What is it about Sheels
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- Full Time Gobber
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Re: What is it about Sheels
Working down the pit was not for the faint hearted and most pitmen wanted better for their sons.
However it provided what was a good wage for a lad leaving school at 15 with no qualifications and that's what people round here miss. Those locally who mourn the passing of the mining industry see that it has been replaced by McJobs which are safer but pay washers.
However it provided what was a good wage for a lad leaving school at 15 with no qualifications and that's what people round here miss. Those locally who mourn the passing of the mining industry see that it has been replaced by McJobs which are safer but pay washers.
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- Full Time Gobber
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Re: What is it about Sheels
A2FeHm9b1aA
Re: What is it about Sheels
cold hands warm hearts...sums up shields folk to a T.
back by popular demand
- cushy butterfield
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Re: What is it about Sheels
In a place called Cape Breton in Nova Scotia (which used to be a big mining area and closed down) there is a group of ex-miners called The Men of the Deeps who tour Canada with a concert, that is a famous song they sing, its very touching when you see the stage and its all dark until they put on the lights from thier helmet and sing that song. They are quite famous in Canada
life is not how many breathes you take its how much life takes your breath away
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Re: What is it about Sheels
For Cushy.
E-EiwiiAh68
E-EiwiiAh68
Re: What is it about Sheels
This is my grand dads miners badge.
He worked down Whitburn Pit and always called himself a Harton lad.
He would have retired some time around 1958 if the retirement age was 65. He suffered badly with his feet and many nights would sleep in his chair afraid to take his boots off because he would not have got them back on again in the morning.
I always remember him as a very pleasant man always laughing and having a bet on the horses, and if he won the sixpences would end up in a not in his handkerchief.
Knowing now of the misery, toil and danger that existed down a mine, I have the utmost respect for any one who worked down a mine - not a job I would relish at all.
He worked down Whitburn Pit and always called himself a Harton lad.
He would have retired some time around 1958 if the retirement age was 65. He suffered badly with his feet and many nights would sleep in his chair afraid to take his boots off because he would not have got them back on again in the morning.
I always remember him as a very pleasant man always laughing and having a bet on the horses, and if he won the sixpences would end up in a not in his handkerchief.
Knowing now of the misery, toil and danger that existed down a mine, I have the utmost respect for any one who worked down a mine - not a job I would relish at all.
Re: What is it about Sheels
My uncle (dad's brother) worked down Whitburn pit, his name was Herbie Smith, a real character he was.
He lived near the Nook.
He lived near the Nook.
- memor
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Re: What is it about Sheels
I say this not to belittle the working men of Shields
My Father worked in Reyrolles.
My Grandfather worked down the pit at Harton Colliery.
I was one of the lucky ones I got out.
South Shields was the biggest shi t hole you can imagine.
A lot better now I can just visit.
My Father worked in Reyrolles.
My Grandfather worked down the pit at Harton Colliery.
I was one of the lucky ones I got out.
South Shields was the biggest shi t hole you can imagine.
A lot better now I can just visit.
I always value Pilots wit and input
Re: What is it about Sheels
For me, the two biggest changes are:
1) The way the town planners have knocked down most of the nice buildings and put up sh** ones in their place.
2) The way graffiti 'artists' have made the town centre look like The Bronx (and not just the town centre, either: they're always painting over the graffiti in that lovely little lane that goes past the Westoe pub, through a building and into Westoe Village, but the vandalising little ****ers just come along and muck it up again).
Shields was a lovely town in the 1960's when I was growing up. I didn't appreciate it then, but I certainly miss it now.
1) The way the town planners have knocked down most of the nice buildings and put up sh** ones in their place.
2) The way graffiti 'artists' have made the town centre look like The Bronx (and not just the town centre, either: they're always painting over the graffiti in that lovely little lane that goes past the Westoe pub, through a building and into Westoe Village, but the vandalising little ****ers just come along and muck it up again).
Shields was a lovely town in the 1960's when I was growing up. I didn't appreciate it then, but I certainly miss it now.
- Bandana Dave
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Re: What is it about Sheels
I'll say this, they can close the pits, they can close the shipyards and they can board up all the shops but the B**tards will never take the humour out of Shields People, it is unique to us, and were even funnier and friendlier when the chips are down, FACT, were the hardest and the softest people going, and no one can take that away, EVER !! let them try, Bring it on, Take my job, i'll just go and work somewhere else, they won't get me on my knees beging for mercy i know that much !!! being a Sanddancer is in your head, it's in ya skin, and it's in ya bones, and it's in all those people who came before us, my family came to shields in 1880 and i know the names of everyone of them, Proud to be called a SANDDANCER me !!
"Shy Kids Get no Sweets"
- comeonthen
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Re: What is it about Sheels
What is it about Shields that every spare bit of land that exists is immediately built upon.this is nearly always houses. The house builders have been having a field day in Shields and must have made millions from building on Shields land. How come that land in Jarrow and Hebburn and Whitburn has land that has remained vacant for years and no houses are being built on it. Is it because the people who are selling the land in Shields has no influence in the other towns. Mr Hebburn is not selling land off wholesale, how come our council and MP is standing by and watching South Shields become private property.
comeonthen
comeonthen
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Re: What is it about Sheels
There seems to be plenty of building going on in Hebburn. Around the old Reyrolle building and down towards the river. Also along the metro line there's loads of houses where there used to be industry.
- comeonthen
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Re: What is it about Sheels
Reyrolle has been standing empty for years. There may be a bit building going on but it is nowhere near as to what is happening in Shields. This town is turning private and it would not surprise me that you will soon have to pay a toll to visit it. An idea that has already been considered by the council and only rejected for the time being. You are going to be charges to park outside your own front door. This may reserve your parking space outside your house around the town centre but this will be applied to all streets shortly. I live right next to the coast but my street has never had any parking problems so why should I have to pay to park outside my door. If people have a parking problem in their street then give them resident's parking tickets, it is their right to park in their street and they should not have to pay for that right.
comeonthen
comeonthen
Re: What is it about Sheels
I worked at Westoe for 23 years and there is no way on this planet that I would ever go back should the chance arise. I often meet some of my old mates when I visit Shields and am always surprised by those that say they would go back down tomorrow if they could. I work in a nice air conditioned gatehouse with all mod cons and that beats walking around in sea water and slurry up to my waist anyday ! I could never understand those that advocated jobs down there for their sons as there was no way that any son of mine would have been allowed to go down there. Arthritis started to set in when I was about 45 years old. I am now 58 years old and my knees, ankles, elbows are all knackered due to exposure to so much water underground. I cannot write or hold a pen properly as my fingers are knackered and I still get problems with an old back injury. Yes, the mates you made were made for life but healthwise, we all paid a terrible price.
cheers.
gag.
cheers.
gag.
You can take the lad out of Shields, but you cannot take Shields out of the lad !!!!!!!!!!!
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Re: What is it about Sheels
Gag I loved my time working at the pit and do not regret any of it, most of your workmates became life long friends, many a time your life and safety depended on them. Like you I am now paying the price with the damage to my knees with crawling on my knees and stomach in three foot high coal seams.