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Sometimes, of course, it’s a pleasure to meet up with people who do try and do the right thing! I know developers have a bad press and I know better than most that some do deserve it but once in a while there is an exception that proves the rule! Taylor Wimpy Homes are part of the build out at Fenwick Park and I have to say never shied away from my calls or emails! In my experience they tend to meet the problems head on and try to resolve them as soon as possible. Some are easier than others of course but………… Just as examples, their staff have helped with litter picking at West Lea Cemetery and the area manager donated a load of plants, again to the cemetery. A while back I was after a defibrillator for the new Playzone at West Lea and happened to mention this to them. A week or so later I had a message, I think we can let you have two, have to check first! Firstly they had to be overhauled and new batteries fitted then thoroughly checked out so it has taken some time. In the meantime NCC fitted a defibrillator to the PlayZone just a week or so ago. Upshot is that I took delivery of them yesterday morning and they will soon be winging their way to two local community groups! Thanks very much to the lads and lasses at Taylor Wimpy it’s all very much appreciated! (Pictured Steve Wall - Production Manager, Malcolm Robinson- NCC ward councillor, Charlie Arkless - Customer Relations Manager and Michael Coombs- Technical Director.)

East Bedlington Parish Council It’s time to shine a light on the people who make our community great! East Bedlington Parish Council is proud to announce the return of the Civic Awards 2026, and we need your help to find our local heroes. Do you know someone who goes above and beyond? Whether it’s a helpful neighbour or a dedicated volunteer, now is the time to give them the recognition they deserve. The Award Categories Not sure which category fits? Here is a breakdown of what we are looking for: Colin Parker Good Neighbour Award: For that special individual who is always there with a helping hand, looks out for those on their street, and makes their neighbourhood a friendlier place. Brian Richmond Sporting Achievement: Celebrating local athletes, team players, or coaches who have shown incredible dedication, talent, or sportsmanship over the past year. Apprentice of the Year: Recognising a hardworking individual who is making outstanding progress in their vocational training and showing great promise in their career. Volunteer of the Year: For an individual who selflessly gives up their time and energy to support local causes or help others without asking for anything in return. Volunteer Group of the Year: Celebrating a team or organisation that works together to make a positive impact on the East Bedlington community. Important Dates Nomination Deadline: Friday, 17th July 2026 Awards Ceremony: Saturday, 1st August (3pm – 6pm) All nominees and their nominators will be invited to attend this special celebration! How to Nominate Ready to nominate your hero? You can get in touch with the Parish Council via the following methods: In Person: Visit the office at 16-17 Station Street, Bedlington. Phone: 01670 828808 assistantclerk@eastbedlingtonparishcouncil.gov.uk Let’s celebrate the people who make East Bedlington a fantastic place to live. Get your nominations in today!

A Bedlingtonian has made the national news headlines here in Sweden! When seven dachshund puppies became motherless after a dramatic birth an unexpected hero stepped in. Bedlington Terrier Zahara took care of the puppies and began to feed them as her own. When Max Ackberger’s dachshund didn’t survive the birth, the situation became acute for her seven puppies. Max looked to Facebook for help and made contact with Lena Westholm who lived in the same town. Lena¨s Bedlington Terrier, Zahara, was having a false pregnancy at the time and showing strong maternal instincts. The puppies were introduced to her and, despite some initial hesitation, she let the puppies start feeding. At first, Zahara thought it was a little scary but then her mother’s instinct took over. From then on, the puppies were hers. Just now the puppies are both bottle and breast fed but it is hoped that they will soon manage with only milk from Zahara. A true Bedlingtonian!! Well done Zahara. https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/vast/sju-taxvalparnas-mamma-dog-da-tog-bedlingtonterriern-zahara-over-och-borjade-dia

I was going through some old photos and documents belonging by my dad, when I found some funny caricatures drawn on the back of old mine documents. They were probably made by someone my dad worked with down the mine years ago. I hope the artist can be identified as they are very good. My dad is called David Robson, aka Davey and Mixer. He worked at Netherton Colliery in the late 60’s / 70’s then Bates, Ellington and possibly other pits around the 80’s and 90’s. The jokes centre around my dad and poke fun at him at work and for other things. I had to photoshop the phallus out of one drawing as it may offend someone. If anyone can shed more light on these drawings then I’d love to hear from them. Regards, Damian.

Thank you, the wife uses Facebook so I'll ask her to take a look. I'm sure he worked at Bates Colliery in the 80's, perhaps early 90's then went to Ellington Colliery after that. If other's worked there at the same time, then they would probably know each other. Damian.

@Mal Is there any organized instruction for the use of these defibrillators, Mal or is it up to an interested individual to find their own? My own experience here is that, while there are clear and concise instructions inside for its use, several users have never seen a defibrillator prior to the need for its urgent use and have had a tendency to panic at the scene.

