Pipe dream (From The Northern Echo)

Vic Armorey died in the First World War. Thanks to a remarkable coincidence, his memory resonates ever closer to home.

RALPH Victor Armorey, still Uncle Vic to Agnes Hall though she could never have known him, was killed on the Somme in September 1916, aged only 22.

Four years later, in the Wesley Methodist chapel at Esh Road, Ushaw Moor, a fine pipe organ was dedicated to his memory and that of Charles Henry Walker, his best friend at school. A brass plaque acknowledged their sacrifice.

The chapel – “our little Bethel,”

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via Pipe dream (From The Northern Echo).

Victoria Court

My family moved from 29 Harvey Street, New Brancepeth to 38 Victoria Court in January, 1947, a couple of weeks before the massive snowstorms which started in late January, 1947, and I have it on good authority from Michael Malley who is an old friend of mine in Hebburn that the thaw started on March 17th, of that year.

We were in the first 16 familes to be moved on to the new estate. The first houses let were the last four numbered houses and the first eight numbered houses in Whitehouse Court and the last four numbered houses in Victoria Court ie 36 - 39 Victoria Court. I hope that makes sense.

The surrounding area was a building site for a long time and the foremans hut and the large store hut were situated on the ground on the opposite side of the road from Tom Dickinsons home at 12 Whitehouse Court. The site foreman was a man named Edgar Simpson who lived at New Brancepeth and the Clerk of the Works was Mr. Carse who with his family resided at 6 Victoria Court for a couple of years after the estate was opened. The estate was designed by Mr Fred Hedley who was the architect for Brandon and Byshottles Urban District Council. I think that Fred was responsible for the design of all council housing in the Brandon and Byshottles area. The watchmen on the site were a Mr Hutchinson, who I believe lost an arm in the First War and who lived at Pringle Place at New Brancepeth and also a man whose name I never knew who lived in the bottom house in Whitehouse Lane. When the the two gentlemen in question sent you on your way you moved as quickly as possible. There was no back chat or cheek or the local policeman was liable to visit your home with a telling off.

I cannot remember exactly in which order the houses were built but I think that Bracken Court was the last built before the road was pushed through the wood to begin building Oakridge Road. There was very little road traffic in those days so the road was our playing area, football, cricket, kick the tin on winter nights and there was even a little ungrassed area where we played allees or marbles as the game is better known. Chucks was also a popular game played on the pavement.

There were many different moves in the game of chucks. We walked a lot around the local area and many happy hours were spent down the beck, fishing and birdnesting in the spring. It is always sunny in those far off days when I look back but there must have been some bad weather around. Our sledging bank was the area in front of the first four numbered houses in Bracken Court and for a number of years we used the road in front of these four houses before it was opened for through traffic. It was never gritted so we spent many happy hours in that area in the snow of the winters past.

We never wanted anything as consumer goods at that time were unknown. We provided our own entertainment and we learned as young people to use our imagination. I might be wrong but in the world of today young people are deprived of using their own initiative and imagination in their mass produced entertainment.

One source of entertainment was our visits to the "pictures" at the Empire and the Club Hall. That meant that you had the choice of eight "big" and eight "little" films a week to watch if you were so inclined. There was always a cartoon and the newsreels every night also. It is quarter to six and I am due at the Iona Club at seven o clock, being on the Club committee takes up a lot of time. Our world was small and secure up to a point and the influences on our lives were Church or Chapel, school and your parents. No outside influences like young people are under today. Life I think was easier to understand when I was young.

Brian Mc Loughlin

Ushaw Moor Colliery

Ushaw Colliery

Originally uploaded by Ushaw Dude

Early photo of Ushaw Moor Colliery, does this bring back any memories ?

Paul

Memories of Ushaw Moor

My connection with ushaw moor is I am a cousin of Valerie Snaith, my maternal grandfather was John Bell of Cockhouse farm, my paternal grandfather was steward of "Cub House" in Ushaw Moor. I lived in New Brancepeth until 1955 when along with Mum & Dad & brother Duncan emigrated to Australia.

I have been back to England a couple of times and am again coming in June 2010. I certainly enjoy visiting ushaw moor cricket club where my fathers photo is still on the wall. would enjoy meeting you during my visit.

Posted on behalf of:

Kind regards
AdrianRoss

Alfred Bates Turner

I was wondering if you could give me some help regarding a resident of Ushaw Moor in 1917. Private Alfred Bates Turner was the Son of James and Eliza Turner, of 2 Broadgate Cottages, Flass Hall, Ushaw Moor, Broadgate, Co. Durham, he was serving with the Sherwood Foresters when he was killed at Houthulst Forest, nr. Elverdinghe, Belgium.

I was in Ypres last weekend attending a dedication of a Memorial Stone to The Foresters at Tyne Cot Cemetary, I was talking to a fellow W.F.A. (Western Front Association) Member from Belgium who told me they had the original headstone naming Private Turner and it would be nice if we could find any information out about Pte. Turner or if there were any living relations who we could make contact with, with regards to the headstone as we near the 100th anniversary of World War 1.

Could you tell me if Ushaw Moor has a W.W.1 memorial and is Pte Turner named, also any information that may lead to finding a relation would be gratefully received.

Yours

Lloyd Cartwright

W.F.A. Member

From Here To Eternity

The memories page is a wonderful facility and I have thanked Paul several times for creating it. Having said that - are memories just an exercise in both rampant nostalgia and remembered pain, or something much more? I think there is much more to memories: they are a tool that enable 'stock taking' and they provide information to enable each and everyone of us to move on. I have experienced  joy, but much of it was chaotic and badly planned - if planned at all. It is time to achieve some coherence together with positive action. What about you?

So how am I going to achieve this all action coherence? Well I am old enough and wise enough to know what I want to do, given my present circumstances and likely budget. I do not need old time religion. I do however need a fair amount of luck. The rest is down to me. One thing I have not got is the foresight to know how much time I have remaining - annoying that one.   So many of my past friends are no longer on the planet; David my best man at my wedding; Brian the lovely lad, together with his pint of beer, last seen hitching a ride through the galaxy on a 42 bus; Dennis my old left winger and neighbour, long gone. Those lads are a warning - to get on with it. So how many years to build into the plans? I will make a bold guess : how about eleven?

If I have something like eleven years it is time to list the aspirations and cut my cloth - with inbuilt flexibility of course. Mind you I need to build in four years of decreptitude so that leave me with a vigorous seven years.

Seven years? Not long is it? Well as you  know it is not how long you live - it is what you do with it. I'm off for a pint.

WB

Pitmen Painters

They were the inspired, and in turn inspirational, painters from Ashington of bygone years. Like any other group, or social stratum, miners had their fair share of sensitive, spiritual and talented people. You can google them - pitmen painters Ashington - UK of the web is best rather than the whole world -  and find a lot of interesting information. 

Again it is not about Ushaw Moor people - but it is about a group of the very same type - hardworking underpaid miners that enabled and fed our advanced economy, especially during wartime.

WB

Pass It On

The memories site appears busy and varied but that is misleading. There are too few contibutors - and if they were to cease their twittering, tapping and often thoughful contributions - what would be left to keep memories alive, entertaining and fresh?

If you have found time to delve into the local pathways of history provided by this site - pass it on to a friend! Show enthusiasm that is a bit more than a passing interest. Keep village history alive and fresh. Better still interview a senior citizen or a 40 odd year old, or whatever, and with their approval get their story on to the site.   

Pass it on. You might also consider yesterday's article entitled 'Are you an ex miner'and respond to it - if at all possible.

WB

Early Planning - Christmas Cake 1947 Style

Rationing did not end until almost the middle 1950s. The 1947 Christmas Cake was therefore not quite the version one could enjoy a few years later!

Ingredients:

85 grams sugar - soft brown - then - let me think - let's have a few bullet points!

• 2  eggs


• 3 tablespoons Golden Syrup


• 225 grams plain flour


• 2 1/2 grams Bicarbonate of Soda


• 5 grams cinnamon ground


• 5 grams mixed spice


• 450 grams dried fruit mixture


• 3 tablespoons tea cold and well strained


• 1 pinch salt and finally


• 115 grams of margarine

Instructions

[1] Line a 7" (18 cm) cake tin with greaseproof paper.
Preheat the oven to 150C 

[2] Cream the margarine and sugar and gradually add beaten eggs, then the syrup.

[3] Sift all dry ingredients together - add to the creamed mixture along with the fruit and  tea.

[4] Then spoon into the cake tin  - then make a hollow in the centre so the cake will stay flat on top.

[5] Bake for 2 hours until firm to the touch and the sides have shrunk away a little from the sides.

[6] Cool in the tin. When cold remove from the tin & store in an airtight container

This receipe is at your own risk: the writer cannot be held responsible for wrecking your Christmas or dampening your spirits.

WB

Off The Top Of My Head

I suppose that many of us are already aware of the circumstances surrounding the Ushaw Moor miners' strike - but even so Paul was right to give it another airing. It must be enthralling when read for the first time. I am absolutely sure that an inspired writer could make something of the dispute and create a popular BBC drama. In the right hands it would be far more interesting that  King Arthur and Merlin - I quite like that programme but it is fantasy, unlike the fascinating  Ushaw Moor dispute. The colliery manager was appalling and the mine owner was  not much better. 

It was all about deference then; all that bowing and scraping [and being ripped off by the aggravating wealthy class] understandably created an aggrieved work force. In Victorian times the powers that be actually thought  that if  workers became unemployed it must be their own fault. There was little understanding of how to operate an advanced economy and a large number of the poor suffered as a consequence.  

There is much more to it than that but I must close for lunch - suitably wound up!

WB

Striking miners and the master of the colliery

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="310" caption="Ushaw Moor in 1932"][/caption]

USHAW Moor’s original colliery village overlooked the actual colliery about three-quarters of a mile to the west of the present village and was the scene of a troublesome strike in the 1880s.

