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

More On Local Lads In WW1 Theatres Of War

While the Ushaw Moor miners were striving manfully [and with courage] to fuel the war there were lads from the area showing conspicious bravery. An example is Fred Hopper; he had an unusual view of the war, being an aerial gunner in the Royal Flying Corps. On 10th of October 1918 he got a mention in a London Gazette  supplement which confirmed his award of the Military Medal [MM]. That award was created in 1916 and was the equivalent of the DFC and MC. You have probably seen the film that portrays lads of the RFC. I believe that Michael York starred in it. If you go to www.ivanberryman.co.uk you will find further information and art regarding the likes of Mr Hopper's working conditions.

James Kirkup was also awarded the MM for bravery, at Ypres in 1917. I seem to recall that a local newspaper reported that his medal had been stolen a few years after the war; it ended well when his mother, a resident of Ushaw Moor, received a duplicate.

I wonder whether William and Margaret Kirkup were in some way related to James Kirkup. Back in 1901 they lived in the vicinity together with their children George, John and Ernest. 

WB

Author releases railway walks booklet (From The Northern Echo)

BISHOP Auckland-based author John Swain has released Railway Walks Two: Branch Lines Around Durham City.

The booklet covers Ushaw Moor, Waterhouses, Witton Gilbert, Lanchester, and the former route to Hetton and Murton junction from Durham Elvet.

Copies, priced at £9.50, are available from shops in Durham and Bishop Auckland.

To order from Mr Swain, write to: 38 Rochester Close, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 0RJ, and include £1.50 for postage.

via Author releases railway walks booklet (From The Northern Echo).

Halls Of 'Residence'

Taken literally I could mention Hall Avenue, Broom Hall Drive, Flass Hall and Broom Hall Farm, but that it not quite what I had in mind.

Back at the start of the 20th century there were a few people in Ushaw Moor called Hall. Three that I know about were:  [1] John Hall of 10 Temperance Terrace; he was in his 60s by then and and living in the household of widow Mary Stephenson. I believe he was her uncle [2] Teenager George Hall was living in the household of Mr and Mrs Chapman at Cockhouse Farm and [3]Wiliam Hall, a grandson, was living in the household of Mr and Mrs Carling at 10 West Street.

In 1912 a seventeen year old, Robert Hall, collapsed and died at work: it was of natural causes, not a pit accident.

Moving on to 1914 I know that a Mr W Hall, Ushaw Moor Colliery's checkweighman, was elected as representative to the  Trades Union Congress;  I understand that was the only year in its history [ from 1868]  that the TUC Congress  had to cancel the event - no doubt owing to the outbreak of WW1.     

I personally recall a young John Hall. He attended the same school as me and was in form 4a. He was bright, not very tall and loved a Woodbine! Sadly [I am told]  he died at an early age.   

I seem to recall a lad called Eddie Hall. If I am right he was a good football player for Ushaw Moor County School, just a bit before I played for them. I believe he went on to play for Ushaw Moor Juniors; no doubt someone will put be right about that if I am wrong.  

We must not forget Sheila Hall. Sheila is known to this site and has made valued contributions to it.

WB

Photographs - What Do You Think?

As Martin Luther King once said:  I have a dream...

Some photographs tell a story worth more than words. That said, and if agreed, would it not be a good idea for residents to leave old photographs of Ushaw Moor at the Ushaw Moor Post Office for Paul to copy on to the Community Site? That would be good publicity for the Post Office and Paul! It might generate custom for them both. A simple system to ensure the return of the photograph could easily be adopted: stick the photo in a self addressed envelope and leave it at the Post Office for return by arrangement. 

What does Paul think about it? What do you think about it? What does the Post Office think about it?

It might even be a good idea to create a book of Ushaw Moor photographs. Maybe the local council could offer a grant for its publication. It could be sold at the Post Office. Having said all that about a book - is it already in the pipeline?

WB

Like Fishing At Broadgate

I have almost bust a gut in trying to entertain readers and at the same time evoke good memories of the Deerness Valley. It's like fishing at Broadgate; a bit of 'pigeon' to attract Alf or maybe a flashing four to surprise Peter. A bit of worm coated in Co-op butter might be the end of Brian but provide a fish for tea! It sometimes works but often does not; such is the way of fishing!

