. St Andrews didn’t have the full status of a parish church but was supported by the parish. You could say that St Andrews was a ‘subsidiary’ of St Peters (West Sleekburn) which was the parish church of both West Sleekburn and Cambois. St Andrews was, therefore, served by the vicar of St Peters with the help of a non-stipendiary priest until its consecration in 1998 when it became a parish church. All parish records for St Andrews would be held at St Peters (West Sleekburn) until that date. Andy has given you a link to St Andrews and here you can see where St Peters is. Good luck with your search! I have some newspaper cuttings about Edwards death if you would like them.

Sunak will lose over 150 Tory seats on July 4th. Tony Blair will resurface in some capacity (Starmer owes him, and he owns Starmer). We will get a one-term Labour government that will be in total disarray within 3 years. (maybe less) The Reform Party will win some seat(s) despite the huge FPTP disadvantage. Sunak and his wife will decamp to the USA, tempted by some plumb position. Donald Trump will practically sweep the board in the USA elections. By year-end, Nigel Farage will be appointed US special ambassador to the UK, and Starmer will be forced to go through him. Five out of seven is a win, and 7/7 would cement my pure genius! Feel free to add your own predictions. Go on, you know you want to! BTW Trump does support Starmer already, and I think I can probably see why.

1961: The delight of the MINERS' BRASS BAND PICNIC | Monitor 54 | Weird and Wonderful | BBC Archive John Gibson introduces us to the brass band carnival and the colliery band contest at Bedlington, Northumberland which occurs each year - as a grand occasion for the family - mixing politics, beauty queens and, of course, music. John was representing Pegswood Colliery in Morpeth, Northumberland, which as he predicted was to soon close, doing so in 1969, some 101 years after it first opened. This short film was directed by Ken Russell. Clip taken from Monitor 54, originally broadcast on BBC Television on Sunday 3 July 1960.

I know its a few years since the last post on this thread, but I'm doing some family history stuff and searched 2 gate house... it would appear my ancestors lived there between yours! Mine were there in the 1921 census, and moved on by 1939! Thanks so much for that map canny lass!

Congratulations Eggy! That hat doesn't half suit you! Does this mean that you are now my 'other ' other half? Thank you kind sirs! I am again honoured and humbled to receive this prestigious award. Looking back over the last year and thinking of people people who have impacted my life in a positive way, you, my dear friends, are some of those people. Therefore, I would like to share this prize not only with Eggy but with all of you and thank for your contributions to the site. Naturally, a thank-you speech wouldn’t be a ’proper’ speech if it didn’t also convey a sense of gratitude to others who have helped along the way. To that end, I would now like to thank, in no particular order of importance: My tap-dancing teacher, June. My OH who listens patiently to my ramblings about all things Bedlington. My next door neighbour (I use the expression ”next door” in its vaguest meaning as it’s 2km away). The people of Ashington, Cramlington, Blyth and Morpeth who nurtured my love of leisure and physical activity. Postman Pat. My father and his fellow leek-growing enthusiasts who taught me that asking two questions was always better than asking only one. My mother, for teaching me to understand that the real honour lies not in winning but in taking part. I’m still grateful to Esther at the corner shop and equally grateful to Geordie Collis the colliery ’poliss’ for something or other. A special mention goes to: My hairdresser, for all her efforts to achieve the impossible. B.U.D.C Billy the butcher. King Charles III The walruss and the egg man. The Encyclopedia Britannica. Tommy Cooper … … and last but by no means least, my cats, Tickle and Pint-Pot. Thank you all once again!

Thank you Malcolm, and the same to everyone in the grouo

Hope you and the family fully enjoy your visit. You might meet up with @John Fox (foxy) - @Andy Millne or @Malcolm Robinson if you visit the Red Lion.

