Maggie/915
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Posts posted by Maggie/915
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History destination
Tall ship at the Pier
The importance of having two rivers for safety .
The Railway history/ wagon ways
Why not ?
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He was not very keen to recognise Stephenson in his endeavours to create. a safety lamp !
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18 hours ago, Canny lass said:
Derek Johnstone 1946 - 2022
It is with a great deal of sadness that I recently learned of the passing away of a valued member of this forum. Derek Johnstone, better known to us as ’Rigger’, is no longer with us. I first met Derek when he and I entered class JR1 at Westridge Secondary Modern School in Bedlington about 1959. I remember him there as a rather quiet, well mannered and very intelligent teenager who was very well liked and respected by pupils and teachers alike. He was a good classmate and I can’t remember Derek ever being in trouble for misbehaviour of any kind. I have particularly fond personal memories of being helped by Derek when struggling with the intricacies and mysteries of ’tech drawing’ which in my naivety I’d chosen to embark upon instead of needlework. He had the patience of a saint.
It wasn’t just in the academic subjects he made his mark, Derek, a keen sportsman played football for the school team and went on to devote many hours of his time in training and matches with Bedlington Juniors where he was goalkeeper (pictured below in the scchool team, top row, 3rd from left). He became a keen golfer in later years, so his love of sport had clearly remained with him.
After leaving school Derek became an electrician working first in his native Bedlington, at the Doctor Pit, before moving to the coalfields of Yorkshire then South Africa before returning to the UK to take up the very responsible position of overseeing safety in the Aberdeen Offshore Oil Industry. He remained in Aberdeen until his death.
Derek was a family man. His marriage to New Delaval girl, Patricia (Pat) Brown, gave him three lovely sons: Kristian, Julian and Graeme. Tragically, Pat died very young leaving Derek to shoulder not only his grief but also that of the children and the responsibility for their upbringing. He seems to have done a remarkable job with Kristian now living and working in Dubai, Graeme living and working in Thailand (seemingly having followed in his father’s footseps in the offshore industry) and Julian living and working in Belfast. Derek did remarry but, sadly, once again a caring role was suddenly thrust upon him when his second wife, Irean, developed Alzheimers disease.
After many, many years my path crossed again with Derek’s when he became ’Rigger’ a member of this forum. Rigger was not a frequent visitor but his posts were always informative and interesting, sharing valuable knowledge of people and places in and around Bedlington. Helpful as ever, he’d never forgotten his Bedlingtonian roots. Even in other areas of the Internet, Derek has left an an enormous legacy to anyone having have roots in Bedlington. His work ’Bedlington Soldiers Who Died in the Great War: Summaries of the brave soldiers from Bedlington and the surrounding area who did not return from the 1914 – 1918 War’ is a one-man masterpiece.
(http://www.newmp.org.uk/memimages//05.%20Enlistment%20Project%20Compiled%20Version.pdf)
It is, I’m sure, the result of years of patient research and writing on his part paying homage to the brave men of Bedlington who gave their lives in the Great War. I also know that this work was a tribute to his grandfather whom he loved and admired. It is not just an essay, it is a work of academic standard well worth a read and a valuable source of information to those, like myself, researching family history.
Last year, Derek was diagnosed with an aggressive and inoperable brain cancer to which he succumbed after only five months. He died in November 2022 aged 76 years. His person has been described to me by his life-long friend David Cowans as ”a friendly boy and a nice man” who ”had a positive manner and a genuine, easy-going charm”. I cannot other than agree.
Thank you for your contribution. Rest in Peace Rigger.
Thank you to Derek’s brother Ray, David Cowans, and Glynis Lynn who have provided me with information and photos.
So sad .
He was one of my classmates as well .
Always willing to help.
A .sad loss but fondly remembered
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Not a good idea to read before bed .
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You can say that I could not possibly comment .
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No idea how we would do it . Just a thought reference raising the profile of the town we all love . I am sure there are worthy individuals alive who deserve the ‘Piper Award’.
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We could give the award to someone from history . Raise the profile of Bedlington and the Railways.
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On 25/04/2022 at 14:33, Alan Edgar (Eggy1948) said:
@Rigger & @Maggie/915 - have either of you herd of the 'Scroll of Honour' for WWI ?
There is a memorial book in the old annex to the church . Names include my grandad who did not die but suffered until death in 1941 .
A generation lost .- 1
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Well done Malcolm and Bedlington .
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We have to hope that history teaches us not to repeat the mistakes of the past .
Harry Patch the last ‘Tommy’ said War is licensed murder’
The programmes / books about the Holocaust are grim to say the very least .
I do not understand how people can be so evil .Dangerous times for us all .
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On 25/01/2022 at 20:06, Alan Edgar (Eggy1948) said:
@Maggie/915 - is Thomas Davison someone the Bedlingtonshire Local History Society might have reference to and be able to give Michael some links to documentation?
The Local History Society organise events and talks on a wide variety of topics .
The members themselves have a wide and detailed amount of local knowledge but the society do not store any archives that can be viewed on line .- 1
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Well done Malcolm .
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Happy New Year 2022
We are going to celebrate and see the New Year in at the clock tower in Morpeth.
We were last there 33 years ago .
We won’t be there in 33years time .
Happy days- 3
Bedlington /Cambois
in Talk of the Town
Posted · Edited by Maggie/915
Two postings delete
History destination
Tall ship at the Pier
The importance of having two rivers for safety .
The Railway history/ wagon ways
Why not ?