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
Saturday, 15 August 2009
Friday, 14 August 2009
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
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
Wednesday, 12 August 2009
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
WB
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
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
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
Monday, 10 August 2009
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
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
Saturday, 8 August 2009
Muther Grumble
For an interesting take on life, much of it relating to the North East, try this site. www.muthergrumble.co.uk
WB
WB
Friday, 7 August 2009
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
'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
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