The colliery owner, Henry Chaytor, of Witton Castle, was an uncompromising master.

Sanitary conditions in his terraces were appalling and wooden huts housing additional miners were described as “the most wretched dwellings it was possible to conceive”.

Conditions in Chaytor’s mine were no better, and men complained of working in 18 inches of water.

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Proud West Stanley FC

The full FA Cup record of Ushaw Moor FC is elsewhere on this site but tonight let us have a brief look at some of West Stanley football team's FA Cup exploits. I believe that West Stanley played in the South Moor area - if anyone can give any useful information regarding that I would be thankful.

Back in the 1905/6 season they drew at home to Northampton 1-1 before losing the replay 3-0 away. A few years later they lost against Watford by 4-1.

Perhaps its best season was in 1919/20:

Leadgate Park [Home] 2-0, Rotherham County [H] 1-0, Gillingham [H] 3-1 and then Tottenham H [A] 1-4 defeat. Yes West Stanley played against the Spurs! During that season Tottenham finished up champions of the Second Division [now called The Championship]. The Gaumont Cinema showed clips of the match a few days after the event. In the FA Cup that season Spurs also beat Bristol Rovers 4-1 West Ham 3-0 but finally lost to Aston Villa 1-0. In the following year Spurs actually won the FA Cup, beating Wolves 1-0 in the final.

Acknowledgements to the FCHD for much of this information.

WB

14 and 15 George Street 1901

Jimmy and Eliza Turner lived at number 14 with their offspring Margaret, James, Robert and Alfred. Mr Turner was born in Lancashire and his wife was born in Willington, County Durham. All four children were born at Brandon Colliery.

Tommy Rodgerson [coal hewer] and his wife Mary were at number 15. Tommy was born in  Northumberland and might be related to me [I will look into that]. Their offspring at this time was: Edward [coal hewer], Elizabeth, Mary and Thomas.  

So Alf and Tommy just missed each other- but by how many years? Whatever Alf might say the number of years was small compared to eternity! In other words Tommy got on the bus  of life  just before the one Alf caught - as it were. Just humour me!

WB

7 And 8 George Street Ushaw Moor 1901

Richard [a coal hewer] and Jane Brunskill occupied number 7 together with their offspring: Hilda, Hannah, Richard and infant Dora. They had lived in Ushaw Moor for several years.

Edward and Rebecca Heron lived next door at number 8 with their children - Louisa, Thomas, George and John. Like neighbour Richard -Edward was a coal hewer. 

Does any of that jog a memory of family living in Ushaw Moor years ago?

WB

Counting Down To Firework Night

It will soon be firework night and I sincerely hope that no Deerness Valley resident suffers injury because of it. The obvious thing to do is read the instructions on the box and obey them. Never go towards a firework on the assumption that it has not been lit properly.Even better - consider attending an officially organized display. Those are just three examples of good practice, but there are several more. It is best to think about it and plan for safety. Local councils often give advice in local freeby papers or magazines  - so look for them and take heed.

As you know there is a big history to this: not that long ago there was very nearly a very big bang. We were told about Guy Fawkes at school but I have researched it a bit more. Here is a short extract from one of my 'uni' essays for your enjoyment, or otherwise:

Geraint Thomas and his fellow experts from the Centre for Explosion Studies of Wales, Aberystwyth, estimated the number of kilograms of gunpowder used, assumed that it was powder similar to Trinitrotoluene [TNT] and used that information to compare the likely pressure of the blast wave at different radii, by reference to existing damage data tables. Their conclusions were: that within a radius of forty metres everything would have been razed to the ground; within one hundred and ten metres buildings would have been at least partially destroyed and some windows, as far as nine hundred metres away, would have been blown out. Thomas has cautioned that several factors would have affected the calculations e.g. [1] although gunpowder is generally less powerful than TNT, the experts factored into the calculations that the expertise of Fawkes would have brought the powder up to TNT levels and [2] the damage tables assume a blast in the open air, which did not apply to the plot. Thomas felt that those factors would have balanced out. [www.newscientist.com/article/dn4338-gunpowder-plot].  

  A further study, conducted by consultants from the engineering company Arup in 2005, went to great lengths to reproduce the likely power and effects of the intended explosion. They constructed and blew up a precise replica of the 17^th century House of Lords, having filled it with test dummies. They concluded that the planned explosion would have killed all those in Parliament and everyone else within one hundred metres of the building. [www.timesonline.co.uk/101news/uk/article584830.ece]. Although the two researches were far from identical, both sets of professionals have reasonably demonstrated that the intended Gunpowder explosion would have wiped out the ruling elite, demolished the parliamentary building, and its environs, as well as killing many more people and damaging more distant property.

 On a much wider front the appalling danger for Catholics, had the plot been successful, is very persuasively put by Professor Ronald Hutton. He argues that the plotters would  almost certainly have failed to secure the support of the vast majority of the Catholic community – they would have been surprised and appalled by the sheer scale of the crime; certainly Henry Garnett, the leader of the English Jesuits, was aghast on hearing of the plot. Hutton maintains that the already existing mistrust of the Catholics and the intensified hatred for them, in the event of a successful plot, would have easily translated into Catholic bloodshed at a level similar to the massacre of the French Protestants on St. Bartholomew’s Day in 1572. [www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/e-h/hutton.html.]. Consequently any hope of Catholic supremacy would have been dashed.  

I hope that did not bore you. 

WB

Reigniting Relationships

I have found the act of visiting Ushaw Moor and talking to old school mates a much easier process than doing it by the more sterile method of e-mail. A face to face meeting helps one to read the eyes and expression of the old mate; the level of their interest can be assessed and a way forward more easily decided. In contrast an e-mail is a medium that can bring misunderstandings and complete misreadings. I can give you an example of a probable misunderstanding; when replying to an old chum I typed something like - I will be glad to put you on my Christmas card list but you can sent me a card bi-annually if you  are hard up - crass writing that - he cannot have seen that it was an attempt at banter - not a judgement that he was very old, poor and perhaps miserly!  

WB

Please Get Me Out Of Here

No one can claim to have mastered an understanding of the world and I have failed miserably, just like everyone else. Having said that, now and again one can meet people, or study their writings or sayings, and be inspired; it is as if there is some sort of brief illumination in an otherwise dark place. At such a time we all have to be alert and wary before feeling good about a received message: afterall we have all got our pet ideas - some are probably original- but perhaps most are gathered from newspapers, or other media products, that do little more than reinforce out own existing mindframe of prejudices and bigotry. Do I hear 'speak for yourself?' 

Assuming that I have been careful what do I then find? Lots of good people, a smattering of brilliant people and a fair selection of tacky people. Sadly tacky people tend to dominate and poison the world's well. Much of the world is in an economic mess and although some of it is misfortune, a lot of it is caused by naked exploitation. There are starving millions, many of them  being handed false dogma instead of a plate of food  and often their predicament is compounded by bad governments and other opportunistic organisations. On the other hand better off people are being fed messages that  potions and creams will always make them look younger, and what is more, they are worth it and should take care. 

Ofcourse you can always pop into Summerfields because the choice is so wide and much of it is good for you. Then there is that other supermarket - I have forgotten the name - that will refuse an adult the opportunity to purchase wine if they are accompanied by an underage youngster. Help me.

Earlier I said that some people are capable of illuminating the way through the tacky dark wood, or words to that effect. Well if you have not already done so try Richard Dawkins and his associates. Also try Johann Hari. Listen to Channel 4 news - it does not take prisoners and can often be relied upon to ask the very questions that you are wanting to put.  

What has the above got to do with memories? Well it is the almighty contrast with another world: Ushaw Moor and Sleetburn c 1954 -1960. It such a world we can conjure up innocence, sunshine, regular work for the uninjured Ushaw Moor miner , bluebells, the baker's van with its custard tarts, Stan Watson and his wide selection of fireworks, lost school caps, Harry Barlow,  Soccer Gleghorn, Sherburn County School being battered 11-0 by Ushaw Moor County and on and on. Was it  better then? No sir, the big world outside of that six year valley bubble was probably even worse then, for many, than the big world is today. 

I always look forward to discussion and argument. Sadly even the mention of  Richard Dawkins fails to activate a storm in this particular wild wood. That is so sad. Still there are other woods.

WB

Never Mind X Factor - Entertain Us!

I have been 'posting' articles since April 2006. I prefer the word writing to the word posting - but that might be a form of personal deception.  Now might be a good time for you to entertain our known contributors!  It is your turn! Show Brian how you can cartwheel. Show Alf how to clean up pigeon mess and give Peter a lesson in village history. Sheila might give you an audition - for what I am not sure!

WHAT IS ON THE DESK IN FRONT OF ME?

-A Binatone telephone receiver - calculator -A box  with the words 'oil filter' written on it -my wife's spectacle case - the PC - the printer come copier and scanner- two Dell speakers - a digital camera.....

WHAT CAN I SEE FROM THIS ROOM'S FIRST FLOOR WINDOW?

- A wet evening

-13 cars down the avenue 

WHAT WAS MY LAST PIECE OF READING ABOUT?

Politics - go to Johann Hari on the web - he will give you an insight into Tory incompetence in a way far better than I could achieve.

WB

Newcomers Feeling Cold?

My goodness it is cold in Ushaw Moor today! On the subject of coldness are newcomers welcomed to the village? Is there a fair amount of integration? There are some people that seem to resent newcomers on the grounds that they are buying property that long standing villagers cannot afford.

 I am not in sympathy with such whining locals. The typical mining village was created because of economic considerations, that is the profit motives of landowning big shots or industrialists, and for no other reason. Economics will continue to change landscapes and if newcomers are attracted to the houses that are being built, can afford them because of their hard earned cash or mere good fortune, so be it.

