Memories Of Gateshead By Derek Rutherford

A Memory of Gateshead.

When I was married at 18 we managed to inhabit a flat in NEWALL TERRACE TEAMS and our neighbour was a character called Curly Smith who was well known in the area , salt of the earth saved my sons life when he fell into the gut which ran at the rear of his house.
I also remember Mattie Heslop who ran the small JOKE SHOP at the bottom of the high street where the Laughing policeman used to direct the traffic, once he had a dispute with the council so he painted some lamposts in gaudy colours in retaliation. I then worked as an apprentice Electrician for the Michison brothers Tom and George who ran a small contracting business from the old POLICE STATION in the high street, Sadley they ceased trading and I then worked for a fellow elecrician who set up his own business of Kells Lane Low Fell whos name was BOB MOWBRAE and his wife was called BETTY and had two children, forgot their names,
After a few years on I was offered a 3 month period of work with a bigger company in WIGAN and 55 years later Im still here, only venturing back at Xmas weather permiting,
I often wonder if Bob and Betty are still alive as he gave me the best apprentice training which enabled me to travel the world and succeed in forming my own company .
Wiganers are called THE PIE EATERS but believe me their pies are nowhere near the pies sold by BERTS PIE SHOP in Low Fell.
THANK YOU BOB