I referred to Budgie the hairdresser a short while back. I always think of  the song He Jude when I ponder on her, which is not too often. It was playing on the Juke Box back in 1968 when her eyes met mine for twenty minutes.  I did not pursue or capitalise. Beauty is skin deep anyway. Keep telling yourself that Wilf. Now and again I think of her and almost to this day no one has matched her haunting beauty. Then it happened: I spotted an advert on a train from Reading bound for Gatwick. It was  encouraging me to buy a bus and train combination ticket. Naturally the advert was using a very attractive girl to sell the product and that girl matched the beauty of Budgie. Or nearly so. Back to the drawing board!

WB

15 And 16 Ladysmith Terrace

Back in the early 1900s Irishman Tommy Wilson and his Crook born wife Catherine lived at number 15 with their children John and Richard. Next door neighbours Tommy and Helen Hudson, both Yorkshire born, had  several children, all born in Esh; Nesta, Helen, Emily, Jessie, Christiana and Harold. How did Harold cope with all those sisters?

WB

Cold And Freezing 1947

Here is just a little tag to get your 1947 memories up and running.

On  the 5th of February 1947  snow was 15 inches deep when measured at Ushaw College. Ten days later it was 22 inches. By the 28th of February it was 28 inches!

Source: The monthly report of the Meteorological Office

WB

Albert Einstein And The Ushaw Moor Miners

Let me start with a very well known Einstein quote:

A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life depend on the labours of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving. [end of quote]

I have several times thought what a puny pen pushing pisspot I have been compared to the Ushaw Moor miners. There I was making fanciful rulings about National Insurance law and this and that; it was all very laudable but not a patch on the body destroying requirement to earn bread for a family, by means of blood, sweat and risk;  without electric light, television, washing machine, enlightened employer [usually], education.......

Those miners were noble in their labours and considerate in their dealings with fellow men, women and children. It is true that they tended to be sentimental, especially after a pint or two, but they were  able to express their love and tenderness, not in fanciful words and sentences, but rather in what they did with their energy, and their undoubted courage, day in and day out. 

Do not laugh about miners in my earshot, unless you want to display one of the  the most profound examples of ignorance.

 Do not compare miners unfavourably with the armed forces during  wartime.  Every day was a gamble at the pit;  not for four years or six years but every year of their working lives.

So the village has the Roundy but also a lot more. It has the proud history of men, of several generations, that gave and gave and at times laughed and  cried.

WB

You Couldn't Make It Up - Part 2

I telephoned an old work colleague a couple of days ago - having got his phone number off the net. I had neither seen nor had contact with him since 1964. I had worked with him during the period 1961 - 1964 and was very quick to point out who I was, and that I would not keep him very long. After the initial courtesies the conversation went something like this:

Yes I remember you George - you wore glasses and spent some of your duties by collecting rents [for the National Coal Board]. I recall you were also a fan of Whitehaven Rugby League Club and worked on the turnstiles for them. Do you remember Nick Hayton? He worked in the same office as us and one day scored a try against high flying Wigan [yes he agreed]. We used to frequent the same cafe in Duke Street at lunch time [yes he agreed]. Do you remember Billy? I believe he died when quite young [yes he agreed]. It went on like this for a few more minutes and finished with him saying to me  'unfortunately I do not remember you" 

During the last few years I have had to correct both the Derbyshire Evening Telegraph and the Derby County Official Site in respect of Derby County's honours board. One had forgotten to list Derby winning the Third Division North Championship in 1956/7 and the other had failed to list the Rams achievement of getting to a European Cup semi final in the 70s [even though they thought in suitable to list a semi final appearance in a domestic competition] .

I did not get any pleasure from telling the above bodies about their errors, just as I do not get any pleasure in spotting an error in a report on Paul's site regarding Ushaw Moor pit's closure date. From memory it related to the Roundy feature. In that article it gives the impression that the mine closed long after its 1960 closure date. I think it was a Mike Amos article. He is a very good journalist so perhaps someone has unintentionally misled him or perhaps it was a red hot day - the sort of day when errors occur because of a fried brain situation. 

I enjoyed Peter's banter about my sub Boycott/Bailey cricket. Well I have to tell him that although I had good days when my shots flashed to the boundary there was one incident that I wish I could forget! During a Tyneside Senior League game the bowler became so agitated with my defensive tactics that he resorted to bowling one delivery under arm. It was not illegal to do so, but I suspect that was the first such delivery for many, many decades. Shame on me. Shame and more shame. I just resumed what I was doing and was at the wicket for another 45 minutes. No he did not dismiss me. 

