keith lockey

I bumped into Alan Routledge the other day in Tescos. I was telling him about the shops. One of the other shops I remember was Mick's Video shop in the first row - where the Co-op shop was. But am I right in thinking the Perry's had a greengrocers in that row. Keith was in my class at school but I never see him or Dave now.

I see the Kaiser Chiefs are number one in India with their hit Rupee Rupee Rupee Rupee.

I was in the back yard when my mate passed. He said "Have you heard about princess Diana..." I thought it was the start of a joke, then I saw he was serious so I turned the goggle box on. I must admit I was shocked.

The worst experience we ever had was when a brick worked loose in the chimney. (It might have been the chimney sweep's brush that did it.) Anyway, every time we lit the fire a bank of smoke would billow back into the room so we couldn't have a fire on - and it was in the middle of winter. The council workman turned up the next day and said he wasn't allowed to go on the roof on his own - carrying bucket of cement, trowel etc etc. I told him in no uncertain terms that we were'nt going another night without a fire, so he bent the rules and allowed me to go on the roof with him. The term brass monkeys applies. We got the work done and had a fire on that night. BUT - I would never never never never have a coal fire again. All the heat went up the chimney and you had to be sitting practically on it before you could get warm. Me and my bro argue about this - he would have one tomorrow. But anyway, back to chimney sweeps, can you remember them burying the soot in the garden!!! You would be putting plants in the next month and hit a soot spot.

Might be, but I remember one was on the corner of the first row. I recall that because my mam sent be to get some brussel sprouts there and i got the amount mixed up. The guy sent me back home to bring a note!!!

PS. If you look at this photo you will see a bloke in a red car glaring at me. I didn't notice him when I took the photo - not until he drove passed me and gave me the evil eye. I thought he was going to get out of the car!! But the barbers was in one of those green door shops.

That's right, Tonyg. It was the two with the blue shutters on the end of first row. The guy used to wear a brown 'Awkright' work coat.

The wool shop was Doreen's - Mr Blythman took over when his wife, Doreen, died. My bro says there was a drapers but I can't remember. He also mentioned a chemist but I can't recall that either. He did say one of the shops had a weighing machine out front where you could get yourself weighed. Here's another shot of the first row - with the gable ends out of shot.

I remember the bleeza, the rake, the claise horse, and the fire guard. My granny used to put turps on the coal to help get the fire started!!!! She had a kettle that she used to rest on the coals and it was caked in soot . Then she would get a flimsy hanky and lift it off to pour water into the tea pot. How we survived our youth is beyond me. Sparks would fly from the fire due to dodgy coal and they would land everywhere. We had a crescent shaped brown hearth rug that had more burn marks on it than a blacksmith's apron.

Here are some photos of the oval shops in front of Kelso gardens - opposite Foundry House. (Which stands on our old playing field) The shops in photo 3 are going to be pulled down soon - so we have heard. Can anyone remember the shops from the sixties and seventies? There was Strakers on the corner...further down a barbers, Doreen's wool shop, a co-op!!!. Then across that gap was Dennis's, Christines chiropodists....Routledge the butchers, the newspaper shop, last owned by Colin Mole and the rest is lost to history. During the course of time there have been a green grocers, video shop, pet shop, fish and chip shop and who knows what else. Please help lads and lasses, cos I've got a bad doze of nostalgia.

The Wallaw, Bedlington - Jason and the Argonauts & Zulu. Then straight to Wales's chip shop for some fish and chips.

Hi Andrew, welcome on board. I was just taking some photos of your shop the other day - before they bulldoze that row down. I summize they will be relocating you!

I reported hearing a noise end of last year if you recall - 10th October. Brett said his wife had heard it too. Something is going on and they ain't telling us about it. I posted it as a new topic in - CHAT CENTRAL - STRANGE SOUNDS.

I've just passed my exams at shampoo college! The tutors said I was Head and Shoulders above the rest.

Sorry, Maggie, I know this is going to look as if we are locking horns again but did you know the jockey of the horse, Anmer, that hit Emily Davison committed suicide after suffering nightmares. SEE ARTICLE BELOW. She died four days later in Epsom Cottage Hospital, due to a fractured skull and internal injuries caused by the incident. Herbert Jones, the jockey who was riding the horse, suffered a mild concussion in the incident, but was "haunted by that poor woman's face" for much longer. In 1928, at the funeral of Emmeline Pankhurst, Jones laid a wreath "to do honour to the memory of Mrs Pankhurst and Miss Emily Davison". In 1951, his son found Herbert Jones dead in a gas-filled kitchen, having committed suicide.[11] The horse, Anmer, having gone over, got to his feet and completed the race minus his jockey.

I've not been well and went to the doctors today. He prescribed me a Dyson vacuum cleaner. He said that should pick me up.

I saw four groups there, mainly in the 70' - 80s. Blue Jays (Justin Hayward & John Lodge after the Moody Blues split up); Bread, Mick Ronson (Bowie's guitarist) and Roxy Music. Justin Hayward started out with Marty Wilde - Kim's dad - and me, Paul Kane & Kevin Miller saw Marty Wilde at the top club one night - where Morrisons is now!!!

When was the 'budge' boarded up? That might give you a starting date. That and the Sunlight shop.

There was a Victorian guy called Stead who was into child reform. He fought against poverty and sanitary conditions I believe. I think he has a connection with Stead Lane ie named after him. (Then again I could be wrong)

Yeah, I'll see if they are doing any hot-air ballooning courses at the college.

Awesome Brett, good on ya.

From the air. I rest my case Your Honour.

There seems to be a whole new bureaucracy involved in getting out of actually taking responsibility for just about anything these days. Small wonder when the guys at the top do it all the time! Seems we can justify high salaries and pay by mentioning increasing responsibilities but when it comes time to park the buck the only game in town is pass the parcel! That's what I went through with the street lighting, Malcolm. Pass the buck. "It's not our fault it's...."

Jealous cow.