From 1944 to 1957

I came to North Seaton Colliery in 1944 when my father K.C.Macfarlane got the Unit Engineer's position. (he was a qualified marine engineer and left the sea around 1928 some time after he got married to my mother Cissie) The general strike was on and after digging tram lines up in Whitley Bay he eventually got a job as a fitter at Seaton Delaval colliery. At first we lived in New Hartley at 57 Melton Terrace and later at 19 Bristol Street. My earliest memory as a child (4 years old) was going on the crossbar of my Dad's bike to collect his 'coal' ticket. At first it was just me and my brother Ken ( who was epilectic) but we were joined by my brothers Gordon and Rodney and eventually my sister Pamela. When Iwas 11years old I had just passed the 11 plus and should have gone to Blyth Grammar School but my Dad got the unit Engineer's job at Dinnington Colliery (now Brunswick Village) near Wideopen and I ended up at Gosforth Grammar. My Dad was only about two years at Dinnington before he got the post at North Seaton. I should then have gone to Bedlington Grammar but elected to stay at Gosforth and travel up by train from North Seaton Station. When the family moved to North Seaton I went to school as normal and got the train from South Gosforth to North seaton and walked to 20 Wansbeck Street to join the family. The first thing I noticed at North Seaton was that every body christened George was referred to as Dody and they used 'de ye ken' instead of 'de ye knaa' (know). To be continued.