keith lockey

What seems to be driving this thread are the few photos that are being published ... they are quite rare. We think that there were tons of cameras owned by folks back then - even as late as the 60s - but they weren't that commonly used ... cost of buying them and cost of film/processing was maybe beyond most working family budgets. What we tend to see are photos from schools or works (or photo booths or beach snappers) that were done on contract and then made available to the punters. But again budgets must have been tight even for those school photos, including group shots and individual snaps. Thankfully my parents were just able to scrape the few shillings needed so I do have a few. However, the most important one I remember must have been lost in a house move 'cos when I went to clear my Mum's house after she died I couldn't find it.

Spot on, Symptoms. I thought I had lost my school photos but found them by pure accident in a box in the outhouse. But a lot of people in my class, whom I met across the years, said their mams had thrown them out when they got older. I put my Woody School photos on Friends Reunited and found some others there - those Westridge photos were also on that site. I would suggest others scope it out. There is another site purely for school photos, but as you say they are rare and this other site can only publish photos that have been submitted and are available. Wards photography shop at Bedlington must have had tons of them - or at least the negatives. I did evening classes at the High School many years ago and they had a wall full of old class mates. There must be more photos out there hidden away.

If it is to the right then I think Maggie will be correct. If it is to the left then it could be Wansbeck District Council's old depot yard.

Can't remember Nicky the headmaster, he must have left before I started. By the way,HPW, it's the other Keith who mentioned the arsonist, not me. I don't know who it is/was.

I honestly didn't notice it. So that's another one.

I passed the Barrington Arms (Monkey) today and saw a FOR SALE sign on the wall. Is this new or have I missed it?

Are these Pictures of Westridge Secondary Modern or is this a different Westridge?

Bedlington Westridge, Adam. I hasten to add they are not mine. I got them surfing for old school photos on Friends Reunited. I know many of the people on them - neighbours and friends. The 2nd & 5th I know no one.

Hatchet lived in the Dr Pit Rows, he was in my class at the Whitley. There was quite a lot at the Westridge from the Poplar Grove, Hudson Ave, Dean View area, my cousins the Coulthards lived in Poplar Grove, Richard,George,Gordon and Elizabeth all went to Westridge.

We were just on about that, Keith, because in the sixties - seventies there were kids of our age - in our street - who all went to different schools. Me and bro were at the Woodys', Lesley Morris was at Westridge, as were others just doors away. How did the work the cachement area out. It baffles me!

Keef2, Des Reay lived in Poplar Grove on the corner across the road from me. We used to hang about together although he was a couple of years younger than me I'd known him since he was tiny. We used to kick about with Alan Henderson from further up the Grove and Alan Morris from Terrier Close, you may have known him Keef2!

Apologies, Orloff, Des Reay did live at Poplar Grove - not Clement. I believe there was two Alan Hendersons - one got the nickname 'Hatchet'. My bro knew them both better than me. Alan Morris lived round the corner from us, his sister Lesley is on one of the photos, we were good friends.

Sorry, Malcolm, if I had actors names it would be easier for me, it's driving me nuts.

You're right, Threegee, it isn't KISS ME DEADLY, I watched that on Youtube last night. (Still has one of the scariest endings!)

I am sure the film was set in the Mike Hammer genre. It wasn't a western because the editor phones in his usual order of coffee and 'doughnuts' (not sandwiches). When they arrive it is a 'new bloke who has poisoned the coffee/doughnuts. (Something like that.)

By the way, this isn't a crafty quiz, I honestly am on a mission to find this film. And I'm sure it was top-notch actors of the day.

Keep trying.

Too much time at Table 25 Keith, your starting to forget things because of the drink.

Believe it or not, Adam, I've only ever been in the Red Lion once since it was taken over, and then I was drinking coke. But I've got this scene from a film and I can't remember which movie. AAARRRGGGHHH!

I'm trying to find a film - 1950s-1960s - and all I can remember is this one scene. Can someone help?

THE SCENE;

An 'investigator' hands a newspaper editor a package or key.

He tells the editor it is important and that he will return for it later.

The editor works and lives on the premesis - the newspaper is his life and blood.

He puts the package/key in his office safe and continues working through the night.

He has a habit of ordering coffee and sandwiches at a local deli and does so this night.

A new deliveryman turns up and turns out to be an assassin who steals the package/key.

I believe the film was in colour - I may be wrong.

I also thought it was Kiss Me Deadly - the Mike Hammer film starring Ralph Meeker.

Can anyone remember the scene and film.

Cheers.