Newcomers ought to be made welcome and I am not saying that they are not in Ushaw Moor. No doubt there are many types of newcomers, ranging from pleasant to obnoxious, but as long as they do not encroach on long standing villagers' rights surely there is no serious problem. Has any newcomer bought an expensive house next to a church and moaned about the church bells? How annoying is that?      

So what is the score? Is Ushaw Moor a happy place? I bet the newcomers are not knocking on your door asking for sugar because they have run out of it! They are new blood nevertheless.

WB

Ushaw Moor On The Net

Part of the art of using the internet is being able to recognise quality and spot rubbish. Sometimes it is easy - you might appreciate academic credentials and recognise impressive bibliographies, on the other hand......

We can tuck into Deerness Comprehensive on Facebook or something called Ushaw Moor Legends. If you do make a meal of it do not be surprised if you develop an upset tummy. Or put another way: If u do make.....

In the past the village has been warned about aliens, examined under a famous detective's microscope and even a Durham University students' club has mangled the village's history. 

Still all publicity is good publicity [they say].

WB

Innocence - A Viewpoint

Childhood innocence is ofcourse the overture to adulthood and it has its plus points. The brain of a child is usually less clogged up with unimportant and often unnecessary detail:  is is generally more sensitive to the planet and often has superior abilities that enhance the power to observe, touch, smell and even listen. Bluebells, honeysuckle, butterflies  and the smell of the colliery locomotive are unforgettable. The smell of the  pit ponies stalls is equally memorable. I never had a problem with the netty and sex was not on the radar.

Adults can recover from their silly mental preoccupations. There is hope. The smell of wallflowers - unless they are ill and tired wallflowers - is utterly fantastic even to grumpy man. The feel and smell of early autumn is uplifting, as is the bodily reward for exercise in the garden -  far better than getting bloated and constipated in some foreign suntrap.

 

WB

Ushaw Dude's Scenes Of Ushaw Moor

The choice of the miners' hymn Gresford is an excellent one; it captures the spirit of the place and the people. I feel humble and undeserving of the two photographs that include my image - because I did not toil in the Ushaw Moor mine. Neither did I, because of my age at the time, worry about the dangers to which my wider mining family was exposed. Over the generations thousands did worry about their family and friends.  As I say - I feel humble.  

Cloughy at this rate you are going to end up on a pedestal alongside Brian Clough.

WB

Winns Boarding House

[caption id="attachment_851" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Winns Boarding House"][/caption]

A Bus Trip from Ushaw Moor stayed at Winns Boarding House in Approx; 1953.

Mr & Mrs Winn used to live in Ushaw Moor.

I am sure someone will recognise themselves or their friends or relations.

Cheers, Alf R

###Posted on Behalf of Alf Rothwell

Be Wary Of Newspapers And Tories

So the Conservatives have courted The Sun successfully. Whatever Mr Brown might do to put a brave face on it, newspapers are able to persuade and influence people to do things - like vote Tory. I am not one of the few dogmatic Geordies that used to step out of a pit cage; I am living down 'sooth', long retired from pen pushing, and concerned about what the Tories might do in power. No doubt their worst excesses will be prevented by potential voters wrath: nevertheless - is it really likely that they will help the North East with any great enthusiasm? No. Cheshire maybe.

A couple of years ago, within an article published in a national newspaper, a view was expressed that Bearpark and the word hideous go together. My reaction was - I hope not. In any case people make a village, not the buildings. It never struck me that Bearpark was hideous. Is there anyone out there, without hidden agenda or  prejudice, with a view they can share with us?

Sleetburn has not always been flattered by the press or even the occasional ex resident, but it has character and much of its population seem to possess quiet dignity as well as a generous slice of commonsense. I recall that its working men's club suffered graffiti back in 1998: the artist, or artists, lacked  merit - but other than that problem Sleetburn looked an unassuming village of worthies. No doubt it had, and has, its share of young 'whatevers' but in time they will grow up, and hopefully some of them will contribute to the community, thanks to government intervention, and in some cases by virtue of their own efforts. Mind you they should not expect positive Tory assistance without a big stink and a big fight.  There again it is a funny old world; imagine the Tories helping the poor and/or disadvantaged, and Newcastle United winning the Premiership in 2011 - now those hopes are on a par.

After all my huffing and puffing, but not because of it, Labour might win the election. If so perhaps it can offer Vince Cable a Cabinet post.

WB

The 1911 Census

Having experienced the initial thrill of  'walking' around the streets of Victorian Ushaw Moor and Sleetburn at ten yearly intervals, by virtue of an Ancestry package, I now have the prospect of doing the same in a back to the future 1911!

The pay as you go 1911 experience is already available - but from October 21st on tap total access, at your leisure, can be a reality by subscribing to the following facility on the Internet site:  findmypast.com

There is no full stop after .com!

Some exciting blurb tells me that:

--It is the first census where there is a form for every household rather than just a street-by-street summary: you get your own ancestor's handwriting

--It is over ten times larger than the 1901 census

--It has glorious technicolour images, more personal details to help you built up your tree and even details of deceased children.

WB

Vi Godfrey Carr - From Portable Days

Vi Godfrey Carr began her theatrical career as a baby and it almost ended during the Second World War when she lay across an unexploded bomb, in the wreckage of a cinema.  In this fascinating memoir, she recalls life in the Portable and Fit Up theatres - travelling companies which, in the days before cinema and television, took entertainment to the rural areas.

Her mother, a Northumbrian girl with a beautiful voice, ran away to London and married George Austin Knox, member of an old theatrical family. In the 1890's the Austins started their own Portable Theatre in Durham which they took, with great success, to mining communities all over the North east. As well as acting, troupers had to sing, dance, play instruments, change scenery and care for the horses which provided the transport.

Vi married another popular entertainer, Will Godfrey, and for many years they acted together. During the war, they were with ENSA, the organisation which provided entertainment for the troops, playing while bombs fell in Birmingham and Coventry. Finally, they returned to Ushaw Moor, Co. Durham. She has contributed too many television and radio programmes.

From a book "From portable Days" by Violet Godfrey Carr - A Personal Account of Life in the Theatre as told to Neil McNicholas.

Foreword by Roy Hudd

### Anyone remember the Portable Theatre, hard to imagine with the entertainment of now, this must have been such a thrill for the hard working miners of the time.

I managed to get a copy of this book,,, very interesting,, available on Amazon.

Paul Clough

Doctors Fees

Wilf Bells article on Insurance agents in the village and Alf Rothwells reply got me thinking who our Insurance man was and I cannot remember. However I can remember the collector who used to call for our Medical Fees. This was before the founding of the National Health Service in 1948 when medical care became free to all. Prior to that medical care had to be paid for. The man that collected from my home was a Mr. Foster who lived in Hall Avenue. Our doctor was Dr. Dickison whose surgery was in a front room near the top of Arthur Street. He was a great man and always had a cigarette in his mouth, even in the surgery. He wore round 1930s style glasses, a pin striped suit, usually brown and always wore a Homburg style hat. My mother tells me that he visited our house at 29 Harvey Street, New Brancepeth the day I was to be baptised at St. Josephs church at Ushaw Moor. My mother was torn between the names Anthony and Terence and could not make up her mind which name to choose. Dr. Dickison suggested I was named Brian after his son and so I got my name from Dr. Dickisons suggestion.   I am off at a tangent again.   Another caller at our house was Mr. Wilson from Bearpark Colliery.  He was the collecting agent for Doggarts Store which was situated in the Market Place in Durham. I think it is now Boots the Chemists.

I can only remember Doggarts selling clothing but I stand to be corrected.  Mr Wilson was the Dad of Betty Wilson who became a teacher at St. Josephs at the same time as Joyce Quinn arrived at the School.  This must have been in the late forties.  I have gone off at a tangent fron Insurance agents in the village but I hope my memories jog a few more memories and they end up on the Web Site.    Mr Welsh or Dickie Welsh as he was better known was the Council Rent Collector and lived in Whitehouse Court next to Tom Gibb.  Does he jog anyones memory?

Brian Mc.

Peter Clarke

There were two very quick replies to my article on coal lying in the street. It was good to see that Peter Clark and Wilf Bell enjoyed the article. I haven't seen Peter for well over 50 years. That sounds morbid but time flies by so rapidly.

Another vivid memory regarding coal was the never ending run of clapped out lorries carrying coal from opencast sites further up the valley to the washery and coal dump which were situated on the right hand side of the road about 300 yards from Relly Bridge. These wagons were mostly ex War Department vehicles even down to the bull bars fixed on the front of the radiators of the flat fronted lorries. I think they were Bedfords. You can see them in footage from the Second World War. Back to the coal. These lorries would not be allowed on our roads today as most were grossly overloaded with coal piled up behind the boards which had been fitted on to the original body work to give the lorry a greater carrying capacity.

There were no road markings at that time at the crossroads outside the Flass. The drivers would slow the lorries right down as they neared the junction from the direction of Esh Winning, then with a grinding of gears and the lorries swaying with the camber of the road and the bank they would crawl across the junction and into Durham Road. The crossroads were covered in coal and coal dust as the loose coal which fell from the lorries was ground into dust by the traffic using the crossroads. There was always an inch or two of fine coal and dust in the gutters at the sides of the road.

My first memory of open cast mining was on the farm of Mr. Stephenson on the right hand side of the road between Ushaw Moor and Broompark. That would be 1946 or 1947. Correct me please if I have the dates wrong. Happy carefree days before starting work and then conscription into the Armed Forces. One of the firms hauling the coal was Hunters Bros. from Tantobie. Can anyone remember the names of the other firms hauling the coal.

Brian Mc.

Loads of Coal

A sight which has long since disappeared from the streets of Ushaw Moor is that of loads of coal lying on the road waiting to be carried in and hoyed into the coal house. Men employed at the pit received a quantity of coal free for domestic use. My first memories of coal being tipped was when our family lived at 29 Harvey Street at New Brancepeth.

