Mr Richardson

Father a cooper. Teachers, violent discipline. Played football with friends, some became professionals, local team poaching off his team, fined. Left school at 12, worked on the screens for a year when down the pit. Got married in 1913 then away to war. Overstayed leave by a day, hard to find regiment afterwards, was in an ammunition unit delivering to the front, putting guns together and delivering ammunition, getting shelled, hideouts cut into the hillside. Brother got himself discharged by eating nutmegs to make his heart go faster! Another lost a leg in the war, another shot in foot. Then went back to the mine, on stone work, at overman’s beck and call. Fire caused underground in the seam, had to get out, had to seal up the pit for a year to stop it, then work in stone to stop air getting in. Wall came down on marras. Took canary in. Roller to the face, night in hospital, couldn’t afford time off for it. Sprint athletes. Various footballers and transfer fees, tactics and ball different then, and big heavy boots. Local man who killed woman with violent husband (?). During 1926 strike, got money for cable laying digging, then out of work, hard times. Pub with hooks to fasten a horse, there was a taxi horse and trap down to harbour. Drills and conveyors, pumps etc, working in water – got a cut that wouldn't heal, various treatments, sent to the “radium place”, then a plastic surgeon. The Conservative Club. Became a bookmaker, dodging the police. Independent councillor. Member of bowls club since founding in 1911!

Location: Seaham
County: Durham
AUD2008-59

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