At Bates in 1971-ish,there was an Overman,[herinafter caaled "thi Owaman"],who was a champion leek grower,and I think,President[?],of the Blyth Rosecarpe society[?],and a well known Judge on both circuits.
He was a canny fella,sociable,but he's job was to get work done.....and that he did!
Ivry body that passed him got a job of some sort...!
Alec Waite was he's name.
One day,he came down from 8's district,in the Beaumont seam,and told me he had seen a ghost.
He corrected he'sel,and said"Whey it might not a been a ghost,but a definately saa an apparition."
Three massive wooden airlock doors,under a LOT of Air pressure,had opened and closed one at a time,and he had seen a "Greyish Mist" come through the last door.
Noo these doors were so big and heavy,ye had ti put ya foot against the waal and pull like hell on the handle ti ease the the air pressure,afore ye cud open them ti let a set of three and a half ton mine cars through.[aboot 8' wide x 6' high.]
Within two days,me younger Sister came yem from her work at the Ronson Factory,on Cramlington Ind,Est,and sed.."Howw Youngin,wat's this aboot a Ghost at Bates?,it's aal aroond the factories"!!
The story made the Evening Chronicle front page!
Later on,in fore-shift,one of me Marra's was doon thi pit and the lads got on aboot thi story.
Me Marra,[a proper wit!],torned aroond and sed ti thi lads...."Whey haddaway ti hell,if Alec Waite had seen a ghost
he wudda givven the f.....er a job"!!
The lads aal howled at thi time,in thi pit evironment!
For months afterwards,Alec was sick ti deeth of the greetings he got from ivvry body he saa on he's travels doon thi pit..."Halloww Alec,seen any ghosts lately?"!!
Pitmen were a hard lot when it came to personal feelings,ye developed skin like bell-metal!
Neva in the world! Imagine me joy and surprise googlin me old Grandas name and then comin across this! I'm sat here beaming! Far nye pished mesel! Haha!
If anyone else here knew the bloke, or stories aboot him I'd love to hear them!
Netherton Colliery Pitmen
in History Hollow
Posted
Neva in the world! Imagine me joy and surprise googlin me old Grandas name and then comin across this! I'm sat here beaming! Far nye pished mesel! Haha!
If anyone else here knew the bloke, or stories aboot him I'd love to hear them!