Across the back steet was a home made wooden coal house next to the gable end of the netty. On arriving at Ushaw Moor in January 1947 the coal house was situated next to the outhouse. If it rained when the coal was lying on the road waiting to be "put in" to the coal house it was very heavy to carry and the coal acted as a dam and the water built up behind the coal. New Brancepeth Colliery coal was delivered by lorry, Tot Sheivels was the driver.

I can remember that coals was from Ushaw Colliery at one time was delivered by horse and a two wheeled cart. The coalman lived in Durham Road. All heating at this time was coal fired. This was long before central heating and the (recent?) arrival of natural gas into the valley I cannot recall the weight of free coal alloted to each worker and I would also query my use of the word free as colliery owners were not renowned for their generosity to their workmen.

In the summer months the coal house was always full but in the winter months the coal house could be half empty. The coal was usally carried off the street and into the coalhouse in buckets. Wooden boards were placed across the front of the coalhouse so the coal could build up behind the boards and there was a gap at the bottom of the boards to push the shovel in to this gap and retrieve the coal and put it into a bucket. On winter evenings two buckets of coal were filled before darkness fell and were ready for use during the evening. Toast never tasted so good as when it was toasted on the toasting fork in front of the coal fire. I can still taste it. Coal was also supplied by coalmen to homes where no one was employed at the Colliery. Rowlands Bros. whose garage was situted at the top of Unthank Terrace at New Brancepeth was one and another coalman was Mr. Grady from Cornsay Colliery. Brian Mc.

A Date With Destiny 2010?

By all accounts  Durham Cathedral did Sir Bobby Robson well and that is great to hear. Now then what about a five a side charity 'grudge' match in honour of Sir Bobby - between the 1959  Ushaw Moor County  and Waterhouses Modern  teams? By their nature these things do not happen by themselves so I expect I will have to put some input into it. The venue? What about that great facility at the current Ushaw Moor school -which I believe Sir Bobby opened or at least visited.    

It could be fun with a significent tinge of rivalry - oh yes rivalry as you have never seen it. Alf and Brian might even turn up [or more] to witness another drubbing for Waterhouses, or more likely, a very close encounter. You can see that the edge is still there. John Weir against the spent sliding tackle specialist could be interesting.On the other hand does David Gerrard remain the better of the two keepers these days? 

There are so many questions that need to be answered, and so much raw rivalry  to extinquish - with a beer or two! Leave it to me.  

WB

UFO Over Ushaw Moor?

Google - UFO Ushaw Moor - and read the report for yourself!  Alternatively a more complicated way of finding it is to feed in www.ufodigest.com and then put - Ushaw Moor - into the search box top left of the site itself.

I would not lose any sleep over it but there again I could go to sleep in a cold boring churchyard at night without too much of a problem.

WB

An Alternative Magnificent Seven

The three older children at the back - from left to right - Ethel Hope [married Arthur Hodgson] Ada Bainbridge [married Fred Hume] Lilian Hope [married Mathew Bell  and then later, after divorce - Don Albone]

Then the two 'little uns - twins - Norman Hope and Doreen Hope.

Finally at the bottom Jennie and Vera Bainbridge.

The photograph must have been taken in  c1939. 

If you can recall any of the magnificent seven by all means share your memories on this site.

You can enlarge the photo by clicking the mouse on it.

Photograph courtesy of Valerie Bainbridge and the necessary 'magic' to scan and place it in front of you -provided by my son David.

WB

Sleetburn Lilleys' Plus A Big LBW Decision

Back in the early 1900s the Lilley family were living at 5  Bewley Terrace, which is very close to New Brancepeth Post Office. Basically the family were from Rainton but had lived in Sleetburn for some considerable years. There was John and his wife Ann, with their children John George  and Jane Anna. Also in the house were John's parents i.e. John and Elizabeth together with his brother Thomas. There was also a servant - Catherine Jeffrey. Does anyone know anything further about this family?

In 1969 I was umpiring a single wicket competition and found that my half brother was bowling medium fast, from my end, to my best mate at the time - David Shield. I had already turned down one of Colin's lbw appeals but then it happened: [1] pitching between wicket to wicket [2] no evidence of swing or movement in any of Colin's bowling that day - including the key delivery [3] the delivery first pitched on David's boot which was on the popping crease and right in front of the stumps. I was in a lose lose situation - being a half brother and best mate situation. Decision - out lbw. If you are a cricket lover what is your viewpoint? Was he out or not?  

WB

Have You Grown Up?

Some long lost friend recently asked me whether I had grown up. He last knew me as a seventeen year old. When you think about it he was, intentionally or otherwise, asking me whether I had ever analyzed my ongoing personal experiences and observations and engineered my behaviour in the light of my findings; put another way, he was asking me whether I had gone through life as thick as two short planks.

 There is no doubt that for much of my life  my energy was largely concentrated on my paid employment, rather than on developing a mature outlook and life balance. I must have been a helpful and resourceful work colleague, for much of the time, but at the cost of being a one trick pony and a misery to my family.

 Gradually, by means of help from mature friends, family support, and inspirational lecturers, I eventually got it. Got it? I began to feel that I understood a little of the nature of humanity, and the awareness that I was so lucky to be on the planet grew within me. Mind you I am aware of most of  my many remaining failings. Even now some things are far too black and white in my mind e.g. if you ask me about politics over a pint I might advise you never to trust a Tory. The fact is many Tories are good people; it’s just their leaders I find hard to trust. Have another pint. You might ask me about religion and I am likely to reply that I am perplexed that a few very bright  Oxford University graduates believe the utterly unbelievable or even much worse.

 Eventually I will get very drunk and express the view that too many people would do dishonest things if only they could be certain they would not be detected. After that it would be all down hill; I would very probably be sick at Tolworth railway station, just like I was in 1977.

 I was never a big drinker but hey the glass is half full not half empty. Fancy finishing it off for me?

  WB

Old Time Insurance Agents

Insurance agents were a familiar sight in the villages for many decades before the 60s and for a long while afterwards. You could see them scurrying around the streets with their 'insurance book'  which contained  their customers' policy details and payment records. Many customers were reliable payers but if long term sickness or unemployment struck it usually meant one of three things: [1] a lapsed policy [2] a frozen policy or [3] a surrendered policy.  

There is no doubt that those insurance agents were doing a fine service, for example: they were enabling cars to be insured and property to be protected against fire and any number of other risks. They were also collecting small premiums without  customers having to arrange to make payment at the local office.

It was important that the agent called at a regular time  so that the customer was not left waiting for them when they were meant to be elsewhere. To be a good agent required a rapport with customers and a caring attitude. Having said that there were accusations of bad practice such as churning. Churning involved encouraging customers to surrender policies early and persuading them to take out new ones; it meant more commission for the agent and the customer would lose a terminal bonus on the original policy. The extent of this practice is not known. Some customers actually encouraged it in that they treated what was meant to be a five/ten/fifteen year [or even for life] contract as a short term savings plan - a bad deal financially although it must not be forgotten that [1] they were insured during the time of such premature policies and [2] they otherwise might not have saved at all.

Competition amongst agents was often intense and sometimes more than one agent could be found in a customer's house at the same time! Not only did the insurance agent have to spend some part of the week collecting premiums in the day time he/she had also a need to go out and interview potential customers during the evening - whether by cold calling or pre arranged appointment. It was not a job for everyone and the turnover of agents was frequent.

I having nothing but respect for agents and on the whole they gave a good deal to their customers. There are many fewer agents to be seen in the streets these days owing to changing business practice. 

WB

Remembering September Mining Heroes

If you are interested in the culture and history of coalmining why not visit the online Durham Mining Museum? That site is clearly a brilliant labour of love.

Courtesy of that site we know that down the years the following Ushaw Moor miners died as a result of a pit accident during the month of September: James Anderson, John Baxendale, Thomas Emmerson, John Thomas Hope, James Quinn and Wiliam Roe. 

The same again, in relation to New Brancepeth Colliery: Joseph Gibson, John Gray, James Greenwell, Alfred Skellet, John Telford and Fred Underwood.

If you know of miners that died in pit accidents that are not recorded on the Durham Mining Museum site, why not  inform the museum?

WB

Some Memories of growing up in Ushaw Moor

Well I thought it was about time I shared my memories of growing up in Ushaw Moor.  My earliest memories of growing up in Ushaw Moor consist mainly of Tarzan Swings exploring College Woods and looking for birds nests. As I recall I never was bored unlike a lot of the kids today who seem constantly bored.

The mid eighties brought my mates and I out first exploration into Home Computers, I remember Ian Ditchburn being the first to get a ZX80 the machine before the Sinclair zX81, I remember owning this machine and being amazed after spending hours typing a BASIC program that simply showed the time, and accidently knocking it and loosing everything. I managed to upgrade the internal memory from 1KB to 16Kb, and playing 3D Monster Chase which had to be loaded from tape. Shortly after I upgraded to the Sincalir Spectrum which was iconic machine but very basic at today's standards, but it was amazing to us at the time with colour graphics and sound, its amazing to think that now I can play those same games on my phone.

A lot time I spent cycling around the Deerness Valley I have fond memories a 10 speed Tensor Racer I had and the speed I managed to attain going along the College Road. I think I was always a "speed freak", I recall the time when I was only a few years old and flew down Bannerman Hill on a tiny little toy car, only just stopping at the junction, just as well as I would have no doubt been splattered. I haven't really stopped cycling, I regularly cycle along most of the disused railway paths in the county and especially along the Deerness Valley.

Friends I remember from Ushaw Moor include Alan Dawson, Anthony Towers, Ian Ditchburn, Tony and Terry Nyland, Graham Seymour, Ian Stangroom with which we tended to be mucking about on Tarzan Swings in the College Woods.

