johndawsonjune1955

What a pity it is when the artefact's belonging to the Sun Inn murders are leaving the Shire. Woodhorn Museum never even had the decency to reply to our Email or calls. They are 100 years in April next year and no one will ever see them in the Shire again. What a pity? They needed to be kept in the proper conditions to keep them in prime condition and our offer to Woodhorn has been in vain. We can only say sorry to the community, but we have tried to get them retained in there rightful place. So much for a museum, they should be ashamed of themselves.

Hi all. Your local history group have just released Titanic "A Voyage into History" DVD Its available from our website at http://www.sixtownships.org.uk There is a connection with Tyneside and the Titanic. A century has sailed by since the luxury steamship RMS Titanic met its catastrophic end in the North Atlantic after hitting an iceberg during its maiden voyage in April 1912. More than 1,500 people lost their lives in the disaster. The largest passenger steamship ever built, Titanic created quite a stir when it departed for its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, on April 10, 1912. However, the Titanic's reign as "Queen of the Sea†was short lived off the coast of Newfoundland when it hit the iceberg. That encounter took place roughly four days out, at about 11:30 p.m. on April 14. A little more than an hour after contact with the iceberg, an evacuation process began with the lowering of the first lifeboat. In compliance with the law of the sea, women and children boarded the boats first; only when there were no women or children nearby were men permitted to board. Titanic managed to stay afloat for close to three hours, before finally sinking at approximately 2:20 a.m. on April 15. Those hours witnessed acts of extraordinary bravery. Hundreds of human dramas unfolded between the order to load the lifeboats. Men saw off wives and children, families were separated in the confusion and selfless individuals gave up their spots to remain with loved ones or allow a more vulnerable passenger to escape. Many of these acts of bravery are recalled in this DVD. Cunard's RMS Carpathia, built by Swan Hunter, Wigham and Richardson at Wallsend, Tyneside in the UK, received Titanic's distress call at midnight and went at full speed dodging ice floes all night and rounded up all of the lifeboats. They contained only 705 survivors. The Mackay Bennet was sent from the port of Halifax in the US with the grim task of recovering the bodies. It became known as the "Ship of Death†as it entered Halifax with the victims of the tragedy. However a great deal of the bodies were buried at sea by the Mackay Bennet. In this superb DVD we begin our story from the design and building of the Titanic to its launch, its departure from Southampton and the tragedy. Witness rare archive footage along with survivors accounts of the tragedy. Witness the Carpathia's part out at sea and on its return with survivors. Also the Mackay Bennet's part in finding the bodies and there are some very sad scenes with some of the dead on board and in coffins being labelled up for identification purposes. We then have the return of the Mackay Bennet to Halifax and the makeshift morgue with the dead, being photographed and the photograph sent to the White Star Line Offices for identification purposes. Witness the burial of the victims in a mass grave. This all adds up to a superb and emotional DVD to give an insight into this terrible tragedy. total running time of DVD approx 45 minutes

Sorry Malcolm. They changed their minds and put it Tuesdays chronicle. I am going to scan it and upload it. Sorry about it. i was shocked when i got the paper on Sunday too.

Hi all.The Sunday Sun decided to put it in the chronicle. It went in Tuesday. Just got my copy today, FREE, from a local newsagent It was two pages and a great write up, i hope everyone saw it. If anyone wants to see it i will scan it up for the site. Take care all, and thanks for the support,

thanks Malcolm. Got the date wrong for Sunday Sun. its next weekend. Soz.

Get the Sunday Sun this week for a fantastic history article on Bygone Bedlingtonshire. Lots of pics and stories. History Hollow members will really enjoy it.

