Andy Millne

Britain's best kept secrets, were training guerrilla "Auxiliary Units" in a coastal strip thirty miles deep in readiness to harass the Nazi war machine when it landed on our beaches. Many men from Bedlington were secretly enlisted. Their captain was actor Anthony Quayle. Their hideout, an underground chamber with six months rations and ammunition, was in Hartford Woods near Bedlington, Northumberland and they met in secret at an empty house in Shankhouse, Cramlington, Northumberland. Secrecy was all important and each cell was not known by name to any other cell just in case of interrogation or collaboration.

A new drift to develop the main coal from around the shaft at the Doctor Pit was completed.

The Doctor Pit opened its canteen for the workers.

Coal was mostly machine cut at the Doctor Pit.

It was decided by the management to build the pit head baths at the Doctor Pit and they officially opened them.

Orange Brothers sold out their transport business to United Automobile Services.

Stone coffin unearthed at Millfield housing site Bedlington. It was Anglo Saxon with adult female human remains inside.

The Colliery Welfare Fund offered to install pit head baths, but the men refused after holding a ballot.

Bedlington Coal Company pits got their first brass band. They were from Barrington Colliery after its closure.

Orange Brothers pioneered the London to Newcastle bus service in 1927.

Dr John Brown comes to Bedlington.

The very last sword dance took place at Bedlington on Christmas Day.

The General Strike.

In October the three Orange brothers Joseph, Robert & William, wanted to provide a service between Bedlington & Sleekburn Station & purchased 14 seat Model T bus reg number NL6214.

The Doctor Pit had new winding gear installed and was fully electrified on the surface and underground.

Miners strike.

During February, in the Bedlington Churchyard, there was a number of old residents who made it their duty to pay their last tribute of respect to an old lady who was associated with Bedlington and it's once famed iron industry. That lady was Miss Mary Frances Longridge, who died at her home in Cheshire aged 93 years. She was a daughter of Michael Longridge, who once owned the Bedlington Iron Works.

A German zeppelin dropped bombs in a farmer's field on the border of Bedlington & Choppington.

Sleekburn Division of the Saint John Ambulance Brigade is formed.

Bedlington Council School, Infant Department was opened.

In April of this year a triple murder occurred at the Sun Inn. Two police officers and a civilian lost their lives after being shot.

Saint Cuthbert's Church gallery was removed and in it's place a new aisle was built, with a memorial window.

Melrose Terrace completed.

Melrose Villas completed.

The Prince of Wales cinema was built on Glebe Road.