keith lockey

Runaway train, Malcolm, but point taken. But I also said at the outset that we could maybe do this without funding. Approach a university and ask them to come onboard using trainnee artists and designers and engineers as part of a - I hate this phrase - 'work experience' project. The publicity generated by such an undertaking would be reward enough. It would be a challenge to the staff and pupils; a challenge for a worthy cause. But i agree with you about a steering group or a representative. Someone in some authoritve capacity has to start the ball rolling. A Miner's Memorial Committee or something.

I think the miner's lamp is very symbolic, Vic. Not only is it a visual representation of life in the mines but it could also be seen as a metaphoric ideal - a light in the darkness - It would be great if we could have a life-size statue of a miner carrying a lamp and leading a pit pony - right outside Tesco's where the Christmas tree normally stands. The 'Nail' a couple of yards beside it. Is it possible to create a life-size statue out of actual coal nuggets?

Sorry I have not replied sooner, it's been a hectic day and it doesn't look as if it is going to get any better. Anyway, thank you for all your remarks, there have been some brilliant responses. Bear in mind what I proposed was just a suggestion. Symptoms is absolutely correct about many points - it was embryonic. It's the way I do things - look at what is needed and keep it basic. If such a project is to go any further we would have to work out who and what is necessary for it to succeed. As Malcolm said, the picture of the statue that Vic put up is something I would go with. I think that is poignant and representative of the requirements for a miner's monument. Which brings us to what we would need to accomplish this. For the statue itself we would need a designer and engineer, depending on the size. Health and safety is always an issue, what materials should be used. (That would come down to the sculptor/designer.) I also believe university-led artists should be in the forefront of the project but I would reiterate the use of apprentice students and 'engineers' to emphasize involvement of youth in a scheme that is remembering a past time. My first thought was involving a lot of people; in hindsight that may be difficult and not constructive. If we put such a project up for tender we would become bogged down in selection. So, yes, Symptoms has a way of solving this, approach A university; one who is willing to take on the project at all levels. Newcastle or Northumbria University would have all the requirements - students in design, art and engineering. They could also involve a history department, maybe. So I think that would be the best way to approach this - one university with all the staff at hand. I'd appreciate your thoughts on this. PS - Mickypotts. You started this thread, how would you like to lead it?

Okay everybody, I know you are going to think this isn't viable but it isn't a joke and I think it could work, so here goes. Let's have a monument, like the one they've just erected down at the Furnace Bank - the metal sphere. Now I know you are all groaning about the price - well it COULD cost us nothing. Let some representative to this project go public - ie Press, TV and other media. Tell them what we would like and tell them we need big companies to get behind us and use their work force - stipulate 'apprentice' workforce to do the work as part of their NVQ training. It will be a monument to their skills and devotion as well as to the miners who died. Approach companies who deal in steel, iron, whatever. (Alcan-Rio Tinto??) who are closing down or who have a mass of metal that they no longer need; hell, even approach scrap yards if you have to. Then approach universities and colleges who have art students. Tell them we need trainee sculptors or metal workers who are willing to take on this project. Then approach schools and ask the kids to design this monument - which will be picked by representatives of the old mining community. GO PUBLIC WITH THIS. Tell people what our wishes are and ask and beg for help. It is for a good cause - miners gave their lives for this community. The publicity these 'volunteer' organizations will get will enhance their prestige in the community, especially if the public see they are freely donating time and effort and goods. If they are willing to GIVE us the materiel and the work force then we can achieve this. I know this sounds crazy - but it CAN work. Cheers.

Micky, a brilliant idea, about ten or more years ago. I don't want to rain on your parade but have you seen how many pubs are actually open in Bedlington now. The ones that are open are really struggling now; we'll be setting up a memorial fund for them before long.

You've probably looked into this anyway but is there not a Heritage Fund available? I wish you well, in any case.

