WEARSIDE ECHOES

CHRIS CORDNER LOOKS BACK

Barry, a former Monkwearmouth Grammar school student, took an apprenticeship with NCB at Washington F colliery and was transferred to Wearmouth Colliery. “When I got married I got a job with Consolidated Gold Fields in 1971 and we emigrated to Australia as 10 pound poms,” he added.

He and his wife Sheila celebrate 50 years marriage this year. They have one son, one daughter and four grandchidren.

Barry also told us of a Wearside connection during his tour along the great ocean road through Victoria in Australia. He came across the Wear-built ship Lady Nelson. “We stayed at Warnambool for three nights. We visited the Flagstaff Hill Maritime village and we were surprised to come across a model of one of many ships that were built on the Wear.

“This ship mistook the Gap in atrocious weather as being the entrance through the