HIGH PIT WILMA

Hi Maggie,whey, aav had both me Jabs, so has wor lass, so we feel a bit more protected, but Cath has been ill since Easter Monday, after having three consecutive major tonic clonic seizures, and a bad fall. Can ye remember Jack at West Lea!? let me know if ye were the Maggie who visited his house when you were up to check on yours, please.. bad news aam afraid. Cheers HPW. 

We don't want owt built at Cambois! its a lovely  place, we want it kept lovely!... but.... 

Awesome project,as long as we don't have the equivalent amount of unseen exhausted chemicals as we had for fifty years from the Power Station!

Gud to be leading the field in new industries..if it does finally go ahead!

 Definitly Andy Sanderson, Alan, he went onto Deputy work after aa came back into thi NUM.. and he was wor Deputy when we were winning oot new coalfaces. It wasn't his job, but after he  fired wa coal doon, he used ti hoy he's jacket off, pick a big fillers shuul up and start filling wa coal off onti thi conveyor belt. He was a hell of a coalfiller! When thi pit closed, he used to run his Wife's Wool Stall  in Blyth old Market, in thi days when thi Market was choc ablock!! Wor lass really liked Andy, cos he was that quiet and sociable, but she used ti say Billy, wa in a hurry, divvent taak ti naebody, or thi Market will be closed afore we get aroond! Those were the days when Blyth was full everywhere wi shoppers! Aye, unmistakeable, Andy!! Cheers Bill. 

Hi Alan,thanks for the notification,Bob Boyd  is absoloutely spot on! When I was a Deputy/Face/Seam overman [ on relief ] ,at Bates Pit,I worked with all of these lads except Nicky,and John.Jack Cane was the only old school Deputy of longstanding,he was a Deputy at Bedlington Aad Pit,many years before ever gaan ti Bates!

All the others on the pic went onto Deputy /Overman  work after I was a Deputy there.Alan Taylor ,Old George Harrison,[sadly Deceased R.I.P. Geordie],and Myself,were the pioneers of driving the new 3/4 Drift down to reach the 3/4 R Seam.We opened up the two main roadways in the most atrocious wet conditions,so bad,that when some men from the dry Plessey Seam were deployed to go down the Drift,they told the Overman to stick a rest day in for them,cos no way were they going to go down that wet cold hell-hole!!..and they would go back outbye and back to bank,away home!

If Alan can remember,he would bear me out on that one!!..it sure was the most depressing place to be any time of day,but especially at  12-0 midnight on a Sunday night [Foreshift].  

You just need to study this pic,to see who worked where!! Start with Jacky Cane [Plessey Deputy],not a bit o clarts nae where,even he's kneepads are polished!then look at Alan,Eddie,Davy,Lol,Micky...sad to hear of Mick's passing,he was a smashing natured lad,as were most of these lads on here.

R.I.P. MICK.THOMPSON 

The noisy bikers musta knaan the chopper was tekking picta's!!..nae sign o thim or tha smoke screens....!

...hmmm...mebe lukking at it again,it might be THE DUN COO pub..a while since a been up that way!..when a was a bairn,tha was aboot 20-odd pubs and clubs up Bedltn main street,and a canna ivvor mind o any drunkards coming oot them and causing bother..they were mostly aal pitmen,oot ti wet tha dusty throats!! ..

That little square opposite the La Torre Restaraunt..[Black Bull Pub ti me!!..unless aam mistaken!]  is Hollymoont Square where a was browt up from aged 3 yrs till a got married in 1967.See hoo far it is stryght doon the Bedltn Bank and we were inti the woods..a kids magic haven!![in the very 1950's..not lang after the war ended].

Heh heh Alan,great stuff isn't it,afore Wor Deano went ti Norfolk last March,he lived with us,and one day he came through inti the sitting room showing me his new phone wi at Nav on,and it was accurate to two Meres!He waaked across wor floor,two steps and it showed his position aside the telly..scary!

We dinna gaan up thi Black Path ti thi top..it wud kill me! we gaan ti the second seat ,have a blaa,luk for Squirrels,and come bak  doon..we saw Pete and his Wife one day..we just stopped ti taak ti these two strangers...and it turned oot ti be Pete!Strange co-incidence!

Happy Borthdi Cl.. late as ever! Hope ye had a nice yin! Also hope ye are both keepin weel! Luv frae HPW and C xx

Beware when walking down or up, the " Black Path",which leads from the car park at the bottom of the Furnace Bank,up to the Beattie Road,Hollymount Terrace area.

It is being frequented by the same idiotic set of Wimpy Snowflake "Off Road" bikers,who have no consideration at all for the environment,nor the wildlife,nor those of us who just want a nice quiet walk up through the woods to excercise,and to watch for wildlife.

They have removed the Baffles from the exhausts of their bikes,to sound "cool",and they can be heard from over a mile away,as the noise echoes through the wooded valley.