Even as a whippersnapper I have always regarded people as people, regardless of colour. (I even feel awkward putting that last bit in!) There was never any doubt or issue about racism with me and that has remained my mind set thoughout life. Judge a person not by the colour of his skin but by the colour of his soul.

But getting back on topic, I used to drink at the Ridge Farm in the 70's - 80s. The lounge and the bar were like two different pubs. I always felt like the piano player stopped playing when I went in the bar. "Stranger in town". I have seen in the last few years all the pubs I used to bend an elbow in either close or get bulldozed down. The Bedlington Terrier was on my doorstep. It used to be a gold mine when I first drank there; you honestly had to queue outside to get in. Now it has homes on it. What has destroyed pubs, not just in Bedlington, is the breweries greed. If they would just see the simple logic of putting there prices down instead of up, then people would be going back into their establishments. Unfortunately the one card everybody pulls is the smoking ban, blaming that for the demise of pubs. No, it's greed, putting the beer up willy nilly and forcing people out of the pubs.

How about John Bowman, Michael Furlong or Desa Reay they all lived near the Bank top?

I knew Des Reay, he lived over the the road from us - Clement Avenue. I believe he was a miner and he always wore a dufflecoat. The other two I can't place, but my bro says he remembers Michael Furlong; he says he was a good goalie. I wasn't at the West Ridge; I'm a Woody Schooler. But my brother used to hang around with Den Reygate and Michael Logan. We all used to play football together.

Your welcome, Mickeypotts, there are a few on those that me and my bro used to hang around with. Dennis Reygate & Lesley Morris.

Headlines on front page...

Top right...'Plans to tackle problem of stray horses to be agreed.'

Followed by bottom headline....''Council say school meat has full traceability.'

Er...

I saw some class pics a while ago on here and now I cant find them, can anyone point me in the right direction?

Hi, Mickeypotts, I put some on. Are these what you are looking for?

I've just seen two campanologists fighting at the church. They were having such a ding dong.

Happy birthday Mercuryg, have a good one.

Back in 1986 I was working construction at the Philadelphia North East airport we were adding a building at the base of the control tower to train air traffic controllers, we had to dig over 30 Feet down through clay to reach bedrock and pour the concrete footings, I was in the trench nearest the tower when I saw a dark streak in the clay from the surface, at about 25 feet a hard chunk was sticking out so I got closer and pried it loose with my claw hammer, it was very heavy and mettalic, oval shape and about the size of a pancake, about 2 inches thick and kind of curved inward. a sledge hammer could not put a dent in it. it had a bubbly kind of surface.

I cleaned it up and took it home where it sat on my porch for years as a doorstop until my son Jonathan needed something for his Science fair at school so he took the rock.

It sits in the science class to this day in a glass case, and they Identified it at Penn state university as a Meteorite, They think I donated it to the school which I suppose I did but they valued it at over $10,000.00 !!!!!

Moral...........Easy Come Easy Go

That's truly amazing, Mickeypotts,! I wish I had your resolve, because I think I would have gone on a bender for the rest of my life. Great story.

Dear Keith and Malcolm,

I am proud to enrol you in the Vampire Obliteration Manifesto - International Team - VOMIT, for short. You will be part of an elite vampire killing organization known as the Transylvanian Redemption Association Nullifying Nosferatus In Ethnical Societies - TRANNIES.

You will be provided with a uniform – see photograph – and your duties will entail stalking the streets at night, dressed accordingly, and hunting down suspicious bloodsuckers. (I hasten to add that certain members of our initial team considered tax men in this criteria. It is a bit of a grey area on our part but out legal experts agree with their mind set on this one – act accordingly.)

You will also be provided with the usual accoutrements – stake, hammer, garlic, crucifix, complete DVD collection of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Now I must warn you that some of our members were accosted whilst performing their duties – especially when in full uniform of fishnets, stiletto heels and Max factor make-up. Mostly this was down at Blyth docks late at night and I fear that some of our team took advantage of the situation and resorted to moonlighting. In one instance our chief vampire killer, Dennis the Destroyer, went professional and became Doreen the Dominatrix. I trust you will not be tempted by this by-trade.

So I look forward to your initiation ceremony which will be in the graveyard at midnight wearing full costume. You will be given your tools of the trade and will be micro-chipped so we can track your movements, it is quaintly known as Stake and Chips.

Until then and remember our motto – Vampires are a pain in the neck.

Uniform details enclosed -

AND THE WINNER IS...KEITH AGAIN...AND MALCOLM.

Well done chaps. Your prize will be forthcoming after I've fed the moggies.

Specifics please.

Moon River was Andy Williams Keith.

Actually, Adam, it was Danny Williams who had a number 1 with it in 1961. (I fell for that one in a quiz as well.)