Hanging Up The Washing

Remember the old days when  Ushaw Moor Modern  offered domestic science, woodwork, and gardening? Not everybody wanted to write sparkling essays about Charles the First but they could go on to make the world go round. Where would we be without City and Guilds cooks, woodworkers, plumbers and the rest? Lots of clever people went to Secondary Modern e.g. Delia Smith and David Jason -  and they certainly enhance many people's lives.

Well that is all so well and fine but sadly I was not taught how to hang up washing on the line. Am I doing it right these days? This is what I do - please put me right if I am not doing it correctly:

Shirts and blouses ---- hang upside down by the side seams

Pullovers                 ----- upside down using four pegs

Trousers                  ----    hang by the legs

T Shirts                    ----   hang by the bottom

Socks                        ----- hang by the toes

Dresses and knitted garments ---- hang them in  their original shape                  

WB

Daily Quotations

It's great that Paul puts the sayings - usually about memories- up on site. Some ring true but others do not, or at least seem incomplete. Memories in your travel bag? That is certainly a good idea because your memories are fundamentally you. Imagine not being able to hang washing on the line because you have forgotten to memorise the location of the pegs, and  you have forgotten whether to hang trousers up by the legs or the waist - don't laugh the latter tested me a bit this morning.

Imagine having  memories but not the mental equipment to analyse them. Such a situation would render one akin to simple Simon - not that I am knocking mentally afflicted people because to do so would be insensitive, unjust and unkind; in any case I am truly one of them at times. We are all on a journey and should be helping each other to make it interesting and civilized.

I believe it was Socrates that emphasised the importance of living the considered life, rather than letting things  just happen to us. If we are to achieve a mature considered life some analysis of  memory [experience] is required - as well as some research into what really happened in the past and why.

I guess we all rationalise our experiences. I have recently done so and came out on the right side. We can be too hard on ourselves at times: I imagine most of us have been fickle at one time or another or perhaps even worse. Appreciate your memories, learn from them, live in the present and look forward to the future.

Do you agree with me?

WB

BBC - Radio 4 Memory Experience - In My Pram I Remember

In My Pram I Remember

Mariella Frostrup900 of the memories we collected in the Memory Survey were very early "preverbal" memories - some from as early as 6-11 months old. This result has shocked scientists and academics who believe that adults do not remember memories of childhood before they can talk. Research agrees that the mean age for true autobiographical memories is 3.5 years - but it appears that the nations' memories and scientific study disagree.

via BBC - Radio 4 Memory Experience - In My Pram I Remember.

Time For A Quick Chat?

Well I might not have chosen the correct format for a chat but what about a comment? As Robbie Williams once said, at one of his big gigs:  'is there anybody out there?'

I dislike the Go Compare advert shown on television. It is a big shout and seems witless to me. What do you think ?

A few years ago I was one of a handful of work colleagues visiting a hotel bar in Brighton, after a training course. We sat down and found that not six yards away was a group of soap actors from  East Enders enjoying a drink. We all decided to leave them in peace - just as I had done back in about 1979 when Bruce Forsyth popped into a bar and sat down a few feet  from me.

About two months ago I was sitting on a seat at Reading  railway station, late at night, waiting for my train, when a well dressed chap walked by. I looked at him and said to myself - that's Michael Howard! For those not into politicians he is a Conservative  and led the party for a while. He looked at me and my response was to make sure the paper I was reading had its front page facing him. Ah - the Independent - the message I wanted to convey was  - look mate I am not a grubbing Conservative! I can now  reveal my occasionally ridiculous personality - I ensured that he saw my none Oxford 'uni' scarf - the message being I am not an Eton cum Oxford toff so go forth and multiply! I do not suppose that he cared! Mind you in this case of personality spotting I can only claim to be 95% certain that it was Michael Howard.

There is a good chance I will be in Ushaw Moor in July but  it depends on others so I cannot confirm it yet.  However I  do expect to be in Ushaw Moor Cricket Club at some point this Summer. What's the beer like there? 

WB

Ushaw Moor Historical Website - Commandments

Ushaw Moor Historical Website - Commandments.

During the Ryhope strike of 1932 feelings of animosity of the men towards the 'masters' was expressed in this composition:

The Coal Owner's Ten Commandments

1. Thou shall have no other Master but me.

2. Thou shall not make for thyself comforts, nor the likeness of anything to thine own interest, neither on the earth above or the mine beneath. Thou shall bow down to me and worship me, for I am thy Master, and a jealous Master, and I will show you no mercy but endeavour to make you keep my commandments..

