Alan Edgar (Eggy1948)

Yesterday was the official opening of the sculpture to commemorate the Iron Works. I went down the furnace bank, and up the hairpin bends, just to see:- GLO - BED - RAIL, a sculpture erected in Bedlington Station to commemorate the Bedlington Engine and Ironworks, 1736-1867. Picture by Paul Appleby of Choppington. The official launch of the new sculpture will take place at 11am on Sunday, June 16, when MP Ian Lavery will unveil the commemorative plaque.

Today Wilf is going to Seaton Delaval Hall to see the flowers. Last time he was there he asked the head gardner - "are you planting in bunches this year? No". replied the gardener -"Just in Rose".

That could be him collecting his brother Tommy or that other landscaper Stephanie.

He has made a boob of his footwear. I think that's a 'fairway' to start Wilf's golfing adventures.

I keep telling the kids - Father's day, nothing for me I have everything, I need. Take me to a new pub for lunch and a pint of 'real-ale'. However, today Wilf arrived. I wonder what adventures he wilf have?

Keith - I have sent your message on to Peter. He now lives at the top end. Watch out for White-van-man (with green writing) 'Peter Davies landscape gardening services'.

Keith - I email Peter Davies the photos and his reply is:- Hi Alan I recognise one of the lads in the last photo.... Mr granges class although i always thought it was spelt mr Grainge. The lad I recognise is called David Kennedy from Stakeford and he is standing next to Paul Maddison. I also think Keith has a few names wrong...ie. Vicky Sedgwick in one of the photos she is too old for that year group and I recognise the girl pictured but can't put a name to her. I also think Janet Cowell is wrong as she is a lot younger than the others pictured unless there were two Janet cowells. Peter. Hope this helps

Nothing concrete but this subject did come up with a few of my family, after they had been digging into their family tree and found out they were born outside of Bedlington/Mona Taylor. It looks like all those born 1948, and after were either born in house or Mona Taylor. Prior to 1948 it looks as though Mona Taylor could not cope with the baby boom, following soldiers return from war, and many mothers were sent off to Hexham - Rothbury etc to deliver. Some of the older cousins thought they must have been adopted it was only when others, of same age, said - 'that's where I was born' hat they realised they were really a Henderson and not adopted.

I remember in the ship yard a sotherner asking why there were Chinese working in the yard when he heard someone shout :-' ' Hoi a hammer ower here man hinney'.

Only aboot tuthers gannin past. We nivver had any guid clathes te swank aboot in. We always thought it was just a pit-mattic version of showing off one's new clothes!We nivver had any.

Could it have been the open cast site that was down Church Lane on the way to the baths. I can remember the large machinery, cranes & trucks (we called them euk's) that we passed. The inner tubes of the large wheels from these 'euk's' made their way to the baths, all on their own, so we could dive, from the side of the baths, through the centre. But I can't remember any red stuff, just black & white to me.

lmao, I did - 'gok wans; not have any others, Alf Garnet'. Start a new topic Wonky - Specs thru the ages. I remmeber my first set - Horn rimmed and I think they cost, me mam, approx 14shillings 7 8pence (no idea why that specific figure popped out of memory banks). I know I have a photo (1959?) filed away. Probably took them off before entering the station budgie to remain cool!

There is a close up on this site, in the Gallery, when it was 'unveilled' in 1953 for the coronation, with The Picnic Queens:- Foxy - your recent photo, from your latest hiking expedition, with rear view of rucksack, is rather outstanding. Paul - The Station hut was much more up market - smelt of beer, tabs and piddle.

Bedlington Station shelter, that was back off the road at the bottom of South Row before the chemists and railway gates, was referred to as The Budgie Hut and as The Lone Ranger says the placque on the shelter was BUDC that we pitmatic lot traslated into The Budgie Hut. Can we find photos of the Red Lion & Bedlington Budgies?

More school photo,s from the 60s, supplied by Martin & Susan - Susan not on the Class 2R 63/64 photo as she was absent the day it was taken.

Ok. Never used that method but I will check everywhere for your message and pass it on.Martin lived in Lilly Avenue just east of the Terriers football field - Susan I believe was Melrose Avenue at the Bank Top.

Martin = 1, of 27, of the direct descendant cousins on the Henderson line.If you think there is anything else they (+ his two older sisters that both went to Westridge) can help with let me know and I will ask.

