South Shields Sanddancers Forum

This is a fantastic and fascinating site on Facebook, with thousands of old photos from all over the town, and from many era's. Well worth a look.

Thanks for the positive comments. I claim nothing for it other than its the strike as I experienced it, warts and all.

People might be interested to take a look at a retrospective blog I did about the year I spent on strike as a picket at Westoe Colliery. You can find it at; normanstrike.wordpress.com It has also been published as a book called 'Strike By Name' by Norman Strike. I'm sure board users will find lots o...

I bloody hope not!!!!!!!

I worked in Binns, very briefly, around 1968 when I came out of the army. I was working on the lift when I got into a row with a posh woman who kept changing her mind which floor she wanted. I chucked her out but got sacked, with the manager saying the customer was always right!. Second Time Around ...

Thanks,its not the same Brennan.Thanks for your help.

I wonder if anyone can help me on this one. I've just read an obituary in the Gazette online for a William Brennan, 57. I went to school with a Billy Brennan from Whiteleas. Is it the same person?

Sadly, Les Winter, who used to live at no.76, died yesterday aged only 58,heart attack.

Hello Stephen, God I remember your mams van, and Georges who also came around.I knew Eddie Driver and the Mitchinsons.Happy carefree days back then before we all grew up.

Len Smith was a brilliant goalscorer and I spent a happy childhood watching him at Simonside Hall in all weathers. He was quite an accomplished goalie as well, and just a generally top non league player. That was back in the days when South Shields were one of the top non league sides in the country.

Hi Jim, I meant Monkees as in the 60's pop group! Nice to hear you are doing so well.

I remember the Sunderland Res game because after the match I ran after Jim Baxter for miles, well, it seemed like miles, and when I finally caught up with him he said;" f**k off lad, I'm busy". I only wanted his autograph, and being a Sunderland fan I was upset. I hated him after that but ...

Hi Jim, nice to hear you are still alive and well and in work. Mind you, Brazil's a bit far from Shields. Like you I remember playing in the fields, and when they were about to demolish the farmhouse i recall falling from a roofbeam into a barn and getting knocked out. I blame that for being so daft...

Just to let people know of the death of my brother in law, Norman Armstrong, yesterday. He was 57 and the profits of the Unionist Club will take a nosedive. Rest in Peace Norman.

Tom was a great artist and used to be my father in law. I have a great picture hanging in my front room, one of the last he painted, of the 'weebly' people in front of the Groyne.On a recent visit to Shields i was surprised that there is none of his work in the town museum.

Hi Sigsy,
I can remember it cos it used to be part of my Friday night King Street pub crawl,see how many pubs could be visited before getting totally blobbed. Did it have a floor that slanted upwards towards the back? Or was it the beer?

Just to let you know that Anne won the Great manchester Run in a time of 32.48.Thanks to stottie for the only sponsorship.

Thank you very much 'stottie cake'. Anne and me are very appreciative so asante sana.

Many thanks 'Stotty Cake' and SSS for the sponsorship. Its greatly appreciated.

Hi John,
I'm doing fine here in Harlow and am about to take early retirement from vainly trying to educate the towns youth. I will then 'manage' my wife who is a member of the GB wheelchair racing squad,see 'Charity Race' on main noticeboard. hope you are doing well for yourself.