Ushaw Moor Memories

I recommend that you dip into Paul’s memories website and also consider doing an article yourself. Memories help us to understand the past, maybe even a chaotic past, if that is what you have had! It also gives future generations an inkling of what has gone on in the local villages, and that might give them some perspective regarding their own experiences.

I think there is more on the site than is first apparent: there are, for example, some details of many people that were living in Ushaw Moor in the 19th century and early 20th century, children’s experiences of the 1930s and 1940s, details of Ushaw Moor Cricket Club [with reference  to 1881, the 1930s and 1947], notes about prominent local footballers of the 20th century, a report of a 1959 schoolboy soccer cup final [Alan Burns, Dennis Pinkney etc], a mention for Soccer Gleghorn [obligatory!], notes about life at the pit, details of an unexploded second world war bomb and even details of strange behaviour by an inanimate object – a coffin.  If you do decide to dip in don’t forget to read the responses to the various articles, because many of them enrich the original articles.

W Bell

I had another interesting telephone conversation today with Arthur Hodgson. Please bear in mind that I have hearing problems and that occasionally Arthur was [inevitably] using mining vocabulary that I found difficult to understand. The result is as follows:

After going into the Royal Navy a couple of days before Christmas in 1944 Arthur came out again when the war ended in the following year. He started work at Ushaw Moor pit in 1947, for the newly nationalized National Coal Board. He felt that nationalization made little difference – Pease and Partners to NCB meant much the same thing for the workers.

Arthur recalls the Durham Miner’s Gala of 1949. He had been selected from a union hat to be one of twelve workers at Ushaw Moor pit that would carry its banner during the Big Meeting; it was an honour and also carried a reward of ‘a few bob’. They met at the colliery canteen early in the morning and had an uncooked breakfast. It was a case of six particular men carrying the banner on the way to Durham, via the railway from Ushaw Moor, and the other six carrying it back via the railway from Durham. Two men held the banner poles, two held fancy ropes to prevent the banner falling backwards and two held fancy ropes to prevent it falling forwards. They paraded around various parts of Ushaw Moor but made a point of briefly stopping in front of the Aged Miners’ Homes. They then marched down to The Albion at the bottom of Station Road; the bars were open and they stayed there for about half an hour prior to getting on the train to Durham. At that stage there were about twenty six of them in The Albion: mostly bandsmen, banner carriers, and six union officials. Thousands of spectators greeted the many bands and banners that poured into Durham City. It was often slow going as they progressed through the city.

I admit that this article is for a narrow band of readers i.e. schoolboy footballers of the late 50s, and family historians. Apologies for that – but it does help to keep the articles coming though!

On April the 11th 1959 Ushaw Moor County School played Waterhouses School in the Durham and District school cup final at Bearpark. There is a little mention of this game elsewhere on site, but this is the full version. Waterhouses had just become champions of the league and Ushaw Moor County had achieved the runners up spot. The Durham County Advertiser anticipated a close game because in recent league fixtures the teams had twice drawn 2-2. There was a big gold coloured poster in the hairdresser’s shop in Station Road advertising the game and it stated that it was one shilling to get in with the concession that old age pensioners [now called senior citizens!] and children were charged 6d.

Waterhouses had won their semi final match 5-2, whereas Ushaw Moor County had beaten Brandon Modern 4-0.

Forty eight hours before the cup final I developed an ankle strain in my left foot and although it was very uncomfortable it never occurred to me that the problem might keep me out of the cup final two days later! Then I had another problem – I had no football boots for the match. I cannot remember why that was so but I do remember asking several people whether I could borrow a pair from them. Can you imagine that situation now? These days’ kids often have sophisticated gear and training routines, not to mention some fathers who appear anxious for some reflected glory.

I borrowed a pair of size 4 boots even though I was a size 5. They were a bit tight but I reckoned I could get away with wearing them. The night before the game, with my ankle not at all improved, I followed my stepfather’s advice and had a hot bath after which he strapped my ankle up.

The following morning dawned fine, cool and with a slight breeze. My ankle was fine, although I kept the strapping on! I wonder who would have deputized for me at left back at such short notice. These days you often read that such and such a team are ‘sweating’ on the fitness of such and such a player; as a fourteen year old I did not seem at all aware of the potential problems that I might have caused for the cup final.

I see that you list cycling as one of your
interests so i thought you may be interested in this
snippet,
In the late 1940s a cycling club was formed in
Esh Winning but after a few months our club was transferred to Ushaw Moor and we held our meetings in the
Miners Welfare Hall, at one of these mid-week meetings
it was agreed that our club outing the following Sunday
would be to Alston.
One of the members Jos,Stokoe [i think
i have the surname right]decided that he would go on his
tandem and Tommy Potts, from New Brancepeth would ride
the rear seat, however, Tommy did not turn-up at the
appointed time so Jos, took the tandem himself which was
no mean feat considering the amount of hills between
Ushaw Moor and Alston.
On the return journey we reached the top
of Killhope bank and Jos, stated that he would go on
ahead himself which he did and he was soon out of sight.
When we arrived at the Flass corner Jos,
had already been home. had bathed shaved and dressed
and was walking down to the Top Club for his first pint
of the evening, he was certainly some cyclist.
It was said
in cycling circles that Jos, had once beaten the famous
Reg, Harris in a sprint race at a grass-track meeting
however i have been unable to verify this from official
records, having witnessed for myself his amazing strength
i believe such a feat would be possible.
Other members
of the club from Ushaw Moor included Norman Hope,Ray
Jolly and Malcolm Gibbons.

Regards to all,

Geoff,Turner.