The Blackies Water

THE BLACKIES, IS THE DOE LEA RIVER THAT RUNS THROUGH COALITE WORKS DOWN TO POOLSBROOK,MY GRAND PARENTS ON MOTHERS SIDE AND FATHERS SIDE BOTH LIVED AT SEYMOUR AND THEN POOLSBROOK ,MY MOTHER WAS ELSIE MARY YARNOLD HER FATHER WAS PHILIP YARNOLD HER MOTHER WAS HANNAH GERTRUDE YARNOLD HAD A STEP BROTHER PHILIP AND A BROTHER JOE,MY FATHER WAS MARK MASON AND HIS PARENTS LIVED OPPOSITE MY MOTHERS HOUSE WHICH WAS 39 THE CRESENT POOLSBROOK,PHILIP WAS MY MOTHERS FATHER AND MY GRANDAD ,HE WAS BIG WITH MARKHAM PIT UNIONS ,HE DIED ABOUT 1967-68 TIME GRANDMA YARNOLD WAS 81 WHEN SHE DIED ABOUT 1971,IN HER YOUNGER DAYS SHE PLAYED THE CHURCH ORGAN AT THE CROOKED SPIRE,SHE ALSO LOVED POOLSBROOK CHAPEL ESPECIALLY ANNIVERSARY TIME,HER FAVOURITE HYMN WAS ABIDE WITH ME,I WAS ABOUT 15 WHEN GRANDMA DIED ,I AM KENNETH MASON NOW 60,MY FATHER MARK MASON WORKED AT SEYMOUR JUNCTION RAILWAY EXAMINER WHEEL TAPPER FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS FROM 60'S TO 70'S THIS PLACE IS NEXT TO DOE LEA RIVER,KNOWN AS THE BLACKIES,I DID VISIT MY DAD DOWN THEIR WHEN I WAS 10-12 YEARS OLD ,AND WENT BLACKBERRYING ALONG THE RAILWAY ,THIS PLACE WAS AT THE BOTTOM OF FORIES LYNDLYS SHOP AND FIELD,THE ONE THEY YOUST TO PUT PIT PONIES IN INTHE PIT HOLIDAYS,DOES ANY BODY KNOW WHY POOLSBROOK WAS CALLED SPIKE,MY DAD HAD 3 BROTHERS NED ,HARRY,JACK, AND SISTER JULIE,ALL GONE NOW.UNCLE JOE LIVED UP THE OLD BUILDINGS AT No 31 WITH HIS WIFE GLADYS AND DAUGHTERS PATRICIA AND JEAN.I MISS THEM ALL.

Hi, the Doe Lea's improved a lot over the years, far less smelly and clearer. It became part of our geography fieldwork back in the 80's; due to how heavily polluted it was! I landed in it, late 70s after a sledging episode down the tips went slightly wrong, my white socks became purple. It's a wonder I didn't become ill but we were used to muck I suppose. I wouldn't fancy a paddle in it still but it's hard to believe that swans now sail past on it and manage to come out with white feathers!
Ken, we're family; I'm Jean's daughter. Hope you get to see this as I realise the original post is a few years old now.