A LIFE IN CONSETT

I was born in Consett in 1951 and spent all of my life here, I can remember lots of things mentioned in previous letters especially the Rex, I spent lots of Saturday mornings there, also Rossi's and Dyambro's on Saturday afternoons, the Mason Arms, the Alex, the Brit, the Mount, the Bowl Club and Botto's, all sadly gone. I was suprised no one mentioned the Freemason's Damnce and the El Torro Disco which were the hot spots in the late 1960s and early 1970s. I have one older sister and in 1967 when I left Consett Grammer School I was sent to live with her in Croyden in Surrey, the idea was that I would stay with her until I got my own place as my brother-in-law was editor of the Daily Mirror and had arranged for a job for me on the Mirror. I was so homesick that after six weeks I came home a decision until recently I have not regretted. I loved Consett throughout the 1960s, 70s and 80s, although I think the closure of the works was the begining of the decline of the town, I realise that it is cleaner and healthier but for me the heart of the town is now dead. I hate living here now, no decent shops, no well paid jobs and no pubs of any character (Weatherspoons is a joke). I have been happily married for forty one years and have three children and three grandchildren (I have begged their mother to emigrate) all living in Consett, we would all like to move but sadly will probably die here, so sad to think the town that I once loved has declined to what it is now.