3. Thou shall not take the name of thy Master in vain, lest I sack thee at a minute's notice.

4. Remember that thou work six days with all thy might, with all thy strength, and do all I want of thee, but the seventh day thou shalt stop at home and do no manner of work, but shall do all thou canst to recruit thine exhausted strength for my service on Monday morning.

5. Honour thy Master, his steward, and his deputies, that thy days may be long in the mine down which you work.

6. Thou shall have no unions.

7. Thou shall always speak well of me, though I oppose thee. Thou shall be content if I sometimes find thee work, and pay thee what I think.

8. Thou shalt starve thyself and thy children if it is to my interest.

9. Thou shall have no meetings to consider thy own interests, as I want to keep thee ignorant, and in poverty all the days of thy life.

10. Thou shall not covet thy Master's money, nor his comforts, nor his luxuries, nor anything that is his.

Ushaw Moor Historical Website - Aged Miners Homes

Once the miner had become old and unable to work at the pit, he was forced to leave his tied cottage, and though he might receive something from the Permanent Relief, for many the workhouse was their only prospect. In 1896 one of the great philanthropic movements of this country took root, with the aim of providing a free house and coal supply to retired miners - a 'haven of rest'. The scheme was started by Joseph Hopper, aided by Henry Wallace, Canon Moore Ede (later Dean of Worcester) and John Wilson of the DMA. It brought together both colliery owners and miners to provide these things. The coal owners gave financial support, land and materials.

Sir A.F. Pease, when laying the foundation stones of eight houses at Randolph Colliery in 1924, said:

"There could be no finer work, surely, than to provide for the comfort and happiness of a aged miners who had spent nearly all of their lives in daily toil in that district, and other places."

The miners too contributed from their pay towards the aged miners' homes.

READ MORE

via Ushaw Moor Historical Website - Aged Miners Homes.

In the Cold Light Of Day

Very occasionally I am unable to get a good night's sleep and last night was such an occasion. So what did I think about during the night? Well I can recall thinking that Raich Carter and Peter Doherty were fine footballers in their time. That lead me on to think about  - what's his name? - Messi of Barcelona [is that right - Barcelona?] because he is said to be the best footballer that ever lived. 

I then had the thought that cigarette manufacturers are more honest that religious organisations - in that they at least say that their products can kill and can back it up with sound evidence. Religion promises an after life - especially for those in a bad state in this one - without much evidence to back it up. Back I went to thinking about those cigarette makers - they are forced by legislation to admit their products are lethal so perhaps it's not so much a question of their honesty.

I wondered about how I had got to where I was. Which of my 'heroes' had influenced me the most? That sort of thing! Well I mused on a few: Professor A C Grayling for clarity of thought and purpose; Professor Richard Dawkins for clear water thinking about  religion and young Johann Hari for informative and cutting edge comments.

After a while I decided to put the radio on - with head phones of course - because I wanted to be allowed to live the following day. Classic FM entertained me for a while - one piece composed by Paul McCartney and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra was interesting - I think it was called Heavy and Light Years or something like that. Beethoven cropped up, but he would on that station. Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring popped up and made me think it might be suitable for my funeral, but  I hastily withdrew that thought when it dawned on me that we had that at our wedding - in any case I am now a Humanist!

As the night went on I developed some significant confidence regarding the future - there was some gentle mapping out of the way forward - but that is not for current key tapping - maybe for sometime in the future. 

Have a good Saturday.

WB

Ushaw College - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ushaw College - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Ushaw College (St Cuthbert's College, Ushaw) is a Roman Catholic seminary, founded at Douai  as the English College, Douai in France in 1568, which moved to Ushaw Moor, four miles west of Durham in England  in 1808 and became a Licensed Hall of the University of Durham  in 1968. It is independent of the University but offers courses validated by the University. Both Church and lay students study at the college.

Some of the college's buildings are no longer used, but some have been converted into a conference centre. The main college buildings are grade II listed, however the College Chapel is grade II* and the Chapel of St Michael is grade I. The Refectory was designed and built by Pugin, as was the original chapel although this was later dismantled and replaced by the present building designed by Dunn and Hansom. The original college buildings (1804-1808) were designed by James Taylor.

Has Our Past Messed Up Our Kids' Future?

'Our past' refers to those of us born between 1945 - 1965 ish. Are there too many of our group that are, or will be, relying on a much smaller group, the young, to look after us? Have we spent and squandered the kids' inheritance? Let us have a look at some of the points held against us:

- We had lots of things going for us, for example, the benefits of the 1944 Education Act, free university courses, and the ability to apply for equity release from our homes.

- We caused the economic mess in so far as we opened up world markets that, in effect, depressed the wages of many of our young people

We are hell bent on spending our big gains from housing speculation without much concern for the young

-We are the cause of the climate change problem!