It sounds like a mammoth task, John, it shows you the scale of the deaths down the mines and it's shocking to think that many will never be known about. Good work and all the best.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPY9MIftqJs

Sorry you feel that way, Lone Ranger. For my part I could never find out any information about my father's death when I was growing up - except for the newspaper clipping and snippets other relatives told me. As I said, my mother flatly refused to talk about the accident. But when I was young and all my mates had dads - and I didn't - I wanted to know why and what happened to him. It would have been good to have had forums and sites like this to ask people about the pit and what took place. I don't think it sick, I think it is sharing and finding out and to many putting a conclusion to things in the past.

Sorry, Wonky,I got the wrong club, it was Cowpen Club, not Bebside. The Clarks originally lived behind Briardale. (I actually thought it was Briardale but my bro says otherwise.) They then moved to Weirdale. Sorry for confusion. It's the old age that does it.

More than a lot of fiction in that John. My dad was a pigeon man but that was about it as far as the above goes. We never had a whippet or any other dog (except a corgi, somewhere!!!! - if that was ours). I don't think he was a garden man and methinks he might have opted for another job if given a chance. To be honest I don't know anything about him, really, I never knew the man outside of snapshots. Sad.

Too right, Micky, the funny thing is I used to look out my bedroom window and see the pit heap everyday. That in itself was a kind of 'mountain' memorial to the miners. Mind you, I'm not sad to see it gone, it was a bit of an eyesore as well.

Funny enough the father was called Stevie Clark, the mother was Ada, but there was no connection to the garage, Stevie was a miner at Bates, he was also on Bebside Club Committee I believe. It was just a passing thought, as I said, none of us kept in touch so I don't know where anyone is anymore.

Thanks John, I think sharing primary source info like this is important. When I tried to find out what had happened to my father many years ago - before computers and Internet - I was VERY restricted. Even with the Internet there was a limit to what I could find. My mother had kept all the cuttings and letters and I thought I would post them on the site to show the personal level as a sideline to the main knowledge. My father was a pigeon racer and my mother even got a letter of condolence from the Homing Society! I actually never knew him; all I have are photos and other people's memories. But my mother refused to talk about the incident. It must have been too painful.

I see Tino's Deli is now Swinneys!! I also see the Sun Inn has been sold. Any news on either?

Wonky, did you know any of the Bebside Clarks? There were three brothers, Derry, Ronnie & Brian. They are cousins of mine. I've never seen any of them for years, to be honest I don't even know if they live around here anymore.

No, it was their night off, a nice chap called Jim Beam popped round. Malcolm - Madame Tussauds - she has some imitation statues...er...that is what you said wasn't it? What's that nurse, time for my medicine, it may make me dopey, you say, well it's better than being Grumpy or Sneezy? No, I'm not Bashfull, what's that, I may feel a little prick!!! Ooh matron.

