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Hi Ian. This was taken at The Old Vicarage next to St Cuthberts Church. I am the other person in the photo . Threegee is my father. If my memory is correct your grandparents lived at the top of Attlee bank but @threegee will know best.

I was Jammy............🥶

'I think it was @Malcolm Robinson who took the photo without any clothing added' There are no leaves on the trees so he was probably quite cold standing there in the nude with his flasher in his hands!

When we were kids we spent hours in the spring catching toads from the 'A' pit pond(s). We didn't do anything with them, we caught them because we could. I remember there was competition to see who could catch the most. We put them back when we were hungry and went home for something to eat. We were never challenged by any blokes for being there. Every year my uncle wanted one in the spring for his greenhouse to catch the slugs that appeared overnight and the odd insect during the day. The toad he got that had fed well over the summer disappeared early winter. It didn't reappear the next spring. Did it get the urge to breed and dig its way out or escape through the open door, I wonder. We never caught any frogs in the pond and we didn't see any frogspawn, only the long strings of toad spawn. Frogs mustn't have liked the water taste or there wasn't any food there for them.

Hello Paul! Welcome to the forum. Look at the 1947 map which I posted above a couple of years ago. Howard Row was built in two blocks, with several years inbetween. The first block, the oldest of the Howard pit houses, is nearest the pit head and is where your father was born at nr.7 The numbers ran from 1-22 starting at the pit and going towards the social club. Your family may have lived there quite a while as there is a Lucas family at that address in 1911. I was born in 1947 at the other end of the street but have no memory of how it was because the family was möved to alternative accommodation shortly afterwards so that the houses could be demolished. I know, that at 3 yo I was still living the alternaive accommodation but the family must have returned to the newer colliery houses shortly after, because I started school at Netherton Infants at the age of 4½ in 1951. We lived then in Third Street. By then Howard Row and Yard Row no longer existed.They then seem to have been demolished a few years as the sites were overgrown with grass and bushes - a favourite playground area! The sites of the two blocks of Howard Row can be clearly seen in the ariel photo running north from the letter M up to the pit. Howard Row, nrs 1-22 were the smallest of the colliery houses with only two rooms. Yard Row consisted also of two rooms . The odd house had three rooms but this was because the residents built make-shift lean-toos over the outer areas However, the second block of Howard Row, nearest the social club was built with three rooms. Residents, even here increased some houses to four rooms using the same ingenuity as in Yard Row. As I said previously, I never saw these houses so yhe information I can offer is only what I've heard from older family members about living conditions in Howard Row.(my oldest siste was 20 years older than me). In his book on Netherton, Evan Martin shares this photo of Howard Row, presumably the gap between the two blooks. In the gallery you can find this photo which is reportedly of Clifton Row. I played with school friend in Clifton Row and can't remember it being as delapidated as this. Clifton Row was the newer, more modern of the pit rows before First-Third Street were built. I think this is Yard Row or even Howard Row. Both rows were built to the same plan I believe.

Dear All, Thanks so much for the updates. The photo with Christina is lovely, I’ve saved it along with some of the other images that have been posted on the website for my family albums. If this was taken in ‘84, then yes, absolutely we must have flown over from Oman to visit Granny and Gramps. I hadn’t physically taken up residence in Newcastle until around ‘86. I was at school at NPS in Jesmond until I was around 9 years old, at which point I was sent to the boarding school my Dad (Roger) and his brothers Michael and Gavin (both sadly deceased now) attended in Pitlochry in Scotland. It is lovely to be in touch after all these years, I’ll send this photo to my Dad and tell him about this correspondence. Best Wishes, Ian

Hi threegee, It’s Ian here. Thank you so much for uploading this photo. I think I can just make out my Mum in the background behind Grandad. I’m sorry I haven’t been on here in years. I was grateful that the Sustrans charity commemorated the memory of my Grandad with a statue. I was fortunate enough to attend the unveiling of it several years ago along with some of my family members. I was very grateful that the community not only proposed a memorial to him, but that they also showed up when his statue was officially unveiled. I still have family in Northumberland, so I hope to visit again in the future. Thanks again for the kind words and for posting this lovely photo. Best Wishes, Ian

My wife and I were coming through bedlington station yesterday, I knew of course about the of cinema now apartments, we visited dominoes in sixties so had some nice memories. However, it came as a shock to see the old railway tavern gone completely. We spent some lovely times together in the disq as it was known. The Percy arms had good memories too, now a restaurant. Of course the Clayton has gone where we first met. I said to my wife, our history has been taken away. Of course nothing stands still. Rather sad for me though. My family long gone but some lovely memories. Bedlington has certainly changed since last time I came through the town. Old mining community was the life blood when I was young. Even the ridge farm restaurant was gone. Funny old world.