WB

Valley Writers

I have spotted an exciting organisation of Deerness Valley writers on the Web. You can get to it by means of: www.valleywriters.co.uk. So if you are creative in your writing, or aspire to be, they seem to be THE organisation for you. The site tells me that they meet in Esh Winning library on alternate mondays from 5.30pm to 7pm. Their telephone number is given as 0191 373 3089.

WB

Glorious Flowers

The brain does not get any better does it? I refer to the number of seemingly random memories that spark and explode in the brain for no obvious reason. Take Gloria Race. I can recall being stretched out in a large field of butttercups and daisies. There was only one other person in the field er... Gloria. We were not companions, merely two innocent youngsters that happened to be in the field. For some reason I recall the field being in New Brancepeth. Go on, let me call it Sleetburn. So - glorious Sleetburn in the company of Gloria Race, albeit at a distance of about ten yards. Why were we there? Was it in Sleetburn? I am not sure. Answers on a postcard.

I can recall lilies positioned alongside the road to Esh Winning - sort of just after the Empire cinema. Were they lilies? My wife thinks my knowledge of flowers is rubbish, so be warned.

I can recall the cheery knock on the door back in South Street of the early 50s. It was the flower man who had arrived with the wedding flowers for my aunt Doreen's wedding to Tommy Carse. There was a cheerful thank you and in came the sweet smelling flowers.

My grandfather had a generous plot of land positioned east of his home and not fifteen yards from the colliery. He was often in there attending to his flowers and vegetables. I recall - there I go again - his sunflowers - big ones shining so brightly that they flash down memory lane and pop up amongst my black keyboard keys. 

As I say the brain does not get any better.

WB

You Couldn't Make It Up - Part 1

Sometime ago the Ministry of Defence issued advice to unfit civilians about how, within fourteen weeks, they could get themselves fit enough to join the Army. That sparked a memory. You may already have gathered that I have had a varied career. Well about forty years ago I joined the Army because of my dismal employment prospects in the North East. Sadly I was invalided out before completing anything like the three years I signed up for. During basic training our platoon of 'squaddies' was visited during the night. We  had been warned that it would happen. Fully trained soldiers woke us up and subjected us to a pretty harrowing time I can tell you. I  see little wrong in what they did; afterall a soldier has to be tough and ready for almost anything, including interrogation. I think it wise not to go into detail but the following day I had about forty bruises  over my body. It is safe to say that after that experience I was trained and ready for a brutal interrogation by a foreign power. Actually the Army subsequently looked after me pretty well and I have no complaints.

How many young people in Ushaw Moor are aware that West Auckland Football Club won the World Cup twice back in the early 20th century? They beat Juventus on the way to achieving it. Google it and find out more. 

Back in 1968 I spent 75 minutes scoring 6 against Reyrolle Cricket Club. We were bottom of the league at the time and playing for a draw right from the start. My fellow opener played a hairy fairy shot outside the off stump and I went down  the pitch to ask him to calm down! Several years earlier he had been on University Challenge. In the end a spin bowler who must have been at least 65 years old dismissed me. I was convinced that I could hit one delivery right out the ground: stumped by at least three yards. The team then collapsed - losing about seven further wickets in forty minutes. I still occasionally think about that spinning gentleman; I suppose there was the feeling that we had seen off some very good opening bowling, on a fast wicket, and as a result I had lost concentration.

WB

Michael Jackson, Michael Macnamara, My Great Aunt And More

I am currently winding down with an Internet surf. Goodness knows what I am going to write but I hope it is interesting to a least one of you. Sheila Hall seems to like my articles so I am optimistic! Here we go:

Back in c1994 my wife and I took our kids to the British Science Museum in London. It was very interesting and there was plenty of interactive stuff for the children. Suddenly a shoal of kids [say 80] bumped into us in noisy excitement. We looked up to spot THE  Michael Jackson not more than three yards from us. I recall that he had at least four body guards. To cut a long story short my daughter has his autograph to this day.

Can anyone  say for sure what happened to Michael Macnamara? He did live in  Bracken Court [?] in the 50s. He went to university and might just be a  management consultant these days - but I am not sure. I know that he won the Ushaw Moor Cricket Club second eleven best fielding award in c1964. 