-We are expecting our kids to pay student's fees yet there are not enough graduate jobs for them when they come out of university

-Kids cannot plan and often have no job

So how does that make you fellow boomers feel? Are you upset or puzzled or both?

Let me say that the 1944 Education Act was not that good. It did help some working class boomer kids to get a grammar school education - but few of them made it to university in those days - there were not enough places!

Generally speaking we are better all round parents that our parents. Some of us are constant CAB type advisors to our young - more so than our parents. Our parents had to graft hard just to keep things together. We are likely to be child minders on the cheap 'for love', and that is understandable, but it should be recognised.

Continuing with the defence - what about the boomerangers! They keep coming back to stay and naturally we welcome them because we are loving parents.

For some youngsters we are the bank of daddy and mummy!

Many pensioner boomers are willing to work on and that point should not be ignored!

How many  Ushaw Moor boomers are deserving of  criticism? They did not really cause the problems: it was surely a mixture of the Establishment, the financial industry and yes - the politicians - that ought to be in the frame. No it is not a problem brought on by the working class, and in many cases even the so called middle class, so let the blame be allocated elsewhere!       

WB

Ushaw Moor Historical Website - New Brancepeth Colliery Yard

New Brancepeth Colliery Yard



This is a pic of the two steam engines in New Brancepeth Colliery yard during the removal of the coal stocks in 1964. Roy Lambeth pic. credit, the late Stephen Dent of 22 Whitehouse Lane, Ushaw Moor.

via Ushaw Moor Historical Website - New Brancepeth Colliery Yard.

St Lukes Church - Religious History

Church Of England

The first Church of England services were held in the homes of miners at Ushaw Moor Colliery and, as membership grew, a corrugated structure was erected over the hill at Ushaw Moor. This new St. Luke's was part of the Esh parish and in 1911 the Rev. Davies, vicar in charge at Esh, complained in his magazine about the carelessness at St. Lukes. It appears that during a Sunday evening service one of the oil lamps suspended from the ceiling had fallen over and started a fire. Owing to the confusion which followed the offering had been forgotten and he chastised the officials for this neglect. He was in fact a caring minister and urged the other churches to contribute towards a new building at Ushaw Moor. Mr.Hodgson-Fowler the Durham architect, was commissioned to draw the plans for a new church which was originally designed to accommodate 302 worshippers but later altered to seat 256. St. Luke's opened in May 1918 under the new vicar the Rev. W. Brown who was succeeded in 1923 by the Rev. J.H.P.Welby,M.A., a remarkable man whose kindness was often abused by those he helped. I understand that the letter 'P' in his initials stood for Pugin and he is reputed to have been related to the architect mentioned in the section about Ushaw College. During his thirty- five years as vicar of St. Luke's his kindly and sometimes eccentric behaviour endeared him to his parishioners. One story tells how, during a winter morning service, he left a trail of water down the aisle of the church, leaking from a hot water bottle secured beneath his cassock for warmth.

John Welby died in 1958 and in his honour a new church hall was opened on the 7th September, a fitting tribute to a great man.

From 1913 until 1947 Ushaw Moor remained quite a small parish. New Brancepeth was added in this year, but returned to Brandon again in 1962 when Broompark was added from Bearpark.

via Ushaw Moor Historical Website - Religious History.

Memories of Ushaw Moor: Roy Lambeth Nov 30th 2003

Memories of Ushaw Moor: Roy Lambeth Nov 30th 2003.

From Orginal Ushaw Moor Memories BLOG

Relly Mill,

As a frequent trainspotter at Durham Station, I got to know most of the staff quite well. I would often end up on the footplate of the steam banking engine - with complete approval of all but the Railway Police who just turned a blind eye. If I agreed to carry the daily water supply to the signal boxes, I was allowed to travel in the guards van. This is how it worked. After the last of the rush hour trains heading south each morning that all needed banking out of the station, the banker would go to the old engine shed site and pick up 2 blue spot fish vans and a goods guards van and shunt them into the parcel bay at the south end of the station. I would have to take the water churns (galvanised steel about 5 gallons capacity) and fill them in the Left Luggage Office with the help of the attendant Billy White. When the 5 churns were loaded we would head out over the viaduct, taking the Bishop Auckland line at Relly Mill Junction. At Deerness Valley Junction I would take one of the churns up the long steps to the signal box returning with the empty one, while the engine would go into Broompark sidings a drop off the fish vans and run round the guards van. Then it would be off to Baxter Wood Nos.1 & 2 Signal Boxes where I delivered the water and again collected the empties. Then it was under the bridge of the Bishop Auckland line to Bridge House Signal Box on the main line for another delivery, finally heading back to Relly Mill for the last water delivery. It was then hell-for-leather back to Durham to drop off the guards van and cross all the tracks at Durham North Signal Box in time to bank the 10.16am to Kings Cross. Sundays was slightly different because there was more time to do it and each box got a delivery of signal oil (paraffin) for the signal lamps and often one of the Baxter Wood boxes would be closed (switched out). It was on my first trip to do this in about 1957 that I found the added attraction of Relly Mill with all the traffic on the Consett line in addition to the main line. Miner's Gala day was always worth a visit. I usually went there after all the banners had gone in and before they started coming out again because every available siding in the Relly Mill area had passenger trains stabled awaiting return to Durham. Standing on the road bridge you could see at least 20 passenger trains and their engines all sitting quietly awaiting their next turn of duty.
Happy Days