Anyway I better get some work done,, sorry for the short content , more next time,,,I hope this jogs some more memories for visitors.

Paul Clough

Bearpark On Line

I recommend you have a look at it if you have not yet done so. It shows just what participation and interaction can do to keep it fresh and interesting. Apart from anything else you are likely to come across familiar people; I see, for example, there are photographs of Mr Gibbon - he became our headmaster at Ushaw Moor - and there is even one of John Minnis who became our Ushaw Moor School goalkeeper.

It is not as if Paul Clough has failed to provide a suitable site. His efforts and site design are top class. Are Bearpark people very different from those of Ushaw Moor? No they are not.  A short while back I wrote an article along the lines of: If Witton Park can do it so can Ushaw Moor. Well here is another: If Bearpark can do it so can Ushaw Moor. 

WB

Clothes Pegs Saw Off The Luftwaffe

The effects of WW2 were still evident back in the early to middle 50s. The area at the bottom of Unthank Terrace in New Brancepeth looked like a bomb site, but of course it was no such thing. Quite a few people were upset that a German goalkeeper was playing for Manchester City, however he won most of them over; Bert Trautmann was a fine player and literally broke his neck for City's cause in a memorable FA Cup Final.

Rationing was still in place and I believe that sweets did not come off the ration until 1953.

Meanwhile my clothes pegs were sending many a German machine into the sea or ten feet beneath a field. Hopefully the pilots would flutter down into pitchforks. The pegs were fine representatives of our Royal Air Force - one vertical and one horizontal peg enjoined - ready for battle on a floor at 20 Unthank Terrace!

WB

Lots Of People Have Not Died

There is an item in the Independent newspaper today regarding an increase in our population. Professor Dorling of Sheffield University informs us that  ''......lots of people have not died''. Well I can tell you I am working on it. I almost joined the local gym yesterday and almost went for a walk along the canal. I have promised my wife that I will stop drinking coffee and I felt proud of that whilst drinking a second cup of tea.

The 50s were a healthier time for youngsters, provided they did not get ill! Long walks, potato picking, bluebell picking and knocky nine doors saw to that. Football can be added to that list. The Bracken Court 'pitch' saw some awesome football for hour after hour. Tidy Alan Burn distributing the ball like a young Johnny Haynes and Wilf Bell diving the wrong way because the sun was in his eyes; God bless you Dennis Pinkney.

Computer games and being driven to school are not the way forward; such trends may well require a statistical  revision by Professor Dorling in a few decades time. Sadly I will not be around to read his revision; perhaps the coffee producers and distributors need to be warned about that.

WB

Dashing Stats Great Policemen

Recently I  took a look at the daily stats for this great site [see dashboard]; they show the number of visitors to it and I felt a bit down. I thought 'thank goodness these  stats  do not represent my investment in shares'. When I then looked at the monthly stats, as opposed to the daily ones, I felt somewhat better. There really is a lot of interest if you disregard the blips. 

I note that the 19th of April 2009 was an exceptionally good day. Now why was that? Well it was during a weekend and the article that day was entitled 'Memories of the Police'   I should not imagine that MI5 was crawling all over it, but that thought did,very briefly, occur to me!

WB

Margaret Thingyson

I am trying to find information on my family. My mum is Margaret thingyson and she lived in Bearpark (about 1940 to 1950) in one of the railway houses and went to school at St. Joseph's in Ushaw Moor. Her younger brother was Michael thingyson and he also attended St. Joseph's. Their parents were Frank and Alice thingyson and they worked for LNER at the Bearpark signal box. Alice would do one shift and Frank would do the other shift. Initially I was attempting to find some pictures of Bearpark station but I have found none but I did find the Ushaw website which has some great bits on it. One is a picture of my mum's school class but half the class are missing from the picture (she is one of the missing). I would love to hear from anyone who can remember the thingyson's.

Posted on BEHALF of guest, if you are the AUTHOR please reply with email addy and will send invite to join.

Thanks

Paul Clough

The Results Are Out - Anyone For A Laugh?

Congratulations to those pupils who find themselves with 5 or more GCSEs at grade C or above. Afterall they have worked hard and  achieved what the authorities consider to be the approved standard. In the past I have defended the GCSE but the exam brings doubts and misgivings for some. There is an accusation that such exams are not fit for purpose and that they do not assist young people to move into employment and higher education with any sense of ease.

There is also a statistical problem for old buffs like me, as well as researchers, and it seems as difficult as trying to square the circle. How come that back in the 50s only about 12% of pupils got 5 GCE O levels or more, yet today more than 60% of pupils pass what is deemed to be today's equivalent ?

Unless today's pupils are brighter [unlikely] can it be argued that 5 GCSEs at grade C are equivalent to five Grade 4 Passes at Certificate of Secondary Education [CSE] level? Afterall grade 4 in that old exam was deemed to be the average performance right across the board.

It is likely that the Conservative politician Michael Gove will change things fairly soon.  I have met him, heard one of his speeches, and am sure that schools are in for more and more change, much of it very unsettling, whatever its merits.

So someone is having a laugh with that square and circle, but I am not sure who is paying the bill.

WB

One Christmas Bell And A Funeral

Back in c1957 one of my fellow pupils as Ushaw Moor County School was selected to sing a Christmas carol solo in Durham Cathedral. Although his surname was Bell  he was not related to me. Has anyone got any memory of this? Does anyone know what happened to him thereafter?

Moving on, an elderly and lovely member of our family died recently. Although he had  an interesting and eventful life his loss  is still painful for all who knew him well. We can easily laugh and feel good when remembering him, but then the knowledge that we are not going to see him again kicks in.

When I was about 14 I recall a warm and cloudless day of adventure. There were two of us out for the day and eventually we came across a graveyard. Most of the graves looked old and not in their best state, but one of them stood out. It had a shiny look about it and was full of green 'chippings'. I imagine that the person had died recently and I recall to this day that he was 66 when he met his demise. I suppose that was my first feeling of serious vunerability. It certainly made a big impression upon me because 66 became my unlucky number. Superstition kicked in and perhaps I was going to die at 66! That is the thing about superstition; it is mindless rubbish. Even if I go at 66 it will be pure coincidence. I do not buy fatalism. Although I am sure that none of us entirely have the free will that some religions go on about - we still have a good measure of it. Life is short. Life can be fun on a sixpence. Life can be great and often much longer for those that see a half full glass, rather than a half empty one.

My goodness that funeral has has an effect! Still there is Christmas to look forward to. There will be mince pies, holly and goodwill. Also I must not forget the Christmas Bell.

WB

Neil This Is War

How on earth can a lad from Ushaw Moor send another lad from Ushaw Moor an e-mail, as follows:

Wilfred James,

Just a line to let you know I have a ticket for the Forest Derby match. Pity you could not join me to see Derby humiliated.

Neil [Davies]

Nice isn't it?

On a serious note it is brilliant to see a new author on stream. If he can find the time to write articles I am sure that we can also find the time to read them! It has also occured to me that Neil Davies could probably write some interesting reflections. How about it Neil?

One final point - has anyone got a photograph of the Ushaw Moor Modern football team of 59/60. I refer to the senior team, not the intermediates. Such a photograph did exist - but I have mislaid mine.

WB

Not One Foul In Two Years

I never played rugby because I never went to the type of school that played it. I am so thankful. That game's reputation is in tatters, what with fake blood and cowardly, childish fouls. Childish fouls? I played soccer for my school team for two years and was never pulled up for a foul in all that time. Not one foul and not one penalty.

 During my spell as captain I had to select our penalty taker. The lad I chose for the task was called Arthur Wilson. Was his name Arthur Wilson? I am having a senior moment of momentous proportions!  Did we have an Arthur Wilson playing  for us? The lad I have in mind was a ball playing forward. Perhaps someone can help. Being thoughtful there was a back up plan; if 'Arthur' did not want to take a penalty I would take it. We were never awarded one.

Professional sport is played for big money these days so I can understand that fouling is part of the game. But do you not think that so much shirt pulling makes those that do it look ridiculous?

When I was a kid I tried to emulate Glyn Davies. Glyn was a tough tackling Derby defender, but not the type to take your foot off. Not quite. My sliding tackles were timed well and fair.  I did not use my elbow to sock someone's jaw. It never occured to me to foul. So who are the culprits apart from players? Referees that allow shirt pulling and worse? 

The dirtiest football game  I ever attended was the Workington v Gillingham clash in c1964. Both teams were serious promotion contenders wishing to get out of the Fourth Division. Gilingham were awful. It seemed like a foul a minute from them. Professional spoilers often get what they wish and they got it. Workington O Gillingham O.

WB

William Ellis

Michael Steel was asking after his great great grandfather ? William Ellis in the old blog

http://ushawmoormemories.blog.com/2008/05/13/ralph-wilson/comment-page-1/#

William being Great Grandfather of Jennifer Ellis (her indoors).

The 1911 census confirms that William did indeed marry Thomason ( the organist at the church ) and then went on to marry Isabella ( a bit of a 'rong un' as Aunt Peggy has described her ).

i have put the census image here :-

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/j.roberts32/images/1911_census_WilliamEllis_irish.jpg

The census result also mentions ' British , parentage Irish' ; i'm hoping someone can shed some light on whom these 'Irish' ancestors might be.

regards

Matt

Ushaw Moor Lad Shoots Down A Meschersmitte

I am not glorifying war but I thought you might be interested in the exploits of the late Elijah Welsh DFM. They are available via Google - put in - Tailend Charlie Northern Echo  -  [uk pages]. It is the first article on the page.

WB

Whatever Happened To The NUB?

Back at the beginning of this century a group of five very local writers were seeking funds to keep their new magazine afloat. It consisted of articles, poetry, short stories and more. It was all under the guidance of Kitty Fitzgerald, an accomplished writer. At one point the editor was Eileen Thompson.

