Dave Twist

Hi Bill , Thanks for replying to my request about what life was like at the high pit.Mam and Dad lived at choppington colliery then moved to Bedlington station were I was born in 1952. One thing I can remember is that Dad used to cycle from Bedlington to the high pit and on returning he would use the pit head baths at Bedlington A pit .I suppose there were no baths at high pit The Bedlington miners were horrorfied at the state of him soaking wet and all clarty. I never fully appreciated what Dad went through to provide for his family. Thanks again David

Hi Bill ,I've just read your post about the high pit,I knew mining was a dangerous job ,but I didn't realise how bad it really was.Dad never talked about it.Your story of the pony being trapped in a moving conveyor belt was really sad.What I know about the explosion that burnt Dad;my sister was a baby so it must it have been 1945/6 Mam and the other wives gathered at the pit head when Dad was brought out Mam didn't recognise him he was so badly burnt.He was given a cigarette to make him feel better.There was 7 of them and they were taken to a hospital along the tyne valley.they had to have name tags on their beds as they were all covered in bandages.Dad always thought someone on his shift had lit a cigarette

Thank you for such a detailed an interesting story

Hi HPW,thanks for your comment about my father ,I would love to hear more about your time together at choppington B pit (good and bad) .I know he was badly burnt in an accident before I was born.