Hi. The new DVD Bygone Bedlingtonshire archive film collection is now available at http://www.sixtownships.org.uk 50 minutes of pure nostalgia Bedlingtonshire consists of six townships, Bedlington, Netherton, Choppington, West Sleekburn, East Sleekburn and Cambois which includes North Blyth. In this superb DVD we witness some rare archive footage of its past. We begin our journey in Bedlington and visit the Doctor Pit. We witness the colliery on the surface and the steam engine pulling tubs. We go underground and see the miner at work drilling the coal and hand-filling it onto the conveyor on the coal face. The miner and his pit pony are also on view. We also see the main conveyor carrying the coal to the surface. This footage even has the sound which makes it very unique. There is the Doctor Pit colliery rows and we witness how it looked in this archive footage as its been gone many years now. We go to Bedlington Front Street and here we see how it once looked during the 1980's. See the shops, public houses, transport as we look around. The Northumberland Miners Picnic, was held in Bedlington in 1959 and 1960. We have archive footage from both. In the 1959 footage we get a glimpse of the past and even see the old Pele Tower and Quarry Cottages, long gone. Join in the fun of the Picnic as we move to the 1960 event. Here we have archive footage with sound of the judging of the bands and the picnic itself along with the fairground attractions from both dates. Visit Netherton Colliery and see the pit wheel in action and the shaft and cage. West Sleekburn Colliery and village has long gone and again we bring you archive footage from 1962. North Blyth and the High Ferry is on view along with Wheatleys Ferry. Witness ship breaking at Hughes Bolckows again with sound. We have the Empress of Scotland on the day she caught fire along with HMS Thunderer arriving at the breakers yard. Opencast coal mining at the Acorn Bank in Bedlington is there with sound. Witness Candle making at Bedlington Furnace. Women's football during the 1926 general strike took part to raise cash for hard strapped families. Yes its all here for you and your memories will come flooding back. You never know you may see yourself, family or even friends as the footage rolls on and on bringing those memories back to life. This is certainly a piece of history for anyone with connections with Bedlingtonshire to treasure for life in this archive film collection.

This goalkeeper made a good name for himself in the lower end of football and went on to sign for bigger clubs. Anyone know anything more about him ? This is all io have of interest, and i think he desrves his name on this topic. In July 1956, Frank Higgs aged 43 years, of East Howden was found drowned in Northumberland Dock, North Shields. Frank was a former goalkeeper for Bedlington United and Seaton Delaval. He joined Bedlington United in the 1927-28 season from a Northern Amateur Club, Howden Stead Memorial. In 1928 he made the change to Seaton Delaval and immediately following his debut against Crawcrook Albion, he was transferred to Chelsea. Frank remained with Chelsea to the end of the 1929-30 season, and after that played in succession for the Irish League Club, Linfield, Barnsley, Manchester City, Aldershot, Walsall, Carlisle United and Southend United. At the start of the 1938-39 season he joined Barrow, but after playing in their first eight Third Division games he received an injury which finished his career in professional football. He was a powerfully built goalkeeper, standing at 6ft 1inches in height and weighed 13 stone. At his inquest there was no evidence to show how he came to be in the water and an open verdict was recorded.

Just finished reading Barton Rafies little story on Joe Craddock. He broke the record for hand-filling coal. This sparked my memory and this topic. Lets put together some famous people from the area of Bedlingtonshire with their achievements. It could be from records set, rescues, war time, industry or anything else. We certainly have a few. Barton Ralfie sparked me off with this topic, so here is one for him first. I wonder how many people will recall the name of Thomas Edward Anderson ?. Thomas was born in 1882 at Barrington Colliery and went to work there at the age of 12 years. In 1901, at the age of 19, he decided to emigrate to America to seek better working conditions. After several jobs in the big Pennsylvania coalfields he settled down in a town called Robinson. He was very interested in the Trade Union movement and became very active in the affairs of the United States Miners Union. For some time his views were not accepted and he was even expelled from the union for two years. When he was reinstated he took the position of Chief Financial Secretary of the union. He held it for many years and died at his home in May 1956. Thomas was interested in music when at Barrington, and played the violin. He played it regularly at Barrington, Choppington and Blyth districts.

Rafie that is so true. What an achievement it was. cheers for reminding me.

yes pleased you like it. we have a good group of lads and good skills put to use for the community. it will get better as we upload our archives. Our new DVD "Bygone Bedlington" Archive Film Collection should be available Friday. Its got some superb, rare archive film for anyone interested in Bedlington. Just been watching it, its fantastic, but no background music has been added yey. But hopefully a couple days and its ready. I like looking at the Front Street how it once was with the old Pele Tower, There are some great memories to enjoy. Keep looking back at the website as it gets majot uploads every week as the archives are ready.