First class move Taylor Wimpy Homes, (and Mal for the prodding!) they will greatly appreciated I'm sure. But really should it be up to private companies to supply a essential piece of equipment?

One of the most important developments this area will see has now been officially declassified! Naturally it’s in Bedlingtonshire and for those that don’t know where this is, it’s between the river Wansbeck and the river Blyth. With over 77 hectares of land and with the ability to install 3.25 million ft/sq of industrial space, it will be one of the largest developments seen within Northumberland for generations. Members had the presentation last week about this and apologies to other members there (not really!) who complained about the length of time I took asking questions so I understood what was being proposed. I do hope some of my suggestions were taken on board too. I immediately lobbied trying to make sure Bedlington and its environs had seamless access to this development because the job opportunities are without doubt the best we have seen! In fact the committee who heard it, in camera, insisted we are kept up to date with its roll out because, as I explained, to make sure it actually happens and in orderly procession. So this time the job is to make sure it’s rolled out and because it’s being developed in our backyard make sure we see some major benefits this time! https://www.businessnorthumberland.co.uk/council-unveils.../

I agree Vic but just been told at the event where this was unveiled there was a hell of a lot of interest from International investors. Course the trick is to maintain that and turn it into actual investments!

A good plan, if anyone comes...

Took my future wife there on our first date, and I had to travel from Wallsend whereas she came from Bedlington.

Whey,aav just aboot seen ivrythin noo!! A divvent waatch telly,like other people,cos aam busy mornin ti neet,till a cum on heor after midneet usually!! Me Wife "taped" [!] a programme aboot the closure of Kellingly Colliery,the last deep mine ti close,so thi neet a sat and waatched it from 11-0pm -12-0 midneet. A wanted ti switch it off after five minutes into the programme,for a few reasons. A] A rubbish production wi so little content aboot actual mining,i.e.seeing the owamen and shift managers in their offices bantering on,[ "acting"], on camera. B] Absoloute proof of a North/South divide in the mining industry...i.e regard to investment. C] Seething at the thought of the atrocious conditions me and my Marra's worked in,and were blatantly ROBBED of what we had honestly earned,due to a Deputy Manager at Bates Pit scratching out "delays out of our control" as recorded in our Deputy's reports [ Productivity bonus scheme....wat a laugh..]. Kellingly pit had 6-feet [maybe more],high,coal faces,where thi miners didn't need ti wear knee-pads cos they walked up and doon the face! Fluorescent lighting aal thi way doon thi face,water fed dust suppression that worked,on the shearers, massive "Chock-shield" [Reg.T.M.!] face supports,where the whole of the extracted area was totally enclosed in an armour-plated cocoon,so nil chance of anyone being remotely hit by a roof fall of stone,not even a walnut-sized piece wud come doon between these chocks!![and a wudn't any ti either for thi lads' sakes!] Nae waata ti be seen except in the lad's waata bottles,mind,they needed it cos the one thing we didn't hev up here was equatorial temperatures doon theor! Doon the 3/4 Seam at Bates,it was the opposite,the north sea teeming in,frozzen caad,sowked ti thi skin,wat shud have been a 42-inch high seam,was owa 15 feet high on some faces,and that wasn't a pleasant height through choice,it was cos the bliddy roof had so much pressure it used ti flatten the flimsy face chocks ti thi floor and cause roof falls up ti 70 yards lang,and more,reet doon the coal face,absoloutely treacherous. We had ti stand on TOP of the face chocks,[which were supposed to be protecting us!]and build "butts" on top of the chock canopies,till we couldn't reach any higher,so had ti build another platform to stand on,so we cud continue building the butts up thi roof![a "butt" consisted of two 2' x 6" x 6" hardwood beech chocks side by side,with another two on top at 90 degrees with respect,then two more,and two more...etc,tillyou reached the roof!] See my Bates pit pics on Flickr,there's a pic of a high wood butt,aal squashed with roof pressure. Aal thi time we were working like this,it was in completely bare exposed roof conditions,totally against Manager's support rules for the mine,and against Mines and Quarries act 1956.......but with NO alternative,if we wanted to preserve our own lives,we had to take the risks. These lads doon sooth,[mind the lads at the Plessey at Bates,and the lads at Ellington also],didn't knaa haaf of it.and half of the lads I worked with on those faces are long gone noo. Sadly,some died at a very young age,late 30's,early forties,don't suppose the Coal Board wud have an inquiry as to why they all had thing like Leukaemia and cancer-related diseases after working on a Prototype Shearer with a nuclear isotope device mounted on the top of the machine,which was supposed to be "Ultra-Safe!],others became victims ti roof falls and girders being knocked oot,etc.R.I.P aal thi lads that aren't here ti bear me oot. 2-0 am,so will have to close me rant!![till another day!]