Pop up display to mark the 1950 Carbon Monoxide Accident at the Consett Steelworks on 1st July 1950
From Monday 24th June to Friday 12th July at Consett Library
Thanks to Consett Library for agreeing for us to put on this pop up display
A Ray Lonsdale Steel Statue for Consett
Ray Lonsdale’s statue of Tommy, at Seaham had a profound effect on John Fox. As a former steelworker, he knows how much skill is involved in creating such a figure. It has also led for him to wonder why Consett, a town built on steel, does not have such a statue? Why don’t we have a fitting symbol of the years of toil at ‘The Works’?
A great video from Billy Ellwood part of the History of Consett Steelworks proejct team
Then and now is the theme for our display at the Consett Festival 2024 on Sat 1st June and 2nd June we will be in the club house along with the Consett UK Lions Club
Come and see the display, explore our plans for the update to the Consett Story
We would be delighted also to hear and work on recording you memories too
John Fox writes
Coffee morning this Saturday at the Snods church hall between 10am and 12.
All proceeds towards buying a statue commemorating the Consett Steel Workers by Ray Lonsdale. Please support.
Article in #consettmagazine and picture is from that
My Dream for Consett
More on Ray https://tworedrubberthings.co.uk/
Fundraising Crowd Funder link if you would like to donate towards this
History of Consett Steelworks Project team are delighted to have a display at the following
Consett HEART Spring Exhibition open various days until end of April
Consett Festival Fri 31st May to Sunday 2nd June in the Clubhouse at Consett AFC, Delves Lane- This is in partnership with Consett UK Lions Club and will include a chance to discuss supporting the Consett Story Update Project
Display at Consett Library -Date to be confirmed- Display to mark the July 1st 1950 Accident
Display at Derwentside College in Sept – date to be confirmed- to mark the Closure in Sept 1980
If you have a venue for a pop up display please do get in touch
Steve wrote
The three blast furnaces of Consett Iron Works.
I was assigned there as a Blast Furnace Fitter.
In the forefront is the Goliath gantry crane, that was some piece of engineering.
The gantry trundled left or right in the picture. The cabin moved forwards (towards the furnaces) or backwards (towards the photographer).
In this way it could travers the vast stockyard and pick up the raw materials and fill the hoppers in front of the furnaces.
On the days I was assigned to the crane for maintenance we would take our bait and spend the entire day on it.
We clambered all over it, sometimes on the gantry and sometimes riding the huge cabin.
It took a good while to walk to the end of the gantry.
One day the fitter I was assigned to had to climb down the chain to stand on the huge grabber to perform a repair there. I was glad it was not me.
One day we were having a bit of craic in the cabin and one of the older guys said “you’re Dick Thompson’s grandson aren’t you”? I said I was and they all started telling stories about him.
One guy described him as very musical and quite crazy. There you go folks, it skipped a generation but you know where “crazy and musical” landed.
They blamed this on a very bad motor cycle accident he and my grandmother had. After the accident he ceased singing popular hits and took to singing opera in the pubs and clubs.
He also took to walking around Consett wearing a top hat, spats and a silver topped cane.
Additional notes
Steve was part of a band called the Bullfrogs who performed locally and practiced in the band shed at Leadgate just over from where Leadgate Community Centre is now. The band shed ended up being demolished after a fire
Steve also worked with Tom Kelly to produce a show about the Steelworks that was performed at the Empire Theatre
Did you know Consett UK Lions Club. published the original Consett Story in 1964?
Do you have a copy?
Exciting news is that working with the History of Consett Steelworks group plans are being explored to update the book and re publish both in hard copy and digital versions
So we can interest can be recorded please comment so we can keep you updated on progress
Also if you would consider being part of the research team or have content/pictures to be considered for inclusion please do get in touch
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064473351616
picture provided by Ian Robson
Ian Robson wrote
A picture of my parents behind the bar of the pub they had in Gateshead.
He was a deseamer tbefore joining the army before the war and my mother I understand was a crane operater before becoming a supervisor.
Their names were Les Robson and Margaret Robson from Mortimer St, Blackhill
Further to above comment they moved from there to the Royal Oak in Medomsley
Thanks to Ian and this is also added to the Workers Album
History of Steelworks project team have accepted an invite to do small display as part of an Art and Heritage Exhibition being held for nearly a month at Consett HEART in the old St John Ambulance building round the corner from the Consett Library
Thanks to wife of project team member Billy Ellwood the display is ready
Website for Consett HEART https://www.consettheart.co.uk/
History of Consett Steelworks 