I have mentioned my aunt before but there might be a bit of new information in this paragraph. We wrote to each other in the early 1990s. Of course she has gone - passed away as they say. Here is an extract from one of her letters:

My brother Cecil worked his way up to Deputy and then Overman. Like Dick [Dicky Hope my late grandfather] he got a lot of knocks from the men as some of them were from Ushaw Moor, some from South View even, [this was a  period when they both worked at Thorne pit in Yorkshire owing to Ushaw Moor closing down for a time]. Some of the Ushaw Moor lads expected favours. Cecil was built like Dick and was down to earth. Then he had a bad accident in the pit; his head and face were bady injured - but he survived that. Housework was hard in those days for many women. There were no electrical gadgets for easement. We did have electric light when we lived at 14 South View; it came from the pit.

From time to time there is a bit of confusion on site about the streets across the road from the Ushaw Moor pit. My notes tell me that [in order from the main village side]  there was East Street - George Street - Albert Street - William Street and West Street. I am not saying that is right but that is what my notes tell me!

Now for a personal viewpoint. The Conservative Party must be laughing at the moment. It seems that to talk about cuts will be acceptable for a while owing to what has gone on - in which case the Conservatives can, as is their nature it seems to me, cut away whilst looking after directors and the well off. The 'time for a change mentality' will kick in as well. Quite a few well educated people think that Tory governments are nasty. Do you think they are? I suppose their worst excesses are prevented by the ballot box system but I suppose the country is going to sleep walk into electing them anyway.

So Brian is back. For me he is THE writer on Deerness history; I am now going to have a bottle of chilled beer in celebration.

WB

Victoria Court

Reading upon the site that Frank Clarke had met Wilf Bell in the Shakespeare for a pint brought back memories when we lived at 38 Victoria Court having moved there in January 1947 just before that terrible winter.

Our neighbour at 37 Victoria Court was Mr and Mrs Turnbull along with their family, Harry, Percy and Greta and I think there was another daughter called Millie.  My dad died in September that year and the Turnbulls were very supportive to tour family.  Happy Days.  Was that your grandparents and family, Frank?

Brain Mc Loughlin

Reading upon the site that Frank Clarke had met Wilf Bell in the Shakespeare for a pint brought back memories when we lived at 38 Victoria Court having moved there in January 1947 just before that terrible winter.Reading upon the site that Frank Clarke had met Wilf Bell in the Shakespeare for a pint brought back memories when we lived at 38 Victoria Court having moved there in January 1947 just before that terrible winter.

Our neighbour at 37 Victoria Court was Mr and Mrs Turnbull along with their family, Harry, Percy and Greta and I think there was another daughter called Millie.  My dad died in September that year and the Turnbulls were very supportive to tour family.  Happy Days.  Was that your grandparents and family, Frank?
Victoria Court
Our neighbour at 37 Victoria Court was Mr & Mrs Turnbull along with their family, Harry, Percy and Greta and I think there was another daughter called Millie.  My dad died in September that year and the Turnbulls were very supportive to tour family.  Happy Days.  Was that your grandpeaents and family Frank?

Memories of Ushaw

It is a long time since I put anything on the site so I will try to submit on a regular basis.  I am the vice chairman of the Iona Social Club situated in Station Road in Hebburn town centre and this takes up a large part of my spare time.  It is a large and very busy club. This year we received two posters at the Club advertising Durham Miners Gala.  It is the 125th Gala this year and the poster brought back many memories.  It really was a unique event.  The Ushaw Moor banner was paraded round the village in the morning and left for Durham from the railway station.  The colour and the banners and the marching bands were a fantastic sight.  The speeches on the racecourse, the huge fair with boxing booths and various rides and side shows and later on as I got older, a pub crawl.  The pubs were packed but there was very little bother.

Prominent ministers of the Labour Party and the Trade Unions bosses gave speeches on the Racecourse about lunch time.  Times were hard in those days and the speeches were listened to by thousands of men and women.  I remember standing opposite the Dun Cow Inn, I was about 13 years old at the time, when the Easington Colliery banner and band were moving slowly up past the Shire Hall, the huge crowds were silent and men and women wept as the banner passed draped in black in memory of the 83 men killed at the pit.  It was very emotional even for a 13 year old.  It sticks in my mind like the phrase "Where were you when you heard the news of the death of President Kennedy"  It was a long, long walk back to the railway station to get the train back to Ushaw Moor and a longer walk up the bank  to Victoria Court. I can also remember getting the bus home from temporary stops in Waddington Street alongside the County Hospital. It was a fantastic occasion and a huge demonstration of people power.    PS.  If I had known that Wilf Bell was having a pint in the Shakespeare he would have had three guests as I would have attended.

Author : Brian Mc Loughlin 
E-mail : bhushaw55@blueyonder.co.uk