keith lockey

Thanks, Keith, for the poplars. Regarding the estate, bro, there was a farm above the woods on the Halfpenny Woods side. It was Pringles Farm if my doddering memory recalls.

I remember the cloakroom at the top where that little quiet bar was. One night I lost my ticket and the girl told me just to go in and find it. The room was like an L shape or dog leg. What you saw from the counter were neat coats hanging on neat pegs. Well I turned that corner and there was just a pile of coats and jackets on top of each other. I could have come away with anything I wanted. Happy days and nights at the Claggy Mat.

What names we had for the different locales in the woods! Seven Sisters, Monkey's Island, Giant's Footsteps. Anymore?

Seven Sisters, Keith! What kind of trees were they again?

Hello Malcom, here is a photo of the plaque. I remember in the sixties / seventies you could actually read this. But now it is worn away.

Too, true, Keith. I soon learned to drink shorts and not pints - either vodka and lime (Yeah, I know, wussy!) or pernod. With the latter you woke up the next morning with a taste of anniseed in your mouth - one drink of water and you were drunk again. One thing I remember clearly though - was the Laurel and Hardy poster on the wall!!! Well that's another fine mess I've gotten myself into.

Hello all, just new and curious about some things. When I was a youngin' I was never away from "The Woods" - that's all I ever knew it by. (Though my mam called it the halfpenny Woods.) There were three of us who practically lived down there, me, Jimmy Hunter & Bob Baron. Part of our initiation was to touch the plaque where the hunstman came to grief many many decades before. It is still there - near the bottom of the Hairpin Bend - but it is totally unreadable. Does anybody know any history about the event - who it was and when it happened. Cheers.

Hate to say this Alan but the dog in your picture looks the more intelligent. You are going back hard, bro, getting away badly, eeh aye. (Couldn't resist, sorry!)

Hello all, my name is Keith and I'm new here. For what its worth I remember the cinema and the Domino. I was just starting the Woody School when the Domino opened and one incident I recall was a very windy day when a box blew open and scattered 'admission tickets' all the way down the street. Me and my mates picked handfuls up and stuffed them into our school blazers. Halfway through the first class the headmaster came round and said the Domino manager was demanding them all back. I was a regular at the Domino - Lucifers - Lucys, et al, and lost many a Saturday night at the Claggy Mat. The sticky carpet saved me from a good hiding once when a drunk came at me and his feet stuck - honest. He had been standing at the middle bar for so long his shoes had adhered to the carpet. He fell flat on his face and I scarpered. The one thing I loathed about that place though was the Watneys Red Barrell in those chunky glasses. You needed two hands just to carry your pint around. Anyway, thanks for letting me share my thought. Cheers.

Hello anyone. Hopefully I have posted two photos - if I do this right. They are of my class when I was at Bedlington Secondary Modern School. One is in 1969 at the 'Woody' School and the other is at Princess Louise Road at Blyth - 1971. The form teachers were Mrs Vine and Mr Laverick. Vine was an English teacher and Laverick was a science and art teacher. He was about 7' 12" and drove to school in a red bubble car! He also played the bagpipes if I remember correctly. I learned that from a field trip we went on at Catton. Can anyone remember the teachers? There is also a missing person on the photos. I have put names to everyone except this girl. Can anyone help? But the main question is this - when did the Woody school burn down? These pictures are 69 -71. So I'm putting money on 1970. I remember being at the annexe building that night - there was some 'do' on - my mother woke me and my brother up the next morning and told us our school had burnt down. We thought she was just trying to cheer us up but when I saw the ruins I was honestly shocked. Cheers for any help. Keith.

Me and my brother used to watch Kendo Nagasaki and Les Kellet and if I remember rightly there was Jacky Pallo (?) and the Royal Brothers. (PS I am new to all this and still trying to find my way round.) Keith.

Hello everyone, I have just joined today - 24 June 2012. I actually have a class photo of the Whitley Memorial pupils circa 1968. Everyone my age is on it including some of my friends and neighbours - but not me!!! The problem is I am having trouble uploading photos. I select an album and then I get a box telling me I have not got permission. Can someone help please. (PS I have nine photos from the 'Woody' school as well.) Cheers, Keith.

I have nine photos from the 'Woody' school - 1968-1972 - but I don't know how to post them. Please help. Keith

Hello everybody, having great trouble adding my photos to ANYWHERE!!! I tried to create an album but it appears I need permission. I have nine photos of the 'Woody School' pupils and I can't post them. Help!

Hello everybody, I am totally new to this and hope i am doing this right. I was born in bedlington and still live here and have some fond memories and old school photos of the 'Woody' school from 1969 - 1972. (We moved to princess louise road after the school burnt down.) I will be adding the photos soon - and that is the reason why I am joining. My brother and myself are trying to remember when the Woody school went up in flames - we think 1970. He is joining this forum too so we will be able to share our thoughts. So hello to everyone and hope to relive some memories. Keith Lockey.