Thoroughly sympathise with you regarding woodwork & metalwork teachers. I could never understand why that Jewish Nazi hunter, Simon Weisenthal, went to South America to look for escaped gestapo leaders. He should have come to our school, they were all hiding there. But a few things I remember about school trips was one teacher who used to wake everybody up by playing the bagpipes. Then one day we were at Howtel, (I think it was there!) and we were all having breakfast in preperation for a days outing. Well I decided I needed to do a number 2 before we went. So i rushed to the loo and did what was necessary. When I returned to the main building there was no one to be seen - it was like a spacship had come down and whisked everybody away. I was young and started to get a bit scared, I was last man standing, the Omega Man, Charlton Heston, the only living human left on the planet. All around me was empty fields and lowlands. BUT...behind the outward bound centre there was this hill. So I vaguely remembered from watching the old B-movie westerns that you had to get to high ground. So I climbs up this hill and lo and behold below me was a huge quarry and all my mates were in there looking for fossils and gems and what have you. But the scariest thing that ever happened was down at Allenheads. We were walking through this field, heading towards some burial mound, when I saw all these shiny objects lying in the grass. I bent down and picked up a gun shell. The bl..dy field was used as a shooting range by the Army. Then we got to this burial mound - a lump of stones built into the shape of a cairn, and the teacher is giving us the history of it. For some reason I turned round and there coming through the grass was an adder...and I don't mean Carol Vorderman or a mathematician. This thing was scaly and slithering and it was about ten feet from me. I shouted "SNAKE" and leapt onto this ancient burial cairn (high ground again). All my mates were trying to get ontop as well but there wasn't enough room. Now one thing should be written in stone - don't try to dislodge a Lockey from high ground when there is a snake in the grass. I was punching and kicking and elbowing anybody who came near, regardless of rank and file. There is one thing I did learn from that field trip; always pack a spare pair of underpants. Another episode revolved around a field with a derelict farmhouse at the centre, and a herd of cows. Picture the Benny Hill theme - when he is getting chased. Us intrepid explorers were trapsing across this field when this herd of cows comes galloping towards us. We stepped up the pace and the cows stepped up their gait. We started to canter and the cows followed suit. In the end it was a mad dash for this open window. Have you ever seen eight schoolboys trying to dive through the same window at the same time - carrying haversacks full of packed lunches. CHAOS. Utter chaos. I was on the shrinks couch for ten years after that little jaunt. Where's me valium; where's my mates Johnny Walker and Jack Daniels.

It's funny that, Wonky, because all teachers at that time must have been the same. We had sados as well - woodwork and metal work teachers - who would take great delight in telling you what would happen to your hands, fingers or other parts if you got them caught in the machines. We had a maths teacher who could throw a blackborad duster at you with the skill of an aboriginal boomerang champion. We, too, had our weirdos and cool guys and an RK (?) teacher who made certain parts of your body react in ways which were new. As for bullying...I must admit I never saw any of it. But that might have been because we were tranferred to PLR and we all bonded together against a common foe. But the best bit were always the school trips - Allenheads then Howtel, the latter up near Wooler and Coldstream. Oh joyous memories.

I know, Symptoms, it was truly shocking. My mother, and my granny who we eventually lived with, were both miner's widows. They got free coal every (3) months and I believe they did get a pension but I don't know what that amounted to. Me and my brother were actually brought up by my mother and granny. PS. There was something I didn't mention in that piece and if I may I'd like to send you a PM to sort of explain things. Cheers.

Loved the Black Bridge story, Wonky, but can I ask you which school you went to in Blyth? I was at the Bedlington Woody School - then it got burned down and we all got shipped to Princess Louise Road - enemy territory. Fortunately PLR was always at war with St, Wilfreds across the road so there was very little interaction between us and Blyth PLR pupils. I remember one day we were playing football in the break when there was a cavalry charge of St Wilfreders. They came hurtling across the road and into the play area where they were met by Blyth PLR repellers. Us Bedlington lads were like umpires at a tennis match. We stared with open mouths at the mayhem around us, not knowing who was who in the ensuing melee. Then the bell went and everyone retreated to their corners. Mindboggling.

It speaks for itself, doesn't it, Symptoms. It just shows you the state of the people running the education department. I mean I believe Columbus thought he had found India....so he is being honoured for getting lost and 'discovering' America by sheer luck. Words are inadequate to such thinking.

Did anybody from any of the woman's libs groups attended his funeral after he committed suicide... I said woman's libs groups, Maggie, I wasn't referring to the actual original Suffragettes themselves. I was referring to people like the ones who paraded down Morpeth. Did anyone from ANY group like that attend Herbert Jone's 1951 funeral. By the way, Herbert Jones laid a wreath in honour of EWD at Emmiline Pankhurst's funeral. He wasn't family or friend. It was a truly decent act; one he need not have performed - but he did. God bless him for his forgiving nature.

Problem solved, Eggy, Google Chrome displays everything. (I now remember getting a message saying my old Google-Youtube browser would no longer be valid.) I had avoided Chrome because there were some things that I didn't like about it. So cheers for your advice but the problem is sorted.

Sorry, Malcolm, I've got my own.