Hi Have had a quick check and find the following: Note. the Soldiers in the Bedlington Soldiers who died in WW1 are based on the Record of Enlistment document held at St Cuthbert's Church. This is not a complete list of Bedlington Soldiers who died in WW1. 1. Robert Bestford, # 38597. died 1/12/1917. he was with the Durham light Infantry. Military records show and address at 42, Snowball Terrace Gateshead. His detailed war records are available. Robert is remembered at the Memorial for the North East Railway at York. Robert was a Station Porter before WW1. The Memorial Roll of Honour & Case at the 1914-1918 Library honours his name. 2. William Thomas Bestford, #1242, died 21st July 1916. he was with the Royal Engineers 1st/2nd Northumbrian Field Coy. his details are available on the CWGC site and easy to find. 3. George Bestford survived the conflict but had wounds and shell shock. He is shown to be associated with 5th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, Oxford and Bucks. Regiment and possibly the the Tyneside Scottish (record in the Tyneside Scottish book (Stewart & Sheen). In the Record of Enlistment he is shown to be living at Bedlington. Note the photo shows a possible Sergeant Tyneside Scottish. George has links with Egypt and being promoted to an Officer. 4. Thomas Bestford it appears was a 2nd Lieutenant with the 41 Sanitary Section serving in India. No further details available.

Happy New Year 2022 We are going to celebrate and see the New Year in at the clock tower in Morpeth. We were last there 33 years ago . We won’t be there in 33years time . Happy days

Hello to all my friends on the forum yes this is Brian Cross and I’m still alive I’ve been fairly ill for the last couple of years but hopefully I am over the worst of it now I just wanted to say Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to all my mates on the forum I have not forgotten you guys that was my eyes Not been real good I haven’t been able to post

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlnoWDHUrAQ&t=6834s

One day I will shock you and do the quiz .

I see the Big'un has had her puppies..............

Greetings @Canny lass!x Short account indeed. Approximately 30 people gathered, majority members and about 10 newbies. David addressed the group from his position on the steps, suggested we all crowd close to him to hear him: some people were reluctant given long-standing advice about keeping safe distance while COVID is still prevalent. The history of the surrounding buildings was described giving particular reference to “the Sun Inn murders “ and David’s forebears involvement. Just as the group were moving on towards the Market Place a lady became unwell and lost consciousness, needing assistance. The group carried on regardless while the retired nurse and friend StJohn’s member attended to the lady, until she was recovered enough to be collected by her husband and taken home. Nurse and StJohn person caught up with the group as they crossed over to the Market square to be informed about the buildings present and previously. Then on to the Grapes, can’t remember the next bit. The noise from passing traffic made it difficult to hear a lot of what was being said, I did hear that David thought the TSB building was sympathetic to the previous building. Moved on again to the Trotter memorial, adjacent to the site of the old Poorhouse, replaced by the buildings of the undertakers business. David began recounting an issue with a schoolteacher when he was 6/7 years old and his father’s response. Sadly I had to leave at that point to catch a bus home; passing the few people left by the memorial it looked that the tour had concluded and a few were just chatting before moving off. @Josimarsz

The cemetary is a great place to go either by yourself or with your dog to chill out for boosting mental health or with kids to teach them a thing or two. I can't be the only one who remembers being taken by Meadowdale Middle School on science/history and art field trips here. There is so much to see and learn, mostly in the old section, but the wildlife there is astonishing. Over the past few years I've seen a kestrel, a barn owl, foxes, tree creepers, woodpeckers, sparrowhawks, a weird possibly crossbreed white rabbit population (???), bullfinches, long tailed tits and much more. The trees and wildflowers are also amazing, not to mention the art of the grave engravings and some of the incredible stories and histories of the families laid to rest there. I'd hate to think that NCC is trying to make it into an empty no-go zone and I still can't understand what possible reason there is for wanting the rear of the new cemetary blocked off when it's such a sizeable area. I'd encourage everyone in Bedlington to take a walk around the place and just enjoy it, responsibly, of course.

ps. forgot to say the last file input to the OCR was a selection from your comments from the Bates album - all converted - nee bovver👌

Answers to last week's quiz: 1. Brisket 2. George V 3. Rivers 4. Jerusalem 5. Night and Day 6. Flyweight 7. Fish farming 8. Prince Henry 9. J F Kennedy 10. 1929 11. Sheep 12. Bill Bixby New quiz tomorrow!