School Life, BlackBerry Picking, The HOP. .. Wilf Bell | Ushaw Moor Memories

School Life, BlackBerry Picking, The HOP. .. Wilf Bell

via School Life, BlackBerry Picking, The HOP. .. Wilf Bell | Ushaw Moor Memories.

One of my aunts [she has no objection to the article but I respect her wish not to have her name splashed all over the laptop] moved from New Brancepeth to Ushaw Moor in the 1930s and by 1940 she was almost nine years old. Her parents did not think it was necessary for her and her brother to transfer to an Ushaw Moor School. They cycled and sometimes walked to and from New Brancepeth School. That was a very healthy thing to do. These days most parents would consider that to be a risky arrangement: for one thing there is far more traffic on the roads now.My aunt loved school and recalled that each school day started at 9.00am and finished at 4pm. The lunch break was taken from midday to 1.30pm.Her form teacher was a Mr Trotter and she felt he was a good teacher. He taught most of the subjects himself e.g. arithmetic, geography, history and art, but gardening and cookery were taught by other teachers. There was no streaming of classes and no external examinations. Of course there were reports at the end of each term and invariably my aunt had an above average placing. The headmaster was Mr Aitcheson and my aunt recalls that he was middle aged at the time and more of an administrator than a teacher. She could not recall any incidents of bullying by anyone at school. School lunches were not provided at the school so it was a case of cycling home for a meal and then back to school. There was a hilly element to those journeys so she had to be quite fit.

My aunt struggled to recall just how long the school holidays were during the summer but had a strong feeling that they were less than six weeks! During each summer her family holidays were often based in boarding houses in places such as South Shields and Redcar. The fresh smell of the sea and teeth threatening sticks of rock are evocative memories.

Other activities in the early 1940s included: blackberry picking, potato picking at Hankey’s farm New Brancepeth, dancing at “The Hop’’ which was situated near Ushaw Moor Cricket Club and going for walks [sometimes past Ushaw College and on other occasions to and from Brandon].

It cost four old pence to get into “The Hop’’. Music for it was provided in the form of a drum, piano accordion and a trumpet played by Ebenezer Shuker. As an aside “Eb’’ become mayor of Durham in 1984 and had a period as Overman at Ushaw Moor Colliery. Apart from customers from Ushaw Moor some were also attracted from such places as Brandon, Bearpark, Langley Park, Esh Winning and New Brancepeth. This dance venue had its competitors, for example, The Memorial Hall at Ushaw Moor, Bearpark Institute and St. Margarets in Durham City.

It was only when she started her first job that my aunt felt that she could afford to go to the Empire cinema at Ushaw Moor.

As a complete and probably unnecessary aside, a high explosive [but thankfully unexploded] bomb dropped into an Ushaw Moor churchyard at 11.pm on Monday 22/03/43.Can anyone remember that?

Which churchyard?

Wilf Bell.

An alumnus of Ushaw Moor Mixed Infants

An alumnus of Ushaw Moor Mixed Infants, I well remember Mr Trotter and the two Misses Bates; the reputedly haunted house with a stuffed gorilla in its hall; the doctor’s surgery in Arthur Street which had a huge model tractor to beguile childish attention; the cinema in ?Station Road, where my mother took me to see ’Pinnochio’; climbing the ’magic steps’ up the hillside, on a Sunday’s walk. I never forgave Lord Robens, for sending us to Nottinghamshire!

Percival Turnbull - 2006-06-19 14:58:17

via Ushaw Moor Community Guestbook.

Ushaw Moor Historical Website - Pit Stories - Jonty and The Jallup

When Aa went on ter hewin Aa got mair money, but mind it wes bloody haird work, an yer use ta get dry as a bone. Aa use ta drink two pit bottles full o watter in a shift - ye knaa them tin bottles full o watter an with a cork in: use ta keep the watter nice an cool.

