Alan Edgar (Eggy1948)

Local teams other than Bedlington Mechanics teams. The history of Bedlington Mechanics is current being researched by @Ovalteeny  and his info is posted in the topic BEDLINGTON MECHANICS FC   under - Hobbies & Interests >  > The Sports Club>

Often referred to as the 'Council School'. Entry in  https://communities.northumberland.gov.uk/005616.htm  has the date c1916

Men from the Dr. Pit Colliery formed Bedlington Mechanics FC in 1949, initially playing in the Northumberland Miners Welfare League before entering the Northern Combination in 1952. They won the Northumberland Minor Cup in 1954 and were league champions the following season which enabled them to be promoted into the Northern Alliance where they remained for the next 8 seasons. Home games were played in the centre of the town at Millne Park, the land was owned by Jimmy Millne, a successful local businessman and he provided a very generous arrangement with the Committee. However, in the early 1960’s there was a dispute and the Mechanics had to relocate to the “A Pit” Welfare Park at Bedlington Station. Sadly, crowds dwindled and income fell to such an extent that in 1963 they were forced to disband.

Celebrated it's 100th year on June 30th 2012. The school has a web site with a collection of photos over the years and the web site address is   http://www.bedlingtonstationfirstschool.com/bsfs100/100_years_of_Photographs/100_years_of_Photographs.html

All photos shared by members that have posted these photos on Facebook sites - Bedlington Remembered, Bygone Bedlington & Sixtownships

It was founded in 1926 as Bedlington Secondary School for the areas of Bedlingtonshire, Ashington and Newbiggin, being built next to Bedlington railway station. Subsequently it became Bedlington Grammar School, before turning comprehensive in 1974. It gained Maths and Computing College status in 2009.                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Ex pupils you should know :-   Sir Bobby Charlton CBE &   Sir John Hall, who built the MetroCentre                                       

Don't know the exact year the school was built. I would assume there would be some colliery rows built when the colliery was due to start production. The Durham Mining Museum does not have a year against when the colliery was opened but it does have 1982 as the first year coal was output. The First Edition of the OS map of the Cambois area held on the National Library of Scotland is 1859 (published 1865) and there is no colliery or houses. The Second Edition - 1896 (published 1898) shows the colliery, many pit rows and the school etc. 

Pupils that attended the junior schools in Cambois & Bedlington progressed to the West Sleekburn Middle school , in the 1980's & 90's before moving on to the 'High' schools.

Nicknamed The Woody school, as it was mainly constructed of wooden planks. The school of our mate, Keith Lockey. Don't know when it first opened but it first appears on the 1951 ordnance survey map and it is not on the previous map of 1938.  Destroyed by fire in 1969. When the replacement school was built, opening in 1974, it combined with the grammar school to be Bedlingtonshire Community High School.   

The following info is from the  http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/8ad93b61-5d1a-46e9-ad51-f17b07e91684  site :- 
History:
The school opened officially in 1958 and was reorganised as a middle school in 1976. It had ceased to function by 1977 when the premises were taken over by St. Benet Biscop's Roman Catholic Aided High School. The school records were transferred to the new Meadowdale County Middle School which opened in 1982.