New. We just released our latest DVD on Aberfan, The Terrible Price. We know its not local, but it was a terrible disaster from October 1966 that killed 144 people, 166 of the children. Its a part of history that should never be forgotten. log on to our website at : http://www.sixtownsjips.org.uk than go to our shop. This tragedy really had an impact on my life, personally. I asked the members what they thought of producing this and they agreed. Well, after 5 months of being in the pipeline it has been completed. It is a tribute to the children and adults who lost their lives due to the National Coal Boards neglect. At our last meeting we decided to put £1. of every DVD into the Aberfan Charity. Hopefully this will contribute to the future and help maintain the what is needed in the Aberfan Cemetary. Do you remember this dat that Shook the World ? Its all here for you with a tribute to the children with all their names for you to see. We are your local history group, however, we have put this together, and together we can remember this tragic day, that should never be forgotten.

Hi all. This is the latest update to the group site at http://www.sixtownships.org.uk Interested in Bedlington, go to our stories and see the new updates. See what it was once like. Doctor Terrace, Bedlington, The Turks Head, Bedlington, Get to know who drank there and some cracking stories of local characters. Jack Antoniho the ice cream man is there for you to read about. The story of the runaway pony is also there for you to read on this underground accident. Choppington Stories is also updated. Read about Hunns Buildings, and Taits shop the ice cream manufacturer. Cracking history from the early days. Did you know it was a social Club at one time ? Ashington is also beginning. Upload your stories for us. We begin with, Not the Village Pump. What a story from Ashington Colliery. West Sleekburn stories have began, see if you can add to them. Visitors Stories on Page One and Two. Have a look, and many thanks to local people for this information and its great reading. Keep our heritage alive. Today we have been offered a vast amount of old cine film. We are to convert this and hopefully this will be of great interest to the community. It is to cover Mitford, Ashington, Morpeth, Cresswell, and more. And, just about 3 hours ago, we have been offered more archive cine film on Bedlington. The Doctor Pit, Doctor Terrace, and more. You got any old cine film you want digitised ? Its free if its local and we can use parts of the footage for future productions. Not many our there will do that for free, but we do. Help keep this site updated. Its your site, for the community, and we have a forum too. A little helps, get on and get your memories online, upload them, and we publish them online, or simply use the forum. Support your local history website and group. i help this website and hopefully you can return the compliment. Its your memories and your heritage. We help local schools, and residential homes. We give our products free, upon release to schools to help in the chidrens educatiion and do talks, and they use our website. Help on it, read our visitors stories and see how it helps to keep our memories alive.

probably was, but just the right length to jam between the poles

taliking car batteries. i was disconnecting one about 35 years ago, using a 10 mm spanner and the spanner slipped and it got jammed between the positive and negative, tried to get the spanner free and it was red hot. burnt me bloody hand. Had some stupid mishaps in those days.

Haha now i know why no wants to meet up. Its a shame could have some good chat on our interests together

not aware it was sold, but knew it had closed, and a big loss to the area.

keiths got a good collection of muters old mineral water bottles from his family.

Our website has been updated http://www.sixtownships.org.uk there is information in the bedlington stories on the muter family and how they bought the business. Also full update includes 2 pages on bedlington history, 2 pages on choppington history and archives updated too. about 16 new stories in toatal and one from a visitor.

Just thinking about this topic "History Hollow" Why not we all arrange to meet up and talk about the past. It would be different and interesting. Come on lets do it. We are all history buffs. Just looking at some of the topics in History Hollow, we all got plenty in common. "Our Heritage" Lets know what you think.?

worked there for two years as a mechanic. hope its replaced with something nice.

thanks for the advice. will see if i can do it.

look at our website for local history. http://www.sixtownships.org.uk we had an unbelievable record of 4156 unique visitors to our site. that new visitors, all in one day. have a look and see what we have on in our archives, stories, photos and more. its updated every day with local history. get your momories online for our visitors and try our forum. want any local history info, lets know and we can try and help. Be part of our website and record your memories for our visitors. remember/ "Its your memories & your heritage" Keep it alive for generations. Its instant to use our forum as soon as you register. Give it a try.

i found an archive clip on how to grow the best leeks. now i will see how i can upload this for you. its from the 1950s. any help on how to upload a video clip ?

this is a good question. i will check my archives over the weekend and see what i can come up with. i think i have a pic of it too.