I am not sure what the magazine's current position is, but if some or all of those  five local women are still in the area, and wishing to write creatively, perhaps they will consider bringing their talents, enthusiasm and memories to this site. 

WB

The Palladium Cinema Durham

If you would like to see some excellent pictures of a cinema once graced by generations of miners, shopkeepers, mothers etc. here is how to do it: Using Google put the two words - Durham Palladium -  into the pages for UK. It is the top page. The nostalgia might over power one or two of you.

You have limited time to do this so it is best to do it straight away!

WB

''there's not much going on in Ushaw Moor''

That is the start of the latest guest book comment. Although I can imagine what the writer is getting at, it has triggered a disappointing memory of night life four miles away in Durham City. A few years ago I happened to be in North Road to witness youthful stupor in its scantily clad forms. It was not a pretty sight and not a good advert for the generation it inadvertently represented. All the blotto action was taking place near what used to be the Essoldo Cinema. It was a sad 'whatever' scene and no doubt contrasted with the many youngsters elsewhere, more or less on another planet, and  busy building their lives in a constructive and ambitious way.

No doubt some youngsters were in both camps; blotto land during part of the weekend and highly motivated  at other times!

I am sure there is a lot going on in Ushaw Moor - not exactly sex sea and sand - but nevertheless there will be a point to most of it. Perhaps cynical capitalism, that encourages blotto land, is safely miles away; twenty minutes on the 43 or 44 or even 47. Have the traditional bus numbers remained? I can vaguely conjur up a 48. 

WB

Revelation

Write one get one free is what I offered but I am still waiting!

Born: Derby

Brought up: From about three months old - In New Brancepeth and subsequently Ushaw Moor

Favourite journalist: Johann Hari

Favourite atheist: Richard Dawkins

Favourite cleric: Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Best pudding: hot blackberry pie and vanilla ice cream

Favourite politician: Vince Cable [1st reserve Baroness Shirley Williams]

Favourite football team: The Rams [followed by Arsenal]

Homespun philosophy: Be aware of the incredible luck involved in being alive/look after your family/try and make the world a fraction better for  being in it [I am struggling badly with that one] and look for evidence rather than adopting lazy blind faith, especially in matters of great importance.

Current pet dislike: people who attack media studies as being soft and inferior. It is neither soft nor inferior. Much of the media manipulates and distorts; maybe that is the motive, for some within it, to sneer at the subject.

Well there we are. I hope to get back on the straight and narrow soon. By that I mean 'normal articles' that concentrate on memories of the Deerness. Perhaps we can have a look at large Sleetburn families from Edwardian times and also think about local workingmen's clubs and how they fared, or are faring. How about a review of the Ushaw Moor 7?  There was not much protest about the seven I selected!  

WB

Write One Get One Free

Perhaps I am being a bit flippant with this article's title but there you go! Furthermore I know that August is the silly season for newspapers and blogging sites; people are on holiday, or at the very least in holiday mood, so are too relaxed or too distracted to post articles. Even so the site needs a strategy. What should I turn to for a strategy? Why the supermarkets of course. Your every move down the isle is planned with temptations in mind. Products are moved about to confuse you and pull you towards things you do not need. Smells are wafted and nostalgia created.

So  for every fresh article that is published on the memory site I promise, for a while, to write one. If you like. That is part of the problem; I do not know whether you like my contributions or whether you print them off to read at bedtime - to enable you to fall asleep within seconds.

As I say write one and get one free. Let me see if I can compete with Tescos.

WB

This Is It

Fresh from attending a funeral for a loved one clears the mind  and enables sensible perspective to form. Well it does for me.

By now some of you will have formed the opinion that I can probably continue to write articles for this site for decades and that is probably so!  Mind you there has to be a purpose behind all that scribbling. For a long time it helped me to find out about Ushaw Moor and what it represented. It also helped me to establish the life patterns of previous generations of my family, as well as the people they came across. We have discovered lots about the Valley have we not! For example:

- We stumbled across the identity of a murderer

-We can listen to the voice of Sammy Crooks

- We are aware of some of the characters in South Street from years ago

- Then there was that misbehaving coffin

-  We know much more about vicar Welby's family

-Pudding Henderson has come to life

-Arthur Hodgson is known to us

- Ushaw Moor's full playing record in the FA Cup is there to see

-the skills and character of many old Ushaw Moor cricketers - together with scorecards from the 30s - are there to delight in

- Brian's well crafted writings, although a bit rationed, are a delight because they have lifted the veil on the village's past

-Even the bowls team of the late 20s is no longer a mystery

- Whitehouse Court, dressed in early 60s snow, is there to see

-We have not allowed Sleetburn to slumber

And much more!

Some ingredients are a bit lacking. We need several more writers. Get more writers and keep me off  'Grumpy Man' articles! Stop me from being a bar stool Johnny!

Where is this leading me? We look back, we gain perspective but we need interaction. We need comments and lively view points, otherwise posting is little more than words blown into the ether.

This is it. The present is most of what we have. It is for people of the present time to comment on the past and peer into the future. We can criticise, applaud, disagree, cry, laugh, and a thousand more things. To do all that we need interaction. This is it.

WB

What - No Question?

There is an obvious question to be put to me after reading the earlier post 'Walk On Water With Laughter' but no one has asked it!

WB

More From Arthur Hodgson

I telephoned Arthur this morning and part of the conversation was a little natter about Ushaw Moor and Bearpark Collieries. I started by asking him whether there had been any scope for miners to make their output seem better than it really was. Arthur pointed out that in the foreshift tubs were not weighed by the weighman, simply because he was not on duty then. Human nature sometimes took over and some coal tubs might have had stone at the bottom of the tub rather than coal! Another trick was to place good sized 'roundies' in the corners of the tubs, thus causing a degree of empty space in the tubs - but nevertheless giving the impression of  full tubs. I queried whether management would have been aware of that sort of thing and Arthur pointed out that many of the staff - overman - manager etc. were at one time miners themselves, so would have known!  Arthur said that in later years cubic measurement was adopted; it took account of the length of the coalface, the advance made into that face, and the height of the coal -  thus those particular tricks were thwarted!    

Arthur confirmed that he had worked at Bearpark Colliery for about 15 years  - covering the period c 1967 to 1982 - and had therefore spent more time there that at Ushaw Moor! I asked him whether the culture at Bearpark was any different to that at Ushaw Moor and he said it was all the same - with the same words being used to describe things and situations. I asked him whether there were any characters at Bearpark that stood out for him. He recalled that one lad had selected the wrong type of pension arrangement supplied by the employer. He had selected one that provided a pension for himself rather than one that covered both himself and a wife/widow. Later on  miners had no option but to select one that provided for the wife as well as the miner. The state pension was in addition to all this of course.

Arthur recalled the Bearpark manager but his name escaped him. He said he was a tall man who had previously worked as a hewer at Bearpark and later returned as manager. Arthur said that although the manager was a very approachable man he always called him Mr ..... although many miners called him by his first name. Arthur held the view that if a man has worked hard and achieved the status of manager he was entitled to be called Mr. Arthur recalls that one day the manager asked him what size the coal was in a particular spot and Arthur sought the information by reference to hand measurement. The manager remarked 'why use your hand? Go and get a tape measure'.

Arthur recalled another character called 'Poucher Grey'. He never did learn his real name. 'Poucher' would never work on the actual face, rather he would do stonework. He was a sort of unofficial foreman and sent some of his 'team' to work the face. Arthur recalls that he was a physically big man.

I mentioned the name Jonty Burridge to Arthur and explained that I had played cricket with his son Ivor. I knew that Jonty had played cricket for Bearpark. Although Arthur could recall the name Jonty Burridge he could not place him too easily.

 WB

Durham County Schools' Football Association

Old school football players may well be interested in this site at www.durhamcountyschoolsfa.org.uk . The association had its centenary last year and a book was produced to coincide with the celebration. There are various records on site including a list of Durham schoolboy internationals. There are some familiar names listed including a certain H S Carter! Horatio Carter was universally acclaimed to be a magnificent player and made his name with Sunderland and [after WW2] Derby County.

Leslie Ker is listed and maybe I have been wrong to think his surname was Kerr. I recall that from centre half I forced him to make a save in our 1-0 defeat suffered at the hands of  his school team Whinney Hill [well their feet mostly]. Colin Suggett is also mentioned.

It is interesting to see that some very old competitions are still going - such as the Hartlepool Hospital Cup. Although I never played in the Londonderry Cup it might be the case that New Brancepeth did; I will need to revisit that to be sure of it.     

It could be that the book mentioned above is still available. Mr Philip Cunningham is seemingly the man to contact and his details are on the above website.

I have spotted the 'new trend'  - girl footballers. Well all I can say is that the England Women's team are getting better all the time and at present are quite impressive. The winger Yankey [ is that how you spell it?] would be a handful - I will rephrase that - Yankey would be difficult to handle - oh I give up. There you are a sexist swine - no not really -  but unintentionally old fashioned and awkward maybe.

WB

Muther Grumble

For an interesting take on life, much of it relating to the North East, try this site. www.muthergrumble.co.uk

WB

Walk On Water With Laughter

The second most amusing piece of writing I have come across in the last two weeks is from an advert for a gym. Let me review it. It is a bit relevant to Ushaw Moor history so stay with me:

'When God created Earth and then the Oceans, everything sprang to life. There was greenery all around and living beings began their journey by walking around'. 

Comment: There is a massive assumption at the beginning  and it is obvious that a journey requires some motion. Eventually a lot of animals were running away from predators in terror and probably producing motions.  No mention either that the world was a mess for millions of years.

'How grateful it was of god to endow us with limbs to walk and work. And when tired after a day's work, to quench thirst with clean water was like 'manna in the wilderness'.