The "Amusing" part is,the bikes are TWO-STROKE  machines,which depend upon the back -pressure of the Exhaust system,to ensure smooth and efficient operation,and the removal of the baffles is the reason why they are riding by, constantly revving a dying engine as they slow down to get past..ironically,they seem to be polite as they go past and give a nod to us for going out of our way onto the grassy bank,to allow them to pass!

I am not a killjoy,and enjoy riding my bike,when the time comes that I might be allowed to get out again,but these kids,are blatantly breaking every motoring and lockdown law in the book...No number plates,no tax,probably no Insurance or Mot,excessive noise,and smoke pollution,riding on prohibited  pedestrian walkways, a danger to the public,riding a motorcucle "Two-up",where there is no provision for a pillion passenger..[pillion riding with both legs splayed out...no footrests]..etc etc!

I have made my mind up that if I witness one go out of control and end up in the river,I will carry on walking with my terrified Wife,who has been so scared of these people running into her Mobility scooter,that she doesn't want to go back..but I am adamant that we have the right to be there,THEY DON'T!.

The Police force are stretched now,so it isn't going to prevent these people ,cos they know they can get away with it.

So,all I am saying is,watch how you go if you decide to take excercise down there!! 

On 08/12/2020 at 23:56, HIGH PIT WILMA said:

Too true Alan!That's the way it was before PC came alang...a  got clipped and belted any amoont o times,AND caned at schyuul,for piddly little things like stepping on the Schyuul grass in winter ,when it was oot o boonds,ti get wa baal...a dinna think one foot on the edge of the grass was gaana destroy the field..ye canna kill the sod off wi weedkiller nivvor mind puttin one foot on the bugga!!...naa...it was wa perverted Paedo Heedmaster hoo used ti not just cane ye,but actually terrorised ye for ten minutes before actually thrashing ya fingers wi he's cane.Aye...THAT was another Loathe!! ...a bit late..pity wi didnae hae this site in them days eh?!!

Did ye see thi news thi neet?...doon Northumberland Street at thi toon?...it was heaving!! ..just wait....the Spike will come!!

Cheers Alan!

AND IT HAS!..THIS IS JUST THE START!! A friend of mine saw aboot 6000 people waakin alang the sea front between Whitley Bay and Tynemooth on Sunday..nae social distancing..lots of groups of young'uns of between six ti twenty in number.

They are literally killing people as if they put a gun or knife to the innocent folks who are obeying the law.

Folk are calling the Govt,aam not politically motivated at aal but it's common sense..it's NOT the Govt,it is the rebels and the ignorant among us,if there was a deep pit in the pavement,and ye said ti them divvent step inti that hole,wad they disobey and faal inti the hole.?

Rant owa!! [but Justified aa think!]

Apart from aal that,a hope we aal have a better year than we had last yeor!!

Alan,wi reference to ya top ten,can wi mek it top twenty?...heres numba elivin...

 [11]  "I WANT TO BREAK FREE" [Freddie Mercury]

[ 12 ]  " ALL ALONE AM I.."  [Brenda Lee ]

[ 13 ] " YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE" [ ...NEED A SAY?!!]

[ 14 ]  " TURNING BACK..THE HANDS OF TIME.."  [ NEIL SEDAKA ]

[ 15 ] "PLEASE STAY " [ DUFFY ]

..........and thinking...!!

Aal thi Best Alan,and to all our good friends on here!

Noo that wa gettn a wee bit o Canny Lass,and Vic n Dot weather,a think aal keep me fleece on....mind it's ownly at thi back and sides,and a bit o Mr Charlton on the top!

Thi Warfarin meks me freezing caad, so me aad fashind trapper hat wi furry insides and lug flaps is a godsend!![luks bliddy glaaky but who cares?!!]

Hi Folks!  A went ti Todd,s Barbers at the top-end just afore Christmas,and Leanne wasn't there...blinds pulled doon,she shudda been oppen..hope she is aalreet and and  not doon wi any bugs...

Aal thi best folks!

Hope we have a better year in 2021!

On reflection, maybe I read the OP wrong, he is referring to a house which used to be a shop.. Apologies for misinformation. 

A bit late as usual, but I think the shop referrred to, is the Deli, which was Dave the Butchers, from as far back as 1970,which was the year I moved into West Terrace, a few yards away. Dave spent every minute of his free time, including his Wednesday afternoons off, building up the upper floor above the shop, converting it into a bigger flat with front and rear huge dormer windows. He then built up the garage and shop rear extension, over a couple of years or more. He told me he was saving around £9,000 by doing the work himself. He did all the loft conversion to building standards, and the Building Inspectors never had cause to instruct any remedial or retro alterations, they were satisfied at every stage. Dave lost his Wife Sylvia after a long period of illness, some time ago. Hope I am not too late to have been of any help. 

