Alan Edgar (Eggy1948)

@HIGH PIT WILMA - can pit names to all but one.

I was there on the nights those bands were on. Our group of lads were there four or five nights a week as we used to get free passes from the guy/manager that ran the place. Before it opened we would call into the building on a Sunday afternoon, after having been to the Station Club - 12:00 till 14:00 for a few pints on our way down to the Welfare Park for a game of footie among the lads, and chat with the manager to see when it would be the opening night. It was mainly Bob Pattison & Alan Maguire that chatted up the manager and other staff and were given the free passes. As they all became friends there were free passes for many months, especially for through the week. My main memory of Dave Dee ,Dozy,Mick,and Tich was that I was mistaken, by young ladies who had had a load to drink, as Dozy and they leapt on me, knocking me to the floor and ravaged me until some dragged them off and said - not Dozy, it's Eggy

@Maureen - I never went when it was Lucifers. Back in 1968 (or was it 1967 ?) when it first opened the DJ was John Shelley. @HIGH PIT WILMA - John Shelley - Then & Now

That's the name, and width, I remember HPW - Buller and I believe he did wrestle, fortunately not with me .

@HIGH PIT WILMA - Can't remember which group I found the newspaper cutting on or who gave the names but Malcolm Neslund, on the Facebook group Friends of Bates Colliery, has commented that the names someone had given me and I had added = No 3 TED REDFORD & No 5 BILLY SMITH are wrong and should be No 3 TOM WILKINSON & No 5 PHIL CLARK. Names updated :-

@Keith Batey :- this is the Barrington CP school album we have on page 2 in the Gallery > Historic Bedlington > Barrington County primary School :-

@HIGH PIT WILMA - a new member on the Facebook group - Bedlington remembered - has posted this comment :- I don't know where the nursing home is but I have asked her a few questions and pointed her to a couple of possible places where she might get some info and memorabilia. I have not passed on any info about your photos of Bates but if she was after some photos would it be ok to pass on some of yours? If that was ok I would add some of the text that you have written to each photo.

@BJT - There was South Row at Bedlington Station, next to the Bedlington 'A' pit, and a New South Row at the Top End of Bedlington next to the Doctor pit. The Doctor pit, and colliery rows, were at the bottom of the Glebe Bank and on the opposite side of the road there was Thompsons store. I can’t remember the store but I have seen many references to it and I believe it was opposite Doctor Terrace and there is now a car dealers, Cars4U North East Limited, in it's place . The photo of Thompsons shop is taken from one of Evan Martin's books on Bedlington. This is an extract from a 1924 map showing the South Row, next to the 'A' pit, at Bedlington Station. Can't remember anyone ever mentioning there was a Thompsons Store at Bedlington Station

Three more football photos from @Reedy's dads collection that he believes must be old Bedlington teams , otherwise he wouldn't have them, but unfortunately nothing else can be remembered about these photos. If I manage to find any info on these photos I will add them into the album :-

For anyone that can't select rosco's link this is an extract from the Advance Northumberland site :- Advance Northumberland is pleased to confirm that contracts have been exchanged with supermarket chain Aldi for the sale of a 1.5 acre site that will deliver a new, 19,000 sq ft anchor food store in the heart of Bedlington Town Centre. Aldi will form an integral part of this exciting scheme, a development that is already attracting a number of other national retailers who are lined up to join them. Working on behalf of Northumberland County Council, Advance Northumberland is leading in the delivery of a major new development that will reposition Bedlington as a retail destination, improving amenities and giving local people greater choice. Further announcements of other retailers joining the scheme will follow over coming months. Aldi have given a clear commitment to start on the site in 2020. Advance Northumberland plan to commence their works to ensure both developments are aligned. Once complete it is estimated the combined schemes will create over 180 new jobs along with 70 construction jobs during the construction phase. Richard Wearmouth, Chair of Advance Northumberland said: “The project is central to the regeneration of Bedlington Town Centre, we are delighted to announce a commitment to the scheme and provide much needed new retail amenities for local people. Aldi will provide a resurgence to the town centre retail offer and will drive footfall to support and attract other retailers. We have put a significant amount of resources and time into this development, demonstrating our commitment to deliver the best possible outcome for Bedlington.”

@Joe McNally - cheers Joe. One day I might just sign up and to one of the genealogy sites and access the info.

@Joe McNally - shot in the dark - recognise Mrs McNally or the name Bank House from the photo above?