Comment: Grateful? Tired after a day's work? Knackered more like. Even the Victorians tended to be knackered and often their water was not clean. Ushaw Moor miners certainly got very tired. Oh and what about London's water in past centuries? Not exactly spring water.

'Our forefathers were, indeed, healthier than any of us only because they walked around in search of food and basic necessities of life'.

Comment: There were a lot of World War 1 medical rejections. Many people did not find the food they sought by walking unless you call stuff in bins consistently good food. Earlier than that It was a whole lot worse for most people.

'They never visited hospitals for regular check - ups. Good exercise, natural food and plenty of water kept them fit and energetic through the day'.

Comment: Which period are we talking about? I cannot help thinking that until some point in the 20th century a visit to a hospital would often have not helped them much. Even now, if one is unlucky, a visit for a check up can bring infection. I can imagine Victorian miners down Ushaw Moor pit chortling at the picture being painted, although many of them would have taken God seriously.    

To be fair the article is advocating exercise and water drinking so essentially the thrust of the message is a good one.

WB

1951 - Newcastle United 2 Derby County 1

An old match day programme informs me that on the first of December 1951 the Rams came to St James Park for a Division 1 clash against Newcastle United. Pencil notes on the programme informed me that although the Magpies deserved their 2-1 half time lead a valiant Derby pushed them to the limits in the second half.

Newcastle: Simpson, Cowell, McMichael, Harvey, Brennan, Robledo [E], Walker, Foulkes, Milburn, Robledo [G] Mitchell

Derby County: Middleton, Mozley, Barrowcliffe, McLachlan, Neilson, Bell, Harrison, Morris, Wilkinson, Parry[J] McLaren                                    

Attendance: about 50,000 

WB

Bigotry

There is a bit in one of the 'quality' papers this morning about some Newcastle United fans that hate southerners. If there is any substance in this it proves just how small minded some people can be. Take London - it is only 240 miles or so from Geordie country; in other words it is next door in the context of the world. Eastenders took a packet from the Luftwaffe and London has supplied employment to northerners for many centuries etc. etc.   I am not going to engage with the small minded element of Newcastle fans that seem to want to slop around in their pigsty of ignorance. Let me be straight about this: I am confident that a big majority of northerners are rational and amiable people; I know they are because I have observed many of them and know quite a few of them. Furthermore I like to think I am one of those more rational northerners! Perhaps it would be a good idea if the small minority, the bigots, went to the public trough and had a cold shower; after that they could visit their local library and open their minds to reality.

WB

Media Studies

As most of you know TV took off in the 50s and many people bought  a set to watch the Coronation in 1953. There are, and were, some brilliant shows on TV but many turned out to be mediocre or even dross. I truly regret that my parents  bought a set in 1955. I must have been watching The Grove Family instead of doing my homework in preparation for the 11 plus. At that time many middle class parents were absolutely scared of the Tripartite System - Grammar - Technical -Secondary Modern, because they saw the danger of their offspring ending up at a Secondary Modern.   As a consequence many teachers earned extra income from 11 plus coaching. No doubt there were many naturally bright youngsters destined to pass - but for many of  the remainder  Saturday Night At The London Palladium, The Grove Family and fascination with Oxo adverts pulled them into the local Secondary Plod. I acknowledge that the arrival of the Open University was a very a positive step and of course it used  television to transform many lives.

When the  Internet arrived I found my TV viewing hours greatly reduced, but of course surfing the Net does little for muscles and the cardiovascular system.  Age does not help either. A few days ago I had a dream in which I had decided to take cricket up again. Then I woke up and found I was over 60. Runs would be even more difficult to get at such an age.

At last we got a flat screen TV. It opened me up to the temptations offered by multi channels. No doubt there are some very commendable Americans but their culture, as portrayed by many channels, has a soft obese look about it.

Back in 1976 two of us got lost in the Black Forest. When we found our way again we were in a world of largely obese Germans. I did not realise it at the time but that was the way it was going to go in the United Kingdom, and the way it had been in the United States for a long time. People who spend too much time on the Internet or watching TV are not usually going to be in glowing health are they? No doubt there are many that achieve a good balance but so many  are storing up trouble.

My master plan is to use the Internet for only four hours per week and leave  that cheerful comedy show, Eastenders, to others. The argument that such programmes as Eastenders give the general public insight into how to deal with life does not convince me.

I am going to close the door on Eastenders and much of the Internet and get some glowing health; when I achieve that I will have a pint with Brian and the lads. Mind you I will find time for Derby County v QPR on BB2. BBC4 is not bad as well. Channel 4 news with John Snow and his colleagues is brilliant  and I cannot afford to miss that.

WB

Yes Indeed What Is Going On?

I have just been made aware of Danielle Hazell's cricket prowess. Not only has she represented England Women at cricket - she has also baffled some Durham Senior League batsmen.  Yes batsmen. What a marvellous story. She attended the Durham Community Business College and they must be very proud of her. I am aware that the standard of the England Women's cricket team has improved a lot in the last decade and no doubt some of it is down to this magnificent young woman.

I also stumbled across the school's website and it is full of aspiration, not only for its pupils but also for the community. I now understand why the school has got its name. The school's [all right - college's] academic record is remarkably good, given all the factors. Modern qualifications seem to be 'funny money' to some of us old '0' level students [ I took some after leaving school] but there is nothing wrong with a bit of coursework as well as modern exams, instead of an almighty memory test!   

Change sometimes produces very bad results but much of the time it is thrilling and inspiring.  Alf get cooking because if Danielle can play top cricket, YOU surely can produce a sponge cake.

WB

What Is Going On?

We look back at Ushaw Moor's history, live in the present, and think/plan for the future. Despite the coffee, the new football season, brilliant books and moving music  the present is sometimes not enough. The present can be confusing; we know that a few people have plundered  in order to feather their own nests e.g. one or two bankers, and even a few members of the House of Lords  are reported by some of the press as being a bit unsavoury. What are we to think? How can we use our memories and common sense to some constructive purpose? For a start it might be useful to listen to Michael Shermer; he has produced what is called 'The Baloney Detection Kit'. I have tried to approach his contribution with an open mind and found it interesting. It is available on Google [world web easier than UK] at Richard Dawkins.Net; if you will, mouse into Michael Shermer.

I will post more conventional articles soon.

WB

Grumpy Reviews Today's Newspapers

Let's start with The Times article about eight Christians burnt to death in Pakistan after the Koran is 'defiled'. The words that come to mind are 'misconceived' and 'futile'. Just think of all that spent energy, and for some participants terror, that prevents a constructive and very different take on life.

Politician Harman is upset about men running things. Well there are good men and bad men, just as there are good women and bad women. I am all for selecting on absolute merit but there has always been a power battle between the sexes and it was much worse in the early part of the 20th century. Surely we really want a grown up, well developed society, but it is not going to happen whilst people feel insecure, greedy and cynical.

The Independent states that oil supplies are running out fast. I can use that to parade my prejudice against some of the worst kind of drivers. Have you seen them passing you at 90 when you are doing 70 in the middle lane? That is often their consistent speed, not their overtaking speed, and as far as I am concerned they are first class idiots. Where are they going that is so important?

To continue with the Independent - they point out that more Tories are to quit  at the next election over expenses. The electorate must not let politicians off the hook, whatever their political persuasion. Memories of news items tend to fade as the landscapes of  fast moving current affairs change. We must not forget what has happened and insist on decency and responsibility from our already overpaid MPs.

The Daily Telegraph proclaims that Edgbaston awaits a final day showdown. I have always liked the Australian test team  - they are my favourites after England - it will all depend upon the amount of help given by the wicket to English bowlers. Australia are just as likely to close it down with a big score as collapse into a heap of misery. My money is on a draw.

The Telegraph continues with a proclamation that Emma Watson is related to a 16th century witch. Well it must be August and the papers have to be filled up. Hey this is an interesting story even if the concept of a witch is a human construct; it more or less brings us back to where this article began.   

WB

South Street 1958

I am aware that this article includes some points raised in an earlier post however there is enough new material to justify it. One memory is of the night before our new school’s very first game of football [58/59 season]. I was staying at 2 South Street because my mother had been hospitalized. My mum’s ill health was very distressing just at a time when I was to captain the team against Brandon Modern. On the morning of the game I found that I had a rash all over my body; it may well have been a nervous rash, caused by both the trauma that had recently been experienced by our family, owing to mum’s health, and the fact that I was skippering the school team from centre half, a new position for me. My grandmother was quick to point out that the bed I had slept in was clean [knowing her it would have been] and my rash had nothing to do with the bed sheets! As for the game we lost 2-1 at home. It was a case of two fairly evenly matched sides. Little did I know that they would end up champions and we would be very near to the bottom. Our defence was quite strong but we lacked fire power; consequently we often lost 1-0! In the return game high flying Brandon beat us 4-3, but not until we had given them an awful fright by leading 3-1. That was the only day that our forward line really clicked and the only day we conceded more than two goals – in league games anyhow!

 Yes 2 South Street was usually spotless and always smelt nice. The clock ticked and tocked and the hourly chimes are still a vivid memory. It was a calm and orderly house; grandfather Dickie Hope would often be seen doing his ‘pit paperwork’. I suppose he was noting things like ‘wet money’ due to coal miners and describing the state of the underground pit for the benefit of the manager.

 In the dining room was to be seen the little silver cricket cup, proudly on display to mark a triumph that occurred in 1947. Not far away was the MCC book of rules. Dickie was a stickler for the rules. A cricket ball was there to be seen. He was always searching for lost cricket balls in order to save UMCC some money.

 Big brown flagons of ginger beer were to be seen on the floor by the kitchen. That ginger beer beat its modern counterparts [really?].