Too true Alan!That's the way it was before PC came alang...a  got clipped and belted any amoont o times,AND caned at schyuul,for piddly little things like stepping on the Schyuul grass in winter ,when it was oot o boonds,ti get wa baal...a dinna think one foot on the edge of the grass was gaana destroy the field..ye canna kill the sod off wi weedkiller nivvor mind puttin one foot on the bugga!!...naa...it was wa perverted Paedo Heedmaster hoo used ti not just cane ye,but actually terrorised ye for ten minutes before actually thrashing ya fingers wi he's cane.Aye...THAT was another Loathe!! ...a bit late..pity wi didnae hae this site in them days eh?!!

Did ye see thi news thi neet?...doon Northumberland Street at thi toon?...it was heaving!! ..just wait....the Spike will come!!

Cheers Alan!

Er!!,Alan,a was referring ti Abdul...!

A didn't realise a was on the wrang page! ..guess a lost aal me points wat a hevnt won yit...plus me street cred!!

Ha Ha ! Nice ones, but Alan......[ a went ouch!!...gettn neaar...!!]

Aam a bit late as usual ,folks,and a canna guarantee aal be here on Teeuusssdi.....[ Grommit!]...so here is my tuppenceworth...aa been seriously thinking,and looking aroond ivrywheor a gaan and a got ti thinking...for  their trade to be recognised ...Bank Robbers wud hae ti gaan inti thi Bank wi NAE Masks on........!

[Whey AAA thowt it was funny!!..and so did wor lass!!]

HEH HEH!! CHEERS FOLKS!!

Alan,after signing off,a just caught the post above with Eddie Oliver's Photo.

A first met Eddie in 1971 when a went on to Deputy -Work at Bates.

Eddie was part of a face team on 84's Coalface at the Beaumont Seam.

From day one,we got on weel with one another,considering that I was posted on the Face just as the Overtime Ban was coming into force prior to the 1972 Miner's Strike..and a lot of the men had their hooks into the Deputies.

When the face teams became awkward to work with,and kept stopping coalwork deliberately,to strengthen the point that they could win the strike,Eddie was one of only a few who remained really pleasant to work with .

 As time went by,and I went back onto the N.U.M.,Eddie went onto Deputy Work,then HE was in charge of me sometimes..a complete role-reversal!!

I cannot find a single wrong word to say about Eddie, a lovely Smiley,gud-natured fella,and I will say this to Bethany ,you were blessed to have had such a lovely  Grandad.

He was a pleasure to work with.

R.I.P. Eddie Oliver. 

Bill.

Hi Alan,aav seen this photo,a knaa a few of the lads faces,but just canna bring tha nyems ti mind!!...it's frustrating...aad age!! 

Thanks for notifying me Al. 

Hope ye are keeping aalreet!

Cheers!

Bill.

Loathe..all these idiots who are having mass gatherings,and risking the lives of our front line workers in the NHS,and our Police Forces,and who deliberately break the lockdown rules....cos they must think it's "Cool"..

Hi Dinah,welcome to the forum!

There was a Coach Company called "Jordan's Luxury Coaches",based in Bedlington,from before I was born,I think,and that was in the mid 1940's,it's a starting point,cos I imagine the Owners would have had to be born in the 1920's at least,so their Parents would be born ,in the late 1800's to early 1900's...surely!! A long shot,but who knows?..

There were a Family of Dawson's who lived at Choppington,in the Bedlingtonshire Area,and who all worked at Choppington "B" Colliery ..[commonly known as "The High Pit"...as opposed to the "Low Pit"..which was Choppington "A" Colliery]. I worked with them from 1959-1965,and later,at other Pits.

John Dawson ,who is a member of this forum,is also a Bedlington Historian,and he may be able to help in your search.

Best of Luck!

Cheers !

Bill. [aka HPW]

If anybody wud care ti gaan onti Facebook,and search for "Orli Summers",She is a very close friend and Nybor of my Son's,in London,and who is Nurse in a Care Home,whey she was,until she caught this terrible Virus IN the Home,where She worked,on the front line,and who has kept a Poetic daily Journal of Her experience of living with Long Covid 19.

Her daily poems are both Heartbreaking,AND,Uplifting,as she battles the up's and down's of the disease.

Believe me,she was thrilled to bits,when I made a funny comment,about her name,and explained that ,in Geordie twang,it meant "Early Summer"...cos she is originally from Israel..[or from Israely Parents]..She picks up bits and pieces of Geordie Twang from Wor Daz,so my comment brightened her day!

Maggie,and Canny Lass,especially,would fully relate to her daily writings,which are absoloutely magnificent,seeing that they come from someone who is living on the edge,and has been for 165 [or more ] days,with this illness,some near to death,and some in respite,not knowing how long it is going to go on,and what the outcome will be.

After watching this morning's Remembrance Service, and seeing how the impact of Coronavirus 19 has affected even our respect to the Fallen Victims of Wars throughout the World,surely no sane person can seriously believe that this is all just a hoax...Conspiracy Theorists 

certainly do think that!!..[this is of course ,without even counting in,the Worldwide Casualties and Fatalities which are a result of the Pandemic.]