mercuryg

Diane, Have you spoken to your namesake, the landlady in the Grapes? She is usually open to suggestions such as this.

What did you sing Pennylane? I was planning on making an appearance, next week maybe....

I lived on Hollymount Terrace for five years before I found out!

Spring Park is the road Hollymount Terrace backs on to, where there are now new houses on what was a large green. It's at the top of the bank.

Think I might see you there, mis pennylane!

I think we all have too much time on our hands.....more guess the year pictures please!

I'm hoping the same!

What a brilliant idea! I wouldn't think the Red Lion would be interested but you might try the Black Bull?

The second picture is definitely post 1960 as that's a later Ford Anglia in the foreground - possibly a '64/65 model - and in the background is either a Mini van or traveller, both early 60's models. Interesting pictures.

Looking good John! Good luck for the launch this weekend, just sorry I couldn't find the time to get involved.

Slightly off topic, but it was the reference to fiddlers that got my attention here. Anyone who plays the Northumbrian Small Pipes should know of a piper by the name of John Peacock. He hailed from Morpeth in the mid-1700's and is regarded as one of the finest pipers of all time, and very much a proponent of the development of the Northumberland Pipes as a popular instrument (he was also a prolifici fiddle player). Peacock is famous for authoring the very first book of music for the pipes - published around 1800 - which is regarded as the book that brough the pipes to greater public recognition. Now, here's the Bedlington bit; a good friend of mine - I will not publish his name here - who lives in Bedlington has, in his posession, the original, hand written manuscript for this book. It is a fascinating manuscript, and rarely is it brought out into the open. I have been lucky enough to handle it, and it is a quite beautiful thing. The same gentleman is a violinist of the highest order - although he refers to himself as a fiddler - and plays in a well known Irish band , often with his beloved 1771 Guinarius.......

I inquired as to the availability of the premises last year and was told the new tenants were not retail, but in professional services. Whether that is still the case I am unsure.

Care to elaborate 3G?

It's refreshing to see different viewpoints on this subject, and Adam's notably young mind is fresh to ideals I believe. The problem with Alcan, and all businesses as such, is that it is there primarily to make money for its owners. When it gets to the point where it is no longer economically viable it will inevitably fall by the wayside. Nationalising it - and other businesses in trouble - is a lovely idea, but it isn't free. It costs a lot of money to sustain nationalised industries, and it bears thinking that we have very little going spare in this country right now. I'm with the bit about governments not being able to create jobs: it's true, they can't. I have great sympathy with Adam's question as to 'the others on the dole', but the fact remains jobs do not simply come out of nowhere. There is a reason why we no longer build ships, mine coal and so on, beyond it being 'Thatcher's fault'. It can all be done for cheaper elsewhere. Sad, and if we had a government with oodles of cash to subsidise the industries concerned, not beyond repair, but we don't. Take note of this: Europe has had it's day where the world economy is concerned. We are mere bit-players now, with China and - more quietly - South America coming to the fore. To dwell on the past and talk of nationalised industries is simply using hindsight as a fine thing. It's not the way forward. Before I'm challenged, I'm no economist and don't know what the way forward is, in terms of businesses such as Alcan, but I'm sure someone out there has an idea. Malcolm's comment: "True, in just the same way you cannot blame the likes of a council for not opening shops on the high street. They can however be blamed for not having a commercially friendly infrastructure in place to attract new business start ups and/or retain the businesses they have..." is a telling one. I saw a news programme recently in which a man with money to spare had bought up half a dozen, or so, closed shops in his local town, and slashed the rent. He figured, quite rightly, that this would give local people the chance to start up in the retail industry. All are now taken, and thriving. I can tell you first hand, as I was involved in a prospective venture last year, that rents on Bedlington Front Street are colossal (as I'm sure Malcolm knows); we managed to negotiate one unit - the one now selling beds by the roundabout - down from £12,000 p.a. to £10,000. Still expensive, especially given the location. The other preferred unit, the Johnson's Shoe Shop currently under renovation, was expected by those marketing it to inspire a bidding war! These people have pie in the sky ideas. Then there's the rates....... I'm lucky, of course, as I work from home.

Nice offer. It's my 35th (again) next Sunday, I may well drag some unsuspecting bods down. By the way, I am told you hold a quiz on a wednesday, is this so? Could do with something to do mid-week....

Nice piece, Malcolm, as always. In my view the last thing Bedlington needs - or needed - was Tesco. I cannot for the life of me see even an expanded store attracting people from elsewhere. Bedlington has very little passing trade, while Asda at Cowpen is perfectly placed. Nobody is going to drive past it, from Blyth, to come to Bedlington Tesco; likewise, why travel from Ashington/Cramlington/Morpeth/Insert town here when you have your own shops on your doorstep? It would be welcoming to see the Front Street promoted as a prime place for smaller, specialist, local shops and such, rarther than having them all close their doors thanks to rising costs and the bulldozer effect of Tesco.

On this note, just picked up mail from my Sister's house on Glebe Terrace, among which is the planning notice for the two blots on the landscape proposed.....

They were all 'just like that one'! Horrible things.

Yeah, but he's right about wind turbines.....

Any links to further information Malcom?

Strange; that has to be the lowest point in the region.......

I believe, miss PennyLane, I know who you are, and it was you I was offering to contact for Chris...........(yes, you do know me; think grey hair, glasses, etc.....)

Chris, The Bull used to have a weekly buskers night. I can contact the original organiser for you and see if they would like to take it up again....

My favourite topic! The first one is a Talbot Lago - not sure of the model but I think it's T150 - with, I think, a Saoutchik body, and the second is a Volvo P1800, I believe (and no, Google was not utilised........)

While I agree it is macabre it is also a famous part of Bedlington history. History cannot be airbrushed, and the murders have become part of local legend. I did think the police had them on display at one time - perhaps John can shed some light on that?