 When in the appropriate shift grandfather was up at 3am enjoying bacon and egg – so I am told! As for Grandmother’s blackberry pie – my goodness it really was the best, and really was supreme compared to some modern dross. Yes really!

 I have previously mentioned the joyous Christmas festivities of the 50s. Warmth from the fire and warmth between individuals was the order of the day. Uncle Tommy Carse was a lovely man with a twinkle in his eye and a smile for everyone. Uncle Arthur was equally great – he showed an interest in all of us and was a very caring man.

 WB

Sir Bobby Robson

By now you are probably aware that Sir Bobby has passed away. I did not know him personally but his demeanour, whether engaging the media, playing good football, or during his various spells of top class management, was of the highest order. His heart was never very far from the North East, even when it was  geographically in exotic football places, such as Barcelona!

It is true that he played for Waterhouses School football team as a youngster. Waterhouses - they were the dreaded enemy! On a serious note he will be missed, not least because of his fine character and his grand example to others of how to conduct oneself on life's journey.  

WB

The New Site

Paul -  I think the new site is very good. It is tasteful and easy on the eye. In terms of design, and ease of use, I would give the first site seven out of ten, the second eight out of ten and now this one - ten out of ten. Many congratulations.

WB

Loose Cannon With Another Blank Sheet Of Paper

I have just had a good breakfast of porridge [sprinkled with brown sugar] and a banana. That should keep me going and help to prevent over eating today.  Why might I overeat? My family has just lost a member of the extended family in tragic circumstances. Elderly and lovable Peter. He was a very young junior Army officer towards the end of WW2 and very much a 'giver' rather than a 'taker' in life. He had been terminally ill. Very few people inspire me - Harry Barlow is one, and the Army officer that gave that famous speech to his troops in Iraq is another. Peter is yet another; if I was half the man I would be delighted. He was a wit. He was an educated man despite not having the benefit of formal higher education. I would have given him an honours degree in human decency, and life radiance, if given the power to do so.

I have just read bits of the Times. We are told that the electorate will welcome a Tory cut is public spending. One comment by a member of the public said he could trust the Tories far more on cuts. In one sense he is surely right; they are the master cutters - but personally I would not trust George Osborne, the Shadow Chancellor, to deal wisely with the contents of the purse that I found in Durham Road, Ushaw Moor in the 1950s.

I celebrate the 'Memories Section', and long may it continue, but I cannot help thinking that from time to time each one of us - the metaphorical grey people - real or imagined - should also highlight our ongoing achievements. I do not mean take the opportunity to boast, rather to announce the achievement of little things. Take Alf, he could record that he had learnt to cook a particular dish or remember the words of a certain song if he aint no cook!  Any thoughts?

I sometimes worry that perhaps 15% of my postings are not in fact Ushaw Moor memories at all - and that although some readers might think that type of contribution interesting, others might find it tedious. Have you a view? I can take it on the chin. 

WB

Deerness Nursing Cup.

I am sitting here on this Summer Saturday afternoon with the rain and the wind battering the windows. It is more like December. The other day whilst clearing out a drawer I came across a school football medal. It was rather dirty so I cleaned it up and found that the medal was hallmarked silver. Inscibed on the rear are the letters N C W 1953. (Deerness Nursing Cup Winners 1953.) I can still remember vividly the Saturday morning we won and retained the Cup by beating Waterhouses Secondary Modern School. We had beaten the same team the previous season to win the Cup. Large crowds used to turn out to watch these Cup Finals between the schools and the crowd that morning must have numbered 200/300. The match was played at Ushaw Moor. Gordon Gillon and I used to look after the school footballs. They were leather and after inserting the bladder into the ball it then had to be blown up and the neck of the bladder tightly fastened with string and then pushed inside the leather case and then the ball had to be laced up. Quite a feat. The ball was then dubbined to make it waterproof. They were very heavy when dry and if you headed a fast moving ball when it was wet you could see stars.
I first played for St. Josephs when I was about 10/11 years old. The first game was at Cornsay Colliery on a Saturday morning. We caught a bus to Esh Winning and then a bus to Cornsay from outside the Co-op. The school at Cornsay was situated half way up the bank on the left hand side of the road going towards Lanchester. We changed in the school and then walked back down the bank and over the beck and turned right at the bottom of the bank on the Tow Law road. We won that day and I played at outside right and scored a goal. If the ball went out of play on one side of the pitch it rolled down an embankent and into the beck. I was given a shiling (5P) for my efforts by my eldest brother Jim. I was flush that day.
I can also remember a few years later travelling to Cornsay to watch Cornsay play Sunderland Reserves. The ball ended up in the beck a few times during that match.

Brian Mc.
>> Hebburn.

Sunday afternoon Walks

This is the first blog that I have attempted and this is with Paul's help via email.   Sunday afternoon was a special time as most of my friends and I worked a 5 1/2 day week so every hour of the weekend was precious.   After dinner on a Sunday we used to go for a walk.  In those days very few people had a car and TV was in its infancy so no Soap Opera Omnibuses or Football to keep us in the house.  These  walks followed various routes.

The most popular walk was along the College Road.  Up the bank towards Bearpark and then turn left towards Ushaw College.  This was the routine both summer and winter.  A bit cold weather did not make us housebound.  The traffic was very light and we walked on the road most of the time.  Sometimes we used the path through Ernie Lang's farm and down the path towards the Gill which was a piece of woodland leading down towards Bearpark colliery.  There was a pitch and toss session there most Sunday afternoons and there was always the lookouts posted to give the warning to scatter if the Police raided the pitch and toss school.  A few times we saw men scattering in all directions to avoid the Police as these pitch and toss sessions were against the Law.

We would follow the path to the left along the edge of a wood which bordered the College Golf Links.  Usually we would search the edge of the wood for lost golf balls and we usually got a tanner off the golfers for each ball handed over.   Spring time we also used to bird nest.  At the far end of the wood we turned left through a small metal wicket gate and over the Golf Links back on to the College Road.  There we would turn right in the direction of Old Esh.  A "must" most Sunday afternoon was a visit to " see the pigs" at the College farm.  The pig stys housing the pigs were situated along side the road.  Usually there were sows with litters and we would spend ten minutes or so watching the pigs.  Then down the College bank to the cross roads with the Esh Winning road.  Turning left at the crossroads we set off back towards Ushaw Moor.  Along past Deerness View and Joyce Terrace and past Ushaw Moor Colliery and so back to Ushaw Moor and home for a good Sunday tea of my mothers baking of meat pies, fruit pies and jelly and Carnation milk.   Happy Days.  Reading this in the year 2009 must seem boring to younger visitors to the site.  We made our own amusement in those days.  No telly.  The patter amongst the lads was always good and flowed like a good wine.  We were happy with the free and simple things in life.  We knew the countryside and appreciated it as we never destroyed anything that grew and always respected the laws of the countryside.

The Golf Links was a nine hole golf course belonging to Ushaw College.  The College in those days  housed hundreds of young men studying to become Catholic priests.  There were acres of playing fields and the Golf Links were played on on a regular basis.

This was a short walk as other walks were many miles long.  There was always a good tea to look forward to at the end of the walk.

My favourite walk now is along the banks of the Tyne with the noise of industry on the North bank of the river and the noise of the Metro cars on the railway on the South bank.  It has been landscaped and wildlife is reurning, weasels, woodpeckers, squirrels, rabbits, foxes and owls can be seen on the river banks.

Brian Mc.
>> Hebburn.

Breaking News Regarding Football Festival

The Durham Amateur Football Trust has announced that this weekend's Youth Football Festival has been postponed due to the surface water on the Crook Town football pitch and the continuing rainfall. The Trust hopes to rearrange the event in early August.

Trust  members have worked very hard to pull this event together and are very disappointed to have to postpone at short notice - but hope that members will understand.

WB

Viva La Vida

Who said the lead singer of Coldpay can't sing? Oh yes he can.

Back in the 50s we had a supervised game of football in the playground. Mr Spence was the teacher on duty.I captained one side [the reds] against the blues. It is a remarkable  that I played at centre forward and missed about twenty chances. I was not a natural striker and every time the keeper came out, to narrow the angle, I shot wildly; I imagine the windows of St Luke's Church must have been in danger, especially when I had been forced out to the left, at the Esh end, prior to shooting. Never again did I allow such panic to occur; it was just a wild tune up. Anyway the glass was half full, was it not ? At least I had engineered twenty chances.

Also back in the 50s I found it very painful indeed to have a different surname to my half sister. Sometimes fellow pupils would ask me why I had a different surname. It really was distressing; it was as if I was the victim of the cold and unimaginative morality of the time, ie one in which divorce, or being born out of wedlock, was more than frowned upon. Good grief  -such a situation is common now. 

When I was about seven I set fire to my half sister's toy house. Was it an accident? Was it deliberate? What was going on in that tiny brain of mine? Actually I have no idea and had forgotten the incident, until reminded of it many years later!

Sometimes I must seem to be like a rebel without a cause. Several times on this site I have stated that it is best not to be overawed by 'betters' or the 'authorities'. Yes do keep within the law  - but at the same time if you feel something is wrong I think it is usually best to say so. Life is very short but youngsters are often slow to realise it, and by the time they do it might be too late. It is amazing what confidence can do for you. I say to youngsters get a bit of an education - it does not need to be a degree - get experience and fix some goals. Goals can be changed, or in my case missed. If they are missed do make sure that your local church windows are insured.

Now for a bit of further editing: I was not born out of wedlock! That is the case, but I am making myself laugh in the process of typing it!

WB

Ruth Hill Plus Eric Burn

If you Google the following [on UK]:    Ruth Hill Ushaw Moor     up come some interesting articles from Ruth and Eric - on the Francis Frith site [first up number 1 option - at the top. A formal web link ie www etc does not seem to work.

I wonder whether it is the Eric Burn - brother of Alan.

WB