Vic Patterson

A bit off topic, A few years ago while visiting Canberra I was lucky to visit the Australian War Memorial and saw the "Man with a Donkey†or "Simpson and a Donkey†statue, I hadn't heard of it before, but I was impressed. It was of John Simpson Kirkpatrick (from South Shields) leading a donkey with war injured men in Gallipoli in 1914. The sculptor had hoped that the donkey's nose would become shiny from children rubbing it, it did! Yes a bit more ambitious than this project, but the idea that people are encouraged to touch and "connect†with it (I did!) Yes it's still early days Malcolm but good for getting some ideas out there, I also like the"safety lamp" idea. http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/ART40993/

Just wondering, what do you think would represent the coal mines and lost souls? depending on the size and location I see the winding gear, (did it have a pit-yacker name?) tubs (betty's) and pit pony, pick,n shovels. Draeger gear. Our memorial is a miner setting a prop (so I'm told!) his cap lamp is illuminated. On April 28th there is a very well attended service for "Workers memorial Day†which is internationally recognised.

I would definitely suggest the Market Place, for me it is the heart of Bedlington, it has room for it without causing a hazard or disruption. FWIW our small park also has our Cenotaph, a Inukshuk and Town Insignia "Rocky the Ramâ€

A relative of mine Kilgour Reavley worked at the Isabella Pit at the age of 9 years! (1861)

Hope this works!!!

This is ours in Grande Cache, built by a welder at the mine. Grande Cache was only built in 1969 so there are 29 names on it, not a lot, still way to many.

Happy birthday Foxy, hope you have a good one.

From my own experience with this type of e-mail just opening the e-mail shouldn't cause your computer to be infected but opening a link in it will, just as your friend and family member did! The open link will go to your contacts list and spread the same e-mail.

Mona Taylor was a maternity home, my wife and first born were born there and Thomas Taylor's an old folks home, the grandfather-in-law past away there.

Red gravel used for walkways etc is often a by-product of a brickyard! (bin there and bought it)

I enjoy reading the very varied topics, I often feel like responding with my thoughts or opinions but I usually put it off until later, then I re-think it and don't post! (think twice, post once!) as I don't want to appear confrontational or argumentative! As I'm from B%$th I don't have a of Bedlington local knowledge to add, but certainly enjoy the input from others, keep on posting and others will follow, this Forum has certainly stabilized from a few years ago!

Nice shine on the boots, spurs on and his tunic buttons up the wrong way! or did they fasten that in those days?

Great to see it come home! and very thoughtful of the people to return it, I don't think it would be very difficult to back track it's journey from the fire!

Tarry Toot! Tar or pitch, used to seal leaky roofs etc, or the tar running down the side of the road (used to hold the chipping on the road) could be collected on the end of a stick or arrows! (used mom's best butter to get off hands knees) Monkey's blood, red raspberry flavour on your ice cream (if you didn't have a 99) Frogs spit! Frothy stuff that used to be on some plants, never found out why!

Happy birthday Adam, hope it's a good one!

Wellesley Nautical School, Our mom worked there!

Keith, Sorry to hear about Vicky, yes it was Micky ("Leedsâ€) Hurst as we called him. We travelled and built Woolco stores! he was a bit of a character!!

A work buddy of mine married a Vicky Buckham of Bolam, in the early 70's

Ah! the good old days..... (pre Union) Almost reads like like clothing industry in India! and many other third word countries!

On the weekend I made a trip of about 1,200 km and it happened to be the annual "Highway clean up weekend†I travelled on both major highways and smaller country roads, (this being the the first weekend of spring without snow cover) There were hundreds of youngsters cleaning up the winter mess on the sides of the roads, there were thousands of orange bags (garbage, bin bags) sitting waiting for pick-up, tens of thousands of kilometers were cleared, some roads were close to towns others were 20-30 km out of town! vehicles slowed down, honked horns and every one gave a wave. Most of the kids were 4H club, others were just community groups. No payment just satisfaction! great to see the other youth that are not "bad kids of today†well done!

Happy birthday Micky, hope you have a great day!

Congratulations gentlemen, well done and good luck, I hope you make a difference!

I remember the small milk bottles (1/2 pint, gill!) at school, flicking the tops like flying saucers! we used to buy milk-discs at the Co-op, and leave a note in the empty's if you were going to be away, and yes the spuggies would peck the tops to get the cream! our O.J. came in flat bottles with screw on lids.

Happy birthday Brett. Hope you have a great day!

I wasn't around the NE when Maggie was doing her dastardly deeds (but I did see some of the striking miners when I travelled on the motorway coach to London) but having read some of the views of what happened I'm not sure what her objectives were! Yes the unions were getting too big and powerful which was not the intent of forming unions! Yes the coal mines were heavily subsidised but were producing a usable, saleable product, but to close the mines and pay the workers to stay home, collect benefits and pay no taxes and have no saleable product seems to be short sighted. Yes she broke the unions who went back to doing what they were supposed to do, looking after the working conditions, rights and benefits etc, (not run the country) I was a member of the EETUPTU when it was run by the communist party! (best wages ever!) Now you have half the country working to pay the other half not to work! Subsidizing work is a very debateable point! foreign countries see it as being unfair competition, locally it stimulates work and the economy.