New Member just saying Hello

[Brian Hodson]

Hello everyone, my name is Brian Hodson. I am a retired Northumbria Police Constable and have been married for fifty years to my wife, Susan. We have two daughters, Shirley and Lorna, who are now both married. and live within a few miles of us.
I have never been in any other service except the police but several members of my family have. I look forward to reading more posts in the Forum because I find the chat amongst ex and current services interesting and informative. I have also taken an interest in both world wars and have visited the landing beaches in France and Ypres in Belgium which I have also found to be very moving experiences having lost a number of relatives in both wars.
Keep the Forum going because it's good to hear about other people's life experiences.

[j.sabourn]

Welcome Brian, you will have seen all the different eras then , the Teddyboy , and the Mods and Rockers sagas. Did you ever get stationed in Whitley Bay if so you would have known that den of iniquity Pops Amusement arcade on the sea front , where the centre of attractions was the punch ball and the tough guys used to spend a penny on ,rather than go into the toilet and coiffure their hair into that old DA fashion. Or the Rex hotel where one of the members on site reckoned he was raped after the Saturday night commercial travellers dance. Mind he didn’t put up too much of a struggle. Hope you enjoy the site it does have its serious side as well . Best regards JS

[happy daze john in oz]

Whitley Bay in the summer staying with mum and my aunt and uncle in a B&B.
Fine when the sun shines, rest of the time from 10 when you get chucked out of the B&B until 4 when you can go back in you join thousands of others in the bush shelters hiding from the rain.
Or outside the pub with a glass of lemonade and a packet of crisps trying not to et the rain make them wet.

[j.sabourn]

If you kept clear of the third week in June , you would stand a much better survival rating John , that was the week that Glasgow opened its gates and let them out and a large percentage made for W/Bay , it was called Race week., mainly because the horse racing was on at Gosforth Park. Cheers JS

[Dennis McGuckin]

When I was a kid, we went there often.
Water crest butties and hard boiled eggs while we froze on the beach.
I remember well, swimming in the north sea.
Must have been crazy.

[Tony Taylor]

If you kept clear of the third week in June , you would stand a much better survival rating John , that was the week that Glasgow opened its gates and let them out and a large percentage made for W/Bay , it was called Race week., mainly because the horse racing was on at Gosforth Park. Cheers JS

Race week on Tyneside still referred to as that in some parts of the area., Glasgow Fairs was the annual hols for Glasgow I believe

- - - Updated - - -

Welcome Brian pleased to see you join, you will have seen another side to life just like a lot of the lads on here.
You should keep your address to yourself, you might get some visitors come and drink your beer ha ha!

- - - Updated - - -

When I was a kid, we went there often.
Water crest butties and hard boiled eggs while we froze on the beach.
I remember well, swimming in the north sea.
Must have been crazy.

My mother had three sisters all in Whiley Bay, spent lots of hols there, my parents couldn't afford to go anywhere else

[Tony Taylor]

Hello everyone, my name is Brian Hodson.
Keep the Forum going because it's good to hear about other people's life experiences.

Brian, did you ever work out od Gateshead nick?

[Keith at Tregenna]

#1: Nice to hear both of and from you Brian.

Regards, Keith.

[happy daze john in oz]

If you kept clear of the third week in June , you would stand a much better survival rating John , that was the week that Glasgow opened its gates and let them out and a large percentage made for W/Bay , it was called Race week., mainly because the horse racing was on at Gosforth Park. Cheers JS

Thanks for the tip John, will remember that if I am ever in that area again.
But we missed summer that year, we went in July and summer that year was on the second Tuesday in June.

[j.sabourn]

#5 Dennis the North Sea has its own whales and sharks but never heard of anyone being taken by such off Whitley Bay beach . Whereas out here they can be very aggressive . Ask Cappy who was afraid of loosing his goolies when swimming back to the ship in Sydney harbour. The aquatic family of the North Sea are much more friendly at least they are in the British Sector, it’s all a matter of upbringing . Cheers JS