Anyway, there wes this lad, Jonty Brown the' caalled him, an he wes a little toerag. He wes aalways thorsty, an yer couldn't leave a watter bottle neewhere nigh hand or Jonty'd swipe it. So we aall got sick on't an decided ter dee summing about it. So Jimmy Bell an me went ter the hosskeeper for some jallup.

Noo jallup wes the stuff the' use ta give the gallowas ivvery weekend ter mak them shite. Gi them a good clean out so the' could work hairder - like oppenin medicine yer see. Like me fatha use ta say: "Get yersel a good clean out an yer can loup a five-bair gate." So we got this jallup, Jimmy an me, an we filled a spare bottle we had an left it lyin. Sure enyeuf, alang comes Jonty an sees it, an he drinks it as if he'd nivver had a drink in he's life afore.

Why, it tyeuk about ten minutes an Jonty wes doubled up an rowlin about on the ground howldin he's belly an shoutin: "Aw, me guts! Me guts!" an me an Jimmy an the lads is aall watchin him, an we were that creased up we nearly tyeuk fits wi laughin. Anyway, Jonty had ter rive he's hoggers down an hev a shite. But mind, it wes owwer bad. He couldn't stop; just like the dysentery it was, an Aa saw plenty o that in the Waar. He wes craalin alang on he's belly an shitin the whole time. The bloody pit reeked on't.

Anyway, alang comes our Joe an big Geordie Maven, an they gets ahaad o poor Jonty an drags him alang ter the onsetter's. The onsetter tyeuk the tubs outa the cage an put Jonty in. He still had he's hoggers wrapped round he's ankles an he wes shitin aall the time. The' rapped the cage ter bank an when it got up there, the banksman tyeuk Jonty out. The' had ter wash the cage out wirra hosepipe, an poor Jonty had ter gan ter the doctor.

By, we got wrang! Our Joe says: "Young un, yer should be hosswhipped. Yer coulda killed the poor lad. Yer desorve the sack." But aall the lads were in stitches an thowt it sorved Jonty right. Next mornin Jimmy an me got caalled in front o Mr Hairvey. By, he wes stottin. Just like a skyeul boss when a lad's been cheeky. So me an Jimmy tyeuk our caps off an went in, an there he was standin with he's hands behint he's back.

"Thee, James Hay, and thee, James Bell, might have killed one of thy brothers yesterday. Poor Jonathan Brown is too ill to come to work today, thanks to thee putting horse jallup in a water bottle and giving it to him. Now I know the Bible says 'Thou shalt not steal', and brother Jonathan did steal water from his workmates. But two wrongs have never made a right. If thee does anything like this again to any of thy fellows thou shalt both be given a minute's notice. Now get thee back to work and think on these things!"

By, we were glad ter gerrout o there. But mind, Jonty nivver swiped nee mair watter.

Ray Clark asserts his moral right to be recognised as the author of this text
© Ray Clark 2000 / 2005

Stories from Paperless Writers. a new venture for amateur, unpublished writers, site by Jim Hollingsworth.

Ushaw Moor Historical Website - Pit Stories - Jonty and The Jallup.

Ushaw Moor Football Club To Be Revived

I understand that talks with the Council are at an advanced stage and a team could be up and running in the Wearside League by season 2011/12. There is much talk that Norman Ferguson will be invited to coach the side: he has much experience of football and seems the ideal man for the job. A more contentious proposal is that Norman Gleghorn will act as the club's unpaid football consultant: Albert Rothwell has remarked that Norman will not like the 'unpaid' tag.

Keith Wardman has been asked to run the line if the appointed personnel do not turn up. I understand that he has reached broad agreement concerning that. He is involved with Esh Winning Football club at the moment but might be able to fit both clubs in most of the time.

The mention of of Esh Winning FC still bridles with some Moor folk. Norman Tett from Temperance Terrace feels that the strawberries or Pineapples, or whatever Esh Winning are called these days, have had it made for too long. He can recall many a good game between the Moor and Esh Winning and is game for the reopening of rivalry once again. I pointed out to him that the Winning are in the Northern League and he replied that the Moor are ambitious.

Certainly Ushaw Moor could have a decent fan base in the years to come. Many people smirked when they first heard that the colliery would reopen but now that it is to do so, in 2012 - albeit in a modified smaller form,  a fan base will be there for the football team. They could even deduct money from miners' pay packets as a subscription.

Clearly exciting times are ahead for those that love their village sport. I will try and keep you informed of developments.

WB