Palace Theater opened 1896 - now flats.

That's right! I can't pretend to be au fait with the intricacies of the game but I remember my mother letting off steam to my father about it!

Found this image which may help work out where the toilets were. I hope it uploads ok.

The lad 2nd from the right on the front row is William(Bill) Jamieson. The lad with his hands on Bill's shoulders is Joe Cotsworth who became a barber at the station. The lad standing on the right edge of the group with a dark jacket and button hole flower is I believe Joe Anickan(spelling?). I know he was in the same class.

On the front row - 2nd from the right ( dark jacket and shorts and arms folded) is William Jamieson. Directly behind him is Joe Cotsworth.

He used to be called Kitty Brewster by us but his actual name was Roy. He did have a loud/rough voice. I think he talked a lot. He was a mate of Morris Pattie at one time. Possibly because he lived in the same area/street.

Well that sorts that out! Lol

My dad was Ernie Gurney the butcher next door to The Gardner’s Arms. My Mum and Dad were in business in Bedlington from 1954. My dad went to work as Manager in the meat department in Laws Stores in 1978 until he died suddenly in October 1979. My Mum ran the shop but also had a very successful outside Catering business. She continued to live in the family house until her death in June 1995. I have two brothers and a sister and we were all brought up there. I remember Ned Metcalf and his wife ‘ Ginny’ as he called her very well. They had no children and they were very fond of me. He was a strict old man but he would let me talk to him and his wife but above all, I was always with his dogs. I remember going to The One O’ Clock show with him and meeting Jackie Collins.....well I was told it was her. When something like Pathe News that used to be on at the cinemas came to make a film about the dogs, Ned said he’d only do it if They Baird’ came. I was filmed with the dogs and walked them up and down the path beside the War Memorial. I remember the film crew gave me lots of money for being a good girl and my elder brother Allan who was there watching and myself bought ice cream for the family at Bacci’s on the way home. I was also in The Blyth News when one of the dogs had a particularly good litter of pups.

I still get emails about these, on my old PC, that I hardly ever check. Couldn't remember my password for this site and the PC blocks this forum. After much faffing about I'm back in. Can't believe I didn't recognise Tommy Percy, it was he who gave me lessons all those years ago, I used to go to his house every week and remember his lovely wife bringing tea and biscuits. Nice to see more names added though.

Slightly pedantic but no. 9 is Margaret JOISCE, my aunt who passed away when she was very young. My dad is enjoying looking through these photos, thank you for posting them!

Thanks for your reply-just remembered no.2 the principle cornet player was called Trevor-so sorry no surname. No recollection of no. 4. probably a borrowed player-quite common to play for another band. At that time I was playing for Dunston silver band-Durham county youth band, Buradon Band, Felling band and Whickham comp.school band-as I had just turned 15 at the time.

@george.atkinson. - names updated. I assume you have copies of the photos that you are on? The member - Bandsman1966 (Biff's son) that posted the photos hasn't visited the group since November 1st 2018. Any names I have added since Bandsman1966 visited have been from ex Netherton Colliery people that are members of the local Facebook groups.

Hi, I have been meaning to contact you with some information about this photo for a while. I am no. 8 George Atkinson. No. 2 was the principle solo corner player-sorry can't remember his name. No.8 George Atkinson solo cornet. No.17 was called Vivien, Tenor Horn. (sorry can't remember her surname) No.21 was Brian Harding B flat bass. No.22 was Ian Lambs father. No.23 was a representative of Brentford Nylons. By the time this was taken Joe Grant had left the band (think he went to Ashington) Hope this is of some help 🎺🎺🎺🎺

Dorothy Sadler has identified No 10 - Bob Kennedy.👍

4 Mr Smart Woodwork & Metalwork (Mr Kitson did not join school until 2 years later approx.) 10 Mrs Code (Coad??) 11 Miss Taylor Latin 13 Miss Pollard Religious Education 16 Miss Hope P.E. 17 Mrs Brown School Secretary Miss Elliot Maths

did you find one to test?

She was Miss MacLean when I started there in 1958 but married (McDonald) I think about 18 months later.

@Paul Lucas - I had never seen an image of Howard row posted on this site or any of the local Facebook groups. There are two albums in the Gallery on Netherton/Nedderton. Yesterday Malcolm Davison, Facebook group Bygone Bedlington, posted a photo of his grandmother outside Howard row in 1913. I have added his photo to the Gallery album - 'Netherton/Nedderton old photos 2'

Photo - 1913 - from Malcolm Davison - Facebook group Bygone Bedlington. Photo is of Malcolm's grandmother holding his father with neighbour Mrs Fitzgerald. Malcolm's grandmother lived in No 26 Howard Row.

Jimmy Halliday with his family.