Canny lass

OMG! That is horrendous! There should be a national 'Miner's Day' when we pay homage and give thanks to all miners for their efforts.

That was very thoughtful of you. Thanks.

Thanks Eggy! I don't know why that link doesn't work here and I didn't think to check it. It works fine for me, saved as a bookmark.

Derek Johnstone 1946 - 2022 It is with a great deal of sadness that I recently learned of the passing away of a valued member of this forum. Derek Johnstone, better known to us as ’Rigger’, is no longer with us. I first met Derek when he and I entered class JR1 at Westridge Secondary Modern School in Bedlington about 1959. I remember him there as a rather quiet, well mannered and very intelligent teenager who was very well liked and respected by pupils and teachers alike. He was a good classmate and I can’t remember Derek ever being in trouble for misbehaviour of any kind. I have particularly fond personal memories of being helped by Derek when struggling with the intricacies and mysteries of ’tech drawing’ which in my naivety I’d chosen to embark upon instead of needlework. He had the patience of a saint. It wasn’t just in the academic subjects he made his mark, Derek, a keen sportsman played football for the school team and went on to devote many hours of his time in training and matches with Bedlington Juniors where he was goalkeeper (pictured below in the scchool team, top row, 3rd from left). He became a keen golfer in later years, so his love of sport had clearly remained with him. After leaving school Derek became an electrician working first in his native Bedlington, at the Doctor Pit, before moving to the coalfields of Yorkshire then South Africa before returning to the UK to take up the very responsible position of overseeing safety in the Aberdeen Offshore Oil Industry. He remained in Aberdeen until his death. Derek was a family man. His marriage to New Delaval girl, Patricia (Pat) Brown, gave him three lovely sons: Kristian, Julian and Graeme. Tragically, Pat died very young leaving Derek to shoulder not only his grief but also that of the children and the responsibility for their upbringing. He seems to have done a remarkable job with Kristian now living and working in Dubai, Graeme living and working in Thailand (seemingly having followed in his father’s footseps in the offshore industry) and Julian living and working in Belfast. Derek did remarry but, sadly, once again a caring role was suddenly thrust upon him when his second wife, Irean, developed Alzheimers disease. After many, many years my path crossed again with Derek’s when he became ’Rigger’ a member of this forum. Rigger was not a frequent visitor but his posts were always informative and interesting, sharing valuable knowledge of people and places in and around Bedlington. Helpful as ever, he’d never forgotten his Bedlingtonian roots. Even in other areas of the Internet, Derek has left an an enormous legacy to anyone having have roots in Bedlington. His work ’Bedlington Soldiers Who Died in the Great War: Summaries of the brave soldiers from Bedlington and the surrounding area who did not return from the 1914 – 1918 War’ is a one-man masterpiece. (http://www.newmp.org.uk/memimages//05.%20Enlistment%20Project%20Compiled%20Version.pdf) It is, I’m sure, the result of years of patient research and writing on his part paying homage to the brave men of Bedlington who gave their lives in the Great War. I also know that this work was a tribute to his grandfather whom he loved and admired. It is not just an essay, it is a work of academic standard well worth a read and a valuable source of information to those, like myself, researching family history. Last year, Derek was diagnosed with an aggressive and inoperable brain cancer to which he succumbed after only five months. He died in November 2022 aged 76 years. His person has been described to me by his life-long friend David Cowans as ”a friendly boy and a nice man” who ”had a positive manner and a genuine, easy-going charm”. I cannot other than agree. Thank you for your contribution. Rest in Peace Rigger. Thank you to Derek’s brother Ray, David Cowans, and Glynis Lynn who have provided me with information and photos.

Hi Heather, welcome to the forum. Nesbitt has been a fairly common name in Bedlington, Netherton and Cramlington. It's popped up often during my research. Can you say anything more about Thomas: date of birth or parents names are always a good start. Do you know his place of birth or his occupation?

Even more late .. but hpe it was a happy one for all of you!

That's not a bad suggestion, Tony. Thanks.

.... tanker?

That could be an interesting rummage in the deep, dark cellars of the English language in particular and of Bedlington history in general! Challenge accepted!!

Now you're giving your age away!

.... and it looks like she's a very good one! Looks almost too good to eat! Am I missing something about Newcastle Utd?

This is more exciting than Dallas and Falcon Crest put together! (Yes, I know, I'm giving my age away there!)

Thanks HPW! I've still got a few gaps to fill on the Hedley tree so I'll be having a look at Eddie and Phil to see what i can find out.

There's hope yet, then?

Such a pity - no roots in Cramlington or Bebside. Hope you didn't mind me asking. ... and welcome to the forum.

Hello @SouthernGeordie, I'm always interested in the name Hedley. I don't suppose you have any roots in Cramlington or Bebside?

Thank heavens for that bit of good news! I know it can be tough when your nearest and dearest is in ill-health but don'y forget to make time for yourself. It's important.

Well, that went downhill at a fair rate of knots! It's just 6 months since they were shouting about the first material being delivered and now it's all over.

Can you just confirm that you got my message with 2 pages of info? I have conflicting info here and in messages, both sent 1 hour ago.

Perhaps we are talking about two different things! I'm talking about the messaging service on this site, not e-mail. It's the top of this page you should be looking at. let me know if you don't find it and i'll see if one of our members can help you.

Top of the page, right hand corner you will see a small, black bell and a black envelope. Click on the envelope and a list of your messages will appear. Click on my message to open it. Once opened, you can click on the two attached pages I've sent you.

I should mention, that the info on page 2 relates directly to Mary Ann Giles, but the rest is common to all mentioned on page 1.

@Linray I've sent you the information I mentioned earlier.