I sent the photos off to Martin Henderson. Martin and wife(ex Westridge also) replied :-Number 1 on westr1ithnames Westridge 1 Number 1 Martin Henderson 2 Barbara Ridge 3 Susan Lindsay 4 Michael Routledge 5 Paul Hewish 6 Melvyn Jamieson. directly behind Melvyn is Carole Johnstone to left of numbers 4 & 5 is Brian Corner to right of Susan (3) is Marjorie Mayes Westridge3:- Front Row. reading left to right Carole Johnstone, Irene Ellison, Martin Henderson, Paul Hewish, Barbara Ridge, Michael Routledge, Melvyn Jamieson. Middle row Judith Oliver, Susan Lindsay, Yvonne Thompson, Marjorie Mayes. Top row Shirley Andrews, Alan Temple, Ann Graham, Brian Corner, Helen Hurst.

Dear Symptoms If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day. Always remember you're unique. Just like everyone else. No one is listening until you fart. So we will see you back here in 2018.

Les Dawson was funny but definitely did not watch - 'An audience with............. - a dead person'. How sick was that and to have Lional Blaire on! Anyway here are some Paraprosdokian sentances:- Ø Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience. Ø Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car. Ø The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it's still on the list. Ø Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak. Ø If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong. Ø We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public. Ø War does not determine who is right, only who is left. Ø Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad. Ø The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. Ø Evening news is where they begin with "Good evening" and then proceed to tell you why it isn't. Ø To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research. Ø A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station. Ø How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire? Ø Some people are like Slinkies ~ not really good for anything, but you can't help smiling when you see one tumble down the stairs. Ø Dolphins are so smart that within a few weeks of captivity, they can train people to stand on the very edge of the pool and throw them fish. Ø I thought I wanted a career, turns out I just wanted pay cheques. Ø A bank is a place that will lend you money, if you can prove that you don't need it. Ø Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says "If an emergency, notify:" I put "DOCTOR". Ø I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you. Ø I saw a woman wearing a sweat shirt with "Guess" on it, so I said "Implants?" Ø Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet? Ø Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy. Ø Why do Americans choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for Miss America? Ø Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman. Ø A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory. Ø You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice. Ø The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas! Ø Always borrow money from a pessimist. He won't expect it back. Ø A diplomat is someone who can tell you to go to hell in such a way you look forward to the trip. Ø Hospitality: making your guests feel like they're at home, even if you wish they were. Ø Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with. Ø I discovered I scream the same way whether I'm about to be devoured by a great white shark or if a piece of seaweed touches my foot. Ø Some cause happiness wherever they go, others whenever they go. Ø There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can't get away. Ø I used to be indecisive, now I'm not sure. Ø I always take life with a grain of salt, plus a slice of lemon, and a shot of tequila. Ø When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water. Ø You're never too old to learn something stupid. Ø To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target. Ø Nostalgia isn't what it used to be. Ø Some people hear voices, some see invisible people, others have no imagination whatsoever. Ø A bus is a vehicle that travels twice as fast when you run after it as it does when you are in it. Ø If you are supposed to learn from your mistakes, why do some people have more than one child? Ø Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine. Ø Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Ø Buses stop in bus stations. Trains stop in train stations. On my desk is a work station. This one makes sense. I'm supposed to respect my elders, but its getting harder and harder for me to find one now.

Wilma should definitely open a new topic on Pit Stories/Tales. The flattening of pennies on the track reminds me of when they showed us school kids how to make a knife, to play Split The Kipper, by placing a six inch nail on the rail track and it would be flattened like a knife blade when the next train went over it.

Your dad will be Alan Lockey's hero if that old pic has a date on the back? Alan still trying to work out when it was built, and demolished.

The old picture of the Co-op must be a good age I notice there is no bus stop sign on the telephone (telegraph) post. Spent many a time in the door ways after getting fixed up in the Rae Hall! But also spent many hours sheltering in the door ways whilst waiting for the Morpeth bus.

Now just listen here Wilma, just keeping getting wound up. There are loads, like 'tonyg' and me, that were turned away from the pits by parents that enjoy the stories. You should move off this Puddlers Raw topic and start a Pit Story page. I have one uncle left alive, born 1937, that worked at the pits, ended up at Bates, but has always lived in Choppington since getting married. Must be loads of good reading. I had a mate at the 'A' pit that they us to say - who's that little lad lad on the end of that cxxk?